Two Hands debuts on Avenue A

The first NYC outpost of Two Hands, a quick-serve establishment serving "Seoul fresh corn dogs," opened back on Friday here at 147 Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

Here's a look at what to expect with their varieties of corn dogs...

They also serve dirty fries — deep-fried potato tater puffs with Two Hands Dirty Sauce and Cheetos powder. Find the menu here.

Hours: Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with an 11 p.m. close on Fridays and Saturdays.

The expanding company also has franchises in California, Arizona and Nevada... and now NYC.

Photo by Steven

Cooper Union's Urban Umbrella

In case you haven't been by Cooper Union's Foundation Building lately ... in recent weeks, workers have finished surrounding the building with the more aesthetically pleasing Urban Umbrella scaffolding ... fitting for this landmark

Behold!

Work permits point to a "renovation at the fourth floor."

The Urban Umbrella, made of recycled steel and translucent plastic panel, made its first NYC appearance in the fall of 2017.

Reader report: It's 'rats galore' at this long-empty 1st Avenue lot

An EVG reader shared an email with the subject line: "New tenants for 89 1st Ave?"

A bit of a misleading title, but it's rats, rats and rats galore. This "fence" (especially in quotes compared to the former grand one) is an invitation for garbage dumping, and the rat situation in the courtyards behind the building is dire. 

This is just the sidewalk; the lot is a mess. Do readers have suggestions or tips for how to get the lot better secured from dumping and trespassing? Or who to call to come to issue a fine? Or how to get this turned into a community garden for the time being? It's only been what, 40-plus years?!

There are development plans here ... last May,  another set of new building permits were filed with the city for the lot between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

According to the DOB, the proposed building is six floors with eight residential units and ground-floor retail. In total, the structure is 8,183 square feet. The project is still awaiting approval.

This is the second time in recent years that plans have been filed for a new building for the address. In 2017, the city never approved plans for a similar-sized structure — eight units, six floors.

As previously reported, Florence Toledano was the owner of this lot. In 2013, public records show that the deed for the property was transferred from the Florence Toledano Living Trust to 89 First Avenue LLC. The DOB permit lists Daniel Toledano as the manager of the property. (We do not know the relationship between Daniel Toledano and Florence Toledano. One reader said Daniel is a nephew of Florence.)

Daniel Toledano is still listed as the property owner and developer of the project. (Toledano is also listed as the owner of the lot that housed the 2Bn2C sculpture garden at 231 E. Second St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. More on that space in another post.)

In December 2017, workers dismantled the sculpture fence that had lined the First Avenue lot for years (since the late 1980s, per one estimate). The fence was created at the former Gas Station (aka Art Gallery Space 2B) on Avenue B and Second Street by Claire Kalemkeris and Johnny Swing in collaboration with Linus Coraggio.


[EVG photo from 2017]

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing?

• Drilling and soil testing commence at the long-empty lot at 89 1st Ave.

• Workers remove the sculpture fence and prep lot at 89 1st Ave.

A good sign at Little Poland

When Gov. Cuomo announced that indoor dining was expanding to 50-percent capacity on March 19, several East Village bars and restaurants said that they'd reopen ... including Little Poland on Second Avenue. 

In an Instagram post on March 10, the diner between 12th Street and 13th Street said that they were preparing to open its doors once again.... for the first time since the PAUSE of March 2020.

And in another positive sign, Little Poland is now hiring for several positions... 

It will be nice to have them back ... Little Poland first opened in 1985. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos...

La Cabra opening a Scandinavian coffee roastery and sourdough bakery on 2nd Avenue

Signage is up now in the window of a retail space at 152 Second Ave. for La Cabra, which will bring a Scandinavian coffee roastery and sourdough bakery to this space between Ninth Street and 10th Street...

Per an Instagram post via @lacabra.nyc:

We are revisiting this city sooner than we expected. Back in February, we signed a contract for a beautiful location in East Village and our first location will be an open and beautiful sourdough bakery combined with a coffee bar. 

We recently started the renovations and together with our local partner we look forward to welcoming you this summer with bright coffees, sourdough bread and handmade pastries.

The previous tenant here, Pure Green, which sold cold-pressed juices, smoothies and açaí bowls, closed in early 2020. They had several roommates — Wattle Cafe, Greecologies, PlantMade and the I.V. Doc — dating back to their opening in March 2017.

Thanks to Steven for the photo and tip!

Openings: Burrata Pizza on Avenue A, Sal's Pizza II on 14th Street

Burrata Pizza has debuted at 221 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. 

As previously reported, this pizzeria is taking the place of Muzzarella Pizza (1991-2020). 

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. You can find a menu, which includes salads and paninis, at GrubHub. 

... and New York Sal's Pizza II recently opened at 536 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. The deal signage on the sidewalk offers two slices and a soda for $6.

The hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

This is a sibling to the New York Sal's Pizza up on 10th Avenue in Hell's Kitchen.

Anyone try either pizzeria? EVG regular Edmund John Dunn liked his slice from Burrata.

Gong Cha debuts on St. Mark's Place

The new Gong Cha outpost has officially opened at 27 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

This is the ninth Manhattan outpost for Gong Cha, which describes itself as "one of the most recognized bubble tea brands around the world" ... which got its start in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

This block of St. Mark's has seen a variety of bubble tea come and go through the recent years... some still in business (Kung Fu Tea right across the street).... and some not (Mi Tea). And there's more on the way for the northwest corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

This storefront had been vacant since Lab -320° closed in late 2016 after six months of selling ice cream. The previous longtime tenant here, The Sock Man, closed in January 2016 after a reported rent hike via (now former) landlord Raphael Toledano. 

Sock Man owner Marty Rosen later opened a new location at 99 1/2 St. Mark's Place ... where he remains today.

Added:

There was previously a Gong Cha location on 14th Street. 

Photo by Steven

I say love, it is a flower

An EVG reader shared these photos from Fourth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue today ...

Headline H/T

Week in Grieview

Posts from this past week included (with a photo on St. Mark's Place by Derek Berg) ...

 • City tries again with release of a Value Engineering Study for East River Park (Thursday) 

• Barnyard Cheese Shop returns; Brix Wines moves a storefront away (Monday) 

• Packing up the last of The Pyramid Club (Thursday) 

• At the first East Village Flea of 2021 (Tuesday) 

  A look at Full Tank Moto Cafe, now open on Monroe Street (Tuesday) 

• Easter in Tompkins Square Park (Monday) 

• Reopenings: Indochine, Kindred and Van Da (Wednesday) 

• This week's Gallery Watch looks at "There's the Air" by Clare Grill at Derek Eller Gallery (Friday)

• Halftime at NY See (Thursday) 

• Fresco will not be reopening at 138 2nd Ave. (Tuesday)

• "Diamonds, Razors & Champagne" debuts at 3rd & B’Zaar (Friday) 

• Vinny Vincenz Pizza has closed (Monday) 

• This photogenic East Village wisteria now has its own jigsaw puzzle (Tuesday) 

• Doc Holliday's turns 27 while closed during the pandemic; "We will be back" (Wednesday) 

• The Hayaty Hookah Bar space is for rent on Avenue A (Monday) 

• Rendering watch: 650 E. 6th St. (Wednesday) 

• Report of a balcony fire on 7th Street (Sunday) 

• 45-47 2nd Ave. has a new owner (Thursday) 

• Back to the 1980s (again) for "Russian Doll" (Friday)

• Partial reveal at the 101 Condominium (Monday)

... and William Klayer spotted DJ Mike Márquez at 7 a.m. for an early Twitch live stream in East River Park by the fogged-in Williamsburg Bridge...

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Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

Vinnie is missing [UPDATED: Vinnie is home safe]

Per the flyer:

Vinnie, very beloved, very friendly, and very dumb, not sure he knows his name but responds to treat-shaking. Gray and white striped. Wearing collar/nametag, microchipped. Probably got over wall to East 2nd Street cemetery or East 3rd Street backyards. Reward!!! 917-446-8822. Missing since late Saturday night, 4/10/21. 

Updated noon:

Vinnie is safe and sound now and hanging out in the living room...

Sunday's opening shot

Dense fog advisory until 10 a.m.! 

Thanks to Jeanne Krier for this photo, which includes the Con Ed Building on 14th Street to the left...

Saturday's parting shot

Thanks to EVG reader Doug for this photo on Stuyvesant Street at 10th Street...