Appreciating Graceland's graffiti

Speaking of paint jobs... I'm wondering how long before the now-vacant Graceland gets groomed on Avenue A and Second Street... in preparation for its new tenant, apparently another grocery -- one that can afford the $22,000 monthly rent. Part of Graceland, which closed on April 25, has been painted over...




Anyway, just an appreciation before it's all gone...







And you'll spot a familiar name...




As others have commented, it seems strange to find this corner dark at night... and with all the stands and partions removed...



...though, after this happened, I was able to spot part of the store's original sign...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Graceland is closing in the next 10 days

Nicky's staying in the East Village; Graceland moving out?

Graceland addresses its customers

Graceland gutted

Speaking of Graceland, workers started gutting the former grocery yesterday...

Pulino's pulls it back off the Bowery

All this week I noticed that a handful of tables had made their way onto the sidewalk outside Pulino's on the Bowery...

Tuesday!



Wednesday!



...and Thursday! No more tables on the sidewalk...



What gives? No sidewalk permit?

Exclusive: Smurf cast member shopping for East Village condo

After filming on the East Village last week, we hear that one of the Smurf cast members is absolutely GaGa over the prospects of living here... in fact, our spies have seen the cast member condo shopping .... over the weekend, he was wooed by the bikini-klad karaoke krowd at the A Building on 13th Street...



and he was equally bowled over by the private gated driveway at the 15-stories of condo at the Bowery and East Fourth Street...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Exclusive: The Smurfs show their immature side while filming in the East Village

Exclusive first look at "The Smurfs Movie" filming today in the East Village

[Bikini photo via Curbed via the Daily News]

Open Air Cafe borrows names of future East Village bars

As I read on Eater, new vendors are taking over the cafe on Centre Street near Sam Waterson Square and The Place of Employment for EV Grieve (TPOEFEVG)....



and there will be four vendors here...



... with names (Lucky Buns! Sauced!) that sound like future bars in the East Village.

Agnes and Eva's Cafe now a barber shop

In March, Agnes & Eva's Cafe closed on 13th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.... I walked by last night and noticed the "for lease" sign was down... and a barber shop was now in business in the space...

Wild palms and pizza

Earlier today, we noted that Pomodoro Pizza will be opening this weekend in part of the former Dunkin' Donuts space on Second Avenue...

Well, the weekend must mean today: It's now open for business... Just look for the palm trees...

Mysteries! Subway Highest Ranked Restaurant for the Seventh Straight Year

We get news releases!

Leading global market research firm Harris Interactive continues to examine the results of its 2010 EquiTrend® study, today focusing on the Top US Restaurant brands. The annual brand equity study measures over 1,000 brands across 42 categories, including a battery of US restaurant brands.

For the seventh straight year, Subway Restaurants ranks highest in brand equity in the quick service area, followed this year by Wendy's Restaurants. For the first time, the 2010 EquiTrend® study included casual dining establishments. Although Subway is not officially in the casual dining category, their brand equity ranking gives them the highest position among both quick service competitors and casual dining brands, which demonstrates the strength of their brand position in the restaurant industry.

"Subway ranking highest in almost every dimension we survey is very impressive," says Mary Bouchard, Vice President of Research for the Restaurant Industry. "Subway has maintained its brand equity by creating a strong consumer connection; they are very adept at reading and responding to shifts in consumer demand. When consumers wanted healthier choices, they promoted healthy options with the 6 grams of fat sandwich line; when we needed to save money, they set the standard for $5 meal promotions. It will be interesting to see how their new breakfast menu leverages their strengths."

No mention of their badass mascots, though.

More on the the Avenue A used bookstore

An EV Grieve reader left this comment about the used bookstore opening on Avenue A in the former Etherea Records space...

We nosed about a couple of nights ago as they were moving in the (!) books. Focus is on a "well-curated" collection of art and photography books. From the tone of it I'd guess more the real (or at least intellectualized) version rather than the Taschen version.

And from another reader...

I just dropped by and learned a few things: No name, yet (I think we should make a few suggestions), the stock includes some nice books, and the guys in the store seem to know what they are doing.

A few name suggestions:

Books on A

The Last Bookstore

Erinaceous

Booknik

End of the Line

Death Books for Cutie

And it opens this weekend...

Oh, and any suggestions for a name? Like, I Can't Believe It's Not a Yogurt Shop ...Or: Up Yours, Amazon Marketplace!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Look! Books! Real books!

CB3 forming task force to help curb youth violence

News from last week's CB3 meeting via Lesley Sussman at The Villager.

Given the rise in youth violence, CB3 "has called for the establishment of a task force comprised of elected officials, city agencies and community groups to help create a strategy to address the situation."

As Sussman reported, "The resolution said that quelling such violence was 'the highest priority for our community.'"

CB3 Chair Dominic Pisciotta said, "We need immediate action, especially with the summer months coming up when violence always increases."

Hmmmmm. Too bad the Board couldn't have come to this decision sooner...like, say, last summer. My experience with task forces, as well-intended as they usually are, is that nothing happens... at least not in any timely fashion....

Ratapooey! How many eateries in the East Village/LES had rodent problems?

Also from The Villager's CB3 meeting article... some numbers for you to chew on...

According to District Manager Susan Stetzer, there are currently 1,184 active restaurants in CB3's East Village/Lower East Side district, and that last year the city issued 360 violations for mice and 86 violations for rats to restaurants in the district.

A LOT of house on East Second Street

EV Grieve reader Tad was playing around with Google Maps the other day when he came across a darn good real-estate deal on East Second Street... Unfortunately, the Googlers must have realized their mistake... so the link is dead, but the screenshot lives on! Check it out!



As he told me: "Who knew such great houses existed right on E. 2nd St.: 3 bed/3 bath, under 500k? A hidden treasure." Heh! Not to mention a driveway! Which is actually in keeping with the East Village driveway/private garage trend.

Then what?: The Mars Bar gets a paint job

In January 2009, too many of us philosophized and other -ized things over the rather curious sign at the Mars Bar....




Anyway, if you're still trying to figure it out, then stop. The front of the bar has been painted over...



...to possibly yield to another sign to occupy us for the next 16 or so months?


Previously on EV Grieve:
That confusing new sign at the Mars Bar

The first review of Diablo Royale Este is in!

Well, Diablo Royale Este opened last night at 167 Avenue A... and from the sound of the first review here from a reader, this place should fit right in on Avenue A from 10th Street to 14th Street!

Went by at midnight. The place was a zoo. No bouncer. Just a lot of people and noise. So much for good neighbors.

No word yet on the spit-roasted pig in the backyard.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Diablo Royale Este opens today: features two bars, one screening room and spit-roast pigs in the backyard