[Updated] Reader report: CB3 votes down Friedman-Bloomfield cafe concept for Avenue A

[Photo from February]

The CB3/SLA Liquor Licensing Committee voted 6-1 tonight to deny high-profile restaurateurs Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield a license to open a cafe in the former San Loco space at 151 Avenue A.

According to a reader at the meeting, CB3 member Ariel Palitz cast the lone vote of support. (Also, we hear that Friedman and Bloomfield were not in attendance.)

Of course, all final decisions are up to the State Liquor Authority, so the two could take their case there. However, as Eater previously noted, Friedman and Bloomfield dropped plans for a wine bar on Bleecker Street in April 2012 after encountering some resistance from residents in Community Board 2's jurisdiction.

And some residents had concerns about their Avenue A proposal.



Updated 6:09 a.m.

BoweryBoogie has a report from the meeting here. Per BB: "There was staunch opposition to this application for fear of a bait-and-switch. There’s no kitchen and the food offered is a “light menu.” San Loco, in contrast, never 'celebrated' its drink offerings."

Updated 10:09 a.m.

Friedman tells Eater that they will not pursue the space any further.

We love the East Village and specifically Avenue A. But if we aren't wanted there, we get it. Unfortunately for those who think they've done a great thing by preventing another restaurant or bar from opening there, they will discover that the rent is too high for a barber shop or frozen yogurt store, so a bar or another taco shop will most likely take this space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield eyeing the former San Loco space on Avenue A

More details about the new Avenue A project from Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield

In case your bike was parked here

An EV Grieve reader just shared this video with us from Friday evening outside First Park on First Avenue … and we will pass along the message:

Seen last Friday night at on 1st Ave between Houston and 1st Street — three people trying to push a food cart up onto the sidewalk. The food cart careened and crashed into several parked bikes. Bike owners beware! Possible unnoticed damage could lead to bike instability and danger...

May 12

Well, then! Goggla spotted this today on Second Avenue near East Fifth Street.

She did not include any kind of verification with the photo ... though she did mention something about "witnesses." (She has YET to produce said "witnesses.")

In any event, if it was up to us, then we'd go ahead and hand over the prize/award* for finding the latest discarded holiday/Christmas tree in the neighborhood.

However, there are rules, and all this is closely monitored by the International Coalition of Tree Tossing in the Spring (ICTTS). So we will wait for them to intervene just as soon as the trial ends.

* currently missing

[Updated] Temporarily packing up the Citi Bike docking station on East 4th Street

Crews this morning removed the Citi Bike docking station on East Fourth Street just west of Second Avenue. This is temporary, per EVG contributor Derek Berg, who took these photos...



Apparently East Fourth Street here between Second Avenue and the Bowery will be resurfaced sometime soon ... (though we didn't spot it scheduled yet on the DOT website...) will be getting a street mural courtesy of DOT Art and the Fourth Arts Block.

Here's more about the program:

In collaboration with New York Cares and the DOT Bike Share Program, DOT Art beautifies asphalt around Citi Bike stations with colorful designs. … The first project took place in August 2013 at the Franklin Street station between West Broadway and Varick Street in Manhattan.

[Via Dot Art]

Later today, Derek spotted someone putting down an undercoat…





And if you are looking to either get or return a Citi Bike... Second Avenue and East Second Street might be a good option.

Report: East Village resident dies from injuries sustained in brutal attack

[Photos of suspect via the NYPD]

Ruan Wen Hui has died from the injuries he suffered Friday night during a brutal attack on East Sixth Street, according to published reports.

Hui, 68, had just dropped off his granddaughters at home on Friday evening when the attack occurred near 745 E. Sixth St. A disturbing surveillance video shows a suspect, who the NYPD described as a black male in his 20s, approaching Hui from behind. The video shows the suspect yelling at Hui before throwing him against a wall and punching and kicking him in the head.

Hui, who has three grown daughters, died last night at Bellevue.


[Photo via CBS 2]

His youngest daughter spoke to CBS 2.

"I couldn't believe that this happened to my father because my father is a very good man. He always helps people and he always smiles. Everybody thinks that he’s the best person in this world," she said.

Hui, a retired garment factory, lived on Avenue C near East Seventh Street.



It is unclear what prompted the attack.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information regarding the attack has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS [8477].

Previously on EV Grieve:
[UPDATED] Reward for info on East 6th Street assault; plus video of the attack

Will the new Mars Bar be another location of The Pink Elephant?

So you know that Mars Bar owner Hank Penza (along with a new group of partners) is returning to his former home at 11-17 Second Ave., now the luxury Jupiter 21 building.

The mysterious cafe-bar-club concept will be housed at 21 E. First St. adjacent to the Jupiter 21 residential entrance and the new TD Bank branch.

There's a notice on the front door about tonight's CB3/SLA committee meeting, where Penza and his new partners Alain Palinsky, a co-founder of Juice Press, Chris Reda, an owner of The Griffin in the Meatpacking District, and Robert Montwaid, an owner of the club The Pink Elephant, are on the agenda.



Here's a look at the inside … reportedly a 4,456 basement and ground floor space …



And we noticed some architectural plans on a table inside…





We'll flip the photo to make it easier to read… according to these plans, the place will be called The Pink Elephant.



This could just be a working title for the place. According to the paperwork on file with CB3, the proposed hours of this new venture are 6 a.m.-4 a.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m.-4 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The application also lists that there will be 15 tables good for 80 seats ... with one bar featuring eight seats. The new establishment will employ 15-20 people. And the "All Star Security Services will be providing security guards" — "3-4 nightly."

We don't know much, if anything, about The Pink Elephant, currently located in New York at 40 W. Eighth St. Here's how they describe themselves:

The Pink Elephant is a world renowned brand geared towards high energy entertainment and exuberance for life. With locations in the US, Brazil and Mexico, the brand has come to be a favorite of jet setters, celebrities, socialites and trendsetters alike because of the level of service, sophistication, and overall entertainment experience.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen what this place will be like during the day … with the 6 a.m. opening times … and the Juice Press connection.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A few more details about Mars Bar 2.0, which doesn't sound very Mars Bar-ish at all

Getting rid of the rats at the former LaVie ahead of a new 6-floor residential building

Demolition work continues at 64 E. First St., the former home of neighborhood scourge LaVie, which closed for good last June after a protracted battle with the SLA.

Workers are now bombing the rats.



And what comes after the demolition? Permits filed on April 29 show a 6-floor residential building in the making here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

New York Yimby, who first reported on the new building, points out that there will be six residential units (likely condos) — "two duplexes, one spanning the cellar and first floor, and another located on the sixth and penthouse levels; each of the other four residences will be full-floor."

DOB permits show that Ekstein Development is behind the project.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] La Vie closed for now on East First Street

New York Supreme Court upholds revocation of La Vie's liquor license

CB3 denies La Vie; owner responds by calling Susan Stetzer a 'racist'

La Vie has closed; neighbors rejoice

Former La Vie space on East First Street will be demolished

The recently reopened El Sombrero will close this week for renovations

Rough times in recent months at El Sombrero, the 30-year-old mainstay on Ludlow and Stanton. Business was off … then came word that Artichoke Pizza wanted the space… those plans fell through, and, after a reprieve, the inexpensive Mexican restaurant closed for good on March 22.

But! As BoweryBoogie first noted, El Sombrero returned with new owners on April 1.

The new owners, Jose Almonte and Jose Almonte Jr., are related to the folks who ran El Sombrero the previous 30 years. Jose Jr. let us know that the restaurant will close early this week for a month-long renovation. He said that they will retain the El Sombrero name.

"We will continue to be a family owned and operated business," he said. "My intentions are to [make this] an eating establishment like no other in the Lower East Side."

Lebrini's Pizzeria giving way to Majesty Pizza and Grill on Avenue C

Lebrini's Pizzeria on Avenue C at East Third Street has closed … and a new restaurant is on the way in, as the signs on the front windows note…



Proprietor Bobby Lebrini confirmed that the sale of his 4-plus-year-old shop became official last week.

No word on an opening date for Majesty Pizza and Grill just yet…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Watch this guy go beserk inside Lebrini's Pizzeria on Avenue C

Concern for China Wok on Avenue B

The reliable, quick-serve restaurant at the corner of East Third Street was closed for the second weekend in a row. Signs arrived outside the other day explaining that the closure has to do with "mandatory repairs."



This is often the telltale sign of a DOH closure … though there's nothing on file with the DOH to indicate that this had to do with a health code violation.

Said one neighbor, an EVG reader: "I haven't actually seen anyone go in or out of there since they've been closed. I've known them for 18 years, so I hope it's not another closing."

The Croman-owned 9300 Realty is the property's landlord. Three of the five adjacent Croman storefronts have closed in recent months — Cafe Rakka, Coyi Cafe and the laundromat.

Updated 6:39 a.m.



A reader points out that the sign with the same explanation … and with the same handwriting … is on the gate at Meskel, the Ethiopian restaurant on East Third Street that shares the same building as China Wok.

And now, photos of the moon showing off last night

"As darkness falls on May 11, 2014, the bright waxing gibbous moon shines in between the planet Mars and Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo." Dunno about Mars and Spica, but here's the moon …



Top photos by Bobby Williams … and via Grant Shaffer with a telescope …

[Updated] DOH temporarily closes Hop Devil Grill and the Belgian Room

DOH inspectors came calling on St. Mark's Place Friday… and both the Belgian Room …



… and Hop Devil Grill were temporarily closed for the weekend for unspecified violations (the reports were not online just yet)…



Both spaces have signs on the door noting they are closed "due to electrical issues."


[Photo by Ted Roden]

There isn't any mention of the closures on either bar's website or social media accounts.

Meanwhile, Ton-Up Cafe, which is between The Belgian Room and Hop Devil Grill, is also closed…



Not much info on the sign on the door…



The cafe opened in April 2013 … and serves paninis named in honor of Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry and Elvis.

One of the owners here also operates Falanghina, the pizzeria which remains open at the former Whole Earth Bakery across the street.

Updated 5-13

The Belgian Room and Hop Devil Grill are BACK open.

Mother's Day on Avenue A

Photo today by Jeremiah Moss

A Mother's Day-Mannequin moment at B&H Dairy

EVG Roving Mannequin Photographer Derek Berg spotted the above earlier this afternoon on Second Avenue at East Seventh Street … she (they?) was heading into B&H Dairy …



Turns out that this was a Mother's Day gift …