Rumors: Mars Bar owner Hank Penza ready to open a new space in the next few months

[Photo taken Friday afternoon by Bobby Williams]

In all the Mars Bar hysteria in recent weeks... we continued to hear that owner Hank Penza planned to open a new bar in the next few months (and that he already had the liquor license) ... somewhere within five blocks of where Mars Bar lived since 1984.

Well, this might all be wishful thinking in the aftermath of the bar's abrupt closing last week. However, we've heard this same story from so many different Mars Bar regulars (people who were patrons at different shifts) that there has to be something to the rumors. In fact, Hank has confirmed this to several people.

As we pointed out on Friday, workers began dismantling the bar. However, the person who will serve as manager of the new Penza-run space has the actual bar and jukebox from the Mars Bar for the next place.

Meanwhile, you may have seen photos at Eater of the dismantled Mars Bar on Friday... Goggla has these and other shots from inside this past weekend on her Flickr page...

Behold the Hyatt Union Square, in progress

Workers have removed the scaffolding and construction netting at 132 Fourth Ave., the looong-delayed hotel that will one day be a Hyatt Union Square ...

And here's the rendering... No hydroponic bamboo garden or halo just yet...But we're waiting!

[Image from Archpaper via Curbed]

The hotel is expected to open in fall 2012. According to a news release: "The Hyatt Union Square will be a 4-star hotel with a historic facade and 23‐foot lobby ceilings that will create a unique space for guests. Amenities will include an upscale restaurant, a destination lobby bar, an exclusive rooftop lounge, private terraces, a state of‐the art fitness facility, and a pool."

The Real Deal had a report back on June 29 about Hersha buying this property from the McSam Hotel Group.

Read all our coverage on this here.

51 Astor Place now home to a long and winding sidewalk shed

Workers continue to prep 51 Astor Place for demolition. Late last week, you may have noticed that crews erected the rather lengthy sidewalk shed surrounding the building...

...and the space is prepped for the asbestos removal...

This is the end!

Mikey's Pet Shop space becoming an 'organic, healthy food market'

That's what workers renovating the space on Seventh Street near Avenue A told our Dave on 7th.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mikey's Pet Shop closing at the end of the month

Prime & Beyond New York now open on East 10th Street

Prime & Beyond is now open at the long-dormant space that previously housed Danal on East 10th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. (Jeremiah first reported this coming-soon eatery back on May 17.)

One reader said that the place opened last Thursday. There's already a five-star review on Yelp that reads "Simply awesome awesome meat... the best in the city..."

Anyway, this place is apparently an offshoot of a Fort Lee, N.J.-based steakhouse, as Eater pointed out.

It's now snowing outside the New York Public Library

An EV Grieve reader sent this in the last hour from Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street... from the magic of TV commercials...Despite the heatwave....

REAL LIVE snow spotted in Midtown

Earlier this afternoon in Midtown ... a reader notes some movie-making magic...

Week in Grieview: Saying bye to the Mars Bar; buying cold drunks; sweating

Workers gutted Superdive (Friday)

Karl Fischer designing on East 12th Street (Thursday)

We bought several cold drunks (Tuesday)

[Photo by EV Grieve reader Rita]

More meatballs are coming to the East Village (Wednesday)

We looked at Pulino's new garden paradise on the Bowery (Monday)

We got an update about the renovations at St. Brigid's (Tuesday)

We pointed out the Bean's second location (Monday)

We first reported that the Mars Bar may be closed temporarily (Monday) then permanently (Monday) ... and flesh flies! (Wednesday)

We exclusively reported that it was hot out (Friday)

We showed solidarity for the Pelican Bay State Prison strike by throwing trash on Second Avenue (Thursday)

And Jane's Sweet Buns opened on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

[Photo of Jane by Allen Semanco]

NYC crime rate is going up, but not really

This is part of the front page of the Post today ... Uh-oh!

According to the exclusive:

Through July 17, incidents of the seven major felonies are down only slightly -- 0.4 percent -- over the same period last year, dipping from 54,447 to 54,254. The annual tally has dropped every year since 1993.

Oh, so the crime rate is actually down. But! The article insists that it could get worse. Meanwhile, as the paper points out, since 1993, reports of "serious crime" — murder, rape, robbery, felony, etc. — have dropped from 430,460 to 105,115.

We looked at the CompState figures from the 9th Precinct, which covers East Houston Street to East 14th Street from Broadway to the East River. According to these statistics, crime complaints are down 2.93 percent from 2010.... down 69.08 percent since 1993. Not that we're buying all these crime stats anyway ....

Previously on EV Grieve:
Today in 'the bad old days may be here again' articles

The "bad old days" are here again story of the day

Trend alert! The bad old days are here again!

Are the "bad old days" here again...again?

The "bad old days" are here again story of the day

Earlier today on East 12th Street

At Avenue C. Photos by Bobby Williams.

Earlier tonight on East 10th Street

Via EV Grieve reader Patrick....

At the 5th Annual New Village Music Festival

...in Tompkins Square Park...

Photos by Bobby Williams.

The best outdoor spot for free air conditioning in the East Village

It's right here on Sixth Street and Hall Place... there are several spots here outside the new Cooper Union building that provide a welcome blast of cool air... right where this fellow is lounging/passed out.

Despite heatwave, not many people buying ices today — artisanal or otherwise

A quick survey on Seventh Street... by Dave on 7th...

CB3 chair Dominic Pisciotta and his partner are tying the knot tomorrow at the start of the gay-marriage era

As you know, tomorrow is the first day that same-sex couples can be legally married in New York State. According to Bloomberg News, the city received 823 lottery entries from couples for 764 spots available for marriage at clerks’ offices tomorrow.

CB3 chair Dominic Pisciotta and his partner Andrew Berg will be among those tying the knot. The Daily Beast talks to the pair about how they feel on the eve of this historic day.

Pisciotta and Berg graced the cover of Newsweek back in July 2003... with a coverline that asked, "Is gay marriage next?"

For further reading:
The Times They Are A-Changing — Same-Sex Couples and the Village (Off the Grid)

Let's hope that she holds up

Con Ed plant a little bit ago ... Photo by Shawn Chittle.

Today in Tompkins Square Park: The 5th Annual New Village Music Festival

Workers were out early this morning setting out for the show, which starts at noon. Find more info about the Festival here.

Are vigilantes targeting the rats of Tompkins Square Park?

Yesterday, we wrote about The Villager's article about a group of parents who are upset about all the rats in the recently renovated, $1.5 million playground off Ninth Street and Avenue A.

Meanwhile, we've noticed a few gruesome rat crime scenes. Like this one this morning in the Park. Looks as if someone used a shovel...

Or this one ... from a photo by Steven Hirsch on 10th Street near Avenue A ... a gunshot wound to the head?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Parents group upset about number of rats in Tompkins Square Park (30 comments)

East and south

Views from the East Village...

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Singing man on fire pray for rain

Red Box from 1985. Let's hear it for the xylophone.