Sidewalk bridge fakeout at the beleaguered Mariana Bracetti Plaza

Word spread yesterday that workers were removing the sidewalk bridge from around Mariana Bracetti Plaza, the 7-story NYCHA-run housing complex on Third Street and Fourth Street along Avenue C.

There were momentary cheers, as tenant advocates have blamed the longstanding sidewalk structures for the increase in illegal activities here in recent years.

As resident Kanielle Hernandez told EVG contributor Stacie Joy in January:

Landlords put up these dark ugly scaffolds as a resolution instead of actual repairs. Then they stay up for years without any actual work being done. But someone is getting paid to have these sidewalk bridges just up with no real purpose. It creates dark hidden places for illegal activity. 

With the sidewalk bridges came more and more and more homeless, drug addicts and alcoholics. The money being spent to have these useless sidewalk bridges up should be used to actually improve the building conditions.

Upon arriving at the complex yesterday, Stacie learned that the sidewalk bridge will be rebuilt, with workers replacing the rotting wooden planks...

While the pieces did need to be replaced, workers also said that the sidewalk bridge would remain up for another three years.

According to DOB records, permits for a sidewalk shed date here to December 2000. (Reason: "loose brick.") There are records of permits for the installation of a sidewalk bridge in March 2003 ... April 2004 (for "remedial repairs") ... August 2015 ... and October 2017. (A Google Streetview shows a structure in place continuously back to 2016.)

And some scenes from yesterday's work... 

Tonight, Community Board 3's NYCHA & Section 8 Housing Subcommittee will discuss the conditions at the Mariana Bracetti Plaza housing complex.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Local elected officials, NYCHA reps get firsthand look at the problems at Mariana Bracetti Plaza 

• Residents say dangerous safety conditions at Mariana Bracetti Plaza lead to illegal and hazardous activities 

• Another look at conditions in and around the Mariana Bracetti Plaza public housing complex

• PSA 4 providing increased security at Mariana Bracetti Plaza

Claim: The pandemic caused more bar-restaurant closings in the East Village than in any other NYC neighborhood

The pandemic has devastated countless businesses in the city these past 12 months.

And according to one tally, there were more bar-restaurant closings in the East Village than in any other NYC neighborhood. 

Citing statistics compiled by restaurant recommendation site the Infatuation, the Post reports that 55 establishments have closed in the East Village. 

Cutting and pasting:

By comparison, 21 restaurants closed in the West Village; 19 restaurants closed on the Lower East Side; 15 closed in both Williamsburg and Staten Island; 14 closed on the Upper West Side; 13 closed in Midtown; and 11 closed in Chinatown. Neighborhoods with 10 closings or less include the Upper East Side with 10, and six each in Murray Hill, Soho and FiDi, according to the Infatuation. 

Why so many here?

The problem, sources say, is that the East Village — sometimes referred to the city's version of "Bourbon Street" — boasts a young, late-night crowd that spends more money on booze than food, which means it was hit first by the lockdowns and then by the curfews, which now end at the geriatric hour of 11 p.m. 

One named source in the Post article is Stratis Morfogen, who's opening the automated Brooklyn Dumpling Shop on First Avenue and St. Mark's Place one of these days.

"The neighborhood is filled with college students and first-time apartment owners — people in their 20s who don't sit down to eat until after midnight. Pizzerias stay open here until 7 a.m. In most neighborhoods, food is 75 percent and liquor is 25 percent. In the East Village, it's the opposite. Liquor is a vital part of the East Village's restaurant business and it has been crushed by the curfew," Morfogen said. 

A few places on the Infatuation's list of 55 aren't in the East Village, such as Oatmeals on West Third Street and Nix on University Place. In addition, while Coyote Ugly on First Avenue closed, they relocated to 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

There are also many closures that they didn't note, including B Bar & Grill on the Bowery, Lovenberg on Sixth Street, Vegan Love on 10th Street Dia, Atlas Cafe and Nostro on Second Avenue. Boilery on Third Avenue, the Dumpling House on Second Avenue, Native Bean on Avenue A, etc. 

So, unfortunately, the number is higher than 55. And I don't want to count myself ... to avoid turning this into some kind of sporting event. 

Tuesday's parting shots

"Russian Doll" day continues... season 2 of the Netflix series is filming at multiple locations in the East Village, including at (in!) 7B/Vazac's/Horseshoe Bar ... which is going by Black Gumball for the shoot...

Film notices around the neighbor names this production as "Black Gumball."

And there'll be more filming tomorrow on Avenue B, Third Street and Houston, among other locales.

In a piece of casting news, Annie Murphy, who played Alexis Rose on "Schitt's Creek," will reportedly be in the second season of "Russian Doll." 

Prepping for 'Black Gumball' (or 'Russian Doll' — shhhh!) on 3rd Street and Avenue B

Crews for "Black Gumball" are prepping some storefronts on Third Street and Avenue B ahead of tomorrow's shoot along here.

As Stacie Joy's photos show, Jane's Exchange is now Old Ukraine Grocer ...

Expect a laundromat here too...

... and Ben's Deli on B is getting some enhancements...

Ben's at 32 Avenue B served as a pivotal location for the time-bending Netflix series "Russian Doll" and Natasha Lyonne's character. Much of that award-winning series from 2019 was filmed in the East Village.

Word is "Black Gumball" is code/the working title for season 2 of "Russian Doll." 

Gotta get up, gotta get out. 

Updated 2 p.m. 

Crews are at 7B/Vazac's/Horseshoe Bar too... a scene of several interesting moments in Season 1... photo by Vinny & O...

See this post for more details on the shoot.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Your 'Russian Doll' reader

Letters

You've likely seen an array of letters posted around the East Village... the top one (thanks Stacie Joy!) is taped to the bear outside Josie's on Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... the one below (thanks Robert Miner!) is outside Ninth Street Espresso at Avenue C... (you may click on the images for more detail)... 

There are other variations, like one outside Mast on Avenue A and another near Juicy Lucy the next block up the Avenue. Some namecheck East Village businesses and at least one is signed by EVQ (East Village Queen).

Frank Prisinzano planning grocery concept near Lil' Frankie's on 1st Avenue

East Village restaurateur Frank Prisinzano is opening a personally curated grocery store on First Avenue. 

In a series of clips in Stories at the newly created @frankiesgrocery on Instagram, Prisinzano unveiled some of the plans.... starting with that he might not actually call it Frankie's Grocery. 

"I'm still conceptualizing everything," he said.

He has signed two leases for storefronts, though he only divulged details on a space adjacent to Lil' Frankie's on First Avenue between First Street and Second Street. 

"I've always wanted to have a grocery store. I've always wanted to curate all my own products," said Prisinzano, who also owns and operates EV mainstays Frank on Second Avenue and Supper on Second Street. "It will be a curated list of products that I use and recommend. Nothing will be on the shelves that I don't personally love." 

He plans on having a deli case inside the new shop to sell sandwiches ... with a vertical slicer for prosciutto. He's also thinking about offering homemade gelato and sorbet — similar to what his restaurants have on the dessert menus. Other amenities will include a 20-foot table to host private parties catered by the shop. 

"I'm going to keep it real simple, real Italian and real fresh," he said.

NYPD reps to brief Community Board 3 on the activity around 3rd Street and Avenue C

Tonight, Community Board 3's Transportation, Public Safety & Environment Committee will hear from reps from PSA 4, who patrol public housing, and the 9th Precinct about "public safety issues in the Avenue C/Third Street area."

On Jan. 18, a 36-year-old man was shot and killed here. According to published reports, the man was shot multiple times around 8:40 p.m. The Post reported that three men were seen fleeing westbound on Third Street.

Since then, an NYPD vehicle has been parked on the corner.

Residents have long complained about the drug activity on the southeast corner of Avenue C and Third Street, which has been under a sidewalk bridge now for more than eight years. (The renovations to the three-story building, 32 Avenue C, came to a halt in recent years. A full vacate and stop-work order remain at the address.)

In August 2019, residents posted these flyers on buildings in the immediate area... asking tenants to reach out to the NYPD and local elected officials about the "drugs and hookers at the homeless camp" on the corner...

Tonight's virtual meeting starts at 6:30. The Zoom invite is here. 

Visit the CB3 website at this link for more details on all this month's CB3 meetings. Tomorrow night, the NYCHA & Section 8 Housing Subcommittee will discuss the conditions at the nearby Mariana Bracetti Plaza housing complex.

Changes: Looking for a Coinstar replacement after the Food Emporium closes this spring?

In our post last Thursday about the May closure of the Food Emporium on Union Square, a reader lamented the pending loss of the grocery's Coinstar machine.

As another reader noted, there's a Coinstar machine in the lower level of the Kmart on Astor Place.

Also! You can find one at the PayOMatic at 303 E. Houston St. between Clinton and Attorney... where EVG contributor Stacie Joy took these photos the other day...

There is an 11.9 percent service fee here ... (fees may vary by location!) ...

Other nearby locations include the D'Agostino outpost on First Avenue between 20th Street and 21st Street.

A quick look at CTown's new deli

Also from our post about the Food Emporium closing in May on Union Square ... a reader pointed out that the CTown over at 188 Avenue C between 11th Street and 12th Street has a new deli ... Indeed! EVG contributor Stacie Joy happened to be by and shared these two photos... a bevy of Boar's Head products ...

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Noted

As seen on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place... someone amended the work zone sign to read — "Cuomo Zone Ahead. Share Them Broads."

Five women have now accused the governor of inappropriate sexual conduct. Attorney General Letitia James is now investigating the sexual harassment allegations.

Bing celebrates International Women's Day with photo of RBG mural on 1st Avenue

On International Women's Day today, the Microsoft Bing homepage features a photo of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg mural on First Avenue and 11th Street. (Thanks to Upper West Sider for the screengrab!)

Artist @ellestreetart finished the mural of the late associate justice of the Supreme Court back in November. 

PSA 4 providing increased security at Mariana Bracetti Plaza

This year, EVG contributor Stacie Joy has been reporting on the dangerous living conditions at Mariana Bracetti Plaza, the public housing complex on Third Street and Fourth Street along Avenue C. 

In early February, local elected officials and NYCHA deputies met with tenant activists Kanielle Hernandez and Yvette Maria for a firsthand look at the issues here, a list that includes flooding, leaks, sewage and infrastructure issues, broken door locks, trespassing, nonfunctioning elevators,  police response and drug use and sales. 

Stacie now reports that officers from Police Service Area 4 (PSA 4), the Avenue C-based station that serves 25 NYCHA developments in the 5th, 7th, 9th and 10th precincts in Manhattan, are working to provide increased security at Mariana Bracetti Plaza.

Stacie took the top photo on Saturday when PSA 4 officers were joined by members of the NYPD's Law Enforcement Explorers program, which is for young men and women ages 14 to 20, at Mariana Bracetti Plaza.

Security aside, there's also an emphasis now on providing educational materials related to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for the residents... these materials were spotted in the lobby...

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Local elected officials, NYCHA reps get firsthand look at the problems at Mariana Bracetti Plaza 

• Residents say dangerous safety conditions at Mariana Bracetti Plaza lead to illegal and hazardous activities 

• Another look at conditions in and around the Mariana Bracetti Plaza public housing complex

More hot dogs for Avenue A

Work continues at 147 Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

What can you expect? Hot dogs!

The work permit in the window points to a "hot dog store" ...

We're tracking down more details about the business... which will offer up more hot dogs for Avenue A...  the 99-Cent Fresh Pizza & Hot Dog shop opened back in September. And Ray's Candy Store has been peddling franks for decades at 113 Avenue A.

Arepa Factory, the quick-serve Venezuelan restaurant, closed at 147 Avenue A in January 2020 after nearly five years in business.

Photos by Steven

Full reveal for Spike's on Avenue A

The new awning/signage for Spike's arrived late last week at 218 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street.

Spike's Instagram account describes the establishment as an "East Village dive bar."No word on an opening date.

As previously noted, Spike's is from the same ownership as the family of bars that includes Iggy's Keltic Lounge on Ludlow, Local 138 on Orchard and the Spotted Owl on Avenue A.

This space was previously the Horsebox, the sports bar that opened in the spring of 2010 ... they never reopened after the PAUSE in March 2020. A for-lease sign arrived here in August. 

O Ramen Dim Sum M has closed on 9th Street

A for-rent sign now hangs on the storefront at 350 E. Ninth St. just west of First Avenue.

The previous tenant, O Ramen Dim Sum M, never really had a chance. They opened this past July for two weeks then closed when there wasn't any business during the pandemic ... sources on the block said that they reopened in the fall, but their hours were sporadic... open for a day or two, then closed for several days.

And previously: beQu Juice closed here in November 2019 after nearly six years in business. Until 2012, a bakery had been in this storefront for 87 years. 

Thanks to Steven for the photo... and to William Klayer for also noting the closure. 

Incoming pizzeria check, 14th Street/Avenue A edition

The signage is complete now for the incoming Burrata Pizza at 221 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. 

As we reported this week, this pizzeria is taking the place of Muzzarella Pizza (1991-2020). 

And Burrata isn't the only new pizzeria in the works right here at 14th Street... a 99-cent sliceria is taking the former Rainbow Nails & Spa space at 424 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...

... and New York Sal's Pizza is set for 536 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B...

This is a sibling to the New York Sal's Pizza up on 10th Avenue in Hell's Kitchen.

At the Black History Bowl

Text and photos by Stacie Joy 

Residents and community groups came together yesterday afternoon for Black History Bowl, an event at the Baruch Playground on the Lower East Side to help celebrate both Black History Month and Women's History Month (this was originally scheduled for last Saturday, but was rained out) ...

The Black History Bowl was created by Ty Lemons — aka For the Love of the City, a neighborhood resident and coach, mentor and event planner. 

East Village native Frank Gonzalez, founder and principal broker at Loisaida Realty, helped organize yesterday's activities. 

"I was happy to partner with him as I see his potential to make a difference with our youth, who are one of the underserved groups in our community," said Gonzalez, who's also a youth pastor. "[Ty] is focused on working with youth, particularly from NYCHA housing. He created For the Love of the City to put on events and organize activities for kids and teenagers." 

Here's (from the left) Coss Marte of ConBody, one of the sponsors, with Lemons and Gonzalez yesterday...

Yesterday's activities included youth workouts via ConBody and games of flag football as well as free food and music courtesy of the Brooklyn United Marching Band. 

Here are a few photos from the afternoon...

Week in Grieview

Posts from the past week included... 

• East River community group gets action on the release of (heavily redacted) value engineering study (Tuesday) 

• Report of a fatal fire on 5th Street (Friday) 

• Meeting Chef Wayne from the Bowery Mission (Friday) 

• The Union Square Food Emporium looks to be closing at the end of May (Thursday) 

• Police make arrest in fatal punch on 1st Avenue and 11th Street (Tuesday) 

• Checking on in Meat + Bread on Allen Street (Wednesday) 

• Movies theaters prep for reopening (Thursday) 

• Hub Thai debuts new Avenue A space (Thursday) 

• A stroll by a Goya display in this week's NY See (Thursday) 

• Gallery Watch: 'Last Supper' at LatchKey Gallery (Wednesday) 

• This is the new tenant for the NW corner of 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• 787 Coffee opens an outpost on 14th Street (Monday) 

• Catch a wave at this incoming Asian restaurant on 6th Street (Thursday) 

• Report: The Knickerbocker Bar & Grill will be reopening soon on University Place (Wednesday) 

• Mike's Cleaners is closing on Avenue A (Monday) 

• A much-needed beach day for Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Wednesday) 

• A new pizzeria for the former Muzzarella Pizza space on Avenue A (Monday)

• Openings: Mi Salsa Kitchen on Allen and Houston; Davidovich Bagels on Avenue A (Monday) 

• When Charles the dog blasted Daft Punk on 2nd Avenue in a video directed by Spike Jonze (Sunday)

• 347 E. 4th St. sells; conversion to residential use is in the works (Tuesday) 

• The first opossum sighting of 2021 in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday) 

• About Nudibranch, bringing a pop-up tasting menu to 130 1st Ave. this month (Friday) 

• Leasing underway at Stella LES on Avenue C and Houston (Wednesday) 

• Construction watch: 799 Broadway (Tuesday) 

• New signage for the incoming Greenwich Marketplace on 4th Avenue (Monday)

... and I Know! I Know! This used to be such a nice, safe neighborhood... via the Citizen app...

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Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

Remembering Wendy Schonfeld

Wendy Schonfeld died in a fire in her fourth-floor apartment at 335 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue late Thursday night. She was 80. 

The Daily News has more about Schonfeld and her life:

Even at 80, Schonfeld was a vibrant fixture in her East 5th St. building and a priceless mentor to former colleagues at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

"She lived and breathed the arts," said Robert La Force, a neighbor for 29 years. "Even though she didn’t really go out the last couple of years, she was still a part of everything," said La Force. "She would stick her head out the window and talk to people."

And...

Her home was crammed with artifacts from Mexico and elsewhere collected during a lifetime of devotion to the arts. 

At the Met, Schonfeld was recalled for guiding younger colleagues to get their noses out of books and helping them communicate the grandeur of art to the general public. 

"She had that wonderful New York way of setting things straight, with kindness," said Joanne Pillsbury, a curator at the Met. "She was a fountain of information about objects and ideas."

According to the News (and as several readers pointed out), there was another fire in Schonfeld's apartment more than 10 years ago. She reportedly suffered permanent health problems from smoke inhalation.

As for this fire, FDNY officials told the News that "the blaze may have been caused by faulty wiring in an air conditioner." 

Photo by Steven

Reopenings: Ladybird, Lucy's, Phebe's — and more

Several more bars-restaurants have reopened after a winter break ... several of the places closed in December when Gov. Cuomo ended indoor dining (at 25 percent) on Dec. 13. Indoor capacity is now at 35 percent. 

The recent reopenings include: 

• The Ainsworth, 64 Third Ave. 

• Avant Garden, 130 E. Seventh St. 

• Cherry Tavern,  441 E. Sixth St.

• Empellón Al Pastor, 132 St. Mark's Place at Avenue A 

• Huertas, 107 First Ave.

• KGB Bar,  85 E. Fourth St.

• Ladybird, 111 E. Seventh St.

• Lucy's, 135 Avenue A (photo of Lucy below by Lola Saénz)

• The Penny Farthing, 103 Third Ave.

• Phebe's, 361 Bowery at Fourth Street

• Tile Bar, 115 First Ave.

... and upcoming: 

• Proletariat, 102 St. Mark's Place — March 17 

• Saramsam, 111 E. Seventh St. — March 17 

• Superiority Burger, 430 E. Ninth St. — March 12