Spring backward

Missed the part about the rain turning to snow/flurries/whatever last night.

Above photo via EVG reader Gail George, who spotted this on First Avenue and East Third Street.

Meanwhile, in Tompkins Square Park... via Robert Miner...

Where is Out and About in the East Village today?

Well, you may usually find our weekly feature at this day and time. However! EVG contributor James Maher was out of town... and the EVG backup plan didn't quite work out (backup?). My fault!

So! We'll be back with Out and About in the East Village next week.

Meanwhile, maybe you want to revisit the first features that James did in 2012... right here.

Surprise! Surprise! closes after April 27

[Photo by Cheryl Pyle via Facebook]

As we first reported back in February, Surprise! Surprise!, the housewares store that has anchored the northeast corner of Third Avenue and East 12th Street for more than 25 years, is closing at the end this month.

According to employees, the store's last day is April 27. Everything is now 50 percent off… so go buy a few new shower curtains.

And the reason behind the closure: The rents have gotten too high.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Surprise! Surprise! will close at the end of April (42 comments)

Here is the new sign for Russ & Daughters Cafe on Orchard Street

You probably heard that the folks at Russ & Daughters are opening a full-service cafe at 127 Orchard St. … EVG reader Leesy noted the arrival of the sign yesterday…

As the Times reported last September, Niki Russ Federman and her cousin Josh Russ Tupper, part of the fourth generation of the family that founded the store on the LES in 1914, will run the 65-seat restaurant ... serving all the specialties from the R&D mothership around the corner on East Houston.

Back in October, Federman offered up several details about the new space in an interview with The Daily Meal … including if the cafe will have that R&D counter culture:

That is so critical in how we’re designing the space, trying to bring that counter experience and that human interaction to the new café. So there will be an open slicing area where you can watch the slicing happen, and actually you’ll be able to see it better than you can in the store. Right now you have to peek down poke around, There, we’ll have a slicing counter [and] an old-school soda fountain making our egg creams. There’s going to be almost like a luncheonette counter where you can sit down as you’re watching all the food come together, and you still have that over-the-counter interaction.

We haven't heard about an opening date yet (just spring) … though we did spot a Craigslist ad from March 27 for a sous chef and other positions…

Previously on EV Grieve:
More details about the new Russ & Daughters Café coming to Orchard Street

Memorial today for d.b.a. co-founder Dennis Zentek

Dennis Zentek, who opened d.b.a. at 41 First Ave. in 1994 with friend Ray Deter, died on March 23 from injuries he suffered in a fall.

The folks at d.b.a., where he was the co-founder and owner, have updated the details about a memorial celebrating his life today:

• The bar at 41 First Ave. will be open as usual starting at 1 p.m.
• The memorial service will be held around the corner in the Marble Cemetery on East Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The memorial, led by non-denominational Life Cycle Celebrant Sacha Jones, begins right at 4 p.m. (People may start arriving at 3:45 p.m.)
• A New Orleans-style Second Line Parade will follow the memorial.
• Afterwards, there will be a slide show in Dennis's memory as well as a showing and silent auction of his photography at d.b.a.
• Please, no flowers, but donations are welcome to Dennis's favorite charity - the d.b.a. bars!

"We the dba family thank you so much for your support and kindness during this time. The bar is open, and we are enjoying a beautiful spring. See you soon …"

[Photo by KM Keller via Facebook]

More about Insomnia Cookie's East Village arrival

We noted yesterday that Insomnia Cookies will be opening an outpost in the East Village soon … Insomnia reps sent along the news release …

The late-April opening of Insomnia Cookies in New York City’s East Village will be the seventh New York location for the late night bakery which has become a favorite among New Yorkers over the past seven years.

“We are thrilled to open our seventh bakery in New York City” said Seth Berkowitz, CEO of Insomnia Cookies. “New York is our home and we take pride in serving our neighbors warm and delicious cookies.”

The new location will deliver to residents of the East Village, broadening Insomnia Cookies’ delivery radius to cover the entire East side of Manhattan from E. 96th to Houston Street.

In honor of the company’s official grand opening, they will serve a free cookie to all customers presenting a free cookie coupon in store. For more information, opening details and for a free cookie coupon, visit the Insomnia Cookies Facebook page.

Insomnia will be taking over the storefront at 299 E. 11th St. just east of Second Avenue. The space was previously a dry cleaners (and maybe briefly a winebar???).

Report: NYPD searching for attempted rape suspect in the East Village

At 3 a.m. this past Sunday, police said a 32-year-old East Village woman woke up to find the above suspect standing on her bed.

The NYPD said the man then sexually assaulted the resident, but fled after a struggle.

The NYPD described the suspect as a Hispanic male in his 20s, standing 5-4 and weighing about 160 pounds.

Anyone with information may call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.

There wasn't any mention of the address — just that it happened within the jurisdiction of the 9th Precinct.

Updated 11 p.m.
We're told that the incident happened on East Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B… contrary to what a News 4 New York reports states tonight … (They list it as near Avenue B and 6th Street.) According to NBC, the victim told police that she forgot to lock her door before going to bed.

April 15

Yes. St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue this morning. With the stand intact, as the arrows helpfully point out.

EVG reader Andrew, who took the photo, asked if the prize would be given out in bitcoins.

No, it will not be given out in bitcoins.

Also, the ICTTSS wanted to recognize EVG readers Craig and Caelyn for spotting this beaut on April 7 (suspiciously) next door to the 9th Precinct on East Fifth Street...

Morning drama at 98 Bowery

The NYPD responded to a report of a distraught woman who had climbed up 98 Bowery. Artist Curt Hoppe, who lives in the building, let the NYPD into his space... from there, they were able to bring the woman down to street level unharmed...



Hoppe complimented the NYPD's quick, professional response. "Thank goodness she's safe," he said.

Citi Bike testing new ways to boost memberships

EVG reader Dave from 2nd Ave. spotted this enhancement to the Citi Bikes docking station this morning on East 11th Street and Second Avenue.

Tenants claim: Kushner and Westminster want to destroy this building's beautiful garden

We've been keeping an eye on the renovations at 170-174 E. Second St., two walk-ups that Jared Kushner picked up earlier this year for his East Village collection.

There has been a lot of drama here — gut renovations, tenants taking buyouts, tenants not taking buyouts. We'll address some of this in another post.

A more pressing matter at the moment: The impending destruction of the garden behind No. 174.

"It was built by tenants, is maintained by tenants, and we love it very much," one tenant told us.

Tenants say that Westminster Management, a division of Kushner Companies, is expected to gut the garden this week. Remaining tenants say that they have taken legal action, but Westminster might be moving too fast for the group to stop them.









Said a resident:

"To destroy the garden would be of no benefit to Westminster, and to the tenants it would be a tragedy. Our garden is not just a decorative tableau, but a part of our daily lives: during the day, it is a place to do our professional work, and to make use of the carefully constructed space dedicated to meditation. In the evenings, it has long been a place for neighbors to meet one another. We reject the notion that a community garden is not a valuable resource. In fact, we believe that it is this use of our garden — as a place to foster community — which is the reason why it has been targeted."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Inside a classic East Village tenement before the whole building is renovated

Jared Kushner not done buying every walk-up in the East Village

Two East 2nd St. buildings sell for $17.5 million; will new owner still honor Allen Ginsburg?

Insomnia Cookies opening an East Village outpost

Well, we just noticed this the other day: Small signs for Insomnia Cookies above Plump Dumpling (or whatever it is now) on the northeast corner of Second Avenue and East 11th Street...



Insomnia confirmed that they are opening a location in the East Village ... though didn't specify where exactly. (There is an empty storefront behind Plump Dumpling.) They are also hiring here now.

Oh, and what are Insomnia Cookies? Here is their description via Facebook:

Insomnia Cookies was born out of the dislike of heavy meals late at night, love of food delivery, and the realization that by the time you get hungry at night, nothing is open.

Insomnia Cookies serves fresh, oven baked cookies in an assortment of flavors and offers delivery until 3AM! Popular flavors include Chocolate Chunk, Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup and the S'mores Deluxe. Insomnia Cookies also offers brownies, cookie cakes and ice cream with toppings such as Mint Chocolate, Cookie Dough and Snickers. The requisite pint of cold milk is available with any order. Insomnia Cookies…baked right, late night!

While primarily serving college students and the late-night crowd, we also offer nationwide gifting options and a catering menu for businesses, parties and other events.

Insomnia Cookies has more than 40 locations in the United States... with six storefronts in NYC.

Fake 'artisanal bacon' shop will actually be an artisanal ice cream shop

A few weeks ago, an EVG reader spotted a new sign over at 75 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery for a new business called Pigskin™ …


[March 31]

Per the sign on the door:

"Fresh, artisanal bacon from all over the world."

"Bacon for bacon lovers."

Turns out that the former FAB Café space will be the second outpost of the Williamsburg-based OddFellows, which specializes in "small-batch, locally sourced ice cream," as Grub Street first reported yesterday.

Although OddFellows boasts 116 flavors (Buttermilk Blueberry Honey and Chorizo Caramel Swirl, among 114 others), the East Fourth Street shop will have eight flavors on rotation and a small counter suitable for up to five people.

The shop is expected to open on May 1.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will we finally be getting that 'fresh, artisanal bacon' shop in the East Village?

189 Avenue C is for sale

Units at the new dormy rental building at 189 Avenue C hit the market just about three years ago…

Now the whole building can be yours. Per the new Massey Knakal listing:

The building consists of a 2,225 SF (approx.) commercial unit on the ground floor, a 627 SF (approx.) community facility unit on the ground floor towards the East 12th Street entrance and 35 luxury apartments on the upper floors consisting of 37,310 SF (approx). Of the 35 apartments, 5 are studios, 13 are 1-bedrooms, 9 are 2-bedrooms and 8 are 3-bedrooms of which 2 have terraces. The building benefits from 2 elevators, a usable rooftop for the tenants, a fully functioning gym, 24/7 security and washer/dryer units in each apartment.

The building has a temporary certificate of 421-a. Therefore the units are all Rent Stabilized and renting at less than 70% of market. The building’s gross annual income is approximately $1,580,000 with a Net Operating Income of approximately $1,285,000. Ownership is currently appealing the current taxes considering the NYC Department of Finance is billing based on the building being 55,000 SF. The department should provide clarity by late May.

Price: $33 million.

The commercial space is currently on the market.

Today in ghost signage

[April 1]

Jeez, how did we miss this? (Please don't answer the question. We're very sensitive.) Two weeks back Molly at the International told us about the ghost signage that workers found (and subsequently dropped) at the Golden Food Market on First Avenue and East Seventh Street.

Apparently, workers found another old sign … this was preserved … and is now hanging up on the market's south-facing wall…



So the East 7th Deli came after the Warsaw Bakery… anyone remember the place?



Thanks to newly deputized EVG Ghost Signage Correspondent ~evilsugar for this tip.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Warsaw Bakery sign makes a brief reappearance on First Avenue

How was your lunar eclipse?

Bobby Williams caught some of the lunar eclipse late last night/early this morning from his East Village perch.

The first two photos are from 1:30 a.m. …



… and the last shot was at 2:30 a.m.



As we cut-n-paste from CNN:

In a total lunar eclipse, the full moon turns a coppery red as it passes into Earth's shadow. During the process, the moon's bright glow dims, taking on a red hue because of shimmers of sunlight and sunsets seeping through the Earth's atmosphere.

Apparently clouds obscured the blood moon part of it on the East Coast … otherwise, this would have been the projection…


[Desiree Martin/AFP/Getty Images]

Joey Ramone died on this date in 2001

Born: May 19, 1951
Died: April 15, 2001

Previously on EV Grieve:
Mickey Leigh on his brother Joey Ramone's 'New York City' video

The changing of the bulb above the Eat Me sign

Outside Crif Dogs on St. Mark's Place late this afternoon…

Finding Happiness in Tompkins Square Park

Spotted earlier today by EVG contributor Derek Berg ... difficult to make out in the photo ... but the case is marked "Happiness."



Unfortunately, given the condition of the tape (and the fact the we haven't had a working VCR in years), we'll never know if this was the Todd Solondz film ... or maybe something homemade.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Palm Sunday outside St. George's by Fallopia Tuba]

Debaters debate the pros and cons of gentrification (The New York Times)

One ugly hotel heading to 50 Bowery (BoweryBoogie)

A visit to Parmys Persian Fusion on First Avenue (The New York Times)

Not wasting any time boarding up Rizzoli's 57th Street Bookstore (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

More about the Wash House, the laundro-grilled cheese combo place on East 1st Street (Zagat via NY1)

A spring scene in Tompkins Square Park (Gog in NYC)

Alex is unhappy about Shakespeare & Co. closing (Flaming Pablum)

The proposed highway to run through Washington Square Park — in the 1950s (Ephemeral New York)

The Hester Street Fair returns in two weeks (The Lo-Down)

You can buy nachos in a helmet at Yankee Stadium for $20 (Gothamist)

... and via @slicksean ... A photo of the installation against gun violence in the cemetery of St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery yesterday...