For rent sign arrives at the Stage

We first reported last Wednesday that the 35-year-old diner at 128 Second Ave. was for rent.

EVG correspondent Steven noted that the actual for rent sign has just arrived on the space between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

The asking rent for the space is $15,000. The listing at Icon Realty notes that the space is "perfect for a restaurant, cafe, or all general retail uses."

Previously on EV Grieve:
The possibility that the Stage won't reopen on 2nd Avenue

[Updated] Report: Icon Realty serves the Stage an eviction notice

Stage owner Roman Diakun responds to allegations of illegally siphoning gas

Petition to help reopen the Stage

[Updated] The Stage is giving away its bulk food and supplies to charity

Report: The Stage is suing landlord Icon Realty to halt eviction process

The Stage is now crowdfunding to help in its legal fight with Icon Realty

The Stage Restaurant will not be reopening

'Gentrification in Progress' tape arrives at former Trash & Vaudeville and Stage Restaurant spaces

Asking rent for the former Stage Restaurant — $15,000 a month

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.


[Photo via Kathryn Cooper]

By James Maher

Name: Shari Albert
Occupation: Actor, Writer, Producer
Location: The Immigrant, East Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue
Time: 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8

I'm from Philly. I moved here to go to NYU. I was a kid actor. Nothing big, some local Philadelphia television and a lot of commercials, and then I came to the city and went to NYU and got some training.

I moved to this block my sophomore year, and I've been here ever since. I remember… it might have been my first day in New York. Everybody was like, 'Don't go to Avenue A. Don't go to Alphabet City.' I'm like, 'First thing I'm gonna do is go check it out!' So I remember walking down here, going more toward Tompkins Square Park, and I saw a drag queen. I was like, 'Ooh a drag queen, that's exciting!' Then I saw another drag queen and I'm like, 'This is amazing.' Then I saw more and more drag queens. I was like, ‘These are my people. I love this place. This is fantastic!’ I didn't realize that it was Wigstock, back in the day when they had it in Tompkins Square Park. I just knew I was home at that point. It was absolutely magical.

I did a movie in 1995 that won the Sundance Film Festival called "The Brothers McMullen." I was Susan, the youngest brother's fiancé. That kind of start the whole… well, I had the bug before, but now the bug was actually being fed. That started the whole professional career.

I do mostly movies and television. I also love theatre, I just haven't been able to do a lot of New York theatre because right after college I got "Brothers McMullen" and so my career went by the way of film and television, but I did a lot of musical theatre growing up. I had to drop out of NYU for a semester to go to Paris to do a musical, but after that my agents and I went more toward the film and television side of things. I mean, I'd love to do a play. There's nothing like doing a play in New York City — it's kind of the best thing in the world, but it's been awhile since that happened.

I play a lot of women from Long Island and Brooklyn for some weird reason. I'm not really sure why, because I don't have an accent in real life. Turning on the accent now is like turning on a water faucet. I play lots of best friends, lots of sisters, lots of neighbors.

It's pilot season now. It happens right after Sundance, late January through the end of March. That's when the new television shows are auditioning for the following season. You get it the night before, they say, ‘Oh here's 15 pages that you need to memorize and work on for tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.’ You're like, 'Oh, OK, I guess I have to cancel everything tonight.' That's kind of how you have to roll. Look, there's nothing better when it's good. It's the best thing in the world to be able to be paid to be creative and to create characters, whether you're acting them or writing them.

I'm also a writer. I'm a freelance writer by trade, and I have written a bunch of television sitcom spec scripts, so I'm trying to get into TV writing, which is how I want to transition. I'll always be an actor, but I want to get into the creating aspect of things. I did a Web series that I shot in New York called "Good Medicine." It's about a medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, but we shot it here. We raised $20k through Kickstarter and shot five episodes.

I love my neighborhood. I've been on the block for a long time and I've seen a lot of changes, and some of them are great and some of them... Like everything, I have a love-hate relationship with it. I might be biased, but I personally think that East Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue is the most beautiful block in the East Village. I love it because there are beautiful little boutiques and shops, and it's just really nice to come home and greet everybody.

My favorite thing about Ninth Street and the neighborhood was when my dog Sid and I would walk around. We met so many lovely people. Everybody knew Sidney, everybody. She had one eye. She was an achievement. She would go into different places and run around, into Fabulous Fanny’s or when this was Change of Seasons. I had her for 16 years and she just passed away last April.

I made so many really good friends through her. When she passed, the outpouring of love from the block was overwhelming, and I got beautiful condolence cards. It was very touching because people that I would see on a daily basis, we would stand on the corner and we would cry together. It was really touching and beautiful. I just think that this block is super special. That's the good aspect of this neighborhood.

The bad aspect is all the bro kids who move in — the same kids who do SantaCon and dress up as sexy Leprechauns on St. Patty's Day and throw up in my hallway. I just loathe the new regime of the bro coming in. It's the worst. The 13th Step, that used to be Telephone Bar, which was fantastic. You could meet somebody there and have a decent conversation. Now it's like, oh my God, children. It's frat boy city. I've called 911 more times in front of that bar about fights or people who are passed out in front of there...

Especially with Coyote Ugly around the corner, who I have like a raging one-woman campaign against. I hate them. They are a pox on the neighborhood. I have a real war going with Coyote Ugly because of my bedroom. They have a courtyard where they empty and recycle at all hours of the night, so they're emptying glass bottles at two, three, four in the morning, and then they open up their backdoor and you hear Jon Bon Jovi, 'Shot through the heart, and you're to blame.' Look, I like Bon Jovi as much as the next girl. I'm from Philly. I totally am down with Jon Bon Jovi, but I don't want to hear that shit at four in the morning. And then 'Woooooo!'

I'm like, 'Was I like that when I was in my 20s?' I don't… I'd like to think not. I was living in this neighborhood, and it was so different because we didn't have those kinds of bars. We got drunk in our apartments, respectfully.

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

[Updated] Someone tagged the Keith Haring sculpture outside 51 Astor Place

Noted.

The sculpture has been here since Dec. 2, 2014 ... and I don't recall it being tagged much or at all to date.

Updated 1 p.m.

51 Astor Place crews quickly cleaned off the statue...


[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

14th and C still waiting for its Karl Fischer-designed retail-residential complex

Nearly a year has passed since we've done a post about 644 E. 14th St., where a mixed-use retail-residential complex has the go at the corner of Avenue C.

As you can see, there hasn't been much — or any — progress on this plot of land that previously housed the single-level R&S Strauss auto parts store, which closed in April 2009.







Anyway, a look at the DOB files show some amended documents as of September 2015 ... with a slightly different-sized building. Previously, permits showed a 15-story mixed-use retail-residential complex totaling 61,789 square feet. DOB permits showed 8,578 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor... and 18,937 square feet for a community facility.

The amended permits show a 14-story building totaling 63,932 square feet, with 8,064 square feet for retail ... and 21,991 square feet for a community facility. The Schedule A still shows 50 apartments.

The prolific Karl Fischer is the architect of record. (His other EV work includes The Robyn on East Third Street and The Nathaniel on East 12th Street.)

No sign of renderings yet for No. 644. But we did spot some sexy diagrams at the DOB for the address...




[Click to go big]

The diagrams do indicate balconies for the units, which are on floors 6 through 14. The documents also note "flood gate storage" on the first floor. Not sure exactly what that is, but it sounds like a good idea. This corner was about 3-6 feet under water during Sandy.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Development back in play for East 14th Street and Avenue C

More details on the sale of 644 E. 14th St.

Here comes a 15-story retail-residential complex for East 14th Street and Avenue C

Prepping the former R&S Strauss auto parts store for demolition on East 14th Street and Avenue C

City OKs 15-story mixed-use retail-residential building on 14th and C

14th and C now waiting for the Karl Fischer-designed 15-story retail-residential complex

Vape shop casualty as East 2nd Street storefront arrives on rental market

Grand Vape, which opened early last fall, has closed on Second Street just east of Avenue A.

The 400-square-foot storefront at 150 E. Second St. is now for rent.

Per the listing:

Typical uses include grocery stores, dry cleaners, drug stores, restaurants and other businesses that cater to the daily needs of the immediate neighborhood.

Located one store off Avenue A, East Village. This block is convenient for those that walk to the 2nd Avenue subways and buses.

The rent is negotiable, per the listing.

Before Grand Vape's grand opening, the storefront housed both a Nicky's and a Vicky's Vietnamese sandwich shop.

Thursday night at MoRUS: The FBI expose '1971'

As noted last month, The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) is hosting Movies @ MoRUS, a monthly film series exploring themes such as social justice and political reform.

Playing tomorrow night:

• Thursday, March 17 — "1971," dir. Johanna Hamilton, 2014, 80 min.
"On March 8, 1971, The Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI, a group of ordinary citizens, breaks into a small FBI office in Pennsylvania, takes every file, and exposes the FBI's illegal surveillance and intimidation of citizens."



Upcoming Movies @ MoRUS include:

• Thursday, April 21 — "Garbage Warrior," dir. Oliver Hodge, 2007, 86 min. In honor of Earth Day, "Garbage Warrior" follows U.S. architect Michael Reynolds and his mission to introduce radical sustainable housing to the masses.

• Thursday, May 19 — "Food Inc.," dir. Robert Kenner, 2008, 94 min. The documentary examines how big corporations influence all aspects of food production in the United States.

Movies @ Morus, which play the third Thursday of the month, are free to the public but a suggested donation of $5 is appreciated. Showtime is 7 p.m. at MoRUS, 155 Avenue C between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

Noted

EVG reader Michael spotted this on the 14D today...

"Movies & Movie Stars Have Totally Ruined Us."

And someone added an arrow and a comment to this statement...

Feel free to discuss: Have movies and movie stars ruined us?

I blame Harold Lloyd.

Police looking for 4 suspects in random East 11th Street attack

Metro has the story:

On March 11 at about 2:20 a.m. a 26-year-old and 23-year-old victims were walking near the vicinity of 119 East 11th St. when they were approached by the group of four men, who then assaulted them with bottles and punched them, according to authorities.

The 26-year-old man sustained a broken orbital bone in his head, police said, and the 23-year-old man sustained a broken orbital bone, broken jaw, and a cut to the face that required stitches.

No property was taken during the attack and both victims were treated at Bellevue Hospital.

The reported attack occurred between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue near Webster Hall.

Updated 8:35 p.m.

DNAinfo has more here.

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.

Pruning day in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Steven]

Workers are out today pruning trees in Tompkins Square Park... taking down a few heavy branches that could be candidates to fall...


[Photo by Steven]

... and the action up-close via Derek Berg...

197 E.. 3rd St. is for sale

[Image via Cushman & Wakefield]

The 5-story building between Avenue A and Avenue B is now on the sales market.

Here are the details via Cushman & Wakefield:

The building currently benefits from a J-51 Tax Abatement, which expires in 2024/2025. As a result, all of the residential apartments are rent stabilized per the abatement.

While rents for 6 apartments are limited by rent stabilization, the remaining 7 occupied apartments currently achieve rents that are closer to market, but are significantly lower than the maximum legal rent for these units. There are 3 vacant units. The 6 apartments are currently renting on average for $42.39/NSF or less than $1,250/month compared to approximately $59.45/NSF for the 7 units.

Furthermore, 4 of the 6 units contain preferential rents which upon expiration would add almost $15,000 in additional income with no additional renovation work. Of the 16 total residential apartments, 13 are occupied and 3 are vacant, while 13 are configured as studios and 3 as one bedroom units.

The ground-floor commercial unit is occupied by No Malice Palace, a very popular bar and night club with exclusive access to the rear yard whose lease expires in December 2019.

Asking price: $7.5 million.

Back in 2014, some No. 197 residents, tired of the nearby bar scene, created a sign suggesting where some weekend wooseekers may go.

Things to do tonight that involve fire jumping

The 7th Annual Zoroastrian Fire Jumping Event is tonight at La Plaza Cultural on the southwest corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street.

Here are details via Facebook:

Jumping over fire is a symbolic gesture to start a fresh new year. This tradition is celebrated for ringing in the Persian New Year and has been celebrated since at least 1700 BCE of the early Zoroastrian era. There will be music, dancing and snacks; wear your best fire proof pants.

The event starts at 7 p.m. The rain date is Wednesday (tomorrow!) evening.

You'll be able to rent an apartment at 100 Avenue A

[EVG photo from last week]

While Ben Shaoul's 100 Avenue A is being sold as condos, one real-estate family plans to make money on the units by offering them as rentals.

According to an article (subscription required) in The Wall Street Journal yesterday, investors John Spahi and his son Omar are trying to make a mark in New York real estate with 100 Avenue A between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.

Earlier this year, Omar Spahi spent $5.4 million on three of 100 Avenue A's units.

To the Journal:

Mr. Spahi said he plans to rent out the one-bedroom units for about $5,500 a month and the two-bedroom unit for $7,500. That is high for the neighborhood, where the average one bedroom with a doorman rents for $4,525 a month and a two-bedroom fetches an average of $6,100 a month, according to MNS Capital Real Estate Impact, a residential brokerage.

“The East Village is becoming gentrified but still has a cool vibe,” said Corlie Ohl, a Citi Habitats broker that has lived in the neighborhood for 12 years. Ms. Ohl adds that while the rents Mr. Spahi is considering may sound high, they are still less than similar buildings in more established residential enclaves.

h/t Curbed!

Previously

Report: Puck Fair closes on March 27

[Image via Google]

After 16 years, Puck Fair, the Irish pub on Lafayette just south of Houston, will close for good on March 27, Gothamist reported.

Puck Fair and the BP station next door will be demolished to make way for a 7-story boutique office building that will look like...


[Rendering by Cookfox via Crain's]

The farewell party at Puck Fair is on March 25. And the details via Facebook:

Well folks it's with great sorrow that I must break the news that Puck Fair must close it's doors at the end of this month. After 16 years of operation the powers that be are making way for a new development on our corner of Lafayette street.

So come join us between now and then but especially on Friday the 25th of March when we will host our farewell party with drink specials, live music and all the usual things you've grown to expect from us at Puck.

The Puck Fair owners also operate Swift Hibernian Lounge on East Fourth Street between the Bowery and Lafayette.

The BP station has yet to announce its closing date.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How much longer will the East Village have gas stations?

Have you seen the glass tower in the works for Lafayette and East Houston?

Filling up: the status of 2 former East Village gas stations

Report: Boutique office building on East Houston and Lafayette at BP site a go

Airbnb films commercial on Avenue A; announces new website for complaints

[Photo from Saturday]

A crew filming a commercial for Airbnb was out early this morning on Avenue A... an EVG reader spotted them inside the Pyramid between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street.

It all went well, except that the crew showed up drunk at 4 a.m. and couldn't find the front-door key, so they hit every buzzer in the building...

On the topic of Airbnb... BloombergBusiness published a piece today titled Airbnb to Let Neighbors Give Feedback on Hosts, `Party Houses.'

The company announced in Japan that they will soon "give people renting out rooms and homes through its website a better way to find out how the strangers showing up at their properties are behaving."

Per the article:

The feature, set to debut next month, will let neighbors enter comments in an online form. Feedback will be reviewed by Airbnb’s customer-support team, who will then take action as necessary. Airbnb didn’t say whether the information will be made public or if the identities of neighbors will be disclosed.

Airbnb’s rapidly growing service has sometimes pitted neighbor against neighbor and landlord against tenant. Cities have puzzled over how to regulate the startup, which was last valued at $25.5 billion. New York City has scrutinized Airbnb and taken steps to push back against commercial renters. San Francisco, Airbnb’s hometown, voted down a divisive ballot initiative that would have restricted home sharing in the city. Airbnb neighbors the world over have complained of “party houses” that attract rowdy renters ...

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village etiquette for AirBnBers: 'Don't piss off the locals'