Virage closed for renovations this week

EV Grieve reader ~evilsugar25 reports that Virage is closed on Seventh Street and Second Avenue...



The sign offers an explanation...

4:47 p.m., Orchard Street, Dec. 6

Photo courtesy of Shawn Chittle.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning edition

Dining at Polonia: "This place is not going to attract any douchebag crowds anytime soon, so don't fret" (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Motorino team planning eatery under the Sunshine Hotel (The Lo-Down)

A comprehensive history of Dry Dock and St. Brigid's (EV Transitions)

NYC in photos from different eras (Flaming Pablum)

5 things disappearing from New York (Blah Blog Blah)

The "ice pick bandit" has been apprehended (Runnin' Scared)

"Castle" on Canal Street (BoweryBoogie)

Taking a stand against NYU expansion (Gothamist)

Looking at Time Square's transition (Curbed)

Melanie has a shot of an @EVLambo competitor from earlier this year (East Village Corner)

Judging the Mr. Lower East Side pageant (Slum Goddess)

And the Times apparently didn't accept BaHa's online comment on the Seventh Street feature. We have accepted it:

"Ageist, youth-worshipping twaddle, standard issue for NYT reporting whenever it ventures downtown."

Tonight: Umbrella House Convenes

Bob Arihood hospitalized

Jefferson Siegel from The Villager and Daily News passed along the following information...

The East Village may not see Bob Arihood in front of Ray's for a while, or see updates to his blog, because Bob was hospitalized early Friday for an ongoing condition he's had for years. On Sunday doctors started running some tests and by early this coming week they should have a clearer diagnosis and be able to formulate a plan of treatment. Right now Bob doesn't want to name the hospital. We speak daily so I'll keep you posted on developments.

We wish Bob the best... and hope to see him back soon outside Ray's...

[Photo of Bob via The New York Times/Jessica Dimmock]

Miracles in real-estate listings: The two renovated apartments that look exactly alike

Last week, we pointed out the newly renovated apartments at 222 Avenue B were now on the market... Here's the listing...



And here's what the listing shows for the bathroom and living room...




This must be a popular interior look.... As an eagle-eyed reader notes, these very same photos are also used for a newly renovated Lower East Side apartment listed at CitiHabitats...



Either real estate agencies are using stock photos... or, perhaps, someone is using the wrong photos...

Anyway, not sure where those double-doors lead to at 222 Avenue B... just looks like one door to me...

Nuyorican Poets Café is expanding; plus, looking at the Big Doves mural next door

In its East Third Street report last Friday, The Wall Street Journal noted that Nuyorican Poets Café "is in the process of expanding its three upper floors with the help of a $500,000 grant received from the city. The money is going toward developing additional performance space, a classroom and a multimedia lab."



Meanwhile, in July 2009, I did a post about Ezo's Clash-inspired mural being painted over... granted, the mural was nicked up...still, as a Clash fan, I was sorry to see it go...




Anyway, been meaning to point out the new murals here. These arrived last summer... Excellent work from Big Doves...

Bowery Poetry Club opens a pop up shop for the holidays

The Bowery Poetry Club is now featuring a Pop Up Shop for artists and vendors through Dec. 24... Poet/artist Sam Jablon is coordinating ... He says the art exhibit part is almost filled. "We are looking for vendors to pay some rent, and sell their crafts/goods for the holiday season."

Interested vendors may contact Jablon at: samuel@samueljablon.com

Cooper Square Hotel ready for chilly reception

Winterizing at the Coop.

Meanwhile, as Jeremiah reported on Friday, there's rumor that the SoHo Grand Hotel team has bought the troubled Cooper Square Hotel.

More dessert for former Ben & Jerry's space?

Paper is up at the former Ben & Jerry's space on Third Avenue and NYU... which closed back in September, as Jeremiah reported. (Ben and Jerry's closed, not NYU.) There aren't any permits on file for this space... still, it appears some work has been going on here... Prime location.... Can't imagine that we're in for any surprises here... It has to be dessert related, don't you think?

No more Lil' Monsters on East 10th Street

Not sure exactly when Lil' Monsters, the pet care and animal rescue, shuttered at 279 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...


They opened last year around this time... I actually had to remove the post for a time. I was getting bombarded with e-mails and comments from people in North Carolina. For some reason, they seemed to think I owned the space and was responsible for kidnapping their pets. Seriously.

ConEd laying cable on Avenue B

Swung by 7B for a drink tonight... and Avenue B between Seventh Street and Sixth Street is closed right now... A ConEd worker said they were "replacing cable." I had a tough time finding a place to park my car because of this.*


*Kidding, Jesus! Kidding about driving, that is. I mean, ConEd is really working there.

This is the cat that allegedly attacked a New Jersey woman at McSorley's

Thanks to the reader who passed along this adorable YouTube link of Minnie at McSorley's... Previously.

3:57 p.m., Fourth Street, Dec. 5

Looking east to Avenue D.

Summer of Bedbugs moves into the Winter of Bedbugs

The other night on St. Mark's Place. By Samuel Mark.

Xoom holding a coat and cold weather clothing drive

From the EV Grieve inbox...

This coming week, Xoom, the smoothie shop on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, will be having a coat and cold weather clothing drive for the The Hetrick-Martin Institute. Hetrick provides free programs and services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender young people in New York City. Please bring gently worn or new coats, sweaters, hats, scarves, etc. to Xoom Monday-Friday and they will deliver them to Hetrick.

If you have any questions, you can call the store 212-505-9666 or e-mail Jennifer the owner at jenn@xoomjuice.com.

Lawsuit blockbusters! Cat scratch fever at McSorley's

The Post has this catty exclusive today....

A New Jersey woman has kicked up a feline fury at the 156-year-old McSorley's Old Ale House, by filing a lawsuit claiming she was viciously attacked by the venerable bar's pet cat and had to be hospitalized.

Cheryl Sibley, 53, of Hasbrouck Heights, says she suffered the mini-mauling in October 2009, according to papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court last week.

The suit doesn't say exactly how the terrible tabby made a meal of Sibley.

But the woman claims the "live animal" attack left her with "serious injuries" that required medical care, the court papers state.

Gothamist has more photos of Minnie.

[Minnie photo via the Post]

Paging Yukon Cornelius

Outside the Bean on First Avenue and Third Street.

Dear Mercedes-Benz owner,

Please move your car.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

People who use the bike lane

No shit

Third Avenue near 10th Street.