When you received 'no finer service anywhere' at this cleaners

Yesterday, EVG reader Patrick noticed that Aura Cleaners on East 14th Street just east of Avenue B was getting a new sign... not really newsworthy (except for on this site — woot) ... However! In pulling down the old awning... the workers exposed a little ghost signage... "No finer service anywhere" in a fine font...



Curious about the date of the original... Patrick found a tax photo dating to 1983 showing the sign in place...



The two-level building was erected here in 1949... and the first commercial tenant was a restaurant, according to the Certificate of Occupancy.

That photogenic St. Mark's Place

Photo this afternoon via Bobby Williams

Just after midnight in Tompkins Square Park

A reader submitted photo from late last night on the lawn in the Park.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Painting the exterior of the Theater for the New City yesterday. Photo by Bobby Williams]

Soho House Ludlow vs. LES Dwellers on Thursday (BoweryBoogie)

Interview with the co-creators of Centre-fuge on First Avenue (The Lo-Down, photos of the new murals at GammaBlog)

Watch the surf-punk of the Coffin Daggers in Tompkins Square Park (Gog in NYC)

The No 7-Eleven skit (Save the Lower East Side!)

Revisiting "Raising Victor Vargas" (The A.V. Club)

Magic Shoe Repair shop on Carmine Street closes (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

And tonight as part of the ongoing MoRUS Film Festival:

"Home in Loisaida" Films! Featuring LES, directed by Coleen Fitzgibbon; HEART OF LOISAIDA, directed by Marci Reaven and Beni Matias; VIVA LOISAIDA, directed by Marlis Momber. Filmmakers Marci Reaven and Marlis Momber in attendance!

Fitzgibbon’s LES features striking footage of the Lower East Side’s buildings and people in 1976. A fake documentary, LES investigates the Island of Manhattan’s fiscal problems, which have resulted from the nefarious activities of the John Dough Cult. (16 min)

HEART OF LOISAIDA focuses on efforts to form tenant associations in buildings that have been ravaged by neglectful slumlords. (30 min)
VIVA LOISAIDA explores the strong identity of Loisaida through the eyes of the neighborhood’s prolific photographer, Marlis Momber. (40 min)

The program runs 86 minutes. Doors open at 7:30pm and the films begin at dusk. All filmmakers will be in attendance to introduce their films. Show up early for a good seat (or bring your own chair or blanket). $5 (suggested) at the door.

The films show at La Plaza Cultural, Avenue C and East Ninth Street.

Here's the trailer for LES...

Checking in on the 13 Portals, an interactive street art project for the East Village

On Saturday, Nicolina and Pérola Bonfanti unveiled the latest in the interactive street art project known as 13 Portals. Portal No. 5 is at 98 Avenue A. Every Saturday this summer, the pair will unveil a new portal. Participants have an opportunity to find one of 64 keys that gives them access to a final event on Oct. 5 that will reveal what the whole puzzle means.

Meanwhile, the Atlantic Cities features Nicolina and the 13 Portals in an article today:

The paintings tell a story rooted in research of numberology, ancient history, and science, according to Bonfanti, who served as an assistant professor at Rio's esteemed Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage. But they are also just to put some beautify out where it's needed, added Nicolina — among regular people in their everyday lives.

This is the core motivation behind the Free Art Society — to free it from institutions, from economic barriers, and in the end, from people's own minds. Asked about the potential actual effects of these projects, she says, "Hopefully this opens other people up to be more expressive themselves. Creative expression is contagious."

And there's plenty of creative expression which each unveiling ... here's the scene for Portal No. 3 on East 10th Street from July 20....



Check out the 13 Portals website for more info. Read more about Nicolina here.

The bell towers of Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church

A look at the bell towers at the doomed Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church on East 12th Street via EVG reader Ruth... from last night (above) and this morning...



Workers have prepped the church for demolition to make way for a new residential complex.

A look at the Bowery before it becomes 'one golden strip'

Catching up to this from The Commercial Observer last week... where Billy Gray got "tour" of RKF's properties for lease/sale on the Bowery.

Per RKF Executive Vice President Ariel Schuster: the Bowery will soon be "one golden strip."

And it's well on it's way.

1CO2100A0730

And you can expect more changes in the aftermath of that $62 million deal earlier this summer for 11 mixed-use buildings on the Bowery between Canal and Houston... not to mention the sale of 347 Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A quick Bowery retail inventory

Intermix arrives on the Bowery

Retail space at historic 330 Bowery now on the market

Buying up the Bowery

The Winslow Public House opening next month on East 14th Street

Work continues at 243 E. 14th St., where The Winslow Public House is scheduled to open next month here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue (IHOP Way!) ....

According to the Winslow website:

Boasting a warm and inviting aura, the focus of General Managers Aidan Fogarty, Mark Tafoya, and Jeff Winslow is upon capturing the essence of a classic British inspired public house and eatery. Although the bar will be stocked with 20 different types of old world/new world and British beer on tap, a batch of unique cocktails by Dominic Venegas, a talented mixologist and part of a James Beard Award nominated team, will garnish the menu.

There are photos of menu items and the renovated interior on the website.

In fairly quick succession, the space was previously home to Bishops and Barons and Hype Lounge.

82 E. Third St. is for sale

A reader pointed out this "property for sale" sign above 82 E. Third St. ... and asked if we knew how long the building here between First Avenue and Second Avenue had on the market.

We don't know. [Per the comments: It has been for sale about three months.] There's not much info on the listing either — mostly just the $10 million price tag.

There's no mention of the building being for sale at Streeteasy, where there are two active listings for apartments available starting Sept. 1.

Here are the details on one unit that's asking $4,599:

Large Ground Floor 3 Bedroom Flr-Thru Apartment
Hardwood Floors, French Doors, 3pc Bathroom and Shared Rear Garden/Patio,
Close to Colleges
Students Welcomed!!!
APARTMENT SE- Available September 1st
Rent From Only $4,599

Karl Fischer-designed apartment building taking off on East Third Street

It seemed like nothing much was happening at 316-318 E. Third St., the future of a Karl Fischer-designed, 33-unit apartment building. Now, the structure at the site of a former single-family home from the 1830s is ready to dwarf its neighbors...

Soon enough.


[Brody/Amirian]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another parcel of East Village land ready for development

Landmarks Preservation Commission rejects hearing for 316 E. Third St., paving way for 7-floor condo

EV Grieve Eatery Etc.: Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken opens; so does a new Lula's

After a warm-up this past weekend, Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken officially opens today on Second Avenue and East First Street... an event that hasn't gone unnoticed... Eater, Grub Street, Time Out and Fork in the Road all had previews.

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[Photo from Saturday by Robert Miner]

As we noted Saturday, Blythe Boyd reopened a vegan ice cream shop in the Lula's space on East Sixth Street... no word yet on its new name...

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Oh, and Hawa Smoothies has opened at 422 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A ...

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And at this point, we're not sure when Lucy's reopens after her usual summer break... the sign was slightly altered...

[Updated] Week in Grieview

[Avenue A Thursday afternoon]

RIP Walter De Maria (Monday)

Curb-crash driver on Second Avenue pleads not guilty (Wednesday)

Part of the former rolldown gate at the Mars Bar is now art in this East Village apartment (Tuesday)

About Archie & Sons, a new luncheonette on Third Avenue (Tuesday)

The Yippie Museum reopens (Wednesday)

Details on the first MoRUS Film Festival (Wednesday)

So long Max Fish (Tuesday)

How to get your money's worth from a Citi Bike (Tuesday)

AAA Amici Pizza has closed (Wednesday)

A Thai import for Avenue A (Thursday)

Still no tenants at 51 Astor Place (Tuesday)

First sign of Mee Noodle Shop (Thursday)

Tearing down Mary Help of Christians (Friday)

Out and About in the East Village ... at the 4th Street Food Co-op (Wednesday)

Painting over Tu Casa (Monday)

Live on St. Mark's Place for $19,500 a month (Monday)

7B in the movies (Wednesday)