EV Grieve Etc.: Peace Pentagon exit; Mariella's Pizza closure

[Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Bobby Williams]

Details on where tenants of the Peace Pentagon on Lafayette and Bleecker are moving (The New York Times)

Mariella's Pizza on 16th Street and Third Avenue has closed (DNAinfo ... Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Documents from the U.S. Attorney claim that former Assemblyman Sheldon Silver was involved in two extramarital affairs (The Lo-Down)

Drop The Mic Ice Cream Factory opening a pop-up shop inside ChikaLicious Dessert Bar on East 10th Street (amNY)

Red-tailed hawk updates from Tompkins Square Park and Chinatown (Laura Goggin Photography)

Drunken fight at Katz's (DNAinfo)

African and French film in conversation, including "Alphaville" (Anthology Film Archives)

The Nuclear Family exhibition, featuring work by Marguerite Van Cook, James Romberger and ClockWork Cros continues through May 1 (Howl! Happening)

Lower East Side man arrested for having sex with his girlfriend’s pet Maltese (Daily News)

Will LinkNYC's new Wi-Fi system help police watch you? (The Atlantic)

Panel convened by Cuomo recommends creating a permit system for pre-noon sales of alcohol on Sundays (Eater)

Another rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments this year? (Curbed)

A look at "Rock and Rule" from 1983, an animated film with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and Chris Stein and Debbie Harry of Blondie (Dangerous Minds)

The Metrograph Theater enjoying early success on Ludlow Street (IndieWire)

Mickey Leigh's Ramones tour of Queens (The New York Times)

About Rolling Stone's Best Punk Records list (The Observer)

And today, Zachary Zamsky, 18, a student now at Boston University, makes his professional film debut as the lead in David Shane's short film "The Board," which is competing at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film follows a socially challenged high school kid who tests his ultimate system for making a successful first-time call to his crush.

Zamsky, who was born and bred on East Fifth Street, is the son of two former actors and active East Village residents. He has been acting since he was a kid, taking after-school classes at the former Children’s Aid Society on Sullivan Street. He attended the drama studio at the famed LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, graduating last June, and shot the movie over the summer and into the fall.


[Photo courtesy of Stuart Zamsky]

BP has closed on East Houston; 1 gas station remains below 14th Street in NYC

As we first reported, the BP station on East Houston and Lafayette was set to close yesterday to make way for a new office-retail building.

Workers were on the scene early this morning, as these photos via an EVG reader show, to start erecting a sidewalk bridge before the demolition. (The demo permits were filed in December 2014.)



The demolition includes the former Puck Fair space... the pub closed last month...



As for 300 Lafayette, once completed, the new building will encompass 80,000 square feet of "flagship retail and boutique office" ...


[Rendering by Cookfox]

As for gas, there's a BP on 23rd Street at the FDR. With this closure, there'll be just one gas station in the city below 14th Street — a Mobil on Eighth Avenue near East 13th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How much longer will the East Village have gas stations?

Have you seen the glass tower in the works for Lafayette and East Houston?

Filling up: the status of 2 former East Village gas stations

Report: Boutique office building on East Houston and Lafayette at BP site a go

BP station on East Houston and Lafayette closes April 14

Report: Lack of gas stations downtown a concern

Reports: Man shot and killed on East 12th Street outside Campos Plaza last night

[Photo from last night by DR]

A man was shot and killed last night in front of Pedro Albizu Campos Plaza I on East 12th Street near Avenue C, according to published reports.

As PIX 11 reported, police received a 911 call around 10:44 pm. Elliot Caldwell, 23, had been shot in the back, polices sources said. He died later at Bellevue.

A neighbor told the Daily News that Caldwell grew up in Campos Plaza, and would return to visit.

Police haven't made any arrests and the investigation is ongoing, per PIX 11. CBS New York reported that a witness reported seeing a man in a red hoodie running from the scene.

Back in January, according to a report in the Post, an unnamed 23-year-old man had been shot in the left leg. Police said that the victim, who was trying to leave the scene in a cab, "was uncooperative and refused to give them a description of the suspect."

An NYPD patrol tower (SkyWatch) arrived on the scene shortly after the January shooting. The NYPD had recently removed the tower.


[EVG photo from February]

Updated 11:30 a.m.
DNAinfo reports that Caldwell, who lived nearby on 12th Street, had a 3-year-old son. "He was a great father. He changed his life for his son. He just got caught up in a bad situation," his aunt told DANinfo.

This is what's happening around here for Record Store Day 2016

The action starts tomorrow morning...

• Academy LPs, 415 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A

Just a reminder that in addition to the best selection of Record Store Day releases, we'll be putting out a motherlode of used/vintage records this Saturday , including a SEALED OG press of this Black Merda going out at 12th st! #rsd16 #recordstoreday #blackmerda #vinylcommunity #recordstore #vinyligclub #vinylcollector #nomailorder #noholds

A photo posted by Academy Records NYC (@academyrecords) on Apr 14, 2016 at 10:49am PDT

• Good Records NYC, 218 E. Fifth St. between the Bowery and Second Avenue

Saturday is Record Store Day but we are putting out incredible stuff all week for our core customers so don't snooze!

A photo posted by Good Records NYC (@goodrecordsnyc) on Apr 11, 2016 at 6:53am PDT

• Other Music, 15 E. Fourth St. between Broadway and Lafayette

We're burning the midnight oil in order to get ready for Record Store Day. See you Saturday at 10AM!

A photo posted by Other Music (@other_music) on Apr 13, 2016 at 7:38pm PDT

• Turntable Lab, 120 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue

#recordstoreday releases rolling in, see u @turntablelabnyc . . . #rsd2016 #rsd #recordstoreday2016 #rsd16 #vinylporn #recordcollection

A photo posted by @turntablelab on Apr 13, 2016 at 4:11pm PDT

• A-1 Records, 439 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue

I think I'm buying this.

A photo posted by A-1 Record Shop (@a1recordshop) on Apr 14, 2016 at 12:23pm PDT

There are also some Record Store Day happenings at In Living Stereo on Great Jones at Broadway. Details here.

Find the official Record Store Day website here ... and the list of special Record Store Day releases here...

Dempsey's Pub on 2nd Avenue closes for good on Sunday

After 24 years in business, Dempsey's Pub on Second Avenue between East Third Street and East Fourth Street is closing its doors for good on Sunday night.

Reps for Dempsey's issued a press announcement yesterday. Per the news release:

Opening in 1992 as Jack Dempsey’s Pub, [the bar] quickly became the go to spot for locals and NYU students alike. The sports bar transitioned to Dempsey’s Pub in 1998 after being acquired solely by Tom O’Byrne.

Ask any NYU student or neighborhood local and they will be sure to have had a fond memory at this East Village institution. Since opening their doors they have cultivated a crowd that has depended upon their various programming from sports nights, to showcasing local Celtic bands on Tuesday nights, to their famous Wednesday trivia nights.

These popular events will be moving just around the corner to their sister pub, Slainte, located on 304 Bowery.

O’Byrne also owns Cooper’s Craft and Kitchen on Second Avenue at East Fifth Street. He told Bedford + Bowery yesterday that Dempsey's "reached the end of its cycle."

He also added that the changing nature of the neighborhood had played a part in his decision to close up shop. "Obviously part of it is related to costs, and the demand for the type of place like Dempsey's is not there anymore in the way it was before."

According to the closing announcement, Dempey's will run happy hour specials "such as $5 beer, wine and well drinks" through the weekend, "ending on Sunday with can-bottle beer specials all night."

Image via Facebook

A celebration of community gardens tomorrow (Saturday!)

Via the EVG inbox...

Wear your best springtime and garden themed costumes, bring posters, musical instruments, and join us in our parade through the gardens of the East Village

Parade starts at 1:30 p.m. at 6B Garden [West Side Ave B (E 5th & E 6th) making stops at:
• Tompkins Square Park [West side Ave B (E 7th & 10th)]
• Children’s Garden [West side Ave B (SW corner E 12th)]
• Campos Community Garden [South side E 12th (Aves B & C)]
• 9th Street Garden [NE Corner Ave C & 9th)]
• La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez [SW corner Ave C & E 9th]
• The Secret Garden [NW corner Ave C & E 4th]
• Parque de Tranquilidad [South side E 4th (Aves C & D)]
• Orchard Alley [South side E 4th St (Aves C & D)]

Ending at El Jardin around 3 p.m. [North side E 4th St (Aves C & D)]

From 3-5 pm at EL Jardin there will be:
• Seed Swap (get some seeds to grow stuff!)
• Garden Membership Drive
• Gardens Rising Walkabout (gardensrising.org)
• Bicycle Check Up
• Solar 1 Educational program
• LES Ready
• Poetry, Music, Food

On the topic of community gardens... the 6BC Community Garden (East Sixth Street between Avenue B and C) Orientation is Sunday ... details are on the flyer below are at the garden's website here.

Burgers will be popping up this weekend at the former Northern Spy space on East 12th Street

After six years, Northern Spy's owners decided to call it quits this past February. However, the space at 511 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B will be put to use again this weekend.

Here are details via the EVG inbox...

Fleishers Craft Butchery is running a pop-up burger joint for one weekend ONLY, at the former Northern Spy Food Co. space today through Sunday. (Northern Spy Food Co. partner Christophe Hille is also CFO and an owner of Fleishers — hence the utilization of the NSFCo space for one last time.)

Menu

• Classic American Burger $12
Classic blend of NY State pasture-raised beef with American cheese, special sauce, red onion and lettuce

• 100% Grass-fed Burger $13
NY State grass-fed beef with lettuce, tomato and onion

• The Bacon Egg & Cheeseburger $15
Made from NY State pasture-raised beef & bacon blend, sunny fried egg, American cheese

• Beef Fat Fries $6

• Northern Spy's Famous Kale Salad $12

•Beer, Wine and Brunch Cocktails will be available

And, these burgers are for a good cause: for every burger Fleishers sells at the pop-up, it is donating 6 oz of NY State pasture-raised beef to Trinity Lower East Side's “Service and Food for the Homeless” kitchen on East Ninth Street and Avenue B.

Spotted: A one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater (made of yarn) on East 9th Street

The latest yarn creation courtesy of @madebylondon arrived today outside La Plaza Cultural on East Ninth Street at Avenue C ...

Previously on EV Grieve:
An evolution in yarn at La Plaza Cultural

An enchanted yarn garden on St. Mark's Place

DumplingGo is closed right now

An EVG reader notes that brown paper is up on the windows at DumplingGo, the quick-serve restaurant on Second Avenue at East 12th Street. There aren't any signs up noting "closed for renovations"... the phone goes unanswered ... and the DumplingGo website has a "Error establishing a database connection" message.

However, there is a freshly approved permit for a "minor renovation of the existing restaurant" on file with the city. In addition, DumplingGo is on CB3's SLA docket (PDF here) on Monday night for a beer-wine license. (This application will not be heard before the committee.)

Anyway, this is likely just a closed for renovations for real (even though there isn't a note for customers).

DumplingGo opened here 13 months ago.

38 in a 25

Thursday morning speed trap on Second Avenue between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street...





Photos by Derek Berg

A celebration of Streit's Matzo Factory starts tonight on Avenue A

When we exchanged emails with filmmaker Michael Levine the other day, the East Village resident had just lugged 1,200 pounds of matzo-making machinery and 800 pounds of matzo to Avenue A from Rockland County.

Levine's documentary, "Streit’s: Matzo and the American Dream," which explores the history of the family-owned matzo factory on the Lower East Side, debuts next Wednesday at the Film Forum.

Ahead of that, Art on A Gallery, 24 Avenue A between East Second Street and East Third Street, will feature an exhibit on Streit's starting tonight. (Levine shared the photos in this post while setting up the exhibit yesterday.)

"We'll have archival photos of the Rivington Street factory from the 1920s-1950s on display," Levine said. "We'll also have a photo series from 2015, just before the factory closed, by Joseph O. Holmes."

Other exhibit highlights include:

• Original machinery from the Streit's factory on display (Streit's saved seven tractor trailers of machinery from the factory — basically everything but the ovens — to rebuild at the new factory in Rockland County as a museum.)

• Work by Judi Harvest, an artist who has been creating gold-leafed matzo since 2000. She's creating a wall of special pink-gold matzos in honor of Streit's.

• Archival video projected on the rear wall of the gallery, shot at the Streit's factory in the 1940s.







"I had this idea when I thought about the fact that this would be the first Passover in a century without Streit's having some kind of physical presence in the neighborhood," Levine said. "There are so many people who would make their annual pilgrimage to the factory, and while I couldn't give them that, I wanted there to be some place for them to go and get in the holiday spirit, as it were. Streit's didn't sponsor any of this in any way — nor did they have any financial/editorial say in the film — but they're excited about the idea."

The four buildings that housed Streit's, vacated last year, are set to be demolished next week to make way condos.

"The idea of those buildings coming down, and maybe even more so what will replace them, makes me sick to my stomach," he said, "but I suppose if it has to happen, maybe [the film and gallery show] might provide a little more perspective than usual on the significance of that loss." (As Alan M. Adler, a great-grandson of Aron Streit, the business’s founder, told the Times in January 2015: "[T]he reality is that operating a modern factory in four old buildings has finally caught up with us.')

The opening is tonight from 8-10. (The exhibit will be up through May 5.) Members of the Streit family as well as several of the factory workers will be at the gallery tonight.

The documentary plays the Film Forum April 20-26. You may find tickets here.

114 E. 10th St. returns for a few million more

In September 2014 we wrote about the new-to-market townhouse at 114 E. 10th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. Didn't take long to find a taker — public records show that the address changed hands for slightly more than the $7.5 asking price in December 2014.

Now the owner — an LLC with a Pinecrest, Fla., address — is reselling the home. No. 114 is back on the market, though the price is now $9.85 million.

Here's the listing over at Douglas Elliman:

Beautifully renovated six bedroom townhouse designed in the mid 1800's by one of the most important architects of the day, JAMES RENWICK,JR. He is best know for his design of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. Well located on a street which has been called "The Most Beautiful Street in the Village".It also has been home to many famous people ,one being the prominent architect, Stanford White.

This outstanding house combines the preservation of original detail and a complete renovation which allows for the luxury and convenience of today'smodern world. Features include central air and heat,video,intercom,security and alarm system. Designer furnished. Real Estate Tax/annual $20,212.

And some photos...







No mention this time around of the sauna and outdoor shower on the roof.

Previously on EV Grieve:
This East 10th Street townhouse includes rooftop shower and garden apartment for staff

Images via Douglas Elliman

Report: 1st U.S. outpost of Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan opening on 10th Street and 4th Avenue

[EVG photo from December 2014]

Hong Kong-based chef Mak Kwai Pui is opening his first U.S. location of Tim Ho Wan, his Michelin-starred dim sum parlor, on East 10th Street and Fourth Avenue, the Voice reported yesterday.

The restaurant is expected to open this fall. Here are more details via the Voice:

Prompted by the Michelin stars, there are often hours-long lines of out-of-towners at Tim Ho Wan's Hong Kong locations — where Mak originally intended to feed locals at bargain prices. Mak tells the Voice that his designs on the U.S. involve appealing to the culinary tourists who seek his food abroad.

And!

Steamer baskets of plump prawn dumplings, Mak's signature trio of baked buns stuffed with barbecue pork, and Chinese-sausage-stuffed glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaf all remain under $5. Even now, the tissues within the boxes placed atop each table serve as napkins.

The address here in Midtown South previously housed Spice, which closed in December 2014.

H/T Steven!

Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel at 215 Chrystie St. will have plenty of places to drink and eat

Been meaning to do another post about Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel at 215 Chrystie St. just below East Houston...as you can see on the horizon (these photos are from mid-March)... from many different vantage points...







Sigh. Because someone will ask!



When completed, the 28-story Herzog & de Meuron-designed building will feature 376 hotel rooms via Schrager's Public Hotel brand, topped off by 11 ultra-luxury condos, including PH3 that is selling for $18.75 million.

Hotel aside, the property promises to be "a luxe nightlife playground," as the Lo-Down recently put it ... including two restaurants from famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. In total, there are 11 venues within the complex, though not all will serve booze. (Maybe just 8?) Still, enough licenses that CB3's SLA committee had a special session Monday night just for this application.

And Schrager was even there for part of the four-hour meeting, where some nearby residents expressed concern over the potential for the high-end nightlife wooshow. Here's Allegra Hobbs at DNAinfo with some meeting coverage:

Ultimately, [CB3] members approved all interior spaces as presented, but recommended the outdoor spaces, one of which is glass-enclosed, shut down at 10 p.m. When asked whether Schrager would comply with the request, a lawyer for the hotelier did not comment.

Schrager’s reps assured community members their sound-proofing methods would lock in any loud noise, but still agreed to meet with neighbors to test out the methods once installed in addition to quarterly meetings with tenants during the first year of the hotel’s operation to gather feedback.

BoweryBoogie attended the meeting as well:

Schrager opened proceedings with an introduction, conveying his intention to create “something great for the neighborhood” that embodies the spirit of the area. He went on to toot his track record across forty boutique hotels, yet in condescending tone. Assumed the panel wasn’t familiar with his vision and how to license hotels. There were frequent defensive outbursts.

A bounty of Bowie tomorrow night at the Anthology Film Archives

Tomorrow night!!! Big Bowie Bash: A Tribute...Redux Bathe yourself in #Bowie with Anthology’s encore presentation of the “KGB Movie Friends” very hefty and heartfelt, 4-plus-hour BIG BOWIE BASH: A TRIBUTE! Join us for a bounty of everything Bowie, with clips, videos, performance footage, interviews, and miscellany! A singular experience not to be missed that will have you singing, crying, laughing, gasping, and ... dancing in the streets!

A photo posted by Anthology Film Archives (@anthologyfilmarchives) on Apr 13, 2016 at 8:34am PDT

This four-hour "Big Bowie Bash" starts at 7 tomorrow night at the Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Ave. at East Second Street. Find more details here.

Iggy Pop in Tompkins Square Park

EVG reader Juliet passes along these photos of Iggy Pop from late this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... filming something or another... (any idea who he's with???)



Maybe the former East Village resident is giving another tour of the neighborhood?

Anyway, Iggy played the United Palace last night in support of his fine new record, Post Pop Depression. (Alex shares a few thought on the show here.)

And Iggy — aka James Newell Osterberg, Jr. — turns 69 on April 21. So happy early birthday Iggy...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Go on a tour of Iggy Pop's East Village in 1993

4Knots Music Festival returns to the South Street Seaport this summer; Guided by Voices headline

Via the EVG inbox...

The Village Voice is proud to announce the lineup for its sixth annual 4Knots Music Festival, being held in its original home at the South Street Seaport on Saturday, July 9th. For this year's festival, the Voice is expanding their variety of genres to include Americana, Hip-Hop, Electronica, and more. 4Knots 2016 will feature performances by Guided By Voices, The Strumbellas, Protomartyr, Car Seat Headrest, Kirk Knight, Girlpool, Bayonne, Diane Coffee, Promised Land Sound, and Mild High Club, plus more bands to be announced soon.

The Voice is thrilled to announce it is returning to our roots with a free festival this year as part of the re-established Voice mission to bring music, art and culture to New Yorkers under the new ownership of Peter Barbey.

And here's a summery song by one of the bands on the bill... Girlpool...

Report: U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara now looking into deed lift at 45 Rivington St.

Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, is the latest official to probe the sale of the former Rivington House on the Lower East Side, Politico New York reports.

The deal under the de Blasio administration's watch in November is already under investigation by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the city Department of Investigation and City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

To recap: In February 2015, Allure paid $28 million for the property, promising that 45 Rivington — the former Rivington Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation — would remain a health facility. In November, a city agency lifted the the deed in exchange for the Allure Group's $16 million payment to the city. Earlier this year, Allure then reportedly sold the property for $116 million to the the Slate Property Group, a condo developer who plans to create 100 luxury residences in the building that overlooks Sara S. Roosevelt Park.

The mayor has said he was unaware of the transaction until last month. City officials have accused Allure of misleading the administration about its intentions.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Bharara's office "is also examining whether donors to the Campaign for One New York, a nonprofit supporting Mr. de Blasio’s agenda and run by his allies, have benefited from favorable treatment from the mayor’s administration, people familiar with the matter have said."

A de Blasio spokesperson told the Journal that the administration didn't have any knowledge of a federal probe but would cooperate fully with any investigation.

Confectionery, a vegan chocolate shop and bakery, coming soon to 440 E. 9th St.

[Photo via Steven with assistance by EV Arrow]

Thanks to EVG regular Scuba Diva for this tip... a new vegan sweets shop called Confectionery is set to open next month at 440 E. Ninth St. near Avenue A.

The retail shop will be a collaboration between vegan chocolate company Lagusta’s Luscious and bakery Sweet Maresa's ... both of New Paltz and Internet fame.

VegNews described the new place this way: "Confectionery will feature items from both companies such as Sweet Maresa macarons and baked goods and Lagusta’s Luscious chocolate bars, barks, and truffles."

The shop is currently hiring.

The previous tenant in this space, Makki Deli & Grocery, closed in December after just nine months in business.

[Updated] TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken hasn't been open lately

The quick-serve restaurant at 151 Avenue A between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street has been dark for the past 10 days or so.

There's no answer on TakeMeHome's phone. And Seamless says the restaurant is now closed.

TakeMeHome did close without a note or notice in December 2014 — just three weeks after opening. (We were told the owner's wife had a baby.) Unfortunately, the closure looks more permanent this time.

In any event, people we talked with generally liked the food — large portions for the price. Never seemed to catch on, though.

San Loco closed here in February 2014. High-profile restaurateurs Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield were seeking a liquor license to open a bar cafe here in May 2014, though CB3 did not offer their approval, and the two decided not to pursue the space.

Updated 4/21

After being closed without any notice for the past two weeks... the restaurant is back serving chicken...