Report: Alan Cumming to help revamp Eastern Bloc on 6th Street

Actor Alan Cumming, an East Village resident, is reportedly partnering with the owners of Eastern Bloc to reboot the bar on Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B early this fall.

According to Page Six, Eastern Bloc — described on their Facebook page as "the best gay bar in the world" — will close in August ahead of renovations for what is being called Club Cumming.

Per his spokesperson:

“Alan wants it to be a home for everyone of all ages, all genders, all sexualities, who all enjoy letting go and making some mischief. No judgments, no attitude, no rules, except kindness, acceptance and fun.”

And you can already sign up for updates via an email list...

Coming Fall 2017! Club Cumming is coming to NYC. Join our email list for info on opening and shows! @danielnardicio https://t.co/HoXZAM0ZsR pic.twitter.com/yuEjtDhIHg

— ClubCumming (@ClubCumming) April 3, 2017

Community meeting set for tomorrow night to discuss recent burglaries

Despite reports to the contrary (via the Post), the multi-block association meeting to discuss the recent spate of break-ins is on for tomorrow night at 6:30... here's the flyer with the details...



The meeting is at PS 15, 336 E. Fourth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Post reports on the 'East Village crime wave'

A report of 7 burglaries in the past month in these 6 East Village buildings

Owners of Mable's Smokehouse in Williamsburg looking to bring Tex-Mex to 2nd Avenue

[Photo of 67 2nd Ave. from last summer by Vinny & O]

Jeff Lutonsky and Meghan Love, the husband-and-wife team who own Mable's Smokehouse in Williamsburg, are vying to open a restaurant at 67 Second Ave.

The two have applied for a new liquor license for the space, which has a working name of Mable's Hacienda and Tex Mex, according to the public documents (PDF) posted on the CB3 website ahead of this week's SLA committee meeting.

The proposed hours are 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. The configuration shows 16 tables, good for 46 seats, and one, eight-seat bar.

The address is currently home to La Contrada, which hasn't seemed to catch on since opening last July. The CB3 questionnaire describe this as a sale of assets. This southwest corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street was also formerly home to Contrada, Calliope and Belcourt.

Mable's opened in 2011. Here's Eater on the restaurant's first anniversary:

Mable's is the massive, totally unpretentious barbecue joint next to the Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg. The restaurant serves a number of house-smoked meats and down-home sides at a very reasonable price — you can get a huge plate of Oklahoma City-style barbecue with all the fixins for about $15.

If all this goes through for Mable's, then perhaps they'll be some BBQ wars on Second Avenue — Mighty Quinn's Barbecue is just two blocks to the north.

The April SLA committee meeting is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Location: The Thelma Burdick Community Room, 10 Stanton St. at the Bowery.

Sister Midnight debuts on Avenue A

Sister Midnight is now open at 110 Avenue A near Seventh Street...



The owners (Johnny T and Jesse Malin) revamped their Black Market space, which closed on March 12 after a nearly seven-year run serving burgers and oysters.



Here's a look at the menu posted outside...



Sister Midnight is the first track, co-written by David Bowie, on The Idiot, Iggy Pop's debut solo record from 1977.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Calling Sister Midnight on Avenue A

EV Grieve Etc.

A few items to note from recent weeks...



Blue 9 Burger closed down on Third Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street back in February after 14 years... the for rent sign only recently arrived. The rent is negotiable, per the listing, which notes "No Cheesesteaks, No Coffee, No Pizza."

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Rustico closed at the beginning of March on First Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. The banner via broker CBRE has been up for a few weeks now, though there isn't any sign of the listing online.

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The space that housed Guayoyo, the family-owned Venezuelan restaurant, has sat empty on the corner of First Avenue and Fourth Street for two-plus years now.

The space was cleaned up early last week... and the Icon Realty sign has been removed... perhaps a sign of a new tenant...


[Photo by Vinny & O]

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A lamp for Clay Pot has arrived outside 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The restaurant will be serving "traditional Hong Kong style open-flame cooked clay pot rice" when it opens later this spring.

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[Photo by Steven]

East Side Ink moved one storefront to the south at the end of December here on Avenue B between Seventh Street and Sixth Street.

Per the listing, "all uses considered." No word on the rent.

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The custom frame shop that opened in March 2016 at 36 Third Ave. has closed here between Ninth Street and 10th Street... the sidewalk bridge that has been up the whole time likely didn't help business...

Annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival set for Aug. 27 in Tompkins Square Park

The City Parks Foundation announced the 2017 season of SummerStage earlier today... the programming includes the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Tompkins Square Park on Aug. 27. Joshua Redman is the headliner that Sunday afternoon.

Here's more on the Jazz Festival via the news release...

This year, SummerStage will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, New York City's annual salute to the eponymous late saxophonist. The festival, which each year coincides with Charlie Parker's birthday, takes place uptown in Harlem's historic Marcus Garvey Park and downtown in Tompkins Square Park, across the street from the apartment Parker called home.

This year, the festival has been extended to four days and will include Emmy Award-winning tap dance virtuoso Jason Samuels Smith, world-renowned Anat Cohen Tentet, jazz master Lee Konitz Quartet, slow-funk Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science, reverend drummer Louis Hayes, young American vocalist Charenee Wade, Grammy nominated Joshua Redman Quartet, modern jazz creative voice Lou Donaldson, saxophonist Tia Fuller of the all-female band touring with Beyoncé, vocalist Alicia Olatuja, and more.

You can find the full lineup of SummerStage here.

Parker photo by William P. Gottlieb

The Post reports on the 'East Village crime wave'

[Reader-submitted photo]

The New York Post checks in with a not-so-subtle piece on the recent spate of burglaries/robberies in the neighborhood: "East Village crime wave has residents living in fear."

Per the report:

A brazen bandit is causing panic in the East Village, where petrified residents are demanding a sit-down with the NYPD following as many as eight break-ins.

In one case, the bold thief stood over his sleeping victim with a flashlight and demanded his belongings. In two other heists, stunned residents walked in on the invader as he ransacked their $6,000-a-month apartments.

There are interviews with residents of an East Fourth Street building that was hit.

Jeff Young, 50, a fourth-floor resident of the same building, said on Wednesday that two men posing as gas-company workers tried to talk their way into his apartment.

Young said he “heard a click” that convinced him they had a gun, but the would-be home invaders “bugged out” and he warned them he “had a gat [pistol].”

“This neighborhood was rising and now it’s falling apart,” he told The Post.

And a third-party perspective on this.

Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD detective sergeant and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said the burglar’s brazen behavior is worrisome.

“This is not normal burglar behavior and has a high likelihood of more serious implications — rape or murder,” he said. “Burglars don’t look for a confrontation — they want to enter your home, grab your stuff and get out.”

Flyers posted in the buildings where the break-ins occurred mentioned a multi-block association meeting with the 9th Precinct set for Wednesday evening. However, according to the article, this isn't happening.

Meanwhile, crime statistics (PDF here) in the 9th Precinct show that burglaries are up 58 percent in 2017 (38) from 2016 (24).



The overall crime line in the Precinct is down 1.8 percent for the year ... and you can see the historical numbers...



NYPD sources told the Post that the 9th Precinct has made 17 burglary ­arrests in 2017.

And here's the map an EVG reader made showing where the recent robberies/burglaries took place..



The Post reported that the "targeted buildings house college students and young professionals, and none have a doorman. At all but two, a reporter was buzzed in, no questions asked."

Finally, some common-sense advice from the NYPD...

Be sure to close & lock your windows when heading out. #NYPD #Burglary pic.twitter.com/oL3rnGUAIR

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) April 8, 2017

Updated 6 a.m.

ABC 7 has a similar news story titled "Crime Wave Leading to Fear, Panic Among East Village Residents."

Previously on EV Grieve:
A report of 7 burglaries in the past month in these 6 East Village buildings

[Updated] More on the 1st Avenue bike collision

Last Wednesday morning, a box truck struck a 31-year-old woman riding in the northbound bike lane on First Avenue at Ninth Street.

She was listed in critical condition at Bellevue.

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Updated 4/12

A friend of the victim told us on Sunday that doctors were optimistic about her chances for recovery.

Unfortunately, there were complications. DNAinfo now reports that Kelly Hurley was taken off life support yesterday.

Per DNAinfo: "Investigators were still reviewing video, the spokesman added, and the driver could still be charged."

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As for this intersection, Streetsblog noted:

The block of the First Avenue bike lane approaching 9th Street has a “mixing zone,” in which cyclists and drivers turning left negotiate the same space during the same signal phase.

Intersections that separate cyclists and turning in time with “split-phase” signals have a safer track record than mixing zones, but DOT prefers to limit them to intersections with high pedestrian volumes.

On Friday, the guerrilla street engineers at the Transformation Department "staged an intervention" at the intersection ...

Mixing zone before. Drivers cut across cyclists' path or cyclists must merge into 1st Ave. pic.twitter.com/1Jdpr5N4KS

— Transformation Dept. (@NYC_DOTr) April 7, 2017

Safer for pedestrians too. #demandmore pic.twitter.com/R6SBjZrnnz

— Transformation Dept. (@NYC_DOTr) April 7, 2017

An EVG reader noted other obstacles for cyclists in the bike lane that have nothing to do with traffic... namely the trash that piles up on the weekends...



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updating] Reader report: Bike-truck collision on 1st Avenue at 9th Street

Porchetta returns (for 6 weeks) to 7th Street

As we first noted back in November, Porchetta closed on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Matt Lindemulder (co-owner along with Porsena's Sara Jenkins) told us that they'd hope to find another location soon for the quick-serve restaurant, which specializes in Italian-style roast pork sandwiches and platters.

Grub Street reports that, starting today, Porchetta returns "as a six-week lunchtime pop-up" at Porsena Extra Bar, the Porsena spinoff restaurant that Jenkins owns at 21 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

Grub Street notes some menu additions, including rigatoni with porchetta ragù and porchetta mac ’n’ cheese.

Porsena Extra Bar opens at 11:30 a.m.

Sunday's parting shot

Avenue A near Ninth Street this afternoon... photo by Steven...

Last few days for Love Shine on 6th Street

[Photo by Fenton Lawless]

The sale continues at Love Shine, 543 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

As we noted in February, the 20-year-old shop that sells handmade bags, accessories and gifts was closing due to to an uptick in rent and downturn in business.

The shop is open tonight until 9:30 ... they'll be back tomorrow and Tuesday and that's it.

However, owner Mark Seamon is moving his business online. You can find them on Pinterest ... Facebook ... and Instagram.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Love Shine is closing shop on 6th Street and moving online

Out and About With Mark Seamon

Week in Grieview

[After Thursday's rain in Tompkins Square Park. Photo by Ryan John Lee]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

RIP David Peel (Thursday)

Bike-truck collision on First Avenue at Ninth Street (Wednesday)

Remembering Glenn O'Brien (Friday)

A report of seven burglaries in the past month in these six East Village buildings (Tuesday ... Saturday)

A refurbished Quad Cinema reopens April 14 (Friday)

Out and About with Terry and Harmony (Wednesday)

A look at Jared Kushner's financial disclosure report (Monday)

An ode to Angelica Kitchen (Friday)

Bringing "the beauty of Japanese Tea Ceremony" to Seventh Street (Thursday)

Lanza's has returned — on 23rd Street (Tuesday)

Red Hook Lobster Pound closed for now in Extra Place (Monday)

Webster Hall has a new owner (Tuesday)

The new Carmen Pabon Garden is now open to the public on weekends (Friday)

Ummburger vying for the Mancora space on First Avenue (Wednesday)

Christo and Dora have more company in the city (Monday)

Slim dining options at the Hyatt Union Square for the time being (Tuesday)

Construction watch: 79 Avenue D (Friday)

About the for rent sign outside Somtum Der on Avenue A (Monday)

Up to 4 floors at the all-new 34 E. 13th St. (Wednesday)

Village Pourhouse makes closing official (Tuesday)

A quick look at the revamped Whole Foods Market® Bowery and its higher-profile bakery (Monday)

...and a scene from Tompkins Square Park yesterday via Derek Berg...







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Your chance to see the Moon and Jupiter meet in Virgo from 3rd Street

Last night, Felton Davis had his telescope set up on Third Street as "the almost-full waxing gibbous moon begins its monthly sweep in front of the constellation Virgo, where, it so happens, the dazzling planet Jupiter also resides."



Felton will be back out this evening at 8:30 ... outside Maryhouse at 55 Third St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. As he said in the comments, "prepare to watch Europa (in the news lately because of its detectable atmosphere) pass in front of Jupiter, casting a shadow!"

And thanks to Grant Shaffer for these photos.

Saturday's parting shot

[Click on image for larger size]

Photo by Allen Semanco...

For views of the Moon and Jupiter this weekend

Via East Village astronomy buff Felton Davis...

For the next three nights, the Moon will grow to full sliding through the constellation Virgo, and passing by the bright star Spica, and the planet Jupiter. If the weather is clear I will set up directly in front of Maryhouse at 55 E 3rd St. (between First Avenue and Second Avenue) starting at 8:30 pm for the Moon and hoping for a good view of Jupiter by 9:30 p.m.

Today: Sale at Angelica Kitchen; funky fun at Jane's Exchange

Two items to note...

Angelica Kitchen is closing on April 7th. On Saturday April 8th and Sunday April 9th the contents of the restaurant will be offered in an Auction/ Sale. The contents include decorative items, art, indoor and outdoor furniture, lighting fixtures, professional kitchen equipment and supplies. . Many unique and special items will be available. Besides the typical items one would expect from a restaurant there are sculptures by Bill King, custom wood fabrications by Jefferey Mase, lights by Richard LLoyd, our unique ceramic benches by Tom Ashcraft, mosaic vases by Linda Benzwenger and so much more. . Auction: Cash or bank check Sale: Cash or credit cards for non-auction items over $50. . Proceeds to be distributed to the local farmers and small businesses that have supported Angelica Kitchen throughout the years and who could be adversely affected by this closing. Angelica Kitchen is located at 300 East 12th Street See you soon! #angelicakitchen #farm2table #vegannyc #nycauction #nycauctions

A post shared by Angelica Kitchen (@angelicakitchen) on Apr 7, 2017 at 3:28pm PDT

And for the kids (6 and under)...via the EVG inbox...

Join Esther and her puppet friends for an hour of songs, stories, and FUNKY FUN in this warm, intimate setting! And it's *FREE*! Jane's Exchange is a wonderful little kids consigment shop in the heart of the East Village. Come early- or stay after the show- to shop! Lots of clothes and toys in MINT condition at cheap cheap prices.

Esther is a singer/songwriter, and the founder of Thunder and Sunshine, a funky rock band for kids. She's also the singer and co-founder of The Electric Mess, a NYC rock band established in 2007, which has toured various U.S. and European cities. She does bi-monthly story hours (every other Thursday) at Bank Street Bookstore, and performs for kids all around town, both as a solo act, and with Thunder and Sunshine.

Jane's Exchange is at 191 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Report provides a few more details on recent East Village burglaries

[Reader-submitted photo]

NBC 4 has more on the recent burglaries in seven East Village buildings...

One woman said she came home on a Saturday to an open bedroom window before she realized her laptop was gone. A man who lives in a building on East 3rd Street said he went to sleep, only to find his laptop, mohair jacket and iPhone gone.

Police say a man entered an apartment inside a building on East 4th Street around 12:30. When one of the residents discovered him in their roommate's bedroom, he claimed to have been doing electical work. Moments later, the unknown man disappeared — along with a television, laptop and Amazon Fire stick.

And...

"It's nuts because this is a nice neighborhood," said resident Ruben Reyes.

The NBC report does not provide any description of the suspect. Or how a man disappeared carrying a TV and laptop.

There will be a multi-block association meeting with the 9th Precinct on April 12 at 6:30 p.m. Location still TBD.

Updated:

A reader (see the comments) created a map showing the locations of the burglaries...



Previously on EV Grieve:
A report of 7 burglaries in the past month in these 6 East Village buildings

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Bobby Williams...

Remembering Glenn O'Brien

[Image via glenn.obrien.com]

There are many tributes today for Glenn O'Brien, the writer, editor and downtown personality, who died at age 70 following an illness.

Per ARTnews:

A dapper, instantly recognizable art world fixture with bright white hair and reliably impeccable jackets, O’Brien trained his dry, deadpan wit on art, music, and fashion as an editor and contributor for Rolling Stone, Oui, High Times, Allure, Esquire, and The New Yorker, among many other publications.

O’Brien was born in Cleveland. He spent his college years at Georgetown University, where he became friends with the art writer Bob Colacello. The pair went on to study film at Columbia University and become the editors of Interview in the early 1970s, when Andy Warhol was still publishing the magazine out of the Factory.

“They thought, ‘Let’s get some nice clean-cut college kids who aren’t amphetamine addicts and see if they can run the magazine,’ ” O’Brien told The New York Times in 2015.

In the 1980s, O’Brien effectively channeled the Factory for the Mudd Club crew with his public-access television show TV Party, a blend of live music, half-coherent interviews, zany skits, and idiosyncratic debauchery.

Per New York magazine:

O’Brien borrowed generously from the hipster affect of the Beats, but adapted that stance for the New Wave era. Zelig-like, he made an appearance, by his own account, as the underwear model on the Rolling Stones’ Warhol-designed Sticky Fingers album, helped mastermind the controversial CK Jeans ads denounced by Bill Clinton, and edited Madonna’s Sex book (not that many people were focused on the text). Even if you hadn’t read his work or seen his picture, you undoubtedly saw something he had created, and it shaped your consciousness in some way.

He lived nearby (Bond Street?) and in recent years invited cameras inside his home...

So Sad about us

The Jesus and Mary Chain recently released Damage and Joy, their first album in 18 years. The video here is for "Always Sad."

They'll be playing out at the all-new Brooklyn Steel on May 14.