Concern for China Wok on Avenue B

The reliable, quick-serve restaurant at the corner of East Third Street was closed for the second weekend in a row. Signs arrived outside the other day explaining that the closure has to do with "mandatory repairs."



This is often the telltale sign of a DOH closure … though there's nothing on file with the DOH to indicate that this had to do with a health code violation.

Said one neighbor, an EVG reader: "I haven't actually seen anyone go in or out of there since they've been closed. I've known them for 18 years, so I hope it's not another closing."

The Croman-owned 9300 Realty is the property's landlord. Three of the five adjacent Croman storefronts have closed in recent months — Cafe Rakka, Coyi Cafe and the laundromat.

Updated 6:39 a.m.



A reader points out that the sign with the same explanation … and with the same handwriting … is on the gate at Meskel, the Ethiopian restaurant on East Third Street that shares the same building as China Wok.

And now, photos of the moon showing off last night

"As darkness falls on May 11, 2014, the bright waxing gibbous moon shines in between the planet Mars and Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo." Dunno about Mars and Spica, but here's the moon …



Top photos by Bobby Williams … and via Grant Shaffer with a telescope …

[Updated] DOH temporarily closes Hop Devil Grill and the Belgian Room

DOH inspectors came calling on St. Mark's Place Friday… and both the Belgian Room …



… and Hop Devil Grill were temporarily closed for the weekend for unspecified violations (the reports were not online just yet)…



Both spaces have signs on the door noting they are closed "due to electrical issues."


[Photo by Ted Roden]

There isn't any mention of the closures on either bar's website or social media accounts.

Meanwhile, Ton-Up Cafe, which is between The Belgian Room and Hop Devil Grill, is also closed…



Not much info on the sign on the door…



The cafe opened in April 2013 … and serves paninis named in honor of Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry and Elvis.

One of the owners here also operates Falanghina, the pizzeria which remains open at the former Whole Earth Bakery across the street.

Updated 5-13

The Belgian Room and Hop Devil Grill are BACK open.

Mother's Day on Avenue A

Photo today by Jeremiah Moss

A Mother's Day-Mannequin moment at B&H Dairy

EVG Roving Mannequin Photographer Derek Berg spotted the above earlier this afternoon on Second Avenue at East Seventh Street … she (they?) was heading into B&H Dairy …



Turns out that this was a Mother's Day gift …

Week in Grieview

[Performer Leo Gu Gu in front of Eastern Bloc last week via Grant Shaffer]

Murder charge for driver who crashed into East Village Farm & Grocery (Tuesday)

NoHo flea market gutted for new condos (Monday)

New 12-story, mixed-use building in the works for Avenue D (Thursday)

NY Copy & Printing finds a new home after losing lease on East 11th Street (Wednesday)

Dok Suni is closing after 22 years (Tuesday)

Jennifer Blowdryer's East Village (Tuesday)

The hawks of Tompkins Square Park are now parents (Friday)

Out and About with the shopkeepers of Anna (Wednesday)

New hotel in the works at the Whitehouse Hostel on the Bowery (Monday)

The Russ & Daughters Cafe opens (Wednesday)

A look at the exhibit "Dealing With Things Is Tricky" featuring Frank Ape (Sunday)

Perbacco is closed for remodeling (Thursday)

Demolition commences on East 14th Street to make way for two retail-residential complexes (Tuesday)

Honoring Alan Cumming at Theatre 80 (Tuesday)

Speaking out against Steve Croman (Thursday)

More on the transformation of 243-245 E. Second St. (Friday)

A new Indian restaurant on East 6th Street (Tuesday)

$18,975 asking rent for former South Brooklyn Pizza space (Wednesday)

Liquiteria opening in former Blimpie space on Fourth Avenue (Thursday)

Apiary becomes Après (Friday)

Bibi Wine Bar opens on East Fourth Street (Thursday)

Cooper Square dorm update (Monday)

Work on the Miss Lily's 7A Cafe sidewalk awning (Monday)

Construction watch at 536 E. 13th St. (Friday)

A look at the 'Heroines of the Lower East Side'

Been meaning to check out the completed work on Centre-fuge Cycle 13, the rotating outdoor gallery/construction trailer here along East First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

All the art this time is by Lexi Bella … for a collection titled "Heroines of the Lower East Side" … as part of the first Lower East Side History Month.

Aside from the more recognizable portraits of Debbie Harry and Rosario Dawson … Bella honors the Russ Daughters (of Russ & Daughters fame) …



LaMama founder Ellen Stewart …



Educator Catherine Ferguson, who founded the first Sunday school in New York City …



Hell-cat Maggie, "who fought alongside the Dead Rabbits and other Five Pointers against rival nativist gangs from the Bowery" …



… Lexi also paid tribute to her daughter Roxy, as BoweryBoogie pointed out…



Find more info about Centre-fuge here.

2 scenes from Saturday night

[Photo by Dave on 7th]

A (fake) drunken pirate and his entourage on East Seventh Street and Avenue A…

-----



Someone smelled smoke on East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. Turned out it was a rooftop BBQ party.


[Photos by William Klayer]

[UPDATED] Reward for info on East 6th Street assault; plus video of the attack

There's a $2,000 reward for any information about the assault that took place Friday night on East Sixth Street near Avenue D … that left a 68-year-old man in critical condition.

According to the NYPD, the victim was walking on East Sixth Street when an unknown suspect approached and started yelling at him. The suspect grabbed the victim and threw him on the ground. The suspect then began punching and kicking the victim in the head.

It was unclear what prompted the attack … or if the two men knew each other.

Anyone with information about the attack can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Meanwhile, an anonymous reader shared the full surveillance tape of the incident … (warning: the graphic video shows the attack and the aftermath of the victim lying on the sidewalk). The victim enters the video at the 17-second mark.



Updated 8:12 p.m.

NBC 4 reports that the victim, Ruan Wen Hui, has died from the injuries sustained in the attack.

"The guy didn’t even take money or anything. It was just stupid violence," one resident told CBS New York.

That late afternoon rain

Avenue A and East Sixth Street via Bobby Williams

'Past Future Past,' a book launch and reception for Michael Sean Edwards

[Avenue A near East 5th Street circa 1979]

Through the years, we've posted some of the 1970s-1980s photography of Michael Sean Edwards (like here ... and here). And we're posting his current photos as an EVG contributor.

Michael has gathered some of his images for a self-published book titled "Past Future Past — The East Village 1978-1980."

He is hosting a reception Monday evening at Eleven B (woo! free pizza!), 174 Avenue B and East 11th Street.



It starts at 5:30 … to 8:30 or so.

Find more of Michael's photos here.

Report: Attack on East 6th Street leaves 69-year-old man in critical condition

A 69-year-old man is in critical condition after a vicious attack last night on East Sixth Street near Avenue D.

Police say the man pictured approached the victim and began yelling at him, the Post reports. The man pushed the victim to the ground and continued to punch and kick him in the head.

It was unclear what prompted the attack. The victim is in critical condition at Bellevue, according to the Post.

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

A sign that winter may finally be officially over. (Maybe!) Or a sign that spring/summer is here. Yes, Street Fair! Today, it's on Second Avenue from East 14th Street to East Fourth Street (why stop there — keep it going!).



Come and get all the stuff that probably wasn't sitting in storage all winter!



All under his watchful eyes… (Also, Zoltar is not a kissing booth.)



Previously on EV Grieve:
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Get your glop on at the 20th annual CWS Arts and Science Fair today

Today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. … at the The Children's Workshop School at 610 E. 12th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C…

So Now You've Seen the Video

"Luminous," the new record by The Horrors, is out this week ... and it includes this song, "So Now You Know." (Anyone else prefer the band's previous sound ... like this?)

Tickets for two shows in NYC this fall went on sale today as well.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Tompkins Square Park this morning via Derek Berg]

OddFellows Ice Cream Co. opens today on East 4th Street (DNAinfo)

Residents living near the Avenue A 7-Eleven now have to put up with employee smoking breaks (No 7-Eleven Blog)

Video of the Bowery from 1934 (BoweryBoogie)

Home with retractable facade sells on East 14th Street (Curbed)

Check out the work of Michel Auder this weekend at Anthology Film Archives (AFA website)

Survey finds that the majority of CitiBike users are men (New York Post)

Video flashback: Pearl Jam and Joey Ramone cover the Dead Boys (Rolling Stone)

And the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) is offering a walking tour led by veteran activist and squatter Jerry the Peddler. "Jerry will provide a narrative of the neighborhood once known as The Dry Dock, beginning from when the area that is now Stuyvesant Town was the site of brothels and risky bars ... to the tumultuous 1980s leading up to the Tompkins Square Riots of 1988. As Jerry asserts that the history of squatting on the Lower East Side begins and ends on 9th Street, his tour is titled 'A Walking Tour of the Republic of 9th Street' and takes place tomorrow and Sunday at 1 pm starting at MoRUS, 155 Avenue C between 9th and 10th Streets." To register, please email MoRUS with the word Republic in the subject line. Admission is $20, which includes a copy of the ‘zine by Frank Morales, "Squatting in New York City."

Breaking (heh) news: The hawks of Tompkins Square Park are officially parents

[Photo by Francois Portmann]

Goggla broke (sorry!) the news yesterday that Christo and Dora's chicks have hatched in their nest up on the Christodora House on Avenue B.

The top shot, showing the hatching in action, is courtesy of photographer Francois Portmann.

Find more hawk/egg photos at his photography site here. Photos like this…



He'll have photos of the chicks from the nest cam soon.

Meanwhile, please visit Goggla's Gog in NYC site for much more on the hawks.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Red-tailed hawks nest on the Christodora House

The hawks of Tompkins Square Park have laid an egg at the Christodora House

More eggsciting hawk news from the Christodora House

A look at the transformation of 243-245 E. 2nd St.

[243-245 E. Second St. from last month]

Last week, four longtime residents of 245 E. Second St. shared their story about how they helped rehab the building in the early 1980s …

Hoping to make one last bit of coin before allowing the building to deteriorate further, the then owner permitted the artists to move in and renovate their crumbling units in the all but abandoned building with no front door, no heat or hot water, and a constant flow of drug traffic to the notorious heroin shooting gallery that occupied the top floor. The artists united with the remaining two families in the building to form a tenant's association.

The residents also discussed the nightmarish two-year-plus gut renovation here and next door at No. 243.

Refurbished units from each building are now on the rental market. Average prices for No. 245 are $4,050. The four units here listed at Streeteasy have been rented.

Meanwhile, there are new units available at No. 243., where the average rental is $4,566.

Let's take a look at the 3-bedroom penthouse duplex that's asking $6,000.







And here's the descriptive description:

Sleek and Modern, Danish Finished White Oak Flooring juxtaposes perfectly with the pre- war exposed brick. Apartment details include custom designed open kitchen, pale gray European Cabinetry which is the subtle backdrop highlighting the Pebble Caesarstone countertop and custom backsplash tiling. Appliances are well thought out, including a GE Profile Cooktop with Convection Microwave/Oven, concealed Dishwasher and stainless fridge with ice maker.

The Italian tiled bathroom is pure luxury, with open custom glass shower, adorned with Kohler fixtures. Stainless Steel Vanity reflects more of the custom work that spares no expense.

[The former exterior of No. 245]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Continued development concerns at 243-245 E. Second St.

Construction watch: 536 E. 13th St.

Just a quick check in at 536 E. 13th St. west of Avenue B, where work has passed the 5-floor mark… on the way to 6. Approved plans call for six residential units (presumably condos?).

The rendering looks like …



It hasn't always been easy at the site… development here stalled out in 2009 … DOB records showed that the construction then caused cracks in the foundation at the adjacent building.

A former next-door neighbor shared this with us back in December 2009:

I lived on the second floor of 530 East 13th until last January. Ours was the apartment with the terrace overlooking this "space". There were three huge trees which gave a beautiful dappled effect on a sunny day. Then in August '08 the so-called construction began. I came home from work one day to discover that all three trees had been felled. Work stalled almost immediately, but by then it was too late, and our apartment became infested with rodents almost overnight. I disposed of 11 mice between August and December (and those were just the ones I caught).

Previously on EV Grieve:
Your chance to own a stalled project lot on East 13th Street

A dormant construction site on East 13th Street

[December 2009]

CVS reminds us that CVS is coming soon to East Houston

Just noting the recent arrival of the CVS brandage at 42-56 E. Houston St. between Mott and Mulberry...



Soho Billiards closed here back in October 2012… the other tenants of this rather ugly building were a Subway and dry cleaners , which got the boot last August.

BoweryBoogie first reported on the CVS arrival last May.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Retail space that included Soho Billiards is up for grabs on East Houston Street

Apiary is now Après on 3rd Avenue

[Photo from Saturday]

We noticed that Apiary, the nearly 6-year-old restaurant at 60 Third Ave. near East 11th Street, was closed for renovations last weekend… there was a quick changeover, as Apiary has become Après, which Grub Street reports features a new chef and a "modern, vegetable-centric menu."


[Wednesday]

They also serve a ramp cocktail.

You can check out the new menu at Zagat. Après has a good publicist. There are also features at Gothamist and The Village Voice.

Bar Primi neon arrives on the Bowery

The transformation of 325 Bowery continues … as workers turn the former Peels space into Bar Primi … aside from a paint job, the new neon Primi sign is now up here on the corner of Joey Ramone Place.

As Eater first reported, restaurateurs Andrew Carmellini, Josh Pickard and Luke Ostrom are opening Bar Primi, a casual Italian restaurant.

Peels closed on Jan. 22 after three-plus years in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A few details about Bar Primi, coming to the former Peels space on the Bowery