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A noon-time look toward downtown via Bobby Williams...

Ribbon cutting for long-delayed Astor Place reconstruction project delayed by rain

Given the rain expected downpour, the official Alamo/Astor Place Ribbon Cutting Ceremony originally scheduled for today at 9:30 a.m. has been rescheduled until tomorrow (Wednesday!) at 8:30 a.m.

Here's the official notice about it (via an EVG reader)...



Per the notice from the Department of Design and Construction:

We would like to extend an open invitation to the community to attend our Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for The Astor Place/Cooper Square Reconstruction Project and The reinstallation of The Alamo Cube.

The refurbished cube returned on Nov. 1 after nearly two years away during the Astor Place-Cooper Square reconstruction. The rain delay seems like a rather fitting end to a project that which was originally expected to be wrapped up in the fall of 2015.

Patisserie Florentine coming soon to 10th Street

Coming soon signage recently arrived at 280 E. 10th St. just west of Avenue A. Back in September, an EVG tipster said that the former Cafe Silan space here would become a French bakery.

That part looks correct. The website listed on the sign goes to Patisserie Florentine, the 3-year-old Englewood, N.J.-based bakery-cafe. We reached out to them to learn more about this venture, though we haven't heard back just yet.

Per the bakery's Facebook page:

Patisserie Florentine brings a little of France, Stateside; the French bistro setting is a charming fusion of rustic & modern offering a convivial friendly atmosphere. Chef Tomer Zilkha introduces approachable European delicacies using produce from The Garden State. The artisan bakery & petit bistro is managed by a passionate family of cooks & bakers & genuine hospitality is provided by our Baristas & Waitstaff.

Cafe Silan, which served a variety of coffee and house-made pastries, closed back in July after nearly 18 months in business.

Dean & Deluca vet bringing Fat Cat Kitchen to 14th Street

[Photo from the spring by KT]

Back in the spring, the Crystal Gallery Psychic Readings at 223 E. 14th St. met its destiny in the form of a city Marshal.

The space between Second Avenue and Third Avenue had been on the rental market.

Now comes word via the Commercial Observer of the new tenant. Björn Holm, a sous chef and the head of catering at Dean & Deluca’s store on Broadway and Prince, is opening a quick-serve restaurant called Fat Cat Kitchen.

Per the CO:

“Fat Cat Kitchen will offer the convenience of selling creative sandwiches, fresh salads, quiche, soups and home-style bakery items, plus a full coffee program in a warm, inviting shop with a knowledgeable, friendly staff and a frequently changing menu, offering consistency and variety that similar shops lack,” Swartz emailed.

Kati Roll Company now open on 2nd Avenue

The Kati Roll Company opened its doors yesterday for business at 128 Second Ave. near St. Mark's Place.



Here's a look at the menu... (thanks to Vinny & O for the photos)...



As Gothamist noted, the Kati crew will be offering free chicken and aloo rolls (while supplies last) tomorrow from noon to 2 p.m.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The late, great Stage slated to become the Kati Roll Company on 2nd Avenue

McSorley's is back open this afternoon

[Owner Matthew Maher]

After filing the necessary paperwork and passing a follow-up inspection with the Department of Health, McSorley's was getting to reopen its doors this afternoon.

Owner Matthew Maher was out front around 4 with a small group of patrons waiting for the doors to reopen here on Seventh Street near Cooper Square... EVG correspondent Steven, who shared these photos, said they were expecting to be back open by 4:30...




[Owner Matthew Maher's daughter Teresa with Mike the bartender]

As we first reported on Thursday, the DOH temporarily closed McSorley's following an inspection on Wednesday.

The bar, said to open in 1854, has had A grades from the DOH in previous years. This time around, though, inspectors found evidence of rats/mice in the basement, according to the inspection report.

Maher blamed the never-ending Cooper Square reconstruction for the presence of the critters after work was done in the building's basement.



Updated 4:30

The doors reopened...



...and Mike serves the first beers...

Village View ends talk of privatization (for now)

Back in August, there was news that the residents/shareholders of Village View, the 1,200-plus-unit Mitchell-Lama co-op, were mulling over whether to withdraw from the affordable housing program.

As one resident/reader told me: "Most residents have been strongly opposed to privatization and flyers with information on its consequences have been prepared and distributed by residents in English, Spanish and Ukrainian."

On Friday, residents received a letter from the Village View Board president...



The takeaway:

"[A]s a result of the negative feedback the Board has received the last few months regarding privatization, the Board met ... and passed a motion: to cease any further discussion of privatization, including a feasibility study, unless and until such time there is a clear indication from a large percentage of shareholders that there is an interest in learning more about privatization. We hope that shareholders can now come together and move forward in a peaceful manner."

According to the resident/reader, the initial discussions came about "due to a few pro-privatization Board members."

Next steps?

"We soon are going to vote for a new Board and many candidate statements explicitly state opposition to privatization," the resident said. "To our EV neighbors, rest assured that many of us here are ready to fight to keep this development affordable."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Village View residents considering going private (84 comments)

Updated (POSTPONED): The 'Alamo Cube Ribbon Cutting Ceremony' scheduled for tomorrow

[The pinhole filter]

The weekly Astor Place Reconstruction newsletter (h/t to the EVG reader for this one), distributed back on Friday, notes The Alamo Cube Ribbon Cutting Ceremony taking place this week... specifically tomorrow (Tuesday!) at 9:30 a.m. ...


[Click for detail]

Of course, this may not actually happen. The advisories stated the return of the Alamo several times this past summer and in September. The refurbished cube returned on Nov. 1. For now, until presumably the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the sculpture remains behind barricades. Per a sign at the scene: "there remains a final phase of onsite restoration needed." Then! "Once complete, the barricades will be removed."

Updated 6:30 p.m.

Due to inclement weather expected tomorrow (Tuesday!), the ribbon-cutting ceremony has been postponed until Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

Activity again in the empty lot at 89 1st Ave.

[Photo Friday by Michael Hirsch]

Several times (here and here, for instance) in the past few years, workers have come into the long-empty lot at 89 First Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street and whacked down the weeds/trees growing in the space.

All this usually — and understandably — brings out the "here comes the new development" thoughts. There still aren't any permits on file with the DOB noting any new-building construction.

As you may recall, we heard a rumor in the fall of 2014 that there were preliminary plans in place to build a 7-floor residential building here. In September 2015, workers were on the property drilling and soil testing.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing?

Drilling and soil testing commences at the long-empty lot at 89 1st Ave.

East Village Burritos & Bar is now Spicewala Bar Indian Cuisine

[Photo Friday by EVG reader Steph]

On Friday morning, EVG reader Steph wrote in with news of [another] name change for the restaurant on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and First Avenue.

Please welcome Spicewala Bar Indian Cuisine...





So, to recap.

The space that houses East Village Burritos & Bar, on the corner, and Apna Masala next door on the Sixth Street side, have been closed since late September. A sign on the door point to "construction work."

After Banjara left the corner in 2013, Figaro Villaggio, an Italian bar-restaurant, opened in January 2014. They later changed the name to Figaro Cafe Bistro Bar & Grill and, by November 2014, gave up part of the space to an Apna Masala. (All from the same owners, as we understand it.)

Then in March 2015, Figaro Cafe Bistro Bar & Grill changed its names/concepts to La Esquina Bar & Grill ... then the name evolved to La Esquina Burritos and Bar ... and eventually East Village Burritos & Bar. And now, Spicewala Bar Indian Cuisine.

Meanwhile, the Apna Masala signage remains up... for now.

Future Swiss Institute gets the plywood treatment on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

On Friday, workers started putting up the plywood around the former Chase branch on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place...



As previously reported, the Swiss Institute, a non-profit cultural center currently located on Wooster Street, has signed a lease for the whole building...



There aren't any permits on file with the DOB as of this morning about the renovation of this space. According to the previously distributed news advisory on the relocation:

Swiss Institute has hired Selldorf Architects to oversee the transformation of its new building. The 7,500 square foot space features four levels – basement, ground, second floor, and roof. The design for the building will create spaces for exhibitions, projects and public programs, a library, a bookstore, and a usable rooftop.

ARTnews floated a rumor that there will be a biergarten on the building's roof. A little early for more confirmation on that.

The Chase merged with the location two blocks to the north last November.

Steven took the above photos on Saturday... by yesterday, the ads had arrived...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Swiss Institute moving into the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Vivi Bubble Tea coming to former Organic Avenue space on 3rd Avenue

Several Organic Avenue locations reopened late this past spring, as someone decided to revive the brand. (As Eater put it, OA was "being pumped full of life-restoring elixirs by a coven of benevolent kale sorcerers.")

The OA on Third Avenue at Ninth Street was not among the returning storefronts. At least for, say, bottles of Sweet Greens and to-go platters of Chikn' & Sweet Potato Waffles. Signage has arrived noting the arrival of the latest Vivi Bubble Tea franchise...



This location looks to be called the St. Mark.



Vivi now has 30 locations across the US of A.

The entire Organic Avenue juice-bar chain abruptly shut down last October. The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection.

As for bubble tea. Saint's Alp Teahouse, purportedly the first teahouse to bring bubble tea to New York City, closed nearly directly across the street last fall.

The supermoon in the wild

People are talking about the moon ... and taking photos of it. Per NPR:

It's the nearest supermoon in almost 70 years — and we won't see another like it until 2034.

"When a full moon makes its closest pass to Earth in its orbit it appears up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter, making it a supermoon," NASA says.

And!

In the U.S., we'll get three chances to see the moon at its brightest and biggest, from around sunset Sunday to Monday's predawn and sunset. On both days, the moon will rise around sunset.

EVG reader SylviaG shared these photos from today...





Keep an eye out for Felton Davis with his telescope on Third Street and Second Avenue outside the Bean.

Week in Grieview

[Yesterday morning on A and St. Mark's]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Report: Man sentenced to 14 years for three sexual assaults in the East Village (Monday)

Porchetta has closed on 7th Street; owners searching for new location (Tuesday)

A look at the 12-floor retail-residential building coming to 79 Avenue D (Tuesday)

DOH temporarily closes McSorley's (Thursday)

Election day (Tuesday ... and the aftermath)

The Redhead closes for good in January (Monday)

About the Alamo spinning again without barricades on Astor Place (Tuesday)

A look inside the Kati Roll Company on Second Avenue (Tuesday)

Rendering (and porta-potty) watch: 75 1st Ave. (Friday)

Worrying about Healthfully (Friday)

On Avenue A, Soothsayer is now Chao Chao (Friday)

Turntable Lab latest business to vacate 7th Street between Avenue A and 1st Avenue (Thursday)

Luxury rental building sells for $10 million on Fifth Street (Tuesday)

Wowfulls bringing Hong Kong egg waffles to East Houston Street (Monday)

Here's your Tim Ho Wan full reveal on 10th Street and Fourth Avenue (Monday)

Live above the (soon-to-depart) Citibank at 50 Avenue A (Friday)

It takes a Poke Village (Monday)