See this 'rarely seen duplex' at 1 Avenue B

Well, I knew the units at 1 Avenue B on East Houston were nice... but not quite like this. The listing for the "rarely seen Penthouse One" is now on the market...

First, a little descriptive listing action via Douglas Elliman:

The fob-keyed elevator opens onto a private landing and gracious gallery foyer that leads into a stunning sun-filled great room boasting 19-foot ceilings, soaring floor-to-ceiling windows with electric shades, custom gas fireplace, Lutron lighting system and a 63" TV home theater system.

The entire main level is bordered by a beautifully landscaped 2,618 sf private wrap-around terrace with built-in hot tub, outdoor grilling station, and unmatched open sky views.

Additional features of the home include dual zone central HVAC and Humidification System, Brazilian walnut flooring throughout, laundry room with side-by-side Whirlpool washer/dryer and an abundance of storage space, and extensive security features. Enjoy endless summers dining under your Ipe pergola draped in wisteria or relish in the unparalleled views, light and space throughout the year.

... as you can see, there's even a painting that pays homage to the gas station that used to be on this corner...







Asking price: $5.95 million.

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Then!

[Via]

Now!

Crunch announces itself to the Bowery

As we first reported on May 31, Crunch is moving from its current home on Lafayette Street to the Bowery and East Fourth Street — specifically the retail space at 2 Cooper Square... The storefronts here have been vacant since the apartments hit the market in 2009 ...



And in other gym news... Crossfit East River opens today on East Ninth Street near Avenue C.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Crunch moving to the Bowery; CB3 OKs New York Sports Club on Avenue A

Cemusa newsstand now open for action on the Bowery

[Bobby Williams]

The Cemusa newsstand is now open on the Bowery at East Second Street... offering most of the comforts (cigarettes, 5-hour ENERGY® shots) of the nearby 7-Eleven, minus the GO-GO Taquitos® and Spicy Wing Zings, among other items.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Newsstand in the works for the Bowery and Second Street

The Bowery just got a little more bland

A Picnic for Second Avenue

Renovations continue over at 117 Second Ave. at East Seventh Street... And as you probably figured, Song 7.2, the Korean joint in the corner space, isn't returning. The place closed in early January for renovations, with a sign noting they'd be back open on Jan. 19. ... workers subsequently gutted the interior ...

Now signage has arrived for the new eatery here... a place called Picnic...



We don't know much about Picnic, other than that they will serve American comfort food like meatballs, sandwiches and macaroni and cheese, as the Local reported in April.

No word on who the owner is ...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Storefront renovation for 117 Second Ave.; last call for Song 7.2?

Puke Island 2013

In Tompkins Square Park this afternoon... Puke Island 2013... The Minor Cuts...



... and The Graveyard School...





And at the pop-up piano... some mindless bloodletting.



Photos by Bobby Williams.

Goggla has some photos here.

A run for Harold Hunter

In case you were wondering about the people running down St. Mark's Place tonight... then on East 10th Street... it is the 7th annual NYC Bridge Runners "Legends Never Die" run ... "The event pays homage to the late Harold Hunter, one of the city’s most beloved and admired skateboarders/actors/cultural pioneers."

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Catch of the day (night)

EVG Facebook friend Theresa Kimm shared this photo from last night... this fellow caught this (striped bass?) in the East River just south of the Williamsburg Bridge. "He was very happy that people stopped by to look at his prize."

'Witches Night Out' this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park

[Damn Broads via @nycfreeconcerts]

Just finding out that there's a free show in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon... wish I had known earlier... Via the Facebook invite:

Call it "The 'Anti' Punk Island", call it A WITCHES' NIGHT OUT takes over Tompkins Square Park, this, the third in an ongoing series of yearly free shows in Tompkins Square Park, this time brings you some of the best female fronted Punk around! BANDS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED!!!

2PM NO MORE VICTIMS
2:40 THE MINOR CUTS
3:20 AGITATOR
4PM DAMN BROADS
4:40 COJOBA
5:20 THE GRAVEYARD SCHOOL

And a report from our special Lawn Correspondent...

Loud punk show causes all sunbathers on grass to pack up and leave the park. Mohawks and wine coolers are not mixing well.
— Eden Brower (@edenbrower) June 9, 2013

Random Sunday afternoon Citi Bike docking station check

Zero bikes available at East 13th Street and Avenue A ... and two on East Ninth Street at Avenue C....

Week in Grieview

[Lafayette and Bond via a reader]

The Blarney Cove closing at the end of the month (Monday)

Workers start dismantling Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church (Wednesday)

Ben Shaoul buys 98 Avenue A (Friday)

Free movies returning to Tompkins Square Park (Monday)

Someone keeps vandalizing this Citi Bikes docking station (Wednesday)

A Low Life 7 recap from Tompkins Square Park (Monday)

Zoubi, famous East Village cat, needs dental surgery (Monday)

Danny Lama shares stories of the Fillmore East and the Toilet (Wednesday)

Facebook moving to 770 Broadway, aka Midtown South (Tuesday)

Development back in action for 14th and C (Thursday)

Captain America saves Kiehl's (Tuesday)

Church of Scientology members must see "After Earth" a minimum of 3 times (Thursday)

Looking at prices for the luxury apartments at former nursing home (Monday)

Betola Espresso Bar relocates to Brooklyn (Monday)

TREEMAN (Wednesday)

Where did he leave his shoes on Avenue B? (Thursday)

OK, gross (Wednesday)

Supercuts leaving St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

Peter Stuyvesant Post Office closure all but a done deal (Tuesday)

Former East Village topless advocate now in Philadelphia (Thursday)

... and, sorry, we did NOT have a story about the Nestle Nesquik Mobile parked on East Ninth Street yesterday ...


[William Klayer]

Tompkins Square Park Summer

Photo by Susan Schiffman

Joy awaits you on East Second Street

Hurry!

Spotted outside Le Petit Versailles near Avenue C.

RIP Arturo Vega

[Photo by Curt Hoppe from March 2013]

Arturo Vega, the artistic director for the Ramones who created their iconic logo, has died. He was 65. Legs McNeil first reported the death on his Facebook page:

RIP: ARTURO VEGA: 1948-2013 Sleep gently my dear friend, you were the must optimistic, jubilant and fun pal anyone could wish for. I don’t know what the world will be like without, nor do I want to even imagine it… But I know you will find eternal happiness wherever you end up….I love you Arturo.

No other details are available at the moment.

At least 1 participant in the World Naked Bike Ride took a Citi Bike

So today was the annual World Naked Bike Ride day... and EVG contributor peter radley took a few shots of the riders on Second Avenue ... and at least one pants-clad participant took advantage of the Cite Bikes bike share program for the ride.





Oh, and there's video too... via EVG reader Kevin...

Below the clouds

A relaxing afternoon at the New York Marble Cemetery

Open Day today at the New York City Marble Cemetery on East Second Street... Bobby Williams stopped by for a moment to check out the peaceful easy feeling...

'Roofstock' tomorrow at 6th & B Garden

There's a "raise the roof" party tomorrow afternoon from 1-6 at the 6 & B Garden on Avenue B and East Sixth Street...

Per the 6th and B Garden website:

The garden was struck by high winds during the hurricane which brought down our beloved six story tall willow tree which has been a centerpiece of our garden for almost 20 years. Also our stage which has been host to hundreds of free performances for the community lost sections of the roof which exposes it to rain and snow damage.

The willow was cut into pieces by garden members and neighborhood volunteers and the branches and leaves were removed by the NYC Parks Dept. Unfortunately the massive logs from the willow remain in the garden and our stage roof is still broken and must be replaced.

Garden members are raising money to buy materials to replace the roof... For tomorrow's event, several local restaurants donated food (Gruppo, Veniero's, Veselka, among others) ... and there will be music all afternoon... Suggested donation is $10.

Find more info on the Garden's website.

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After Sandy.

[Photo by Mat Gundell]

The New York City Marble Cemetery is open until 5 today on East 2nd Street

Per The New York City Marble Cemetery Facebook page:

We are open today! The rain stopped, the sun came out and the birds are singing. And the cemetery is looking extra green & lush. Come and explore the beautiful cemetery today between 11am 'til 5pm. (Well behaved dogs & children are welcome. Pack a blanket & a picnic, but we do ask that you don't bring frisbies & balls due to the delicacy of the stonework.) We very much look forward to seeing you.

East Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

About the trees at the New York City Marble Cemetery

On the topic of the New York City Marble Cemetery... as we noted Tuesday, workers removed three diseased trees from the historic cemetery on East Second Street...

The Cemetery's Facebook page (funny that doesn't seem so weird) has an explanation about the tree removal:

All three trees were damaged during Super Storm Sandy last October, especially the one leaning over the sidewalk which lost most of its crown. At the time we got specialists in to save the tree and were warned that it might have trouble thriving or even surviving as it would be difficult for it to get enough nourishment from its remaining leaves. We decided it needed to be given a chance. but basically with its immune system so compromised it soon began to show signs of illness losing bark and developing large bare patches on its trunk. Neighbors contacted us to let us know it was in trouble. The other two trees had been showing signs of disease even before the hurricane. the smaller one nearest the gate was hollowed out by disease and the third, the larger one leaning towards the houses, had a problem at its base.

We really hoped that the problem would be small and slow-growing but, when we ordered special tests to check, the results that came back from the lab were that it had a fast growing pathogen attacking it and was, because of the position of the disease, likely to fail. So, very sadly, after spending thousands of dollars in an attempt to save these trees, we ended up having to spend thousands more dollars having to take them down — for safety reasons. Because of the increased danger of them coming down during a storm and their position next to the street we had no choice but to be cautious. We have plans, funds permitting, to plant some new trees in the fall.

We are gladly accepting donations towards the purchasing and planting of new trees — you may visit our website for details of how to donate via Paypal or cheque.

Thank you for understanding, and please know we did everything we could to save those trees. We loved them too!

And how was your rainstorm?

East 13th Street (above) and Tompkins Square Park (below, duh) ...

Rain, rain ...

Photos in Tompkins Square Park by Bobby Williams.

Ahoy! Ahoy! Land, sea and sky

The Skids with "Into the Valley" from 1979.

Rainy day distractions: Here is the 2013 Mermaid Parade Poster

Via the Coney Island Mermaid Parade Facebook page this afternoon:

Hot off the presses, the stunning 2013 Mermaid Parade Poster by Frank Kozik!

To register, find more info, etc., go here.

This morning

Photos by Bobby Williams around 6:30 a.m. ...



And in Tompkins Square Park, a sagging (or whatever) branch was making it difficult to play chess...





...and Gem Spa was (is) ready for the rain...

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

[Bobby Williams]

Developer Ben Shaoul is the new owner of 98 Avenue A, the former theater-turned market at 100 Avenue A. Public records show that an entity called Partners Vii/98 Avenue A Owner LLC purchased the property last month for $15.5 million.

While the name of Shaoul, president of Magnum Real Estate Group, isn't listed on the records... his name appears as the owner of the property on the asbestos abatement flyers that went up this past week.





East Village Farms at 100 Avenue A between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street closed Feb. 7, 2012. Since then, not much of anything has happened inside the space, though the sidewalk does serve as a makeshift shelter.


[March 2013 via Bobby Williams]

Last year, the landlord — Suh, Yon, Pak Associates, Inc. — was proposing to keep the store on the first and second floor, and then add a third and fourth floor for residential use. For whatever reason, the landlord never got this plan approved. Subsequent plans on file with the DOB showed a proposed addition to the back of the building ... and increasing the size of the store at the first and second floors.

Nothing is on file yet with the DOB to indicate either a demolition or new building for the address. However, a listing for the retail spaces that we noted last month provides an idea of what Shaoul and company have in mind:

Size
9,767 sf - Ground Floor
5,850 sf - Basement
*Divisions Accepted

Asking Rent
Upon Request

Currently
Vacant (New Residential Development)

Frontage
127'5" on Avenue A

Notes & Highlights:
• Landlord will deliver vanilla box space and new storefront(s)
• New residential building will be above the retail (40 units)
• Unique large piece of retail space available in the East Village

Here's is the latest rendering... (apparently the Sidewalk doesn't exist in this future)...



For now, the interior looks like this...


[By Edward Arrocha]

Shaoul is currently putting the finishing touches on Bloom 62, the luxury building on Avenue B and East Fifth Street that previously provided end-of-life care for up to 240 low-income elderly residents in the East Village. As Crain's reported yesterday, "Magnum chose the name Bloom 62 to highlight the large amount of green space in the property, including a 5,000-square-foot courtyard, and a well-planted 10,000 square foot roof."

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished