The Times calls Avenue A newcomer Baci e Vendetta 'a stunning bar and trattoria'

Back on Dec. 16 we noted that Baci e Vendetta had opened at 131 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

At the Times yesterday, Florence Fabricant gushes about the wine bar-cafe:

Here’s a stunning bar and trattoria with Old World bronze-trimmed elegance that outclasses its East Village location.

As the Times notes, Baci e Vendetta is the work of the group that "creates themed bars," including Kingston Hall and Shoolbred’s on Second Avenue.

This space was the 10 Degrees Bistro until the fall of 2015 ... and the Flea Market Cafe before that.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New-look Flea Market Cafe shows itself on Avenue A; reopens March 11

Team behind Shoolbred's and Ninth Ward vying for 10 Degrees Bistro space on Avenue A

Noted

The Strand weighs in on the year... photo last night by @fnytv

East Side Tavern in the works for former Redhead space on 13th Street

After 10 years in service, the Redhead closed on Dec. 17 here at 349 E. 13th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The space, however, doesn't look to be empty very long.

Paperwork from an applicant vying for a liquor license is now up on the front door...



The applicant, going by the name East Side Tavern, is proposing to open a restaurant here.

So far, the applicant's questionnaire with more information about the establishment hasn't been posted to the CB3 website.

CB3's SLA committee meeting is 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the Thelma Burdick Community Room, 10 Stanton St. at the Bowery.

As for the Redhead, the well-regarded restaurant that served Southern fare, the lease was up for renewal ... and the partners have been living out of state.

Report: The Stone said to be closing in 2018; new venue in the works

With news that Cake Shop and Elvis Guesthouse are closing after New Year's Eve, it has been a tough time for fans of the area's live music venues.

Now comes word via The New York Times that the current home of The Stone, John Zorn's experimental performance space on Avenue C at Second Street, will close, though not until February 2018.

Per the Times:

In an emailed statement, Mr. Zorn confirmed the timing of the closure, but added that there was a likely future for the Stone in another space. “We hope to secure a new location and discussions are proceeding but as yet nothing has been definitely decided,” he wrote.

“We do hope you will all enjoy this last year in our historic underground East Village location and that you will all follow the music wherever it leads...

Check out the Stone's schedule here for a look of what's to come in the year ahead.

The Stone opened in 2005.

Last call for the Will Ferrell-themed Stay Classy on Rivington

Stay Classy, the Will Ferrell-themed bar at 174 Rivington St., is closing after service on New Year's Eve, as the Lo-Down first reported yesterday.



The owners plan on holding Stay Classy pop-up events in various cities as they just did in Los Angeles.

As for the space on Rivington between Clinton and Attorney, the owners told the Lo-Down: "We still own the space ... and are installing a new place there which is going to be so awesome can’t wait to start telling people about it!" Stay Classy opened in the fall of 2015.

Stay Classy owners Zach Neil and Brian Link also operate the Tim Burton-themed bar-restaurant Beetle House on Sixth Street. And Neil was the driving force behind 'MericaNYC, which closed after three weeks in the Zerza space.

A year-end look at Steiner East Village

Somehow three-plus months have passed since we last looked at the progress of the quite large Steiner East Village on Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street... Update: It is still quite large...



The 7-story, 82-unit building officially at 438 E. 12th St. features homes starting at $1.1 million... with the 4-bedroom penthouse with 1,364 square feet of terraces that's asking $11.25 million. (This unit is in contract, per Streeteasy.) There are currently seven units listed as available at the Steiner East Village website.

Previously

RIP 2016

Via Vinny & O ... there's an homage to some of the creative personalities who died in 2016 taking place tonight at the Bowery Mural Wall ... included in the projection: David Bowie, Bill Cunningham, Carrie Fisher, Leonard Cohen and George Michael ...











Other people honored included Prince, Natalie Cole and Gene Wilder.

Happy Birthday Lenny Kaye

Lenny Kaye, the influential guitarist and composer perhaps best known for his work with Patti Smith, turned 70 today.

On this occasion, EVG reader Jennifer, who lives on 15th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, hung a Happy Birthday Lenny Kaye banner from her terrace this morning. (Unfortunately, we didn't get a great shot of it. The winds this morning prevented the banner from staying up for too long.)

Anyway, per Jennifer: "We wanted to salute his many talents!"

There's a sold-out 70th birthday concert tonight at the Bowery Ballroom in his honor.

1st tree arrives in Tompkins Square Park mulch pens

As noted yesterday, MulchFest (sold out, but tix remain on StubHub) is Jan. 7-8.

Ahead of that, workers in Tompkins Square Park erected the holding area for anyone to toss their tree in... and as of this morning, we have our first tree-tossing taker, per this photo by EVG correspondent Steven...



As a reminder from mulch officials, remove all lights, ornaments, stands, plastic bags and gifts from the tree.

Updated 5:57 p.m.

A SECOND TREE HAS ARRIVED!


[Photo by Steven]

2 live music venues, Cake Shop and Elvis Guesthouse, closing after New Year's Eve

[EVG file photo of Elvis Guesthouse]

Live music takes another hit as two venues are shutting down after New Year's Eve.

• Elvis Guesthouse, 85 Avenue A

The bar, located in a subterranean space between Fifth Street and Sixth Street, recently confirmed — via Brooklyn Vegan — the rumors of a pending closure.

The venue opened in early 2015 ... and by November 2015 had drawn complaints from neighbors who say the owners didn't do enough to mitigate the noise from the space. At that time they were said to cut back on the number of shows in the space.

Elvis Guesthouse co-owners Zachary Mexico and Billy Jones, who operate Baby's All Right in Williamsburg, are opening a venue on Lafayette near Astor Place described as an "an indie music hall and restaurant."

• Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St.

The 11-year-old cafe/live music venue between Stanton and Rivington has had its share of financial struggles ... which owners Nick and Andy Bodor were able to overcome with a crowdfunding campaign in 2012.

Earlier this year, the owners were looking to sell the ground floor cafe/bar while maintaining the well-curated live-music spot downstairs.

BoweryBoogie has more on what's ahead for the space via an email from the Bodors...

We will close for improvements January 1, and reopen as soon as possible, but the end of Cake Shop in its current incarnation is this coming New Year’s Eve. Tonight is the start of some very, very special goodbye shows, and we’d love to see you all!!

Location and sustainability in our current and long running model have been an issue for more than a long time, as I’m sure you’ve heard me whine about for years. As beloved to you and me as it is, we are failing to keep up with the bills, we have been for years. It’s been the longest, most fulfillable, most enjoyable project of my entire life.

You can find a list of their final shows here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Comeback special: Arrow Bar owners opening Elvis Guesthouse on Avenue A

Elvis Guesthouse officially ready for occupancy tonight

Report: Live music ends for now at Elvis Underground

Cake Shop will rock on

9th Street residential garage reveal

The plywood and sidewalk bridge have finally been cleared at 327 E. Ninth St., providing a full reveal of Icon Realty’s six-story, two-unit residential building nearly four years now in the making....



We haven't seen any listings yet for the two units at this site of a former parking lot here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Thanks to EVG contributor Steven for the photos!

Previously on EV Grieve:
The big dig begins for 6-story, 2-unit condo on East 9th Street

East Ninth Street parking lot will yield to 6-floor residential building

Fresh & Co. closes 4th Avenue location

After 21 months on the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and 13th Street, Fresh & Co. has called it a day...



What was the kale-and-quinoa chainlet's 12th NYC location closed late last week. Fresh fans are directed to nearby locations on Broadway at Waverly and Eighth Street at Mercer...



The last tenant here, Pie Face, didn't fare much better. Before the renovation and rent increase (to $30,000), the previous tenant, Brothers Deli, didn't seem to have any issues with business.