Hmm...not open tonight....No sign about a holiday, per usual.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Rosario Dawson's mom wants to return to 13th Street
From Page Six today:
The mother of "Sin City" actress Rosario Dawson is trying to move back into the East 13th Street tenement she turned into a "squat" 25 years ago -- but the tenants don't want her as a neighbor.
Isabel Dawson moved out of the building two years ago, having feuded with the other occupants of the "squat." Rosario's father, Greg Dawson, who is separated from Isabel, still lives in the tenement along with her handicapped uncle.
Isabel -- who broke into the abandoned tenement with Greg when they were both 21 (and Rosario was 6) and installed plumbing and electrical wiring -- feels she's entitled to move back in, despite all the bitterness from past squabbles. Residents say they are scared.
And what's with the "quotation marks" around "squat?"
[Photo by Roger Wong/INFGoff.com via the Post]
Angelina Jolie trashed!
Second Avenue and Fourth Street last night...
Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village Cathedral stars alongside Angelina Jolie in 'Salt'
Friday, August 6, 2010
EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition
When Campbell Soup wrote to Andy Warhol (Letters of Note, via BoingBoing)
The Grumbler considers the fab (and fake?) abs ads (The Grumbler)
Selling 341-343 Bowery in 1954 (BoweryBoogie)
Tales from Times Square (Stupefaction, and This Ain't the Summer of Love has the NSFW Times Square short film....Rump Humpers?)
More pics from '96-2000 (Flaming Pablum)
Catch Goggla and other artists at the Hester Street Fair (The Gog Log)
A new business has already called dibs on the former Beauty Crisis space on Seventh Street...
And would someone please give me a hand with this? Thanks!
Pretzel logic
So... you remember that little controversy about the pretzel-ad campaign....like the one seen here on First Avenue and First Street...
NYC the Blog had been in touch with the pretzel people who said...
"Based on the feedback received from you and other bloggers, we will be taking the ‘You can never be too thin’ ads down."
The company has also apologized.
So they replaced the ad. And what did they replace it with?
Um.
Thanks to EV Grieve reader K. Knipfing for the photos.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Into thin air: Pretzel maker removing 'too thin' ads
NYC the Blog had been in touch with the pretzel people who said...
"Based on the feedback received from you and other bloggers, we will be taking the ‘You can never be too thin’ ads down."
The company has also apologized.
So they replaced the ad. And what did they replace it with?
Um.
Thanks to EV Grieve reader K. Knipfing for the photos.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Into thin air: Pretzel maker removing 'too thin' ads
Looking at 120 St. Mark's Place
The news this week that Benjamin Shaoul must remove "four seventh-story cabinlike structures" (as the Times described it) atop 514-516 East Sixth St. prompted us to take a look at another one of his high-profile properties — 120 St. Mark's Place.
There's a long, ugly history here... which has been thoroughly documented by Bob Arihood at Neither More Nor Less through the years. (This link will take you to all the history here... the address, of course, was once home to the Mosiac Man.... and known as The Cave.)
In any event, we looked at the public records on this address via the Department of Buildings... according to the site, there is a "closure/padlock" order for the address...
In addition, according to the DOB, the address doesn't have a Certificate of Occupancy ... not even a temporary certificate of occupancy...
The most recent Certificate of Occupancy, a temporary order, expired in November 2008.
Also, there are complaints about "illegal hotel rooms in residential buildings."
In total, the DOB has 84 complaints listed here since June 2006.
Meanwhile, we took at look at recent rental listings for 120 St. Mark's Place.
In July, a one-bedroom unit on the sixth floor rented for $2,600. Per the description:
According to StreetEasy, agents rented a three-bedroom unit here for $4,500 in July 2009. This apartment was described as:
Finally, if you're new to this story, here's a little more background. As Bob Arihood noted, in exchange for renting two-and-a-half floors in the building to a community facility (a nonprofit, or doctor's office or religious organization), the DOB reportedly would give the OK to the landlord to create an addition that would be larger than normally allowed at this location.
In the last few years, the groundfloor business has been leased to a tattoo/piercing salon.
For more background:
St. Marks Squatters Getting the Boot (Curbed)
Rent Wars: Boy Emperor Gets In On East Village Harassment (Curbed)
Boy Developer Ben Shaoul Wants to Live Forever (The Observer)
Cave collective collects buyouts as Buildings tries to stop cave-in (The Villager)
Stop-work still in effect at former artists’ squat (The Villager)
There's a long, ugly history here... which has been thoroughly documented by Bob Arihood at Neither More Nor Less through the years. (This link will take you to all the history here... the address, of course, was once home to the Mosiac Man.... and known as The Cave.)
In any event, we looked at the public records on this address via the Department of Buildings... according to the site, there is a "closure/padlock" order for the address...
In addition, according to the DOB, the address doesn't have a Certificate of Occupancy ... not even a temporary certificate of occupancy...
The most recent Certificate of Occupancy, a temporary order, expired in November 2008.
Also, there are complaints about "illegal hotel rooms in residential buildings."
In total, the DOB has 84 complaints listed here since June 2006.
Meanwhile, we took at look at recent rental listings for 120 St. Mark's Place.
In July, a one-bedroom unit on the sixth floor rented for $2,600. Per the description:
VILLAGE DUPLEX WITH EMPIRE STATE VIEWS and Terrace!
UNIQUE EAST VILLAGE GEM! DUPLEX one bedroom PENTHOUSE apartment features NEWLY RENOVATED KITCHEN and Bathroom, OUTDOOR SPACE with EMPIRE STATE BUILDING VIEWS, and washer and dryer in the unit! Act Fast...
According to StreetEasy, agents rented a three-bedroom unit here for $4,500 in July 2009. This apartment was described as:
LIVE IN A BRAND NEW THREE BEDROOM DIRECTLY ON SAINT MARKS. Apartment Features: Washer/Dryer Stainless Steel Appliances Marble BathroomNew Fixtures Balcony and Terrace Spacious Bedrooms CALL NOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! THIS IS A GREAT DEAL AND DEFINITELY WILL NOT LAST LONG!
Finally, if you're new to this story, here's a little more background. As Bob Arihood noted, in exchange for renting two-and-a-half floors in the building to a community facility (a nonprofit, or doctor's office or religious organization), the DOB reportedly would give the OK to the landlord to create an addition that would be larger than normally allowed at this location.
In the last few years, the groundfloor business has been leased to a tattoo/piercing salon.
For more background:
St. Marks Squatters Getting the Boot (Curbed)
Rent Wars: Boy Emperor Gets In On East Village Harassment (Curbed)
Boy Developer Ben Shaoul Wants to Live Forever (The Observer)
Cave collective collects buyouts as Buildings tries to stop cave-in (The Villager)
Stop-work still in effect at former artists’ squat (The Villager)
Two old-school newsstands that are still holding on
Yesterday, Jeremiah noted the demise of another old-style newsstand near Union Square...
Which reminds me of the recent photos that I took...
Broadway near Astor Place...
... and 23rd Street and Park Avenue South...
Appreciate them while you can ... soon they, too, will be described as "dull, blank box, another ticky-tacky nothing."
Jeremiah has more on vanishing newsstands here.
Which reminds me of the recent photos that I took...
Broadway near Astor Place...
... and 23rd Street and Park Avenue South...
Appreciate them while you can ... soon they, too, will be described as "dull, blank box, another ticky-tacky nothing."
Jeremiah has more on vanishing newsstands here.
First casualty in the FiDi bikini bar wars
Back in February, we inexplicably wrote a post about the revamped Hook & Ladder II in the Financial District...
...featuring the "Hook and Ladder II bikini bartenders," one of whom in the ad looked a lot like Mariah Carey in a firefighter's uniform ...
Anyway! I'm not sure when this happened, but the Hook and Ladder II is now closed. And their phone has been "temporarily disconnected." Let's just say that the place hasn't been open the last three weeks.
They were maybe foolish to take on the nearby Nassau Bar, where the bartenders look like extras from a Russ Meyer's movie....
[Not actual Nassau Street bartenders!]
Anyway, for some reason, I will now share this story.
So.
Shortly after HALII's grand reopening, I walked in. To see just how cheesy it would be. Never been in the place before. I walked up the stairs, and spotted an empty bar with some dude in front of the taps. A terrible mistake had been made. I quickly turned around to leave.
Wait! he said.
I must have looked like some sadass middle management type in need of an after-work jolly. Maybe I am! He called out a woman's name.
Mary? Stephanie? Linda? Something fairly common, and not like a bikini bar stage name. Cinnamon. Diamond. Isis. Illusion.
Let's call her Mary. Mary peeks around the corner of the back room. The fellow makes a motion for her to come behind the bar. In a very bashful manner, she gingerly walked her way to the bar, zipping up a baggy hoodie to cover her bikini. The scene struck me like a sister whose older brother was making her do something she really didn't want to do, like tend bar in a bikini.
This was her first day on the job. No kidding? She was nice. She smiled. She had braces. She was probably 24. And she had never tended bar before. The fellow explained that they were out of ice, so any mixed drinks would have to be served warm. I ordered a bottle of beer. I watched as he explained the finer points of bartending, such as how to make a gin and tonic.
A few entertaining minutes later, we all got to talking. The fellow and Mary were old friends. We discussed the news of the day. Sports. Movies. Her favorite all-time movie was "The Dark Knight."
So it went. About 15 minutes later, I left. I wished them all the best. They said to be sure to come back and bring all my friends. I promised that I would, though I don't really have any friends who would ever come here.
Previously on EV Grieve:
In the Financial District, Mariah Carey helps usher in the start of the bikini bar war
...featuring the "Hook and Ladder II bikini bartenders," one of whom in the ad looked a lot like Mariah Carey in a firefighter's uniform ...
Anyway! I'm not sure when this happened, but the Hook and Ladder II is now closed. And their phone has been "temporarily disconnected." Let's just say that the place hasn't been open the last three weeks.
They were maybe foolish to take on the nearby Nassau Bar, where the bartenders look like extras from a Russ Meyer's movie....
[Not actual Nassau Street bartenders!]
Anyway, for some reason, I will now share this story.
So.
Shortly after HALII's grand reopening, I walked in. To see just how cheesy it would be. Never been in the place before. I walked up the stairs, and spotted an empty bar with some dude in front of the taps. A terrible mistake had been made. I quickly turned around to leave.
Wait! he said.
I must have looked like some sadass middle management type in need of an after-work jolly. Maybe I am! He called out a woman's name.
Mary? Stephanie? Linda? Something fairly common, and not like a bikini bar stage name. Cinnamon. Diamond. Isis. Illusion.
Let's call her Mary. Mary peeks around the corner of the back room. The fellow makes a motion for her to come behind the bar. In a very bashful manner, she gingerly walked her way to the bar, zipping up a baggy hoodie to cover her bikini. The scene struck me like a sister whose older brother was making her do something she really didn't want to do, like tend bar in a bikini.
This was her first day on the job. No kidding? She was nice. She smiled. She had braces. She was probably 24. And she had never tended bar before. The fellow explained that they were out of ice, so any mixed drinks would have to be served warm. I ordered a bottle of beer. I watched as he explained the finer points of bartending, such as how to make a gin and tonic.
A few entertaining minutes later, we all got to talking. The fellow and Mary were old friends. We discussed the news of the day. Sports. Movies. Her favorite all-time movie was "The Dark Knight."
So it went. About 15 minutes later, I left. I wished them all the best. They said to be sure to come back and bring all my friends. I promised that I would, though I don't really have any friends who would ever come here.
Previously on EV Grieve:
In the Financial District, Mariah Carey helps usher in the start of the bikini bar war
Al Diwan ready to yield to "Gaelic gastro pub" on Avenue A
Looks like Al Diwan on Avenue A and 13th Street has closed up... In June, the Al Diwan folks received permission to transfer their license... as we reported, this space will become home to Percy's Tavern, a "Gaelic gastro pub." You can read all about that here. Percy's owner, Larry Watson, has lived in the East Village for 25 years, arriving here in 1986 to work as a building super on 11th Street and Second Avenue...
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Dallas gets a Beauty Bar
The Beauty Bar mini-chain continues to expand... coming soon to Dallas. Aside from the original 14th Street location, the new addition brings the total to 11... The commenters there in Dallas don't seem too thrilled by the prospects, either...
Scenes from Second Avenue a little earlier today
From EV Grieve reader Blue Glass...
The convergence of Verizon and ConEd trucks near 13th Street...
...a traffic cop lurking behind the pay phone on 10th Street... ready to start writing tickets...
The convergence of Verizon and ConEd trucks near 13th Street...
...a traffic cop lurking behind the pay phone on 10th Street... ready to start writing tickets...
Into thin air: Pretzel maker removing 'too thin' ads
As you may recall last Thursday, we posted this photo from EV Grieve reader K. Knipfing ... pointing out the new make-us-feel-badly-about-our-bodies ad on the northeast corner of First Street and First Avenue...
NYC the Blog has been all over this too... even corresponding with the company:
And now!
The company has also apologized.
NYC the Blog has been all over this too... even corresponding with the company:
Perry Abbenante, Vice President of Marketing at Snack Factory LLC, maker of Pretzel Crisps, responded to an email request for comment shortly after, explaining that they have been monitoring the situation, and will be "making some adjustments to the campaign."
And now!
He just followed up, and informed NYC The Blog: "Based on the feedback received from you and other bloggers, we will be taking the ‘You can never be too thin’ ads down."
The company has also apologized.
[Update] Police investigating death on 14th Street
A reader notes that police are on the scene at 333 E. 14th St. According to the reader, there is a body on the sidewalk covered with a gray tarp. Witnesses say that the victim, a woman, may have jumped from the building. Police are on the scene and investigating.
The medical examiner and news crews arrived simualtanesouly, the reader said.
Update 8:27 p.m.: Two other readers were also on the scene... several people there are telling police that they saw the victim jump.
Update 9:15 a.m.: According to the Post, police said the death appears to be a suicide. The victim was 36.
(And some classy comments in the Post on this tragedy...)
Late night in front of Le Souk
A few weeks back, we noted some work and what not at the former Le Souk space on Avenue B... and, a tipster was curious why he or she saw people coming out of Le Souk at 4, 5, 6 a.m....
Now, the tipster has passed along a photo from the other night with the following note: "Le Souk 4.30 am. 18 people come out to smoke."
A little dark, of course (what, want the person to use a flash?)... but you can kind of see a group of people congregating in front of the Le Souk space...
Meanwhile, a walk by the Le Souk space revealed dozens of cigarette butts on the sidewalk out front... quite a few for in front of a shuttered business....
Anyway, as we've pointed out before, Le Souk still looks like a functioning restaurant at a quick glance...and the windows are covered with thick curtains... and what looks like a trash bag over the front-door window...
Anyway, there's probably a logical explanation for all this...
Previously.
Plus:
Is Le Souk still doing business on Avenue B?
Now, the tipster has passed along a photo from the other night with the following note: "Le Souk 4.30 am. 18 people come out to smoke."
A little dark, of course (what, want the person to use a flash?)... but you can kind of see a group of people congregating in front of the Le Souk space...
Meanwhile, a walk by the Le Souk space revealed dozens of cigarette butts on the sidewalk out front... quite a few for in front of a shuttered business....
Anyway, as we've pointed out before, Le Souk still looks like a functioning restaurant at a quick glance...and the windows are covered with thick curtains... and what looks like a trash bag over the front-door window...
Anyway, there's probably a logical explanation for all this...
Previously.
Plus:
Is Le Souk still doing business on Avenue B?
What's next for Avenue B and Second Street?
We've been keeping an eye on the long-dormant corner of Avenue B and Second Street for some time now...
In February, the CB3/SLA denied a request for a 3,000-square-foot bar/restaurant "with an occasional D.J." In January, Rebecca Marx at Fork in the Road reported that Beltrami Foods, an Italian restaurant, will open here, owned and operated, in part, by Cristiano Morroy.
Work continues on this space... and whatever it is... is gonna be huge...
...and the disco ball is still up at the old Butterfuly space at 14 Avenue B!
I asked Morroy if he was still aiming for an eatery/bar here... Via a Facebook message, he wrote, "no, unfortunately... we decided not to open the space on ave B. Someone else is opening."
No word just yet on what the new owners have in mind... but we'll find out...
Previously on EV Grieve:
3,000-square-foot bar/restaurant "with an occasional D.J." apparently moving forward on Avenue B
In February, the CB3/SLA denied a request for a 3,000-square-foot bar/restaurant "with an occasional D.J." In January, Rebecca Marx at Fork in the Road reported that Beltrami Foods, an Italian restaurant, will open here, owned and operated, in part, by Cristiano Morroy.
Work continues on this space... and whatever it is... is gonna be huge...
...and the disco ball is still up at the old Butterfuly space at 14 Avenue B!
I asked Morroy if he was still aiming for an eatery/bar here... Via a Facebook message, he wrote, "no, unfortunately... we decided not to open the space on ave B. Someone else is opening."
No word just yet on what the new owners have in mind... but we'll find out...
Previously on EV Grieve:
3,000-square-foot bar/restaurant "with an occasional D.J." apparently moving forward on Avenue B
Avenue B gets crucial new ATM
Speaking of Avenue B... a new ATM recently went in here near Houston...
...a sorely needed necessity since workers removed the ATM (or was it stolen?) from in front of Croxley's...
Meanwhile, at least 6-7 ATMs remain in the next two blocks...
We wrote a post on the Avenue B ATMs in March 2009... and, in the comments, Slum Goddess floated the bestest-ever theory on the proliferation of ATMs hereabouts:
You've been warned!
Previously on EV Grieve:
Avenue ATM (aka, how many stupid ATMs does one block need?)
...a sorely needed necessity since workers removed the ATM (or was it stolen?) from in front of Croxley's...
Meanwhile, at least 6-7 ATMs remain in the next two blocks...
We wrote a post on the Avenue B ATMs in March 2009... and, in the comments, Slum Goddess floated the bestest-ever theory on the proliferation of ATMs hereabouts:
These so called "ATM's" are obviously beings from a far away planet who have been studying earthlings habits for many many years now. They are multiplying and joining forces in preparation for the big takeover of earth.
You've been warned!
Previously on EV Grieve:
Avenue ATM (aka, how many stupid ATMs does one block need?)
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