Noted

H/T @HopeBeach

Heart around the Park

[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

The Hearts of the World project made a stop yesterday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park…

First, here's more about the Project:

Hearts of the World allows children, many from devastated areas, to explore their inner worlds, their passion, their fears and their unique potential. Since 2010, Hearts of the World has fostered self-expression through painting workshops in ten countries. Started at the Lower East Side Girls Club, by its founder, NYC-based artist Nicolina, the HOTW team has partnered with schools, social service agencies and arts organizations to create life-altering workshops.

And a few scenes from the afternoon, where people were invited to paint what was in their hearts…


[Photo by LS]


[Photo by Chris Flash]


[The Human JukeBox Brass Band via CF]


[Project founder Nicolina Johnson via CF]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Hearts of the World returns to Tompkins Square Park tomorrow (Saturday!)

Raul's Candy Store is red (again)

Just noting the new paint job from this past week over at Raul Candy Store, which has been at 205 Avenue B between East 12th Street and East 13th Street since 1981. (It opened on Avenue D in 1976.)

Here's a photo from late August…



… and from 2009…

Today in Eroto-Boutiques on East 7th Street

A longtime East Village resident is having her annual stoop sale today… via the EVG inbox…

I'm doing another old-fashioned, non-commercial mega stoop sale Saturday … real prices…

This one is a total clean out … there will also be music, women's clothing sizes 6-12, household items and more

MEGA STOOP SALE & Eroto-Boutique
Saturday Oct. 10, 9 – 5 PM
70 E. 7th St. between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue

Hearts of the World returns to Tompkins Square Park tomorrow (Saturday!)

Via the EVG inbox…

Join us this Saturday afternoon (tomorrow!) in Tompkins Square Park, have a seat at our 100-foot-long table and paint what's in your "heart" as part of the Hearts of the World project.

Bring your painting home with you or donate it to our worldwide exhibition tour. *All materials provided*

Great for kids, adults and everyone in between.
The Human JukeBox Brass Band is playing music all afternoon. The Lower Eastside Girl's Club will be making FREE silkscreen prints. (Bring a t-shirt, tote bag, etc...)

Tompkins Square Park, Center Circle
Saturday, Oct. 10, 1-5 pm, *FREE*
(Rain date Sunday, Oct. 11)

Find more info on the Facebook events page here.

'Thigh' masters

There are like 5000000000000000 bands playing the annual CMJ Music Marathon next week.

Here is one of the groups — Heaters with "Levitate Thigh." The Michigan-based trio will be at Elvis Guesthouse on Avenue A Tuesday evening.

The 6&B Harvest Fest is tomorrow (Saturday)

Rescheduled from last Saturday's rainout ... now 2-7 p.m. tomorrow.

The garden entrance on Avenue B between East Sixth Street and East Fifth Street.

Check out the lengthy list of local merchants who donated the raffle prizes here.

EV Grieve Etc.: An Other Music appreciation; an update on Metrograph Cinema

[Photo on 2nd Avenue Wednesday by Derek Berg]

Update on the Metrograph Cinema, coming in early 2016 to Ludlow Street (BoweryBoogie)

City to spend $1 million on ads promoting rent freeze on stabilized units (The New York Times)

City renovating two former East Village squats (The Villager)

Praise for Bruno Pizza on East 13th Street (Gothamist)

More on building a mesh network in the neighborhood (New York Business Journal)

An appreciation for Other Music on East Fourth Street (Flaming Pablum)

Now on display at the Dorian Grey Gallery on East Ninth Street: Paul Benney-Louis Renzoni with Ecliptic (Dorian Grey Gallery)

More about The Garret Bar, which recently opened on Avenue A (WWD)

Live music at the Hester Fair tomorrow (The Lo-Down)

NYU students say university hasn't been paying student employees (The Village Voice)

Coming Oct. 17: A John Zorn benefit concert as part of a Harry Smith celebration (Anthology Film Archives)

RIP Chantal Akerman, director of the great NYC film "News From Home" (Dangerous Minds)

McNally Jackson Books is opening a location with cafe at the South Street Seaport (DNAinfo)

Pizza Rat battle (Eater)

...and Ichimi Cosme, specializing in Japanese/Korean skincare products, has opened at 318 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue...


[Photo by Steven]

... and a lunchtime photo from Tompkins Square Park yesterday by Bobby Williams...

49 years ago today, the Hare Krishna movement started in Tompkins Square Park

Here's a little history courtesy of Off the Grid (via The New York Times):

In 1965, after a difficult month on a steamship, a spiritual leader named Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada arrived in New York convinced that if Americans would embrace his conception of Krishna consciousness, the other countries in the world would follow. In 1966 he founded the International Society of Krishna Consciousness at 26 Second Avenue, near 2nd Street.

On October 9, 1966, Swami Prabhupada led a group of followers to the nearby Tompkins Square Park. Under the leafy canopy of an American elm tree they began to chant a distinctive 16-word mantra: ”Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” It was Swami Prabhupada’s first outdoor chanting ceremony outside of India and it was the birth of the Hare Krishna religion.

Read more of the tree's history here.

EVG correspondent Steven took the above photo this morning of Vani, who was here to mark the anniversary.

Report: Ben Shaoul replacing luxury rentals with condos at Bloom 62

Word is that Stately Shaoul Manor — aka the rental Bloom 62 — is about to go condo.

The Real Deal has the scoop on developer Ben Shaoul's plans for the building on Avenue B at East Fifth Street:

Shaoul, president of Magnum Real Estate Group, filed plans for an 81-unit condominium that will have a total sellout of $95.2 million, according to a summary of the offering plan filed with the state Attorney General’s office ...

Back in March, we reported that Shaoul put Bloom 62 on the market … with an $80 million asking price for the former Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation. However, after curtailing the building's rooftop ragers, Shaoul pulled Bloom off the market.

Units at Bloom currently range from a one-bedroom apartment for $3,300 all the way up to a four-bedroomer for $7,395, per Streeteasy. The listed building amenities mention the roof deck with outdoor shower (drat!), a fully equipped gym, yoga room and storage units.

Before becoming a luxury rental, the building was home to Cabrini, which closed for good on June 30, 2012. The 240-bed center — sponsored by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — provided health care for low-income elderly residents in the East Village. Cabrini opened in 1993 and served 240 patients and employed nearly 300 people. Shaoul reportedly paid $25 million for the property and closed down Cabrini.

Bloom 62 will join Shaoul's other East Village condos — the A Building on East 13th Street and the incoming 98-100 Avenue A.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Ben Shaoul is the new owner of Cabrini nursing home, will convert to condos

Report: Local politicians reach out to Ben Shaoul as re-sale of the Cabrini Nursing Center seems likely

More details on Cabrini's closing announcement

A look at the 'Hip young crowd planting roots at Bloom 62'

Ben Shaoul looks to make a whole lot of money converting nursing home into high-end housing

Ben Shaoul is selling Bloom 62 for $73 million — all cash!

Indian-speciality movie rental shop closes on East 6th Street

[EVG file photo]

The rental shop that specialized in Indian music and Bollywood cinema has closed at 343 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

EVG reader Michael Hirsch hears that the 12-year-old shop was unable to remain open after a rent increase. (Neighbor Gandhi also closed due to a reported rent hike.)

This is also the last retail space that rented films in the East Village.

[Updated] 4 bedroom rentals arrive at 329 E. 10th St.

The renovations are apparently winding down at 329 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. The first units from the Icon Realty-owned building recently arrived on Streeteasy.

For now there are two, four-bedroom units for rent ($8,500 a month), according to Streeteasy.

Here is the listing for the units: "All apartments are newly renovated featuring: bleached-plank hardwood floors, recessed lighting, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, cherry wood cabinets, crown and baseboard moldings, with marble bathrooms."



There is also a large private patio, per the listings.



However, there isn't any mention of a roof deck (a popular amenity in Icon-owned buildings)… which was in view from the street ...


[Photo from July via JL]

And here's how the new deck was looking from the rear…




[Photos from July via Gojira]

The building, which sits in the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District, needs approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the rooftop addition. It does not appear that any approval was ever received for the roof deck.

DOB records show that someone filed a complaint about the rooftop on June 30. An inspector made an attempt to access the building without success then on Set. 5 and Sept. 12. With no response to the buzzer, the DOB issued an LS-4 — a letter to the landlord asking to schedule an inspection.

Icon picked up the building for $5.2 million in August 2013.

Updated 9:54 a.m.

A neighbor sent along a few better shots showing the roof deck...



...which kind of looks like a cattle stockade from this angle...



Updated 10:39 a.m.

Per another reader...

Actually the deck is no longer visible from street level. They took down the southern fence, receded it by about 5 feet, and put in a shorter fence. Not sure if that brought them into compliance but that is what they did. The marble floor still extends nearly to the roottop edge.

A family continues to feel the loss on 2nd Avenue

The following is from photographers James and Karla Murray today...

Nicholas Figueroa's father tends to his son's memorial at 121 Second Ave., the site of the March 26 gas explosion and fire that killed his son.

His mother talked to us about the loss of their 23-year-old son and how hard it has been coping with it.

Today, his father placed a statue of Mary and keepsake box at the memorial and also tended to the memorial for the other victim, Moises Ismael Locón Yac.

Mrs. Figueroa gave her OK to post the above photo because she doesn't want anyone to forget the tragedy. Per the Murrays: "Their feelings of anger and loss are still understandably very raw and intense."

[Updated] Report: Black Seed bagels opens Monday on 1st Avenue

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

Zagat is reporting that Black Seed bagels will be opening on Monday at 176 First Ave. between East 10th Street and East 11th Street...

Workers have been renovating the former DeRobertis space these past seven months. Zagat also has the first photos of the renovated interior...



Per Zagat: "[R]estored original details include the tin ceiling, penny tiled floor, neon sign and tile walls, accented with the same turquoise high-top chairs used at [Black Seed's] Elizabeth Street location."

Aside from a variety of bagel sandwiches, Black Seed will reportedly be selling sides like chilled borscht soup and wood-roasted potato salad. They will also be serving pastries such as rugalach and rainbow cookies.

No word yet on hours. The Elizabeth Street location is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Updated 10-9

Eater has a preview here with lots more photos. They say that BS will be open in the middle of next week. And Grub Street has a preview here. (GS says they will be open on Monday.)

And here is the menu (PDF!) via GS…


[Click to go big]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Black Seed bringing bagels to the former DeRobertis space on 1st Avenue (43 comments)

Black Seed owners reiterate commitment to preserving the former DeRobertis space