Oh! Uh, ack?
Yesterday afternoon... courtesy of EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams.
Bob Arihood has another great shot of the hawk's feast here.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Enjoying a late-afternoon snack in Tompkins Square Park
Hey, what's everyone looking at the hawk for....?
Oh! Uh, ack?
Yesterday afternoon... courtesy of EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams.
Bob Arihood has another great shot of the hawk's feast here.
Oh! Uh, ack?
Yesterday afternoon... courtesy of EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams.
Bob Arihood has another great shot of the hawk's feast here.
Hawks and dogs
Thanks to Allen Semanco for these shots from the Tompkins Square Park dog run this morning... when a red-tailed hawk popped by for a visit...
... and a few curious looks....
... and a few curious looks....
Grace Farrell's 12-year-old son blames the 'street hustlers in Tompkins Square Park' for his mom's death
The Daily News has a follow-up today on Grace Farrell, the 35-year-old homeless woman found dead early Sunday morning in an alcove next to St. Brigid's. They speak with her 12-year-old so Oliver.
Some excerpts:
An autopsy showed no sign of foul play, but Oliver and his father, Al Muniz, who live in the East Village, blame the street hustlers in Tompkins Square Park for plying her with booze and cocaine.
"Drugs and alcohol ruin you," said Oliver. "The guys in the park knew she was weak."
Also:
He denied claims by her street friends that he abused her.
"Any man who lays his hands on a woman is a coward," he said.
[Photo of Grace and Oliver via The Daily News]
Noted
EV Grieve reader Samo notes that Earth Matters on Ludlow Street just introduced a new fridge dedicated to raw Gwyneth Paltrow vegan goodness...
As Samo notes: "This just further solidifies that EV/LES is the haven for the health conscious. With LIQUITERIA, Juice Press, Organic Avenue, Quintessence, Live Live, High Vibe, Xoom!, Caravan of Dreams, etc!"
Does V8 from Key count?
[Updated: Crap... no mention of one of my favorite places — Peter Silvestri's Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen on St. Mark's Place..]
As Samo notes: "This just further solidifies that EV/LES is the haven for the health conscious. With LIQUITERIA, Juice Press, Organic Avenue, Quintessence, Live Live, High Vibe, Xoom!, Caravan of Dreams, etc!"
Does V8 from Key count?
[Updated: Crap... no mention of one of my favorite places — Peter Silvestri's Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen on St. Mark's Place..]
A new era for CB3 liquor license approvals
There's good news on the future of Lower East Side/East Village nightlife after Community Board 3 approved revamped liquor license policies on Tuesday night. I've been following this story, and have attended several preliminary meetings. However, I wasn't able to make Tuesday night's meeting in which the full community board voted on the topic.
The Lo-Down has been all over the story. Here's their take:
In particular, the full board voted to phase out "the controversial practice of automatically transferring licenses from one operator to another." (Be sure to read the Lo-Down's post on last week's epic bar policy meeting in which CB3 member David McWater said to another board member: "That is the most bullshit thing you could ever fucking say. You want to see ballistic? This is ballistic.")
Here's the view from Rob at Save the Lower East Side!:
Jill at Blah Blog Blah has been closely following the issue too... Read her post on the topic from last week that inspired a good deal of conversation.
For more on this story, here are nice recaps from Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo and the Local East Village.
One important note on all this: CB3 is going to grandfather all current licenses, meaning that a current active license may still be transferred.
In any event, I'm still wrapping my head around all this. Don't expect to see shops selling, say, yarn, records, zines, junk and what not popping up on Avenue A tomorrow now in place of bars as a result of this. It took years for the East Village/LES to get into this nightlife mess; it will take a few more before there's a noticeable difference. But there's hope....
The Lo-Down has been all over the story. Here's their take:
Last night Community Board 3 voted to put in place comprehensive new policies that could have a dramatic impact on the nightlife industry on the Lower East Side for years to come. The revised rules, governing how CB3′s SLA Committee evaluates liquor license applications, are intended to streamline and standardize a process that has been harshly criticized by bar owners and community activists alike as inconsistent and capricious.
In particular, the full board voted to phase out "the controversial practice of automatically transferring licenses from one operator to another." (Be sure to read the Lo-Down's post on last week's epic bar policy meeting in which CB3 member David McWater said to another board member: "That is the most bullshit thing you could ever fucking say. You want to see ballistic? This is ballistic.")
Here's the view from Rob at Save the Lower East Side!:
A momentous vote last night at Community Board 3: they voted, in effect, to curb the trend of commercial real estate speculation that has been decimating local-serving businesses and speeding up yuppie gentrification, which, unlike family-gentrification, creates neighborhoods of upscale transients displacing community without replacing any community at all. CB3 voted to phase out automatic liquor license transfer approval. It may be the most significant vote they've ever made.
Under the old dispensation, when a bar owner decides to sell the business, a new owner of that business can 'buy' the liquor license. The CB, treating the bought license as if there were no change in management, effectively guarantees the financial value of the license. That sends a message to prospective bar owners everywhere that a license is guaranteed — insured — in this community district. You don't have to face the community, you don't have to face the Board members. If the street on that business has over time filled with new bars, you don't have to worry about increased community objections.
Jill at Blah Blog Blah has been closely following the issue too... Read her post on the topic from last week that inspired a good deal of conversation.
For more on this story, here are nice recaps from Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo and the Local East Village.
One important note on all this: CB3 is going to grandfather all current licenses, meaning that a current active license may still be transferred.
In any event, I'm still wrapping my head around all this. Don't expect to see shops selling, say, yarn, records, zines, junk and what not popping up on Avenue A tomorrow now in place of bars as a result of this. It took years for the East Village/LES to get into this nightlife mess; it will take a few more before there's a noticeable difference. But there's hope....
Lourdes of the bar flies
Yesterday, we noted that Kelly Osbourne, the new face for Madonna's tween line Material Girl, shot the ad campaign last month at Mars Bar and Lit Lounge. Osbourne hung out there with Lourdes Leon, who runs Material Girl with her mom.
Anyway! A few readers sent along pics from the shoot...
And here's Lourdes discussing the photo shoot at the Mars Bar: "Yeah, there were people drinking there and it was, like, three in the afternoon. And it's, like cool ... it was awesome. There were some interesting people there. I think they didn't even notice that there was, like, a girl in short shorts being photographed."
And if there's something really wrong with you, then you can watch the behind-the-scenes video and catch some glimpses of the Mars Bar shoot... and listen to some plugs for Macy's ...
[Ad photos via The Superficial]
Anyway! A few readers sent along pics from the shoot...
And here's Lourdes discussing the photo shoot at the Mars Bar: "Yeah, there were people drinking there and it was, like, three in the afternoon. And it's, like cool ... it was awesome. There were some interesting people there. I think they didn't even notice that there was, like, a girl in short shorts being photographed."
And if there's something really wrong with you, then you can watch the behind-the-scenes video and catch some glimpses of the Mars Bar shoot... and listen to some plugs for Macy's ...
[Ad photos via The Superficial]
Feb. 23
The date yesterday in which we spotted this discarded Christmas tree on St. Mark's Place. Currently the leader in the Late To Toss the Tree standings.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Falling piece of an air conditioner prompts FDNY response
Earlier this afternoon, EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams noted that FDNY crews responded to a call on Avenue A and East 10th Street after reports of a falling piece of metal ... Those on the scene said that it was a piece from an air conditioner from 280 E. 10th St.
Apparently no one was struck by the object ... but firefighters weren't taking any chances after the AC accident on Second Avenue last September...
Apparently no one was struck by the object ... but firefighters weren't taking any chances after the AC accident on Second Avenue last September...
Coyote Ugly is back open
As you may know, the DOH shuttered Coyote Ugly last week ... and according to saloon founder Liliana Lovell, they're back open today:
Hot damn the NY bar is back open!! 153 1st ave NYC ( between 9th and 10th) I am sure tonight will be crazy at the bar. So happy
And here's more on the background from Lil:
Last Tuesday the NY bar scored a 90 on the surprise inspection. 2 days later on Thursday we were reinspected and scored a 16 and they did not reopen us. Over the weekend we put in a new basement floor repainted the whole bar, revamped the sods systems. Jacqui is at the health department now trying to reschedule another inspection. I have been making calls to find out what score we need to reopen. We cut 74 points in less then 48 hours. Ok positive energy. No worries. I actually downloaded a tibetan positivity chant. I lit candles and sang the chant.
Also officially have pneumonia. I went to the doctor yesterday. I swear that all the dental problems started some bad mojo.
Image via.
Mars Bar and Lit Lounge serve as backdrop for Madonna's clothing line
WWD notes that Kelly Osbourne, the new face for Madonna's tween line Material Girl, shot the campaign last month at Mars Bar and Lit Lounge. Osbourne hung out there with Lourdes Leon, who runs Material Girl with her mom. Need a subscription apparently to access the WWD piece... was told it is well worth the time reading...
Via Jezebel. Image via WWD.
EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition
Good question: Will Any SPURA Residents Be Able to Afford Future SPURA? (Curbed)
LES Heritage Film Series explores the old Bowery (The Lo-Down)
Chinatown Fair on the ropes (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)
This is the end: Swarovski-Encrusted Ugg Boots Feature New York City Skyline (Runnin' Scared)
When Freeman Alley was a breadline (Ephemeral New York)
NYPD Stop and Frisks Reach Record High in 2010 (Gothamist)
Shots of the new TATS CRU mural on Second Street and Avenue A (The Late Adopter)
Why the owner of Via Della Pace on East Seventh Street is bummed about the Carmelo Anthony deal (The Times)
And from EV Grieve readers Samo ... spotted on Stanton and Norfolk ...
BoweryBoogie has more on what this is about...
Really big 5 Napkin Burger still coming to 14th and 3rd; realtor disses Robin Raj
Back in October, Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo reported that a 5 Napkin Burger was opening on the southwest corner of 14th Street and Third Avenue — the former home of Robin Raj, duh. We kind of wondered what happened with that. The site has been rather quiet of late.
The Observer has a follow-up today. Per the Observer:
The restaurant includes 3,570 square feet of ground-floor space, as well as a full basement. "This prime corner has laid fallow for the past five years. 5 Napkin Burger will undertake a full reconstruction of the building and turn it into a wonderful gem," said Winick Realty Group's Tatiana Jung-Voevodina, who repped the tenant.
Fallow!? Robin Raj moved out just two years ago!
Anyway! 5 Napkins is expected to open in April.
'Nobody knows you until you’re dead'
More details continue to emerge about Grace Farrell, the 35-year-old homeless woman who a friend found dead under the scaffolding at St. Brigid's early Sunday morning.
Bob Arihood first reported that a woman died of a drug overdose in Tompkins Square Park last Thursday. Her name was Danielle. According to the Times today, there's a connection between Danielle and Grace. English, a mutual friend of the women, told the Times that Grace helped give Danielle CPR while an ambulance was arriving.
Yesterday, the Daily News reported that results from Grace's autopsy had not been released.
As the Times noted, "if her death turns out to be from the cold, then she would be the first person to freeze to death on the city streets this winter, according to the office of the city’s chief medical examiner."
That's officially. Patrick Markee of the Coalition for the Homeless told the Times that, given how brutal this winter has been, "it’s hard to know exactly how many people might have died from hypothermia, or cold-related causes."
Meanwhile, as English said to the Times: "Nobody knows you until you’re dead. That's the God's honest truth."
Bob Arihood first reported that a woman died of a drug overdose in Tompkins Square Park last Thursday. Her name was Danielle. According to the Times today, there's a connection between Danielle and Grace. English, a mutual friend of the women, told the Times that Grace helped give Danielle CPR while an ambulance was arriving.
Yesterday, the Daily News reported that results from Grace's autopsy had not been released.
As the Times noted, "if her death turns out to be from the cold, then she would be the first person to freeze to death on the city streets this winter, according to the office of the city’s chief medical examiner."
That's officially. Patrick Markee of the Coalition for the Homeless told the Times that, given how brutal this winter has been, "it’s hard to know exactly how many people might have died from hypothermia, or cold-related causes."
Meanwhile, as English said to the Times: "Nobody knows you until you’re dead. That's the God's honest truth."
The roof at 35 Cooper Square is probably rotting now; and will work start up again today?
We've been following the drama at 35 Cooper Square, of course... There are currently Stop Work Orders on the building... And the workers have left... and no one decided to throw a tarp over the 186-year-old-roof to protect it from the winter elements...
In fact, several people have called the DOB to complain about this... Three people filed complaints about the holes in the roof/lack of a tarp this past Friday.
Not that any of this may matter: A tipster claims thatdemolition work will resume today; that the issue involving the original Stop Work Order has been resolved.
In fact, several people have called the DOB to complain about this... Three people filed complaints about the holes in the roof/lack of a tarp this past Friday.
Not that any of this may matter: A tipster claims that
The Vanessa's Effect: The recession is over!
Since the fall of 2008, Vanessa's, the dumpling house on East 14th Street near Third Avenue, has advertised a recession special.
We figured when that sign came down, it would be Party Time again!
Well, light those cigars, fellas! No more "recession special!" (WOO!)
One Vanessa's insider told me that the dumpling patrons have a risk tolerance that is lower or unchanged compared to one year ago — even with the recent equity market rally. "That doesn’t mean all patrons are cashing in stocks, and hunkering down with bonds," the insider explained.
Indeed.
Meanwhile — Buns All Day for everyone!
We figured when that sign came down, it would be Party Time again!
Well, light those cigars, fellas! No more "recession special!" (WOO!)
One Vanessa's insider told me that the dumpling patrons have a risk tolerance that is lower or unchanged compared to one year ago — even with the recent equity market rally. "That doesn’t mean all patrons are cashing in stocks, and hunkering down with bonds," the insider explained.
Indeed.
Meanwhile — Buns All Day for everyone!
March Madness! Takers for the former Kurve, Tonda and Aces and Eights spaces; music returning to old Mo Pitkin's?
Here we go with the docket for the SLA & DCA Licensing Committee, Monday, March 14 at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence - 200 East 5th Street at Bowery
And here are some items of interest from the agenda (the whole shebang is here):
• Review of 2010 goals and accomplishments/committee goals for 2011
• Resolution to SLA regarding undue burden on Community Boards of waivers for 30-renewal notices, and undue burden to businesses of penalty of closing businesses if renewal is late.
Applications within Resolution Areas
• Table 12 (188 Ave A Take Out Food Corp), 188 Ave A (wb)
Oh boy ... this didn't go so well last time... in September...
• Coyi Café, 42 Ave B (wb)
• 34 Avenue A, corp to be formed, (Aces & Eights) (op)
CB3 said No to Jevan Damadian, the owner of the former Aces and Eights space, during the November meeting. He was looking to open a tapas bar ... with no beer pong. The rumors have a former associate of Phil Hartman's at the Two Boots empire opening a music venue here. A return to its previous Mo Pitkin's roots?
Sidewalk Café Applications
• Café Cortadito (Café Cortadito LLC), 210 E 3rd St
The Cuban eatery near Avenue B is looking for some sidewalk tables...
• A&D Wine Corp, (Wine Bar), 65 2nd Ave (alt/increase number of tables and chairs from 6 tables and 12 chairs to 10 tables and 22 chairs)
• 157 Brick Oven LLC (Plum Pizzeria), 157 2nd Ave
Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades
• 4AB LLC (Tonda), 235 E 4th St (tran/op)
A-ha! All this explains the crazy non-hours of operation of late.
• Le Cave LLC, 64 E 1st St (alt/op/correction of original application)
Hey now! During January's meeting, one of the owners of LaVie, the hookah-flavored club at 64 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, called Susan Stetzer a "racist." How can they top that?
• Woody's (Prince 28 LLC), 31 2nd Ave (alt/op/adding second bar upstairs and other work)
• Sa Aming Nayon LLC, (Wai Café) 201 1st Ave (wb)
Something amiss with the Wai? Cafe?
• 133 Essex Restaurant LLC, (Mason Dixon) 133 Essex St (op)
Maybe they're just moving their mechanical bull?
New Liquor License Applications
• Lucky's Famous Burgers (Lucky Burger Houston LLC), 147 E Houston St (b)
BoweryBoogie has been covering the return of Lucky Burger to the East Village.
• Corp to be formed, (Kurve) 87 2nd Ave (op)
Corpse to be formed? We're curious to see what happens with the old Kurve/Rhong-Tiam space.
• Aegis Atlantic LLC (Peet’s Coffee/Preserve 24), 175 E. Houston St.(op)
Interesting... A Peet's Coffee & Tea shop is slated to take over this space on Houston at Allen ... this space that includes the Foam & Futon Center has been on the market ... And maybe Peet's will change the name from coffee and tea to beer and whiskey... ?
And here are some items of interest from the agenda (the whole shebang is here):
• Review of 2010 goals and accomplishments/committee goals for 2011
• Resolution to SLA regarding undue burden on Community Boards of waivers for 30-renewal notices, and undue burden to businesses of penalty of closing businesses if renewal is late.
Applications within Resolution Areas
• Table 12 (188 Ave A Take Out Food Corp), 188 Ave A (wb)
Oh boy ... this didn't go so well last time... in September...
• Coyi Café, 42 Ave B (wb)
• 34 Avenue A, corp to be formed, (Aces & Eights) (op)
CB3 said No to Jevan Damadian, the owner of the former Aces and Eights space, during the November meeting. He was looking to open a tapas bar ... with no beer pong. The rumors have a former associate of Phil Hartman's at the Two Boots empire opening a music venue here. A return to its previous Mo Pitkin's roots?
Sidewalk Café Applications
• Café Cortadito (Café Cortadito LLC), 210 E 3rd St
The Cuban eatery near Avenue B is looking for some sidewalk tables...
• A&D Wine Corp, (Wine Bar), 65 2nd Ave (alt/increase number of tables and chairs from 6 tables and 12 chairs to 10 tables and 22 chairs)
• 157 Brick Oven LLC (Plum Pizzeria), 157 2nd Ave
Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades
• 4AB LLC (Tonda), 235 E 4th St (tran/op)
A-ha! All this explains the crazy non-hours of operation of late.
• Le Cave LLC, 64 E 1st St (alt/op/correction of original application)
Hey now! During January's meeting, one of the owners of LaVie, the hookah-flavored club at 64 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, called Susan Stetzer a "racist." How can they top that?
• Woody's (Prince 28 LLC), 31 2nd Ave (alt/op/adding second bar upstairs and other work)
• Sa Aming Nayon LLC, (Wai Café) 201 1st Ave (wb)
Something amiss with the Wai? Cafe?
• 133 Essex Restaurant LLC, (Mason Dixon) 133 Essex St (op)
Maybe they're just moving their mechanical bull?
New Liquor License Applications
• Lucky's Famous Burgers (Lucky Burger Houston LLC), 147 E Houston St (b)
BoweryBoogie has been covering the return of Lucky Burger to the East Village.
• Corp to be formed, (Kurve) 87 2nd Ave (op)
Corp
• Aegis Atlantic LLC (Peet’s Coffee/Preserve 24), 175 E. Houston St.(op)
Interesting... A Peet's Coffee & Tea shop is slated to take over this space on Houston at Allen ... this space that includes the Foam & Futon Center has been on the market ... And maybe Peet's will change the name from coffee and tea to beer and whiskey... ?
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
'Keep 35 alive'
A few more photos from this evening's vigil at 35 Cooper Square... courtesy of Lisa R. Estimates put some 60 people in attendance, including Pete Hamill ... There were chants of "Keep 35 alive!" And some twits with yoga mats drifted by as if the group wasn't even there ...
Previously.
Previously.
Grace Farrell, 35
The Daily News has more on Grace, the homeless woman found dead on Avenue B Sunday morning:
She came from Ireland half a life ago, a blue-eyed 17-year-old determined to make a splash in New York's art scene with her colorful portraits and vivid landscapes.
On Sunday morning — years after her life started to go bad in a haze of alcohol and a lousy marriage — Grace Farrell, 35, was found dead on the sidewalk in front of St. Brigid's Church on Avenue B in the East Village.
Her body was ice-cold from sleeping one too many nights on the street.
She spent her last night alive on a bed of cardboard in a church alcove. Thin blankets barely sheltered her from the brutal winter weather.
Read the whole article here.
Previously.
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