City's 'first all-natural halal meat store' (soft) opens tomorrow in the East Village

[Photo via EVG reader MP]

Honest Chops, billed as "the first all-natural halal meat store in Manhattan," has its soft opening tomorrow at 319 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

There will be a larger launch later… and eventually the shop will begin delivery service around NYC and parts of New Jersey. But for now on Friday, the store will be open for you to check out… and sample some of their seasoned meats.

Store hours:
Friday: 2PM - 8PM
Mon to Thurs: 10AM - 8PM
Sat & Sun: 10AM - 8PM

Previously on EV Grieve:
Honest Chops opening on East 9th St., 'first all-natural halal meat store in Manhattan'

St. Mark's Bookshop confirmed (most likely) for East Third Street

[EVG file photo]

Back in November, Publishers Weekly reported that St. Mark's Bookshop had found a new retail space "in the East Village in a space near Avenue A and Third Street." The article didn't mention where, exactly, the rent-challenged new store will be.

We did a little guess-detective work and figured the space was likely 136 E. Third St., where Landmark Bicycles was housed before moving to the northwest corner of East Third and Avenue A.

Anyway, meant to mention this sooner! Jeremiah Moss got the scoop last week: St. Mark's Bookshop co-owner Terry McCoy confirmed that this was the space.

Per McCoy to Jeremiah:

We've been sent a proposed lease, and we have a lawyer who has gone through it and sent comments to the landlord, who is the city, or NYCHA. There's a long way to go to signing a lease, though."

Meanwhile, the store continues with its Indiegogo campaign to help raise funds for the move. You can find more details here if this is of interest.

Report: Alex Stupak's new restuarant on St. Mark's Place will have its own tortilleria

As you know, Alex Stupak, who operates Empellón Cocina and Empellón Taqueria, is opening a restaurant at 132 St. Mark's Place at Avenue A, where the Sushi Lounge closed at the end of October.

Stupak told Eater yesterday that the place will house more than just another Mexican restaurant. The space will also be home to a tortilleria, which will supply this restaurant and his two others with tortillas.

Per Eater:

We are building a bar and restaurant around a small facility dedicated to the process ... Our new place will go from kernel of corn, to nixtamal, to masa, to tortilla at 132 St. Marks ...

The still-unnamed restaurant looks to open in September.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Chef Alex Stupak vying for former Sushi Lounge space on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place

As the for rent signs turn on Avenue A

Here are a few scant details about chef Alex Stupak's new venture on St. Mark's Place

And that concludes 'Dirty Old New York'

In the past two years, Jonathan Hertzberg has mashed-up movie clips from the 1960s-1980s for a series titled "Dirty Old New York, aka Fun City."

He just released No. 5, the last installment of his series. You can watch it right here. (FYI — there are a few boob shots, just maybe a little NSFW.)

Check out Jonathan's blog for the complete list of all the movies he featured in this video.

Jeremiah talked with Hertzberg last August. You can read that here.

You can find the "Dirty Old New York" parts 1-4 right here.

Today's hawk

Dive-bombing Samuel S. Cox in Tompkins Square Park?

Photo by @ChrisRJAnderson

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.



By James Maher

Name: Pamela Joy
Occupation: Integrative Astrologer
Location: 10th Street and 3rd Avenue.
Time: 2:30 on Thursday, March 20

I’m one of the few New York natives. I was born and raised in Canarsie, Brooklyn. I went to the Professional Performing Arts School so my time in Brooklyn kind of ended when I went there on West 46th Street, in the original building. Manhattan is where the action is and Canarsie was far away.

I went there for acting but I’m really an actress-singer-dancer. I’m one of those people who came from a very complex background, where there was a lot of torment. It was tough being both an actress and a sensitive one, so I ended up in the world of psychotherapy. I don’t know if I would have been happy in the business of show. Not enough substance for me, perhaps.

What’s happening right now is that I’m in a transition. The artist and therapist within me who I have become are better able to serve and be served as an astrologer. I help people. I am grateful that my quest has taken me through two wonderful alternative programs where I received my training.

I live on East 10th Street, diagonally across from the Russian & Turkish Baths. I moved down here around 35 years ago with my boyfriend, who was living on East 6th Street. When that relationship ended, and this is the strangest thing, I lucked out and ended up getting my apartment right across from what used to be a jazz club called Princess Pamela, where the café is now. So it was meant to be and I’ve been there ever since. I’ve lived there for over 30 years.

It was very different in the beginning. First of all, I never walked down 10th between 1st and 2nd. People would actually have bullets go into their living rooms. It was like the Colombian Cartel. And then it got cleaned up and now you can see it’s an amazing street. I love walking up and down that street. Loisaida really changed; the Lower East Side has really changed; my block has really changed. It’s interesting how all these little relics have moved around but change is part of life.

It was a good place to be while I was trying to nurture my inner spirit. It was a good place to be while I was trying to blossom into adulthood. In fact, today I was thinking that my home, my unconscious choice of home, was like a reclamation. It feels like the first home I’ve ever really lived in. I feel like what’s been ebbing out of that is that I’ve been helping a lot of people. So I’m very happy about that.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

All you need is your imagination now for this new-to-market rental!

This listing for 182 E. Seventh St. (in the same building as Vazac's/7B) appeared on Streeteasy Monday:

*Rare Opportunity* - Apartment is mid GUT RENOVATIONS

New floors. New Kitchen. New bath. New apartment. BE THE FIRST TO LIVE IN THIS SPECTACULAR LOCATION - Tompkin Square Park paradise.

Massive space being turned into an UNDER MARKET 3BR for sure.

One flight walk up!

Should be available by 4/15

And the price for a space that looks like this right now: $3,995.

A few questions. Anyone happen to know what was in this space before the gut renovation? The ad states that it is a new apartment.

Are apartments in such demand that a photo like the above is good enough to sell the place?

Will the toilet remain where it is?

Will probably have more questions, but that's all for now.

[Updated] The future of 50-62 Clinton St will look something like this

[Photo of current 50-62 Clinton St. via BoweryBoogie]

The businesses in the single-level building along 50-62 Clinton St. have cleared out in recent months ahead of some new, unspecified development. (BoweryBoogie first reported this impending new construction between Stanton and Rivington back in January.)

An EVG reader who lives nearby pointed us to the renderings for the address ... courtesy of architect Ramy Isaac...





The Isaac-Stern website has little info about the the project, other than that:

Mix use building, residential and commercial.
7 story over cellar, approximately 50,000 sf.

Isaac is teaming up once again with the developers at Icon Realty, who are listed as the owners of the address via DOB permits filed with the city on March 11.

Updated 12:01 p.m.

The Lo-Down has an update about one of the tenants along this corridor:

While the sale included the building housing acclaimed restaurant WD-50, a spokesperson for chef Wylie Dufresne told The Lo-Down he has no plans to leave the building before his lease expires in a couple of years.

Second time around the SLA grants Sweet Chick a liquor license for the former Max Fish space

Despite an earlier disapproval, The State Liquor Authority has granted Sweet Chick, the Williamsburg-based restaurant specializing in chicken and waffles, a full liquor license for the former Max Fish space on Ludlow Street, the Lo-Down first reported yesterday.

Sweet Chick partner John Seymour tweeted the news during the afternoon.

Thank you to the State Liquor Authority for granting SC Ludlow our Liquor Licence.. Can't wait to be part of the LES community !!!

— John Seymour (@JohnSeymourNYC) March 25, 2014

The SLA originally denied the license back in December … this after CB3 denied the initial application in October. As BoweryBoogie reported two weeks ago, there was a petition against Sweet Chick's opening that had the support of nearly 100 percent of the tenants in the adjoining 176-178 Ludlow St. as well as business owners on the block.

In our Our and About in the East Village feature last week, Margery Teplitz, who lives in the tenement above the incoming restaurant, expressed her concerns.

From the look of their plans, they want to put the exhaust system in the airshaft, which goes right next to my bedroom as well as a bunch of others. They also want to remain open 17 hours a day cooking fried food in a 120-year-old building that’s basically like a sieve. My neighbor upstairs makes chili a couple times a week and you can smell it for seven hours, so you can imagine fried chicken.

… We’re supposed to have a reasonable quality of life, which does not include a blaring exhaust system 17 hours a day and the smell of fried chicken.

The Peels sign has come down at the future home of Bar Primi on the Bowery

An EVG reader asked what was going on over at Peels, where workers removed the former restaurant's sign back on Friday…



Peels closed on Jan. 22 after three-plus years in business.

As Eater first reported, restaurateurs Andrew Carmellini, Josh Pickard and Luke Ostrom will open a casual Italian restaurant here called Bar Primi … with a possible summer opening date.

Paperwork filed ahead of last month's CB3/SLA meeting showed that Bar Primi will have 22 total tables, seating 94 people as well as two bars good for 41 seats. (They also plan to have an outdoor cafe, just like Peels.) CB3 ultimately OK'd the new license.

Milling and paving, milling and paving make for some sleepy residents

[East 6th Street last night via @highmountain]

As you likely heard in the middle of the night, crews have been taking to the East Village side streets in an ongoing milling-paving project.

EVill Joe found this schedule (PDF) on the DOT site ...



And how has this overnight work been going so far?

Per one EVG reader: "I was kept up allllllll night ... It was an apocalyptic noise level from 1 am to 5 am or so. I tried calling 311 ... but they couldn't give me much info."



[Photos on First Avenue via EVG reader Charlie Chen]

And be sure to heed those No Parking signs...


[Photo by Shawn Chittle]

...because the city will tow your ass...


[Photo by Shawn Chittle]

New Facebook group is advocating for a Trader Joe's on Avenue A

There is a new Facebook group titled "We Want a Trader Joe's at 98-100 Avenue A."

Most recently, the address was home to East Village Farms (RIP February 2012). Developer Ben Shaoul bought the property for $15.5 million. Permits filed with the DOB last December show plans for a proposed building that is 37,042 square feet — 29,881 for residential and 7,161 for a ground-floor retail space ... good for 8 stories and 43 residential units, plus bicycle storage in the basement and an "outdoor tenant recreation space" on the roof.



The new retail space is likely destined for some type of local or national franchise. Or bank branch.

Here is the group's mission statement:

This group is advocating for a Trader Joe's at 98-100 Avenue A, the former site of a great Korean deli. We are witnessing the loss of many neighborhood services, like grocery stores and laundromats, throughout New York. WE ALREADY HAVE A CHASE BRANCH AND A DUANE READE…

East Village resident Bryan Keller (an EVG Facebook friend) created the group. He has lived nearby for the past 22 years and says that the group is a form of "social persuasion to get services like good grocery stores that we need instead of more banks, drugstores and 7-Elevens."

And what about the Trader Joe's on East 14th Street near Union Square?

"[T]he long lines are proof that people really really like Trader Joe's," he says. "I try to go on the off hours. But it's really more about getting a decent grocer [at 98-100 Avenue A]. I really miss the old deli."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

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

That's it for East Village Farms

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

Meanwhile, 98-100 Avenue A is lying in ruins

[EVG file photo from December]

There hasn't been much activity lately at developer Ben Shaoul's incoming 8-story retail-residental complex at 98-100 Avenue A. For starters, the city has yet to approve the plans for the formally ornate theater turned grocery store. (The city last disapproved the plans on Feb. 14, according to public records.)

There are also two partial Stop Work Orders from late January … one for "failure to protect adjoining structures" and one for "debris/building — falling or in danger of falling."

And so, what's left of the now roofless building has been exposed to the elements… here's a view of things from Saturday via EVG reader Scoop Wilson…









… and here's another view from EVG reader Shannon Kendall …



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

Ben Shaoul's proposed new Avenue A building will be 8 stories with a roof deck

[Updated] Rumors: 7A space will become a 2nd outpost of Miss Lily's and Melvin's Juice Box

That's the word we're hearing from three different sources. Of course, nothing official has been mentioned yet about the former home of 7A, which closed on Avenue A and East Seventh Street on Jan. 26.

As previously mentioned, Paul Salmon, one of the restaurateurs behind Miss Lily's, the Jamaican bar and restaurant on West Houston, will be overseeing the new restaurant's day-to-day operations.

CB3 documents noted the following: "As a nod to the venerable history of this establishment, the new owners plan to incorporate some variation of the current trade name, 7A, into the new trade name."



So perhaps the name would be something like "Miss Lily's at 7A."

As for Miss Lily's, here's a recap of the place by the Underground Gourmet at New York magazine from September 2011:

This week, the Underground Gourmet pays a visit to Miss Lily's, Serge Becker's (La Esquina) hip luncheonette-themed eatery, where both the service and the food are much better than expected. "The mood was festive, the old-school ska and reggae thumping at a lively but non-deafening decibel level, the multiculti, multigenerational crowd exuberantly gnawing on their spareribs," they write of a recent Friday-night visit. Also worth eating: "golden craggy codfish fritters," "moist and meaty jerk chicken garnished with mango chutney, a truly sensational curried goat with a mouth-tingling heat, and a rich oxtail stew with bits of sweet potato and broad beans." The restaurant earns three stars.

If this rumor is true, then this would also mean the third outpost in the city for Melvin's Juice Box, operated by "downtown juicing legend" Melvin Major, Jr. The juice shop has a separate entrance and is just one part of the Miss Lily's complex over at West Houston and Sullivan.

The application for the Avenue A space was never brought before last month's CB3 meeting. It was listed as "not heard at committee," which meant that there wasn't even a vote by the committee for approval. As we noted earlier, it seems a little strange that they will completely change the 7A concept (with an all-new staff) … and there's not any discussion on the matter.

There was plenty of discussion at the Community Board level in June 2010 when Miss Lily's went for a liquor license. Neighbor Anna Wintour was among those who spoke out against Miss Lily's during a contentious CB2 meeting.

Updated 1:19 p.m.

From Eater today:

A rep for the Miss Lily's team explains that the new place will "pay homage to the cafe history of 7A," but it will also have "elements of Melvin's Juice Box and Miss Lily's."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month

Renovations underway at former 7A space

We have a note!: 'To the Dirt Bag who stole my black push cart out of the laundry room'

EVG reader stickmanpk sends us these awesome signs spotted in a building in Stuy Town, the land of enchantment…



And there's an update. Apparently there is a cart thief among us!



Do these qualify as Urban Etiquette Signs?

As stickmanpk put it, "This is sort of the opposite of polite. Maybe?

220 Avenue A is for sale

Per the Massey Knakal listing:

A 25’ wide, five-story walk-up building along with a rear 25’ wide walk-up building located on the east side of Avenue A between East 13th Street and East 14th Street. The buildings consists of 16 residential units, 14 of which are fair-market and 2 are rent- stabilized. The current in-place rent is approximately $53 per square foot which is well below market. The zoning of the buildings allows for retail therefore it could offer an investor an excellent opportunity to convert the ground floor space into a retail unit.

Price: $7,950,000

The building is just south of East 14th Street ... and adjacent to the large Extell retail-residential complex coming soon between Avenue A Avenue B...




[Click image to enlarge]

RIP ‎Dennis Zentek

[Image via Facebook]

Dennis Zentek, who opened d.b.a. at 41 First Ave. in 1994 with friend Ray Deter, died last night.

Here is the official message via the d.b.a. Facebook page:

It is with such a heavy heart that we make the announcement that our beautiful friend Dennis Zentek passed away last night. Dennis with his friend Ray was one of the co-founders, co-pioneers, co-visionaries of what has become a huge family. We will share more details later on, but for now we ask that you send love and say prayers and raise a glass to a dear friend who will be so very missed.

Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident.

Free monkey business

Spotted on Avenue A near East 14th Street this morning by stickmanpk.

Not sure if this is such a good strategy by Fresh Direct — expanding their offerings while, at the same time, giving the stuff away.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A brief history of humiliating Teddy bears in the East Village

Another day, another stuffed bear heartlessly discarded on an East Village Street

Virage closed until April 15 for renovations

As we pointed out on Friday, Virage would be closing today for some kind of unspecified makeover on Second Avenue at East Seventh Street.

Signs on the 14-year-old restaurant this morning don't offer up much details ... other than they will reopen on April 15. (No mentions of the renovations just yet on Virage's website or Facebook page.)

The brunch/lunch/dinner spot was closed for renovations for several days back in December 2010.

Renovations underway at former 7A space

Renovations have started at the former 7A space on Avenue A and East Seventh Street. Workers removed the awning last Thursday.



… and the crew is gutting the interior…



The Avenue A mainstay closed on on Jan. 26. CB3 documents show that Paul Salmon, one of the restaurateurs behind Miss Lily's, the Jamaican bar and restaurant on West Houston, and Joe's Pub, will be overseeing the new restaurant's day-to-day operations.

While there have been rumors of a southern-themed restaurant with some part of 7A remaining in the name, there haven't been too many other details about what's next. We will be curious to see which route ownership goes to announce the details … maybe UrbanDaddy ("A New East Village Eatery with Balls — Meatballs.") Or perhaps the owners will take the more upscale route with a piece in the Dining & Wine section at the Times ("A New Look for an Old East Village Favorite. Hold the Punk, Pass the Lobster Pappardelle.")

Previously on EV Grieve:
Some part of 7A will stay in the new 7A's name

Details emerge about what's next for former the 7A, Odessa Cafe & Bar spaces

[Updated] Reader report: 7A will close at the end of the month