In a New York Groove

This past Thursday night, Hayley Griffin (above right) hosted her New York Groove Party at Berlin, the music venue below 2A at 25 Avenue A. 

The Silk War were the headliners with a record release party. (Singer-songwriter Alexandra Blair is on the left in the top pic). 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for part of the evening, which included a set by local singer-songwriter Fiona Silver and her band, guitarist Guy Fiumarelli, bassist Steve Salerno and drummer Sonny Ratcliff ...

Stacie had another commitment and couldn't stay for the whole show... but she did catch DJ Bailey Leiter's turn in the DJ booth (you may know her from her Hello Banana vintage shop on First Avenue) ...

... and captured a few other moments ...

City clears and closes the area around the chess tables in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven

Yesterday afternoon, the NYPD, Department of Sanitation and reps from other city agencies cleared out the encampment that had grown in recent weeks around the chess tables in Tompkins Square Park. 

After clearing out the people living here, the city blocked off the area at the Park entrance at Seventh Street and Avenue A with barricades and police tape... 

There's also signage that now notes "NYC Parks Personnel Only."

Some residents complained about the activity around the chess tables, including drug use, stolen goods and knife fights. 

The city had cleared out this space several times this summer, starting back in June. The people staying here return fairly quickly. Last evening, several people who were here moved to park benches a short distance away.

In an article from The New York Times on Aug. 2, the city's homeless services department claimed that the cleanup crews do not throw away people's belongings.

Rather, they "carefully assess" a site while noting the "number and type of possessions," remove items to protect "valuable property" and "quality-of-life for the client," and provide "details about how they can obtain the property."

Witnesses to yesterday's action said workers tossed everything into a garbage truck.

Max Goren, who has been living in Tompkins Square Park, said the same thing in the article in the Times. 

"At least once a week, a sanitation truck rolls up," Mr. Goren, 34, said in July. "If you're not there to say, 'Hey, that's mine,' everything goes in the back."

He said his possessions had been trashed three times — each time because he left them to go to a methadone clinic. 

"Do I want to risk losing all of my clothes and all my bedding, or do I miss my clinic appointment?" he said. "I think it's an effort to get us to leave," he said. 

"But where are we going to go? If I had some place to go, I wouldn't be here."

The city posted at least one notice about the Aug. 31 clean-up, as seen here on Seventh Street... 

... near the encampment featuring a variety of umbrellas, grocery carts, bicycles and a TV with an extension cord running to the nearby light pole... (the below photo is from Sunday) ... 

Yesterday, this group moved about 30 yards to the east.

Advocates told the Times that these citywide sweeps just move people from one place to another and fail to address the housing crisis.

It takes a court order to clean out the long-empty 89 1st Ave.

The long-empty lot at 89 First Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street has been cleared of the weeds, mushy cardboard boxes and other discarded items that have turned the space into a paradise for rats.

In the spring, a nearby tenant told us that "the rat situation in the courtyards behind the building is dire." Some surveillance signage went up along the fence, though that didn't deter anyone, such as a nearby business, from using the space as a dump.

Apparently, it took a court order to clean out the lot...  legal documents affixed to the fence state that the city has a legal right to enter the property "for the purpose of inspecting and abating the nuisance existing thereupon in violation of the health and safety requirements of the New York City health code."

Some recent history here. In May 2020, another set of new building permits were filed with the city for the lot. According to the DOB, the proposed building is six floors with eight residential units and ground-floor retail. In total, the structure is 8,183 square feet. The plans were disapproved last fall.

This is the second time in recent years that plans have been filed for a new building for the address. In 2017, the city never approved plans for a similar-sized structure — eight units, six floors.

As previously reported, Florence Toledano was the owner of this lot. In 2013, public records show that the deed for the property was transferred from the Florence Toledano Living Trust to 89 First Avenue LLC. The DOB permit lists Daniel Toledano as the manager of the property. (We do not know the relationship between Daniel Toledano and Florence Toledano. One reader said Daniel is a nephew of Florence.)

Daniel Toledano is still listed as the property owner and developer of the project. (Toledano is also listed as the lot owner that housed the 2Bn2C sculpture garden at 231 E. Second St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.)

In December 2017, workers dismantled the sculpture fence that lined the First Avenue lot for years (since the late 1980s, per one estimate). The fence was created at the former Gas Station (aka Art Gallery Space 2B) on Avenue B and Second Street by Claire Kalemkeris and Johnny Swing in collaboration with Linus Coraggio.

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

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

• Workers remove the sculpture fence and prep lot at 89 1st Ave.

• Reader report: It's 'rats galore' at this long-empty 1st Avenue lot

• 'Rats galore,' the video sequel

Tuesday's parting shot

Signs for a missing Citi Bike arrived yesterday along Avenue A (saw some on First Avenue too). 

BTW: The fee for a missing Citi Bike runs $1,200 (plus tax). 

Photo by Steven

A time-lapse East Village sunset

 

In case you missed last evening's sunset...  @jensenstidham22 shared this time-lapse clip... 

A live look at the pedestrian passageway outside 3 St. Mark's Place

The pedestrian passageway on the north side of St. Mark's Place at Third Avenue is now down to about, say, three inches, at its most narrow junction, EVG reader Perry K. notes this afternoon. 

Read more about this ongoing game of barrier accordion outside this construction site right here. 

Updated 3:45 

Here's another view via Steven...

Bon voyage to The Baroness

As you may know, longtime East Village resident and shop owner The Baroness is closing her eponymous latex atelier and boutique and moving to France. (Story here.)

This past Thursday evening, The Baroness welcomed some friends, customers and fellow local business owners into her shop for a farewell toast on its last day here on 13th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was there and shared these photos of the closing festivities...

So long to The Baroness — she will be missed!

6 Avenue B doesn't appear to be part of a new (and rumored) Houston Street development

We've been talking about the RUMORED new development coming to the now-empty single row of businesses at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

There was some speculation that the long-vacant 6 Avenue B on the NW corner might be part of a new residential project.

A little digging in public records (courtesy of Upper West Sider — thank you!) reveals that work has been filed in recent months to upgrade antennas and add new FDNY access signs at No. 6. Seems doubtful, as Upper West Side noted, that AT&T would spend the money to upgrade the equipment if the building was about to be demolished.

As for No. 6 ...  the liquor store in the retail space has been closed since the owner passed away in the fall of 2009 at age 89. (Chico created the tribute to her on the gate in February 2010.)

In January 2013, workers were spotted hauling out some junk from the building...  in December 2014, bricks fell from the building, breaking the foot of a passerby, as the Lo-Down reported at the time. And an SUV took out part of the sidewalk bridge in November 2018. And that's about it.

And as previously noted, this is one of the abandoned buildings owned by the estate of the mysterious team of Arthur and Abraham Blasof, now both deceased. 

Updated 10:30 a.m.

Thanks to the commenter who did a little digging in the archives. There was a question about the windowless lot line at 6 Avenue B. Here's a tax photo dated 1939-1941 showing a building identified as 2-4 Avenue B (with a Circulating Library storefront!) ... that corner structure was likely demolished when the city widened East Houston... and No. 6 became the new corner building...

... and the old NW corner... you can see No. 6 in the background...

Openings: Mochinut on 2nd Avenue, Little Rebel on 2nd Avenue

Two recent openings to note...

• Mochinut, 124 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place

The quickly expanding company known for its mochi doughnuts and Korean-style hot dogs is up and running (H/T Steven). This is location No. 31 for the California-born chain with 90 more U.S. outposts in the works.

You can find the menu here. Mochinut opens daily at noon with a 10 p.m. close; 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Previously.

• Little Rebel, 219 Second Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street

The two-level bar-restaurant, run by hospitality vets Dermont Lynch and Jarek Krukow, features a bar and booths on the first floor with "a Victorian-style room with high ceilings, crown molding, chandeliers and balcony" upstairs that's currently open on weekends and for brunch

The concept-y drinks menu via Brooke Smith of the Dead Rabbit includes the Charlie's Angel — a rum, Cointreau combo "topped with 'Angel Dust' glitter."

You can find the food-drinks menu here. Little Rebel opens daily at 11 a.m. with a midnight close Sunday and Monday; 2 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday; and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 

Previously.

Report: Employee allegations made against Local 92 for underpaying staff, skimping on COVID protocols

ICYMI: Mulitple EVG readers shared the link to an investigative piece published at Eater this past Thursday ... in which three former employees claim that Marcello Assante — the restaurateur behind Bella Ciao on Mulberry Street and Local 92 on Second Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street — "refused to pay his employees overtime; ignored coronavirus health requirements issued by city and state officials; and referred to former employees as 'princesses' after they raised concerns about the alleged incidents."

In addition, the employees allege that Shai Zvibak, the former chef and co-owner of Local 92, "characterized Mexican staffers as thieves and referred to them as members of the 'mafia.'"

Assante denied the allegations of the former employees, claiming that three friends working at the restaurants fabricated the stories. "It's completely a lie," he told Eater. "It never happened."

The story also includes a list of alleged misdeeds at Local 92 from the early winter, including that outdoor gas heaters for sidewalk dining were moved inside the restaurant to heat its dining room. Assante also denied those claims, saying the restaurant followed all city- and state-mandated COVID requirements.

Unrelated, Assante had been looking to open a cafe-cinema at 44 Avenue A, the former home of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's East Village outpost, UCBeast, as well as the Pioneer Theater. He appeared in May and June before CB3's SLA committee.

Given the UCBeast bar's poor reputation and unanswered questions about Assante's business plan, CB3 said they'd only approve a full liquor license for drinks before and during a movie or event. Alcohol sales would not be allowed during other times — thus nixing a bar-cafe service when a film isn't playing.

Assante later said he would no longer pursue this venture for Avenue A, stating that alcohol sales before and during screenings weren't commercially viable given the rent. 

Monday's parting archival shot

Facebook reminded me of this grainy photo posted on the evening of Aug. 30, 2013.

I took this on the second-to-last night of the old Odessa, 117 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. This space dated to the mid-1960s. 

The Odessa Restaurant next door (circa 1995) remained open until July 2020. Superiority Burger is taking over that space.

Here is the trailer for the Velvet Underground documentary

Ah! Been waiting for this... the trailer for the Velvet Underground documentary by Todd Haynes dropped today. (Saw it first on Gothamist!) 

The doc debuts on Oct. 15 on Apple+. Here's more about it:

The film features in-depth interviews with the key players of that time combined with a treasure trove of never-before-seen performances and a rich collection of recordings, Warhol films, and other experimental art that creates an immersive experience into what founding member John Cale describes as the band's creative ethos: "how to be elegant and how to be brutal."

Before Apple+, the film will play at the New York Film Festival on Sept. 30. (Tix on sale Sept. 7.) 

The reviews were quite positive following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Anyway, here's the trailer for the band whose birthplace is traced to the LES...

   

 Top image via Apple+

Last few days for the Sullivan St. Bakery pop-up on 9th Street

Sullivan. St. Bakery's time as a pop-up at 437 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue is coming to an end.

Wednesday (Sept. 1) is the last day for the shop's East Village outpost. They are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for their focaccia, chocolate chip cookies, disco romano, croissants, fruit tarts and a selection of sandwiches.

Sullivan St. Bakery, which first opened in Soho in 1994, arrived here last fall...  reportedly with an "indefinite" lease.

Management here told EVG regulars Vinny & O that they'd like to stay, but they'd want to fix up the space a bit and get a long-term lease. Unfortunately, the landlord is not offering a long-term rent that the bakery can afford. 

Photo by Arthur Bovino via @nycbestpizza  

This East Village business strip has been cleared out ahead of rumored new development

As EVG contributor Stacie Joy has been reporting (here and here), the businesses in the old section of 250 E. Houston St. have either closed or moved ahead of a rumored new development here between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Here's a recap of the moves to date: 

• Kapri Cleaners — the last day is tomorrow; moving to a new storefront in the renovated section of 250 E. Houston St. 
• China Town — closed, possible move to Avenue C in the works. 
• Subway (sandwich shop) — closed. No relocation notice. 
• FedEx Office Print & Ship Center — moved to a new storefront in the renovated section of 250 E. Houston St. 
• Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins combo — closed. No relocation notice.
• Mattress Mart — closed. 

So that is all the businesses in the portion of the strip to the east (where the new paint stops!)...

Multiple sources along this corridor have said a new residential building is in the works for this space. Four sources have told Stacie that the one-level row of storefronts is facing demolition. Nothing about a new building or demolition has shown up in DOB records.

And we'll find out in the weeks/months ahead if, perhaps (and purely speculative now), the long-empty 6 Avenue B at the NW corner might be part of a new development... [Updated: Likely NO]

The 13-floor residential building at 250 E. Houston St., the former Red Square, changed ownership in the fall of 2016 ... and underwent extensive renovations. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• The fall of Lenin: Iconic statue removed from Red Square on East Houston Street

• 1st look at the Lenin statue's return to the Lower East Side