Report: East 8th Street residents sue landlord Steve Croman, allege intimidation, harassment

[309 E. Eighth St.]

Tenants at 309 E. Eighth St. are suing their landlord, Steve Croman, claiming that he has has engaged in a "campaign of harassment, abuse and neglect" since taking over the property between Avenue B and Avenue C in December 2012, according to The Real Deal.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 6 in Manhattan Supreme Court, also alleges that Croman is using former police officer Anthony Falconite to intimidate rent stabilized tenants into leaving the building.

As the Daily News reported on July 26, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has launched a probe into Croman's potentially illegal tactics. On July 25, the Daily News reported that Schneiderman slapped a cease-and-desist order on Falconite, who "tenants say has engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation to force them out."

Korilla BBQ confirmed for Archie & Sons space

As we reported last Thursday, Archie & Sons, the year-old luncheonette on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place, was "closed for remodeling."

In this case, "closed for remodeling" was code for "we're not reopening." It was a foregone conclusion that Archie's was done for. We heard rumors going back to June that the folks from Archie's were teaming up with a food-truck vendor for a new venture here at 23 Third Ave. (Eater reported on this rumor Thursday.)

We have confirmation from a very reliable source that food truckers Korilla BBQ will open their first restaurant in this space in the weeks ahead.

If you're new to Korilla BBQ, then you can read this review at Serious Eats.

As for this address, perhaps Korilla will be able to stick around. Tahini closed here in June 2012. Then Little Italy Pizza (heh) lasted four whole months. Archie's opened last Aug. 12.

Prima closes, and offers 1 of the most refreshingly honest reasons why

Prima, the well-regard restaurant at 58 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, has closed.

The sign on the door is as straightforward as it gets.



"We just weren't busy enough …"

Prima opened in November 2011 (in the space that housed The Elephant for 17 years).

Prima, from the owners of Summit Bar on Avenue C, was originally open mornings starting at 8 for coffee (via 9th Street Espresso) and a light breakfast … and small meals throughout the day.

But that never caught on. The Times stopped by in April 2012 and had nice things to say. "Order the arctic char ($18) ... and you’ll receive a generous serving of fish cooked so that the skin is as crispy as crackling, the flesh flaky and succulent. It’s flawless, a master class in fish."

We knew several people who liked Prima because it was always pretty low-key. But apparently word-of-mouth was at a minimum.

Per New York magazine: "Prima is the kind of neighborhood gem you hope nobody hears about, so you can keep it your little secret."

Birdbath Bakery has apparently closed for good

As we noted earlier last month, Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery over at Third Avenue at East Ninth Street randomly closed. No sign to note a closure, temporary or otherwise.

And even though Birdbath removed this location from their website, workers at the main location told us that this closure was just for the slow summer period. Which makes no sense given the rents. But OK!

Meanwhile, last week, a crew gutted the shop.



The bakery opened here in May 2011. The location on First Avenue near East 13th Street closed in March 2013.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery on 3rd Avenue has not been open lately

Topping off the incoming dorm on Cooper Square

Workers have reached the top of the incoming dorm on Cooper Square and East Sixth Street … and they raised the American flag atop the 13-floor building that will one day house students from Marymount Manhattan College.

I celebrated this occasion by taking 674 photos of the dorm. First, here is the flag, which was not being very cooperative. It was not photogenic and flappy. (Probably blames the wind.)







Previously on EV Grieve:
City OKs 13-floor dorm for Cooper Square

Updated: Here's what the newest East Village dorm will look like

Dig bottoms out on Cooper Square; here comes the dorm, here comes the dorm!

Laundromat replaces laundromat on Avenue B

Back in January, the laundromat at 44 Avenue B between East Third Street and East Fourth Street relocated to Clinton Street.

The familiar "call Harvey" sign of the Croman Empire went up …

And now EVG reader John shares these photos of the new tenant: A new laundromat/dry cleaners. (No word if they will serve grilled cheese sandwiches.)



This is the third time in recent memory where a laundromat closed … only to be replaced by another laundromat. (Here and here.)

Full stop work order for 76 E. Houston St., and the return of Billy's Antiques (sort of)

We noticed the stop work order on Thursday evening over at East Houston and Elizabeth, where a 2-story building is in the works for the former Billy's Antiques space.

We were waiting for the violations to be posted online. That hasn't happened yet.



Apparently the excavation/foundation is having an "influence" on the adjoining property, per the sign...



We'll update this post as soon as the infractions are online.

Meanwhile! Someone placed some Billy's Antiques stickers on the renderings...





Perhaps some wishful thinking. It was certainly a lot more fun with Billy Leroy here. Anyway, he hasn't 100-percent ruled out a return, as far as we know...

New 3rd Avenue market sets really high expectations

Signage for Heavenly Market has arrived at the corner of Third Avenue and NYU East 11th Street … they'll be taking over the space that last housed Fern Cliff Deli.

They'll be joining new neighbors GNC here in the Third North NYU dorm storefronts.

Up close and personal with the supermoon

Bobby Williams took these supermoon shots from atop the Williams Observatory in the East Village between 12:37 to 12:42 a.m.

Surprise! 'Taxi Driver 2' isn't actually filming on St. Mark's Place now

Last Sunday we spotted those film-shoot signs for "Taxi Driver 2" on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Likely either a code name for another unrelated film or a gag. (Of course, Robert DeNiro has expressed interest in a "Taxi Driver" sequel.)

Anyway, per the above sign, crews were to be filming now. And St. Mark's Place has been film-crew free all weekend.



Meanwhile, Gothamist spotted "Annie Hall 2" film-shoot signs on the Upper East Side last week. (A source in The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment told Gothamist that the signs were not related to any productions that have applied for filming permits.)

What next, signs for "Weekend at Bernie's II"? (Oh, right…)

Week in Grieview

[East 10th Street near 3rd Avenue]

Demo of East 14th Street buildings complete (Monday)

Digital Society has closed (Wednesday)

Landlord: You have to move out because we might need to tear down the building (Thursday)

NYPD looking for information about a sexual assault on East Ninth Street (Tuesday)

A look at the incoming DF Mavens (Monday)

The time that Melissa Elledge got punched in the face (Wednesday)

Rooftop raging at Ben Shaoul's Bloom 62 (Tuesday, 48 comments)

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has a torn tendon! (Friday)

Nicolina's new mural for Mona's (Tuesday)

Honey House arrives on East 11th Street (Friday)

Elsa closes on East Third Street (Monday)

Details about the Tommy Ramone memorial (Wednesday)

Enormousface! (Tuesday)

Photos of Day 2 of the Tompkins Square Park riot reunion concert (Monday)

An old timer look for East Seventh Street (Tuesday)

Out with $1 pizza and in with dumplings on First Avenue (Wednesday)

Le Jardin Bistro arrives on Avenue C (Thursday)

Is one of the coolest (and most mysterious!) buildings around for sale? (Thursday)

Saved by the beer in 1960 (Friday)

New retail space for Avenue B (Thursday)

Brick Lane Curry House has relocated to 2nd Avenue

This weekend, Brick Lane Curry House made the move from East Sixth Street to 99 Second Ave. between East Sixth Street and East Fifth Street.





This move had been in the making for more than three years. No word on what will happen with the East Sixth Street space.

Thanks to EVG reader Vinny for the tip!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Brick Lane Curry House still planning Second Avenue expansion

World's largest Brick Lane Curry House slated for 99 Second Avenue

Sketchy blue box arrives on Avenue C

This arrived Friday outside La Plaza at East Ninth Street … the city has already tagged it for removal. Seeing as they are illegal and all.

The city previsouly hauled off a sketchy pink box from nearby in recent weeks.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About those new sketchy pink boxes around the East Village

The sketchy pink boxes are going away

Oh no! Here come the sketchy blue boxes!

Last night's nearly full moon over 2nd Avenue

Local astronomy buff Felton Davis was out last night with his telescope.

A quick report from him: "The nearly full moon rose up over 2nd Avenue and East 1st Street by 8 pm, and three hours later there was still a long line of people waiting to see it as it slowly arced over the intersection."





… and another view from a different location via @heathterry …



In other moon news, via space.com:

"The largest full moon of 2014 rises tonight (Aug. 10) … August's full moon, a so-called "supermoon," rises when the natural satellite is at perigee — the closest point to Earth in its orbit. It is the second of three supermoons this summer, according to NASA."

Rooftop ruckus

This was this scene yesterday atop a building on East 10th Street… One of the hawks (Christo? Goggla? Help!)

The hawk's presence didn't go over so well with the other birds on this perch.



The birds continued to make a ruckus…



… and were eventually successful in driving away the unwanted squatter…



Photos by EVG contributor Bobby Williams

Noted

Clint Mario remains everywhere.

Third Avenue and East 11th Street via EVG reader William Klayer.

1st tag returns to Verizon's freshly painted brown wall

[This morning]

Workers painted over the rest of the tags along East 13th Street at Second Avenue on July 28.

It wasn't really the best brown paint job that we'd ever seen.



We walked by that day and noticed that workers got paint and water-blasted graffiti residue on the cars parked here.



Previously.

I know what you did last Summer Streets

[The same photo EVG posted last week]

Just a reminder that Lafayette and a good part of Park Avenue will be closed for you to bike, walk, run, skate, crawl, [________] in a hoof to your heart's content today. At least until 1 p.m., when the wheeled motor vehicles used for transporting passengers and other things return.

And here is the official map from the City about all this:



Previously on EV Grieve:
Takin' it to the streets like the Doobie Brothers

Summer loving had me a blast, Summer loving happened so fast

No more corny Summer Streets headlines until next summer, probably

No banana puns will be used for this headline

Going back to 2012 for this song from Black Bananas, the band led by ex-Royal Trux frontwoman Jennifer Herrema.

See and hear their scuzzy stoner rock tonight at 8 at the South Street Seaport. The Shockwave Riderz open at 7. And it's a free show.

Closing weekend for the Women of the Lower East Side Film Fest

[Photo of EL Jardin del Paraiso by Steven Matthews via MoRUS]

It's the last two nights for the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space's Lower East Side Film Fest ... here's a quick look at what's playing via the EVG inbox:

Friday, 8 p.m.
El Jardin De Paraiso
E. 4th street (North Side) between Aves C & D
**** Lawn Seating: Bring a blanket!*****

Catalina Santamaria
UMBRELLA HOUSE
10 min
From the 1970’s to the 1990’s hundreds of buildings have been taken away from their owners in The Lower East Side/East Village because of tax arrears. But these buildings in the hands of the city have been left to collapse or be demolished. Pioneering residents took it upon themselves to move in and restore some these buildings with their own labor, giving new life and vitality to the area.

Sebastian Gutierrez
VIA GEANME
16 min
Geanme reached New York not to long after having crossed the border through Mexico. She dealt with the hardship of living as a squatter, delivering a baby and falling out of love. But her tenacity helped through the winter's cold, building her apartment all the way to the improvised delivery room. With the help of a midwife but no running water, Paula, her daughter, was born. Geanme never really got over having left her family behind in Colombia. But that void was filled by Paula and also by the camaraderie and support from the New York City squatter community.

Christina Holmes
HOME AT LA PLAZA CULTURAL ARMANDO PEREZ COMMUNITY GARDEN
La Plaza Cultural Armando Perez Community Garden on East Ninth Street and Avenue C was one of many public spaces damaged by Hurricane Irene and dealt a further blow by flooding during Hurricane Sandy. Garden members discuss the recovery process, the importance of these spaces, and the history of the garden that inspires them to plan and plant for the future.

Saturday, 8 p.m.
El Jardin De Paraiso

Lizzie Borden
BORN IN FLAMES
80 min

Fitting with the theme of the fest we will be screening the 1983 classic feminist indie film BORN IN FLAMES. Director Lizzie Borden is flying out from Los Angeles to be in attendance for the film, a gem of New York cinema, depicting a militant feminist movement in the city after a fictional socialist revolution in America. It also features vintage footage of the Lower East Side and from around New York.

Find more details about the films and the Festival here. Admission each night is a suggested donation of $5.