Leveling La Vie

Just noting the continued de-evolution of the former club at 64 E. First St.

Workers are in the process of leveling the structure to make way for a 6-floor residential building here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

New York Yimby reported in April 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."

La Vie, a club masquerading as a restaurant, finally closed in June 2013 after a protracted battle with the State Liquor Authority.

Despite the angle of this photo, Abetta Boiler and Welding Service next door is still in business.

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

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

Boarding up the former La Vie

Rummage away today at the El Sol Brillante Jr. Garden

Capital One introduces new curbside banking on 2nd Avenue

Or maybe it is part of their new campaign, "What's in your trash?"

Report: Deal falls through to bring Lucky Cheng's to Ludlow Street

Lucky Cheng's will not be calling the former Living Room space at 154 Ludlow St. their new home after all.

The cabaret, originally on this month's SLA licensing committee docket, was hoping to make the move back downtown permanent. (They had been operating out of the DL on Delancey Street.)

However, as Lisha Arino reported at DNAinfo yesterday, the plans fell through.

Lucky Cheng’s was in the process of acquiring the space when the landlord pulled out at the last minute, [general manager Richard Huguenot] said.

“Basically, I don’t think the landlord wanted us over there,” he said.

Lucky Cheng's is now searching for a space big enough to host its new format, which will include circus acts, burlesque, contortionists, and aerialists along with its signature drag show.

Huguenot said the restaurant wants to remain in the Lower East Side, where it first opened in 1993. The ideal space would be about 4,000 square feet and able to accommodate about 150 people, he said.

Lucky Cheng's closed its Midtown location last summer after the death of owner Hayne Suthon. She moved Lucky Cheng's from First Avenue in 2012.

When a cloud ate the moon last night

Photo by Grant Shaffer

Cuts like a 'Knife'

Manchester-based A Certain Ratio's "Sextette" from 1982 just got the deluxe re-release treatment... here's the shorter version of "Knife Slits Water," showing the band at its downbeat, post-punk best.

And sorry about the lame still video, but the original promo for this song has its embedding feature disabled. Boo!

Meanwhile on the Bowery….

Earlier today… apparently on the way to DBGB….

Photo by Derek Berg

Noted

Don't recall ever seeing a Citi Bike with a white seat … like this one on East Seventh Street at Avenue A that Derek Berg spotted…

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Photo of the Williamsburg Bridge by Bobby Williams]

Victim of East 7th Street burglary discusses the incident (CBS 2)

More about "LES is More: Stories of Growing Up on the Lower East Side" happening tonight (DNAinfo)

Just a few more days to see the work of Richard Hambleton at Dorian Grey Gallery on East 9th Street (Dorian Grey)

At last, a hawk update from Tompkins Square Park (Gog in NYC)

Katz's unleashes the "Roast Beast Sandwich" (The Lo-Down)

New FDR overpass at East Houston Street (BoweryBoogie)

Tenement history at 342 E. 11th St. (Off the Grid)

Stories of drastic evolution in NYC neighborhoods includes short essays from Jeremiah Moss and EVG, among many others (Curbed)

Speaking of which: St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral School will go condo (Daily News)

The restaurant reviewer at The New York Times likes Tuome on East 5th Street (The New York Times)

Save Cafe Edison! (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Patti Smith and Jim Carroll at the gate (Flaming Pablum)

Why not?! Photos of a 12-year-old Christopher Walken dressed as a clown (Dangerous Minds)

And tomorrow night ... This local arts performance series is re-igniting again: The Spotlight Speakeasy at the Sanctuary on East Sixth Street from 9-11:30 p.m.

Artists performing:

YOKKO [Butoh dance]
TAMAR [Western Swing/Jazz]
VARYAMUSIC [Indie Rock]
BROOKLYN NOMADS [Arab Folk]

And FINALLY … an answer to a question that has been nagging at us over at 51 Astor Place…

Reader report: Remaining tenants at 504-508 E. 11th St. welcomed home with eviction notices

In September 2013, we heard a rumor that 504-508 E. 11th St. had a new owner, "a real estate investment cabal" with intentions of clearing out the tenants of the 30-unit building.

Yes, indeed. Here's word on what has been happening there between Avenue A and Avenue B via The 504-508 E. 11th St. Tenant’s Association:

Because the wacky landlord had never issued a single lease, many of the longtime residents accepted pitifully low buyouts and sought greener pastures in less "awesome" neighborhoods. Other tenants just got sick of the harassment and left on their own accord with no financial compensation whatsoever.

However, a few stalwart tenants have chosen to stay and fight the attempts of East Diversified Buildings of Brooklyn and Gotham City International to displace them. The majority of the remaining residents are working families with children attending local elementary schools.

Well, the other shoe finally dropped on Wednesday, with tenants returning home to find court notices taped to their doors, issued by a landlord, "which prays for a final judgement of eviction awarding to the petitioner the possession of premises."

The hearing is set in Civil Court for Friday next week. Will the Evil Overlords of Gotham City succeed in their dastardly attempt to evict longtime East Village residents from their homes and reap the easy riches of an East Village real-estate market spinning wildly out of control? Or will good, or something like it, prevail and the beleaguered working families and longtime residents of 504-508 East 11th St. get to keep their not-so-happy homes? Stay tuned…

As we understand it, there are eight occupied apartments left, with 10 adults and three children among those units.

Demolition finally over at 98-100 Avenue A

Meant to note this earlier in the week… after seemingly 20 years, the demolition of the former theater-turned-grocery has ended on Avenue A between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street … No more pesky building to see!



The smooth lot will some day make way for developer Ben Shaoul's 6-floor residential building with 29 apartments and ground-floor retail here.



… also, someone is keeping score on the side of the building that houses Sidewalk…



Previously

Let's look at a timeless parlor home on East 10th Street

Over on that fine stretch of East 10th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, a parlor apartment at No. 102 is now on the market as a rental.

Here's the listing via Core:

Originally constructed in 1836 by Peter Stuyvesant, this delightful 1,250-square-foot, 2-bedroom parlor and English basement duplex is bright, serene and well-cared for.

Offering 10-foot ceilings on the parlor floor and 8-foot wood-beamed ceilings below, this home exudes charm and a delightful sense of spaciousness. Wide-plank hardwood floors and four original fireplaces (three decorative and one wood-burning) provide a timeless quality to this tasteful home. The bedrooms are located on the quiet lower floor and are both spacious and warm. The master bedroom features an en-suite bath, washer/dryer and a private entrance to the charming 275-square-foot garden/terrace.

Asking monthly rent: $7,500.

Santa Barbara Deli returns after renovations on Avenue B

After a two-month renovation, the corner market on East 12th Street and Avenue B is back with a new look … including a new floor and ceiling … and new name, having lost the Superette.

We never really shopped here much, so we can't say much about what is new and better about the space… if this is your regular spot, then let us know in the comments…

Noted

@evgrieve Nyc is prepared for the 30% chance of rain in Union Square! pic.twitter.com/KLD4pnDhYM

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) November 7, 2014