Get your 'Uncommon Plants' today on East 12th Street

Today from 10 am to 1 pm
El Sol Brillante Community Garden
522-528 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B

Details here.

May Day march down 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Bill the Libertarian Anarchist]

Two protests came together this afternoon, the May Day Parade and Rally and a demonstration by Disarm NYPD, which included a protest in solidarity with demonstrators in Baltimore speaking out against the death of Freddie Gray.

The rally started in Union Square ... then headed south down Second Avenue toward Foley Square... EVG reader Michael Rosenthal photographed the different groups who made up today's march from Second Avenue and East Ninth Street ...

























As Newsweek reported earlier this evening, "Barricades were used to keep protesters from taking over the entire street and there was a notable police presence. At least one person was detained by officers, though whether or not they were charged for any wrongdoing remains unclear."

Updated

Here are a few more photos of the May 1st Coalition for Worker & Immigrant Rights/Freddie Gray Rally leaving Union Square ... via James and Karla Murray…

Hot hot heat

Here's "Fan the Flames," the new single from Philadelphia's Sheer Mag. Look for them on a bill at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn on May 9.

Sign's up at Mars Bar replacement NatureEs, opening May 11

The organic cafe on East First Street opens on May 11, according to an employee… the sign has arrived too…



NatureEs is located in Jupiter 21, the residential building that rose from the grave of the Mars Bar and several other businesses here between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Not much is known about the cafe just yet, aside from it will serve organic, all-natural, fresh juices and what not. (The NatureEs website still appears to be under construction.)

BoweryBoogie first reported on NatureEs' arrival on April 20.

Previously on EV Grieve:
NatureEs calls: About the organic cafe coming to where Mars Bar 2.0 was in the works

Annual May Day rally at Union Square will include Freddie Gray protesters

You probably noticed the barriers that the NYPD put up yesterday along Second Avenue…



It was done ahead of the annual May Day rally, which has expanded this year to include Freddie Gray protesters...



The rally starts in Union Square.

According to CBS New York:

The May 1st Coalition for Worker & Immigrant Rights is organizing Friday’s rally and march in Manhattan. The rally will take place at 3:30 p.m. and be followed by a march to Foley Square at 5:30 p.m.

“We stand in solidarity with Baltimore in the wake of the most recent killing of Freddie Gray at the hands of Baltimore police. We are still trying to come to grips with the savage killing of Walter Scott killed in South Carolina, shot in the back running away from a police officer who decided to murder Scott in cold blood,” said Charles Jenkins, co-coordinator of the May 1st Coalition.

“This year’s event is dedicated to the struggle against police terror given the deep crisis for black and Latino youth,” said Teresa Gutierrez, co-coordinator of the May 1st Coalition.

Find more details at the Facebook event page.

EV Grieve Etc.: Egg watching on Avenue A; Treeman spotting on 2nd Avenue

[Photo on East 4th Street via Derek Berg]

Motorist charged with manslaughter for fatal hit-and-run of a Bowery Mission regular (BoweryBoogie)

Christo and Dora egg watch at Ageloff Towers (Gog In NYC)

About the #SaveNYC concert tomorrow night at Arlene's Grocery (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

The New York Polish Film Festival is this weekend (Anthology Film Archives)

Location spotting with the New York Dolls on St. Mark's Place (Flaming Pablum)

Some things to do in May on the Lower East Side (The Lo-Down)

Box Kite introduces the "'spro and tonic" on St. Mark's Place (DNAinfo)

Looking at the condos that replaced Forsyth Street's Nativity Mission School (Curbed)

Checking out the tacos and quesadillas at Rosie's on Second Avenue and East Second Street (Grub Street)

Debbie Harry launches into a brief diatribe on nuclear power in 1979 (Dangerous Minds)

… and it's always good to see Treeman hanging around… Slum Goddess saw him (difficult to miss, of course!) Wednesday night on Second Avenue….

The Church of the Nativity is holding another clothing distribution today for displaced residents

[Photo from March by Stacie Joy]

From the EVG inbox...

Parishioners from the Church of the Nativity will be holding another clothing distribution for residents who lost their homes after the East Village Explosion.

After stopping by the clothing drive in April, a resident suggested that Nativity distribute the clothes again one month later the collapse — hoping that displaced residents would later be more situated.

If you know displaced tenants who lost their home in the East Village Explosion, please let them know about the distribution:

WHAT: Distribution of Clothes & Goods for East Village Displaced Residents

WHERE: Church of the Nativity. 44 Second Avenue between 2nd & 3rd Streets

WHEN: Friday, May 1, 4 PM - 7 PM

*Please note: We are NOT accepting anymore donations.*

The Church of the Nativity's last distribution was on April 1.

The Stage is now crowdfunding to help in its legal fight with Icon Realty

[EVG file photo]

The Stage, currently embroiled in a legal battle with landlord Icon Realty, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help the diner reopen.

A quick recap: Icon Realty has accused the Stage of illegally siphoning gas, which was the basis for a recent eviction notice in the aftermath of the deadly blast across from the diner at 128 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and East Seventh Street.

Roman Diakun, the owner of the 35-year-old diner, has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Now Roman's son Andrew Diakun has started the campaign. Per YouCaring: "In order to clear the restaurant's name, and help us reopen, we have initiated a lawsuit against the landlord. If you can and you are willing to help, we ask you to donate so that we can attempt to sort things out, open up and return to our livelihood again."

In our last post on the Stage, several readers asked if there was a crowdfunding campaign. Here is the link to the site. Stage is hoping to raise $10,000. They are up to nearly $4,000 now in the campaign that began on Wednesday.

The Stage has been closed since March 30.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The possibility that the Stage won't reopen on 2nd Avenue

City serves stop work order on Icon Realty-owned building for installing gas pipe without permit across from deadly 2nd Avenue blast zone (48 comments)

Petition to help reopen the Stage

Tenants at 128 2nd Ave. file suit against Icon Realty in housing court

Troubling talk about 128 Second Ave, and the long-term future of the Stage

[Updated] Report: Icon Realty serves the Stage an eviction notice

Stage owner Roman Diakun responds to allegations of illegally siphoning gas

Petition to help reopen the Stage

[Updated] The Stage is giving away its bulk food and supplies to charity

Report: The Stage is suing landlord Icon Realty to halt eviction process

249 E. 2nd St. is for sale, air rights included

[Image via Streeteasy]

Here is information about the building between Avenue B and Avenue C … via Streeteasy (Marcus & Millichap has the listing):

249 East 2nd Street contains a gross square footage of 7,050. The property has frontage on both East 2nd Street and East Houston and is built 25 feet by 54 feet deep (Block: 00384 Lot: 0029 ). The property is zoned R8A and contains approximately 1,650 square feet of unused air rights.

The subject property is a five story multifamily building consisting of 20 studio apartments. Of the 20 units, 16 are free market and 4 are rent stabilized. The rent stabilized units provide an investor tremendous rental upside and immense potential for future rental growth.

The property represents a rare opportunity to acquire a cash flowing multifamily asset in the booming Alphabet City neighborhood. With a going-in cap rate at 3.5%, the asset provides strong current cash flow with long-term future upside.

The building is adjacent to the former Mobil station off of Avenue C and East Houston. The station, which closed last September, will be demolished. There are plans in the works for a 10-story building with ground floor retail here.

As for 249 E. Second St., the asking price is $6.95 million.

Films on the Green return to Tompkins Square Park with 2 Friday nights in June

Films on the Green, the free outdoor French film festival in NYC parks, returns for its seventh season … with two films set for Tompkins Square Park:

• Friday, June 19, 8:30 pm
"Priceless"
By Pierre Salvadori with Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh
The plot:
"Irène, an attractive young woman, is on vacation at a French Riviera resort with Jacques, an older and very wealthy man. One night, while celebrating her birthday alone, she meets the handsome and intriguing Jean, who claims to be a millionaire and adventurer. However, unbeknownst to Irène, Jean isn’t everything he appears to be…"

• Friday, June 26, 8:30 pm
"Zarafa"
By Rémi Bezançon & Jean-Christophe Lie (Animated, ages 7 & up)
The plot:
"Beneath a baobab tree, an old man tells the story of Maki, a young boy who crosses the desert with his giraffe and a Bedouin nomad named Hassan. During the epic journey from Africa to Paris, which takes them through Alexandria and the bustling port of Marseilles, Maki and his companions meet countless exotic characters." Rated X

Find more about the festival and the other films in the series here.

Lower East Side History Month starts now

Via the EVG inbox…

May 2015 brings the second edition of Lower East Side (LES) History Month, a month-long celebration of the rich, diverse history of New York City's historic Lower East Side (including the neighborhoods of the East Village, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Alphabet City).

With participation by more than 80 Lower East Side-based cultural organizations, community groups, and businesses, LES History Month will feature a huge variety of affordable and unique events including live performances, exhibits, gallery and walking tours, talks, film screenings, festivals and more. Find the current event calendar on our website here.

Moishe's Bake Shop in the evening

Second Avenue near East Seventh Street… with their temporary signs in the front window…

Joe Strummer is sporting a new look on East 7th Street

Several readers alerted us to the Joe Strummer mural outside Niagara on East Seventh Street and Avenue A … where Dr. Revolt has touched up his mural … giving Joe Strummer a decidedly more Joe Strummer look, complete with new sunglasses, leather jacket, hairstyle...


[June 2014]

Reports: 'Stomp' will be leaving the East Village

[Photo by Derek Berg]

Following up on the reports from yesterday in which the owners of the Orpheum Theater were suing the producers of "Stomp" to prevent the 21-year-old show from leaving the neighborhood.

However, a Manhattan judge ruled yesterday that the production is allowed to discontinue its contract and move on to a new theater in Midtown.

Why the seemingly sudden departure? Per the Daily News:

Glenn Spiegel, a lawyer for 'Stomp''s producers, said the show has been a 'cash cow' milked for years by Orpheum’s owners who have refused to maintain the historic theater for years.

"'Stomp' did not want to move,” but 'it smells like sewage' in the lobby, the carpets are in a state of disrepair and there are signs in the rest rooms asking people to dispose of soiled toilet paper in the waste basket, not the toilets, Spiegel said.

The lawyer also said patrons have complained about rats, which have been seen in larger numbers in the neighborhood since a gas explosion two doors down on Second Ave. leveled three buildings and killed two people on March 26.

"The show decided we can’t function like this any more," he said.

However, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Oing told "Stomp"'s lawyers "that he will hold the production liable for damages — and will undo its contract with the new theater — if an arbitrator rules that 'Stomp' had no right to move.

As for the Orpheum, reps argued that they had been in the process of making the repairs and that the "Stomp" producers should allow the theater some more time before their departure. Their primary concern is that the venue will suffer financially without the show, according to an article in Playbill.

As for when "Stomp" might leave for New World Stages, a multi-theater complex on West 50th Street, the News mentioned it would happen as of June 15.

We just checked the "Stomp" website and found tickets available at the Orpheum through Jan. 3, 2016.

Posters arrive to memorialize Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa on 2nd Avenue

Several EVG readers noted early last evening that a woman was adding these poster-sized tributes to the plywood surrounding the Second Avenue explosion site at East Seventh Street...



Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa died during the blast at 121 Second Ave. on March 26.

Photos today via Derek Berg

On the May CB3/SLA docket: Takers for the former Back Forty space; new Ravi DeRossi venture

[The former Back Forty space on Avenue B]

CB3 released its slate of meetings for May yesterday … including for the SLA licensing committee.

For starters, the meeting is May 18 at the CB3 office (BYOB), 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Here's a look at some of the East Village-related items. (We don't have any info on the applicants just yet.)

Applications within Saturated Areas

• JMR Dining LLC, 190-192 Ave B (op)

An applicant for the former Back Forty space. The seemingly popular restaurant rather abruptly shut down after service on Dec. 21.

• Benemon (Drak Inc), 171 Ave A (op)

And an applicant for the former BAD Burger space between East 10th Street and East 11th Street. BAD closed in March after three-plus years.

Sidewalk Cafe Application

• Root & Bone (Root & Bone LLC), 200 E 3rd St (unenclosed)

Alterations

• Hearth (Hearth Restaurant Investors LLC), 403 E 12th St (op/alt/extend license to sidewalk cafe)

We discussed the possible sidewalk cafe last July.

New Liquor License Applications

• The Northern Spy Food Company (The Northern Spy Food Co LLC), 511 E 12th St (upgrade/op)

• Koufuku LLC, 342 E 6th St (op)

• Hou Yi Spicy Inc, 97 2nd Ave (bw)

As we first reported back in March, Hou Yi Hot Pot is converting the former laundromat into a restaurant here between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street.

Items not heard at Committee (no vote, no public input)

• Verdura (Derossi Veg LLC), 130 E 7th St (bw)

Gingersnap's left this space just west of Avenue A back in January. The address for the LLC listed for the applicant matches up with the address for Ravi DeRossi's (Death & Co., Amor y Amargo, etc.) HQ. Looks like he's coming back to East Seventh Street after the Bourgeois Pig left the neighborhood. Stay tuned for more details on his latest project.

• Boxcar Lounge (Oops of New York Inc), 168 Ave B (op/corporate change)

• Dan and John's Wings (Dan and John's LLC), 135 1st Ave (bw)

Some beer for your wings.

-----

b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

Lan Cafe says goodbye

[Photo by Michael Hirsch]

As we first reported, the Vietnamese vegan restaurant at 342 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue was closing at the end of this month.

The above sign has greeted customers the past few nights: "Due to difficult economic times and high rent these past few years, we are sad to announce that Lan Cafe will be closing its doors permanently."

In addition, the Nguyen family offers an unnecessary apology:

"We are truly sorry for any inconvenience we have caused[d] you all these years."


[Photo by @2001films]

Updated

Here's one last photo of the Nguyen family (from left): Kyh, Lan and Chad …


[Photo by Bill the Libertarian Anarchist]

Construction watch: 415 E. 6th St.

We haven't checked in on the conversion of the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. into luxury condos in four-plus months.

EVG contributor Derek Berg took a quick look inside yesterday…



Back in January, the Daily News reported that sales for the three units will start this fall.

The landmarked building between Avenue A and First Avenue was reportedly in disrepair and the congregation's population had dwindled. Synagogue leaders signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million. The renovations include a penthouse addition and an elevator. The synagogue will retain space on the ground floor for their use.

"Some people are purists and they wanted to keep the building exactly as it was," Robert Rand, president of the synagogue's board, told the Daily News. "But that would have been tantamount to benign neglect. This was the key to survival."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plan to add condos to historic East Sixth Street synagogue back on

Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue

A final look inside the Anshei Meseritz synagogue on East Sixth Street

Stained-glass windows removed ahead of condo conversion at Congregation Mezritch Synagogue

About the condofication of the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue on East 6th Street

Block Drug Stores starting to sprkl

Yesterday, local musician-artist Paul Kostabi drew his signature character sprkl on the side gate at Block Drug Stores on Second Avenue at East Sixth Street...



Block is now the third Second Avenue business to add some sprkl to their gates ... joining Ballaro and Cacio e Vino...

Sophie's is closed tonight so that a bouncer can push Krysten Ritter into some trash

Sophie's, the bar at 507 E. Fifth St. just east of Avenue A, is closed tonight while a film crew preps the exterior for a scene for the Netflix Marvel series "A.K.A. Jessica Jones."

Sophie's co-owner Richard Corton confirmed this evening's closure to us… in the scene being filmed, a bouncer will apparently 86 the show's lead, a former super hero played by Krysten Ritter, who falls or is pushed into some trash. Will have to wait for the series premiere to find out why.