EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Tompkins Square Park photo by Michael Sean Edwards]

A look at the Vanished Spaces exhibit at ABC No Rio (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

The end is very near for Olympic Restaurant and Jade Fountain on Delancey (BoweryBoogie)

Big Gay Ice Cream will open a Philadelphia location (Grub Street)

City pays $583,024 to Occupy Wall Street protestors (Runnin' Scared)

Not much left of the Cherry Street Pathmark (The Lo-Down)

Claim: the NYPD made 80 low-level weed possession arrests a day so far this year (Animal NY)

NYC taxis through the years (Untapped Cities)

What's new at Paul's Daughter in Coney Island (Amusing the Zillion)

And from Death and Taxes ...

While it may seem well beyond unfathomable, it took nearly 40 years for the seminal debut from The Ramones to achieve “Gold” status with the Recording Industry Association Of America, indicating it has sold in excess of 500,000 copies

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher
Name: Anthony Rocco
Occupation: Substance Abuse Counselor at Su Casa Methadone-to-Abstinence Residence
Location: 3rd Street and Avenue C
Date: Monday, June 9 at 2 p.m.

I grew up in the neighborhood. I’m 58. I’m Italian by descent. I’ve seen all the changes. It’s changed for the better, in a sense. For some reason my journey through life has always brought me back, for whatever reason.

When I was growing up, it was a rough neighborhood. I remember in the 1970s and 1980s on 6th Street, you could get a 6-room apartment for like $35 a month, cause it was a bad neighborhood. Drugs were running rampant.

I’ve had a couple of careers in my life. I went to Brooklyn Automotive to become an auto mechanic, but I wound up becoming a boiler mechanic. I did that for 14 years. I actually became a heroin addict. I’m in recovery now. I’ve been 18 years clean. I have total, absolute sobriety, but I lost that job and was running the streets with the drugs, selling — and eventually I did time.

I came home, got into the plumber’s union, became a plumber. I wasn’t one to rob so I had to support my habit one way or another. That or be sick. You do what you gotta do. It’s a crazy lifestyle. It builds character in the negative sense, but the things that have happened to me in my life, that’s what made me into the man I am today. It’s funny how God gives you a hand and you have to play it out. I’ve been blessed that I woke up and found sobriety.

Avenue B, right over there where there’s a condo, there used to be a gas station. I remember standing out there in the winter one time with the 55-gallon drums, with wood and whatever you could burn because it was like 10 degrees outside and we were out there at night trying to keep warm. There were none of these outside restaurants. Art galleries were unheard of.

It’s a beautiful neighborhood. It was always a nice melting pot of people. It was just that early on, when I was younger, the drugs were running rampant. It was always there when I was a kid growing up, but then it got worse over the years. It got to the point where places like Avenue B, Norfolk Street, were drug markets. Drug dealers were all over the corner. If you wanted heroin, the Lower East Side was the place to be. This was the mecca.

I guess they say it’s when you hit your bottom. I was thrown in the back of a police van once again, looking at another B felony for sale and I reflected back on my life. I knew then and there that was it. I couldn’t take it anymore. I remember, I made bail and I told myself I was going to get help, and I did at a place on 6th Street. I went to a place called Su Casa, right over there. It’s a treatment facility. Actually, I’m a counselor there now. So you remember me saying at the beginning that for some reason I keep coming back after things happen.

I was actually paralyzed from the chest down. I’m walking with this cane because my legs are weakened from the paralysis, so I couldn’t do the plumbing work that I was used to. I was in a wheelchair for a month. That’s a whole interesting story in itself. They gave me steroids cause a virus attacked my spinal cord and kind of cut everything off. Physically I’ve been the same for awhile. I accept it for what it is. I’m walking. I had to learn how to walk and I had to learn how to live in chronic pain.

After I accepted dealing with the pain and that I wasn’t going to get any better I went to college. I got an associate's degree in drafting and design in 2008 at City Tech. It took me three years to get a two-year degree but I proved to myself that I could do it.

In 2008, the economy was really bad. I wasn’t getting any work so I decided to go to Metropolitan College down on Canal Street to get my CASAP — Control, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse Counselor. I knew I could get a job doing that, and I had affiliate with Su Casa, being an alumni. It’s where I got clean. I lived there for two years. They saved my life. I mean, I had to do the work of course, because if I wasn’t open and willing and if I didn’t have the desire to get clean… You have to want to. And it’s been fulfilling.

I guess my life has kind of come full circle and now I’m a counselor in the rehab. Su Casa is a treatment facility — a 12- to 18-month residential program. My house, your house. It’s an extremely good program, with people from all walks of life and from different states.

Again, I’m a product of it. It’s behavior modification. Addiction is basically a disease, so hit it kind of hardcore there, with consequences for negative actions. If you make a bad decision you have to pay the consequence. The only difference is that in there you may get like a contract called LE, which is a learning experience where you clean or work all day. But in there it’s just a contract, whereas out on the streets that negative behavior can catch you a bullet. There’s really nothing in there that could hurt you.

It’s tough for the young kids coming in today. There is [a resurgence], especially with the young kids with the Xanax and then the Oxycontin. Some people get into car accidents and then they become addicted to Oxycontin, but Oxycontin is expensive so they go to the heroin and the methadone. I’m just happy I got clean when I did because I could see myself doing the same thing, as far as the Benzo. That’s a hell of a thing.

There’s always hope. There are a lot of people that may want to get help. A lot of people know we’re over there, but for those who don’t and are seeking help, I would recommend it.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

RIP Hayne Suthon

[Photo by Biljana Ustic via Facebook]

East Village resident Hayne Suthon, the owner and operator of restaurant/drag club Lucky Cheng's, died Monday after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 57, according to friends.

The Louisiana native's family bought 24 First Ave. in 1986, and she converted the former Club Baths into the Roman-themed Cave Canem. The space became Lucky Cheng's in 1993. (You can read more about the space's history at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.)

Her friend Steve Lewis paid tribute to her yesterday at BlackBook:

Hayne could be described as a wild woman. Those who knew her loved her indiscretions. She wanted to have fun and she did. You can’t define her simply. An old friend told me yesterday that “she lived life” and that is true. It must be remembered that she was a trusted friend.

She was as sharp as they come. Her legal background was always made available to those around her who were less savvy. Despite being racked with cancer, she wanted to make sure that the recently released Michael Alig had every opportunity to right himself. She was fun. She had a twinkle in her that wouldn’t go away no matter how serious things got.

Most recently, Suthon was in a legal fight with the operators behind Pride and Joy BBQ, who were renting the former Lucky Cheng's space on First Avenue. (You can read more about this lawsuit here.)

It's unclear if the lawsuit was ever cleared up. Not much has happened with the space in recent months. Lewis noted this about it: "She was having trouble with her tenant and it wore on her."

Meanwhile, Lucky Cheng's, which moved to Midtown in 2012, remains open.

Per Lewis: "I don’t know what happens now to Lucky Cheng’s. The vultures will see an opportunity to buy low and so it just may go. They'll pick at the bones of her dreams. It's hard to imagine it without Hayne, without that twinkle in her eye."

The Adele joins The Robyn in pop star-friendly East Village corridor

[EVG file photo from April]

Well, it turns out that Alphabet Plaza, the 12-story mixed-used apartment building going up at East Houston and Avenue D, is actually going by a different name now. (Early reports about the development referred to it as Alphabet Plaza.)

Yesterday, workers dropped a banner on the side of the building. Say hello to The Adele!





The banner lists a website, though at this point, it's just a placeholder … noting that "luxury rentals" will be coming this summer. There isn't any pricing yet.

And this appears to be The Adele's slogan:

"In a city where everyone is always going somewhere, you’ll already be there."

While wrapping your head around that, here are some of the building's previously reported amenities, such as a 24-hour doorman, valet services (laundry drop-off and pick-up), fitness center, residents lounge, landscaped roof decks (where you can watch the Skyfall?) and bike storage. In total, there will be 135 units here, 30 of them affordable.

The homage to a successful pop singer can't be ignored. So now we have The Adele, named maybe for the English singer-songwriter, joining another neighboring new building The Robyn, named maybe for the Swedish pop star, at 316 E. Third St. Maybe they'll be a push for The Madonna for old time's sake one of these days?

[Adele photos via @DavidCaplanNYC]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: 12th-story 'Alphabet Plaza' in the works for Second Street and Avenue D

Alphabet Plaza ready to rise on Avenue D

Alphabet Plaza is rising on East Houston and Avenue D

Easy as...: Alphabet Plaza makes first appearance above ground

Here are details on applying for one of the 30 affordable units in Alphabet Plaza

Last call for Launderette today on 2nd Avenue

[Photo yesterday via EVG reader EJ]

In late April, the owners of the longtime laundromat at 97 Second Ave. near East Sixth Street posted a detailed letter about why they are closing their business later in the summer.

Unfortunately, "later in the summer" became today. The last self-serve wash is at 1:30 today, and any dropoffs have to be picked up by 3 p.m.

The operators of Launderette also owned the building, so it was the family's decision to leave "for a host of personal and business reasons," according to a detailed letter to customers.

The building's new owners are pitching the space for a restaurant. The asking rent per the listing: $25,500 a month.

We've also heard several horror stories about the new ownership (read about the legal battle over the building at The Real Deal) from residents who live upstairs. We'll save those for another post.

Previously on EV Grieve:
It will be 'easy to convert' Launderette into a restaurant on 2nd Avenue

Longtime Second Avenue Launderette will close this summer

Big Pink owner wants to meet the neighbors

Several residents have pointed out that the proprietor looking to secure a liquor license for the former Company Bar and Grill space on East 10th Street is looking to meet his potential new neighbors.

The applicant, Avi Burnbaum, has listed two different time blocks to meet at the Bean on First Avenue and East Ninth Street ... and if these don't work, he'll make arrangements for another time.

As we've previously pointed out, paperwork filed ahead of Monday's CB3/SLA committee meeting includes an extensive "good neighbor plan" to show how Big Pink will work to keep things quiet outside the establishment.

It's noteworthy because we can't recall an applicant in recent years going to such lengths to talk with residents before a CB3/SLA meeting. (Read more about the plans for the space here.)

The CB3/SLA meeting is Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

A WTF reaction to the abrupt closure of a rooftop deck on East 2nd Street

Word came down last Thursday that the roof deck at 194 E. Second St. at Avenue B had closed EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

Management didn't offer any explanation. Apparently this has not been a popular decision, especially with the arrival of summer.

One perturbed resident moved in several years ago with the promise of amenities such as the rooftop deck. (Other amenities haven't really panned out, such as the fitness center, "a few machines in a smelly unfinished basement," according to the tenant.)

"The roof is the main reason we signed our leases. It was the first thing brokers show you when they try to lease the apartment. It has beautiful views. I like to think it is part of our building culture and community," the resident says.

Landlord Skyline Developers had advertised the amenity on their website, though has since removed it.



The resident admits that this roof closure is insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but people feel cheated here. "I pay my rent with the knowledge that I will have access to our roof."

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Photo by Michael Sean Edwards]

Hawk family update (Gog in NYC)

Master Softee trucks banned in NYC (Daily News)

Rent hike closes "Lower East Side" designer's shop (DNAinfo)

The cars of the East Village circa 1995 (New York City 1990s)

Clinton Street Baking Company expanding next door? (BoweryBoogie)

A feature on Jim and Karla Murray's book "The Disappearing Face of New York" (Dangerous Minds)

Floating pool in the East River closer to reality (HuffPo)

The NYC subway photography of Walker Evans from 1938-1941 (Ephemeral New York)

$28 million penthouse sells at the Puck Building (The Real Deal)

How to help save Jim's Shoe Repair from being swallowed by Duane Reade (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

The collateral damage from Citi Bikes: Bike shops (Bloomberg News)

Video: Figment Arts Festival 2014 at Governors Island (GammaBlog)

... and, randomly, if you want to watch a time-lapse video of repairs being made to Jon Spencer's guitar ...

Prepping the former R&S Strauss auto parts store for demolition on East 14th Street and Avenue C

More than five years after closing, it looks as if the R&S Strauss auto parts store is finally being prepped for demolition on the southeast corner of East 14th Street and Avenue C.



On Friday, a reader said that the DEP was there to disconnect some of the utilities. However, despite this action, as well as baiting for rodents, there aren't any demo permits on file with the city just yet.



As for what's next, there are plans waiting for approval to build a 15-story, mixed-use retail-residential complex.



New York Yimby had some details in late April about this Karl Fischer-designed building, which will total 61,789 square feet. DOB permits show 8,578 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. The remainder of the first five stories will host a community facility, which will span 18,937 square feet, and 50 apartments will sit above — some even with views of the Con Ed plant.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Development back in play for East 14th Street and Avenue C

More details on the sale of 644 E. 14th St.

Here comes a 15-story retail-residential complex for East 14th Street and Avenue C

Remembering poet Frank O'Hara's joyful spirit on East 9th Street

Tonight at 6, the Greenwich Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), Two Boots and the Poetry Project will host a celebration of poet Frank O'Hara with a plaque unveiling outside 441 E. Ninth St.

O'Hara lived at this address just west of Tompkins Square Park for four years with his on-and-off-again lover Joe LeSueur.

From the GVSHP blog Off the Grid:

From his window on East Ninth Street he could see the Church of St. Brigid (which he called St. Bridget’s) across Tompkins Square Park on Avenue B at East Eighth Street, and mentioned it in several poems. Here’s part of “Early on Sunday,” 1961:

…how sad the lower East Side is on Sunday morning in May
eating yellow eggs
eating St. Bridget’s benediction
washing the world down with rye and Coca-Cola and the news
Joe stumbles home
pots and pans crash to the floor
everyone’s happy again

O'Hara died in a car accident on Fire Island in 1966. He was 40.

Read more about O'Hara and tonight's dedication at Off the Grid here.

Also, tomorrow night, the Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery will host a reading of O'Hara's 50th anniversary edition of "Lunch Poems." Find the details here.

Dunkin' Donuts-branded door handle arrives on Cooper Square

As we first reported back on May 16, the city's 34,000th Dunkin' Donuts is taking over the former Norman's Sound & Vision space at 67 Cooper Square.

We happened to notice one small detail of DD's arrival: the door handle…



Norman's Sound & Vision closed after 22 years in August 2012 … with high rents chasing them to Williamsburg.

Previously on EV Grieve:
But of course!: Former Norman's Sound & Vision space becoming a Dunkin' Donuts

The Bowery and East First Street, now marked by bright neon

A reader asked if we had any information about the new neon signage that arrived on the Bowery and East First Street above the Hamptons-based Blue & Cream boutique … one for the First and the Bowery side to light up the night sky…





Perhaps some branding by Avalon Bowery Place to create excitement or something for Extra Place around the bend?

Anyone know what this is all about?