Sushi in the works for Avenue C and East 8th Street

The restaurant space on the northwest corner of Avenue C and Eighth Street has seen a variety of concepts come and go in recent years.

Lumé, the "Epicurean drinkery," was the last venture to try this corner… which took over for the short-lived Life - Kitchen and Bar … which had taken over for Verso. Other restaurants here in the past seven years include Caffe Pepe Rosso and Caffe Cotto.

Now a group has plans to open a sushi restaurant in the space. Not much is known about the applicants, who will appear before CB3's SLA committee meeting on Jan. 11 for a new liquor license.

The questionnaire (PDF!) on file at the CB3 website ahead of the meeting shows a chef's table seating from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with outdoor seating available every day from noon to midnight. In addition, the proprietors have bar seating hours listed on Monday-Wednesday 4 p.m. to midnight, and noon to 4 a.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Here is a diagram of the still-unnamed restaurant that's with the application online...


[Click to go big]

The SLA meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East 8th Street and Avenue C, home to 5 restaurants in recent years, is now on the market

Wayland owners hosting a neighborhood Q-and-A tomorrow night about new venture at 157 Avenue C

[Image via Instagram]

Last week, we reported that Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall, who own The Wayland at 700 E. Ninth St. at Avenue C (as well as Good Night Sonny on St. Mark's Place and First Avenue), have plans to open a new bar called The Drift in the current Royale space at 157 Avenue C between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

Next Monday, Ceraso and Mendenhall will appear before CB3's SLA committee to apply for a new liquor license for No. 157. (The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.)

Ahead of that, Ceraso promised to hold a Q-and-A with neighbors who may have any questions about the new venture... or anything else related to his bars. Below, Ceraso provides details about the meeting... as well as responds to some of the comments in the previous post accusing him of running a loud bar, etc.

My bars follow all the rules. Close our doors on time. Always monitor our noise levels. Serve food all hours. Have responsible security staff and managers/owners on site every day. Always do what we say we are going to do at CB3 SLA meetings.

We have no tvs, we never participate in bar crawls or Santacon, don’t offer boozy brunches and The Wayland keeps live music alive in a neighborhood that has lost most of it’s music venues, 4 nights a week as a labor of love. We have strong relationships with our neighbors at 700 E. Ninth St. and we have gardens on both sides of our bar with no direct neighbors across either street.

So I ask myself, who could I be offending with my bluegrass and dixieland live music and mostly rock 'n' roll soundtrack for the rest of the evenings?

I was going to do a Q-and-A for 157 Avenue C anyway, why not start a monthly meeting where our neighbors can not only talk to me but also maybe down the road we can get some other business owners involved as well?

This Tuesday Jan. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m., I’m hosting a meeting at The Wayland for anyone who has questions or concerns about anything we are doing, including The Wayland, Good Night Sonny and 157 Avenue C. Refreshments will be served.

Hopefully we can have some good discussions about living together and maybe some of your more adamant commenters will show up and meet us face to face.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Wayland owners now eyeing Royale space for The Drift on Avenue C

Temporary IDNYC center opens today on Avenue D

[Oops, sorry, wrong ID]



A temporary IDNYC enrollment site opens today at the Henry Street Settlement/Jobs Plus Site at 24 Avenue D near East Third Street ... and will remain open through Jan. 15.

Per Councilmember Rosie Mendez's website:

The IDNYC program launched in 2015 providing New York City residents with the opportunity to get a free identification card. IDNYC provides access to City services and cultural institutions, numerous discounts, and gives the peace of mind that comes from having recognized identification.

You will be able to use your IDNYC card at any public library in New York... as well as discounts on movie tickets, Broadway shows, sporting events, theme parks, and NYC landmarks and attractions. (Find the list of discounts here.)

By the way, the IDs won't get you into a bar. Also, several big banks, including Bank of America, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase and Capital One, refuse to accept the card as a primary form of identification, per The New York Times in an editorial the other day.

The site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday except Tuesday, when the hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can make an appointment by visiting www.nyc.gov/idnyc or calling 311.

...and the pop-up launch is this afternoon at 1...

A Choice new space for cleaners on Avenue B

A storefront shuffle to note on Avenue B between East Second Street and East Third Street ... where Choice Cleaners is moving two storefronts to the north, to where the former pet supply shop was until a few weeks ago...



The new space will be larger for the owner, who plans on expanding her alteration services, per EVG contributor Stacie Joy.

And at the former deli next to Cornerstone ... the landlord is taking a new approach with the for rent sign...


[Photo by Stacie Joy]

Week in Grieview

[New Year's Day on Avenue A via Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Gone but not forgotten (Friday)

Winter coat drive underway at Maryhouse on East Third Street (Wednesday)

The latest PS 64 debacle: Investors sue Gregg Singer (Thursday)

The Lazy Llama Coffee Bar is open in the former Bluebird space on East First Street (Tuesday)

Wayland owners now eyeing Royale space for The Drift on Avenue C (Tuesday)

Sweethaus Cupcake Cafe opening an outpost on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Developer Douglas Steiner lands $130 million loan for condo construction at former Mary Help of Christians space (Tuesday)

Mamoun's Falafel is moving on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

99¢ Pizza now serving 99¢ pizza on Avenue A (Thursday)

The city's first free wi-fi kiosk is now outside Starbucks on Third Avenue and East 15th Street (Monday)

Future tenant in the works for the former Nevada Smiths space (Monday)

Bluestone Lane Coffee signage arrives at 51 Astor Place (Thursday)

The MáLà Project now open on First Avenue (Wednesday)

City mentions the "S" word! (Monday)

Columbia Care brands its marijuana dispensary on East 14th Street (Tuesday)

A dry cleaner-laundromat combo for the former Little Pakistan Deli space on Second Avenue (Monday)

397-401 E. Eighth St. now with mini balconies, AC units (Thursday)

The "Star Wars" stunt burger (Tuesday)

There won't be any skating on Extell Lake this winter (Wednesday)

Tricked-out barber pole arrives on East Sixth Street (Wednesday)

Soothsayer is hiring on Avenue A (Monday)

The Red-Tailed Hawks of Tompkins Square Park Calendar 2016

January's Model: Christo

Photo today via Bobby Williams

2015 Citi Bike recap: 10 million-plus trips

[Photo from Dec. 15 on 7th and A by Derek Berg]

On Thursday afternoon, the 10 millionth trip was taken on a Citi Bike.

On this occasion, Mayor de Blasio and Citi Bike released a statement:

Ridership increased 24 percent in 2015 – including seven days in which ridership exceeded 50,000 trips, twice during the Papal visit in September.

Citi Bike has far and away the highest ridership volume of any bike share system in the nation, and is on par with the largest bike share systems in the Western hemisphere. There have been nearly 9 million trips taken on Mexico City’s similarly sized EcoBici bike share in 2015, and London’s larger Santander Cycle Hire was on pace for 9,943,074 trips in 2015.

As for the 10 millionth trip taker, he or she is receiving a free year of membership, plus three gift memberships to share with family and friends, per the statement.

Happy New Year's Ray

A late-night/early-morning scene at Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A...



And Ray turns 83 this month...

Photos by Peter Brownscombe

[Updated] Gone but not forgotten

Remembering a few of our friends and neighbors who died in 2015...


[Image via Facebook]

Ralph Feldman, longtime East Village resident, former FDNY fire marshal

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Christopher "Gonzo" Gonzalez, poet, chef, member of the Campos Community Garden

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Steven Steinberg, third-generation owner of New York Central Art Supply

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Walter Przedpelski, lifelong resident of East Ninth Street

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[Photo by Sally Davies]

Charlie Romonofsky, dog walker, father of Sweet Pea

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Mary Bellis, aka CalmX, filmmaker, artist, writer.

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Brian Fair, owner of St. Mark's Sounds

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Shane Keogh, bartender, musician, jokester

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[Photo by Goggla]

Hank Penza, owner of the Mars Bar

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Joy Ryder, singer, musician

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[Husko, left, with his father. Courtesy of the Velez family]

RIP Milton "Husko" Velez, Jr., father of three

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[Photo of Adam Purple in 2012 by @rahav]

Adam Purple, activist, environmentalist

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[Image via Facebook]

Morris Faitelewicz, 9/11 first responder, Community Board 3 member

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Ian Jones, model, photographer

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[Photo via Facebook]

Patrick Salt Ryan, bartender, singer-songwriter

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Donna Harris, homeless resident of Avenue A/Tompkins Square Park

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[Photo of Amnon Kehati, standing in back, via The Villager]

Amnon Kehati, longtime partner at Sidewalk Cafe

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[Image via]

Adam Roth, guitarist, composer, actor

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[Photo by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis for The Lo-Down]

Walter Kühr, owner of the Main Squeeze Accordion shop

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[Image via Facebook]

Moises Ismael Locón Yac, restaurant worker, devoted family man

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Nicholas Figueroa, recent college graduate, oldest brother

------------------------

Updated 1/2



Judith Malina, co-founder of the Living Theatre

99¢ Pizza now serving 99¢ pizza on Avenue A

The discount pizzeria had its Grand Opening last evening here at 91 Avenue A at East Sixth Street.

The pizzeria is operating out of the space that last housed Benny's to-go. Not sure what's going on with the former D-Lish Pita storefront next door. There has been some work done on that space as well.

Meantime, let us know if you try this pizza. (Seriously.) We'll also post a night-time photo of the storefront some time. It is quite bright. (Seriously.)

Updated

Here it is at night... via EVG 99¢ pizza corespondent Steven...





Previously on EV Grieve:
How about some 99¢ pizza for Avenue A

Incoming 99¢ pizza place on Avenue A will be called 99¢ Pizza

Everybody's working for The Weeknd!

As we wrap up the year, just a quick thank you to everyone here who made The Weeknd No. 1 in the East Village! Woo!

First Avenue at East Second Street.

Headline (and fashion inspiration) via

The latest PS 64 debacle: Investors sue Gregg Singer

[EVG file photo]

Developer Gregg Singer, who has spent nearly 18 years trying to convert the former P.S 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center into student housing, is now reportedly being sued by his investors.

The Real Deal has the scoop:

Investors in the long-stalled redevelopment of the former PS 64 in the East Village are trying to force the building’s sale, claiming their partner is bleeding them dry to line his own pockets with management fees worth $30,000 per month.

A trio of financial backers led by Los Angeles-based Onyx Asset Management is asking a judge to boot developer Gregg Singer as manager of project, alleging several conflicts of interest that have led to him “wasting and dissipating the assets” of the partnership, according to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday.

And!

The asset manager said it and the other investors put almost $8 million worth of debt and equity into the project, and after paying off the defaulted mortgage the development partnership took out a $22 million bridge loan at 11 percent interest, guaranteed by Onyx.

Despite earlier reports that Singer had signed the West Village’s Ballet School as a tenant, however, progress at the site struggled, and in July the company defaulted on the loan, kicking the interest rate up to 16 percent.

Singer bought the formerly city-owned building on East 9th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C in 1998 for $3.15 million. There has been a movement to return the building to use as a cultural and community center.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood

Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market

Efforts continue to fight the dorm planned for the former PS 64 on East 9th Street

Testimony Of Councilmember Rosie Mendez regarding the former PS 64

[Updated] At the 'Save Our Community Center MARCH AND RALLY'

Landmarks Preservation Commission asks to see modified plans for former PS 64

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approves application for modifications at PS 64

'Misinformation' cited as DOB issues Stop Work Order at the former PS 64; community meeting set for Sunday afternoon

Development drama continues at the former P.S. 64, where the city approved dorm-conversion permits (again)

[Updated] The former P.S. 64 appears to be for sale