Spotted at the Avenue A and Ninth Street entrance to Tompkins Square Park this morning...
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Your July 1 rainbow action
[Click to go big]
The top photo by Tall Betty is from Seventh Street between A and B...
---
A shot via East Village-based photographers James and Karla Murray...
---
And on Second Avenue via Regina Shvartsman...
---
And one more reader-submitted photo...
'Sesame Street' on 6th Street; Oscar the Grouch brings some cheer (and there's Big Bird)
Crews were (are?) out on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue today ... filming something with Oscar the Grouch ... Vinny & O shared these photos...
Oscar doesn't have a nose, as you may have noticed these past 48 years, and we can reveal that he also doesn't have legs...
And Oscar can never be far from his pal Big Bird, who was also spotted being filmed... (not in character yet here..)
Just about the entire "Sesame Street" cast was in Tompkins Square Park last month to film a commercial for the Chrysler brand of automobiles.
What the devil? Vector Gallery closes on 3rd Street
That's it for the Vector Gallery, dubbed the Official Art Gallery of Satan by its founder, on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... workers cleared out the space yesterday...
And a for rent sign via Steve Croman's 9300 Realty is now at the small storefront.
In April, the city inspected the space over complaints that the gallery was "illegally used for religious assembly." Then in March, an event/performance described as "a Vectorian Mass dedicated to the 'Israeli-Palestinian Conflict'" drew a heavy FDNY response after a report of a small fire inside the space. (Any fire was related to the Mass.)
The Gallery didn't appear to be a hit with all neighbors, as someone scrawled "Yuppie scum paying $3,900 to create unoriginal shit" on the front window.
The gallery opened last August.
And this likely won't be the last time you'll see the Gallery, which has had stints on Clinton Street, East Broadway ... and in Los Angeles.
According to its website, "VECTOR Gallery seceded from the United States, making it the newest (and smallest) independent country in the world." Not sure what the asking rent will be for the smallest country in the world. But the 325-square-foot space (with basement) is on the market for $3,250 a month, per the listing.
Previously this space housed Snack Dragon, which closed in October 2014 after being Cromanated.
H/T EVG reader Jennifer!
Checking in on the Tompkins Square Park sinkhole
The one at the Eighth Street/Avenue B entrance... now in its third smash week...
We weren't able to measure the sinkhole's circumference to see if it is expanding, and if surrounding properties, such as St. Brigid's, are in danger of being swallowed...
Friday, June 30, 2017
Gigi leaves a request for Key Food; weekend ruined?
Gigi wants to know where the Yasso S’mores frozen Greek yogurt bars are... Key's frozen dessert section doesn't have them ... and she left some Post-it® Notes about it on the freezer doors here on Avenue A...
H/T Stacie Joy
'Cleveland' rocks
An audio-only clip of "Cleveland," a track from the new record that Algiers released last week.
The band will be at Baby's All Right on July 22.
Headline H/T
[Updated] The Black Rose looks to be moving into the former Benny's Burritos space on Avenue A
Updated: This item is no longer on the July SLA docket.
The Black Rose, the bar that recently lost its space at 117 Avenue A, is looking to move a block to the south and reopen in the former corner home of Benny's Burritos, according to paperwork filed ahead of next month's CB3-SLA committee meeting.
In late April, the Marshal took possession of the bar space between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place on behalf of landlord Steve Croman. There were accusation that Croman forced the bar out, even removing the boiler.
As for Benny's, the restaurant closed on Nov. 29, 2014. The corner space at Sixth Street has sat empty since then. The Benny's awning remains up...
[Photo from yesterday]
Benny's owner Mark Merker said that they were having trouble staying afloat, as costs and rents rose while competition increased from Chipotle and other restaurants that served burritos. Benny's limped along for a few months with a smaller, mostly to-go spot next door. They closed in February 2015. This space became a 99¢ pizza place called 99¢ Pizza, which seems to do brisk business.
There's not much more information about the new Black Rose at this month. The full questionnaire isn't online yet. (Updated: The PDF of the questionnaire is here.) And it will be somewhat new given that much of the bar's interior ended up on the corner of Avenue A and Seventh Street, where Jerry launched the short-lived Tompkins Square Park Art Bar.
The July CB3-SLA committee meeting is July 17 at 6:30 p.m. at a rather strange venue — Ian Schrager's luxury Public Hotel, 215 Chrystie St.
Mango Mango bringing more dessert to St. Mark's Place
Signage has arrived upstairs at 19-21 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue for Mango Mango, a dessert shop with multiple locations that launched in Chinatown in 2013.
Here's more about them via their website:
The aspect of our business is to serve traditional Hong Kong style sweet soup dessert to modern fusion sweets. We use the finest ingredients and a sophisticated method of cooking to create innovative handmade desserts to serve our customers. Most of our desserts are made with mango from the soup base to the pastries and drinks that we cater to our customers. Mangos are liked by all ages because of the sweetness that it brings and provides 100% of vitamin C.
The space adjacent to the Chipotle and above St. Mark's Market was previously home to Beyond Vape, which
Wasan East Village has apparently closed on 4th Street
An EVG reader shares this photo, noting that Wasan East Village has closed on 4th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Per the reader: "Restaurant's dark and the phone is out. Yelp and Open Table say permanently closed. Ugh."
The Japanese restaurant opened here in 2010. Wasan opened an outpost on Bergen Street at Fifth Avenue in Park Slope two years ago.
Bluemercury rising on 3rd Avenue
Bluemercury, the luxury beauty retailer and spa, is ready to open on the southwest corner of Third Avenue and 13th Street.
Workers yesterday were spotted hoisting the BM signage...
The company has 120-plus locations nationwide. Among other brands, BM sells Kiehl's products, which has its flagship location on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and 13th Street.
Gothic Cabinet Craft shop closed in January 2016 after 47 years in business at this spot.
H/T EVG reader Harry Weiner!
Previously on EV Grieve:
On 3rd and 13th, Bluemercury arriving; dinosaur mural not yet extinct
Economy Candy's 80th anniversary retro signage
Heading into the Lower East Side for a moment... where the third-generation owners of Economy Candy at 108 Rivington St. installed some retro signage modeled after the store's 1960s storefront. (See the Lo-Down for more.)
Here's their inspiration (when the store was a few doors away here between Orchard and Essex) ...
[Via @EconomyCandy]
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Jerry's art on the corner
[Click to go big]
Some of Jerry's art that has been on Seventh Street and Avenue A outside Tompkins Square Park ... photos by Daniel...
Push-in robbery on Avenue B was actually a drug deal gone bad: NYPD
Push in robbery in #EastVillage leaves tenant with stab wounds Latest @firstatfour & #abc7ny pic.twitter.com/ysMnfZ6esd
— Tim Fleischer (@TimFleischer7) June 26, 2017
There were multiple media reports earlier this week about a push-in robbery on Avenue B at 13th Street. A man reportedly pushed his way inside an apartment, stabbed the female resident multiple times, and fled with $500.
However, according to the Police Blotter in this week's issue of The Villager, that's not actually what happened.
Police say that the resident, named as Cassidy Helmken, "had made an arrangement for a drug deal — she was apparently buying — but it turned violent."
“It was a drug transaction that went bad,” Captain Vincent Greany, commanding officer of the Ninth Precinct, told The Villager.
A search warrant subsequently turned up a quantity of alleged cocaine and drug paraphernalia at her apartment.
According to police, it was not a home invasion: Helmken apparently willingly opened the door for the suspect.
Police charged Helmken, who reportedly has three prior arrests, with multiple counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
The investigation is ongoing.
H/T Steven
Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Avenue B resident stabbed during push-in robbery
Report: Driver charged in collision that killed cyclist Kelly Hurley on 1st Avenue & 9th Street
[Photo from April 11]
The driver of the box truck who fatally struck a cyclist in April on Ninth Street at First Avenue has been arrested, according to published reports.
Per DNAInfo, who first had the story:
Kyung H. Hyun, 59, was arrested at 1:57 p.m. and charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian — the city's "right of way" law under the Mayor's Vision Zero initiative — failure to exercise due care, and making an improper left turn, according to authorities.
On April 5, Kelly Hurley was riding in the northbound bike lane on First Avenue around 7:20 a.m. She had the green light at Ninth Street when Hyun reportedly made a left turn from First Avenue's right-most lane.
Previous reports stated that he had come to a complete stop on First Avenue before making the abrupt left turn onto Ninth Street across four lanes of traffic. He struck Hurley, who had the right of way. She died the following week from her injuries. Hurley was 31.
Police gave Hyun a desk appearance ticket. He’s due in Manhattan criminal court on Aug. 29, the Daily News reported.
CB3's Transportation Committee recently recommended that the Department of Transportation consider more carefully separating bike and car traffic in the so-called "mixing zones" found at intersections like Ninth Street and First Avenue. Read more about that here.
As DNAinfo's Allegra Hobbs reported in April:
Captain Vincent Greany, the Ninth Precinct's commanding officer, has condemned the zones as problematic, noting at a community council meeting after Hurley's death that it is "almost impossible" to see a cyclist while merging into their lane "unless you physically turn your head and look back."
Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Kelly Hurley
Reactions to Kelly Hurley's death
NYPD offers explanation into Kelly Hurley's death: 'she slipped'
More dessert choices for Avenue A as Eggloo opens this weekend
Eggloo, which specializes in Hong Kong egg waffles and ice cream sandwiches, is opening this weekend at 147 Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street. (H/T B+B)
This will be Eggloo's second NYC location. They opened on Mulberry Street in February 2016. And as amNew York reported at the time: "Teenagers out of school for the holiday crowded the narrow entryway, blaring Taylor Swift, and eagerly ordered matcha waffles griddled to order, stuffed with a plush scoop of homemade strawberry ice cream, topped with mochi, colorful cereal and more."
Eggloo will be just one storefront away from another new dessert place — Gelarto.
Other nearby dessert places opening soon are Becky's Bites, the cream cheese shop on Seventh Street, and Stuffed Ice Cream on First Avenue. That Stuffed signage arrived on Monday...
[Photo by Steven]
As for 147 Avenue A, the storefront in prison-bound landlord Steve Croman's building has been vacant for the past two years. La Lucha closed here after six years in business, citing "the outrageous cost of operating in the village."
The Marshal seizes Mamani Pizza on Avenue A
The Marshal came calling at Mamani Pizza at 151 Avenue A on Tuesday... the landlord is now in possession of the 99-cent sliceria between Ninth Street and 10th Street...
As always in these cases, this doesn't necessarily mean the end for the business. (The space had been on the market several years ago.)
The Marshal seized Mamani's former next-door neighbor at No. 151 last summer — TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken. (Brown paper is up in the windows there now. Looks like a new tenant is on the way in. Dessert maybe?)
No. 151 is owned by Raj 151 Avenue A LL and managed by Marolda Properties, per public records.
City pools open today; and a reminder to have a swimsuit to enter the pool area (not my rules)
[Photo at Dry Dock from Sunday]
The Parks Department opens the city's 55 outdoor public pools for the summer today (Thursday!).
Around here, this means Hamilton Fish Pool on Pitt and East Houston ... the Dry Dock Pool on Avenue D and East 10th Street ... and the Tompkins Square Pool (mini pool for kids!) ...
Most pools are open from 11 a.m. through 7 p.m., with a break for pool cleaning between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
There are rules though to help govern our swimming season. Some helpful pointers via the Parks Department website (bolded a few things for you):
What to Wear
You’ll need to have a swimsuit to enter the pool area. We may choose to check men’s shorts for a lining if we can’t tell if they are wearing a bathing suit. Feel the need to cover up from the sun? Throw on a plain white shirt or white hat and you’re set. We don’t allow shirts with colors on them on the deck.
Information for Parents
Thinking of bringing floaties? It’s safer to leave them at home and just stay in the shallow end of the pool until everyone learns to swim. Want to venture deeper? Try some of our free swimming classes.
Babies or toddlers can put on swim diapers before they head into the water. While we may be able to find a place to park your stroller, we can’t keep an eye on it for you, so bring it at your own risk.
What to Bring
Make sure you have a sturdy lock when you head out to the pool. It will keep your valuables safe, and let you hit the water feeling more secure about your belongings. Locks are required to enter, and we will not accept luggage locks.
What Not to Bring
You’ll need to leave food, glass bottles, electronic devices, and newspapers at home. Unbound periodicals tend to blow around and create litter, food can be messy to clean up after, and there’s too much water around to make sure your electronics stay safe. Just to be on the safe side, we also recommend leaving valuables like jewelry and credit cards at home.
Again, these are not my rules. So don't take out your no-floatie frustrations here.
Finally, go here for info about the Hamilton Fish Pool Lap Swim program.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Updating: Report of a fire at 60 E. 9th St.
[Photo by Vinny & O]
There's a report of a fire at 60 E. Ninth St., a six-floor building called The Hamilton at Broadway (the 200-plus-unit co-op sits between Ninth Street and Eighth Street)...
FDNYalerts MAN 2-ALARM 60 E 9 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON ROOFTOP OF BUILDING,
— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 28, 2017
A look via ABC 7... (H/T Doug)
Updated 6:27
Via Grant Shaffer...
... and the view from Astor Place via an EVG reader...
Patch reports that 200 firefighters are on the scene.
... a view north from Astor Place on Broadway via EVG reader 8E...
... a view from Fourth Avenue and 10th Street via EVG reader Charlie Chen...
Updated 7:50 p.m.
Astor Place looking west by Grant Shaffer
The view west on Ninth Street from Tompkins Square Park... smoke visible in the distance... photo via Steven...
The FDNY reports that one firefighter has been injured ... still no word on cause or other injuries...
#FDNY members continue operating at 5-alarm fire, 60 East 9 Street MN. 1 minor injury to a Firefighter reported at this time pic.twitter.com/Xjc0YE45PQ
— FDNY (@FDNY) June 28, 2017
Updated 9 p.m.
Several witnesses said that the fire appeared to intensify as time went on... the FDNY elevated the status from two to five alarms during the early evening.
The Post reports that the building's residents "were forced to gathered outside the building and watch in horror as the fire intensified Wednesday evening."
“I work on Bleecker and by the time I got to Great Jones I looked up and saw it was my building that the smoke was coming [from], the first thing I thought about was my dogs were trapped in the building,” said James Abraham, owner of the nearby Bleecker Street Bar.
“As I was tying to cross 8th street, I was stopped by someone, and they said, ‘No one is getting in the building, if you try to get in I’ll have you arrested.’ So I walked around to 9th street and went in to get my dogs.”
Fearing for the pups’ lives, Abraham navigated his way through the thick black smoke and up to his sixth floor apartment — where he found his four-legged best friends frantically waiting.
“I was very concerned and very focused,” he said. “They were a little distressed. All the noise, smoke and commotion definitely agitated them.”
Updated 9:30 p.m.
The FDNY has issued an under control...
FDNYalerts MAN 5-ALARM 60 E 9 ST, MIXED OCCUPANCY UNDER CONTROL
— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) June 29, 2017
...and some play by play on how the FDNY brought it under control...
The members made a very aggressive interior attack to stop this fire - #FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro at 5-alarm fire in Manhattan pic.twitter.com/E5zMqJ0mjC
— FDNY (@FDNY) June 29, 2017
Updated 9:45 p.m.
Updated 6/29 7:30 a.m.
No one in the building was hurt, but 16 firefighters suffered minor injuries, according it NBC 4.
As for the residents:
The Red Cross responded to the scene and said more than 200 households were forced from their home. Only about half of them were allowed back inside, the other half of the building remains evacuated.
Investigators reportedly believe the fire started in the kitchen cooking area of a ground-floor deli on Eighth Street and then traveled undetected up a shaft to the roof.
Meanwhile, southbound N and R trains won't be stopping at Broadway/Eighth...
Details about the service change in effect on the N and R lines pic.twitter.com/ZTavPCWYkc
— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) June 29, 2017
Updated 9:30 a.m.
Here's a look this morning... the damaged appears to be contained to the Eighth Street side... there's still a heavy FDNY presence on the scene... along with the Red Cross...
Report: Rent Guidelines Board approve increases between 1.25 and 2 percent
The approved increases are 1.25 percent on 1-year leases and 2 percent on two-year agreements ... this after ratifying rent freezes the previous two years.
Back in April, the RGB voted to recommend a 1 to 3 percent increase on 1-year leases, and a 2 to 4 percent increase on 2-year leases.
Per Curbed today:
The final vote erred on the more conservative side of those recommendations, but for both sides — tenants and landlords/owners — that may still be unsatisfactory. Tenants’ rights groups, who showed up to the meeting in droves, wanted a third consecutive freeze; landlords, meanwhile, wanted bigger hikes to offset the costs allegedly incurred as a result of the last two years of freezes.
According to the Post:
Tenants who packed a Baruch College auditorium for the board hearing Tuesday night delayed its 7 p.m. start for more than an hour, chanting “How low can you go?” and dancing the limbo in front of the stage.
The band is keeping us in good spirits as we ask Rent Guidelines Board "how low can you go?!" pic.twitter.com/ILBYimLSLP
— Carlina Rivera (@CarlinaRivera) June 27, 2017
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)