Wednesday, October 6, 2010

So what's going on at 325 E. 10th St.?

Speaking of 325 E. 10th St. ... A reader sent me an e-mail saying that he or she had been in the process of renting an apartment here. That was until the other day.



"After a long application process (for which we were approved) we were told the entire building was no longer going to be listed for rent. This was while we were in the process of cutting checks for lease signing. Something is up with this building. We were given no explanation, and everyone involved felt as if we had been worked over. This deal has been in process all week, and I know personally I felt comfortable enough with how things were moving to not continue looking for apartments. Could be a condo conversion, or a complete sale of the property to a third party ..."

StreetEasy has listings for 12 units here. I sent an agent at Icon Realty Management an e-mail asking if units here were still available. He responded, "Yes, to schedule a viewing, please call me." I sent a follow-up note, ID-ing myself as a blogger, and asked for clarification on what was happening here. I didn't receive a return response. That was last Wednesday.

In any event, while walking by recently, an agent was showing the apartments... the front door was open. And a worker told me that it was OK to walk in and take a look. So I did.



There are two buildings here.... a courtyard separates the two... From what I could tell, the second building contains the studios, which start at $2,000.




Everything in the studios are top of the line, including the washer and dryer... but the studios seem small — even by small East Village studio standards.




...and here's a one-bedroom unit in the front building...





And here are a few photos from the roof of the second building... the "roof decks" are listed as an amenity here. Doesn't seem like much of a party destination — a little too close to the neighbors .... not that that will deter anyone...






Finally, when I looked at the Icon site last night, there weren't any units listed here now. The jilted renter thinks that the second building is still on the market, but not the front building. So, what's going on with 325 E. 10th St.? This is a story that's likely to be continued...

An East Village apartment that makes you "think Williamsburg"



The description for this nice one-bedroom home on East 10th Street between Avenue C and Avenue D, which hit the market at the end of the summer, is “Think Williamsburg, but live Manhattan." Which makes no sense to me.

And nothing in the listing screams Williamsburg either:

Southern Exposure / Faces Courtyard = Quiet serenity awaits.

Amazing East Village location = Great night life and steps to Tompkins Square Park

Huge, Open layout + Chef's Kitchen = Entertain guests, while you cook!

2 FULL baths = 1 for you and 1 for your guests

Walk-in Master Closet = SAVE $, no need for mini storage.

2 Bus lines across the street = no need to fight your way onto the L train

And best of all.....Maintenance you can afford. At only $625/mo this home is an exceptional opportunity for those of you keeping within a tight budget, but not wanting to sacrifice.




So where's the Williamsburg part? A mention of the L train? I expected some circa-2004 stereotypes. Skinny jeans! Facial hair! Wacky bikes! Arcade Fire!

Anyway, I'm probably missing something. See for yourself during the open house Sunday morning from 10-11. Bring your $560,000.

Citibank thinks that we're excited for a new bank branch

On Union Square, at the corner that once housed the Virgin Megastore...




...why else would Citibank feel the need for a countdown clock? Woo 57 days!



This will complete the transformation of Union Square South... the former Circuit City-Virgin Megastore space on 14th Street between Fourth Avenue and Broadway now features Best Buy, Duane Reade, Nordstrom Rack and the incoming, state-of-the-art Citibank.

Wow is right



Spotted on First Avenue near 11th Street.

Can it really be time to start advertising the Radio City Christmas Spectacular? Well, yeah — the show starts on Nov. 5. Wait! I still want it to be September!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

That WOOM.... WOOM... WOOM sound on Seventh Street

A reader reported a jarring sound — "like WOOM... WOOM... WOOM" coming from somewhere on Seventh Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...

Too much tuba from the Zum Schneider Octoberfest house band? Uh. No....

Just a construction working tossing bags of sand or something heavy from the fourth-floor fire escape into the dumpster on the street.

We'll always have the L train

Via Craigslist:

To the guy who spit on me last night - w4m - 21 (East Village)
Date: 2010-10-05, 2:40PM EDT

Me: standing on the platform of the L train at Union Square, harmlessly kissing my companion.

You: Absolutely fucking batshit.

I have no idea what prompted this, but thanks for coming up and spitting in our faces. I really appreciated your saliva in my eye. It really made the mood all the more special.

Cowboy hats, balloons and film crew at AlphaBet Cafe

"Generation Um" continues filming around the Lower East Side... there's a noontime scene being shot now at the AlphaBet Cafe on 14th Street and Avenue B... no sign of lead Keanu Reeves... but there are several people in straw cowboy hates (er, HATS!) and balloons...




According to IMDB, the film is set in Los Angeles... which means the LES is more LA than LA?

Claim: Webster Hall's DayGlow paint party oversold by 1,900 tickets


[Via]

On Sunday, we told you that Webster Hall hosted DayGlow, billed as "the largest paint party in the world.... and the party was eventually shut down by the NYPD and FDNY... According to a Webster Hall source, there were 2,100 pre-sold tickets -- and 4,000 in attendance. Regardless, as Eater noted, "It's nice to know that the building's management, event promoters and authorities could help bring the party to a peaceful end with no one getting hurt." Very true...

"I see a walk by Coyote Ugly in your future..."

In recent weeks, a psychic has set up shop on First Avenue next to Coyote Ugly.... as these photos by First Avenue correspondent Blue Glass show, the psychic continues to make improvements to the space....




...looking pretty good now...




...and now rather handily right next to the bike lane...

Headless body spotted outside Mars Bar

St. Brigid's at night

The renovations continue... workers removed the north wall and are replacing it... when I look at it a certain way, I think I see the side of a cruise ship...





And here's a day shot for a different perspective...

Dumb questions: What is a French hot dog?



At Jule's on St. Mark's Place. And is it served with French fries? [The crowd belts him with bottles]

In case John Legend locks himself out



There's always a locksmith around when you need one.... On the gated driveway at 52E4, the 15 stories of condo on Fourth Street... where the Legend, Moby and others may or may not live...

An East Village map from 1966



Here's a map of New York City’s East Village in 1966 from John Gruen’s book “The New Bohemia.” Click to enlarge and check out all the long-lost spots... (Via.)

Ephemeral New York has more on the book, including a short excerpt.