UCB's mail call

The Upright Citizens Brigade are apparently prepping for their move to the East Village by putting signs on mailboxes, such as this one EV Grieve reader Stacie Joy spotted on Third Street and Avenue B...

Meanwhile, as we mentioned last night, a resident is starting a petition to have the 'Hot Chicks Room' sign removed at the Upright Citizens Brigade HQ on Avenue A and Third Street.

We sent an e-mail to Alex Sidtis, managing director of the UCB’s Chelsea location, to learn more about when the EV location might open ... and what he thinks of the sign drama.

That color purple prompts the NYU fear

As EV Grieve reader Tom noticed during this past weekend, someone put a coat of primer on the plywood at the burned-out corner of 14th Street and Avenue A...

Then! Yesterday, someone painted the plywood various shades of purple and violet... Said Tom: "I thought, oh shit, maybe the rumor that NYU bought/was buying the property and turning it into dorms was true."

However! Tom noticed the two people painting the plywood... and talked with them...

They said that they were painting the construction wall as part of a fundraiser for an arts group. And they chose the color purple because they thought it would look nice....

Previously.

More fingers spotted on East Village streets

We noticed the digits on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B the other day...

Now, EV Grieve reader Juan TRED sends along this photo from here on 11th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue....

Perhaps they can be used to turn the pages of the novels someone is putting up...

Dinner at Takahachi on Avenue A the other night

Photo by John Marshall Mantel.

Madonna in the East Village circa 1982

Out magazine’s Ladies We Love issue assembled an apparently never-before-seen photo portfolio from one of Madonna’s earliest photo shoots ... Richard Corman took photos of Madonna in the summer of 1982 in the streets and rooftops around her apartment at 234 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... like this one...

[Richard Corman]

You can find all the photos right here at Out.com.

[Via EW.com]

CB3/SLA rejects application for music venue at 34 Avenue A

We've been writing about the plans to turn 34 Avenue A into a music venue in "the tradition of the old Knitting Factory and Tonic" the past few weeks.

Tonight, partners Todd P. and Phil Hartman made their case before the CB3/SLA committee.

While we weren't at the meeting, EV Grieve reader and frequent commenter RyanAvenueA was in attendance ... he just passed along word that the CB3/SLA committee rejected the application for the space.

Per Ryan: "There was tons of heated debate. You've never seen a more prepared bunch present to the board."

Residents on the northern stretch of Avenue A also spoke out against a license for 34 Avenue A.

Committee members Herman Hewitt, David McWater and Ariel Palitz voted in favor of the proposal. However, there were four no's lead by committee chair Alexandra Militano.

We're sure there will be a lot more about this tomorrow...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Phil Hartman bringing a 'performance venue' back to former Mo Pitkin's space

[Updated] Bringing 'the tradition of the old Knitting Factory and Tonic' to 34 Avenue A

Because you want to know more about the plans for 34 Avenue A

[Updated] Resident starting a petition to have the 'Hot Chicks Room' sign removed at the Upright Citizens Brigade

Last month, we discussed the new signage at the new home of the Upright Citizens Brigade on Avenue A at Third Street ...

The sign is a nod to a UCB skit. (Watch it here.) In any event, early word from tonight's CB3/SLA meeting is that a resident will be circulating a petition to ask UCB to change the sign for the sake of the children.

We don't have all the details just yet... (In fact, we're not even at the meeting!) However, a tipster there sent along an e-mail....

Jill at Blah Blog Blah attended the meeting, and said that Two Booths owner Phil Hartman offered to cover the cost of a new sign for the UCB.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About the Hot Chicks Room

NYPD responds to a disturbance on Avenue B and Seventh Street

EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams noted that six NYPD officers were on the scene on Avenue B and Seventh Street a little early today ... Police arrested the man ... witnesses described him as "disorderly."

The 'hipster trap' spotted in the East Village going viral, for some reason

By now you may have seen this photo of a cardboard trap by @WillHimself taken on Avenue A and Sixth Street during the weekend... "Just met this guy setting up 'hipster traps' in NYC, baited with PBR and American Spirits."

It was first posted on Reddit. Gawker linked to it. Time also linked to it. So far, the photos has been viewed more than 500,000 times.

Ricardo León Peña Villa, 1960-2011

Ricardo León Peña Villa — the Colombian-born poet known affectionately as El Poe — passed away on Friday at Beth Israel Hospital where he had been in the intensive care unit the last few weeks. He was 50.

There's a small memorial set up in his honor outside the Umbrella House on Avenue C where he had lived and helped manage the building.

In a tribute written by Manuel Bermúdez Tiberio:

Ricardo, for those who knew him, was a special human being, lived a million lives. His day was 24 hours spent, used, designed, written, worked ... because his favorite phrase was "do something now because when we die will be a long rest."

You can find out more about this life here.

Marfa bids farewell; Bento Burger coming soon

Marfa, the Texas-themed eatery on East Second Street adjacent to Lucky Cheng's, held its closing-night party on Saturday...

As Zagat reported, the restaurant stopped serving food in November ... though it was still open as an art-performance space. (Slum Goddess was there for a balloon art show back in October.) I asked owner Hayne Suthon for an update on the space ...

Via e-mail, Suthon said the space will now be a restaurant called Bento Burger ... with "lots of options on the burgers, probably at least 3 to 4 vegetarian, including a hemp burger, seafood, a Japanese, a Korean. A place where die hard meateaters and strict vegetarians can both call home. Cheap and fun."

Here's more from her message:

"We are making our own buns, regular, sesame, gluten free, and an asian rice bun. All square and served in bento boxes. Asian and American sides, great sauces. Drink menu is going to be based on our housemade lemonade with house infused plum, lemongrass and ginger vodkas."

She said the there will be a "Bladerunner"-inspired design by Miguel Calvo. She'll also be working with some artists and muralists on the decor.

She expects Bento Burger to be open in four to five weeks.

Yummy House merges with Plump Dumpling, sort of

Last month, we noted that Yummy House next to Nevada Smith's on Third Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street had closed...

Several readers pointed us to the sign that now appears in the Yummy House window...

Sure enough, a pass by Plump Dumpling on Second Avenue and 11th Street reveals the dual menus...

However, several EV Grieve readers have left comments about this merger.

AdamsAthas said...
Yummy House Fans BEWARE!!!!!

Plump Dumpling on 11th St. & 2nd ave is now answering the delivery number for Yummy House and they said they are now sharing space and that YH has the same chef as they always did.

Lies I tell you ... All Lies!!!

The food is terrible and it definitely is NOT the same as Yummy House. I'm so disappointed as we would have never ordered from Plump Dumpling. When I called back to confront them they said well we do have one chef that had worked at YH.

And!

Anonymous said...
A sign on the building said it moved to 11th and 2nd. That location is Plump Dumpling and the guy inside insisted that Yummy House merged with them and that the cook was the same. However, the Hot and Spicy tofu -- so good at Yummy House -- was greasy and overfried ... I think maybe they somehow bought out Yummy House but there is no evidence of YH quality there. I wouldn't go again.

And!

Anonymous said...
Went with a friend to the new location. The food is nowhere near the same quality. Everything seemed old and tasteless. I was sure i was going to get sick but didn't. Still that's my last time here. RIP Yummy House.

Proposals for Kurve and Tonda spaces off tonight's CB3 docket

There are several scratches for tonight's CB3/SLA meeting...

Including two high-profile spaces that we were curious about:

Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades
4AB LLC (Tonda), 235 E 4th St (tran/op)

New Liquor License Applications
Corp to be formed, (Kurve) 87 2nd Ave (op)

The meeting is at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence - 200 East 5th Street at the Bowery.

Speculating about Veselka Bowery's sidewalk cafe

We recently pointed out the Veselka Bowery signage on East First Street... Fork in the Road reported that the Bowery location will open in late May/early June... Fork in the Road also noted that this location will sport a sidewalk cafe for 30 to 40 diners. But where will this outdoor cafe live? Perhaps on First Street... thought that seems a little cramped...

More likely though... at the entryway into Avalon Bowery Place...

...across from the Bowery Wine Company outdoor space.

Never trust a TV that claims it will work for free

Spotted by EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams this past weekend on Avenue A at 13th Street.

Hip check

This weekend in Tompkins Square Park via Bobby Williams.

Out of season

EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams spotted this rolling ad on Avenue A this weekend...

Noted

A Jaguar Ferrari on East Sixth Street via EV Grieve reader Brian M.

And now, for some reason, a photo of John Legend's bulldog

The singer, who lives off the Bowery, tweeted this: "My bulldog Puddy just met his long lost twin on the streets of the East Village."

Week in Grieview

The "Crazy Landlord" is back! (Monday)

More details emerge about the future of 34 Avenue A (Tuesday)

A discussion on whether 35 Cooper Square is worth saving (Friday)

A cab ends up on Second Avenue sidewalk (Thursday)

189 Avenue C introduces some rentals (Thursday)

290 Mulberry is for sale (Wednesday)

Looking at the photography of Steven Hirsch (Wednesday)

Work continues at St. Brigid's (Tuesday)

Closing time at Tompkins Square Park (Thursday)

[Photo taken on East 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B]

El Jardin del Paraiso, 8:42 a.m., March 13

[At El Jardin del Paraiso on East Fourth Street between Avenue C and D.]

Sidewalk shed returns to 147 First Ave.

Workers arrived this morning at First Avenue and Ninth Street to erect a new sidewalk shed for the mystery building...

Workers removed the other sidewalk shed here last Wednesday... The upper levels will soon be home to luxury apartments.

Previously.

Avenue A, 9:31 p.m., March 12

Photo by EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams today on 14th Street.

East Village winners in the 'Best of New York'

East Village Man has compiled the East Village-related items from New York Magazine's "Best of New York" issue. There weren't actually many mentions ... here are a few...

RESTAURANTS

Best Bacon and Eggs - Peels (325 Bowery at 2nd St.)

“Plants Matter” section for best veggies:

Carrots - Dirt Candy (430 E. 9th st. at Ave A)

Escarole - Porsena (21 E. 7th st. near Cooper Square)

Check out the rest at EVM.

Yesterday on Avenue C

One less outdoor dining option on the Bowery today

Outside Gemma on the Bowery this morning.

Lost

Flyers spotted around Tompkins Square Park this morning.

Today!

Toss those umbrellas aside! Sources at the Weather Channel tell EV Grieve that it will be partly sunny — or, given your outlook, partly cloudy — today. However, there is an 80 percent chance of running into drunken UConn fans on the street and in the bars.

[Photo by EV Grieve Discarded Umbrella Correspondent Bobby Williams]

Last night!

Perhaps it was the combination of several powerful forces converging... spring break, pleasant weather, Big East Tourney, pre-St. Patrick's Day greenletting ... Or maybe it was just another Friday night... One reader noted that there were several street fights on Avenue B at Fourth Street. Eventually, the police just camped out there....

Something 'Blue'

The Rattlers, featuring David Merrill, Mickey Leigh and Matty Quick, circa 1981.

Noted

From the EV Grieve inbox:

A buddy of mine and I just started a delivery service in Manhattan we’re calling Thanks, Bro. Basically, it’s a gift delivery service that lets guys say thank you like a man — without the emasculation of sending fruit, flowers, and candy, but rather by way of beer and beef jerky instead. Featuring a range of beer and gourmet jerky options, we’re a mom and pop-type operation with a price point around fifty bucks. The branding and ordering process is very guy-oriented – basically you show up to thanks-bro.com, pick your six-pack, your jerky, your delivery container (we intend to expand this to replica NFL helmets and other dude-ish options of that nature), give us you and the bro you want to thank’s info, pick your thank you note type and message, and click submit. We email back with a paypal invoice and to clear up any questions about the order, and done and done. We show up at the apt of your bud and say “thanks, bro” for you.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

RIP Chloe Dzubilo (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

A man's life, tossed in a dumpster (The Gog Log)

CB3 nixes food vendors for new Cooper Square (DNAinfo)

At the Donut Pub (Marty After Dark)

The Eldridge is closing (Eater)

An NYU superblocks preview (The Villager)



[Photo by Bobby Wiliams]