Friday, October 22, 2010

Reader intel: Percy's Tavern opening on Monday, most likely



EV Grieve reader TinTin2000 reports that Percy's Tavern will "most likely" open Monday on 13th Street and Avenue A... this is per a worker...And TinTin reports: "all the tables are now fully set with glasses and silverware and the bar is stocked."

Indeed, I've noticed this myself... So, I'm curious if this will be a nice neighborhood adult bar ... or a place for vomity tourists ...

Previously.

What it costs to live close enough to throw a stone to Union Square

Here we are at 137 E. 13th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue... Several rentals are on the market, such as this two bedroomer for $6,250 per month:

brand new - never lived before 2 super spacious 2 king size bedrooms with ample closet space 2 full baths washer dryer in the unit ss appliances kitchen with granite counter tops huge private deck ..tons of details ! only one apartment in each floor ! super private stone throw from union square!




Something to smile about



The photos of Mick Rock at Morrison Hotel on the Bowery. Karate Boogaloo has more details.

33 endangered, threatened sea turtles released into Gulf waters



Early last evening.


(And yes, I know the headline doesn't match the photo...)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Worst euphemism ever for penis

Where else?

Cute pixie seeking sponsors for kids on astor - m4w - 30 (East Village)

Date: 2010-10-21, 11:03PM EDT

You, petite, dark haired, super cute student asked me how i was doing. I stopped. You, nervous, repeated the question. Then: was I on my way to work? Yes. You wanted to tell me about sponsoring kids. I told you I was already sponsoring 3 through a different agency. I didn't have any more room on my roster.

I was wrong: there's plenty of room on my roster.

Wealthier people are to blame for NYC's bedbug problem



The Guardian UK checks in on NYC's bedbug infestation...Per the article:

Richard Cooper is a director of BedBug Central, an educational website and prevention company that last week organised a nationwide "summit" in Chicago, attended by about 400 of America's top bedbug experts. He also sits on Bloomberg's advisory board.

Over the last 10 years he has got to know the bloodsuckers very well, watching them multiply from virtually nothing to take hold of New York, and now other US cities such as Philadelphia, Detroit and Cincinnati. So what does he think of them?

"I'm fascinated by them. I respect them. They have extraordinary strategies for succeeding."

One reason often cited for the resurgence of the pest is the banning of the toxic chemical DDT, with which they had previously been brought under control. But Cooper believes the main cause of their success today is human ignorance. People are unaware of what to look for and miss the early signs, allowing the bedbugs to establish themselves and spread throughout a dwelling. Part of the problem is the assumption that infestation is confined to poor neighbourhoods with dirty and crowded living spaces.

Wrong, says Cooper, who is taking a PhD in the impact of bedbugs on low-income communities. The bedbug invasion began among the wealthy and middle classes, where frequent international travel for work and/or leisure allowed the insects to penetrate salubrious homes via luggage.


[Image: Photomontage by Guardian imaging/Getty]

Why Sin Sin is celebrating next Thursday





Per @sinsin_leopard. As East Village Feed noted: "Celebrate, indeed."

(Tweet via Neighborhoodr)

Previously on EV Grieve:
'The neighborhood will not rest until you are gone and Sin Sin’s license is revoked'

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

Think outside the bug



Bedbug artist Samuel Mark shares this photo from in front of the Taco Bell on 14th Street...

L.E.S. Jewels returns to Tompkins Square Park


In April, as Bob Arihood reported Joel Pakela, a.k.a., L.E.S Jewels, was arrested and charged for assault and resisting arrest. He was sentenced in early summer, and since then, has been staying in the Eric M. Taylor Center (EMTC) at Rikers. He was released yesterday... and as this photo by Bob from shows, he has returned to Tompkins Square Park ... where some people are curious about what kind of reception he receives.

More details on Halloween night protest/fiesta in Tompkins Square Park


Longtime East Village activist/photojournalist John Penley passed along more details about a Halloween evening protest in Tompkins Square Park:

On Halloween there will be a Protest/Fiesta in Tompkins Square Park to make some noise and ask the question, Whose Fukin Park? Unelected Real Estate/Yuppie/NYU Student lovin members of Community Board 3 have decided they want cops with sound meters and much fewer music and cultural events in the Park next year.


It will take place roughly 7 p.m. to midnight... and at that hour: "At Midnight we will go to the Apt. of the person behind this."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Movement afoot to limit the number of concerts in Tompkins Square Park

[Star Fucking Hipsters Photo by John Penley]

A slice of Sunshine for rent on the Bowery

BoweryBoogie is keeping tabs on 245 Bowery at Stanton Street, soon to be home to a tapas eatery possibly, regrettably, named "SRO." (Speaking of BoweryBoogie, he has more details on this site today too.)

Meanwhile, the space at 241 Bowery that formerly housed part of the Bari empire is on the market... The Sunshine Hotel — one of the remaining Skid Row Bowery holdouts — hangs on upstairs...



It's a massive space — 5,000 square feet...and the number on the "for rent" sign is for "A Consolidated Auctioneers & Liquidators Incorporated," listed at 240 Bowery, home of the other Bari stores across the way...



And so the old Bowery remains on the clock. But how much time has the Bowery of Olde have left? And what will go into this big space? The Marc Jacobs Bowery Flagship?

The Theater For The New City Building is a good investment, probably


The Theater For The New City Building went up in 2001 at 10th Street and First Avenue... well, no reason to get into all that ... On Tuesday, a new two-bedroom home hit the market:

2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms GEM! Tucked away ,you'll find a meticulously design home in one of the most unique boutique condos in the East Village. This expansive and flexible floor plan allows you to live an open-loft lifestyle with all the comforts of a traditional apartment. The sponsor has upgraded the unit with raydoor wall dividers, new hardware and a granite fireplace to sweeten the deal. Both Master and 2nd bedroom are of extremely generous size with and cavernous closets allow for plenty of storage throughout the apartment. Your balcony faces north right of the living room with a quaint and classic East Village view.

Etc., etc., etc.




And it's going for $1.599 million.

I looked at the sales history of this unit on Streeteasy...

2/11/2003 — Previous Sale recorded for $677,500.

02/15/2008 — Previous Sale recorded for $995,000.

10/19/2010 — Listed by Corcoran at $1,599,000.

If my math is correct, which isn't usually the case, then the place has gone up in price 136 percent in seven years...Even with some new "raydoor wall dividers" and stuff... that's quite a jump....

[Top photo via Flickr]

Coming to 194 Avenue A: Mexican restaurant



That's the word from EV Grieve reader tintin2000, who was walking by and asked a worker on the scene.

Per tintin2000: "I thought it was going to be a bar cause it had a big bar in the space, but they said it is going to be a Mexican Restaurant. I asked if it will be overpriced ... and they said no — authentic Mexican and cheap."



A lot of work is going into the former Raven space here... Also, In May, the CB3/SLA committee denied their application for a liquor license for a Mexican eatery doing business as El Camion III Inc.

A reader request: "WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE SIDEWALK SEATING AT DBGB???”

Well! I do take requests! And! It just so happened that I walked by last evening.... and the DBGB sidewalk cafe was up!





Read the previous 10, 11 posts on this topic here.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

This headline is temporarily out of order


From the Post:

Only 26 percent of New York City voters want Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run for president in 2012, according to a poll released Wednesday. The Marist College poll found that nearly two-thirds of people in the Big Apple -- 64 percent -- want him to stay on the sidelines.

Throw up your love


Missed Connections, for sure...

Your friend was passed out - you wanted the ride - m4w - 30 (East Village)

Date: 2010-10-20, 12:43PM EDT

Saturday 1am, you were 3 girls, 1 of which wasn't feeling well. I'm one of the 3 guys that were waiting for you to get in the car to take you home, but your friend started throwing up.
I'd love to get to know you.

Looking for a shred of truth on Ninth Street



My Coney sends along this shot from Ninth Street at First Avenue.

I dunno... Leftover from the Conflux festival? A belated statement about Enron? UFOs? Random act of shredding violence against VW Rabbits? Need some answers here, people!

No Five Guys for 171 Avenue A, but the fishmonger is back — and with a Plan B



So, there won't be a Five Guys coming to 171 Avenue A. (However, we're certain to see them pop up somewhere else in the East Village.) After that post, a tipster said that the fishmonger was coming back...

Indeed, Keith Masco confirms that he is moving forward with his plans for Sea on A in this space despite his last go-around with CB3.

A quick recap!

At the April CB3/SLA meeting, the committee approved a full-liquor license (within a resolution area) for Masco's seafood market/restaurant/high-end cocktail bar at 171 Avenue A.

Masco will sell fresh fish in the front of the space during the day ... with room for 48 diners in the back along with a bar selling specialty cocktails.

However, the full CB3 rejected the plans. So it was back to the CB3/SLA in June ... and they denied his applications.


Via e-mail, I asked Masco if he was amending his original plan that the CB3 denied.

"We are going ahead exactly as planned. I see no reason to bow to the communists at the community board. My business plan is perfect, it is exactly what the vast majority of residents here want and need."

And if CB3 says no?

"If the SLA doesn't see it the same way, I will be locked into a ten-year lease anyway. So if that be the case, I will give the under-represented and underage residents something they don't have — an all ages 24-7 diner/arcade. Having raised two children here, I know there is absolutely nothing for these kids to do, and by kids I mean even 18-20 year olds, whom despite having thier own apts, can't even hang in the park after midnite. We would have an entire dessert bar and juice bar as well. It will also be a great place for all those AA people who can now hang in an alcohol-free bar."

9th Precinct community topics: Diablo Royale, bike lanes



I commend anyone who takes the time to attend the various community meetings... and Jill did so last night at the 9th Precinct's Monthly confab....

A few highlights via Blah Blog Blah:

• "There was a complaint about Diablo Royale, the crowds, noise and violations of their agreement to not use the backyard after 11pm."

• "There was discussion about the bike lanes on 1st and 2nd Avenues. The police explained that they are distributing pamphlets and issuing summons to everybody who isn't following the rules".


Lordy, we may have to issue rewards to anyone who receives one of these pamphlets... In fact, I may set my bike on fire while riding on the sidewalk up and down Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue just to get one...

We're still in a recession

This and the dumplings special at Vanessa's confirms it.

Oh, and $2,100 for a one bedroom apartment? Hate to see it we weren't in a recession...



At 10th Street and Avenue A.