Going southbound

Looking south on Second Avenue toward Seventh Street... with the Fillmore East in the background. April 1972.

[Sal Traina/Corbis]

A record-setting sale at 221 First Avenue

Massey Knakal sent out a news release yesterday about the sale of 221 First Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street for $4.4 million. The buyer and seller weren't named.

According to the release:

The four-story property is approximately 3,954 square feet and sits on a 22’ x 56’ lot. There are three fully renovated three-bedroom apartments that are free market. The 1,050 square foot retail unit on the ground floor is currently leased to Señor Pollo, a Latin American chicken and sandwich bistro. The 3 floor-through apartments which rent on average for $4,900 per month benefit from fireplaces, exposed brick, and either a private roof deck or large terrace. The property also benefits from its close proximity to transportation, shopping, dinning and parks. The sale price equates to $1,112.80 per square foot.

“This sale represents the highest price per square foot ever paid for a mixed-use investment property in the East Village,” said Massey Knakal Vice Chairman John F. Ciraulo ...

[Updated] NYPD assists abandoned dog in Tompkins Square Park

Earlier this evening, police were in Tompkins Square Park to attend to a dog that had apparently been abandoned on Crusty Row.

One witness said the dog's owner tied up the pooch and never returned... another witness said the dog was tied up for two hours before someone called the police.

No word on the owner... and, unfortunately, I didn't hear what kind of dog this is...

[Updated: Ah, Bob Arihood has a photo of the dog right here.]

Today in Hells Angels bench coverage

The Post has a follow-up on our Hells Angels bench story from yesterday (and they did credit EV Grieve in the story — thank you!).

Here's the article, in part:

Not even tourists are intimidated by the Hells Angels anymore.
The once-menacing motorcycle club has been unable to keep people from sitting on its beloved bench outside its East Village headquarters.
A sign stating "Private Property" failed to keep guests at neighboring hotels from taking a seat, so a few weeks ago, the club finally installed a yellow metal bar and lock across the bench that only members can open with a key, noted the Web blog EV Grieve.
The only hogs the club cares about more than their Harleys are the folks who lounge on their bench, said Mario Cornejo, manager of Sanctuary Guest Suites, one of two hotels neighboring the Angels' East Third Street den.
"They really care about their bench," he said.
The hotel urges guests not to use it, even posting its own signs in the lobby, he said.
Members of the club — apparently now as gentrified as the rest of the East Village — declined to comment.

No word yet if the Angels are planning their next rally at 1211 Avenue of the Americas.

Report: Gunman robs the Blarney Cove

From today's NYPD Daily Blotter in the Post (not yet online): A "gun-toting bandit" made off with about $1,000 after robbing the Blarney Cove on East 14th Street. The report doesn't say what day this happened, only that it was at 4:30 a.m. "He ordered the bartender to the back, stole cash from a register and fled," according to the report.

East Fifth bliss? Looking at the new apartments at 343 E. Fifth St.

Last March, I wrote about 343 E. Fifth St., the apartment building between First Avenue and Second Avenue that inspired the novel "East Fifth Bliss" (and coming soon to a theater near you...).

The gut renovations of the former railcar apartments are apparently done, and some of the dorm rooms units are on the market from our good friends at 9300 Realty/Croman Real Estate Inc. Let's take a look at what's available starting March 1.

To help attract the usual high-paying, quick-turnover renters in the market for three- and four-bedroom apartments, they'll even toss in a free month's rent.

There are all sorts of stories about the tenants — many of whom lived here for decades — being forced out here. A lot of it was hearsay, of course.

Last March, "East Fifth Bliss" author Douglas Light, who lived at 343 E. Fifth St. for several years, told me in an e-mail:

"My wife actually ran into an old tenant from there ... and he was telling her some wild stories about $250k buy-out offers (which he turned down, of course), arson by the building owner (to flush-out the remaining hold-outs), and the police cuffing and perp-walking the owner out of the building. As for the validity of the stories I can't say. This is the same guy who believed my wife was a spy that the owner planted in the building to keep tabs on everyone."

Anyway, speaking of the movie — starring Michael C. Hall, Lucy Liu, Peter Fonda and Slum Goddess — it's done. You can watch a trailer for it on Facebook. The dramatic comedy was filmed around the neighborhood, so there's plenty of locations to recognize...

Previously on EV Grieve:
About the building that inspired the novel "East Fifth Bliss"

Q-and-A with 'East Fifth Bliss' author Douglas Light

Not such a lonely Planet: Broadway's iconic comic book-toy store would like more space

I recently noticed the listing for 840 Broadway at 13th Street...

Which is home to Forbidden Planet — one of the largest sellers of comic books, graphic novels, science fiction, toys and associated collectibles in the world.

Uh-oh! Trouble in the Republican Clone Army? What's this all about?

Jeff Ayers, Forbidden Planet's manager/buyer, sent along this e-mail to my query:

Actually, we're just testing the waters, trying to possibly find a new, bigger (yet local!) space for the shop. We need to expand and can no longer do so in this space.

As much as I like this corner we're just outgrowing this location. Thanks for the support and the interest. We're stickin' around.

Tag, you're it, RCN Building

Back in November, Jeremiah reported that workers painted over the Chico murals on Avenue C's RCN building... And we wondered how long the building would remain tag free...

Turned out to be longer than I thought... EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams noted the recent addition of two small tags...

Meanwhile, remember how the RCN spokesperson got huffy about Chico's mural, which was up there for two years? The spokesperson told DNAinfo: "The bottom line is the building had illegal graffiti on it and we cleaned it up — period."

Fine, fine... Funny, though, how they left the RCN logo with Chico's signature intact...



Previously.

Speaking of graffiti on Avenue C...

There has been a lot of back and forth here on along the Stone's wall on Second Street at Avenue C...

Expect all this to be painted over soon enough... only to return a few days later...

A new era for watching TV at the Grassroots

So you know the Grassroots on St. Mark's Place had that lone TV leftover from, say, 1991 at the south end of the bar. Pretty much everything looked orange and green. And distorted. It was awesome.

However, a tipster notes that the owner installed a new 19-inch TV flatscreen TV this past Thursday...

Well, at least they still have the phone booth by the front door. (And never mind that the phone doesn't work.)

Lighting up Second Avenue for 'Gossip Girl'

And earlier today, via EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Veselka closed today for "Gossip Girl" shoot

Veselka closed today for "Gossip Girl" shoot

They'll reopen at 11 p.m. .... Can't wait to try their new menu item — the Chace Crawford beef stroganoff.

DNAinfo has some paparazzi shots.

Previously.

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition

Indie bookstores making a comeback (Crain's)

The death of Shoe Row on Eighth Street (Lost City)

Is this a pile of snow? (Nadie Se Conoce)

Hilarious hipster renderings from the forthcoming Allen Street hotel (BoweryBoogie)

Lower Eastside Girls Club Co-Founder and Executive Director, Lyn Pentecost, has been nominated for a Diane von Furstenberg People’s Voice Award (The Lo-Down)

Renting a Stuy Town apartment for $260 a night (Lux Living)

Developers withdraw proposal for controversial Greenpoint men's homeless shelter (New York Shitty, who first reported on the story)

City Council wants to know when Bloomy is out of town (Gothamist)

Hmmm: "On the Road" getting the movie treatment (Nonetheless)

The Hells Angels unveil new line of defense for their bench

Back in June 2009 we pointed out the sign on the bench outside the Hells Angels headquarters on Third Street ...



This was an effort to thwart clueless hotel guests from the Sanctuary Guest Suites next door for plopping down here ... However, this reporter still saw European thrillseekers taking a seat here...

So now! It's a little more difficult...

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Hells Angels kindly request that hotel guests please refrain from sitting on their bench

About Union Market coming to Avenue A and Houston

By now you probably know that the Brooklyn-based Union Market is taking over three storefronts on Avenue A and Houston... (Reported here first Friday.)

During the weekend, some various readers chimed in on Union Market coming here... Among the comments:

Anonymous said...
the one in park slope is nice, albeit a little expensive. lots of hale and hearty soups, a good selection of cheeses and produce. honestly though, it really has nothing to offer that whole foods doesn't already in that area.

Madeline said...
So I lived on Union street in park slope for years — it's a really, really high end supermarket. Just what the neighborhood needs! (joke.) It'll have to compete with whole foods and the nine million trader joes, but at least it's not a condo, or a real estate office, or an NYU dorm, and I guarantee there won't be as many babies.

onemorefoldedsunset said...
The Union Markets in Brooklyn — steep in price, & abuzz with the well-heeled hordes. Seems like a successful model, though you have to wonder if over-expansion might be a mistake.

Anonymous said...
Whatever it is, it can't be more expensive, or have worse customer service (or more expired food on its shelves) than Gracefully.

Anonymous said...
there are just as many babies in the EV as in park slope.
deal with it.
people have babies.
hipsters, deadbeats, rockers, etc...
and as much as i am now lamenting the loss of another corner bodega within two blocks of each other, the one that union market will replace was a dump.

Jeremiah has more on the likely arrival of Union Market's East Village coffee blend here.

Meanwhile, we've also heard from residents who worry about what chain store may come to Second Street and Avenue A...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Imagining Avenue A and Second Street with a 7-Eleven

Two Nicky's now for the East Village

On Friday night, we reported that the new location of Nicky's had a soft opening on East Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

[Photo via EV Grieve reader Hanser]

The restaurant will be open in the next week.

Of course, there's already the Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches on Second Street just east of Avenue A. There was some speculation last spring that Nicky's may be leaving the neighborhood.

A member of the Dang family, who owns the four Nicky's in NYC, said they will continue operating the Second Street location. The family member also said they'd be looking for a liquor license at the Fourth Street restaurant.

Previously.

There goes the Elephant

Over the weekend, workers continued gutting the former Elephant thai place on East First Street...

The Elephant closed in December. (You can read its history here, including an interview with the manager.)

What's next here?

The Feast reported that the team behind fancy cocktail emporium Summit Bar on Avenue C will open an Italian cafe this spring. They are considering the name Prima Strada, which translates to First Street. Word is the place will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and open at 8 a.m.

Tonda was closed this past weekend

We've been keeping an eye on Tonda, the pizzeria at 235 E. Fourth St. near Avenue B. The place was closed Friday and Saturday night.

During the previous weekend, Tonda was closed on Friday but open on Saturday. No sign on the front door... or nothing on their website about being closed. We tried their phone number, and got a message saying there was no room to leave a message. And their Twitter feed hasn't been updated since Aug. 11.

Lady Gaga can't save ApizzA on Avenue A

ApizzA's Lady Gaga sidewalk board has been retired...



The pizza shop on A between 12th Street and 13th Street shuttered last week...

Several readers passed along this tip... However, Neighborhoodr had the story first.

Animal Crackers busted

The NYPD has busted Animal Crackers, the family-run pet store on Second Street between First Avenue and Avenue A...

There was also an explanatory NYPD sticker noting the store was shut for receiving stolen property ... the sign has since been removed...

Thanks to @Roger_Paw for the tip.