BikeFix NYC relocates to a larger storefront on 6th Street

A quick bit of retail news... BikeFix NYC is now open in its new larger location at 334 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

They relocated here from the small storefront at 150 E. Second Street just east of Avenue A... (and at 56 Avenue C before this).

Bike Fix has posted hours of 12:30-6:30 p.m. You can check out their website for products and services.

Tuesday's parting shot

As the city's East Side Coastal Resiliency Project moves forward, workers began cutting down trees in East River Park south of Stanton Street today. 

This small grove of cherry trees was the first to go. 

Photo via @1000people1000trees. (Follow that account and @eastriverparkaction for ongoing updates throughout the day from East River Park.) 

In total, the city plans to cut down 1,000 trees during the five-plus year rebuild of the park.

The pandemic in the East Village as seen through the eyes of Billy the Artist

Photo by Stacie Joy

Billy the Artist has unveiled his latest book — "East Village Closed."

The book, a year in the making, is "a photo illustrative experience of life in the East Village during the pandemic," as seen through the eyes of the longtime neighborhood resident.

This past Saturday, he signed copies at one of his favorite local haunts — the International on First Avenue. 

You can read more about the 86-page book as well as find ordering info via this link.

SantaCon announces 2021 route; East Village in the crosshairs once again

After a year off with the pandemic in 2020, SantaCon returns for in-person binging and bar crawling at the expense of the rest of the city this Saturday. (First reported here.) 

Yesterday, SantaCon organizers unveiled the 2021 route, which starts at 10 a.m. at 40th and Broadway. Per the SantaCon website: "We will be dancing in the streets and will unleash a holiday celebration NYC has never imagined possible!" 

A $13 donation gets your Santa Badge and access to participating bars, mainly in Midtown West and East. Six of the bars are in the East Village: The Grayson, 16 First Ave., Amsterdam Billiards & Bar, 110 E. 11th St., Doc Holliday's, 141 Avenue A, Horseshoe Bar/7B, 108 Avenue B, the Phoenix, 447 E. 13th St., and Solas, 232 E. Ninth St. 

However, as we've seen in previous Cons, bars not on the official list are often all too happy to participate, including the 13th Step.  (The SantaCon website states that participants must have proof of COVID vaccination.)

Meanwhile, ahead of the 2021 bar list, someone launched a Cancel SantaCon petition...

Per the petition: 

SantaCon is the worst day of the year in New York City. Each year thousands of belligerent drunk people in Santa costumes flood New York City streets, leaving behind a trail of fistfights, vomit, urine and garbage. John Oliver did a segment on the event which highlighted the faux-charitable nature of the pub crawl. He stated that each SantaCon participant only raises $1.66 for charity, which is hardly enough to excuse the violent and inappropriate behavior. The evidence is crystal clear: Santacon does more bad than good. 

This year New York City residents have had enough! We are calling for Mayor Bill de Blasio to show leadership and order the cancelation of Santacon. We believe that this is an issue that unites New Yorkers of all races, religions, and political beliefs. 

Please sign this petition so we can end SantaCon in New York City once and for all. 

You can find the petition here. 

And the petition garnered some support via Twitter...

Dare I say that I’m aligned? https://t.co/u7cybp4GDL pic.twitter.com/x9Twdjp67x

— Gossip Girl (@gossipgirl) December 5, 2021

Oh, and here's the John Oliver segment from December 2019 mentioned in the petition ...

 

Original Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches closes in 2nd Avenue A location this year

The Original Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches outpost has closed at 216 Avenue A (the storefront on the right in the pic) between 13th Street and 14th Street. 

The shutter comes nearly seven months after the quick-serve restaurant moved into the space from the SW corner of Avenue A and 13th Street. We didn't hear any reasons for the departure, or whether Nicky's might turn up in another storefront sometime soon.

Nicky's, related to the one that had been on Second Street several years earlier, opened on Avenue A in March 2019.

Thank you to the readers who mentioned this!

Sinkhole claims tree on 6th Street

The sidewalk- and tree pit-eating hole outside 338 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue has apparently claimed a victim — the small tree that was in the pit.

Several EVG readers have noted this latest development here in recent days... 

It's not known if, perhaps, workers removed the tree ahead of repair work ... or someone else decided to cut it down.

As we've noted four times previously: The sinkhole formed during the drenching rains from Tropical Storm Ida on Sept. 1.

Since then, a makeshift barrier including parts of Awash's outdoor dining space and other found objects have been guarding/blocking the sidewalk. Pedestrians must walk on Sixth Street on the south side of the street to bypass the sinkhole.

Several residents have told us that they have contacted 311, Community Board 3, Councilmember Carlina Rivera's office, the DOT, the 9th Precinct, etc., to report the sinkhole — and the swastikas someone added to the barrier a few weeks back.

CR7 Gourmet Deli opens on 1st Avenue

The CR7 Gourmet Deli has opened on the SE corner of First Avenue and Second Street. 

The 24/7 deli offers a variety of fresh-made sandwiches, salads, smoothies and juices... as well as your usual corner market fare.

CR7 takes over the space from Spiegel, the European-style cafe that closed in the summer of 2020 and was rumored to be returning here. 

As previously noted, this is now a competitive corner with Food You Desire 3, the Deli & Smoke Shop and another new arrival — the Manhattan Smoke Shop a few steps away on Second Street ...

As a P.S., the scary Seinfeld wheatpaste remains in place on the Second Street wall outside CR7...

Monday's parting shot

This holiday mural — an interpretation of Will Ferrell in "Elf" — went up over the weekend outside the Second Avenue F stop... work by @paolo_tolentino and @turtlecaps.

Flashback to last year's mural here.

A fundraiser under the stars for La Plaza Cultural on Thursday evening

The folks at La Plaza Cultural are hosting a winter fundraiser on Thursday evening for their solar pavilion at the community garden on the SW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street. 

Per the invite:

We are raising money to install solar panels to power the garden and take us off-grid. The pavilion will also serve as a four-season classroom offering workshops for the community.

The event, from 7-9 p.m., will feature fresh-made Neapolitan pizza, seasonal drink offerings and s'mores from the Wayland, hot chocolate, tarot card readings, live music by Eric Hoffman and Ken Hatfield, and a raffle. 

You can find ticket info at this link.

Rent hike threatens Avenue C mainstay Casa Adela

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The future of Casa Adela at 66 Avenue C is potentially in jeopardy with a rent hike the owner says is not feasible. 

Friends and supporters of the restaurant that has served authentic Puerto Rican cuisine here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street since 1976 sounded the alarm last week, reaching out to media outlets and local elected officials.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Loisaida Realty (@loisaidarealty)

According to organizers and other published accounts, the building's landlord — a Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) — is looking to increase the rent from $1,350 to, eventually, $6,750. 

Nicholas Heller, aka @NewYorkNico, reported this:

The old lease expired a few years ago. Under it, they were paying $1350 per month for the 715 sq ft space. They offered their landlord, a limited equity HDFC cooperative, that they would start to pay $3000 per month, plus 3% increases for each year for 10 years. The landlord refused the offer: their bottom line is $4000 in year one (backdated to august) and $6,750 starting in year two of the lease, and 3% increases after that, which is a 480%+ increase in rent and sure to force the business to close.

On Thursday, community members met at the restaurant and created a Save Casa Adela Committee. 

For now, there is hope a deal can be worked out between owner Luis Rivera and HDFC reps. 

According to Frank Gonzalez of Loisaida Realty, who helped organize the Save Casa Adela Committee, the two sides will meet today. [UPDATE: The meeting is now at 6 p.m. on 12/8]

"[We] hope they can work out a fair deal for our beloved Casa Adela," he said. "As of right now, we are praying for the best but preparing for the worst."

They previously scheduled a press conference at the restaurant for tomorrow and a rally on Saturday morning. Gonzalez said that depending on what happens today, they'll move forward with both events.

Adela Fargas started her namesake business here in 1976.

Before opening Casa Adela at 66 Avenue C, she ran a luncheonette one block to the south. It was there, as a feature in The New York Times from 2015 points out, that she perfected the seasoning for her famed rotisserie chicken.

She died in January 2018 at age 81.

East River Park closing below Stanton Street as resiliency work moves forward

East River Park below Stanton Street shuts down today as the most significant work to date gets underway here on the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency project.

According to the weekly construction bulletin, these park amenities will now be locked up to the public: the amphitheater, southern athletic fields, basketball courts, lawn and water play area, Delancey Street Bridge, Brian Watkins Tennis Center, and the dance circle. 

The bulletin states that the work includes "installation of protective fences and site preparation, including clearing and grubbing." East River Park Action reported that the city will start cutting down the trees in this area south of Stanton as early as tomorrow. Under the city's resiliency plan, they'll need to remove 1,000 trees in total from East River Park. 

Click on the map below for more details ... everything within the pinkish zone is closed as of today...

Also today, the construction will close the East River Greenway that runs along the FDR between Montgomery Street and 10th Street.

Looking at the city's advisory, it's not immediately apparent what cyclists traveling north are supposed to do upon arriving at Montgomery Street. Presumably, cyclists will have to turn on Pike at the Manhattan Bridge and head north along Allen, then to First Avenue across Houston, etc. ... 

Commuters need to use the Corlears Hook Bridge for public access to the ferry. 

Park amenities north of Stanton Street will remain open for public use, with access at East Houston Street, Sixth Street and 10th Street. The city has said they will maintain public access to a minimum of 42 percent of the park throughout construction.

Last week, the Appellate Division lifted the Temporary Restraining Order from Nov. 2 that had been in effect to halt construction.

Work began in Project Area 1 — between Montgomery Street and East 15th Street — on Nov. 1, focusing on the Brian Watkins Tennis Center. 

As previously reported, the former Compost Yard was converted into green space to make up for some of the lost park access during construction/demolition over the next four-plus years. This lawn area is expected to be open for public use by the end of 2021. (The photo below is from Saturday.)   

Work continues in Project Area 2 between East 15 Street and 25th Street, including Asser Levy Playground, Stuyvesant Cove Park and Murphy Brothers Playground.

Construction on the East Side is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026.

Read our previous posts for more background on the ESCR and the opposition and controversy over the city's current plan.

East River Park Action and other activists say they will continue to fight for alternatives to preserve much of the park and provide interim flood control.

Updated 11 a.m.

There are reports of police arresting activists at the scene. The @1000people1000trees account is providing updates from the park.

Updated 5 p.m.

According to Gothamist, there were three arrests today. Activists say they plan to be back at it tomorrow.

PIX11 has coverage here.

Preparing the former B Bar & Grill for demolition on the Bowery

Plywood now surrounds the former B Bar & Grill on the Bowery at Fourth Street... signaling that the demolition of the one-level structure is likely imminent... 

As we first reported in January, permits were filed for a 21-floor mixed-use development — a 283-foot-tall office building. (For comparison, the Standard East Village, a block to the north, is 21 floors.) The city approved the permits on Nov. 16, per public records.

According to plans, the well-employed architect Morris Adjmi's building will encompass 98,799 square feet, with 26,000 square feet set aside as an unspecified community facility. 

As pointed out here in August, a billboard for the new building looms over the doomed property (right below the "Licorice Pizza" spot)... 

Meanwhile, here's a look through the blogger portal on the plywood...

CB Developers paid $59.5 million for a stake in 358-360 Bowery, a gas station before its conversion into the bar-restaurant. B Bar owner Eric Goode, who owns a handful of hotels, including the Bowery Hotel across the way, assembled air rights to build the more extensive development on this corner space. 

As for the B Bar, the one-time hot spot (circa the mid-1990s) was expected to close for good in August 2020. However, the place never reopened after the PAUSE in March 2020. On April 3, 2020, nearly 70 B Bar employees were laid off without any extension of benefits or offer of severance pay.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• CB Developers pay $59.5 million for an interest in 358 Bowery — current home of the B Bar & Grill and likely a new development

• B Bar & Grill lays off its staff without severance

• Permits filed to demolish the former B Bar & Grill on the Bowery

• First sign of the B Bar & Grill-replacing 21-story office building on the Bowery 

Caffè Bene has closed on Avenue A

The Caffè Bene outpost on the SE corner of Avenue A and 13th Street has closed. Workers cleared out the space last week (thank you to Steven for the photos)...

As we understand it, the family of this franchise owner, Rish Sheth, has a deli uptown, and they decided to combine the business. (We also heard the landlord was raising the rent by $2,000 a month here.)

The cafe arrived here in late 2015, offering a variety of coffee drinks, breakfast and lunch items, etc. 

In September 2020,  as part of a pandemic pivot, Sheth added a line of South Asian-inspired groceries and snacks, from bags of Masala Munch to boxes of Parle-G biscuits, alongside Caffe Béne's usual fare. He named this new part of the business Jaleby, which continues to have an online presence for deliveries here. 

This was one of two Caffè Bene franchises to open in the East Village in 2015. The location at 24 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue closed in April 2017 after 17 months of business. 

H/T Lola Sáenz... and thanks to Laura and dwg, who also shared photos last week. 

Sunday's parting shot

Oscar season on St. Mark's Place today... photo by Derek Berg...