The Dry Dock Playground is closed for reconstruction

[Photo in Tompkins Square Park from Saturday]

With the basketball courts still under renovation at Tompkins Square Park, an EVG reader headed over to Dry Dock on East 10th Street and Avenue D to shoot some baskets... only to discover that the Dry Dock Playground is closed for reconstruction too (the pool is open though) ...







Signs point to a Spring 2016 completion date...





Construction apparently started in the spring. Per the NYC Parks site: "This project will reconstruct the play equipment, security lighting, and miscellaneous site work at Dry Dock Playground." The price tag is at nearly $1.5 million.

As for Tompkins, we haven't heard about a new completion date. But it does appear that workers are making progress.

Demolition underway at 127 Avenue D

The demolition of the former Sergio Deli Superette on Avenue D near East Ninth Street has started.

Plans call for a 7-story mixed-use building ... the approved permits show 11 dwelling units with a commercial space on the ground floor.

BuzzBuzzHome previously reported that the developer is H Holding Group, whose projects include four luxury townhouses on Degraw Street in Boerum Hill.

And here's a rendering of the all-new 127 Avenue D via the H Holding Group website...



Aw, former neighbor Wacky Wok appears in this rendering...

Previously on EV Grieve:
On Avenue D, Sergio Deli Superette will yield to a 7-story building

Boutique 67 ready for sales on Avenue C

[Rendering via Vinbaytel]

Six of the 8 units at the new building at 67 Avenue C are now on the market. Oh, and the residences have a name — Boutique 67.

The units range in price from $825,000 for a one-bedroom unit to $1.85 million for the penthouse, according to Streeteasy.

Here's the listing for the penthouse via Douglas Elliman:

Residence PHB is a beautiful, loft-like, duplex 1bd/2ba home with a large, private terrace offering abundance of light and open city views to the East.

Each apartment is outfitted with open, custom designed German kitchens and vanities, Caesarstone countertops, extra wide with a beautiful light wash hardwood flooring, 8 foot tall interior doors, 10 foot ceilings, top of the line stainless steel appliances by Bosch, Summit and GE, contemporary fuacets, washer / dryer, as well as central air and heat.

Boutique 67 is the latest addition to Alphabet City and the East Village. This exciting boutique development will offer 8 spectacular residences ranging from one to three bedrooms, including two Penthouse units with private roof rights.

Living in the East Village is to submerge yourself in this vibrant neighborhood, full of art galleries, boutiques, award-winning restaurants and nightlife. The uniqueness of the area has kept its long standing charm and continues to attract visitors who love to explore all the wonderful diversity.

Anticipated completion late Summer/Early fall 2015.

The rendering doesn't show a retail space... the real-life No. 67 has a for rent ad on the plywood for a storefront.





The condos rose from part of the former Kingdom Hall that was owned by the Jehovah's Witnesses at 67 Avenue C between East Fourth Street and East Fifth Street. We first heard about the sale back in August 2009.

Previously on EV Grieve:
First sign of the new 7-floor condo rising above the Jehovah's Witnesses on Avenue C

Maybe 67 Avenue C will eventually look like this random building some day

Condos rising on Avenue C will feature 'surreal views'

Looking at 67 Avenue C, where the condo views are spectacular and surreal

Sexyflow ready to let loose on Avenue A

An EVG reader tells us that the Sexyflow sign went up this past weekend in the retail space at Icon Realty's 205 Avenue A. From the looks of it, the reader believes that the hair salon will be opening soon here between East 12th Street and East 13th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Icon Realty bringing Sexyflow to Avenue A

Happy Birthday Debbie Harry

[Cover photo from 1979 via Facebook]

The singer-songwriter-actress-Blondie lead singer turns 70 today.

On Saturday night, Blondie opened for Morrissey at the Garden, and drew high marks. Per the Voice: "Blondie’s sound has become (and will continue to be) the soundtrack to generations of fans’ lives. Last night’s performance at Madison Square Garden was a reminder of why Debbie Harry and her band continue to keep their audience enthralled after all these years."

On Friday night, Harry was at 292 Gallery on East Third Street to hear Romy Ashby read from her new novel "Stink."

(I do not know what she did last Thursday night.)

Now back to the music with "Rifle Range" from 1977...

From the lost and found: These legs

Did you lose your legs and cowboy boots?

If so, then EVG reader Christine Champagne found them on East Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Let me know first though if there is a reward.)

Updated 3:12 p.m.

Continuing on with the most important story of the day... the legs have moved, according to EVG Mannequin Correspondent Steven...

About Superiority Burger

[Photo via William Klayer]

Superiority Burger opened last Thursday at 430 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. And the place has been getting a lot of press/hype for its veggie burgers and other assorted menu items and music selection.

There are just a handful of items on the menu, and Grub Street takes a look at them here. Eater also has nearly a minute-by-minute update on new menu items and other Superiority-related news here. Eater critics Robert Sietsema and Ryan Sutton along with writer-photographer Nick Solares weigh in here.

Anyone else try it???

As of right now, they are only open Thursday to Monday 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Updated 12:19
Gothamist notes that local residents have glued rocks to the wooden benches near Superiority to keep Superiority-goers from sitting on the tree guards...

Previously on EV Grieve:
What the cluck? Chickens in the works for former vegetarian hotspot Dirt Candy on East 9th Street

Rumor: Vegetarian sandwich shop in the works for former Dirt Candy space

[Updated] Veggie burgers confirmed for former Dirt Candy space on East 9th Street

Construction watch: 397-401 E. Eighth St.

Time to check in again at 397-401 E. Eighth St. at Avenue D, where a nine-story building with 33 units — and a penthouse! — is getting … larger.



A little early for any kind of pricing info on the apartments here.

Before the start of the construction last summer, the site sat stalled for years. There were plans for a six-story building on the property in 2006, but those plans never materialized.

And, as we've posted once before, this is how the address looked in 1923...

[Via NYPL]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meanwhile, before we christen Avenue D the next Greenpoint...

Stalled development site on Eighth Street and Avenue D asking $5.2 million

Long-stalled East 8th Street lot coming back as 9-story residential building — with penthouse

Avant Garden signage now up on East 7th Street

The sign has arrived at 130 E. Seventh St. … where Team Ravi DeRossi (Death & Co., Cienfuegos, Proletariat, etc.) is opening an upscale vegan restaurant here just west of Avenue A.

DeRossi told Eater more about the project last month:

DeRossi says that this is something he's been wanting to do for 10 or 20 years, but finding a good vegan chef has always been the "biggest obstacle." Now, however, he's found that chef in Andrew D'Ambrosi, who currently runs the kitchen at DeRossi's Carroll Gardens seafood restaurant, Bergen Hill.

The way he tells it, D'Ambrosi put a hen of the woods mushroom dish on the menu that DeRossi, who "always hated mushrooms," loved. That dish turned out to be vegan, and so from there DeRossi had the chef begin experimenting with other vegan dishes, offering them as specials at Bergen Hill. Two years later, they've pulled together a list of about 20 that will make up Avant Garden's vegan menu. Those include things like charred onion with chimichurri and seasoned breadcrumbs, and roasted carrots with orange, honey, pumpkin seeds and quinoa, as well as that hen of the woods dish.

In addition to Avant Garden, DeRossi is launching a nonprofit, BEAST (Benefits to End Animal Suffering Today), which will host regular fundraisers for animal rights organizations, per Eater.

No word on an official opening date just yet.

As we first reported on May 5, Avant Garden takes over the storefront from Gingersnap's Organic, who decamped to the West Village in January.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Veggie friendly Avant Garden in the works for former Gingersnap's space on East 7th Street

PYT bringing its offbeat burger creations to the Bowery

The coming soon sign appeared last week at 334 Bowery for PYT, the first NYC outpost of the Philadelphia burger place known for some pretty wacky creations.

A rep for Gia Trattoria confirmed to us that the Italian restaurant has closed. While PYT will open in the weeks ahead, the adjacent space will continue to be home to the now larger SRO pizza speakeasy.

As for PYT, well they peddle speciality stunt burgers with deep-fried "Philly Cheese Steak" Hot Pockets for buns … or Chicken Bacon Eggo Sliders… the Cocoa Krispies Chicken Burger … hey, it's your colon. Check out their menu here.



Perhaps PYT will stem the tide of restaurants here, with Forcella, Espoleta and Gia Trattoria coming and going fairly quickly since last November.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Giving 334 Bowery another go with pizza

The Subway (sandwich shop) has closed on the Bowery

Is the new Bowery becoming too upscale for even a Subway? (OK, so the 7-Eleven is still alive and well across the way.)

Anyway, workers gutted the Subway space at 342 Bowery between Bond Street and Great Jones yesterday.

The Subway opened here in late 2009, taking over the space after Downtown Music Gallery moved to Monroe Street.

This is the latest Subway to close in the neighborhood… joining the one on East 14th Street … First Avenue … Second Avenue…

Meanwhile, the Subway next to McDonald's on First Avenue recently came under new management …


[Photo by EVG correspondent Steven]

… after doing away with the "Restroom & 10% Cab Discount Available" campaign.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Nearly 4 years later, sidewalk bridge removed from 338 Bowery

Report: Rent freeze on 1-year leases for rent-controlled apartments

[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]

The Rent Guidelines Board voted tonight at Cooper Union for a freeze on one-year leases for rent-stabilized apartments, "an unprecedented move in its 46-year history," The New York Times reports. The board voted for a 2 percent increase for two-year leases.

Updated 9:16 p.m.

The city released this information following tonight's vote...

For the 1.2 million New Yorkers who live in a rent-stabilized unit, this is what tonight's vote means for you:

• If you sign a one-year renewal on your lease between 10/1/2015 and 9/30/2016, your rent should not increase.
• If you sign a two-year renewal on your lease between 10/1/2015 and 9/30/2016, your rent should increase 2%.
• If you are facing any sort of harassment from your landlord, call 311 immediately and report it.

Updated 6-30 with a few photos via EVG reader Peter Brownscombe…

Here's the trailer for 'Ten Thousand Saints,' set in the 1980s East Village

[Filming in Tompkins Square Park in May 2014 via Michael Donovan]

As you may recall, filmmakers Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini filmed around the East Village in early 2014 for their low-budget adaption of the Eleanor Henderson 1980s novel "Ten Thousand Saints."

The movie, which stars Hailee Steinfeld, Asa Butterfield, Emile Hirsch, Emily Mortimer and Ethan Hawke, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this past January.

The trailer for "Saints" arrived today…



A recap today at /Film was fairly unkind about "Saints":

While the cast is impressive and the story has a lot of promise, in truth I can’t think of a film from Sundance 2015 I liked less than Ten Thousand Saints. While Hawke is charming as hell, the storytelling is labored, the hardcore scene as depicted feels put-on and phony, and the use of the Tompkins Square Park riot comes off as misguided appropriation. I don’t know if those qualities are endemic to the source novel by Eleanor Henderson, but the film may be best appreciated by hardcore fans of any of the particular cast members.

On the more positive side, Variety declared it a "warmly conceived dramedy [that] will likely resonate strongest with audiences who have a direct connection to the story’s place and time" … while The Hollywood Reporter called it "a sensitive but not overserious coming-of-age pic with a strong sense of place."

"Saints" opens here on Aug. 14.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Filmmakers will recreate the Tompkins Square Park Riot of 1988 this Thursday night

Film crew recreates 'tent city' in Tompkins Square Park

Film crew uses 'D Squat' and phone booths to recreate an 1980s East Village on 6th Street

[Updated] First Avenue subbing for Avenue D today

Another 'riot' in Tompkins Square Park, this time for the cameras

Opening Day at New York Macaroni Co. on St. Mark's Place

[From left: Diamondique, Izzy and Daisy]

EVG regular Bill the Libertarian Anarchist passes along word that the New York Macaroni Co. at 102 St. Mark's Place opened today.

Facebook describes them as a "mac-and-cheese place." (We'll update with the menu later.)

Hours are Sunday-Wednesday 11:30 a.m. to midnight, Thursday-Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The previous tenant here between Avenue A and First Avenue, Puddin', never reopened after the city found them operating with an expired food service establishment permit late last November.

Dutch Elm Disease inoculation continues in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo Friday via EVG reader Steven]

Tree technicians arrived in Tompkins Square Park on Friday… hanging the above banner to explain the inoculation process to combat against Dutch Elm Disease and those nasty Elm Bark Beetles. (Can't the rats eat those?)

Anyway, one worker said that June and July marks elm disease season.

Here, EVG correspondent Derek Berg shares some inoculation-in-action photos from today…



The tree technician also inoculated the Hare Krishna Tree in the middle of the Park…

189 Avenue C is converting to condos

Residents who arrived home to 189 Avenue C Friday had the following notices awaiting them… the landlord is converting the 10-floor rental building at East 12th Street to condos…



"It was very shocking," a resident there told us via email. The above notice accompanied a 200-plus page offering plan documenting specifics. On the top of this packet, it states, "This is a non-eviction condominium offering plan. No non-purchasing tenant will be evicted by reason of conversion to condominium ownership."

And the pricing? Studios for non-tenants are starting in the $700,000 range. (Existing tenants will receive about a 10 percent discount.) In the tenant's estimation, the pricing "seems outrageous — not affordable for me."

Interestingly enough, there's a listing for the building at Cushman & Wakefield. Asking price (following a recent cut) for the building that includes a vacant retail space: $32.5 million.

Rentals at the building, which has 35 units, hit the market in March 2011. Of the 35 apartments, five are studios, 13 are 1-bedrooms, nine are 2-bedrooms and eight are 3-bedrooms. Building amenities including a gym and washer-dryers in each unit.

According to Streeteasy, the average rent here is $3,171.

Former Dolphin Gym will work out as medical office space

The Dolphin Gym on East Fourth Street near Second Avenue closed without any warning on March 27.

The former gym is now for lease… for professional office space…



According to the listing, the 5,800-square-foot space is asking $24,167.

The notices from Dolphin that remain on the door say that your remaining membership will be honored at Synergy Fitness on East 14th Street or Mulberry Street… or Ludlow Fitness on Delancey…



Not sure how that is working out, so to speak, three months later for people with Dolphin memberships. One former Dolphingoer told us that the Synergy on East 14th Street near Second Avenue keeps irregular hours and, despite the sign, is not open 24 hours…

Thanks to @cecilscheib for the lease tip!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dolphin Gym abruptly closes on East 4th Street (31 comments)

Cleaning out the East 4th Street Dolphin Gym

Dolphin Gym hangs it up on Avenue B

Nonna's Pizza arrives on Avenue A

An EVG reader reports that Nonna's Pizza has opened at 201 Avenue A between East 12th Street and 13th Street.

According to the reader, the pizzeria is run by a grandson and his grandmother … the family patriarch operated pizzerias in Long Island and Westchester dating to the 1980s…



Before we heard from the reader, we thought it might be a new outpost for Nonna's L.E.S. Pizzeria on Clinton Street. However, the folks at Nonna's said that they're not expanding.

And how's the pizza? Unfortunately, the shop wasn't open yet for the day when the reader happened by. Anyone else try it?

The previous tenant, Fat Sal's, which closed in May, took over in May 2011 from APizzA.

Checking out Centre-fuge Cycle 17 on East 1st Street

Just taking a look at Cycle 17 of the Centre-fuge Public Art Project … the rotating outdoor gallery/construction trailer here along East First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue …









The artists this time around are Erik Martinez, Hiss, King Bee, Kristy McCarthy, Ramiro Davaro-Comas, Shaun Edwards and Vballentine.

Find more info about Centre-fuge here.

Despite Grand Opening banner, Capital Laundry & Dry Cleaners has closed on Avenue B

Been meaning to note that Capital Laundry & Dry Cleaners closed earlier this month at 44 Avenue B between East Third Street and East Fourth Street.

And, despite debuting last September, management decided to keep the Grand Opening (30 percent off on drop-off and pick-up service) banner up these past nine months.

Anyway, Quick Coin apparently won this round…



H/T EVG regular Salim!

Previously on EV Grieve:
New laundromat now open at site of former laundromat