Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Out and About in the East Village

In this ongoing 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: London
Occupation: Engineer (Music)
Location: 4th Street and 1st Avenue
Time: 4:30 pm on Thursday, June 30

I’m originally from the Bronx and grew up in Manhattan. I was raised in Brooklyn for half of my life, got into some trouble out there and my mom moved me to the Lower East Side. I lived by FDR Drive almost half my life. I lived over there in the Baruch Houses, grew up over there going to school.

It was pretty cool for me because you know, I was different. I learned how to play basketball. I met a lot of different people. Then after that the world started opening up for me, and as I got older things got rougher in the city. The Lower East Side used to be the city that never sleeps.

My mom, she was strung out on crack or whatever, so most of the time I was by myself. I raised myself out here. I’ve been raising myself until now, since I was young. Back then when I was out here, people used to walk around buying drugs and stuff on Avenue D. They would get ripped off; people would rob them, take their money. But they didn’t care because they wanted that fix. You know, I’ve seen a lot of stuff out there.

When I was around 22 or 23 ... I used to sell a lot of cocaine out there man. A lot of people used drugs. My friend [was selling] at the time and I used to sell weed. I was like damn; I used to see them make a lot of money.

Then this guy I used to know, he’d see me walking around all the time — this Dominican guy. He comes up to me, ‘Come here Papi.’ I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ He’s like, ‘I see you out here a lot, you want to make some money?’ I said, ‘Doing what?’ He said, ‘You know what this is?’ He showed me some coke. I was like, ‘that’s coke.’ He was like, ‘Well this is what I do.’ And then from there, I guess he just flooded me with cocaine. He gave me a job and I took advantage of it.

Instead of being out here hustling from hand to hand, you can get money smart. You can meet people that own businesses. A lot of these businesses out here, I used to go there and knock off coke for the staff, then leave that place and go to another spot. Half of these businesses out here, people use drugs. You would never know that. You could go in a restaurant and people would be sitting down eating. I used to walk in and it’s like, it’s candy time. It’s like a little kid walking in a candy store, and everybody’s like ‘oh shit.’ It’s like me walking in with a big bag of candy. I was making so much money through all these people.

A lot of my friends died. People are still doing the same shit. You know, sometimes people just gotta push themselves somewhere else, to the next level, and this ain’t it. I got my mom into rehab and then I bought her a house in Virginia, and I moved out there and I stayed away for 15 years, just to get away from all that shit that was out here.

I escaped everything. A lot of my friends were dying. I couldn’t take it no more, so I just left, took off. I started a new life. Now I’m into music, hip hop and R&B. I went back to school and all that, for engineering. But I’ve been doing [music] all my life.

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

Time for new socks, and a store: Sock Man sighting on St. Mark's Place



The Sock Man, aka Marty Rosen, has been busy prepping his new storefront at 99 1/2 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue for business.

As we first reported last Thursday, The Sock Man is returning to St. Mark's Place after a rent increase forced him to close his longtime home at No. 27 between Second Avenue and Third Avenue back in January.

Rosen hopes to be open in the new space by Aug. 1.

Thanks to Steven and Michael Cummings for the photo!

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Sock Man is closing on St. Mark's Place

The Sock Man says thank you; store closes on Saturday

Closing portraits at The Sock Man

The scoop on the former Sock Man space on St. Mark's Place

The Sock Man is returning to St. Mark's Place

New 1st Avenue Ess-A-Bagel will have a TOASTER


[EVG photo from last week]

Ess-A-Bagel fans continue to wait for the new location to open at 324-326 First Ave. at East 19th Street in Stuy Town.

The opening date has ben pushed back several times, starting in February. The Ess-A-Bagel Facebook page shows a lot of progress, such as the arrival of tables and chairs as well as the deli case late last month. The opening date is "soon."

When this Ess-A-Bagel opens, there will be one noticeable difference... the presence of a TOASTER...


Uh-oh!

The shop, which never offered the toasted bagel option, shut down its home of nearly 40 years on First Avenue at East 21st Street in March 2015 … depending on who's telling the story, there was some sort of disagreement between the landlord and Ess-A-Bagel’s owners. At the time, the Ess-A-Folks vowed that they would open in a new storefront nearby.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Report: Landlord forcing Ess-a-Bagel from its longtime home (46 comments)

1 week left for Ess-A-Bagel at its current 1st Avenue location

[Updated] Ess-A-Bagel has closed for now on 1st Avenue

[Updated] Ess-A-Bagel announces its new location on 1st Avenue

Rose&Basil bringing truffles, breakfast jars and coffee to 7th Street



We noticed the other day that the for rent sign is down at 104 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue... looks like some food service is on the way...



And just like that the signage arrived for Rose&Basil ...



Here's a description of what's in store:

Rose&Basil offers a variety of products such as exquisite Chocolate Truffles, all-you-need in a Breakfast Jar and a carefully selected variety [of] coffee. All our products are 100% gluten free, organic and have no added sugars...

Owner Ioana Holt and her friend Will Wang plan to open the shop on July 24.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

An all-American modeling moment



EVG reader Tyler spotted this friendly note with nice penmanship on a front door along East Fifth Street... anyone else want to see these photos?

On the campaign trail with East Village landlord Jared Kushner


[Reader photo at 118 E. 4th St. from March 6]

Several readers passed along the link to the Page 1 feature today in The New York Times titled Quiet Fixer in Donald Trump’s Campaign: His Son-in-Law, Jared Kushner.

According to the Cooper Square Committee, only Steve Croman owns more residential buildings in the East Village than Kushner does.

And as we've noted in multiple posts, there haven't been any shortage of tenant horror stories since Kushner and his company, Westminster City Living, started buying up properties in the East Village in 2013. For instance, in March, tenants at 118 E. Fourth St. went to Manhattan Housing Court as part of ongoing litigation against Kushner. Tenants there had been without gas for cooking since October. There are other issues too, such as collapsed ceilings, overflowing trash and sporadic heat. (Kushner eventually settled with the tenants.)

Brandon Kielbasa at the Cooper Square Committee told Gothamist in March that Kushner "treats both rent-stabilized and market-rate tenants badly, and seems to feel that he can get away with not maintaining buildings because the housing market is so tight he can keep them full anyway."

In July 2014, DNAinfo reported that "Kushner is using lawsuits, disruptive construction and neglect to force rent-stabilized tenants out of two buildings he owns in the East Village, as he converts them to high-end apartments, according to court documents and residents."

Meanwhile, around that same time, the Daily News filed a story with the headline Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner forcing residents out of East Village building so he can get higher rents: tenants

In any event, the feature in the Times does not mention any of Kushner's holdings in the neighborhood or his reported aggressive tactics... focusing on his role as a key Trump adviser.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

In a gradual but unmistakable fashion, Mr. Kushner has become involved in virtually every facet of the Trump presidential operation, so much so that many inside and out of it increasingly see him as a de facto campaign manager. Mr. Kushner, who is married to Mr. Trump’s daughter Ivanka ... oversaw the creation of an online fund-raising system and has had a hand in drafting Mr. Trump’s few policy speeches. And now that Mr. Trump has secured the Republican nomination, Mr. Kushner is counseling his father-in-law on the selection of a running mate.

It is a new and unlikely role for Mr. Kushner, a conspicuously polite Harvard graduate whose prominent New Jersey family bankrolled Democrats for decades and whose father’s reputation was destroyed, in a highly public and humiliating manner, by his involvement in electoral politics.

The article notes that given the hectic campaign trail, "Kushner is devoting far less time to his real estate empire."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tenants claim: Kushner and Westminster want to destroy this building's beautiful garden

Reports outline how Kushner Companies is aggressively trying to empty 170-174 E. 2nd St.

Local politicos join residents of 2 Jared Kushner-owned buildings to speak out about poor living conditions, alleged harassment

Jared Kushner's residents at 118 E. 4th St. would like gas for cooking and some heat

[Updated] New installation on Astor Place that you can take for a spin


[Photo by Sparber]

Uh, sorry... not the Alamo ... workers today put in a Citi Bike docking station on the under-renovation Cooper Square-Astor Place...


[Photo by Vinny & O]


[V&O]

I believe they just relocated this one from in front of Kmart... (and wasn't there one in front of Cooper Union a few years back?)

Updated 7:55 p.m.

Citi Bike says that this is a temporary relocation... due to the construction outside the uptown 6 stop...

[Updated] Report of a death in Tompkins Square Park


[Photo by Steven]

A body was found early this morning near the southeast entrance of Tompkins Square Park on Avenue B and Seventh Street. Readers reported seeing emergency responders as early as 7 a.m.

An emergency responder at the scene told EVG correspondent Steven that the male victim was found next to a tree. There's conflicting information at the moment about the man. One worker said that the man appeared to be at least 50 while another Park regular said that he was a younger traveler. A drug overdose is suspected as the cause of death.

We'll update when there's more information to share.

Updated 7/6

According to Downtown Manhattan Patch, the man was 52 years old. The medical examiner was still waiting for results and investigating the cause of death, a spokesperson from the ME's office said today.

Dorian Grey Gallery space is for rent on 9th Street



The now-empty gallery space is on the market here on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...



Per the Sinvin listing:

Ground Level: 650 SF (approx)
Storage Basement: 300 SF
Description:
• Eclectic and busy East Village street close to Tompkins Square Park
• Perfect for either boutique retail or restaurant
• Landlord will vent and install grease trap for food tenant

The asking rent is $7,900.

Gallery rep Molua Muldown told us last month that they were unable to come to terms on a lease with the new landlord (Benchmark Real Estate Group). Dorian Gray has a pop-up gallery space in Watermill for the summer.

Thanks to Steven for the photos

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Dorian Grey Gallery saying goodbye to 9th Street

Looking at the new residential building for 13th Street and University Place



We haven't walked by the now-demolished stretch of University Place between 12th Street and 13th Street in some time.

So we hadn't seen the rendering for the new residential building for the corner space at 13th Street...



New York Yimby previously reported that a Adjmi Architects-designed seven-story residential building (condos) is in the works... good for one unit per floor on top of 3,200 square feet of ground-floor retail.

The corner previously housed University Place Gourmet as well as several adjacent storefronts, including Bennie Louie Chinese Laundry.

Developer Ranger Properties paid $22 million for the lot, and sent everyone packing.

Meanwhile, next door, 23 floors of condos are going up at the former home of Bowlmor Lanes and several other businesses. That building will be called 21E12.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Bowlmor Lanes will convert to condos, like everywhere else around here

76-year-old Bowlmor Lanes closes for good today

Bowlmor says goodbye

Bowlmor Lanes replacement: 23-floor residential building

Major changes coming to University Place and East 13th Street

How about some more condos for University Place

Here's what's left of the block of University Place that once housed Bowlmor Lanes


[13th and University in June 2015]

Santos Variety Shop is closing on Avenue C



The shop at 77 Avenue C between Fifth Street and Sixth Street will be closing on July 25.

The owner, who is 80, has decided to retire... so for the next few weeks, Santos, which sells various religious artifacts, such as candles, statues and incense, will be unloading its inventory...







The circa-1950s canisters of Saint Mark powdered incense were going for $1.50.

La Contrada now open on 2nd Avenue



Several readers, including Vinny & O, who shared these photos, have noted that La Contrada is now open for service on Second Avenue at Fourth Street...





The place is billed as an "Italian American Restaurant and Caterers" ...



The restaurant menu shows a variety of standard pasta, meat and fish offerings...


[Click on image to go big]

They also offer takeout items ... as well as juices and smoothies...



The hours are 8 a.m. to midnight daily.

This southwest corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street was formerly home to Contrada, Calliope and Belcourt. For now, the Contrada signage remains up.

Please ket us know if you have tried La Contrada.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Today we celebrate our Independence Day!


[Photo on East 3rd Street from last night]

As you know the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks are on the East River this year/tonight...

Here are some articles with the rundown on places to watch the fireworks, street closures, etc., at Gothamist ... Curbed ... DNAinfo ... The Village Voice

And there are parking restrictions...


...and the 9th Precinct offers this...


Lastly, a reminder not to have any breath-holding contents.

Otherwise, enjoy, be safe ...

Noted



As we reported back on Friday, the owners of the Kati Roll Company are looking to open their fourth Manhattan location at 128 Second Ave., former home of the Stage, according to preliminary paperwork filed ahead of this month's CB3-SLA committee meeting.

This spray-painted message arrived overnight here between St. Mark's Place and Seventh Street...





The Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed March 30, 2015. Stage owner Roman Diakun had been involved in an ongoing legal/eviction battle with landlord Icon Realty. (You can read that background here.)

Reps for the the well-liked Kati Roll Company will be seeking a beer-wine license during the CB3-SLA committee meeting next Monday, July 11.

Neighborhood alert for the 3rd Street Rose Snipper



These are flyers up on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... for an alleged flower thief.

Thanks to EVG reader Marjorie for the photo

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Week in Grieview


[Photo on 2nd Avenue by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

The Sock Man is returning to St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Gregg Singer secures $44 million loan to continue plan to convert former PS 64 into a dorm (Monday)

Report: East Village man admits to three sexual assaults in 2014 (Wednesday)

At ABC No Rio's last HardCore/Punk Matinee on Rivington Street (for now) (Tuesday)

Reverend Jen departs her LES home, and Troll Museum (Tuesday)

A visit to former East Village mainstay Love Saves the Day in New Hope, Pa. (Thursday)

Brooklyn's Dun-Well Doughnuts opening an outpost on St. Marks's Place (Wednesday)

Out and About with Colette Pwakah (Wednesday)

Another freeze on 1-year leases for rent-stabilized apartments; 2% for 2-year leases (Tuesday)

Other Music storefront is for rent (Monday)

The Kati Roll Company vying for the Stage space on Second Avenue (Friday)

Thursday Kitchen will serve Korean tapas on East Ninth Street (Tuesday)

235 Second Ave. being pitched for bar-restaurant usage (Wednesday)

B4 has closed on East Fourth Street (Thursday)

Final 4Knots Festival lineup unveiled (Monday)

Checking out the penthouse at THREE99 — "unlike any apartment ever in the East Village" (Friday)

Sweetgreen opening on Astor Place (Thursday)

The black crowned night heron continues to come out at... night in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

Two more sidewalk cafe choices for Second Avenue (Tuesday)

Films in Tompkins return this summer with "Do the Right Thing," "True Romance" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (Friday)

A reminder about breath-holding contests (Wednesday)

Osaka Grub bringing Japanese fast food to the Essex Street Market (Tuesday)

Full reveal at Icon Realty's 327 E. Ninth St. (Tuesday)

Inch by inch, 190 Bowery is losing its graffiti (Thursday)

Lost and found PSA from Tompkins Square Park



Paging William A. Morton...

Photo via Steven

A LinkNYC kiosk for 2nd Avenue, and several false alarms



The influx of LinkNYC kiosks continues... as one of the [free] Wi-Fi hotspots has been installed on Second Avenue and East 12th Street... the first that we recall seeing in the neighborhood outside the Third Avenue corridor at and above 14th Street.

The city is reportedly expected to have more than 500 kiosks up and running by the end of this month... with a goal of 7,500, each replacing a pre-existing phone booth, over the next eight years.

Meanwhile, given the anticipated arrival of more kiosks, there has been some confusion... none of these are LinkNYC kiosks, just FYI...













Saturday, July 2, 2016

Summer lovin'



A moment on St. Mark's Place via Derek Berg

Steiner East Village wooing L train Steinhangers



Developer Douglas Steiner has unveiled an ad campaign at the L train stop on Third Avenue and 14th Street for his residences — aka Steiner East Village ...



The 7-story, 82-unit building at 438 E. 12th St. features homes starting at $1.1 million... with the 4-bedroom penthouse with 1,364 square feet of terraces that's asking $11.25 million. Something nice to think about while pondering which L train shutdown scenario MTA officials will choose...



Meanwhile, forgot to note that the 438-branded astroturf arrived on the corner of Avenue A and 11th Street a few weeks back...