At the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lighting

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Tompkins Square Park holiday tree is officially lit for the season... the grand finale of the annual lighting ceremony late yesterday afternoon. 

Albert Fabozzi (below) planted the much-loved Christmas tree in Tompkins Square Park in 1992 to honor and memorialize his partner, Glenn Barnett, and others who died of AIDS. The tree was 8 feet tall when he planted it. Today, the tree is well over 50 feet.

There's now a new sign noting the tree's significance for the community. (Someone stole the previous plaque.)

Despite the cold, windswept weather, a festive neighborhood crowd turned out for the event that included the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and refreshments courtesy of Veselka and C&B Cafe.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos of some of the attendees ...

Here's the new, larger residential building planned for 280 E. Houston St.

New renderings have arrived for the much-larger residential building slated for 280 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Thanks to the reader for the tip and top photo!) 

The new building appears to be 12 stories with a bulkhead. The DOB permit posted with the rendering still lists a "6-story mixed-used building" ...

This past January, we had the scoop on this new building when the permit for a 6-floor, 68,000-square-foot residential building on this property first arrived. At the time, however, a reliable source involved with the project said the building was likely to be taller than 6 stories.

That source was correct. 

In October, as The Real Deal first reported, landlord Samy Mahfar, whose descriptions in the press often include the words "notorious" or  "oft-embattled," and investors picked up the property from members of the Hirsch family for $36.8 million.

Per TRD's report, "the Hirsch family obtained demolition permits and did enough foundation work to qualify the site for the 421a property tax abatement before it expired in June."

The apartment building and retail space [the former Red Square at 250 E. Houston St.] were partially sold in 2016 to a group led by Dermot Company in a condominium structure, with the family entities retaining a percentage. When the site was later upzoned to R8-A, which permitted bonus floor area for voluntary inclusionary housing, it added roughly 65,000 square feet as-of-right to any project, which would nearly double to 127,000 square feet if it qualified for 421a. 

We don't know at the moment how large the new building will be, and how many "affordable" units will be available.

The rendering lists a December 2024 completion date.

In the fall of 2021, workers demolished the one-level strip of storefronts here (Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway, China Town restaurant, etc.) adjacent to the 13-floor residential building formerly known as Red Square. 

On the CB3-SLA docket: The Commodore aims for Avenue C; an all-day Italian cafe for 12th Street

Here's a look at some of the applicants who will appear before Community Board 3's SLA committee this evening. (See below for info on watching online.)

New Liquor License Applications 

 • Corp to be formed by Christopher Buncher, 14 Ave C (op) 

The Commodore looks to bring its acclaimed fried chicken and retro vibes from Williamsburg to its first Manhattan outpost at 14 Avenue C at Second Street (pictured above). 

The EV location has proposed hours of 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays, with a 4 a.m. close Friday and Saturday (with an 11 a.m. open on Saturday and Sunday). There are also applying for a sidewalk cafe with seven tables and 14 seats.

You can check out the CB3 application here.

Recent tenants included Sanatorium, the hospital-themed cocktail lounge ... and the hookah lounge C Lounge.

• Entity to be formed by Patrick Joseph Cremin, 99 2nd Ave (op) 

The team behind the Sefton, an Irish saloon on the Upper East Side, is looking to open a bar-restaurant between Fifth Street and Sixth Street (above). 

The proposed hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. They are also vying for a sidewalk cafe, which would end service at 10 p.m. 

You can find the CB3 questionnaire here.

This space was previously Calexico, which went dark in late 2020. The owners were looking to try a new concept here, but those plans didn't materialize. 

• Paradise Lost (Paradise Lost LLC), 100 2nd Ave (op)

Three applicants are looking to open a restaurant called Paradise Lost ... and serving "nouveau contemporary, global influences." 

Proposed hours are from noon to 2 a.m. during the week... with a 4 a.m. close Friday and Saturday.

You can find a sample menu and background on the applicants here. Paradise Lost is proposed for the gut-renovated building between Fifth Street and Sixth Street that last housed Haveli-Banjara.    

• Only Love Strangers LLC, 175 E Houston St (op) 

The team behind MáLà Project on First Avenue (and two other NYC locations) has plans for a two-level restaurant with a "Mediterranean-inspired menu" and nightly live jazz performances.

The establishment, whose name is pending, has proposed hours to 1 a.m. during the week and 2 a.m. on the weekend... with a 5 p.m. open during the week and 11 a.m. on weekends.

You can find the CB3 questionnaire, which includes a sample menu, at this link. 

Several applicants have kicked the tires on this space just east of Allen Street (above) through the years to no avail. As far as we can recall, the space has been empty since Preserve 24's eviction in 2014.

 • Chuppa Rustam (Rice Guys LLC), 214 E 9th St (op) 

The owners of Laut Singapura, which serves Singaporean street food on East 20th Street, have plans for a still-unnamed establishment serving "British-Indian pub food" on Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

These applicants will be looking for daily hours of 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. (closed on Mondays) for the retail space that was previously a hair salon.

Look for the CB3 questionnaire with a sample menu right here. 

• Corretto LLC, 511 E 12th St (op) 

Two East Village residents are looking to open Caffe Corretta — an all-day Italian cafe with coffee service in the mornings and dinner/drinks in the evening.

The proposed daily hours are 8 a.m. to midnight in space that was most recently Raclette here between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Find more about this project here. 

Items not heard at Committee 

• Marinara Pizza (Pizza 10 LLC), 160 2nd Ave (wb) 

The pizzeria, which opened in June 2021 on the northeast corner of Second Avenue at 10th Street, will soon be able to serve beer and wine with the slices.

• Appas Pizza LLC, 210 1st Ave (wb) 

The operator of EV sushi spots Thirteen Water and Shinn East, both on Seventh Street, is opening a pizza-fried chicken concept in the former Kikoo (and Papa John's!) space between 12th Street and 13th Street.

CB3 questionnaire here. 

• Red Onion Foods Inc, 277 E 10th St (wb)

A health-focused Indian restaurant called Red Onion is in the works for this vacant space between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

You can find the Red Onion website here... read the applicant's questionnaire here. 

This space on 10th Street was previously the blink-and-you-missed-them Chichen Itzá and Tompkins Village Cafe.

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Tonight's meeting starts at 6:30. Find the Zoom link at this link. 

A look at the new food hall coming to Zero Irving

Photos by Stacie Joy

As we noted on Nov. 30, coming soon signage is up for the food hall inside Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving and tech hub) at 124 E. 14th St. 

Per previous reports, there are 13 vendors, including some familiar EV names — Wafles & Dinges and Bobwhite Counter — coming to this 10,000-square-foot space that includes an outdoor patio. 

At least 25% of the food hall — via Urbanspace — is reserved for use by first-time entrepreneurs or start-up companies operating for less than four years. 

Here's a look inside the space between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue at Irving Place ...

The Urbandspace site lists an "expected opening" of December 2022. 

This link has more background on Zero Irving.

Sunday's parting shots

The grand finale later this rainy afternoon at the tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park... and a little later...

Thanks to Steven for the photos... we'll have more from EVG contribuor Stacie Joy in an upcoming post...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a random skyline shot from the EV)...

• Dec. 31 is the last day for East Village mainstay Dallas BBQ (Monday) 

• DA-hosted East Village gun buyback nets 16 firearms (Tuesday) 

• Part-time New School faculty reach a tentative contract agreement with the university (Sunday) 

• Howl! Happening explores the history of street art and graffiti with 'City of Kings' (Wednesday) 

• Bang a gone: Stomp's long run on 2nd Avenue concludes in January (Wednesday) 

• It's 'Time for Christmas' with the book man of Astor Place (Wednesday) 

• Bye Bye Blondie; hello Bad Brains? (Sunday) 

• Kim's Video, storied film and music retailer in the East Village, gets the documentary treatment (Thursday) 

• Checkpoint Santa (Saturday) 

• Jay Joe's Classic Cuts now open on 3rd Street (Thursday) 

• 1st Avenue old-timer Royal Bangladesh Indian Restaurant is being replaced by — obviously — a smoke shop (Monday) 

• First Avenue Laundry Center is closed for now (Monday) 

• A walk among the trees on 2nd Avenue and 10th Street (Friday) 

• Hello again: Sidewalk on the NW corner of 2nd Avenue and 9th Street returns to view (Monday) 

• A Panera To-Go is opening on University Place (Tuesday) 

• The city serves notice to more abandoned East Village curbside dining structures (Tuesday) ... Workers remove Somtum Der's curbside dining structure (Saturday) 

• Sacco has apparently gone out of business on 11th Street (Tuesday)

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

Part-time New School faculty reach tentative contract agreement with the university

Photo from Nov. 28 by Daniel Efram 

After 25 days on strike, nearly 2,600 part-time faculty members at the New School and the Parsons School of Design have reached a tentative contract agreement. 

Here's more via the New School website from last evening: 

A Joint Statement from ACT-UAW Local 7902 and the New School 

We are extremely pleased to announce that ACT-UAW Local 7902 and the New School have reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement. This is a strong, fair, five-year contract that increases compensation significantly, protects health care benefits, and ensures that part-time faculty are paid for additional work done outside the classroom to support our students. 

The union leadership will unanimously recommend this agreement to its members, and it will now go to part-time faculty union members for a ratification vote over the next few days. In the meantime, the union has ended the strike and all university classes and events will resume as scheduled effective immediately. 

And from an Instagram post via New York Indivisible: 

While the part-time faculty are saddened that the university’s intransigence at the bargaining table forced them to leave their classrooms and take to the picket line, they emerge from their work strong, organized, and eager to face the struggles ahead. This tentative agreement is only the beginning, and the part-time faculty will continue to take power back from The New School’s top executives and place it back where it belongs: with the faculty and students, without whom the university could not function. 

As EVG contributor Daniel Efram previously reported, 95% of the faculty voted against accepting the last and best New School offer on Nov. 30.

From our last report: 

"Part-time faculty have not gotten a raise since 2018," said Rachel Aydt, a 20-year part-time New School/Parson faculty member. "And the increase being offered amounts to 1.8% per year, which does not come close to the cost of living increases in New York City during this time." 

According to Annie Lee Larson, part-time faculty at the New School/Parsons, roughly 87% of the teaching faculty are part-time. They seek fair compensation, including for work performed outside the classroom, reliable health care, tangible recourse against discrimination and harassment, and job security.

The tentative agreement ends seven months of negotiations. The part-time faculty were to return to teaching as soon as today.

Bye Bye Blondie; hello Bad Brains?

After five-plus years on Bleecker at the Bowery, the Blondie mural is no more... a worker painted over the space yesterday (by the newish J Crew). 

Our friend Alex took this photo (be sure to check out his site Flaming Pablum) ...

Shepard Fairy — in connection with The L.I.S.A. Project NYC — created this mural in August 2017, replacing the two-year-old Joey Ramone/CBGB mural.

Word is the space will give way to another CBGB favorite — Bad Brains. 

By the way, CBGB debuted on Dec. 10, 1973, across the way at 315 Bowery.

And now to 1982 with Bad Brains live at CBGB ...

 

Checkpoint Santa

Photos by Stacie Joy 

During SantaCon today in the East Village, the 9th Precinct had two checkpoints set up for several hours ... one on Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street ... and on Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street...

Officers at the scene said they were there to monitor quality-of-life issues, with tickets for open containers (and at least one minor with alcohol).

SantaCon started this morning at 10 on 40th and Broadway, with 60-plus bars throughout Midtown East and West and elsewhere participating ... as well as eight East Village bars officially taking part ... with others following suit. 

There were also more than a dozen (by our unofficial count) bars and restaurants with a Santa ban.

At the movies

Two of EVG's favorite 2022 films — "Decision to Leave" and "Aftersun" — are now both playing at Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street. (With an assist by EV Arrow.) 

Meanwhile, on the fence about "Bones & All." 

Find theater info here.

Workers remove Somtum Der's curbside dining structure

From the EVG tipline... workers from a private hauler were out early this morning removing Somtum Der's curbside dining structure outside 85 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

The streetery didn't appear to be in use any longer. Plus, as of June, this lane south of Sixth Street is a No Standing zone, and parking is not allowed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days a week. 

The signs arrived ahead of the new Bus Only lane on the southbound section of Avenue A.

The nearby Takahachi removed its curbside structure back in August. 

Updated:

Saturday's opening shot

The anarchy Christmas wreath is now in place over the door outside Search & Destroy, 25 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ...

Friday's parting shot

As seen on Second Avenue this evening... photo by Derek Berg...

Do it Clean

 

Hamish Kilgour, a founding member of New Zealand's The Clean, died this past week at age 65. 

Here's more about the influential (and underappreciated IMO) band via NPR:

The Clean's open, do-it-yourself approach certainly stood the test of time, crystallized in a lyric Kilgour wrote: "Anything could happen and it could be right now / And the choice is yours, so make it worthwhile." That aesthetic heavily impacted later indie rockers such as Pavement, Yo La Tengo and Superchunk. The band's influence extended into numerous scenes around the world, from the Elephant 6 collective in America, to current bands like The Courtneys in Canada and The Beths back in New Zealand. They've all found inspiration in The Clean's impulsive creativity and lack of pretense.

The above video for "Dunes" from 1989 was filmed in NYC... and you'll spot some familiar and long-gone music venues on the Bowery and East Houston and elsewhere.

Headline H/T  

One shining moment (hopefully)

Photos by Steven

We've noted that the lights need to be fixed on the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park. 

But! 

Full illumination is on the way ahead of Sunday's lighting ceremony. Parks employees were on hand this morning working on the lights...

And as a reminder, the holiday tree lighting is this Sunday (Dec. 11) from 4-5 p.m. The 31st edition features familiar names: the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and music from the Mandel & Lydon Trio ... with refreshments via Veselka and C&B.

As you may recall, the Parks Department forgot to wire the tree last year.

A walk among the trees on 2nd Avenue and 10th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The Tree Riders have the most picturesque seasonal workspace in the neighborhood ... on Second Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street outside the historic St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery.

The vendors recently started their 12th year here... EVG contributor Stacie Joy recently walked through the 24/7 tree stand for a little holiday spirit ...

The list of other local tree sellers includes vendors on Astor Place (at Lafayette), Essex and Houston, and 14th Street at First Avenue.