The Donut Pub outpost on Astor Place opens TODAY

[Photo from Sunday]

At long last the second location of The Donut Pub opens this morning at 6 at 740 Broadway and Astor Place.

This outpost was originally expected to open last fall (per the DP signage out front).

And no word yet if this location will be open 24/7 like the original.

That first Donut Pub has been on 14th Street and Seventh Avenue since December 1964. The no-frills, diner-like space once prompted New York magazine to write: "In a Krispy-Kreme and Dunkin' Donut world, it's comforting to know there are still places E.B. White might have recognized during his ambulations through the streets of New York."

Updated 7 a.m.

A quick walk by...





Previously on EV Grieve:
The Donut Pub opening an outpost on Astor Place

Joe’s Steam Rice Roll puts up the signage on St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

The signage arrived yesterday for Joe’s Steam Rice Roll here at 36 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

This will be the third NYC outpost of the popular quick-serve establishment, which got its start in Flushing. Here's Eater with more about the shop and its owner, Joe Rong:

Rong began selling his rice noodle rolls from a tiny storefront in Flushing in 2017, and his craft quickly stood out. Unlike many other vendors, he grinds the rice for the batter in an electric-powered stone mill daily. His stand has drawn a loyal following, prompting him to expand to Manhattan last November with a stall inside Canal Street Market.

You can read more about the food at Joe's in this Hungry City column at the Times in January.

No word on an opening date on St. Mark's.

No. 36 has seen a variety of quick-serve concepts come and go in recents years, including Cheers Cut, the Taiwanese mini-chain of fried foods ... Friterie Belgian Fries ... Fasta ("Pasta Your Way") ... and the $1.50 branch of 2 Bros. Pizza.

Previously.

Tuesday's parting shot

EVG reader Vigilant EVer shared this photo from the new condoplex rising at 11 Avenue C (the former Mobil station) ... where someone hung a Soviet flag to the scaffolding on the property...

It promises to be the best of times, the blurst of times: Springfield coming to Cooper Union

For fans of "The Simpsons" ... this talk is happening Friday night at Cooper Union.

Via the EVG inbox...

Springfield Confidential: 30 Years Writing For The Simpsons

What: Mike Reiss has won four Emmys in his three decades writing for "The Simpsons." In this lecture, he will share backstage stories, secrets and scandals from the show in this hilarious presentation, richly illustrated with rare cartoon clips. Following the talk, Reiss will sign copies of his book "Springfield Confidential," a best-selling memoir of his three decades at "The Simpsons."

When: Friday, May 31, at 7:30-9 p.m.

Where: The Great Hall of The Cooper Union, 7 E Seventn St.

More: The event is free and open to the public. General public should reserve a space here. Please note seating is on a first come basis; an RSVP does not guarantee admission as we generally overbook to ensure a full house.

Resurfaced roadways on 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue to have offset crossings

As you've likely noticed, the city has resurfaced parts of First Avenue (above!) and Second Avenue in recent weeks... (top two photos via Vinny & O)



The DOT has now added the markings to the roadway for the crosswalks, bike lanes, etc...









With the resurfacing comes an important change at intersections to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The city is adding offset crossings, like you'll find on Fourth Avenue at 13th Street ...

Paving is now complete on 1st and 2nd Aves in the East Village. Our markings contractor will soon begin installing roadway markings. Crews will be updating #bikenyc intersections, adding off-set crossings to many of the intersections in this area. #BikeMonth pic.twitter.com/tQxPdN0VIY

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) May 21, 2019

This morning crews are on 1st Ave in the East Village laying out where markings will soon be installed, including a new offset crossing at E 5th St. #bikenyc #BikeMonth pic.twitter.com/ssNIP8WKcT

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) May 24, 2019

As David Meyer reported last week at Streetsblog, the arrival of offset crossings in the East Village comes two years after the driver of a box truck reportedly made an illegal left turn turn — across multiple lanes of traffic on First Avenue at Ninth Street — and slammed into cyclist Kelly Hurley, who later died from her injuries.

Per Streetsblog:

In the aftermath of her death, advocates implored the agency to rethink its use of “mixing zones” — which force cyclists and drivers to negotiate the same space at the same time.

After Hurley’s death, Upper West Side architect Reed Rubey came up withan alternative design, which was subsequently endorsed by Manhattan Community Board 4.

Rubey’s efforts partly inspired DOT’s chosen solution: the offset intersection, which it piloted at select locations in 2017 and 2018. In September, DOT’s “Cycling at the Crossroads” report showed that cyclists felt significantly safer at intersections with offset crossings [PDF].

[An example of offset crossing on 70th Street and Columbus Avenue]

And a look at First Avenue and Ninth Street on Saturday...





On Sunday, the Post, citing NYPD data, reported that "traffic crashes have already killed 71 people this year, up from 58 during the same time period in 2018 — a 22 percent surge."

In total, 39 pedestrians and 10 cyclists have been killed by cars or trucks on city streets this year. (There were 10 cyclists killed in all of 2018.) Drivers or passengers in vehicles accounted for the other 22 fatalities on city roads.

Metropolis Vintage has left 3rd Avenue; new Broadway space debuts today

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

Over the weekend, Metropolis packed up and moved out of its longtime home at 43 Third Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street ... and into larger space not too far away at 803 Broadway between 11th Street and 12th Street...


[Photo via Instagram]

The all-new location is expected to open today.

The shop had been at No. 43 for the past 23 years. As we've noted, Richard Colligan first opened the store in 1990 at 96 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...


[Courtesy of Richard Colligan]

Read an EVG interview with Colligan from 2010 at this link.

In June 2017, Metropolis Vintage unveiled a new logo for the shop designed by Punk magazine co-founder (and East Village resident) John Holmstrom.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Metropolis Vintage is on the move to a larger space nearby on Broadway

Cemetery wall knocked down during post-fire work behind 1st Avenue

A tipster points us to the East Side Outside Community Garden on 11th Street just east of First Avenue.

In recent months, workers have accessed the garden space to gain entry to the rear of 188 First Ave., which suffered a major fire last October.

While the structural stability of No. 188 was reportedly unaffected by the fire, the extension behind the permanently closed Uogashi needed to be removed.

Of concern to the tipster: The stone wall dating to the 1860s that lines the garden has been badly damaged during the work behind the First Avenue buildings...





Preservationists believe this is the western wall of a long-vanished cemetery.


[Map from 1867]

Here's what the wall looked like a few years ago...



The Village Preservation wrote about this cemetery back in 2013 (at the time, they were trying to spare part of the property from what became the luxury condoplex Steiner East Village).

While the cemetery opened in 1833, where the wall is located did not become the western boundary of the cemetery until the 1860s, and thus there may not have been a wall here prior to then. The cemetery remained on this site until 1909, so the wall also could have been built as late as the first years of the last century.

After the cemetery closed in 1909, the land was divided up and much of it sold. The eastern section became Mary Help of Christians Church (1917) and School (1925)

The school and church were demolished in 2013.

7th Street townhouse with rooftop pizza oven and basketball hoop sells for $15.75 million

[Image via Streeteasy]

The single-family townhouse at 64 E. Seventh St. has sold after nearly a year on the market.

The Real Deal noted the sale last week for the home between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Per TRD, an entity tied to William N. Joy — principal of a Florida-based investment firm Water Street Capital Inc. — paid $15.75 million for the property, which had an original ask of $18 million.

According to Streeteasy, No. 64 has five fireplaces, terraces off of the dining room and master bedroom, and rooftop garden with — why not? — a pizza oven and basketball hoop.

The sellers were two trusts and Lisa J. Fox.

The building received a gut renovation in 2010 that saw the removal of its longtime storefront.

Jeremiah Moss explored the building's history in this post from 2010.

Past occupants of 64 E. Seventh St. include:
• The parsonage for St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church
• The newspaper Russky Golos ("Russian Voice")
• The Les Deux Megots coffeehouse, whose readings featured Allen Ginsberg, Paul Blackburn and Carol Berge
• The Paradox, "said to be the world's first macrobiotic restaurant" where both Yoko Ono and folksinger Loudon Wainwright III worked
• Books 'N Things
• Tokio 7 (moved across the street)

Future tech hub demo watch

EVG regular Pinch passes along word that the former PC Richard & Son on 14th Street appears to be fully gutted ...



Per the 14th @ Irving website, here's what to expect on site this week:

[T]he team is anticipated to continue with selective hand demolition on the interior and exterior of the building ... the demolition team will start major hand demolition of the building from the east and west elevation working toward the middle of the building. This will include concrete chopping and torching the metal decks.

As you know, this is the future site of the 22-story Union Square Tech Training Center (aka tech hub) here at Irving Place. Our previous post has the back story.

Piccolo Cafe closes on 3rd Avenue

Piccolo Cafe closed after service back on Friday at 157 Third Ave. between 15th Street and 16th Street. (Thanks to EVG reader @bigpoppaeats for the tip.)

The small Italian cafe, which offered a variety of homemade pastries, sandwiches and salads, had been at this spot for 10 years.

Ownership didn't offer a reason for the closure in the goodbye note posted to the front door.



Piccolo Cafe has three other NYC locations.

Il Mattone's East Houston outpost is now open

Il Mattone's third Manhattan outpost debuted Saturday over at 147 E. Houston St. at Eldridge.

We thought they we taking the full freshly renovated corner space, as the Post first reported last November.



In any event, they are serving their Neapolitan-style pies, pasta, sandwiches and salads from the space that was roughly part of the former Lucky Burger.

The well-regarded Il Mattone first opened in Tribeca in 1992.

And here's a photo of their offerings from their Beach Street location...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by IL Mattone (@il_mattone) on Jan 3, 2019 at 11:07am PST

Imogene Beauty Salon arrives on 7th Street

The Imogene Beauty Salon is the new tenant at 80 E. Seventh St. ... replacing O.O.T.D., the women's boutique that opened last summer here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The previous previous tenant, East Village Cheese, closed here without any notice in December 2017 after two-plus years at this address.

Manhattanhenge 2019: the sun is also a star

[Photo on 14th Street from July 2016 by @WonderlandNYC]

ICYMI: Here are your clip-and-save Manhattanhenge dates for 2019...

• Wednesday, May 29 at 8:13 p.m., you will see a “half sun” — half above and half below the landscape.
• Thursday, May 30th at 8:12 p.m., you will see a “full sun,” with the entire solar disk resting above the horizon.

If you’ll miss out in May, then you’ll get a second chance in July:

• Thursday, July 11 at 8:20 p.m. (full sun)
• Friday, July 12 at 8:21 p.m. EDT (half sun)

Manhattanhenge occurs when the setting sun aligns with the numbered streets that run east and west on the city grid. Here's a quickie video explainer for more:



And as Gothamist reported, this year's Manhattanhenge news release via the American Museum of Natural History doesn't make any mention of Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium who coined the term.

While the Museum has kept quiet on the matter, last year Tyson's name hit the headlines when he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women.

The Museum said it was investigating the accusations, though it hasn't released any further information.

First word: Believe on the Bowery Mural Wall

Queen Andrea started work on the Bowery Mural Wall on Saturday... here's an in-progress look...



She's known for her bright color palettes and lively geometric motifs.

And a sampling of her work...

View this post on Instagram

Super fun recent #typography #mural #Spreadlove! It’s the #Brooklyn way, at @kingsplazamall for all the #Brooklynites! #juicy #notoriousbig #hiphop #queenandrea #handpainted #typestyle

A post shared by QueenAndrea! (@queenandreaone) on Sep 12, 2018 at 4:31pm PDT

Updated 6/9

And the final product...

Memorial Day rush

About 8 a.m. on Second Avenue at Seventh Street...

At the 32nd annual Loisaida Festival

It was a perfect summer day today for the 32nd annual Loisaida Festival on Avenue C.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the festival earlier today and shared these photos of the vendors, patrons and performers taking part in the annual Memorial Day weekend gathering...