Westway to the world

Sunset.

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Combustible

Big Black at CBGB circa 1986 with "Kerosene" ... and without a drum machine...

Report: South Brooklyn Pizza files for bankruptcy protection

[Image via I Dream of Pizza]

Crain's reported this afternoon that the company behind South Brooklyn Pizza has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The pizzeria has three locations, one in Carroll Gardens and two in Manhattan, including one at 122 First Ave. between Seventh St. and St. Mark's Place.

Per Crain's:

According to an affidavit accompanying the most recent petition, the bankruptcy "was precipitated by landlord-tenant issues with the landlord, over-landlord and fee owner of 122 First Avenue." In 2009, [owner James] McGown signed a sublease for the First Avenue property, and invested $400,000 in the store's renovation, but the property has changed hands several times since. Mr. McGown now "has no idea who to pay money to" for the deal, the affidavit says.

Earlier this year, South Brooklyn Pizza started renovating the space next door for a new dining room.

On March 28, Jeremiah Moss reported at Vanishing New York that former East Villager Kati Duncan, who has a 25-year-lease on the storefronts at 122 First Ave., is in a "legal brawl" with South Brooklyn Pizza, who is subletting the space. In 2010, South Brooklyn took over the space next door as well... the former Ruben's Empanadas. Duncan said that this was done without her knowledge.

Per the post:

Duncan's lawyer says that South Brooklyn Pizza is "encouraging the Overlandlord to bring an eviction proceeding" against her, so they can take over the lease.

Read the whole post at JVNY.

Clearing up?

Just now, via Bobby Williams... the showers are ending here. Meanwhile, tonight, there's a 95 percent chance of woo.

Hate Crime

This assault occurred Monday night on St. Mark's Place... According to the statement, the man in the sketch got out of a luxury sedan with tinted windows, "calls victim 'a faggot' and hits him om the side of his face."

Call the Hate Crimes Task Force if you have more information... (646) 610-5267.

East Village gallows

At 21 E. First St. at Second Avenue. Photo and headline by EVG regular jdx.

East Ninth Street parking lot will yield to 6-floor residential building

Following our post on Wednesday about the current construction projects in the neighborhood... a tipster told us about a development that we were unaware of — 327 E. Ninth St., currently a parking lot between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

The city has already OK'd plans for a six-floor residential building in the space...

Per the DOB, the 7,200-square-foot building will contain two residences ... with a garage and an elevator. Per the application, our old friend Ramy Issac is the architect ... and the owner is listed as Terrence Lowenberg of Icon Realty, who has been busy with turning 147 First Ave. into a hotel ... as well as developing 326-328 E. Fourth St. ... and other properties.

Meanwhile, the tipster also points us to the adjacent buildings here along East Ninth Street...

There are additional floors in the works for 329 E. Ninth St. ... No. 331 ... No. 333 ... No. 335 ... However, so far, the DOB hasn't approved any of the additional floors for these addresses dating back to early last year...

Today's quiz: How tall will the weeds in the East Houston median grow by the end of summer?

A reader asked this question after taking a cab ride across Houston to the FDR the other day... the reader asked, "Is this what the city means by green streets?" The reader also thinks the weeds will be taller that the Hamilton Fish Park Library across the way.

Hmm... here's looking west from Avenue D toward the construction zone...

The $60 million Houston Street Corridor Reconstruction is expected to end in the summer of 2014. The plan calls for the widening of sidewalks, enlarging of medians, installating new pavement markings and bicycle lanes from Second Avenue to FDR Drive and creating two new plaza areas.

Anyway, we kind of like weeds.

How to host a more inviting Open House

Tip No. 16: Do not place the Open House sign next to an overflowing trash can.

One evening here at 13th Street and First Avenue.

Actually, it's not even inviting when the can is empty...

[EVG reader Steven]

Summer Fridays rehash: The Second Avenue bike lanes — What do we think so far?

Hey, we're digging into the EVG archives for these next few summer Fridays... We first posted this one on July 1, 2010...

------------

Well, the bike lanes have been up now for long enough on Second Avenue, complete with a line of parking that's meant to add protection to the cyclists ... for me to hear some grumbling... Not really any kind of cyclist vs. pedestrian thing... but more of a safety issue. Trucks and cabs abruptly pulling over into the bike lane... pedestrians standing or walking into the bike lane... oh surely there are other offenses... soon enough, the First Avenue lanes will be a go (not to mention the dedicated bus lanes for the M15 on First Avenue and Second Avenue)...


So what do you think so far?



The makeover includes a line of parking that's meant to add protection to the cyclists...




Previously on EV Grieve:
Green day: Second Avenue getting its bike lanes

Summer Fridays rehash: About Angelina Jolie's 'semi-crusty phase' in Tompkins Square Park

Hey, we're STILL digging into the EVG archives for these next few summer Fridays... We first posted this one on Oct. 9, 2009...

------------



As Scoopy writes in this week's issue of The Villager:

We were surprised to learn, recently, ... that none other than Angelina Jolie also went through her own semi-crusty phase, hanging out in the park and smoking pot ... During the L.E.S. Slacktivists/veterans' "adoptathon" outside Christodora House last month, Lara Mascara ... told us how she used to run with the young Jolie. "We were friends of the band Sick of It All," she said. "We called ourselves the Alleyway Crew." The members each had a Sick of It All dragon tattoo. "Angelina Jolie was skinny, no figure — just straight, she had no boobs — hair in her eyes," but did sport her trademark big lips even back then, Mascara recalled. "Her dad didn't pay child support. ... She was just not going to high school, like all of us. She was known as Angie."

[Top photo via; Bottom photo via]

Breaking: Blackbird's opening postponed

[Photo from Tuesday by Bobby Williams]

Earlier, we mentioned that Blackbird would be opening tonight in the former Lakeside Lounge space on Avenue B ... From the EV Grieve inbox...

"HEY EVERYONE — URGENT UPDATE: BLACKBIRD WILL NOT BE OPEN THIS WEEKEND AFTER ALL. WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED SOME CONSTRUCTION-RELATED ISSUES AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN UNTIL NEXT WEEK. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES FOR THE LAST-MINUTE NEWS. BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO OUT TONIGHT, PLEASE GO AND SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS ON AVENUE B: MANITOBA'S, REVISION, AND BOXCAR LOUNGE!"

Editor's note: And Mona's ... and Vazac's ... and B-Side ... and Blarney Cove... and Otto's ...