[Updated] Daniel Delaney planning new restaurant for 1st Avenue

[EVG photo from July 2015]

Looks as if the East Village will have another fried chicken option.

According to CB3's agenda for March, an entity going by Delaney Chicken Union Square LLC will appear before the SLA committee for a liquor license at 167 First Ave. between East 10th Street and East 11th Street.

The name of restaurateur Daniel Delaney (who also operates BrisketTown out in Williamsburg) is on the public notice form (PDF) posted on the CB3 website.

Last September, he opened Delaney Chicken in the UrbanSpace Vanderbilt market in Midtown. He told Eater last summer "that his fried chicken is 'very different' from the other popular versions around town as it is batter dipped, rather than being dredged in seasoned flour. He promises a unique texture in the coating which comes spiked with the requisite secret seasonings."

There isn't any other information posted to the CB3 website at the moment about the First Avenue Delaney Chicken, such as its operating hours. CB3's SLA committee meeting is March 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Seems to be a pretty crowded market already around the neighborhood for fried chicken. For starters, this location is one storefront away from Fuku, David Chang's popular fried chicken sandwich place. And there are places like Bobwhite on Avenue C, Root & Bone on East Third Street, Blue Ribbon on East First Street and Second Avenue, The Redhead on East 13th Street, just a name a few, that have a fried chicken following.

The previous tenant here at 167 First Ave., Ashiya Sushi, relocated to West 36th Street last summer.

Updated 1:30

Delaney tells Eater that the space is not guaranteed to be an outpost of his UrbanSpace Vanderbilt stall Delaney Chicken. "We are exploring a number of options, including getting a liquor license in that space, but we have not signed a lease," he says. (And we changed our original headline to reflect this.)

Report: Crime is down so far in the East Village in 2016

[Photo from Feb. 3 by Derek Berg]

The Villager attended the most recent Ninth Precinct Community Council meeting ... and here's the takeaway, per the paper:

The precinct’s crime rate is down 27 percent over all for the month. Specifically, robberies are down 57 percent, felony assaults are down 46 percent, burglaries are down 25 percent, and grand larceny is down 24 percent. The only spike, said Venice, was stolen vehicles — five this month, compared with only one during the previous month. The precinct’s crime rate is down 5 percent over all for the year.

Most of the crimes in the precinct have been grand larceny — the result of people leaving their property (often credit cards) somewhere and it being stolen.

Meanwhile, the NYPD announced earlier this week the launch of CompStat 2.0, "a newly public, online version of the data tool that the department has used since 1990 to map crime statistics by precinct," per Gothamist.

Play with the map yourself here.

Minca Ramen back in action

The popular ramen shop on East Fifth Street just west of Avenue B had been closed for more than two months due to some unspecified gas-related issue.

But they were back open earlier today. The sign that arrived on the door last week noted they'd return Wednesday, Feb. 25, which caused a little confusion. Wednesday the 24th or Thursday the 25th? Turned out to be the 25th.

Per an EVG reader via email: "What could be better on a cold, blustery day than spicy basic ramen. A perfect day for Minca to come back to life. Was like a reunion with folks coming by for a bowl and good cheer."

About 'Gay Arms,' a new photo exhibition by Grant Shaffer

East Village resident Grant Shaffer, a frequent contributor to EVG, is having a photo exhibition starting tomorrow evening.

Here are some details:

For the exhibition, "Gay Arms," Grant Shaffer presents a body of nearly 100 new photographic works. The series is documentary in style, with its subjects pulled from the artist's life.

Shaffer describes his artistic process as a means of understanding: "When I'm taking pictures, I think of myself as an alien who's here for a while, trying to understand the experience of my sliver of life on this planet. It's hard to say what my photos and this show are about. It's just intuitive. It's me trying to take in the world and asking people to notice or consider something."

La MaMa Galleria
47 Great Jones St.
(between Lafayette and the Bowery)

The show runs from Feb. 26 through March 13. The opening is tomorrow (Friday!) night from 6-9.

And here's one of my favorite photos of Shaffer's that I posted at EVG... from Tompkins Square Park in January 2014...

Thursday flashback (#tbt): To 7:30 a.m. today when the sun was out

Since then, a tipster told us that it got a little more cloudy.

Photo today by Bobby Williams

Icon Realty files permits to demolish the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

[Photo from December by Steven]

Last time we checked in on the former Chase branch on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place, someone seemed pleased that the bank had merged with the location two blocks to the north...


[Photo from January by Steven]

Anyway, good riddance is accurate — to the whole two-story building. As Bedford + Bowery first noted yesterday, owner Icon Realty filed demolition permits for the address, 130 Second Ave., this past Friday.

Apparently there weren't any takers for the space, which had been on the market since last summer with an asking price of $72,000 a month, per the listing. The address was being marketed for use as retail, a restaurants/bar, office space or a gym. (The listing remains on the Icon website.)

The Commercial Observer reported in August that J.P. Morgan Chase sold the 2-level space to Stellar Management for $12 million. (Stellar and Icon teamed up to buy the gas-challenged No. 128 next door.)

The former Chase site allows for redevelopment of the 2,380-square-foot site into a mixed-use retail and residential project of 9,520 square feet, the Observer noted.

EVG regular commenter nygrump is among those who speculate that both 130 and 128 Second Ave. could potentially yield to some kind of large development. Here's nygrump on our last post on this address: "If Icon owns the corner lot and also the building next door where The Stage is, then they are probably strategizing to maximize the entire lot, take both buildings down and put up a tower. If zoning doesn't now allow, don't worry, it will. They'll do to 2nd Ave what they did to 3rd."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chase space on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent

2 East Village Chase Bank branches are closing for good on Nov. 12

Chase branch on 2nd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has the potential to get 4x larger with new owner

The East Village is down 2 Chase branches

Icon wraps former Chase branch at St. Mark's Place with retail ribbon

'Good riddance' Chase, and — a development to watch in 2016

Podunk, the tearoom on East 5th Street, is moving after Mother's Day

[Image via Facebook]

Podunk — the American Tearoom, the family-run cafe on East Fifth Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square, will be closing after service this coming Mother's Day, May 8.

Until then, the 14-year old Podunk is posting a daily countdown "of favorite pics, recipes, ideas, thoughts and lists till the day we go" on their Instagram and Facebook accounts.



So far, no word on a new location... or the reason for the move.

The building that houses Podunk at 231 E. Fifth St. was part of the portfolio that Raphael Toledano’s Brookhill Properties purchased last fall.

Fabulous Fanny's temporarily closed due to water damage

[Photo by Steven]

The vintage eyeglass shop at 335 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue has been closed in recent days... the sign on the front door points to water damage. The boutique's outgoing voice message says that they hope to return on Saturday.

An EVG reader heard that the ceiling collapsed due to a broken water pipe... causing some $30k in damages to merchandise. Cadillac Castle next door also sustained some damage, but a sign on their door points to a reopening today at noon.

It has been a tough year for Fanny's... with an increase in rent, the clothing side of the storefront is now closed...

Feb. 24

Despite having a few more months — give or take a few months — to enjoy the holiday/Christmas tree... someone decided to toss their tree just two months after Christmas Eve... spotted along Third Avenue this evening by EVG reader Sarah12, with bonus points for documenting the date via the Post...Gruber MacDougal, wherever he has been, would be proud.

Farewells: St. Mark's Bookshop will close for good on Sunday

The Bookshop made it official earlier today...

Our last day open will be Sunday, February 28, 2016. Thank you for your many years of patronage.

— St. Mark's Bookshop (@stmarksbookshop) February 24, 2016

Until then, the storefront at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue — its fourth location since opening on St. Mark's Place in 1977 — is selling off what's left of its stock at 50-percent off...

Meanwhile, there is still a movement to reopen a new bookstore somewhere in the neighborhood. Here's part of our interview from last week with Rafael Khalid, a Brooklyn resident and bookstore lover, who is helping find investors...

New bookstores give authors, poets, and writers a voice to be heard, not just in the community but in the world. Historically, people come from all over the world to the East Village to discover new talent that might not be heard or be able to breakthrough all the noise and clutter. My goal is to continue the legacy or best parts of St. Mark's Bookshop while adapting to today's environment.

Also, at the Daily News today, writer J.I. Baker recalls his time work at St. Mark's Bookshop in the late 1980s.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: St. Mark's Bookshop prepping fundraiser ahead of possible move to Avenue A.

Is this the new home for the St. Mark's Bookshop?

Report: St. Mark's Bookshop signs lease for East 3rd Street space

Renovations at the future St. Mark's Bookshop on East 3rd Street

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest

Report: Last stand for St. Mark's Bookshop

Report: Latest woe for St. Mark's Bookshop — possible eviction

[Updated] These are likely the last days for St. Mark's Bookshop

Looking to carry on the legacy of St. Mark's Bookshop

GOLES meeting to discuss a rent rollback on rent-stabilized apartments

Via the EVG inbox...



The meeting is tomorrow (Thursday!) night at 7, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... Find more info on the GOLES website.

Superiority Burger is now open for lunch (except on Tuesdays, when they are not open at all)

[Image via Facebook]

The quick-serve vegetarian restaurant at 430 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue was previously only open for a few hours (6-10 p.m.) in the evening.

Now, though — they will start serving at 11:30 a.m.

Superiority Burger opened last June 25 to very favorable reviews for its namesake veggie burgers and a changing array of side dishes.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Superiority Burger adding another night to its schedule starting next week

Last day before move for Trash & Vaudeville is now Sunday

And not Monday as they originally announced...

Closing day of our Saint Marks location has changed to this Sunday, Feb 28! Come hang with us and celebrate the past 40+ rocking amazing years we've had on Saint Marks before we're all hanging at 96 East 7th street in early March! Here's a photo of Trash & Vaudeville on Saint Marks Place in 1982, taken by Paul Wright ❤️

A photo posted by Trash and Vaudeville (@trashandvaudeville) on Feb 24, 2016 at 8:32am PST

Their new home will be at 96 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Avenue A...


[Photo of 96 E. 7th St. from last summer]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Exclusive: After 40 years, punk rock mainstay Trash and Vaudeville is leaving St. Mark's Place

Out and About in the East Village, Part 2

By James Maher

Name: Rafael Hines
Occupation: Sales Director, Morningstar, Writer
Location: Café Mogador, St. Mark's Place
Time: 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9

In part 1, Hines talked about growing up with his mother on Avenue D and East Third Street starting in 1961. "We were there until 1968. Our upstairs neighbor was trying to date my mom. She said no, so he set our apartment on fire." They eventually moved to St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Being part of the community has been fantastic. On the positive, the artist culture and the music — one of the things that kind of pushed me to be a writer, is all the creativity, which is still here. I see so many of the same people, who were quote-on-quote citizens like myself.

Back then, you were a citizen or involved in this whole other life. Those people I still see, and many of them are still on the block. My wife says, ‘Oh you’re going to the store, so you’re going to be back in two hours,’ because I have conversations every step of the way. All these people moved here, created a healthy economy in the neighborhood, and have been that fabric outside of this other stuff that’s been going on, which kind of comes and goes. There are just so many good people in this neighborhood.

I want to give Mogador a plug, because this place right here is magic. It’s been around for about 30 years. The hostess would carry each of our kids around when they would seat people. My kids eat here three times a week for dinner, and I come here for breakfast.

There was this guy Steven, who lived upstairs, and for year and years he would print out the Good News Newspaper, from newspapers all around the world. It was all articles about people helping other people, and he would staple it together and hand it out here in the morning. There was me and probably six other regulars and we would read our own newspaper and have this morning dialogue about people helping other people. He passed away about six months ago now. He was a really interesting guy.

I remember, the Boys Club and the 14th Street Y for me was just like home. I’m on the board there now. I went there as a kid and now I’m on the board and I’m part of the scholarship committee. The way people impacted my life and mentored me, I try to do the same thing. My mother was on the board there for years. My mother was such a part of this community as well.

That Y does such amazing things. I could talk about that for two hours. It’s a community center. They have a theatre, and then there’s the early childhood program ... a nursery school, a community center for the elderly and yoga classes — all under one roof. They also have a special-needs program, where no one is turned away, where the whole family can be involved. There’s basketball, soccer. All the counselors and everyone involved are deeply committed to caring about this community and the people who it serves.

My mother also had a bridal store on East 9th Street, until she got really sick last year. At one time, I actually had three bridal stores. I was going to be the gown king. It was a total side project. I had three stores on 9th Street between 1st and 2nd, which started out as a little side gig and then grew and grew, until they all kind of imploded.

Now I work for the company Morningstar, which does the ratings for mutual funds and everything else. I’m on the energy side. They acquired the company I worked for in 2009. We were a family-run businesses for commodities and energy.

I’m also a writer. In the past, I used to fly all over the place for work, and I would always pick up the latest thriller and the latest bestseller. I kept thinking, ‘You’ve got a story in you.’ And then during 9/11, my office was in the south tower. Obviously the whole tragedy was overwhelming. At the time, I think a lot of people thought there would be follow-up attacks, although it never happened.

That was my thought and from there that was the genesis of my book that’s coming out this week. I started by just putting small stories together that I thought were funny and then characters started showing up and dialogue started appearing out of nowhere and now I’ve got a full suspense thriller, "Bishop’s War."

It’s an action thriller about a guy who stops a terrorist attack in Union Square Park. The terrorists come after him and his family, but his family is a crime family on the Lower East Side, so it comes full circle. The characters are based on all the people who I grew up with, basically the cops and gangsters. I did a ton of research and I have friends who are over in Afghanistan, who I was sending chapters to.

It’s funny. The first agent I went to said, ‘You know, the dialogue doesn’t ring true.’ I said, ‘That’s funny, because that is word for word what that guy said.’ I didn’t even make that up. I was just using someone’s lines.

Read Part 1 here.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.