Fire at 251 E. Houston St. temporarily closes Gaia Cafe

[Photo Wednesday via EVG reader Chris Mason]

Last Wednesday night, we reported on the fire atop 251 E. Houston St. between Norfolk and Suffolk.

While there weren't any reported injuries, ground-floor tenant Gaia Cafe sustained some water damage.

According to BoweryBoogie, the 5-year-old Cafe is closed until further notice.

Gaia's Facebook page notes the following:

Due to a fire in the building, the cafè has been closed due to some damages ...we still do not know when we will open again... Sorry for any inconvenience...

Reader report: Is there a rabid squirrel near the Tompkins Square Park main playground?

From the EVG inbox this morning...

Saw a black squirrel in Tompkins Square Park playground acting very aggressively and making a horrible growling sound. Never heard a squirrel making any noise before.

It was perched on a branch of a tree in the playground by Avenue A and 9th Street. It would sit perched on a branch wheezing/growling and breathing rapidly, then run off rapidly and return to same branch and repeat same growl.

This tree is on the inside-the-park side fence in middle of playground near the revolving pole with a triangular base.

Tried to report this to Parks Department and to 311 but just got the runaround.

I don't want any kids to be bitten by a rabid squirrel — especially my kid.

According to the Center for Disease Control, rabid squirrels are extremely rare. Per eHow: "Healthy squirrels can be noisy, bold and curious. They often chatter and make scolding sounds at humans and dogs. Rambunctious behavior in squirrels does not denote rabies."

Simone Martini Bar has closed

The 15-year-old Simone Martini Bar closed for good following service Saturday night.

The space here on First Avenue at St. Mark's Place will yield to a new venture from the proprietors of The Wayland on Avenue C. According to paperwork (PDF) on file ahead of last month's CB3-SLA committee meeting, ownership is planning for an establishment with a "tavern/seafood-style menu."

As previously noted, the change here officially brings an end to Yaffa Cafe, Simone's sister restaurant that closed nearby at 97 St. Mark's Place earlier in the fall. After the closure, some items from Yaffa were added to Simone's menu.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Team behind The Wayland eyeing Simone Martini Bar space

A Santa-free incentive

As you probably know, SantaCon is fast approaching on Dec. 13.

Although organizers have yet to announce what neighborhood their participants will terrorize, Santa-clad bargoers will abound that day anyway everywhere whatever …

Which is why Jimmy's No. 43 at 73 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square is offering this happy-hour incentive: "If you don't dress up like Santa, you get $2 off drafts 12 noon - 6 p.m."

Former Birdbath space finally for rent on 3rd Avenue

Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery over at Third Avenue at East Ninth Street abruptly closed back in July.

Now the for rent signs have finally gone up here in the base of NYU's Alumni Hall … the listing hasn't appeared online just yet, though.

Meanwhile, the former Citi Habitats office next door remains on the market for an undisclosed sum…



The listing shows this rendering… a restaurant called Pierre…



As for Birdbath, they are opening a new location on Spring Street, BoweryBoogie reported back on Nov. 11.

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

Birdbath Bakery has apparently closed for good

In case you were planning a last visit to DeRobertis

The family originally said that the 110-year-old DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe would close for good on Friday.

We were there with the crowds during the holiday … and family members were saying that they might be closing earlier … Thursday, maybe even Wednesday — it just depends on how much they have left to sell.

And courtesy of the NYPL Digital Gallery, here's how the storefront looked in 1928…





The DeRobertis siblings decided to sell the building at 174-176 First Ave.

Previously on EV Grieve:
174-176 First Ave. is in contract

[Updated] 110-year-old DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe looks to be closing once the building is sold

174-176 First Ave., home of DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe, is for sale

Let's take a look at the DeRobertis in-house bakery

Ugh: The 110-year-old DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe closes after Dec. 5 (43 comments)

A Fresh new tenant for 4th Avenue and East 13th Street

The former Pie Face space on Fourth Avenue and East 13th Street won't be vacant for too much longer.

Signage is up for the incoming Fresh & Co. …





This will make the kale-and-quinoa chainlet's 12th location in the city.

Pie Face closed back in mid-October.

RIP ucks c on 2nd Avenue

[Photo from June by by Nora Balaban]

Back in June, people start noticing that the Starbucks sign on Second Avenue at East Ninth Street was missing something …

Now, almost just a short six months later… Starbucks is finally replacing the bulbs, as Slum Goddess noted this evening…

Week in Grieview

[Tompkins Square Park via Bobby Williams]

Benny's Burritos closes restaurant; to go and delivery still available (Tuesday, 50 comments)

How you can help the Bowery Mission this holiday season (Wednesday)

Ferguson protests in the East Village and Lower East Side (Wednesday)

Exploring two like-minded small shops on East Sixth Street (Friday)

DeRobertis makes closure official (Monday)

Parishioners fight to save the Church of the Nativity on Second Avenue (Wednesday)

Police hunting for two suspects in daytime robbery on East 10th Street (Wednesday)

The Alamo leaves Astor Place for now (Tuesday)

Suspect in three sexual assaults pleads not guilty (Tuesday)

Jum Mum becoming another Spot for dessert on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

More dumplings for Second Avenue (Monday)

Gym taking over part of the former Mondo Kim's space on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

Rent hike forcing the Bourgeois Pig out of its East Village home (Tuesday)

Indian cuisine returning to the corner of First Avenue and East Sixth Street (Monday)

Brooklyn Piggies has closed on Avenue A (Wednesday, 28 comments)

"Kushner is mold" (Tuesday)

Little Joe's Pizza now serving up slices on First Avenue (Monday)

Lucy's will be back on Dec. 10 (Wednesday)

Oaxaca Taqueria is "closed for renovations" on East Seventh Street (Monday)

City gives Native Bean a moving gift on Avenue A (Tuesday)

Condos at 45 Great Jones wooing art collectors and people who dislike foggy bathroom mirrors (Monday)

Golden Crêpes coming to Second Avenue (Monday)

A call for a SantaCon Free Zone on the LES (Tuesday)

Boarding up Sutra to make way for a new sports bar (Monday)

… and TakeMeHome Rotisserie Chicken opened this past week at 151 Avenue A (in the former San Loco space) … any early reviews?

Getting ready to walk among the cookies

EVG reader Greg Masters notes that preparations are underway for the 6th annual holiday Cookie Walk at St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church on Avenue A at East 10th Street.

The sign is up now for the event — Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Dec. 14 from noon to 3 p.m.

Here are more details …

This is not your average church bake sale!

Tens of thousands homemade cookies are awaiting you at the historic St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church, 10th St & Ave. A, in the East Village.

Take a walk through our Cookie Wonderland and fill a box with your favorites from over fifty varieties of homemade confections. There are two sizes of boxes: $15 & $25 plus an option for a
pre-packaged Gluten Free box for $20!

Christmas-themed bar Miracle on 9th Street is now open for the season

This has happened at the former Louis 649 space at 649 E. Ninth St. near Avenue C: A pop-up bar for the holiday.

Per Time Out:

" ...you can order The Grinch (rum, coconut butter) and Three Wise Men (Calvados, frankincense) in a hideaway decked out with kitschy decorations you’d find in your grandparents’ wood-paneled basement, including tinsel garlands, plaid table cloths and glittery globe ornaments. In addition to enough Christmas and Hanukkkah garb to put the Griswolds to shame, the bar also offers light snacks just like mom used to make (think Santa’s cookies — coyly paired with a shot of milk punch — and Chex mix)."

After the holiday the space will yield to a new bar called Mace run by the folks behind Boilermaker on First Avenue.

You can find more details about Miracle and its drinks (including the Yippie Ki Yay Motherf****r! with Trinidad rum, cachaça, dry curacao, lime juice and roasted chestnut orgeat) at Time Out.

'Past Future Past' now at 9th Street Espresso

We're behind in noting that EVG contributor Michael Sean Edwards is showing some of his work at 9th Street Espresso (the one on East 10th Street near Avenue B).

There you will find some of his images from his book, "Past Future Past: The East Village 1978-1980."

His work is on display through Dec. 17.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The East Village of Michael Sean Edwards

Benny's Burritos closes for good after tonight

As we first reported on Tuesday, Avenue A mainstay Benny's Burritos is closing after service tonight.

However, Benny's will still offer food to go and make deliveries from a small storefront adjacent to the restaurant space here on Avenue A and East Sixth Street.

Lisha Arino at DNAinfo talked with owner Mark Merker about the closure. The restaurant has had trouble staying afloat, as costs and rents rose while competition increased from Chipotle and other restaurants that served burritos, Merker said.

No word on the next tenant. There are for rent signs now above the storefront.



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Benny's Burritos is closing; will offer take-out only service (50 comments)

If you need a big, big tree

The largest Christmas/holiday trees for sale so far are outside St. Mark's Church-In-The-Bowery on Second Avenue … we didn't ask about the price, since none of them would probably fit inside our front door...



This one spotted last night outside Rite Aid on First Avenue might be a better fit…

Have yourself a Germanish Christmas

Starting tomorrow…

Via the Zum Schneider website:

Doors open at 1 pm. Free admission. Sorry, no reservations!

• Traditional community singalong with Benjamin and Sylvester on the guitar and hammered dulcimer
• Songbooks will be provided
• German and American Christmas carols
• Mulled wine
• Mama Schneider's Christmas Stollen
• Weihnachtsgebäck / Christmas cookies
• Festive decoration

Zum Schneider is on Avenue C and East Seventh Street…

September songs

The Dublin-based September Girls have a new EP out this week. Here's a track off that release called "Veneer."

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Photo by James and Karla Murray Photography]

Charges filed in fatal hit-and-run on the Bowery (BoweryBoogie)

Leadership changes at Community Board 3 (The Lo-Down)

Remembering Will Connell, Jr., "downtown’s unsung hero of Free Jazz" (All About Jazz)

East Village-based photographer Katrina del Mar is crowdfunding for her experimental documentary webseries (Kickstarter)

Reverend Billy And The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir held an Organic Thanksgiving on the front lawn of the Monsanto World Headquarters yesterday afternoon and rallied last night in Ferguson (Photos and videos are on the the Rev. Billy Facebook page)

100 Montaditos closing 2 months after opening on Ludlow Street (DNAinfo)

While the d.b.a. on First Avenue will remain open with new ownership, the Brooklyn location closes Sunday (Gothamist)

Thanksgiving with friends in Tompkins Square Park (Gog in NYC)

A visit to the Cafe Edison (Scouting NY)

A Hooters takes over the former Peep World on 33rd Street (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Part of Edith Wharton's childhood home on 23rd Street now features a Starbucks (Ephemeral New York)

Lorne Greene and Betty White hosted the 1964 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Bowery Boys)

This season's Christmas sweater from the Descendents (Dangerous Minds)

Exploring 2 like-minded small shops on East 6th Street

As the holiday shopping season gets underway... EVG contributor Stacey Joy takes a look at two women-owned, side-by-side boutiques on East Sixth Street near Cooper Square ...

Handcrafted Mosaic Lamps (208 E. Sixth St.), with the tagline “Make the Sun Jealous,” features Turkish mosaic-style lamps, lights and candleholders. It is owned and operated by Melissa Benovic, who makes certain that each lamp is run on LED lights and that prices remain affordable.



I spied a beautiful rainbow-colored candleholder made for tea lights at $60 as well as a crave-worthy blue hanging glass lamp at $110. This shop is tiny, maybe 325 square feet, with a beautiful layout and Melissa could not have been warmer or more accommodating. Amazingly knowledgeable about all things lamp-related, I didn’t want to leave the shop! It is especially welcoming in the dark, early winter cold.







Hours are flexible, but traditionally open Monday through Saturday, from 1 to 8 pm.

--

Nomad Vintage, also at 208 E. Sixth St., is owned and operated by Katie McDonnell, and is a small shop crammed full of her hand-selected vintage treasures.



Textiles, shoes, fabrics, dresses and all manner of vintage jewelry and accessories can be found here. Katie was kind enough to show me some of her favorites ... and I was excited to see a sweet velvet cape perfect for early winter walks, some Vivienne Westwood heels that I could never walk in but would love to own, and batik shirt that looked vaguely Moroccan.







Pieces here tend to be slightly more high-end, with accompanying price tags. The patchwork denim and flannel cape I liked was tagged at $225. Hours here are also flexible (and some days by appointment only) so please contact Katie to make sure the shop is open before heading out that way.

Always happy to see small local businesses succeed, Melissa and Katie both spoke about their love for the neighborhood and the people in the area.

Native Bean is on the move

As previously reported, Native Bean is moving from 50 Avenue A to 36 Avenue A... which is all good, except for that DOH closure a few days ahead of time.

By Wednesday, though, workers had already started taking apart the space between East Third Street and East Fourth Street.

Signs point to a Dec. 1 opening at the new location.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Space that houses Native Bean on Avenue A is for rent

Native Bean space apparently back on the market

Native Bean will be moving on Avenue A

Looking at a Cube-less Astor Place

On Tuesday, workers carted off the Alamo from Astor Place… for safekeeping during the reconstruction phase.





No word how long the cube will be in storage. But it will return as the centerpiece for the all-new Astor Plaza…



The cube was installed here in 1967.

East 14th Street Santa watch is on

The RV arrived Sunday evening here at First Avenue… the trees on Wednesday.

Santa likely won't be here until after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Seeing as there is only one Santa.

Enjoy the bounty of the harvest this season

Photo Monday in Tompkins Square Park by Bobby Williams…

Report of a fire on East Houston

There was a major FDNY response earlier this evening on East Houston between Norfolk and Suffolk...

MAN ALL HANDS 251 E HOUSTON ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE ON TOP FLR, UNDER CONTROL

— FDNY (@FDNY) November 26, 2014

EVG reader Chris Mason shared this photo showing the scene on the rooftop...



No word at the moment on what caused the fire or the extent of the damage...

The DeRobertis family says goodbye

The building here at 174-176 First Ave. is in contract. The last day for the bakery is Dec. 5.

Jeremiah Moss pays his respects today.

This one hurts like hell.

I'd like to say something more eloquent, but that's all I've got right now.

Previously on EV Grieve:
174-176 First Ave. is in contract

[Updated] 110-year-old DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe looks to be closing once the building is sold

174-176 First Ave., home of DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe, is for sale

Let's take a look at the DeRobertis in-house bakery

Brooklyn Piggies has closed

Smorgasburg vendors Brooklyn Piggies, which sells hand-rolled pigs in a blanket, have apparently closed its first brick-and-mortar storefront at 195 Avenue A near East 12th Street.

For rent signs are up … there's no mention of the closure on the various Piggy social media properties.

You may still order piggy platters online.

Brooklyn Piggies opened in January. Guess we now know the answer to this question that we posed then:

Biscuits on one side of Avenue A ... and pigs in a blanket on the other. Who will win this single-food late-night throwdown?

How you can help the Bowery Mission this holiday season

[Image via Facebook]

The Bowery Mission is prepping to serve its 135th Thanksgiving.

According to the Times, the Mission's volunteer slots are full, but they are accepting donations 24/7 at 227 Bowery near Prince Street.

Per the Times:

Milk, butter and eggs are especially welcome; they’ve got the turkeys and potatoes covered.

Pork, beef and chicken are also gladly received, as the charity continues to serve three meals a day.

There are other ways to donate year-round at the Bowery Mission. Find that list here.

Meanwhile, Gothamist compiled a list of places where you can donate and volunteer this holiday season. Head right here.

Ferguson protests in the East Village and Lower East Side

For the second straight night, people took to the streets to protest a grand jury's decision not to indict Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson.

There were reports of solidarity protests around the city. (There were several arrests throughout the city, though the number varies by media outlet.)

Protesters marched from Union Square through the East Village and, according to the Times, "hopped a barricade onto F.D.R. Drive."

EVG reader Brian Polay shared photos of a banner hanging in front of the St. Mark's Church-in-The-Bowery on Second Avenue and East 10th Street.



Here's a snippet of video showing protestors heading east on Fourth Street at Avenue A...

A video posted by David Rodway (@daverodway) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:43pm PST

BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down have photos and reports of the protestors on Delancey Street.

Updated 11:17 a.m.

Here is footage from East Houston via GammaBlog…