Reader mailbag: Have you read the Citi Bikes Rental Agreement?

[Via @danielleintheev]

An email from a reader. First, he is all (mostly!) for the bike-share program and is planning to purchase an annual pass.

Disclaimer: "I hate Citibank and it's super gross to be advertising for them."

But! "...the utility of it is really fantastic."

So. The reader was reading through the Rental Agreement that you have to agree to for the membership.

"There are a couple of things there that are pretty weird to me. First of all — and I was expecting this — they've thought of the fact that people are probably going to want to cover up the Citibank logos with something else, either to avoid being a tool to advertise Citibank or advertise something of their own."

Makes sense!

"Section 5 Prohibited Acts."

You must not dismantle, write on, or otherwise modify or deface a Citi Bike bicycle or any part of a Citi Bike bicycle in any way. You must not write on, peel, or otherwise modify or deface any sticker on a Citi Bike bicycle in any way. You must not use a Citi Bike bicycle for any advertising or similar commercial purpose. This rule does not apply to the use of the seat height adjustment feature on Citi Bike bicycles."

Reader: "Now I don't know if that prohibits my idea of using some non-destructive floppy magnet material to just cover up the logos while I'm riding, but it sounds like it could. Maybe I'm just being paranoid."

And!

"Section 21 Waivers."
...
For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, You do hereby knowingly, voluntarily, and irrevocably: (1) give Your full and unconditional consent to NYCBS and its affiliates, successors, and assigns to use at any time and from time to time, without any restriction, Your appearance and voice in photographs, videos, and other recordings, on all websites and for all press, promotional, advertising, publicity, and other commercial purposes, including all formats and media, whether now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world and in perpetuity; (2) grant to NYCBS and its affiliates, successors, and assigns (a) the right to photograph, videotape, and otherwise record Your appearance and voice, at any time and from time to time, (b) all rights, copyrights, title, and interests in the results of such photographs, videos, and other recordings, as a work for hire for copyright purposes, and (c) the right to use, reproduce, exhibit, distribute, transmit, alter, and exploit, at any time and from time to time and as NYCBS may decide in its sole discretion, the photographs, videos, and other recordings, or any component thereof, and all related merchandising, promotions, advertising, and publicity; and (3) waive, release, and discharge all Released Persons from all Claims that You have or may have for any libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, right of publicity, infringement of copyright, or violation of any right granted by You in this paragraph."

"Is that even legal???"

Thoughts? Just legal mumbo-jumbo?

Cooper Union photohunt

EVG reader Brian Barkovitz, a Cooper Union alum, shared the above photos... "Took these as a prospective high school senior in 2004 and as an alum on Tuesday. It's a damn shame."

Your chance to 'claim your prized position' on St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue

On Wednesday, workers cleaned out the now-former Eastside Bakery (.net?) on the northwest corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place. There are now four empty storefronts here in this Theatre Condo complex.

Cohen's Fashion Optical moved out about two months ago... Michael "Bao" Huynh's Baoguette Cafe around on St. Mark's Place closed last fall... and Timi's Gelateria Classica™ closed in December 2011.

According to the listing at Walter & Samuels:



The listing puts the 1,600 square feet of retail at $400,000 per year – or some $33,000 a month. (This is what the Gap paid here back in the late 1980s.)

There's also a listing on the Winick site... noting four separate spaces, or perhaps, one big one... the marketing flyer says, "Claim your prized position."



As the listing notes: "Hot East Village retail opportunity located on bustling St. Marks Place."

The lone ground-floor tenant here is 7-Eleven, a seemingly popular place...

Report: St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Schools are closing in June

St. George's Ukrainian Catholic School on East Sixth Street at Taras Shevchenko Place will close after this school year in June, Scoopy reports in this week's issue of The Villager. The reason: Low enrollment. There are reportedly just 90 students from pre-K to 12th grade. La Salle Academy, who moved in a few years back, apparently uses the majority of the space.

However, a source tells Scoopy that La Salle will "eventually" return to their former home on Second Avenue and East Second Street. And then what happens?

"We think probably it will be taken over by N.Y.U. or Cooper Union," the St. George School source told us of the E. Sixth St. school building.

From the school's website, a few photos ... no exact date is given on these two...just some time in the 1950s...

This weekend at the 6th Street and Ave. B Garden

Via the EV Grieve inbox ... information about the the 6th Street and Ave. B Garden's annual plant and bake sale the weekend ... the funds raised go to to the Garden's Events Committee, which brings dance, theatre, music and other happenings to the East Village community.

As one Garden member told us, "This year, fundraising is especially important for us, as we are still dealing with aftermath of the Hurricane Sandy damage to our stage roof (under which most events are held). So anyone who comes by will also be able to donate funds directly to that repair effort, if they wish."

[Photo from after Sanday via peter radley]

Also of note.. Garden member Briar Winters, the pastry chef of the recently shuttered Masak on East 13th Street, will be baking her jasmine tea shortbread for the bake sale...

Jupiter 21's TV moment

The new Jupiter 21 is making the rounds on the local TV news circuit... Here's a jocular WABC-7 look at the new luxury residential building on Second Avenue and East First Street ... Worth watching for several reasons, one being John Vaccarro's interview...

Uh-huh: Red Mango returning to the East Village

You just can't make this shit up... on Second Avenue just south of East Fourth Street... a Red Mango will be opening soon... right next door to a gelato shop...



Red Mango opened and closed on St. Mark's Place a few years back... but apparently the FroYo Force is strong...

Report: Max Fish making it official in Williamsburg

[You never know when a photo of the Max Fish toilet will come in handy]

The folks at Max Fish have applied for a liquor license with Community Board 1 in Brooklyn, Gothamist reports today.

As reported earlier, high rents are apparently sending the Ludlow Street mainstay since 1989 packing to Metropolitan Avenue ... where, Gothamist notes, they have designs on a vacant 3,000-square-foot space that was asking $14,000 a month in rent.

There's a hearing to discuss the bar's application next Thursday at the Swinging 60s Senior Center, 211 Ainslie St., at 6:30 p.m.

We were told earlier that Max Fish is eyeing an August closing date on Ludlow Street. We were also told that the Asbury Park branch of Max Fish won't be reopening this summer.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The art evolution of Ulli Rimkus and Max Fish

From Tin Pan Alley to Max Fish

[Updated] Max Fish is apparently moving to Brooklyn; eyeing August close date

New roll down gates for 98 Avenue A

This morning, we posted a rendering that offered a hint of what 98 Avenue A might look like some day... Meanwhile, workers arrived at the address of the former East Village Farm today to install new roll down gates... Photo by William Klayer.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning edition

[Photo of First Avenue by Bobby Williams]

NYPD releases new photos of man accused of groping 9-year-old girl on 10th and D (WABC)

DOH temporarily closes S'MAC on East 12th Street (DNAinfo)

Riders can't weigh more than 260 pounds to use a Citi Bike (New York Post)

Iggy's leopard head jacket from "Raw Power"! (Dangerous Minds)

More Madonna from the 1980s (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

A look inside the Yard incubator space on Delancey (BoweryBoogie)

Seward Park development update (The Lo-Down)

Greetings from the Tombs (Ephemeral New York)

Remembering the Jones Diner — starring LL Cool J (Flaming Pablum)

Photos of Malin Akerman as Debbie Harry (E! Online)

... and tonight at Continuum Coffee on Avenue B...

The future of Avenue A is likely going to look something like this

Last Thursday, reps for developer Douglas Steiner filed permits to demolish the now-vacant parcel of Mary Help of Christians that includes the church, school and rectory, as we first reported.

Plans call for some type of residential-retail complex. Now a retail listing at Ripco Real Estate provides a few clues as to what is possibly in store for this parcel of Avenue A between East 11th Street and East 12th Street:



Per the listing:

Size
11,356 sf - Ground Floor
11,508 sf - Basement Possible
*Divisions possible

Asking Rent
Upon Request

Possession
4Q 2014

Currently
New Construction

Frontage
150’ on Avenue A
70’ on 11th Street

Notes & Highlights:
• New construction at the base of 140 unit market luxury rental building
• Steps from Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village with 30,000 residents
• Close proximity to Tompkins Square Park
• Located in the heart of the East Village and Alphabet City

In addition, the Ripco site has a listing for 98 Avenue A, the former theater-turned-grocery that was most recently East Village Farm between East Seventh Street and East Sixth. Currently home to the last skid row in the East Village.


[Photo from Monday by Bobby Williams]

To date, plans (that are still waiting for approval) on file with the DOB show a modest renovation of the existing space. The marketing materials at Ripco shows something far different.



Here is the rest of the listing:

Size
9,767 sf - Ground Floor
5,850 sf - Basement
*Divisions Accepted

Asking Rent
Upon Request

Currently
Vacant (New Residential Development)

Frontage
127'5" on Avenue A

Notes & Highlights:
• Landlord will deliver vanilla box space and new storefront(s)
• New residential building will be above the retail (40 units)
• Unique large piece of retail space available in the East Village
• Steps from Tompkins Square Park
• Surrounded by a mix of local and national retailers and restaurants
• Dense residential neighborhood with 11,471 households in 1/4 mile

Nothing is on file yet with the DOB to indicate either a demolition or new building for 98 Avenue A. Property records show that Suh, Yon, Pak Associates, Inc. is still the owner.

[March 2012 via Bobby Williams]

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farm is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farm on Avenue A

Efforts continue to fight the dorm planned for the former PS 64 on East 9th Street

[Click image to enlarge]

Efforts continue to see the former PS 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center on East Ninth Street returned to a community use.

As previously reported here, there are plans on file to convert the building into a 500-bed dorm called University House on East Ninth Street just east of Avenue B. Last month, developer Gregg Singer said that he already had a 15-year agreement for 200 of the beds with Cooper Union, as The Wall Street Journal first reported.

There's now a rally schedule for May 15, where residents and community leaders will march from the building at 609 E. Ninth St. to Cooper Union for a rally at 6 p.m. (More details to follow in the next few days.)

In its May newsletter released yesterday, the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation noted:

An enormous dorm would not be a community use, and would add to the oversaturation of the East Village with dormitories. Additionally, GVSHP is working with Councilmember Rosie Mendez and the East Village Community Coalition to ensure that the Department of Buildings does not issue permits for the dorm construction, given that the current plan violates regulations meant to prevent the construction of bogus "speculative dorms," and requires that there be a lease and restrictive declaration in place for a school to use all the beds for a new dormitory. This plan does not have such assurances.

Read their letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission here (PDF). Find more about community involvement here. Sign the petition to keep the building for community use here.

Help stop the Cooper Union expansion. Return PS 64 to the community! Sign the petition here: evgrieve.com/2013/04/petiti… @evgrieve

— Free Cooper Union (@FreeCooperUnion) May 2, 2013

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

Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market

2 new sidewalk bridges arrive as city disapproves latest plan for P.S. 64

Catching up with... Adam Purple

[Photo on First Avenue from last fall by @rahav]

Local legend Adam Purple is featured in the Daily News. The 82-year-old activist/environmentalist has been busy in Williamsburg working with Times Up.

Excerpt!

“Brooklyn is alright, but it’s been yuppified,” said Purple, who rarely goes by his real name David Wilkie. “What do they do that’s rebellious? What do they do that’s adventurous?”

Read the whole article here. Read more about Adam Purple's LES history at Vanishing New York.

Learn more about the East River Blueway Plan tonight

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Tonight at 6, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer and Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh will join with hundreds of East Side residents to unveil the East River Blueway Plan, a community-based planning roadmap to bring amenities and storm mitigation measures to the East River, from the Brooklyn Bridge to E. 38th Street.

Who: Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, Community Boards 3 & 6, Lower East Side Ecology Center, NYS Department of Coastal Resources, WXY architecture + urban design, Hundreds of East Side residents

Where: Cooper Union, Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square (3rd Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets)

When: 6-8 p.m.

Stringer discussed this plan on Feb. 7 during his annual State of the Borough speech ... The Times had a piece on the project here. Gothamist had more details and renderings like the one below here.

[Updated] DOH temporarily closes Double Down Saloon on Avenue A

[Photo via @brain_floss]

After a visit to the Double Down Saloon on Avenue A yesterday, inspectors closed the bar and affixed the familiar yellow sticker of doom on the door... Inspectors haven't filed the report online yet.

Updated:

The inspector's report is now online... 68 total violation points, per the DOH... the usual 4-legged things... plus! " No facilities available to wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and/or equipment."

Meanwhile, on Avenue B...

Oh, it's only ravioli, per EVG reader Mike.

Funny, because it really didn't taste like ravioli...

Report: May Day march through East Village leads to several arrests

[Via EVG friend Heidi on Facebook]

May Day began around 9 a.m. ... as the NYPD arrived at Tompkins Square Park... ahead of the march to Union Square that was to commemorate International Worker's Day.

By 1 p.m., per those in Tompkins Square Park, about 100-125 people had peacefully gathered for the rally...



According to accounts in The New York Times and on Gothamist, the group started walking north on Avenue A around 2 p.m. ... when we received these photos from a tipster showing people heading east down East 11th Street...





Per Colin Moynihan at the Times:

At 11th Street, the marchers suddenly turned east and began running in the roadway, some of them brandishing red and black flags. The police gave chase. At Avenue C and 12th Street, an officer tried to grab a black banner with the words “Never Work” from a man, who scrambled away.

Several people taking part in the rally were reportedly arrested here.

The group reassembled and continued to East 14th Street, where they turned to keep going toward Union Square...

At Second Avenue, the crowd turned north and a moment later a police commander wearing a white shirt began moving briskly toward a young man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and walking on the sidewalk.

Then more than a dozen other officers, some uniformed and others in plain clothes, plunged into the crowd of marchers, grabbing and arresting at least three additional protesters, shoving others against a wall and pushing news photographers.

Gothamist captured part of this scene on video:



According to Gothamist, the group, "followed by at least 100 NYPD officers on scooters, in vans, and on foot, then marched to Union Square without incident."

Read the Gothamist story here. Find the Times article here.

Depending on the source, either five or six people were arrested.

Throughout the rest of the day, many people noted the presence of helicopters buzzing about the neighborhood...

Noted

Croxley Ales on Avenue B remains closed ... until the city gives the OK for the bar and the residents upstairs to return to the building apparently damaged by construction next door.

Meanwhile, someone from Mama's Bar set up the chalkboard sign out front noting that they are showing the Knicks-Celtics game down on the corner...

Eastside Bakery has closed

A tipster passes along word that workers have cleaned out Eastside Bakery (.net?) on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place... the place is now empty. No note.



This whole northwest corner here is up for grabs. Cohen's Fashion Optical moved out about two months ago... Michael "Bao" Huynh's Baoguette Cafe around on St. Mark's Place closed last fall... and Timi's Gelateria Classica™ closed in December 2011.

Hey, the space is all empty for the Gap to return!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Roastown Coffee coming to Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Citi Bikes docking station now alongside Tompkins Square Park on East 10th Street

[Photo via @TYJK]

Oops. Sorry. I originally wrote that this was inside the Park. Nevermind!

Seems like this is better spot for a docking station... alongside the Park on East 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B? And for people upset about these things taking up parking spots... not really an issue here.