After 32 years on 4th Street, Cucina di Pesce will close after service on Sunday

We've heard rumors in recent weeks that Cucina di Pesce, the unpretentious seafood-focused Italian restaurant on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery, would be closing this month.

The owners made the official announcement today on Facebook:

It is with great regret that Cucina di Pesce will be closing its doors.

We would like to thank all of our customers for their support. It has been an honor to be part of the East Village community for the last 32 years, as we continue to keep close the memories and friendships established here.

A special acknowledgement to all our current and previous employees, as well as our friends at New York Theatre Workshop.

Our final day is this Sunday, September 23.

As we understand it, the building has a new owner, and there is a rent increase. (Public records show that an LLC bought the property for $6.8 million in a closing last month.)

Owner Mehenni Zebentout, who also has Nomad around the corner on Second Avenue, consolidated Cucina di Pesce — which was at 87-89 Fourth St. — in 2016 after the landlord next door asked $8,000 for the space.

EVG Etc.: Hearing for the Small Business Jobs Survival Act; $100K jewelry heist on the Bowery

[Photo on 2nd Avenue via Derek Berg]

The Small Business Jobs Survival Act to get City Council hearing next month (Crain's)

For $155 a month, L train passengers can take an ultra-lux alternative that offers free WiFi and a breakfast bar (VICE)

There was a $100,000 jewel heist on the Bowery (The Lo-Down)

Praise for Mayanoki on Sixth Street (The New Yorker)

History of the Ottendorfer Branch of the New York Public Library on Second Avenue (Off the Grid)

Emmy Squared on First Avenue at Fifth Street now open for lunch on Fridays (Instagram)

New exhibitions at the Swiss Institute on Second Avenue and St. Mark's (Official site)

Joey Skaggs on pranks becoming art (Artsy)

Citi Bike looking for a larger storage space in Stuy Town (Town & Village)

Tamara Jenkins's first film in a decade stars Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti as an aging couple living in the East Village who are desperate for a child. The dramedy screens as part of the Main Slate section of the 56th New York Film Festival on Oct. 1 and 3. (Official site) And the trailer...

Grant Shaffer's NY See

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.

LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival brings 100-plus activities to community gardens this weekend

The 7th Annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival is coming to a community garden near you this weekend.

More than 100 free events are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday in 50-plus gardens in the East Village and on the Lower East Side.

There are too many performances, concerts, screenings, beekeeping demos and other related events to list individually.

So you can find the full lineup here for Saturday and here for Sunday.

Related reading:
How the East Village grew to have the most community gardens in the country (6sqft)

Report: Collision on 2nd Avenue at 9th Street leaves 69-year-old man in critical condition

Driver hits 69-year-old man who was crossing East Village street, leaving him in critical condition https://t.co/nDgOneJqow pic.twitter.com/vzhxSpynfz

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) September 21, 2018

There were several reader reports last night about a car striking a pedestrian last evening on Second Avenue and Ninth Street.

According to the Daily News, a 69-year-old man was crossing west on Second Avenue when a Honda Accord making a left turn from Ninth Street struck the pedestrian around 8 p.m.

Per the News:

A bicyclist riding down Second Ave. said the driver had the green light but was turning too fast to stop for the victim who was in the crosswalk.

The victim was taken to Bellevue and is reportedly in critical condition.

No charges were immediately filed against the 35-year-old motorist, according to the News.

Brick Lane Curry House announces itself with fiery red awning at new 2nd Avenue location

Work continues at 79 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, where the new location of Brick Lane Curry House will be opening later this fall.

The new awning just arrived, looking as hot as its phaal dish. As Eater noted, the British-style curry is made with tomato, ginger and at least 10-12 ground whole chillies. (Eat it and get into the Phaal Hall of Fame.)

The restaurant left its space one block to the north at the end of August.

As previously noted, this marks Brick Lane's third East Village location. They moved from Sixth Street to 99 Second Ave. in August 2014.

Calexico, which serves Cal-Mex food in several NYC locations, is expected to open an outpost at 99 Second Ave.

Thanks to Lola Sáenz for the photo!

Previously on EV Grieve:
On 2nd Avenue, Calexico in the works with Brick Lane Curry House on the move

Brick Lane Curry House closes ahead of move down the block

East Village Vintage Collective celebrates 3rd anniversary tomorrow night

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by E Village Vintage Collective (@evvintagecollective) on Sep 14, 2018 at 6:30am PDT

East Village Vintage Collective officially turned three last month, though they waited until tomorrow (Saturday!) to celebrate the occasion over at 545 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

From 7-11 p.m., there will be a vintage fashion show, Sweetface Snoballs, tarot card readings by Gayle Stacher, prizes, video screenings and more.

Or you can look around their selection of vintage clothing for women, men and children ... as well as vinyl, housewares and various tchotchkes.

Previously on EV Grieve:
At the East Village Vintage Collective

Here's your Marshalls signage on East Houston

The Marshalls signage is now (mostly) visible over at 197 E. Houston between Ludlow and Orchard...



As noted on Monday, this location of the off-price department store chain opens on Oct. 4 at 8 a.m. in the retail space directly next to Katz's. Marshalls joins Equinox as the two retail tenants in the base of Ben Shaoul's condoplex built partly with gold-dusted bricks imported from Cadaqués.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Making way for Ben Shaoul's new retail-residential complex on East Houston

Katz's is now the last business on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard

Marshalls opening next month in Ben Shaoul's luxury condoplex on East Houston Street

The Grand Opening for Marshalls on East Houston is now Oct. 4

Fine, but when will the Christmas trees arrive?

Lime Tree Market on First Avenue and Ninth Street today...

Looking for a ping-pong partner in Tompkins Square Park

Liking pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts a plus. Photo this afternoon by Steven...

Remembering Hurricane Maria 1 year later

Union Square will host a memorial and remembrance this evening to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria.

Via Facebook...

Join #OurPowerPRnyc, organizers, grassroots leaders, artists and others actively engaged in a people to people #justrecovery for Puerto Rico, demanding justice and asking "Where Are We Now?"

In late August, Puerto Rico’s official death toll from Hurricane Maria was raised from 64, a number widely discounted as far too low as Reuters reported, to nearly 3,000.

Maria caused property damage estimated at $90 billion and left much of the island without electricity for months. The recovery there remains agonizingly slow for many people.

U.S. Representative Nydia Velazquez, a native of Puerto Rico, has said that "the federal response to the hurricane was disastrously inadequate, and as a result, thousands of our fellow American citizens lost their lives."

She was among the assembled elected officials to speak out about the relief efforts during a press conference at City Hall this morning.

⁦@NydiaVelazquez⁩ ⁦@NYCMayor⁩ say less than a 1/3 of federal disaster aid has made it to #PuertoRico. 60,000 homes covered in blue tarp. ⁦@wcbs880⁩ pic.twitter.com/3u7hNlMA8l

— Marla Diamond (@MDiamond8) September 20, 2018

A flyer about protected bike lanes on 12th Street and 13th Street ahead of the L-train shutdown

[Click to go big]

An EVG reader who lives on 12th Street shared the above flyer... found slipped inside the front door of her building yesterday.

The flyer provides information about protected bike lanes that will be implemented starting this month on 12th Street and 13th Street (as well as Horatio Street and Greenwich Avenue) ahead of the April 2019 L-train shutdown.

Back in June, the DOT made public its bike-lane plans... scrapping its original idea for a single, two-way bike lane on 13th Street in favor of two separate, one-way lanes for 12th and 13th streets.

The flyer provides the first details on the timing of the work — starting with this month. The city will install bike lanes on the north curb of 12th Street from Seventh Avenue to Avenue C, and the south curb of 13th Street from Greenwich Avenue to Avenue B separated from traffic with a painted buffer and flexible delineators.

The DOT shared this info in a tweet on Tuesday as well...

In preparation for the April 2019 L tunnel reconstruction DOT will implement safety improvements on 12th St, 13th St, Horatio St, Greenwich Ave from Ave C to Hudson St in Manhattan:
🚲Install protected #bikenyc lanes
🚶Increase safety
🚗Organize & calm traffic
🚶Shorten crossings pic.twitter.com/LFU1oa5v1I

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) September 18, 2018

The DOT also gave equal time to the 14th Street bus plan ...

This month DOT & @MTA will begin bus & road safety improvements on 14th St from 1st Ave to 9th Ave in Manhattan, in preparation for the L tunnel reconstruction:
🚗Maintains local access
🚌 Improve bus reliability
🚚Improve curb access for deliveries
🚶Improve pedestrian safety pic.twitter.com/Jfh7fSd7eo

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) September 18, 2018

Ahead of this work on 14th Street ... EVG regular Pinch noted the other day that the city removed the flexible stanchions that helped divide 14th Street at First Avenue...



... now...



You can find the city's full transporation plan during the L-train closure at this link.

Sauce Pizzeria opens Saturday, though look for free slices tomorrow

[EVG photo from Saturday]

There will be yet another pizza option starting Saturday when Sauce Pizzeria opens at 345 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

As first noted back in June, Adam Elzer of Sauce Restaurant on Allen and Rivington is behind this venture.

Elzer and company hope that the sauce here will set them apart from other pizzerias. Here's more from a Sauce rep on what to expect in the 22-seat space:

At this counter-service, pizza parlor, guests are encouraged to put sauce on everything and are given sides of sauce like (Grandmother's Gravy, Mantecato, Filleto, and Bolognese) with every order to enhance their meal, perfect for dipping crusts or adding an unexpected twist to salads.

Adam has been perfecting his dough recipe for the last five years, narrowing in on thin crust pies. Their coveted Pizza Master oven achieves overall consistency and ideal leopard spotting on each pie. The use of a homemade sourdough starter, Central Milling Beehive organic malted flour, fresh sauces, and a unique cheese blend creates their signature flavor profile. Pie highlights include:

• Upside Down Cheese Pie: constructed by reversing the order the ingredients are put on the pie with mozzarella, pecorino, tomato sauce, wild sicilian oregano, and breadcrumbs
• Heritage Sausage Pie: housemade pork sausage, red onion, shaved garlic, and breadcrumbs
• Vodka Pie: spicy mantecato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil

Additional menu items include:

• Fried Polenta Sticks
• Garlic Knots with fresh garlic & garlic oil
• Chocolate & Vanilla Van Leeuwen Soft Serve (the only venue in nyc to offer VL soft serve)
• Van Leeuwen Soft Serve Floats with Boylan's Soda (Black Cherry, Root Beer, Cola, Orange, etc.)

And an image via the rep...



Sauce is giving away free slices tomorrow (Friday!) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The space was last home to S'MAC, who moved to the corner at First Avenue in July 2017.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Sauce Pizzeria coming to 12th Street

More about Sauce Pizzeria, opening later this summer on 12th Street

[Updated] City Council committees vote on proposed hotel next to the Merchant's House today

After the public hearing on Monday, the City Council Zoning Sub-Committee and the Land Use Committee will vote on the developer's application today to build an 8-story hotel next door to the Merchant's House Museum on Fourth Street between the Bowery and Lafayette.

The developers, Kalodop II Park, are seeking a spot rezoning to build the structure that high. The public review process, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), began in the spring.

As noted in previous posts, preservationists, not to mention the leadership of Merchant's House, the circa-1832 building, are concerned that the construction could permanently damage the structure, one of only six residences in NYC that is both an exterior and an interior landmark.

Sen. Brad Hoylman testified in front of the City Council's Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchising on Monday in opposition to the construction of the proposed hotel.



Following Monday's hearing, his office released the following statement:

Hoylman joins Borough President Gale Brewer, Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Manhattan Community Board 2, preservationists, and residents in opposition to the current application.

Senator Hoylman said: “The approval of this building would result in potentially irrevocable harm to the Merchant's House. Furthermore, our city’s zoning laws should not be changed at the behest of a single developer, especially when the survival of a 186-year old building like the Merchant's House is at stake.

It’s a miracle that the Merchant's House has survived intact both inside and out for so many years. It’s our responsibility to ensure the future generations of New Yorkers are able to experience the rich history of the Merchant's House. I urge the City Council to reject this application.”

Today's vote is expected at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall (250 Broadway), Committee Room (2nd floor).

The full City Council will weigh in next.

Updated 1:30 p.m.

The committees voted no on the rezoning...the full City Council votes next week, though it is believed they will follow the lead of the committees...

View this post on Instagram

Council Member @carlinalrivera says NO to 8-story hotel next door! City Planning OVERRULED! #rightmakesmight #dontmesswithgertrude

A post shared by Merchant's House Museum (@merchantshouse) on Sep 20, 2018 at 9:21am PDT

This vote was only for the rezoning that would allow the eight floors.... the developer still can still build six floors as of right. More to come.

Updated 9/27

The full City Council voted down the rezoning...

View this post on Instagram

BREAKING NEWS from City Hall: City Council VOTES UNANIMOUS NO on 8-story hotel next door! Thank you @carlinalrivera @nyccouncil #rightmakesmight #sofarsogood #savethemerchantshouse #manhattansfirstlandmark #defeatthedevelopers #dontmesswithgertrude

A post shared by Merchant's House Museum (@merchantshouse) on Sep 26, 2018 at 12:31pm PDT

Wednesday's parting shot

A look at the all-new East River Park Track that was back in service Monday after a year-long renovation ... thanks to Gregg Greenwood for the photo!

Mid-afternoon mannequin break

Up for grabs along with what looks like a SantaCon Still Life Display.

Photo on First Avenue and 11th Street today via Peter Hale...

Updated 5:28 p.m.



Photo by Lola Sáenz ...

Tuck Shop is closing after 13 years on 1st Street

[Photo of Niall Grant from 2016 by James Maher]

Niall Grant, the owner of Tuck Shop on First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue, told me last evening that he is closing the business here at the end of service next Tuesday, Sept. 25 after 13 years selling Australian meat and vegetable pies on the block.

The other two Tuck Shop locations, in Chelsea Market and Urbanspace, will shut down by the end of the month.

Here's part of an email that Grant shared:

All the usual reasons can be cited but rising costs in general are behind this difficult decision. After 13 years in business I am tired of the struggle to keep a small business afloat in NYC.

My chief concern is finding jobs for my excellent kitchen team who have been with me for many many years including our head chef Pedro who has been with Tuck Shop since the very start, sous chef Juan (9 years) and prep cook Andras (7 years). They're a wonderful team so if anybody out there has a job for any of them please email tuckshopfirststreet@gmail.com.

I'd also like to thank all the folks who have worked for Tuck Shop over the years. I've made some lifelong friends and had lots of laughs with the staff. I wish you all well in your endeavors.

Finally I'd like to thank all the customers and regulars who supported Tuck Shop since 2005. I really appreciate what you've all done for me and my staff. You've allowed us to prosper, fed our families and paid our rents. We really appreciate it. Please come by the stores and say goodbye as we will miss you all greatly.

Thanks again,
Niall and the whole Tuck Shop family!

Here's part of our Out and About feature with Grant from February 2016:

I love this street. After 11 years here, I know everybody’s face. There are still a lot of the same old faces. All these guys hang out in front of the place. Some have been here for maybe 30 years. You see people grow up. It’s great to be part of a community like that. It’s nice seeing the whole family grow up upstairs.

'The Image Is a Seed' — Celebrating the work of Syeus Mottel on 2nd Avenue

[All photos by Walter Wlodarczyk]

Thanks to EVG friend Walter Wlodarczyk for bringing this exhibition to my attention... mh PROJECT nyc, the viewing space at 140 Second Ave., is currently presenting "Mottel_Mottel: The Image is a Seed," in which Matthew Mottel is presenting his father Syeus Mottel's entire archive of 35mm color slides — 3,000 strong shot between 1967 and 1975 — with performances by artists connected to their work.

Read more about the show here.



The elder Mottel, who died in 2014 at age 83, was a theater director and photographer, notable for his documentation of Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio, Buckminster Fuller and CHARAS.

Per mh PROJECT nyc:

Syeus defined his photography as “diaristic”: he shot the people he encountered including John Cage, Ornette Coleman, Thelonious Monk, Martin Luther King Jr., William S. Burroughs, Abbie Hoffman, Miles Davis, Patti Smith, Vito Acconci, Robert Rauschenberg and Diane Arbus.

The exhibition got underway last Thursday with a performance by composer and multi-instrumentalist David Amram ...




[Matt Mottel]

Here are the remaining performances, which take place from 8-10 p.m.:

9/19 Jeff Preiss, Filmmaker
9/20 Brian O’Mahoney Performance artist and theatre maker
9/21 Cooper-Moore, Jazz pianist, composer and instrument builder/designer
9/22 Steve Dalachinsky, Poet & Daniel Carter, Saxophone player
9/23 Lary7, Artist, filmmaker and musician & Bradley Eros
, Artist
9/26 Art Jones, Filmmaker
9/27 Will Cameron, Artist
9/28 Jean Carla Rodea, Interdisciplinary artist
9/29 Cat Tyc, Writer and artist
9/30 Gil Arno, Visual artist

The space is also open for viewing Saturdays and Sundays from 1 - 6 p.m. and by appointment.

You can find mh PROJECT nyc at 140 Second Ave., between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street, No. 306.

Classic films at 7: Ciao for Now Presents 'Third Thursdays' this fall

This fall, Ciao For Now is screening free classic films on the third Thursday of every month.

Here's what will be playing in the dining room at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B:

• Sept. 20 "A Star Is Born" (1937)

• Oct. 18 "Charade" (1963)

• Nov. 15 "His Girl Friday" (1940)

• Dec. 20 "The Little Princess" (1939)

The doors open at 6 p.m. ... and the movies start at 7 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase to stay or to go.

The 17-year-old family-owned and operated catering company is also open for Soup Night every Tuesday evening from 5 to 10. Hit this link for more info.

Tuesday's parting shot

It was raining dogs and ... Uh, photo on Second Avenue and Seventh Street today by Derek Berg.