Friday, November 3, 2017
Car fire on 14th Street
Don't have much, if any, info about this... a car caught fire early this morning/late last night in the westbound side of 14th Street at Second Avenue ... the FDNY quickly extinguished the blaze (and there is a firehouse on the block...)
Thanks to @jcastro_nyc for the photos!
Everyone's favorite 14th Street triplex with a garage door for a wall is back on the market
[Image via Streeteasy]
Once, again, your favorite floor-through condominium triplex with a fully retractable second floor façade/wall that flips open like a garage door overlooking 14th Street returns to the market here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
The home (in the building "Brownstone East Village"), which has been on and off and on the market for years, is again for sale.
Bringing the news is 6sqft:
Among numerous other media mentions, the triplex has been on the cover of New York magazine and was selected as Elle Decor’s Pick of the World’s Most Beautiful Homes.
Adding up to about 2,000 square feet of eclectic architect-designed custom finishes, the home offers ordinary luxuries like an elevator, 12-foot ceilings, a 500-square-foot private garden with a cabana, exposed brick walls, laundry, and a home office and rec room. Joining the retractable walls on the eclectic side is an aquarium that runs the width of the apartment.
Here's one photo...
Price: $4.2 million.
The place looks pretty nice, though everyone always seems to want to sell it.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Finally, your chance to own the 3-level penthouse at the Brownstone East Village
More photos of the apartment with the garage door for a living-room wall on East 14th Street
A mailbox returns to 9th and A
The box had been gone for more than a year (or longer?) after sidewalk work started along Ninth Street. As Dennis said, it was previously anchored on Ninth Street off the Avenue A corner near the M8 stop. It is now on Avenue A a little north of Ninth Street near GelArto. (Speaking of GelArto, the DOH temporarily closed them yesterday.)
And Dennis checked: Pickups at this mailbox are 1 p.m. weekdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Updated: Joe Ricketts just shut down Gothamist and DNAinfo
This message now greets visitors to both DNAinfo and Gothamist...
Here's that message from publisher Joe Ricketts:
Dear DNAinfo and Gothamist Readers:
Today, I've made the difficult decision to discontinue publishing DNAinfo and Gothamist. Reaching this decision wasn't easy, and it wasn't one I made lightly.
I started DNAinfo in 2009 at a time when few people were investing in media companies. But I believed an opportunity existed to build a successful company that would report unbiased neighborhood news and information. These were stories that weren't getting told, and because I believe people care deeply about the things that happen where they live and work, I thought we could build a large and loyal audience that advertisers would want to reach.
A lot of what I believed would happen did, but not all of it. Today, DNAinfo and Gothamist deliver news and information each day to over half a million people's email inboxes; we have over 2 million fans across our social channels; and each month, we have over 15 million visits to our sites by over 9 million people. But more important than large numbers of visits and fans, we've reported tens of thousands of stories that have informed, impacted, and inspired millions of people. And in the process, I believe we've left the world a better place.
But DNAinfo is, at the end of the day, a business, and businesses need to be economically successful if they are to endure. And while we made important progress toward building DNAinfo into a successful business, in the end, that progress hasn't been sufficient to support the tremendous effort and expense needed to produce the type of journalism on which the company was founded. I want to thank our readers for their support and loyalty through the years. And I want to thank our employees for their tireless effort and dedication.
I'm hopeful that in time, someone will crack the code on a business that can support exceptional neighborhood storytelling for I believe telling those stories remains essential.
Sincerely,
Joe Ricketts
Chief Executive Officer
Ricketts bought Gothamist back in March.
The Times reported that the reporters and editors in the combined newsrooms "celebrated victory in their vote to join a union" just last week.
In total, the closure impacts 115 employees, including reporters, editors, sales staff, among others, in New York as well as in other cities with DNA/-ist outposts. According to the Times: "They are getting three months of paid 'administrative leave' at full salary, plus four weeks of severance."
And reactions...
Gothamist, Gawker, Village Voice, DNA Info, all gone within a year.... they're trying to end independent media, and it's working.
— Max RN (@MaxRivlinNadler) November 2, 2017
DNAinfo and Gothamist are being killed. We were the best in the game and I can't put into words what a loss this is to NYC news.
— Noah Hurowitz (@NoahHurowitz) November 2, 2017
shutting down gothamist and DNAinfo entirely -- without even leaving up an archive -- is jaw-droppingly vindictive
— Max Read (@max_read) November 2, 2017
Gothamist and DNA were both crucial sites staffed by amazing reporters and instantly deleting the archives is fucking evil
— Anna Merlan (@annamerlan) November 2, 2017
If only Joe Ricketts could have scraped together the money to keep Gothamist and DNAinfo up long enough for writers to save their clips. pic.twitter.com/XUx3h6dJn4
— Madison M. K. (@4evrmalone) November 2, 2017
DNAinfo and Gothamist are (not writing were, refuse to do it) some of the best local reporting in NYC 1/3
— Sam Biederman (@Biedersam) November 2, 2017
I just walked back from the bathroom to find out that everyone at @Gothamist and @DNAinfoNY has been laid off
— Christopher Robbins (@ChristRobbins) November 2, 2017
This is insane. They didn’t just mothball Gothamist, like Gawker or Consumerist, they actually took its entire archives offline
— Felix Salmon (@felixsalmon) November 2, 2017
Taking down the DNAInfo and Gothamist archives is really fucked up, for the city and for the reporters there who need their clips.
— Harry Siegel (@harrysiegel) November 2, 2017
The decision to shut down DNAinfo and Gothamist puts 115 journalists out of work, per NYT https://t.co/qzFDgaMhgJ
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 2, 2017
A gut punch to local journalism and the intrepid reporters who keep New Yorkers informed and hold those in power accountable. https://t.co/CDWg5Q3n8l
— Eric Schneiderman (@AGSchneiderman) November 2, 2017
Updated 8 p.m.:
The following is a statement from the Writers Guild of America, East:
"We are deeply concerned by Joe Ricketts’ decision to shut down DNAinfo New York and Gothamist, along with all their respective local outlets. The New York offices of DNAinfo and Gothamist recently voted to unionize and it is no secret that threats were made to these workers during the organizing drive. The Guild will be looking at all of our potential areas of recourse and we will aggressively pursue our new members rights. We will meet with management in the near future to address all of these issues. We are currently working with the staff at DNAinfo and Gothamist to support them in this difficult time.”
Today in sidewalk hazards on St. Mark's Place
There's a report of a major tahini spill outside Holyland Market on St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue, via @ArthurBovino.
So bring your crudités for a healthy dip alternative.
Out and About in the East Village
By James Maher
Name: Siobhan Meow
Occupation: Anything I could get
Location: Avenue C and Second Street
Date: Friday, Oct 20
In Part 1 last week, Siobhan, a Brooklyn native, discussed how she and several others opened a squat on Avenue C that they called opened a squat called Umbrella House.
We started out with three people, which became six, and then grew quickly once we hooked into the squatter circuit. We had people from all over the world coming and working. At one point it was like the United Nations.
And we were always kind of strict about it — paying dues, whatever you could afford to kick in for materials and stuff, also work days were very important, and then we were pretty tough on no serious drug addictions or anything like that, because that’s a good way to have the building burn down. Now we have two storefronts that pay the going rate and that help us.
I ended up going to Europe for a summer. I was able to because we were so hooked up into the international squat community. I could stay at squats everywhere, and that was really interesting. In Berlin, they actually offered me a space at Köpenicker Squat, which is right over the East German wall. I was there when they had just made the holes in the walls, and we were actually crawling across. It was amazing. I really mourned that culture that survived because I knew what was coming behind it, the American shit capitalism, which ruined it. It was a little time machine back to the 1960s in Eastern Europe. I then ended up on Lake Balaton in Hungary, and that was just beautiful.
I came back and things were starting to really settle in, but like I said it was 17 years before we got heat, we got the boiler in and everything, and didn’t have to rely on stolen electricity anymore. But the neighborhood was beautiful. God I miss it. No cabs would come down here, no tourists, no drunks, only junkies.
The community was really tight. Everybody knew each other, there were lots of really good shops. There were tons of artists here, people of all stripes. Everybody was making art, and there were clubs where you could go to see really good bands. It was more peaceful back them. It was quiet. I can barely walk down the sidewalks anymore, it’s so crowded. They keep building shit buildings here and packing more people in and they do nothing about the infrastructure.
I miss the freedom. I could climb the tower of the Williamsburg Bridge. A friend was making a movie and we threw an effigy of me off the tower, to film someone jumping off the tower, and I walked down the stairs and off the bridge. Even though traffic was stopped nothing happened to me.
I did anything I could get. Since we were working on the house, I was able to get jobs in New Jersey at the scenic design places, which would be preparing the sets, loading them in, loading them out. I was doing fashion shows, movie sets— all kinds of stuff.
Also, I’m very into other species rights as well. I care for a little feral cat who lives in a garden, and I work with city critters helping place cats. I’ve been doing so for awhile. And I have 18 cats. Feeding the cats isn’t a problem, feeding myself is another story.
James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.
Report: 'Creepy ex' had stalked his one-time girlfriend before killing her on Cooper Square
The man, identified as Vincent Verdi, 62, then shot himself in the face. He is listed in critical condition at Bellevue. (Police originally stated that he had died, as DNAinfo noted.)
Lee worked at the Grace School high school campus at 46 Cooper Square. She often rode a Citi Bike to work on Cooper Square from her Upper East Side apartment.
School officials expressed their grief and offered a few details in a series of tweets yesterday...
We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of a beloved colleague, Elizabeth Lee, to an unthinkable act of violence this morning. 1/ pic.twitter.com/G0DlQIuLFG
— Grace Church School (@GCSchoolNYC) November 1, 2017
Elizabeth was a dearly loved member of our community for 17 years, first as a Grace Parent, Parents' Association Chair and... 2/
— Grace Church School (@GCSchoolNYC) November 1, 2017
most recently the assistant to the Assistant Head of School. We are all heartbroken over this tragedy. 3/
— Grace Church School (@GCSchoolNYC) November 1, 2017
Details about funeral arrangements will be shared here when they are available. 4/4
— Grace Church School (@GCSchoolNYC) November 1, 2017
As the Daily News reported about Verdi:
He stalked her for months after she dumped him following a failed Match.com romance — leading her to lock in an order of protection that wasn’t enough to keep her alive.
Creepy ex Vincent Verdi was spotted by neighbors peering into Elizabeth Lee-Herman’s Upper East Side building and loitering nearby in an apparent effort to catch her alone.
He was facing stalking charges filed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office after he was arrested Oct. 5 for threatening her.
After she broke up with him on July 7, he peppered her with emails and calls to the school where she works, court records show. He sent her chocolate and flowers. He showed up at her dentist appointment on Aug. 10.
Judge Angela Badamo issued the order barring Verdi from contacting Lee-Herman and demanded he turn over all firearms.
He spent seven days in jail and was released Oct. 12, records show.
Heartbroken to hear this terrible news. Elizabeth Lee was a gem of a lady, beautiful inside & out, & such a meaningful person at the school
— Heidi Steinberg (@heidisteinberg) November 1, 2017
Ho Foods coming to 7th Street
Ho Foods, a Taiwan beef noodle soup pop up, is opening a full-time restaurant at 110 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.
Applicant Richard Ho is on CB3's November SLA commitee agenda for a beer-wine license. This item will not be heard before the committee on Nov. 15, per paperwork on file at the CB3 website.
Ho started his career at Blue Ribbon, where he advanced from waiter to GM of the Columbus Circle location during eight years there. He moved on to pursue his passion for cooking with Ho Foods (per this article).
Ho Foods has taken part in one-night-only events such as the first Dragon Boat Festival back in May with Nom Wah Nolita, among other restaurants.
The smallish Seventh Street space was home to Porchetta until last November.
Meanwhile, you can see some of the Ho Foods menu items via their Instagram account...
A post shared by H O F O O D S (@hofoodsnyc) on
Landmark Bicycles looks closed on Avenue A
Multiple EVG readers have noted that the Landmark Bicycles shop has apparently closed on the corner of Avenue A and Third Street... the storefront is now empty and the gates remain down... all this follows the arrival of clearance signs several weeks ago. There isn't any mention of a closure on Landmark's website or Facebook page.
Landmark first opened in 2008 around the corner on Third Street (where St. Mark's Bookshop later moved) selling vintage bicycles and parts... before relocating to the corner space in late 2012 where the scope of their merchandise expanded to include new bike models and accessories. Landmark opened a location in Williamsburg in the spring of 2012.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
An early start on the holidays on St. Mark's Place
These went up yesterday (Halloween!) on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...
These seems about three weeks earlier than usual...
The horse head moved again, of course, of course
And now... it's on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue outside the Shape of Lies...
[Photo by Derek Berg]
One EVG commenter noted that the horse head's first appearance was actually here outside the art-jewelry shop.
Where will it end up next?
Updating: Reports of a shooting on Astor Place
Double shooting in Manhattan @NYPD9Pct at Astor Place and Cooper Square. 2 people shot, both in critical condition. Active crime scene.
— New York City Alerts (@NYCityAlerts) November 1, 2017
The Daily News has a brief report here.
Updating...
West block of Cooper Union. Heard gunshots on the way to work. Two bodies strewn across the concrete taken to the hospital moments later. pic.twitter.com/ZWsfGAfA29
— Ξvan Ross Katz (@evanrosskatz) November 1, 2017
8:35 a.m.
Southbound M101 and M102 buses are detoured because of NYPD activity at Cooper Union. See https://t.co/4PI10QaRnr
— NYCT Buses (@NYCTBus) November 1, 2017
8:40 a.m.
#BREAKING Apparent murder suicide in Lower Manhattan not related to yesterday's incident. Cooper Union incident appears domestic in nature.
— Anthony DiLorenzo (@ADiLorenzoTV) November 1, 2017
9:05 a.m.
Per the Daily Mail: "A woman has been shot in the stomach while parking her CitiBike in Manhattan before the gunman is believed to have then shot himself."
Also:
The woman ... was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The gunman was also rushed to hospital and his condition is also believed to be serious.
10:30 a.m.
DNAinfo reports that the police haven't provided further information about the circumstances or motive for the shooting just yet.
DNAinfo also reconstructs what happened via witness accounts:
"He didn't say a word. He shot her in the chest both times. It was point-blank range. Her feet went in the air and she hit the floor," [nearby office worker Jerry] Simo said.
The shooter, then kicked the woman's feet to make sure she was shot, witnesses said.
"Then he put the gun under his chin and finished himself," Simo added.
Cooper Union has issued a series of tweets...
1 of 3: Authorities confirmed a shooting, unrelated to Cooper Union, outside Foundation Building.
— Cooper Union (@cooperunion) November 1, 2017
2 of 3: To accommodate police activity, we have cancelled classes in Foundation only.
— Cooper Union (@cooperunion) November 1, 2017
3 of 3: Classes in 41 Cooper Square will continue as normal. Another notice will be sent when Foundation Building classes can be resumed
— Cooper Union (@cooperunion) November 1, 2017
10:45 a.m.
ABC 7 reports that the woman and the man were rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. (The NYPD now says the man is still alive.)
The station reports that the 62-year-old man and the 56-year-old woman were a couple.
11:30 a.m.
Classes in the Foundation Building will resume at 1 pm today.
— Cooper Union (@cooperunion) November 1, 2017
11/2
The post continues here with details on the murder victim, Elizabeth Lee.