EV Grieve

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Copper Building now officially a gated community

Curbed had an update yesterday on everyone's favorite new condo — the Copper Building on Avenue B and 13th Street.... Per Curbed:

And as for the housing projects next door, the luxury building's way of dealing with those is to make buyers feel protected by sticking the lobby entrance behind a locked gate. Or at least that's how it looks to us. But don't worry, there' some balance to those menacing bars!

There's a calming "Zen garden" to greet those granted passage beyond the gates...

And here are some photos via Curbed...

For some reason, I have a feeling some people aren't feeling so Zen now while reading this...

Now on to much more pleasant things on Avenue B near 13th Street...

Marty Wombacher pays a visit to Mona's ....

Waiting for Martha Stewart at Eataly

Eataly is, of course, the biggest thing to happen at 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue since the Flatiron Building went up.... Yesterday, EV Grieve contributor Blue Glass happened by right when the Eatalys were waiting for the arrival of Martha Stewart.

Anyway! Speaking of quality food... check out the prices at the Chock full o' Nuts opening right next door to Eataly....

Cooper Square Hotel finds room for more outdoor seating

You may want to keep an eye on your luggage, though.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

[Updated] A bike-car collision on 14th and B?

A reliable source passes along word that there was another bike-car collision ... earlier this afternoon at 14th Street and Avenue B.... Anyone have any details?

Per a tipster:

I came by there about 5 minutes after the accident happened. It occurred on the Stuyvesant Town service road between bicycle and an Audi A6. The bicycle rider was a male in his early 20's, and the Audi driver appeared to be in his late 20's with a cast on his arm. The Audi's windshield was demolished from the bike rider going over the hood and hitting it, and the bike was damaged too. The biker didn't appear too hurt, as he had some gauze on his right arm, I believe was put on by a ST security guard.

Easy as: 3 units in 123 Third Ave. now in contract

Well, we barely even had time to look over the available units at 123 Third Avenue, that new tower of condo going up in East Union Square at 14th Street. (It's the one up there on the left — I get them mixed up too...).

Curbed just brought the news that the units were on the market back on Aug. 30 .... And now! A quick look at StreetEasy finds that three of the available homes are already in contract. Hmmm.....

Fear not if you were slow to act... 10 units remain for purchase, including the big honkin' penthouse for $3.7 million that provides unobstructed views of ConEd... and, presumably, our friends down at Robin Raj...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Living local: Here comes the 123 Third Ave. sales center!

[Top photo by Blue Glass]

Avenue A transformed into fraternity-sorority party for Diablo Royale Este's 'Boats 'N Hoes' bash

On Sunday night, Diablo Royale Este — home of the Hopsicle! — at 169 Avenue A was host to a party that attracted what one resident described as "swarms" of young adults.

By Monday morning, the EV Grieve inbox was filled with e-mails about the bash. Such as this one from a reader:

You may be hearing from other people about this already, but there are swarms of what appear to be college students trolling East 12th Street between A and B. From what I can hear, it sounds like they are all trying to find some party. They're ranging in age from late teens to early 20s, and they are loud and obnoxious. ... it is so depressing. Just heard a big, "WHOOOOO!" I never thought the East Village would become one big frat/sorority party. I moved here to get away from those people!

And!

Am I the only one in town and experiencing over 500 18-20 year olds who have literally taken over the sidewalks and three-block radius, as I write?? I came home at 11 and Diablo Royal is having some event that has packed the sidewalks and streets with young people screaming and breaking bottles. There is one cop car parked outside and no cops to be seen. It's INSANE HERE.

I called 911 to complain and the operator said "It's Labor Day." Then I went and found one cop who said "it's nearly over," but I have no idea what it is. Jason Bieber??? I've NEVER seen this many people in one place since attending Obama's inauguration in DC.

Several Royalegoers told a resident that Diablo Royale was hosting a Boats 'N Hoes party.

And you can see what the readers were talking about in the photos in this post....the line for Diablo Royale stretched south on Avenue A and wrapped around the corner on East 10th Street...

One tipster said that officers from the Ninth Precinct eventually broke up the party. Lt. Patrick Ferguson at the Ninth Precinct told me that "summonses were issued to the club — they over promoted an event."

Meanwhile, some neighbors who were were already upset with Diablo Royale Este since their Cinco de Mayo opening, are now fuming. Said one longtime resident:

"Our worst fears are being realized as Diablo is catering to and becoming a destination for young party folk."

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Last night at Diablo Royale Este

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

The first review of Diablo Royale Este is in!

Bean cab crash makes for a good photo opp

I saw this photo from the aftermath of Saturday night's crash in front of Bean at James Del, LTD (via Neighborhoodr).

One thing really stood out in this angle... what is that couple on the right doing?

Is this a good time for photos? Maybe they're tourists? Oh honey — look, here's one of you near where that cab drove into that coffee shop...

Public nuisance... or art?

EV Grieve contributor Blue Glass wonders if the eternal ConEd smokestack/roadblock on First Avenue and 10th Street will ever go away....

Meanwhile, another reader helpfully notes that this is actually an art installation by Paul Richard!

The Beekman... and the Beekman on Beekman

Old and new on Beekman Street downtown.

Meanwhile, was just to see if I could make the new Beekman Tower look old with a little filter trickery....hmmm

Osment!

Avenue A near 14th Street.

Previously.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

[Updated] 'Major car accident' reported on Third Avenue at Astor Place

We're getting reports of a "major car accident" on Third Avenue at Astor Place. According to a tweet from @twatan, "Cab hit someone, cab's windshield is cracked."

Photo via.

More details as they become available.

Updated 8:37 p.m. From @twatan: "One major injury. Pretty sure it was a male. He wasn't moving much. Not sure who is to blame."

Twist gets a Bob

BoweryBoogie reported the other day that Barry McGee's wall of tags was tagged on Houston and the Bowery ... Meanwhile, the Graffiti Friend of EV Grieve (GFOEVG) noted that, during the long weekend, another small tag was added to the wall...

Previously on EV Grieve:
What about Bob?

Report: Sin Sin nixes temporary memorial for shooting victim

Last week, 37-year-old Devin Thompson died from his injuries after being shot twice outside Sin Sin at the corner of East Fifth Street and Second Avenue on Aug. 22.

Today, Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo reports that Sin Sin's management nixed Thompson's sister's request to place a temporary memorial near the site of the deadly shooting.

Per the article:

The victim’s sister, Makeba Thompson, said that his family and friends wanted to simply hang flowers from a tree in front the nightclub as a temporary memorial to her brother.

But when she asked the club’s owner about adding the flowers, he asked her not to.

“He said we could do it anyway if we wanted to, but it will definitely bring negative attention to his establishment,” said Makeba Thompson, 41.

Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge owner Philip Quilter acknowledged that he requested the memorial not go up, explaining that it may offend neighbors who have complained about issues of violence and noise related to his establishment.

“I would think there would be a backlash from our neighborhood if there was a memorial put outside,” he said, noting that passersby have been calling members of his staff “murderers” and “killers” since the shooting occurred.

Previously on EV Grieve:
NYPD hosting meeting between Sin Sin and neighbors tonight

East Village noise wars new battlefront: Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge

Why the president of the East Fifth Street Block Association carries a baseball bat

Did the Bean reopen too soon?

Not a criticism, just a question. After the horrific crash late Saturday night, I talked with several people who were surprised to see the Bean reopened Sunday morning at First Avenue and Third Street... Given the gory details that I heard, I was surprised too... One of the most severely injured, 71-year-old Preston Krupin, was sitting inside the Bean...

I made note of the reopening on Sunday morning...

On Sunday morning, a woman walked by carrying flowers... which she laid on the street. "Someone needs to put flowers here," she said.

On Monday morning, I heard maybe a dozen people in about 20 minutes time make mention of the crash....

It seemed to become a ghoulish point of interest.

Tompkins Square Bagels has a new address

In July, I reported that , Christopher Pugliese would open Tompkins Square Bagels here at 165 Avenue A....

In recent weeks, things have changed a bit... He will now be opening shop — expected Nov. 1 — a few storefronts to the north...at 171 Avenue A... most recently the possible home of Keith Masco's fish market/eatery...

I'll tell you the story about the Why behind this address change soon enough...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Coming this fall to Avenue A: Tompkins Square Bagels

Epic note puts 440 E. Ninth St. on notice

Here's what it says:

"To those of you who disrespectfully leave your trash, broken glass and empty bottles on the roof, you are being monitored. Your cans clogged a drain which flooded the apartments next door during last week's rain. You are disgusting to let Jose and the other super clean up after your messes. Surrounding neighbors are complaining about you every week and are ready to comply with management and law enforcement and photograph you during your next rooftop excursion. Since you can not the enjoy the roof like respectable adults, we request that you stay off of it. Your skateboards are ruining the rooftop material, weakening it."

Stay off the roof or suffer consequences.

— Management, tenants.

Given the "fuck you all" written over the note, I'm guessing 440 hasn't seen the last of the rooftop skateboarding bashes.