CB3 forming task force to help curb youth violence

News from last week's CB3 meeting via Lesley Sussman at The Villager.

Given the rise in youth violence, CB3 "has called for the establishment of a task force comprised of elected officials, city agencies and community groups to help create a strategy to address the situation."

As Sussman reported, "The resolution said that quelling such violence was 'the highest priority for our community.'"

CB3 Chair Dominic Pisciotta said, "We need immediate action, especially with the summer months coming up when violence always increases."

Hmmmmm. Too bad the Board couldn't have come to this decision sooner...like, say, last summer. My experience with task forces, as well-intended as they usually are, is that nothing happens... at least not in any timely fashion....

Ratapooey! How many eateries in the East Village/LES had rodent problems?

Also from The Villager's CB3 meeting article... some numbers for you to chew on...

According to District Manager Susan Stetzer, there are currently 1,184 active restaurants in CB3's East Village/Lower East Side district, and that last year the city issued 360 violations for mice and 86 violations for rats to restaurants in the district.

A LOT of house on East Second Street

EV Grieve reader Tad was playing around with Google Maps the other day when he came across a darn good real-estate deal on East Second Street... Unfortunately, the Googlers must have realized their mistake... so the link is dead, but the screenshot lives on! Check it out!



As he told me: "Who knew such great houses existed right on E. 2nd St.: 3 bed/3 bath, under 500k? A hidden treasure." Heh! Not to mention a driveway! Which is actually in keeping with the East Village driveway/private garage trend.

Then what?: The Mars Bar gets a paint job

In January 2009, too many of us philosophized and other -ized things over the rather curious sign at the Mars Bar....




Anyway, if you're still trying to figure it out, then stop. The front of the bar has been painted over...



...to possibly yield to another sign to occupy us for the next 16 or so months?


Previously on EV Grieve:
That confusing new sign at the Mars Bar

The first review of Diablo Royale Este is in!

Well, Diablo Royale Este opened last night at 167 Avenue A... and from the sound of the first review here from a reader, this place should fit right in on Avenue A from 10th Street to 14th Street!

Went by at midnight. The place was a zoo. No bouncer. Just a lot of people and noise. So much for good neighbors.

No word yet on the spit-roasted pig in the backyard.

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

Momofuko Milk Bar donates hundreds of cookies to the Lower Eastside Girls Club

Tomorrow night is the 10th annual Gowns for Girls prom dress give-a-way at the Lower Eastside Girls Club...



And Executive Director Lyn Pentecost told us last night: "Someone loves the Girls Club! Momofuko Milk Bar surprised us today. They sent over hundreds of cookies for the girls coming Friday for our Gowns For Girls prom dress give-a-way."

Pomodora Pizza coming this weekend

As Jeremiah first reported, a pizza place is taking over part of the former Dunkin' Donuts space on Second Avenue... signs are up... and the place is expected to be open for the weekend with sidewalk seating...



...with sidewalk seating...

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.