You can see what's left of the tree above...
There's a little more about this — as well as other tree fire safety tips — at the Strollerderby blog.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Discarded Christmas tree catches fire, lights up car on Seventh Street
@JSMeudt sends along these photos from Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue... where a discarded Christmas tree on the curb apparently caught on fire last night and, well...
You can see what's left of the tree above...
There's a little more about this — as well as other tree fire safety tips — at the Strollerderby blog.
You can see what's left of the tree above...
There's a little more about this — as well as other tree fire safety tips — at the Strollerderby blog.
[Updated] An 'Absolute' theft at the Woodward Gallery
Our friend Curt Hoppe let us know about an apparent theft last night at the Woodward Gallery on Eldridge Street between Broome and Delancey...
Per the gallery's Facebook page:
ATTENTION Stolen Artwork!! REWARD being offered for information leading to the return of artwork from our Project Space last night. (MOODY "Absolute Addict", acrylic on wood panel, 68 x 44 inches)
Updated:
We spoke with someone from Woodward ... turns out the piece was part of an Outdoor Project Space. Someone removed the artwork with a drill. Per the Woodward folks: "We have the area monitored with camera surveillance. We have filed a report with the NYPD, provided video evidence of the theft and now have detectives on the case. Someone was very silly in thinking they would not be caught."
Why the East Village should fear NYU 2031
The battle over NYU 2031 heats up starting tonight ... The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), the Community Action Alliance on NYU 2031, Greenwich Village Block Associations, the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors and more than a dozen community groups from the area are sponsoring a Town Hall tonight on the NYU expansion plan.
The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the AIA Center for Architecture, 536 Laguardia Place (Bleecker/West 3rd Street).
Anyway, as NYU is moving ahead with certifications and approvals for its NYU 2031 expansion plan, Community Board 2 is holding five public hearings on NYU 2031-related topics on Jan. 9, 10, 12, 17 and 18. (Find out more details on these meetings here; The Villager has an article on all this here.)
NYU is seeking zoning approvals for two superblocks south of Washington Square Park that will create four new buildings in order to add more academic space. You can read about NYU's plans via its NYU 2031 site here.
GVSHP released these renderings that offer comparative views of NYU's proposed new buildings in relation to the existing structures between West Third Street and Houston Street.
"NYU is asking for an unprecedented package of city approvals to undo long-standing neighborhood zoning protections, remove open space preservation requirements, lift urban renewal deed restrictions and take public land used as parks," Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, told us via email. "This would allow them to add 2.5 million square feet of space — the equivalent of the Empire State Building — to the blocks south of Washington Square Park."
We asked Berman why this should be of concern to East Village residents.
"NYU's ever-growing presence in the Village has long had a disproportionate impact on the East Village; it's where NYU students go to live off campus, to party on weekends (and weeknights) and grab some fast food. The type of growth NYU is projecting, even if it were only limited to the blocks south of Washington Square, would still greatly accelerate the transformation of the East Village we've seen in recent years.
"But there is no reason to believe that NYU's growth will be limited to these blocks if they get the approvals they seek. Nothing in the requested approvals limits NYU's ability to acquire property, build, or demolish anywhere else, and as long as they are growing in the Central Village, they will likely seek other locations nearby for additional facilities, just as they have for the past several decades.
The way Berman sees it, the impact of the precedents set by these approvals is much more likely to be felt in the East Village.
"If NYU convinces the City that the zoning protections, open space requirements and urban renewal deed restrictions under which these superblocks were developed are ripe for the undoing ... then it is neighborhoods like the East Village and Lower East Side which present the most opportunities for the kind of overbuilding and overdevelopment which could follow from that profound change in city planning and philosophy," he said.
The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the AIA Center for Architecture, 536 Laguardia Place (Bleecker/West 3rd Street).
Anyway, as NYU is moving ahead with certifications and approvals for its NYU 2031 expansion plan, Community Board 2 is holding five public hearings on NYU 2031-related topics on Jan. 9, 10, 12, 17 and 18. (Find out more details on these meetings here; The Villager has an article on all this here.)
NYU is seeking zoning approvals for two superblocks south of Washington Square Park that will create four new buildings in order to add more academic space. You can read about NYU's plans via its NYU 2031 site here.
GVSHP released these renderings that offer comparative views of NYU's proposed new buildings in relation to the existing structures between West Third Street and Houston Street.
"NYU is asking for an unprecedented package of city approvals to undo long-standing neighborhood zoning protections, remove open space preservation requirements, lift urban renewal deed restrictions and take public land used as parks," Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, told us via email. "This would allow them to add 2.5 million square feet of space — the equivalent of the Empire State Building — to the blocks south of Washington Square Park."
We asked Berman why this should be of concern to East Village residents.
"NYU's ever-growing presence in the Village has long had a disproportionate impact on the East Village; it's where NYU students go to live off campus, to party on weekends (and weeknights) and grab some fast food. The type of growth NYU is projecting, even if it were only limited to the blocks south of Washington Square, would still greatly accelerate the transformation of the East Village we've seen in recent years.
"But there is no reason to believe that NYU's growth will be limited to these blocks if they get the approvals they seek. Nothing in the requested approvals limits NYU's ability to acquire property, build, or demolish anywhere else, and as long as they are growing in the Central Village, they will likely seek other locations nearby for additional facilities, just as they have for the past several decades.
The way Berman sees it, the impact of the precedents set by these approvals is much more likely to be felt in the East Village.
"If NYU convinces the City that the zoning protections, open space requirements and urban renewal deed restrictions under which these superblocks were developed are ripe for the undoing ... then it is neighborhoods like the East Village and Lower East Side which present the most opportunities for the kind of overbuilding and overdevelopment which could follow from that profound change in city planning and philosophy," he said.
Fish and meat market, restaurant in the works for First Avenue
There are big plans in the works for the former Revitali Hookah Lounge at 125 First Ave. between St. Mark's and Seventh Street... Ray LeMoine, an owner of the late Bowery Beef inside the Bowery Poetry Club, is one of the proprietors behind a fish market/retail shop/restaurant in the works for this storefront.
We asked LeMoine via email the other day to explain a little about the concept. Fish monger and retail shop by day, restaurant by night?
Not exactly. We have a hallway entrance that would make a fine small market. We love Commodities up the block, but they mainly do greens and health food. There's no seafood market in the East Village, save our enemies at Whole Foods. The company has a dock behind my dad's house in Gloucester, MA. Both the Whole Foods on Houston and 14th have signs on the wall saying they sell a lot of fish from Gloucester. They don't. We will. And meat too.
Anyway, the market will lead to a kitchen and dining area with seating for 60 or so. The final concept is still fluid. Our new partner is Mitch Zukor, a local gent who always came into Bowery Beef. Talking to him, we learned his younger brother was hardcore punk legend Jay Anarchy of the NYHC Youth Crew.
Food-wise, assume a lot of the market's products will hit the menu. We're talking to some young chefs. It will be a chef-driven menu serving three meals. Lunch, we'll serve the beef again at $5, plus other deli-style items. Dinner, we have some ideas, but the chef will create the menu. Front of house, we have ex-Blue Ribbon and Blue Hill folks. Assume we're entering our blue period, but no more Blue Bottle coffee.
We have a cultural component too, like we did with Beef at Bowery Poetry Club. I can't say the whos and whats yet.
Here's what the place looks like inside these days...
LeMoine and his partners, Mike Herman and Mitch Zukor, are having an open house tonight and Thursday from 6-8 for anyone in the neighborhood with ideas and concerns.
They will appear before the CB3/SLA committee for a liquor license on Jan. 9.
[All photos by Kathy Grayon]
And that's it for what used to be the Mars Bar
A look inside the demo site at 11-17 Second Ave. yesterday morning showed that just a crumbling section of the Mars Bar's north wall remained... workers were busy bringing down that portion ... By now, we're assuming that it is all gone...
And here are a few shots from Bobby Williams taken yesterday... 9 (71/2) Second Ave. is next for extinction...
Read Jeremiah's history of 9 (71/2) Second Ave. here.
Former Superdive space on today's SLA agenda
An Avenue A tipster tells us that the folks hoping to open a bar-gallery space at 200 Avenue A (the former Superdive, of course) is on today's agenda for the State Liquor Authority's full board meeting...
The people behind the "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" concept — who have appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee three times — decided to go directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license.
The group, calling themselves Hospitality LLC, appeared before the CB3/SLA committee in November 2010 with the idea of a restaurant/lounge "that involves all the senses," including the now-legenedary smell machine. They came back in April, and were told to do more community outreach. The didn't have any better luck in May given the strong opposition from neighbors.
In case you are wondering... the board meeting starts at 10 a.m. at:
Harlem Center Tower Office Building
317 Lenox Avenue
New York, NY 10027
Entrance to the Main Lobby is located on Lenox Avenue near 126th Street.
Vampire Freaks has closed
A few weeks ago we pointed out that Vampire Freaks on Avenue A was closing... As you can see, that closure is now official...
However, you can still find their goth-punk-and-what-not apparel online here.
However, you can still find their goth-punk-and-what-not apparel online here.
Autumn Skateboard Shop has closed on East Ninth Street
The other day @bonatron9000 pointed out that Itzocan Café closed on East Ninth Street near Avenue A... now, she notes that the restaurant's next-door neighbor, Autumn Skateboard Shop, has also rather abruptly closed...
As New York magazine wrote, "Autumn may not have the largest inventory in the city, but they are big on creativity and carry unusual pieces that you won’t see everywhere else."
The store's website is still live ... so perhaps you can still order stuff online...
Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter officially opens today
Bobwhite Lunch & Supper Counter is officially opening today on Avenue C near East Sixth Street... (they had a soft opening of sorts on New Year's Day.)
Last Thursday, owner and founder Keedick Coulter distributed 250 samples of the restaurant's fried black eyed peas (which included a card good for one free dessert with the purchase of a lunch or supper) to passersby on Avenue C and in Tompkins Square Park.
Per Fork in the Road:
And here's a photo of their southern-style fare via the Bobwhite Facebook page...
Previously.
Last Thursday, owner and founder Keedick Coulter distributed 250 samples of the restaurant's fried black eyed peas (which included a card good for one free dessert with the purchase of a lunch or supper) to passersby on Avenue C and in Tompkins Square Park.
Per Fork in the Road:
"Although the final menu is still being tweaked, it will include fried and grilled organic chicken suppers; hot sandwiches with fried chicken, grilled chicken, or pork chops, featuring homemade condiments and relishes; simple Southern sandwiches like pimento cheese, egg salad, and chicken salad; seasonal Southern vegetables like collard greens; and traditional Southern desserts such as banana cream pie parfaits and red velvet cake."
And here's a photo of their southern-style fare via the Bobwhite Facebook page...
Previously.
There is now a website dedicated to the work of Jim Joe
From the EV Grieve inbox... a news release...
For immediate release…
The Cult Of Joe (cultofjoe.com) is a collective of art fans who appreciate the work of NYC’s mysterious “street artist” Jim Joe. Jim Joe is an artist whose simplistic style stands out quite a bit from the ocean of graffiti scribbles that plaster NYC’s East Village and surrounding areas. From his cursive “tags” to his often nonsensical Samo-esque quotes, to his drawings on stickers to his writings on trash, his distinct style makes him easy to spot. This website is merely an attempt to document his work.
Launched on January 1st 2012, The Cult of Joe website is by far the largest collection of Jim Joe photos on the web with over 500 photos shot over the last 2 years mainly by three super fans known as xxxJORDYxxx, Bomarr and Setlasmon. We’re also encouraging all New Yorkers and visitors to NYC to join The Cult Of Joe by snapping a Jim Joe photo, submitting it to the Cult of Joe website and then posting it on Facebook or Tweeting it. Submit Jim Joe photos to : cultofjoe@gmail.com with the subject line “Submission,” or via Twitter, by adding the hashtag #cultofjoe or #jimjoe
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Transformers: Dark of the Avenue A
ConEd is futzing around with their substation on Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street...And we can never resist a photo of a ConEd flatbed with two large transformers... which Bobby Williams is well aware!
What's left outside Billy's Antiques...
Oh, a little bit ago we walked by Billy's Antiques on Houston at the Bowery... just to take a look. Billy's is now closed for the next year or so while a new, two-story structure goes up here, replacing the tent... (Billy's will return to this space.)
The tent is still up... and we spotted this a few feet to the east of the property...
Read more about Billy's here.
The tent is still up... and we spotted this a few feet to the east of the property...
Read more about Billy's here.
The Mystery Lot discards its holiday tree
And how it looked just a few weeks ago during the annual Mystery Lot Christmas Spectacular at Mystery Lot Center (14 Rock to locals) ...
And now, your new East Village Starbucks
First Avenue and East Third Street... dunno when the plywood came down exactly... (this morning, apparently)
...and people, drag those trees to Tompkins Square Park for the MulchFest!
Without the plywood, where will people hang flyers like this?
Ah, our friend jdx just sent us this shot...
As he notes: "behold the starbucks edifice: gray bricks. like tombstones."
Previously on EV Grieve:
Today's sign of the apocalypse: Starbucks taking over The Bean's space on First Avenue and Third Street
...and people, drag those trees to Tompkins Square Park for the MulchFest!
Without the plywood, where will people hang flyers like this?
Ah, our friend jdx just sent us this shot...
As he notes: "behold the starbucks edifice: gray bricks. like tombstones."
Previously on EV Grieve:
Today's sign of the apocalypse: Starbucks taking over The Bean's space on First Avenue and Third Street
Report: Man arrested for attempted rape in Seventh Street building
The Post reports today that a "drunken pervert" pushed a woman into her apartment building on East Seventh Street early Sunday morning and tried to rape her.
According to the Post, Griggs was charged with attempted rape, burglary, strangulation, robbery and sexual abuse and held without bail at his arraignment last night.
"Anthony Griggs, 42, allegedly grabbed her around her neck, forced her upstairs and pounced on her in a hallway, biting her during the vicious attack.
Passers-by heard her screaming, 'Please don't rape me!'"
According to the Post, Griggs was charged with attempted rape, burglary, strangulation, robbery and sexual abuse and held without bail at his arraignment last night.
12 things to watch for in the East Village during 2012
• 35 Cooper Square
We're still waiting for the Arun Bhatia Development Corporation, who specialize in dorms and luxury condos, to make public their plans for the parcel of land on Cooper Square at Sixth Street. But they were seemingly in a hurry to demolish the historic 35 Cooper Square last year.
[Photo by Bobby Williams]
• Will East 10th Street be spared from future development?
As we first reported, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has expedited a hearing on the East 10th Street Historic District... thanks to Ben Shaoul looking to add another floor during the conversion of 315 E. 10th St. from nonprofit to residential use. The hearing is set for Jan. 17.
• A lot of posts about Karl Fischer.
Dubbed "NY's most loathed architect" by the Post, Fischer currently has three projects working in the East Village ... 427 E. 12th Street ... 316-318 E. Third St. ... and 532 E. Fifth St. ...
[532 E. Fifth St.]
• A new look for the corner of Third Avenue and 12th Street.
• The rise of 11-17 Second Avenue.
The current address is a beam and brick away from existence. In 2012, we'll see the rise, then, of the 12-story apartment building that's taking over this space...
[Saturday at 11-17 Second Ave. by Bobby Williams]
November...
• The demolition continues at 51 Astor Place, where the Fumihiko Maki-designed 430,000-square-footDeath Star office building will live ...
[Bobby Williams]
• More fast food and chain stores?
Last year, we saw the arrival of a Subway on Avenue B, an IHOP on East 14th Street, a 7-Eleven on the Bowery and the start of a Starbucks on First Avenue at Third Street. Given what rents are these days, it only seems natural that more chains will invade. Which will lead to...
• The continued death of the mom-and-pop shop.
In the last week, we've seen two small restaurants close up — Itzocan Café and Polonia. Just not foody enough for the the foodies? But there will be plenty of that...
• More fodder for foodies.
Expect to see even more name restaurateur types pan for the East Village Gold Rush. Coming soon! Michael White opening a pizza place on Second Avenue at 10th Street ... the people behind the Breslin, John Dory and Spotted Pig taking over at Olivia on Houston and Allen ... wd~50 pastry chef Alex Stupak opening Empellon, "a fine-dining Mexican restaurant," at the former Counter on First Avenue ...
• More pedestrian usage of "Occupy" even after it went from clever to cliche about, oh, four months ago...
...and on the more positive side...
• Construction continues at the new home of the Lower Eastside Girls Club on Avenue D ...
[Bobby Williams]
• Renovations continue at St. Brigid's on Avenue B at Eighth Street...
[@dens]
There are more than 12, actually, but this is a good start...
We're still waiting for the Arun Bhatia Development Corporation, who specialize in dorms and luxury condos, to make public their plans for the parcel of land on Cooper Square at Sixth Street. But they were seemingly in a hurry to demolish the historic 35 Cooper Square last year.
• Will East 10th Street be spared from future development?
As we first reported, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has expedited a hearing on the East 10th Street Historic District... thanks to Ben Shaoul looking to add another floor during the conversion of 315 E. 10th St. from nonprofit to residential use. The hearing is set for Jan. 17.
• A lot of posts about Karl Fischer.
Dubbed "NY's most loathed architect" by the Post, Fischer currently has three projects working in the East Village ... 427 E. 12th Street ... 316-318 E. Third St. ... and 532 E. Fifth St. ...
• A new look for the corner of Third Avenue and 12th Street.
• The rise of 11-17 Second Avenue.
The current address is a beam and brick away from existence. In 2012, we'll see the rise, then, of the 12-story apartment building that's taking over this space...
November...
• The demolition continues at 51 Astor Place, where the Fumihiko Maki-designed 430,000-square-foot
• More fast food and chain stores?
Last year, we saw the arrival of a Subway on Avenue B, an IHOP on East 14th Street, a 7-Eleven on the Bowery and the start of a Starbucks on First Avenue at Third Street. Given what rents are these days, it only seems natural that more chains will invade. Which will lead to...
• The continued death of the mom-and-pop shop.
In the last week, we've seen two small restaurants close up — Itzocan Café and Polonia. Just not foody enough for the the foodies? But there will be plenty of that...
• More fodder for foodies.
Expect to see even more name restaurateur types pan for the East Village Gold Rush. Coming soon! Michael White opening a pizza place on Second Avenue at 10th Street ... the people behind the Breslin, John Dory and Spotted Pig taking over at Olivia on Houston and Allen ... wd~50 pastry chef Alex Stupak opening Empellon, "a fine-dining Mexican restaurant," at the former Counter on First Avenue ...
• More pedestrian usage of "Occupy" even after it went from clever to cliche about, oh, four months ago...
...and on the more positive side...
• Construction continues at the new home of the Lower Eastside Girls Club on Avenue D ...
• Renovations continue at St. Brigid's on Avenue B at Eighth Street...
There are more than 12, actually, but this is a good start...
How you can own the East Village IHOP
Just buy the whole building! That's right: Massey Knakal has the listing for 235-237 E. 14th St.
Here it is:
The property, situated on the north side of East 14th Street between Second and Third Avenues, contains 17 lower income housing units and 1 store. The building, erected in 1988 as part of NYC's Inclusionary Lower Income Housing Plan created 3,915 SF of retail space on the ground floor and 18,019 SF of residential floor area on floors 2 through 7. The retail store was recently leased for 10 years with one 5-year option to IHOP Restaurant for $45,833 per month or about $140/SF. IHOP is an excellent credit tenant with a corporate guarantee by Dine Equity Inc. (NYSE: DIN). IHOP’s rent increases 10% every 5 years. As a result of the Inclusionary Housing Plan in place, an investor can only benefit from the rent increases by the retail tenant and the revenue from the cell antenna. Ownership must break-even from the residential portion where rents are regulated by HPD and all units must remain affordable for the life of the building. Any profit derived above the cost to operate the building’s residential portion must be preserved in a capital reserve account that can only be used for capital improvements. The building can not be taken out of the Inclusionary Housing Program making this asset ideal for a conservative long-term investor, a retail investor, or an institution looking to place capital in a solid, low-risk investment.
So. IHOP's rent is $45,833? Yow. I would have guessed $30,000-$35,000.
Anyway, at least the building is safe from any high-end condo conversion. Wonder how the current residents handle any IHOP smells?
Prune people taking over Belcourt space
On Friday, BoweryBoogie pointed out via CB3 documents that the people behind fancy-pants places like behind the Breslin, John Dory and Spotted Pig are aiming to open something at Olivia, the tapas place on Houston and Allen... (We pointed out in early December that the Olivia space was on the market.)
Upon further review of the documents ahead of the CB3/SLA meeting on Jan. 9, we noticed that folks affiliated with Prune on East First Street look to take over the Belcourt space on Second Avenue at East Fourth Street... (As Diner's Journal reported, Belcourt Chef Matthew Hamilton recently left the self-described Parisian-style brasserie.)
Anyway, to screengrabs of the documents...
Prune chef Gabrielle Hamilton's name isn't mentioned (though we're curious about the name scratched out up there) ... Ginevra Iverson worked as her sous chef in Prune's early days before moving on... According to the documents (PDF), the place will be called Calliope, serving "new American" cuisine.
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