3 things we hope to learn today about 35 Cooper Square's future

Today, developer Arun Bhatia will meet with concerned members of the community about the fate of 35 Cooper Square. Per the developer's wishes, the meeting is not open to the public... and no press. Sources said the meeting will last an hour. Speakers will include Kent Barwick, president emeritus of the Municipal Arts Society, Kerri Culhane, architectural historian, Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Simeon Bankoff, the executive director of the Historic Districts Council, and Victor Papa, president of the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, among others including some local politicians. David Mulkins, chair of the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors (BAN), will also be there. BAN was instrumental in getting this sit-down in the first place.

Perhaps after today, we will have a better idea of the following:

• What the plans are for this space.
• If the plans may include a portion of the original 35 Cooper Square structure
• What the developer thinks of the community support for preserving the building.

It's likely that the developer will just be there to listen, but we can hope for more...

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

World's largest Brick Lane Curry House slated for 99 Second Avenue

Sea Salt, the upscale fish eatery on Second Avenue near Sixth Street, opened in July 2007... and, despite a big buzzy introduction to the neighborhood, the place closed seven months later...

... as we have pointed out, the table settings remain inside...

In the Post today, Steve Cuozzo reports that reps for Brick Lane Curry House have signed a lease here — a 7,000-square-feet, three-level outpost.

This just seems unnecessarily enormous... and we're not sure what will become of the Brick Lane space then around the corner on East Sixth Street...

The Marshal takes Mini Burger

The owners of Marco Polo Café (home of the Moo Goo Gai Panini!) reopened as Mini Burger last October on St. Mark's Place last October...

Yesterday, the marshal took possession of the space here between First Avenue and Avenue A...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tory Burch-endorsed Marco Polo Café cedes to mini burgers on St. Mark's Place

Stairway to Tea Heaven?

As The Local East Village reported in February, the owners of Physical Graffiti decided to shutter their 16-year-old vintage thrift shop on St. Mark's Place...

It looks as if their new venture, Physical GraffiTea, a loose-leaf tea shop, is nearing an opening date...

Previously.

Special K

EV Grieve reader Pedro notes that the above display window at the Kmart on Astor Place has been empty for some time. However, they left up the "I Love K" window graphic. After more than a week, it's still there. Says Pedro: "Perhaps Kmart has moved into the Ketamine business for all the NYUers in the neighborhood? I bet it would dramatically improve their earnings and margins!"

Rapid Realty opening on Avenue B

Rapid Realty — described as "New York's No-Fee Apartment Leader" on the RR website — is ready to open an office in this formerly empty storefront just off 13th Street...

Anyone ever use them to find an apartment...?

14th Street getting Cemusa-d

A new Cemusa stand is going in on 14th Street just east of Second Avenue...

Voices

Tonight on East 11th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue ... via EV Grieve reader juan TRED... we don't really know the narrative... but we like people yelling and singing...

Noted

On the Kurve/Rhong-Tiam plywood on Second Avenue at Fifth Street.... photo via @MichaelTSanchez

Right now at the CB3/SLA meeting

We can't be there... but a reader sends along a shot from tonight's CB3/SLA meeting... Residents have "Enough is Enough" signs up while hearing about a sidewalk cafe for Percy's on Avenue A and 13th Street...

Today at the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run

Earlier this afternoon, EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams arrived in the Park to find the following scene... According to witnesses, an unattended dog inside the dog run allegedly bit a woman ... EMTs treated her on the scene....

April 11

OK, this one may be difficult to beat... EV Grieve read Tom spotted this on 14th Street just east of Second Avenue yesterday ... and with the requisite newspaper for verification...

Meanwhile, we hear that the president and COO of the International Coalition of Tree Tossing in the Spring (ICTTS) will be giving a speech this week at Cooper Union, which will give us the chance to pepper him with questions...

East Third Street, 4:41 p.m., April 11

The Doctor is in...

Last night, "Doctor Who" fans started camping out outside the East Village Cinemas on Second Avenue and 12th Street... The premiere of the BBC series "Doctor Who" takes place tonight here ...

EV Grieve reader Han Shan passed along these photos of the line... which goes west on 12th Street and around Third Avenue...

The Local East Village interview some of the nerds people in line.

Life in a building undergoing a gut renovation

In February, we noted the sale of a residential building on Suffolk street...

Silverstone Property Group ... is pleased to announce the acquisition of 157 Suffolk Street ... The 6 story, 22,398 square foot residential apartment building consists of 33 apartments and 2 retail stores. Silverstone purchased the building for $8.8M, or approximately $392 per square foot, in an all-cash, off-market transaction with the private seller. Silverstone will be renovating the building to create a high-end boutique residential rental property, as well as leasing the retail space which has been vacant for many years.

Per a commenter:

"There are 7 apartments left here as of April 2011 and we are suffering through months of demolition and construction."

One of those remaining residents (we think!) sent along a video of what life is like here in the building during the months of construction...

On 2nd and B, retail space and and exposed brick walls that give a 'sense of prewar elegance'

So Discovery Wines will be moving into 16 Avenue B at Second Street sometime in the early summer...

Meanwhile, across the street ... at 209 E. Second St. ... which seemingly has been under renovation for like 10 years....

... "store for lease" signs have gone up in the corner space ...

Didn't spot a listing for this just yet at the NYCRS website ...

However, as for the rest of the building. Here's a description via Streeteasy:

A new standard has been set for East village loft living. 209 East 2nd Street is an intimate and elegant building that will be available for Spring-Summer Occupancy.

A total of six private full floor lofts make up the entire building. Step into each distinctive home by keyed elevator and you will see what sets us apart from all the rest.

Offering wood burning fireplaces in each unit and exposed brick walls give that sense of prewar elegance, while the remaining finishes are sleek and modern.

And of those six units, one is left for $1.75 million. Here's the listing from Corcoran:

Rare East Village boutique condo loft. Recently converted with utmost attention to detail and tasteful finishes. Private key lock full floor two bedroom two bath. Enter off the elevator into a separate foyer opening onto a comfortable living space and open cook's kitchen. Living room features a suspended wood burning fireplace, exposed bricks, Venetian plaster museum finished walls, original pine floors refurbished and stained walnut plus lots of wonderful light from 12 windows. A smartly designed open kitchen includes a GE professional cook's dream stove, Stainless Sub Zero Fridge, GE Monogram dish washer, custom ash cabinetry granite countertops and custom reclaimed wood beam open shelving. A separate laundry area is found off of the kitchen with stacked Bosch washer dryer units. Master bedroom is flooded with light from floor to ceiling corner windows. Study area in master suite has beautiful built ins made of wood beam shelving. The en suite bath boasts a Zuma dual air jacuzzi soaking tub as well as a rain head shower stall and ceramic and limestone tile. There is abundant closet space throughout the apartment, central air and a state of the art heating system. Located two blocks away from subway and in the heart shopping, wonderful restaurants and nightlife of the vibrant East Village and Lower East side. Application for J-51 tax abatement has been submitted which will reduce RETaxes to $290 in July of 2011

No mention in the marketing materials of this corner's infamous past. As Andrew Roth pointed out in "Infamous Manhattan," the intersection of East Second Street and Avenue B "probably saw more heroin retailing than any other spot on Earth." Until Operation Pressure Point.

A note for the Prune brunch crowds

We've previously noted the weekend brunch lines outside Prune on East First Street...

...something that Prune's next-door neighbors — the Lower Eastside Girls Club — are now politely noting ...

Of course, not everyone is paying attention just yet...

Cleaning up Caffe Buon Gusto

The empty shell of the longtime-coming Caffe Buon Gusto on Avenue B at Fifth Street has been a favorite photo op of EV Grieve's through the years...

However! Tonight, the CBGers are on the CB3/SLA docket (again) ... which is likely why workers have been busy cleaning up the exterior of late...

And a photo from @scottlava ...

CBG went before the CB3/SLA last May, a performance that gave some audience members a chuckle ... from our recap via RyanAvenueA:

[T]he guys applying for the sidewalk cafe for a non-existent business were hilarious. Having a business license and applying for a liquor license under different names, NOT actually having a business, and then being surprised when they wouldn't give them a sidewalk license. Hilarious. Best was when the "personal representative" of Buon Gusto's owner (hey nice ascot by the way!) said he missed his son's chorus concert to be there, so he was rightfully indignant that CB3 wouldn't hear him out.

Extra Place dog run

Flashback to the previous weekend!

Won't be able to do this once THIS happens....

Here comes Fat Sal's

On March 30, we noted that the fourth Manhattan location of Fat Sal's was taking over the ApizzA space on Avenue A... now the signage has gone up...

Meanwhile, a reader who lives near Fat Sal's noted that they built a ventilation duct up the back of that building ... and they're going to install a ventilation blower on the roof next to the vent. Given the tentative hours (noon to 4 a.m.), "This is going to suck (or blow) big time," the reader noted.