Thanksgiving-weekend fire temporarily shutters Bruno Pizza on 13th Street

[Reader-submitted photo]

Early Friday morning, a fire broke out in the top-floor apartment at 204 E. 13th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

The extent of the damage to the four-story building isn't known... several of the north-facing windows are boarded up...



The restaurant on the ground-floor level, Bruno Pizza, will be closed for the foreseeable future.

"There is extensive water damage in the restaurant," owner Demian Repucci told me via email. "But the biggest thing is that ConEd shut off the electricity, gas and water to the whole building.

"We're trying to figure out the situation and what it will take to get back up and running."

Bruno Pizza opened in July 2015.

According to Streeteasy, the building, owned by Steve Croman, has three residential units. The top- floor apartment includes four bedrooms, and last rented for $6,750, per the Streeteasy listings.

A sign on the building's front door notes that tenants are not to enter... there isn't any official vacate order posted from the city just yet...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Report of a fire at 204 E. 13th St.

There's improved pedestrian access for businesses along the L-train construction corridor

[EVG photo from September]

There is improved pedestrian access now on the south side of 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, the main construction zone leading up to, and during, the L-train rehab.

As the above photo from September shows, access to the five businesses west of Avenue A was limited to two feet-plus of unappealing sidewalk space that came to a dead end outside the Domino's Pizza outpost.

Meanwhile, most of the pedestrian traffic was diverted to the temporary sidewalk passage set up between the active construction site for creating entrances and exits for the L train at Avenue A and the two lanes of 14th Street.


[EVG photo from June]

The past week, however, the sidewalk situation was reconfigured on the south side of 14th Street... where pedestrians can now walk along the storefronts and away from traffic...



The sidewalk is now a little wider ...



... and you can still walk on it to First Avenue and beyond...





A positive step, though it may be too late — five businesses have already closed between Avenue A and First Avenue... while other retailers and restaurants report a decrease in revenue.

Per an article from The Villager on Nov. 15:

The employees at the Red Apple Barbershop, west of the string of shuttered shops, fear the 10-year-old shop could be next.

“Most of the foot traffic is on the road,” said Michael Vostok, the shop’s manager. The street pattern for construction sends passersby into a pathway in the streets and makes it difficult for Stuyvesant Town residents — critical clientele for the retailers — to both see and reach the shop.

The work here on this part of 14th Street started in July 2017 ahead of the L-train closure between Bedford Avenue and Eighth Avenue that starts on April 27, 2019.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

Renderings reveal the MTA's plans for the Avenue A L station; why does everyone look so happy?

A look at the new L-train renderings along 14th Street

Cocoa Grinder softly opens on 1st Street

Cocoa Grinder, a cafe chainlet with multiple locations in Brooklyn, is now in soft-open mode here at 45 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.


[Photo by Vinny & O]

A reader says that they offering pastries and coffee for now. Eventually they'll feature a menu of all-day breakfast, burgers, protein shakes, and freshly squeezed juices. Prices range from $4 for a to-go egg-and-cheese wrap to $12 for the "Poachy Poach," an ensemble of poached eggs and gravlax salmon on an English muffin with a side of tater tots and greens.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cocoa Grinder bringing coffee and all-day breakfast to 1st Street

Relish this?: Amazon revives Carnergie Deli for a week to promote 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'

You may have seen these ads posted on empty spaces along St. Mark's Place (and elsewhere) ...



The Amazon series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," set in 1958 NYC, is launching its new season by "creating an immersive Carnegie Deli pop-up experience" at 201 Lafayette St. at Kenmare.


[Via HomeoftheMaisel]

According to the pop-up's website, "while it may be 2018 on the outside, it’s 1958 on the inside — the decor, the jukebox, the photobooth, and even the menu."

This version of the Carnegie Deli, open from Saturday through Dec. 8, will sell "The Maisel," marble rye with pastrami, salami, coleslaw and "special sauce," for 99 cents. Other menu items include a mini-knish for 75 cents as well as a black and white cookie, cheesecake slice, pickles, Dr. Brown’s Soda, iced tea and coffee — each going for 50 cents.

All proceeds will go to the Lower Eastside Girls Club on Avenue D.

View this post on Instagram

@carnegiedeli along with @amazonprimevideo and @maiseltv are celebrating the new season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel by creating an immersive Carnegie Deli pop-up experience. From 12/1 to 12/8, guests can travel back in time to 1958, with everything from décor, to pricing, to the menu. For more info and reservations, check out the link in our bio! PC: @charlie.shoots • • • #themarvelousmrsmaisel #themarvelousmrsmaiselseason2 #maiseltv #carnegiedeli #popup #nycpopup #deli #marvelous #pastrami #thesusie #themaisel #eeeeeats #nyceeeeeats #amazonprimevideo #amazon #mrsmaisel #homeofthemaisel

A post shared by Carnegie Deli (@carnegiedeli) on Nov 20, 2018 at 5:31pm PST

The Carnegie Deli closed its Seventh Avenue outpost on New Year’s Eve in 2016 after 79 years in business. (The Las Vegas location is still in operation.)

As Eater noted at the time, there were numerous setbacks and scandals over the last few years at the deli, "including a wage lawsuit filed by staffers, and the messy divorce of its owner and her husband, who was cheating with a waitress while allegedly helping her open a rogue location of the deli in Thailand."

The number of Jewish delis in NYC has greatly diminished in recent years. According to an article published at Haaretz published in January, there were some 1,500 of them in the city in the 1930s; now there are about 20. Perhaps Amazon can recreate other vanishing elements of NYC.

Construction watch: 688 Broadway, aka 1 Great Jones Alley

Nearly two years have passed since our last look at the 12-floor condoplex that arrived at the site of the former open-air shops on Broadway near Fourth Street ...



The 16-unit project is known as 1 Great Jones Alley, whose website promises "a private paradise." Here's some more about the the residences via the 1 Great Jones website....

On the very street where Andy Warhol once lived and other artists like Basquiat and Haring exchanged ideas with musicians and writers, a new legacy is born.

According to Streeteasy, all the residences have either been sold or are in contract, including the $20-million duplex penthouse.

Meanwhile, we're not sure what became of the the $10-million lawsuit over the 137-foot alley behind the buildings. In March 2017, the co-op board of 684 Broadway, the building at the corner of Great Jones with multi-million-dollar condos, sued the developers of 1 Great Jones Alley.

As the Post reported on March 4, 2017:

The developer is “not authorized to remove and/or alter the gate that sits at the entrance to the alley … [and] do not have the right to advertise the alley as ‘private’ to potential buyers,” according to court papers.

The developer of 1 Great Jones Alley cannot even allow cars to sit and idle in the space — without the consent of 684 Broadway, the suit contends.

The co-op wants the condo’s misleading ads to end, and are asking a judge to order 1 Great Jones Alley to tell their residents no cars, or changes, will be permitted.

“The board believes that part of the alley and gate belongs to 684 Broadway, and felt that they had to file this lawsuit to protect their property rights,” said 684 Broadway in a statement via its lawyer, Robert Brown.

The 1 Great Jones website notes: "A secret alley. A private paradise. An exclusive residence." A car is still visible in the rendering...



And here's how paradise the alley looked the other day...



In May 2017, three construction workers were reportedly injured, one seriously, after a steel beam fell 12 stories at No. 688.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Retail plans revealed for 12-floor condo building replacing open-air market on Broadway

NoHo flea market gutted ahead of new condo project on Broadway

Looking at One Great Jones Alley, 'a private paradise'

At the former home of the Broadway flea market, condos will cost upwards of $22 million

Report: There's a $10-million lawsuit over use of Great Jones Alley for new development

Thanksgiving weekend's parting shot

Time for the guests to leave ("Chewie Get Us Out of Here") ... photo on Avenue C in Stuy Town the other day via EVG reader Doug...

Week in Grieview

[Thanksgiving on 9th Street]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

RIP Jimi Zhivago (Tuesday)

Report: NYCHA tenants on Avenue C have been without heat and hot water since Nov. 15 (Wednesday)

Report of a fire at 204 E. 13th St. (Friday)

RIP Chile (Saturday)

A concept revamp for the Cienfuegos space on Avenue A (Monday)

This week's NY See (Friday)

Scenes from a (re)marriage: Comedy classics at the Anthology Film Archives (Tuesday)

Take a Stand at this holiday market on 7th and C (Friday)

Green paint arrives on the new 12th Street bike lane (Friday)

Space Mabi closes 1 year in on 1st Avenue (Monday)

Ichibantei vying for 20 St. Mark's Place, and an update on the former Grassroots Tavern space (Monday)

New building permits pre-filed for the (slightly larger) tech hub on Union Square (Monday)

At Leah Tinari's book signing for 'Limitless' at an.mé on 9th Street (Sunday)

Dua Kafe, serving Albanian-American cuisine, now open on 14th Street (Tuesday)


[Photo from Tompkins Square Park this morning]

Ummburger has closed on 1st Avenue (Monday)

What lies beneath 9th Street and 3rd Avenue? (Monday)

Biga NYC debuts on Clinton and Houston (Monday)

Despite its mediocre food, Panna II is a line-waiting smash thanks to Instagram and those twinkling lights (Tuesday)

Three Seat Espresso increases the seats for espresso on Avenue A (Monday)

... and a new mural arrived earlier in the week on Houston at the Bowery via Brazilian artist Tito Ferrara...



... which joins the recently arrived "Imagination of Alice" by @aluckyrabbit ...



Thanks to East Village Walls...

---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter

The dog days of Netflix

As you may know, the Netflix series "Dogs" — an acclaimed six-part documentary series — dropped on Nov. 16.

As Vulture noted, "Each roughly 50-minute piece uses the human-dog connection to illuminate social issues, cultural differences, personal suffering, and how our doggos help us understand and overcome them." (And it's possible the docuseries will bring you to tears.)

Episode six is titled "Second Chances," with a focus on dog adoption ... and featuring the East Village and Tompkins Square Park... there are many familiar dogs in the episode... including Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street...



Kita's owners adopted her in early 2012. We asked them about Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street's Netflix debut.

It would be a generous overstatement to suggest that Miss Kita the Wonder Dog makes more than a cameo appearance, but she is beautiful and we love her and couldn't be more proud.

Reader report: SUV takes out part of the sidewalk bridge on Houston and Avenue B

EVG regular Salim shares this photo from earlier this morning ... showing the aftermath of an SUV colliding with the sidewalk bridge on the northwest corner of Houston and Avenue B.

No word on the cause of the collision or injuries. (We've heard from readers through the years noting how dangerous the East Houston-Avenue B/Clinton Street intersection is.)

The NYPD remains on the corner ... and the area is cordoned off... likely awaiting a new sidewalk bridge for outside the long-empty 6 Avenue B...



Previously on EVV Grieve:
Is something finally happening to the long-vacant, mysterious 6 Avenue B?

Resident: July 4 collision highlights dangerous East Houston-Avenue B/Clinton Street intersection

Christmas tree yearbook photo

The trees arrived this holiday weekend at stands all around the neighborhood (like the usual places, 14th Street at First Avenue, Houston at Essex, Astor Place between Lafayette and Broadway, Second Avenue at Seventh Street, etc.) ...

The nice folks at Tree Riders NYC on Second Avenue at 10th Street outside St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery always have the tallest/largest ... with some reaching 18 feet...



And they have a 25 footer on the way... in case you have Cathedral-type ceilings or plan to decorate a lobby.

RIP Chile

A longtime resident of 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B recently passed away.

A neighbor on the block shared the news.

He was originally from Chile, and everyone called him Chile. He has lived on the block for decades, and he had two sweet dogs, Diego and Dante, who are now in need of a home.

He had sold his apartment and was going to go back to Chile with his dogs in late October. However, the neighbor noted that he had health problems, and he wound up in the hospital just days before he was supposed to leave. He eventually went into palliative care.

Back to the neighbor...

I feel sad that he didn't make it home to Chile. He had a cat, too, but he had already given the cat to a neighbor on the block because it was going to be hard enough for him to deal with getting the dogs from the plane to where he was going in Chile. They were his babies. He loved these dogs and would want them to go to a good home.

Everyone who walked down East 12th Street between A and B would have met him and Diego and Dante at some point.

Updated 11/28

Animal; Haven is looking for a new home for the dogs now.

Updated 12/2

Diego and Dante have both been adopted! Going to a new home in Brooklyn!

Updated 12/5

Read an update here!

The pop-up bar before Christmas: Miracle on Ninth Street returns for 5th season

[Image via Facebook]

For the fifth consecutive year, Miracle on Ninth Street — a Christmas inspired pop-up bar — is open for the season (as of yesterday) inside Mace, the cocktail bar at 649 E. Ninth St. at Avenue C.

And what started on Ninth Street is now worldwide. Per Facebook:

Miracle Owner/Cocktail Kingdom Founder & CEO Greg Boehm, Beverage Director Nico de Soto, and Manager Joann Spiegel have partnered with over 80 renowned bars (and counting!) across the world to launch sister pop-ups in cities as far-flung as London, Panama, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and many more.

Miracle on Ninth is open through Dec. 24, with the following hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Noted

From earlier this week... Fake ad for "Ivamka Trump's Sweatshop for Women" spotted on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... "A Presidential Parody" via Maia Lorian and Abe Lincoln Jr. ...

Buying a 'Round'

The Germs' "What We do Is Secret," the 20-minute EP originally released in 1981, received the Record Store Day Black Friday treatment today ... with remastered tracks on blue color vinyl.

The audio track here is their version of "Round and Round," written and first recorded by Chuck Berry.

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 ... and elsewhere.

Black Friday Deal of the Day

View this post on Instagram

The biggest #BlackFriday deals available at the Library! This is a special offer you won’t want to miss! Visit the link in our bio to see all discounts.

A post shared by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Nov 23, 2018 at 6:00am PST

[Updated] Report of a fire at 204 E. 13th St.

The FDNY responded to a report of a fire this morning at 7 on the top floor of 204 E. 13th St., a four-story building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

MAN ALL HANDS 204 E 13 ST, MIXED OCCUPANCY FIRE ON TOP FLR, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) November 23, 2018

A resident on the block shared these photos and video...









No word at this moment on injuries or the cause of the fire. The resident said that the FDNY quickly extinguished the fire in the apartment, which appears to be gutted.

According to Streeteasy, the building, owned by Steve Croman, has three residential units. Bruno Pizza is in the retail space.

Updated 11/26

Bruno Pizza, will be closed for the foreseeable future.

"There is extensive water damage in the restaurant," owner Demian Repucci told me via email. "But the biggest thing is that ConEd shut off the electricity, gas and water to the whole building.

"We're trying to figure out the situation and what it will take to get back up and running."

Take a Stand at this holiday market on 7th and C

The Stand, the small gallery space on the southwest corner of Seventh Street and Avenue C, is hosting a holiday market starting today (Black Friday!) at noon.

Here's info via the EVG inbox...

Join us for our East Village Stand Holiday Market Nov. 23 - Dec. 24 on the corner of Seventh Street and Avenue C.

Opening Reception & Performances: Friday, Nov. 23, 6-8 pm. A shakuhachi zen flute performance by Till Behler

Participating vendors at the East Village Stand Holiday Market include:

• Bottleworks, bottle lamps, pendant lights and glassware by Joe Harrigon

• One of a kind handmade picture frames by Anne Edris

• Taconic Trading Company spiced pepitas and Applewood smoked sea salt

• eulenspiegelchocolatelab cookies and chocolates

• Black Lives Matter holiday themed jewelry and ornaments by Carla Cubit

• Artwork by Baum Earth Elements

• Handmade natural products by Body Vanity

Find updates via Facebook. The Holiday Market is expected to be open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday (not counting the 6-8 opening reception tonight...).

Green paint arrives on the new 12th Street bike lane

On Wednesday, crews painted the new eastbound bike lane on 12th Street... I spotted them between Second Avenue and Avenue A ...







The bike lane for 13th Street arrived at the beginning of the month.

Meanwhile...

Time elapsed between painting the new 12th street bike lanes and people parking in them 1.0234seconds. #bikenyc @bikeblognyc @evgrieve #eastvillageParking #workingclass @bikesnobnyc pic.twitter.com/38ezAPTQFX

— Christopher J Ryan (@ChrisRyanAction) November 21, 2018

As previously reported, the city put in a bike lane 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 ahead of the April L-train closure.

The bike lanes are just one of the ways the city hopes to keep people/commuters moving during the 15 (or so) months that the Canarsie Tunnel under the East River gets repaired.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Prepping for the new protected bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets

Bike lane line work continues on 12th Street

DOT puts down the green paint on the new 13th Street bike lane (except for one mysterious spot)

Steamy Friday

EVG regular Salim shares this photo from Tompkins Square Park this morning... with the always photogenic Con Ed power plant in the background. As of this writing, it's 18 degrees, which according to the Weather Channel "feels like" 12.