Support Tompkins Trees

[Click on map for a better view]

Michael Natale, a longtime LES resident, has been keeping tabs on the trees in Tompkins Square Park for the past three years.

Back in the summer, he unveiled an updated map (above) of the Park's trees. (You can find more info at his Tompkins Trees site.)

He's now looking for some financial help to keep the project going ... and he offers an explanation in a post:

I’ve brought the map to a point where I feel it needs to be printed. But doing a professional print run is absurdly expensive. I am asking for donations from the community to support The Tompkins Trees Project. I am hoping to get enough support to be able to finance a large enough print run to make future printed maps affordable to the public.

There are more details in this video...

Bendy thing action at a suddenly taller 185-193 Avenue B

[Photo yesterday by Bobby Williams]

Work has really picked up in recent weeks over at 185-193 Avenue B ... where it looks as if the crew is near the top of the 7-story mixed-used residential building going up at the corner here at East 12th Street.

In total, the building will have 41 dwelling units ... as well as house the Elim Pentecostal Church.

Bendy thing and the workers were still at it last night around 6...

The site has been a source of aggravation for neighbors since demolition started in July 2012... and even before, dating back to the fire that nearly destroyed the building in October 2006.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Inside the Charles

Former landmark countercultural theater now for rent on Avenue B

7-story building in the works to replace former countercultural theater/church on Avenue B

Construction site at 185 Avenue B remains shut down for now

[Updated] The 'insane' noise and pounding are back at 185 Avenue B

The Marshal seizes Wechsler's Currywurst and Bratwurst on 1st Avenue

Yesterday, the Marshall seized Wechsler's Currywurst and Bratwurst at 120 First Ave. near East Seventh Street.

A listing for the space arrived on the market back in the April. The rent was listed as $9,004.07 per month … and with a "motivated seller," per the ad.

Wechsler's opened in April 2009.

BARA debuts on East 1st Street

BARA, a French/Japanese restaurant, opened last night at 58 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

As we first reported last month, BARA's menu is from Momofuku vet Ian Alvarez.

You can hit their Twitter account for more info. (They just have a placeholder website for now.)

Prima closed in August after nearly three years in this location. In a refreshingly honest assessment, Prima's owners said that they closed because they just weren't busy enough.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Momofuku-French Louie vets opening BARA on East 1st Street

Noted

Tweets arriving now ahead of the blessed event this Saturday...

Fighting, vandalism, littering, or public urination will SHUT DOWN SANTACON. Don’t be that Santa. #dontscroogesantacon

— santacon (@santacon) December 8, 2014

Santa is a GUEST in NYC. Respect all neighborhoods and the people who live there. http://t.co/bg8vMtGAC6 #dontscroogesantacon

— santacon (@santacon) December 8, 2014

Love Santacon? Then don’t Scrooge it up with piss, trash, violence, or vomit. #dontscroogesantacon

— santacon (@santacon) December 8, 2014

Details on the SantaCon 2014 destination will be released Friday.

A 14-screen Regal Cinemas theater with electronic reclining seats coming to the LES

Crain's has the story on the first tenant for Essex Crossing:

The theater chain, owned by Regal Entertainment Group, will take 65,000 square feet in the base of a 315-foot-tall rental apartment building to be built at 115 Delancey St., on the southeast corner of Essex Street. Construction is expected to begin in the spring and be completed by late 2017 or 2018.

The lease, which stretches for 15 years, is the first signed for the 1.9 million-square-foot development known as the Seward Park mixed-use development project.

The multiplex will stand at the corner that long housed the Olympic Restaurant and Jade Fountain liquor store.

[EVG file photo]

The Lo-Down got a copy of the official Regal news release. Among the theater amenities:

• Recliners for every guest to provide more room, comfort and true luxury.
• Each recliner has an electric control for multiple positions and features padded footrests.
• Digital projection in every auditorium to provide a crystal-clear picture.
• Real D 3D projection systems available for 3D enhanced presentations.
• Stadium seating provides each moviegoer a clear view of the screen.

Seafood market in the works for the International Bar space on 1st Avenue

Back in September, we reported that the International Bar was hoping to move next door from its current home on First Avenue to the former South Brooklyn Pizza space.

Preparations to move the bar and add a pizzeria with slices to go here between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place are underway.

Meanwhile, there are also plans to turn the soon-to-be-former International space into a seafood market.

International owner Molly Fitch, who along with Shawn Dahl, reopened the bar in June 2008, said that the new venture at 120 1/2 First Ave. will be called The Liquor Seafood Market + Bar.

With time left on the current lease, Fitch said that she wanted to "open a much-needed place to get fresh fish in the neighborhood."

During the day, the space will operate as a traditional retail outlet for fresh seafood… and in the evening, the market will give way to a more traditional bar-restaurant environment with a 2 a.m. closing time. (Amended this last sentence to add the restaurant part and closing time!)

Fitch shared part of a sample menu with us.



Helping Fitch with the market is Sebastian Jaramillo, a former chef with Porsena on East Seventh Street.

CB3's SLA committee will hear plans for this alteration during tonight's monthly meeting.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The International eyeing move next door to the former South Brooklyn Pizza space

Maybe 67 Avenue C will eventually look like this random building some day

As we've pointed out, a residential building is rising from part of the former Kingdom Hall that was owned by the Jehovah's Witnesses at 67 Avenue C.

According to DOB permits, we're looking at a 7-story, 7-unit residential building with a ground-floor retail space here next to the laundromat at East Fifth Street. The building will be topped off by a duplex penthouse.

To date, we hadn't seen a rendering. And then this appeared on No. 67's plywood last week…



Looks nice like a nice building, wherever it is supposed to be. Wrong address, size, neighborhood, etc.

Previously on EV Grieve:
First sign of the new 7-floor condo rising above the Jehovah's Witnesses on Avenue C

The former Gracefully space is for rent

Gracefully closed for good at 28 Avenue A back on Nov. 18.

We didn't hear any official reason for the closure. One worker claimed that it was because of the New York Sports Club opening soon in the building's upper floors.

However, it doesn't appear that Gracefully closed because the gym needs the former market. Signs are up now noting the storefront is for rent. (We haven't spotted any listings online with rent details.)

As previously noted, there is a Gracefully on First Avenue in Stuy Town … and one remains under construction on East 23rd Street.

Plus! Bill the Libertarian Anarchist confirmed that a Gracefully is on the way to Eighth Street at Fifth Avenue…



Previously on EV Grieve:
Gracefully is closing on Avenue A

Sidewalk bridge arrives on Houston and Avenue B

Last Tuesday evening, debris from atop the corner building on Avenue B at East Houston fell, reportedly breaking the foot of a 57-year-old man passing by on the sidewalk.

On Friday, workers arrived to erect a protective sidewalk bridge.



The FDNY promptly ordered a structural stability inspection and logged a complaint with the Department of Buildings. There aren't any work permits on file yet on this long-vacant building.

Given that mostly nothing has happened here the past few years, we imagine that the sidewalk bridge will be up for some time… perhaps even breaking an EV record in the process.

H/T EVG reader Magic Brian

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cleaning out the long-closed liquor store on Avenue B and East Houston

Is something finally happening to the long-vacant, mysterious 6 Avenue B?

Something new for the old fortress of East 7th Street

Korzo Haus, the deep-fried burger place on East Seventh Street just west of Avenue B, closed at the end of October.

On Saturday, EVG regular Dave on 7th spotted workers, uh, working on the exterior.

According to one of the workers, here's what's next: "Coffee place, take out. American cuisine."

Whatever the place will be, it appears that the new owners have apparently opted not to keep Korzo's fortress look.

Extra Place now graffiti free (for the moment)

On Friday, someone painted over all the tags in Extra Place…



…the seven-years-in the-making-and-failing-so-far pedestrian mall behind the former alley behind CBGB…



Not sure why the tags were painted over. Because someone deemed them unsightly? Too make way for some new art project? Patrons of the recently opened Momofuku Ko didn't like looking at them?

Dunno!

As for the Momofuku Ko here that took the place of the restaurants Heidi and Extra Place… Per Eater:

Momofuku Ko... has raised the price of dinner to $175, an increase of $50 over the old menu. With that higher cost come more indulgences: the two-Michelin-starred restaurant has lengthened the menu to 17-courses.

So what does this all mean for your wallet? A meal for two at Ko, after tax and tip, will cost $451, a 40 percent hike over the old cost of $322. Add on beverage pairings at $155, and a dinner date will run you $851.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A look inside the incoming Momofuko Ko on Extra Place

With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?

Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Extra Place and Heidi currently 'closed for renovation' in Extra Place

Espoleta now serving tapas and stuff on the Bowery

Forcella Bowery recently closed … and it didn't take long for a new tenant to revamp the space at 334 Bowery.

Espoleta is now open and serving tapas and the like … here's the menu…



Urban Daddy got the first look at the interior and dishes if you're interested in seeing more.

Forcella's take-out Slice of Naples remains open next door, as BoweryBoogie reported.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On the Bowery, Forcella pizza shows a sign, Twitter account

Week in Grieview

A night of protests over the grand jury decision not to indict the NYPD officer involved in the Eric Garner chokehold case (Thursday … and later)

City deems East Village Bed & Coffee an illegal hotel on Avenue C (Tuesday)

Simone Martini Bar closed for good (Monday)

Farewell De Robertis (Friday)

Discussing that explosion/bang/boom (Friday, 35 comments)

Out and About with Arthur Nersesian (Wednesday)

Movement underway to reoccupy the Yippie Museum (Thursday)

Two dessert closures on Second Avenue (Thursday)

Fresh & Co. coming to former Pie Face space on Fourth Avenue (Monday)

Decking the halls at 7B (Tuesday)

A new laundromat for Avenue B (Tuesday)

Dee Dee Ramone exhibit opens next week (Wednesday)

Fire at 251 E. Houston St. temporarily closes Gaia Cafe (Monday)

The ABCs of a new mural on Avenue C (Tuesday)

S & P Liquor & Wine back in business on East 5th Street (Thursday)

More about the End of Avenue A Block Association (Friday)

A bar called Matty's in the works for Idle Hands on Avenue B (Wednesday)

176 E. 3rd St. changes hands for the third time in seven years (Friday)

d.b.a is temporarily closed for renovations (Thursday)

Checkers check (Friday)

Don't dress up as Santa for this happy hour special (Monday)

… and on Tuesday morning, the Keith Haring sculpture arrived outside 51 Astor Place… it was still a little dark out, so our photos, well — they sucked… these are a little better…





… and we do enjoy the rotating monthly murals at Mikey Likes It on Avenue A… This month's Flavor of the Month is Home Alone.