Con Ed's helpful scratch-n-sniff mailer

An EVG reader came home today to find the above postcard in the mail... a safety message from Con Ed that includes a peel-and-sniff feature to help people detect the smell of gas (hint: rotten eggs) in their homes.

Per the reader: "I am marveling at the very potent scent it contains!"

Find more information at the Con Ed website on what to do if you detect a gas leak.

Citi Bike temporarily bumped from 4th Street for curb work

[Photo by Derek Berg]

Workers yesterday packed up the Citi Bike docking station on Fourth Street and Second Avenue...


[Photo by DB]


...and took it off to parts unknown, though only temporarily...

Station Update: E 4th St & 2nd Ave has been removed for the next month due to construction.

— Citi Bike (@CitiBikeNYC) July 11, 2016

Signs on the block point to a an expansion of the curb line, which Citi Bike officials optimistically believe/hope will last just a month...

On East 12th Street, 'The rats have taken over!'

On East 12th Street, we've heard from a few residents who have reported a growing rat problem on the block between Avenue A and First Avenue... (one resident took to leaving a note/cry for help on one of the residential buildings).

According to one resident, the dual construction sites across the street (Steiner East Village and East Side Community School) have contributed to the problem...



There are also two active construction sites behind East 12th Street with Thirteen East + West.

"The rats have taken over the block," the resident said. [On Saturday] morning, I witnessed a rat give chase to a squirrel across 12th Street. The squirrel won — barely."

The residents said they have called 311 to report the vermin.

Oh hi: The 22-floor Bowlmor Lanes-replacing luxury building

The rendering on the plywood along University Place between 12th Street and 13th Street – former home of Bowlmor Lanes — doesn't really illustrate just how large and luxurious the 22-floor retail-residential complex will be here...

You have to go to the website of architect Annabelle Selldorf for the full effect... (The Times had the full reveal back in late May.)



Per the Selldorf website:

This new 118,500 sf mixed-use project is located on the corner of University Place and East 12th Street in Greenwich Village. The primary urban opportunities of the site are to connect to the thriving pedestrian activity and contribute to the public’s experience of the streetscape.

To achieve this the two story retail base has expansive storefront windows interrupted by dark aluminum mullions that create an intimate rhythm and scale. Additionally, the 20 story residential tower above the retail base is set back to maximize the amount of sunlight that reaches the adjacent sidewalks and provide generous rooftop gardens.

The 50-plus-unit building, dubbed 21E12 by developer Billy Macklowe, will have homes ranging from $2.35 million to more than $15 million. The project was originally said to be 23 floors. Now just 22.

Last November, local elected officials, preservation groups and even actor Ed Norton rallied to have this area rezoned to put height limits on new construction along this corridor. Mayor de Blasio wasn't apparently too interested in the proposal.

This building will dwarf a new 7-story luxury condo going in next door at the corner of 13th Street.

Bowlmor Lanes closed in July 2014 after 76 years in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Bowlmor Lanes replacement: 23-floor residential building

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes

Former Downtown Auto space continues conversion to open-air food market

Work continues at 348 Bowery, where workers are transforming part of the former Downtown Auto & Tire left into an open-air food market... the new fence arrived last week... and the kiosks are coming together...



As we first reported on Feb. 1, the corner lot at Great Jones will showcase several quick-serve food vendors. BoweryBoogie noted yesterday that the space will be called — The Bowery Market.

The website for the market doesn't include any details on the vendors. Essex Street's Cabilito Pupuseria was said to be a participant. (Their crowdfunding campaign for a food stand has yielded $230 of a $18,000 goal.)

No word either on an opening date.

The address has been without a full-time tenant since Downtown Auto & Tire left in April 2012. The Deth Killers of Bushwick opened a pop-up shop here in February 2014, selling their brand of jeans and motorcycle stuff for several months.

Hopefully The Bowery Market will be a much more viable space than Boutiques on Bowery was across the street.

A look at the 2nd-to-last Manhattanhenge of 2016

EVG reader 8E took this shot tonight on East 14th Street...

There will be a half-sun Manhattanhenge tomorrow evening... then that's it until 2017.

Updated:

Here's a another shot via ‏@WonderlandNYC ...

Cloud watch

The cloud-shaped action (with many one flying bag) earlier over Tompkins Square Park today via Grant Shaffer...

At a commercial shoot for Starbucks, where craft services doesn't serve Starbucks

A crew was on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue today filming a commercial for Starbucks Visa... EVG reader Daniel noted that the craft services did NOT serve Starbucks during the filming of said Starbucks commercial...





No word if craft services accepted Visa.

New York Central Art Supply is closing at the end of September

[EVG photo from 2015]

Sad news via the EVG inbox this morning...

New York Central — one of the oldest art supply stores in the country — has announced it will be going out of business due to poor business conditions and it’s building being sold. The store, which has been in continuous operation at 62 Third Avenue since 1905, is losing its month to month lease at the end of September.

Founded in 1905 by Benjamin Steinberg, the store has been run by the Steinberg family for more than 3 generations. Benjamin’s son Harold (whose brother Gilbert went on to open Lee’s Art Shop which also recently closed) took over in the 1940s. The store’s most recent President, Steven Steinberg, started working at the store in the 1950s and took over in the early 1970s. He built the store into a mainstay of modern artists, and added a world-renowned paper department. His sister Marcia Norins worked there as well, running New York Central Framing, which closed in 2012. Steven Steinberg recently passed away in November of 2015 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease, and his sister Marcia passed away from Cancer in July of 2015.

“We’ve held on as long as we could out of loyalty to our long-time staff and amazing customers, but the business was not set up to survive current economic conditions,” said Barrie Steinberg, Steven’s daughter.

The store's customer list over the years has read like a who's who of modern artists, including Andy Warhol, Willem deKooning, Frank Stella, Larry Rivers, Cecily Brown, Keith Haring and many more, but in recent years the store has faced tremendous challenges from the rise of online shopping and the infiltration of national chain stores.

“In a world where people can get what they need shipped to their door with the tap of a finger, Central’s old-world charm and personal service was both a blessing and a curse,” said Doug Steinberg, Steven’s son. “It’s very emotional for everyone. I’ve known most of the employees since i was a boy. I really hope another store realizes how amazing they are and offers them a new opportunity”

The store plans on remaining open throughout the summer as it liquidates current inventory.

Previously

St. Mark's Ale House has closed

The sports bar/restaurant at 2 St. Mark's Place apparently closed for good after service on July 3, according to a tipster. (The Ale House website is down and the phone goes unanswered.)

The closure apparently caught the remaining staff off-guard. Our tipster noted that the Ale House, which opened in 1995, had been going downhill in the past year with the loss of a favorite bartender and some regulars.

No official word about what will become of the prime space here at Third Avenue. There's a rumor that the owner is going to reopen the place as a Greek restaurant.

About the Citi Bike docking station outside the New York City Marble Cemetery

We noted the arrival of a Citi Bike docking station the other day outside the New York City Marble Cemetery on Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...



For starters, it is only temporary, having moved from Second Avenue and Second Street outside Rosie's to make way for ongoing work by the city's Department of Design and Construction.

We wondered if maybe Cemetery officials requested this. (Handy for their Neighborhood Open days.) Or if not, how a Citi Bike docking station ends up in your front yard, so to speak.

Here's what Colleen Iverson, director of the New York City Marble Cemetery, had to say about it.

"No, we very much did not request this. We were contacted by a Citi Bike rep in April regarding a temporary placement and we requested to meet on site with them to discuss it. The meeting never took place as we were told the temporary location looked like it was no longer needed. We relaxed and thought we'd had a narrow escape. But, it seems it was only a postponement. We received zero notice of the installation."

A Citi Bike rep who contacted the Cemetery in April apologized for "an internal communication failure." Still, Iverson described the process as "being informed, not consulted."

"I did mention, to no avail, that part of the operation of a historic landmark site that doesn't have the resources to be open every day is to ensure a clear view from the sidewalk and that an eye catching row of bright blue detracts significantly from a visitor experiencing a view showing both the historic nature and the natural beauty of the grounds," Iverson said.

The docking station for 31 bikes is expected to be outside the historic cemetery founded in 1831 through the end of August.

Said Iverson: "We are not anti-bike but as far as the pros and cons and relative merits of different forms of transportation goes, the cemetery would have to say it sees itself as firmly pro-horse and buggy."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Picturesque New York City Marble Cemetery getting a Citi Bike docking station out front (50 comments)

Kati Roll Company still coming to 128 2nd Ave.

As we reported on July 1, the owners of the Kati Roll Company have designs on opening their fourth Manhattan location at 128 Second Ave., former home of the Stage. According to paperwork filed ahead of this month's CB3-SLA committee meeting, they are seeking a beer-wine license here.

However, a look at tonight's meeting docket at the CB3 website shows that Kati is now a scratch...



A cancellation is a fairly frequent occurrence. As CB3 District Manager Susan Stetzer said, "It is generally because information or paperwork is not finalized or negotiations with the landlord are not finalized to point where the applicant is ready to appear."

We asked Chris Coffey, a spokesperson for landlord Icon Realty, if Kati Roll was still coming to the space here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

"Kati Roll is moving forward with the space at 128 Second Avenue and we are excited to have them," he said via email.

While the liquor license paperwork is finalized, the former diner was gutted last week, as these photos via EVG correspondent Steven show...









Workers were also able to finally scrub off the spray-painted call for a boycott of this space...


[Photo from July 4]



The Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed March 30, 2015. Stage owner Roman Diakun had been involved in an ongoing legal/eviction battle with Icon. (You can read that background here.)

Updated 4:30 p.m.

Per Steven, the Stage signage came down today as workers put up the plywood for continued gut renovations...

Peter Kane looking to bring Out East to 6th Street

Veteran restaurateur Peter Kane (Bowery Meat Company, Stanton Social, Essex & Beauty, among others) is one of the applicants behind a new project in the works for 509 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

According to the paperwork (PDF) filed at the CB3 website ahead of tonight's CB3-SLA committee meeting, Kane and company are bringing "new American cuisine" to Out East.

The configuration for the two-level restaurant space shows 38 tables for 104 diners plus two small bars seating 16 people total. The proposed hours are 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday with an 11 a.m. opening on Saturday and Sunday.

The applicants are seeking a full liquor license for the premises. The space was previously home to the sketchy Kion Dining Lounge. As far as we can recall, the last tenant here was a pop-up bar from the folks behind the Buenos Aires Restaurant during the 2014 World Cup.

The July CB3-SLA committee meeting is tonight at 6:30 in the Thelma Burdick Community Room, 10 Stanton St. at the Bowery.

Closures on East 10th Street: Cafe Silan and Spirit and Matter

Two closures to note at 280 E. 10th St. near Avenue A.

Cafe Silan has closed. The cafe, which served a variety of coffee and house-made pastries with natural sweeteners (like silan, a Middle-Eastern date paste), opened in late 2014. We didn't hear any reason for the closure. It was a nice spot, and owner Guy Jacobovitz and his staff were always friendly.

Next door, the eclectic gallery/shop Spirit and Matter, which specialized in antique tribal art and folk art, has also closed...



We hear that the owner's wife has plans for a new shop in the space.

In more positive news at 280 E. 10th St., Thirstea is celebrating its eighth anniversary this week...


[Photo from April by Stacie Joy]

You can read our interview with co-owner Winn O’Donnell here.