Now, equal time, featuring Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

To ward off any "claims" of kitty bias this morning.

Breaking: Free cake, sandwiches at Rite Aid's grand reopening

The Rite Aid grand re-opening party is in FULL swing now on First Avenue and East Fifth Street.

Per a reader lured in by the Balloon Arc (trellis?):

Grand opening cake and sandwiches at rite aid! Lots of "new associate" nametags and as reported by earlier commenters, smiles and thank-yous.

Noted

EVG contributor Derek Berg spotted this sign on Fourth Avenue near East Ninth Street this afternoon ... not sure if this is legit ... or some kind of wacky viral marketing campaign or what not... In any event, did you catch the part about the "roach poison in Hennessey"?

[Updated] Today in lines for restaurants that may or may not be opening tonight

A reader notes that the line for Blue Ribbon Chicken Fried Chicken on East First Street and Second Avenue is currently wrapped around the corner... the restaurant isn't officially ready for business yet, but it is rumored to be opening tonight maybe for service.

Per another reader who stopped by at lunchtime:

We pressed our faces against the window and watched the staff eat lunch, and talked to a staffer outside eating a delicious looking sandwich. He told us it may open for dinner tonight, but he's not sure. HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW?!

Updated 9:03

Still a line around 8:20... several readers say that everything is free on the menu tonight...


[Photo by Carmen, aka, Tommy Sharkskin, aka aka Tompkins Square Shark]

Updated 11:26 am
Robert Sietsema offers his take on the food here at Eater.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Outside the new-look 205 Avenue A this morning via Greg Masters]

What's taking over the University Diner space (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

A rundown of LES-themed books and recommendations on where to read them (DNAinfo)

Landbrot Bakery & Bar evicted on Orchard Street (BoweryBoogie)

More about the East River Blueway Plan (The Villager)

At the National Night Out Against Crime, with "Macarena" video (Slum Goddess)

Brooklyn rents are now nearly high as Manhattan rents (Gothamist)

A now and then on West 13th Street (Gog in NYC)

And tonight as part of the ongoing MoRUS Film Festival: "7th Street" directed by Josh Pais. Read more about the documentary here. (The film is preceded by the Paper Tiger TV show "Play for Keeps," about the demolition of Esperanza Garden.)

Doors open at 7:30 pm at 6B Garden (Avenue B and 6th Street), and films begin at dusk. Per MoRUS: Arrive early for beer/wine, and to save a seat (or feel free to bring blankets or chairs of your own). $5 (suggested) at the door.

Here's a snippet of "7th Street" ...

Life is grand now at Rite Aid, maybe

The transformation of the Rite Aid on First Avenue at East Fifth Street is apparently complete. Goggla, who has admirably served as our EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent these recent whirlwindy weeks, points out the Balloon Arch (Trellis?) this morning... signage notes a "grand opening (and re-opening!) celebration."



A new-look inside .... a new-look outside... new-look hours (24!) ... an EVG regular even said that the employees were smiling and not making you feel as if you were at, say, the DMV or Peter Stuyvesant Post Office. Will it last?

Meanwhile! Bake A Bone™'s for everyone!


[Goggla]

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

Rite Aid's enchanted forest

How green is Rite Aid's valley?

Your guide to construction hell on East 11th Street

East 11th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B continues to be an active zone for ongoing construction. Idling trucks. Large cranes. Blocked traffic. Continuous jackhammering.

Here's a look at the projects making life nearly unbearable for some neighbors.

• The Mary Spink apartments, which will provide affordable housing for formerly homeless and mentally disabled East Villager residents


[Ron Z]


[RZ]

• 510 E. 11th St., where workers are adding a new floor to the existing four-story building...


[Cheryl Pyle]


[CP]


[CP]

• 500 E. 11th St, home of the incoming 7-Eleven. After 11 months of gut renovation, the space is finally looking 7-Eleveny/chainy...


[Bobby Williams]


[BW]

In April, some residents who live above here said that the never-ending work has made their existence in the building "a living hell."

• 181 Avenue A at East 11th Street, where workers are about halfway done demolishing the Mary Help of Christians school and church...


[BW]

After the demo, residents from more than just East 11th Street will have to endure the lengthy (and noisy) construction of developer Douglas Steiner's retail-residental complex.... described in one listing as a "140 unit market luxury rental building."

One East 11th Street resident said that one of these jobs would be off-putting enough, but four happening simultaneously is "fucking ridiculous."

A final look inside the Anshei Meseritz synagogue on East Sixth Street

On Tuesday, we had an update on the condo conversion at the Anshei Meseritz synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. The sight of discarded prayer books outside angered several readers... However, workers on the scene assured neighbors that the books have been (and will be) properly disposed of... (As for the books in the photo? "A miscommunication.")

A neighbor also saw the interior...



As noted, the landmarked building was in disrepair and the congregation's population had dwindled. Synagogue leaders reportedly signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million. The renovations include a penthouse addition and an elevator. The synagogue will reportedly retain space on the ground floor and basement for their use.

Noted

A reader spotted the above the other day on Avenue C and East 11th Street ... you know, the hat with the "Party With Sluts" slogan. (It's not just a saying, it's a lifestyle!)

In any event, the hat has been preserved... and will be part of The Met's upcoming exhibit, "WOO: College to Flip Cup," which examines woo's impact on brunch, tailgate parties and Instagram, from the movement's birth in the early 2010s through its continuing influence today.

CANCELED Free tonight in Tompkins Square Park: Chico + Rita (rain optional?)

Per the Films at Tompkins website:

Ugh! Another Thursday and another day of rain. We can't believe it but yet another film has to be canceled due to the weather. We won't be showing Chico & Rita tonight

Tonight's selection is "Chico + Rita," a Spanish animated feature-length film (with Spanish and English languages) directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at this past year's Academy Awards.

The plot:

A gifted songwriter and beautiful singer chase their dreams – and each other – from Havana to New York and Las Vegas. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unite them, but their journey – in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero – brings heartache and torment.

Find the trailer here.

There's pre-movie music courtesy of the Rebeca Vallejo Trio.

As always, this is weather permitting... If it's a Thursday, then it will rain. And there's a 50 30 percent chance of showers tonight, according to our sources at The Weather Channel this morning. Check the Films in Tompkins Facebook page for updates on tonight's screening. The weather has KO'd five of nine films here this summer.

And upcoming...

Aug. 15 — Romeo + Juliet
Aug. 22 — O Brother, Where Art Thou

Oh, it's pretty nice up there

I walk by 211 E. 3rd St. just east of Avenue B all the time... never had any idea just how nice it is up there...

Like private-jacuzzi-on-the-rooftop nice.



Learned this upon seeing a listing for the "sprawling duplex penthouse apartment."




Per Corcoran:

The internal living space is arranged as two double master bedrooms with ensuite baths, plus two additional bedrooms and full baths. A circular staircase leads to a generously proportioned living/dining area. The apartment features two big screen televisions, a gas fireplace, washer/dryer, dishwasher, outdoor grill, and outdoor Jacuzzi.

Price: $12,000 a month.

How does this stack up to other nice apartments? It's just $1,500 less than renting a home with a private rooftop pool and "lawn" on East Second Street.

Here is the CBGB movie trailer

The Hollywood Reporter had the exclusive first look today at the trailer for the CBGB biopic. After premiering at the CBGB Festival, the film opens Oct. 11 in New York, Los Angeles and other select cities. It was filmed in Savannah, Ga., on Broughton Street (on Paula Deen's block!) ... while the crew replicated the inside of the bar in Savannah's Meddin Studios, where all the interior shots took place...

So. What do you think of the trailer?