The recently reopened El Sombrero will close this week for renovations

Rough times in recent months at El Sombrero, the 30-year-old mainstay on Ludlow and Stanton. Business was off … then came word that Artichoke Pizza wanted the space… those plans fell through, and, after a reprieve, the inexpensive Mexican restaurant closed for good on March 22.

But! As BoweryBoogie first noted, El Sombrero returned with new owners on April 1.

The new owners, Jose Almonte and Jose Almonte Jr., are related to the folks who ran El Sombrero the previous 30 years. Jose Jr. let us know that the restaurant will close early this week for a month-long renovation. He said that they will retain the El Sombrero name.

"We will continue to be a family owned and operated business," he said. "My intentions are to [make this] an eating establishment like no other in the Lower East Side."

Lebrini's Pizzeria giving way to Majesty Pizza and Grill on Avenue C

Lebrini's Pizzeria on Avenue C at East Third Street has closed … and a new restaurant is on the way in, as the signs on the front windows note…



Proprietor Bobby Lebrini confirmed that the sale of his 4-plus-year-old shop became official last week.

No word on an opening date for Majesty Pizza and Grill just yet…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Watch this guy go beserk inside Lebrini's Pizzeria on Avenue C

Concern for China Wok on Avenue B

The reliable, quick-serve restaurant at the corner of East Third Street was closed for the second weekend in a row. Signs arrived outside the other day explaining that the closure has to do with "mandatory repairs."



This is often the telltale sign of a DOH closure … though there's nothing on file with the DOH to indicate that this had to do with a health code violation.

Said one neighbor, an EVG reader: "I haven't actually seen anyone go in or out of there since they've been closed. I've known them for 18 years, so I hope it's not another closing."

The Croman-owned 9300 Realty is the property's landlord. Three of the five adjacent Croman storefronts have closed in recent months — Cafe Rakka, Coyi Cafe and the laundromat.

Updated 6:39 a.m.



A reader points out that the sign with the same explanation … and with the same handwriting … is on the gate at Meskel, the Ethiopian restaurant on East Third Street that shares the same building as China Wok.

And now, photos of the moon showing off last night

"As darkness falls on May 11, 2014, the bright waxing gibbous moon shines in between the planet Mars and Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo." Dunno about Mars and Spica, but here's the moon …



Top photos by Bobby Williams … and via Grant Shaffer with a telescope …

[Updated] DOH temporarily closes Hop Devil Grill and the Belgian Room

DOH inspectors came calling on St. Mark's Place Friday… and both the Belgian Room …



… and Hop Devil Grill were temporarily closed for the weekend for unspecified violations (the reports were not online just yet)…



Both spaces have signs on the door noting they are closed "due to electrical issues."


[Photo by Ted Roden]

There isn't any mention of the closures on either bar's website or social media accounts.

Meanwhile, Ton-Up Cafe, which is between The Belgian Room and Hop Devil Grill, is also closed…



Not much info on the sign on the door…



The cafe opened in April 2013 … and serves paninis named in honor of Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry and Elvis.

One of the owners here also operates Falanghina, the pizzeria which remains open at the former Whole Earth Bakery across the street.

Updated 5-13

The Belgian Room and Hop Devil Grill are BACK open.

Mother's Day on Avenue A

Photo today by Jeremiah Moss

A Mother's Day-Mannequin moment at B&H Dairy

EVG Roving Mannequin Photographer Derek Berg spotted the above earlier this afternoon on Second Avenue at East Seventh Street … she (they?) was heading into B&H Dairy …



Turns out that this was a Mother's Day gift …

Week in Grieview

[Performer Leo Gu Gu in front of Eastern Bloc last week via Grant Shaffer]

Murder charge for driver who crashed into East Village Farm & Grocery (Tuesday)

NoHo flea market gutted for new condos (Monday)

New 12-story, mixed-use building in the works for Avenue D (Thursday)

NY Copy & Printing finds a new home after losing lease on East 11th Street (Wednesday)

Dok Suni is closing after 22 years (Tuesday)

Jennifer Blowdryer's East Village (Tuesday)

The hawks of Tompkins Square Park are now parents (Friday)

Out and About with the shopkeepers of Anna (Wednesday)

New hotel in the works at the Whitehouse Hostel on the Bowery (Monday)

The Russ & Daughters Cafe opens (Wednesday)

A look at the exhibit "Dealing With Things Is Tricky" featuring Frank Ape (Sunday)

Perbacco is closed for remodeling (Thursday)

Demolition commences on East 14th Street to make way for two retail-residential complexes (Tuesday)

Honoring Alan Cumming at Theatre 80 (Tuesday)

Speaking out against Steve Croman (Thursday)

More on the transformation of 243-245 E. Second St. (Friday)

A new Indian restaurant on East 6th Street (Tuesday)

$18,975 asking rent for former South Brooklyn Pizza space (Wednesday)

Liquiteria opening in former Blimpie space on Fourth Avenue (Thursday)

Apiary becomes Après (Friday)

Bibi Wine Bar opens on East Fourth Street (Thursday)

Cooper Square dorm update (Monday)

Work on the Miss Lily's 7A Cafe sidewalk awning (Monday)

Construction watch at 536 E. 13th St. (Friday)

A look at the 'Heroines of the Lower East Side'

Been meaning to check out the completed work on Centre-fuge Cycle 13, the rotating outdoor gallery/construction trailer here along East First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

All the art this time is by Lexi Bella … for a collection titled "Heroines of the Lower East Side" … as part of the first Lower East Side History Month.

Aside from the more recognizable portraits of Debbie Harry and Rosario Dawson … Bella honors the Russ Daughters (of Russ & Daughters fame) …



LaMama founder Ellen Stewart …



Educator Catherine Ferguson, who founded the first Sunday school in New York City …



Hell-cat Maggie, "who fought alongside the Dead Rabbits and other Five Pointers against rival nativist gangs from the Bowery" …



… Lexi also paid tribute to her daughter Roxy, as BoweryBoogie pointed out…



Find more info about Centre-fuge here.

2 scenes from Saturday night

[Photo by Dave on 7th]

A (fake) drunken pirate and his entourage on East Seventh Street and Avenue A…

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Someone smelled smoke on East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. Turned out it was a rooftop BBQ party.


[Photos by William Klayer]

[UPDATED] Reward for info on East 6th Street assault; plus video of the attack

There's a $2,000 reward for any information about the assault that took place Friday night on East Sixth Street near Avenue D … that left a 68-year-old man in critical condition.

According to the NYPD, the victim was walking on East Sixth Street when an unknown suspect approached and started yelling at him. The suspect grabbed the victim and threw him on the ground. The suspect then began punching and kicking the victim in the head.

It was unclear what prompted the attack … or if the two men knew each other.

Anyone with information about the attack can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Meanwhile, an anonymous reader shared the full surveillance tape of the incident … (warning: the graphic video shows the attack and the aftermath of the victim lying on the sidewalk). The victim enters the video at the 17-second mark.



Updated 8:12 p.m.

NBC 4 reports that the victim, Ruan Wen Hui, has died from the injuries sustained in the attack.

"The guy didn’t even take money or anything. It was just stupid violence," one resident told CBS New York.

That late afternoon rain

Avenue A and East Sixth Street via Bobby Williams