At the last night of Anyway Cafe

Photos by Stacie Joy 

On a snowy Monday night, Anyway Cafe ended its 28-year tenure at 34 E. Second St. near Second Avenue.

As we first reported on Monday, several now-former employees are hopeful to work out a new lease for the space with the building's landlords. If that doesn't happen, the employees aspire to open a like-minded business — live music! vodka! — elsewhere. However, the new establishment will not be going by Anyway Cafe — that name remains with the original owners.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for some of the closing-night festivities, which included live music from JOff WilsOn (left) and Joe Sztabnik ...

After the fire at 136 Avenue C; A&C Kitchen damaged

Photos yesterday by Stacie Joy

The cleanup continues after a two-alarm fire broke out at 136 Avenue C on Monday morning. 

According to sources at the scene, someone tossed a lit cigarette from a residence in the rear of the building between Eighth Street and Ninth Street. The cigarette landed in a pile of recyclables and ignited something combustible in the interior courtyard, causing an explosion that shattered several windows. The fire traveled up the A&C Kitchen shaft to the roof. 

The FDNY issued an "under control" roughly 38 minutes after the first report on Monday. 

Several ground-floor businesses were damaged, including flooding at the A&C Kitchen, the affordable and reliable quick-serve Chinese restaurant. They will be closed for the foreseeable future.

On the corner, the Wayland will reopen on Thursday, per an Instagram announcement ... there was a cleanup crew inside the cocktail lounge, which looked intact ...

Around the corner, Ninth Street Espresso was open...

On Avenue C, Lovewild Design, the sustainable gifts and stationery shop, was also spared from fire-related damage...

... EVG contributor Stacie Joy spotted owner Sierra Zamarripa, her daughter Cecilia and mother Thea Boyer on duty...

As for apartments, a unit on the first floor near the blaze was scorched. Aside from some broken windows, we didn't hear of any other damage to residences. A tenant on the third floor said his unit was fine.

Serenity Spa remains open on corner rumored for new development

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Yesterday, we noted that the NW corner of First Avenue at Second Street is looking more and more like fodder for new development. (There is nothing about demolition or a new building in public records.)

New Double Dragon is expected to close in the weeks ahead at 37 First Ave., though staff hopes to return to business. 

Meanwhile, above the currently closed First Avenue Laundry Center, the lights still burn brightly at Serenity Spa... where EVG contributor Stacie Joy ventured up the stairs... 

The spa remains open for business... and the front-desk attendant was unaware of any pending closure or development on this corner...

Closing the book for now at Short Stories on the Bowery

As of last Thursday, Short Stories, the cocktail lounge-club at 355 Bowery between Third Street and Fourth Street, is closed for a "revamp, renovation, and reorganization." 

Per the door signage...

"We know how much Short Stories means to you, so we are taking the necessary steps to ensure our guests feel comfortable when they step through the door. We are excited to come back to you, better than ever, in Spring 2023." 

Short Stories was on the February CB3-SLA docket for a new liquor license ... the current license expired in late January, though neighbors said the bar continued to serve booze until last week under the previous ownership. 

According to the questionnaire on file at the CB3 website, this is a sale of assets, with new owners from Something Good Hospitality Group taking over. (While the partners have food-hospitality experience, they have yet to own a restaurant.) 

During the meeting on Feb. 21, a handful of residents who live in this building and nearby spoke out against Short Stories (the now-closed version anyway that morphed from a cafe to a club) ... calling out "bad, irresponsible behavior" (drug use, crowded sidewalks, etc.) ... there were numerous complaints about the music (via DJs) going until 4 a.m. (One resident called the volume of the music "horrifying.") 

The new owners quickly distanced themselves from the previous regime, promising a more high-end dining experience (adding a full kitchen)... and bringing in a new staff.

CB3-SLA committee members were looking to stipulate against a nightclub atmosphere. The owners agreed not to have DJs on the premises. However, they wouldn't compromise on an earlier close and insisted on a 2 a.m. time daily for the sake of their late-night food menu that paired with the new cocktail program. (The committee suggested midnight, with a 2 a.m. close on Friday and Saturday. Without stipulations, the committee was concerned that the applicants would go to the State Liquor Authority and get the OK for a 4 a.m. close.)

You can watch a video of the meeting. This applicant starts at the 3:15 mark.

There are also complaints about the curbside dining space ...

Short Stories debuted in February 2019, landing features in Vogue and The New York Times.

Tuesday's parting shot

A midday view of Tompkins Square Park today via Lola Sáenz...

6 posts from February

A mini month in review (with a photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg)... 

• Hold it now: No porta potties for Tompkins Square Park during the 18-month field-house renovation (Feb. 21) 

• RIP Travis "Grim" Durkin (Feb. 14) 

• On 2nd Avenue, historic Isaac T. Hopper House hits the market for the first time in 149 years (Feb. 13) 

• City's fight against unlicensed cannabis shops now targets landlords; 4 East Village shops busted (Feb. 9) 

• An appeal to help a longtime East Village resident (Feb. 8) 

• Early morning assault outside Ray's Candy Store leaves Ray with a black eye and facial wounds (Feb. 2)

On 1st Avenue, New Double Dragon is closing, and maybe reopening

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Multiple tipsters have told us that the New Double Dragon, 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street, will be closing in the weeks ahead. 

And it's a rather complicated situation. An employee confirmed that "we're closing, and we don't know exactly when and we're not sure for how long but we hope to come back." 

According to the employee, ConEd is going to cut off the gas and power to the building — for unspecified reasons — at some point. The landlord has promised a one-week notice for the business before it happened. (The building also appears vacant on the upper floors.)

Meanwhile, two storefronts to the south, the First Avenue Laundry Center remains closed for renovations at 33 First Ave. at Second Street. Nearly three months in, we still haven't seen any sign of work here...

As previously mentioned, there has been speculation that this corner is ripe for development... a parcel that includes the long-vacant single-level storefront next door (last occupied in 2015)...

Public records list R.M.H. Estates as the landlord of both properties ... with ownership of No. 33 and 35 dating to 1984... they also own 37 First Ave., home of the New Double Dragon.

The New Double Dragon employee said they have this phone number — 212-598-0730 — for people to call for updates once the closure occurs. 

Virginia's eyes a March debut in new 3rd Street home

Virginia's is expected to open in mid-March ("give or take a few days") in the restaurant's new outpost at 200 E. Third St., just west of Avenue B.

According to the Virginia's Instagram account, they are hiring waitstaff and bussers. (Contact info is on the post.)

Virginia's closed on 11th Street at Avenue C on New Year's Eve 2021. Their lease was up, and ownership decided to look elsewhere for a new space for the bistro that opened in May 2015.

The last tenant here, Root & Bone, closed last April after eight years in business.  

Hello Dolly: Incoming dessert shop on 1st Avenue has a memorable name

Photo by Steven

The Dolly Llama,  a growing Los Angeles-based company specializing in waffles and ice cream, debuts next month at 137 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

According to the DL Instagram account, the EV outpost will open at noon on March 11.

Davey's Ice Cream was the previous tenant here before relocating to Ninth Street last fall. 

Monday's parting shot

Looking north up First Avenue at Houston/Allen ... before the arrival of the winter weather this evening...

Report of a fire at 136 Avenue C

Updated 9:57 a.m.: The FDNY issued an "under control" roughly 38 minutes after the first report.

Updated 3/1: A look at the storefronts here.

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The FDNY is currently on the scene of a two-alarm fire at 136 Avenue C, a 6-story building on the NE corner at Ninth Street...

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0450, 136 AVE C, MULTIPLE DWELLING A

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) February 27, 2023

A reader on the scene shared these photos from the east side of Avenue C between Eighth Street and Ninth Street ... we'll keep updating when more information is available...

@rodrodrod shared this aerial view...

Anyway Cafe is closing tonight; staff hopes to open new establishment

Photos Friday by Stacie Joy 

Rumors have been circulating recently that Anyway Cafe, the wholly unique Russian restaurant-vodka-bar-live music venue at 34 E. Second St. near Second Avenue, is closing. 

This is true, though a new like-minded establishment from the Anyway staff is in the works.

Management at Anyway addressed the situation in a Facebook post last evening... noting that tonight will be the official last night... 

Most of you already know that we are in the midst of negotiations for a new lease. Wish us good luck!! This Monday, February 27, is our official last night as Anyway Cafe. 

Hey, as in life, when one door is closing, the other one is opening. It's just in our case we want it to be the same door! 

So, this Monday we are all gathering together — staff, musicians, neighbors, and if you'll be in our area, please stop by after 7 p.m. 

And guys, we don't have enough words to express how much we love and appreciate you!!!!!!! YOU are the ones who make our precious place fun, inclusive, family-like and simply one-of-a-kind. More to come; stay tuned!! We LOVE you!! The tightest hugs!! 

Truly and always yours, Anyway staff.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by last evening. The three (former employee) partners have formed a new corporation and hope to open another venture — either here or somewhere else. Regardless, the establishment will not be called Anyway Cafe. 

Anyway Cafe first opened here in 1995.

[Updated] Avenue C Laundromat now closing on March 31

Photos by Stacie Joy

Updated: The closing date was extended to March 31

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Avenue C Laundromat closes after service tomorrow.

The official reason: the landlord (listed as D&K Plaza, Inc. in Rego Park) is selling (or has sold) the two-level building here at 69 Avenue C at Fifth Street. There isn't any listing of a sale in public records just yet.

The announcement earlier this month apparently caught staff by surprise... employees such as Ines Calle (below), who has worked here for 20 years, are left looking for new work...

Said one EVG reader about this closure: "It's a real bummer for anyone who lives in the immediate neighborhood and I feel bad that the women who have worked there for so many years are now looking for new jobs. I guess these new luxury buildings that keep going up in this neighborhood all come with a built-in washer/dryer? Ugh."

A notice to remove the sidewalk dining room at the now-closed Bait & Hook

Bait & Hook has been dark this year... with no signs of life at the sports bar-"seafood shack." 

Google lists Bait & Hook as "permanently closed." However, there hasn't been an official notice from the restaurant or its social media properties. (Someone did remove the Philadelphia Eagles flag above the front door.)

Meanwhile, this past Thursday, the Department of Transportation posted a removal notice about Bait & Hook's outdoor dining area...

The large sidewalk structure, which looked like a converted mobile home, was one of the more egregious violations of the outdoor dining concepts in the pandemic era...

The place has shuttered before. In January 2020, a "closed for renovation" sign arrived a week before a for lease sign. Then they reopened. 

Bait & Hook debuted in 2012.

Before Bait & Hook, the space was the Meatball Factory, then Hole Foods ... and before that! The Pizza Hut-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's combo, which vanished in 2010.

From Brix to Brick on Clinton

Back in October, we noted the signage arrival of Brix Wine Bar at 19-21 Clinton St. between Stanton and Houston. 

At the time, we figured it might be from the folks running Brix Wine Shop on Avenue B. However, owner Beatriz Gutierrez told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that she was not behind this Brix.

Perhaps other people had the same thought. There's new signage now for Brick Wine Bar. (Thanks to EVG reader Fiona for the pic!)

Brick Wine Bar owner George Mercardo previously operated Barbarrio (2017-2019) on Lexington Avenue in East Harlem. 

Brix/Brick takes the space from Oh La La Cafe, which closed last summer... and, previously, Cocoa Bar. 

A recent post from the Brick Instagram account notes that they are opening "real soon." 

Noted (again)

Top photo by Concerned Citizen; 2nd pic by Stacie Joy 

Over the weekend, a smoke shop debuted at 199 E. Third St. just west of Avenue B... (not sure of the name, maybe Grand Opening? JK!) 

So this block now has a place for the usual variety of edibles, exotic snacks, etc. Not to mention festive balloonage for the debut...

This space was New Swan Cleaners until March 2022 ... the lease was up, and the owner decided to retire.

Sunday's parting shots

Yesterday, workers removed most of the remaining sidewalk bridge on First Avenue between Fourth Street and Fifth Street along Village View...

Now just a small section on the interior property along the Fifth Street walkway between Avenue A and First Avenue remains... the extensive sidewalk bridges that weaved around the buildings on the Village View property arrived in April 2019. 

Thanks to Steven and Vinny & O for sharing photos this weekend...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo Tuesday on Astor Place by Derek Berg)... 

• Hold it now: No porta potties for Tompkins Square Park during the 18-month field-house renovation (Tuesday ... Saturday) 

• Let's dance: The Joyce Theater is the new tenant for the former Boys' Club on 10th and A (Thursday) 

• Site cleanup needed before development can begin on this long-empty corner on 14th and C (Monday) 

• A Visit to the East Village NYC Book Club (Thursday) 

• An appearance on GMA leads to an attack at Unregular Pizza on 4th Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Opening night at O'Flaherty's (Friday) 

• 444 E. 13th St. is on the auction block (Wednesday) 

• Coming attractions: 'Make Me Famous' (Friday) 

• A Commodities post-mortem (Sunday) 

• East Village Buyers moving from 3rd Street to Avenue A (Wednesday) 

• Ashes to go this Ash Wednesday (Wednesday) 

• Fat Tuesday! (Tuesday) 

• Renovations at Prune (Tuesday)

• More details about Balkan StrEAT, opening this spring on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday) 

• Jewelry brand opening an outpost on 1st Avenue (Wednesday) 

• Downtown Bakery is closed for now (Friday) 

• Decision 2023: What screening of 'Cocaine Bear' are you attending? (Monday) 

• Signage alert: Gotham Burger Social Club on Essex Street (Thursday)

• Incoming 99-cent pizza shop now with 99-cent pizza signage (Tuesday) 

• Smoke shop (Thursday)

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Memories of Christo, Dora and Nora/Not-Dora in Tompkins Square Park

Photo this month by Steven

The Guardian this past week had a piece about Gacek, a plump black-and-white cat who is said to be the top tourist attraction in Szczecin, Poland. 

Guardian columnist Arwa Mahdawi wrote that "there's no better way to experience a new city than seeking out its Gacek-equivalent: the weird landmark that embodies the soul of a place far better than the more traditional sights." 

She then highlights our resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park — at least the tawdry love triangle involving Christo, Dora and Nora/Not-Dora that made worldwide headlines in 2018. (You can read The Guardian article here.) 

Meanwhile, you may catch a glimpse of Christo and Amelia (on the scene since April 2018) in and around the Park... and it is officially mating season, as Goggla explains here.

Thanks to Derek Berg for sharing the Guardian article!

Saturday's parting shot

At the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street ... previously ...