Say trees

Yesterday, EV Grieve reader Meredith Battjer sent some photos of workers planting new trees along East Eighth Street near Avenue C. Part of the MillionTreesNYC movement hereabouts...

And thanks to @bobbyjohnspeaks who has ben keeping me posted about the trees via Twitter.

Dedication

Earlier today in Tompkins Square Park.

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Red alert

First Avenue, 8:58 p.m., May 20

A man for all seasons

Originally had something really depressing lined up. Instead, Divine. From 1985.

Today in product placements for Ray's, Coca-Cola

After the DOH gave Ray's Candy Store the OK to reopen yesterday afternoon, Dave on 7th was on hand to greet the first official customer since the closure on Monday ...

Yes

[Bob Arihood]

Bob Arihood delivers the good news about Ray's at Neither More Nor Less.

Live: The DOH inspection continues at Ray's

Maria, who has been cleaning Ray's around the clock...

The tabulation continues...

Photos by Dave on 7th

[Updated] Live: DOH inspector inside Ray's Candy Store

Previously.

Per Dave on 7th:
"It just became a tourist attraction.
People looking for a good egg cream.
More lost sales."

Photos by Dave on 7th.

They might be Giant

So there's a newish photoblog called Giant Behemoth. Among the works featured: The photography of C-Squat resident Ariel Hamm Flores, like the one on this post. See his photos here.

Meanwhile, if you're interested in submitting some photos, then you can send an email to:

giantbehemoth@gmail.com

Developing: Today may be the last chance for Ray's

Shit Week Continues at Ray's. Per Bob Arihood at Neither More Nor Less, today may be the last inspection for Ray before the DOH intervenes. Bob writes: "We don't know at this time if this means expensive major renovations and new equipment too."

Renovations and equipment that Ray can't afford. Thus, the end of Ray's. Not that we're jumping to the worst-case scenario right away or anything.

Read Bob's post here.

Today in EV Grieve talking about stuff

This week went by in a blurry. So a belated thank you to Rebecca Marx at the Voice for interviewing me for a piece that was titled, EV Grieve Reflects on the Lessons of CB3 Meetings, Superdive, and the East Village as a "Foodie Tourist Trap"

You can read it here.

And there are no refunds.

Ray's now 0-4 vs. the DOH this week

Despite visits from an exterminator and epic cleaning sessions, the DOH inspectors continue to find things to keep Ray's Candy Store from reopening. As Bob Arihood reports at Neither More Nor Less, an inspector returned to the Avenue A shop yesterday. Third fourth time this week; fifth different inspector (they sent two at once, uh, once), who are all motivated to find violations, naturally. After two hours, the inspector found a few mouse droppings as well as a restroom door that didn't close properly. As Bob writes: "This inquisition could go on forever and Ray's Candy Store will never open.

Bob has more thoughts on all this in another post. In part, he writes:

We have to say here that though we are aware that Ray is not without fault what this city is doing to him and to other small businesses is wrong. With this soulless ravenous beast of a city administration at the door of every small business regularly, few will survive.

Read the whole thing here.

Photo by Dave on 7th taken Monday morning before the first inspection.

East Village Brewery & Beer Shop apologizes for borrowing Prime Meats' menu

On Monday, EV Grieve reader T.E.V.B. noticed that the menu on display outside 14 Avenue B, home of the aspiring East Village Brewery & Beer Shop, was identical to that of Brooklyn's Prime Meats.

And Eater then did a side-by-side comparison. Yep, exact copies!

So we contacted the Brewers for an explanation. Here's what they had to say:

The menu on display was only intended to be an aspirational reference, approximating our aims pending community approval. We are NOT affiliated with Prime Meats, however their business is one that we admire and their program – along with others’ – often come up during development conversations. We apologize if anyone perceives that this was misleading or that our food program will be a replica.

The final program will be the product of the several months of development that still await us pending proper approvals. We look forward to sharing more with the community as our business develops.

Again, thank you for contacting us. We hope that everything goes smoothly and look forward to bringing our business to this community.

Best,
East Village Brewery & Beer Shop

In the meantime, someone removed the menu from the front door at 14 Avenue B.

Morrison Hotel becoming a PopMarket shop?

The Morrison Hotel gallery at 313 Bowery, the one-time home to the CBGB Gallery, has been on the market...

We spotted this sign on the front door...

PopMarket? Beta? Perhaps this is becoming a brick-and-mortar pop-up shop (sorry for using those terms!) for popmarket.com, which, according to its site, "is the ultimate shopping club for music fans offering its members limited-time private sales on the world's coolest music."

Well, it's better than a Starbucks! [Quickly ducking....]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tenant wanted who can leverage the death of the Bowery

Copper Building looks to have a retail tenant now; big penthouse also in contract

Over at the Copper Building, the "condo for sale" signs are down...



We sent a note to the folks at Prudential Douglas Elliman about the space.

Meanwhile, I suppose that we can speculate. I'm guessing the space will either be a zine store specializing in unpublished writers or an egg shop.

Oh, and meanwhile! It looks like the last remaining unit here is under contract. And it's the big one, weighing in at $3.85 million.

This 4 bedroom 4 bathroom Penthouse is one of a kind. With soaring 22 foot high ceilings and an enormous private outdoor space, this duplex is unrivaled in East Village apartments. Upon entering the apartment, you are struck by sweeping views of southern Manhattan. You will truly feel on top of it all. The apartment features a state of the art chef's kitchen, which opens to the formal dinning room. With western exposure and towering 22 foot high glass windows, the living room will capture magnificent sunsets. When you ascend the wide oak staircase to the second floor you will find 2 additional bedrooms and 2 additional full bathrooms. This penthouse is part of an absolutely unique and exceptional building.

Eh, looks nice enough. Would be a lot cooler with a stainless-steel slide.

At 35 Cooper Square: 'It's a matter of days now'

EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams paid a visit to the demolition site of the historic 35 Cooper Square yesterday. He noted, "They moved in a big gun to the parking lot."

"It's a matter of days now."

Indeed. And on the plywood out front...

You are invited to 35 Cooper Square's funeral

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Join us and our colleagues on Wednesday, May 25 at 6 pm in front of 35 Cooper Square to mourn the loss of this 1825 Federal building and demand that the remainder of the historic Bowery gains protection now!

The Bowery Alliance of Neighbors has a list of 16 properties on the Bowery endorsed by Council member Margaret Chin – ranging from 1807 Federal townhouses to 20th century Beaux-Arts bank buildings - which need to be landmarked. Please join us in raising our voices to ensure that 35 Cooper Square is the last historic building on the Bowery to fall.

Bad Burger is hiring

Keith Masco's 24/7 diner at 171 Avenue A near 11th Street appears to be closer to opening... they're looking for help — all positions and shifts. So if you need a job...

You can read our earlier post about Bad Burger here.

The soundtrack for your East Village weekend!

Spotted for sale outside Ave. A Mini Market near 10th Street.