The main event on East Sixth Street at First Avenue

@JacobDAnderson passes along this info:
Replacing a gas main at 6th St. at 1st Ave. Worker said they'll be done in a couple weeks.

Peeling off the Gin Palace plywood on Avenue A and East Sixth Street

Workers this morning are removing the plywood at the Cienfuegos space on Avenue A and East Sixth Street...

January!

[EVG reader Creature]

And now, via Dave on 7th...





The former El Cobre on the ground floor is gone. The owners decided to change concepts. As Eater pointed out in November, the new space will house an English fish and chips restaurant called Gin Palace, "focusing on gin cocktails and old style English pub fare."

Time Out notes that the latest venture from Ravi DeRossi opens on Wednesday. They got the first look inside ... and report:

Although the bar takes its name from the swank gin joints of 1800s London, the decor channels a steampunk aesthetic with a space-age chandelier crafted from green-neon-lit bars, brass bands and light doodads; black-patent-leather walls; and a ceiling painted to resemble watch gears.

So, if we have this Cienfuegos stuff straight (which, we probably don't, as we've never been inside) ... the Cuban-influenced rum bar upstairs remains the same... ditto for the bitters tasting room called Amor y Amargo, which replaced the sandwich shop Carteles. And the main space will now serve fish 'n' chips.

Previously.

Breaking: Huge truck parks outside the David Schwimmer mansion — but why?

A tipster passes along the following photo from outside David Schwimmer's incoming home at 331 E. Sixth St.:

Per the tipster:

Another "what is it?" moment ... as the Schwimmer Shack gets a monster delivery (of delicious shakes and tasty burgers, maybe?). Note that the huge truck is heading in the wrong direction.

Shakes and burgers aside ... what else might be inside...?

Construction starts this week at Karl Fischer-designed apartment building on Third Avenue

That is according to the always-reliable worker on the scene here at 74-84 Third Ave., the former home to Nevada Smith's, Yummy House and a parking lot.

The temporary parking lot closed up last week...







...and a little credit for Karl...



Anyway, the worker said digging will commence this week for this...

As The Real Deal reported, the corner will one day house an 82,000-square-foot, nine-story residential building with 94 units. And retail.

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

Celebrating the host countries of Euro 2012

Euro 2012 — "the planet's second-most-important soccer tournament," as ESPN put it — kicked off last Friday... and in honor of host countries Poland and Ukraine ... East Village resident (and EVG reader) James C. Taylor created this Euro 2012 poster...


[Click image to enlarge]

Per James: "What better occasion to celebrate the host nations' historic presence in the East Village and significant contribution to the neighborhood?"

Rudy Volcano now open on Avenue C

A Rudy Volcano store opened Memorial Day weekend at 167 Avenue C near East 10th Street ... here's the official news release that arrived in the EV Grieve inbox this past weekend...

Rudy Volcano’s stores have been hubs of their communities for over a decade. Originally from Guatemala, and with a special interest in the arts and crafts of Latin America, Mr. Volcano builds on a wide-ranging background, a keen eye, a delight in clothing and cloth from foreign climes, a knack for discovering and nurturing indigenous talents around the world, and the joy of sharing his discoveries with a devoted customer base.

Rudy’s stores, their merchandise, ever-changing inventory and fast window displays, reflect his holistic vision. Rudy Volcano businesses are eco-responsive, devoted to fair trade practices, to organic materials, to one-of-a-kind garments and crafts, and to developing ongoing relationships with creative artisans and neighbors alike. Each store is a meeting place for people from a myriad of cultures, for artists and artisans, for performers of every kind, environmentalists and tame animals.

There's another location in Jackson Heights.

Things that you cannot make up on Third Avenue: Yogurt Crazy!

Hahahahaha.

We've gone Yogurt Crazy!

Sorry! Seems about right. Hardware store closes (in January 2010). FroYo store opens ... here on Third Avenue between 12th Street and 11th Street.

And that name! Yogurt Crazy. Yes. It's crazy.

La Betola now open on East Sixth Street

As we first pointed out back on March 19, a new espresso bar was coming soon to 514 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B ... (read that post here) ...

The cafe with a handful of seats opened on Saturday. Hilary on 6th, who sent the above photo, gives it high marks... Another reader noted that the proprietors, John and Jessie, will be featuring the work of local artists on the cafe walls. First up: photographer Erica Read.

Didn't hear about other things, such as type of coffee they serve, food and WiFi... will swing by for a report later... Meanwhile, if you go, then let us know what you think...

A Nicoletta for every window

Just noting that the signs are in the window now for Nicoletta, the incoming, high-endish pizzeria on Second Avenue at 10th Street ...







The place reportedly opens Friday, per Diner's Journal...

Details from Diner's Journal on Thursday:

[Chef Michael White] will serve 12- and 16-inch pies to eat in or take out. The tables in the restaurant, a high-ceilinged box in wood and brick with 62 seats inside and 38 on the sidewalk, are fitted with little metal sockets in which the stems of cantilevered pizza stands are placed, so a pizza does not take up table space.

Last month, CB3 OK'd a sidewalk cafe totaling 17 tables and 37 seats split between Second Avenue and 10th Street. Expect a mob out there this summer.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cafe Centosette closes on Second Avenue

Former Cafe Centosette space becoming a fancy-pants pizza place

The Feast of Corpus Christi

Earlier today, parishioners of the St. Stanislaus Bishop And Martyr Roman Catholic Church on East Seventh Street celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi with a march through the East Village...











Always shocked to see any procession around here these days not related to a pub crawl.

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Lynch Pig in Tompkins Square Park today

The first of six bands that played in Tompkins Square Park today for Puke Island. Good times.

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Week in Grieview

TenEleven is closing on Avenue C (Tuesday)

Another for rent sign at the Amato Opera (Monday)

Tompkins Square Park loses another tree (Friday)

New hotel checks into 147 First Avenue (Monday)

Blood outside Fine Fare (Sunday)

Movies return to Tompkins Square Park this summer (Thursday)

Looking at the front of 100 Avenue A (Wednesday)

We interview two 7 year olds about books, Starbucks (Thursday)

How about this mural for the Houston-Bowery mural wall? (Friday)

The parking apocalypse on East Ninth Street (Wednesday)

Bite Me Best closes on Avenue C (Thursday)

Lot on East Third Street in contract (Wednesday)

White Plains bar owner taking over Friend House on Third Avenue (Wednesday)

34 Avenue A still a mystery (Tuesday)

Supper and Lil' Frankie's are turning 10 (Thursday ... and thanks to them for giving two EVG readers VIP tickets for tonight's anniversary party at Webster Hall)

Puke Island this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park

Via the EV Grieve inbox...

This Sunday... Tompkins Square Park will host the 2012 edition of “Puke Island”, an afternoon of FREE punk/rock/metal music. The outdoor all-ages event will be from 2-6 PM. Scheduled to perform (with set-times):

Lynch Pigs (2 PM)
Miscegenator (2:40 PM)
(A)Truth – (3:20 PM)
Mongrel Bitch (4 PM)
Truth In Needles (4:40 PM)
Alekhine’s Gun (5:20 PM)

Updated: Memorial for murder victim on East Fifth Street

There is a memorial on East Fifth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D near the site of Friday night's fatal stabbing. CBS New York has more details on what transpired. A "nasty fight" broke out between a boyfriend and girlfriend. That's when 31-year-old Corey Capers, a relative of the woman, intervened. The boyfriend then allegedly stabbed Capers to death and fled the scene.

According to CBS, "Police have identified the boyfriend and said that they are close to an arrest."

Meanwhile, a reader sent along the above photo, noting one of the inscriptions - "you lost your life trying to save another."

Updated 2 p.m.

The Post reports that the woman was the aunt of Capers; the Daily News says that the woman was his grandmother. Gothamist posted a photo of Capers (left) and the suspect, who police identified as 47-year-old Carl Knox, aka Abdul Hakim ...



Capers reportedly has a 5-year-old son and was engaged to be married.

Updated 6:01 am. June 11:

The Daily News reports that Knox has been in and out of state prison since 1986. "His rap sheet lists more than 25 arrests, including for such serious charges as rape, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, police said."

Previously.

Today in Tompkins Square Park

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Noted

The Post today cites Department of Transportation records that show there were 754 bike-car collisions in the five boroughs during the last three months of 2011.

Brooklyn had the most collisions of any borough with 285 crashes while Manhattan had 229. Per the paper: "The highest concentration of bike-car crashes in all of the city was on the Upper East Side, which had 26. The West Villlage had 21 crashes, and the East Village and Midtown East, each had 19."

[Updated] Report: 31-year-old man stabbed to death on East Fifth Street

[Reader submitted]

Multiple readers have noted that the NYPD has continued to block off parts of Avenue C this morning. According to Gothamist, a 31-year-old man was stabbed to death. "[T]he incident happened before 3 A.M. in front of 737 East 5th Street. Police found the 30-year-old victim unconscious and unresponsive with a stab wound to the chest."

The address is between Avenue C and Avenue D.

More information to follow as it become available.

Gothamist reported that the stabbing is being treated as a homicide. This will mark the first homicide in the 9th Precinct in 2012. According to CompStat, there was one homicide in the 9th Precinct in 2011. (Most current CompStat report is here — PDF)

Updated 10:40 a.m.:
Avenue C and East Fourth Street and Fifth Street are back open, EVG reader AC points out...



AC said that detectives are going door to door now on Avenue C.

A crime scene unit remains on the scene.





Updated 6:51 p.m.:

FOX News is reporting this:

Police said the victim was part of a dispute between his aunt and her boyfriend.

According to authorities, the boyfriend fled the scene after the stabbing and are looking for him.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Tompkins Square Middle School carnival is today

Celebrating the 10th year of the school...

Fireflies!

We spotted the 1st fireflies of summer in Tompkins Square Park last night. Visit your local park this weekend to see them while u still can!

— New Yorkers 4 Parks (@NY4P) June 8, 2012

Yes. Before the BEES get them!

A song for you to roller skate to this weekend

Secret Service with "Oh, Susie" from 1979.

Dead tree removal in Tompkins Square Park today

Here's how the once-majestic elm in Tompkins Square Park looked at the end of the day yesterday... after workers took down the majority of the diseased tree...


[Bobby Williams]

Workers removed the rest of the tree today...


[Robert Miner]







Top three photos by Bobby Williams.

The CBGB biopic will have authentic toilets

A few more details today about the CBGB biopic via the Savannah Morning News ...

• Crews are continuing to build the set that will replicate CBGB in a Savannah studio. "The actual bar — and toilets — of iconic club CBGB will be flown here and installed." (Ed note: And where have the toilets been in recent years...?)

• "There's also a lowered area where producers will shoot false exteriors of the Bowery, with virtual New York looking north across Louisville Road, west of downtown Savannah."

• "The open extras call for “CBGB” is 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday at Meddin Studios, 2315 Louisville Road. Producers are looking for music lovers, musicians, motorcyclists, 1970s car owners and people with an overall ’70s look."

Read the whole article here.

[Photo: Getty images via New York]

About Max Fish in Asbury Park

The Post has a feature today on the Asbury Park branch of Max Fish... which includes this "tale of the tape" ...



The article quotes Deb O'Nair, one-time keyboardist for the Fuzztones who now spends time in Asbury Park.

"The days I was hanging out in [Manhattan’s] Max Fish, it was all artists and musicians. Now that neighborhood feels like a big NYU dormitory."

Meanwhile, Max Fish owner Uli Rimkus doesn't have much to say on the future of the original bar on Ludlow Street.

"Right now, I'm surviving day by day," she says. But at least she isn't worried that her new neighbors will call in complaints to 311 this summer. Pointing toward the ocean, she says, "They're fish."

Previously on EV Grieve:
The art evolution of Ulli Rimkus and Max Fish

From Tin Pan Alley to Max Fish

Angel Ortiz decking out T-shirts on East 11th Street

Shawn Chittle came across graffiti artist Angel Ortiz aka LA 11 last night on East 11th Street near Avenue B...









He told Shawn that the T-shirt(s) will be part of an exhibit opening tonight titled Who's on Deck?

Per the Sacred Gallery website:

Who's on Deck? A Graffed out skate deck art show. Two NY street artists take old skateboard decks which have been ridden on the streets of NYC & left discarded and bring them back to life for all to see. There will also be a small photographic exhibition from Erica Reade. Exhibition opens Friday 8-11pm

The exhibit will be up through June at the Sacred Gallery NYC, 424 Broadway (second floor) between Canal and Howard.

Behold the rear of the Schwimmer mansion

Seems like just yesterday that David Schwimmer's dream home at 331 E. Sixth St. was just a hole in the ground... like in February...

EV Grieve reader weigone, who took the above shot, has some updates from the backside for us...







Also, per weigone: "I could've SWORN I heard Schwimmer's voice. That was the week when it was rumored that he'd visit."

Previously.

New owners, hours in store for Flea Market Cafe on Avenue A

[Image via]

We continue to look at some of the items on this month's CB3/SLA agenda on June 18. According to documents on the CB3 website (PDF!), the principals behind L'Orange Bleue on Broome Street will be taking over the Flea Market Cafe on Avenue A between St. Mark's and East Ninth Street. (L'Orange Bleue, a Moroccan-French restaurant, closed last year after a 14-year run.)

The documents show that the new proposed hours are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. So apparently the new variation of this cafe will be open for breakfast and lunch. And, at least based on the application, it doesn't appear that the menu might change too much: The principals describe the food here as "French Bistro Cuisine." (Not sure about a name change. The application reads, "Trade name (DBA): Flea Market Cafe.")

As for their old place on Broome Street, New York magazine described it this way: "L'Orange Bleue offers a cheery balance of tempered exoticism, local Eurocharm, and American thrift."