Dennis Vassilatos just celebrated his 20th year as night-shift manager at the Odessa on Avenue A. To 20 more years of the Odessa...
[Thanks to Shawn Chittle for the photo and info.]
Friday, October 18, 2013
To 20 years at the Odessa
Dennis Vassilatos just celebrated his 20th year as night-shift manager at the Odessa on Avenue A. To 20 more years of the Odessa...
[Thanks to Shawn Chittle for the photo and info.]
7 Spices has been on vacation for awhile on Second Avenue
Reyna Exotic Turkish Cuisine quietly opened and closed during the summer of 2012 at 82 Second Ave. ... the same owner reopened the space in January as 7 Spices here between East Fifth Street and East Fourth Street...
Now a reader notes the following: They've had a sign in the window indicating that they're on vacation and will be back next week for the past three to four weeks.
Aside from serving Turkish and Mediterranean fare, 7 Spices arguably has/had the largest delivery zone around...
Per their website (which doesn't mention any temporary vacation or closure):
7 Spices delivers delicious Turkish food to the East Village, ABC City, Soho, Noho, Little Italy, ChinaTown, Bowery, Lower East Side, Stuyvesant, Gramercy Park, Midtown South, Greenwich Village.
A look inside a gutted Death & Co.
Saw the above sign the other day outside Death & Co. on East Sixth Street ... pointing out that the speakeasy is putting in a new bar...
[Not the new bar, prolly]
The folks from the Wineshop happened by and shared these photos...
Death & Co. is scheduled to reopen next Friday.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Business opportunity available
Wonder when they're gonna start scalping CitiBike parking spaces in the East Village. Just spent 5 minutes circling around in the rain.
— ryan sutton (@qualityrye) October 18, 2013
Previously on EV Grieve:
Docking blues: Doing the 'checking-all-of-the-Citi Bike-stations dance' (43 comments)
Today in Tompkins Square Park photo opps
No idea what this is for (maybe you do?) ... but everyone looks happy.
Photo by Bobby Williams.
DF Mavens opening non-dairy ice cream outpost on St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue
That prime northwest corner space on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place has a new tenant — a retail outpost of DF Mavens... as their tagline says, "The finest dairy-free ice cream in the world. Made in NYC."
Their dairy-free desserts have been available in various retail outlets ... though we believe that this is their first dedicated NYC storefront.
Eastside Bakery (.net?) closed down here at the end of April. And once upon a time, the space was home to the Gap in the late 1980s into the early 1990s.
DF Mavens will be arriving in 2014, per the sign.
Updated 10/18
This came up in the comments: Lula's is back open on East Sixth Street as of Aug. 3.
Report: Pulino's closing to make for new French restaurant on the Bowery
Pulino's Bar and Pizzeria, which apparently tripled nearby rents and caused men to urinate in the co-ed sink, will close in January to make way for a new Keith McNally concept, Eater is reporting.
The McNally-owned Pulino's will reopen in March as a French restaurant called Cherche Midi, which was also the name of a French military prison in Paris.
Eater quotes McNally:
Through no one's fault but my own Pulino's hasn't fully worked and I've decided to change it quite radically.
Pulino's opened on the Bowery at East Houston Street in March 2010.
East Village resident looking for help with new health-insurance exchange
An EVG reader and East Village resident asked us the following yesterday...
I am wondering if there are other East Village residents struggling to sign up for health care insurance through the new federal program. If so, then I would love to hear how they are faring and get any advice or tips they might offer on how to get through the application process and which insurance is best.
I have gone onto the New York Health Exchange site several times in the last couple of weeks, failing to get through the entire application process every time because of apparent glitches in the system. Today, I got through it with some help from a phone rep, but even she couldn't figure out why I couldn't input certain key information, and she actually gave me wrong information about whether I should put in my total income for 2013 or my adjusted gross income.
I asked her if it was possible to go somewhere in my area and have someone help me in person with the application. She asked for my zip code and said there wasn't anyone here who could help me in person. It is pretty frustrating.
Is there anyone who has successfully navigated the new system who can offer any tips...?
128 Second Ave. has been sold
Back in late August, a tipster told us that 128 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and East Seventh Street was in contract.
Per the tipster, the building was being sold "to a group of four relatively young guys" ... who were heard outside 128 "talking about 'clearing out' the shop in the front" of the building. There are two businesses here: A tattoo/piercing parlor and the Stage restaurant.
According to public documents filed at the beginning of October, the building was sold for $7.5 million. The listed buyers are LLCs... with addresses that match up to Stellar Management ("known as a premier owner and operator of commercial real estate") and Icon Realty Management.
Ikon is familiar to the East Village, as far as gut renovations and additional stories go. Among the company's recent purchases: 326-328 E. Fourth St., 205 Avenue A and 154 Second Ave.
As for the beloved Stage, we understand that they have six years remaining on their lease.
Previously on EV Grieve:
An appreciation: Breakfast at Stage
Troubling talk about 128 Second Ave, and the long-term future of the Stage
Fencing in the future 6-story residential building on E. 9th Street
Progress check at 327 E. Ninth St., a former parking lot between First Avenue and Second Avenue. As we first reported in August 2012, a six-story, two-unit residential building will eventually rise here.
A crew was working on an upgraded fence yesterday ...
...to protect the current pit ...
The plywood includes a rendering of the future 327 E. Ninth St. ...
Previously on EV Grieve:
The big dig begins for 6-story, 2-unit condo on East 9th Street
East Ninth Street parking lot will yield to 6-floor residential building
Extra Place and Heidi looking closed on Extra Place
Several week ago, we noted that Extra Place and Heidi, the sister restaurants along Extra Place, the pedestrian walkway off East First Street, were closed for renovation, per a sign at the door.
That sign is gone, and an EVG tipster noted workers removing tables and equipment from the restaurants yesterday... The Extra Place website is no longer active.
In July, CB3 dropped the hammer on the restaurants, denying renewal of its beer and wine license. (Per CB3: "The applicant has usurped a public pedestrian plaza for its private use in violation of New York City Department of Transportation restrictions by setting up an illegal sidewalk café in said public plaza.")
Extra Place was originally on the October CB3/SLA agenda for a new liquor license. However, they were a scratch before Oct. 7's meeting.
The restaurants opened in July 2012,and received fairly positive notices for their food.
At this point, it doesn't appear the restaurants will return... or that Extra Place will ever work as a shopping-dining destination...
Previously on EV Grieve:
With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?
Extra Place now officially a Dead End
Meanwhile, Extra Place continues to maintain its proud heritage
Extra Place and Heidi currently 'closed for renovation' in Extra Place
Lui's Thai food coming soon to East 4th Street
Matt Rosen passes along word that a new Thai restaurant called Lui's is opening on East Fourth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue... in the space that last housed Pinisi Cafe & Bakery. Don't know anything else about Lui's just at the moment.
Hitchcocktober continues at Village East Cinema
Hitchcocktober continues for the next three Thursday evenings at the Village East Cinema on Second Avenue and East 12th Street... Tonight at 8: "Vertigo."
Details here.
For scary Halloween-time movies of a different sort, the CBGB biopic is also playing at the Village East Cinema.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Honk if you love brass bands and parades
[This evening via Bobby Williams]
As you may have heard, the 2nd Annual East Village Cavalcade of Pomp is underway now in the neighborhood... part of the HONK NYC! Festival.
Per the HONK NYC Facebook page:
East Village Cavalcade of Pomp Parade Starting Locations & Schedule — all parades end in Tompkins Square Park, where bands will perform a set.
5pm - Perhaps Contraption in Tompkins Square Park
5:30pm - Os Siderais begins a parade through the neighborhood from De Colores Community Yard Garden on 8th Street between Avenues B & C
5:30pm - Environmental Encroachment steps off from Two Boots Pizzeria, Avenue A and 3rd Street corner
6pm - Minor Mishap Marching Band leaves from The Bean, 1st Avenue at 9th Street corner
6:45pm - Hungry March Band departs from the Lower East Side Girls Club, 8 Street between Avenues C & D
Expect a mass of honking and marching then in Tompkins Square Park... then at 8, there's a HONK NYC! Radical Marching Band Symposium at the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space at 155 Avenue C ... then an after-party at 10 at Drom on Avenue A...
Distinguished men in hats were in McSorley's earlier today
Ale! #gogodididonyc @TwoPlaysInRep pic.twitter.com/qghQ1frQLc
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) October 16, 2013
Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, appearing soon together on Broadway, were in McSorley's earlier for a photo shoot ... per a Facebook post by Minnie McSorley: "McSorley's Old Ale House: Now wheelchair accessible, and mutant friendly."
H/T @fnytv
'Mayor of Avenue D' busted for running large-scale drug operation
From that release:
According to the indictment, since approximately January 2012, the defendants obtained, transported, processed, packaged, and sold large quantities of crack cocaine to customers in and around the Jacob Riis Houses, a New York City Public Housing Authority development between East 8th and East 13th Streets, from Avenue D to the F.D.R. Drive, as well as at other locations.
The leader of this organization – DWAYNE MITCHELL, a/k/a “Dubbs,” 35 – obtained wholesale quantities of crack cocaine from supplier SABED RAHMAN, 29. MITCHELL and RAHMAN are accused of meeting regularly over a long period to exchange wholesale quantities of drugs and cash, including at a Starbucks location in Midtown Manhattan.
Prosecutors told the Daily News that Mitchell acted like the "Mayor of Avenue D" while "charming the neighborhood by hosting barbecues and field trips to Six Flags for kids."
And more from the DA's release:
According to the indictment, the defendants used cell phones to communicate and conduct their business. They also attempted to conceal the conspiracy and alleged illegal transactions by conducting them in a covert manner and using coded language, including the terms “chicken,” “donuts,” and “food,” to refer to cocaine and sums of money.
Mitchell reportedly faces up to 20 years on the most serious charge.
Out and About in the East Village
In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village. James is traveling this week. East Village photographer Stacie Joy compiled today's post.
By Stacie Joy
By Stacie Joy
Name: Seth Tobocman
Occupation: Comic book artist
Location: ABC No Rio, 156 Rivington Street
Date: Oct. 7, 2:53 pm
I grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. I was born in Texas but really only lived there until I was 2 and have very little memory of it. My family are basically Clevelanders. Several generations back they migrated there, Jews from Poland. My grandfather did not want to live in Brooklyn because he would be forced to be Orthodox. He said “I did not come to America to live in Poland.” So he went to Cleveland where he had no family and no one could tell him what to do.
I moved to NYC in 1976, year of the bicentennial. I was initially a student at NYU and stayed in the dorms. I had an apartment in Greenwich Village for a short period of time, got thrown out of there and moved to the East Village in 1979. I moved to my East 3rd Street (near Avenue A) apartment, which was $150 a month in rent. I dropped out of college, had no money. I knew I wanted to be an artist but I wasn’t sure what kind. I was interested in underground filmmakers like Kenneth Anger but not interested in mainstream comics. I was uncertain what I wanted to do and it was cheap to live here.
Someone got stabbed in front of the building the day I moved in. We had a slumlord who put a cheap lock on the front door. A lock that neighborhood 12 year olds could break. There were many drug addicts. They would wait next to the mailboxes and when elderly people would get their checks, they would rob them.
Once I was jumped — someone held a wire around my neck but a neighbor came to my aid. Said he was a cop and had a gun and badge in his pocket, which was a lie. He scared off the guy trying to rob me.
We were in court for several years as the landlord tried to raise the rent. We went on rent strikes, and had a great tenants' union. The outcome of the time spent in court was that we became rent stabilized, which was terrific. A lot of the tenants were older folks who had been part of the antiwar movement and they were happy to have meetings again. We would meet in the hallway of the building. We all wanted an affordable place to live.
Back then it was a place to buy drugs. There were visible lines of people waiting to buy heroin. Kids were getting shot. There were abandoned buildings and a sense of neglect. People came here for their vices. To buy drugs, prostitutes. The stereotypical Alphabet City.
There were also places like CHARAS, the Nuyorican Poets Café and the community gardens — where people were working to change the neighborhood. There were ethnic restaurants, different languages being spoken ... and no chain stores.
I am proud to be part of a group that has stood for community ideals since 1980 — the magazine World War 3 Illustrated. We were comic book artists who wanted to make a difference. It started in 1979 as a response to the Iran-hostage crisis. The magazine is an all-volunteer, self-published collective, a sweat-equity co-op that still runs today. We were the first to support the squatters movement, we covered events like the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia and the Mumia Abu-Jamal trial. Issues that we were involved in, and local issues. You can buy the magazine at MoRUS, Bluestockings, Revolution Books and St. Mark’s Bookshop.
Favorite moments in the neighborhood? The time the squatters retook the East 13th Street squats. It was on July 4, 1995, and squatters reentered the buildings and hung huge banners from the fire escapes. Lots of people were returning to the area from watching the fireworks — all viewing the events unfold. The police totally overacted and stormed the buildings, but all the squatters had escaped already and the police found only an empty buildings. Classic.
I love that the demolition of the Umbrella House [on Avenue C] was stopped. Oh, and the fact that ABC No Rio is still standing. It’s a real accomplishment. And, I also had great sex in the middle of the night once with a British ballet dancer by the East River!
East Village resident creates Puppydog Poop Mitts
East Village resident and EVG reader Pablo Galarza shared this information...
Over the past 15 years, I’ve used nearly every bag made to pick up after my beloved Brittany, Mack. I have tried The New York Times delivery sleeve, plastic bags from Walgreens, rectangular dog bags sold in rolls at pet stores and dozens of other random bags.
I recently founded Puppydog Products to create a mitten-shaped bag for cleaning up dog waste. The PuppyDog Poop Mitt is degradable and by far smartest and easiest way to clean up after your dog. No more fumbling to find the opening for the bag, no nasty scent to remind you of your chore, large enough to wear over a glove on cold days, and the unique mitten shape really makes pick up a breeze.
This is a DIY company so far, and my plan is to market them by word-of-mouth by giving away free samples to dog walkers/owners. Just send an email here with your address, and we'll send you a free pack of 30 Poop Mitts.
Tonight: the 2nd Annual East Village Cavalcade of Pomp
As part of the HONK NYC! Festival ... the 2nd Annual East Village Cavalcade of Pomp takes place today... starting at 5 in Tompkins Square Park (brass bands and parade revelers, etc.) ... then at 8, there's a HONK NYC! Radical Marching Band Symposium at the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space at 155 Avenue C ... then an after-party at 10 at Drom on Avenue A... Check the Honk NYC website for exact times, more details and march madness...
Construction watch: 185-193 Avenue B
Here's a spot check on 185-193 Avenue B... where a 7-story mixed-used residential building is in the works for the corner here at East 12th Street. The building will include the new home of the Elim Pentecostal Church.
Nearby residents had to endure months of relentless pile driving and other building-rattling noise late last fall and into the winter months...
Some residents said that they are concerned for the adjacent building... the one with all the supports ... which may explain the Stop Work Order that the city issued last Friday. There's now just a Partial Stop Work Order...
The address was a movie theater for many years, first the Bijou in 1926, then the Charles. (The theater closed in 1975, and a church took over the space.) A fire broke out in the building in October 2006.
Photos by Bobby Williams.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Inside the Charles
Former landmark countercultural theater now for rent on Avenue B
7-story building in the works to replace former countercultural theater/church on Avenue B
Construction site at 185 Avenue B remains shut down for now
[Updated] The 'insane' noise and pounding are back at 185 Avenue B
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