At the San Isidoro y San Leandro Western Orthodox Catholic Church of the Hispanic Mozarabic Rite

Last Thursday night, a small fire broke out on the third floor of the San Isidoro y San Leandro Church at 345 E. Fourth St. near Avenue D, as DNAinfo reported.

I'm not sure about the extent of the damage. I hope that it's minimal. This is one of those hidden treasures in the neighborhood... I've been meaning to do a little photo essay of the church...

According to the always invaluable New York City Songlines, San Isidoro y San Leandro Western Orthodox Catholic Church of the Hispanic Mozarabic Rite is "named for brothers who were successive bishops in Seville, circa 600 AD. Originally a Russian Orthodox Church, built circa 1895."

And here are some shots from last summer... when the church held a rummage sale...






I bought a few records for like 10 cents each. But you should really take a look inside some time if you have the chance.

Oh, and this isn't the part where I tell you that the church has been sold to developers... Just appreciating it while it's still here... Here's a video tour.

A letter to Robert B. Tierney, Chair, Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Mr. Tierney:

Since you are its chairman, I am writing to you to express my utter disgust at the refusal of the Landmarks "Preservation" Committee to step in and save 35 Cooper Square, a 186 year old gem of a historic survivor on the East Village's Bowery. To refresh your memory, I can do no better than excerpt an elegiac post from the blog EV Grieve, lamenting its imminent destruction:

Historians believe 35 Cooper Square was born in 1825. The oldest building on Cooper Square, and one of the oldest buildings of the original Bowery, this charming Federal style building with the traditional gambrel roof, twin-pedimented dormers, and large end chimneys also boasts historical and cultural associations ranging from a direct descendant of Peter Stuyvesant (it was owned in the early 1800s by Nicholas William Stuyvesant, Peter's great-grandson) to Diane DiPrima, the most influential woman of the Beat Generation.

35 Cooper Square stood for 40 U.S. Presidents, from James Madison to Barack Obama, as well as the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Under the stipulations of the Landmarks Law, it qualifies on architectural, historical and cultural criteria for designation as a NYC individual landmark," said David Mulkins, chair/co-founder of the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors

"The building itself is a rare specimen that has remained standing since the transition of the Bowery from a residential area to one that was home to a variety of commercial venues in the early 19th century," added New York Assemblymember Deborah Glick. "While there have been some changes made to the façade of 35 Cooper Square, the building still retains its original twin peaked dormers, chimney, and gambrel roof, and is unmistakably representative of a bygone era in New York City history."

Despite the astonishing history, rarity and historical relevance of thie small treasure, you "preservationists" declined to take action. And why? Because for some reason the stucco coating applied to the building's facade some time in its almost two centuries of existence was enough to negate every reason that might have been put forth to save it.

Mr. Tierney, unlike you, I do not claim to be an expert in architecture. But even I know that a stucco coating is not permanent and can be removed with a hammer and prybar, so for the LPC to make this coating of a mud-like substance and its underlying mesh the sole reason to condemn 35 Cooper Square to death is the most pathetic, jaw-dropping and specious reason I could imagine.

But were it not torn down, of course, then the destroyer of this gem (who definitely doesn't live in the vicinity of the Bowery) would not be able to line his pockets at the expense of our already-ravaged neighborhood, where a seemingly endless flood of large, out of scale and horrifically ugly buildings are being thrown up willy-nilly all over the Bowery and Lower East Side, with irretrievable history being permanently lost in the process. And all the while you and your committee stand idly by and watch, like sleazy voyeurs.

I know there is no way this lovely piece of New York's past will be saved, so won't bother asking you to reconsider the ill-thought-out decision condemning it. So allow me to close by saying that I consider you a disgrace, a total sell-out to corporate real estate interests, who has no real desire to preserve history if there's money to be made by outside interests. And as to those lickspittle, cringing toadys who make up the rest of the "Preservation Committee" (it is to laugh), not one of whom had the spine to stand up and protest, they are just as despicable as you. Had you weasels been around in 1962, you would probably have applauded the destruction of the original Penn Station.

For shame - upon all of you. Your unwillingness to take a stand in this, and in so many other cases, has condemned New York to become a megalopolis bristling with ugliness, rather than a place in which history stands a chance of surviving.

Lisa Ramaci

[Photo taken yesterday by Bobby Williams]

Rats, mice and filth flies — oh my!: Looking at the Coyote Ugly DOH violations

When we first mentioned the other night that the DOH had shut down Coyote Ugly, the most recent report on file mentioned 40 points worth of violations... But that one was old! The DOH has filed the latest inspection ...

Still waiting to hear back from someone at Coyote Ugly.

Previously.

Joy to the world, this Presidents' Day Weekend!

The lights on the holiday tree at Tompkins Square Park are still lighting up the East Village, um, sky ...

They were extinguished last year on Feb. 7, but the lights weren't actually removed. Remember when they were turned on for St Patty's Day?

They were turned off in 2009 on Feb. 7 as well.

Anyway, I've softened my stance on this important topic in the past two years. Leave 'em on year round then! But! I worry about the children. (One reader mentioned that his 2-year-old still thinks Santa is on the way...) And I worry about Slum Goddess, who may possibly leave a comment on this topic here.

And earlier this month...

East Village Radio launching new website today

From the EV Grieve inbox...

In an effort to better present original music, talk, and special programming, East Village Radio will launch a newly designed website on Friday February 18, 2011.

East Village Radio, an innovator and leader in Internet radio, will unveil the redesign of its new website on Friday February, 18, 2011 to promote and provide a streamlined user experience. The website incorporates a sleeker design architecture that optimizes the overall site visit, showcases new programming features and institutes a new media player for both the live stream and on-demand archives.

When the new site launches, users will be required to visit http://www.eastvillageradio.com in order to listen to the live stream. The new media player is accessible via the EVR homepage, as well as all subsequent and secondary pages within the site.

This is the tattoo that Vanessa Hudgens got at East Side Ink on Wednesday

[Twitpic]

The former Disney star was reportedly at East Side Ink on Avenue B next to Manitoba's where she was continuing to distance herself from "High School Musical" and its sequels. You can read more about it at E! Online if you'd like.

Comic relief

Previously.

St. Mark's Comics will reopen tonight

Well, this is good news after the fire earlier this afternoon, as we first reported ... Runnin' Scared noted that "firefighters had to knock through the wall of St. Marks Comics to reach the fire's source." There weren't any injuries, DNAinfo reported.

This evening outside McSorley's

And Happy McSorley's Day. Still.

Despite the warm weather, you can still find snow to play in on the Bowery

Reports of a fire at St. Mark's Comics

Just after 2 on St. Mark's Place... more to come...

Thanks to @tallassazn

And so, 24 hours and $24,784.50 later: The Bean has reopened

Proof!

Previously.

Kudos to @xjdx

This morning at the Bean

Not open yet.

@bslif Lots of stunned faces staring at door.

Anyone missing an orange kitten?

A reader found the kitty this a.m. on Ninth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D. Maybe 4 or 5 months old? If so: grieve98@gmail.com

Has the Bean reopened yet?

The Bean GM tweeted yesterday that they were simply late on paying $24,784.50 in taxes and they'll be back open today...

EV Grieve reader Creature went by this morning.... not open yet. And I think they usually start at 7 a.m.?

Previously on EV Grieve:
New York State seizes the Bean on First Avenue!

Our very own (alleged) ponzi schemer also (allegedly) bilked the Christodora House

Law enforcement officials are on the hunt for "fugitive hedge-fund manager" Brian Kim, who the DA charged with running a $4 million Ponzi scheme. (He may be hiding in Italy, according to reports. More here from the Journal.)

The 35-year-old founder of Liquid Capital Management also happened to live in the East Village — the Christodora House on Avenue B. More details on Kim, a CNBC pundit on Asian futures derivatives trading, are starting to emerge.

From the Post today:

The Manhattan DA's office discovered Kim was missing after he failed to show up for a Jan. 4 trial as part of earlier charges, where he stood accused of stealing $435,000 from the Christodora House.

In regards to the condo funds, Kim allegedly falsified documents identifying himself as the president-secretary of the condo association, allowing him to transfer $435,000 from the association's bank account to a bank account he set up for Liquid Capital. Within a month of making the transfers, he depleted all the money he had stolen — trading most of it away.

Kim was arrested in 2009 as part of that scheme, which led to an investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission into his hedge-fund business, which focuses on futures trading.
He now faces three indictments for stealing money from his condominium association, jumping bail and financial fraud.

If you spot Kim, then please call Joe Kernen.

[Image via CNBC]

The Daily News had the story yesterday, though I can't get their site to load today.

Thinking about Coyote Ugly (currently shuttered)

As I reported last night, the DOH has shuttered Coyote Ugly on First Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street... I imagine it's only temporary... I'm waiting to hear back from a CU rep...

Coyote Ugly opened in the East Village on Jan. 27, 1993, and spawned a worldwide empire ... and I realized last night that I've only ever been there once (and, oddly enough, I was with my dad...). As much as I like cheap beer and denim shorts, it seemed too fake gritty for my taste... and there is that whole "tourist trap" stereotype associated with the bar... especially after the movie... Maybe I'm wrong? I'll go back.

Happy McSorley's Day!

Hey! It's Feb. 17 ... seven years ago, Mayor "Put some ice in my beer!" Bloomberg declared McSorley's Day in New York... Here's an ad for the day from yesterday's Post ...

The bar is also celebrating its 157th (or 149th!) anniversary....

Meanwhile, we're hoping for a quote from Minnie McSorley about the Big Day. (Find her Facebook page here.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Happy 155th birthday, McSorley's (or not)

P.S.
Not today, but you should try lunch there one of these lazy days... as Jeremiah did.

An East Village apartment worthy of a diplomat

I was just trolling some one-bedroom apartments... and came across this listing in Tompkins Square Plaza at 190 Seventh St. just east of Avenue B...

Building Features: Diplomats OK, Doorman, Elevator, Laundry, New Construction,

This building has a lavish attended lobby with leather waiting area, for guests to await. The rear building is located through a beautiful courtyard with fountains, benches tables and chairs to enjoy your coffee while reading the paper. Upon entering the apartment, the first thing you notice is space, and lots of it. Open to the corner kitchen with room for a dining room table, your living room will cause envy among your friends.

I've seen plenty of "diplomat-friendly" listings around Union Square, Gramercy Park, Kips Bay and streets closer to the UN... just don't recall many ads mentioning diplomats here... Anyway, it has a diplomat-friendly price of $3,200 for the one-bedroom apartment...

Julius Klein gets a D

We've had some high-profile DOH shutters of late... Coyote Ugly... Yerba Buena... And now!

Over on East First Street at the Julius Klein/Art & Design studio...

A grade of D from the DOH? Ha!

The Lower East Side gets another 'high-end boutique residential rental property'

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Silverstone Property Group, a New York City based full service real estate company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of 157 Suffolk Street ... The 6 story, 22,398 square foot residential apartment building consists of 33 apartments and 2 retail stores. Silverstone purchased the building for $8.8M, or approximately $392 per square foot, in an all-cash, off-market transaction with the private seller. Silverstone will be renovating the building to create a high-end boutique residential rental property, as well as leasing the retail space which has been vacant for many years.

Sooo... dumb question, but what happened to all the former residents of this pre-high-end boutique residence? Buy outs?

Noted

On the St. Brigid's plywood on Avenue B.

GM: The Bean will reopen tomorrow

Here's the rest of the message on the Bean's FB page...

"Sorry guys!!! WE MESSED UP!! Late filing '09 taxes!! Yes, '09!!! Will be open tomorrow!!! Very, Very unprofessional on our part. I am truly sorry. Guy"

Here's the other official document on the Bean's front doors... (thanks Anna)

Previously on EV Grieve:
New York State seizes the Bean on First Avenue!

[Thanks to jdx for the tip]

DOH closes Coyote Ugly

Last night, I noticed that Coyote Ugly was closed during prime happy hour time... (Noted this via Twitter)

...and this evening ... the gate is up, revealing the DOH sticker....

They scored 40 points on their last DOH visit in December... the major violations:
Sanitary Violations
1) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
2) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
3) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
4) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
5) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Imagine they'll be back open soon enough...

[Pic via]

Fistfight on Crusty Row

EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams was on the scene after a fistfight broke out on Crusty Row in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon around 4... As he noted: "Police were called and one guy decided to run away. Cops tackled him by the chess boards and took him away."

The killing moon

[About the headline]

Noted

Via @TessTheGreatt

Report: The Bean owes $24,784.50 in back taxes

Earlier today, we reported that the State shuttered the Bean on First Avenue at Third Street for failure to pay back taxes. Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo has a follow-up:

The Department of Taxation and Finance spokeswoman added that four warrants for failure to pay taxes totaling $24,784.50 are still open on the property.

Oh, never mind about that whole 'breaking news' on East Second Street thing

Heh. Well! Upon closer inspection, it appears that the DOT closed off Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B so that WABC can film crews filling potholes...

Thanks to Samo for the photos.

Breaking: Something big happening on East Second Street

We don't know yet... but Samo sends along this shot... East Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is blocked off... news crews on the scene...

[Updated: Oh, never mind!]

The next sliver of space for development: The parking lot at 277 Seventh St.

In recent years it seems as if, say, some restaurant gardens and single-level buildings have a shorter and shorter life expectancy around here. Soon, they may all be pricy apartments. Massey Knakal now has a listing for the 22-foot-wide parking lot at 277 E. Seventh Street west of Avenue D... Per the listing:

A 22’ wide vacant development site on the northern side of East 7th Street between Avenues C and D. The site benefits from a curb cut. Currently, there are 10 cars parked at an average rent of $300/month. It would be suitable for a single family or multi-unit development.

And the price for the parking lot: $1.95 million. This space is adjacent to the new Lower Eastside Girls Club building presently under construction here on Avenue D between Eighth Street and Seventh Street.