Art around the Park, sort of

Tompkins Square Park via EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams.

Where's the Bowery Beef?

As we first reported back in January, a roast beef sandwich shop — the Boston-based Harrison's — is moving into the Bowery Poetry Club. Fork in the Road noted yesterday that the eatery will be called Bowery Beef. And they'll sell books and other printed media too. We asked one of the owners, Ray LeMoine, a few questions via e-mail:

This is your first restaurant venture. What was it about opening a cafe in the Bowery Poetry Club that appealed to you?

It's a space dedicated to literature. As a non-profit stage, Bowery Poetry Club is all-ages. Nice people involved.

How much of your space will be devoted to books/print media? (Newspapers too?)

Probably a shelf of newspapers, magazines and some books. Maybe an iPad app jukebox (Joke! re: iPad!).

Your opinion of the 2011 version of the Bowery as opposed to say, the Bowery from 10 years ago?

Now you can catch a Chinatown bus to anywhere for cheap.

The NY Post declared that the Bowery was "out" for 2011. Any concerns about that?

Yes.

Are you downplaying the Boston angle here?

Maybe. I don't really know. Go Sox!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Bowery Poetry Club to get literary cafe, roast beef

Bookstore-cafe wanted for the Bowery Poetry Club

Fork in the Road had more on the new venture yesterday. Find that article here.

About those Mars Bar rumors

Oh lordy, we've heard so many Mars Bar rumors of late... We won't even repeat most of them... Among other rumors:

• The bar was closing for good this past Sunday.
• The bar stopped putting in orders for beer delivery last week.
• The bar is on a month-to-month lease, which is paid through February.

There was a little more hysteria involving the video shoot/farewell party ad for Saturday afternoon making the rounds earlier this week...

The reality is, no one really knows what's happening here... and if owner Hank Penza knows, then he's not telling anyone...

EMTs escort LES Jewels from Ray's

The NYPD and FDNY EMTs were called to Ray's where L.E.S. Jewels had collapsed yesterday afternoon around 3, Bob Arihood notes.

Witnesses said that the Ray's counter person had called 911 several times earlier because Jewels had allegedly accosted and threatened a customer inside the store.

As Bob's photo shows, EMTs removed the restrained and unresponsive L.E.S. Jewels from the store and took him to a hospital.

And here's a slice of the CBGB pizza

Last Friday, I mentioned that Two Boots on Bleecker was introducing a new CBGB slice. I stopped by to try a slice after work. Sold out!

Anyway, finally remembered to swing by to try again...

I haven't had any slices from Two Boots in a good long time... and I was surprised by how much I liked this one...

Previously on EV Grieve:
2011, the year punk pizza broke: Two Boots introducing the CBGB slice

Squirrels in Tompkins Square Park — real and frozen

[Via EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams]

{Courts of EV Grieve reader BaHa]

6:04 p.m, East Fourth Street, Feb. 3

Prep work for filming "The Last Quartet."

The song remains the same: Physical Graffiti latest thrift store to shutter

We've heard the rumors that Physical Graffiti was calling it quits on St. Mark's Place... We saw the owners packing up the vintage clothing store on Monday... The Local East Village has the scoop:

The clothing store is closing its doors after 16 years because of the bad economy, but will re-open in March as a loose leaf tea shop under a slightly different name – Physical Graffi-tea – and the same management.

“It’s so sad but there is just no market for the clothes,” said Ilana Malka, 45, the store’s owner.

I've head this from many people: The new generation moving into the East Village — in general! — isn't interested in unique, vintage clothing...

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village vintage stores doomed?

More vintage doom: Beauty Crisis is closing

Other closings:

Atomic Passion has closed

Monk Thrift Shop on Avenue B

Atomic Passion on Ninth Street

O Mistress Mine on 11th Street

Andy's Chee-Pees on St. Mark's Place

Fab 208 is moving into a smaller space on Seventh Street

532 East Fifth Street looking blue — and green

When we last looked in on the construction at 532 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B ... it went something like this:



And yesterday, we received a comment on our previous post from July titled The Greenpointing of East Fifth Street continues. The commenter, likely the real-estate agent for 532, wrote (slightly edited):

"We would of loved to save the brownstone that was there. The owners would of as well. As a matter of fact, they wanted to. The foundation had serious issues and wasn't economicly [sic] feasible. So we salvaged all we could. The cornice was restored and hung on a building in Staten Island that's built during the same period. It can be viewed on DOORtoDOORrealty website — 60-62 Vanduzer. Please update your photos from those stark images that are posted on this blog. I know its hard to keep all happy. But we do proceed with the enviroment [sic] in mind."

Fair enough... here our some new shots of the work in progress...

In the end, it will be a six-story, 10-unit building. In fact, there's even a website with more details, such as it's green ...

No prices just yet for these units.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Beaming up on Fifth Street

Demolition on East Fifth Street

On the way: A five-story apartment building for Fifth Street

I woke up dreaming

I'm please to post some streetscenes captured by East Village resident Clotilde Testa. They were all taken around the neighborhood with a 1959 Lubitel 2 camera.

For more on Clo, please visit here.

[Headline inspiration via]

Priciest pad at 123 Third Ave. hits the market; private greenhouse included

Yesterday, the most expensive home in 123 Third Avenue appeared on Streeteasy. The penthouse features 7.5 rooms: 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms — 2,334 square feet in all. And it's yours for $4.5 (plus change!) million.
A few more details via Corcoran:

Apartment Features
• North, South, East and West exposures
• Balcony, Greenhouse, Roof deck, Terrace, Full city view, Full skyline view, Partial river view, Floors - hardwood, Light - excellent, Great closet space, Washer/dryer

And, most important, you're just steps away from the best that East Union Square has to offer... like the Four Loko at Robin Raj!

Where to go on a first date in the East Village

A harmless enough question over at Chowhound (via Eater)

First Date, East Village, Degustation?
I am going on a first date and trying to keep it in the East Village or close. I'm looking at Degustation - I like the fact that it is a very different with cool food, but not in love with ordering a $75 tasting menu (I've read the 5 course really isn't enough food) on a first date as it could look like I'm trying to hard and also make the date feel a bit uncomfortable. Does anyone have any recommendations for a spot either in or close to the East Village that's a good spot for a date? Thanks!

Well? You people live here. Where would you go on a first date? (And the above scenario? Ulk.)

Today's forecast: 80 percent chance of confetti

Yesterday on Second Street near Avenue B. Looks like snow, but it's actually confetti or some important shredded documents...

[Thanks to EV Grieve reader @nsanchis for the photo!]

Today in subtle Super Bowl party ads

At Amsterdam Billiards over on Fourth Avenue and 11th Street.

The trash sculpture of East Fourth Street

Rite Aid looking forward to spring

Because then the druggery on First Avenue and Fifth Street won't have to hear about snowy or icy sidewalks from residents... one of whom sent a note this afternoon describing an icy patch on the Fifth Street side of the shop...

When I arrived later, the walk was clear ...

... though the crew could use a little help with salt distribution...

Watching Verizon lay some cable

From EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams this afternoon on Avenue B between 10th Street and Ninth Street...

Ice pics of the day (so far!)

A reader sends along these shots from 14th Street near First Avenue...

More fun to look at than walk in... or something...

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

Why a 31-year veteran of the LES is moving to Iowa (The New York Times)

A class war in Little Italy? (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Subway scenes from yesteryear (Stupefaction)

East River relocates to Houston and Allen? (Runnin' Scared)

Queens neighborhood where Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald and other prominent African-Americans lived now a historic district (Curbed)

Inside the new Italian cafe on East Houston near Norfolk (BoweryBoogie)

F Train woes this a.m. (Gothamist)

The return of Freddy's in Brooklyn (NYPress)

Staten Island Chuck sees early spring, doesn't bite Bloomy (NYPost)

You likely won't be able to blame NYU for 35 Cooper Square's destruction

The chatter about the future of 35 Cooper Square all leads to one place: DORM.

Well! The NYU Local asked NYU spokesperson John Beckman about the space:

No, we’re not buying the Cooper Square property.

It’s interesting—before our [2031] planning effort, and the strategy for developing the superblocks, this is the kind of opportunity we might have pursued. And if we are ultimately unsuccessful with the plan for the superblocks we are bringing through the City approvals process, this is the kind of nearby property — even though controversial — that we’d be led to consider as an option.