Moonstruck Eatery closes on Avenue A

That's it for the Moonstruck Eatery. The diner has called it a day at 167 Avenue A after one year here between 10th Street and 11th Street.

The space has been on the market since April, per a listing at LoopNet.

Four other locations of Moonstruck Eatery remain in the city. (The Avenue A address has already been scrubbed from the website.)

The previous tenant, Ethos Meze East Village from the same owners, lasted less than a year in business. (And before this, it was the world-famous Diablo Royale Este, which closed at the end of August 2012.)

I never tried the souped-up diner. Friends who dined here said it was all serviceable, but the decor was all wrong, part ski lodge, part homage to the Raven, the bar Karen Allen owned in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."


[Moonstruck Eatery pic via LoopNet]

Hellbound: The Official Gallery of Satan opening on East 3rd Street

You may have noticed the transformation in recent weeks of the empty storefront at 199 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... the space is the new home of Vector Gallery, formerly on Clinton Street, East Broadway ... and Los Angeles.

Founder JJ Brine has billed his space the Official Gallery of Satan. His previous storefront galleries featured items such as glow-in-the-dark paintings of Charles Manson and various performance-art theatrics. (Brine's gallery also made headlines for its vagina phone charger at Art Basel in Miami Beach in 2014.)

Opening night here is Aug. 18. Per the invite: "Featuring new installations by Crown Prince of Hell JJ Brine and sermons/performances by Ministers of The Vectorian Government."

But until then Brine seems to be adding items daily to the photogenic storefront.

And speaking of the devil, at least in landlord form, this space last housed Snack Dragon, which closed in October 2014 after a reported large rent increase courtesy of landlord Steve Croman.

Thanks to Stacie Joy for the photo earlier this month!

Report: Man steals security camera that caught him breaking into an East 14th Street apartment

The NYPD is searching for a suspect they say broke into an apartment on 14th Street near Avenue A, ripping off some electronics as well as the home-security camera that captured him inside the residence.

Via Patch:

According to police, the suspect picked the lock of an apartment on 14th Street near Avenue A and made off with $964 in electronics, including an iPad 4 and a Canary security camera which recorded the incident. The 29-year-old man who lived there was not home at the time of the break-in. The incident happened at 1:37 p.m. on July 22.

The man is very visible on the home security footage, below, and can be seen picking over the electronics on the man's desk before toppling the security camera. He is described as Hispanic, and was wearing a blue Yankees hat, green-striped polo shirt and gray cargo shorts at the time of the burglary.

Per Gothamist: "While the suspect stole the video camera, the footage was kept on the cloud. Thanks, Big Brother!"

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.

Report: Astor Place reconstruction now slated for a fall completion

The completion date for the reconstruction of Astor Place and Cooper Square has been pushed back from summer to fall, DNAinfo reports.

A spokesperson for the Department of Design and Construction didn't offer any reasons as to why the multi-year(s) project will be delayed by one season.

“We anticipate construction completion in the Fall and will continue to work closely with the Department of Transportation], Parks and the community for any updates about this project,” said public information officer Shavone Williams in an email.

The work, which started in September 2013 and was expected to take two years, has included reconfiguring/revamping the Astor Place/Cooper Square streetscape with three new permanent plazas, additional seating, trees and a new design for Peter Cooper Park.

No word if this delay will impact the return of the Alamo, originally set for June 22 then moved to some time in August. Which, based on the ongoing delays, might mean October.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Five years later, Astor Place apparently ready for its 2-year reconstruction project

The all-new Astor Place is coming along (for real)

Report: Esperanto opening a 2nd East Village location

Last week we reported that the former BARA space on East First Street was undergoing renovations ... and reopening as a Latin-American restaurant. A tipster who lives on the block between First Avenue and Second Avenue believed the the owner of BARA was behind the new venture.

Turns out that this will be a second outpost for Esperanto ... the mainstay on Avenue C and Ninth Street is expanding with the opening of Esperanto Fonda, according to the Post.

Per the paper: "The Brazilian-inspired eatery is the latest from Dimitri Vlahakis, owner of Alice’s Arbor, La Gamelle and Summit Bar."

The menu will include empanadas with beef, shrimp and veggies ... as well as tacos, burritos and an Esperanto Bowl with rice, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole and meat.

No word on an opening date.

BARA, a French/Japanese bar-restaurant, closed after service on June 11.

Workers demolish the former Puck Fair and BP on Houston and Lafayette

After being boxed up in plywood for the past three months, workers quickly demolished the one-level structures that housed the BP station and Puck Fair yesterday on Houston and Lafayette...



The plot of land, officially 300 Lafayette, will house a new building that will encompass 80,000 square feet of "flagship retail and boutique office" ...


[Rendering by Cookfox]

Per the developers:

The building’s design is inspired by principles of “biophilia,” meaning people feel good when they are connected to nature. generous amounts of legally accessible outdoor space are planted with indigenous species on every office floor. The 30,000 sf retail space encompasses 3 open floors offering soaring ceiling heights. This iconic building is an exceptional marketing opportunity for a world class international brand.

The BP station closed on April 14 ... while Puck Fair bowed out on March 27.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Have you seen the glass tower in the works for Lafayette and East Houston?

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

BP station on East Houston and Lafayette closes April 14

Report: Lack of gas stations downtown a concern

The L train shutdown countdown clock is on

[Photo from July 2]

You likely saw this news everywhere yesterday: The MTA announced that L-train service between Bedford Avenue and Eighth Avenue will shut down for 18 months starting in January 2019.

The MTA opted against the three-year schedule that would have kept one of the L train's tracks open with greatly reduced service.

Per The New York Times:

L trains will continue to operate in Brooklyn between the Williamsburg and Canarsie neighborhoods, but will not run between the Eighth Avenue stop in Manhattan and the Bedford Avenue station in Brooklyn. All five L train stops in Manhattan will close, along with the tunnel. About 225,000 riders now take the L train across the East River each day.

And here are a few details via The Wall Street Journal:

Opened in 1924, the L train tunnel’s innards have suffered damage wrought by the passage of years and Sandy.

Construction crews will replace electric cables running inside the structure’s deteriorating concrete lining.

Ms. Hakim said the authority planned to offer incentives to speed up construction work, and would impose penalties if the work is delayed beyond 18 months.

The project is expected to cost between about $800 million and $1 billion.

In making the announcement yesterday, MTA officials did not present transit options for the L's displaced riders. They will apparently offer some solutions at a later date.

DNAinfo rounds up a few possibilities ... and there's the idea to close parts of 14th Street to vehicular traffic, with a dedicated bus and bike route to help ease the crosstown commute while the L is out. And maybe make this permanent.

Other advice on how to get around along this corridor during the shutdown is welcome.

St. Mark's Place, under the rainbow

Photo from St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue tonight by Sam Teichman

Logan Hicks starts work on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall

Logan Hicks, known for his photorealistic stenciled paintings, started work on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall today. (He began at 4 a.m.)

These photos are from about 20 minutes before it started to pour late this afternoon...



Here's more about the work via a news release on the new mural:

The Bowery Wall mural will be Hicks’ most personal piece yet. His signature architectural landscape is set on Greene Street where a massive photo shoot took place on May 22. For the shoot, Logan invited dozens of friends and family to participate, and be represented in a “crowd scene.” The mural represents his past, present and future here in New York City, telling the story of his life through the people who have touched him.

It is expected to take several weeks to complete.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Logan Hicks bringing the story of his life to the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall

's makes triumphant return to Ray's Candy Store

[Photo from July 7]

Earlier this month, Chico updated the facade at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A ... And as many people noted, the apostrophe s was missing from Ray's name. Ray Candy Store.

The punctuation help has arrived. EVG correspondent Steven notes that the 's has been added to the sign...

The Village Voice looks to boost readership in 2nd Avenue bus lane

Kidding! Just someone's idea of a quick fix to warn motorists of a budding sinkhole on Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

Photo by Vinny & O.

Flowers for former Mono + Mono space on 4th Street

[Photo from yesterday]

In April 2013, a two-alarm fire swept through 116 E. Fourth St., home of the Korean fried chicken restaurant Mono + Mono. Through the years the owners provided updates that they'd return to the space between First Avenue and Second Avenue. That never happened.

And on Saturday, an EVG reader noted that a new business was opening here — Le Bouquet NY...



The sign also notes "By Doro's Annex Flower Shop."

In late 2013, the high-end florist Doro's closed after 33 years in business on Ninth Avenue and 21st Street. We stopped by the new shop for more info, but they were not open yesterday.

H/T EVG reader Brian!

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Early-morning fire at 116 E. Fourth St., home of Mono + Mono

(Kind of) An update on Mono + Mono

What is happening with the Mono + Mono space?

Report: Mono + Mono plans fall reopening

At long last, 76 E. Houston St. reveals itself

This past Friday, workers began removing the construction netting/bubble wrap from 76 E. Houston St. ... the new two-story building at Elizabeth that has been under construction for an awfully long time (given the size of the project) ...



Construction has been going on now for two years. BoweryBoogie reported in October 2014 that work slowed down here due to Certificate of Occupancy issues and a dispute over the property line. (The issue was reportedly settled last summer.)

By the end of the day Saturday the sidewalk bridge had been carted off...





The previous brokers were billing this location as "the four corners of Downtown," with a summer 2015 completion date.

Cushman & Wakefield have the listing now. (Goldman Properties is the landlord.) The bare-bones listing didn't have much info, except that two commercial spaces are available: the ground floor is 775 square feet and the second level has 680 square feet. (Nothing about that rooftop space.)

The new building is adjacent to the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall, where Logan Hicks starts work on a new piece today.



No. 76 was previously home to the always-entertaining Billy's Antiques.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Deal off to bring Crif Dogs to the former Billy's Antiques space

The Houston/Bowery Mural Wall has been boarded up

Full stop work order for 76 E. Houston St., and the return of Billy's Antiques (sort of)

Checking in on the incoming building at 'the four corners of Downtown'

The charming 65 E. 2nd St. is for sale

One of my favorite buildings (from the outside anyway) in the neighborhood, 65 E. Second St., recently arrived on the sales market.

Here are the details on the building between First Avenue and Second Avenue via Leslie J. Garfield:

[T]his 4,600 square foot townhouse has been fully gut renovated into three gracious apartments overlooking the Marble Cemetery, the oldest public cemetery in New York City.



Originally built c. 1834 as a Greek Revival-style row house with cast-iron stoop posts and hand-railings, basket-style iron fire escape, rope moldings and historic wood casement windows and transoms.

65 East 2nd Street is located in the prime East Village, on the cusp of NoHo and the Lower East Side, surrounded by new condominium developments, cafes, boutique shops, and trendy restaurants. This turnkey townhouse is suitable for both end-users and investors alike, with the ability to move into the owner’s duplex immediately, while offering longterm upside in a rapidly developing neighborhood.

APT 1: Currently configured as a three-bedroom, three bath garden duplex featuring central air-conditioning, custom chef’s kitchen and cabinetry, high-end finishes, washer/dryer and two private outdoor spaces. Can be delivered vacant. Current tenant paying $9,500 per month.

APT 2: Currently configured as a fully renovated three bedroom, two bath apartment featuring central air conditioning, gut renovated kitchen and bathrooms, 11’ ceiling heights, and unobstructed, sunlit views north. Can be delivered vacant. Current tenant paying $6,600 per month.

APT 3: Occupied by a life-tenancy, this apartment is currently configured as a fully renovated three bedroom, two bath apartment featuring central air conditioning, gut renovated kitchen and bathrooms, 9.5’ ceiling heights, and unobstructed, sunlit views north. Tenant paying $500 per month for life.

Asking price: $5.75 million