Chairnobyl

Chairnobyl, now on display on Houston between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Thanks to Bill Buchen for the photo!

On second thought, Jiang Diner is moving back to 5th Street

After six weeks at 104 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, Jiang Diner is returning to its previous location at 309 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ...



There isn't any reason cited on the note to patrons, other than that Jiang Diner, which offers Northwestern Chinese cuisine, including the popular Xinjiang big plate chicken, will be back on Fifth Street starting today.

So to recap: Jiang Diner, which has been a hit since opening last spring on Fifth Street, moved to the former Hot Kitchen space on Second Avenue. (According to the Times back in August, Tao An, the owner of Jiang Diner, was also behind Hot Kitchen.)

The Fifth Street location was set to become a quick-serve establishment...


[Photo on 5th Street from Jan. 4]

So 104 Second Ave., long stuck under that sidewalk bridge, will be vacant again. As we've noted, Hot Kitchen, the Sichuan specialists, went from serving terrific food to a more pedestrian hotpot.

At the beginning of December, the restaurant started offering Japanese cuisine under the name Sushi & Sake. That venture lasted a short month.

Thank you to Steven for the photos and tip!

Previously

Demolition watch: 183 Avenue B

It appears that the four-story building that was 183 Avenue B has been demolished...



As we reported back in June, there are plans for a new 8-floor residential building here between 11th Street and 12th Street.

According to the permit filed with the city, the building will have 12 residential units with ground-floor retail.

New York Yimby pointed out that the units will "most likely [be] rentals based on the average scope of 689 square feet."

In January 2017, Corcoran listed the property with a $4.75 million ask. The building — with air rights intact — sold for that exact amount in April 2017, per public records. The DOB permit lists Richard Pino via the Tompkins 183 LLC as the owner.

Units in the building had apparently been recently renovated, per the listing at the time ...



... and there was a nice outdoor space out back....

That Thai Direct renovation is taking longer than expected

[Photo from Monday]

At the beginning of the month, we noted that Thai Direct on Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street was closed for a renovation. They were expected to reopen this past Friday.

Now, management reports that the renovations aren't complete, and they're eyeing a Feb. 25 return. Once they reopen, you'll notice a revamped dining room complete with a small bar. CB3 gave approval back in December for a beer-wine license.

Thai Direct will also be debuting several new menu items.

The quick-serve establishment, which bills itself as offering a healthy take on Thai street food, opened here in September 2018.

Tuesday's parting shot

A face from the steam stack on First Avenue and 10th Street ... thanks to Rainer Turim for the photo!

Brooklyn Bean Roastery arrives on Avenue A

Brooklyn Bean Roastery has set up shop at 23 Avenue A just south of Second Street.

We heard from several EVG readers who were surprised to find the cafe up and running this past weekend offering a variety of breakfast (and brunch) items. There weren't any announcement's on the Roastery's social media accounts. Management said that grand opening details are forthcoming.

The company sells their coffee pods in stores, including Walmart, across the country ... and online via Amazon.

Here's more about them:

We’re three guys from Brooklyn who love coffee – it’s as simple as that. Together, we started Brooklyn Bean Roastery – pioneering the introduction of single-serve coffee to the market. With decades of experience in product engineering (yes, we are also nerds), our unique tension-based ‘roast2cup’ technology ensures every cup of coffee tastes as fresh as the first.

In December, the West End Lounge on the Upper West Side starting selling coffee from Brooklyn Bean Roastery, marking their first physical presence.

However, the East Village location is their first official dedicated coffee shop.

The previous tenant at 23 Avenue A, Yerba Buena, closed at the end of 2017.

Updated 6 p.m.

The signage arrived today...

Last Dance: Lafayette Street live music venue closes tonight after just 4 months

The Dance, the live music venue opened by Billy Jones (Baby’s All Right, Elvis Guesthouse) last fall, closes tonight after four months and change at 428 Lafayette St.

As Brooklyn Vegan first reported: "With astronomical Manhattan rent and a lack of overnight profits, investors allegedly got cold feet and have pulled the plug."

The Dance released this statement on Instagram:

We were invited into this project by a team that we felt, like us, were dedicated to proving Culture could live and thrive again in Manhattan. It was a long, hard, and complicated development process for everyone involved. When we finally opened to the public in October, we were already facing many significant challenges, both logistical and financial.

In spite of those challenges, we set about in making The Dance something truly special. Over its short lifespan, The Dance felt like an incredible moment of creativity and rejuvenated nightlife in a borough that desperately needed it.

Unfortunately, the ownership group has respectively decided to pull the plug on this dream and go in another direction, thus ending The Dance as it is known today. We’re personally devastated about all of this because we, along with so many artists, promoters, agents, and staff, have put so much time, energy and heart into this labor of love.

We’re very sorry for the inconvenience it caused all the acts and parties that were scheduled and the fans who were excited to come to The Dance especially those that never got a chance. We will do everything we can to make things right...

The venue closes up after tonight's sold-out show by U.S. Girls. Shows scheduled there in the weeks ahead are being moved elsewhere.

The Dance, featuring multiple spaces, including a main stage room that could hold 250 people, officially opened in October in the landmarked Colonnade Row just south of Astor Place.

During its short run, the place hosted an impressive array of shows, including Wavves, Beach Fossils, DIIV, Twin Peaks, Wild Nothing, James Chance and Shannon & the Clams, among many others.

This had been a long time in the making. The Times first mentioned that an "indie music hall and restaurant" was coming to this address in October 2016. No word on the status of the pending restaurant in the space above the Dance.

Tio Pio bringing its rotisserie chicken to 14th Street

Coming soon signage is up for Tio Pio at 250 E. 14th St. just west of Second Avenue...



This will be a new outpost for the quick-serve restaurant that specializes in Spanish-American cuisine, particularly a tasty (we're told) and reasonably priced rotisserie chicken. (Some chicken competition for the KFC next door!)

Tio Pio takes over the space from Mi Casa Latina, which closed late last fall after 10 months in business.

H/T to EVG readers vshaweddy and Shiv!

The Marshal seizes Hotel Tortuga

A bad sign at Hotel Tortuga on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue — the Marshal came calling late last week ... and the space is now in the legal possession of the landlord...


[Photo by Shiv]

No word yet about a closure here. The Hotel Tortuga website is offline, and their social media properties haven't been updated since 2018. The phone is also out of service.

A new owner took over the inexpensive Mexican restaurant in November 2017. Staff and menu essentially stayed the same.

The previous owners, David and Jean LaPointe, first opened Hotel Tortuga in 2010. They also ran Curly's Vegetarian Lunch one block to the east on 14th Street until the end of 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Hotel Tortuga, under new management, will reopen soon still as Hotel Tortuga

HDFC homeowners hosting emergency meeting to discuss proposed legislation

HDFC homeowners in the neighborhood are holding an emergency meeting on Wednesday night (Feb. 19) at the Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street, to discuss proposed legislation from Assemblymember Harvey Epstein.

According to members of the HDFC Coalition, the draft legislation will "radically change the Private Housing Finance Law (PHFL) which governs HDFCs, and introduce draconian rules that would undermine our independence and the viability of our homes."

The Coalition says that Epstein drafted the proposal without properly consulting HDFC shareholders.

The summary of draft bill A9608 "establishes the office of the HDFC cooperative ombudsman; establishes an office of the HDFC ombudsman fund for deposit of a residential unit fee, and directs the administration of such fund."

On Wednesday night from 6 to 7:30, Epstein will field questions about the proposed changes.

For more background, you may visit the HDFC Coalition website here.

Hearts for Gem Spa

[Photo By Derek Berg]

Earlier today, Hash Halper (aka @newyorkromantic) was spotted chalking hearts outside Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place... showing a little love for the corner shop that has had its financial struggles in recent months... (photos below by Steven)...

Checking out the new International Center of Photography at Essex Crossing

The International Center of Photography (ICP) opened in its new four-story home in Essex Crossing on Jan. 25.

I finally had the chance to check out the space (I missed the media preview!) at 79 Essex St. between Delancey and Broome the other evening.

The four opening exhibits, with links to their descriptions, are:

• Tyler Mitchell: I Can Make You Feel Good

• CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History of Hip-Hop

• James Coupe: Warriors

• The Lower East Side: Selections from the ICP Collection

And here are a few random photos of the photos and exhibits...













The space is much better suited to the work than its rather unwelcoming home of a few years on the Bowery, which featured dimly light basement galleries. The new building reunites the ICP school and library, and will also offer public programming. (A cafe is coming soon too.)

The current exhibits are up through May 18. The ICP is open every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (to 9 p.m. on Thursdays). They are closed on Tuesdays. You can find admission price and other details at this link.