Alleged purse snatcher caught by security store employee on Avenue B

A man reportedly wanted for several local purse snatchings was chased down and stopped by an employee of Top Notch Security on Avenue B yesterday.

Matthew Gonzalez, who works at the store at 8-12 Avenue B between East Houston and East Second Street, spotted the alleged purse snatcher in action.

Per CBS New York:

“We watched him, and he eventually stole some lady’s purse. I chased after him, grabbed him, and before you know it the cops were on him,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said he recognized the suspect, wanted by police, and jumped into action when the man stole a woman’s purse as she sat in front of a restaurant on Avenue B.

Gonzalez said the man in the video is possibly connected to other recent purse thefts in the area.

“I thought, ‘Let me catch this guy, because he’s going to keep doing it again if he’s not caught,” he said.

Police initially came to the store to see if cameras captured the same suspect this past Sunday, turns out they did.

Top Notch reps shared the surveillance video with us…



Several people who saw this scene pay out yesterday thought it was the man who swiped the iPhone from a pedestrian on Avenue A and East Seventh Street. It was not.

The Post reports Tompkins Square Park 'has become a homeless haven'

[EVG photo]

Here are some passages from the article in today's Post:

“I really don’t enjoy the beauty of the park anymore because I’m too scared to walk through it,” said NYU student Christine Gal, 19, who lives nearby. “I would say it has doubled in the last six months.”

And!

A parks worker called the urban oasis “scary,” saying it’s riddled with bums who have drug problems.

And!

One woman is worried about bringing her 6-year-old daughter to the park.

“Some of them are junkies. They’re standing there almost falling down or sitting there slumped over,” the 39-year-old woman said. “My daughters asks, ‘Mommy, why are the men sleeping?’ And that’s not something you want to explain to your child.”

At least one of the five Post reporters who received a byline on the article spent time in the Park yesterday … noting "a herd of homeless people sprawled across the lawn" while "a few feet away, hobos sought shelter under a cluster of trees, snuggling up in sleeping bags."

The Post also found "a similarly seedy scene across town at Washington Square Park."

Anyway! Thoughts on the state of Tompkins Square Park (not the song by Mumford and Sons) this summer? Any different than, say, five years ago?

Hand-painted Blockheads signage arrives on 3rd Avenue

As we've been reporting, 60 Third Ave. will be home to a new location of Blockheads, the San Francisco-style Mexican restaurant from the folks who launched Benny's Burritos.

Workers painted the sign yesterday here between East 10th Street and East 11th Street. A rep for Blockheads told us they hope to be open by the end of the month, though that's not definite.

The previous tenant, an outpost of the Jackson Heights-based Unidentified Flying Chickens, closed last month after 11 months in business.

Casual French-American cafe in the works for 110 St. Mark's Place

Paprika, which specialized in Northern Italian cuisine, quietly closed back in the spring at 110 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Applicants who plan on opening a casual French-American cafe will appear before CB3's SLA committee on Monday. They are seeking a beer-wine license…



The applicants include Hamid Rashidzada of the Summit Bar on Avenue C and most recently Bara on First Avenue, and chef David Malbequi, who worked for Daniel Boulud, according to paperwork (PDF!) on file ahead of the meeting at the CB3 website.

The still-unnamed cafe will serve American-French comfort food with daily lunch service from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The configuration shows 14 tables seating 58 people and a bar with 4-6 seats.

The July SLA committee meeting is Monday at the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

D.L. Cerney temporarily returns to the East Village

[Photo via JVNY]

After 28 years of selling hand-made, vintage-style clothes in the East Village, the D.L. Cerney boutique closed up shop on East Seventh Street at the end of 2012.

Co-owner Linda St. John told Jeremiah Moss that she wanted to get out of NYC for awhile and focus on her art and writing.

St. John has returned to the East Village — temporarily anyway. She will be displaying her wares at Umbrella Arts, 317 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue through Aug. 30…



Thanks to Jimmy Carbone for the photo!

Selling off Le Jardin Bistro

[Photo by Dave on 7th]

Dave on 7th and East Village Eats passed along word yesterday of an auction at the former Le Jardin Bistro.

The French restaurant closed several weeks ago after 11 months at 115 Avenue C between East Seventh Street and East Eighth Street. The original Le Jardin Bistro was on Cleveland Place until its 2010 closure. They opened in 1995.

Ownership did not say why they closed this time around, only offering a thank you to their staff and customers.

The space on C was previously home to Apartment 13.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Le Jardin Bistro has closed on Avenue C (19 comments)

Perbacco hasn't been open lately

Several readers have told us that the well-regarded regional Italian restaurant on East Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B has been closed of late.

Perbacco was also closed in May 2014, though there was a message on the restaurant's website noting an extensive remodeling. This time, however, the Perbacco website is no longer online … in addition, Open Table isn't currently accepting reservations at this time. There isn't any mention of a closure on the Perbacco Facebook page either.

Video: Cyclist snatches woman's phone on Avenue A; Citi Biker follows in pursuit

An EVG reader shared this Dashcam video with us from late yesterday afternoon around 5:30 … when a woman walking west on Seventh Street at Avenue A has her iPhone snatched by a cyclist (it's at the 24-second mark)… following in hot pursuit is a well-dressed man on a Citi Bike…



Sadly, we don't know the outcome… the woman is last seen stopping on A at East Fifth Street after running down the Avenue…

H/T Brian Cohen for passing along his friend's video… posted with permission…

Confirmed: Lit Lounge is closing on 2nd Avenue

[Photo from June]

The "store for rent" sign arrived above 93 Second Ave., home the past 13 years of Lit Lounge, back on June 16.

Nightlife writer Steve Lewis gets confirmation that the bar/live music venue between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street will close some time in the next two months. Lit opened a sister bar called Currant Cafe in the McKibbin lofts in Bushwick last year.

Lewis spoke with proprietors Erik Foss and David Schwartz in a Q-and-A published at ClubPlanet.com.

An excerpt:

Steve Lewis: What was the primary reason for closing and moving shop to Bushwick?
Erik Foss: The new East Village crowd and the flight of the creative types to creative Brooklyn. It was inevitable. NYC is an ever changing animal. I am just glad that I got to be here before downtown changed into what it is now.
David Schwartz: Ehh, not happy with the newbies in the East Village. Millenials don’t go out and the artistic ones left for Brooklyn digs 4 yrs ago.

Previously on EV Grieve:
93 2nd Ave., home of Lit Lounge, is for rent

How Lit Lounge is trying to be a better neighbor

[Updated] Incoming restaurant on Avenue A asking residents to rally for their liquor license and back patio

Here's more information about the new Vietnamese restaurant in the works for 171 Avenue A between East 10th Street and East 11th Street.

The principals, siblings Stephan and Kimxuan Brezinsky who grew up in Stuy Town, will appear before CB3's SLA committee on Monday evening.

According to public information (PDF!) posted at CB3's website, the restaurant will be called Soothsayer, with proposed hours of 5:30 p.m.-midnight, Monday-Thursday; until 1 a.m. on Friday. They will also open at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Stephan Brezinsky currently serves as bar manager at The Third Man on Avenue C, and previously served as general manager of Rue B on Avenue B, per the paperwork.

There's more information, including the food and drinks menu, on the PDF at the CB3 website.

Soothsayer is requesting a full liquor license with use of the backyard garden. There are signs up at 171 Avenue A asking residents to "join us as we rally for our liquor license and for the approval to open a cozy back patio."



The sign also notes that they will offer "friendly and affordable dining experiences."

The previous tenant here, B.A.D. Burger, closed earlier this year. B.A.D. Burger was never able to secure a beer-wine license for the space. After CB3 denied his beer-wine request in 2012, B.A.D. Burger owner Keith Masco reportedly called the board "fascist."

The July SLA committee meeting is Monday at the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Updated 7-14:

BoweryBoogie reports from the CB3/SLA meeting…

Soothsayer withdrew its bid for 171 Avenue. It was much ado about the rear yard space, and the applicants’ inability to negotiate with the nearby block associations. Full liquor was sought, yet CB3 advised the team to return next month with a revamped application for beer-wine.

Full reveal at 331 E. Houston St.

The construction netting is off the new 13-floor residential building with 78 units going up at East Houston and Ridge Street.



And the view from East Second Street...



The website of project architect Stephen B. Jacobs offers a few more details on the building at 331 E. Houston St./163 Ridge St.

The ground floor includes the residential lobby, a lounge, and apartments in the rear of the building which have access to outdoor space. A large skylight brings natural light to the gym in the cellar, and stairs provide access to recreational outdoor space in the rear yard. A mix of studios, one, and two-bedroom apartments make up the bulk of the building. The top floor includes a three-bedroom apartment with a balcony. The rooftop is designed as an amenity space for the building, complete with deck seating, projector screen, bar, and outdoor shower.

The interior design was inspired by the raw nature of materials in the Lower East Side, such as exposed concrete and blackened steel, and includes touches of color such as the graffiti tiled accent wall in the lobby.

The building also includes 16 affordable housing units.

The L-shape parcel here sat empty for years, the property of reclusive real-estate baron William Gottlieb.

Previously on EV Grieve:
An L-Shaped footprint ready to make its impression on East Houston Street

An abandoned car in an empty lot that will soon yield a 13-floor residential building

On East Houston, work begins on a new 13-floor residential building

What 331 E. Houston St. will look like one day

A look at 331 E. Houston St., with a rooftop deck for outdoor showers and 'Live Free or Die Hard'

16 affordable apartments now available at the incoming 331 E. Houston St.

La Lucha has closed on Avenue A

After nearly six years at 147 Avenue A, La Lucha is no longer in business here between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

Here's a tweet from yesterday from the taco shop/boutique… which mentions an upcoming move to Brooklyn…

Dear Friends, we are closing our EV location follow is in our new adventure in Brooklyn!

— La Lucha Tacos NYC (@LaLuchaNYC) July 8, 2015

There is also a Marshal's eviction notice on La Lucha's front door.

And there isn't any shortage of tacos these days in the neighborhood… Tacos Moreles opened up around the corner on East Ninth Street in August 2013 … and Empellón al Pastor opened last fall on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place…

Listen in to the vinyl sounds of Abraço and A1 Records from wherever you are

East Village resident Matt Newberg, a self-described vinyl collector and entrepreneur, has launched a site called Pulse.fm that is live broadcasting the music being played at venues around the country.

He started locally, selecting Abraço Espresso on East Seventh Street and A1 Records on East Sixth Street for the site. (The third venue is Detroit Threads in Michigan.)

"I'm inspired by many things East Village, and the musical backdrop that exists here — whether it be strolling into A1 or walking past a storefront — really roots me in the daily experience of living here," Newberg told us. "I really wanted to share that feeling with the rest of the world by re-contextualizing that offline experience for the web. As corny as it sounds, there's an inexplicable feeling you get from hearing the raw crackling of a record being dropped at a place like Abraço from the convenience of your home."

Abraço takes its name from the 1969 Gilberto Gil song, "Aquele Abraço." At Pulse.fm, Abraço owner Jamie McCormick describes the small coffee shop this way: "Brazilian pop from early-mid 70s epitomizes the vibe here." As far as records go, Charles Mingus, The Meters, Curtis Mayfield, Tim Maia, Horace Silver and Donald Byrd are among the many records on the playlist.

From a business perspective, Newberg said said the goal of pulse.fm is to create a technology platform around transporting listeners to a specific place in real time, whether it be a club or a bedroom studio. "It's the next best thing to being there."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Live from A1 Records…

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot returns tonight in a new LES parking lot

[Macbeth photo by Jonathan Slaff]

After nearly 20 years of free performances in the municipal lot on Ludlow and Broome, the folks behind Shakespeare in the Parking Lot were left at the end of last summer without a home thanks to the incoming Essex Crossing mega-project.

Tonight, the Drilling Company begins anew behind The Clemente at 114 Norfolk St. between Rivington and Delancey. The season kicks off with a rendition of "As You Like It" and running through July 26. A production of "Macbeth" begins on July 30, presented through Aug. 15.

Find all the details here. The performances are Thursday-Saturday starting at 8 p.m.

Moonstruck Eatery is now open on Avenue A

A reader passed along word that the restaurant opened this week at 167 Avenue A between East 10th Street and East 11th Street … as we've been noting, the owners of Moonstruck Diner were going back to a diner concept after trying Ethos Meze East Village in the space.

We haven't seen the menu ourselves… the reader said there was standard fare, such as omelets, sandwiches and burgers, among other items…

These boots were made for...

A moment on First Avenue and East Fifth Street today via Derek Berg...

Former Mary Help of Christians property getting the plywood treatment

Activity continues this week in and around the lot off Avenue A between East 11th Street and East 12th Street that was formerly home of Mary Help of Christians.



As these photos from EVG reader Greg Masters show, workers this morning are erecting a plywood fence around the site...





... where, in a few short years, there will be a mixed-use building with ground-floor retail and 82 market-rate condos via developer Douglas Steiner.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New residential complex at former Mary Help of Christians lot may include rooftop swimming pool

Meet your new neighbor on Avenue A

Permits filed to demolish Mary Help of Christians church, school and rectory

Preservationists call for archeological review of former cemetery at Mary Help of Christians site

The 'senseless shocking self-destruction' of Mary Help of Christians

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Jeremy X. Halpern
Occupation: Entertainer
Location: Key Food, Avenue A
Time: 2 p.m. on Monday, July 6

I’m from Boston but I’ve been here for over 30 years. I’m an artist and basically you only got a couple choices, LA or New York and LA was out of the question. So New York was the one. I went to NYU and I’ve been living around here since then. Never really moved out of the neighborhood.

I do performances. If you go weirdos.com, you’ll see the video performances that I do. I have a cable-access show for local New York. The artwork is very weird, very strange, totally uncommercial, but I’m also working on a TV show, which is very commercial. It will probably make lots of money. But that, I’m just producing that. All my personal work is completely out to lunch.

Right now I’m performing in Ziegfeld’s Midnight Frolic. Currently, I’m playing the owner of a French club in the 1920s. It’s like a precursor to the haunted mansion at Disney World. I’ve also done some theatre here at the Metropolitan [Playhouse].

I’m involved with the burlesque community around here. There’s still a big community. My girlfriend is Dirty Martini, who is one of the top burlesque performers in the world. Everything is still very much vibrant and it’s really a nice community. The theatre community is sort of like, ‘what’s my motivation,’ you know? Whereas the burlesque community is sort of like, ‘let’s go, let’s do it.’ There’s much more performance art and much more variety.

When I moved in it was the early 1980s, it was still much more like the warzone. My parents were terrified. They couldn’t believe it. Unlike most people, I’m not really that upset about the change. That’s New York and I wasn’t surprised by it. I enjoyed it very much back then. When my band performed in the bandshell in Tompkins Square Park ... all of the homeless people danced on the stage. That was really wonderful. But it’s also got its perks now. It’s nice to be able to have the park a little cleaner and have the neighborhood be shinier and full of restaurants and shops. So I’m okay with that.

In general, I find the neighborhood very addicting because it’s still full of creative energy. I love it and am totally addicted to it. You know, I went to Burning Man a few years ago, and that was great ... but it’s tough in the desert and I kept thinking all the creativity that I’m seeing in Burning Man, I see in the East Village, and I don’t have to live in the desert. The East Village is a great experience and continues to be. I mean, we just saw a poster for Penny Arcade when we walked in [to Key]. I know Penny. There’s still a community feeling there and there’s still a feeling of the history of what the East Village has meant ... I’m still thrilled about this place. It’s still very fun to walk out of my door and find myself there.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

A look inside the last East Village gas station

The Mobil station at Avenue C and East Houston closed last September. (Recent media reports said that the BP station on Second Avenue at East First Street was the last EV gas station. They shut down at the end of June 2014.)



As for the all-new 11 Avenue C… last we heard, Lloyd Goldman's BLDG Management had designs on a 10-story building with a retail component on the oddly shaped lot, according to the Commercial Observer.

Previous plans called for a 9-story building. Either way, nothing seems to be happening with that application, which the DOB rejected in April 2014 for incomplete drawings, per city records.



Meanwhile, back at the station… we never noticed this before… but someone punctured holes in the garage doors… offering a glimpse inside...





Also, as previously noted, the building adjacent to the station at 249 E. Second St., arrived on the market in the spring — air rights included — for $6.95 million.

Previously on EV Grieve:
You have a little longer to get gas on Avenue C

Plans filed for new 9-story building at site of Mobil station on East Houston and Avenue C

State seizes Mobil station on Avenue C and Houston for nonpayment of taxes

New residential building for former Mobil station lot will be 10 floors with 0 zero affordable units

Via Della Pace Pizza officially opens tonight on St. Mark's Place

Last Thursday night, Via Della Pace Pizza had a grand opening party at 130 St. Mark's Place near Avenue A … where the owners of Via Della Pace on East Seventh Street took over the Falanghina Pizza Bar space.

The pizzeria officially opens for business tonight at 5...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Via Della Pace opening a pizzeria on St. Mark's Place tonight