Report: U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara now looking into deed lift at 45 Rivington St.

Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, is the latest official to probe the sale of the former Rivington House on the Lower East Side, Politico New York reports.

The deal under the de Blasio administration's watch in November is already under investigation by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the city Department of Investigation and City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

To recap: In February 2015, Allure paid $28 million for the property, promising that 45 Rivington — the former Rivington Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation — would remain a health facility. In November, a city agency lifted the the deed in exchange for the Allure Group's $16 million payment to the city. Earlier this year, Allure then reportedly sold the property for $116 million to the the Slate Property Group, a condo developer who plans to create 100 luxury residences in the building that overlooks Sara S. Roosevelt Park.

The mayor has said he was unaware of the transaction until last month. City officials have accused Allure of misleading the administration about its intentions.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Bharara's office "is also examining whether donors to the Campaign for One New York, a nonprofit supporting Mr. de Blasio’s agenda and run by his allies, have benefited from favorable treatment from the mayor’s administration, people familiar with the matter have said."

A de Blasio spokesperson told the Journal that the administration didn't have any knowledge of a federal probe but would cooperate fully with any investigation.

Confectionery, a vegan chocolate shop and bakery, coming soon to 440 E. 9th St.

[Photo via Steven with assistance by EV Arrow]

Thanks to EVG regular Scuba Diva for this tip... a new vegan sweets shop called Confectionery is set to open next month at 440 E. Ninth St. near Avenue A.

The retail shop will be a collaboration between vegan chocolate company Lagusta’s Luscious and bakery Sweet Maresa's ... both of New Paltz and Internet fame.

VegNews described the new place this way: "Confectionery will feature items from both companies such as Sweet Maresa macarons and baked goods and Lagusta’s Luscious chocolate bars, barks, and truffles."

The shop is currently hiring.

The previous tenant in this space, Makki Deli & Grocery, closed in December after just nine months in business.

[Updated] TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken hasn't been open lately

The quick-serve restaurant at 151 Avenue A between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street has been dark for the past 10 days or so.

There's no answer on TakeMeHome's phone. And Seamless says the restaurant is now closed.

TakeMeHome did close without a note or notice in December 2014 — just three weeks after opening. (We were told the owner's wife had a baby.) Unfortunately, the closure looks more permanent this time.

In any event, people we talked with generally liked the food — large portions for the price. Never seemed to catch on, though.

San Loco closed here in February 2014. High-profile restaurateurs Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield were seeking a liquor license to open a bar cafe here in May 2014, though CB3 did not offer their approval, and the two decided not to pursue the space.

Updated 4/21

After being closed without any notice for the past two weeks... the restaurant is back serving chicken...

Early-morning wake-up call courtesy of alarms at PS 64

[File photo by Bobby Williams]

A few years ago, residents who live by PS 64 at 600 E. Sixth St. near Avenue B were treated to a morning wake-up call courtesy of alarms from the school.

That was January 2014. As we're hearing, the morning alarms returned several months ago. One resident said this occurs between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. "The alarm sounds and all the emergency strobe lights go on in the school, lasts for about a minute," the resident said. "This happens every every school year until there's enough complaints about it for them to get it fixed."

One resident recorded a video the other morning... you can see the strobes... the alarm doesn't come through as loudly as if you're right next door, but you get the idea...

Capital One Café opens July 11 on Union Square

[The same photo we posted yesterday]

In a thrilling post yesterday, we noted the faint progress at 853 Broadway at East 14th Street... where a combo Capital One-Peet's Coffee-den of slackwork space with Wi-Fi is coming soon.

How soon? An EVG reader shared a letter from Capital One...



...which notes that the new location will open on July 11. The letter also states that the Capital One branch at 21 University Place at Eighth Street will close after the business day on July 8. (As we recall, that space was most recently a BBQ restaurant.)

H/T Josh

The Children's Workshop School Schoolapalooza 2016 is Friday night

Schoolapalooza, the annual fundraiser for the Children's Workshop School at 610 E. 12th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C is Friday night (April 15) from 6-10.

Here is the flyer via the EVG inbox...



Late 1980s chart-topper Lisa Lisa (she is principal Maria Velez-Clarke's sister) will perform (and please no yelling "Lost in Emotion"...)

This year's palooza is at St. Nicholas Myra Church on East 10th Street at Avenue A. More details are here.

Wax on: Mr. Moustache Coffee Shop signage arrives on East 14th Street

Today, workers put up the sign for the incoming cafe at 227 E. 14th St. — say hello to Mr. Moustache Coffee Shop.

We hope to find out more about the shop soon. This space here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue housed Russian Souvenirs until last July.

Thanks to EVG reader Cristine for the photo!

Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Russian Souvenirs will become a coffee shop on East 14th Store

The Bean apologizes after telling resident with respiratory illness to vacate its outdoor benches

Some longtime East Village residents are upset with the Bean after a bench-clearing incident last week at the location on Second Avenue and East Third Street.

Friends of Michael David Arian, who works in production at La MaMa, said that he stopped to catch his breath on the benches outside on East Third Street. A worker reportedly told Arian, who has a respiratory illness, that he needed to purchase something or leave immediately.

"I am a senior and have breathing difficulties and need the rest on my way to work. The Bean insisted I move. So I did," Arian, 68, said in an email. "They have no respect for me or any of the people who provide the character of the neighborhood."

We reached out to Ike Escava, owner of the Bean, which also has locations on First Avenue at East Ninth Street and Broadway at East 12th Street. He told us the following via email:

We have always welcomed senior citizens to sit on our benches. I was made aware of this incident by a post on Facebook and reached out to Mr. Arian immediately and personally apologized. I am available to speak to anyone that would like to discuss it in more detail, I'd especially appreciate the opportunity to speak to Mr. Arian and apologize face to face. We consider ourselves to be part of the East Village community and hope that people realize that even people with the best of intentions can make a mistake, as we did in this situation.

Here's more from DNAinfo, who reported on this incident yesterday afternoon:

The mishap underscores the difficulties faced by the establishment in trying to strike a balance between being a good neighbor and making room for paying customers, said Escava. The shop’s benches are constantly overrun by loiterers who stake out the space all day, some of them homeless, he said, and the struggle to keep them usable means that sometimes baristas have to ask folks to clear off.

“We have a big challenge because we have a lot of people who sit all day,” he said. “There are a lot of homeless with nowhere else to go — we’re always watching the benches, and we have to watch them or they would have people sleeping on them.”

According to DNAinfo, Arian has so far refused Escava’s personal attempts to apologize.

Looking at the incoming Capital One Café on Union Square

EVG reader Max reminded us the other day that a Capital One branch is in the works for the southwest corner of Broadway and 14th Street... and not just any bank branch.

As Crain's first reported last May:

Capital One has come up with an alternative to the staid retail bank branch. It will launch a concept in Union Square, at 853 Broadway, on the building's ground, basement and mezzanine levels. The entrance will feature a large café operated by Peet's Coffee. The space upstairs will differ from a typical retail bank branch. Capital One will create a large work lounge, where customers can camp out and use free Wi-Fi.

Anyway, we walked by the corner on Sunday... there isn't any visible signage up yet... so not much to see at the moment...



There hasn't been any official word on an opening date. It could be a little while longer. Looks as if some of the necessary permits weren't approved by the city until this past December.

There's another Capital One Café on Third Avenue and 58th Street ... as well as in other cities.

This prime corner has been sitting vacant since Shoe Mania abruptly shut down in July 2012.

Storefronts and signage updates

A few items to note...



The coming soon signage has arrived for Tribeca Pediatrics, which is opening an office at 205 First Ave. between East 12th Street and East 13th Street. (Previously)

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J-Mar Special Touch barber shop is now open at 343 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Until last fall, the space housed a rental shop that specialized in Bollywood cinema. (Previously)

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[Photo by Steven]

The for rent sign is now up at the former Pork Pie Hatters shop at 440 E. Ninth St. near Avenue A. The store closed for good on March 20. The Porksters were an outpost of JJ Hat Center on Fifth Avenue, which remains alive and well. (Previously) Also! Next door, the for rent signs have been removed at the former Makki deli, which served Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian food. (Previously)

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And we had noted that the sign for Shin Bashi, the new Japanese restaurant at 85 First Ave. between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street, looked rather homemade... Now, though, there are more permanent-looking signs on display... (Previously)

WeWork debuts new shared workspace on East 4th Street and the Bowery

Available add-ons include Wednesday Wing Nights at Phebe's and ear plugs.

Photo today by Derek Berg.

City Council to hear gas safety legislation tomorrow

[Photo of Rosie Mendez from March 26 by Stacie Joy]

Rosie Mendez's office passed along the following information earlier today...

Tomorrow, the New York City Council's Committee on Housing & Buildings will hear nine bills aimed at preventing another tragic gas explosion.

On March 26, City Council member Rosie Mendez led a press conference to remember the deadly Second Avenue explosion on its one-year anniversary. There, Mendez announced a legislation package that will increase inspections of piping systems, publish annual reporting on these inspections, provide better and more informed notifications to tenants, mandate natural gas alarms in units, and increased transparency.

Mendez is a lead sponsor of Intro. 1093, which requires gas providers to notify the Department of Buildings within 24 hours of issuing a gas service shut off. This bill and several others will hold individuals and agencies accountable and looks to prevent accidents and address negligence.

The public will be allowed to testify at the hearing tomorrow. Details are below.

Housing & Buildings
Tuesday, April 12 at 10 a.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
Please arrive at 9:45 a.m. for good seating and if you wish to testify. You can sign up with the Sergeant at Arms.

The following legislation will be heard at tomorrow's hearing:
• Int 738 — A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a gas qualification for journeyman plumbers.
• Int 1079 — A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to final inspections of gas piping systems.
• Int 1088 — A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to periodic inspections of gas piping systems.
• Int 1090 — A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring owners to provide notice to their tenants regarding procedures that should be followed when a gas leak is suspected.
• Int 1093 — A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring gas service providers and owners to notify the department of buildings within twenty-four hours when gas service is shut-off or not restored due to safety concerns.
• Int 1094 — A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to identifying the factors indicating gas-related violations in residential and commercial buildings.
• Int 1098 — A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring annual reports on the state of gas infrastructure in the city.
• Int 1100 — A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York and the New York city building code, in relation to requiring natural gas alarms in dwelling units.
• Int 1101 — A Local Law in relation to a temporary waiver of penalties for violations relating to fuel gas piping systems and appliances that are promptly repaired.
• Int 1102 — A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to designating violations of existing law regarding gas piping systems as “immediately hazardous.”

The Crocodile Lounge introduces its new clean, green awning

[The previous awning via Malcolm Brown/NYCGo]

As noted earlier this month, the awning disappeared from the Crocodile Lounge, 325 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue... apparently it was damaged by a strong gust of wind...


[April 2]

...Now, a reader on East 14th Street notes this afternoon that the new awning has arrived... and it's very green (and clean)...

Report: Burglars help themselves to bottle service at Suffolk Arms

Three men reportedly broke into Suffolk Arms, the new cocktail bar at 269 E. Houston St. and Suffolk Street, and stole $3,000 in liquor.

Per DNAinfo: "Once inside, they snatched a $2,000 bottle of Louis XIII Cognac and other liquor before taking off, police said."

The break-in occurred on April 3.

The NYPD released this image of the suspects...



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.

Suffolk Arms debuted back on Feb. 18.