Markand Thakar

You may not know Markand Thakar, though it's likely that you will recognize his work. Several of his paintings adorn the walls of Sophie's on East Fifth Street as well as at Mona's on Avenue B.

Thakar, who was born and raised in New York, is 82. You can read about his life and work and view his art at his website, The Skunk Museum & Library.

The site is also full of his writings. Thomas D. Ward, who took the top and bottom photos on this page, offered this: "Those interested in a first-hand account of the New York art world from mid-century to the present will certainly find much to ponder."

You may also appreciate his vivid, street-level accounts of a native New Yorker in "Noo Yawk, New York." (You can access that work here.)

In addition to the website, he distributes his writing via pamphlets at the two bars the old-fashioned way ...

[EVG]

Depending on the day or time, you might even find him sitting at the bar at Sophie's or Mona's. (He's particularly fond of the Tuesday night jazz sessions at Mona's.) Why not say hello.

[Photos by Thomas D. Ward]

New listing for 34 Avenue A

Back in August, 34 Avenue A hit the market as a rental via Coldwell Banker Commercial ...

Of course, there's a long recent history here, from Mo Pitkin's to Ace & Eights to a CB3 smackdown.

Anyway, there's now a new listing at Living New York ...

Here are the details:

Full Built out Turnkey Restaurant for Lease/Sale - Prime East Village Avenue A Location!
34 Avenue A between 2nd and 3rd Street

Originally the Famous Mo Pitkins Performance Space Venue!

Fully Built out Turnkey opportunity for a unique, cool space.

Fully built 1 or 2- story restaurant space available leased together or separately.
3000 Sqft + 1500 basement. Loaded with charm and character this space features high original tin ceilings, exposed brick, floor to ceiling windows and plenty of natural light..

Ground Floor - 1,500 Sqft + full 1500 sqft Basement built out as a bar/ restaurant with banquet seating and full kitchen including commercial appliances, beer taps, walk ins, security system, Ice maker, etc…
$15,000/mo

2nd floor 1,500 Sqft Large open space with platform for performance use, Large Bar and glassed in front Lounge area.
$7,500 /mo

Total Rent $22,500/mo
Key money $250,000

Or you can just buy the whole fucking building. That possibility is mentioned at the bottom of the listing. No details on the price. Living had it at $4.65 million back in May.

Regardless, securing a liquor license will be a challenge.

As Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo reported back in August about the rental:

“We don’t think you can get a liquor license at this point because of so much negative history,” said Debra Stelnik, a broker for Coldwell Banker, noting her client is growing desperate to bring in a new tenant.

In any event, it has been awhile since we've been inside the place... and Living New York has some photos...

Looks like someone from Aces & Eights left behind the Jäger machine!

Joe Strummer died 9 years ago today

Joe Strummer died on this date in 2002. He reportedly had an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. He was 50.

In November 2003, REVOLT painted a mural in honor of the former Clash frontman on the side of Niagara on Seventh Street at Avenue A. (You can watch a video of the making of this here.)


Since then, I've taken far too many photos of the mural, which REVOLT updated in February 2009...


Look, Smokin' Joe! (Eh, sorry...)



There's always something comforting about seeing the mural there... looking rather calm about anything going on around it...




Let's end this with a Strummer solo number from Aki Kaurismäki's "I Hired a Contract Killer" from 1990...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Joe Strummer gets a splash of Niagra

Joe Strummer gets a new look, skyline

More about January's CB3/SLA meeting: New tenants for Angels & Kings and that kind of weird sushi-Jello shot place on the Bowery

[Via]

Let's pick up from yesterday's post... actually, let's just incorporate that into one big post...

(Meeting time: Monday, January 9 at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence, 200 East 5th Street at Bowery.)

Here are some of the items... the whole shebang is here.

Sidewalk Café Applications

• Hair of the Dog (168 Orchard St Partners Inc), 168 Orchard St

Awesome name.

• 5 Napkin Burger (Bizet LLC), 150 E 14th St.

Coming soon to the southwest corner of 14th Street and Third Avenue ...

Corporate Change

• La Vie (Le Cave LLC) 64 E 1st St (op)

Coming on the one year anniversary in which one of La Vie's owners inexplicably called District Manager Susan Stetzer a "racist" during a committee meeting. (Read about it here.)

Applications within Resolution Areas

• To be Determined, 6 St Marks Pl 1st Fl (wb)

• BK's, 115 Ave C (op)

The former place called Porch...

• JB Sushi (Marco's 88 Inc), 15 St Marks Pl (up/op)

• Bad Burger (Violily LLC), 171 Ave A (wb)

The news release announcing the opening here promised that they would seek "to eventually serve Craft Beer and a Sommelier-honed Wine List."

Alterations/Upgrades

• Goat Town (511 E 5th Street LLC), 511 E 5th St (up/op)

?????

New Liquor License Applications

• BareBurger (Bare City Two LLC), 85 2nd Ave (wb)

What's coming to the former Sin Sin space at East Fifth Street.

• To be Determined, 125-127 1st Ave (op)

We have some info on here, but will hold on to it until we verify a few things...

• Café Khufu (Café Khufu LLC), 61 E 3rd St (wb)

???

• Wisemen (355 WM Restaurant Inc), 355 Bowery (op)

Oh no! Not that kind of weird sushi-Jello shot place that we recently wrote about... they have been closed of late ("kitchen renovation").

• Calliope (67 Second Avenue LLC), 84 E 4th St (op)

This is the address for Belcourt ... Chef Matthew Hamilton recently moved on from here, as the Times reported ...

• Tinks Bake House Inc, 102 E 7th St (wb)

That incoming bakery between Avenue A and First Avenue must want a license to pair wine and stuff with their desserts...

• Zi'Peps, 424 E 9th St (wb)

The newish Italian place on East Ninth Street ...

• Keybar, 500 E 11th St (op)

Well, Keybar has been trying to move from its current East 13th Street home (last month to 14 Avenue B) ... and now to Angels & Kings? The onetime emo hotspot showed Penn State football games this past fall... We have a message to the A&K folks to find out more about their future...

• A&P Restaurant Corp, 245-247 E Houston St aka 190 Norfolk St (op)

Hmm... changes coming to the Remedy Diner?

Do you have what it takes to be a bouncer at Coyote Ugly?

[Image via Gothamist]

Well, if so, then don't tell us... they're hiring... here's the ad via Craigslist...

We are looking to hire very personable and responsible, experienced bouncers with a security license. If you are interested, please show up for an interview anytime after 6pm on Monday, Tuesday, or wednesday. Ask for Steve.
Coyote Ugly Saloon
153 1st Avenue
ny ny 10003
212-477-4431

Test question: Do we serve water in this bar?

Noted

[Saturday on the Bowery at Stanton, by Bobby Williams]

Welcome inside The Bowery Diner, an all-American homage that updates the 1950s comfort food institution in all the right ways (yes, your diner now has a raw bar), slated to open in early January. (UrbanDaddy)

A wing and a prayer

Tompkins Square Park today, by Bobby Williams.

Sad-looking tree still looks sad on East Sixth Street

24 hours after spotting one lone tree for sale outside Sunny and Annie's on Avenue B and Sixth Street... the poor thing remains...

I would buy it. Except that I already have a tree. And my tree never gets along with other trees.

And don't you think the tree is shaped like the Grinch's head?

Beef and booze mania on the January CB3/SLA docket: Bad Burger, 5 Napkin Burger and BareBurger

The CB3/SLA Licensing Committee meeting docket for January is out now...

(Meeting time: Monday, January 9 at 6:30 pm — JASA/Green Residence, 200 East 5th Street at Bowery.)

Here's a quick look at a few of the items... we'll have more on it tomorrow...

Sidewalk Café Applications

• 5 Napkin Burger (Bizet LLC), 150 E 14th St.

Coming soon to the southwest corner of 14th Street and Third Avenue ...

Applications within Resolution Areas

• Bad Burger (Violily LLC), 171 Ave A (wb)

The news release announcing the opening here promised that they would seek "to eventually serve Craft Beer and a Sommelier-honed Wine List."

New Liquor License Applications

• BareBurger (Bare City Two LLC), 85 2nd Ave (wb)

What's coming to the former Sin Sin space at East Fifth Street.

• Tinks Bake House Inc, 102 E 7th St (wb)

That incoming bakery between Avenue A and First Avenue must want a license to pair wine and stuff with their desserts...

Vampire Freaks closing on Avenue A

As you can see from the signs sent along via a reader, the retail outlet for goths, punks and everyone else into skull-and-crossbones apparel is closing... Haven't heard just yet if they'll continue as an online-only entity like before opening here between 11th Street and 12th Street in the fall of 2008...

[Hat tip to Greg Masters for the photos]

And we can build this thing together, stand in stone forever, nothing's gonna stop us now

This morning in Tompkins Square Park. By Dave on 7th.

Headline inspiration here.

Breaking: Japadog opening on Jan. 5; lines to start forming Jan. 2

[Friday outside the Japadogster home, by Bobby Williams]

Grub Street hears that the Japadog location is opening at 30 St. Mark's Place on Jan. 5. (They have a copy of the menu too.)

No word just yet when the lines will start forming ... so we'll go with Jan. 2. Bring your blankets!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cue the long lines: Japadog opening first New York City location on St. Mark's Place

Today, we're 4

Today marks the four-year anniversary of EV Grieve.

Many thanks for being part of this — reading, commenting, sharing, laughing, crying, making "Is that Lady Gaga?" jokes. Thank you for helping inspire me to keep the site going. Thank you for whatever you do to help keep this neighborhood interesting.

And now, on this occasion, an inside look at how we create a post.

First, we place our process information in the relationship below.

(Conveyor speed of _____ feet per hour) X (Dwell time of _____ hour) = (Heat zone length of _____ feet)

... and, well, you get the idea...

UPDATED:
Thank you to Rosie Gray for the nice write-up today at Runnin' Scared. You can read that post here.

Envisioning a new-look First Avenue nightlife scene

For better or worse, changes are likely for three nightlife establishments on the east side of First Avenue between First Street and Second Street. Let's take a look.

On the corner, there's the long-dormant Cafe Rama space...

In the fall, The Bean announced that it would take over this space. Since then, however, The Bean decided to focus on their new locations on Second Avenue at Third Street and First Avenue at Ninth Street instead. The space is now for rent.

Meanwhile, people have been buzzing about the anticipated departure of Lucky Cheng's (and Bento Burger around the bend on Second Street).

[JVNY]

As Grub Street first reported, owner Hayne Suthon is planning to relocate to Midtown. And her First Avenue empire is on the blocks. (By the way, if you haven't already, then you should really read Jeremiah Moss's post on the recent history of this address at Vanishing New York.)

And then there is Sutra, the lounge-club owned by Community Board 3 member Ariel Palitz.

As we first reported on Nov. 7, Palitz decided to put the space on the market "to explore its value and interest."

So that's three of seven businesses on one short block where we may see some changes.

The possibilities are probably endless. Which isn't always a good thing.

The last holiday tree for sale at Sunny and Annie's

Aww, it's OK little fella. Someone will take you home... Sixth Street and Avenue B last night.

A red-tailed hawk atop the Big Red Machine HQ

Spotted at the Hells Angels HQ on East Third Street today... the hawk had the good sense not to sit on the bench out front...

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Today in suspicious-looking items bound in trash bags on Seventh Street

Between Avenue B and Avenue A. Photos by Dave on 7th.

Perhaps a pharaoh? Or a planking casualty?

145 Avenue C sells for $9.7 million

A reader told us that residents of 649 E. Ninth St. (aka 145 Avenue C) recently received notification that their building had been sold. (Indeed, Streeteasy notes that the sale was for $9.7 million.)

According to the reader, an entity named Ninth and C LLC now owns the building, but that the previous owner, Marolda Properties, would remain the managing agent of the building.

City property records show that the address for Ninth and C LLC is in Houston.

The address listed is 1919 Post Oak Park Drive, home of the Post Oak Park Luxury Apartments.

Per the Post Oak Park website: "Enjoy the convenience of a premier Uptown address while living in a community that provides a peaceful retreat from the bustle of the city. ... Experience luxury living in your own private sanctuary from the outside world overlooking streams, ponds, scenic gardens and a five-acre wooded park."

Winther Investment, Inc., "an upscale multifamily lifestyle development company" based in Houston, owns Post Oak Park.

Winther, whose address is 1919 Post Oak Park Drive, has "upscale multifamily lifestyle developments located throughout the United States," including Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Little Rock and Columbus, Ohio.

The Winther website describes most of these properties as an "oasis" of "luxury" in the "shadow" of the respective downtowns. Most of their properties appear to be new. Not sure just yet what Winther's interest is in 145 Avenue C. (An investment? Chance to expand the portfolio?) We're still connecting the dots.

According to the Winther website, the privately held company "excels at identifying the ideal urban setting, and then carefully integrates neo-traditional architecture, resort-style site design and lush terraced landscaping themes to create a warm and inviting community to live, work and play."

Perhaps Winther had identified 145 Avenue C as a future fit for "resort-style site design."

The New Charlie's closes on Avenue C

[JVNY]

Back in 2008, the changing economics of the neighborhood forced the 41-year-old Yes! This Is Charlie's out of business on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The neighborhood favorite variety store that sold a little bit of everything — greeting cards! activity books for kids! school supplies! — closed on March 31, 2008. (Read about the store at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York and The Villager.)

As manager Danny Rodriguez told The Villager: "Mostly outsiders are moving in, and they couldn’t care less about us. All the new shops don't cater to the people here. You feel like an outsider in your own neighborhood. To be honest, I don't think they even want us here. They would love it if little by little we would just get out so they can move into our apartments."

However, with help from some loyal customers, Charlie's was able to relocate to 167 Avenue C several months later in June 2008. (There's more on the move via Jeremiah's Vanishing NY here.)

[JVNY]

Unfortunately, we noticed that the store had seemingly disappeared the last time we walked on this stretch of Avenue C... Indeed, a salon has now taken over the space... advertising a Grand Opening as of yesterday...

As a longtime customer told The Villager upon hearing that Charlie's was closing in March 2008: "I've been coming here since I was 7 or 8," said a 46-year-old Hispanic woman. "We need to have our community stores. This is what keeps the neighborhood healthy. There is so much greed that is destroying the neighborhood."

The Sunburnt Cow hopes to reopen by New Year's Eve

Last Thursday, as we first reported, the NYPD closed the Sunburnt Cow on Avenue C for "Criminal sale and possession of controlled substances — marijuana." On Friday evening, we received a statement from the owners of The Sunburnt Cow on Avenue C:

The Sunburnt Cow will open this weekend and honor all reservations and specials as usual, including the Endless Brunch. After Sunday, December 18th, we will close and remain so until the police complete their investigation. We plan to reopen in time for our annual New Year’s celebration.

We are working with the authorities to bring about a swift and just resolution to this issue and want to reiterate that we had no prior knowledge of illegal drug activity on our premises. We do not and will not condone, endorse or tolerate such behavior at any of our establishments.

Yesterday, a rep for The Sunburnt Cow confirmed that the Australian-themed bar-restaurant would remain closed, with an eye on reopening before New Year's Eve.

Previously.

Xe May Sandwich Shop now open on St. Mark's Place

The Xe May Sandwich Shop we spotted a few weeks ago opened yesterday at 96 St. Mark's Place just east of First Avenue ...

A worker told us it was a Vietnamese sandwich shop... Well, the menu is broader than that... Here's a look at the menu via their website:

Let us know if you try the place...

7-Eleven playing hide-n-seek again; filling shelves

We spotted workers bringing in the goods to the 7-Eleven on the Bowery yesterday ... Later in the day, workers covered up the windows (again) to ward off any snoops...

Despite the barriers, we got a glance inside via our Tom Cruise approved, "Ghost Protocol" bungee kit that we attached to the top of 52E4 — the 15 floors of condo on the Bowery... we snapped one photo before dropping the camera and straining our trapezius... Look, drinks in the fridges!

Anyway, the fellow carting in the colas yesterday said that he had no idea when the place was opening...

Cheerful people who can walk and stand for a long period of time wanted for the The Standard East Village restaurant

One of our Twitter friends sent us this Craigslist ad posted yesterday afternoon... the "open call" is tomorrow from noon to 2 p.m. at the former Cooper Square Hotel...

THE STANDARD, EAST VILLAGE is seeking experienced Servers, Bartenders, Barbacks, Bussers and Hosts for all shifts in our Restaurant.

Candidates must have experience in high volume restaurants, and steady work history.

About you:

• You have superb communication skills.

• You have a cheerful and outgoing personality.

• You have a sincere desire to serve guests

• You know how to be discreet.

• You are organized and can multi-task without breaking a sweat.

• You thrive in a stylish, fast-paced environment.

• You can walk and stand for a long period of time.

• You have knowledge of Micros.

• You have permission to work in the United States.

We seek highly social and confident individuals capable of relating to our fashion & media-based clientele and who will flourish in our hip, artistic, fast-paced, downtown environment. Our ideal candidate is experienced, reliable, upbeat and friendly; can handle pressure well; and thrives in a high volume, high energy environment.

To be considered please come to 25 Cooper Sq. Wednesday December 21st between 12-2pm to fill out an application and meet some of the team.

About us:
André Balazs Properties is a collection of innovative hotels and residences that provide distinctive experiences for today's traveler with discerning, confident tastes. Visionary hotelier André Balazs has conceived of a new generation of classic properties — soulful and utterly original — that have been established as unrivalled market leaders in the United States. Each is united not only by a carefully considered sense of place, but an unwavering commitment to detail, atmosphere and pioneering design.