Kansas City Royals

Blockbusters: Union Market coming to 240 East Houston; Discovery Wines looking for new home

240 E. Houston has been on the block now for several months... and there's a taker. EV Grieve reader RyanAvenueA notes that signs just went up here for the Brooklyn-based Union Market.

Meanwhile, Discovery Wines will not be renewing their lease. Their last day is May 31 in this space at 10 Avenue A. Tim at Discovery Wines recently told me this:

"We're not going anywhere — we're staying in this neighborhood for the long haul. And while we have no concrete plans to move into a new space, we are aware of the options in the immediate area. Discovery Wines is a thriving retail shop with an established loyal customer base in the best neighborhood in NYC —" you can count on us to continue to serve our customers on lower Avenue A for many years to come."

Meanwhile, work continues on the upper levels of 240 E. Houston, which caught fire last July.

That was fast!: Last Friday a rally at 35 Cooper Square; today, a sidewalk shed

Jeremiah's Vanishing NY has the scoop on the scaffolding that arrived today at 35 Cooper Square.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Something 28,998 square feet or so coming to Cooper Square (and goodbye Cooper 35 Asian Pub?)

Doom and doomer: More of Cooper Square primed for development

Cooper 35 Asian Pub part of development deal on Cooper Square

Cooper 35 Asian Pub putting up a fight before being torn down

[Photo via Jeremiah's Vanishing NY]

Report: Fire destroys apartment in the Jacob Riis Houses

Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo reports that a fire broke out last night around 11:30 inside a sixth-floor apartment in the Jacob Riis Houses on 10th Street and Avenue D. Sixty firefighters responded to the fire, getting it under control by 12:16 p.m. According to the DNA story:

No one was hurt in the blaze, and the cause is still under investigation, the FDNY said.

Paola Gutierrez, 24, of Brooklyn said the apartment belongs to her 59-year-old grandmother, who hasn't lived there in almost a year since she had to check into the hospital for unspecified ailments.

[Photo by Patrick Hedlund/DNAinfo]

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...