Noted

A reader recently noted the sign outside the new deli on Avenue B and Fourth Street. However appealing...



Might be less work and a better deal to opt for the sandwich... a reader notes another sign at the location ...

At the rally to save 326 and 328 E. Fourth St.

Today at noon, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC), Councilmember Rosie Mendez, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, the Historic Districts Council, and the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy held a rally and press conference ... You can check out more photos at the GVSHP Flickr page...

Per the GVSHP:

These houses were the first and only structures ever built on these sites and retain a remarkable level of original architectural detail. Having evolved from shipbuilding merchant’s homes to multi-family tenements to a synagogue to the home of an anarchist utopian arts collective, 326 & 328 East 4th Street capture New York and especially the East Village’s evolution over more than a century and a half. With all-too-few buildings in the East Village enjoying much-needed landmark protections, we must save 326 & 328 East 4th Street before it is too late!

You can read more about the ongoing conservation battle here.

And, um, any word on this from the Landmarks Preservation Commission?

Cost Away!

EV Grieve reader AWKWORD sends along some photos of new street art created by graffiti legend Cost... The box on Second Avenue near Houston was part of the recent Showpaper exhibit... Enjoy before the city removes it or some jackass steals it...

More on last night's CB3/SLA meeting

Here's my recap of last night's sometimes contentious CB3/SLA meeting right here.

You can read more coverage at:

The Lo-Down

Eater

The Local EV

Noted

As the readers who sent along this shot said, "Not weird, but still can't spell." And, as the copy reads, he won't streal any of your shit.

A lot of history for your rent at the Hamilton-Holly House

There's a new listing for a two-bedroom apartment at 4 St. Mark's Place... above Trash and Vaudeville in the The Hamilton-Holly House... it's a bare-bones listing with some blurry interior photos...all for $4,200...



Thankfully, there's plenty of history on this building over at the Lower East Side History Project... here's an excerpt:

The Hamilton-Holly House is an 1831 landmarked, Federalist style building which has housed the clothing store Trash And Vaudeville since 1971 (and has sold spandex to famous and not so famous rock and rollers ever since.)

This building is most notably characterized by its unusual 26-foot width and 3-1/2-story height, long parlor floor windows, unique vermiculated, rounded entranceway, molded pediment lintels, peaked roof, and double segmental dormers.

The high-stoop and peaked roof also makes this a unique Federal-era construct.

This house, along with the entire block, was developed by Thomas E. Davis, who sold 4 St. Marks place to US Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton's Son in 1833, and lived here with his widowed mom and their immediate families for nearly a decade. (Alexander Hamilton was killed in a pistol duel with Arron Burr a few years prior.)

The Van Wyck family owned 4 St. Marks in 1855 when a classified ad appeared in The New York Times reading, ''Respectable middle-aged Scotch or German Protestant woman wanted to do the general work of a small family; apply immediately at No. 4 St. Marks Place.''

By 1870, the neighborhood was much less fashionable, and a census record shows the building was used as a boarding or lodging house.

It has been widely rumored that Last of the Mohicans author, James Fenimore Cooper lived here in the 1830s, but little evidence shows this is the case. At least not during this time period. (There were already two families of Hamiltons and Hollys occupying the space, among other discrepancies and lack of evidence.)

In the 1950's and 60's, this building hosted a variety of cutting-edge performance art spaces which ended up challenging the limits of the First Amendment in Vietnam War-era America.

The Tempo Playhouse and the New Bowery Theater were two notables, but The Bridge Theater really “pushed the limits” of freedom of speech and was eventually shut down.

The Bridge Theater was a Fluxus art house, and hosted the likes of Yoko Ono, The Fugs, and the Bread and Puppet Theater. Fluxus art is based on the work and philosophy of artist Allan Kaprow; and is mainly comprised of group-based, improvised, interactive, mixed-media performance art.

You can read the rest here.

Get your $3 Trash and Vaudeville T-shirts

Speaking of Trash and Vaudeville.... here's a store ad from March 1980...



Via Ephemeral New York.

Rally today to save to East Fourth Street townhouses

We've written about the historic townhouses at 326-328 E. Fourth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D destined for the wrecking ball and condo afterlife... Today at noon, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC), Councilmember Rosie Mendez, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, the Historic Districts Council, and the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy are holding a rally and press conference .... Read more here. And check out some photos at Untapped New York.

'Gossip Girl' guys try to act natural walking by Doc Holliday's

Thanks to the readers for pointing out that Dan and Nate (or is it Nate and Dan?) were shown in last night's episode of "Gossip Girl" walking by Doc Holliday's on Avenue A and Ninth Street...





I wonder where they were headed. San Loco?

Previously on EV Grieve:
'Gossip Girl' returns to the East Village, a headline that may score me some awesome SEO!

The Times goes to the Mars Bar with one of those guys who's in "Gossip Girl"

Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick, Taylor Momsen

Noted, 'Joy to the Juicy' edition

McDonald's on First Avenue near Sixth Street.

Reminders tonight: The past, present and future of the Bowery

Tonight at 6:30, the Tenement Museum is holding a discussion titled, "Bowery: Past, Present & Future" with David Mulkins, co-founder and chair of the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors. Free admission — and co-sponsored by Bowery Boogie!

[Image via Bowery Alliance of Neighbors]

Diablo Royale Este owner blasts the 'blasphemous lies' of residents, invites the State Liquor Authority to investigate

A discussion of Diablo Royale Este prompted a heated exchange during tonight's CB3/SLA subcommittee meeting between owner Jason Hennings and Avenue A residents.

Hennings and his attorney were present to discuss a review of the stipulations that the bi-level Mexican-themed bar and eatery at 169 Avenue A agreed to upon being approved for a liquor license. The restaurant opened in May. Among other things, it is stated the bar must closes its 18x20 backyard space by 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends.

Several Avenue A residents were on hand (many carrying signs reading "Northern Avenue A says No More") to discuss ongoing issues with the bar, including noise and overcrowding. (And several people brought up the Sept. 5 Boats 'N Hoes bash!) Residents also claim that the backyard stays open beyond its stated hours.



Several residents spoke in front of the committee about the crowds on the sidewalk. Avenue A resident Shawn Chittle recounted how he had to walk on Avenue A to catch the 14A because the sidewalks were so full. When he turned to look, the bus' rearview mirror clipped him in the forehead, causing a deep gash. Upon hearing this, Hennings was seen smiling, laughing and shaking his head, which prompted an angry reaction from Chittle.

Avenue A resident Andrew Coamey said that during the bar's Halloween party, Hennings allegedly approached him on the sidewalk ... that he would see him in 10 years and Coamey "would still be complaining about gentrification." At the time of the confrontation, Hennings was dressed as a gladiator.

After hearing a handful of residents speak out, Hennings called their claims "blasphemous lies." He apologized to the committee for being so upset, but that sitting there and hearing the residents was "angst provoking."

"I'm laughing at some of the stories that I hear." He said that not only does he own Diablo Royale Este, but he also manages the space. He estimates he's there 100 hours a week.

Hennings said that he has only ever received one complaint from residents. He said the Boats N' Hoes bash wasn't their party; that an NYU student had rented out the space and misled the bar on his intentions.

Hennings later singled out Coamey, who he described as a "full-time activist." Coamey quickly stood up and noted that the is the senior vice president for housing and chief financial officer of Housing Works Inc., overseeing 600 employees and a $50 million budget.

Acting committee chair Herman F. Hewitt asked Hennings if Diablo Royale Este operates as a restaurant. He said that they did, and he had his executive chef on hand as well. Hennings estimates that he spends 20 hours a week working on new recipes for the restaurant with his chef.

The committee decided to recommend sending a letter to the State Liquor Authority to investigate Diablo Royale's various stipulations and claims. Committee member David McWater asked Hennings if he would voluntarily agree to stop using the backyard. If he did so, then the committee wouldn't send a letter to the SLA.

"I'm happy to be investigated," Hennings said. He wanted the fact that he welcomed the investigation to be noted in the letter. Several times Hennings mentioned that he had surveillance cameras in the backyard, and that the committee could review the video.

Also on the docket: The committee voted down Jevan Damadian's plans to reopen 34 Avenue A, the onetime home of Aces and Eights....ditto for the "restaurant for the senses" planned in the old Superdive space.

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

Cafe Hanover's rather sad sidewalk sale

Cafe Hanover closed up on St. Mark's Place... and the owners are looking to make a little money off what's left.

Here's an e-mail from tonight ... from EV Grieve reader Michael:

"Cafe Hanover is selling out their inventory at $1 a piece on folding tables on the sidewalk right now.

I just bought a box of melba toast and a big tray of Oreos for $2."

Reading from 'Alphaville'

A few readers had expressed interest in this... Michael Codella, who wrote the LES crime memoir "Alphaville," will be reading excerpts tomorrow night at 7 .... at the Tribeca Barnes & Noble, 97 Warren St.