Move Out Weekend casualties include 'The Albino Bowler,' big kinda weird couch

EVG contributor Derek Berg spotted some fine items on the curb today, such as "The Albino Bowler" painting on East Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...





Also on East Fifth Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square...



Looks comfortable enough. But how did that fit through the door?

The Whitehouse Hostel on the Bowery is 'temporarily closing down'

[EVG file photo from June]

It looks like the end might finally be here for The Whitehouse Hotel, the hostel/flophouse combo on the Bowery, which has been on Deathwatch for years now.

A sign on the front door at 338-340 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond points out that the hotel is no longer accepting reservations after tomorrow... and that they are "'temporarily closing down" …



There's nothing on the hotel website indicating a closure (other than that when you go to book a room, there aren't any availabilities through next September).

A little recent history. The Commercial Observer reported in early May that hotelier Sam Chang had the property (officially called Bowery's Whitehouse Hotel and Hostel of New York) in contract to an unknown buyer for $12 million. (The owner's name hasn't hit public documents just yet.)

At that time, we noted that DOB records indicate new plans for a 9-floor hotel with a proposed 68 rooms. (Total cost of the project is listed at $5 million.) Michael Lisowski of Otte Architecture is the architect of record.

It's not clear if the Whitehouse would be demolished for the new hotel, or if new floors would be dropped on top of the existing structure.

According to the DOB, the city disapproved the hotel plans on June 10.

In 2011, the hostel spruced itself up to appeal to the backpacking set. (For $45, guests can stay in a tiny room where the walls don't go up to the ceiling.)

The days of the SRO on the Bowery are winding down, of course. The owner of the Sunshine Hotel recently announced plans to downsize and convert the second and third floors of the SRO at 241 Bowery into commercial lofts. Meanwhile, the Ace Hotel is taking over the former Salvation Army-owned building at 225 Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More tenant meetings for White House residents; plus the bed bugs will be exterminated

Another round of plans to convert the Whitehouse Hostel on the Bowery into a 9-floor hotel

Here is your new Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins combo on East 14th Street

Hey, that new Dunkin' Donuts is now open at 542 E. 14th St. just west of Avenue B … and it is one of those combo operations with a Baskin-Robbins. (For those times when you feel like doughnuts and ice cream!)

Meanwhile, the Dunkin' Donuts a few storefronts away at 520 E. 14th St. has closed, as expected.



Be curious to see what awesome new business lands in the old DD space at No. 520. (Gino the tailor was rent hiked out of one of the three storefronts here back in the spring.) This will be prime real estate now that No. 520 is all that stands between the two incoming retail-residential buildings.

No. 542 was the former home of La Isla Restaurant, which closed in July 2012.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dunkin' Donuts moving on East 14th Street

Here is your East 14th Street Dunkin' Donuts plywood

Brick by brick, Phebe's getting a new look on the Bowery

A crew spent the entire holiday weekend working on the renovations at Phebe's Tavern & Grill on the Bowery at East Fourth Street.

As we reported last week, Phebe's closed after business on Aug. 24 for — as they described it — "a little facelift."

That facelift includes a new brick look.



They are expected to reopen Friday at 5.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Phebe's closed 'for a little facelift' on the Bowery

Last night's moon

Photo by Grant Shaffer

Dancing in the street and inside Exile Professional Gym on 2nd Avenue

Just noting the new exterior at 27 Second Ave. (it was still behind plywood last time we looked) … the new home of Exile Professional Gym (EXPG for short) — billed as "the first and the only dance studio for Street Dance."

Per the EXPG website, they offer vocal and dance classes encompassing a wide variety of styles (hip hop, house, lock, among others).

EXPG officially opened yesterday. And here's a look inside via the EXPG website…



Previously on EV Grieve:
Second on Second sets farewell party

Claim: Second on Second closing this month on Second Avenue

'The first and the only dance studio for Street Dance' coming to 2nd Avenue

Coming and going on 3rd Avenue

OK, let's see … as noted back in July, a GNC is taking over the former East Hardware space at 79 Third Ave. The GNC sign arrived a few weeks ago. More recently, the signage went up next door at East 11th Street for Heavenly Market & Deli.

And in other NYU dorm storefront news … Citi Habitats moved out of 37 Third Ave. maybe at the end of June (don't think we ever noted it…) … the space remains on the market for an undisclosed sum. (The listing notes no bars or businesses to compete with its neighbors, like Subway and Saint's Alp Teahouse.) And next door at East Ninth Street, the brown paper now covers the gutted Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery space.

Moving Day aftermath

East Seventh Street at Avenue A last night via Dave on 7th.

Seemed as if people were moving in or out of practically every building around this past weekend…

Things we did last summer

[Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Edward Arrocha]

June

We said goodbye then welcomed back Gino the tailor ...


[Photo by Michael Paul]

We saw some rainbows...


[Photo by Rob and Mike]

We said goodbye to a new old friend...



We took far too many photos of clouds...



We took in some of the World Cup...


[Photo by Dave on 7th]

We saw the baby hawks grow right up before our eyes...


[Photo by Francois Portmann]

We watched a baby hawk rescue...


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

We watched the annual NYC Drag March...


[Photo by editrrix]

We just liked this photo...


[Photo Derek Berg]

July

We saw the July 4 fireworks again...


[Photo by James and Karla Murray]

We got to know a little about the life of Michael Brody...



We got new sidewalk decorations...



We had a cookout, with special guests the FDNY...


[Photo by Paul Kostabi]

We watched the baby hawks prepare their own meals in Tompkins Square Park...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

We celebrated 25 years of Paul's Da Burger Joint...


[Photo by Stacie Joy]

We braved the masses for Mahnattanhenge...


[Photo by James and Karla Murray]

We kept up with friends...



We were hot a few times...


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

August

We watched concerts in Tompkins Square Park...


[The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black by Stacie Joy]


We remembered Robin Williams...


[Photo by Michael Paul]

We sat in the Park for some movies...



We had a supermoon...


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

We took part in a rally/march for Michael Brown...


[Photo by jdx]

We shopped at Kim's one last time...



... and we'll be back at the usual spot next summer...

[Updated] Report: Early morning knifepoint robbery on Avenue A

A 35-year-old woman walking home from her shift at the Mini Thai Cafe was reportedly held up at knifepoint early this morning on Avenue A and East Ninth Street.

According to the Post:

The man whipped out a small knife and threatened her, cops said.

“Give me everything, or I’ll kill you!,” he said, according to police sources.

The woman struggled with the thief and got a cut on her arm in the scuffle, cops said.

The thief managed to swipe the victim’s Marc Jacobs purse with her Donna Karan wallet, $300 in cash and her iPhone, cops said.

There's not much of a description of the suspect via the Post, just — "6-feet-tall and in his 30s, fled on foot in a pair of blue jeans."

Updated 9-2
DNAinfo reports that the robbery took place outside 405 E. Sixth St., near First Avenue, about 5 a.m.

Week in Grieview

[At La Plaza Cultural, 9th and C]

On the end of Kim's (Monday)

A 1984 then-and-now photo project (Thursday)

Checkers coming to First Avenue (Monday)

A visit to Enz's Boutique (Tuesday)

Untitled Queen (Monday)

Moishe's Kosher Bake Shop storefront for lease (Friday)

Out and About with Ellen Turrietta (Wednesday, 78 comments)

East Village to be test for a new rat reservoir program (Friday)

The future of the Quad Cinema (Wednesday)

More about Empellón al Pastor, opening soon on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

Lots of Ramones projects on the way (Friday)

The Sunshine Hotel is shrinking (Friday)

More time left for the Subway Inn (Wednesday)

37 St. Mark's Place got cleaner (Monday)

Video of a guy in a diaper on East 14th Street (Wednesday)

"Rat Castle" condos for sale (Monday)

Now open: Be Juice and Snowdays Shavery (Tuesday)

Chloë Sevigny on the East Village today (Sunday, 54 comments)


[The Chloë Sevigny Absolut ad recently arrived on St. Mark's and 2nd Avenue]

7:57 a.m., East 14th Street, Sept. 1

Also, Happy Labor Day.

Reports: Katz's sells air rights, but will remain in its home of 126 years

In case you missed this story from Friday … Katz's has sold its air rights. However, the 126-year-old deli isn't going anywhere. Just getting some new neighbors, mostly likely.

BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down first reported on this Friday morning.

There is a lot of speculation on the future of the block of East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard…



First, part of the Katz's statement via BoweryBoogie from co-owner Jake Dell:

The most important thing is that the future of Katz’s is secure — at the end of the day, no developer can ever come in and knock us down to put in a high rise. At no point will anyone value the corner of Houston and Ludlow for anything other than Katz’s Delicatessen. A year after our 125th anniversary, this will help ensure that we can see our 150th, and hopefully many more to come.

As for the rest of the block… BoweryBoogie reported back in March that Ben Shaoul was close to buying that L-shaped parcel of single-level businesses. Several of the restaurants have already cleared out, including (sob) Bereket.

The 2008 Lower East Side rezoning allows for buildings up to 12 floors (120 feet) here.

You can get a choice seat to this likely incoming development from one of those new condos right behind Katz's.

Valentino

You can find always Valentino selling shaved ice on East 14th Street and Avenue A … photo from this past week courtesy of James and Karla Murray…

Crab Shack soft opens this weekend on St. Mark's Place

As we first noted back in April, a new restaurant called Crab Shack was taking over the former Japadog space at 30 St. Mark's Place.

And the Red & Gold Crab Shack had its soft opening on Friday… there's a limited menu for now… (beer and wine is TK)



Thanks to Jordy Trachtenberg for the tip on Friday and EVG reader John H. for the photos!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Breaking: Japadog is closing for good after tonight on St. Mark's Place

Reader report: Crab Shack in the works for former Japadog space on St. Mark's Place

Here is your Red & Gold Crab Shack! signage on St. Mark's Place

Report: Mono + Mono plans fall reopening

[EVG file photo from April]

Nearly 16 months after a fire ripped through 116 E. Fourth St., there's news about the tenant, Mono + Mono.

DNAinfo reports that repairs are underway at the restaurant that served Korean fried chicken and was known for playing a collection of upwards of 30,000 classic jazz albums.

Per DNAinfo's Lisha Arino:

[T]the owner hopes to reopen in about three weeks, said Sung Chung, manager and event coordinator.

Before the April 2013 fire, Mono+Mono was only open for dinner, serving its signature twice-fried chicken with soy garlic sauce, alongside traditional pan-fried Korean pancakes. Now, it will be open during the day as well, with a slightly different concept, Chung said. He declined to give additional details.

The city approved the renovation work back on Aug. 8, per DOB records. However, a full vacate order remains on the space between First Avenue and Second Avenue.


[April 21, 2013 via EVG reader kke7st]

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Early-morning fire at 116 E. Fourth St., home of Mono + Mono

(Kind of) An update on Mono + Mono

What is happening with the Mono + Mono space?

Somebody Put Something in My Pledge

Thank you to Dangerous Minds for unearthing this video... The Ramones playing on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in September 1989.