EV Grieve

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

East Village eatery odds-and-ends: DBGB getting happy and cheap; Planet Rose expanding

I don't recall ever seeing this sign outside DBGB before... they want us to get happy with them now?

As discussed earlier, Planet Rose is expanding on Avenue A near 14th Street... and they have a new awning on the storefront to the left...

Last summer here!

This photo by an EV Grieve reader shows the continued progress at Motek, a coming-soon French creperie and cafe on St. Mark's Place near Avenue A...

Oh, and this on Fourth Avenue near 13th Street... I like the tag on the rolldown gate...

A note for smokers at Diablo Royale Este on Avenue A...

And the Brindle Room on East 10th Street serves Genesee...which I haven't had in about 25 years...around the time I thought they had stopped making it...

Sticker art by the Bald Man

Spotted on Third Street near Avenue A. Heh.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Lights out on Avenue A and St. Mark's

The traffic light, that is...

East Village noise wars go national

Thanks to Jeremiah Moss for including my thoughts in a piece for The Huffington Post titled, Fighting the Noise Wars -- One Blog at a Time. He also includes commentary from Jill at Blah Blog Blah.

Own half of a used Warhol on East Sixth Street

Here's a nice house for sale on East Sixth Street between Second Avenue and First Avenue... Let's take a look at some photos before delving into the new-to-the-market listing...

OK? Here's the listing:

Half ownership interest in a 20’-wide, four-story, Anglo-Italianate brick townhouse located on a highly desirable, tree-lined block in the heart of the East Village. Offered are the garden and parlor floors of approximately 2,400 square feet, with exclusive access to a large landscaped garden with pond, flagstone patio, established flower beds, and use of the finished basement with updated mechanicals, ideal for storage. Abutting the landmarked Community Synagogue, built originally as the historic St. Marks Lutheran Church, 321 East 6th Street is uniquely situated affording three exposures including oversized parlor floor windows. Many original details have been retained including the well-shaded high-stoop and second entrance below, wood-burning fireplaces, crown moldings, parquet and hardwood floors, and grandiose 13-foot ceilings. Use these two distinct and handsomely appointed floors as currently configured or join the two to create an expansive and gracious lower duplex. The entire property offers approximately 2,300 square feet of developable rights. The current Certificate of Occupancy reads for mixed-use; therefore, limiting financing to any potential purchaser. All expenses for the property are split equally between both owners. Lower two floors delivered vacant. Of note, this property was once owned by Andy Warhol in the late 1960’s.

And that's what my old journalism prof, Fiddlesticks, called burying the lead. Of note? I'd say!

Price: $2.4 million

Finest Pizza and Deli on Avenue B has closed

Finest Pizza and Deli on Avenue B and Fourth Street is now officially closed.

Despite cutting back their hours in recent months, business was apparently OK. According to a source, the owner abruptly closed up the shop on Sunday...a source says the store may reopen as another (no beer) deli. Meanwhile, the source says Abdul, who many people liked in the neighborhood, is out of a job (no warning, no severance) and is looking for something in sanitation.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Finest Pizza and Deli not closing because Le Souk went away

Disarmed and dangerous on Avenue B: Pizza statue maimed

"The penthouse paradise you've been waiting for"

Last Friday, we featured a seemingly swank penthouse on 50 Avenue A for $1.3 million... Well, hope that you didn't quickly squander your money on that dump... the REAL Avenue A penthouse is, apparently, at 107 Avenue A on the west side near Seventh Street ...

Per the new listing at Trulia (Halstead is peddling the space):

This East Village loft is the penthouse paradise you've been waiting for. Situated just off Tompkins Square Park in the red hot East Village, this rare apartment features three terraces, including one of the best outdoor decks in all of the East Village with a hot tub and breathtaking views of the park and city. The entire apartment has been gut renovated with an unparalleled attention to detail, including a chef's kitchen with high-end appliances and two bathrooms, one with a soaking tub and the second with a steam shower. The elevator opens directly onto the first floor of the loft, which features a laundry room, two bathrooms, a large living room / dining gallery, east and west terraces, and a spacious master bedroom with walk in closet. The second floor doubles as a gorgeous sunroom, guest bedroom, or den/office. Situated on Avenue A, across the street from Tompkins Square Park, this is the one of the trendiest downtown locations with the best restaurants and bars, nightlife, and more literally around the corner. This rare home will not last.

Hoo-boy.

The first open house is Sunday. Price tag: $1.995 million.

Dumpster of the Day (asbestos version!)

Being used here on Second Avenue at the Tisch School for the Arts...

Probably not one that you'll want to go dumpster diving in...

And I hope that it's never converted into a swimming pool...

A blue tarp compromise

Should the the blue tarp remain up ... or down along the 14th Street side of the Mystery Lot...

Well! Here's a solution:

Previously on EV Grieve:
Blue tarp down! [Repeat] Blue tarp down!

Someone needs to take the blame for the malaise of your soul

On Suffolk and Houston. More info here.

Monday, June 7, 2010

All is well at Northern Spy

The folks at Northern Spy sent us a tweet earlier today in response to our report this morning. Per the tweet: "all's well, our peeps handled it as best they could considering the guy's state." I asked if anyone there knew the man who was arrested. Northern Spy said that it was random, though the man does live nearby.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Wild scene in front of Northern Spy this morning

16 Clinton St. primed for demolition

An EV Grieve reader brings bad news about 16 Clinton St.

According to the work-crew foreman, the building is being primed for demolition, thereby — among other things — displacing Connie, the longest-term resident of the block, and its unofficial guardian. The large yard behind the building is being dug up in preparation for the two plots to be thrown together to create at least a six-story building, according to the reader.

No permits are on file with the DOB for 16 Clinton St. However, there is a stop-work order.... there have been six complaints in the last few days about work being done without a permit. Regardless, workers were still on the scene today....

Balloon porn discovered in Tompkins Square Park

Thanks to EV Grieve reader Blue Glass for this shot... yesterday at the Carnival for Tompkins Square Middle School in Tompkins Square Park.... some mischief, perhaps, with the balloons... And at an event for kids. For shame. Maybe the Penistrator was making a non-wintertime appearance to keep us on guard...

Wild scene in front of Northern Spy this morning

A reader notes a disturbance this morning on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... in front of Northern Spy, where a man in a gray t-shirt and shorts was trying to enter the restaurant.

Per the reader, who also provided the photos: "Some of the guys from the restaurant were trying to restrain him and kept telling him to get down on the ground, but he wasn't listening, and he was even trying to open the door to get into the restaurant. All in all, it was about six guys trying to get control over him."

The man's t-shirt was torn to shreds by the time police arrived. The man was placed inside an ambulance. "I suspect the guy was either drunk or mentally ill."

Brunch at 7A: eggs benedict, pancakes and please don't shoot up in our restrooms

A new (old) sign for the Grassroots

Well, the old sign at the Grassroots on St. Mark's Place had been looking a little worn...

So, over the weekend, a nearly identical new sign went up...

No complaints here.

Tough times for First Avenue bars: Lilly Coogan's and Cheap Shots are closed

Over the weekend, we noticed that Lilly Coogan's on First Avenue near Sixth Street was closed. And the bar's phone number was not in service... So... several people have confirmed that the bar did close more than a week ago... As I wrote Saturday... I've never been to Lilly's, the former site of one of my favorites, the Homestead...

Meanwhile, as NYC the Blog (via Gothamist) reported that cops shuttered Cheap Shots between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street...

Per NYC the Blog:

After serving underage auxiliary police officers on at least three occasions as of late, as well as being the scene of a couple of physical kerfuffles, the City of New York had enough. Allison L Arenson, attorney in the office of the Legal Bureau of the Police Department and plaintiff in this case, has laid out the city's case in pages of arguments, which were laying on the sidewalk out front.

"The community has severely suffered and continues to suffer, as a result of the illegal activities...interfering with the health, safety and well being of those who live, work and visit in the surrounding neighborhood."

"It can not be denied," she wrote, "that the subject premises is a public nuisance, and as such should not be allowed to remain open even one more day."