Photo exclusive: Take a look inside the former Hells Angels clubhouse on 3rd Street

The remaining members of the Hells Angels moved out of their clubhouse at 77 E. Third St. at the end of March.

As previously reported, No. 77 has new owners (Better Living Properties), who plan to convert the building between First Avenue and Second Avenue into luxury rentals following a $2 million renovation. Preliminary renovation work is apparently underway at No. 77, which the Angels had in their possession since 1969.

The other day, EVG contributor Stacie Joy took a quick tour of the mostly-empty (and rarely seen by outsiders) building.



Stacie said that she saw many of the accessible rooms in the 6-floor building (some spaces were closed off for pending construction). The stagnant air in the building — unoccupied for nearly three months — had a whiff of cat urine and rotting food, she noted.

Here's more from Stacie:

It was also quite dark. A lot of the rooms were heavy on dark drapes and dark wood furniture. Some rooms were painted purple or turquoise, and it seemed like each floor had two bedrooms — like an old-style tenement building. Every floor had multiple portable fireplaces.

The ground-floor garage space was being used to store demolition trash and contracting supplies, but the main space on the ground floor was a bar/lounge with wood paneling and boarded-up windows.

Behind the bar, there had been what looked like surveillance equipment from camera monitors outside. There was also a doorway to a small patio/garden with a picnic table.

The Post previously reported that the building had 16 apartments and that the rooms were used more as "crash pads" for visiting members rather than full-time residency.

The tour starts in the bar/lounge...







And up the stairs...





... into some of the individual apartments, where discarded furniture remained in some rooms...























... and out back...





There haven't been any reports on where the Hells Angels plan to relocate in NYC. No. 77 reportedly sold for $7.75 million (other reports put the number at $10 million). They first bought the building in the 1970s for $1,900.

Previously on EV Grieve:
After 50 years on the block, the Hells Angels appear to be selling their 3rd Street clubhouse

The Hells Angels have left the East Village

This is what the Hells Angels building sold for

Report: Former Hells Angels HQ will become 22-unit residential building with retail


[EVG photo from early June]

St. Mark's Vegan Food Court debuts at 12 St. Mark's Place

[Image via Instagram]

At 12 St. Mark's Place, the 4-year-old Vspot has joined forces with three other establishments to debut the St. Mark's Vegan Food Court, now in soft-open mode here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Joining Vspot are Marty's V Burger, Cheff' Rootsie's veggie grub and Jam Pâstre. You can find the individual menus at this link.



Vspot has been the longest-tenured food-drinks venture at the address in recent years, where Hanjoo, Hirai Mong, Gama, San Marcos, Siren and @Cafe have come and gone.

What happened to the DeRobertis neon sign on 1st Avenue?

The sidewalk bridge recently came down outside the under-renovation 174-176 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street...



Several people, including Jeremiah Moss, noticed something missing on the post-renovation exterior: the neon "Pastry Shoppe" signage that belonged to the longtime tenant here: DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe.


[EVG photo from 2013]

DeRobertis closed shop after 110 years in business in December 2014. The economy, age and health reportedly compelled the four DeRobertis siblings to sell the building (for $9.9 million, per public records).

Black Seed bagels opened in the DeRobertis retail space in October 2015. At the time, Black Seed co-owners Matt Kliegman and Noah Bernamoff said they wanted to keep the classic neon.

Per Off the Grid in 2015:

In response to inquiries from Off the Grid, Bernamoff and Kliegman ... tell us they also intend to keep the neon sign out front. Its fate was unknown; a member of the DeRobertis extended family had explained to Off the Grid that when the family chose to sell the building, they left the sign up because it had been affixed for so long that they feared removal could damage the facade.

“It’s not going anywhere,” Kliegman said today. Added Bernamoff, “We prefer to keep the neon as intact as we possibly can without misleading people.” They may choose to light only the “pastry shoppe” portion, for example...

Last week, Kliegman and Bernamoff said that they hope the sign returns.

Per a Black Seed rep: "The sign belongs to the building owner and we are not privy to their specific plans for the property, which traded hands again since the DeRobertis family sold the building over three years ago."

--
Updated noon:


Per the Black Seed rep: "The plan was always that the building owner would refurbish the sign. The current owner, who was actually able to get the construction done ... has told us that the sign was removed to protect it and they are indeed working to refurbish it."

--

In May 2018, High Point Property Group bought the five-story walkup for $12.1 million. The seller was a joint venture between EBMG, LLC and AMJ Equities, according to The Real Deal.

In late 2015, the DeRobertis family decided to open another bakery in Clifton, N.J.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ugh: The 110-year-old DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe closes after Dec. 5 (43 comments)

[Updated] 110-year-old DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe looks to be closing once the building is sold

174-176 First Ave., home of DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe, is for sale

Let's take a look at the DeRobertis in-house bakery

Anything to lose sleep over? That empty Raymour & Flanigan space on 14th Street

[Top 4 photos from April]

The Raymour & Flanigan Sleep Shop sits empty now in the base of the Con Ed HQ on 14th Street at Irving Plaza... this outpost of the furniture retail chain moved around the corner to Union Square East earlier this spring...



We've talked with a few people curious about what might be going into this 15,000-square-foot retail space (across from the incoming tech hub) ...



While we mull that over... some legal documents arrived on the door the other day on behalf of the landlord, Con Ed ...



... there's some legalese about a money judgement in the amount of $435,103 (and 77 cents) ...



That's a lot of Comfort Sleeper Sofas.

A reminder that First Lamb Shabu is coming soon to 14th Street

There hasn't been much activity of late to note at First Lamb Shabu, which emerged from behind the plywood at 218 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue last fall.

Now, however, a coming-soon sign is on the storefront...



As previously reported, this will be the first Manhattan outpost for the Beijing-based hot pot chain with more than 300 locations in China.

The Commercial Observer reported back in April 2018 that the company, which has a location in Flushing, signed a 10-year lease for the space with a $20,000-per-month rent.

The storefront has been empty for several years, ever since Dunkin' Donuts (DD!) decamped for a smaller space on the block in August 2015.

Sunday's parting shot

Tonight's sunset from Astor Place by EVG reader Doug...

Time passages

[Photo from Friday]

This weekend, Al Diaz and Curt Hoppe collaborated on a mural outside The Quality Mending Co. on the corner of Prince and Elizabeth.







The final product include's Diaz's text- and message-oriented work with Hoppe's portrait photography...

"Time pulls us along as present becomes past. People, pets, places and possessions all turn into memories..."

"This piece is not for selfies ... just stop, read and think," Hoppe told me.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The EVG podcast: Al Diaz on BOMB1, SAMO© and Basquiat

Curt Hoppe's 'Downtown Portraits'

Week in Grieview

[Photo on Astor Place by Derek Berg]

Posts from this past week included...

What is happening at Gem Spa? (Tuesday)

The 14th Street busway debuts on July 1 (Wednesday)

Amelia and Christo's 2nd 2019 chick dies (Tuesday)

A visit to Zadie's Oyster Room on 12th Street (Wednesday)

Q&A with the director of the short film "Deborah Harry Does Not Like Interviews" (Friday)

Supper's 1970s-style subway-car look on 2nd Street (Tuesday)

Report: Former Hells Angels HQ will become 22-unit residential building with retail (Monday)

A look at 131 1st Ave., currently being divided into 3 retail spaces (Tuesday)

Tree Bistro returns, though without the garden space for now (Friday)

Last weekend for Miscelanea NY (Friday)

Tai Thai is back in action (Wednesday)

183 Avenue B will be demolished for a new 8-story residential building (Thursday)

Going 'Ape' over this gate at the East Village Vintage Collective (Monday)

Reader report: "marauding drunks" kill young tree on 7th Street (Thursday)

#NoKidsInCages spotted on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)

Bike lane paint returning to 1st Avenue (Monday)

Taking a seat for social change in Tompkins Square Park (Thursday)

Ray's Candy Store the setting for one of these "East Side Stories" at the Metropolitan Playhouse (Friday)

"Sayonara, Bitches" — about the last show at Art on A Gallery (Thursday)

Joe’s Steam Rice Roll debuts on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Ravi DeRossi bringing Indian cuisine to his former Fire & Water space on 7th Street (Wednesday)

Roll up for the Magical Mystery Tour at Tompkins Square Park (Sunday)

Signage is up for Auriga Cafe on Avenue A (Monday)

Gabriel Stulman seeking sidewalk cafe license for Great Jones Cafe replacement The Jones (Monday)

Squish Marshmallows only taking appointments for the summer (Wednesday)

Jin Kitchen and Bar closes on 3rd Avenue (Thursday)

Farewell to the leaning tree of 3rd Street (Tuesday)

Blue Bottle Coffee now open on Astor Place (Monday)

Whiteout at the former Sidewalk (Monday)

... and that is NOT a new logo for Trader Joe's at the retailer's space coming to 432 E. 14th St. ...



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Eddie Boros returns to 5th Street

Noah Scalin created this painting of Eddie Boros (RIP 2007) and the Tower of Toys (RIP 2008) outside Lavagna on Fifth Street and Avenue B as part of the 100 Gates Project.

Boros — “a charismatic, sometimes cantankerous artist,” per the The New York Times — lived his entire life in an apartment across the street. Some of his art is still on the walls at Sophie's down the street.

Saturday's parting shot

A scene from 13th Street and Broadway via Vinny & O...

Remembering June 15, 1904 — the General Slocum Disaster

View this post on Instagram

The General Slocum on fire in the East River, 1904. Named after #CivilWar General and Congressman Henry Warner Slocum, the steamboat was built at the Devine Burtis shipyards in #RedHook and launched in 1891. On June 15th, 1904, congregants of the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in the #EastVillage (then nicknamed Kleindeutschland, “little Germany") set out for their annual excursion to a Long Island picnic ground. The steamer, filled with nearly 1,400 people eager to enjoy the beautiful day, left from a pier off of East 3rd Street. Just before 10 A.M., as the boat was passing Blackwell’s Island (now #RooseveltIsland), a crew member noticed smoke billowing out from under the deck. It was quite windy on the water, and the blaze quickly spread. The crew hadn’t gone through a fire drill, and the fire hoses they tried to use were defective. Soon, the steamer had entered the tumultuous #HellGate, and Captain William Van Schaick declined to beach the ship along the #Queens shore, instead making the fatal decision to head towards North Brother Island. People strapped their children into "never-sink" life vests and tossed them overboard, only to watch in horror as they were pulled beneath the water, as the vests were filled with rotten cork that became heavy and dragged them down. The lifeboats were completely inoperable, as they were cemented to the deck by paint or tied down. Many of the passengers couldn’t swim, and they were faced with the horrific decision to be consumed by the flames or drown. The steamboat's burning shell wound up sinking in the water off of #HuntsPoint in the #Bronx. For days, bodies washed ashore on nearby North Brother Island. 1,021 people died on that day, making it the worst maritime disaster in the city's history. Van Schaick was sentenced to 10 years at #SingSing prison, but only served 3 years, and was later pardoned. The tragedy decimated the once vibrant neighborhood of #Kleindeutschland, with most of its residents moving to #Yorkville or #Queens. Many of the victims were buried at Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village #NYC #GeneralSlocumDisaster #onthisday #history #maritimehistory #NYChistory #DiscoveringNYC

A post shared by Discovering NYC's History (@discovering_nyc) on Jun 15, 2019 at 6:03am PDT

Ghost signage plywood on 7th Street

A recent item to note. EVG reader Paul Gale spotted this on the Seventh Street side of 113 First Ave., where workers are apparently ripping out the wall for more windows at the E Smoke & Convenience shop.

Next to the MCA mural (which we hear is staying put) are pieces of an old wooden sign...



As Paul points out, it's upside down, but it reads:

H. WOLLIN
Surgeon Dentist
Crown

This was, of course, from the era in which "surgeons" pedaling jacket crowns were as prevalent as today's bubble-tea shops. As I reported at the time, these crowns were effective, but didn’t last long because of microcracking that occurred during the cooling phase of fabrication and caused issues to the crown and underlying tooth or gum. The later introduction of dicor crowns, which were cemented with zinc phosphate, were more effective.

Anyway, another reader suggested that this plywood may be remnants of some period piece that filmed in the neighborhood. ("Mrs Maisel"?)

Go inside the gates today at the New York City Marble Cemetery

It's another Neighborhood Open Day today (Saturday, June 15!) at the New York City Marble Cemetery on Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

From noon to 6 p.m. you'll have the opportunity to take in the usually gated space and learn more about its history.

Here are the remaining open days for the summer:

• Sunday, July 14
• Saturday August 17

Meanwhile, the New York Marble Cemetery at 41 1/2 Second Ave. between Second Street and Third Street will have open days on:

• Sunday, June 30
• Sunday, July 28
• Sunday, Aug. 25

The cemetery is open those days from noon to 4 p.m.

Friday's parting shot

Photo of the building on the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Avenue B this morning...

Spirit of '77'

The new record by the L.A.-based Froth is out now... the video here is for the track "77," which features guest vocals from Izzy Glaudini of Automatic.

They'll be out at Elsewhere on July 3.

EVG Etc.: Rent reform reactions; 'Russian Doll' returns

[Photo on Astor Place by Vinny & O]

What NYC tenants need to know about the new rent reform deal (Gothamist) Reaction from the "shocked" titans of NYC real estate (The New York Times) Real-estate groups to file lawsuit (Commercial Observer)

Residents call for independent review of storm-proofing plans for East River Park (Patch ... more reaction via The Villager)

The bill that would make NYC streets safer and break up the car culture (Curbed)

City Council members Carlina Rivera and Donovan Richards byline this piece on the importance of Community Land Trusts (City Limits)

The Strand is officially a designated landmark — despite objections from its owner (NBC 4) Reaction: "The vote is a huge disappointment, as the City has refused to consider landmark designation or any other substantial protections for the nearly 200 buildings on a dozen blocks of this part of Greenwich Village and the East Village." (Village Preservation)

Seems like 2008: A bank branch for part of the former Coffee Shop on Union Square (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot turns 25, will stage Romeo & Juliet July 11-27 (Official site)

"Russian Doll," filmed in the East Village, is returning for more on Netflix (Vanity Fair)

A WorldPride calendar of events (The Advocate)

East Village well-represented in the listicle of the city's best ice cream shops (Eater)

Take a listen to Jesse Malin’s new song, featuring Billie Joe Armstrong, called "Strangers & Thieves" (Rolling Stone)

The Jarmusch fest continues through the weekend (Metrograph)

When Johnny Thunders opened for the Replacements (Dangerous Minds)

Photos: The final days of the Streit’s Matzo Factory (6sqft)

Metro Acres Market will replace the Fine Fare at 175 Clinton St. on the LES (The Lo-Down)

A NIMBY speech (McSweeney's)

... and the 6BC Botanical Garden is having one final orientation this year on Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Per the garden's website:

Saturday, June 15 at 11:30 a.m.

Become a member of 6BC and help keep the garden beautiful.

Member benefits:
• Personal access to the garden. Once you have completed your membership workday and orientation, you will receive garden keys. You may then visit and work in the garden on your own schedule.
• Learn about gardening
• Have the opportunity to maintain garden plots
• Meet your neighbors
• Give back to your community

Q&A with the director of the short film 'Deborah Harry Does Not Like Interviews'

Meghan Fredrich, a former East Village resident who is currently living in Massachusetts, shared her first short film with me. "Deborah Harry Does Not Like Interviews," created from archival footage, shows how Blondie's Debbie Harry "endures years of superficial, tedious and demeaning questions from journalists until she devises a brilliant way to turn interviews on their head." The short recently made its premiere at the Maryland Film Festival and is now currently online.

Fredrich answered a few questions about the film, which you can watch below...

What was your introduction to Blondie? Do you recall the first time that you heard a Blondie song?

I’m a millennial (so sorry) and was a kid in the 1980s and 1990s. I have vague memories of seeing "Heart of Glass" and "Rapture" music videos on MTV or VH1.

Were you instantly a fan?

I think like so many others I was immediately entranced. My childhood home was a sort of New Wave temple – my parents playing records of the Talking Heads and B-52s. As I got older and developed a more complete understanding of punk, I became deeply involved with Blondie and never looked back.

What are some of the qualities that intrigued you initially about Debbie Harry? Did these perceptions change at all during the making of the film?

Debbie is unequivocally charismatic, so I think that drew my initial interest. But Debbie always appeared to me to be a very substantial person. Despite the ongoing media obsession with her blondeness and appearance, she is not all on the surface or superficial in any way. And she always appealed to me as a truly modern woman — an independent spirit.

I knew these things about her before I began the film, but I think my appreciation of her integrity, cleverness and sense of humor deepened as I worked on it.

Did you start this project with Debbie Harry in mind? Or were you thinking more about exploring the way interviews are structured and how the media complex works?

It was the latter – I was thinking about the power relationship inherent in interviews and how the public accepts certain interview “norms.” From there I thought about who had been in the public eye for a long time, and Debbie came to mind.



Though the montage of clips you found, we see Harry endure an endless number of idiotic and sexist interviews. How did you see her reaction to these interviews evolve as she continued on in her career, both in Blondie and as a solo artist and actress?

As time goes by, we Debbie’s emotional reactions to these questions and interviews change, as well as the strategies or tactics she deploys to manage them. She’s initially surprised, perhaps. Then expectant, evasive, using humor to deflect. She tries presenting a somewhat neutral front. Toward the end, you see flickers of anger, frustration and resignation. Until Minkie appears.

I’m surprised that the introduction of a stuffed animal — in this case Minkie — during interviews hasn’t become standard media-training fare for any public figure.

I know what you mean!

Do you think if she was an emerging artist today that she’d face the same type of questioning in the media?

You can see this clearly happening now with Billie Ellish. In an ad campaign recently for Calvin Klein, Billie says, “That’s why I wear baggy clothes. Nobody can have an opinion because they haven’t seen what’s underneath.” It’s a protective stance for an invasive world that would otherwise eat you alive.

Any idea if Deborah Harry has seen this?

We passed the film along to her people, but I don’t really know one way or another.

What do you want viewers to take away from the film?

How incredible Debbie is, to start! I hope they laugh while the watch it. But perhaps the overriding message of the piece comes from the lyrics of the song "I Want That Man." When Debbie sings “Here comes the 21st century/It’s gonna be much better for a girl like me,” we as the audience now watching in the 21st century have to ask ourselves: Is it?



And here's the full 17-minute film...

Tree Bistro returns, though without the garden space for now

Tree Bistro is back in service this week ... nearly eight months after the six-alarm fire tore through neighboring 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

That fire also wiped out Tree Bistro's garden dining area ... and caused other damage inside the restaurant.

For now, the restaurant's outdoor space remains closed, which causes some space issues. Here's more via the Tree Bistro website:

We miss the garden more than anyone — but the delicious cuisine, charming and eclectic decor, and above all attention to our customers that is the hallmark of Tree Bistro will be in abundance in our inside dining room.

Since our capacity has been reduced by more than a third, we recommend reservations at all times, and we do please ask that you confirm or cancel your reservations should plans change so that we can accommodate all who wish to experience Tree Bistro. We appreciate your understanding as we all adjust to this temporarily smaller format and are excited to see you soon ...

Uogashi, the Japanese restaurant in the retail space at 188 First Ave., is not expected to return. The Uogashi website, now offline, had listed "permanently closed" under their hours of operation.

Officials said they believe the fire, which injured 17 people, including 14 firefighters, began inside Uogashi. An exact cause has not been made public.

Last weekend for Miscelanea NY

[Priscilla Leon and Guillaume Guevara in January]

As we first reported on June 5, Guillaume Guevara announced that he was closing Miscelanea NY, his 4-year-old quick-serve Mexican cafe and shop at 63 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Sunday is the shop's last day in business. As he shared on Instagram...

View this post on Instagram

GRACIAS EAST VILLAGE, GRACIAS NY, GRACIAS A TODOS. LA ULTIMA Y NOS VAMOS! 😪👋🏻♥️ #adios #gracias #miscelaneany

A post shared by MISCELANEA NY (@miscelaneany) on Jun 4, 2019 at 1:12pm PDT

On Wednesday, I asked Guevara for more on why he's decided to close up shop.

"I am moving to Mexico for my son to learn Spanish — that is the main reason. But of course, there are other secondary reasons such as the high operating costs, as usual, in NYC."

Miscelanea NY drew praise for not only its tasty Mexican food, but also Guevara's commitment to helping educating customers about the country.

"To me, Miscelanea is not just a Mexican store, it's an all-inclusive trip to Mexico. You can learn about the culture through our books, about the fashion through our clothes, and about the cuisine through our food," he told EVG contributor Stacie Joy in January. "People in NYC know that there’s more to Mexico than mariachi and tequila, but unfortunately the Mexican stigma is still there for some Americans who have not visited Mexico in recent years. I always encourage our customers to visit Mexico; in fact, many of them come to me to ask for recommendations of places to visit, stay and eat while in Mexico. I love it!"



Photos by Stacie Joy

Previously on EV Grieve:
A visit to Miscelanea NY on 4th Street