Hawk's omen at St. Brigid's

Perhaps as a follow-up to the previous post, Crow's omen ... a shot of the St. Brigid's cross this week by Bobby Williams...

Conspiracy theories: Who was the anonymous donor behind St. Brigid's $20 million donation?

Headlines from May 22, 2008 ...


On this date (or, online the day before!), we learned that an anonymous donor came to the rescue of St. Brigid's, which reopens Sunday, saving the historic building's grounds on Avenue B and East Eighth Street from life as a condo or dorm. (There was also talk in 2003-2004 that the Cabrini Center would move here from down on East Fifth Street, as The Villager reported.)

Per the Times: "The gift includes $10 million to restore the building, at 119 Avenue B; $2 million to establish an endowment for the parish so that it might best meet the religious and spiritual needs of the people living in the community'; and $8 million to support the St. Brigid's School and other Catholic schools in need."

Great news. And fodder for conspiracy theorists. Matt Dillon! Bette Midler! The Villager mentioned Chuck Feeney, "an Irish-American philanthropist who has given about $400 million anonymously through The Atlantic Philanthropies, which he endowed."

And now, Dave on 7th shares his conspiracy theory:

Ever since St Brigid's was saved, I've wondered why, after going to literally the last hour in trying to demolish the church and sell off its incredibly valuable real estate, the Archdiocese would suddenly accept the offer of an anonymous donor and essentially rebuild the whole church from scratch.

My theory is that the "donor" is in fact the Archdiocese itself, and they needed to remain anonymous because they had just closed like four parishes in the neighborhood.

Interestingly, the parish that survived the cuts was St Emeric, which is housed in a nondescript church located on a dead-end street behind a power plant.

At some point a year or two ago, I saw flyers on Avenue C announcing that the Cardinal would be holding a mass at St Emeric. That's a BIG deal for a little church in a nondescript building behind a power plant.

Then came the announcement that St Emeric would "merge" with St Brigid's, and that the parish priest would come from St Emeric. That clinched it for me.

This was a deal between St Emeric and the Cardinal (who, by the way, is going to lead the first mass in the new church, again a very BIG deal) to rebuild the church and turn it over to whatever order St Emeric's is. And it all had to remain anonymous and unassociated with the Archdiocese or else the other parishes that were closed, in possession of perfectly good structures would be up in arms. This way it had nothing to do with them, they were at the mercy of a wealthy donor.

In the end, I'm just glad the building was saved, but that's how I think it all happened.

What do you think? I'm still going with Matt Dillon as the donor ... all those "Wild Things" residuals ...

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street questions the popularity of Yorkies named Max in the East Village; supports 'No 7-11'

Per Kita's owner: "Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street was mystified by the popularity of Yorkies named Max in the neighborhood (she’s never met a single one) but she is solidly in support of the No 7-11 movement."

On the next episode: Kita ponders starting a bike-share program for canines

Previously on EV Grieve:
The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Happy holidays from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

[UPDATED] Il Bagatto turns back the clock as its Second Street space hits the market

An EVG reader and fan of Il Bagatto passed along this flyer ... the Italian Trattoria on East Second Street started a "throw back Thursdays" promotion last night where prices are the same as 1997...

Meanwhile, a listing for the Il Bagatto space (and that of its sister cafe next door, Il Posto Accanto) at 190-192 E. Second St. near Avenue B, showed up on the RKF site on Tuesday...

Per the listing, possession of the space is "immediate." No word just yet on the future plans for Il Bagatto, which opened here 1995.

Updated 4:30
Julio checked in, and said that they are still negotiating with the landlord — so this is NOT a done deal...

Olde Good things opening on the new Bowery

On Wednesday night, we spotted this outside 302 Bowery, which most recently served as a boutique for designer Patricia Field...

The storefront had been for rent since last March. Asking price: $30,000. There is now a new tenant...

It will be another location of Olde Good Things, which boasts having "one of the largest inventories of unique and antique architectural items." There are currently Olde Good shops on the Upper West Side, Union Square as well as in Chelsea.

Joanne Klein, who had been looking for a tenant here, confirmed the news. "Their style works well with the neighborhood too," she said.

Last May, Field moved to her newly renovated showroom space at 306 Bowery/298 Elizabeth.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More details on renting the Patricia Field boutique space on the Bowery

Winter Friday Flashback: On East Second Street, a sink hole and an Icicle Audi

On Fridays this winter, and probably spring and summer ... we'll post one of the 16,000-plus EVG, uh, posts from yesteryear, like this one from Jan. 23, 2011...

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Thanks to RyanAvenueA for this shot... of a large hole in the middle of Second Street near Second Avenue...

Come spring, we'll move the cars, throw around some deck chairs, and open a Shake Shack here.

Oh, and here's a closer look at the new icicle Audi model.

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Postscript. The Icicle Audi, of course, went on to international acclaim. From Jan. 25...

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H/t to esquared™ for reminding me about this anniversary.

This East Village crime story includes a Jimmy Choo boots-loving shoplifter who bites people

OK then. Here's a humdinger of a crime report via Serena Solomon at DNAinfo today:

Melissa Scott, 28, was caught red-handed Sunday for allegedly stealing a pair of Jimmy Choo boots from Cadillac's Castle at 333 E. Ninth St. — after biting both a store employee and a police officer who tried to restrain her, according to the clothing store's owners and cops.

The story includes a scuffle on East Ninth Street and a foot chase on St. Mark's Place, where Scott reportedly bit the officer.

During the biting attack on East Ninth Street ("her jaw clenched so tight a neighboring store owner had trouble prying her off"), people watching reportedly "just stood around and did nothing."

Here's the trailer for the new Coen Brothers movie, filmed in part in the East Village

As you may recall, the Coen Brothers shot parts of their next movie, "Inside Llyewn Davis," around the neighborhood last February and March. (See all of our posts and photos here.)

[Last February!]

East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue was dressed up to recreate the Greenwich Village of the 1960s.

The movie follows a protagonist loosely based on singer Dave Van Ronk, a friend of Bob Dylan’s. Oscar Isaac stars as the title character while Justin Timberlake co-stars as another folk musician. Carey Mulligan and John Goodman are also in the film.

As Slate noted today, the film doesn't have a release date yet.

Thanks to @RTSNYC for the tip.

[Updated] Behold the bell of St. Brigid's

Wow. EVG regular Salim just shared this... This morning, workers from a bell-restoration firm were putting a 3,000 pound, 150-year-old bell back in place at St Brigid's on Avenue B and East Eighth Street.

Wow.

Per Salim: "Everyone — cars, pedestrians, cyclists — was stopping to look at the bell. It was remarkably bright and beautiful, and the bell restorers had a lot of pride as they described it... forged in 1858, I think."

After a lengthy restoration, St. Brigid's is set to reopen on Sunday, as we first reported. And this might just do away with those fake "bells" that we've been hearing...

Updated 1-25

Salim and some other readers noted that the bell is actually on display now outside the church...

Hopefully people won't decide to do anything stupid here... it's pretty much right there in shenanigans way...

Why it's very possible that you own a Yorkie named Max in the East Village

From the EV Grieve inbox...

People love their dogs and consider them members of their family, and in New York City, a city with such a high number of singles, dogs may be their only family. Recognizing the enthusiasm people have for their pets, WNYC’s Data News team has created DOGS OF NYC, an interactive map that illustrates the popularity of names and breeds depending on neighborhood.

DOGS OF NYC includes:
• Doggy Census: Who lives where? Who knew Yorkies were so popular in Chelsea?
• Most popular boy and girl names (and other top 10 lists) Max and Bella reign supreme in 2012.
• Match the Breed with the Name” game, and more!
• Make your own t-shirt: a unique gift for the dog lover this upcoming Valentine’s Day!

Some more interesting tidbits:
• Princess is big in the Bronx, but Bronx — the name — is not nearly as popular as Brooklyn.
• The most popular female dog name is Bella, and Max is the most popular male dog name.
• There are 26 dogs in NYC named Pepsi, but none named Coke or Coca-Cola.
• There are 14 dogs named Kitty and 31 named Tigger.

You can read the article and find interactive stuff here. (The top image here is interactive.)

In total, there 5,000 Yorkies are licensed in the city, and more than 4,700 Shih Tzus. As for the East Village... a closer look at the stats shows that — surprise! — Yorkies are the most popular breed ... with Max being the most popular name. Followed by Bailey and, um, Coco. Keep in mind that these are only for licensed dogs, which only number 20 percent of all canines in the city.

From the article: the Health Department estimates that only one in five dogs are licensed. And now a cut-and-paste job from the piece:

It’s against the law to own a dog in the city and not get it licensed. The Health Department says licensing helps reunite lost dogs with their owners, and reminds owners to keep up with vaccinations for their best friend. The proceeds from registration fees support the operation of animal shelters in the city. The penalty for getting caught by a police officer or park official with an unlicensed dog is a summons and $200.

An unscientific survey of dog owners in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan's East Village on a Thursday afternoon reveals most of them are oblivious to the rule, the reasons for getting a license, and the penalty for going without one.

“Laziness, mainly laziness,” said one owner of an unlicensed dog, explaining why he hadn’t registered his one-and-a-half-year-old Affenpinscher with the city. The owner asked that he remain nameless for fear of incriminating his dog, to which he gave the alias “Bodean.”

You should really go get Max licensed.

Chalking up more 'No 7-Eleven' sentiment on Avenue A

A handful of hearty residents took to the frozen streets last night to create some more "No 7-Eleven" messages on Avenue A and East 11th Street ... site of one of the all-too-familiar franchise shops that will soon open in NYC ... A BBC crew was on-hand as well, documenting all this for an upcoming news segment...

...and from above...

Meanwhile, Khalif from East Village Deli at 217 Avenue A shows off his "No 7-Eleven" pride...

[Photo by Crazy Eddie]

The movement is growing...

Top photos by Shawn Chittle

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] More from the anti-7-Eleven front on Avenue A and East 11th Street

7-Eleven alert: Are 2 chain stores replacing Bar on A and Angels & Kings?

First sign of the incoming 7-Eleven on Avenue A

Avenue A's anti-7-Eleven campaign now includes arsenal of 20,000 stickers

More about the second location of Third Rail Coffee, opening soon on East 10th Street

As we first noted back on Dec. 31, the the second NYC location for Third Rail Coffee is taking over the former Stogo space on East 10th Street just west of Second Avenue. (Thanks to Bill the libertarian anarchist for that tip.)

Co-owner/barista Humberto Ricardo shared more about the space with us via Facebook.

"I'm really excited to get back to the East Village. It was the first place I lived on my own in New York City when I moved there," he said. In particular, he always liked this picturesque stretch of East 10th Street — near the St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery and the circa 1860s row houses designed by James Renwick Jr.

He was friendly with Angelo Fontana, the proprietor of the beloved A. Fontana Shoe Repair. He loved the shop, and the location. He figured it would be the perfect location for his business when the time came. (This was before the Sullivan Street location of Third Rail.)

"I started talking to [Angelo] about it in case he ever did retire. Also because he was a nice man and I have a deep respect for craftsmen who do one thing well forever," he said. "When he was forced out and into an early retirement, however, I backed away from the whole thing — too much bad karma. And I'd be damned if I was gonna be that guy.

A huge rent hike caused the shoe repair to close for good after 45 years in business in February 2008. Stogo, the vegan ice cream shop, opened in December 2008. They closed at the end of November.

"So I watched as Stogo took it and well — I'll leave the story there," he said. "I know some people still have some sore feelings about Angelo's being run out of that space. I hope that once people get a sense of who we are and what we're about ... they'll be happy about [the new coffee shop]."

He said he expects the new Third Rail to be open in the next few month.

February CB3-SLA highlights: I Cipressi, Sunshine Cinema and the Immigrant Tap Room

Hey now. The folks at CB3 have released the liquor license docket for February's meeting. Many of the applicants this time around are below Houston, so it's not really our fucking problem you can likely find more details on these establishments in the days/weeks ahead via BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down.

So.

Let's take a look.

SLA & DCA Licensing Committee
Monday, February 11 at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence, 200 E. 5th Street at Bowery

Applications within Saturated Areas

[EVG file photo from last June]

• 1st Street Ventures Inc, 44A 1st St (wb)

This is Julius Klein's former studio-gallery space ... he left back early in the summer after being Cromanized... No word just yet what this will be... we've spotted several prospective tenants check out this space going back to the summer...

• The Cow Theater (Stephen & Tyler Productions LLC), 21A Clinton St (wb)

• 154 Ludlow Bar LLC, 154 Ludlow St (op)

• I Cipressi Restaurant (Lidoalberta LLC), 189 Ave A (wb)

Lorella Innocenti, a former owner of I Coppi, which closed in September on East Ninth Street, is starting a new Tuscan-style restaurant here at the former Vampire Freaks space.

EVG reader J-Dough recently spotted sisters Maristella Innocenti (pictured left, who owns Matilda on East 11th Street off Avenue C with her husband Esteban Molina), and Lorella outside No. 189.

Alterations

• Peels Restaurant (Radley Realty Corp), 325 Bowery (op/alt/extend bar counter "L" shape, add 5-6 seats)

Outrageous!

• Cafe Katja (Graz Restaurant LLC), 75 Orchard St (op/alt/license to adjoin current business at 77-79)

• The General/Finale/Bow (Bakers Dozen Associates LLC), 199 Bowery (op/alt/move dance space to back half of the ground floor)

Heh.

• SakaMai (SakaMai LLC), 157 Ludlow St (op/alt/add stand up bar)

New Liquor License Applications

• Sunshine Lounge (Cinema Beverages Holding Company LLC), 143 E Houston St (op)

The Sunshine wants to add food and drinks to go along with their art-house cinema. CB3 hasn't been too receptive, per The Lo-Down ... and BoweryBoogie.

• The Immigrant Tap Room, 341 E 9th St (wb)

We wrote about this yesterday.

• Barzinho Inc, 48 Hester St (wb)

I don't even know where Hester Street is. (KIDDING.)

• Guayoyo (Highseyko Corporation), 67 1st Ave (op/upgrade)

• To be Determined, 266 Broome St (op)

• Retro Bar & Grill (Delancey Diner LLC), 148-150 Delancey St (op

Hope that's just a working title for the bar & grill...

• Natori Saint Marks LLC, 58 St Marks Pl (wb)

The owners moved to Japan late last year. Despite word that the space would close, new owners took over the space. A tipster told us the new owner also runs Sushi Lounge and Noodle Cafe Zen on St. Mark's, and Zen 6 on East Sixth street.

• Long Xin Restaurant (Sunrise Restaurant 88 Inc), 50 Eldridge St (b)

• Luzzo's (Luzzo's 211 LLC), 211 1st Ave (op)

???

• Azize Cafe & Lounge (45 First Ave Corp), 45 1st Ave (wb)

• Pulperia on Essex Inc, 131 Essex St (wb)

• To be Determined, 138 Orchard St (op)

• Mediterrean Grill and Tapas (Izagara Gourmet Inc), 128 1st Ave (op/upgrade)

• 90 Third Avenue TC Restaurant LLC, 90 3rd Ave (op)

This was last Montein Thai Cuisine near 12th Street... the DOH closed them in January 2011, and they never reopened. We've lost track of the applicants here... last that we recall, a Mexican eatery had designs on the space. Will get an update.

• Bar Chevere (O & O Wine Corp), 181 Essex St (op)

• Ivrose B LLC, 137 1st Ave (wb)

This is the former Tara Thai Cuisine space

• Eastwood (Sivandrew Inc), 200 Clinton St aka 221 E B'way (wb)

From the folks who own B-Side on Avenue B. Been a challenging go here too.

• Rivington 155 Parlor Inc, 155 Rivington St (op) (St Jerome's)

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b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

Things that are now saturated

Speaking of the CB3/SLA Licensing Committee... did you notice how they are now designating certain locations (starting with the February docket)? Before, CB3 used the expression "Applications within Resolution Areas."

But this is likely much more descriptive ...

"Applications within Saturated Areas."

I like "Applications within Woooooooo! Areas." But that is likely too large an area.

Here's a list of those areas via the CB3 website:

Community Board 3 has listed the following areas where oversaturation of licensed business has negatively affected the quality of life of residents. CB 3 believes these areas are problem areas because of oversaturation, and we have a policy to not approve new licenses or expansions in these areas unless the applicants show public benefit or strong support from residents living in the immediate area (adjoining, above, across the street from and behind the business).

An exception to this policy is applications for beer wine licenses for businesses that will close by midnight, agree to never apply for full liquor licenses and meet other requirements.

1. [ 99 - 192 ] Ludlow Street between Houston Street and Delancey Street.

2. [ 85 - 138 ] St. Marks Place between First Avenue and Avenue A.

3. 12 St. Marks Place, for which there have been persistent community complaints throughout its history as a licensed establishment.

4. [ 1 - 73 ] Clinton Street between Houston Street and Rivington Street.

5. [ 500 - 599 ] Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

6. Avenue A between Houston Street and Fourteenth Street.

7. [ 85 - 130 ] Rivington Street between Norfolk Street and Orchard Street.

8. Avenue B between Houston Street and Fourteenth Street.

9. Avenue C between Houston Street and Fourteenth Street.

10. [ 10 - 31 ] First Avenue between First Street and Second Street.

11. [ 144 - 202 ] Orchard Street between Houston Street and Rivington Street.

12. [ 1 - 37 ] St. Mark’s Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

13. [ 183 - 242 ] Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

14. [ 27 - 74 ] First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

H/T Shawn Chittle

Help Theater for the New City burn its mortgage on Saturday

From the EV Grieve inbox...

[Via Facebook]

A "BURN THE MORTGAGE" CELEBRATION!
Saturday, January 26th
5:00 to 7:00pm (free admission)

REJOYCE! THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY Has Paid Its Mortgage! $717,000 to $0!

Eats! Drinks! And Lots of Love! We want to Thank our Supporters! Champagne for everyone! And a Swinging Opening of a 40-year Retrospectacle: Theater for the New City, 40 Years of Struggle and Triumph!

Help us to put a Match to a 25-year old Mortgage, as we unveil our Donor Plaque.

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY Celebrates its 40th Year, and celebrates its future as The Cultural Center for the East Village and the Lower East Side — serving its neighborhood with Free and Low-Cost Theater, Art, Music, Poetry, Puppetry, Multimedia & Street Theater.

Performers and Speakers will include: F. Murray Abraham, Charles Busch, David Amram, Vinie Burrows, NYC Council Member Rosie Mendez, Louis Mofsie of the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, and some surprises. Reservations recommended.

RSVP and info here.

Theater for the New City bought their building at 155 First Ave. between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street with a $717,000 mortgage in 1987 ... they moved from the West Village to 156 Second Ave. in 1977...

Steamed espresso

Photo of 9th Street Espresso last night by Meg Lindley.

A cold-tailed hawk in Tompkins Square Park

Bobby Williams spotted the hawk hanging out on top of the Temperance Fountain in the Park this afternoon...

Today in photos of frozen fire hydrants in the East Village

We have learned exclusively that it is cold out today.

This cold out...

East 10th Street and Avenue C via Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C...

... and East Fifth Street and Avenue A via Simon1961 ...

Or maybe these are just sneak previews of new winter drinks from Booker & Dax...

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[East 12th Street near Avenue A via Shawn Chittle]

Q-n-A with Missing Foundation's Chris Egan (Flaming Pablum)

More history of the 9th Street Bakery (Off the Grid)

East Village substitute teacher suspended for selling books meant for fund-raiser (DNAinfo)

When the second floor of 1551 Broadway belonged to the Follies Burlesk (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

The story of Kirsten Larson, "an American Girl doll who sat on a shelf in the Ottendorfer branch" of the NY Public Library on Second Avenue (The New York Times)

The New Yorker reviews L’Apicio in the Mall of Avalon Bowery Place (The New Yorker)

Suing Ian Schrager on Christie Street (BoweryBoogie)

One possible future tenant for Seward Park project (The Lo-Down)

Bua on St. Mark's Place has a new menu (Eater)

Where the survivors from the Titanic docked (Ephemeral New York)

It is cold out (Gothamist)

And we've opened the heating center ... there's a 42-minute limit.

East Side Community School students are back, repaired wall and all

As you'll likely remember, students and faculty had to evacuate East Side Community High School and Girls Prep Charter on East 12th Street back in September when a maintenance worker found part of the eastern wall separating from the rest of the structure.

Original estimates via NY1 put the students back in the building in late February.

[The repaired wall last Friday, via Bobby Williams]

However, as East Side Principal Mark Federman tweeted on Jan. 4, the students would be returning sooner... and today was their first day back for classes here between Avenue A and First Avenue... we heard from a few East Village parents who were quite pleased that their kids were in the neighborhood again for classes.

Meanwhile, here is the new wall ... photographed on Monday...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Schools making it work while repairs continue at 420 E. 12th St.