Con Ed's 'constant ear-splitting' work on 14th and C

Some residents who live near East 14th Street and Avenue C are upset by ongoing noise from Con Ed crews working on the street... per one resident:

Last night ConEd did below-street level work until 3 AM at 14th and Ave C. Tonight they have been jackhammering for a full hour from 8 to 9 PM. It's so loud my daughter is crying!

This street work started several days ago. It always begins around 8 or 9 PM and then goes on for hours and hours.

Residents are beside themselves. We can't sleep, we can't function in our homes due to constant ear-splitting noise.

The Halal Guys are coming to the East Village

The Halal Guys are excited to announce that our new location in Manhattan will be in the East Village. Keep an eye out for further details.

— THE HALAL GUYS (@HalalGuys) June 18, 2013

The Halal Guys, proprietors of the crazy busy food cart on 53rd and Sixth, are coming to the East Village, per a tweet this afternoon... Details to come on where you can find their chicken and lamb over rice ... not to be confused with the imposter halal carts parked nearby in Midtown ...

Branch down near the Tompkins Square Park dog run

@timjulien shared this photo this morning... a large branch came down south of the dog run in Tompkins Square Park... hopefully the rest of the tree is OK...
‏

Today in photos of people sleeping on the sidewalk to see Hanson tonight at Irving Plaza

Hanson is halfway through a two-night stand at the Irving Plaza to celebrate the release of their latest release, "Anthem."

Hanson, of course, was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, its best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists.

OK. I know that's not funny.

Anyway, EVG reader Christina spotted people sleeping outside on the sidewalk this morning for tonight's show. And as for last evening's show? Per Christina: "A lot of screaming happened. Not as much as when the Jonas Brothers were there, but still a lot of 30 year olds were having a really good time."

"Middle of Nowhere," which the brothers released in 1997, sold 10 million copies worldwide.

Permits filed to demolish former theater turned grocery at 100 Avenue A

[Bobby Williams]

The city OK'd a demolition permit yesterday for 98-100 Avenue A, which housed East Village Farms until Feb. 7, 2012.

Developer Ben Shaoul purchased the former theater turned market last month for $15.5 million, according to public records. (While the name of Shaoul, president of Magnum Real Estate Group, isn't listed on the records... his name appears as the owner of the property on the asbestos abatement flyers that went up in early June. Magnum's name is also on the demolition permit.)

Nothing is on file yet with the DOB regarding a new building for the address here between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street. However, a listing for the retail spaces that we noted last month provides an idea of what Shaoul and company have in mind ... a large retail space with 40 residential units above...



Last year, the previous landlord — Suh, Yon, Pak Associates, Inc. — proposed to keep the store on the first and second floor, and then add a third and fourth floor for residential use. For whatever reason, the landlord never got this plan approved. Subsequent plans on file with the DOB showed a proposed addition to the back of the building ... and increasing the size of the store at the first and second floors.

As we've previously posted, the Avenue A Theatre opened here in 1926. It was operated by RKO, followed by Loew's. It closed in 1959. The various markets here used the theater space for storage.

[1949, via Cinema Treasures]

On Jan. 12, 2012, we posted photos of the not-so-secret theater inside here from photographer Kevin Shea Adams. (You can read his post and see more photos here.)

[Kevin Shea Adams]

[Kevin Shea Adams]

Several residents were hopeful that a developer with the ways and means and desire to preserve would restore the building for use as a theater. But that's too much to ask for.

In any event, you likely won't be seeing less of this out front ...

[Bobby Williams]

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

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

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

Mars Bar replacement now leasing at Jupiter 21

We noted yesterday that the plywood has come down at Jupiter 21, the new luxury apartment building that went up at the former Mars Bar space on Second Avenue and East First Street ... Yesterday afternoon, the official news release landed in our inbox announcing the start of leasing at Jupiter 21.

(Several of the residents of the former buildings have already secured their co-ops here at the promised rate of $10.)

Now let's just dig right into that news release for details:

In continuing the transformation of the East Village, BFC Partners announces that residential leasing has successfully begun at Jupiter 21, a newly-constructed 78,000-square-foot rental building located at 21 East 1st Street. The 65-unit, 12-story building, designed by GF 55, offers 52 market-rate rental residences and 13 affordable condominiums.

“Given the incredible demand for this neighborhood, we have already seen tremendous activity,” said Joseph Ferrara, a partner with Don Capoccia and Brandon Baron at BFC Partners, Jupiter 21’s developer. “The Jupiter 21 rentals are being greeted so positively that we are renting up the building quickly.”

Comprised of studio-, one- and two-bedroom apartments, Jupiter 21 features a unique display of innovative design that captures both the eye and imagination. Each unit is equipped with natural hardwood flooring, sleek modern cabinetry, stainless steel European appliances, designer fixtures and oversized windows. The building also includes best-in-class amenities such as central air conditioning, GE washer & dryers in every unit, rentable on-site storage and a full-service concierge. Many of the units also have terraces or balconies, offering spectacular views of New York City.

Stylish and modern, residences at Jupiter 21 feature Kohler deep soaking tubs and walk-in frameless showers, Kohler fixtures and floor-to-ceiling porcelain tiling. Kitchens include Caesarstone Countertops, Kohler Fixtures, glass back-splashes, Bertazzoni cooking ranges, Summit International refrigerators and Miele dishwashers.

Jupiter 21 is a pet-friendly residence that features an attended lobby and live-in superintendent, in addition to other amenities including video intercoms, a virtual property management service by mybuilding.org, and a roof terrace with expansive city views. Homes in this beautiful, modern building will start at $3,450 per month for studios, $4,500 per month for one-bedrooms, and $5,575 for two-bedrooms. The Corcoran Group will handle leasing for the 52 rentals.

In addition to its rental units, the mixed-use property includes 10,832 square feet of retail space along 2nd Avenue. Tenants will include TD Bank and a yet to be decided lounge/bar venue.

Occupancy is expected for early June 2013.

So is that "yet to be decided lounge/bar venue" really going to be Mars Bar 2.0?

Also, the Jupiter 21 website is live with photos, floor plans and what not.

Here's a look at the roof terraces:

Jupiter 21’s two communal rooftop terraces are equipped with couch seating, grills, television, outdoor surround sound and a posh wet bar. A DVD system allows for outdoor movie screenings. Taking place high above the lower east side, the outdoor oasis provides an escape from the day-to-day setting of city life.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Mars Bar is becoming a fucking bank branch

Mars Bar primed to make an East Village comeback?

An updated Films in Tompkins summer lineup

[Click on image to enlarge]

Rain has KO'd the first two free movie Thursdays in Tompkins Square Park... Organizers have rescheduled "Romeo + Juliet" and "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" in August.

The revised schedule is above... and right now, the weather looks good for Thursday. You might be able to actually watch "Rushmore."

Today in The Wall Street Journal not liking Citi Bikes

Well, this piece is actually from the paper's weekend edition... in which reporter Anne Kadet bought a 24-hour access pass... She wasn't a big fan:

The trip home was worse. Upon docking in the East Village to avoid overtime charges, I discovered the station's kiosk screen was cracked; it wouldn't give me another bike. The station at First Avenue and Third was down. The kiosk at Houston and Allen wouldn't read my card.

That's when it started pouring. I cursed the system: "I hate Citi Bike! I hate Citi Bike! I hate Citi Bike!"

The nice lady who answered the Citi Bike hotline was sympathetic, but couldn't direct me to a functional station. Finally, after trying one last kiosk, I gave up and took the F train home.

I hate to say it, but if Citi Bike were NASA, there'd be a lot of dead astronauts. Of the 10 trips I took, eight had significant snafus. Yes, the system's launch was initially delayed due to software issues; perhaps they should have delayed a bit longer.

The whole article is here ... though you may need a subscription to access it... A few weeks back, Wall Street Journal editorial board member Dorothy Rabinowitz ripped Mayor Bloomberg and the entire bike-share program. Ripped it good.

‘37 Vibrations’ love story project launches tonight at 2A

[A test run at 2A last Friday]

We know several people who are excited about this project... so, from the EVG inbox...

What if one story could change a life, and what if that life could change the world?

Linda Perkins explores the ripple effect in her new collaborative love story project, 37 Vibrations.

For 37 Vibrations, Perkins interviewed 37 people and wrote down the love stories they told her. Each story was printed to look like pages in a book then rolled up and placed in a hand-painted bottle. The bottles will be passed from one person to another, and Perkins encourages each person who gets a story to log its location here and then pass it along to someone else.

“Some stories were funny, other took great risks. There were grand romantic gestures, big secrets, magical moments. Some were sad or heartbreaking or even tragic. The common thread that I witnessed over and over again was the incredible bravery it takes to fall in love. Even when our hearts get broken, somehow we survive and learn something valuable about ourselves along the way,” Perkins said.

At the launch party, open to the public, readers will tell the first five stories in the series and then they will be released into the wild. There will also be music, heart-shaped pizzas, and a screening of, “So You Found a Bottle,” projected 40-feet tall on the building next door.

The party is tonight from 7:30-10 upstairs at 2A, 25 Ave. A.

“In music, the difference between a happy note and a sad note is 37 vibrations per second. I want to see what vibrational effect 37 love stories will have on the world,” said Perkins.

ABOUT LINDA PERKINS

Linda Perkins, a certified storyteller, is a member of the Directors Guild of America and has worked with luminaires such as Ang Lee, Robert Altman, Bill Condon, Eddie Burns, and Nicole Holofcener. She lives on the Lower East Side.

Find the 37 Vibrations website here.

Kembra Pfahler and The Girls of Karen Black

YouTube Day wraps up at EVG today with this this great video by Walter Wlodarczyk from June 5 ... in which Kembra Pfahler and The Girls of Karen Black perform at Participant Inc. as part of the series of One Night Stands for the Gordon Kurtti Project this month ... The Girls start on East Second Street and make their way to the gallery space on East Houston...

Read more about the Gordon Kurtti Project here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Spend Easter Sunday night with the Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black

It rained really hard today, then it stopped

Some First Avenue streetscenes from this afternoon via Bobby Williams...

East 6th Street embracing Christmas in June

Last Friday, EVG reader OlympiasEpiriot spotted a holiday Christmas Tree plopped by the trash ... waiting to spend eternity next to a Papa John's box.

However! EVG reader Phil notes that someone plucked the tree from the trash between Avenue A and Avenue B ...



...where it will compete with the Tree Chair and the bear outside Josie's as the block's top attraction...

Is this David Lynch-directed Don't Litter NYC spot the scariest commercial ever made?

YouTube Day continues at EVG today... this video is making the rounds again... A description via YouTube:

This public service commercial to "clean up new york" was directed by David Lynch and photographed by Frederick Elmes. Perhaps the scariest commercial ever made.

In case you didn't see it last time around the Internet... And now, from 1991...

Go on a tour of Iggy Pop's East Village in 1993

Wow. EVG reader John passed along this YouTube discovery... a 15-minute Dutch documentary by Bram Van Splunteren that follows Iggy Pop around on Avenue B, East Eighth Street, Avenue C and East Ninth Street... At the time, Iggy was living in the Christodora House. (He doesn't mention it by name, but says that living in a nice place "gets up a lot of people's tree. But fuck it. What the fuck? I'm not a martyr.")

Along the way, Iggy plays tour guide ... starting with a shot inside Vazac's ... then along Avenue B... he mentions where he used to buy drugs, points out a few Chico murals... and displays a lot of enthusiasm.



A highlight: At the 4:45 mark, he walks into Pedro's bakery on Eighth Street and Avenue C and unleashes his Spanish... he orders food and realizes that he doesn't have any money. The filmmaker has to pay. "This is where I eat when my wife's not in town. I come here and get sandwiches and cake and strong coffee. That's what I live on."

At the 6-minute mark, he talks about how much he likes Avenue C. "It's beautiful here. Really nice."

Anyway, this recap doesn't do the video any justice... you just have to watch...

Jupiter 21 jettisons its plywood

Jupiter 21, the apartment building that rose above the old Mars Bar space, is now plywood free... and you can see what the retail portion here along East First Street and Second Avenue looks like...







One of the exciting new tenants will be the 4,300-square-foot TBD Bank branch. And next door, maybe Mars Bar 2.0? Back in early January Billy Gray at the Commercial Observer reported:

The development company BFC Partners reached an agreement with the Mars Bar crew that would allow the next commercial tenant to occupy a 4,456 basement and ground floor space under the proud, stubborn and – who knew? – business-minded Mars Bar auspices.

[Worst Photoshop EVER]


[Ditto]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The former Mars Bar is becoming a fucking bank branch

Mars Bar primed to make an East Village comeback?

About the 'Northwest East Village'

[Rendering on East 13th Street in the Northwest East Village]

The real estate section of the Times had a piece yesterday on the Jefferson, the incoming condoplex that replaced the Mystery Lot along East Thirteen Street near Third Avenue... in particular, the Times explores the Jefferson's claim that the building is in the "Northwest East Village."

With the new name, the team building the Jefferson may be trying to freshen the image of the area, which is lined with aged brick tenements and has been more gentrification-proof than other East Village enclaves.

Or, like other marketing tactics, the renaming could serve no more serious purpose than to draw attention to the building.

“We were being a little funny, because we know it’s never going to catch on,” said Michael Barry, the president of the Ironstate Development Company in Hoboken, N.J., which is working with SK Development and CB Developers on the project.

Anyway, everybody knows that this is Midtown South.

Previously on EV Grieve:
City approves new building for Mystery Lot

The last days of the Mystery Lot

Before it was the Mystery Lot

The Mystery Lot developers using famous dead comedians to sell condos at The Jefferson

The Jefferson reveals what '21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York' costs

Taqueria Diana coming soon to Second Avenue

[Photo by Riian McCormick]

Cheep's Pita Creations closed at the beginning of the month on Second Avenue near St. Mark's Place.

And on Saturday, workers arrived to start work on the next venture here — Taqueria Diana.

They are currently hiring. According to the Craigslist add:

Come be a part of the new team at Taqueria Diana, a Mexico and California inspired restaurant in the heart of the East Village.

At Taqueria Diana, you will find a commitment to excellence among our staff; a dedication to making delicious Mexican food; and an emphasis on respect of how we treat each other and our customers.

And here's the info on their coming soon page...

Han Dynasty says hello on Third Avenue

Over here in Little Philly at 90 Third Ave., Philadelphia-based Sichuan master Han Chiang is bringing his hit restaurant Han Dynasty to the neighborhood as Eater recently noted. Work continues on the space between East 12th Street and East 13th Street (and 99 Miles to Philly) ... and now a sign has arrived to note Han's, uh, arrival.

CB3 approved a beer and wine license for Han Dyansty last month. No word on an opening date.

Burnt bus in tow

This morning, we noted that an idling MTA bus caught fire on Astor Place... Bobby Williams happened by when the stricken vehicle was going off to the burnt bus farm... Mind the skateboarders!

Week in Grieview

[Ray making en egg cream yesterday. Photo by c ryan]

A new lease and A rating for Ray's Candy Store (Friday)

New York Supreme Court upholds revocation of La Vie's liquor license (Tuesday)

Remembering Arturo Vega (Wednesday)

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approves application for modifications at PS 64 (Wednesday)

On the front stoop with Elisabeth Diekmann (Wednesday)

Tu Casa leaving the East Village (Thursday)

An 11-building parcel of the Bowery was sold (Monday)

Crunch on the Bowery (Monday)

Help save The Neighborhood School library (Tuesday)

The end of the Yippies on Bleecker Street? (Tuesday)

Awesome bro pad, bro (Wednesday)

Good Guys closes on Second Avenue (Friday)

Update on the Tree Chair of East Sixth Street (Tuesday)

Odessa Cafe safe for the moment (Monday)

Flyer reminds residents what they can — and can't — flush down the toilet (Monday)