Day starter

Here's the sunrise view this morning around 5:15 from Fourth Avenue and 12th Street ... thanks to EVG reader Jeanne Krier for the photo.

Last weekend for Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen before the summer break

This is the last weekend until mid-August for the Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen before their customary summer break.

Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, 33 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square, is the basement cafe that helps generate income for the St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church up the block.

The photos here are from EVG contributor Stacie Joy's visit to the space last September...





Anyway, three more days to hit them up for some inexpensive and hearty fare. The cafe is open today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a 9 a.m. start time on Saturday and Sunday. Visit Streecha's Instagram account for the daily specials and reopening updates.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A visit to the Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen on 7th Street

A new age on 10th Street: Rocky’s Crystals & Minerals opens tomorrow

Tomorrow (Saturday!) marks the grand opening of Rocky's Crystals & Minerals over at 280 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

This is the first NYC location for the "New Age Metaphysical Crystal & Gift Boutique," which also has outposts in Philadelphia and northern New Jersey.



Head to the Rocky's website for more on the offerings and services.

This space was previously Patisserie Florentine, the bakery that closed in February after two years in business.

On Avenue A Bin 141 is open, though Angelina Cafe is not

Bin 141, the new cafe from Imen and Rafik Bouzgarrou, opened this past Easter Sunday (April 21) on the northwest corner of Avenue A and Third Street.

The menu has a variety of staples — salads, sandwiches, burgers, pastas, entrees (grilled salmon and roast chicken, among other items) and vegan desserts. There's also a weekend brunch.



Meanwhile, the Bouzgarrou's other restaurant on Avenue A one block to the south, Angelina Cafe, is currently closed....



The space sits empty...



The Angelina website is sending potential diners to Bin 141. Here's the message:

We have temporarily moved to a new location
– Just a couple of doors from our original location –
Due to gas disruptions since February 2019 (unrelated to our business activity), we have decided to temporarily move our services just a few seconds away.

Angelina first opened in 2002 across Avenue A before relocating to this space between Second Street and Third Street in 2012.

Previously on EV Grieve:
First signs of Bin 141, a new cafe on Avenue A and 3rd Street

From noon to moon: El Sol Brillante's Garden Party benefit is tomorrow

The folks at El Sol Brillante are holding their Spring/Summer fundraiser on tomorrow (Saturday, June 8) at the community garden on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Here's what to expect via the invite:

Come join us for live music, food, refreshments, tie dye or just to enjoy and support the garden. All proceeds go directly to the garden for our composting and horticulture projects and general maintenance. Admission is free and all are welcome. Noon to Moon, June 8.

We will be celebrating the debut of our new mural at this Spring's party and toasting the artist, Jeramy Turner, who has helped to bring it to life. Please join us as we celebrate her!

Thursday's parting shot

Shopping at the Salvation Army today on Fourth Avenue... photo by Derek Berg

Businesses emerge from under the sidewalk bridge at 57 2nd Ave.

Two readers alerted us to 57 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street where, after two years (longer maybe???*) workers have removed the sidewalk bridge.

You can now see the two businesses here ... Dim Sum Palace, which opened back in December, and Kona Coffee and Company, which returned to the space in February. (Celebrity vegan chef Matthew Kenney took over that space for a cafe late last year, but it didn't work out. And Kona returned.)



Icon Realty bought the 9-story building here in early 2015. The previous retail tenants, Alex Shoe Repair and Allied Hardware, were not part of the new building's plans.

* Google Street View shows the sidewalk bridge up in September 2017. DOB paperwork for the sidewalk bridge dates to January 2017.

Previously on EV Grieve:
57 Second Ave. hits the market for $30 million

Reader report: Icon Realty new owner of 57 Second Ave.

Last day for Alex Shoe Repair on 2nd Avenue

Allied Hardware makes impending closure official on 2nd Avenue

Last days for Allied Hardware on 2nd Avenue

This is what the Hells Angels building sold for

The sale of the former Hells Angels clubhouse hit public records yesterday.

According to the public documents, 77 E. Third St., the six-story building between First Avenue and Second Avenue, sold for $7.75 million (updated: other reports list the same as for $10 million)...



As first reported here in February, there was a Memorandum of Contract (the form preceding a contract of sale) dated this past Dec. 21 between Church of the Angels, Inc. (aka — The Church of Angels) and 77 East 3rd LLC. The document was signed by Bartley J. Dowling, president of the NYC Hells Angels chapter, and the purchaser, Nathan Blatter of Whitestone Realty Group. [Updated: The New York Times reported that Whitestone sold the building to Better Living Properties.]

According to the the Post in late March, the units in the building were expected to hit the market as rentals. To date, there aren't any permits on file with the Department of Buildings for any renovations at the address.

The Hells Angels had a presence in 77 E. Third St. since 1969. They eventually bought the building, which included their clubhouse and member residences (Realtor.com lists 14 units), from Birdie Ruderman in the Bronx for a reported $1,900.

In 1983, chapter president Sandy Alexander took over ownership of the building. The deed from that time states that Alexander, his wife Collette and their family could live on the premises rent free. In addition, in the event that the building was sold, she would stand to receive half of the proceeds.

This agreement was later the basis for a legal tussle in 2013 between the clubhouse and Alexander's family. (Sandy Alexander, who spent six years in prison for selling cocaine, died in 2007.) That deed was eventually reversed in April 2018, per public documents.



No word on where the Angels may have moved. A member named Tony told the Post in March that: "We're being harassed by the yuppies down here [who are] sitting on our bikes and pissing on the sidewalk ... [We want to] go somewhere we can live comfortably."

The last of the members moved out of No. 77 at the end of March.

Previously on EV Grieve:
After 50 years on the block, the Hells Angels appear to be selling their 3rd Street clubhouse

The Hells Angels have left the East Village

[Updated] Tai Thai is closed for now

EVG reader Gacjon shares this tip — Tai Thai, the refreshingly low-key spot at 78 E. First St. between First Avenue and Avenue A, is currently closed.

There's a sign noting a closure for renovations with an abrupt "until further notice!"



We called the restaurant and didn't get any response. Tai Thai also doesn't appear to have any social media accounts that might have news about a closure.

Hopefully this is an actual closed for renovations and not the "closed for renovations" in which the restaurant never reopens.

Updated 6/11

Tai Thai is back open!

New equipment for the former Moishe's Bake Shop

EVG contributor Derek Berg spotted workers yesterday moving in new equipment at the former Moishe's Bake Shop at 115 Second Ave.

Last month, owner Moishe Perl told Derek that several bakers are taking over the shop, where they will serve a variety of baked goods as well as coffee. (He said that they may call the new venture Formerly Moishe's.)

Workers at the shop yesterday between Sixth Street and Seventh Street said that it might be another two months for the new venture to open.

Moishe's closed on March 5 after 40-plus years in business. The links below have more background on what has transpired here in the past few months.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue

The mystery of Moishe's

An update on the former Moishe's Bake Shop

Just For Fen folds on 1st Avenue

[Photo via @jcastro_nyc]

That's all for Just For Fen on First Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street.

A for-rent sign now hangs in the window of the former quick-serve restaurant, which opened in September 2017 and served a variety of Guizhou-style fen bowls.

No word on why they closed. One day they were gone. Of course, there's no shortage of places serving rice noodles in the area, including the acclaimed Little Tong two blocks to the south.

Before Just For Fen, three quick-serve restaurants quickly came and went at this location in three years — Bago ... Hibachi Dumpling Express ... and 2 Bros.

According to the listing for the 650-square-foot space, the asking rent is $11,995.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Just For Fen opens on 1st Avenue

Another look at that two-wing building growing in Brooklyn

Yesterday morning, we noted the new building on the eastern horizon as seen from East Houston Street (above!).

We can now share what One South First at the Domino Sugar Refinery site in Brooklyn will actually look like once completed... @LESNYC shared this via Twitter...



Probably shouldn't give any architects any ideas...