Tompkins Square Park lights covered

The lights in TSP usually look like...



And now, some of them are covered...for unknown reasons...? (Oh, right — as a reader points out, for the movies. Like tonight's showing of "Claire's Knee." For some reason, I hadn't noticed this before...Is it a good idea to leave the lights covered on nights that movies aren't playing?)





And at night...

Pedestrian vs. bike messenger

At Delancey and Allen on the LES.



From COED

Via BuzzFeed

Next round of Aqueduct racino plans unveiled, including a 425-seat buffet

Now that the OTB is ready to file for bankruptcy, Aqueduct officials have unveiled two of the plans to turn the racetrack into a racino. Again.

As the Daily News reports:

"We want to make it a place that both reflects the old New York and the new New York and the community within which it sits, which is Queens," said Bob Blakeman of PS&S Design, the project's architect.

Some 1,200 video slots could be open by April. All 4,550 machines would be running by November 2010, officials said.
A 300-room hotel, garage, racing museum, shops, restaurants and 2,500-seat entertainment center would be done in 2012.
The group's plan would give the state $101 million upfront.

SL Green Realty Corp. partnered with Hard Rock to draft a rival plan that includes a 425-seat buffet and eight-station food court.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Thanksgiving at Aqueduct

Thanksgiving at the Aqueduct, Part 2

Why didn't Time Out give any credit to Jim "the Mosaic Man" Power?

He's the creator of the iconic image seen on TONY's new cover, of course. But we didn't see him get any credit in the issue.



And on the Web:



Here's Jim's Web site.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Uh-oh

An appreciation: That empty lot on 13th Street

Between Third Avenue and Second Avenue. The empty lot has been discussed for years. It has sat vacant since 1986. The Jefferson Theater was here. According to Cinema Treasures:

[T]his theater was located at 214 E. 14th Street near Third Avenue. The entrance was a narrow space between two tenement houses with the bulk of the theater (auditorium) located in 13th Street. The Jefferson operated at least into the 1970s and was demolished in 2000. Today, the site is filled with bricks and debris from the demolition and the old Jefferson as passed on.

Here's what it looked like near the end, via Forgotten NY:



Despite threats/promises of development through the years, the lot -- 23,000 square feet -- remains empty. But for how long? So, until NYU or something comes along...

Earlier this week:








The previous week:

WIll Permanent Brunch be serving booze?

Permanent Brunch, at 95 First Ave, near Sixth St., apparently finally opens tonight or Monday. The place was supposed to open last fall, but didn't. Since then, they've collected assorted stop work orders. (Looks like they may owe the city $5,000 too.)




Whatever. People buying a few of those $6 doughnuts will take care of that!

Meanwhile, in yesterday's post on PB's bacon bar, Goggla asked this: Do they have a liquor license? Good question! The writeup at UrbanDaddy, which specializes in getting the scoops on the douchiest places around, mentioned something about Bloody Marys. Though I didn't finish the article. (You try to finish it!) A doozy of a piece on PB in the Examiner mentions a "Champagne List."

I didn't see an active liquor license listed for PB on the SLA Web site. [Update: A commenter says PB purchased the license from the previous tenant.]

Perhaps after serving brunch for a few months, some new owners can come in with a big dumpster. They fill it with booze. Anyone is welcome to swim in the alcohol -- just as long as you have a reservation. The dumpster can fit up to 60 people. The name: Permanent Drunk.

Rethinking the treehouse office

On 11th Street near Avenue B.

Ad for Julia Child movie is oddly erotic

First, though, the latest ad to grace the building on Third Avenue near 12th Street.



And, um. Really? I'll say nothing else, in fear that I will appear in a blurb for the movie...

"Julie & Julia is finger-lickin' good!"
-- EV Grieve

Noted

"Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has pushed an ambitious green agenda and cast himself as a national environmental leader, routinely runs afoul of his own anti-pollution policy by letting his official SUVs idle, sometimes for more than an hour." (AP)

Uh-oh

And on the Web:

Noted

Permanent Brunch, which opens to the public Monday on First Avenue near Sixth Street, features a bacon bar.

Speaking of pigs

Peter's: A disappearing face of New York disappears

Last July I did a post titled The grocery stores of St. James Place. I've always liked Peter's grocery at 25 Madison St. on the corner of St. James Place down on the outskirts of Chinatown and the LES. And for good reasons. You don't see many old-school storefronts like this anymore.



A great sign.



And I love the corner angle.

Unfortunately, when I went by the other day, Peter's was gone. I'm not sure how long ago it disappeared.






Peter's is featured in "Storefront: The Disappearing Face of New York," by James and Karla Murray. Peter's was owned by Peter Migliorini, who took over the business from his father (also named Peter).

Knickbocker Village has a post on Peter's.

So what will become of this unique space?

Walking by the Cooper Square Hotel is always good for a photo opp

Last night.

And now, a short history of walking by the Cooper Square Hotel!















Now you see it...



...now you don't.

Rockrose wants you to "do it all" and "live large" on Water Street (now with prices!)

Rockrose continues pimping, er, primping 200 Water St. in the Financial District, home of the former NYU dorm turned luxury rentals. Given the original new slogans, "do it all" and "live large"...




Rockrose is either marketing to recent grads or former readers of Trump Magazine.

And The 200 Water Street Web site now has a price list for rentals.



Let's see: 449-square-foot studios start at $1,700...and they go up to the 1,300-square-foot studio duplex with home office and sleeping loft for $3,850.

Also! Speaking of people likely to order pizza...Grub Street and Eater reported that the new Grimaldi's on John Street will deliver pizza for free to 200 Water Street. Or! If you go the Grimaldi's, you won't have to wait in line!

Previously on EV Grieve:
200 Water Street now leasing