Getting hard up at The Bourgeois Pig

Heh. This morning on Seventh Street.

St. Brigid's is looking oh so 1848

So, as you probably know, some of the construction netting and plywood came down Tuesday on the north wall of St. Brigid's on Avenue B and Eighth Street... Yesterday, workers peeled back just a little bit more of the netting... exposing even more of the under-renovation church... Bobby Williams took a look...

As The Villager reported this past July, the church will have its original 1848 look... Per the paper:

Both the west and north facades (what everyone from the street sees) of the building are going to be sheathed in cast brownstone slabs, more or less restoring the look of what was there when the church was first built in 1848. They are working on this now, and roughly a quarter of the north wall has already been installed. The original north wall had to be completely demolished and rebuilt as part of the process of restoring structural stability to the church. This necessitated filling the entire church interior with scaffolding in order to support the roof during this reconstruction. But it was a big improvement over the original repair plan to simply re-stucco the existing facade.

Bobby also sent a view of the new roof...

And as a bonus — a view of the church from Tompkins Square Park circa the early 1870s ...

Here's the caption for the photo from The Villager:

A photo from around the early 1870s showing St. Brigid’s Church with its spires on Avenue B and, in foreground, a gazebo in Tompkins Square Park. Around this time, the park was stripped and leveled to turn it into a parade ground for the 7th Regiment. The gazebo had been likely the reviewing stand for the military brass. After much public outcry, in 1878, Tompkins Square was redesigned and rebuilt as a public park.

Extra Place's transformation into 'Artist Alley'

Two Fridays ago, we cut-and-paste the news release posted the information on Artist Alley @ Extra Place. Well, let's just post the thing again:

On Saturday, November 19, Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc) will present Groundbreak, the inaugural exhibit in a rotating public art program for Artist Alley @ Extra Place. This exhibit is the latest in a series of temporary art installations in atypical locations in the East Village/Lower East Side through FABnyc's ArtUp program.

FABnyc recognizes Extra Place as a cultural marker in New York City's Punk and No Wave scene and its potential as fertile ground for a new generation of creative exchange. Abe Lincoln Jr., Jon Burgerman, and Ellis Gallagher are New York based artists who will reclaim the concrete sidewalk as their blank canvas.

And Bobby Williams has been keeping tabs on the progress for part of the week...

Sunday!

Monday!

Tuesday!

All this explains that "birthplace of punk" art.

Anyway, doesn't seem like too long ago when workers were removing the street art/graffiti from here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Meanwhile, Extra Place continues to maintain its proud heritage

Perhaps he just saw Extra Place for the first time in 15 years or so?

Looking at Extra Place

On Avenue C, Bobwhite is hiring; and what exactly is Bobwhite?

Over at 94 Avenue C near East Sixth Street... work continues at Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter...

... and they are hiring now...

We've talked with several nearby residents who have high hopes for the restaurant, which will serve Southern-style comfort food ... the owner, Virginia native Keedick Coulter, received approval for a beer and wine license from the CB3/SLA committee last month...

Anyway, they have a website here ...

Here's a description what's coming here (early next year):

Bobwhite Counter is a small restaurant with big aspirations. We want to make seasonal, responsible food something you can afford to enjoy on a regular basis. Maybe we’re biased, but we think that the spirit and soul of Southern cooking is a perfect way to do just that. Whether you want to sit down for a friendly meal or take something home, we hope you’ll enjoy our Southern-style chicken suppers, sandwiches, and seasonal vegetables all made from responsible, high-quality ingredients.

Chico whipped up some bobwhites for the rolldown gate...

[Thanks to Dave on 7th for the top two photos]

Spacious loft with separate bathroom for rent on Avenue A

Between Fifth Street and Sixth Street tonight. By Bobby Williams.

Xoom closing its doors on 14th Street next Wednesday

From the EV Grieve inbox... from Xoom owner Jennifer London

I am writing to inform you that as of Wednesday, November 23 Xoom will be closing its doors at Pure Fitness. Unfortunately, the gym ownership has not been able to hold up their side of our contract making it impossible for me to run my business there. I am quite disappointed as I was optimistic that this new location would be a great home for Xoom. I want to be clear that this decision does not reflect any negative feelings toward the staff and members of Pure Fitness. They have all been incredibly welcoming and supportive and the Xoom staff and I will miss working with and serving them.

I know this all seems very abrupt and I apologize for such short notice on our closing. This only became official this week and the timing made it such that closing next week was the best decision for everyone.

Because this all happened so quickly, I do not have any plans in place to re-open a store front any time soon. I would really like to keep Xoom alive in some shape or form and will absolutely keep you posted as plans develop. In the meantime, I am working on ways to bring Xoom to you by being available to "cater" a gathering, office breakfast or other such events. If you are interested in that let me know and I would be happy to work something out with you. When I have a concrete plan I will be sure to email you all again to let you know where I (and Xoom) land.

I encourage you to follow us on Twitter (@xoomnyc) and Facebook (Xoom NYC) this week as we will be having crazy blow out specials in order to move as much product as possible. Whatever is left over will be donated to City Harvest.

It has been a pleasure and I hope that I will be seeing you all again soon in whatever form Xoom takes in the future.

Xoom opened here this past July ... after moving from Seventh Street in the spring.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Yesterday in Tompkins Square Park. By Bobby Williams]

Remembering the Miller Fish Market at 91 First Ave. (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

New LES resident likes that her apartment "doesn't look old" and that it's close to the Meatball Shop (BoweryBoogie)

On 12th Street and Avenue B, Stanley's was "a hip place where Harlem met bohemia" (Ephemeral New York)

Inside Occupy Wall Street’s (kinda) secret media HQ (Wired)

You can still pee and stuff at Starbucks — woo, here I come, Astor Place! (Grub Street)

Coming Sunday: "Block By Block: New York Street Historians" (Nathan Kensinger Photography)

East Village rape suspect held on $100,000 bail

[DNAInfo/Ben Fractenberg]

A Manhattan Criminal Court judge ordered the man accused of trying to rape a First Avenue resident early Sunday morning held in lieu of a $100,000 bail during his arraignment yesterday, according to various media reports.

DNAinfo reported that 35-year-old Imre Meszesan, a Hungarian citizen, works as a laborer. DNAinfo also has photos from yesterday's arraignment (top).

The Post reported that police arrested Meszesan in a Suffolk County store four months ago for allegedly exposing himself.

Previously.

The Bean is not taking over the former Rama Cafe on First Avenue

We noticed that new for rent signs went up at the former Rama Cafe on First Avenue near Second Street.

Back in September, Jim Dwyer at The New York Times reported that Starbucks will be the new tenant at the Bean's flagship cafe at First Avenue and Third Street. At the time, the Bean announced that it would open a location down the Avenue at the Rama space.

So we asked Ike Escava, a Bean partner, what was happening.

"We decided not to go forward with that space and to focus instead on the store we are opening this month at 54 2nd Avenue and at 147 First Ave. in a few months," he said via email.

Escava also had a point of clarification about the Bean's beer-and-wine application. Based on feedback from people at the CB3/SLA meeting Monday night, we noted that the committee approved a request for the Bean's new location at Second Avenue and Third Street, but denied the Bean's request for a license at 147 First Ave. and Ninth Street.

Here's his email:

We decided to withdraw our application to serve wine & beer at 147 1st Ave after seeing that there were people in opposition to it. If we have community support at a later time we may try again but if it is unwanted in the community we will not. We will not even address this matter again internally until we are open and operating at that location. It is our intention to maintain the feeling and vibe of the shop at 54 2nd Ave that we built at 49 1/2 1st Ave. We applied for the wine & beer as a way to add something but we will be very careful not to let that change what we really are about.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Bean is now apparently opening on every corner in the East Village

On second thought, there is a garage at the Economakis Dream Mansion

Just on Tuesday, we had given up on the gossip about a new garage at the former 15-unit tenement on East Third Street. However! A well-placed tipster says it's all true, possibly.

First, some paperwork from the DOB to install a new curb cut. (Notice it is in audit to revoke — which means??)

Per the tipster:

"The garage is already built. I haven't seen behind the plywood since the structural work was done so I don't know what it looks like exactly. There is a vandal and graffitti resistant (maybe tactical nuclear-strike proof) garage door which does not roll on a track like a typical door, but rises in one piece vertically through the floor above and stops behind the windows of the floor above."

Two other items of business:

1) Per a commenter: "If you look on the DOB website at job #110412232, Schedule A, it has a proposed 'community facility' where the storefronts are. Isn't this supposed to be a single family mansion?"

2) Predicting a move-in date...

Previously on EV Grieve:
And Economakis gets the whole building for his dream mansion

The 47 E. 3rd St. protest in video

At the 47 E. 3rd St. protest

Good things: Joe's Bar is back open

Goggla sent along the good news last night... our well-worn favorite on East Sixth Street was back open...

A combination of Joe's health and the DOH knocked the bar out of action in early October, as we reported here.

We don't have the whole story just yet... but we're certainly glad to see it back...

Last day for Quantum Leap on First Avenue

On Tuesday, we first reported that Quantum Leap on First Avenue was facing closure after being hit with a hefty rent increase.

Last night, the staff at the vegetarian restaurant confirmed to EV Grieve reader dwg that they were closing after today.

[Photo by Stu_Jo via Flickr]

Out with the rum, in with the gin: Cuban-influenced Cienfuegos turning British

[Photo from March 2011 by Bobby Williams]

We're still sorting through the various media accounts and eyewitness recollections from Monday night's CB3/SLA committee meeting... Here's an item of interest via Eater's coverage yesterday.

Over on Avenue A at Sixth Street, the Cienfuegos team was on the docket to change their operation. The big transformation comes with the main space — El Cobre — on the ground floor, where they serve Cuban tapas and mojitos:

They want to keep the upstairs restaurant the same but downstairs they want to run an English fish and chips restaurant. They were approved and are keeping within the same method of operation and hours of use. It will now be called Gin Palace, focusing on gin cocktails and old style English pub fare featuring a selective fish 'n' chips menu.

So, if we have this straight ... the Cuban-influenced rum bar upstairs remains the same... ditto for the bitters tasting room called Amor y Amargo, which replaced the sandwich shop Carteles. And the main space, which opened in December, will now serve fish 'n' chips.

Suppose this means a change in the decor. El Cobre is named after the town where Cuba's patron saint is located... a duplicate statue is on display inside the restaurant ...

[Bobby Williams]

A little fall of rain

Earlier today in Tompkins Square Park. By Bobby Williams.

RIP Laura Kennedy

We're just hearing the news that Laura Kennedy, a founding member and bassist of the New York-based No Wave band the Bush Tetras, died on Monday after a lengthy battle with Hepatitis C. She had been living in Minneapolis the past 12 years.

She kept a blog about her ongoing health issues. You can find it here.

We've posted this Bush Tetras video several times through the years. One of my favorites — the song and the video, starring the Bowery circa early 1980s... From 1981.



Sources:
This Ain't the Summer of Love
Stupefaction
Flaming Pablum

New trees grow on East Sixth Street

In keeping with our positive theme here today...EV Grieve reader Creature notes the following: "We lament the destruction of trees, so I thought it would be nice to celebrate some new ones. There are four of them, planted yesterday ... on Sixth Street, south side, toward First Avenue."

[Updated] Check out the progress at St. Brigid's: bricks and glass, oh my

Wow. We're now getting a look at the Eighth Street side of St. Brigid's without the construction netting and plywood... this photo is from @dens .... as he notes: "new brick, new glass, looks amazing!"

Yes it does.

One more from @dens...

Dave on 7th sends along this shot:

Previously.

NYPD arrests Brooklyn man suspected of attempted East Village rape

As multiple TV news stations reported last night, police arrested a man in connection with the attempted rape of a First Avenue resident early Sunday morning.

Per the Daily News, police charged 35-year-old Imre Meszesan of Bed-Stuy with burglary and attempted rape. A cop reportedly recognized Meszesan from a prior arrest. (No word just yet on the nature of that previous arrest.)

'Public Assembly' for the former P.S. 64 on Friday

Oh boy it has been a long time since we've discussed the old P.S. 64/CHARAS/El Bohio community center behind the Christodora House.

First, though. We spotted these flyers on Avenues A, B and C in the past few days...

As you can see, it's advertising a meeting Friday night from 6-9 at Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place... dubbed as a "public assembly" to discuss the long-dormant space. However, there isn't any contact information or sponsor listed.

So we reached out to Kurt Cavanaugh at the East Village Community Coalition, a group that led the effort to successfully landmark the building. However, Cavanaugh told us that his group had nothing to do with the meeting. (We're waiting to hear back from Lorcan Otway at Theatre 80 to see if he can tell us who is behind the meeting.)



Anyway, there's a long, complicated history here. Briefly. Gregg Singer bought the formerly city-owned building in 1998 for $3.15 million. His plan: a 23-story megadorm. But, in the face of strong community opposition, he was never able to get those plans off the ground, and the building sits rotting (with help from the owner). The Villager has extensively covered this story through the years. Check out their archives here.

In August 2009, there was a rebranding campaign for the space...



According to marketing materials (PDF) that (the now defunct) HelmsleySpear circulated, the landmarked space at 350 East 10th Street (and an aside, the rebranding was not using the 605 E. Ninth St. address) was now known as University House at Tompkins Square Park.

A quick vision of Hell...



We go back to May 2010 for the last news on the space. The Villager reported that a man named Kim Barton wanted to transform the space into the Tower School, a 600-student, nonprofit, independent school.

There are still three active permits here. One for installing a fence ... one for installing a sidewalk shed ... and one for removing some plumbing fixtures.

So here we are. Anyone have any updates? Tips? Gossip? Please send them our way via the EV Grieve email

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will old PS 64 get a theater for nonprofit groups?

Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood

Of course, the old P.S. 64 would make a fine home

Obviously a mistake. But. Think of all the closet space. And the basketball court. And the cafeteria. The ConEd bill might be a little much though.