Two signs coming down quickly on Avenue A

Yesterday, EV Grieve reader Ryan on Avenue A sent along some photos of workers removing the Graceland canopy/sign on Avenue A and Second Street......revealing the former tenant...



I went by later to catch a look at the sign...




Unfortunately, I was too late to see the sign on the Second Street side... workers had already ripped it off...




Previously on EV Grieve:
Graceland sign removal reveals previous tenant on Avenue A

Shepard Fairey in Someone to watch over me

I spotted someone cleaning up some graffiti late yesterday on Shephard Fairey's mural on Houston and the Bowery...




Meanwhile, over the weekend, an EV Grieve reader said that he or she went to the Williamsburg Hall of Music ... at the venue, there's a display of Shepard Fairey's work to coincide with his current show.

Per the reader: "Get this: the venue has a separate security guard watching over them to make sure no one fucks with them. It was bizarre."

And last night, EV Grieve reader E passed along another new addition to the mural:

Kathy's Jewelry is moving on First Avenue

A reader passed along word that Kathy's Jewelry was closing on First Avenue near 14th Street... Her shop sits next to the long-shuttered David's Bagels....



However, the store is merely moving down First Avenue a few storefronts... the Tats Cru-painted gate likely won't make the trip, though.



Previously on EV Grieve:
David's Bagel space becoming a Mexican restaurant

Dumpsters of the day

A daily double with a couch! On East 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Why it's very possible that Pommes Frites got a new deep fryer

Because one of the old fryers was on the Second Avenue sidewalk out front last night.




Think this will make for a nice decorative planter?

Terror and relief in 60 minutes: The really bad then good news about the Blue and Gold

The EV Grieve inbox recently exploded with the news from Fork in the Road that the Blue and Gold Tavern on Seventh Street was going through a gut renovation.... yet another beloved spot RIP.... Noted a reader: "Makes you realize how precarious it all is, it can be snatched away in an instant, and you think, 'i should have gone there more often.'"

BUT! The B&G management chimed in on the Fork post:

The Blue and Gold is soundproofing the ceiling - and will reopen by Thursday - May 13. To do a proper soundproofing job the old ceiling needs to be removed. The rest of the bar is not being gutted. Heavy duty plastic is protecting the walls, bar and pool table.

Given the loss of the former Verchovyna Tavern aka George's Bar aka Bar 81 a few doors down... it's understandable that we're all a little touchy about this... By the way, "East Fifth Bliss" filmed scenes at the Blue and Gold the other week... In the novel, the lead character drinks at the Homestead (called the Homeplate) on First Avenue, which, of course, closed years back...so another bar had to stand in for the Homestead...



[Photo via the Voice]

Graceland sign removal reveals previous tenant on Avenue A

Thanks to EV Grieve reader Ryan on Avenue A for the following shots... Workers just removed the Graceland canopy/sign on Avenue A and Second Street...



...revealing the sign of the former tenant...




Previously on EV Grieve:
Graceland has closed

Appreciating Graceland's graffiti

When the Blob nearly attacked Doughnut Plant — and maybe the entire Lower East Side!

Many thanks to EV Grieve reader Marjorie Ingall for passing along the following shot taken yesterday outside Doughnut Plant on Grand Street...

"Doughnut Plant was too crowded with Mother's Day noshers for me to ask for an explanation, but it smelled awesome," she said...



Fortunately, her kids were on-hand to help subdue this beast with sticks! Because this could have been ugly!

Watch Paul Richard install his Shepard Fairey addition

We pointed out the Paul Richard addition to the Shepard Fairey mural on the Bowery and Houston the other day....




...it has since been removed/stolen...

And now a reader sent along a link to Richard installing the sign....

Reminders tonight: Learn how NYU may really take over the East Village in the next 20 years

From the GVSHP website:

On Monday, May 10 there will be a public hearing on NYU’s 2031 Expansion Plan in Community Board 3’s Zoning Committee. As Community Board 3 covers the East Village, the hearing and discussion will focus on how the plan will impact the area east of 4th Avenue. The NYU 2031 expansion plan currently calls for the university to add between 1 and 1.5 million sq. ft. of space in the East Village and other areas near to but just outside of its Washington Square ‘core’ over the next 20 years. NYU’s recently-completed 26 story dorm on East 12th Street — the tallest building in the East Village — is 175,000 sq. ft., thus the proposed 1-1.5 million sq. ft. is the equivalent of roughly six to nine more of these. However, unlike the ‘core’ area where NYU has given a great deal of specifics about what they are proposing to build there, in the East Village and other areas outside of the ‘core’ NYU has not provided any details about how, when, or where this massive amount of space might be distributed over the next 20 years.

It's in the Cooper Union Foundation Building, 7 E. Seventh St., the Peter Cooper suite, 8th floor.

Live above Momofuku Ssam Bar: For anyone who loves the smell of spicy honeycomb tripe salad

So at 207 Second Ave. at 13th Street above Momofuku Ssam Bar ... the renovations are finally complete... There are eight three bedroom apartments here that just hit the market... Per Streeteasy, the apartments start at $5,950 and go to $7,450 per month, plus one month free rent with a minimum 13 month lease "or best offer." Also: "All 3 bedrooms are separately keyed and ideal for sharing."

Not sure if that means the bedrooms or apartments are ideal for sharing...

Anyway, let's take a look at a unit going for $6,900:

“Completely Renovated. Be the first person to live here!”

... is is a completely renovated true 3BR located in the East Village. Each unit includes state of the art granite kitchens with custom tile backsplashes, maple cabinetry and stainless steel appliances including washer dryer, dishwasher, Pro Series range and microwave. Spacious marble baths with Kohler fixtures and shower doors. Select Oak floors, plenty of closet space, high ceilings, and roof deck with great views of the Empire state building.

Take a look...





No word whether complimentary bo ssäm is served upon signing the lease.

2 Cooper is ready to rent to you, or not

Over on Cooper Square and Fourth Street, the new banner on the east side of 2 Cooper Square says that Spring Rentals are here! (A different sign went up on the south side in early April.) And there's a Web site!



But! When you get to the site... you actually learn that it's summer rentals...



...and you can register to receive information...

No parking in front of the Novogratz-designed penthouse home

New developments at 238 E. Fourth St. near Avenue B... we have the address up on the wall now...



...along with a No Parking sign on the garage door for the toy car...



Of course, not everyone is paying that much attention yet. Wait 'till your ass gets towed, buddy!



Previously on EV Grieve:
Home with Novogratz-designed penthouse now in full view

Earlier.

Welcome ... sit back, relax and enjoy the show

Then, like before last week!


Now!



Previously on EV Grieve:
Then what?: The Mars Bar gets a paint job

Passing the torch?: The Rent on Kent truck parks next to the Christodora House

I saw the Rent on Kent truck tool around Tompkins Square Park yesterday... perhaps scouting for some "arty, young Lower East Side-type professionals" ... and, in a nice touch, the truck later parked on Ninth Street at Avenue B next to the Christodora House...

A Rip Con production on the Bowery

I continue to obsess over watch the retail space in 52E4, the 15 stories of condo on the Bowery near Fourth Street... more lease/rent/buy/anything! signs went up Friday...



...Looking at the new signs, I think this space would give me some pause...if you want to read into it... Rip Con? Rip Co?



Of course, I still pay my ConEd bill every month.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Looking at 52E4's commercial space, and that cake no one ate

Boutique on Bowery possibly opening today; new lease signs appear at 52E4

Two minutes on 11th Street and Second Avenue

Russell Simmons arriving in his chauffeured ride for a stop at Liquitera...



...and an exuberant Chelsea fan drinking a pint... part of a crowd moving from Nevada Smith's to Lunasa...

Early word on Mast

The used book store opened yesterday on Avenue A between Fifth Street and Fourth Street...



And the store is not called (regretfully?) THINGS WITH WORDS AND PICTURES IN THEM THAT ARE NOT GLOWING RECTANGLES or Off Track Books or Better Books Than Those Sold By That Crazy Sassmonster In Front Of The Old Methadone Clinic Down The Street Who Threatened My Girlfriend After She Laughed At His Sea Shell Chandelier...

Anyway, people who shopped here yesterday have good things to say...
EV Grieve reader BaHa said, "Not just art and photography, good selection of fiction. Picked up an Edith Wharton I had wanted for 30% off cover. Nice people, too."

And from another reader:

I bought an hp lovecraft book and "all the pretty horses." They were around $6 each. Curated I think in this case means "classics" or well known or essential reading. Which is kind of nice as long as they have more of a more recently published selection. I asked them what the store was called and they said "mast."

Previously on EV Grieve:
More on the Avenue A used bookstore

Paul Richard sign removed from Shepard Fairey mural

Yesterday!



Today!



Previously on EV Grieve:
Paul Richard asks that you do not tag Shepard Fairey's mural

The problems with selling stuff out of converted bread trucks

The Daily News today has a piece on NY artist Marco who is now selling his wares from a refurbished bread truck:

"[T]hings don't always go smoothly.

On a recent night, Marco parked his truck on the lower East Side, drawing quite a bit of unwanted attention.

Hordes of drunken revelers stopped by, expecting to order food.

"They wanted shawarma, falafel," Marco said. "They want meat patties and pizzas."