Week in Grieview

[East 4th Street balloon parade yesterday via Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Remembering Tom Mulligan (Thursday)

At the new location of Ess-A-Bagel (Friday)

Thirstea Café tea shop has closed on 10th Street (Tuesday)

It was the Summer of '16 (Monday)

Raphael Toledano is selling 5 more East Village buildings (Thursday)

A moment in the ongoing East Houston Reconstruction Project (Monday)

Abraço has moved across Seventh Street (Saturday)

Plywood comes down outside the incoming Taberna 97 on St. Mark's Place (Friday)

Check out the penthouse at the synagogue-turned condos on Sixth Street (Friday)

10Below Ice Cream now open on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

Recent restaurant openings (Tuesday)

Paris Baguette opening a location in Stuy Town (Tuesday)

Team behind Avenue B's Pardon My French eyeing 2 spaces on Fourth Street (Wednesday)

Double rainbow action (Tuesday)

Down a psychic (Sunday)

A few details about the Wagamama coming to Third Avenue (Wednesday)

The 9/11 mural on 9th and A

The mural of the World Trade Center went up in the days after 9/11 here on Ninth Street at Avenue A.

I never knew who the artist was ... As I learned today, it is the work of Jesse Fischler, who co-owned the former Shrine Records on Ninth Street. (Thank you @thismikewolf)

It has, for the most part, remained untouched through the years — even with a new landlord and the departure of the existing businesses here. (The building was painted in late 2014.)

Other 9/11 murals in the neighborhood haven't fared so well. Chico's Twin Towers tribute on Avenue A at 14th Street was covered by ads then painted over. Back in 2003, Cooper Union had the "Forever Tall" mural painted over at 35 Cooper Square to make way for ads. (The whole building was eventually demolished anyway.)

And back in May, someone tagged/vandalized this mural on Second Street just east of Avenue B...


[Photo by Naomi Paulin]

Students had created this as a tribute to 9/11 victims.

FDNY Engine Company 343 on 2nd Avenue

Engine Company 343 was created to honor the 343 members of the FDNY who died in the line of duty on 9/11.



Photos on Second Avenue at Fifth Street by Derek Berg

About today's concert in Tompkins Square Park

Via the EVG inbox...

Celebrating the life of dearly-departed Erik Petersen of Mischief Brew and commemorating the events of Sept. 11, 2001 (with various speakers and literature tables).

And the bands:

• Flux Machine
• Material Support
• All Torn Up
• Breaking Glass
• The Brood
• Crack Rock Steady 7

Where: Avenue A + Seventh Street
When: Sunday, Sept. 11, from 2-6 pm

Brought to you by Time Warp Zine

Saying goodbye to a familiar presence in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Michael Sean Edwards]

There was an informal remembrance early yesterday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park for Tom Mulligan, a longtime East Village resident who died earlier this summer.


[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]

Those who were in attendance said that a good number of people stopped by between 12:30 and 2:30...


[Photo by Steven]

As his longtime friend Michael Sean Edwards wrote on Thursday: "To many in the neighborhood, Mr. Mulligan was a distinctive presence, often seen in Tompkins Square Park ... reading The New York Times in the shade near Avenue B and Eighth Street."


[Photo by Steven]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Remembering Tom Mulligan

Abraço's new home on 7th Street debuts today

[Last day yesterday for Abraço at No. 86 via]

After nearly nine years at 86 E. Seventh St., Abraço has moved into a larger space across the street here between First Avenue and Second Avenue...


[Photo by Steven]

...the new address is 81 E. Seventh St. ...


[Photo by Vinny & O]


[Photo by Vinny & O]

With the larger space, Abraço owners Jamie McCormick and Elizabeth Quijada will also expand their menu offerings. (They were also OK'd for a beer-wine license.) Not sure just yet of the new hours... will update later.

A photo posted by @abraco_espresso on Sep 10, 2016 at 6:05am PDT

This space was previously home to Krystal's Cafe 81, which closed earlier this year. (Until Jan. 1, 2005, the address was home to Verchovyna Tavern aka George's Bar aka Bar 81.)

H/T Steven

Previously on EV Grieve:
Abraço looking to move into a larger space across 7th Street

The East 10th Street Block Party is today (Saturday!)

The 45th annual... between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

You can usually find some good stuff for sale at the various stoop/table sales... though things were still being assembled when I walked through earlier this morning...

New amenity alert

Third Street near Avenue A.

Unless this is some new public art. (In that case, thank you Amanda Burden-Christ!)

Fashion Week on the Bowery

Lost and found (or discarded) at Bond.

The shirt is in pretty good shape except for the blood stains.

There's a 6BC Garden Party & Fundraiser tomorrow (Saturday!)

Via the EVG inbox...

Join us for MUSIC, FOOD, POETRY, RAFFLES, A SILENT ART AUCTION and MUCH MORE in the Garden on Saturday Sept. 10, 2pm - 8pm. (Raindate: Sunday Sept. 11)
Help support 6BC Garden!
ALL Welcome.
FREE!

ICE COFFEE by Elsewhere
BAGELS & CREAM CHEESE by Tompkins Square Bagels
PIZZA by Two Boots

Head over to the Facebook events page for a full list of performers and raffle items.

The 6BC Botanical Garden is on East Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Are you 'Lonesome' tonight?

The new record by Merchandise, "A Corpse Wired For Sound," is out Sept. 23 via 4AD. From that record here is "Lonesome Sound."

The band plays Market Hotel out in Brooklyn on Oct. 9.

Please refrain from feeding Hershey's Cocoa to the squirrels in Tompkins Square Park

Well, at least take it out of the container first then ... to make it easier for them to bake with...





Hershey' Cocoa Squirrel then for Halloween?

Photos by Steven

Previously on EV Grieve:
Fine, as long as the squirrels don't start eating pizza with a fork in Tompkins Square Park

La Newyorkina softly opening on Astor Place place today; first of 2 new food vendors

Welcome to Astor Place @LaNewyorkina Visit at noon today for a sneak preview and grab some ice pops on this hot day! pic.twitter.com/iExI98Jj3C

— Astor Place NYC (@AstorPlaceNYC) September 9, 2016

Via the EVG inbox... details on two new food-drink choices for the revamped Astor Place — La Newyorkina, on the Astor Place North Plaza and Astor Plate, on the Astor Place South Plaza.

From the news release:

La Newyorkina
Founded in 2010, La Newyorkina features an array of sweets and treats from Chef Fany Gerson’s native Mexico. The La Newyorkina story started with paletas (hand-made, seasonal ice pops) using traditional Mexican flavors like tamarind, chocolate and dried chiles. The paletas were sold out of carts at local food festivals and built a loyal following at Smorgasburg, Jacob Riis Park and the High Line.

La Newyorkina’s Astor Place kiosk will showcase a broader menu, including a variety of Mexican confections and pastries (paletas, ice cream and chamoyadas) as well as Dough doughnuts for breakfast. The kiosk design reflects modern Mexico and features a hand-painted mural reflecting the local neighborhood.

Astor Plate
Perry Mallas has a knack for bringing together quality food and a sense of place. His latest project, Astor Plate, will serve the Village community by offering healthy comfort food, coffee and beverages, organic and locally sourced wherever possible. For this project, Perry is collaborating with the same creative team at Patrick Nash Design that designed and built Flatiron Green and Benvenuto Café.

Complementing the food and beverage menu, Astor Plate is also collaborating with MUD Coffee to bring back a local icon to Astor Place. Although the MudTruck is on an indefinite hiatus, MUD is delighted to once again be part of this vibrant public space later this fall.

Still no word when the Alamo will return.

La Newyorkina will be open today from noon to 4 p.m.

EV Grieve Etc.: DA takes on crooked contractors; 'Polarized' by Richard Kern

[Dismantled bike rack pic on 4th Street via Derek Berg]

Mount Sinai Beth Israel patient diagnosed with Legionnaires' Disease (DNAinfo)

An interview with longtime East Village artist Anton van Dalen (Hyperallergic ... previously)

Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. continues to crack down on crooked contractors (Commercial Observer)

Photographer Brian Rose on his latest book, a photographic history (of sorts) of the World Trade Center complex (Curbed ... previously)

Molly Ringwald sells her East 10th Street home (New York Post ... previously)

A look at Joie de Vivre Hotel at 50 Bowery (The Lo-Down)

Wrapping up the 100 Gates Project on the Lower East Side (The New York Times)

Some Summer in the City '16 pics via Alex (Flaming Pablum)

A visit to Suffolk Arms on East Houston (The New York Times)

Documenting young kestrels on the Lower East Side (Laura Goggin Photography)

12-story mixed-use building set for Delancey and Orchard (NY Yimby)

Hwa Yuan returning to Chinatown (Grub Street)

First day of NYC schools in 1915 (Ephemeral New York)

The U.S. theatrical debut of "The Apostate," the latest film by Uruguayan film programmer-turned-director Federico Veiro (Anthology Film Archives)

1979's "Mad Max" this weekend (Metrograph)

Diversions: The weirdness of the (almost unwatchable) "What is Royal Trux?" (Dangerous Minds)

...and several things going on starting tonight...

Fortnight Institute, 60 E. Fourth St. between the Bowery and Second Avenue, presents "Polarized, an intimate, underground history of New York City in never-before-seen polaroid photographs by Richard Kern from the 1980s and 90s. Polarized is an archival exhibition that serves as a historical record through slides, video footage, books, early experimental publications, and flyers." Through Oct. 9.

Richard Kern | Polarized | Opens on Friday, September 9, 6-8pm at Fortnight Institute. @richardkernnyc #richardkern #fortnightinstitute

A photo posted by FORTNIGHT INSTITUTE (@fortnight_institute) on Sep 5, 2016 at 8:55am PDT

...and an anniversary exhibit at 212 Arts, 240 E. Fourth St. near Avenue B...

A photo posted by Marina (@marinasfavorites) on Sep 7, 2016 at 1:29pm PDT

At the new location of Ess-A-Bagel

As we first noted this past weekend, the new location of Ess-A-Bagel opened at 324-326 First Ave. near East 19th Street in Stuy Town.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by to check out the new, more spacious Ess-A-Bagel...





...and as previously noted, Ess-A-Bagel will now toast your bagel. (The old Ess-A-Bagel on First Avenue at 21st Street sported "No Toasting" signs.) You can spot the toaster behind the counter...



OK! There...



As the previous First Avenue location started to close down in March 2015, patrons started writing their goodbyes on the walls... the owners have preserved part of those walls here...







Charles Wenzelberg, one of the owners (pictured above with a longtime patron), offered a few more details, such as that Ess-A-Bagel will soon offer deliveries, add sidewalk seating and stay open a little later. (Their current hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.) They will also expand their offerings to include pastries, cakes ... and bialys.

In an interview with Town & Village, Mike Wenzelberg (Charles' brother), talked about the numerous delays that kept Ess-A-Bagel from opening earlier this year.

A bigger problem was that a gas meter had to have a new line drawn from the gas main. Other issues were related to the size of the oven and necessary duct work, as well as a new air conditioning unit on the roof and making sure the noise from it didn’t disturb neighbors. “We don’t want these tenants to be angry with us,” said Wenzelberg.

Ess-a-Bagel closed its 40-year-old shop on First Avenue at East 21st Street in March 2015 following a landlord dispute.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New 1st Avenue Ess-A-Bagel will have a TOASTER

Plywood comes down outside the incoming Taberna 97 on St. Mark's Place

[EVG file photo]

Workers have removed the plywood from outside 97 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue...



The owners of St. Dymphna's down the block are opening a Portuguese restaurant called Taberna 97 in this space.

The restaurant has an Instagram account, which notes they will be a "Leed Certified ... Sustainable Kitchen." No word on an opening date. (DNAinfo reported in March 2015 that the owners were hoping for a July 2015 opening.)

The space was previously home to Yaffa Cafe, which closed for good after 31 years in September 2014, as we first reported.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Yaffa Cafe is officially gone; back garden dismantled

More about Yaffa Cafe closing

St. Dymphna's owners look to take over the former Yaffa Cafe space on St. Mark's Place

Check out the penthouse at the synagogue-turned condos on 6th Street

The three luxury residences at the former Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue hit the market back in December, as Curbed first noted.

The homes range in price from $2.95 million (second floor) to $4.4 million for the duplex penthouse, which has two private terraces.

All three are still available, according to listings at Streeteasy, which notes open houses on Sunday. (The listings arrived only this week at Streeteasy.)

Anyway, I hadn't visited this project in some time... so there are more images of the residences ... as well as details on what you get the for the $$$.

Here's copy via Streeteasy for the penthouse...:

The Duplex Penthouse, at 2,564 SF, has been designed to embrace indoor-outdoor living, with two expansive terraces totaling 813 SF. On its light-filled top floor, the grand open-plan kitchen is the centerpiece, connecting dining and living areas that extend outward to the terraces, providing great flow for entertaining. The lower floor offers privacy and tranquility for the master suite, secondary bedrooms and a spacious den.

415 East 6th Street ... represents the culture and creative movement only found in the East Village. These three one-of-a-kind condominium residences are steps from the diverse boutiques and restaurants located throughout the East Village Historic District. Two floor-through residences and a duplex penthouse have been designed within a historic 1910 neoclassical limestone faade that features ornate architectural details and original stained glass windows. They offer the perfect synthesis of historic charm and modern elegance.

Additional features: Keyed elevator, 4" wide white oak flooring, Bertazzoni range, Liebherr refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher, built in Sharp under-counter microwave, Bosch 24 washer/dryer, and an individually controlled, energy efficient heating and cooling system...

You can visit the official 415 site here for more details.

And the usual background... the synagogue — active here since 1910 — had reportedly fallen on hard times, "with a dwindling membership and few resources to maintain the building," as The New York Times noted. Previous plans called for the demolition of the building. Those plans never materialized, and a new developer, East River Partners, emerged and proposed the current arrangement.

As part of the current agreement, the developers are providing at least $20,000 annually to the congregation "for the next 198 years ... East River is also giving the synagogue a $180,000 'fit-out allowance' for the synagogue to design and rebuild the sanctuary and other spaces, like offices or meeting spaces in the basement."

Images via Streeteasy

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plan to add condos to historic East Sixth Street synagogue back on

Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue

A final look inside the Anshei Meseritz synagogue on East Sixth Street

Stained-glass windows removed ahead of condo conversion at Congregation Mezritch Synagogue

Condos at former East 6th Street synagogue will start at just under $3 million

Sidewalk bridge comes down as condo conversion continues at former East 6th Street synagogue

History reimagined with $4.4 million penthouse at former 6th Street synagogue

Report: Samy Mahfar drops bid for commercial overlay on East Houston and parts of the LES

[EVG photo from last month]

Controversial developer Samy Mahfar has withdrawn his application to rezone part of East Houston Street and the Lower East Side.

As The Lo-Down first reported, the City Council’s subcommittee on zoning and franchises was scheduled to vote on the proposal Tuesday.

If approved, then Mahfar would have the go-ahead to build a restaurant or bar in the new building he's developing at 255 E. Houston St. between Norfolk and Suffolk. The current zoning only permits a community facility.

Head to The Lo-Down for more on the story.

And some background...

No. 255 previously housed the day-care center Action For Progress. They were displaced in the spring of 2010 when construction next door at 179 Suffolk St. destabilized the building.

Last summer, Mahfar, the property's new owner, filed plans for a 10-story residential complex with 53 residences and 4,600 square feet for community facilities.

However, as BoweryBoogie reported in late February, Mahfar was seeking a commercial overlay for the parcel, with 7,240 square-feet for commercial use ... while the project grew to a 13-story building with 63 residential units that looks like...



In May, CB3 approved a resolution opposing the change. City Councilmember Rosie Mendez and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer also opposed the commercial overlay. Still, the Mayor de Blasio-controlled City Planning Commission approved the application on July 13.

In a letter dated Sept. 6, Mahfar told City Planning Director Carl Weisbrod that he was withdrawing the application for the commercial overlay.

Updated 9/9

Here's a statement from Mendez on the situation here...

“The application to rezone Houston Street to add a commercial overlay in my district did not move forward at the City Council. While a vote was scheduled to take place on September 8th, I did not feel that moving forward with the proposed commercial overlay was in the best interests of the community and the applicant withdrew their application.

In 2008, my office worked closely with Community Board 3, the Department of City Planning, advocacy groups, residents, and businesses to address out-of-scale development happening across the Lower East Side and East Village. The selection of residential contextual districts was done in a purposeful manner which would allow for new development but protected the residential character of the community. The planning efforts completed in 2008 was the community’s self-determination for its future. It was the result of a transparent process that involved comprehensive thinking about the entire area. Continuing that tradition, the community board, and my staff evaluated the change in zoning and felt that only community facility or residential uses are the most appropriate uses in this area.

In addition, the significant interest of area community facility providers leads me to believe that there is a high demand for the community facility space that will be offered at 255 East Houston Street. I remain open to helping to place 4,000 square feet of a non-profit or community-oriented community facility at the location.”

Previously on EV Grieve:
Next for 255 E. Houston St.: Community facility/school/medical building?

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

Debate over commercial overlay for 255 E. Houston St. and surrounding blocks continues

A man and his tiger

Avenue A between Ninth Street and St. Mark's Place early this evening.

Photo by Steven

Village Pourhouse no longer looks closed

Two weeks ago, the Village Pourhouse on Third Avenue at 11th Street closed up the front of the bar and posted notes saying they were "kicking off the new season with a new look." (The Pourhouse remained open though: Patrons had to enter through the 11th Street side.)

An EVG reader noted earlier this evening that the Pourhousers were opening up the doors again and setting up the sidewalk seating for the first time since Aug. 25...





As far as the reader could tell, the space looked the same — at least from the outside.

The Pourhouse is also celebrating its 10th anniversary.