Inside a classic East Village tenement before the whole building is renovated

Earlier in the month news came out that Jared Kushner is the proud new owner of two buildings on East Second Street, adding to his East Village collection. One of these buildings, 170 E. Second St., is a classic tenement dating to 1899. And renovations are underway in at least some of the units...

EVG reader Yenta Laureate shared some photos from inside the building showing the floor mosaics, marble hallways and other ornate details from a bygone era ...

















The ground-floor apartment in the back of the building looks particularly interesting... As Yenta's photos show, there's still an interior door with a window transom for light ...







... there's also outdoor space, though via the fire escape...





... and the apartment provides a bit of history... of, perhaps, bad renovations through the years...





Meanwhile, the sign remains outside No. 170 ... noting that Allen Ginsberg lived in apartment 16 from August 1958-March 1961 ...



In any event, it will be interesting (or maybe depressing) to revisit this building once the renovations are complete... and look at the new listings to see how much of the old 170 remains...

Moonstruck Diner temporarily closed for 'operating illegally'

[Photo by @EdenBrower]

The city closed the Moonstruck Diner yesterday over on Second Avenue and East Fifth Street... no one was around the diner to ask about the infraction ... as we've seen along here, the infractions are typically quite minor...

Dining ... and dashing

Bobby Williams caught a hawk enjoying a meal of rodent in Tompkins Square Park...



...while Derek Berg captured one in flight ... in a rather patriotic shot...

[Updated] NYU student jumps to his death from 3rd Avenue dorm

According to published reports, an NYU freshman killed himself after jumping off the roof of the Third North dorm on Third Avenue and East 11th Street early this morning.

NYU released this statement through spokesperson John Beckman:

"It is with great sorrow that we report that a freshman was found in an interior courtyard in the residence hall where he lived. It appears as though his death occurred as a result of a fall from the roof of the building; police and the University are looking into events preceding the discovery of the body in order to determine the cause and nature of his death."

The university has not released the name of the student. Spring 2014 classes begin today at NYU.

Updated 11:40 p.m.

According to the Daily News, citing police sources and fellow students, the 18-year-old victim "was stark naked and apparently high on mushrooms when he plummeted 15 floors to his death."

A look at three possibly endangered restaurants, courtesy of the Daily News

With so many closures of late, the Daily News files a story titled "In New York's tough restaurant marketplace, some fave places are on the endangered list."

The paper's list of five includes three in these parts — The Hat/El Sombrero, Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery and the Stage.

The Hat's situation has been well-covered here ... and here. The Ludlow Street classic remains open for now.

Meanwhile, Ellen Anistratov, the owner of Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery on East Houston, insists that she would like to expand the small knishery that opened in 1910. Still, she admits that business has been off. Per the News:

"In 2012, the city cut off two lanes of Houston St. for construction. Since most of Schimmel's customers now come from outside Manhattan, business tanked, and Anistratov feared she might have to shutter. For now, fanatical followers are keeping it afloat."

Finally, there's EVG favorite the Stage Restaurant on Second Avenue. There has been concern here since news broke that Icon Realty, not exactly known for appreciating preservation and EV institutions, bought the building that houses the Stage. We hear that there's five-plus years left on the lease.

Stage owner Roman Diakun told the News: "I haven't had discussions with the new owners. I haven't even seen them. I just keep sending checks." Business, he says, "has been OK, but a little tough. The Polish and Ukrainian people are mostly gone, and their kids left."

Recently, a rumor surfaced that John's Pizzeria in the Village was closing. Fortunately, that's not the case. But as Jeremiah Moss put it last week: "[I]t's a good reminder to take the time to enjoy the authentic New York places we still have. We know now that anything can vanish, no matter how successful and revered, at any time."

Previously on EV Grieve:
An appreciation: Breakfast at Stage

Troubling talk about 128 Second Ave, and the long-term future of the Stage

128 Second Ave. has been sold

An appreciation: Yonah Schimmel's dumbwaiter

So long 7A

[Photo yesterday by EVG reader Thomkat]

After 30 some years, 7A has closed... the owner of the restaurant that had anchored the southwest corner of Avenue A and East Seventh Street since the mid-1980s announced earlier in the month that he was closing the business... we never did hear an official reason for the closure.

Meanwhile, by all accounts, the place was busy yesterday on its last day...

Even on its last day, there's a line out the door at 7A. & it includes me & Jimmy McMillan. @damnrentparty @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/2TibvifWi4

— Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) January 26, 2014

@evgrieve Yep. Festive atmosphere in here. You'd never know it's their last day. pic.twitter.com/OXksvbRYUJ

— Chris F. (@fnytv) January 26, 2014

And there was a late-afternoon happy-hour-till-we-run-out-of-booze special...


[Photo via @fnytv]

... and some other sentiments on the last days of 7A via Twitter...

Had my final meal at @7ACafeAlphaCity last night...so sad to see them close...so many memories there.

— The Daily Guru (@TheDailyGuru) January 26, 2014

It's the end of an era. Just had my last late night drunken meal at #7A Thanks for employing me 15 years ago! #eastvillage #nyc

— bottomlesspitnyc (@foodfreaknyc) January 25, 2014

Today is the last day for 7A. Another win for the blandification of New York. Whether you loved or hated the... http://t.co/aHlNdJSvgO

— JustDean (@deanpkny) January 26, 2014

The rumor is that bold-face namers Serge Becker and Josh Picard are opening some kind of Southern-themed restaurant here. Yesterday, members of the staff said that none of them will have jobs at the new place.

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

Are Serge Becker and Josh Picard taking over 7A?

100 years before 7A, there was L.W. Schwenk

[EVG file photo]

7A is now closed on the southwest corner of Avenue A and East Seventh Street… the restaurant, which opened in the mid 1980s (anyone have the exact date? We've heard several different years), ended service as of yesterday.

Meanwhile, almost 100 years ago, the address was home to L.W. Schwenk… and here's a photo dated July 24, 1914, titled "Depositors at failed bank."



Wow. Seems like 100 years ago! (Ugh, sorry, that was bad.) But to think in better times some of the people in this crowd went to McSorley's ... or Katz's ... or Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery... or Veniero's ... or DeRobertis Caffe... or John's of 12th Street ... or...

beQu now open in the former 9th St. Bakery space

[Photo by EVG regular William Klayer]

beQu — for Beyond Quality — just opened on East Ninth Street... at the site of the former 9th St. Bakery.

Per the beQu website:

Our belief is simple: live beyond Quality.

With this idea, two brothers set out on a journey to bring healthy, nutritious, and great tasting foods to the people around us. We launched beQu Juice Café in the fall of 2008 on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens serving salads, sandwiches, wraps, juices, and smoothies. During our three year period on Smith Street we have developed and perfected our PurePress juice brand and decided to leave the restaurant business and focus our energy on making the best juices on the planet.

We live with the notion that a happy life is a healthy life, and a healthy life is enjoying the basic things that the earth has to offer just the way they are; untouched, unpreserved, untampered with.

A rent hike forced the bakery to close in June 2012.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader report: 9th St. Bakery is closing after 87 years

Replacement for 87-year-old 9th St. Bakery revealed

Sidewalk Cafe unveils new menu items

There's a new Mediterranean/Middle Eastern menu over at Sidewalk Cafe on Avenue A and East Sixth Street… there's the return of the hummus…



… as well as items like chicken shawarma and hand-rolled couscous. You can find the new menu online here.

In honor of the new menu tonight at Sidewalk, which opened here in 1985 … there's the Menu Monday at the Open Stage starting at 7:30. Per the Facebook event page:

For this special Monday Night Open Stage we'll be promoting the new menu. Order ANYTHING off the menu and get a free beer/well/coffee/tea (happy hour drinks).

Anything? Want fries? Get a beer? Falafel? Beer. Hummus? Beer. Or whatever you want.

WHEN WILL THIS OBSCENE SNOWFITTI END!?

Oh, wait. Sorry! As you were!

Photo on East Fourth Street by Derek Berg

Week in Grieview

[A view Tuesday via EVG regular jdx]

More development plans for East 14th Street revealed (Thursday)

$1 million bail set for driver who crashed into East Village Farm and Grocery; prosecutors consider homicide charges (Tuesday)

This East Village resident helped save Jerry's Newsstand (Friday)

A break-in at 2 Bros. (Monday)

Arcane is closing on Avenue C (Friday)

Sushi Lounge finds a new home (Wednesday)

2 new wine shops coming to First Avenue (Tuesday)

Out and About with Alex Harsley (Wednesday)

Looking for a 6-bedroom "frat house"? (Thursday)

Avalon Chrystie Place is for sale (Wednesday)

First sign of Schnitz (Tuesday)

Peels has closed on the Bowery (Thursday)

Maria's Cafe leaves for West Harlem (Tuesday)

You won't have the "Girls" mural to look at anymore (Tuesday)

Check out the ultra-rare "TV-CBGB" (Monday)

Grifter alert (Tuesday)

Rabbit Season at 51 Astor Place! (Wednesday)

Look at David Schwimmer's new gate (Friday)

And here's one more from jdx from Tuesday… check out his site here.

When will Mayor de Blasio bring an end to this... this... this ...

Just taunting us now. East Seventh Street this morning via Derek Berg.

Take a ride up the 3rd Avenue EL in the early 1950s

In case you've never seen this… EVG regular Pinhead shared this video… here's the YouTube description:

Hosted by the late transit historian Roger Arcara , we take a nostalgic ride up the eastside 3rd Ave. EL in the early to mid 1950's in color, which by that time was MANHATTAN's last surviving elevated line. Please note this film covers the line north of CHATHAM SQ. which is at the tail end of THE BOWERY, on up to the north Bronx. The section south of CHATHAM SQ was abandon in 1950. and this film covers the years 1953- 1955.

The video is 57 minutes long… you will find a few familiar scenes starting with Cooper Union at the 9-minute mark… up to 10:15… The 3rd Avenue EL closed in May 1955.

Same old snow story today

Photos from Tompkins Square Park via Bobby "Yukon" Williams...

An ugly 2-car collision on Avenue B and East 7th Street

For the second consecutive Saturday... there has been a nasty collision on Avenue B... late this morning at East Seventh Street...


[Photo by Shawn Chittle]


[SC]

No one saw what happened... just the aftermath... it appears at least one person was taken away on a stretcher. We haven't heard any reports of the extent of the injuries...


[Photo by Joan Pantesco]


[JP]

Check out the 'Sturgeon Queens'

The trailer for "Sturgeon Queens" has been making the rounds lately on the blogs… Filmmaker Julie Cohen's documentary takes a look at the 100-year history of Russ & Daughters on East Houston… featuring a mix of regulars as well as celebrity customers like Maggie Gyllenhaal … Eater notes a screening coming up on May 20 at the JCC CineMatters festival on the Upper West Side. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until PBS airs it in the fall…

Meanwhile, Russ & Daughters is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year… a time when they are expanding with a new cafe around the corner on Orchard Street…

The nexus of the universe in 1975

Here's a photo by Dean Lapinel that Dirty Old 1970's New York City posted on Facebook yesterday…

From East First Street at First Avenue, facing northeast, circa 1975. On the corner now is Juicy Lucy and Golden Cadillac (and Boca Chica before)… Now who's up for some bocci?

How soon is not?

A poppier something by the Throwing Muses ... with "Not Too Soon" circa 1991 ... the band is back together and playing March 8 at the Bowery Ballroom ... featuring an opening set by band co-founder and former member Tanya Donelly, who sings the above song...

Citi Bike snow removal

[Tuesday night on Lafayette via EVG reader 8E]

Have you wondered who shovels out the docking stations for the Citi Bikes? (If no, then you don't need to keep reading!)

EVG contributor Derek Berg spotted workers clearing the station on East Fourth Street and Second Avenue this morning ... they work for DynaServ out in Maspeth.

Now you know!

Arcane is closing on Avenue C; owners raising funds for Cafe Cambodge

[Photo via EV Eats]

A reader told us that Arcane is closing on Avenue C between East Seventh Street and East Eighth Street. However, it sounds as if the folks at the French-Caribbean restaurant have some new plans. Here's the message on the Arcane Facebook page:

Following five and a half years of nostalgic memories at Arcane, we now inform you that we are coming to a close. We continue to struggle financially at Arcane, and unfortunately, we are no longer a profitable pursuit.

However, we have recently committed to embracing a new concept and are immediately putting effort forth toward creating a more expansive business. In approximately one month from now, we are planning to open a french cambodian restaurant called, "Cafe Cambodge". On Sunday, January 26th between 4pm-7pm, we will be hosting a party to help raise the required capital to launch the construction, we will be selling pre paid vouchers for redeemable dinner.

We are sending out immense gratitude to all, for the continued support and loyalty to Arcane, and we hope to see you accompany us on the 26th as we embark upon this exciting new beginning. We will be also raising funds on the Internet via gofundme.

If you are interested, then here are the details via GoFundMe.

On Oct. 24, 2012, the body of Christine Ebel, who owned Arcane with her brother Benjamin Alter, was discovered in the empty lot adjacent to the restaurant. Ebel, who was 52, lived above Arcane and reportedly fell off her balcony.