Tuesday, August 21, 2018
An Evening at Ray's Candy Store
Last night saw another Evening at Ray's Candy Store: A Special Restaurant Week Chef's Tasting Event.
For $10, attendees could enjoy a five-course tasting menu featuring a selection of Ray's finest and favorites — prepared by Chef Ray himself...
EVG regular Peter Brownscombe shared there photos from the shop at 113 Avenue A...
Flinders Lane closes Sunday after 5 years on Avenue A
[Image via Instagram]
After five-plus years at 162 Avenue A, Flinders Lane is shutting down following service on Sunday.
The owners, who hail from Melbourne, Australia, shared the closing message earlier this month on Facebook:
It’s with a heavy heart after much thought and consideration we feel the time has come to close the doors to our New York location.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved our over the past 5 years bringing life to this little space in the East Village day after day creating memories we’ll never forget — the incredible guests, our beloved regulars, the friends we made, the laughs shared and of course all the amazing staff. Without you none of his would have been possible. You truly are rockstars 🙏❤️
Our last service will be Sunday August 26 and we’d love to see you in to raise a glass one last time.
Thanks for the memories NYC
The Australian restaurant drew praise in the Hungry City column at the Times upon opening.
The Flinders Lane location in Stamford, Conn., will remain open.
The space between 10th Street and 11th Street was previously The Beagle ... and the Italian restaurant Orologio before that.
The first condos at 253 E7 hit the market
The all-new 253 E. Seventh St. is still shrouded in construction netting and scaffolding... however, the first two units in the 6-story condoplex here between Avenue C and Avenue D arrived on the market yesterday.
The building (rendering below) is going by 253 E7 (not to be confused with Seven East Village down the block) ...
Here's a description via Streeteasy:
A brand new, ultra-modern luxury boutique Condominium, designed by renowned master architects, Isaac & Stern. Located in Alphabet City in the heart of the East Village, one of New York City’s most desired and eclectic locations. 253 E7 [is] a six-story edifice featuring 8 superbly appointed apartments with soaring 9’ ceilings, ranging in size from 709 to 1,653 square feet. Most apartments feature a private outdoor space and an allotted few have access to private keyed elevator landings. The Penthouse apartment boasts a private paved roof; the Townhouse apartment features a private grass planted garden.
Here's a look at a rendering of a living room in 253 E7...
The available units range in price from $1.275 million (one bedroom) to $2.795 million (three bedrooms).
Workers demolished the former four-story residence that stood here back in late 2015.
[Image of No. 253 from 2014 via Massey Knakal]
Previously on EV Grieve:
Options for this lovely East 7th Street townhouse include demolition
New building in the works for 253 E. 7th St.
The disappearing 253 E. 7th St.
253 E. 7th St. is now a pile of bricks
Property at 253 E. 7th St. now for sale; perfect for a 'dream custom mansion townhouse'
New plans for a 6-story building at 253 E. 7th St.
Dua Kafe Wine + Beer for 520 E. 14th St.
A new venture called Dua Kafe Wine + Beer is set for 520 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... in a storefront of the tenement squeezed between the all-new EVGB retail-residential complex at 524 and 510 E. 14th St ...
The folks from Dua were on this month's CB3-SLA docket for a beer-wine license, though not required to appear before the committee.
The questionnaire (PDF here) at the CB3 website notes that Dua will sell "finger foods, sandwiches and cold plate bowls." The Kafe/cafe will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Don't expect Dua to open any time too soon — the interior is still pretty much gutted.
Met Fresh Supermarket announces itself on Avenue D
The coming-soon signage is up for Met Fresh Supermarket outside 119 Avenue D between Eighth Street and Ninth Street ...
Met Fresh is part of the Associated Supermarket Group, "a consortium that helps small supermarkets buy in bulk," per Crain's. The store brands of the group include Associated, Compare, Met Fresh, Met Foodmarkets, Pioneer and Gourmet a'Fare.
Not sure what type of products this Met Fresh location will sell. (The renovated Met Fresh in Bay Ridge includes a beer cave with microbrews.)
The work permits on file with the city originally listed Bravo Supermarkets as the incoming tenant.
Avenue D is currently served by Uncle Johnny Grocery and Compare Foods as well as several delis ... not to mention a Rite Aid and Duane Reade.
The previous tenant at No. 119, the All in One Value Center, closed last fall.
An oasis of landlord problems for the Serenity Spa
Over at 33 First Ave. at Second Street ... the Marshal came calling back on Friday at the Serenity Spa...
... which occupies the second level of the corner building.
The legal document on the front door notes that the landlord is now in possession of the space...
Serenity took over for the Water Front Spa, which opened in 2007 and received positive notices for its budget services.
Monday, August 20, 2018
Citi Bike unveils fleet of electric bicycles
[Image via Facebook]
Today, Citi Bike officials debuted a new fleet (200 to start) of pedal-assist electric bicycles.
Here's more about them via the Citi Bike website:
With speeds up to 18 mph, these custom pedal-assist bikes give you the power to tackle bridges, chop your commute in half and experience more neighborhoods in less time. Just start pedaling and the power kicks in.
A post shared by Citi Bike (@citibike) on
Back in April, Mayor de Blasio backed off from cracking down on all e-bikes, which had drawn safety complaints from some residents.
Per CityLab:
E-bikes have been technically forbidden since, though scofflaws are legion. But on [April 3], de Blasio reversed, instructing his Department of Transportation to loosen its ban and recognize “pedal assist” bikes — or bikes that use a rechargeable battery to boost their speeds — as a legal means of getting around the city. Any e-bikes with a motor capable of pushing its speed above 20 miles per hour, however, will remain effectively banned. “With new and clear guidelines, cyclists, delivery workers and businesses alike will now understand exactly what devices are allowed,” the mayor said in a statement.
Transit advocates have pointed out that e-bikes are an increasingly popular mode of transportation in cities worldwide, including Paris, Madrid and Lisbon.
As Streetsblog noted, the city is maintaining the ban on the cheaper, throttle-controlled e-bikes that most delivery workers use.
Spend the evening at Ray's tonight with a special 'Tasting Event'
Via the EVG inbox...
Another Evening at Ray's Candy Store: A Special Restaurant Week Chef's Tasting Event!
Date: Monday, Aug. 20 (Today!)
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 113 Avenue A at Seventh Street
Cost: $10 per person (cash only)
Join us at the shop and enjoy a most unique tasting menu cooked up by Chef Ray himself! Once again, guests will be served a 5-course tasting menu made up of a selection of Ray's favorites! Your choice of egg cream, coffee, tea or soft drink included.
Come! Bring friends!
More info and RSVP here.
City strikes deal to preserve 243 Section 8 apartments in the East Village
[199 Avenue B]
Some news to note from last week ... when LIHC Investment Group, one of the largest affordable-housing owners in the country, finalized a deal with the city to preserve 669 Section 8 apartments, including 243 in the East Village.
Here are details via a NYC Housing Preservation and Development news release:
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) join LIHC Investment Group to announce the preservation of 669 units of project-based Section 8 housing in high-cost New York City neighborhoods where the majority of similar buildings have converted to market-rate.
This preservation is made possible through tax-abatements under Article XI and new 40-year regulatory agreements with the City of New York covering six different properties in Inwood, Hamilton Heights, Harlem, Williamsburg and the Lower East Side.
The agreements were reached through Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York Plan, which outlines commitments to protect affordable housing and created policies and programs intended to fight displacement.
And here are details about the housing in this neighborhood...
Lower East Side I & II Apartments are located at 384 East 10th Street and 199 Avenue B in Manhattan. Lower East Side I contains 152 project-based Section 8 units, while Lower East Side II contains 91 project-based Section 8 units. All units will be maintained as affordable to tenants whose annual income does not exceed 50 percent of AMI.
Co-owners LIHC and Center Development Corporation will execute approximately $7 million in capital improvements including installing new kitchen countertops and appliances; bathroom fixtures, tile floors, and fittings; laminate wood flooring, doors and lighting in all apartments.
[384 E. 10th St.]
On 2nd Avenue, Calexico in the works with Brick Lane Curry House on the move
The owners of Calexico, the Cal-Mex burrito-beer chainlet, is vying for the current Brick Lane Curry House space at 99 Second Ave.
Brothers Brian, Dave, and Jesse Vendley are on tonight's CB3-SLA agenda for a new liquor license for No. 99, which is between Fifth Street and Sixth Street...
The questionnaire posted to the CB3 website (PDF here) shows proposed hours of 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. The layout features 15 tables inside and six tables for a sidewalk cafe ... plus a 14-seat bar.
Calexico currently has a handful of NYC locations (Upper East Side, Greenpoint, Park Slope, Red Hook, among them) as well as in Detroit — and Bahrain.
As for Brick Lane Curry House... there is an unconfirmed rumor on the block that they will relocate a block to the south... to the former Heart of India storefront...
Brick Lane Curry House made the move from Sixth Street to 99 Second Ave. in August 2014.
The August CB3-SLA meeting is tonight at 6:30 in the Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Bottom two photos via Steven.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Brick Lane Curry House still planning Second Avenue expansion
World's largest Brick Lane Curry House slated for 99 Second Avenue
Veteran of hit L.A. ramen shop behind new noodle venture at 131 Avenue A
A Japanese restaurant is coming to 131 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.
Applicants representing an LLC called Ays Noodle Company have applied for a beer-wine license for the former Baci e Vendetta space.
The restaurant is TabeTomo.
The applicants are on tonight's CB3-SLA agenda, though this item won't be heard in front of the committee.
There are also renderings of the interior on the front doors...
According to the questionnaire on file at the CB3 website (PDF here), Tabetomo will be open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight. The questionnaire lists eight tables to accommodate 24 diners. There's also a 15-seat bar.
The applicant, Tomotsugu Kubo per the CB3 questionnaire, has management experience at the popular Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle, which apparently serves "life-changingly good" tonkotsu ramen and tsukemen, and the Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles ANNEX ... both in Los Angeles.
No word on menu items for Avenue A just yet.
This is the second L.A. ramen transplant to venture into the East Village this summer. Tatsu Ramen, with two locations in Los Angeles, opened its first NYC outpost last month at 167 First Ave.
Baci e Vendetta closed at 131 Avenue A in March after nearly 16 months in service. Nic Ratner, a partner in Baci e Vendetta, told me that business for the Italian cafe wasn't sustainable with only a beer-and-wine license.
This space was the 10 Degrees Bistro until the fall of 2015 ... and the Flea Market Cafe before that.
[Updated] A look at Thai Direct, opening soon on Avenue A
[Photo yesterday by Steven]
Meanwhile, right next door to the incoming ramen restaurant ... the signage is up for the new tenant — Thai Direct.
Here's more about them via the Thai Direct website:
Our Thai bowls are healthy versions of famous street Thai dishes using our own Thai sauces made with authentic, natural, and non GMO ingredients with no MSG and no or minimal amount of sugar added. Our Thai sauces are gluten and dairy free.
We offer two ways for you to enjoy our Thai bowls. You can either choose one of our beloved bowls or create your own signature bowl to enjoy it the way you most prefer. Kin Hai Aroy! (Bon Appétit in Thai)
The bowls are available for pick up or delivery. (Most of the 32-ounce bowls are priced at $12.)
A post shared by Thai Direct (@thaidirect) on
Thai Direct debuted in early 2017 in Brooklyn, serving Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Bushwick, according to this article via DNAinfo.
This long-empty storefront was last Yoshi Sushi until late 2015.
Updated 8/21
Thai Direct is now open...
A post shared by Thai Direct (@thaidirect) on
Previously on EV Grieve:
Thai Direct setting up shop on Avenue A
787 Coffee for 7th Street
You may have noticed the recent work going on inside 131 E. Seventh St. near Avenue A. It looks as if a cafe is going into the space.
There's now a "barista wanted" sign on the front door... with 787 Coffee in the address...
The Puerto Rican-based coffee company currently has an outpost at 290 Mulberry St.
The space was previously home to Shervin's Cafe for several years.
Webster Hall alum withdraw application for former Lovecraft space on Avenue B
The Webster Hall alum have withdrawn their application for 50 Avenue B/238 E. Fourth St.
They were to appear before CB3's SLA committee tonight for a new liquor license for a venture that featured a pizzeria and live music. Applicants included Stephen Ballinger, the head bartender and bar manager at the now-closed Webster Hall from 2014-2017, and Adam Ballinger, who served as the venue's marketing manager.
According to a tipster: "They withdrew completely and are not interested in that space at all."
That space previously housed Lovecraft, which was inspired by horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. That bar-restaurant closed in early 2018 after three-and-a-half years in business. The other piece of this parcel, the slice joint Johnny Favorite's, shuttered in August 2017 after debuting in April 2015.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Lovecraft has not been open lately on Avenue B
Webster Hall alum proposing new venture for former Lovecraft space on Avenue B
Sign of the skewer: Gala arrives on 3rd Avenue
[Photo by Laura K.]
The signage arrived for Gala on Saturday here at 92 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street ... joining the neon hand-held skewer...
We don't know too much about Gala just yet (their questionnaire on file with CB3 described it as a "high-end Chinese restaurant.") ... it's opening in the former Blue 9 Burger space.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Week in Grieview
[Photo Wednesday in East River Park by Gregg Greenwood]
Stories posted on EVG this past week included...
Petition asks Madison Realty Capital to waive legal fees for evicted East Village family (Wednesday)
Reader reports: An early-morning police search on 5th Street and 6th Street (Wednesday)
The conversation continues on the now-approved tech hub for 14th Street (Thursday)
This week's NY See (Thursday)
Performance Space New York unveils fall season (Wednesday)
Spend the day looking at more photos from East Village artist Carole Teller (Friday)
Sen. Hoylman speaks out against use of Monsanto's weed killer Roundup in New York (Wednesday)
Report: Canadian investor buys 62-64 3rd Ave. (Tuesday)
More bubble tea for the Bubble Tea District (aka St. Mark's Place) (Tuesday)
A new mural to mark the 30th anniversary of Basquiat's death (Sunday)
Dia bringing Roman-style pizza and coastal Italian seafood to 2nd Avenue (Thursday)
[The Hobo Line on 10th Street near 3rd Avenue]
Eat's Khao Man Gai opens on 6th Street (Thursday)
The space for rent in the former Warhol-owned building where Basquiat last lived on Great Jones (Monday)
Chinese restaurant coming to this 3rd Avenue storefront (Tuesday)
Brown out again at the Verizon building (Monday)
Did you hear the one about the comedy club opening tonight on 4th Street? (Tuesday)
Good burger: Lunch break with Iggy Pop and the Death Valley Girls (Wednesday)
Bingbox Snow Cream is moving away from 2nd Avenue (Tuesday)
Full reveal at 127 Avenue D (Thursday)
Some back rent due at ZaabVer Thai on 2nd Avenue (Monday)
Back to the blackout of 2003 (Tuesday)
You may now buy your Halloween costume this August (Monday)
... and there's a free screening tomorrow at 1 p.m. of "Desperately Seeking Susan" at the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street... On Thursday, the day that Aretha Franklin died, our friend Alex pointed out this scene from the film ... featuring Madonna (who happened to turn 60 on Thursday) at Love Saves the Day (one of the buildings destroyed in the deadly March 2015 gas explosion on Second Avenue) ... and a soundtrack courtesy of Aretha ...
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New Lower East Side Target grandly opens today
EVG regulars Vinny & O shared these photos from the new Target store, which is holding its grand opening celebration today at Grand and Clinton on the Lower East Side. (This outpost officially debuted back on Wednesday.)
Targeters are handing out a variety of freebies ... and there are photo opps with a giant pair of red Target sunglasses.
Not to be found: An homage to the Lower East Side with a CBGB-themed TRGT storefront, which was the widely panned centerpiece of the grand opening on 14th Street and Avenue A last month.
As the Lo-Down reported on Wednesday:
Jacqueline DeBuse, a Target PR rep, indicated that no similar publicity stunts are planned on Grand Street. “We know with the East Village grand opening,” said DeBuse, “some guests loved it, and others felt we missed the mark. So we really listened to that feedback as we were preparing the opening for this store.”
The Target is one of the retail tenants in the 15-story development at Essex Crossing Site 5 — aka The Rollins. A Trader Joe's is set to open in this complex later in the fall.
Report: Homeless man stabbed to death over K2 beef in Sara D. Roosevelt Park
A 23-year-old homeless man, identified as Arturo Valdez, was fatally stabbed in Sara D. Roosevelt Park on Chrystie Street yesterday afternoon in a reported feud over the drug K2.
According to the Daily News, the suspect, Larry Fullewellen, 70, was arrested last evening at Port Authority. Fullewellen, who was still carrying a bloody knife, was charged with second-degree murder.
"This used to be a nice park," one witness told the Daily News. "The young kids come out here and play ball. They’re not thinking about K2 or murder."
Updated:
The Lo-Down has more details here.
According to the Daily News, the suspect, Larry Fullewellen, 70, was arrested last evening at Port Authority. Fullewellen, who was still carrying a bloody knife, was charged with second-degree murder.
"This used to be a nice park," one witness told the Daily News. "The young kids come out here and play ball. They’re not thinking about K2 or murder."
Updated:
The Lo-Down has more details here.
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen will be open tomorrow — and next weekend
[EVG file photo]
Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, the basement cafe that serves as a fundraising arm of the St George Ukrainian Catholic Church, is coming back from its customary summer hiatus.... and will be open tomorrow (Sunday!) and next weekend... per their announcement on Instagram...
A post shared by Streecha🇺🇦Ukrainian kitchen NY (@streecha) on
Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen is at 33 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.
Life on earth: David Bowie extravaganza tonight at La Plaza Cultural
Updated: The rain has moved the festivities inside MoRUS, 155 Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
The MoRUS Film Festival heads to La Plaza Cultural on the southwest corner of Ninth Street and Avenue C this evening... for a David Bowie extravaganza ... which will include a screening of "The Man Who Fell to Earth," the Nicolas Roeg sci-fi classic from 1976. The festivities get underway at 7 p.m. with music via DJ Stephen Popkin.
A preview of the film...
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