EV Grieve

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

About the dueling art galleries at the old Superdive space

Yesterday, we reported that AD Projects has taken over the former Superdive space at 200 Avenue A. Just for clarification: This is just temporary. This is not the same art gallery concept that went before the CB3/SLA committee last month. The committee turned down that group's bid to take over the space.

This was the second time they had come before the Board. (The new venture is from the same group who appeared before the CB3 in November with the idea of a restaurant/lounge "that involves all the senses," including the now-legenedary smell machine.)

In April, CB3/SLA told the group — going as Not A Bookstore LLC — to do more (and better!) community outreach. They will appear again before the CB3/SLA committee on Monday.

For starters, they dropped the cutesy Not A Bookstore name and are going by Avenue A Hospitality LLC. The group did meet with neighborhood power brokers last Thursday.

Meanwhile, more about what's coming to 200 Avenue A is on the CB3 website. (Warning! PDF!)

The concept: An "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" open seven days a week. According to the CB3 questionnaire, their proposed hours are 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday through Tuesday; 11 a.m. - 4 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. In total, there will be 19 tables, with a capacity (bar included) of 150. No TVs, though the yet unnamed art gallery-restaurant will employ a DJ for "ambient background music" and have "occasional acoustic" music.

In any event, this will be a more challenging sell now that the liquor license for this address has expired.

Meet the Beagle, opening today

Over at the former Orologio space on Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street, the new eatery, the Beagle, opens today (per The Feed)... menus are up on the front window...

The cocktails are $12...

And back in February when the CB3/SLA OK'd this transfer, there were rumbling about a pricy menu of items between $26 and $31. Of the five "large plates" listed on the menu, the items run between $19 (grilled cobia!) and $26 (whole branzino). The small plates are priced between $9 and $15.

The pairing boards, including the pressed pig head and rum, are $17.

Matthew Piacentini is the owner. Garrett Eagleton is the executive chef. According to the Feed, Eagleton is an import from Clyde Common in Oregon's Ace Hotel. The bar manager is an alum of the John Dory Oyster Bar)

9th Street Espresso is back open — and seemingly bigger

9th Street Espresso on, uh, Ninth Street just east of Avenue C closed two weeks ago for some renovations. EV Grieve reader AC reports that they reopened yesterday...

...and the space has been opened up... making it seem a little more airy? Like, in a good way.)

Surprise! Acme Bar and Grill won't be reopening as you probably figured

As we reported back on March 15, Acme Bar & Grill abruptly shuttered after 25 years of serving Creole/Southern-style cuisine on Great Jones. However, after reportedly firing the staff without any notice, Acme owner Bob Pollock quickly changed his mind, saying that he would reopen after a renovation.

Apparently he changed his mind again. According to Grub Street:

We hear that Jean-Marc Houmard, Michael Callahan, and Huy Chi Le — the team behind Indochine and Kittichai (and also involved with Bondst and Republic) — have grabbed up the bi-level space ... The trio is mulling concepts for a restaurant to open in early fall.

Here are some photos of the space from March 31:

Monday, May 9, 2011

Today in photos of large dogs in Tompkins Square Park

By Bobby Williams

The end is apparently nearer at 35 Cooper Square

EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams notes the arrival of workers today at the doomed 35 Cooper Square... making some final touches before the wrecking ball shows up ...

Say your goodbyes very soon...

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

At the Festival of ~~artisanal~~ Ideas (Jeremiah's Vanishing NYC) Check out BoweryBoogie's take here.

Lucy's back open after her return from Poland (Nadie Se Conoce)

Alex unveils an array of photo now-and-thens (Flaming Pablum)

Another Saturday night on Avenue A with LES Jewels (Neither More Nor Less)

A feature on the handball courts at First and First (The Local East Village)

How pigeons came to love New York City (Ephemeral New York)

Cinco de Barfo (EV Heave)

Protection against Bowery bums

On Saturday, a worker continued buffing the fanny fenders here on Bond Street at the Bowery — aka the "new intersection of cool."

Word is the building management is trying to thwart people from resting their buns or bums here, hence the posterior posts...

However, despite the rump rippers, there are a few gaps around the columns, which still allows room for seating. Like this fellow yesterday who was enjoying a cigar.

Bespoke Chocolates closing Thursday in Extra Place; what next for the former alley?

On Saturday we reported that Bespoke Chocolates — the first retailer to open in Extra Place — will close as of Thursday. Here's the note that's Bespoke sent out to friends...

They opened early in 2009. And we had a spirited (and friendly!) exchange on EV Grieve with Rachel Zoe Insler, Bespoke's owner, about ideal retail and the continued transformation of the neighborhood. (You can read her comments here.)

In April 2009, in Time Out's Eat Out Awards, the magazine's critics bestowed the Best Sweet Revenge award upon Bespoke Chocolates. Why?

As if the seven levels of city-permit hell weren’t enough, chocolatier and former Union Square Cafe pastry staffer Rachel Zoe Insler also had to navigate the wilds of don’t-ruin-my-neighborhood blogosphere resentment before she even opened the doors of her unassuming bonbon shop. Insler placated the haters with patience and warmth — and won over everyone else with her pretzel-covered sea-salted caramels, cardamom-scented Turkish coffee truffles and the rest of her handmade sweets. 6 Extra Pl at E 1st St (212-260-7103)

[Huh?]

Meanwhile, the Tashkent by Cheyenne showroom just around the corner of Extra Place shops closed several months ago.

As we've noted many times, developer AvalonBay has big plans for Extra Place — "a slice of the Left Bank, a pedestrian mall lined with interesting boutiques and cafes."

Perhaps when chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud opens his commissary with a possible retail space, Extra Place will finally get that jolt of life. So what gives here? Is Extra Place too far off the beaten path as EV Grieve reader Lisa suggested Saturday? Or, despite the luxurification of the Bowery, perhaps the neighborhood isn't ready for upscale retail? Or maybe it's the ghosts of the Bowery's past?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Bespoke Chocolates bids farewell from Extra Place

Extra Place gets its first tenant...And it's dessert (shocker!)

The Chocolate Wars (well, not at all, but we needed something that sounds CONTROVERSIAL)

The Superdive space is now home to an art gallery

RyanAvenueA snapped this photo yesterday... some people were transforming the former Superdive space into a temporary art gallery... Per the Ad Projects website:

AD Projects is an independent, migratory curatorial organization. Founded in April 2009, AD Projects has staged three group exhibitions of emerging and mid-career artists in borrowed spaces.

This week, you can find the following:

AD Projects is setting up a temporary home at 200 Avenue A with the exhibition Reliquary/SUPERDARK. Reliquary will be an evolving display of artifacts and SUPERDARK is an evening performance series over the coming weeks. Every few days, objects by one artist will be displayed on a pedestal in the vacant storefront of 200 Avenue A, the former location of Superdive. The relics displayed allude to such varied topics as the personal history of the artist, the contemporary mania for collecting celebrity memorabilia, and utopian visions of the future.

The performance series SUPERDARK complements the transformation of Superdive into a reliquary for contemporary artifacts, giving artists the opportunity to step into the spotlight and position themselves as modern-day idols, dictating and commenting on contemporary culture.

Our inaugural exhibition at 200 Avenue A will feature the works of Wonderpuss Octopus. We will hold a soft opening on Sunday, May 8th, with the official event Wednesday, May 11th.

Our hours will be Saturday & Sunday, 12 – 6 pm, and weeknights 7:30 – 10 pm. Stay tuned for details about Friday night performances.