Monday, November 7, 2016

Cat found on 3rd and B



An EVG reader writes in:

We found this sweet cat on 3rd Street near Avenue B tonight at around 7. Took her to the vet to see if she has a microchip — doesn't have one. She definitely seems like someone's pet because she is clean and so friendly (loves belly rubs). I hope we can find her owner.

Let us know if you know her owner ... via the EV Grieve email

Reported: Man sentenced to 14 years for 3 sexual assaults in the East Village


Juan Scott was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for three assaults that took place in 2014, the Daily News reported.

In October 2014, police arrested Scott for the attempted rape of a 20-year-old woman in an elevator at 600 E. 14th St. in Stuy Town. Scott was later linked to two other attacks, one on East 11th Street and one on East 13th Street.

One of the victims was a woman Scott had been dating. He reportedly held the woman captive for five hours in her apartment.

At his sentencing today, the victim recalled the attack, "and also blasted the NYPD, specifically disgraced Manhattan Special Victims Division Lukasz Skorzewski who was accused of groping a woman whose alleged rape he was investigating."

She said Skorzewski belittled the heinous crime she reported and told her Scott was "not going to jail for this."

It was previously reported that Scott is an estranged cousin of Rosario Dawson. Her mother and father and other relatives lived at the now under-renovation 544 E. 13th St., where police arrested Scott.

CB3 will hear HPD presentation on HDFC regulatory agreement this Wednesday night



An EVG reader notes that the city is pushing a new regulatory agreement for HDFC buildings under the guise of helping the approximately 25 percent of those buildings that are in financial trouble.

This Wednesday evening, CB3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee hosts a presentation on proposed HDFC regulatory agreements.

The meeting is Nov. 9 at 6:30 in the Great Hall at Cooper Union, 7 E. Seventh St. at Cooper Square.

Find more background at the CB3 website here and at the the HDFC Coalition website here.

The Redhead closes for good in January

The staff at the Redhead is telling patrons that the unassuming, Southern-flavored restaurant on 13th Street is closing for good in January.

For starters, the 10-year lease at the Redhead between First Avenue and Second Avenue is up (and there is a rent increase)... plus, the partners have apparently been living out of state. (Chef/founding partner Meg Grace Larcom is now in Colorado.)

In August 2009, Frank Bruni, in his last review for the Times, gave the place high marks:

"[The Redhead] sharply reflects a few of the most prominent and rewarding developments in Manhattan dining over the years during which I’ve had the privilege of serving as The Times’s restaurant critic.

Now more than ever, diners find principled, distinctive cooking in places where they wouldn’t have expected it before: dessert trucks, baseball stadiums, postage-stamp storefronts, wine bars, taverns and cocktail lounges. In fact the Redhead...exemplified the possibility of terrific eating with untraditional trappings and captured the sense of gastronomic serendipity that defines this culinary moment.

There isn't a set closing date just yet. The Redhead will be open for a New Year's Eve service/celebration.

Wowfulls bringing Hong Kong egg waffles to East Houston Street



A coming soon sign has arrived in the now-closed East Houston location of Gem Pawnbrokers (27 locations in NYC/Long Island!).

The space here between Clinton and Attorney will be the first permanent storefront for Wowfulls...



Here's more about them via the Wowfulls website:

We serve 1950’s-style Hong Kong egg waffles also known as Gai Dàn Jai. The taste and texture of our Gai Dàn Jai — crispy on the outside, soft and sweet on the inside, was once only found in the streets of Hong Kong.

The proprietors of Wowfulls have been vending at the various Smorgasburgs this past year.

A photo posted by W O W F U L L S (@wowfulls) on

It takes a Poke Village



Signage is up at 250 E. 14th St. ... where, under the sidewalk bridge, Poke Village is opening soon between Second Avenue and Third Avenue (if this helps, this storefront is right next to the Colonel...)



PV was OK'd for a beer-wine license in September. According to their application posted at the CB3 website, the hours are 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. There are five tables accommodating 15 guests. So perhaps this is more of a poke-to-go operation.

This is the second new poke place to open in the neighborhood this year, joining PokéSpot, which debuted on Fourth Avenue and 12th Street on Aug. 12.

No 250 was previously home to Saving$ Paradise, which merged with I.Q. Decor back in the spring.

Here's your Tim Ho Wan full reveal on 10th Street and 4th Avenue



Late last week, as an EVG reader noted in these shared photos, the plywood came down at the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and 10th Street ... providing a full reveal of Tim Ho Wan, the first U.S. location for Hong Kong-based chef Mak Kwai Pui's Michelin-starred dim sum parlor Tim Ho Wan...



A restaurant rep told me that an opening date has not been set just yet.

In 2009, the original 24-seat dim sum eatery in Mongkok, Hong Kong's Kowloon, was reportedly branded the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world.

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

Previously

Storefronts and signage: Kati Roll awning is here; more legal papers for Empire Biscuit



The sign for the incoming Kati Roll Company went up back on Thursday at 128 Second Ave. near St. Mark's Place. This will be the fourth Manhattan location for the kati roll specialists (there's one in London too). There hasn't been an opening date announced yet. Find more background on all this here.

-----



A sign for Odd Eye NYC recently arrived at 524 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... a nearby resident said that it will be a multimedia studio...



The previous tenant here, the designers Heights + Kenchi, moved to Ninth Street.

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[Photo from Friday]

Several EVG readers shared the latest stack of legalese affixed to the Empire Biscuit front door of the storefront at 198 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street... a final judgement of eviction...







According to the legal documents (the most recent batch to arrive here), the owner is in arrears on rent and back taxes to the sum of $106,000.

Empire Biscuit, which opened in the fall of 2013, was only open a few days this year back in January.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Sunday's parting shot



View of the Christodora House early this evening by Bobby Williams...

Week in Grieview


[Photo on 7th Street by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group planning Martina for 55 Third Ave. (Thursday)

At Sugar Sketch, a new bakery on Second Street (Friday)

Grand Sichuan has closed on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

East Village zip codes in the top-5 citywide for illegal Airbnb listings (Tuesday)

Halloween night on Avenue A and Avenue B (Tuesday)

Out and About with Candice Brewer (Wednesday)

The cube/Alamo returns to Astor Place (Tuesday)

Water Witch Mercantile opening in the Box Kite space on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Video: An in-progress look at Tompkins Square Bagels, opening this month on Second Avenue (Friday)

402 E. 12th St. is for sale (Monday)

N'eat now serving Nordic fare on Second Avenue (Thursday)

A look at the retail listing for the northwest corner of A and St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

Spice on First Avenue is now The Sabieng Thai (Tuesday)

'Merica dream fades as Zerza returns to Sixth Street (Friday)

Screaming Mimi's has left Lafayette Street (Wednesday)

Soft opening weekend for Three Seat Espresso & Barber on Avenue A (Monday)

Citibank keeps telling people about their impending closure on Avenue A (Wednesday)

More about the sale of 123 Second Ave. (Thursday)

Work in progress at 14th and Avenue C (Tuesday)


[Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg]

A Drybar opens on Ludlow Street (Thursday)

Attorney General files lawsuit against local landlord Marolda Properties; accused of intimidating rent-stabilized tenants (Wednesday)

A few more details on the East Houston condoplosion (Monday)

Sushi part of plan for former Iron Sushi on 10th Street (Wednesday)

New things on Astor Place (not the Alamo, which isn't technically new)


[Photo Tuesday by @unitof]

As you probably noticed, the Alamo returned to the revamped Astor Place on Tuesday.

Several readers asked if the fencing will remain around the cube.


[Photo Wednesday by @evgrieve]

I don't know. I doubt it. The barricades look pretty temporary, and will likely be removed when the glue dries. Or when people people realize the this Alamo is made of cardboard because the original one was lost. I've heard from several people who think the cube looks smaller ... and from several who believe it's now larger.

Meanwhile! The Alamo's return overshadowed another arrival this past week: A second zipper bench. This one is located outside the uptown 6 entrance.



Thanks to @edenbrower and @unitof for pointing this out!

Peak



Photos from this weekend in Tompkins Square Park...









Saturday, November 5, 2016

Sunset wow



Photo looking downtown this evening by Bobby Williams...

More Links for LinkNYC arriving on 2nd Avenue



A crew is out this morning with a truck full of @LinkNYC crates ... installing more kiosks Links along Second Avenue... such as on the northeast corner of Ninth Street...



...next up will be in front of the former 123 Second Ave. ...



I haven't counted kiosks on every block... but I do know this will make the fourth LinkNYC kiosk for Second Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Seventh Street.

As a reminder, here is what people can do at each Link (via LinkNYC):

• Use your personal device to connect to LinkNYC’s super fast, free Wi-Fi
• Access city services, maps and directions from the tablet
• Make free phone calls to anywhere in the U.S. using the Vonage app on the tablet or the tactile keypad and microphone. Plug in your personal headphones for more privacy.
• Use the dedicated red 911 button in the event of an emergency
• Charge your device in a power-only USB port
• Enjoy more room on the sidewalk with Link’s sleek, ADA-compliant design by Antenna
• View public service announcements and more relevant advertising on two 55” HD displays


[Relevant ad pic on 14th and 3rd from Oct. 22]

Back in September, because of a few bad apples, LinkNYC removed the web-browsing capabilities.

Noted



An EVG reader spotted this last evening at the Cemusa bus shelter on First Avenue near Fourth Street ... the reader said that it's "taped up paper that was under the glass."

RIP Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo.

Anti-flu shot campaign extends to Avenue B



Spotted near Duane Reade on Avenue B and Second Street. Three defaced signs makes if an official trend. (See here.)

Thanks to EVG reader Noah Shannon for the photo!

Friday, November 4, 2016

Updating: Crime scene on 2nd Avenue and 7th Street


[Photo by Derek Berg]

There are multiple reader reports of a crime scene on Second Avenue at Seventh Street this evening. Several people have said that they've seen blood-soaked clothing on the sidewalk.

Will update when more information is available.



Updated 7:04 p.m.

From a tipster:

"Some poor guy got stabbed in the neck."

The tipster said this happened on Second Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Seventh Street.

"Blood was everywhere. I didn't see the stabbing but walked by when he was on the stretcher Was so gross. The suspect fled wearing a green sweater."

Updated 7:31 p.m.

An officer at the scene said that the victim's wound was not life-threatening

Updated 11/7

The victim in the attack left several comments about the incident, which happened inside 129 Second Ave.:

I was stabbed twice in the neck and once in the back. My spine is fractured. All the positivity from total strangers is amazing and thank you for that. And btw I am not a crusty heroin addict. I don't do any drugs. I'm surprised it hasnt been easier to find pictures of the incident online. There were so many people hanging around taking videos/photos. The attack occured inside 129 in broad daylight and I have seen footage of the attackers. If anyone has any photos/videos during the event it would be a great help to the police and myself. There were two attackers one was on a black bike with a black jacket the other was in jeans, a green jacket, and black hat. After the attack they headed west on east 7th st. So far they are still on the streets.

And...

The police havent put out any information yet. There were two men. One was on a old black bycycle he was about 5' 9"-5'10", black ball cap, 'stocky build', african american, his face was more round, eyes slightly closer together than I would expect. I didnt notice any tattoos. Most of their bodies was covered. I hit him very hard on the left side of his face and he may have a cut or bruise near his ear or temple. The other guy was wearing a green jacket with a ball cap and jeans, he had a beard and bald head, he had darker skin than me. Could have been african american or maybe dominican, he was very large maybe 6'1"-6'3", muscular build. I have seen video of the attackers entering into the aparmtent building. Someone that lived in the apartment building actually let the men inside. I think he was trying to be friendly. That just shows if you dont know them or you havent seen them in your building dont let them threw the door.

[Updated] Reader report: Resident injured trying to rescue drone from 12th Street rooftop



Late this afternoon, the FDNY responded to a report of an injured person on the rooftop of the abandoned 535 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.



Here's information pieced together from a resident on the block based on witness accounts...

A woman apparently created a rope made of sheets to lower herself from No. 531-33 to retrieve her drone on the rooftop below.

The sheet rope didn't hold, and she fell to the adjacent roof. One person on the scene said that she was unconscious but OK.



Another reader shared this photo ... showing a police officer holding the drone...



Updated 11/5

Gothamist has more details on the incident.

Last night, our correspondent first identified the victim as a man... an NYPD sergeant at the scene last night said the person was a woman. This morning, however, an NYPD spokesperson said that the person is a man.

The man, who is in his 50s, was taken to Bellevue Hospital.

Per Gothamist:

Due to the complexity of the fall, the FDNY and NYPD's ESU had to perform a high-angle rescue utilizing an FDNY tower ladder. The building where the victim fell, 535 East 12th, is an abandoned building and access was limited due to security measures taken to secure that building from squatters.

The drone, a Yuneec Typhoon Hexacopter, costs nearly $1,000, per Gothamist.

Updated 11/6

The Post reports today that the victim, identified as Cris Piedrahita, 55, remains in critical condition.

Report: Shaun Martin receives 20 years to life for death of East Village Farm and Grocery florist

Shaun Martin, who prosecutors said was drunk and high on PCP when he plowed his car going 90 MPH into East Village Farm and Grocery on Second Avenue on June 19, 2013, which led to the death of florist Mohammed Akkas Ali, was sentenced today to 20 years to life.

During a sentence hearing last month, Martin's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, tried to have the charges dismissed, arguing that his client was so intoxicated he couldn't be held accountable for murder by displaying a "depraved indifference to life," per the Daily News.

During the sentencing today, Martin, a 35-year-old Queens resident, "got little sympathy from Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Melissa Jackson as she sentenced him on charges including murder and aggravated vehicular homicide," as the Daily News reported.

Martin's excuses — that he was self medicating for psychiatric disorders and addicted to drugs — do not negate what he did, the judge said.

She said his family “did everything they could to help you every single time but you continued to use drugs."

Aidala said he'll file an appeal on Martin's behalf.

"It's a tragic day for many families," the lawyer said outside the courtroom. "Two lives were lost here — Mr. Ali and Mr. Martin."

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Car smashes into East Village Farm & Grocery on Second Avenue; 6 reported injured

Crowdsourcing campaign for injured East Village Farm and Grocery worker raises nearly $19,000

Report: Injured East Village Farm and Grocery florist has lost his memory, use of his voice

[Updated] RIP Akkas Ali

At Sugar Sketch, a new bakery on 2nd Street



Photos and interview by Stacie Joy

Sugar Sketch opened earlier this fall at 172 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. I recently stopped by the bakery to speak with Martina Nardo, owner and cake designer.


[Owner Martina Nardo]

Where did the name Sugar Sketch come from?

Sugar Sketch started as a cake design shop. I launched the company in 2013, and I was only taking orders online. I would rent kitchens around the city to bake and assemble my cakes. Before it became Sugar Sketch, the name was Cakely Ever After, but it was never finalized with an LLC, so it never became an official name. Also, clients were having a lot of trouble spelling it, and I would miss many emails because of this.

I came up with the name Sugar Sketch with the help of one of my best friends, writer Richard Lopez. When thinking of a name, we focused on the process involved in making a decorated cake: after discussing a theme with my clients, I usually make two or three sketches, each with a different technique, to give my clients several options in pricing. Once the client approves a sketch, I make it into a cake. “Sugar Sketch” came from this concept.

You’ve been in business since 2013. What made you decide to open a storefront business in the East Village now?

Two years ago I started working at Pip’s Place as a cake decorator. Pip’s was a great gluten-free bakery on the Upper East Side with truly delicious gluten-free treats. After a few months working there, Denise [the owner of Pip’s Place] and I decided to join forces and offer fondant-decorated gluten-free cakes.

I moved my tools into her second location in Murray Hill and together we launched this new idea. Pip’s Place baked gluten-free cake layers, and Sugar Sketch decorated them. At the new studio, I would decorate by the window, which attracted a lot of attention from people walking by. Within six months, orders had increased drastically, and I realized the importance of having a store front.

In July 2015, Denise decided to leave the food industry behind to take on new adventures, and I decided to open a storefront on my own. Gluten-free baking is very different from regular baking, and I didn’t feel comfortable offering a product I hadn’t had a lot of experience with, and that’s why I switched back to my own recipes, which are not gluten free. However, we are now working on a few gf flavors to expand our menu, and we hope to be able to include them by next year. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who has Celiac disease, because Sugar Sketch is no longer certified gluten free.


[Counterperson and barista Bria Staley]

How has the process of opening a local small business been for you?

The past year has been incredible. It is without a doubt the hardest and most exciting project I have ever taken on, and although some days present challenges that seem too big to face, I am very proud of how I’m handling it all, and very excited about the future of Sugar Sketch.

This year has taught me a lot about myself; I believe it has been one of the most informative years of my life and I am looking forward to transforming and growing along with this business. Manhattan is definitely challenging — expenses are high, and New Yorkers are quite skeptical, but I am determined to make my way into their hearts! I truly believe that with consistency, determination, and very hard work anything can be accomplished.

This entire year wouldn’t have been possible without a strong team; I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them. And of course, none of this would be possible without the endless support of my mom — she’s been my biggest fan from day one, witnessing and supporting my various breakdowns as well as all the happy moments, and I am so very grateful to have her by my side.

Sugar Sketch is the result of eight long years of endless hours in the kitchen, various chefs screaming and throwing silverware around, and many, many burnt croissants and deflated macaroons. I think the most important thing is to keep moving forward, learning from my mistakes and, most important, being open to changing, adjusting, and aiming to be better than the day before. I try to do this not only with my product, but also with the business itself. Biggest lesson I learned is to never take things personally and never become too attached to any given structure. Things will change for the better, and it’s important to keep an open mind.

What has been the reaction so far from the neighborhood?

The East Village is the best neighborhood! I really couldn’t have found a better location. The entire block has been incredibly warm and friendly and welcoming me to the neighborhood with flowers, cards, messages, and balloons. It is the first time since I moved to the States 12 years ago that I feel like I am truly a part of a community, and it is magical. I feel safe here, and at home.

You were born and raised in Italy. How is NYC different than Rome when it comes to pastries? How is it similar?

The biggest difference I have found between NYC and Rome is the amount of sugar used in desserts. I don’t love really sweet desserts, and my goal when I first launched Sugar Sketch was to offer a product that wasn’t too sweet. I have been adjusting my recipes for years, and I am always moving forward and thinking of new ways to improve my desserts. I have received a lot of feedback the past few weeks on this, and I am very happy to hear people are noticing this difference and enjoying it.







The Sugar Sketch hours are:
Monday - Closed
Tuesday-Thurssday — 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday — 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday — 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday — noon to 8 p.m.

Find Sugar Sketch on Instagram here