Looking at 128 E. 13th St.

Been some time since we looked at 128 E. 13th St. between Fourth Avenue and Third Avenue. The historic 1903 carriage house that belonged to Frank Stella was designated for demolition to make room for -- a seven-story condo. This is believed to be the last surviving horse and carriage auction mart building in New York City, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP).



Long story, of course! The building was saved in spring of 2007. And it will be home to the Peridance Center, who signed a long-term lease for use of the building as a dance studio.

Anyway, that was more than two years ago... While a new sign is up, there looks to be a lot of work left...




You can read more about it here on the GVSHP site.

Avenue B to get a little Panache

Last Friday, I mentioned there's a new "eating/drinking establishment" coming to 182 Avenue B at the former home of the Cafe de Nova.

And like that, a new sign appears...meet Panache Cafe (some day).

Smashing good time at Absinthe

Perhaps someone got annoyed by the noise? At First Avenue near Seventh Street.

Day 7

Previously.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

Rev. Billy blesses Ray's (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY, Neither More Nor Less)

Bob Arihood also has many excellent photos from Saturday's TSP concert (Neither More Nor Less)

A plan for Coney Island (New York Times)

NYPD spends $1 million a year for typewriters (NY Post)

Where you can still find phone booths on NYC streets (NY Post) UPDATE: Sorry — didn't realize that Scouting New York had this story last week. Another case where the Post borrows without credit.

Stalking the cupcake truck on Third Avenue (Hunter-Gatherer)

A new Subway for Grand Street (BoweryBoogie)

Some classic Times Square marquees (Esquared)

Checking out the Sunday pool parties at East River State Park (Gothamist)

Sons & Daughters closing on Avenue A; new tenant for A and Third Street?

High-end kid's shop Sons & Daughters at 35 Avenue A is going out of business. Its last day is Aug. 23.




I'm wondering what will become of the mechanical dolphin out front?



This is starting to be a lonely stretch of Avenue A between Third Street and Second Street. The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is the landlord along here. There are already two other prime storefronts available.

Check that! According to the NYCHA Web site, there's an application in process for the long-empty coffee shop at Third Street and Avenue A.

Weekend repeat: Karaoke taking over Mondo Kim's space

I orginally posted this Saturday afternoon.




For further reading on Mondo Kim's.

And thanks to Gothamist for picking up the story Saturday. I liked what Billy Parker had to say:

The space once belonging to Mondo Kim's record and video store on St. Marks Place is going to be opening as a new karaoke joint for the thousands of bridge and tunnelers who desperately need an alternative to Sing Sing across the street.

And I never did find naming a karaoke place after a maximum security prison all that cute.

Vibrating water and racing coolers

If you were around Tompkins Square Park yesterday, then you probably received a few dozen free samples of Vio, the "world's first vibrancy drink."



Anyway! Did you see the souped up, motorized coolers the give-away-gals were driving? They even wore crash helmets!





Yeah, motorized coolers. You know that we just gave a bar owner an idea, right?

Starting today: Mama's closed for lunch until the fall

Third Street at Avenue B.

Walking alongside the new Cooper Union building

Hey now. The sidewalks are open alongside the new Cooper Union building.




And I hope the security guard working at the CU is feeling better today.

I knew, but I didn't want to be the one to tell you and ruin your weekend

Meanwhile, on Friday, Paper checked in with a Superdive update, including:

Those who aren't quite as eager to work on their beer bellies can order a mixed drink (starting at $6) but, despite rumors, aren't welcome to DIY behind the bar, which on a recent night was cordoned off. Claiming that people misunderstood the mix-your-own concept, manager Keith Okada (the owners wish to remain anonymous) clarified that bartenders will make the drink in a shaker which you can then Tom-Cruise-in-Ray-Bans-style strain into a plastic cup.

ThirsTea opens today

On 10th Street just west of Avenue A. Previously.

Permanent Bruch starting to look a little more permanent

May:



Yesterday:


For the don't-mind-waiting-in-line set. More coverage on Eater and Grub Street.

Another T-shirt place for St. Mark's Place?

A fairly credible person tells me the former Village X shop at 36 St. Mark's Place will become another T-shirt shop. Anyone want to say "at least it's not a ramen place or froyo?"

Dumpster of the day

13th Street and Avenue B.

Manhattanhenge from 14th Street

What is this? Hat tip, Jill.

Following up on two previous posts

Last Thursday I reported that 167 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street (the former NoTell Motel) will become the latest eatery from Jason Hennings and Robert Giraldi.

Hennings confirmed this to Eater. According to Eater: "Restaurateur Jason Hennings writes in today to report that the 167 Avenue A spot ... is indeed his, but his frequent partner Bob Giraldi is not involved. Hennings is bringing his deathwatched but still kicking West 10th venture Diablo Royale to Avenue A."

Also. In the Australian Homemade post from Wednesday, a reader shared the following information:

Actually the place closed when the landlord suddenly tried to raise the rent to a crazy high level. They could not afford to be there any more so they left. Now the store is empty and the landlord is getting nothing. Good business in a recession???

It was a combination of rent hike and tax increase as I am told. The landlord was passing on his city tax hikes to the store (as was probably in the lease) but the store could not pay it. They tried to negoitate a lower amount but the landlord would not budge.

Looking at Derek Jeter's cozy little waterfront shack

The New York Post has an article and slideshow on the new waterfront home Derek Jeter is having built in Tampa. The 31,000-square-foot space in the Davis Islands community "will boast seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, two three-car garages, an entertainment room, a billiard room and a memorabilia room."

Of course, there's controversy! Jeter also wants to construct a 6-foot fence around the property. Tampa ordinances limit the height of the fence to 3 feet. But Jeter wants permission for a 3-foot masonry structure topped by a 3-foot-high wrought-iron fence.

By the way, as the Post notes: "Jeter's house will be Tampa's biggest -- and twice the size of the Tampa home owned by the Boss, George Steinbrenner."

Today in TSP: Rev. Billy and BBQ

More info here.

And now, equal time for other mayoral candidates:

Today's sign of the apocalypse: "Bandslam"

Oh, boy. Just caught this over at Idolator. It's "Bandslam," and stars Vanessa Hudgens and Aly Michalka. It opens. Aug. 14.



As Idolator's Maura Johnson notes, "Maybe in 2049 we’ll see a teen flick that has a scene with kids running through the ruins of the John Varvatos store currently in that space… but probably not."

Meanwhile, I am hopeful for an epic comment from Alex.