Matthew Kenney expands his 2nd Avenue plant-based empire; eyes former Cucina Di Pesce space

Plant-based celebrity chef Matthew Kenney continues to add to his Second Avenue empire.

To recap, he has Plant Food + Wine (the former Arata) on the southwest corner of Fourth Street.

Kenney is also involved with 00 + Co. and Bar Verde right next door on Second Avenue.



And most recently, the now-former Kona Coffee and Company, which just opened in November 2017 a few storefronts away at No. 57, is now under the Kenney umbrella...



Back in March, Kenney teamed up with Pure Green to launch PlantMade, a cafe on Second Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street. He is apparently no longer part of that Green team...



Meanwhile, Kenney plans to take over the former Cucina Di Pesce space at 87 E. Fourth St. near Second Avenue for a venue (rumored to be called Medium) in early 2019. He's on this month's CB3-SLA agenda for a new liquor license for the address. (The questionnaire has not been posted online yet.)



That seafood-focused Italian restaurant closed in September after 32 years in service.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Matthew Kenney bringing yet another plant-based restaurant to 2nd Avenue

More details about the Tao Group's eating-drinking options at the Moxy East Village

Back on Friday, I noted that reps for the incoming Moxy East Village will appear before CB3's SLA committee tonight to seek liquor licenses for the hotel's four eating-drinking establishments.

Tao Group is the food and beverage operator and the Lightstone Group's partner at the Moxy East Village, 112 E. 11th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. In addition to operating the eating-drinking choices at the Moxy Times Square and Moxy Chelsea, Tao runs more than 20 venues throughout New York City (Beauty & Essex, Tao Downtown, Stanton Social, etc.).

The questionnaire on file at the CB3 website for the Moxy, a Marriott brand, is 121 pages.

First, from the questionnaire, an at-a-glance listing of all the eating-drinking options inside the hotel...



The 13-stoy hotel's rooftop bar seems to be of particular interest to nearby residents, so I'll focus on that, starting with the diagram...



The questionnaire states that the rooftop bar is 2,600 square feet, with a capacity of 179. The proposed hours are 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. The kitchen closes at midnight. As for that kitchen, here's the menu...



Meanwhile, the main restaurant-lounge in the sub-cellar looks to be called MEV, short for Moxy East Village...



... which is awfully close to MEH.

The committee meeting starts tonight at 6:30. Location: The Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
6-building complex on East 10th Street and East 11th Street sells for $127 million

Preservationists say city ignored pitch to designate part of 11th Street as a historic district

Permits filed to demolish 5 buildings on 11th Street to make way for new hotel

Moxy East Village reps to appear before CB3 in bid for liquor licenses for new 11th Street hotel

First sign of Madame Vo Barbecue on 2nd Avenue

The sidewalk bridge signage has arrived for the incoming Madame Vo Barbecue, coming to this northeast corner of Second Avenue and Sixth Street — officially 104 Second Ave.

As Eater reported back in July, the owners of Madame Vo at 212 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue are opening the sister restaurant specializing in Vietnamese barbecue.

The Madame Vo team was OK'd for a new beer-wine license back in September.

In a preview post, Eater had this to say about the new venture:

This barbecue offshoot will have tabletop grills for meat and seafood in various marinades including curry, lemongrass garlic, and honey fish sauce. It’s typically a celebratory food in Vietnam, and here, the barbecued proteins then go into customizable summer rolls.

The Vo-sters have also been posting a few dishes on their Instagram account...

View this post on Instagram

Here’s something to get excited about other than the upcoming weekend. 😉 - Madame Prawns - grilled jumbo freshwater prawns served with Mama Ly’s orange butter. 🦐🙌🏻 . . . #madamevobbq #vietnamese #bbq #prawns #vietnamesefood #vietnamesebbq #foodandcuisines #eatingnewyork #nycft #eatupnyc #buzzfeast #sogood #hypebeast #bestfoodworld #nomnomnom #nomnom #lovefood #nycfat #instafood #topnycrestaurants #topcitybites #myfab5 #nyceats #nycdining #hkig #🍴 #🍽 #🍜

A post shared by Madame Vo BBQ (@madamevobbq) on Nov 30, 2018 at 11:10am PST

No. 104 previously housed several forgettable concepts, such as Wall 88. Previously, the address was the Lions BeerStore — part retail shop, part restaurant, all BeerStore! — for 16 months.

Remembering Jimi Zhivago

Longtime East Village resident Jimi Zhivago, a musician, producer and composer, died on Nov. 8. He was 67. (This link has more on Zhivago, born James Daley in Brooklyn.)

There is a musical remembrance and celebration of his life tomorrow night at Drom, 85 Avenue A near Sixth Street, from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Ahead of that, his friend and collaborator Chris Riffle, a local singer-songwriter who recorded and toured with Zhivago over the past nine years, shared this remembrance...

"I wanna stay in those moments"

How could I have known when I first met you nine years ago with a guitar on your back and a coffee in your hand that we were about to embark on a musical journey together that would stretch to Hawaii, Alaska, Germany, Belgium and both U.S. coasts... that would include three full-length albums and two EPs... and that I would write you a song today and not be able to play it for you... which is too bad because I think you’d love the chords and I’m not sure if it’s done and I never really was until you gave me a sign...

I remember being asked in an interview quite a while back what exactly a producer was and I remember thinking I wasn't really sure... Someone who was there to support the creation of an album? To make sure the songs felt complete and to help along the journey of putting it out? I remember being so sure of myself and headstrong and thinking who else could possibly know what these songs needed. Well, I just walked out of the studio yesterday and I kept looking for you to give me that sign... bring the cymbals in later... change the intro... it's too cluttered... guitars too muffled... or leave it, it's perfect.

I really just listened to the track and I felt so deeply unsure of myself. I realized that the differences we had are what I think I miss the most now. I could so easily be the optimist with you looking out for me. I listened to so much lo-fi music growing up and loved the homemade sound of a 4-track demo. The click of the microphone. But you tirelessly pushed me to make albums that sounded like they were made with all the best gear and musicians money could buy. We passionately disagreed on many things along the way because we both were so deeply part of the work we did together. It was the compromise, the space in the middle, where we found this magic.

At your hospital bedside you asked me to finish the album. Implied in that timeless moment was that you wouldn't be there to do it with me. You told me how you so believed in me and that you knew so many good things were ahead and then you had this deep look of sadness... knowing you wouldn't be there for this next journey with me.

After the album was always the best part really. The reactions... the way something sounds when you step back from it and it feels like something complete, able to exist in the world on its own. And the touring... the way a song sounded after 20 shows, after you both inhabited it completely. I wanna stay in those moments... in all those songs we made together. In that intimate space of creation, I think you find a connection to life itself. It's such a deep way to inspire someone. You gave that so freely to so many. You always loved to give.

You were so much larger than life. To me, you always were, and you always will be. I told you that that last day. I told you you were my best friend. I told you I didn't know what I could have possibly done to deserve your deep unending belief in me and my music and that it meant the whole world to me. I told you that you'd always be there pushing me to be better than I was. And that I wouldn't always agree with you but sometimes I would listen.

Week in Grieview

[Sunrise pic on Bond Street the other morning by Lola Sáenz]

A visit to the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street (Friday)

202 Avenue A has been gutted on its way to doubling in size to become the Topanga (Tuesday)

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

Tenant activists praise lead reform, urge for more protections from city against predatory landlords (Friday)

After 12 years in Bushwick, Grace Exhibition Space relocates to Avenue C (Thursday)

A Tompkins Square Park tree lighting reminder (Wednesday)

Last call at the Continental now set for Dec. 15 (Tuesday)

This week's NY See (Saturday)

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

Actual renovation work continues at the long-dormant 32 Avenue C (Wednesday)

Milk & Hops Astor Place closes (Friday)

Retail space for lease now at 131 1st Ave., which has a new owner (Wednesday)

Reader report: Christmas tree market's generator damages mosaic pole on 2nd Avenue (Saturday)

Construction watch: 688 Broadway, aka 1 Great Jones Alley (Monday)

A moment with former First Lady Michelle Obama on 7th Street (Saturday)

Cocoa Grinder softly opens on 1st Street (Monday)

In the West Village, Integral Yoga Natural Foods is closing after 45 years (Wednesday)

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

You better watch out: Miracle on 12th Street pops up for the holidays (Thursday)

'tis the season... spotted at Doc Holliday's...



---

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Dante and Diego have been adopted, and are going together to a new home in Brooklyn!

Diego and Dante, the two labs that belonged to Chile, the longtime 12th Street resident who recently passed away, have been adopted together by a couple in Brooklyn.

This past Tuesday, Animal Haven, a nonprofit animal shelter, took the dogs away to find them a new home.

The folks at Animal Haven shared the photo below and this message on Instagram Wednesday:

Chile was one of those kind individuals who knew everyone on East 12th Street and, in turn, the neighborhood also cared for his beloved senior dogs, Dante and Diego. The threesome would sit together on a local bench welcoming neighbors home from a long workday. Together, they were unique characters that made the East Village welcoming and a true neighborhood. So it's no surprise that everyone came together soon after Chile's passing to make sure the dogs were safe and a call was made to Animal Haven for help.

When our community outreach team arrived yesterday to pick up the dogs, they were met by a handful of residents and friends of Chile. 💙💙💙 A group of eight friends walked the dogs to the transport car where photos were taken, hugs were given, and tears were shed.

A tipster says that NY1 will be featuring this adoption. I'll link to that clip once it's online. Updated: Here's the link to the NY1 piece.

Updated 12/5
Read an update here!

Urban Etiquette Sign of the day

Spotted on 12th Street and Avenue A... (thanks to EVG regular Trixie for the photo)...

A moment with former First Lady Michelle Obama on 7th Street

[Video screengrab]

Earlier today, former White House chef Sam Kass was thought to be the main event in a talk on healthy eating over at the Lower Eastside Girls Club on Avenue D and Seventh Street.

Then!

[A]s Kass detailed the former first family's nightly dinners, Michelle Obama entered, and the girls screamed, cheered and embraced in excitement.

Obama and Kass then served food to each individual girl before the group sat down for lunch and conversation.

That passage was from ABC 7. (This Vanity Fair piece has more details on the event.)

View this post on Instagram

#TFW a legend walks into your space! @michelleobama words cannot express how much today meant to us. TY for the heartfelt conversation and continuing to be an incredible inspiration to us. And @samkassdc TY for a delicious lunch w the best surprise guest we could ever hope for! #michelleobama #blackgirlmagic 🖤💪🏾👑

A post shared by The Lower Eastside Girls Club (@girlsclubny) on Dec 1, 2018 at 12:38pm PST

Yesterday, the Crown Publishing Group announced that Obama's memoir, "Becoming," has sold more than 2 million copies after 15 days, reportedly making it the year's best-selling book.

Also yesterday, Obama signed copies of the book at the Barnes & Noble on Union Square.

Meanwhile, around the Girls Club, word spread about the special guest (Obama, not Kass) ... and a crowd gathered outside. East Village resident Angeline Rodriguez shared this video clip...



"It was a really nice community moment, with everyone meeting or recognizing neighbors and talking about how much they admired Mrs. Obama's work," Rodriguez told me.

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 ... and NYC.

Another Year Without a Trailer Park Santa Claus on 14th Street, though there is a bear

EVG regular Pinch shares this top photo from the Christmas tree vendors on the northwest corner of 14th Street and First Avenue.

In what may be a first for this spot, there's an inflatable bear on the scene this year. (We need to check the EVG microfiche to be sure.)

And unlike previous years, the tree vendor does not have the Cousin Eddie-style camper parked on 14th Street (because of the new SBS lane?).



Also, the Santa inflatable is new and clean, unlike the grubby ol' St. Nick — Trailer Park Santa Claus to some — that had been greeting the corner in recent years...


[On loan from the EVG Permanent Collection]

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Year Without a Trailer Park Santa Claus

Grubby ol' St. Nick inflatable makes triumphant return to 14th Street after 2 (long) years

Another year without grubby ol' St. Nick on East 14th Street; what to tell the children?

New, improved inflatable Santa arrives on East 14th Street tree lot

Dec. 1

At Gem Spa today...

6 posts from November

[Crate digging outside A1 Record Shop on 6th Street]

A mini month in review...

Take a Stand at this holiday market on 7th and C (Nov. 23)

Snowvember pain: Multiple reports of trees down (Nov. 15)

The boutique office building replacing the Sunshine Cinema will be 'unbounded by walls' with an outdoor space called Houston Alley (Nov. 15)

Vacant lot at 14 2nd Ave. sells for $7 million; will yield to 10-floor condoplex (Nov. 8)

The Mars Bar lives! (in a penthouse suite in Times Square) (Nov. 7)

A visit to Yoli Restaurant on 3rd Street (Nov. 2)

Sniff 'n' the Beers

Amyl and the Sniffers released a new video this week... a live version of "I'm Not a Loser," which showcases lead singer Amy Taylor's energetic stage presence... look for the Australian band's full-length debut in the New Year on Flightless/ATO/Rough Trade Records.

EVG Etc.: Catching up with Christo and Amelia; saving the Strand from landmarking

[The red-tailed hawks on the Christodora via Goggla]

Thanksgiving with Christo and Amelia (Laura Goggin Photography)

The Strand doesn't want its building landmarked (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

A feature on John Casey, owner of Casey Rubber Stamps on 11th Street (CBS 2 via YouTube)

These East Village spots are fueling "New York's Taiwanese New Wave" (The New Yorker)

The fight to make cash-free cafés illegal in NYC (Grub Street)

Citi Bike tripling the size of its fleet in the coming years (Streetsblog)

The mayor scraps plan for mega-jail down on Centre Street (Curbed)

The Lower East Side of Lillian Walk (6sqft)

EVG contributor Daniel Efram is raising funds for a one-off Curiosities book prototype (Kickstarter)

If you enjoy action-packed 1980s B-movies set in a dystopian future, then consider "2019: After the Fall of New York" (Dangerous Minds)

Meanwhile, on Twitter...

@evgrieve why would someone throw this perfectly good boob out?? pic.twitter.com/MQql4uwupG

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) November 29, 2018

... and an EVG regular shared info on this festive event tomorrow evening at 7:30 not too far away — 155 East 22nd St., between 3rd Avenue and Lexington...

A visit to the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street

As we mentioned on Tuesday, the Tompkins Square Library branch is hosting its second annual East Village Arts Festival starting tomorrow and running through Dec. 15.



In total, the library, located at 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is hosting 36 public programs for all ages, including performances, lectures, workshops, author readings, and films, as well as tables from local organizations, and art installations by 15 local artists and groups. There are also several walking tours.

This link has all the different programs each day through Dec. 15. This link has more info about the Gallery Walk.

Ahead of the start of the festivities tomorrow, EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the library on Tuesday morning as the staff was setting up for the day as well as continuing planning for the East Village Arts Festival....


[Branch manager Corinne Neary]

Here's the staff on duty (from the left) Olga Estevez, Gerritt Reeves, Neary, Nefertiti Guzman, Romulo Paez and Roxmin Lopez...













Stacie also took the time to walk around parts of the four-level library — which has been serving the neighborhood from this location since 1904 — before it officially opened for the day...

Tenant activists praise lead reform, urge for more protections from city against predatory landlords

On Tuesday, members of the Lead Dust Free New York City coalition marched through parts of the Lower East Side and East Village, stopping at three buildings — 113 Stanton St., 57 Second Ave. and 233 E. Fifth St. — "where shoddy renovations have released lead dust into the air."

The group, including organizers from the Cooper Square Committee and Icon Tenants United, Tenants Taking Control and the Alliance of Croman Tenants, also praised elected officials for introducing laws aimed at protecting them and urged them to continue pushing for more lead reform.











Here's more background via a news release from the Cooper Square Committee...

Known collectively as the Stand for Tenant Safety (or STS) Laws, they included a new, Real Time Enforcement statute, as well as a tenant bill of rights that must be posted in buildings where construction takes place. They also created a new position within the Department of Buildings, called the Office of the Tenant Advocate.

This year, the City Council is looking at 25 more new bills to further protect tenants from lead exposure. The thrust of some of these bills is to break down the silos that current separately the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, the Department of Buildings and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

Marchers demanded that these laws also be enacted to further prevent the erosion of affordable housing in New York City.

As in other cities around the United States ... New York is being inundated by a hyper-gentrification tsunami that has been permanently pushing middle- and lower-income tenants out of their homes. Some landlords, hungry for quick returns, continue to pursue the practice of predatory equity, which worsens the city’s affordable housing crisis. These same landlords typically ignore safe work practices while renovating their buildings.

All photos courtesy of Tenants Taking Control

Previously on EV Grieve:
Health Department to inspect Raphael Toledano's East Village properties for toxic levels of lead dust

Ongoing concerns about demolition work and elevated lead levels in Toledano-owned buildings

Get the lead out: Tenants call for protections from lead dust during renovations