Avenue A, 8:30 p.m. or so, May 5

Thanks to EV Grieve reader Steve for the photos...

Reminders for films tomorrow night

Two items of interest to point out for tomorrow night...

1) There is a showing of "Pull My Daisy" at The Ottendorfer Library on Second Avenue near St. Mark's Place starting at 6 p.m. The film was adapted by Jack Kerouac from the third act of his play, "Beat Generation." It's part of a presentation titled "The Lower East Side History Project Presents: Bohemia and Counterculture."

And may have already seen this silent footage of Kerouac, Allan Ginsberg and othters from the summer of 1959 outside the Harmony Bar & Restaurant on Ninth Street and Third Avenue



2) At the Millennium of East Fourth Street... In the gallery space, Richard Sandler's photographs are on display through June 19. The opening reception is tomorrow from 6-8 p.m., and includes a screening of his video, "Brave New York."

East Village resident gives a mosaic some love, and Zip-strip

An EV Grieve reader sent me a note the other day, telling me to check out the base of the street lamp at the northeast corner of Seventh Street and Avenue A... where one of Jim Power's colorful, jagged-edged mosaics lives... or once lived. As the reader notes, "Time and thoughtless bureaucracy really fucked this particular piece over. Chunks of it are gone, and someone -- I'm guessing the NYC DoT -- covered it in gray paint ... a travesty. With the arrival of spring I got fed up with seeing it looking so ugly, so I Zip Stripped it ... I ran out of stripper before all the gray paint was off, so it's a work in progress."

So far...




Perhaps Jim Power himself will revisit it soon. At Neighborhoodr, Matt Rosen recently caught up with the Mosaic Man ... As Rosen reports: "Since the weather’s turned, Jim Power ... with dog Jesse Jane in tow, of course, has been spending a few days a week back in the East Village doing some repairs to his trail of light posts."

He has more on Power here.

Diablo Royale Este opens today: features two bars, one screening room and spit-roast pigs in the backyard

Well, I've been following the transformation at 167 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street since last summer...



And, per the sign out front, the joint opens today...




Two bars...an outdoor space...a screening room... Holy 311!
Per the Times today:

DIABLO ROYALE ESTE: At this East Village branch of his Diablo Royale, Jason Hennings will spit-roast pigs, chickens and beef in the backyard. There is an array of tacos, fajitas, enchiladas and such.

Previously on EV Grieve:
My, what big plywood you have

Diablo Royale shows itself to Avenue A

Looking at 167 Avenue A: Another Hennings-Giraldi production?

Looking at "one of the most unique properties in downtown"

Here's a newish listing for 525 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... a little something for all your investors!



Per the listing:

Great Investment opportunity: Tenant is paying $6,500 a month. This NEW garden duplex is one of the most unique properties in downtown. Gracious entry leads into an extraordinary double height living room with walls of windows overlooking your own private landscaped garden. The chic Italian SCIC chef's kitchen is open through a Caesar stone quartz bar and equipped with a Subzero fridge, Wolf Range, A Zepher exterior vent, Miele D/W and Marvel wine cellar. Upper floor occupies the master bathroom with double sink and Neptune bath and the second bedroom and bathroom that's furnished with green glass tiles and natural stone. both give south to Sauer Park. Family room/ mezzanine includes the Washer and Dryer and its own WIC. Each zone has its own self controlled HVAC unit. Living Room can be almost doubled in size by extended it 8' into the garden. Private storage bin included. 525 East 12th Street is one of the latest and finest new boutique condominium developments of the East Village. Superiorly located, this unique floor through lofts project, is facing the serene Sauer Park.

Price: $1,795 million.




A shame that Superdive is closing moving — just think how close you'd be....

Pulino's tables inch toward the Bowery

I swear these tables are about an inch closer to the street than they were the day before...



At this rate, the tables should be in the street by, say, August.

The HorseBox now open on Avenue A

Near 14th Street...



And, at least based on the sign, sports will be featured...



Uh, giddyup?

Private party room under way for Planet Rose on Avenue A

It appears that Planet Rose at 219 Avenue A is prepping to expand into the space next door...



The space formerly housed a beauty salon... and, last summer and part of the fall, this sign was above the storefront, as you may recall...



Planet Rose tried last year to get approval for the 300-foot expansion for a private party facility... the BC3/SLA committee said only if they followed a few directives. As Eater reported in March 2009:

The bar has been in operation for nine years with no complaints. The committee voted to deny unless they agree to operate the new space as a karaoke facility, close at 2 am on Sun - Wed and 4 am on Thurs - Sat, install sound proofing, promise to host charitable and community events.

On sale, but not going out of business

Amaran, the home furnishings store on Avenue B at Seventh Street, seems to have been holding sales now for months and months... which leads to some speculation that the store is going out of business... which leads to their latest sales sign...




The store is NOT going out of business...

Sell phones

Back in February we wondered how long before the old red booths were removed at the now-shuttered Telephone Bar on Second Avenue...



Now East Village Feed (via Eater) has the answer... they were removed today as work on the new frat bar continues.... a reader said the booths will be sold at an auction.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ringing in the 13th Step: Old Telephone Bar will lose its Telephones

The Telephone Bar and Grill closing after 22 years

What's coming to The Telephone Bar space? Some fratty debauchery, perhaps

Going to the Shepard Fairey mural, and we're going to get married...

Oh my. In case you haven't seen this shot that Jill posted on Blah Blog Blah... On their wedding day, a couple apparently stopped to have photos taken in front of the illegal (maybe!) Shepard Fairey mural on Houston and the Bowery...



There's so much I want to know. Was this a planned stop? Or were they just motoring by in the Bride Mobile and spontaneously decided to combust stop? Or did the happy couple drive all over the city and have their photos taken in front of things, like the Kiss Mural outside Nice Guy Eddie's? (Now THAT is romantic!)

On a Sunday (Blah Blog Blah)

Look! Books! Real books!

Last month I told you that a used book store is opening at the former Etherea Records space on Avenue A between Fifth Street and Fourth Street...

When this place does open, I think a few skeptical people (not me, never!) expect to find a store with 3-4 fake books and 30 different kinds of draft beer or froyo or froram (frozen ramen, of course...)

But! Over the weekend, workers were busy putting up books on the shelves...



It is, indeed, a used book store... and, if all goes well, look for it to open this weekend.

Throwing punches outside Gem Spa

I usually don't pay much attention to that Boxer game here at Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place... it's usually hidden behind displays of hats and sunglasses during most of the times that I pass by...



But not always!




Is this really a good idea to let people get worked up and pay to throw some punches...? Or is this actually a good idea because any drunken aggression may be taken out on the machine? Dr. Grieve is now in session.

Looking for people who are experiencing noise from Lit Lounge

Last Thursday, I noted the steps that Lit Lounge is taking to become a better neighbor... And now the East Fifth Street Block Association has placed signs on Lit Lounge's neighbors on Second Avenue ...



As the sign notes: "Your cooperation will not just help yourself, but future tenants who will come in your wake."



Previously on EV Grieve:
How Lit Lounge is trying to be a better neighbor

Beachside at Pulino's

Life's a beach on the Bowery....



...and Pulino's has nudged a few tables further out on the sidewalk ...

Looking at 52E4's commercial space, and that cake no one ate

After the attempts to open The Bowery Bazaar/Boutiques on Bowery this past fall/winter... I'm curious what's next for the commercial space at 52E4, the 15 stories of condo on the Bowery near Fourth Street...

Last Thursday, there was some kind of one-day exhibit in the space... and no one apparently liked the Crayon cake... it was still sitting there a few days later...




Meanwhile, the big slab of commercial space on the third floor remains on the market for $2 million. Core listed the property back in January...



In case you're curious. Per the Core listing:

Commercial condo of 3,775 sf, comprising the entire third floor for sale at downtown's hottest address on the Bowery. Located beneath the residential 52 East 4th Street, which has won the Society of American Registered Architects 2008 Design Award, this space can be bought as a whole or several pieces. The commercial entrance is at 351 Bowery (between E 4th and E 3rd Street) with 43 feet of oversized glass frontage facing west and additional windows facing north. Private elevator and bathrooms provided. Available immediately. Neighbors include Whole Foods, The New Museum, Gemma, Patricia Fields, John Varvatos, The Box, The Bowery Hotel, The Cooper Square Hotel, Blue and Crea. [sic]

Do you get pool rights too?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Boutiques on Bowery likely not opening yesterday — or ever

Bar (temporary) closure sign shows flair for the dramatic

Here we are outside 2x4/Ambiance/Evolution on Second Avenue at Fourth Street... and why is the bar closed for a few days...?



"Our flair bartenders have entered a flair educational contest."

OK! We'll just continue on our way then...

Previously on EV Grieve:
At Evolution Lounge: Vodka martini, flipped, not stirred...

What's the buzz on East 10th Street?

In this apartment building on East 10th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue, not everyone is thrilled about the new intercom system... activated via your cell phone or landline...

Police helicopter in action again

After last night's episode ...Several EV Grieve readers pinpointed the helicopter this evening to east of Avenue C and roughly a little south of Seventh Street...



We arrived to find a very low-flying helicopter... no word just yet on what or who they were looking for...



As EV Grieve reader Erin noted, "Last week a burglar came in through a 2nd floor window in our building on e 6th betw B & C. My neighbor screamed when she saw him, and he ran off. Some construction is being done on the ground floor, and the fire scape ladder had been extended down the ground - that's how I think he got up."


Previously on EV Grieve:
Rooftop burglar spotted on East 10th Street

There is NO ESCAPE

Looking north from Union Square on Park Avenue South... And white before Memorial Day? Tacky!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Breaking: Oh, God! No! No! NOOOOOOOO!