Last day for Olivo's

Thanks to Melanie, who informs me that today is the last day for Olivo's at 55 Avenue C near Fourth Street.



The homey and unusual little shop (part gaming, part yarn!) has been here for 36 years, and is a father-son operation.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Olivo's on Avenue C.

Bye, bye Baraza

Baraza has closed. I walked by the Latin-themed joint on Avenue C between Eighth Street and Ninth Street last night. The door was open. The space had been gutted.



There's no note to patrons on the door ... and the Baraza Web site makes no mention of closing. However, Baraza's MySpace page confirms that the bar closed.

It opened in 1998. I've never been there... So I looked to see what I had missed via Yelp. Where I found this review:

If you go dancing without first putting on deoderant, I will go on Yelp and write about how everyone in the club smells like ass , and how fair is that to the club, really? I mean it's not like Baraza washed the deoderant off all these dudes as they were coming in the front door...at least, I don't think.

Let me explain something. There are a few things that I do without fail when I go out dancing. Actually, scratch that. When I leave the house. I brush my teeth. I put on clothes. I put on deoderant. Why, patrons of Baraza, do you not do the same? I was lucky enough to receive several offers to Latin dance throughout my evening there and it was good to know that I didn't need the cash-only bar to end the night passed out, since I was sure to pass out on the stench of body odor alone coming off my potential suitors. If you see someone tackling dudes as they come inside and rubbing them down with speedstick, that might be me. Watch out. Or wear deoderant. Your choice.

Former auto body shop REALLY ready for development

One-story structures seem to be a rarity in the East Village these days, which I wrote back in the fall. Take, for instance, 424 E. 10th St. between Avenue C and Avenue D. Sam's Auto Body Shop moved away awhile ago, I thought, and the building was put up for sale. Perhaps another mechanic can open shop? Ha!



I thought this was already a done deal. Another condo rising. Didn't think much more of this until...the property popped up on Trulia on Monday... According to the listing at Massey Knakal:

East Village residential development opportunity, with a curb cut. Currently a vacant, one story garage on East 10th street between C and D. This site has plans for a seven story, 18 unit, residential building, w/ a total of 16,793 gross SF above grade which includes a 3,679 SF parking garage. Prior to the June 30th 421-a deadline, the plans were submitted to DOB enabling the full property tax exemption benefits. Another option is to file an ?alt plan? and develop the property to custom specifications while still maintaining the 421-a tax benefits. This is a unique project for a developer or user and is ready to go.

So I stopped by 424 E. 10th St. for an updated photo. And what did I find there?



Oh, a seven-story residential building. Shh! Let's keep it our secret!

The Cooper Square Hotel "doesn’t just stick out among the nearby tenements but more or less taunts them"

In the Times today. From Frank Bruni's review of Table 8 at the Cooper Square Hotel:

It’s the Cooper Square Hotel, a whimsical glass sliver that doesn’t just stick out among the nearby tenements but more or less taunts them, declaring them holdovers from a frumpier East Village past. The hotel tries to claim the neighborhood around it as a party zone on a homogenously slick, glossy par with South Beach or West Hollywood.

Not all the neighbors are amused. Some have responded to the din of chatter and generic lounge music coming from the hotel’s second-floor terrace by hanging dirty briefs and the like from a clothesline readily visible to the revelers. It’s a campaign of undermining by underwear.

I spotted only one sad, fluttering garment on the evening when I ate on Table 8’s street-level patio. And it did less to ruffle my serenity — the patio is a pretty, breezy treat — than the door that crashed into the back of my chair when someone decided to step outside. Placing a table for diners smack in the door’s way exemplifies the curious planning at which Table 8 excels.

And the sound level inside Table 8? "absolutely bonkers" and "excruciating."

And make sure to read the part about the wine in the restrooms.

Cashed out

Second Avenue near Fourth Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Scott Stringer: Enough with the ATMs!

Noted

Ugh

Guss' Pickles moving to Brooklyn (The Lo-Down)

On the way: A five-story apartment building for Fifth Street

Last November, I noted the destruction of 532 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. The four-story home was quickly knocked down.



And today, work continues on the land's new tenant: A 10-unit, five-story apartment building. Staten Island-based Door to Door Realty's name is attached to this project. According to their Web site: "[W]e create an environment that is affordable, welcoming and chic."





And two notes from locals on the plywood:




Previously on EV Grieve:
Demolition on East Fifth Street
East Fifth Street update

No more Cure

I walked by Cure last night on Seventh Street near Avenue A. And as I suspected, it's gone. The menus were pulled down from the window. The inside looked to be in disarray. Also, a man had set up his bed out front for the night.



Previously on EV Grieve:
No Cure for this location?

"Kids" these days

I was reminded that "Kids" was released in 15-or-so-odd markets on July 28, 1995. It opened in NYC on July 21. And we all knew people so excited about this. Parts of the movie were filmed around here, of course. And the reviews! ("A wake-up call to the world!") I was dragged along to the Angelika. (According to the Times back on July 26, 1995: " 'Kids' broke the house records for weekend box office grosses at both theaters where it played, the Angelika Film Center and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas.")

I recall feeling underwhelmed by the film, though between the hype and the backlash it was difficult to keep an open mind. Anyway, I watched "Kids" again last weekend for the first time in 14 years...and turned it off after 20 minutes. I'll pick it again some other day.

Stereotypes wanted for R-Pattz film (Any "Rock N Roll East Village types" out there?)

According to an R-Pattz fanboy site:

Summit Entertainment is casting New York City extras for the Robert Pattinson film, Remember Me!

Grant Wilfley Casting is seeking local SAG New York City people for "Remember Me" extras to work through mid - August 2009:

* Hipsters, Rock N Roll East Village types;
* NYU student types;
* NYPD;
* FDNY;
* Washington Square Park Types (musicians, dealers, Rastas, artists, etc..);
* nanny types;
* real clowns with own make-up and props.

Oh. And if you are interested, which is fine:

Email a recent picture and contact information to: rememberme@gwcnyc.com
(Please e-mail a current headshot or snapshot of yourself and contact info and write the role you are submitting for in the subject line).

If submitting for the NYPD roles, please email a current headshot or snapshot of yourself and contact info to rememberme@gwcnyc.com ASAP and write “SAG NYPD w/ Light Blue shirt” in the subject line.

SAG advises its members that it is a misdemeanor to own or wear an NYPD uniform if you are not a member of the NYPD. Members who are not also members of the NYPD could be arrested if they are found transporting a police uniform.

Meanwhile, your chance to be in motion picture history: SATC part duh (Esquared)

Dumpster of the Day

Oh, and it's affordable...On Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Fallen tree on Sixth Street, day two

Just looking at what's left of the tree that nearly took out Banjara Sunday night on Sixth Street near First Avenue.

Day two storm coverage continues

Did someone run out of his/her shoes trying to escape the rain?

No Cure for this location?

We noticed that Cure was not open this past weekend. Maybe the owners of the small plates/wine bar decided to take the weekend off. Though you think they'd have left a note. Plus, well, they just opened in mid-April. Or maybe this space on Seventh Street near Avenue A is jinxed. In quick succession this spot was nearly the East Village Pie Lounge.... Previously, it was the short-lived Italian cafe Affettati.

Go inside Noot Seear's closet, see her nipple artwork

Ah, our old friend Noot, who lives in the Christodora House.


See more videos on modelinia.com

Cleaning up after the storm

City crews were out this morning at Seventh Street and Avenue B. Previously.

Giant restaurant/nightclub coming to East 14th Street?

(Oh, right -- we're not supposed to call them nightclubs. New gastrodive?) Anyway. "Retail space for rent" signs are up at 235 E. 14th St. between Third Avenue and Second Avenue.





Renowned nightlife broker ("Mr. Nightclub," according to an Observer article) Alex Picken's agency is repping the landlord.

Here are a few excerpts from that article, which was published in April 2008:

Perhaps no one has pounded the velvet-rope-lined pavement as much, in fact, as Mr. Picken, whose company, Picken Real Estate and Nightlife Brokerage, claims to have “successfully brokered more nightclubs in Manhattan than every other real estate agency combined.”

And!

Even though approaching middle age himself, Mr. Picken has little sympathy for the noise-rattled neighborhood groups that are increasingly thwarting his clients’ attempts to get and retain their liquor licenses citywide.

“Even in Nolita, which is really hot now, their community board is just kind of nuts,” he said. “It’s very difficult to get a license.

“I understand that there are certain people that have low-level apartments that hear noise at night and that’s not fun, but, you know, the noise you get from the garbage trucks is probably worse,” he later added. “I just encourage them to get double-paned windows.”

What the first four buyers get at the Copper Building

A few more details are rolling in regarding the Copper Building at 215 Avenue B and 13th Street.

From the Prudential Elliman Web site:

Our First BuyersRewards!!! The first four buyers to sign a contract at the Copper Building will have all their Common Charges and Taxes paid for the first TWO Years! New Construction. Private Presale Before Wide Release! Showings are Wednesdays from 12-2pm and Fridays from 2-4pm. The Copper Building is the latest luxury condominium project by the Steven B Jacobs Group. The 17 residences range from studios up to two bedroom penthouses and all feature floor-to-ceiling living room windows. No expense has been spared -- the kitchens are outfitted with granite countertops and high-end appliance packages. The bathrooms are complete with stone tiled floors and finishes from Zuma, Kohler, and Grohe. Many units also have private terraces or balconies. Building amenities include: full-time virtual doorman, sun deck, private storage, fitness center, and a private Zen garden.

As Curbed noted two weeks ago, the studios start at $475,000...and the four-bedroom penthouse is $3.6 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The ghost in you: Looking at 215 Ave. B

Gee, I think a pattern is starting to emerge here...

Meanwhile, NYPress pays a visit in the current issue.

Located on rapidly douchifying Avenue A, this plastic-cup-wielding, keg service-offering beer pong hot spot is the stuff of frat-boy dreams — in a good way. We think.

"We’re booked through September on keg service," said Alex Mynatt, a bartender at Superdive, which opened earlier this month. Mynatt credited online press as the secret to the bar’s straight-out-the-gate success: When word gets out that you let customers actually mix their own drinks, the masses are bound to get curious.

"People ask us, ‘why do you expect us to tip you if we’re the ones making the drinks?’" said Mynatt, who teaches the often heavy-handed pourer how to shake, stir and twist like a pro. "It’s obvious. Because we’re the only bar that lets you do that."