1st Avenue McDonald's replaces $1 menu signage; new emphasis placed on the Big Mac, large fries

[Image via Google]

Longtime McDonald's signage watchers were treated yesterday to something new… as workers replaced the familiar (and colorful and at least 7-year-old) "Dollar Menu" on the marquee here on First Avenue near East Sixth Street…


[Photo by Vinny and O]

[Photo by EVG reader Rainer]

… to an admittedly more staid look featuring a pretty big Big Mac and more fries than can actually fit into the fry box…



McDonald's is reportedly moving away from its Dollar Menu, and emphasizing new, mid-priced items.

Please leave your comments on McDonald's new approach in the comments. (Sample discussion starters: Why is the box of fries upside down?)

Report: Arthouse cinema, bookshop planned for Ludlow Street

[Metrograph rendering]

In case you missed this in the Times yesterday... Alexander Olch, who owns a high-end boutique on Orchard Street, announced his plans to open the Metrograph on Ludlow at Canal early next year.

The ambitious-sounding complex includes a two-screen theater that will feature independent and international movies as well as repertory films, plus a restaurant, café and lounge, and cinema-dedicated bookshop. (Curious how CB3 will view this liquor-license application. They wouldn't approve a full liquor license for the Sunshine Cinema in 2012.)

Anyway, here's more from the Times:

Michael Lieberman, a spokesman for the project, said the design was aimed at creating an inviting space, with a balcony in the larger theater, which will have 175 seats — the second one will have 50 — and chairs fashioned out of wood salvaged from the old Domino Sugar Factory.

Metrograph will reportedly install both digital film projectors and 35mm film.

The film programers will be Jacob Perlin and Aliza Ma. Perlin is currently programmer-at-large at the Film Society of Lincoln Center ... while Ma is a veteran of several high-profile film festivals as well as the Museum of the Moving Image.

Per Indiewire:

"Growing up in Manhattan, I fell in love with movies in theaters which are now sadly gone, like The Beekman and The Plaza," says Metrograph founder and New York-based director Alexander Olch. "To bring glamour, excitement, and prestige back to the exhibition experience has been my longstanding goal."

Visit the Metrograph website to sign up for their newsletter for updates.

Today in cow tipping posts

Last evening, very special EVG correspondent Christine Champagne noticed that the decorative fiberglass cow that resides on East 12th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue was tipped over.

For starters, the cow doesn't look like it could just fall over on its own. Did someone purposely tip it over? And who tips over cows? (Actually, DON'T answer that.)

And given that the cow is in a protected area, it would appear that this could have been an inside job.



While we speculate, we can report that someone has righted the cow today...



This cow was part of the CowParade around the city back in 2000.

St. Mark's Place down a tree

Also today, workers removed a tree on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Man… right by The Sock Man…



Apparently it was a sickly tree … and hollowed out about 4-5 feet…



Word along here was that rats (a den? herd? pack? flock?) were living inside the deadish tree.

And how Google Street View remembers the tree…



Thanks to EVG correspondent Steven for the photos and investigative reporting...

New, confusing signs up at the former Lit Lounge space

[EVG file photo]

CB3's SLA committee last week reportedly voted against Allan Mannarelli's application to move the Cock from its current Second Avenue home several blocks north to the former Lit Lounge space.

According to a report by Lisha Arino at DNAinfo, Mannarelli planned to appeal directly to the State Liquor Authority.

Meanwhile, today, a tipster passes along photos of signs that appeared on the Lit space...



The sign mentions a reopening on Sept. 11... with the name of co-owner Erik Foss...



The message also appears on Lit's Facebook page...

After a much needed deep cleaning and even more crucial maintenance and repairs ...... LIT LOUNGE will re-open...

Posted by Lit Lounge on Sunday, August 23, 2015

There's also a notice (with today's Post as a time stamp)...



.... for next month's CB3/SLA committee meeting... It appears that the Cock will return to make its case again...



Perhaps this will be some kind of Lit-Cock mashup... we'll see...

Earlier this summer, the owners of Lit Lounge said that the 13-year-old music club was closing in the months ahead to relocate to Bushwick. Lit quietly closed in late July.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Confirmed: Lit Lounge is closing on 2nd Avenue

Report: State investigating East Village landlord Raphael Toledano

[Photo from May by Stacie Joy]

The Daily News has the story about Raphael Toledano's Goldmark Property Management:

State officials have launched an investigation into an East Village landlord accused of strong-arming tenants into giving up their rent-regulated apartments, the Daily News has learned.

The state’s tenant protection unit served subpoenas on companies controlled by landlord Raphael Toledano as part of a probe into claims of abusive behavior by his agents, including threats of eviction and the shutting off of gas and other essential services, officials said.

In May, rent-regulated tenants at 444 E. 13th St. filed a lawsuit against Goldmark for "deplorable conditions" as well as for ongoing threats and harassment. A staff attorney at the Urban Justice Center, who is representing the East 13th Street tenants, told reporters that "there are tape recorded conversations where the landlord is threatening to drop dynamite on the building and then let everyone 'figure it out themselves.'"

According to The Real Deal, Toledano bought the building for $6.1 million in January.

Jeffrey Goldman, an attorney for Toledano, denied the harassment claims.

"I have not seen him engage in any behavior or conduct that would give rise to an investigation let alone a finding of harassment,” Goldman told the Daily News.

Toledano's name surfaced earlier this month as the new owner of a 17-building parcel, most of which are in the East Village.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Landlord of 444 E. 13th St. threatened 'to drop dynamite on the building'

There'll be no more trespassing at the Cooper Union academic building

Back in late July, the Cooper Union academic building made headlines as part of the Post's ongoing Bill-deBlasio-is-the-worst-mayor-ever coverage. Sources told the Post that some crusties/travelers had been like urinating, defecating and masturbating right out there in public. (Side note: Cab drivers have apparently been using the space to relieve themselves dating back to 2010.)

Perhaps this attention ushered in the No Trespassing signs that are now on display around the building here between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street…







In July 2010, Cooper Union put an end to people skateboarding on the $175-million building by placing metal spikes on the tempting bank of polished concrete out front.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cooper Union puts the brakes on its skateboarding bank

The 'urination, defecation, masturbation' vacation outside Cooper Union (66 comments)

Gleaming the Coop

Former Russian Souvenirs shop for rent on East 14th Street

The unique Russian Souvenirs shop closed last month on East 14th Street, a victim of a rent hike, according to the proprietor. The space is now for rent here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.



The ACE Moving & Storage storefront is gone as well … with a mobile phone center on the way in…



We didn't spot the listing for the Russian Souvenirs space online just yet.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Russian Souvenirs is no more on East 14th Street

Le Marécage has apparently closed on 1st Avenue

The understated restaurant, which served an interesting mix of food from Haiti and the Ivory Coast, remained dark throughout the weekend here at 137 First Ave. just north of St. Mark's Place.

There's also a notice — dated Thursday — on the front window that the landlord has taken legal possession of the space…



Le Marécage, run by a husband-wife team (he was a longtime instructor at the French Culinary Institute), opened last October.

Not sure what happened here. The Times gave the place a glowing notice in its Hungry City column in March. Perhaps it couldn't compete with the other new, buzzier restaurants that opened nearby on First Avenue like Oiji or Noreetuh, which prompted reviews by Pete Wells at the Times.

Vape shop opening; not located on St. Mark's Place

Well! The awning's up on the new business coming to East Second Street just east of Avenue A …



Grand Vape, home to premium E-juice (e-juice?).

The space was previously home to both a Nicky's and a Vicky's Vietnamese sandwich shop.

Thanks to EVG reader Dale MacDonald for the tip!

TLC Tea House coming soon to East 2nd Street

The Coming Soon Signage is up at 103 E. Second St. between Avenue A and First Avenue … where TLC Tea House is opening in the former Gaia Lounge space…

The sign shows [perhaps] what will be in store… all served with a little TLC?

RIP Shane Keogh

Shane Keogh, a familiar figure behind the bar at the Grassroots Tavern and on stage as bassist for Iconicide and Lucifer Jones, died on Aug. 14.

He collapsed on his way to the New York Sports Club on Avenue A. The cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia, said his girlfriend, Blair Hopkins. He was 38 years old.

Keogh worked as a bartender the past three years at the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place.

"He loved it there and referred to it as the Supreme Court of Bartending jobs," Hopkins told us.

He also worked as a bartender at the now-closed Bar 82 on Second Avenue and Identity Bar on East Sixth Street, Blue Ruin and Bellevue in Hell's Kitchen, and at the first Duff's Brooklyn.

Keogh was a native New Yorker and grew up in the Bronx.

There is a wake for his friends and family tomorrow night from 5-9 at Walker Funeral Home in Woodhaven, Queens. His friends will be gathering afterwards at the Grassroots Tavern, 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenues. (The bar has a memorial fund going to help pay for funeral-related expenses.)

"He liked to refer to himself as 'Captain Fun' behind the bar," Hopkins said. "He was the kind of person who would do absolutely anything to elicit a laugh."


[Keough, left, at the Grassroots]

There is a public "Memories of Shane Keogh" Facebook page here.

Photos courtesy of Blair Hopkins

Week in Grieview

[Yesterday on Avenue A at East 5th Street via William Klayer]

Development site available on East Third Street at the Bowery (Monday)

Two East Village Chase Bank branches are closing for good on Nov. 12 (Wednesday)

At the Village East Cinema (Friday)

Work starts on the two Caffe Bene spaces (Monday)

More about Sustainable NYC's closure (Thursday)

There have been three dog attacks in the neighborhood this month (Tuesday, 60 comments)

10 Degrees Bistro now "renegotiating terms with the landlord" on Avenue A (Thursday)

Zibalee closes on East 13th Street (Wednesday)

Medical marijuana dispensary opening on East 14th Street (Monday)

The former Le Jardin space is for rent on Avenue C (Thursday)

Is a Beer Factory in store for the former Spice space on Second Avenue? (Wednesday)

10-story building now in the works for 255 E. Houston St. (Wednesday)

Cantonese-style restaurant coming to Avenue B (Monday)

Is 26 Avenue B ready for its new building now? (Monday)

The Málà Project coming soon to First Avenue (Thursday)

D-Lish Pita has closed on Avenue A (Monday)

Report: CB3 denies the Cock's move up Second Avenue (Tuesday)

Glasgow Vintage Co. has apparently closed on East Ninth Street (Wednesday)

The new lights on the Con Ed substation (Friday)

The Organic Grill is closed for the rest of the month on First Avenue (Tuesday)

New Petco ready to be Unleashed on Aug. 31 (Monday)

A found collection of photos from the 1980s East Village (Tuesday)

Your dreams of living in a penthouse cottage above Kiehl's are dashed for now (Thursday)

First sign of two new floors to come on Third Avenue and 10th Street (Tuesday)


[B&H Dairy art by Martin Russocki]

First U.S. hemp bar is now open on St. Mark's Place

The Brooklyn Dark Hemp Bar — who bill themselves the first Hemp Bar in the United States — is now open at 9 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (They officially opened last Saturday, and have been handing out samples this past week.)

As the sign shows, they sell pastries, coffee, tea, etc. … using hemp seeds as an ingredient.



They also sell their signature chocolate bars, which you may have seen at various stores and food fairs.

The Hemp Bar's hours are 8 a.m. to midnight Monday-Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday-Sunday. You can read more about Brooklyn Dark at their website.

The address was previously home to I Am Coffee, which seemed to be open one day a week.

You can dispose of some of that crap that you weren't exactly sure what to do with today

Passing this info along…

Union Square North Plaza, south of 17th St between Park Avenue and Broadway.

The NYC Department of Sanitation is holding a series of SAFE Disposal Events (Solvents, Automotive, Flammable, Electronics) to provide NYC residents with a one-stop method to get rid of harmful household products.

Materials accepted include common household products such as auto fluids, batteries, electronics, strong cleaners, medications, paint, month-old acai bowls and more.

Until 4 p.m. today. (And sorry for the short notice — just heard myself.)

A look at Ori Carino's Best Housekeeping murals

[Click on images for more detail]

A few weeks back we noted that Ori Carino was working on a new installation on the roll-down gates at Best Housekeeping on Avenue A at East Second Street… EVG contributor Stacie Joy recently caught up with Carino, who lives nearby on A, for a look at the final product…



Carino said that the panels took approximately three days apiece to do…





You can read more about Carino, an LES native, on his website here.

Caracas Arepa Bar remains closed due to gas issues

Caracas Arepa Bar has been closed of late … DNAinfo has the story about what's going on here at 93 1/2 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The Venezuelan restaurant closed on Aug. 8 after workers smelled gas. Employees promptly called the FDNY and Con Ed.

As for the extended closure, Vanessa Maldonado, operations manager for the Caracas chainlet, blamed the plumbing company that they hired to fix the problem, per DNAinfo.

To the article:

[A]fter spending two days fixing a gas pipe, the company waited a week to file the necessary paperwork for a Con Ed inspection, all the while assuring the restaurant it was submitted, Maldonado said. Roto-Rooter also avoided her questions, she said.

“All the time they were lying to us, telling us that the papers were in, the papers are here, the person who has the papers is not here,” she said.

And…

“It has been all this unclarity,” she said. “It has been very, very vague and confusing.”

Con Ed is due to inspect the restaurant this Wednesday.

And there is a sign up for Con Ed's arrival…



There isn't any mention of the temporary closure on the Caracas website or social media properties. There is a sign up for patrons…



As the sign says, Caracas To Go is open two doors away…

Taking the pile driver out for a spin on this gorgeous Saturday summer

A reader shared this photo today from East 12th Street and Avenue A… Not sure which construction site it's going to or from… or if surge pricing is in effect.

The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival is tomorrow in Tompkins Square Park

The city's annual salute to the legendary saxophonist is this weekend… with the show coming to Tompkins Square Park tomorrow (that would be Sunday).

Here's the lineup: Rudresh Mahanthappa, Joe Lovano (pictured), Myra Melford and Michael Mwenso.

Head to the Jazz Festival website for info on all the artists.

The free show is from 3-7 p.m.

Workers remove plywood tribute at the site of 2nd Avenue explosion

[Photo from May 18 by Vinny & O]

On May 18, workers removed the plywood fence that surrounded the site of where 119-123 Second Ave. stood until the deadly gas explosion on March 26. However, the plywood — with photos and tributes to Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa, the two men who died on March 26 — remained up behind the new chain-link fence.

Yesterday, though, several readers mentioned that workers took down that plywood fencing…



… and stacked it up in the lot…



Meanwhile, we haven't heard much about the investigation into the blast. Last Friday, in an article about B&H Dairy reopening, the Post had a few updates on what they called "an ongoing criminal probe."

According to the Post, prosecutors and homicide investigators continue to question witnesses.

They spoke to Marius Wesser, the lawyer for chef Machendra Chongbang, who worked at Sushi Park, the site of the explosion. He said that he went for an interview last month at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

Per the Post:

“They must have had 20 people there,” Wesser said. “Fire investigators, [DA] rackets bureau people, NYPD — it was pretty intense.”

The DA’s Office declined to comment, and lawyers for Maria Hrynenko, who owned the blast building and the one next door, did not return calls.

H/T Vinny & O