Noted

From the Daily Blotter in the Post:

An East Village man was arrested on Thursday for calling in 103 phony bomb threats to 911 in just 24 hours, sources said.

Justin Davidson was allegedly serial-dialing the 911 system reporting that a bomb would go off in the L-train station at Third Avenue and East 14th Street, sources added.

Hmm, that's 4.29 911 calls an hour...

Yaffa Cafe will be back, though likely without its backyard garden

[Image via Yaffa Cafe on Facebook]

There seems to be a lot going on now with Yaffa Cafe at 97 St. Mark's Place.

For starters, the DOH temporarily closed the 32-year-old restaurant last Friday for a variety of violations, including "Hot food item not held at or above 140F" and "Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations." (There were 100 violation points in total.)

Meanwhile, the familiar Yaffa Cafe mural was covered yesterday by a Google ad.

A tweet for Yaffa offered this...

Hi everyone. Yes, we are officially closed but don't worry, we will be back! And so will our mural. We are starting renovations. #3Months

— Yaffa Cafe (@YaffaCafe) September 11, 2014

So the restaurant (and mural) will return — likely after a 3-month renovation.

However, when Yaffa does reopen, it will likely be without its charming garden dining space.

The city handed down a vacate order on the backyard dining space...


[Photo by Allen Semanco]

Why now for the garden to go? We don't know... what we do know is that there isn't any negotiation on this.

More TK.

Petition urges Mayor DeBlasio to say no to a dorm at the former P.S. 64

As we first reported back on Aug. 18, the city (partially) approved developer Gregg Singer's controversial dorm conversion of the former PS 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center on East Ninth Street.

There's now an effort underway led by the East Village Community Coalition to have the approval overturned by the Mayor.

Via their petition:

East Village community groups, elected officials, community board and residents are united in opposition to the proposed dormitory. We demand the building be returned to a true community use.

The DoB has approved the application despite non-compliance with dorm development regulations and the deed restriction limiting the use of the site. We call on the City to strictly enforce zoning and municipal rules for the future for this historic school building.

You can find a sample letter to send to the Mayor here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood

Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market

Efforts continue to fight the dorm planned for the former PS 64 on East 9th Street

Testimony Of Councilmember Rosie Mendez regarding the former PS 64

[Updated] At the 'Save Our Community Center MARCH AND RALLY'

Landmarks Preservation Commission asks to see modified plans for former PS 64

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approves application for modifications at PS 64

City approves dorm conversion plans for the former PS 64 on East 9th Street (54 comments)

Please do not deface the Joe Strummer mural

Thank you.



On 7th and A.

Previously

Report: East Village apartments are sitting empty because they're too expensive

[Random EVG file photo]

That's one takeaway from a report that Citi Habitats released yesterday.

The East Village had a vacancy rate of 2.08 percent in August — the highest in Manhattan.

As DNAinfo's Lisha Arino reported:

“The reality is these prices are getting to the point where tenants are like, ‘You know what? It’s not worth it,’” said Gary Malin, the company’s president.

Although the East Village does not have the most expensive apartments in the city, tenants may feel they are paying too much and can find better value in other neighborhoods, Malin said.

According to the report, studio apartments rented for an average of $2,191 last month while one-bedroom units went for $2,613.

Find a PDF of the report here.

The $1 pizza war is coming to an end on 1st Avenue

[Photo from July 18 by Michael Hirsch]

The 2 Bros. sliceria closed on First Avenue near East 14th Street back in July.

Now another nearby $1 pizza joint looks to be closing here between East 13th Street and East 14th Street this fall.

A listing appeared this week for 222 First Ave., home to Joey Pepperoni (Or Joey Guacamole per the listing photo!) across the street. (Asking rent: $9,500 plus key money.)



The 2 Bros. branch opened in February 2013, much to the dismay of next-door neighbor Vinny Vincenz, who had been there for 11 years. In response to 2 Bros.'s arrival, Vinny's started offering $1 slices.

We saw it all during the Great $1 Pizza War of First Avenue … multiple sidewalk sandwich boards … the introduction of $1 drafts… dancing pizza menu women.

For now, victory goes to the 11-year-old Vinny Vincenz, who also unveiled a new sign back in the summer.



Previously on EV Grieve:
First Avenue $1 Pizza Wars — now with draft beer

Checking in on the $1 pizza war on First Avenue

Latest weapon in the First Avenue $1 slice wars: Dancing Pizza Menu Woman

[Updated] Reader report: The 2 Bros. Pizza on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

The annual NYC Pizza Run in Tompkins Square Park is tomorrow

[The 2013 starting line via Dave on 7th]

Runners, start your ovens! Via the EVG inbox…

The NYC Pizza Run is an annual challenge in which participants aim to complete a two mile run while stopping to eat three slices of pizza at checkpoints throughout the course. Our 2014 event will take place in the historic Tompkins Square Park on Saturday, September 13th.

In a food obsessed metropolis where people are always on the run, putting together an event which pays tribute to some of the city’s defining characteristics seemed like a no-brainer. So grab your appetite and running shoes & join us for our fifth annual run! It is open to participants of all ages.

Please note that a portion of the proceeds from the race benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Find more details here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Prepping for the NYC Pizza Run in Tompkins Square Park (17 comments)

Salsa-off this Sunday at the Tompkins Square Greenmarket

Via the EVG inbox...

This Sunday Sept. 14, 12:30 p.m.: Salsa-Off!
Think you've got the best salsa recipe in the East Village? Enter the Tompkins Square Greenmarket Salsa-Off. Customers are the judges, winner gets a prize! Email the market manager, Kathleen here to participate.

Sept. 11, 2014

Photo tonight by Grant Shaffer

… and a photo from the East Village tonight by James and Karla Murray…

[Updated] 23 Third Ave. getting its stripes

You will not have any problem finding Korilla BBQ's first brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Colossal Media is currently painting a building-high tiger-striped mural at 23 Third Ave. at St. Mark's Place where the food truckers will be setting up shop this fall.

As previously reported, Korilla BBQ is taking over the space last held by Archie & Sons, the luncheonette that closed in early August after one year in business here.

More TK.

Updated 9/12

Here's a photo from this afternoon via Jordy Trachtenberg...

A Google ad now covers the iconic Yaffa Cafe mural on St. Mark's Place

Several readers have pointed out that this Google App ad is now up outside Yaffa Cafe, the 31-year-old restaurant at 97 St. Mark's Place...


[Photo via John A. Cecil]

A film crew was here last Friday ... and they put up and removed the banner in about 20 minutes...


[Photo from Friday by Allen Semanco]

We reached out to the folks at Yaffa to find out more about this. Unfortunately, the restaurant is currently (and temporarily) closed. The DOH closed them last Friday after failing an inspection. And Yaffa's phone is currently not in service.

Anyway, at this point, we're unsure if the ad is temporary or permanent.

Updated 5:13 p.m.

It looks pretty permanent. The ad is framed and screwed into the building, so to speak…

Updated 9/12

A little history of the mural, which went up in 1993. It is a self-portrait of Lika Ramati, (former?) co-owner with her husband, Amir, of Simone and Yaffa Cafe.

Updated 10:28 a.m.

Yaffa says the mural will be return...

Hi everyone. Yes, we are officially closed but don't worry, we will be back! And so will our mural. We are starting renovations. #3Months

— Yaffa Cafe (@YaffaCafe) September 11, 2014

Enjoy the BEST worst films that you will ever see

Starting tonight, the Anthology Film Archives begins its week-long Edward D. Wood, Jr. retrospective — "likely the most comprehensive ever presented" — titled "The 10th Dimension."

Among the campy, low-budget gems from maybe the worst director of all time: "Glen or Glenda," "Bride of the Monster" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space."

Find all the screening times and more info here. Anthology Film Archives is at 32 Second Ave. at East Second Street.

Now enjoy the splendor...

Engine Company 5 remembers Manny DelValle Jr. on 9/11

[Photo by Phillip Giambri]

Local firehouses throughout the city are commemorating Sept. 11, 2001, today. Here was the scene this morning outside Engine Company 5 on East 14th Street near First Avenue.

On 9/11, the Company lost Manny DelValle, a 7-year FDNY veteran who grew up in the Bronx.

Someone stole the bench from outside Hearth last night

On East 12th Street at First Avenue.

Per the restaurant's Instagram account: "Our bench has been taken on an adventure...who steals a bench anyway?"

Well, those kids in the new garden apartments at [redacted] are paying top dollar for this stuff. We'll see if we can get a before photo of the bench to share...

Updated 1 p.m.

EVG reader dwg happened to have a photo of the bench in the archives...