Monday, October 15, 2012
Sleepers
Earlier today, the NYPD paid a visit to the men hanging around on Second Avenue near East Sixth Street... some were sleeping... others were not... But they were all asked to leave... Photos by Bobby Williams...
Former Cafe Gigi is now a $8,750 triplex apartment
We've been watching the work progress at 417 E. Ninth Street between A and First Avenue... where crews were renovating the storefront space...
And now the space is on the market. Here's the Streeteasy listing via No Fee Rentals:
We're noting all this for a few reasons. For starters, the space used to be Cafe Gigi, which closed in, what, the summer of 2008?
It was a pleasant enough place. We don't recall liking the food. But I was always a sucker for thrift-store interiors that are really out of fashion these days (apparently).
Also, we can't recall too many recent examples of a bar-cafe that became residential ... rather than the other way around... can you think of any from just the last few years?
[Cafe Gigi photos by Photo by Youngna Park via New York magazine]
And now the space is on the market. Here's the Streeteasy listing via No Fee Rentals:
BRAND NEW TRIPLEX APARTMENT located on a tree lined street in the heart of the East Village, steps to TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK. This gut renovated 3 bedroom convertible 5 apartment features a large kitchen with breakfast bar, dishwasher and microwave, two spacious bedrooms and a full bath on the main level, a large bedroom and full bath on the upper level, and a large living room and/or bedrooms with an additional half bath on the lower level.
We're noting all this for a few reasons. For starters, the space used to be Cafe Gigi, which closed in, what, the summer of 2008?
It was a pleasant enough place. We don't recall liking the food. But I was always a sucker for thrift-store interiors that are really out of fashion these days (apparently).
Also, we can't recall too many recent examples of a bar-cafe that became residential ... rather than the other way around... can you think of any from just the last few years?
[Cafe Gigi photos by Photo by Youngna Park via New York magazine]
The former Mystery Lot sinks ... and rises
On Friday, we got a ground-level glimpse into the former Mystery Lot... Now EVG reader Katja provides an update on the action from above...
Also! It is rising! Here's the first sign of the new development above ground, wedged in the space between 123 Third Avenue and Chickpea...
As we noted in May — there is a retail listing...
Also! It is rising! Here's the first sign of the new development above ground, wedged in the space between 123 Third Avenue and Chickpea...
As we noted in May — there is a retail listing...
And now, a lot of photos of St. Brigid's
We continue to stockpile photos of the under-renovation St. Brigid's on Avenue B and Eighth Street... taking photos whenever we happen to pass by...
We were gawking at the basement space ... where there looks to be meeting rooms/community space, etc.
On Friday, workers removed the last of the scaffolding...
So we have now have mostly construction-free views...
As for an opening, we last heard sometime this fall via The Villager...
We were gawking at the basement space ... where there looks to be meeting rooms/community space, etc.
On Friday, workers removed the last of the scaffolding...
So we have now have mostly construction-free views...
As for an opening, we last heard sometime this fall via The Villager...
Two years later, Walid Menswear has gone out of business
Walid Menswear starting the going-out-of-business process on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue in May 2010 ...
[June 2010]
However, the store managed to hang on for longer — more than two years. However, the store is now for rent, as EVG reader Ron Z. noted.
We always liked the sign. So did James and Karla Murray, who included Walid's in their book "STORE FRONT: The Disappearing Face Of New York."
While they may not have been selling the most expensive clothing, the proprietors always took great pride in showcasing their goods in the window displays. Now, it's just another one of the little interesting storefronts, like The Royal Wigs, that are disappearing along this stretch of East 14th Street...
[June 2010]However, the store managed to hang on for longer — more than two years. However, the store is now for rent, as EVG reader Ron Z. noted.
We always liked the sign. So did James and Karla Murray, who included Walid's in their book "STORE FRONT: The Disappearing Face Of New York."
While they may not have been selling the most expensive clothing, the proprietors always took great pride in showcasing their goods in the window displays. Now, it's just another one of the little interesting storefronts, like The Royal Wigs, that are disappearing along this stretch of East 14th Street...
Reader report: I Coppi team opening new restaurant on Avenue A
I Coppi closed on East Ninth Street last month... However, EVG contributor Shawn Chittle has learned that the I Coppi team will be opening a new venture on Avenue A near East 12th Street ... in the space that previously belonged to the Vampire Freaks store...
There is now paper over the storefront on Avenue A ... and the for lease sign is gone. Workers have started transforming the space...
Per Shawn about the new space:
"Beer/wine only. Tuscan food. Restaurant won't be called I Coppi as of this writing. No opening date set." And we're not sure if all the former principals will be part of the new venture...
Pinisi Cafe & Bakery has closed on East Fourth Street
On Saturday, EVG reader Blaine passed along the above photo... showing workers clearing out the Pinisi Cafe & Bakery on East Fourth Street near First Avenue. Workers also removed the neon Bakery sign.
The Pinisi outpost on First Avenue closed in late July 2010. We know of a lot of readers who liked their various pastries and desserts.
EV Grieve Eatery Etc.: AAA Amici Pizza still open; IHOP still smells
A few weeks ago, we noted that Taureau at 127 E. Seventh St. moved away from the East Village. Our friends at the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop told us that Taureau owner Didier Pawlicki was opening another French bistro in the space... So, the renovations continue at the space, and it looks as if it will be called Table Verta...
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The Post checked in yesterday with a piece about the East 15th Street residents sick and tired of the noise and smell coming from the IHOP. (We wrote about it last November here and here.)
By the way, the building that houses the IHOP on East 14th Street is still for sale. Still asking $14.5 million. Here's the listing.
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And several readers told us that the Starbucks sidewalk seating has returned to the Second Avenue/East Ninth Street location after all that expired permit hoopla with the city... Uh, of course, this photo from Saturday doesn't actually show the tables and chairs out for the day just yet...
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And after being closed for a few days on Third Avenue at East 12th Street, AAA Amici Pizza was back open for the weekend, as this photo by EVG reader @robbyohara ...
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The Post checked in yesterday with a piece about the East 15th Street residents sick and tired of the noise and smell coming from the IHOP. (We wrote about it last November here and here.)
By the way, the building that houses the IHOP on East 14th Street is still for sale. Still asking $14.5 million. Here's the listing.
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And several readers told us that the Starbucks sidewalk seating has returned to the Second Avenue/East Ninth Street location after all that expired permit hoopla with the city... Uh, of course, this photo from Saturday doesn't actually show the tables and chairs out for the day just yet...
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And after being closed for a few days on Third Avenue at East 12th Street, AAA Amici Pizza was back open for the weekend, as this photo by EVG reader @robbyohara ...
Why couldn't Zoltar foretell this development?
A readers passes along this unfortunate bit of news from outside Gem Spa tonight...
Get well soon, old friend... Plus, we need you — the Breeders' Cup is coming up...
Get well soon, old friend... Plus, we need you — the Breeders' Cup is coming up...
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Week in Grieview
RIP Donald Suggs (Tuesday)
City approves the new East Village/Lower East Side Historic District (Tuesday)
Sushi coming to former Polonia space (Monday)
A FroYo shop closes, sells its surplus of Fruity Pebbles (Tuesday)
Remembering Downtown Beirut and other "most-mourned" bars (Thursday)
Old PS 64 update (Wednesday)
A Subway closes on First Avenue (Thursday)
A huge rent increase for family with cancer-stricken 2 year old (Tuesday, 54 comments)
2 new floors for 80 E. Second St. (Friday)
Arrest in Tompkins Square Park sexual assault (Sunday)
A Daniel Craig moment on East 10th Street (Friday)
Reader report: Man arrested for having dog on L train platform
Per a reader:
Brooklyn bound L train at 1st Ave. 2 a.m.
Police gave this guy many chances to leave before backup came and arrested him. He was being a jerk and saying he seen dogs on the train before.
Not sure what's going to happen to the dog.
Here's the Taylor Swift section at Duane Reade's Avenue B store
I don't recall any other pop singers getting their own section at Duane Reade. Can't say that I know anything about her ... except from the tabloids reporting on her dating a Kennedy.
San Francisco Giants celebration tree mended on Second Avenue
On Friday, we noted the Urban Etiquette Sign that an EVG reader spotted on Second Avenue near 14th Street... outside Bay Area-rooting sports bar Finnerty's. Some fans in celebration mode apparently broke off some branches...
A commenter later noted: "I see the broken limbs have been removed and damaged area sealed. Fair enough."
And here's a photo of the tree now...
A commenter later noted: "I see the broken limbs have been removed and damaged area sealed. Fair enough."
And here's a photo of the tree now...
Watching Television this morning
Been hanging out over at The YouTube early this morning... going through videos that I put in my favorites but never watched for some reason, like this grainy rehearsal footage of Television circa 1974 ... I like the one commenter who says "Verlaine is like a trobadour from the asylum who has never washed his hair."
The lineup at this time:
Tom Verlaine — vocals, guitar
Richard Hell — vocals, bass
Richard Lloyd — guitar
Billy Ficca — drums
Saturday, October 13, 2012
PUB CRAWL ALERT
Saturday October 13th is the 3rd day of New York Comic Con. It also happens to be a damn good day to drink, eat, and generally party your way through the East Village.
How do we resolve the simultaneous occurrence of these 2 extraordinary events?
By throwing NYC's First COMIC CRAWL!
There will be food. There will be drinks. There will be mayhem. There will be Comics!
*There will NOT be blood.
Featuring many of the East Village's coolest spots.
- Idle Hands Bar
-Destination Bar
-Billy Hurricane's
-Mama's
-Alphabets
-Fresco Gelateria
-Liquiteria
-Professor Thom's
-Wechsler's Currywurst & Bratwurst
-Keybar
-La Lucha
-Otto's Shrunken Head
-Poco
-Jimmy's No. 43
-East Village Tavern
-Double Down Saloon
DNAinfo featured this pub crawl here.
Anyone else getting really tired of this kind of shit?
A celebration of Donald Suggs' life tomorrow night at Eastern Bloc
Dear friends and loves of Donald,
We're having a party at one of his favorite places, Eastern Bloc, to commemorate his life. If you like, come with stories — you'll have a chance to tell them. Come with love, because he'd want you to share it. And come prepared to celebrate, not just to mourn. With drinks. And mariachis.
As you know, Donald was also a tireless activist. Please consider donating to some of the causes that were dearest to him:
One Iowa
Grassroots Leadership
The celebration starts at 5. Eastern Bloc is on East Sixth Street ... just east of Avenue A.
Suggs, a longtime East Village resident who worked at Exit 9 on Avenue A, died last weekend of an apparent heart attack. He was 51.
Continuum Coffee now open on Avenue B
About a year ago we heard that Continuum Cycles on Avenue B was going to open a coffee shop... and we promptly forgot about it.
Here was owner Jeff Underwood writing about it last October on the Continuum blog:
Anyway, Continuum Coffee opened Wednesday adjacent to the shop between East 12th Street and 13th Street...
[Via @ContinuumCoffee]
They have oatmeal and vegan muffins and stuff... and they'll be screening horror movies every Friday and Saturday this month... and bike-themed films on Sunday...
Here was owner Jeff Underwood writing about it last October on the Continuum blog:
We will have vegan treats too. Movie nights, bicycle art, books, clothing and tubes, patches, lights, pumps and much more until late night. Also remember, we are open for everyone. Cyclist or not.
Anyway, Continuum Coffee opened Wednesday adjacent to the shop between East 12th Street and 13th Street...
They have oatmeal and vegan muffins and stuff... and they'll be screening horror movies every Friday and Saturday this month... and bike-themed films on Sunday...
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