Swiss Institute moving into the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

[Photo from December by Steven]

Looks as if the former Chase branch on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place won't be torn down after all.

Back in February, landlord Icon Realty filed demolition permits for the address, 130 Second Ave.

At the time, there apparently weren't any takers for the space, which had been on the market since last summer with an asking price of $72,000 a month, per the listing. The address was being marketed for use as retail, a restaurants/bar, office space or a gym.

Now comes word that the Swiss Institute, a non-profit cultural center currently located on Wooster Street, has signed a lease for the space. Here is part of the news release:

Swiss Institute (SI) announced that it will be relocating to a new long-term home in New York City’s East Village, moving into a building at the corner of St. Marks Place and Second Avenue. The organization has selected Selldorf Architects to design the renovation of the 7,500 square foot building, due to open in the Spring of 2017.

Swiss Institute has hired Selldorf Architects to oversee the transformation of its new building. The 7,500 square foot space features four levels – basement, ground, second floor, and roof. The design for the building will create spaces for exhibitions, projects and public programs, a library, a bookstore, and a usable rooftop.



SI’s new home is located within half a mile of several prominent cultural and educational institutions including Anthology Film Archives, Cooper Union, Danspace Project, ICP, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New Museum, New York University, The Poetry Project, and The Public Theater.

“This new building offers tremendous opportunities to expand upon our mission and serve a growing audience, to whom we will continue to offer forward-looking exhibitions and public programs, always free of charge”, said Swiss Institute Director Simon Castets. “We look forward to joining and contributing to the diverse community of cultural organizations and artists that have called the East Village home for many years.”

SI had lost their home in Soho to Jeffrey Deitch, per ARTnews.

As for the Chase branch, which merged with the one two blocks to the north, there were rumors galore about what Icon Realty was going to do to the space. Leasing to an arts organization was not among the predictions. In reporting on this move, ARTnews floated the following:

A rumor going around was that there would be a biergarten up top, which would befit a Swiss art concern, but at this time that tidbit is unconfirmed...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chase space on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent

2 East Village Chase Bank branches are closing for good on Nov. 12

Chase branch on 2nd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has the potential to get 4x larger with new owner

The East Village is down 2 Chase branches

Icon wraps former Chase branch at St. Mark's Place with retail ribbon

'Good riddance' Chase, and — a development to watch in 2016

The 9th Street Bock party is tomorrow (Saturday!)

For a good time head over to Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (After that, you're on your own.)

As usual, some of the businesses along the block will have tables set up outside... as well as some residents holding stoop sales.

And here is the live music lineup via the EVG inbox...

11.45 — Batucata (Brazillian drumming) with GingaPura
12.15 — The Last Band Ever
1 — BroadBand
1.45 — EV3
2.30 — Bluesco
3.15 — Ruckus Interuptus

Brought to you by the 9th Street A-1 Block Association

CB3 wants your input on 2018 budget priorities this coming Monday (Sept. 19!)

Budget time again...Via the EVG inbox..

CB 3 Public Hearing: FY 2018 Budget Priorities
Monday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m., Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. (between Second Avenue and the Bowery)

What parks need reconstruction? What programs need funding? Help us assess the needs of our community.

Every year the Community Board submits a list of capital and expense budget priorities to city agencies. This hearing is your opportunity to have input into these district budget priorities. Tell us how money should be spent in Community Board 3.

Organizations, groups and individuals representing all segments of the community are encouraged to participate.

Sugar Sketch softly opens today on 2nd Street

Back in June we mentioned that Sugar Sketch, a bakery (cakery per the sign), is coming to 172 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B...

Their soft opening starts today... with 20 percent off items through Sunday...



Here's more about the proprietor from the Sugar Sketch website:

Martina Nardo has been a Pastry Chef and Cake Designer for the past six years in New York City. Born and raised in Rome, Italy, her passion for both food and art stems from her heritage. Her grandmother taught her to appreciate the simplicity of Italian cuisine, its flavors, and the cultural value associated with it. Her mother – a graphic designer and illustrator – has played a major influence encouraging her to apply creativity towards her cakes making them true works of art.

Upon receiving her BA in Psychology from the New School, she began her studies of the Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education and finished her studies with a degree in Cake Designs and Techniques at The French Culinary Institute in NYC. After working in several kitchen settings throughout Manhattan, Martina launched Sugar Sketch in 2013.

She has been making cakes, cupcakes and cookies by order... this will be the first retail space.

This post has nothing to do with the East Village, except for the part about 2 Boots Pizza

Workers recently removed the sign from a women's discount boutique on Nassau Street down in the Financial District ... revealing cool ghost neon signage for Loft's Candies...

Per Wikipedia, English immigrant William Loft opened a candy store on Canal Street in 1860... at one point they were the "largest maker and seller of candy in the world in the second decade of the 20th century." In 1941, Loft merged with PepsiCo. By 1990, the last Loft's retail store had closed.

I have no idea when this location ceased operations. The storefront had been home to a Lily's Boutique in recent years. According to the Commercial Observer, Two Boots Pizza will be opening its first Lower Manhattan location here ... complete with a pizzeria and bar/lounge.

Two Boots, which got its start on Avenue A (different location than its current home) in 1987, now has 17 locations in six states.

The loss of a majestic American elm on 3rd Street

EVG reader Bobby G. notes that this is what's left of the majestic American elm that stood on East Third Street between Avenue C and Avenue D... Per Bobby: "It was cut down today. Why? I do not know."

One EVG reader said that the tree had a bit of a lean, and that the city was worried that it might fall during a storm.

Regardless, as Bobby G. said, "it is a great loss to the block."

The Figueroa family clears the weeds from the site of the deadly 2nd Avenue explosion

[EVG photo from Sept. 10]

Today, Nixon Figueroa, whose son Nicholas died in the gas explosion at 119-123 Second Ave. in March 2015, visited the site and cleared out the weeds that had been growing. (Mr. Figueroa was assisted by one of his other sons.)


[Photo by Lola Sáenz]


[Photo by Steven]

The memorials for Nicholas and the second victim of the blast, Moises Ismael Locón Yac, had been obscured by the weeds in recent months.


[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updating] Explosion on 2nd Avenue and East 7th Street

RIP Nicholas Figueroa

A family continues to feel the loss on 2nd Avenue

Condos planned for 3rd Street development site at the Bowery

[3 E. 3rd St. in April 2015]

Back in April 2015 we first reported that 3 E. Third St. was on the market as a new development. Per the listing at the time: "This is a rare opportunity to acquire a boutique development site in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Manhattan."

Now comes word that Brooklyn-based Barrett Design has filed plans (as of yesterday) for c-c-condos.

Per Real Estate Weekly:

Barrett will build a seven-story mixed-use building totaling approximately 18,000 gross square feet with a retail condo on the ground floor and five apartments above, consisting of four full-floor units and a duplex penthouse.

And here's the rendering via Barrett...



This luxury building will be the easterly neighbors to the 13-story, zinc-coated 347 Bowery ...


[Image via Selldorf Architects]

For the past 20-plus years, 3 E. Third St. has been home to 3 East 3rd Dorm — short-term rentals for students and interns. The developer filed for demolition permits on Aug. 29.

Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen is back, and now with extended hours

After its usual summer hiatus, Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, 33 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square, has reopened (as of last weekend).

And the basement cafe, a fundraising arm of the St George Ukrainian Catholic Church just up East Seventh Street, has expanded its hours ... to include Wednesday and Thursday...





The offerings, including pierogies (or varenyky) remain as inexpensive as ever...



Previously on EV Grieve:
At the Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen

Here is the Tompkins Square Bagels signage on 2nd Avenue

The signage arrived yesterday here at 184 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

Owner Christopher Pugliese is aiming for a Sept. 26 opening.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tompkins Square Bagels makes it official on 2nd Avenue

The new Tompkins Square Bagels will arrive before the 2nd Avenue subway

September opening expected for the 2nd Avenue location of Tompkins Square Bagels

Astor Alive! Festival schedule; plus Community Advisory about the return of the Alamo

Click on the link in the tweet below for the full schedule for this weekend's Astor Alive! Festival...

The full performance schedule for Astor Alive! is now available. Check it out here - https://t.co/dlQSlvSJlC pic.twitter.com/HMYYj2A9DU

— Astor Place NYC (@AstorPlaceNYC) September 14, 2016

The event includes the return of Jim Power's refurbished mosaic light poles to the area.

Meanwhile...

A Community Advisory went out on Tuesday noting that the Alamo/cube was returning to Astor Place yesterday.

By 10 a.m. yesterday, we heard that it wasn't going to happen... some logistical issues.

At 1:31 p.m., the Community Construction Liaison for the Reconstruction of Astor Place and Cooper Square sent out an email with an apology and the following Community Advisory...

"The procedure for its return will be rescheduled for a later date to occur when we are confident the process will happen as seamlessly as possible."



The Alamo has been gone now for safekeeping and refurbishing for 22 months. Hopefully it isn't lost.

Report: Web-browsing function shut off at LinkNYC kiosks

[Inappropriate web-content pic by Derek Berg]

LinkNYC announced a service update yesterday to their network.

Here's their statement... with the news arriving in the third paragraph:

Eight months ago, we launched a first-of-its-kind network to improve the quality of life in this great city where so many of us work and live. To date, we’ve seen lots of curiosity and excitement, and also some unexpected challenges that we need to address, as you’d expect with any project this bold.

With 400 Links installed in three boroughs, nearly 475,000 New Yorkers and visitors have signed up to use the fastest broadband publicly available in New York City and they have used it more than 21 million times. We’ve heard from New Yorkers who use the Links to save data on their mobile plans, call relatives across the the country, and get a much-needed quick charge.

We also know that some users have been monopolizing the Link tablets and using them inappropriately, preventing others from being able to use them while frustrating the residents and businesses around them. The kiosks were never intended for anyone’s extended, personal use and we want to ensure that Links are accessible and a welcome addition to New York City neighborhoods.

Starting today, we will be removing web browsing on all Link tablets while we work with the City and community to explore potential solutions, like time limits. Other tablet features — free phone calls, maps, device charging, and access to 311 and 911 — will continue to work as they did before, and nothing is changing about LinkNYC’s superfast Wi-Fi. As planned, we will continue to improve the Link experience and add new features for people to enjoy while they’re on the go.

The change came apparently after numerous reports of people watching porn at kiosks and, in some cases, masturbating, Gothamist noted.

It double rainbow-ed again

Just like last time... the view from 14th Street and First Avenue via John M. Blasco...



Updated 7:07 p.m.

Two more rainbow pics via Bobby Williams...

New building permits filed for 13-story Moxy Hotel on East 11th Street across from Webster Hall

112-120 E. 11th St. is wrapped and looking ready for demolition here between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

And today, the Lightstone group has filed new building permits for the Marriott International’s Moxy Hotels brand.

Details from the permit:
• The hotel is 13 floors (120 feet)
• The plans show a 78,361-square-foot property with 311 rooms.

Stonehill & Taylor Architects (hotel specialists) are the architects of record. No sign of a rendering just yet for this property.

The Moxy website shows that the 11th Street hotel is expected in late 2018.

Previously on EV Grieve:
At the rally outside 112-120 E. 11th St.

Protest reminder about 112-120 E. 11th St.; plus concerns over asbestos removal

6-building complex on East 10th Street and East 11th Street sells for $127 million

Report: 300-room hotel planned for East 11th Street

Preservationists say city ignored pitch to designate part of 11th Street as a historic district

Permits filed to demolish 5 buildings on 11th Street to make way for new hotel (58 comments)

[Updated] Cube return countdown at Astor Place

As we first noted yesterday, workers will be re-installing the Alamo on Astor Place at some point today... looks as if it's really happening this time...

Today is THE day...the day we unwrap. . . . #astorplace #nycprimeshot #alamocube #tonyrosenthal #thecube #eastvillage #newyork #livethelittlethings #nothingisordinary #visualsoflife #visualsgang #livecolorfully #acolorstory #thehappynow #darlingmovement #thatsdarling #vsco #makemoments #toldwithexposure #seekthesimplicity #flashesofdelight #vcsocam #welltravelled #openmyworld #calledtobecreative #minimalmood #pursuepretty #abmhappylife #abmlifeiscolorful

A photo posted by Astor Place NYC (@astorplacenyc) on Sep 14, 2016 at 4:31am PDT

Updated 10 a.m.
AARRGH...

Cube News - The Cube's anticipated return today, by @NYCDDC has been delayed due to logistical issues. Stay tuned for news about a new date.

— Astor Place NYC (@AstorPlaceNYC) September 14, 2016

Previously on EV Grieve:
There goes The Alamo

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: Amy Sheridan
Occupation: Owner of digital marketing company
Location: Second Street and Avenue A
Time: 4:15 on Thursday, Sept. 8

I grew up in New Jersey. I moved here seven years ago. It’s funny, when I was 17 years old, the day I got my Driver's License, I drove and parked in front of where I'd end up living on Avenue A so many years later.

I live here for a reason. Besides the banks, there are no real chains right around here. That kind of stuff is such a bummer. When I look out of my window, there’s nothing like that. That’s why I live here. It’s all local businesses. I just liked the funkiness of the neighborhood. We have pretty much have everything you could possibly need without having to go to big-box stores or one store for everything. I heard they’re building a Target on 14th. Do we really need that? There’s every single thing here. Why do people have to buy from Amazon? It’s great that we have Amazon, but I just don’t think that should be the only thing we have. There’s something so fundamental about a bookstore.

Everyone in the neighborhood is awesome. It’s a real neighborhood. I treat everybody the same. There are a lot of people who don’t have housing here. I have dogs, and I walk around the block multiple times a day with the dogs. I don’t classify whether someone is living on the street or whether they are living in an apartment. They are people and I treat them like that. It’s cool to know everybody by their first names, whether it’s the priest, the people on the street or the guys in Native Bean. You really know people and I like that. [People] should think of the way it was before us. They’ve been here for so long.

I own an Internet company. It’s our 10-year anniversary next week. I didn’t even have email when I was in college. I learned it all on the job. I started my business with $1,000 and I made the the Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Companies. I do performance-based marketing. I work with advertisers like the U.S. Air Force for the VA hospital. I staff the doctors, nurses, dentists, things like that using LinkedIn and other job sites for the VA Hospital and Hospital for Special Surgery.

I’m also a huge Grateful Dead fan. I still follow the remaining members in the Grateful Dead. The first place they played in New York City was in 1967 in Tompkins Square Park. Pretty cool, right? I’ve been trying to find that flier for many years. One day I will.

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

Join Rosie Mendez to discuss improvements to the Tompkins Square playgrounds tomorrow night

City Councilmember Rosie Mendez is taking part in this month's CB3 Parks, Recreation, Cultural Affairs, & Waterfront Committee meeting tomorrow night. The topic: A look at ideas for improving the Tompkins Square Park Playgrounds near East Seventh Street and Avenue B.

As previously noted, Mendez has allotted some $900,000 to renovate the playgrounds.

Based on previous community input, the Parks Department now has some schematic designs for the two spaces... and your thoughts are welcome at the meeting. (Or in the comments. Beer store will already be noted.)

The committee meeting starts at 6:30 at Casa Victoria, 308 E. Eighth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Your chance to brainstorm ideas to renovate the Tompkins Square Park Playground (27 comments)

Reminders: Meeting on possible improvements to the Tompkins Square Park Playground

A look at Drunken Dumpling, now open on 1st Avenue

Drunken Dumpling is now open at 137 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Grub Street checks out the 11-item menu and talks with owner Yuan Li.

Li’s real secret weapon, though, is his mom, Qihui Guan, a mathematics professor and amateur cook turned professional dumpling-maker. When she emigrated to the United States 15 years ago and couldn’t find work in her chosen field, Guan’s hobby became her profession, leading to a position at soup-dumpling dynasty Joe’s Shanghai.

As for the "Drunken," Li says that in this case "the term alludes to the juiciness of the dumplings." A monster soup dumpling called the XL XLB is served with a straw.

The morning line on the Gray Mare, now open in the former Dempsey's space on 2nd Avenue

On Aug. 24 we noted that the former Dempsey's space on Second Avenue had been transformed into a new bar-restaurant called the Gray Mare.

The new space debuted last week at 61 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street.

DNAinfo spoke with bar (and building) owner Tom O'Byrne about the new concept ("we wanted it to be a little more upscale") ... and why he decided to close Dempsey's:

The problem, he explained, was that the appeal of the neighborhood pub had run its course — the time was right to fold the business and start over with something new and fresh, capable of casting a wider net.

“When we opened Dempsey’s, it had been current and of its time, and it had been popular and much beloved of many years, but generationally things change,” he said.

And while Dempsey’s was known for its pints of beer, trivia nights, and simple pub fare, The Gray Mare is offering a colorful menu including Short Rib Nachos with Avocado Creme Fraiche and a Ribeye Cheese Steak Hero.

The food is accompanied by craft cocktails such as the Native Dancer, featuring tequila, lime and mint, the Final Furlong, featuring bourbon, muddled strawberries and ginger beer, and The Outsider, with mezcal, cognac and sherry.

After 24 years, O'Byrne, who also owns Slainte at 304 Bowery and Cooper’s Craft and Kitchen on Second Avenue at Fifth Street, decided to close Dempsey's in April.

London-based luxury leather popping up on 9th Street

[Photo by Steven]

Signage arrived yesterday on Ninth Street for Ellesd, a London-based ready-to-wear clothing store specializing in luxury leather for women.

The store's Instagram account describes the location here between Avenue A and First Avenue as a pop-up shop. No word yet on an opening date.

The address (No. 434) was previously home to Delto-Meest, which shipped parcels to the Ukraine and surrounding areas. I have no idea what happened to the store (if it's a permanent closure). The address hosted another designer pop-up shop last month.