On 6th Street, the Ukrainian Museum debuting Andy Warhol exhibit this weekend

Here's part of the announcement via the EVG inbox...

The Ukrainian Museum is delighted to announce that it will open the exhibition "Andy Warhol: Endangered Species" to the public on Sunday, Oct. 7. Commemorating the 90th anniversary of the birth of Andy Warhol (1928-1987), this is the first Warhol exhibition ever organized by a Ukrainian American organization.

"Endangered Species" is on loan from the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyo. James Warhola, an artist, writer, book illustrator and nephew of Andy Warhol, is a special contributor to the displays in the exhibition.

The exhibition includes the 10 silkscreens in the "Andy Warhol: Endangered Species" series from 1983 — Bighorn Ram, Black Rhinoceros, Grevy's Zebra, Orangutan, San Francisco Silverspot, African Elephant, Bald Eagle, Siberian Tiger, Pine Barrens Tree Frog, and Giant Panda — as well as the silkscreen Sea Turtle (1985).

An important component of the show at The Ukrainian Museum will be a section dedicated to Andy Warhol's early years growing up in Pittsburgh. At the vanguard of the Pop Art movement, Warhol is recognized as one of its greatest architects. But the influences from his youth, when he was immersed in the culture of his Carpatho-Rusyn origins, impacted his evolution into a world-renowned artist.

This exhibition not only features the still relevant "Endangered Species" series, but also looks at Warhol's heritage and other inspirations from his early years that spurred him along the path toward becoming one of the most influential American artists. Augmenting the "Endangered Species" exhibition are several early drawings by Warhol, as well as a few personal artifacts and family photo prints.

You can find more details at this link.

The Ukrainian Museum is located at 222 E. Sixth St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. Museum hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Andy Warhol: Endangered Species" will be on view through Feb. 17.

A look at the fire-damaged Uogashi; plus video of when the fire started at 188 1st Ave.

[Photo by JK Clarke]

As you likely know, what would eventually be a six-alarm fire broke out in the early morning hours Wednesday at 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

FDNY officials have said that they believe the blaze started on the ground floor, which is occupied by the sushi restaurant Uogashi.

As these photos by Steven yesterday show, Uogashi, which opened here in December 2016, sustained major damage...








[Photo of the damaged rear-portion of Uogashi by Hillary Johnson]

It's too early to know when, or if, the restaurant might return. Uogashi's website is currently offline, and their voice-message system is full. No. 188 remains under a full-vacate order.



The FDNY is continuing their investigation, and have not publicly announced the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, EVG reader Hillary Johnson, who lives near 188 First Ave., shot this video showing the start of the fire just before 2 a.m. (Firefighters had already been called, and were en route to the scene.)



In the video, you can see that the rooftop ventilation fan on No. 188's setback is on fire.

In total, there were 17 reported injuries, including 14 firefighters. The victims mostly sustained minor injuries, according to published reports.

Dojo remains closed, 3 weeks on from failed health inspection

Nothing new to report on the Dojo Restaurant front... other than that the place remains closed here on West Fourth Street and Mercer since a failed Department of Health inspection on Sept. 13. (My previous post has more details.)

The restaurant opened in this spot in 1991 ... a sibling to the Dojo that was on St. Mark's Place for 30-plus years.

The Dojo faithful I've talked to remain hopeful that the restaurant will return. So far Dojo has yet to note any closure on its website, and its Facebook page hasn't been updated in almost a year.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Concern for Dojo, which has now been closed for 2 weeks

Petition asks new owners of the Great Jones Cafe to keep the wings on the menu

Someone has created a petition asking the new owners of the Great Jones Cafe at 54 Great Jones St. to keep the wings on the restaurant's menu.

Per the petition:

We believe that the famous Great Jones Cafe wings should be put on the menu of the restaurant taking its place. NYers join our crusade!

As for the new Great Jones Cafe, the owners will be updating the menu, featuring a lot less Cajun-influenced fare as the original, which opened in 1983. However, one of the owners, Avi Burn, said the other day that they "will pay homage to the old menu with some GJ classics and some inspiration from the old menu." Perhaps that might mean wings.

In 2012, Complex bestowed the Best Wings in NYC crown upon the Great Jones Cafe, writing:

Doused in a homemade hot sauce that hits all the right sweet and savory notes, the wings have the crispy skin chicken wing lovers would die for. But that sauce—the sauce is so good that, after you've finished the wings, you'll drag all the thin slices of carrot and other veggies that garnish the platter through the dregs just to keep the flavor in your mouth.

And the wings looked like this, not like in the petition photo...

Last day for Liquiteria on 2nd Avenue

As I first mentioned on Monday, the Liquiteria on Second Avenue and 11th Street is closing after service today.

There's no official word why this location of the chainlet is shutting down after 22 years of serving smoothies and various juices. Liquiteria fans craving a Bulldozer smoothie can still visit the locations that will remain open, including 13th Street and Fourth Avenue and Sixth Avenue at Eighth Street.

Meanwhile, a for rent sign is up on the storefront...

Thursday's parting shot

Seventh Street at First Avenue this morning...

The return of the cowboy on Avenue A

The cowboy mural by Solus made a return appearance to 50 Avenue A yesterday.

Back in June, Solus (via the L.I.S.A Project NYC) put up a nearly identical cowboy here between Third Street and Fourth Street...


[EVG photo from June]

However, the landlord of the vacant space had the mural painted over for whatever reasons within several days. Perhaps it will stick around longer this time.

This retail property has sat empty since the Citibank branch closed in January 2017.

Post-fire updates on 1st Avenue

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

District 2 City Council member Carlina Rivera's office posted this information this morning on the state of affairs after yesterday's six-alarm fire at 188 First Ave.

Via Facebook:

Our thoughts remain with the residents affected by yesterday's fire in the East Village. Though the incident centered on 188 First Ave, adjacent buildings were evacuated as well. The blaze was persistent, smoldering into Wednesday evening. We thank our brave first responders for their work yesterday and in the days to come: New York City Fire Department (FDNY), NYPD 9th Precinct, the American Red Cross in Greater New York, Con Edison, and NYC Environmental Protection.

INJURIES
Thankfully, no fatalities or life-threatening injuries.

TENANTS
188 First Avenue remains vacated until further notice.
186 First Avenue is cleared for re-occupancy today.
190 First Avenue is cleared for re-occupancy today.

Landlords or the Red Cross have relocated most residents to hotels. Agencies are doing their best to get tenants back in their homes. If you still require emergency housing assistance, call the Red Cross at (212) 875-2301.

SCHOOLS AFFECTED
PS 19, East Side Community High School, and Girls Prep are all re-opened. Thanks to principals and staff for jumping into action, and to parents and students for their patience.

BUSINESSES
All businesses can re-enter their premises except for those located at 188 First Avenue. If you have a business on the block affected by the incident, please reach out to NYC SBS at (212) 618-8810.

TRAFFIC
Aside from emergency vehicles placed on the east side of the block, vehicular traffic has resumed on First Ave. All side streets will re-open today.

OTHER NOTES
Madina Masjid has reopened on a normal schedule; FDNY will keep one mobile unit at the scene until further notice; Thanks to NYC Emergency Management, New York City Council Staff, NYC SBS, DOE, DOB, NYC Mayor's Office, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, state Senator Brad Hoylman and LES Ready - Long Term Recovery Group for their support; and special thanks to 14th Street Y for offering assistance from the get-go.

You can always call our office at 212-677-1077 with questions. We will continue to provide updates to residents and the community as needed.

Several readers/residents asked about any crowdfunding campaigns for the displaced residents. I haven't heard of any just yet.

And these photos from today via Steven show some business on the block between 11th Street and 12th Street back open, including Atomic Wings...





Previously on EV Grieve:
Watch this drone footage of the fire at 188 1st Ave.

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's this week's NY See, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's comic series — an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

CB2 SLA committee OKs license for new ownership of Great Jones Cafe

Community Board 2's SLA committee signed off on the corporate change Tuesday night for new ownership to take over the Great Jones Cafe.

The liquor-license approval wasn't without some debate, mostly over hours of operation and the current kitchen venting system. (In September, both the applicants and CB2 agreed to a layover on the application for exploration of the above topics.)

Avi Burn, one of the applicants along with Anthony C. Marano (who owns the building at 54 Great Jones St.), Scott Marano and Jonathan Kavourakis, told me yesterday that, in the end, it was an "even deal."

Aside from amending the hours of the previous Great Jones Cafe (from 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday), the new owners will move the kitchen vent from the front facade, which Burn said "has been a huge nuisance to the neighborhood." Nearby residents had complained about the noise and smell from the vent in recent years.

"We will spend what will probably be close to $80,000 on the vent, which was not illegal in this case, because we would like to have a restaurant with neighborhood support behind it," said Burn, an owner of Pinks on 10th Street and Pinks Cantina in the Bowery Market. "We genuinely have the best interest of the community in mind but we are also mindful of a business model that will allow us to succeed."

As for the restaurant, the owners — who become the primary investors in J.F. Jones Inc. d/b/a Great Jones — are retaining the Great Jones Cafe name. Burn said that their emphasis will no longer just be on Cajun cuisine — the longtime staple at the Great Jones. During the September CB2 meeting, Kavourakis, a former chef at The Stanton Social and Vandal, described the menu for the new venture as "modern American."

Here are a few more thoughts from Burn...

On the food:

"Chef Jonathan is aiming to create a menu that people can eat several times per week. We felt Cajun food — while amazing and hearty — is a once-in-a-while treat for many people. Nevertheless we will pay homage to the old menu with some GJ classics and some inspiration from the old menu."

On the legacy of the Great Jones Cafe, which opened just west of the Bowery in 1983:

"The idea was really to keep as much of the spirit of place as possible. We will clean up, make some cosmetic changes, re-do the food and drink menu while keeping some classics and aim to offer a great update to a classic neighborhood restaurant. Great Jones Cafe was in my regular rotation of favorite NYC restaurants. I loved the food, especially the Gumbo. I am very excited to be able to continue the legacy — it was a no brainer to keep it as Great Jones Cafe."

On a reopening date:

"We are working diligently to bring Great Jones Cafe back to the neighborhood as soon as possible."

James Moffett, the longtime owner of the Great Jones Cafe, died on July 10. The restaurant never reopened following his death.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Jim Moffett, owner of the Great Jones Cafe

New owners vying for the Great Jones Cafe space

[Updated] The future of the former Great Jones Cafe

A look at the coming-soon signage at the Moxy East Village

The coming-soon signage has arrived at the Moxy East Village on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.



The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) was quick to note the branding on the sidewalk bridge...

Irony alert: The #Moxyhotel 4 #millennials on E.11th St. for which 5 landmark-eligible 19th c tenements w/ 100 residential units were demolished is marketing with image of kinds of buildings they knocked down! & #JaneJacobs ?? Read more about our fight:https://t.co/DLFacOcyf6 pic.twitter.com/HJhQRLmewa

— GVSHP (@GVSHP) October 3, 2018

It's not known if the glasses actually represent urbanist-activist Jane Jacobs ... or, perhaps, science buff Velma Dinkley from "Scooby-Doo."

In June 2016, local preservationists made their case to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to designate East 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue a historic district in a bid to save the five residential (circa 1887-1892) buildings from demolition.


[Photo from May 2016]

However, the LPC ignored the request, Andrew Berman, executive director of the GVSHP, said at the time. Representatives for GVSHP, the Historic Districts Council, the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative and the East Village Community Coalition all signed a letter appealing to now-former LPC chair Meenakshi Srinivasan.

In any event, the use of tenements photo-printed on the sidewalk bridge — a simulation of the local New York streetscape the hotel destroyed — is reminiscent of Target's faux storefront/TRGT grand opening last summer on 14th Street.

The 13-story Moxy East Village is expected to open in late 2019.

Previously on EV Grieve:
6-building complex on East 10th Street and East 11th Street sells for $127 million

Report: 300-room hotel planned for East 11th Street

Preservationists say city ignored pitch to designate part of 11th Street as a historic district

Permits filed to demolish 5 buildings on 11th Street to make way for new hotel (58 comments)

At the Moxy hotel protest on 11th Street last evening

The 13th Step loses the 13th on 2nd Avenue

After eight-plus years as the 13th Step, the sports bar/SantaCon hotspot at 149 Second Ave. is now simply The Step here between Ninth Street and 10th Street. (Thanks to EVG reader Aaron Wilson for the photo!)

No word at the moment what may have prompted the dropping of the 13th. There isn't any mention yet about a name change on the bar's website or social media properties.

Several readers/residents found the name to be in poor taste upon the bar's arrival. The term 13th Step is used as a euphemism for inappropriate sexual advances by a member to a newcomer in AA. It means other things too.

From the EVG way-back machine in July 2010, Michael Asch, one of the two senior co-owners at the time of the 13th Step discussed the rationale behind the original name.

Anyway, so long to that comic-sans neon signage...


[EVG photo from July 2010]