Shot of the day

Removing graffiti from the docking station on St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue earlier today.

Photo by EVG contributor Derek Berg

Planting the median along East Houston Street

An EVG reader notes that crews are out this morning planting, um, plants and stuff in the East Houston median near Avenue C...



Per the reader: "It's quite an elaborate operation."



The city estimates that the ongoing East Houston Reconstruction Project between the Bowery and the FDR will be complete by December 2015. (Find an update here, PDF)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Today's quiz: How tall will the weeds in the East Houston median grow by the end of summer?

[Updated] Speculating about future development at the Town and Village Synagogue

As we reported last Oct. 1, the Tifereth Israel Town and Village Synagogue on East 14th Street is for sale for possible development.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing about a potential landmark designation here at 334 E. 14th St. this past March 25. (The LPC will accept public comments until 30 days from this date.)

Preservationists and some local residents want to see the 150-year-old building designated by the city as a protected landmark.

For their part, synagogue members downplayed the importance of the building’s architect during the hearing, as The East Villager reported.

"Synagogue members stressed that landmarking would raise costs just as a plan is underway to modify the structure to better serve community needs through a daycare center, disabled access and L.G.B.T.Q. services," according to The East Villager.

Meanwhile, there's speculation among some neighbors about what might be in the works here. According to one neighbor, the Claremont Group will be developing the neighboring building at 332 E. 14th St., which currently houses Metro Bicycles in the retail space. (Public records list the buyer as an LLC with an address that matches the Brusco Group, an afflilate of Westside Management Corp.)

The neighbor's theory is that the new owners of No. 332 will secure the air rights to the synagogue … or, if the back of the synagogue space is not landmarked, the space can be sold to create some kind of L-shaped residential building.



As evidence of what is possible here, the neighbor points to the battle in Chelsea, where local politicians, preservationists and residents have been protesting a proposed 11-story glass tower that cantilevers over the French Evangelical Church on West 16th Street. "The church's air rights were sold to Einhorn Development Group several months ago in an effort to garner funds to refurbish the ailing 1835 house of worship," per Curbed.


[Rendering of West 16th Street via Curbed]

As the neighbor wrote to the LPC, "Please grant landmark designation to BOTH the front and back buildings of the Town & Village Synagogue, in order to avoid desecration of a religious structure similar to what was done to St. Ann's Church on East 12th Street by NYU's awkward attempt to preserve literally 'a piece of it' in front of a 26-story tower."



Updated 1:56 p.m.

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation clarified some facts about what’s possible on the site:

As of now, it’s not known whether the synagogue will be landmarked OR what the new owner of the bicycle shop is planning. We do know, however, that the height of any new development on this stretch of East 14th Street will be capped by the present C1-6A zoning rules. Because of this area’s contextual zoning, the height limit is 80 feet, or roughly eight stories, with a street wall maximum of 65 feet, regardless of whether one purchases “air rights” from the synagogue. These limits would make such a purchase almost certainly pointless.

If the main building of the synagogue were landmarked, but its heretofore-unknown “back building” were not, an L-shaped building conceivably could be built around it — up to 80 feet.

There are a number of differences between this situation and that of the French Evangelical Church on West 16th Street, or of the NYU development behind the old St. Ann’s Church on East 12th Street. One is that neither of those churches were designated New York City Landmarks. The other is that the zoning for those sites allowed much larger development than can take place here. If Town & Village were to be landmarked, an adjacent building would not be allowed to cantilever over the synagogue without the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s review and approval.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] East 14th St. synagogue on the market for conversion to residential, commercial use

[Updated] East 14th Street synagogue up for sale considered for landmark designation

199 Second Ave. is for sale — 'bring your architect!'

This 5-story townhouse at 199 Second Ave. between East 12th Street and East 13th Street is now on the market.

Aside from the retail, currently the salon Tease, No. 199 has four "authentic floor-through income producing lofts with soaring ceilings and timeless detail."

Some other details per the listing at Stephen P. Wald Real Estate:

This property offers a tremendous opportunity with great upside and has not been on the market for over 40 plus years.

And!

Current rent rolls are substantially below market value, bring your architect!

And the price: $7.45 million. And save some money for the architect.

Portico restoration begins at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery

The scaffolding went up Monday at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, where workers will be testing and repairing the portico for the next several months.

Here's more via the church's website:

In June of 2012 St. Mark’s won a grant for $135,000 from Partners in Preservation towards the restoration of the historic cast iron Bogardus portico. The portico is the gray “porch” that frames the entrance to St. Mark’s. The portico includes the cast iron frame and pillars and the stone floor.

With the initial grant of $135,000, we have been able to raise some additional funds and plan to raise even more to both restore the floor of the portico and repair the cast iron plinths, pillars and balcony. The image on this page is what they look like now. The stone is worn and chipped, and the iron is rusted and failing in some areas.

In addition, we have received approval from the city of New York’s Landmarks Preservation Commission to develop an accessibility ramp with rails. That sentence should have been longer because getting this approval was an epic journey, but now that we have it, we have another epic journey ahead.

Our next steps are to raise the money and schedule the construction. You will see some construction this Summer (2014) because we have to spend the PiP winnings this Summer, but if we have not raised enough money to do all the work, you will see construction again until we have a restored and accessible entry to the church. The building will be open and functioning during construction.

Meanwhile, here's how you will need to access the church, as this rather awesome sign explains...

Because we haven't posted anything about the IBM Watson building in like 3 weeks

The April issue of The Real Deal takes a look at how the leasing came together for 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building … if you're interested …

The building still has some 75,000 square feet to lease … not to mention the three retail storefronts, which total roughly 15,500 square feet.

Developer Edward Minskoff "estimated that the last of the office space would be spoken for in about 45 to 50 days. The building is seeing about five or six tenant showings a week, sources said."

Said Minksoff: "There is an old saying that an ugly building that is 100 percent leased is beautiful, but a beautiful building that is 100 percent leased is gorgeous."

And now we're off to brush up on our old sayings…

At the memorial for d.b.a. co-owner Dennis Zentek

Here are a few scenes from the memorial today for Dennis Zentek, the co-founder and owner of d.b.a. who died on March 23. The afternoon began at the Marble Cemetery on East Second Street followed by a New Orleans-style Second Line Parade …



By EventPhotosNYC

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Photo by peter radley

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Photo by Bobby Williams

Noted

Per an EVG reader:

Annoying people are jogging through the East Village in their underwear. It appears to be an organized event. They came down Second Avenue then came storming down East 12th Street.

One man wore underwear on his head.

FBI now patrolling the Tompkins Square Park chess tables

Ummm, yeah… actually the above photo is from filming today for NBC's "The Blacklist" … where crews took over (and shut down) part of the Park in the name of crime drama…



Photos by Bobby Williams

Updated 9:04 p.m.

And here's a photo of cast members James Spader and Megan Boone via James and Karla Murray …

Virage remains closed for renovations

Virage closed for renovations on March 24... the signs on the 14-year-old restaurant at Second Avenue and East Seventh Street indicated an April 15 reopening date.

However, the Mediterranean-influenced bistro remains closed... there appears to be plenty of work remaining to be done on the exterior ...



... and interior...



Workers removed the signs indicating the April 15 reopening. The restaurant's website and Facebook page do not have any mention of the temporary closure.

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.