...and some of the blackout paper along the front windows fell back... and EV Grieve reader Pedro took a look...
Find the BareBurger menu here (PDF)
Friday, November 4, 2011
BareBurger not looking so bare inside
As you know, an outpost of organic hamburglar BareBurger is opening on Second Avenue at the site of the former Sin Sin space...
...and some of the blackout paper along the front windows fell back... and EV Grieve reader Pedro took a look...
Find the BareBurger menu here (PDF)
...and some of the blackout paper along the front windows fell back... and EV Grieve reader Pedro took a look...
Find the BareBurger menu here (PDF)
Introducing Artist Alley @ Extra Place
From the EV Grieve inbox....
[ Image via Forgotten New York]
[ Image via Forgotten New York]On Saturday, November 19, Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc) will present Groundbreak, the inaugural exhibit in a rotating public art program for Artist Alley @ Extra Place. This exhibit is the latest in a series of temporary art installations in atypical locations in the East Village/Lower East Side through FABnyc's ArtUp program. Artist Alley @ Extra Place is tucked behind the former CBGBs and surrounded by several galleries, including La MaMa E.T.C.'s La Galleria, Fuse Gallery, The Hole, and The Proposition to name a few.
FABnyc recognizes Extra Place as a cultural marker in New York City's Punk and No Wave scene and its potential as fertile ground for a new generation of creative exchange. Abe Lincoln Jr., Jon Burgerman, and Ellis Gallagher are New York based artists who will reclaim the concrete sidewalk as their blank canvas.
10,000 and counting: The final chapter, a new beginning
And on Monday, we unveil a new chapter here. We've hooked up with some local businesses to present a more challenging site. The various lawyers have finally agreed on the name: The BMEVW GuggenGrieve Lab, a hyperlocal think blog that will confront discomfort, like, what to do when your personal shopper calls in sick or you have to wait for that fucker to climb the stairs with your Thai delivery because the elevator is out.
As fun as that sounds, we're only joking. Thank you for reading.
[EVG Flashback] The community board-State Liquor Authority drinking game
Originally posted on Aug. 16, 2010...
To help pass the time during the dull stretches of community board/state liquor authority meetings... we started getting stupid(er), like, given the boozy topic, maybe we should create a drinking game to play ...
So! You have to do a shot every time an applicant says:
"I just want to be part of the community."
"I'm just a guy from the neighborhood."
Someone speaking against a proposed bar/restaurant says, "I like the concept, just not on this block."
Someone speaking against a proposed bar/restaurant uses any of the following words: fraternity, sorority, hell, zoo, spring break, Bourbon Street or woo woo.
The applicant wears a Bluetooth throughout his or her presentation.
Two shots if:
A priest speaks for the applicant.
The applicant's previous restaurant experience was working as a club DJ or promoter.
The applicant has 500 signatures in support, though only 3 of the residents actually live on the block in question.
The applicant says that his or her new place will be an upscale restaurant that will be open until 4 a.m.
The applicant says that the new place will be for the neighborhood, with entrees starting at $32.
They just want the license to pair wines with dessert.
The applicant's attorney says, "This is New York City -- it's supposed to be noisy."
Supporters of the applicant suggest that, if opponents don't like noise, they should move to, or move back to, [Ohio, Delaware, Schenectady, et al]
Three shots if:
The bar name is a nod to homeless people, welfare recipients, alcoholics or serial killers.
The applicant says that he or she is willing to work with the community, and to prove it, the restaurant/bar will close at 1 a.m. on Sundays.
The applicant uses the words "artisanal" or "gastro."
Four shots if:
The applicant uses the words "artisanal" and "gastro" together.
You're told dear old mom from the Old Country will be the chef.
The applicant says if he or she doesn't get approval, the space will likely become a chain store, bank or halfway house for pyromaniacs.
The applicant says that the restaurant will sponsor art classes for kids in the neighborhood.
Chug if:
The applicant gives each committee member an envelope with cash.*
The applicant promises to keep the spirit of the previous owner's establishment alive by having the now-deceased owner stuffed and mounted over the bar.
* We're not suggesting this has ever happened...
To help pass the time during the dull stretches of community board/state liquor authority meetings... we started getting stupid(er), like, given the boozy topic, maybe we should create a drinking game to play ...
So! You have to do a shot every time an applicant says:
"I just want to be part of the community."
"I'm just a guy from the neighborhood."
Someone speaking against a proposed bar/restaurant says, "I like the concept, just not on this block."
Someone speaking against a proposed bar/restaurant uses any of the following words: fraternity, sorority, hell, zoo, spring break, Bourbon Street or woo woo.
The applicant wears a Bluetooth throughout his or her presentation.
Two shots if:
A priest speaks for the applicant.
The applicant's previous restaurant experience was working as a club DJ or promoter.
The applicant has 500 signatures in support, though only 3 of the residents actually live on the block in question.
The applicant says that his or her new place will be an upscale restaurant that will be open until 4 a.m.
The applicant says that the new place will be for the neighborhood, with entrees starting at $32.
They just want the license to pair wines with dessert.
The applicant's attorney says, "This is New York City -- it's supposed to be noisy."
Supporters of the applicant suggest that, if opponents don't like noise, they should move to, or move back to, [Ohio, Delaware, Schenectady, et al]
Three shots if:
The bar name is a nod to homeless people, welfare recipients, alcoholics or serial killers.
The applicant says that he or she is willing to work with the community, and to prove it, the restaurant/bar will close at 1 a.m. on Sundays.
The applicant uses the words "artisanal" or "gastro."
Four shots if:
The applicant uses the words "artisanal" and "gastro" together.
You're told dear old mom from the Old Country will be the chef.
The applicant says if he or she doesn't get approval, the space will likely become a chain store, bank or halfway house for pyromaniacs.
The applicant says that the restaurant will sponsor art classes for kids in the neighborhood.
Chug if:
The applicant gives each committee member an envelope with cash.*
The applicant promises to keep the spirit of the previous owner's establishment alive by having the now-deceased owner stuffed and mounted over the bar.
* We're not suggesting this has ever happened...
[EVG Flashback] Mars Bar regulars get in the way of a Drew Barrymore photo shoot
Originally posted on Oct. 19, 2009...
Over the weekend, we had a very important post about some guy from "Gossip Girl" going to the Mars Bar for one of those "A Night Out With" features in the Times.
And the conversation turned to Drew Barrymore's recent photo shoot at Mars Bar for the new issue of Nylon. So here are the shots from that Mars Bar photo shoot in the magazine. (Dunno why the guy in the newsstand got so annoyed when I did this!)
Um, you can't even tell it's the Mars Bar. As EV Grieve reader ak commented, "still trying to decide if i believe that the background was photoshopped out of the others." And Goggla said: "I was there for the Barrymore shoot and the weird thing is they used white backdrops for the photos. If they wanted to block out all the graffiti, why go in there in the first place? (they also made sure to block out all the regulars)" And Jeremiah found some outtakes from the shoot here:
Since Goggla was there, I asked her more about the shoot...:
Over the weekend, we had a very important post about some guy from "Gossip Girl" going to the Mars Bar for one of those "A Night Out With" features in the Times.
And the conversation turned to Drew Barrymore's recent photo shoot at Mars Bar for the new issue of Nylon. So here are the shots from that Mars Bar photo shoot in the magazine. (Dunno why the guy in the newsstand got so annoyed when I did this!)
Um, you can't even tell it's the Mars Bar. As EV Grieve reader ak commented, "still trying to decide if i believe that the background was photoshopped out of the others." And Goggla said: "I was there for the Barrymore shoot and the weird thing is they used white backdrops for the photos. If they wanted to block out all the graffiti, why go in there in the first place? (they also made sure to block out all the regulars)" And Jeremiah found some outtakes from the shoot here:
Since Goggla was there, I asked her more about the shoot...:
There were about 14 regulars in there and they just had the ones sitting at the end of the bar move out of the way. They shot back by the bathrooms and up front by the windows, but put backdrops up in both places. They didn't even hang around to drink, so I really don't know why they bothered.
[EVG Flashback] When the Christodora House became a Greek house
Originally posted on Sept. 9, 2008...
[Photos by Charlie Kerman]
In 1983, when the Christodora House on Avenue B was still abandoned, members of the Tau Delta Phi, Delta Eta Chapter at Cooper Union, placed their Greek letters on the west side atop the 17-floor building. Don't have a lot of details, such as how long the letters remained there. Long enough for a photo opp, of course. Photos of the letters crew are below. (Note the condition of the Christodora...)
[Photos by Charlie Kerman]In 1983, when the Christodora House on Avenue B was still abandoned, members of the Tau Delta Phi, Delta Eta Chapter at Cooper Union, placed their Greek letters on the west side atop the 17-floor building. Don't have a lot of details, such as how long the letters remained there. Long enough for a photo opp, of course. Photos of the letters crew are below. (Note the condition of the Christodora...)
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Small fire on East Second Street this afternoon
Bobby Williams reports that there was a fire in a building on East Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue this afternoon around 3. According to sources at the scene, the fire was on the fifth floor in an apartment that workers were renovating. No injuries were reported at the scene.
76 Third Ave. slated for demolition; will we ever know what was behind those curtains?
We've been writing here and there about the future of 74-76 Third Ave. Nevada Smith's, the current tenant at 74, is slated to move up the block to 100 Third Ave. As for next door, at the former Yummy House...
EV Grieve reader Grieving noted: "According to the DOB website, the permit to tear down the first of these two buildings was issued last week. Don't know if they are taking them down in piecemeal or waiting for the Nevada Smith's lease to run out to take them both down."
Indeed, there is a permit, dated Oct. 24, for "FULL DEMOLITION OF A 5 STORY BUILDING USING MECH. MEANS."
Meanwhile, any final guesses what is/was behind those two single windows and grubby curtains in the floors above the old Yummy House?
I'm going with 24,400 cases of old Yummy House menus.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Those persistent rumors about 74-76 Third Avenue and the future of Nevada Smith's
The East Village will lose a parking lot and gain an apartment building
EV Grieve reader Grieving noted: "According to the DOB website, the permit to tear down the first of these two buildings was issued last week. Don't know if they are taking them down in piecemeal or waiting for the Nevada Smith's lease to run out to take them both down."
Indeed, there is a permit, dated Oct. 24, for "FULL DEMOLITION OF A 5 STORY BUILDING USING MECH. MEANS."
Meanwhile, any final guesses what is/was behind those two single windows and grubby curtains in the floors above the old Yummy House?
I'm going with 24,400 cases of old Yummy House menus.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Those persistent rumors about 74-76 Third Avenue and the future of Nevada Smith's
The East Village will lose a parking lot and gain an apartment building
'Gesture of unity' yesterday at Cooper Union
In response to news that Cooper Union might establish an annual tuition, students and faculty members decided yesterday afternoon to hold classes outdoors to raise awareness of the situation.
This is how third-year student Christian Hincapie described what happened to me via email:
"As a symbol of solidarity among the Cooper Union Community, student, staff and faculty decided to walk-out, work-out, and act out. The studios were brought outside, classes were held in front of the Foundation building and people generally hung out and communed. This was a gesture of unity among the Cooper Union Community that was organized by students in order to communicate to the administration and the President that tuition CAN NOT be on the table. The principles and integrity of the school are at danger if tuition continues to be an option."
Said student Pete Halupka (via email):
"I have attended four other schools besides The Cooper Union. I left every one of those four schools pushing to attend a program and institution like The Cooper Union. That is a school driven by motivated, talented intellectuals and creatives, need blind, and, therefore, creating a tightly knit, highly selective body of passionate individuals. Most importantly, it is not a business. It is not an institution which crafts their decisions around growth and profit."
Hincapie also shot this video...
Runnin' Scared has more on this story here.
Photos by Pete Halupka
Veselka Bowery opening tomorrow?
That's what an employee told us anyway... No official word from the Mothership yet.
And now, photos from Veselka Bowery's Facebook page...
And now, photos from Veselka Bowery's Facebook page...
The scene at the incoming Bean
EV Grieve reader Marjorie Ingall passes along the above photo ... There's progress at the incoming Bean location at the Crazy Landlord Building. Also known as Second Avenue and Third Street.
Cooper Union agrees to reduce the rent for St. Mark's Bookshop; plus, awkward photo opp!
Things were looking gloomy and doomy for a rent reduction for St. Mark's Bookshop's. Just last week we learned that its landlord, Cooper Union, was broke. The Bookshop owners weren't expecting any deal.
But!
John Leland at The New York Times reports the following:
That changed on Tuesday, said the Manhattan borough president, Scott M. Stringer, who met with both parties to work out an agreement. At a meeting in Mr. Stringer’s office, the college agreed to reduce the store’s rent to about $17,500 a month from about $20,000 for one year, and to forgive $7,000 in debt. The school will also provide student help with revising the store’s business plan.
Regardless, co-owner Bob Contant described the store's finances as "fragile."
Meanwhile... AWKWARD PHOTO OPP! From Stringer's office:
At 11 a.m., Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer will join Cooper Union President Jamshed Bharucha and bookshop owners Bob Contant and Terry McCoy to make a joint announcement about the future of the St. Mark’s Bookshop.
Who: Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
Cooper Union President Jamshed Bharucha
Bob Contant and Terry McCoy
Local elected officials and community leaders
Where: St. Mark’s Bookshop - 31 3rd Avenue
10,000 and counting: A new hope
[EVG Flashback] "Sophie's...remains a good place to stop time"
Originally posted on Feb. 25, 2009...
I finally watched the "Disappearing Manhattan" episode of "No Reservations" (this after blabbering away about it the last three months!). It debuted Monday night, and will air several more times. Grub Street yesterday provided a nice synopsis of what the episode covered.
In particular, I was interested in the last segment, in which Anthony Bourdain shoots the shit with Nick Tosches at Sophie's. It was all of about three minutes (and the shoot at Sophie's took nearly three hours, I was told).
Here's most of what transpired at Sophie's....
I finally watched the "Disappearing Manhattan" episode of "No Reservations" (this after blabbering away about it the last three months!). It debuted Monday night, and will air several more times. Grub Street yesterday provided a nice synopsis of what the episode covered.
In particular, I was interested in the last segment, in which Anthony Bourdain shoots the shit with Nick Tosches at Sophie's. It was all of about three minutes (and the shoot at Sophie's took nearly three hours, I was told).
Here's most of what transpired at Sophie's....
[EVG Flashback] Team Bride confidential
Originally posted on July 25, 2008...
Did you see the women in the "team bride" T-shirts in the neighborhood Saturday night? I found a blog post on what this was all about: A bachelorette party featuring a scavenger hunt through the East Village. (There were two teams: the grooms vs. the brides.)
Anyway, in case you were wondering what that was all about, here is one of the participant's account of the evening via her blog (names and links have been left out...):
The last thing I recall about the night is having a booty off at the final bar (for those of you that are unaware, a booty off is a ass-shaking dance off competition)…and I might have won. I mean, according to me, that is. I mean, Brand New Booty comes on and no one can shake it like I can. You have to trust me with this.
And really…what is better than spending a weekend with some of your best girls…hanging out in NYC all day and night and having a booty off?
Exactly. Nothing.
Man I love New York.
Some more highlights:
* Asking a crackhead in Thompkins Square Park for directions to a statue and having a homeless man interuppt to give me “real” directions and be strangely alert, happy, and friendly for being outside at 12am in this park
* Going into one of the East Village Precincts with my biggest smile and please be nice to me look on my face while asking the cops if they would take some pictures with us for the game. (they did -– never underestimate the power of boobies in a tight tee shirt)
* Following a guy with tons of tattoos carrying 2 bags of garbage to a graveyard (riiiight)
Did I mention I love NYC? Only in New York could we do a Scavenger Hunt where every area we walked in downtown was filled with people ready to help us with our more outrageous tasks (and this being the East Village most were low key artiste hippie types with lots of “I wanna help” qualities.”)
All the streets were packed with a wide variety of flavorful different people. I am used to this area because one of my siblings lived here (but more towards Union Square and not Alphabet City)…but I could get around Gramercy Park, Murray Hill, Midtown and the Upper East Side in my sleep. Slowly throughout the years I am becoming more and more familiar with the gloriousness that is Soho, TriBeca, West Village and Greenwich Village and many other cute downtown areas. Ah, I love those areas.
But East Village is a whole other animal in many ways . . . Its a quirky and sometimes downright bizarre place…where some streets are almost quiet and dainty and the others are filled with people 24-7 and lined with bars, quick food joints, and restaurants. What a trip a hunt was around there.
Anyway, in case you were wondering what that was all about, here is one of the participant's account of the evening via her blog (names and links have been left out...):
The last thing I recall about the night is having a booty off at the final bar (for those of you that are unaware, a booty off is a ass-shaking dance off competition)…and I might have won. I mean, according to me, that is. I mean, Brand New Booty comes on and no one can shake it like I can. You have to trust me with this.
And really…what is better than spending a weekend with some of your best girls…hanging out in NYC all day and night and having a booty off?
Exactly. Nothing.
Man I love New York.
Some more highlights:
* Asking a crackhead in Thompkins Square Park for directions to a statue and having a homeless man interuppt to give me “real” directions and be strangely alert, happy, and friendly for being outside at 12am in this park
* Going into one of the East Village Precincts with my biggest smile and please be nice to me look on my face while asking the cops if they would take some pictures with us for the game. (they did -– never underestimate the power of boobies in a tight tee shirt)
* Following a guy with tons of tattoos carrying 2 bags of garbage to a graveyard (riiiight)
Did I mention I love NYC? Only in New York could we do a Scavenger Hunt where every area we walked in downtown was filled with people ready to help us with our more outrageous tasks (and this being the East Village most were low key artiste hippie types with lots of “I wanna help” qualities.”)
All the streets were packed with a wide variety of flavorful different people. I am used to this area because one of my siblings lived here (but more towards Union Square and not Alphabet City)…but I could get around Gramercy Park, Murray Hill, Midtown and the Upper East Side in my sleep. Slowly throughout the years I am becoming more and more familiar with the gloriousness that is Soho, TriBeca, West Village and Greenwich Village and many other cute downtown areas. Ah, I love those areas.
But East Village is a whole other animal in many ways . . . Its a quirky and sometimes downright bizarre place…where some streets are almost quiet and dainty and the others are filled with people 24-7 and lined with bars, quick food joints, and restaurants. What a trip a hunt was around there.
[EVG Flashback] Breaking: Models invade Key Food, hold melons
Originally posted on March 31, 2010...
From an EV Grieve reader:
From an EV Grieve reader:
major fashion photo shoot right now in the produce aisle at key food on ave. a.
i counted 25 models, photographers, make-up artists, security, etc.
they just walked in and started shooting. looks like key food management had no idea.
saw model holding up 2 melons- is this for american apparel? sheesh!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Stump removal in Tompkins Square Park today
That tree that sort of leaned in Crusty Meadow came down during Hurricane Irene...
Today, workers finally removed the remaining stump... as these photos by Bobby Williams show... looks like a grave...
Today, workers finally removed the remaining stump... as these photos by Bobby Williams show... looks like a grave...
Tompkins Square Bagels sign is up
The mosaic sign created by Jim Power went up this afternoon at Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A near 10th Street... We'll have more on the opening date later... We had the first look inside the shop in September.
Here's the interview that we did with owner Christopher Pugliese in July 2010.
Zip Code 10003 has 169 chain stores
Yesterday, we reported on The Center for an Urban Future's fourth annual study ranking the national retailers with the most store locations in New York City.
It's a huge survey and, to be honest, we didn't dig into as much as we usually do. But! Our friend Jen Doll at Runnin' Scared did... and here's a stat that jumps out: The East Village came in third for most chains overall in New York City with 169. (This is just for the 10003 Zip Code that includes Union Square and parts of Fifth Avenue.)
We went back and looked at the 2009 report (PDF), which noted that the 10003 Zip Code had 151 chain stores.
There's no mention of the 10009 Zip.
And No. 1 overall? Zip 10314 in Staten Island with 186 chain stores.
Overall, the report found that the explosion of national chains has slowed somewhat over the past year in New York.
10,000 and counting, still
[EVG Flashback] At Superdive
Originally posted on June 26, 2009...
Superdive opened last night at 200 Avenue A. (So it was Thursday the 25th after all!)
A reader sent me a fairly lengthy e-mail early this morning after a night out at Superdive. The reader started off by saying: "Maybe you can excerpt something useful from this, but I don't know. It just wasn't that interesting." We'll be the judge of that!
To the reader's e-mail:
Superdive opened last night at 200 Avenue A. (So it was Thursday the 25th after all!)
A reader sent me a fairly lengthy e-mail early this morning after a night out at Superdive. The reader started off by saying: "Maybe you can excerpt something useful from this, but I don't know. It just wasn't that interesting." We'll be the judge of that!
To the reader's e-mail:
Upon entering, confronted with a wall of noise. It's *incredibly* loud. You can't make anything out — total wall of noise.
Near the door are some mini kegs stuck in ice. By the window are guys filling mugs from a mini kegerator. Very fratty, all around. Fratty smell, especially.
We try to figure out the bar situation. Confusing. It looks like there is no bar and patrons are just doing whatever, but really there is a bar. It's just surrounded by patrons. We eventually get drinks. My mixed drink is quite strong. This is good, as it took an eternity to get it. It was served by a bartender wearing legwarmers on her arms. As we're trying to secure drinks, we're hit by a blast of flatulence. Did I mention this place is fratty? We get our drinks and head toward the front. The girls here are CUTE.
There is a live band in the back, playing under an enormous lit sign that reads APPLAUSE. The sign is always lit. I do not clap. There is a guy on piano, trying to sing over the noise, and he's accompanied by a drummer. They're playing "When a Man Loves a Woman."
There are plastic cups everywhere.
We go for another round of drinks. We ask how much, and the bartender says "Ummm.... 30?" as if we're bartering. We pay. It seems fair for the amount of drink we're walking away with.
A cringing girlfriend leading her man away from his friends.
A group of girls enter, high-fiving each other. They are cute.
A guy in a yellow shirt starts to lose composure, head in hands. He's had enough beer.
"Thriller" is played (the pianist/drummer are done now). There is cheering, dancing.
And that's about it. We get bored and go for pizza.
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