Dim Sum Go Go signage arrives on 1st Avenue

Signage arrived yesterday for the Michelin- and Zagat-rated Dim Sum Go Go at 221 First Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street. (Thanks to Pinch for the photo!)

As we reported back in July 2021, this will be their second NYC location outside the flagship space at 5 E. Broadway in Chinatown. We reached out about details on an opening date. (Update: In a message, Dim Sum said they hope within the next few months.)

Thursday's parting shot

Early evening views of Tompkins Square Park (from Avenue B near 10th Street)...

Spring fever

The cherry blossoms are blooming on Third Avenue at Ninth Street on this lovely summer spring day...

A 'rat czar' for NYC; the East Village still in the rat pack

Our new Rat Czar Kathleen Corradi has so many strengths, but most importantly: she HATES rats.

Learn more about her and the Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone: https://t.co/Ufi410U5yF https://t.co/YgE4SLdGww pic.twitter.com/KTk9A2l5jm

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 12, 2023

The city announced yesterday that it has hired NYC's first-ever "Rat Czar." 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams ... appointed Kathleen Corradi as the city's first-ever citywide director of rodent mitigation, also known as the 'rat czar.' In this newly created role, Corradi will coordinate across city government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector to reduce the rat population in New York City — building a cleaner, more welcoming city and tackling a major quality-of-life and health issue. 

Corradi has experience in the field, previously working at the city education department, where she managed rat mitigation at public schools. According to Gothamist and other published reports, Corradi reports to Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack and will be paid an annual salary of $155,000. 

This news comes after last week's reports in which NYC named eight rat-prone neighborhoods as Mayor Adams seeks to control the rodent population. The East Village and Lower East Side were named one of the "rat mitigation zones" with "high levels of rat activity."

Per reports: 

"These neighborhoods were selected by the city based on a set of criteria that included the number of rat-related cleanup orders issued by NYC within the last year, rat-baiting visits by the city’s Health Department, rat-related 311 complaints, and NYC Parks-owned properties that have been considered susceptible to rat infestations." 

Of course, the East Village and Lower East Side were part of the city's $32-million rat cleanup efforts that then-Mayor de Blasio embarked on in the summer of 2017. Obviously, those efforts went well!

Love for Theatre 80 as auction looms next month

Top photo by Stacie Joy 

Several people have left messages of support for Genie and Lorcan Otway in the days after the owners of Theatre 80 were ordered off the property last week at 78-80 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

One message reads, "We love you & need you back," signed by "the NYC artists and activist community." Another note says, "wishing you the best possible outcome."

As previously reported, the Otways have been battling in recent years to save the space, which houses Theatre 80, a 199-seat theater, the William Barnacle Tavern and the Museum of the American Gangster. (Lorcan had lived here since age 9 when his father bought the buildings to create an Off-Broadway theater in 1964.)

The two-building property is set to be sold off to satisfy a $12 million loan that is in default via Maverick Real Estate Partners. (Our previous posts here and here have more background.)

And the virtual bankruptcy auction has been set for May 9. Bidders for the property, which includes several residences on the upper floors, must register by May 8 and supply a cashier's check for $950,000 payable to a Chapter 7 trustee.  (The auction signs arrived yesterday.)

Meanwhile, the Otways have a short window left to raise the rest of the money owed (roughly $6 million) ... and hope for an angel investor with deep pockets. (Lorcan has also said the IRS was being surprisingly helpful.)

New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs has supported the theater's survival efforts. The office expedited granting a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status to Historic 80 Saint Marks Inc., which opens the venue up to various grants.

Meanwhile, more than 7,000 people have signed a petition to save the space. Organizers have also asked supporters to contact Gov. Hochul to intervene.

Updated: There is a GoFundMe here.

Flag days: Ray's Candy Store repping the East Village with egg creams at Rockefeller Center

The egg cream from Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A is part of the 2023 edition of The Flag Project at Rockefeller Center ... celebrating iconic NYC food (and drinks!). 

The flags will be on view from April 3-12 (missed that) and April 17-30. You can read more about the flag project here. 

The flag features art created by Peach Tao — in conjunction with the East Village-based Lisa Project — in honor of Ray's 90th birthday. The mural was on the wall outside 50 Avenue A earlier this year...

Images via @rayscandystore

A new pizzeria coming to the former Solo Pizza space on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Gut renovations are underway inside the former Solo Pizza space on Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street. 

A group of partners originally from Northern Italy are behind the new establishment, Lollo Italian Restaurant. (Lollo is short for Lorenzo, the chef and one of the partners.) 

They are several months out from the opening. 

Solo closed last September for undisclosed reasons after 15 years in business.

Wednesday's parting shot (and sneak preview)

As seen on a LinkNYC kiosk on First Avenue... an ad for "Personality Crisis: One Night Only," the new documentary about New York Dolls founder David Johansen... co-directed by Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi. 

It premieres Friday on Showtime.

 

April 12

The aftermath of today's spring cleaning took place on Avenue B near 10th Street. (Thanks to the reader for the photo!)

Basics Plus said to be closing on 3rd Avenue

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

According to store employees, Basics Plus will close at 91 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street at the end of the month. 

There are currently posted signs advertising "30% off entire store."

This isn't the first time that the EV location of the chainlet of houseware and hardware stores announced a closure. BP was set to shut down in March 2019 but instead downsized its space, giving up the corner storefront (now occupied by Cure Thrift Shop).

The Basics Plus outpost closed on University Plus in 2019 ... though several other NYC locations remain in business.

Basics Plus opened here in August 2014 ... taking over for old fave Surprise! Surprise!, which shuttered after 25 years in business in April 2014.

Renovations will close the Tompkins Square Library branch for 3 months

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Beginning on April 24, the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B will close for renovations. 

According to an email to patrons, the closure, expected to last three months, will "facilitate improvements to the building, including preliminary work on a new Teen Center at the library, as well as replacing the branch's flooring and a fresh coat of paint." 

During this temporary closure, patrons are encouraged to use the following nearby branches: 

• Ottendorfer Library, 135 Second Ave. 

• Hamilton Fish Park Library, 415 E. Houston St. 

• Jefferson Market Library, 425 Sixth Ave. 

Also!: "All items on hold after April 24 may be picked up at Ottendorfer Library. Future holds can be sent to an alternative location selected by patrons using their account at The New York Public Library website."

... and thanks to all the readers who shared this news!

The Village Works Yard Sale continues on St. Mark's Place

Village Works, the gallery, bookstore and artist space, is opening at 12 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue a little later this spring, as previously reported.

While prepping for the grand opening, Village Works has been holding a yard (sidewalk!) sale, offering various items of interest. And they are accepting donations of books here. (Thanks to 

@unitof

 for the photos!)

Founder Joseph Sheridan was previously set up at 90 E. Third St., just west of First Avenue. However, he needed to find a new storefront after he lost the lease with a rent increase.

The new Village Works will also include a café service. You can read more about it here.

Tuesday's parting Instagram post

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by gailbutensky (@gailwithacamera)

The folks at B&H Dairy on Second Avenue reposted the above shot today... Santiago Durango and Steve Albini of Big Black eating at B&H in July 1986... © photo by Gail Butensky. Find more of her work here.

April 11

As seen today on Avenue C between 10th Street and 11th Street... thanks to Louise & Danny for the find!

What you need to know about the 17th edition of the Dance Parade, happening on May 20

Organizers of the annual Dance Parade, one of the more (most?) festive East Village events of the year, released details about the 2023 edition happening on Saturday, May 20.

This year's grand marshals, Ronald K. Brown, Natasha Diggs and Elizbeth Streb, will kick off the event at 11:45 a.m. from a new starting location — 17th Street and Sixth Avenue (it was on Broadway and 20th last year). 

And more details via the EVG inbox:

At this year's parade and festival, Dance Parade will celebrate its 17th year under the theme "Beyond the Zone" with 10,000 dancers from 160+ dance organizations who will present over 100 unique styles of dance down Avenue of Americas, parade across West 8th Street, perform before the Grand Stand at St. Mark's Place before reaching Tompkins Square Park [for DanceFest]. 

If you want to dance in the parade or get involved and volunteer with Dance Parade, please register here.

You can relive part of last year's Dance Parade and DanceFest at this EVG link.

The historic 64 E. 7th St. is for sale

As we mentioned the other day, the Greek Revival brownstone — now a single-family residence — at 64 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue is getting some attention thanks to David Hajdu, a cultural historian, critic and educator.

He wrote about the circa-1840 building in a widely-shared piece in the Times. There's now a separate article about No. 64 at Places, the journal of public scholarship on the built environment.

Past lives include serving as the parsonage for St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, the newspaper Russky Golos, the Les Deux Megots coffeehouse, the Paradox (a macrobiotic restaurant where Yoko Ono once worked) and Books 'N Things. 

Turns out the place is also for sale. 

Bill Joy, a founder of Sun Microsystems, bought the townhouse in 2019. And, according to The Wall Street Journal, he put it up for sale last month. Asking price: $13.5 million.

Here's what you get via Corcoran, the broker:

Historic elegance meets modern sophistication in this magnificent, impeccably gut-renovated 25-foot wide, 5-story mansion ...

More recently, the 7,500 square-foot jewel was meticulously restored and transformed into a prized single-family residence with 5 stories of stunning living space connected by stairs and an elevator, a full basement, and generous outdoor space with a parlor floor terrace, a third-floor balcony, remarkable rooftop terrace and a sunny south-facing garden.

  

... The handsome brick building also boasts a planted forecourt, brownstone base, and exquisite cornice heightening curb appeal. Here you'll enjoy the ultimate in downtown luxury living, in one of NYC's most dynamic neighborhoods. Interiors are finely finished and tastefully designed, featuring striking elements throughout like gorgeous wood beamed ceilings, rich wood floors, oversized windows bathing rooms in floor-through natural light, warm exposed brick, 7 fireplaces, tasteful built-ins, and fabulous moldings and millwork.

  

The ground floor, with its own front entrance, is an exceptional space that's beautiful and multifunctional. The front portion features a lounge with a television and ample seating, a wood-burning fireplace divides that space from the open dining area and a well-appointed chef's kitchen that overlooks the garden, perfect for hosting casual get-togethers and movie nights. A wall of glass with glass-paneled doors with screens brings the outdoors in and leads to a wonderful south-facing patio garden for lounging and alfresco dining. 

  

Up the inviting front stoop awaits the grand parlor level for more upscale entertaining. Formal living and dining rooms afford an ideal backdrop for the host and can remain open or privatized by pocket doors. The living room has a state-of-the-art projection TV hidden in the ceiling. A catering kitchen with dishwasher sits nearby for easy serving, and French doors from the dining room open to a lovely terrace with stairs to the garden.

And we still have two floors and the basement to go!

Back on Friday, Hajdu released The Parsonage, a recorded album about the history of 64 E. Seventh St. Hadju and a group of musicians will perform live on April 27 at the Museum of the City of New York. 

Image via Corcoran

Hospitality vet Curt Huegel appears to be taking the former Dallas BBQ space on 2nd Avenue

Workers put up the plywood on the NE corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place in late March as gut renovations continue at the former Dallas BBQ.

There is now a posted notice about a pending on-premises liquor license here...

The LLC listed is affiliated with hospitality vet Curt Huegel, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola, Printers Alley and, closer to home, Jackdaw on Second Avenue at 13th Street.

Huegel appeared before Community Board 3 in June 2022 and received approval for the unnamed establishment. There was some debate over closing time, and the committee wouldn't approve a 4 a.m. close (midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on weekends). Huegel didn't respond to our previous request for comment about what's in store for this space.

Dallas BBQ closed this past December after anchoring the corner since the mid-1980s. Staff said the building's landlord would not renew the chainlet's lease.

This is the way

Here's a follow-up to last week's post and a look at the final "Mandalorian"-related mural by local artist-illustrator Rich Miller on the NE corner of Seventh Street and Avenue C. 

P.S.

This April 2012 EVG post has more history about the address, 106 Avenue C.

P.S.S.

A headline explanation.  

Hemingway, the sleepy window kitty of 3rd Street, has been priced out of the East Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Hemingway, the sanguine feline window-perch presence on Third Street, has been priced out of the neighborhood along with Alex, his human companion. (Read our previous post on Hemingway here.)

The landlord raised the rent by more than $1,200 for the market-rate apartment between Avenue B and Avenue C and would not negotiate the lease renewal. 

Hemingway and his mom, Alex, will be leaving for Crown Heights tomorrow (April 11), where Hemingway will take up residence on the 4th floor of a building — his new unit has four windows, one of which will house his perch. He will have bird feeders to enjoy (and, presumably, birds) to keep him occupied, but the residents and passersby on this block will miss his friendly presence. 

Alex and Hemingway promise to keep in touch, and we wish them luck at their new home. (You can follow Hemingway on Instagram here.)

Mighty Quinn's has closed its East Village outpost

After 10-plus years on the NW corner of Second Avenue and Sixth Street, Mighty Quinn's has closed its first restaurant. 

Yesterday marked its last day in business in the East Village. 

The news first came via an EVG reader, who unsuccessfully tried to order catering online this past week. The reader then stopped by the EV Mighty Quinn's, "and the counter server told me they were shutting down and moving employees to the West Village location."

Here's a statement from the Mighty Quinn's founders via Facebook:

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since we opened the first Mighty Quinn's in the East Village. We rolled a 6,000-pound smoker through our new dining room and parked it next to our cutting board, where it remains today. We all knew the adventure was going to be a wild ride and we feel blessed to have been able to serve so many from this restaurant. It is with a heavy heart that we have decided not to renew our lease at this location. 

While we wish to have been able to just keep our first restaurant in the system forever, many realities have made that path impractical. 

We hope that all our local guests will make the short trip over to our West Village location at 75 Greenwich Ave. after we close the East Village restaurant on April 9. We still offer delivery to every address in the East Village (and the surrounding areas) from our other locations. 

We’re excited about the future, with seven new restaurants in the pipeline, but will forever cherish our original home.

Thank you to our team, our guests and the entire East Village neighborhood.

Mighty Quinn's started as a stall at Smorgasburg in 2011, later opening its first brick-and-mortar location here in December 2012. There are now multiple corporate locations in the NYC metro area, and ownership has been franchising, with restaurants in New Jersey, Maryland and Florida... and in Dubai.

Shortly after Mighty Quinn's opened here, we heard from some anonymous upstairs neighbors about the smell coming from the popular BBQ joint. One resident told us: "[O]ur apartments & hallways reek of barbecue, all the way to the top floor — it's coming up through the radiators, walls and floors." An exhaust duct was later added to the building.  

Although their styles differed, this is the second barbecue restaurant to close within two blocks in recent months: Dallas BBQ shut down at the end of 2022.