Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Names: Alan and Beverly Lefkowitz
Occupations: Psychotherapists
Location: Tompkins Square Park
Time: 2 pm on Friday, May 9

Alan: I’m from 10th Street between A and B. I was born across the street. My grandmother bought this building about 100 years ago. Two siblings live in the building now. Five generations in the same building.

My grandparents came from Austria. We’re Jewish. They bought a building and had a grocery up the block but didn’t talk much about it. We’ve all gone to the same grammar school on 12th Street between B and C. My grandson goes there now.

What’s funny for me is seeing all the different stores. The corner store on Avenue B and 10th street used to be the candy store and the bookie. The architecture in the area is somewhat similar but the stores are completely different.

In the [family] building most of the people I grew up with are still there. It’s mostly the same. On one level the area is nicer but on another you can’t afford to live here. It’s hard to keep the building up with rent control. I hate what’s going on here, but when I grew up you wanted to get out of here.

I grew up with gangs. You couldn’t go in the Park at night and you couldn’t walk down the street. You were careful and had eyes in the back of your head. You couldn’t walk down certain blocks. I almost got killed a couple times by gangs. I got beat up and robbed. They had knives. There were a lot of drugs, especially on the corner of 7th Street and Avenue B, but the thing that saved this block was that it was the bus route, so there were no cars parked during the days. It was one of the few streets that you didn’t have drug dealing.

We’re both psychotherapists. I grew up in an Orthodox family and decided that I didn’t believe in God when I was 5, so I had a lot of conflict with my family. I left home when I was 16. I knew I was crazy. I think I read all of Freud when I was 12 or 13 trying to figure out what was wrong with me, which was really terrifying.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

118 E. 1st St. arrives on the market with so many possibilities, and air rights

[Photo via Streeteasy]

There's a new listing for 118 E. First St. ... in that area where East First Street, Avenue A and East Houston all converge.

According to the listing at Streeteasy, the property has a total approximate square footage of 3,900 — with an additional 9,000 square feet of air-rights. The folks at Marcus & Millichap are peddling the building as either "a cash flowing asset, retail-user opportunity or a development site."

Let's have the listing break it down for us...

Cash Flow Opportunity: The property contains a total of three free market apartments and one retail space. The residential portion consists of one three-bedroom, one two-bedroom and one one-bedroom. All three apartments are on month to month leases and tenants are responsible for their own heat. All the residential units have been renovated, are in fantastic condition and offer great details such as exposed bricks and decorative fire places. The 1,300 square foot retail space on the ground floor is currently vacant, with a projected rent of $12,000 per month ($111 per square foot).

Retail User Opportunity: The 1,300 square foot retail space's ideal user would be for a restaurant/bar, with an approximate 800 square foot court yard/garden. The property features highly coveted East Houston frontage and is located directly across from the famed Katz's Delicatessen and steps away from Whole Foods.

Development Site: The property contains an approximate 9,000 square feet of additional air rights. Feasibility studies done over the past couple years have determined a new structure could be built with approximately 12,500 square feet. The property is subject to the "sliver law," however, in the past year there has been Zoning Reports from the city that have ruled 118 east 1st street as being on a "Wide Street," due to East Houston Frontage.

Price: $5.15 million.

In a different lifetime, 118 E. First St. was home to Darinka, the performance space that Gary Ray opened in 1983 (RIP — 1987). Darinka's many performers through the years included house band They Might Be Giants and cabaret nights hosted by Steve Buscemi and Mark Boone Junior.

We've been meaning to do a Darinka post, so we'll revisit this topic again soon.

The demolition gets serious on East 14th Street

Last Monday, workers began taking apart the single-level buildings on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The crew has moved on from hand tools now, as the above photo by James and Karla Murray shows. (This looks to be the former ABC Animal Hospital.)

Workers are making room for two, 7-floor retail-residential buildings featuring 150 residential units.

Also, as EVG Facebook friend Michael Paul noted, Monday marked the 4-year anniversary of the fire on East 14th Street and Avenue A that wiped out Stuyvesant Grocery, Pete's-a-Place, Jackson Hewitt and the beauty shop ... an event that perhaps set this whole development in motion?

[Photo by EVG reader Sergey]

Previously on EV Grieve:
New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

Black Ant opening in style tonight

Tonight marks the grand opening of Black Ant, the new Mexican restaurant from the owners of Ofrenda in the West Village.

Here's the menu for Black Ant, located at 60 Second Ave. near East Third Street.

And there are musical guests.

Very excited to announce legendary Mexican Artist DJ/Producer @NortecCollectiv will be performing live at our May 14th Grand Opening!!

— Black Ant NYC (@BlackAntNYC) May 9, 2014

Wake up!



Anyway, Black Ant takes over the space that previously housed Bona Fides.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Team behind Ofrenda bringing Black Ant to the East Village

Perp walk at the 9th Precinct for suspect charged in deadly beating of 68-year-old Ruan Wen Hui

Early this morning, police arrested 20-year-old Jamie Pugh in connection with the deadly beating of 68-year-old Ruan Wen Hui. Pugh has reportedly been charged with second-degree murder, robbery and assault.

Tonight, Pugh was led out of the the 9th Precinct on East Fifth Street in front of the assembled media…





Hui, a retired garment worker who lived on Avenue C and East Seventh Street with his wife, died from his injuries Saturday night. He had just dropped off his two granddaughters after a trip to a nearby playground when the attack occurred.

Police have said that it was an attempted robbery. Pugh has prior arrests for robbery and drugs, according to published reports.

Photos by Frank Franca.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: East Village resident dies from injuries sustained in brutal attack (25 comments)

[UPDATED] Reward for info on East 6th Street assault; plus video of the attack (34 comments)

[Updated] Family mourns Ruan Wen Hui as police hunt suspect in deadly assault on E. 6th St.

A look at Cope2's work on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall

[Click on image for more detail]

From this afternoon … where veteran Bronx graffiti artist Cope2 has been working on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall …

Read more about this at Gothamist … Complex … Animal NY … and BoweryBoogie.

Public hearing tomorrow night on making the M8 bus weekend service permanent

[Photo by Fallopia Tuba]

The M8 weekend service to and from the West Village returned on April 6 ... apparently it's not a permanent thing just yet. The M8 is one of the routes up for discussion tomorrow night.

Per the MTA:

MTA New York City Transit invites you to comment on the following proposed changes ...

M8 Weekend Service
To make permanent Saturday and Sunday service on the M8, operating between the West Village and East Village. Weekend service operates every 30 minutes between 7 am and 1 am on Saturdays and Sundays. This service was introduced on an experimental basis on April 6.

Meeting details:
Wednesday, May 14
Start Time: 5:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Headquarters
347 Madison Avenue
Board Room, 5th Floor

So, you have two ways of speaking out about this. You may register online to speak at this hearing. Or, for those residents who are unable to attend, you may submit a comment online. Go HERE for more info on the meeting and to submit a comment.

Anyway, if the city would just widen these narrow side streets so that we can fit more cars on them, then we wouldn't need stupid buses. Right? Right??? (Heh.)

The weekend service was discontinued in June 2010 to help ease the MTA's $400 million financial shortfall. This route and others came back via NYC Transit's "2013-14 Service Enhancements Program."

[Updated] Family mourns Ruan Wen Hui as police hunt suspect in deadly assault on E. 6th St.

[Photos of suspect via the NYPD]

The NYPD is zeroing in on the suspect accused of viciously attacking 68-year-old Ruan Wen Hui Friday night on East Sixth Street.

Police are searching for a 20-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, wanted in connection with the deadly assault, The Wall Street Journal reports. The disturbing surveillance video shows the suspect tossing Hui into a wall before stomping on his head several times.

Per the Journal: "The suspect has a criminal history that includes criminal trespassing, robbery and selling drugs, including cocaine and marijuana."

Hui, a retired garment worker who lived on Avenue C and East Seventh Street with his wife, died from his injuries Saturday night. He had just dropped off his two granddaughters after a trip to a nearby playground when the seemingly random attack occurred. Police officials told The New York Times that robbery was a likely motive.


[Photo via CBS 2]

Yesterday, Hui's family continued mourning as they visited the site of the attack at 745 E. Sixth St. (Media outlets have identified the victim as both Ruan Wen Hui and Wen Hui Ruan.)


[A memorial for Hui via Dave on 7th]

From the Times:

Jenny Ruan, 39, the second-oldest daughter, dropped to her knees and wailed in Chinese: “So many people passed. They didn't help, they didn’t call the police. Why wasn't I here when you needed me?"

Mr. Ruan's attacker, Ms. Ruan said, "didn't just kill my father, he killed my family's heart."

The Times also had more details about Hui's life.

In New York, Mr. Ruan toiled for two decades manning an iron at a garment factory, his family said. He would send money home to his younger brothers so that his nephews could attend college. "He was always eager to help everybody, anybody," Michelle Ruan said. "Always smiling."

Mr. Ruan, who retired four years ago, spent much of his free time playing Chinese chess at a park on Mulberry Street. At home he would play Sudoku and listen to Chinese opera while his wife prepared meals.

Read the whole article here.

Updated 11:44 a.m.

Gothamist reports that police have taken a 20-year-old suspect into custody. No charges have been filed yet.

Updated 12:20 p.m.

The Daily News reports that the NYPD made the arrest early this morning on East 14th Street and First Avenue after receiving a tip through the Crime Stoppers line.

Updated 5:44 p.m.

WABC 7 reports that the suspect is 20-year old Jamie Pugh. He is charged with second-degree murder, robbery and assault.

The NYPD says that it was an attempted robbery.

"[P]olice say Pugh screamed at Hui to give him something, but Hui spoke limited English, did not understand, and kept walking."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: East Village resident dies from injuries sustained in brutal attack (25 comments)

[UPDATED] Reward for info on East 6th Street assault; plus video of the attack (34 comments)

Rumor: The Brant Foundation buying Walter De Maria's E. 6th St. studio for an exhibition space

[File photo]

The longtime home-studio of the late Walter De Maria hit the market this past Feb. 19. By early April, the listing for the $25-million property was no longer available.

Now we hear from a tipster that The Brant Foundation is in contract to buy the building for use as an exhibition space.

Here's more about the Greenwich, Conn.-based Foundation via its website:

The Brant Foundation Art Study Center, designed by Richard Gluckman, has a mission to promote education and appreciation of contemporary art and design, by making works available to institutions and individuals for scholarly study and examination. The Brant Foundation Art Study Center presents long-term exhibitions curated primarily from the collection. The collection is remarkable in that scores of artists are represented in depth, including works from the earliest period of their practice through their most recent works. Currently, The Brant Foundation, Inc., established in 1996, lends works to more than a dozen exhibitions per year.

Paper magnate-publisher-art collector-wealthy person Peter Brant is the founder and president.

There's nothing yet in public records to indicate that the sale occurred. While still in rumor stage, perhaps this is comfort to people who feared the property would be Shaouled into condos or micro apartments for students.

The building was a Con Ed substation built in 1920. De Maria, who died last summer at age 77, bought it in 1980 to use as a home and studio.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About that "giant-robot laboratory" on East Sixth Street

RIP Walter De Maria

What is your East Village dream home?

Walter De Maria's 'giant-robot laboratory' going for $25 million; inside is amazing as you'd expect

Walter De Maria's home/studio on East 6th Street is now on the market for $25 million

Westside Market revealed on 3rd Avenue

Workers yesterday removed the rest of the fence/plywood along the new residential building at 84 Third Ave. … exposing the signage/brandage for the incoming ground-floor tenant – Westside Market…





The family owned mini chain of markets, which debuted in NYC in 1965, announced their arrival here last October. From the official news release:

Offering freshly-prepared foods, specialty products and catering, the two-level store will occupy 18,871 total square feet – 10,500 square feet at the ground level and the remaining space at the lower level.

Shoppers at this location, Westside's fifth in the city, reportedly will be able to connect to Wi-Fi from electronic devices including smartphones and tablets. Westside is also using technology to create faster checkout counters and an advanced security system.

The space here at East 12th Street was previously home to Nevada Smith's, Yummy House and a parking lot.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Westside Market coming to the East Village

The new Westside Market on Third Avenue will have Wi-Fi


[84 Third Ave. from Saturday]

What happened to the bike lanes on East 9th Street and East 10th Street?

[East 9th Street at 1st Avenue]

Several EVG readers have pointed out that, after the milling and paving on East Ninth Street and East 10th Street earlier this year, the bike lanes have yet to reappear.

Says one reader: "We might still be waiting patiently except there was lane re-painting done on Ninth between First and Second but not for bikes!"


[East 9th Street looking east toward 1st Avenue]

So as far as we can tell, the bike lanes are gone on East Ninth Street from Avenue A to Fourth Avenue … and on East 10th Street between First Avenue to Fourth Avenue …


[East 10th Street looking east at 1st Avenue]


[East 9th Street looking west at 2nd Avenue]

The reader was particularly disconcerted about the lack of lanes on East 10th Street — "much more heavily trafficked by both bikes and cars."

P.S.
Who will be the first to note that the delivery guy in the above photo ran the light and nearly hit a pedestrian?

Report: Rent hike kills Plantworks, set to close at the end of this month

[EVG file photo from September 2012]

Since the arrival of the "for lease" sign on Plantworks back in 2012, it was only a matter of time before the shop would close.

Jeremiah Moss reported yesterday that the 40-year-old Plantworks at 28. E. Fourth St. between the Bowery and Lafayette will shut down at the end of this month.

Why? The rent has gone up from $15k to $34k a month.

Meanwhile, the outdoor garden center, perfectly suited for a new hotel or condo, will stay open until the end of June.

[EVG file photo from September 2012]

In 2009, the Voice named it the city's Best Plant Shop.

No word yet on the new tenant for the indoor Plantworks space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plantworks 'probably closing and not moving'

The continued exterior transformation of the 7A space

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

Here's how the incoming Miss Lily's 7A Cafe was looking late afternoon yesterday.

As previously reported, the new space here on Avenue A and East Seventh Street will be a combo of Melvin's Juice Box and Miss Lily's on West Houston ... mixed with the cafe ambiance of 7A.

No word on an opening date just yet.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

The former 7A will apparently be called Miss Lily's 7A Cafe (27 comments)

The moon was at it again last night

And the EVG Moon Correspondents were there to capture the, uh, moon … the first two photos are via Bobby Williams after 4 a.m. …



… and a more upclose and personal shot via Grant Shaffer…



And tonight!

On Tuesday evening (May 13), as the moon, just one night from full phase rises in the east-southeast sky it will be accompanied by a very bright yellowish-white "star" shining off to its lower left. That "star" will be the planet Saturn.