The Sing for Hope piano has arrived in Tompkins Square Park

The Broadway cast of "Chicago" in collaboration with Queens-based artist Stephanie Tartick designed this still-under-wraps piano, titled "All that Jazz" ...



Per the Sing for Hope website:

The Sing for Hope Pianos places artist-designed pianos throughout NYC’s parks and public spaces for anyone and everyone to play. For three weeks this June, the pianos will bring individuals and communities together in an open festival of art for all. After their time on the streets, Sing for Hope will transport the instruments in NYC public schools, where they will become hubs for Sing for Hope’s ongoing creative programs and enrich students’ lives for years to come.

This year, Sing for Hope will place its 400th unique piano artwork in the five boroughs, making NYC host to more street pianos than any other city in the world. As New York City’s largest recurring public art project, the Sing for Hope Pianos impacts an estimated 2 million people each year.

The piano will be here near Temperance Fountain until June 25.

Tompkins Square Park was home to the Prince-inspired piano last June.

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Updated 7 p.m.

Bobby Williams notes that the piano has been unwrapped...

AG announces guilty plea of landlord Steve Croman, who'll serve 1 year at Rikers

This just in from the Attorney General's office...

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the guilty plea of Steven Croman, a major New York City landlord with more than 140 apartment buildings across Manhattan, for fraudulently refinancing loans and committing tax fraud. Under the terms of his plea, Croman would serve one year of jail time on Rikers Island and pay a $5 million tax settlement – marking a significant precedent in the effort to combat landlords who base their business model on the displacement of rent-stabilized tenants.

Rarely, if ever, has a landlord been sentenced to serve time in jail for engaging in these practices. The jail time and multi-million settlement announced today send a strong message to landlords that the Attorney General will pursue anyone who engages in these types of practices to the fullest extent of the law.

“Steven Croman is a fraudster and a criminal who engaged in a deliberate and illegal scheme to fraudulently obtain bank loans,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “He went to outrageous lengths to boost his bottom line – including falsely listing rent-stabilized units at market rates when his efforts to displace those renters had failed. Now Mr. Croman faces a year in Rikers and a $5 million settlement – and unscrupulous landlords are on notice that we’ll pursue them to the fullest extent of the law.”

Per The Real Deal:

Appearing at the courthouse at 100 Centre Street Tuesday morning in a dark blue suit and blue tie, Croman read an allocution in front of state Supreme Court Justice Jill Konsiver admitting details of his scheme directing employees to file documents – including inflated rent rolls – that would allow him to secure bigger mortgages on his multifamily properties.

“I knew the documents were false,” he said.

His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 19

The AG's office still has a pending civil case against Croman accusing him of forcing tenants from their rent-controlled apartments. His next court date for the civil case is June 22, the 10th time it has been adjourned, according to the Cromans' Tenant Alliance.

Schneiderman first announced the charges against Croman in May 2016. Those charges included multiple felonies for his role in an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain several multi-million dollar refinancing loans between 2012 and 2014.

The civil lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan and the product of an independent investigation, alleges that Croman used, among other things, the illegal tactic of pressuring tenants into surrendering their apartments by repeatedly filing baseless lawsuits against them.

Croman's real-estate empire includes 47 buildings with 617 units in the East Village. As previously noted, Croman owns more buildings in the East Village than any other landlord.

Owners of Triona's lined up to take over Croxley Ales on Avenue B

[EVG file photo]

It appears that Croxley Ales is ending its run on Avenue B.

The owners behind the Irish bars Triona's on Sullivan (est. 2012) and Triona's on Third (est. 2009) are on this month's CB3-SLA docket for a new liquor license for the space at 28-30 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street.

According to the questionnaire (PDF here) on file at the CB3 website, this is a sale of assets.

The yet-to-be-be-named establishment (Triona's on B?) shows proposed hours of noon to 4 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The menu is "traditional American-Irish comfort food," with fish and chips, burgers, etc.

Croxley Ales has six locations total in the metropolitan area, opening the first outpost on Long Island in 1990. The East Village location opened in 2003, peddling sports, cheap wings and craft beer. (Their website still says "We do not carry Bud, Miller, or Coors.") They expanded into the adjacent space at No. 30 in early 2013, adding an extra 13 flat-screen TVs to its sports-watching arsenal.

The June SLA committee meeting is Monday, June 12. Location: the Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Croxley Ales beer garden sign finally removed

Croxley Ales reopens on Thursday

Avenue B condos near former heroin hot spot named Poppy Lofts

A pizza for Count Slima

[Photo of Count Slima by Walter Wlodarczyk]

Joseph "Count Slima" Williams worked for the Two Boots family for 30-plus years, starting with helping build the original location at 37 Avenue A in 1987.

He has retired from Two Boots ... and now the pizzeria has named a pie in his honor.

Starting today, you can grab a slice of the Count Slima, featuring bacon, andouille meatballs and tasso ham on a thick Sicilian crust...

Man, mutant, legend...Get ready for a whole lotta Count Slima! This special new pie is named in honor of the legendary poet and East Village icon Joseph 'Count Slima' Williams and is the newest addition to our Daily Specials rotation. Grab it on Tuesday at any Two Boots or catch the man himself on the street in the East Village or probably (or definitely!) at the pool table at Sophies! Artwork by @mikerothart #twoboots #pizzapioneers #definitely #CountSlima #pizza #nycpizza #nycfood #art #pizzaart #pizzeria #eastvillage #sophieseastvillage #legend

A post shared by Two Boots Pizza (@twobootspizza) on Jun 2, 2017 at 2:25pm PDT

Even if you don't see Slima playing pool at Sophie's (on Fifth Street between Aveue A and Avenue B), you can still see his artwork that adorns some of the walls there.

Rebranded Atomic Wings reopens this week on 1st Avenue

[EVG photo from August 2016]

The Atomic Wings location on First Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street closed late last summer... and stayed that way for several months before reopening in the fall under new management ... only to close again earlier this spring.

Anyway, the Wing team is reopening on Friday in a rebranded space... with a new catchphrase: Authentic. Awesome. Atomic...


[Photo last week by Steven]

Here are some particulars about the grand (re)opening via Facebook:

Come WING IT with us on June 9th for our GRAND OPENING!

Enjoy the sounds of DJ Reach, and specials like FREE French fries to the first 100 people and FREE waffle [fries?] with any tender order through the entire weekend! Did we mention we're also raffling off a brand new mountain bike to one lucky guest!!

There are multiple AW locations in the NYC and surrounding area.

[Updated] Looking at David Choe's finished product on the Bowery mural wall

David Choe wrapped up work on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall early this morning (4 a.m.) ... here are some details of the mural...





Here's what the wall looked liked on Day 1 — May 28...



The mural will be up through October. Curious if Goldman Properties will keep the security detail on it until then.

Updated 6/9

Hyperallergic has a post titled "How the New Bowery Wall Commission Puts Rape Culture on Display." Read it here.

Hurricane Season 2017: Do you know your zone?

The New York City Emergency Management Department launched a new phase of the “Know Your Zone” hurricane awareness campaign today to encourage residents to find out whether they live in one of the city’s six hurricane evacuation zones. (The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season officially started this past Thursday and continues through the end of November.)

This year's campaign features new ads that highlight personal preparedness tips from Community Emergency Response Team volunteers. That part is pretty straightforward.

Here's more from the city's news release ...

A 2017 Preparedness survey conducted by Global Strategy Group indicates that while 67 percent of New York City residents say they feel very or somewhat informed about what to do in the event of an emergency, one in four (25 percent) remain unsure about whether they live in a hurricane evacuation zone. In addition, the percentage of residents who say they live in an evacuation zone but cannot identify which zone they live in has increased by 7 points since a similar preparedness survey conducted in 2015 (2017: 57 percent don’t know, 2015: 50 percent didn’t know).

Hurricane evacuation zones are based on coastal flood risk resulting from storm surge (the “dome” of ocean water that is pushed ashore by the winds and low barometric pressure of a hurricane), the geography of the city’s low-lying neighborhoods, and the accessibility of these neighborhoods by bridges and roads. The city may order residents who live in a zone to evacuate depending on a hurricane’s forecast strength, track and storm surge.

The screengrab of the zone map shows this neighborhood ... Zone 1 is basically the area that got hit hard during Sandy, from the East River west to Avenue B, south to the north side of Seventh Street. Anyway, you can type in your address at the NYC Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder here. (The address in the screengrab above is for Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A at Seventh Street. Zone 5!)

Noted

An EVG reader shared the above photo from this afternoon... a new arrival at Key Food on Avenue A and Fourth Street — a promo for Citi Habitats (the number and info is for the Upper West Side office) inside the entrance to the grocery store... apparently two people ran into it before Key personnel adjusted its placement.

It appears from the photo that the bottom portion of the display might hold, say, disposable plastic cutlery and napkins...

Report: Landlord claims management company was responsible for the 2nd Avenue gas explosion

Sixteen months after the DA charged Maria Hrynenko and several others for their role in the deadly Second Avenue gas explosion, the landlord is now claiming that her management company was "careless and reckless" in its work, according to court papers.

The New York Post first reported on this yesterday. Per the Post:

The landlord accused of wrongdoing in the deadly 2015 East Village gas explosion is blaming someone else.

A Manhattan management company hired to install gas meters in the basement of one of the three buildings owned by Maria Hrynenko was negligent in its work and failed to warn people about hazardous conditions, Hrynenko claims in a new lawsuit.

Andrick Management LLC was reportedly hired to install gas meters in the basement of one of the three buildings. (The Post did not have comment from Andrick.)

Hrynenko, 57, is facing charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault and reckless endangerment.

Investigators have said that an illegal cost-cutting gas delivery system at 121 Second Ave. may have caused the blast that killed two men and injured a few dozen other people as well as destroyed three buildings — 119, 121 and 123 Second Ave.

As we reported on Friday, a reader spotted a survey crew on the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue. One of the workers said that they were surveying the site ... and said they were there representing the buyer of 119 Second Ave. and 121 Second Ave. In March, lawyers for some of the victims said that a sale of the empty lots could potentially jeopardize the settlements of the victims.

Reminder: Public forum set to discuss special business district in the East Village

As we reported last week, Community Board 3's Economic Development Committee is hosting a public forum on Wednesday evening to discuss a proposed special district in the East Village "to encourage retail diversity and promote small and independent businesses."

Find more details via a Q-and-A on the CB3 website on the issue. Or last week's post.

Here's a flyer that the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation created for the event...



The meeting is Wednesday from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Sirovich Senior Center, 331 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Public forum set to discuss special business district in the East Village (27 comments)

Artichoke Basille's Pizza signage arrives at new 14th Street location

[Photo by Pinch]

Back on Friday, workers hoisted the new Artichoke Basille's Pizza signage at 321 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue — across the way from their current location that has been closed since the fire on May 26.


[Photo by KT]

We first spotted plans for the new location this past November.

Team Artichoke hasn't offered up much about the new 14th Street Artichoke. Co-owner Francis Garcia told Eater in April that the lease is up at No. 328, "so they took that as an opportunity for bigger and better. The new location will allow for expanded offerings, like cauliflower fritters, broccoli rabe sandwiches, and more."

There also hasn't been much more on the fire, which started as the pizzeria was closing up for the night/morning. An FDNY source told the Post that the fire didn't appear to be suspicious.

The Department of Buildings issued a partial vacate order on the building:

DUE TO FIRE DAMAGE 2 STORES AT LEFT AND RIGHT OF 1ST FLOOR, 10 FRONT APTS AT LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FROM 2ND STORY TO 6TH STORY, 4 APTS AT MIDDLE OF RIGHT SIDE OF BUILDING FROM 2ND STORY TO 5TH STORY

It's not clear how many residents are currently in the building.

Artichoke's first location opened on 14th Street in 2008. There are now eight other locations, in Brooklyn, Queens and Berkeley, Calif.

In addition, the Artichoke website is featuring information about franchising...



Thank you to EVG readers Pinch, KT and Tyler for sending photos!

Chao Chao has not been open lately

Chao Chao, the 6-month-old contemporary Vietnamese restaurant at 171 Avenue A, has not been open for business the past two weeks, according to multiple neighbors.

There isn't any notice about a temporary closure on the front door or online. While the phone number is still active at owner and chef Stephan Brezinsky's restaurant, reservations aren't available and delivery via Caviar notes that Chao Chao "does not exist." We reached out to the publicist last week who sent us Chao Chao's opening notice and have yet to hear back.

Chao Chao evolved from Soothsayer, which opened in January 2016. The restaurant then closed without any notice to patrons at the end of September 2016. Brown paper covered the front windows for several months before the space re-emerged as Chao Chao last November.

In October 2016, CB3 issued a strong, two-plus page denial for an upgrade to Soothysayer's beer-wine license to full liquor. You can read the official meeting minutes here. The denial starts on Page 12.

Among other reasons, "the applicant proposed using the backyard area for dining, although no certificate of occupancy was provided to demonstrate the legality of the commercial use of the backyard and there had been numerous complaints from residents regarding commercial use of backyards in this neighborhood."

Upon seeking their initial full liquor license in July 2015, Soothysayer placed signs around the storefront asking residents to "join us as we rally for our liquor license and for the approval to open a cozy back patio."

The previous tenant here, B.A.D. Burger, closed in January 2015 after three-plus years. B.A.D. Burger was never able to secure a beer-wine license for the space. After CB3 denied his beer-wine request in 2012, B.A.D. Burger owner Keith Masco reportedly called the board "fascist."

What will the art market bear for this?

[Photo by Derek Berg!]

This was the scene this morning on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue... where this [admittedly photogenic] giant teddy bear was spotted sprawled out on the sidewalk, empty cup and toilet paper not far from its outstretched paws.

Seeing as it was plopped right outside their door, the folks at the Shape of Lies decided to turn the bear into an art project...




[Photo by William Klayer]







Unless marked, all photos by Derek Berg!

Noted

An EVG reader shared this from Clinton Street just below Stanton Street on the LES... the reader wondered how this was possible.

Seems obvious that the chair was there before the city installed the light pole.

Week in Grieview

[Photo by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Public forum set to discuss special business district in the East Village (Wednesday)

City approves co-naming the northwest corner of 7th Street and 2nd Avenue Moises Locón and Nicholas Figueroa Way (Thursday)

High-rent blight: Senator's report finds nearly 10% vacancy rate on parts of 1st and 2nd avenues (Friday)

Looking at the future home of 14th Street's 2nd Trader Joe's (Tuesday)

Out and About with photographer Roberta Bayley (and Stella) (Thursday)

Report: Suspect in 6th Street slashing seeking a sentencing deal in court (Wednesday)

The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years (Friday)

Hello again: black crowned night heron spotted in Tompkins Square Park (Monday)

Love Gang is moving on 9th Street (Tuesday)

Love and shrooms for Gregg Allman outside the former Fillmore East on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

Report: Morton Williams won't be taking over the 14th Street Associated after all (Wednesday)

...crosswalk moments on Second Avenue and Seventh Street yesterday...



[Photos by Derek Berg]

Esperanto offshoot closes on 1st Street; may return elsewhere (Tuesday)

The Pride Ribbon Project at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery (Thursday)

Moustache has closed on 10th Street (Tuesday)

Reader report: A buyer for 119 and 121 2nd Ave., site of the deadly gas explosion? (Friday)

Shiina opens on 3rd Avenue (Friday)

Against the Grain yields to sustainable omakase restaurant on 6th Street (Wednesday)

Celebrating a Grateful Deal anniversary in Tompkins Square Park (Thursday)

Ramen Setagaya reopens after renovation on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

The Continental's 5-shot deal bumped from $10 to $12 (Tuesday)

No Malice Palace 'waiting for legal things to happen' on 3rd Street (Tuesday)


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Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen is going on summer break after today

[EVG file photo]

Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, the basement cafe that serves as a fundraising arm of the St George Ukrainian Catholic Church, closes after today for their customary summer break.

Hello everyone! We've​ got some sad news for you: today is our last day in this season, we will be closed for summer break. Hope all of you will have a wonderful summer☀️🏝️ and we can't wait to see you in September! We'll keep you posted about our opening day. . Дорогі наші клієнти, ми маємо сумну новину для Вас: сьогодні наш останній день в цьому сезоні. Стріча зачиняється на літню перерву. Сподіваюсь, Ви гарно проведете літо ☀️🏝️, і ми вже не можемо дочекатись побачити Вас у Вересні! Ми повідомимо Вам день відкриття. . #streecha #ukrainiankitchenofsaintgeorgechurch

A post shared by Streecha🇺🇦Ukrainian kitchen NY (@streecha) on Jun 4, 2017 at 4:48am PDT

...and their menu...

Our regular #menu and we always have our daily specials! Наше щоденне #меню і ми щодня маємо страву дня! #Streecha #UkrainiankitchenofsaintGeorgechurch #delicious #Ukrainian #food

A photo posted by Streecha🇺🇦Ukrainian kitchen NY (@streecha) on Jan 17, 2017 at 7:24am PST

Streecha, 33 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square, is open from 9-5 today.

Previously on EV Grieve:
At the Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen

Saturday with Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Miss Kita's owners write in to say, "Taking advantage of the nice weather to renew her NYC dog license."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Happy holidays from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has her first ever annual checkup

Holiday greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Summer greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is on the mend!

EV Grieve Etc.: Essential NYC books; Union Square backpack theft

[Indoor parking on 2nd Avenue via Derek Berg]

How NYC is turning food waste into compost and gas (The New York Times)

Update on the suspected arosn at Lower East Side synagogue Beth Hamedrash Hagadol (The Lo-Down)

Three workers injured after steel beam falls 12 stories at 688 Broadway/1 Great Jones Alley construction site (Patch ... previously)

The housing risks in neighborhoods facing rezonings (City Limits)

GVSHP's annual Village Awards ceremony is coming up; awardees include B&H Dairy and GOLES (GVSHP)

Pretty quiet on the hawklet front in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)

A feature on Godlis, the East Village-based photographer who covered the early days of CBGB (W)

15 essential New York books (Curbed)

Suspect sought in backpack theft from 4 train platform at Union Square (DNAinfo)

See the Orson Welles classic "Touch of Evil" tomorrow (Metrograph)


[How reindeers spend the off-season, East 7th Street via Derek Berg]

A Sufjan Stevens listening event at the East Village Planetarium and the Lower Eastside Girls Club (Brooklyn Vegan)

The Harold Hunter Day Skate Jam is tomorrow (Official site)

PokéSpot owner on Fourth Avenue opening a coffee/juice bar in NYU dorm on Broome Street (Commercial Observer)

East Village landlords Icon Realty sell West 11th Street building for $38 million (The Real Deal)

Alex weighs in on the 50th anniversary edition of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Flaming Pablum)

... and at Metropolis Vintage, 43 Third Ave. at 10th Street...

Just arrived!!!!! Our new Logo designed by #johnholstrom of @thepunkmagazine come on down and get a button FREE of charge no purchase required, #johnholstrom @thepunkmagazine #joeyramone #johnnyramone #theramones #ramones #eastvillage #eastvillagevintage #

A post shared by Metropolis Vintage (@metropolisnycvintage) on Jun 2, 2017 at 12:03pm PDT

Celebrate 18 years of Bluestockings Bookstore tonight

✨JUNE 3RD • 7PM ✨ Come celebrate 18 incredible years of Bluestockings! The night will feature a talent show showcasing some of our staff and volunteers. There will be snacks, friends, and lots of love all around. We’d love for all of you who have helped us stay open for so long to be there to celebrate with us–we wouldn’t be here without the support of our beautiful community ✨

A post shared by Bluestockings Bookstore (@bluestockingsnyc) on May 12, 2017 at 10:52am PDT

The collectively-owned radical bookstore, fair trade cafe and activist center celebrates 18 years in business starting tonight at 7, 172 Allen St. near Stanton. Bluestockings recently signed a new lease and underwent some minor modifications.

The Facts of Life (Tootie!) at Mikey Likes It

Been awhile since we featured the gate at Mikey Likes It, 199 Avenue A near East 12th Street... Andre Trenier's 1980s-flavored mural always coincides with the flavor of the month ... this time around it's the "Facts of Life" — "a Prickly pear ice cream with Blood orange and Prickly pear swirl and Orange glazed cake pieces," per Mikey's Instagram account.

And that is Eastland's Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey (Kim Fields) from the long-running NBC sitcom "Facts of Life" on the gate.

And flashback to May, and "Good Times" with Jimmie Walker...