154 Second Ave. is missing

[Image from summer 2011 via Off the Grid]

A quick look at the progress at 154 Second Ave., where workers have been gut renovating the former funeral chapel to make way for several new floors for "luxury rental apartments." And retail space.

Gutting is likely a better description. We noticed that the original building is pretty much ... gone.

Can't quite tell in these photos... but the front of the building is down to the original doorways...

And one day...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former funeral home looks to double in size with help from 'the controversial penthouse king of the East Village'

Redeveloped funeral home looking for a few live retail tenants

The walls come tumbling down at 154 Second Avenue

The bells of St. Brigid's

In the last few days, several readers who live near St. Brigid's on Avenue B and East Eighth Street have noted hearing the church bells chime. (Or whatever sound church bells make...) Dave on 7th noted the sound was coming from the north tower.

And per Dave on 7th: "I wonder if there are actual bells in there? They were lovely. And I wonder, if they're a daily thing, how long it will be before the complaints start?"

Gutting an apartment at 337 E. 8th St., former home of 8BC

EVG regular AC pointed this out to us... one of the many apartments damaged by Sandy's floodwaters ... over on East Eighth Street near Avenue C, workers spent Saturday gutting this really nice ground-floor apartment...

We recall seeing the listing for this space before... a 2,500-square-foot home with two bedrooms... going for $6,950 a month, per Streeteasy. Some pre-Sandy shots...

According to the listing: Built in 2003 with a contemporary facade of brick and Bisazza glass tile on the site of the celebrated "8BC Club." The dramatic interiors are bright and expansive and boast designer details and fixtures.

8BC was the performance space/club/gallery that saw the likes of They Might Be Giants, Karen Finley and Steve Buscemi take the stage during its run from 1983-85...

[Via Ephemeral New York]

John Linnell of They Might Be Giants talked to us about 8BC during a phone interview that we published in April 2011:

8BC was like "The Little Rascals." They had this whole thing when they put on a show, the curtain was made out of like stiched-together blankets. Everything seemed really homemade. That's how 8BC felt. There was a big curtain they raised just before the band came on. The audience was in this pit that someone had dug out for the crowd. The stage was at street level and the crowd was down below. It was like a big, silly variety show. [8BC] did not appear to be taking itself seriously. But there was this enormous range of strange and interesting acts. We met so many people, some of whom are still dear friends.

Despite Urban Etiquette Sign, trash still piles up in tree house living room

Thought we'd check in on the tree house living room over here on First Avenue near East 14th Street ... An Urban Etiquette Sign recently appeared asking people to be respectful of the space and not leave trash around... And..?

Lucy's will return on Saturday

After a busy Saturday night this past weekend ... Lucy's on Avenue A is now on a holiday break until Nov. 24.

Today on Keeping Up with the Kardashians

Oh, just a scene today from Tompkins Square Park via Bobby Williams...

Week in Grieview

[Yesterday in Tompkins Square Park]

The lingering effects of Hurricane Sandy (Monday)

14 photos of the post-Sandy blackout (Sunday)

Amaran closing on Avenue B (Friday)

What you had to say about the new Union Market (Friday)

The new owners of the Lucky Cheng's space will be ... (Monday)

RIP Pika (Thursday)

NO ONE likes the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office (Thursday)

6-floor apartment building coming to the former beer garden at Croxley Ales (Friday)

R.A. Dickey had a really good season after visiting Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday)

Residents meet to address incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A and East 11th Street (Thursday)

Nublu moving on Avenue C (Tuesday)

Mars Bar building replacement is called Jupiter 21 (Thursday)

Petland is leaving East 14th Street (Wednesday)

Another bike-share delay? (Wednesday)

No one commented on this post (sad face) (Tuesday)

Nino's is back open, but ... (Sunday)

Support for an elm in Tompkins Square Park

We've been keeping an eye on the elm next to the The Hare Krishna Tree in the center of Tompkins Square Park...

In the days after Sandy passed, Park workers had the area blocked with caution tape... the tape is gone... but a support wire remains...

[Bobby Williams]

Not quite sure what this will do... regardless, glad to see that the tree seems to be holding up OK... Would really hate to lose this one...

A benefit to help rebuild fire-damaged East Yoga tonight

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Join the Rise of East Yoga!

East Yoga, our close-knit neighborhood sanctuary, suffered a debilitating fire on November 4th. Since then, the outpouring of support we’ve received has been inspirational, and we are forever grateful to everyone who has helped so far. But there is still much more to do. Here's how you can get involved in the remaking of our community:

Benefit for East Yoga @ Pouring Ribbons
Sunday, November 18th, 6 pm – Close
225 Avenue B (Second Floor)

We will hold a silent auction featuring everything from homemade scarves to Adirondack getaways. At least 10% of all food and drink sales will be donated to East Yoga's rebuilding efforts.

Note: There’s still plenty of room in the silent auction, so if you have a special skill, service, talent or product you’d like to donate, please contact us at info@eastyoga.com with the subject line “Silent Auction Help.”

Fundraising Campaign
We need to meet our $10,000 goal by December 9th to cover expenses related to the fire. Click here to donate through our partners at Lucky Ant. Any amount helps, and we’re offering free classes to reward your generosity!

Attend Classes
We’re holding classes at various temporary locations, including Alphabet City Sanctuary. Check our schedule for the latest updates.

Donate Skills
We are in particular need of legal services and real estate assistance. If anyone skilled in these areas can offer advice/reduced rates, please contact us at info@eastyoga.com with the subject line “Donating Skills.”

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Fire at East Yoga on East 13th Street and Avenue B

A Sample Sale Extravaganza at the Neighborhood School today

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Previously.

Happy days are here again...

Avenue A tonight ... via Shawn Chittle...

Cleaning up El Jardín del Paraíso

EVG reader Ileana sent us these photos this morning... a crew is at El Jardín del Paraíso trimming and chipping the fallen trees here on East Fourth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D...

Meanwhile, people are wondering how the garden's turkey died after the storm... several readers spotted the turkey on Oct. 30...