Jason Wang's Biang! closes after 15 months on 2nd Avenue

[EVG photo from December 2015]

Biang! — the sit-down Chinese restaurant via Xi'an Famous Foods owner Jason Wang — has closed at 157 Second Ave.

EVG reader Brian P. shared this notice from yesterday at the restaurant between Ninth Street and 10th Street...



The well-regarded restaurant opened here in December 2015. (And it always seemed crowded.) The sign notes that most of the dishes are available at the original Biang! location in Flushing... as well as the Xi'an Famous Foods at 81 St. Mark's Place near First Avenue.

Wang and his father David Shi started the business in a small food stall in Flushing. There are now nearly a dozen locations of Xi’an Famous Foods in NYC. They also opened Dumpling Spot in Chinatown last month.

The previous tenant at 157 Second Ave., Wylie Dufresne's bistro Alder, closed after two-and-a-half years at the end of August 2015.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Jason Wang bringing Xi'an Famous Foods offshoot Biang! to the former Alder space on 2nd Avenue

Lions BeerStore has closed; Wall 88 Restaurant up next

Lions BeerStore has closed on the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Sixth Street.

According to the Lions BeerStore Facebook page, the shop is "closing and moving locations."

Here's more via a Facebook message from yesterday:

"This exciting journey (and lease) have come to an end. We, wholeheartedly THANK YOU for your support, patronage and loyalty as we grew into one of the classiest beer bars in the city. It has been a pleasure to serve new and exotic beers to aficionados and neophytes alike. We hope you had a unique experience each time you came, and that your beer palate is even more distinguished than ever. Stay tuned for information about our new spot."

Operated by a father-son team who hail from Greece, Lions BeerStore was part retail shop, part restaurant. They opened in November 2015. (Not sure how their lease was up after 16 months in business.)

Meanwhile, not only did Lions BeerStore announce their closure yesterday ... a new restaurant also marked their arrival in the space ... here's Wall 88 Restaurant...



Vinny & O, who shared there photos, hears that the new restaurant (we don't know yet what they will be serving) will be open as soon as today...



As we understand it, the original owners, who want to spend more time in Greece, are partners in the new venture.

The randomly placed piano in Tompkins Square Park is no longer randomly there

After 10 days and one snowstorm, the abandoned piano that someone dragged into (or pushed into) Tompkins Square Park was wheeled away earlier today from where it was stationed by the Park entrance on Avenue B and Ninth Street...a reader shared the above photo ...

EVG Missing Piano Correspondent Steven followed up later... spotting some possible piano fragments in the Park...





Later, Steven spotted this piano rack by the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... where the trail went cold...

Please mind the pothole on 7th Street near 1st Avenue

Photos today by Derek Berg

There are pigeons trapped inside the former P.S. 64 on 9th Street

[Click image for larger size]

Someone put the above sign on the Ninth Street side of the former P.S 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center this past weekend.

The sign notes that there are pigeons now trapped inside the building after the windows were recently boarded up on the top floor.

They are smashing up against the windows to get free. Heard 3 broken windows in one hour. Injured birds may be found on the ground hurt by the broken glass.

There's a number for the Wild Bird Fund on the Upper West Side.

As previously reported, developer Gregg Singer, who bought the property between Avenue B and Avenue C from the city in 1998, continues to push having the building converted into student housing.

Thanks to David Reyer for the photo!

1st sign of Fat Cat Kitchen on 14th Street

As previously reported, Björn Holm, a sous chef and the head of catering at Dean & Deluca’s store on Broadway and Prince, is opening a quick-serve restaurant called Fat Cat Kitchen on 14th Street ... and that signage arrived Friday at No. 223 between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Fat Cat will serve sandwiches, salads, soups and baked goods. They have an Instagram account showing some potential menu items...

More chef play. #recipetesting #breakfast #eggsandwich #cheese #ham #arugula #fatcatkitchen #nyc #eastvillagenyc #unionsquarenyc

A post shared by Fat Cat Kitchen (@fatcatkitchen) on Mar 18, 2017 at 9:42am PDT

Count on a variety of #breadpudding on the #fatcatkitchen #dessert #menu each day. Here's #cherry #almond #whitechocolate

A post shared by Fat Cat Kitchen (@fatcatkitchen) on Mar 1, 2017 at 6:23pm PST

Fat Cat is expected to open this spring.

The storefront was last home to a psychic.

Retail space in the former Amato Opera House seeking to the tune of $35k monthly

The condo conversion of the former Amato Opera House at 319 Bowery creeps along (the work permits arrived here in October 2014) ...



The gut rehab comes courtesy of landlord Steven Croman, who's facing suits in both civil and criminal court. While there isn't any word on the residential portion of the building just yet, the signs did arrive last week for the storefront...



Per the listing:

Retail space for rent in the historic Amato Opera House. 1, 500 sq. ft plus garden and basement with 19 foot ceilings. Food OK.

Conveniently located near B, D, F, M & 6 train lines as well as M103 and M21 bus lines. Steps from some of the city's best shopping, restaurants and nightlife, neighbors include Patagonia Surf, Saxon + Parole, and Momofuku Ko.

Asking monthly rent: $34,995.

That's an ambitious ask considering the revolving door of businesses along this corridor of late.

Here's a look at a rendering for the retail space from a different broker circa 2012...



In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. The company closed in May 2009. Amato died in December 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Calling Sister Midnight on Avenue A

A quick follow-up about Black Market, which closed on March 12 after seven years of serving burgers and oysters at 110 Avenue A.

Ownership is apparently revamping the space near Seventh Street... and, based on the new awning that arrived on Thursday, the place will be called Sister Midnight...





Given ownership's affinity for music (both as musicians-producers and other ventures, such as the Bowery Electric and Niagara with the Joe Strummer mural) ... this is likely a nod to Iggy Pop ... (Sister Midnight is the first track, co-written by David Bowie, on The Idiot, Pop's debut solo record from 1977.)

The portion of the awning with Sister Midnight was taped up by the weekend...



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

Make a bid on 64 2nd Ave.

The 5-story building at 64 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street recently arrived on the market.

Cushman & Wakefield has the listing:

The building has been owned and operated by current ownership for over 20 years. It consists of a retail space on the ground floor and lower level and three large residential units above. The 1,533 SF retail unit is vacant and features 11' ceilings and a 970 SF lower level with 9' ceilings and windows providing excellent light and air. If desired, the second floor can be used as commercial space as it is already connected to the ground floor through an existing marble staircase (now enclosed) creating a three-level retail space.

All three residential units are FM and currently leased at below market rents with summer expirations. Two units are expansive five-bedrooms, one of which is a triplex with exclusive interior access to a 700 SF rooftop entertainment area with World Trade Center and Empire State Building views.

The 3rd floor unit is a 900 SF floor-through space with a rear patio. The building hasn't been renovated in over 10-years and there is generous upside in the in-place residential rents (average in-place rents are $64/SF in a market commanding $85/SF).

Interested buyers may submit offers for the property. No. 64's retail tenant was Velo NY. The bike shop moved next door last year. (There was also the mysterious #notourpresident storefront signage for a brief time here after the election.)

In 2012, the building arrived on the market with a $7.3 million ask.

Here are the photos of the rooftop garden from the 2012 listing...

Spring Spa signage blooms on 5th Street

As you can see Spring Spa is coming soon to 325 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Not sure at the moment what type of spa services they will offer — Mani/pedi? Massage? Cryolipolysis?

This space adjacent to the 9th Precinct was previously home to Goloka Juice Bar, the sometimes-open shop that closed late last year after some three-plus years in business.

Sunday's parting shot

The ping-pong action today in Tompkins Square Park via Derek Berg...

Week in Grieview

[Photo on Avenue A from Tuesday by Grant Shaffer]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Developers reduce zoning variance request by two-thirds at 432-438 E. 14th St. (Thursday)

Recycle-A-Bicycle leaving the East Village (Friday)

See a production of Tennessee Williams' "In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel" on 3rd Street (Wednesday)

Happy St. Patrick's Day from McSorley's (Friday)

153 Avenue B returns to the market (Friday)

Black Market has closed (Thursday)

Former firehouse on 11th Street returns to the market for office use (Thursday)

The snow car of Fourth Avenue (Wednesday)

Citi Bike research: "Bikes are being used for errands and commuting" (Wednesday)

Mono + Mono's Fourth Street return (Monday)

Little Tong Noodle Shop looks ready to open (Wednesday)

East Village Barber Shop coming to 7th Street (Wednesday)


[Christo in Tompkins Square Park yesterday by Derek Berg]

It snowed (Tuesday)

A rental for "the most discerning guest" on Second Street (Monday)

L train shutdown now three fewer months than expected; plus an Avenue B substation (Saturday)

Vivi Bubble Tea debuts Third Avenue (Monday)

Mexican restaurant eyeing the former Babel space on Avenue C (Monday)

... and new on the gate at Julie's Vintage on Second Street at First Avenue... art by the Barcelona-based Axe Colours...



He also contributed a mural of Frida Kahlo this past week (next to the Andy Warhol by Bàlu...) in First Park...



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RIP Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry died yesterday at age 90.

An EVG reader shared the above poster from when Berry played at the Village Theater (later the Fillmore East) on Second Avenue at Sixth Street in April 1967.

The poster comes from the blog It's All the Streets You Crossed Not So Long Ago, which has a lot more on the bands who played the Village Theater.

A post shared by GVSHP (@gvshp_nyc) on Mar 19, 2017 at 5:03am PDT

New York Sports Club branding arrives at the former David Barton Gym on Astor Place

The New York Sports Club signage arrived this past week at the former David Barton gym on Astor Place.

Earlier this month, Town Sports International, the owners of the New York Sports Clubs brand, announced that they had bought the 10,000-square-foot space ... which will become one of New York Sports Clubs' collection of Elite clubs...



No sign of any member records lying in the snow.

David Barton abruptly closed in December.

Report: L train shutdown now 3 fewer months than expected; plus an Avenue B substation

Some additional context. The delayed closure of the L train is good news! 15 month closure instead of 19. https://t.co/fQEf1mocw1

— Second Ave. Sagas (@2AvSagas) March 17, 2017

In a tweet yesterday, Second Avenue Sagas noted that the L train shutdown between Bedford Avenue and Eighth Avenue will now last 15 months instead of 18 months (if you're an optimist) ... with a start date of April 2019 instead of January 2019. (H/T Gothamist!)

This news was confirmed by the MTA's lead spokesperson...

Canarsie Tunnel closure now only 15 months instead of 1.5 years. Starts April 2019; better for L train riders all around

— Beth DeFalco (@BethDeFalco) March 17, 2017

The MTA issued a news release yesterday on this development...

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will seek board approval next week to award an expedited contract to accelerate the rehabilitation of the L Subway train’s Canarsie Tunnel under the East River by three months, improve two stations, and build a substation that will allow more trains to run on the L Subway Line, increasing capacity. The contract award calls for the tunnel work to be completed in 15 months, three months shorter than the previously discussed 18 months.

The $477 million contract, to be awarded to a joint venture consisting of Judlau Contracting Inc. and TC Electric, also adds $15 million in incentives to complete the tunnel project in 15 months. Contractual provisions were included to expedite demolition, encourage acceleration of the tunnel work, deter delays, enable traffic mitigation work, and the testing and commissioning of systems.

Consistent with NYC Transit’s objectives to expedite critical capital projects and improve customer service, NYC Transit will also implement procedures to ensure that the project advances in a fast-tracked fashion similar to the expedited nature of Design Build projects.

“The heavy damage sustained by the Canarsie Tunnel during Superstorm Sandy requires a full reconstruction in order to ensure the integrity of the tunnel and the safety of riders for generations to come,” said MTA Interim Executive Director Ronnie Hakim. “At the same time, we promised to do everything possible to mitigate the impact of this vital work on l line riders, and today, we’ve done just that, by shortening the tunnel closure from 18 months to 15 months.”

The release also notes that, prior to the tunnel closure, the First Avenue stop will receive an upgrade that will include new stairways, and four ADA-compliant elevators "and other work to improve customer flow."

In addition, the release mentions something I don't recall hearing about: the "construction of a new Avenue B substation ... to address power requirements that, combined with the existing CBTC signal system, will allow more trains to run on the line to accommodate growing ridership."

Previously

Weekend record shopping

a bunch of cool stuff dropping for the weekend don't let a little snow slow you down #eat #pray #buy #records

A post shared by Good Records NYC (@goodrecordsnyc) on Mar 18, 2017 at 6:58am PDT

Plenty of good stuff ready to hit the bins tonight, tomorrow, all weekend, every day.

A post shared by Academy Records NYC (@academyrecords) on Mar 16, 2017 at 4:42pm PDT

#ttlscores arrival for wknd listening @thisunfolds

A post shared by @turntablelab on Mar 18, 2017 at 8:30am PDT

A post shared by A-1 Record Shop (@a1recordshop) on Mar 13, 2017 at 9:19am PDT

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

Academy Records — 415 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue

Turntable Lab — 84 E. 10th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue

A-One Record Shop — 439 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue

Celebrating the work of John Hejduk at Cooper Union

You likely noticed those wooden structures that a crew has been erecting outside Cooper Union. (There were the usual guesses as to what these are — namely wooden prisons used by the Lepharist Revolutionaries, temporary student housing or LinkNYC.)

These are representations of John Hejduk's pair of architectural structures, The House of the Suicide and the House of the Mother of the Suicide. (Read more about these here.)

Hejduk, a Cooper Union graduate, was the founding dean of The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at Cooper Union.

This is part of a month-long exhibit that starts on March 29.

Here's more:

The exhibition Hélène Binet – John Hejduk Works will present seven of Hejduk’s built works as photographed by Hélène Binet, a renowned London-based photographer who was Hejduk’s photographer of record. Binet’s photographs of both permanent and temporary structures will be presented, including the Berlin Tower, Wall House 2, The Collapse of Time, Security and Object/Subject.

The exhibition will also include a chronology of the numerous realizations of Hejduk’s design for the Jan Palach Memorial, which was permanently installed in Prague in 2016. Comprised of two structures — House of the Suicide and House of the Mother of the Suicide — this work honors the Czech activist and dissident Jan Palach, whose self-immolation in protest of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 served as a galvanizing force against the communist government then in power.

Updated 3/19

Updated...





H/T Lola Sáenz!

EV Grieve Etc.: Historic theater group relocating to St. Mark's; Christo & Dora prepping for more kids

[St. Patrick's Day flair on East Houston by Derek Berg]

Horrific car crash on the Williamsburg Bridge kills woman celebrating her 21st birthday; NYPD traffic agent to face DWI, vehicular homicide charges (NBC 4)

The historic Negro Ensemble Company relocating to Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place (The Villager)

Dora lays an egg! (Laura Goggin Photography)

A suggestion for a "local priority" pass for local residents at Katz's (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

The latest MTA increase starts tomorrow (Sunday!) and affect weekly and monthly MetroCards while leaving a single ride at $2.75 (New York Post)


[Stuck truck on 6th Street yesterday via Derek Berg]

Continued efforts to save the Rivington House on the LES (The Lo-Down) ... and soil testing begins on the property (BoweryBoogie)

Reviewing the stand-up steakhouse Ikinari on 10th Street (Eater ... previously)

Man charged with beating two Columbia University graduate students at Clockwork says that he was provoked (New York Post)

Blue Bottle Coffee opens at 71 Clinton St. (DNAinfo)

On Sunday, Jimmy No. 43 on Seventh Street hosts the Chefs’ Consortium, a walk-around, buffet-style brunch (Details)

"Grace Church is one of the reasons our neighborhood remains one of the most beautiful places in New York." (Off the Grid)

Alex's NYC video grab bag (Flaming Pablum)

The surprise NYC blizzard in 1888 (Ephemeral New York)

Cinekink 2017 wraps up this weekend (Official site)

A quick Fix

Boss Hog's latest release, Brood X, drops next Friday. And they'll be playing at the Mercury Lounge on March 30.

The video here is from a session last summer at KEXP in Seattle ... featuring "Fix Me" from the band's 1989 debut EP, Drinkin' Lechin' & Lyin'.

Amoun Kitchen and Lounge signage arrives

A quick update from Wednesday's post... as noted, Amoun Kitchen and Lounge has relocated from the Upper East Side to 320 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... the restaurant has been open, though without the Amoun signage ... anyway, Vinny & O shared these shots of the new signs ... as well as the grand opening banner...



Amoun serves Moroccan cuisine. They also have a hookah lounge. The previous tenant, Zerza, is expected to relocate to another space in the East Village, according to owner Radouane Eljaouhari.