Today in budding sinkholes

Today's contestant is on First Avenue at East Seventh Street. Good luck!

Photo by William Klayer

Updated 12:55 p.m.

An instant request...



Updated 2-24

A hole lotta love!...



And if you want to see a 3-second video of the hole on Instagram (right here).

Construction watch: 64 E. 1st St., paying homage to the Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges

Here in The Bowery District, a made-up term to help sell 64 E. First St., work is moving along quickly on the luxury condos between First Avenue and Second Avenue ...





The teaser site for the six, full-floor residences now includes interior renderings and pricing for the units.

Rounding up or down a little, the home prices vary from $3.2 to $3.9 million. (Of the three units listed, one is in contract. It's not clear if the other homes have already been called for.)

Some descriptions from the website:

With its open-plan living, kitchen and dining concept, window walls that allow abundant natural light to pour in, and ceiling heights maximized by revealing the structural beams, the interiors of 64 East are defined by an incredible sense of expansiveness.

And!

A consummation of modern innovation and sleek style, bathrooms at 64 East are an inviting haven of clean simplicity and surprising dimension, with classic design elements like subway tiles, floating cabinetry, and gleaming, all-nickel plumbing fittings with cross handles and escutcheon plates from Waterworks’ distinctive “Ludlow” collection.

And!

A stylish and welcoming open-air lounge, the rooftop terrace offers a fully-equipped outdoor kitchen and lush greenery, against the stunning backdrop of the surrounding New York cityscape.

Here's the final product...an updated rendering from the last one that we saw...



Here's more about the building's inspiration via the 64 E. First Ave. website...

The façade, with its clean lines of stone and glass, is contextual with the existing masonry structures of the neighborhood. By blending the traditional look of the window layout with decorative metal rivets, this stunning city home stylishly pays homage to the nearby iconic Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges.

... and an interior rendering...



... and outdoors...



Previously on EV Grieve:
La Vie has closed; neighbors rejoice

Former La Vie space on East First Street will be demolished

Getting rid of the rats at the former LaVie ahead of a new 6-floor residential building

Here lies the remains of La Vie

Here's a look at the new condos coming to East 1st Street

This is what the new condo building at 64 E. 1st St. will really look like

The 'stunning boutique collection' of new residences on East 1st Street in 'The Bowery District'

Former Sock Man space for rent on St. Mark's Place; presented as a 'vanilla box'

[Workers dismantle the former Sock Man space on Feb. 3]

As we first reported last month, The Sock Man closed on St. Mark's Place after nearly 33 years here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Now that space at No. 27 is for rent.



Here are some details via the listing at Sinvin:

-All quality uses considered, including food
-Easy to vent
-Landlord presenting as a vanilla box with HVAC and 200 amp electric panel
-New storefront to be installed
-Brick walls
-Sorry, no tattoo or piercing parlors
-On the best block of St. Marks, busy 24/7

The asking rent for the 500-square-foot space (with another 300 square feet for basement storage) is $9,000, per the listing.

Owner Marty Rosen was apparently facing an unmanageable rent hike from new landlord Raphael Toledano.

Rosen has said he hopes to find another space in the neighborhood. Meanwhile, the Sock Man remains open for business at www.thesockman.com.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Sock Man is closing on St. Mark's Place

The Sock Man says thank you; store closes on Saturday

Closing portraits at The Sock Man

Gutting some 3rd Avenue storefronts

Renovations continue on several of the storefronts along Third Avenue between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street...

Workers are tearing down the walls and gutting the former P&P Convenience Store, East Village Cheese (now on Seventh Street!) and Excel Art and Framing Store (now on the other side of Third Avenue!)...



...this is what the old EV Cheese space looks like...





Per the DOB work permit (in their ALL-CAP style): RENOVATION OF EXITING RETAIL SPACE. WORK TO INCLUDE PARTITIONS, FLOORING, CEILING AND FINISHES.

The rumor is that the Duane Reade on the corner of East 10th Street will expand into these spaces to make an even longer Duane Reade.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumors: Duane Reade expansion will take over adjacent storefronts, including East Village Cheese (74 comments)

East Village Cheese makes move to 7th Street official

Spin cycle: Flywheel Sports opening next month in 51 Astor Place

[EVG photo from the other day]

Yesterday, we noted where we thought the incoming Flywheel Sports was going to live behind the plywood at 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star.

And just like that, signage arrived yesterday noting an opening next month...



This indoor cycling location will feature a stadium-seating studio with more than 70 bikes.

There hasn't been any research just yet to see how Flywheel compares to the Citi Bikes stationary workout.



Previously on EV Grieve:
3 retail spaces available at 51 Astor Place (22 comments)

You can finally shop at 51 Astor Place!

3 new retail tenants for 51 Astor Place: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports

Chopping soon signage up at the Death Star

Here's the Bluestone Lane Coffee signage at 51 Astor Place

Chest of Pleasure has closed on St. Mark's Place

The shop on the upper level at 31 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue has (seemingly) quietly closed.

Chest of Pleasure, which sold things like the (waterproof) Neon Luv Touch Mini Mite and edible massage oils, opened last August.

There isn't any mention of a closure on their Instagram account, where the last post shows the proprietors having beers in honor of their grand opening.

And a last look inside the shop...

Christo and Dora have been busy [blanking] in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

Christo and Dora, the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, have been quite active this winter. For starters, they have built a nest in the ginkgo tree near the Park entrance on East Eighth Street and Avenue B.


[EVG photo from yesterday. Lemme know if you need an arrow]

Head over to Goggla's site for the nest-building activity.

Meantime, it is high mating season. For the hawks. They have been busy, you know, mating. (Can you guys be like mature about this subject matter?)

Still, out of concern for our younger readers, we will not be posting any photos of the hawks being natural here.

However, Goggla has several tasteful photos of nature being nature (as my health-ed teacher referred to it in 7th grade) here ... and here.


[BW]

Selling off Nino's

The auction is going on this afternoon at Nino's...various workers are carrying out the remains of the pizzeria, which is now closed for good on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place.

As previously reported, owner Nino Camaj accepted a low six-figure amount to walk away from his remaining 10-year lease and surrender the pizza shop that he opened in 1989. He had been in a dispute with the landlord over back rent and a closure due to a gas leak in the building.

James Morrissey, who owns The Late Late on East Houston, had been after the Nino's space to combine with the former Hop Devil Grill next door to create The Honey Fitz. Those plans are on hold for the moment, though Morrissey told DNAinfo the he "remains interested in the location, assuming all outstanding lease issues have been resolved."

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Honey Fitz in the works for St. Mark's Place and Avenue A (54 comments)

Gas leak closes Nino's for now

Nino's and Yoshi Sushi served with eviction notices on Avenue A

Encouraging signs at Nino's

Report: The Honey Fitz on hold; and RIP Nino's

Incoming Bagel Belly now with Bagel Belly signage

Since the new storefront was unveiled at 114 Third Ave. near East 14th Street ... the Bagel Belly coming soon signage has arrived...

As you can see, the bagels here will be "hand rolled & kettle boiled" ...



No mention of toasted.

The proprietors here also own Namu Deli & Grocery at 252 Third Ave. between 20th Street and 21st Street.

And these two questions came up the last time we mentioned Bagel Belly.

1) Is Tompkins Square Bagels still opening an outpost on Second Avenue?

Yes. Renovations were slowed down by some DOB-mandated modifications. Read more here.

2) Is Black Seed Bagels still open on First Avenue?

Yes. They are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

9-story office building for sliver of space on Lafayette and Great Jones

Here on the corner of Lafayette and Great Jones, a 9-story office building is now in the works for the 50-foot-wide lot...



According to New York Yimby, who first reported on this development, 363 Lafayette St. will feature 8,325 square feet of community facilities and 27,743 square feet of commercial space.

Per NY Yimby:

Retail and a lobby will occupy the first floor, followed by a mix of community facilities and offices on the second and third floors, and the remaining six floors will be devoted to office space.

We wonder if this property will be marketed directly to NYU, which owns dozens of buildings on the surrounding blocks. In that case, the community space could become classrooms, or possibly offices for a non-profit.

As some of you might remember, this corner was home to the Jones Diner from 1938 to 2002...

[Image: Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

The Shape of Lies going on hiatus starting March 1 'to rethink the future'

The Shape of Lies, the longtime jewelry store at 127 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, is taking a break.

We'll let their website explain the situation:

GOOD NEWS: We have not lost our lease and we are not leaving the East 7th location. Starting March 1st we are taking an extended hiatus to rethink the future direction of the shop.

BAD NEWS: Several of our designers have fallen in love and moved on. Without these talented women The Shape of Lies will NOT specialize in jewelry next incarnation.

A sign on the storefront mentions a two-month closure.

Meanwhile, there's a sale going on. Go here for details. The shop opened here in 1979. As they say on their Facebook page, "Last of the live/work artists in the East Village."

[Updated] Chopt opens today at 51 Astor Place; free salads in return for a donation

Chopt opens today over at 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star ... on the Fourth Avenue side at East Ninth Street...

And the self-described globally inspired salad company has an incentive for people to eat a salad (or salad wrap!) today via their Chopt Gives Day.

Via the EVG inbox...

This Monday, Chopt will open the doors to its new location at 51 Astor Place and give away free salads and salad wraps to all customers in exchange for any donation to their charitable partner Wellness in Schools, a non-profit that promotes healthy eating and environmental awareness to kids in public schools across the US. Hours: 11am - 1:30pm, 6pm - 8:30pm.

And here's a look at the Chopt space...





Meanwhile! As for the other new businesses at No. 51 here in MiSo... Bluestone Lane Coffee is setting up shop next to Chopt ...



Looks as if they have a ways to go before opening...



And the Flywheel Sports looks to be going in right behind the plywood on the southeasterly facing side of the building...



According to Well + Good, the incoming Flywheel will feature a stadium-seating studio with more than 70 bikes. Plus! "[I]t will be the first to introduce a new, instructor-controlled LED lighting system."

Hope that doesn't disturb Watson, deep in thought upstairs.

Updated 5 p.m.

EVG reader Brian Polay shared this photo... showing that folks were lining up for the salad deal today...



Previously on EV Grieve:
3 retail spaces available at 51 Astor Place (22 comments)

You can finally shop at 51 Astor Place!

3 new retail tenants for 51 Astor Place: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports

Chopping soon signage up at the Death Star

Here's the Bluestone Lane Coffee signage at 51 Astor Place