A day of 'Songbyrd'

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

A lot of people have asked us what is filming around East Seventh Street and Avenue A today/tonight… crews for the pilot of "Songbyrd," a new E! series, have been here…

Per Deadline Hollywood, the show "centers on songwriter Lauren Byrd (Bethany Joy Lenz), a character loosely inspired by hitmaker Diane Warren, and her staff." Andrew McCarthy is directing the pilot.

As noted earlier, 7A is closed today for the shoot. There were also scenes filmed in St. Brigid's… and in Tompkins Square Park…



… and a crew member put up this sign outside Tompkins Square Park. Annnnnnnnnd, noted.

City says Jerry Delakas can operate Astor Place Newsstand

[From the Save Jerry's Facebook page]

A long, contentious battle battle between Jerry Delakas and the city is over. There was talk earlier today that Delakas would be able to continue to operate the newsstand at Astor Place as he has done since 1987.

As Serena Solomon reports this afternoon at DNAinfo, the city has agreed to issue Delakas a license. One stipulation: He must pay a $9,000 fine over the course of the next year.

Per DNA:

"I think it shows a different stance on small business [under de Blasio], and a lot of those smaller businesses that have been set upon by city government should find this encouraging to fight back," said Advocates for Justice lawyer Arthur Schwartz, who is representing Delakas.

Delakas must pay the city $1,000 for a new license before he can reopen, plus the first $1,000 out of a $9,000 fine, according to legal documents.

He has to pay another $3,000 in May, $2,000 in August and $3,000 by Nov. 1, according to the documents.

The newsstand could be back open as soon as Wednesday.

As we first reported on Dec. 10, the city shut down the newsstand he has run the past 26 years for "operating illegally." Delakas never had the license transferred to his own name after the city blocked numerous attempts by the family who held the license to do so.

On Jan. 5, Mayor de Blasio promised to have his aides look into the situation with the newsstand.

Previously on EV Grieve:
City shutters Jerry's Newsstand on Astor Place for 'operating illegally'

The story about the city shutting down Jerry's Newsstand on Astor Place actually gets worse

More about saving Jerry's Newsstand

Helping Save Jerry

[Updated] NYPD investigating possible sexual assault on East 7th Street

Several readers have said that the NYPD and news crews are on the scene on East Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue… Here's the early word on the situation…

#NYPD Investigating possible sex assault in #EastVillage Waiting for more details. pic.twitter.com/w27PMcS39r

— Weijia Jiang (@JiangWCBSWLNY) January 13, 2014

Updated 10 a.m.


A neighbor shares a few images… the NYPD is on the scene at 70 E. Seventh St.





The neighbor says that she saw the NYPD on the scene since about 6:45 a.m.

Updated 11:34 a.m.
WABC is reporting that "a 22-year-old woman was followed into her apartment and raped by an unknown male believed to be in his 30s."

Updated 4 p.m.
Crime Scene Investigators were still at the building … as was a WABC news truck…



There haven't been any further updates just yet.

Updated 1/14
The NYPD release a surveillance video of the suspect.

Closing date set for 7A, which will won't be open today

As we first reported last Wednesday, 7A is set to close at the end of this month.

The 24-hour restaurant, which has anchored the southwest corner of Avenue A and East Seventh Street since the mid-1980s, will close following service on Sunday, Jan. 26, according to our 7A tipster. (An employee confirmed the date.) So far, we haven't heard about an exact closing time… whether it is after brunch… or dinner remains to be seen.

Nightlife heavy-hitters Serge Becker and Josh Picard are rumored to be taking over the space.

Meanwhile, today…



… 7A will be closed … crews for the pilot of "Songbyrd," a new E! series, will be filming in the restaurant… Per Deadline Hollywood, the show "centers on songwriter Lauren Byrd (Bethany Joy Lenz), a character loosely inspired by hitmaker Diane Warren, and her staff." Your 1980s crush Andrew McCarthy is directing the pilot.

Updated 12:44



Here's 7A all prepped for tonight's TV shoot...

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month 956 comments)

Are Serge Becker and Josh Picard taking over 7A?

Maria's Cafe is leaving the corner of 3rd and C

Maria's Cafe, which serves up inexpensive food and strong coffee, is leaving its longtime home on East Third Street and Avenue C. We hear that today is the last day here in this sliver of a space.


[Last summer]

Word is Maria will be sub-leasing space at a restaurant on Broadway near East 10th Street… not sure exactly which restaurant at the moment. Will pass along that information when we get it. (The stand wasn't open when we stopped by.)

While we're happy that she has found new space… it means, of course, that she's won't be here any longer… Worse, as we hear from a neighborhood tipster, several of the small buildings here at the southeast corner of East Third Street and Avenue C will be demolished in the months ahead to make way for a new residential complex. (There's nothing on file with the Department of Buildings to indicate any impending demolition.)

Meanwhile, there's still a "Full Vacate Order" from the city for 32 Avenue C dating to August 2012. (In March 2012, the sidewalk bridge arrived along with a scary DOB message: "THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING IS CAVING IN; COMMERCIAL BUILDING; BUILDING NEEDS TO BE VACATED.")




Previously on EV Grieve:
Concern for 32 Avenue C

2nd Street and Avenue A now halal-cart free

When we last checked in on the biggest Halal Cart Story of 2014 on Jan. 1, the proprietor decided to move his operation about 50 feet down East Second Street from the southeast corner of Avenue A.

However, we didn't spot the cart again with the snowstorm of Jan. 2/Jan 3 … followed by those frigid temps … perhaps sitting this weather out?

Not so!

One of the residents who had been unhappy with the cart's arrival in late December said that he had a long talk with the proprietor on Jan. 1… and he said that the cart would be moving toward Second Avenue…

We haven't spotted it again… In any event, the cart won't be returning to Avenue A and East Second Street… which is likely a good thing — seems as if a civil cart war was brewing among various residents...



As you may recall, a few neighbors had complained of noise, exhaust fumes, dumped ashes and a blocked sidewalk, among other things…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Angry residents don't want this food cart on Avenue A and East 2nd Street (42 comments)

Avenue A food-cart fight now with flyer campaign (21 comments)

Controversial halal food cart on Avenue A moves … a few feet around the corner

At Hanksy's 'Surplus Candy' art show in an abandoned East Village tenement

This past Friday night, street artist Hanksy hosted a kinda secret show for a few hours inside an abandoned East Village building. (There was a show here as well back on Dec. 20. Someone connected with this also asked us not to divulge the location. But if you really want to know you can figure it out easily enough.)

We stopped by for a look. (Gothamist has more photos and video from the night… as well as info on the other artists involved.)























A sequel here is possible, though, as Gothamist notes, Hanksy is now out of town. The empty building is apparently due for either a demo or gut renovation … there aren't any plans on file yet with the Department of Buildings.

Updated:
Hugh Burckhardt has a lot more photos from Friday night at his blog More Than Usual.

Also, Bucky Turco and Marina Galperina from Animal NY have a recap in Metro today.

Avenue B laundromat headed south to Clinton Street

When we saw the familiar "for rent" sign of Steve Croman recently arrive above the laundromat at 44 Avenue B… well, we knew the place was a goner…

Sure enough!



At least they are just moving … down to 47 Clinton St. between Stanton and Rivington… not exactly as convenient for residents along here...

We say goodbye to the East Village weekend by showing photos of animals eating things

Photos today by Bobby Williams

Shitty Week in Grieview

[Yesterday morning in Tompkins Square Park]

RIP Don Holley (Thursday)

7A is closing (Wednesday)

… and here is what might be next there (Wednesday)

Viva Herbal Pizzeria closes (Friday)

Wacky Wok closes (Tuesday)

Sapporo East (and likely Shima) closes (Monday)

Picnic closes (Thursday)

Gray's Papaya abruptly closes, and Liquiteria is moving in (Friday)

10 questions for 2014 (Friday)

It was cold (Tuesday)

Info about the affordable units at Alphabet Plaza (Wednesday)

IBM biz unit moving to 51 Astor Place (Thursday)

More fucking froyo (Thursday)

Good news about Jerry's Newsstand (Wednesday)

New newsstand in the works for St. Mark's Place and Third Avenue (Thursday)

New spot for composting (Tuesday)

The Year in East Village Photos Part 2 (Monday)

Out and About in the East Village 2013 recap (Wednesday)

Construction watch at 277 E. Seventh St. (Tuesday)

Earlier today on Avenue C...

Updated: City temporarily closes Frank Restaurant for some BS sidewalk violation

We heard from a nervous fan of Frank Restaurant yesterday… he/she wanted to know why the Italian mainstay at 88 Second Ave. was not open yesterday or today … calls to the restaurant went unanswered… turns out the Department of Consumer Affairs temporarily closed Frank…



As we understand it, the temporary closure has to do with a sidewalk violation — something to do with the large planters outside. For that they lose a weekend of business. The place should be back open tomorrow.

Updated 1-13
BoweryBoogie has more on the temporary closure…

We were told the DOC shut down Frank for two reasons, the sidewalk fencing was “too high” and that their Christmas tree wasn’t to fire code.

East Village may be home to city's first Bitcoin ATM

That's the word from the New York Post today. The co-founder of the company that makes the bitcoin dispenser says that he is in negotiations to install the $5,000 machine at Just Sweet, the bubble tea joint on Third Avenue and NYU East 12th Street.

Here's how the machine works, per the Post:

The machine, designed and manufactured in Portugal, looks like a typical deli ATM — but functions more like a vending machine. You put in dollars and receive bitcoins back on your phone.

Users first download a bitcoin wallet mobile app — such as BlockChain or Mycelium — and set a password. A black-and-white QR code appears. They press the phone against the ATM’s glass window so it can scan the code, then feed in cash.

[Updated] Milady's closes for good after tomorrow night

Word is spreading on Twitter that Milady's, the well-worn neighborhood bar and restaurant on Prince Street at Thompson, closes for good tomorrow night.

Last Call at #MiLady's 1/12/14. #Soho #NYC #history #closing #restaurant #bar #taverns

— tim schreier (@timmywvillage) January 11, 2014

Will miss this NYC establishment RIP MILADY's pic.twitter.com/0WtkNjMEW4

— Jesse Marco (@JesseMarco) January 11, 2014

So we just lost Milday's, Gray's Papaya and Cooper Union. When does the municipal name change to "Bank of America presents New York"?

— Sasha Frere-Jones (@sfj) January 11, 2014

@evgrieve Milady's closing?! Who do I punch in the balls about this?

— david blend (@daveblend) January 12, 2014

We called, but no one is picking up the phone right now.

The building is (or was) for sale. One listing we spotted:

15,000 sf, five story elevator-ed Gorgeous brick building in fantastic SoHo location. Building has been completely gut-renovated. Fully built and fixtured restaurant on Lower Level, Ground, Second floor. Building will be delivered vacant. Incredible opportunity for luxury residential conversion.

Updated:

Gothamist gets confirmation on the closure tomorrow night. Ughs.

Electrical fire on East 10th Street

Dave on 7th reports that an electrical fire broke out this afternoon around 2 on East 10th Street just east of Avenue C... the FDNY is on the scene…

Report: Cooper Union Board says no to proposal that would keep the school tuition-free

[EVG file photo]

Gothamist has the story:

Cooper Union will officially start charging its undergraduates tuition, after the Board of Trustees rejected a 54-page report compiled by a Working Group of alumni, staff, students and trustees that outlined a plan to keep the school free.

Felix Salmon has an opinion piece on the decision today at Reuters titled The shame of Cooper Union.

An excerpt:

The minute that Cooper starts charging tuition, it loses its soul. It becomes a second-choice college in the most expensive part of the most expensive city in the world, which will never regain the kind of love and loyalty among its students and teachers that produced the summer’s sit-ins and the fall’s Working Group Report.

Tree down on East 13th Street

Just off Second Avenue. Anyone know when this happened? How it happened?

Looking at Swoon's bombed Hurricane Sandy-inspired mural on the Bowery wall

This happened back during the snowstorm on Jan. 2 into Jan. 3, as AnimalNY first pointed out… hadn't seen it ourselves… and wanted to note it as well…



Graffiti writer PIXOTE marked the wall some 30 feet above the mural back at the end of December.

MulchFest is underway!

Until 2 p.m. today… and back at it tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park. And if you don't have a tree, well, drag over that damn loveseat you never liked.

Earlier, we spotted the crew on Second Avenue… parked in front of Little Poland… perhaps a pre-mulch breakfast?



Hope that they got some stuffed cabbage!

Don't be shy about frolicking in that remaining East Village snow!

Or maybe it's part of a meteorite. Either way! Enjoy! Enjoy!