Mikey Likes It Rocks the Bells

[Photo by Greg Masters]

LL Cool J is the artist of the month on the gate at Mikey Likes It, 199 Avenue A near East 12th Street. Andre Trenier's 1980s-flavored mural coincides with the flavor of the month — Rock the Bells.

Friday's parting shot

Lovely sunset these evening... here's a shot of it via East 13th Street by EVG reader Helene Burke...

Summer 'Lover'

Crocodiles recently released "Telepathic Lover," their first single from the upcoming album Dreamless out Oct. 21 on Zoo Music.

As Brooklyn Vegan noted, the new record marks a "sonic departure for the band," who is favoring piano and synths over fuzzed-out guitars this time around.

Raclette moves from Avenue A to East 12th Street

Raclette has left its 14-seat home at 195 Avenue A at 12th Street and moved around the corner to the larger confines of 511 E. 12th St., the former Northern Spy space.



The restaurant, which serves French and Swiss Raclette, Croques and Tartine, opened to some fanfare in February 2015.

Northern Spy closed this past February after six years in business.

The Peter Cooper Block Party is tomorrow (Saturday!)

Via the EVG inbox...

Peter Cooper Block Party
Free & Open to the Public

Saturday, Sept. 3
Noon-5 pm

7 East 7th St., Outside Cooper Union's Foundation Building

Development, construction, demolition, re-development, re-construction, re-demolition, un-re-development, re-un-construction, de-un-remolition...Amidst the dust, it's hard to know: what's going on here?

- - -

About Peter Cooper Block Party 2016

The Block Party is a relatively new tradition of coming together to celebrate, reconnect, and showcase the ongoing work of the Cooper community.

The theme of this year's Peter Cooper Block Party is a provocation:

“Under Construction:"

And a question:

"What’s Going On Here?”

2016 marks the completion of a decade’s worth of private and public redevelopments — architectural, financial, and cultural — at and around Cooper and the Astor Place area. This year’s celebration bears witness to the unfolding impact of these changes.

This year's programming also takes on an additional charge:

Reflecting while in motion.

Let's! Yet! Both!

- - -

Programming

This family-friendly event will feature many alumni, student, and faculty projects, live music and performances, informational materials about the state of the Cooper Union and the re-development of Astor Place, a bouncy house and family craft table, and light refreshments.

More details here.

Last day for New York Central Art Supply

After 111 years in business, New York Central Art Supply at 62 Third Ave. closes its doors for good today.

The Wall Street Journal today talks with some of the longtime employees and patrons and offers up some of Central Art's history.

Inside the drawers of the shop’s back office, assistant manager Christopher Colvin remembers finding pre-World War II architectural drawing tools and compasses, small artifacts of the store’s long history.

Among the many treasures he has found: a pencil set so old and delicate it has begun to disintegrate. It is a token that Mr. Colvin said he bought for himself and will cherish long after he says goodbye to the staff, the store and its loyal patrons for the last time.

On July 11, the Steinberg family, who has run the art supply store for three generations, announced that they would be closing up shop. They cited "poor business conditions" and the pending sale of the building between 10th Street and 11th Street as the primary reasons behind the closure.

Back to today's Journal:

[Family member Doug] Steinberg said the four-story building is in the process of being sold, and that neither the price nor the buyer’s intentions for the property had yet been disclosed.

Doug Steinberg told us last week he did not know why the buyer was, "But I am 99 percent sure it is NOT Lightstone. They actually looked at it and passed. Whoever is buying it is — as far as we know — unrelated to the hotel mania around the corner."

Steinberg also told us (and DNAinfo) that they are trying to find a new home for what's left of their inventory and paper collection.

Icon Realty buys building that housed Surma Books & Music for 98 years on 7th Street

Surma Books & Music closed earlier this summer at 11 E. Seventh St. near Cooper Square after 98 years in business.

Third-generation owner Markian Surmach had cited a decline in business and the expense of property tax and other charges related to owning the building.

According to public records, the Surmach family sold the property to the historically controversial Icon Realty for $5.75 million. (Surmach's grandfather reportedly paid $15,000 for the building in an undisclosed year.)

And the retail space that housed the Ukrainian specialty store is now on the retail market... signs went up yesterday...



According to the listing, the asking rent is $17,000 a month. The space "can be vented" and is "perfect for: Restaurant, bar, clothing store, salon, and all general retail uses."

Schnitz has not been open lately on 1st Avenue

[Photo from Wednesday]

Several readers have noted that Schnitz has been closed all week at 177 First Ave. at 11th Street. The phone goes unanswered. There also isn't any note for patrons.

In the past, the Schnitzerz have left a note when their doors would be closed, like earlier in August...



The space has also been on the rental market. According to the listing (PDF) at RKF, the asking rent is roughly $9,100 a month. (One local restaurant owner told us that he was offered the space last month for $8,500.)

No one from Schnitz responded to our email requests for comment.

Schnitz, which serves old-fashioned schnitzel sandwiches with unconventional toppings, opened here in March 2014. This was the first permanent retail space for Schnitz after gaining a following at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg and Dumbo.

The quick-serve sandwich market got a little crowded on the block in the past year or so ... with the arrival of Fuku and Black Seed bagels. In any event, we liked their food the few times that we tried it.

The space does have a small sidewalk cafe and beer/wine license.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Smorgasburg favorites Schnitz planning restaurant at former Something Sweet on First Avenue

'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' plays Saturday at the Regal Union Square

On Saturday, the Regal Union Square 14 is showing "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" as a tribute to the 1971's film's late star, Gene Wilder.

The screenings are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Details here. ("Willy Wonka" and "Blazing Saddles" will be at the AMC Empire 25 in Times Square Saturday and Sunday.)

Wilder died Monday at the age of 83 of complications from Alzheimer's.

Updated 9:30 p.m.

"Wonka" is playing at the Metrograph down on Ludlow Street too. Details here.

Ayios Greek Rotisserie now open on St. Mark's Place

An EVG reader let us know that the Greek restaurant is now in soft-open mode (as of yesterday) at 2 St. Mark's Place near Third Avenue/Cooper Square.

We don't know anything about the operation just yet. (An EVG reader heard that one of the people behind the excellent Taverna Kyclades is running the place here. That is an unconfirmed report.) Meanwhile, Ayios is still hiring, according to this help-wanted ad.

The previous tenant at No. 2, St. Mark's Ale House, closed at the beginning of July after 21 years in business.

The stuffed dog days of summer are here

On the Bowery at Great Jones this morning via Lola Sáenz

Report: $10 million expansion coming to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in 2018

[EVG file photo]

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe will undergo a $10 million-plus renovation that will more than double capacity at its current East Third Street home, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Some details per the article:

The planned overhaul includes a gut renovation of the dilapidated upper portion of its building on East Third Street between Avenues B and C, which its founders bought for less than $8,000 back in 1981. The three top floors, now used for storage, will be converted into performance, classroom and administrative space.

And!

Construction is expected to begin in 2018 and last for at least a year. The cafe would close during that time, though [executive director Daniel] Gallant said the organization plans to continue slam-poetry events and other core programs at other venues in the neighborhood and beyond.

New York City has allocated $10.9 million for the project through the city council, the Mayor’s office, the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Manhattan Borough President’s office.

Here's a look at the plans via Rice + Lipka Architects ...


[Click to go big]

The expansion has been a long time coming. The Journal reported in December 2010 that the Cafe "is in the process of expanding its three upper floors with the help of a $500,000 grant received from the city."

Puerto Rican writer and poet Miguel Algarín founded Nuyorican in 1973 as a living room salon. As the Journal notes, the cafe has an annual budget near the $1 million mark via ticket and drink sales (the poetry slams on Friday nights remain a popular draw), space rentals and off-site bookings.