EV Grieve

Friday, July 20, 2018

Happy National Moon Day

In honor of National Moon Day today... a photo of the moon the other night via EVG contributor Grant Shaffer...

The age of the Internet

The Internet's new album, Hive Mind, is out today... here's the audio track for a summery song called "La Di Da."

EVG Etc.: City Council approves Airbnb bill; baby hawks meet the tailless mockingbird

[Tompkins Square Park the other morning]

Police release video of suspect who took 81-year-old woman's purse in an apartment robbery on 13th Street and Second Avenue (CBS 2)

NYCHA failed to report more than half of the cases of elevated blood lead levels in its buildings over a yearlong period, as required by the feds (The Post)

City Council unanimously approves Airbnb bill sponsored by City Council member Carlina Rivera (The Lo-Down)

The MTA needs $9 billion to replace and update subway fleet (Curbed)

Keeping up with the red-tailed fledglings in Tompkins Square Park ... and they've already been dive-bombed by the dastardly tailless mockingbird (Laura Goggin Photography)

A Henri Cartier-Bresson film retrospect starts tonight ahead of the International Center of Photography’s upcoming exhibition, "Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Decisive Moment" (Anthology Film Archives)

Check out the GVSHP's expanding historic image archive, featuring plentiful photos of the East Village (Off the Grid)

The record stores of NYC in the 1970s and 80s (Flaming Pablum)

The last Peter Stuyvesant descendant (Ephemeral New York)

... and as a reminder tonight — there's a free screening of "The Jungle Book" on the Dry Dock Playground, 10th Street at Avenue D...

City removing the Trump-related 'Business As Usual' sculpture from 10th and B

A city worker this morning was attempting to remove the sculpture that arrived on 10th Street at Avenue B back on July 3.

EVG reader Alexa shared these photos...

The sculpture figure, titled "Business As Usual," is carrying a presidential briefcase...

[Photo by Vinny & O from July 4]

This (coincidentally?) marks the second piece of Trump-related art that the city has removed in the past 24 hours from East Village streets/sidewalks.

Last call Sunday for Dorian Gray Tap & Grill on 4th Street

After eight-plus years on Fourth Street, Dorian Gray Tap & Grill is closing this weekend here between Avenue A and Avenue B. Last call is Sunday night.

Owner Peter Cavanagh, said to be the the great-grandnephew of Oscar Wilde, shared the news last night on Facebook, noting: "Well my trusted band of savage warriors! It is with sad heart I have to close the doors of Dorian Gray."

However, the bar, which served Irish pub fare and offered viewings of soccer and rugby matches, won't be empty for long.

Applicants for a venture called the Cabin were on a recent CB3 docket for a new liquor license here. According to their questionnaire (PDF here) on the CB3 website, the Cabin will serve "American tapas" with hours of 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday-Thursday; until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

EVG regular Pinch, who shared this closure news, said the Dorian Gray "served a proper sized pint — not one of these short pints most bars go with these days."

City sets record for filling pothole; removes Donald Trump mosaic on 2nd Street

Chicago-based artist Jim Bachor filled several NYC potholes with mosaic art this past week... including one of President Trump on Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, as we noted Wednesday.

When asked about the work, DOT officials weren't amused, and vowed to pave over the mosaics, the Post reported on Wednesday.

And yesterday, the city made good on that promise, removing the work on Second Street...

The speed at which the city responded took Bachor by surprised. He posted on Twitter: "Damn that was fast."

One Twitter user noted that this pothole, adjacent to a fire hydrant, likely never would have been filled by the city otherwise.

And...

Really, @NYC_DOT? You have nothing better to do?

Bureaucratic spitefulness at its finest.https://t.co/48ss3kLKFz
— Lloyd Bergenson (@dieterknickbock) July 20, 2018

East Village Thai will be staying in the family

East Village Thai, a local favorite these past 20 years over on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square, closed after service on Sunday.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy spotted the family in the restaurant yesterday and stopped in to thank them for their years of service in the neighborhood.

Turns out that the daughter of the owners is taking over the lease, and opening her own Thai noodle shop here in the months ahead.

Report: A new owner for the retail condo space at 13 1st Ave.

The Real Deal reports that Queens-based investor Athena Vrettos is the new owner of the retail condominiums at 13 First Ave. at First Street.

Premier Equities reportedly sold this retail property along with one in Tribeca (271 Church St.) for $20.1 million.

No word on how this might impact the three current retail tenants in this space — Boilermaker, Juicy Lucy and the Lazy Llama coffee shop.

This deal was only for the retail space... the condos in this building include the penthouse unit with the Cape Cod-style cottage on its rooftop. That was sold last fall for $3.5 million.

[Image via Streeteasy]

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Noted

ConEd is beginning work on gas upgrades on Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... as this photo via EVG reader Paul W. shows, someone added commentary in the section under What to Expect...

"Occassional [sic] explosions."

Grant Shaffer's NY See

[Click on image for more detail]

Here's this week's NY See, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's comic series — an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

A chance to see some 'Downtown Art Ephemera'

Marc H. Miller is curating a short, two-week exhibit titled "Downtown Art Ephemera, 1970s-1990s," which runs through July 25 at the James Fuentes Gallery, 55 Delancey St. between Allen and Eldridge.

There's a reception today from 5-7 p.m., which provides a good opportunity to see some of the 150 cards and posters from Miller's online Gallery 98 collection.

Per a release on the exhibit:

All the downtown New York art stars of that time are represented ... : Basquiat, Goldin, Haring, Holzer, Hujar, Koons, Mapplethorpe, Piper, Prince, Schnabel, Smith, Sherman, Warhol, Wojnarowicz etc. Sections on Collaborative Projects Inc. (COLAB), Fashion Moda, the Rivington School, Fun Gallery, International with Monument, and Mary Boone Gallery will chronicle a lively and contradictory period when art, commerce, branding, populist politics and issues of identity were all part of the mix.

Miller discusses the exhibit in an article at Vice.

Images via online Gallery 98

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life at 98 Bowery: 1969-1989

Revisiting Punk Art

Marking the 20th anniversary of P.S. 64's auction

[Click on image to go big]

Developer Gregg Singer bought the former P.S 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center property from the city during an auction in 1998.

And tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the sale of the building at 605 E. Ninth St. Avenue B and Avenue C.

And as these flyers posted around the neighborhood show, a group of unspecified community leaders, elected officials and residents will mark the occasion outside the Ninth Street entrance tomorrow evening at 6.

Per the flyer: "Join us to mark the 20th anniversary of the auction and ask the Mayor to take the next steps to return CHARAS to the community."

Singer wants to turn the landmarked property into a dorm called University Square, which continues in a holding pattern while the DOB maintains a Stop Work Order on the building.

You can read the previous post for more background on the ongoing P.S. 64 drama.

East Village Thai has closed

East Village Thai fans were saddened to learn that the small restaurant on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square closed after service on Sunday.

The restaurant's owners first made the announcement on Facebook on Saturday before their last day...

EVG reader Mackenzie, who first brought this to my attention, ate there last Wednesday. The owners made no mention of the impending closure.

Back in 2012, the Daily News said that EVT served some of the best Pad Thai in the city.

9th Precinct welcomes new CO with long NYPD pedigree

Late last week, Deputy Inspector Vincent Greany turned over the CO's pin at the 9th Precinct to Capt. John L. O’Connell.

Greany, who joined the 9th Precinct in June 2016, is now assigned to the 32nd Precinct in Harlem.

O’Connell introduced himself on Twitter yesterday (pictured, right)...

Greetings #EastVillage
I am Captain John L. O’Connell & I am honored to be named Commanding Officer of the 9TH.
I thoroughly look forward to being part of this community, engaging & working with you. #NYPD @NYPDPBMS pic.twitter.com/3Srv6kB68i
— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) July 18, 2018

O’Connell is a third-generation police officer and a fourth-generation public servant.

The Daily News featured O'Connell in an article back in November 2016:

His great-grandfather began the family's legacy in city public service by becoming a firefighter. O'Connell's late grandfather Michael Lonergan joined the NYPD in 1946 and rose to the rank of chief of operations — the highest-ranking uniformed member of the department — in 1974.

O'Connell's mom, Virginia O'Connell, 72, joined the NYPD in 1966 and was one of the first women to enter the Police Academy when the Police Women's Bureau merged with the NYPD. His father John O'Connell, 76, is a retired NYPD detective.

And O'Connell's wife, Jennifer, 37, also is an NYPD detective — not to mention scores of uncles and cousins among the Finest.

"It's an honor being a part of a family of legacy," he said. "It's a privilege."

No word just yet when he might meet with community members or what he considers the neighbor's most-pressing crime-related issues.

The Molecule Project closing next month on 10th Street

After five years at 259 E. 10th St., the Molecule Project, which offers a variety of clean drinking water alternatives, has announced that the shop is closing next month here between Avenue A and First Avenue...

Their aim, per the shop's website:

Our goal at The Molecule Project is to support good health for people and planet by promoting minimal carbon footprint, clean drinking water alternatives.

The Molecule Project offers a new model for drinking water for all, rooted in the use of the industry’s highest-grade residential and commercial water treatment, filtration and purification systems.

H/T Steven!

93 1st Ave. celebrates 24th year of waiting for minor alteration

[EVG file photo]

The Real Deal explores the world of "ALT2"s at the Department of Buildings. As they note, these are "alterations which do not affect the 'use, egress, or occupancy' of a building and are therefore considered relatively minor."

While the majority of such jobs can be completed within a year, before the first permit expires, altering buildings can often become a complicated task due a variety of complicating factors – as an analysis by The Real Deal discovered, hundreds of ALT2 permits throughout the city have had to be renewed more than 10 times.

According TRD's research, the oldest active permit on record was first filed in June 1994 — for a "temporary canopy structure in yard" at the Royal Bangladesh Indian Restaurant at 93 First Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

The work has been approved, though that temp canopy still awaits: City records show that the permit was renewed in May — for the 23rd time.

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Wednesday's parting shot

Second Avenue this morning via Peter Brownscombe...

A mosaic Trump pothole-filler for 2nd Street

A Chicago-based artist who fills the city's potholes with mosaic art has brought his work to NYC.

Jim Bachor has adorned eight potholes around the city with tiled images of dead rats, cockroaches and pigeons, as the Post reported today.

However, in the East Village, his pothole filler on Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue is of President Trump...

He told the Post: "It could be seen in both ways — one that you’re honoring our president or that you get to drive over Trump."

City officials see it as a nuisance, and will pave them over once discovered.

"Aside from putting himself in harm’s way in the middle of roadways, the artist’s adding of artwork in the street is a danger to all road users, which poses safety hazards should drivers become distracted by the art," said spokeswoman Alana Morales.

A point of Moxy view

An EVG reader shared these aerial views of the Moxy East Village rising on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue...

... and a view from Third Avenue looking to the north...

... and a look at the property this morning. Workers appear to be up to the top — 13th — floor.

The 285-key hotel for Marriott's Moxy brand has a late 2019 opening date.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A few more details about the incoming Moxy East Village on 11th Street

Target opens ahead of schedule on 14th Street and Avenue A

Oh! Target had targeted ~~(haha)~~ July 21 for their Grand Opening on 14th Street and Avenue A ... in the corner space of Extell Development's EVGB — the "East Village's Greatest Building."

But! They actually opened their doors to their small-format store this morning.

EVG reader Greg Masters noticed this ... and was one of the first customers in the space.

Insta-reaction:

It’s a nice, clean two-level store with escalators and friendly employees. Well stocked with a bit of everything – stationery, hardware, clothes, household goods, towels and sheets, beauty supplies, paper products, appliances, including a 32” Sanyo smart TV for $169, food.

Beer section was a bit of a disappointment: just Bud, Yuengling, Corona, Pabst, no microbrews (tip: for a tastier selection, see Martin Johnson at Westside Market on 3rd Avenue between 11th Street 12th Street). Easy self-checkout or cashiers await.

And photos of what's in stock...