Monday, October 16, 2017

Oct. 16



EVG reader V.H. McKenzie spotted this Winter Wonderland just-needs-a-good-home (and some water) tree outside the neighborhood on Fifth Avenue and 12th Street tonight... still, it's noteworthy given how easily it would have been for someone to just keep this tree another two-plus months until Dec. 25.

Today's fish-head-on-sidewalk contribution



Spotted on Second Avenue at 11th Street.

Previous contributions are here and here and here.

H/T Bagel Guy!

A morning scene in Tompkins Square Park



Photo today by Derek Berg...

Cafe Orlin signs off


[Photo from yesterday]

As previously reported, Cafe Orlin closed last night after service, wrapping up a 36-year run on St. Mark's Place.

Grub Street reported last month that the Cafe Orlin owner is also the building's landlord, "and a new restaurant will open in its place" here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

So far, the restaurant hasn't posted any messages on the Cafe's social media properties abut the closure or what might be next.

The chalkboard outside thanks patrons...





There were a handful of thank-yous and goodbyes on social media...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Cafe Orlin will close next month after 36 years in business (34 comments)

Reports of shots fired on Avenue C and 11th Street


[Photo via @_elkue]

Several EVG readers reported hearing 8-12 gunshots around midnight on Avenue C between 11th Street and 12th Street.

According to Christopher J. Ryan, who shared the below photos, the shots came from the east side of Avenue C outside Avenue C Pharmacy, with bullets hitting a building across the Avenue as well as the bus shelter.





One person was reportedly shot and transferred to Bellevue. It was not known if he/she was the intended target. Police are apparently searching for three suspects one suspect.

Will update the story when more information becomes available.

Updated 8 a.m.

The Post reports that a 29-year-old man was shot multiple times as he was riding a bike along Avenue C.

The cyclist, who was struck once in the torso and once in the arm, managed to flee and took himself to Bellevue Hospital, where he is in serious but stable condition.

Police are looking for one suspect. The Post reports that the victim is cooperating with the NYPD. The article does not say if the man was the intended target.

Updated 10:15 a.m.

Per DNAinfo: "The shooter wore a black hoodie, according to a police source. A black hoodie and a black ski mask were recovered near the site of the shooting, the source said."

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Here's surveillance video from when the shots were fired on the east side of Avenue C...

Never a dull moment. Here’s a shooting last night outside my house. ( white flashes above the white car )

A post shared by Chris (@chrisryanaction) on


Unique 4th Street church on the market for development



The three-story building — aka the San Isidoro y San Leandro Western Orthodox Catholic Church of the Hispanic Mozarabic Rite — on Fourth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D is for sale.

The listing for the address describes it as a "religious building" and "former religious assembly space" with potential use as either a single-family home or multiple units. There are unused air rights too.

Here's more about the sale via Cushman & Wakefield:

[T]he building sits on a 24’ x 96’ lot and contains approximately 4,502 SF above grade or 6,810 SF with usable lower level. 345 East 4th Street is in an R8B zone which allows for a total BSF of 9,232 (approximately 4,730 SF of unused air rights are intact).

A new development (of 9,232 SF) could be residential single family/multi-family or Community Facility. The building was formerly used as a religious assembly space and will be delivered vacant upon sale.

It is currently configured with a step-down usable lower level, a former religious assembly space with soaring ceiling height on the first floor which includes mezzanine space, and an owner’s apartment on the top floor. The lower level previously housed building mechanicals but is now used for general storage and can be accessed directly from the street or from the first floor. Lower level and first floor are built full on the lot while the top floor is approximately 51’ deep.

The former religious assembly space benefits from tremendous ceiling heights (20+’) and therefore lends itself well to a user looking for interesting space. The owner’s unit has four rooms plus a kitchen, full bathroom and outdoor roof space. Due to the impending vacancy, the property presents an exceptionally unique opportunity for a developer and/or end user.

Price: $6 million.

According to New York City Songlines, the San Isidoro y San Leandro Western Orthodox Catholic Church of the Hispanic Mozarabic Rite is "named for brothers who were successive bishops in Seville, circa 600 AD. Originally a Russian Orthodox Church, built circa 1895." I do not know when the church last held any type of mass here.

Here are two photos of the interior that I took in 2011 during one of the many weekend rummage sales held here...





... and here's an interior shot via the Cushman & Wakefield marketing materials...



According to public records, Patricio Cubillos Murillo (there are several variations of this name) is the building's owner, with a deed dating to September 1975.

The document on file with the city shows that this building changed hands for $6,000 that year. Here's the first page...


[Click on image for more detail]

29B opening soon on Avenue B



29B, a cafe-retail combo space, is shaping up on Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street.

Here's more about the owners and mission via their website:

Stefen Ramirez and Shin Won Yoon created Tea Dealers with the aim to introduce the highest quality pure, non-blended teas to America. Our tea catalog is a distinctive selection of exceptional teas that focus on cultivation, the artistry of the producer, and the cultural heritage of each origin.

We import teas from India, Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan and source them directly from the farmers. All of the selections use traditional agriculture methods that do not use pesticides and only natural fertilizers when needed.

In June 2015, they opened a retail outlet in Williamsburg ... followed by a summertime pop-up shop on Canal Street this year.

Aside from serving tea and a food menu, the Avenue B location will sell tea pots, cups, flower vases, etc., and offer tea-related workshops and tastings.

The storefront in the middle of Brunch Row was previously home for seven years to Sigmund Pretzel Shop, which closed last fall.

Corner space at 118 1st Ave. for rent



The owner of the building on the northeast corner of First Avenue and Seventh Street has put up a for rent sign in the corner space ... which has already drawn some commentary...



... to coincide with the commentary that has been on the front door since the previous tenant, Golden Food Market, closed at the end of July after 35 years in business...



The storefront listing isn't online. So there isn't any word of the asking rent.

An LLC with a West 11th Street address bought the building at 118 First Ave. back in the spring for $5.8 million, according to public records.

The Golden Food Market staff said that the lease was up for renewal and the new landlord wanted an increase that was more than they could manage.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Golden Food Market closes on 1st Avenue and 7th Street

Pouring one out for the former Pourhouse!


[Photo Wedensday via @edwardzick]

Back on Wednesday, workers removed the Village Pourhouse neon signage on Third Avenue ... the sports bar closed in April after 10 years of hosting every neighborhood pub crawl...



Workers, for now, did leave some remnants of the Pourhouse on the 11th Street side...



In July, CB3 OK'd a new liquor license for the owners behind the Ainsworth, the upscale sports-bar chainlet with three NYC locations as well as one in Hoboken, N.J., and Las Vegas. No word on an opening date for the Ainsworth East Village.

And someone has kept the memory alive of the tenant that never was — E.Vil, the rock-and-roll bar with big plans and an active Instagram account.


[Photo from early October by Shawn Chittle]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Village Pourhouse still looks like the Village Pourhouse outside, but E.Vil is on the way

Village Pourhouse is closing on 3rd Avenue; E.Vil is coming soon

An outpost of the Ainsworth vying for former Pourhouse space; E.Vil is not coming

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Sunday's parting shot



Becoming zombies on Avenue B via Derek Berg...

Week in Grieview


[Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

RIP Bonnie DeWitt (Wednesday)

DA: Man sentenced to 40 years in prison for November 2015 rape in East River Park (Tuesday)

During Town Hall, Mayor announces city's interest in re-acquiring former P.S. 64 (Friday)

The latest installment of I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Friday)

Dedicating Moises LocĂłn Way and Nicholas Figueroa Way on 2nd Avenue at 7th Street (Saturday)

Ben Shaoul's Bloom 62 going condo on Avenue B (Monday)

First sign of upcoming renovations at the former Webster Hall (Tuesday)

Report: Actress arrested for allegedly trying to push stranger onto Union Square subway tracks (Tuesday)

Space that was 5 restaurants in 1 year now for rent (Friday)

A wedding in Tompkins Square Park (Thursday)

Pop-up Mr. Bing has its grand opening on St. Mark's Place (Friday)

165 Avenue B back on the market, again (Monday)

343 E. 6th St. enlightened by new tenant (Friday)

East Village resident writes and performs "The Bench," opening today (Thursday)

A barber shop coming to 4th Street (Monday)

About the scaffolding at 125 2nd Ave. (Saturday)

The Dessert Kitchen opens on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

Work on disaster protection for Haven Plaza underway (Tuesday)

Report: No charges for Sudanese diplomat who allegedly groped woman at Bar None (Monday)

A 12th Street Steiner East Village reveal (Monday)

Shake Shack's Death Star branch opens (Tuesday)

On Tuesday, I noted a partial reveal at 421 E. Sixth St., the building that Peter Brant is converting into an exhibition space. Since Tuesday, construction workers have removed the rest of the scaffolding here between Avenue A and First Avenue...





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A short-lived sidewalk-bridge-free section of Avenue C


[Photo from Oct. 6]

In a links roundup on Oct. 7, I posted the above photo noting that workers removed the remaining sidewalk bridge and scaffolding on the west side of Avenue C between Seventh Street and Sixth Street ... in front of the NYCHA-owned buildings.

Per an EVG reader: "I've been living on C for 6 years now and can't remember a day when it wasn't a fixture of the buildings along that stretch of sidewalk."

Anyway, the sidewalk freedom was short-lived... another sidewalk bridge returned this past week...





The DOB webiste doesn't offer much about what's exactly happening with the address (99-103 Avenue C), other than "INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY SIDEWALK SHED AS PER PLANS."

On the Sixth Street side, the temporary boilers that arrived after Sandy will be celebrating their 5-year anniversary on Oct. 29.