East Village apparently down a hookah bar now

Gaia Lounge at 103 E. Second St. between Avenue A and First Avenue was served with an eviction notice on Monday…



Seems as if they weren't here all that long. The hookah bar was the spawn of Temple of Ankh on Clinton Street, which BoweryBoogie reported was "an establishment with the apparent distinction of garnering the most complaints in all of Community Board 3."

CB3 denied Gaia a beer-wine license back in March due to the hookah bar's connection to Temple of Ankh, per BoweryBoogie. (The applicant was apparently a waiter from TOA.)

Feel free to leave your favorite memories of Gaia Lounge in the comments.

Ping pong getting more competitive in Tompkins Square Park

No one was playing anyway.

Photo today via Bobby Williams

Noted

@evgrieve The sign guy may have been a little over eager. #astorplace #notgreen pic.twitter.com/LKs5i0NOKv

— Pinhead (@evpinhead) August 12, 2014

Astor Place...

Friday night's rooftop party at Icon Realty's 205 Avenue A

Back in June, we heard from some unhappy neighbors living near the newly renovated (and now taller) 205 Avenue A — a property billed as an "East Village frat house" in ads.

For several months, neighbors said that they've had to endure various DJ-fueled rooftop parties between East 12th Street and East 13th Street.

When landlord Icon Realty didn't respond to noise complaints, nearby neighbors took up the issue with the offices of Councilmember Rosie Mendez and State Sen. Brad Hoylman. The address was also a topic during June's Ninth Precinct Community Council meeting.

Any progress to note?

Yes, apparently the parties are as loud as ever, as this video that a neighbor who lives several building away shared.



Said the neighbor, "The DJ was up there with sound equipment. It wasn't a charge-at-the-door DJ party. One of the tenants is a DJ and brings his equipment up there sometimes."

The music kicked in around midnight. The neighbor shot the video at 2:05 a.m.

"Many people called 311 and the police showed up around 2:30," the neighbor said. "Not coincidentally the music ceased."

We heard that Lt. Hernandez from the 9th Precinct Community Affairs office has been in contact with Icon Reality about reworking rooftop and backyard use guidelines.

As the resident noted about Lt. Hernandez: "He's been very helpful, but as you can hear, it's still a work in progress."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Your 6-bedroom dream 'frat house' awaits you in the East Village

How's life by 326-328 E. Fourth St. these days?

Icon Realty's new Avenue A 'frat house' is attracting attention

Aug. 25 is the last day for Kim's

As you can see from the signs now up at Kim's Video and Music at 124 First Ave. between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

As for the sales, the new CD/DVD/Blu-ray releases are 30 percent off ... while the rest of the stock, from vinyl to DVDs, is 50 percent off. As previously noted, for those with discerning tastes, there are still a few treasure to be found in the remaining piles.

We first reported on April 21 that the store is closing. The asking rent is $16,500 for the space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] A really bad sign outside Kim's Video & Music on First Avenue (31 comments)

Source: Kim's staff looking for ways to save their store

More about the closure of Kim's: 'We are NOT closing because record stores are dying'

Listing for Kim's Video says space is 'ideal for Bank, 711, Starbucks'

Deeper discounts at Kim's as closing countdown continues

Report: Deal for East Village treasure John's of 12th Street is off

[EVG file photo]

As we first reported last December, John's of East 12th Street, the 106-year-old East Village treasure, was about to begin its fourth generation of ownership. A team led by Brett Rasinski, who reopened the revamped Beatrice Inn, was expected to take over the operations here.

However, that deal reportedly has fallen through. Eater has the scoop:

The iconic restaurant is currently "not on the market" owner Nick Sitnycky tells Eater, and any future deal would require that the decor and menu remain unchanged and the staff "looked after."

Last December, Rasinski told us that he was "approaching this venture as a preservationist."

And!

"As an East Village resident, and a longtime patron of John's, I understand the historical relevance of the space, as well as the importance of its position in our neighborhood. That is why I was so adamant about securing the property."

So perhaps then the menu, decor and staffing were going to change after all.

Sitnycky and Mike Alpert bought John's from the founding Pucciatti family in 1972. Sitnysky, who grow up on Avenue B, owns the building at 302 E. 12th St. Alpert died on July 13, 2013, at age 71.


[Photo of Nick Sitnycky for EVG last December by James Maher]

Previously on EV Grieve:
About the new ownership for 105-year-old East Village institution John's of 12th Street

Out and About in the East Village with Nick Sitnycky Part 1 and Part 2

1st Avenue residents meeting tonight to discuss mass eviction notice

As we reported last week, all tenants (and all rent stabilized) at 149 First Ave. received a letter from the landlord — a "notice of non-renewal and vacate request."

The letter read in part:

I'm truly sorry to tell you that we will not be renewing your lease. We have been advised by our engineer that the building has serious deterioration issues and has to be rebuilt and most probably demolished. As a matter of safety, we have to vacate all the apartments in the building. The building will not be habitable during the construction phase. Please do not take longer than 90 days to leave. Thank you.

And it didn't matter how long the tenant had left on his or her lease. Everyone was told to leave.

"After some understandable initial panic, it's clear that residents here are not ready to start packing their bags," one tenant told us.

On the contrary, the residents are said to be banding together to fight this. Tonight, the residents will be meeting to discuss the recent events that have transpired here just north of East Ninth Street. (Also, given tonight's forecast of rain, the tenant meeting is being moved from the building's courtyard to next door at My Little Village Postal Store, who a tenant says were kind enough to agree to stay late and donate the space for the meeting.)

To date, there aren't any permits on file at the Department of Buildings for a renovation or demolition at No. 149.

The tenant also said that everyone in the building received letters from the landlord telling them about $1,900-$2,000 studios available to them on East Sixth Street.



Word is none of the tenants have taken the landlord up on this generous offer.

Lastly, WPIX picked up on the story last Friday. They took a copy of the landlord's letter to Alan J. Goldberg, "an expert in landlord-tenant law."

"First of all it sounds like it’s clear harassment to me," Goldberg told WPIX. "Any rent-stabilized tenant in New York City had the right to remain in their apartment unless they are ordered out by court after a trial or unless there is a vacate order by the Department of Buildings or Department of Housing Preservation and Development."



Previously on EV Grieve:
Landlord tells residents of 149 First Ave. that they need to vacate ahead of demolition

Confirmed: Peter M. Brant buys Walter De Maria's amazing East 6th Street home and studio

[File photo]

Back in May, a reliable source told us that The Brant Foundation was in contract to buy the longtime home-studio of the late Walter De Maria for use as an exhibition space.

This sale has been confirmed. The Real Deal reported that billionaire businessman Peter M. Brant paid $27 million for the building at 421 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, according to property records filed with the city yesterday.

Here's more about the Greenwich, Conn.-based Foundation via its website:

The Brant Foundation Art Study Center, designed by Richard Gluckman, has a mission to promote education and appreciation of contemporary art and design, by making works available to institutions and individuals for scholarly study and examination. The Brant Foundation Art Study Center presents long-term exhibitions curated primarily from the collection. The collection is remarkable in that scores of artists are represented in depth, including works from the earliest period of their practice through their most recent works. Currently, The Brant Foundation, Inc., established in 1996, lends works to more than a dozen exhibitions per year.

Paper magnate-publisher-art collector-wealthy person Brant is the founder and president, as you may have guessed.

The building was a Con Ed substation built in 1920. De Maria, who died last summer at age 77, bought it in 1980 to use as a home and studio.

Previously on EV Grieve:
About that "giant-robot laboratory" on East Sixth Street

RIP Walter De Maria

What is your East Village dream home?

Walter De Maria's 'giant-robot laboratory' going for $25 million; inside is amazing as you'd expect

Walter De Maria's home/studio on East 6th Street is now on the market for $25 million

Rumor: The Brant Foundation buying Walter De Maria's E. 6th St. studio for an exhibition space (19 comments)

Enter into a Lovecraftian atmosphere at Lovecraft Bar on Avenue B

Lovecraft Bar NYC opened this past weekend at 50 Avenue B at East Fourth Street. As the name suggests, it's an homage to horror writer H.P. Lovecraft.

Per the bar's Facebook description:

This place is great for LOVECRAFT fans, fans of steampunk, lovers of local art, lovers of live music, and of course lovers of great food and good drinks.

Dangerous Minds put it this way: "[It] looks like the perfect place to eat, drink and discuss all things Cthulhu. The eldritch interior design and artwork was created by artist Benjamin Enzfelder, and he has certainly given the bar a great Lovecraftian atmosphere."

EVG reader Thomas Anomalous stopped by this weekend and shared these photos.














[This image via Facebook]

The cocktail menus feature an original pulp fictiony designs...



There's also a subterranean bar and stage that will feature acoustic performances on Thursday evenings.



The food service launches next week. Lovecraft will hold an official grand opening next month.

Affaire closed here last August. Previously, the space was home to the unpopular-with-neighbors China 1 club-restaurant combo.

Tuome opens tomorrow on East 5th Street

Thomas Chen, an accountant turned cook/chef, is opening his first restaurant tomorrow at 536 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

New York magazine has a sneak preview of the 45-seat restaurant "where he’ll meld his classic training and Chinese-American ancestry in a menu filled with seasonal ingredients and Asian accents."

You can find photos of the various dishes here.

Kuboya moved from this space to Cornelia Street back in May. Prior to Kuboya, 536 E. Fifth St. was home to (briefly!) Village East Bistro and Le Gamin.

'A Murder of Crows' on East 2nd Street

Yesterday afternoon, local musician-artist-snowball-dodger Paul Kostabi started work on a new mural at Ideal Glass on East Second Street ...





… and he returned today to put the finishing touches on what he is calling "A Murder of Crows."



Back in May, Kostabi created murals on two roll-down gates along Second Avenue … here … and here.

Thanks to Fenton Lawless for the photos.

Updated 8:19 p.m.

And here's a photo via Facebook showing one last touch ... the sign reading "Newer York."

Report: T.G.I. Friday's is closing on Union Square

The space at 34 Union Square East and 16th Street has been on the market for months.

Now The Commercial Observer reports that this location will soon close.

Dennis Riese, the chairman of the board and CEO of The Riese Organization, which owns the license for Fridays in Manhattan, said, "Union Square is so hot down there these days with real quality restaurants it just doesn't compete well."

Those of you who yearn for T.G.I.'s Sesame Jack™ Chicken Strips or Jack Daniel's® Chicken & Shrimp can find that fare at the eight other locations in the city. Riese is also mulling opening a outpost in Murray Hill.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The T.G.I. Friday's space is for lease on Union Square

Report: East 8th Street residents sue landlord Steve Croman, allege intimidation, harassment

[309 E. Eighth St.]

Tenants at 309 E. Eighth St. are suing their landlord, Steve Croman, claiming that he has has engaged in a "campaign of harassment, abuse and neglect" since taking over the property between Avenue B and Avenue C in December 2012, according to The Real Deal.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 6 in Manhattan Supreme Court, also alleges that Croman is using former police officer Anthony Falconite to intimidate rent stabilized tenants into leaving the building.

As the Daily News reported on July 26, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has launched a probe into Croman's potentially illegal tactics. On July 25, the Daily News reported that Schneiderman slapped a cease-and-desist order on Falconite, who "tenants say has engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation to force them out."

Korilla BBQ confirmed for Archie & Sons space

As we reported last Thursday, Archie & Sons, the year-old luncheonette on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place, was "closed for remodeling."

In this case, "closed for remodeling" was code for "we're not reopening." It was a foregone conclusion that Archie's was done for. We heard rumors going back to June that the folks from Archie's were teaming up with a food-truck vendor for a new venture here at 23 Third Ave. (Eater reported on this rumor Thursday.)

We have confirmation from a very reliable source that food truckers Korilla BBQ will open their first restaurant in this space in the weeks ahead.

If you're new to Korilla BBQ, then you can read this review at Serious Eats.

As for this address, perhaps Korilla will be able to stick around. Tahini closed here in June 2012. Then Little Italy Pizza (heh) lasted four whole months. Archie's opened last Aug. 12.

Prima closes, and offers 1 of the most refreshingly honest reasons why

Prima, the well-regard restaurant at 58 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, has closed.

The sign on the door is as straightforward as it gets.



"We just weren't busy enough …"

Prima opened in November 2011 (in the space that housed The Elephant for 17 years).

Prima, from the owners of Summit Bar on Avenue C, was originally open mornings starting at 8 for coffee (via 9th Street Espresso) and a light breakfast … and small meals throughout the day.

But that never caught on. The Times stopped by in April 2012 and had nice things to say. "Order the arctic char ($18) ... and you’ll receive a generous serving of fish cooked so that the skin is as crispy as crackling, the flesh flaky and succulent. It’s flawless, a master class in fish."

We knew several people who liked Prima because it was always pretty low-key. But apparently word-of-mouth was at a minimum.

Per New York magazine: "Prima is the kind of neighborhood gem you hope nobody hears about, so you can keep it your little secret."

Birdbath Bakery has apparently closed for good

As we noted earlier last month, Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery over at Third Avenue at East Ninth Street randomly closed. No sign to note a closure, temporary or otherwise.

And even though Birdbath removed this location from their website, workers at the main location told us that this closure was just for the slow summer period. Which makes no sense given the rents. But OK!

Meanwhile, last week, a crew gutted the shop.



The bakery opened here in May 2011. The location on First Avenue near East 13th Street closed in March 2013.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery on 3rd Avenue has not been open lately

Topping off the incoming dorm on Cooper Square

Workers have reached the top of the incoming dorm on Cooper Square and East Sixth Street … and they raised the American flag atop the 13-floor building that will one day house students from Marymount Manhattan College.

I celebrated this occasion by taking 674 photos of the dorm. First, here is the flag, which was not being very cooperative. It was not photogenic and flappy. (Probably blames the wind.)







Previously on EV Grieve:
City OKs 13-floor dorm for Cooper Square

Updated: Here's what the newest East Village dorm will look like

Dig bottoms out on Cooper Square; here comes the dorm, here comes the dorm!

Laundromat replaces laundromat on Avenue B

Back in January, the laundromat at 44 Avenue B between East Third Street and East Fourth Street relocated to Clinton Street.

The familiar "call Harvey" sign of the Croman Empire went up …

And now EVG reader John shares these photos of the new tenant: A new laundromat/dry cleaners. (No word if they will serve grilled cheese sandwiches.)



This is the third time in recent memory where a laundromat closed … only to be replaced by another laundromat. (Here and here.)

Full stop work order for 76 E. Houston St., and the return of Billy's Antiques (sort of)

We noticed the stop work order on Thursday evening over at East Houston and Elizabeth, where a 2-story building is in the works for the former Billy's Antiques space.

We were waiting for the violations to be posted online. That hasn't happened yet.



Apparently the excavation/foundation is having an "influence" on the adjoining property, per the sign...



We'll update this post as soon as the infractions are online.

Meanwhile! Someone placed some Billy's Antiques stickers on the renderings...





Perhaps some wishful thinking. It was certainly a lot more fun with Billy Leroy here. Anyway, he hasn't 100-percent ruled out a return, as far as we know...

New 3rd Avenue market sets really high expectations

Signage for Heavenly Market has arrived at the corner of Third Avenue and NYU East 11th Street … they'll be taking over the space that last housed Fern Cliff Deli.

They'll be joining new neighbors GNC here in the Third North NYU dorm storefronts.

Up close and personal with the supermoon

Bobby Williams took these supermoon shots from atop the Williams Observatory in the East Village between 12:37 to 12:42 a.m.

Surprise! 'Taxi Driver 2' isn't actually filming on St. Mark's Place now

Last Sunday we spotted those film-shoot signs for "Taxi Driver 2" on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Likely either a code name for another unrelated film or a gag. (Of course, Robert DeNiro has expressed interest in a "Taxi Driver" sequel.)

Anyway, per the above sign, crews were to be filming now. And St. Mark's Place has been film-crew free all weekend.



Meanwhile, Gothamist spotted "Annie Hall 2" film-shoot signs on the Upper East Side last week. (A source in The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment told Gothamist that the signs were not related to any productions that have applied for filming permits.)

What next, signs for "Weekend at Bernie's II"? (Oh, right…)