Extell Lake

Permits for the two, 7-floor retail-residential buildings from Extell Development along East 14th Street are still pending.

According to DOB records, the city disapproved the plans for the building at 500 E. 14th St. (at Avenue A) back on Nov. 18. (The city disapproved the plans for 524 E. 14th St. on Sept. 18.)

Meanwhile, a nearby resident points out that the empty lot at No. 500 filled up with water (again) after last Tuesday's rain … (the reader wondered if there is something going on with the area's water table … )





And an aerial shot of Extell Lake…



Also, on Friday, new rat baiting signs went up along the plywood…



Maybe workers plan on drowning the rats?

Previously on EV Grieve:
New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

More about the 1st show at Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street

Last week we noted that a new exhibit was now taking place at 421 E. Sixth St., the former home-studio for Walter De Maria that Peter Brant bought for $27 million.


[Photo last Wednesday night by Shawn Chittle]

Andrew Russeth, co-executive editor of ARTnews, has an essay on the show, titled "Dan Colen: The L...o...n...g Count." For starters, this is NOT not a project of the Brant Foundation Art Study Center. Brant told the Times back in October that he plans on opening this space in a few years.

So we don't know if this is just some one-off show … or the first of many before the new space officially opens.

And now some thoughts via Russeth's article:

It will be hard for many — this writer not included — not to see the Colen show as the latest example of the relentless commingling of big money, new art, and real estate in present-day New York, but let’s just admit that there is a very slim silver lining: at least it wasn’t converted into condos.

And!

[M]y hope is that, when Brant opens the space, he will get weird in a major way. Yes, he should do some big-name exhibitions (the Urs Fischer and Karen Kilimnik shows at his Greenwich estate were superb), but he should also take some aggressive chances, inviting in marginal institutions and little-known young names. He should give artists, big and small, free rein and see what happens, establishing a legacy.

The Colen show, which Russeth described as "deeply mediocre," runs through Sunday here in the former Con Ed substation between Avenue A and First Avenue.



Previously on EV Grieve:
About that "giant-robot laboratory" on East Sixth Street

RIP Walter De Maria

What is your East Village dream home?

Walter De Maria's 'giant-robot laboratory' going for $25 million; inside is amazing as you'd expect

Walter De Maria's home/studio on East 6th Street is now on the market for $25 million

Rumor: The Brant Foundation buying Walter De Maria's E. 6th St. studio for an exhibition space (19 comments)

Confirmed: Peter M. Brant buys Walter De Maria's amazing East 6th Street home and studio

1st permits filed for renovation of Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street

A soft opening at the Brant Foundation's new space at Walter De Maria's former East 6th Street studio

Rest in pieces: The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence is gone

The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence on the Bowery at East Third Street is pretty much officially gone. We spotted a few bricks and beams through the plywood on Saturday. Otherwise…



Flashback!



The serious demo work commenced on Nov. 10.

Workers demolished the building to make way for a 13-floor, 30,000 square-foot mixed-use residential development. We haven't seen any renderings for the new building yet.

Here's a sketch of the proposed building for 347 Bowery that we spotted at the owner Urban Muse's website back in March...



At 13 floors, it will be blocking some views to residents who live next door at 52E4, the 15 stories of condo with a gated entrance on East Fourth Street. Some residents of the new building will also enjoy pool views below at 52E4.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Whatever happened to that really ugly hotel planned for the Bowery?

Permits filed to demolish former Salvation Army residence on the Bowery

The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence will be demolished on the Bowery

Looks like 347 Bowery will be home to a 13-floor mixed-use residential development

Spot Dessert Shoppe shaping up on St. Mark's Place

As we pointed out back in November, the owners of Jum Mum at 5 St. Mark's Place decided to transform the space into an annex of their dessert place Spot a few storefronts away.

Anyway, the new sign for Spot Dessert Shoppe arrived late last week. It will be a take-out only uh, spot with coffee and stuff once it opens soon…

At the 23rd annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for the ceremonies... featuring music from Mandel & Lydon Trio and carolers of Olde New York from Theatre for the New City ... Here are a few scenes from late this afternoon...

[Updated] NYPD patrol tower arrives on Avenue D

After nearly a month, the NYPD patrol tower (SkyWatch) has left the corner of East Third Street and Avenue C.

However, an EVG reader reports that a tower (maybe the same one?) is now parked on Avenue D between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street … after a report of gunfire late Friday night… apparently the second time there has been a shooting here this past month, according to residents…

Updated 2:11 p.m.

DNAinfo reports that police are searching for a suspect who shot a 19-year-old man twice outside 60 Avenue D Friday night around 11:20.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Parts of Avenue C and D now with a SkyWatch tower, additional NYPD lights

Week in Grieview

[Photo from East 10th Street Friday by William Klayer]

Author/bar owner Evelyn Dahab dies in East First Street apartment fire (Wednesday)

International owners planning seafood market-restaurant for the space (Monday)

More about the world's smallest screening room coming to Two Boots on Avenue A (Tuesday)

Ben Shaoul's bland new Second Avenue building is called The East Luxe (Friday)

Ray's Candy Store hit with $200 fine for inadequate doughnut labels (Wednesday)

Here is the New York Sports Club building on Avenue A (Friday)

Wechsler's Currywurst and Bratwurst has closed on First Avenue (Tuesday)

MoRUS turns 2 (Thursday)

Part two of our interview with Arthur Nersesian (Wednesday)

Partial dorm reveal on Cooper Square (Friday)

A 14-screen Regal Cinemas theater with electronic reclining seats coming to the LES (Monday)

Fire destroys two apartments at 542 E. 14th St. (Wednesday)

One way to support the trees in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

The former Gracefully space is for rent on A (Monday)

Bendy thing action at 185-193 Avenue B (Tuesday)

City Comptroller audit finds poor maintenance and shoddy oversight of the Citi Bike program (Friday)

Jared Kushner East Village buying spree continues (Thursday)

The latest Steve Croman legal news (Tuesday)

The Dee Dee Ramone exhibit is now open (Wednesday)

Rendering mix-up at 67 Avenue C (Monday)

BARA debuts on East First Street (Tuesday)

… and yesterday, the NYPD removed the month-old patrol tower on East Third Street and Avenue C …

Reminders: The 23rd annual tree lighting at Tompkins Square Park is today

Workers made some final preparations yesterday (more lights!) ahead of today's 23rd annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park.



The details for the ceremony, which takes place between 4-5 p.m.:

Music from Mandel & Lydon Trio
Carolers of Olde New York from Theatre for the New City
Refreshments from Veselka Restaurant
Additional Support from East Village Books, Vazacs/7B, Saifee Hardware, Apple Savings Bank

HOSTED BY:
East Village Parks Conservancy
Third Street Music School Settlement
Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition

Photos via Bobby Williams

Sunset, just now

Photo by James and Karla Murray via Facebook

Meanwhile, on 2nd Avenue…

Near East Ninth Street outside the 13th Step … where one Santa has his own Beer Pong kit…



Photos via EVG reader Steven…

And so much for official SantaCon bars…

Along the Millions March route

Checking in with supporters of Good Ole Lower East Side (GOLES) now on Sixth Avenue…

Noted

Santas taking a piss on a roof in the East Village. Nice. cc @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/Y86QTbwZ9g

— gaminette (@gaminette) December 13, 2014

Noted

EVG reader John notes a free hideaway bed/couch combo on East Eighth Street at Avenue B… but there are some stipulations…

Millions March NYC

The March starts today at 2 in Washington Square Park.

If you're looking for a local group to meet up with, supporters of Good Ole Lower East Side (GOLES) are gathering on Astor Place (near where the cube was) at 1:30 p.m. to convene with the Millions March.

And the route:

BEGIN at Wash Square Park then march north on 5th Ave.
Head west on 14th St. to 6th Ave.,
Turn north on 6th to 32nd St.,
Turn east on 32nd to Broadway,
Head south on Broadway until Worth/Lafayette St. turns,
END at 1PP - NYPD Headquarters

A tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe

EVG contributor Derek Berg caught part of a small procession this morning down Second Avenue … in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe …





And they have a lot of nerve to do this on the same day as SantaCon. (C'mon — someone was going to say it.)

Testing, testing

EVG reader William Klayer spotted a preliminary tree lighting last night in Tompkins Square Park … ahead of tomorrow's tree-lightng ceremony between 4-5 p.m.

And maybe they need another strand of lights on the tree?

Sign of the times?

EVG reader Riian Kant-McCormick spotted this outside Elsewhere Espresso on East Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue this morning…

Morning

Tompkins Square Park around 7:30 a.m.-ish

The 23rd annual Unsilent Night returns tomorrow

[Image via]

Per the official website:

Composer Phil Kline will lead a massive chorus of boomboxes from the West Village to the East Village in the 23rd annual holiday presentation of UNSILENT NIGHT. People gather at the arch in Washington Square Park, and less than an hour and mile later, end up in Tompkins Square Park.

Phil Kline will hand out a limited number of vintage boomboxes from his collection — and cassettes and CD’s for those who bring their own. The public is strongly encouraged to bring their own boom boxes ... and to pre-download the track. Find out more about how to participate and download the tracks here.

A Little bit of pop heaven

A fine pop song from 1986 via Mitch Easter and Let's Active called "In Little Ways."