Construction watch: 183 Avenue B

Three-plus years have passed since we checked in at 183 Avenue B between 11th Street and 12th Street. 

The rendering recently arrived on the plywood for the 8-floor, 12-unit residential building in the works... oh!

Here's more about the project via its website:

The Village Garden Condominium is a stylish bright building, standing out above its neighbors. All units are flooded by natural light. Lower floors provide views of the beautiful historic buildings of the Lower East Side; upper floors afford sweeping views of the neighborhood and Tomkins Square Park.

And...

The two full-floor penthouse units include two terraces, perfect for inviting friends or a romantic evening. The delight of your private outdoor space can be appreciated during the morning sunrise or in the evening with a glass of wine. 

In January 2017, Corcoran listed the property with a $4.75 million ask. The building — with air rights intact — sold for that exact amount in April 2017, per public records. The DOB permit lists Richard Pino via the Tompkins 183 LLC as the owner.

The existing four-story building was later demolished on this lot in early 2020.

Work on the new condoplex remains in the foundation phase. There's a December 2024 completion date listed on the plywood rendering. 

Kung Fu Tea closes on St. Mark's Place

A for-rent sign arrived in the window yesterday at Kung Fu Tea, marking the official end of the business here at 28 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (H/T Steven!)

The business had been closed during announced hours of late... leading to suspicions that it had shuttered. (And likely much to the chagrin of the electric unicycle crowd that met up here.)

Kung Fu arrived at this spot in 2014 after relocating from First Avenue and 10th Street. The global chain still has more than 40 outposts in the greater metropolitan area. 

As for No. 28, the asking rent is $11,200.

Monday's parting shots

Today city workers power washed the spraypainted messages (and removed all the flyers) off the sidewalks on both the NE and SE corners of Ninth Street and First Avenue. 

A group of unhoused residents have been living on the NE corner under the sidewalk bridge in recent months (a corridor dubbed Anarchy Road) ... which has also been a focal point of ongoing sweeps by multiple city agencies, including members of the NYPD, the Department of Sanitation and the Department of Homeless Services. 

For now, there aren't any signs of the residents... a few of the messages, all directed toward Mayor Adams and the NYPD, remain in the roadway despite the power washing...

Paulie Gee's Slice Shop in the works for the former Huertas space on 1st Avenue

Paulie Gee's is coming to the East Village. 

Reps for the popular Greenpoint pizzeria are on CB3's SLA docket tonight for a liquor license at 107 First Ave., the former Huertas space between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

Paperwork (the PDF is here) shows that the space will hold 63 guests (16 tables) with an eight-seat bar. The proposed hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., with a 2 a.m. close Thursday through Saturday. 

This will be the first Manhattan location for the brand... which now has outposts in Baltimore, Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia. Paul Giannone opened the first location in Greenpoint in 2010, and the lines followed.

Huertas closed in August after 10 years in service. There's a new landlord for the building, and chef Jonah Miller said that he could not come to "suitable terms" for a new lease.

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

This is a hybrid meeting, and there is limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

A new CO at the 9th

Image via @NYPD9Pct

Capt. Pamela Jeronimo is the new commanding officer of the 9th Precinct... which made the announcement over the weekend...

We would like to introduce you to our new CO, Captain Jeronimo. Captain Jeronimo is coming with a great wealth of experience. Captain Jeronimo is also a licensed attorney. We welcome her to our great community!! pic.twitter.com/FqzctKAZ4t

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) December 9, 2023

This also marks the first woman to be the CO of the 9th Precinct. Jeronimo, who has been with the NYPD for 19 years, previously served as an executive officer at the 13th Precinct in Midtown South. 

She takes over the 9th from Deputy Inspector Ralph A. Clement, who held the position since October 2020. Clement is moving on to be the CO at the 103rd Precinct in Western Queens. 

Sammy's Roumanian Steak House now looking at a new Lower East Side space for its return

When Sammy's Roumanian Steak House returns to the Lower East Side, Stanton Street will now likely be the location for the new home. 

Owner David Zimmerman will appear before CB3's SLA committee tonight to license 112 Stanton St. between Essex and Ludlow...

In May, as we first reported, Community Board 3 approved an application for 191 Orchard St. between Houston and Stanton. 

We're not sure what happened with the Orchard Street space ... as previously mentioned, it had been vacant for nine years and needed a lot of work to bring it into service. Apparently, Zimmerman and Sammy's team needed to move on from the location.

The method of operation (questionnaire here) will be similar on Stanton Street as it was proposed on Orchard Street ... and the same as when Sammy's reigned on Chrystie Street. The proposal calls for six tables to accommodate 66 guests... and a "Sammy's Dinner Show" twice-nightly (6 and 9).

Sammy's closed in early January 2021 after 45-plus years of serving up ice-encased vodka, smeared pitchers of schmaltz and enormous platters of meat from the lower level at 151 Chrystie St. between Delancey and Rivington.

The restaurant had been shuttered since the PAUSE of March 2020, and this wasn't a business ready-made for delivery or outdoor dining.

In an Instagram post at the time, Zimmerman left the door open for a return. 

112 Stanton St. was previously home to Sushumai Asian Fusion.

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

This is a hybrid meeting, and there is limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

A Total by Verizon for Avenue A

A Total by Verizon outpost has set up shop at 199 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street. 

According to what we read somewhere on the Internet that seemed credible enough, this was a TracFone sub-brand until Verizon purchased it almost two years ago and started going by Total Wireless. The company rebranded it to Total by Verizon in late 2022.

The space had been, for years, home to a psychic with signage noting "past, present & future." (If this space becomes a psychic again, they could go by Total Recall to pay homage to Verizon.)

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

After some mixed messages about whether today's tree lighting would actually take place in Tompkins Square Park with the rainy forecast... the show did go on, though in a stripped-down version ... still with some caroling and hot chocolate via Veselka.

The annual tree lighting IS STILL ON in Tompkins Square Park

Top photo via EVG reader Eddie; photo below by Steven

Updated 12/10: There have been some mixed messages related to updates on today's tree lighting. Some of the organizers told us the event was canceled given the rain and wind, which surprised some of the other people involved. Albert Fabozzi, the founder of the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree-lighting ceremony, told EVG's Stacie Joy that there will be a small event  ... no musicians or microphones, but a small chorale group will perform. 

Reminder: the 32nd edition of the Tompkins Square Park tree lighting will take place tomorrow (Sunday, Dec. 10) from 4 to 5 p.m.

The event, sponsored by C&B Cafe, features the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and the Mandel & Lydon Trio with the music ... and refreshments via Veselka.

You can revisit photos from last year's tree lighting here.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a sunrise pic from Tompkins Square Park)...

• City officials help facilitate successful meal handout for asylum seekers in the East Village (Monday)

• RIP Ed Burns (Tuesday) 

 • The Joyce Theater Foundation completes the purchase of the former Boys' Club on 10th Street and Avenue A (Tuesday) 

• Proposed hotel next to the Merchant's House Museum returns to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (Thursday) 

• Report: Police chase ends with Jeep crashing into 2nd Avenue sidewalk bridge, injuring cyclist (Monday)

• Federico of Pinc Louds is doing a residency on Wednesdays this month at 96 Tears (Tuesday) 

• Happy No. 139 to the Ottendorfer Library branch! (Friday) 

• 360 Bowery is all glassed up (Monday) 

• A 'Centennial' celebration of Saul Leiter (Wednesday)

• About the discounted tix to see Basquiat x Warhol at the Brant Foundation (Thursday) 

• Construction watch: 340 Bowery (Wednesday) 

• A sign of the Sunflower (and brunch) on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• A bad sign at Gaia Italian Café (Wednesday) 

• Signage alert: La Vera Pizza on 2nd Avenue (Monday) 

• Filipino restaurant Naks set to open on 1st Avenue via the Unapologetic Foods team (Monday)

 • Another look at the newly reconstructed Tompkins Square Park multipurpose courts (Monday) 

... and speaking of the courts... it's no running track, but these markings arrived in recent days...

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Last day for SlimaFest on the Lower East Side

File photo of Count Slima by Walter Wlodarczyk 

Today is the last day of the weekend-long SlimaFest at the Lower East Side gallery Foreign & Domestic.

The show pays tribute to poet Joseph "Count Slima" Williams, a longtime local resident (and Sophie's regular and former Two Boots staffer). 

Open today from noon to 6 p.m. 

The gallery is at 24 Rutgers St. between Henry and Madison. If you can't make it, check out the PDF here.

CBGB at 50

CBGB has been in the news this past week... Hilly Kristal opened the venue on the Bowery 50 years ago today — Dec. 10, 1973. (Some sources also list Dec. 3 as the opening.) This was a rebrand after four years as Hilly's on the Bowery. 

Among the anniversary pieces: NPR ... NY1 ... the Post ... and the Daily News. 

The club closed in October 2006... John Varvatos took over 315 Bowery in April 2008.

Saturday's parting shot

The holidays are on at Search & Destroy, 25 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ... the anarchy Christmas wreath recently arrived over the door...

Dec. 9

From Third Street just west of Avenue B. Concerned Citizen asks, Too soon? (Or maybe too late?)

Anyway, let's just get Christmas over with. Don't forget to watch the New Year's Eve ball drop next Saturday, Dec. 16!

Check out the Sirovich Holiday Art Sale

Only just saw this (and missed day 1!) ... day 2 of the annual Sirovich Holiday Art Sale is today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ... in the auditorium at the Sirovich Center for Balanced Living at 331 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

We've bought a few things here through the years... the proceeds support the programming at Sirovich.

Saturday's opening shot

Early morning Midtown views...

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

A lot of 2 Bros. Pizza on the move on Second Avenue ...

Always be my Baby

 

Here with "Eddie My Love" is the Chicago-based Brigitte Calls Me Baby ... from the band's debut EP, This House is Made of Corners.

And see them live at Baby's All Right in Williamsburg on Feb. 13.

This afternoon in Tompkins Square Park

Could it be our old oppossum friend Opie aka Nicodemus Punch Sugarpop????? (Background here and here, as to what the *&^%$%^^ we're talking about.)

Thnaks to the reader for the pics!

Here is the 2023 SantaCon East Village bar map

Many people will be seeing red tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 9). 

SantaCon 2023 returns for another year of binging, bar crawling and losing iPhones even though it's actually in your pocket where you last left it after all that. 

The official festivities begin at 10 a.m. at places you've never been on Seventh Avenue near 42nd Street. 

The $15.93 "donation" (read about their charity here) gets your Santa Badge and access to participating bars, mainly in Midtown West and East... and these nine East Village establishments (seven are carry-overs from last year): 

• Amsterdam Billiards & Bar, 110 E. 11th St. at Fourth Avenue 
• The Laurels, 231 Second Ave. at 14th St. 
• Coyote Ugly, 233 E. 14th St., between Second Avenue and Third Avenue 
• Solas, 232 E. Ninth St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue (serving as a "Huge Venue")
• Bull McCabe's, 29 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue 
• The Phoenix, 447 E. 13th St.,  between Avenue A and First Avenue 
• Doc Holliday's, 141 Avenue A at Ninth Street 
• Horseshoe Bar/7B, 108 Avenue B at Seventh Street 
• The Grayson, 16 First Ave. near First Street

However, as we've seen in previous Cons, bars not on the official list are often all too happy to participate.

For instance, here are the Santacades outside Downtown Social (ex 13th Step) on Second Avenue at Ninth Street. (Pic today by William Klayer.)

As NBC 4 noted, presumably for non-residents of these areas: "For those preferring to avoid the event at all costs, steer clear of Midtown East and West as well as the East Village."