Meanwhile in London, the Barclays Cycle Hire

Well, with all that talk about Citi Bikes coming here soon, probably ... here's a dispatch from EVG London Correspondent Dave on 7th from a few weeks ago...



"A well-worn program here in London. Must say they are everywhere, and fairly innocuous. It's been quite cold, so I don't think many people have been riding much. I've been told they are quite popular for commuters to the point that there are sometimes arguments over trying to grab the last spot in a corral. But, there always seems to be another corral nearby."





The Barclays Cycle Hire launched in July 2010.

A sign at Croxley's mentions the 'incompetent contractors next door'

[Last Thursday at 26 Avenue B via EVG reader Eric]

As we previously reported, there's a full Stop Work Order on 26 Avenue B, the construction site adjacent to No. 28, the building that had to be evacuated late last Monday afternoon..

Construction recently commenced in the empty lot on a new 6-story apartment building. DNAinfo reported that a resident at 28 Avenue B started to notice cracks in her ceiling after construction began.

The DOB noted the following about No. 28:

FDNY REQUESTS A STRUCTURAL STABILITY INSPECTION DUE TO VERTICAL CTACK AT REAR OF BUILDING FROM THE 1ST TO TOP FLOOR AND

Category Code: 30 BUILDING SHAKING/VIBRATING/STRUCT STABILITY AFFECTED

Aside from displacing residents, the evacuation shut down the tenant on the ground floor — Croxley Ales. And this sign arrived to greet would-be patrons this past weekend...



Also, the DOB is allowing partial work to continue at the construction site...to "perform stabilization" to 28 Avenue B, according to city records.

[H/t EVG reader Chad]

New Nino's will be the old Nino's

[Bobby Williams, from Thursday]

You may have noticed some renovations going on at the former Nino's space on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place... A tipster shared this:

A friend said they saw work going on in Nino’s space and asked what was happening? An older guy said he was Nino’s brother and they were re-opening. He said they sold it to this other guy and he screwed the place up so they are coming back and put it back the way it was. If it is true it is pretty cool.

Indeed, it is true... Via Eater, we learned that Nino Nino Camaj is returning to reopen the pizzeria that he previously sold, as first reported by the Local.

Do you think this means the return of the fountain drinks and year-round holiday decorations?


As for the last version of the non-Nino's Nino's, well, let's just try to forget about that stripped-down, charmless place.

Previously.

Bank branch becomes bank branch at former site of the Fillmore East

And over on Second Avenue near East Sixth, EVG contributor peter radley notes that the Emigrant Savings Bank will become an Apple Bank starting today...

And the address had a long history as various theaters and clubs... most notably the Fillmore East...



... and here's a photo of Timothy Leary circa 1966 from its days as an off-Broadway venue:


The Emigrant Savings Bank started going up in this space in 1997...

Previously.

Jeremiah wrote about the Fillmore East here ...

Reminders: Town-hall meeting tonight on the future of Peter Stuyvesant Post Office

Repeating from April 8...


[Click image to enlarge]

A follow-up on our item about the the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office closing/relocating... An EVG reader sent us this letter by the front doors at the branch on East 14th Street near Avenue A ... the letter has more details about what's happening here...

From Joseph J. Mulvery, facilities implementation, U.S. Postal Service:

"The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is proposing the relocation of the Peter Stuyvesant Station Post Office...to a yet to-be-determined location with the same zip code area.

The reason behind this proposal is the upcoming expiration of the lease on the present location. The lease will expire in February 2014, and we have been unable to reach agreement with the landlord on a new lease."

Jeez, the USPS can't even afford it here...



And as a reminder:

There's a Town Hall scheduled on the matter between Community Board 3 and Community Board 6 on April 22. Location: — Campos Plaza Community Center (gym) at 611 East 13th Street (btwn Aves B & C)

Previously on EV Grieve:
UPDATED: Did you hear the rumor about the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch closing?

Noted

Bobby Williams was walking north along the East River yesterday... and he spotted this sea plane with a familiar-looking logo...



It is André Balazs' StndAIR ... The Standard Hotel's sea plane that will take you out to the Hamptons for ... $525 (one way) for the 45-minute flight. Regular service starts up again on May 24. Book your seats now! (Make your "Snakes on a Plane" jokes now!)





The service launched in 2011.

Week in Grieview

[Tuesday outside Professor Thom's on Second Avenue]

Deadly fire at 115 Fourth Ave. (Wednesday)

Building evacuation at 28 Avenue B (Monday)

An early-morning truck accident on Second Avenue (Friday)

Former PS 64 one step closer to being a 500-bed dorm (Monday)

Remember Joey Ramone on the anniversary of his death (Monday)

David Cross says that the East Village is the worst place on earth weekend nights (Sunday)

Cute cat alert! Lil BUB was in the neighborhood (Tuesday)

Construction equipments arrives at the former PS 64 (Wednesday)

An Avenue B walkup for sale (Wednesday)

The Kushner Companies meet the neighborhood (Thursday)

A local artist, an international canvas (Wednesday)

Someone stole the Burger Shop sign on St. Mark's (Thursday)

About Showgirls! The Musical! (Wednesday)

Another attempt to revive Something Sweet (Monday)

Gandhi was leaking gas, apparently (Tuesday)

Boukiés owner sues the SLA (Monday)

Update on last night's fire at Mono + Mono

As reported earlier, a two-alarm fire swept through 116 E. Fourth St. early this morning... the single-level commercial building houses Mono + Mono.

The restaurant just updated its Facebook page:

Our big thanks to @FDNY. The fire that broke out last night at @MonoMonoNYC was quickly put out and everyone is safe. There was some water damage, so we'll be closed for a few days to make repairs. We'll be back stronger than ever! Stay tuned.

Updated 7 p.m.

DNAinfo has more on the fire...

• Fire not considered suspicious, per authorities

• Most of the restaurant's extensive collective of jazz LPs were thought to be OK

• "The heat from the blaze was so intense that it knocked out windows to the Hells Angels' East 3rd Street headquarters, which sits directly behind the restaurant.

The biker gang was having a loud barbecue in their backyard when the fire broke out, according to neighbors."

[Updated] Early-morning fire at 116 E. Fourth St., home of Mono + Mono

[Via EVG reader kke7st]

Photo of #FDNY o/s #Manhattan *66-22-0429**2nd Alarm** 116 E 4th St off 1st Ave #eastvillage #nyc twitter.com/NYCFireWire/st…
— NYC Fire Wire (@NYCFireWire) April 21, 2013

An early-morning two-alarm fire ripped through 116 E. Fourth St., a single-level commercial building that houses Mono + Mono. Bystanders were told that the fire started in the restaurant's kitchen. There were no reports of injuries here between First Avenue and Second Avenue. No word just yet on the extent of the damage at the restaurant or any adjacent buildings.

The restaurant serves Korean fried chicken and is known for playing classic jazz music — boasting a collection of more than 30,000 vinyl records that are played through vintage tube amplifiers.

Witnesses reported hearing an explosion before the fire, per Twitter. The FDNY evacuated residents at 118 E. Fourth St., according to people on the scene.


[Via EVG reader kke7st]

And via EVG correspondent jdx ...







EVG reader Marina, who shared the next two photos, praised the FDNY's speedy response...





Here's a photo via Jeffrey Borenstein looking north from First Avenue toward the flames...



And the scene on the north side of East Third Street via jdx ... where firefighters accessed buildings to help extinguish the blaze...





More from East Third Street via EVG reader Margo...







Several witnesses said that members of the Hells Angels yelled at the FDNY to watch their bikes.

This is the second major fire in the East Village this past week. Late Tuesday night, a fire claimed the life of 84-year-old Mary Lincoln Bonnell in a fire at 115. Fourth Ave. The FDNY said that a discarded cigarette caused the fire.

Updated 1 p.m.

Here's an update from Mono + Mono here.

2:15 a.m.

By Bobby Williams.

For the birds

Feel free to boo the headline.

East Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery... via our friends at MoRUS...

Day 7 without Zoltar

Still out of commission outside Gem Spa ... hope fading...

Photo by Bobby Williams today.

Horns aplenty

Spotted by EVG regular Derek Berg this afternoon on East Seventh Street and Avenue A ...

Noted

A scene that Matt Rosen came across last night at East 13th Street. Per Neighborhoodr:

I crossed 4th Avenue and for some reason turned around only to see her sit down where she had been standing, and then proceed to lay down right there on the sidewalk. Next to a pile of trash. In the rain. In a mini skirt.

I walked back to see if she was okay. She was lucid. I said something like “Don’t be an asshole. Get up.” Nope. All good.

Read the whole post here.

[Photo via Neighborhoodr]

What, pray tell, is this on Second Avenue?

And then there's this ... spotted by EVG reader David Kelly this morning on Second Avenue near East 10th Street...



Any ideas? What it is? Maybe a former Thirsty Scholar? Too many Pigs in a Blanket at Alder?

-----

And does it compare to the discovery of Pushcart Jesus St. Lazarus?

Coming soon

Yesterday, we took a look at the new Citi Bikes... coming soon to streets near you... that prompted a reader to share some photos from a recent trip to the Brooklyn Navy Yard ...

"[S]aw rack after rack of Citi Bikes, set up and ready to go. They were sprinkled all over the property. Seemed like a form of beta testing to me."

Expect to see these here in early May...















Think any East Village business owner will protest these like this guy did in Tribeca?

Halal cart battle developing on East 11th Street

Greg Matherly, an employee of Reciprocal Skateboards on East 11th Street, passes along the following from late this afternoon...

"Just about an hour ago in front of Reciprocal. There was arguing, pointing, shouting, and a brief appearance by the NYPD. Guy on the right just wheeled his cart up beside the Halal guy who has been across from the mosque for years. Also, it's totally blocking the view to the shop, entirely."

Then! A little later.

The NYPD returned. More arguing! Developing...

Today in Park critters

Tompkins Square Park...







By Bobby Williams...

Buddy system

The Stranglers with "Go Buddy Go" circa 1977.

And The Stranglers (w/o Hugh Cornwell) play the Highline Ballroom on June 3.