What's coming to the Robot Daycare/Missing Sock/Mime Academy space

Well, for those of you have have been following the goofy sign saga at 70 E. First St. ...



According to an EV Grieve operative, the space will be home to a smoothie shop. No joke. Opens on May 15.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another day, another wacky new store sign on First Street

Superdive now only open two nights a week -- but new hours are on the way

Uh-oh, though -- new spring hours on Monday, May 3. Does this mean the joint will be open during the week when/if the new owners take over?

The former Atomic Passion space is for rent

As Jeremiah pointed out on Friday, Atomic Passion on East Ninth Street has closed... and the space has quickly gone on the market...




I'm curious what happened to the two cutouts who adorned the wall above the store for so many years...


[Bottom photo via Jeremiah]

Zerza moving to Avenue B

The long-empty Carne Vale space on Avenue B near Fourth Street finally has a new tenant...(and the Carne Vale Web site is still alive...)



... it appears to be Zerza, the Mediterranean/Moroccan Restaurant & Bar that's now at 308 E. Sixth St.



They're on the docket for the next CB3/SLA meeting next Monday. According to the Zerza Web site, they feature hookas after 10 p.m. ... and there is belly dancing on the weekend ... I know nothing about Zerza, but the mere idea of hookahs and belly dancing in an Avenue B bar/restaurant brings up unpleasant memories of Le Souk and Layaly... and the Horus Cafe... By the way, as you may know, Carne Vale was owned by the Jacob brothers, who also run Le Souk...

Le Souk owners offer new sign to explain what happened

A new sign adorns the door at the former bane of Avenue B, Le Souk... and how are they describing what went down there...?

Tallgrass Burger shows its beef and wings sign

The work on Tallgrass Burger at the former Elvie's Turo-Turo on First Avenue continues...



...and we now have a better idea of their menu agenda...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Burger joint fad continues: Select Burger coming to First Avenue (aka Burger Alley)

Medina Restaurant "temporarily closed" for renovations

The Medina Restaurant on First Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street...



...is "temporarily closed" for the time being...

Classic Kicks has closed

You may have noticed in recent weeks that streetwear boutique Classic Kicks on Elizabeth between Houston and Bleecker has closed...



People looking for high-end vintage sneakers can still shop online.

According to StreetRat: "Due to increasing rates of rent, Classic Kicks decided to temporarily close in order to find a more suitable retail space. No word on where they’re looking or how soon the move will be, but keep tight."

This sign in front of the old shop, which opened in 2003, doesn't seem so encouraging, though...

Famous people looking at buying East Village home

According to a Hollywood Life exclusive, Katy Perry, who is famous for some reason, and her beau Russell Brand, are house shopping around these parts...

An eyewitness tells us she ran into the wacky couple walking into an open house at an apartment building in the East Village on April 11, just as she was walking out.

Dressed like they hadn’t changed since going out the night before — our eyewitness says Russell was wearing skintight leather pants, while Katy was sporting a skin-tight mini skirt with lace print and platform shoes — the couple checked out the two bedroom apartment in the village’s Alphabet City neighborhood. And although we couldn’t get an asking price out of her, our eyewitness did tell us that she heard Russell ask if he could use the bathroom, which is apparently a big no-no at open houses.

Hmmm... the Copper Building had an open house today... Here are other open houses today that fit the bill...

[Photo via]

Avenue A Sushi is confusing us

You may have noticed that the neon lights at Avenue A Sushi were back on this weekend... there was talk that the place had closed and would reopen as one big eatery that also incorporated the Mini Thai Cafe space next door... However, that deal apparently fell through...



An EV Grieve reader spoke with the owner... and the reader reported that the Mini Thai Cafe and Avenue A Sushi kitchens have been combined, though they were still serve separate menus... The owner also said Avenue A Sushi was just having a "soft opening" now...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mini Thai Cafe and Avenue A Sushi to be combined into one new restaurant?

Mini Thai Cafe mysteriously reopens as Mini Thai Cafe

Things that I was glad I didn't see

The Greenwich Village Spring Bar tour yesterday. Remnants spotted here on Seventh Street at Cooper Square.

The Os Gêmeos mural on Bowery and Houston is gone

This street mural by Brazilian street artists and identical twins Os Gêmeos went up at the Bowery and Houston last summer...



And, sometime during the weekend, it was removed...





Jeremiah has more on the history of this corner and what might be coming here next...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Last day for the Os Gêmeos mural on Bowery and Houston?

A tribute to fallen Polish leaders outside St. Stanislaus

Members of the local Polish community left candles and flags outside St. Stanislaus on Seventh Street during the weekend to pay tribute to Polish President Lech Kaczynski and other government leaders who were killed in a plane crash yesterday morning...





The Wall Street Journal has more on the local reaction...

iCrotch

On St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue. And I had my first iPad-in-public sighting last Saturday... a fellow standing in the brunch line at Prune.