Headline of the day: "The woman who killed Shake Shack."

If you've been following along over at Eater, then you'll know that Shake Shack decided to nix its Nolita expansion plans. Today, the Post profiles the neighbor instrumental in making this happen... the article is titled "The woman who killed Shake Shack." It begins:

Debra Zimmerman — a chatty, husky-voiced blonde — first learned that Shake Shack would be her new neighbor when she got a surprise visit from her landlord in January.

The hamburger haven’s contractor wanted to make sure the construction of a building on an adjacent plot on the corner of Prince and Mulberry streets didn’t cause damage to the railroad-style apartment, which she has called home for the past 32 years. Long vacant, the lot would soon house Manhattan’s third branch of restaurateur Danny Meyer’s wildly popular burger chain.

“At that point, I’m very concerned — extremely concerned,” says Zimmerman, 53, upon discovering that her view across Mulberry Street to the historic St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral would be replaced by a 30-seat rooftop space that would stay open until midnight every night.

And so began a modern-day tale of David and Goliath — NYC style.

Unbelievably, in a span of just six weeks, Zimmerman — who had never been a community activist before — brought down one of the city’s biggest and most connected restaurateurs.

Feel empowered?

[Image via the Post via Women Make Movies]

Now trending: East Village and Williamsburg in 10 years

There's a discussion going on at StreetEasy titled "East Village and Williamsburg in 10 years?"
The talk kicks off with:

Curious what you guys predict Williamsburg and the East Village to look like in ten years, residential property-wise. It seems like the East Village is sort of rundown these days, with a large number of empty storefronts and little development (other than on the overpriced stuff on the Bowery). On the other hand, some of the new buildings there seem to have sold out quickly like that place on B and 13th and Village Green. Will people buying into this neighborhood now see a good return on their investment ten years down the road or will this place remain humdrum? When and if the EV bounces back, will it be a cultural destination or Park Slope Manhattan?

A few of the responses...

East Village is a pain in the ass to get into and out of.
Williamsburg is and always will be a toilet.

And!

East Village in 10 years will continue to improve as a neighborhood. Better goods and services, less riff-raff.
Williamsburg in 10 years...how can I put this...any day it's gonna improve...any day now. the EDGE, still unsold refuses to lower it's asks.

And!

Despite the East Village's recent troubles, I think it's well-positioned to do well in the long-term. The major difference (IMHO) between it and Williamsburg is the quality of its older housing stock. Yes, there are many tenements and walk-ups, but in many cases those buildings have good bones or have been well maintained. It's the one thing that could continue to push it towards the West Village in terms of desirability and aesthetics. Many have lamented the reduced grit that the area was always known for (and I miss it a bit myself), but that trend probably favors property values in the long run.

And so it goes. It's an interesting discussion (and our friend Glamma is part of the conversation...). I don't know much about Williamsburg real estate. So I'm not up for any comparisions. But I do wonder what the East Village will look like in 10 years. Just think, of course, how much the neighborhood has changed in these last 10 years...

Renters lured by proximity to the Redhead, Duane Reade

Here's an apartment ad over at Craigslist that may just draw the attention of bacon lovers...

$2600 / 1br - **FLOORPLAN** 3/15-- Gut renovated 700sf 1br w/ SS Kitchen *No Fee* (East Village)

***************NEW TO MARKET*****************

This Apartment is currently being completely gut renovated by a professional company. I would describe it as a premium renovation. Huge 1 br apartment with very large closet in bedroom, large living room. Kitchen will have stainless steel appliances, marble bathroom, the works. Great price on a fantastic first floor 1br in Prime East Village just 1 block to L train. Close landmarks include Redhead, numerous bodegas, Duane Reade, multiple laundromats (one literally right across the street), too much fun to name. As I said, apartment is being gut renovated so its not very photogenic right now, but if you're interested I can show you a completed unit.

Via @nolatonyc

On the market: Bamboo paradise on East 10th Street

New to the market: This two-bedroom condo at 272 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue... According to the listing:

East Village Prime Garden Condo Duplex; An architectural masterpiece designed with many natural materials, walnut wood and stucco walls, bamboo floors, original quarry stone walls, granite counters, and white carrara marble baths. An open chiefs kitchen, gas burning fireplace and incredible living space opening out to a bamboo enriched private garden oasis. An incredible quiet and tree lined street located on east 10th Street between 1st and Ave A, just steps to Thompkins Square Park and all the best shops and restaurants the East Village can offer.

Let's take look...







Price: $1.8 million.

New at EV Heave: Cooper Union's barf barriers

Our friend over at EV Heave has an update from the weekend around the Cooper Union. You probably don't really want to wander over there.

Alice in Knockerland

While I know the world famous Pee Phone has a caretaker on Avenue A at Seventh Street....Who was responsible for this? One day last week someone gave The White Queen additional cleavage...



...the next day a reduction took place...

Hirai Mong now open, with sample dishes and watermelon soju

Hirai Mong is now open at 12 St. Mark's Place, at the former home of Gama. For those of you crazing watermelon soju, you're in luck...



Plus, the owners helpfully put out platters of food so you see what you'll be getting....



...I'll be checking back in, say, August to see how that shrimp is looking....



Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Gama space becoming a fusion restaurant and bar

At Sea Salt, the lights are still on, but no one is dining

Sea Salt, the upscale fish eatery on Second Avenue near Sixth Street, opened in July 2007... and, despite a big buzzy introduction to the neighborhood, the place closed seven months later... and the storefront has sat empty since then...windows papered over...



Last night, though, I noticed that the paper had been removed from the front door. Inside, a rather eerie scene... All the lights were on...the tables were still set...seemingly ready for business two years after closing...

Busy Bee back in business

As we noted on Feb. 21, Busy Bee Bikes on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Avenue A was shut down by the cops ...



City Room report that owner Jack Malewich has reopened the shop. Per the article:

The shop reopened on Friday, after a $4,000 fine and under court-ordered stipulations that include random inspections and severe restrictions on purchasing used bikes. While it has stopped accepting used bikes off the street, Mr. Malewich said, the shop continues to buy used bikes from a Connecticut wholesaler.

“We have that found several of the sellers of bikes to Busy Bee had records for crimes including grand larceny, burglary, narcotics, and weapons possession,” said Paul J. Browne, the Police Department’s chief spokesman. “One individual who sold four bikes to Busy Bee had 18 prior arrests.”

“Busy bees, indeed,” he concluded.

Mr. Malewich, 52, a retired police detective, dismissed the notion that his shop knowingly engaged in any sort of criminal activity. “We have so many repeat customers, you could never have an image like this,” Mr. Malewich said, and he called the whole episode “embarrassing.” He said he believed the undercover officers did not accurately convey to the shop’s employees that the bikes were stolen. “To these kids, ‘hot’ — it doesn’t mean stolen,” he said. “It just means, you know, a nice bike.”

For further reading on Streetsblog.

The Loew's Commodore Theatre

While doing a Google search the other day, an article from a Virginia newspaper popped up... the writer, Fred Pfisterer, a retired editor for the paper, was reminiscing about seeing "Psycho" in New York City ... (The photo below is from the DeMille Theater on 47th Street and Seventh Avenue. Read that theater's history here.)



Pfisterer saw Hitchcock's classic at the Village Theater. As he recalls, "The theater manager advertised that a real nurse would be on hand for all showings in case any member of the audience became so frightened that they passed out or had a heart attack. The gimmick worked because it drew sold-out crowds to the theater for months."

What caught my attention from Pfisterer's article: "The theater, on Second Avenue between East 6th an 7th streets in the East Village, became the Fillmore East in 1968when entertainment promoter Bill Graham acquired it..."

Anyway, plenty has been written on the Fillmore East and promoter Bill Graham through the years ... (Jeremiah wrote about Ratner's and the Fillmore here ... Forgotten New York has photos of Jim Powers' FE mosaics here.)




And there has been plenty written about what became of the space in the 1980s -- the legendary Saint. (Check out the site dedicated to the Saint right here.)

But I wanted to know more about when the space was a movie theater. According to the always-reliable Cinema Treasures:

Originally opened in 1926 as the independently operated Commodore Theatre, this movie house/Yiddish theater was taken over by Loew's Inc. and later became known as the Village Theater. It can credit Lenny Bruce as appearing on its stage.

In March 1968 it became the Fillmore East concert venue. ....

In the fall of 1980, it was converted into what was to become New York City's best and most celebrated gay disco The Saint, which became famous world-wide. This continued until May 2, 1988 when the doors closed following a non-stop 48 hours party. The building was used spasmodically for a couple of years for live events, then stood empty for a few years until the auditorium was demolished in around 1995.

Today the narrow facade remains and the lobby is now remodeled as an Emigrant Savings Bank. Apartments/condos called Hudson East were constructed on the site of the auditorium.

According to a Cinema Treasures commenter, when it opened in 1926, the Commodore was the largest of the 10 movie theatres in operation on Second Avenue between Houston and Ninth Street. Also, the last films to show there appear to have been "A Ticklish Affair" and "Hootenanny Hoot" on Oct. 8, 1963.

Here's a photo of Timothy Leary circa 1966 from its days as an off-Broadway venue:



The Emigrant Savings Bank started going up in this space in 1997.... (As a Cinema Treasures commenter said, the entire land plot on which the auditorium once stood is now occupied by a six-story apartment building with the address of 225 E. Sixth St. and currently known as Hudson East.)



There are several photographic collages of the Commodore in the Emigrant lobby ...





As the Times reported in 1997:

A few groups rallied unsuccessfully to save the building for conversion to a recording studio or other performance use. Now, only the theater's Second Avenue entrance has been retained as part of a four-story commercial building that the Hudson Companies sold to Emigrant Savings Bank. A bank branch occupies the one-time theater lobby. The rest of the theater was razed to make way for the new apartment building.... A plaque will be placed at the building's entrance telling passers-by of the storied night spots that once occupied the site -- despite the fact ... that the people who will rent apartments here will probably be too young to remember them.

Update:
It's All the Streets You Crossed Not So Long Ago has a great post on the Village Theatre era here here.



Fillmore East photos via.

Burger battle on Second Avenue

First, you have Paul's, who has claimed "NYC's best burger."



Not to be outdone, across the way, Dallas BBQ is claiming it has "New York's most popular half pound burger."



And a little south on Seventh Street, Song 7.2 says it has "the best burger in NYC."



Perhaps they do. It just doesn't look like it. For starters, I like for my hamburger to look as if it already hasn't been digested. However! A Hamburger Today took one for a test drive last fall...And Robyn Lee wrote:

While this burger may not be the best in the city and wouldn't fulfill a craving for a regular burger lacking seasonings up the wazoo, it's one of the tastiest takes on a burger I've had and a great deal for only $7. I'd definitely eat it again.

Speaking of beef

A newish sign outside St. Mark's Burger ... "We grind our own beef."



More subtle, of course, than "bop our own bologna."

Agnes and Eva closes on 13th Street

A reader notes that Agnes and Eva's Cafe on 13th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue has closed. Per the reader: "it was this nice cafe owned/operated by a mom & daughter, you go downstairs to this lil room blissfully away from the usual manh bustle... free wifi, decent brunch foods, no attitude, jazz music playing on stereo, not crowded... i'm so sad, hard to find a non-crowded cafe in the e. village." The Cafe opened last summer. Had always intended to go there, but never did. Seemed like a homespun haven away from the Momofuku madness across the way...

Photo via Serious Eats.

Paste tags DOB

Michael Huynh's new French Vietnamese place on St. Mark's Place continues to attract some graffiti attention... Earlier...



And now... As the Graffiti Friend of EV Grieve (GFOEVG) notes, Paste of the EE crew is the latest to tag DOB...

Boutiques on Bowery likely not opening yesterday — or ever

I've been watching the goings-on at The Bowery Bazaar/Boutiques on Bowery ... located inside the retail space in 52E4, the 15 stories of condo on the Bowery near Fourth Street. Originally scheduled to open Feb. 1 ... the etched-in-glass Boutiques on Bowery signage went up in the middle of February... It has been a strange saga. One day last week we received a note from one of the designers stating BOB was opening March 1... Then! On Friday, BoweryBoogie noted: "The latest word is that they’ve decided not to reopen as Boutiques on Bowery and to close for good."

I walked by last night... no more naked mannequins...no more etched-in-glass Boutiques on Bowery signage...



Previously on EV Grieve:
What happened to Boutiques on Bowery?

Porchetta outpost taking over the Mingala Burmese space

Earlier today we mentioned that Mingala Burmese Restaurant at 21 East Seventh St. (a few doors east of McSorley's) had closed. Now Eater brings word that the folks behind Porchetta just down the street have applied for a liquor license here.

Tompkins Square Park igloo disappears from market

Previously on EV Grieve:
Price melting on "Soho-style" igloo in Tompkins Square Park

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

Before the Meatpacking District fell (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Lights out for Bowery's Lighting District? (BoweryBoogie)

Ray's pink slips (Neither More Nor Less)

The sounds of "After Hours" (Flaming Pablum)

A well-endowded snowman in TSP -- with video! (The Gog Log)

NYC in black-and-white glory (Blah Blog Blah)

Why the FRIGID Fest is now cheesier (Broadway World)

Dude leaves 27 bags of weed on the roof (Stuy Town's Lux Living)

Porchetta sends meat to Marines in Afghanistan (DNAinfo)

"Blank Generation" now on DVD: "A time capsule from pre-Disneynification New York City"

From the inbox...MVD Visual released "Blank Generation" on DVD last week...

Finally on DVD is the classic punk rock movie from 1980 starring Richard Hell, illustrating the end of the first wave of New York City punk rock better than any documentary. Nada (Carole Bouquet), a beautiful French journalist on assignment in New York, records the life and work of an up and coming punk rock star, Billy (Richard Hell). Soon she enters into a volatile relationship with him and must decide whether to continue with it, or return to her lover, a fellow journalist trying to track down the elusive Andy Warhol (playing himself). Featuring members of the Voidoids and the Ramones.

This long lost film is like a time capsule from pre-Disneynification New York City: sleazy, dirty and most importantly, real. The DVD package includes a lengthy new interview with Hell about the film and more.

Richard Hell states: "This is a priceless package. The real burnt-out New York in January and February 1978, the Voidoids live at CBGB, Ed Lachman's cinematography, Elliot Goldenthal's sound track, Carole Bouquet's face, my lithe figure, Andy Warhol to break your heart, Luc Sante demonically extracting the ugly truths from me re: the horror of it all (bonus feature which is better than the movie itself)...unique."

And here's the trailer...



Updated: A reader pointed out an interview that Hell did with The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog last week... in which Hell trashes the film. Here's an excerpt:

As with many cultural artifacts dating from a fetishized period (in this case the late ’70s New York punk scene), the film is hailed on the cover as "a classic punk rock movie" and "better than any documentary." That's not how its star sees things. "It's just completely incoherent," Richard Hell said of the movie... He talked with Speakeasy about the bewildering experience of making – and re-watching — "Blank Generation."

Why did you participate with the DVD release if you hate the film?

It was going to come out anyway. It was good to have the opportunity to explain the conditions under which it was made. It does have a certain value as this eccentric artifact of this time and place. And it’s the best existing film footage of my band at a time when it was in top condition.

You’ve been in several films since then. What did “Blank Generation” teach you about acting?

Nothing.

Classic! This makes me want to see it even more! I guess this is why the publicist for the DVD said "no one was available" for interviews about the re-release.

P.S.
Not to be confused with Amos Poe's documentary "Blank Generation."

Price melting on "Soho-style" igloo in Tompkins Square Park

On Friday, we wrote about a new listing that popped up on Prudential Douglas Elliman for a "Soho-style" igloo right in the heart of East Greenwich Village in Tompkins Square Park.

On Friday, the 15-square-foot igloo was priced at $1.5 million ($100K per square foot!)



However, today, the price has been chopped down to $500K!

Here's the listing:

This fully original Soho igloo is ready to go at a stunning and spacious 15 square feet!! Located in a new igloo and facing southeast off the Park you will enjoy the setting sun, quiet nights, and all the space!! The ground has been white washed for a tasteful but artful look. There is a flat screen TV nook that has been smartly placed in the living space so the TV will flow seamlessly against the snow. Closets everywhere, bath and a half, open kitchen round out this one-of-a-kind one igloo flex two loft space. The igloo is a condo so subletting and renting are permitted. Pets are welcome!

According to Streeteasy, this property originally went on the market around this time last year, but was quickly pulled several warmer days later...

There was an open igloo this past Friday...



...where potential igloo-buyers discovered that the space may be best suited for those under say, 3 feet tall.




If you're interested, then I urge you to hurry. The temperatures are expected in the mid 40s today...