EV Grieve

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Transformers: Age of extinction, though not yet on Avenue A

[Photo via @Salim]

As we noted earlier in the week, there's some transformer replacement work going on in the weeks ahead (again) at the ConEd substation on Avenue A between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street…

Anyway, we just wanted to note today's pretty big crane action… Yes!

And thanks to EVG regular Creature for this six-seconds of crane porn…

Report: Pizza delivery guy robbed for $22 on Avenue D

[Via the NYPD]

On Tuesday night around 7:30, a man delivering a pizza to a building on Avenue and East Fifth Street was robbed.

Per CBS 2:

[H]e was attacked in the elevator by a man who demanded his money.

The delivery man handed over $22. The suspect took off.

The suspect is described as Hispanic, about 25 years old and weighs about 160 pounds, police said. He was last seen wearing camouflage pants, multi-colored sneakers and a jacket with stripes on the sleeves.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online.

No trees yet, but...

There are holiday wreaths on display outside the Whole Foods Market® Bowery on East Houston…

Speaking of ~~holiday~~ trees … soon, everyone's favorite inflatable Santa should (oh Lordy we hope!) return to its familiar holiday home on East 14th Street at First Avenue…

We're guessing that the tree stands will arrive on Wednesday… the actual trees on Friday and Jolly ol' Trailer Park Santa on Saturday…

Previously on EV Grieve:
In case you are looking to buy the ol' [insert your name here!] family holiday tree on Thanksgiving

Here comes the sun

Tompkins Square Park looking toward East Eighth Street this morning…

Friday, November 21, 2014

Oh yeah

Thee Oh Sees are playing out at the Warsaw in Brooklyn tonight. Here is the band's previous lineup (they are a trio now) doing "Contraption/Soul Desert" live in 2012…

Who wants to adopt the ExxonMobil tree?

This little fella remains behind at the former BP station that closed on Second Avenue at East First Street in July … in its original Exxon-branded planter … Will it go unclaimed to the day the station is finally demolished to make way for 50,000-square-feet of residences…?

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Avenue A Flyers Club via Grant Shaffer]

East Seventh Street apartment the centerpiece in this lengthy court battle, which concluded yesterday. Court finds that rent-stabilized apartments can't be seized as assets in bankruptcy (Gothamist)

Checking in at the newish St. Mark's Bookshop (The Villager)

Demolition permits filed for 50-62 Clinton St. (BoweryBoogie)

Hope for the Siempre Verde Community Garden (Curbed)

Check out the movie-theater nights this weekend at the Italian American Museum at 155 Mulberry St. (The Italian American Museum)

CB3 election news (The Lo-Down)

Do you have any BLDG Management horror stories? (Medium)

Rat hunting with Christo, that hunk (Gog in NYC)

The Everything Guide to Last-Chance New York (New York)

A Beastie Boys location photo quiz (Flaming Pablum)

A rustic East Village duplex with dead animal rugs is on the market (Curbed)

Catch "Purple Rain" at midnight (actually 11:55) tonight and tomorrow (Sunshine Cinema)

After 80 years, 727 Hardware in Chelsea forced to relocate (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Classic NYC drug store gutted uptown (Scouting New York)

An interview between Patti Smith and David Lynch (NME)

... and Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir's "Monsanto is the Devil" residency starts Sunday at Joe's Pub ...

And the survey says: What types of retail and services do you want in the East Village?

Via the EVG inbox...

Take the East Village Consumer Survey
Your input is important for the community

The East Village Community Coalition seeks your opinions to understand what types of retail and services residents and visitors want to see in the community. Help the community understand what is available and what is missing from retail in the East Village. Survey results can identify trends in the neighborhood's retail environment that can help empower businesses and residents work to attract desired businesses.

We are hoping to reach as many East Village residents and visitors as possible. Respondents need not give identifying information to participate. It takes just 5-10 minutes to share your experience living in, working in, or visiting the East Village.

The consumer survey is part of the of EVCC's retail diversity campaign, which advocates for increased diversity of available retail and local services for residents within the East Village.

Find the survey here.

Some love for Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen

[EVG file photo]

Fork in the Road pays a visit to Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, the basement home of hearty and inexpensive Eastern European fare at 33 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

Here's part of Kevin Kessler's article:

Open Friday through Sunday from roughly 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., the basement is a haven for local Ukrainian expats and those New Yorkers looking for a taste of authentic Ukrainian fare.

Cheap, fresh, and fast, Streecha serves a small menu heavy on flavor that barely touches your billfold. The standards are excellent. The beet borscht soup ($2) is a lighter version than normally found, with added lentil beans for texture (a nice touch). The stuffed cabbage ($4) is firm and still tender; the boiled kielbasa comes from East Village Meat Market, located just down the street.

The timeless basement cafe is a fundraising arm of the St George Ukrainian Catholic Church just up East Seventh Street.

[EVG file photo]

Previously on EV Grieve:
At the Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen

The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence now with a little off the top

A whole floor, actually … Goggla told us yesterday that the building at 347 Bowery and East Third is without its top floor now. (Not to mention its roof.)

And later, toward sunset…

As we've noted, workers are demolishing the building to make way for a 13-floor, 30,000 square-foot mixed-use residential development. The project is still waiting for city approval.

Specialty bookshop finds a new home 1 block away

[Image via Facebook]

Back in late July, 10,000 Steps A Hungarian Bookstore closed at 545 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The closure was short-lived ... the shop has reopened at 516 E. 11th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. You can find more info on their website.

The store opened in April 2008 "to serve the Hungarian community, those with Hungarian roots in North America and all others from our base in the New York Metropolitan area." The store sells books, magazines, CDs and DVDs.

Cafe Cambodge says goodbye on Avenue C

Last Friday, we noted that the Marshall had seized Cafe Cambodge, the French-Cambodian restaurant at 111 Avenue C near East Seventh Street.

At the time, we were unsure if this was just temporary … However, an EVG reader said that the owners left this message on the restaurant's Facebook page:

Dear friends and family, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the many years of love and patronage. With a sad and heavy heart Cafe Cambodge bids you all farewell. Thanks for all the memories, friendships and good will. We all did our best to keep the dream alive and now it is time to move on. Love, peace and happiness to you all.

Cafe Cambodge opened here back in February ... after the owners revamped the space from its 6-year run as Arcane.

This is the second restaurant to close along this part of Avenue C in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the Marshall seized Lumé, the "Epicurean drinkery" at East Eighth Street.