Corner of East Houston and Orchard now an empty lot

Just two more former storefronts — those of Lobster Joint and Tim Horton's — remain standing along East Houston between Orchard and Ludlow so that Ben Shaoul's 10-story retail-residential complex with an Equinox gym can rise.



However, as the Commercial Observer reported last week, there is a slight hitch here: The board of the six-story condo at 179 Ludlow Street (see the arrows below!) hasn't responded to Shaoul's request for "non-invasive pre-construction survey" at the building.

Shaoul has reportedly asked the Supreme Court of the State of New York to grant his reps a limited license to access the Ludlow Street condos.



Finally, as you know, Katz's, who sold their air rights, will remain in its longtime home.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Making way for Ben Shaoul's new retail-residential complex on East Houston

Katz's is now the last business on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard

5-week old restaurant space now on the market

After just five weeks in business, Long Bay, the reasonably priced Vietnamese restaurant, shut its doors at 503 E. Sixth St. just east of Avenue A.

We heard that there was some disagreement among the owners ... that it was possible the place would reopen.

Apparently that isn't happening now that the "for sale" signs arrived in the front windows last Friday ... Not clear if the business is for sale or the space is for rent — or both!

Construction watch: 64 E. First St.

A quick check in over at 64 E. First St., where six stories of condos (good for six units!) are in the works between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

A milestone to note in the construction: The first steel beams rising from behind the plywood…



Right THERE…



Before you know it, this will be here…


[Official rendering]

See our previous post here for more details on this project.

The space previously housed the club La Vie, whose neighbors celebrated its closure.

Previously on EV Grieve:
La Vie has closed; neighbors rejoice

Former La Vie space on East First Street will be demolished

Getting rid of the rats at the former LaVie ahead of a new 6-floor residential building

Here lies the remains of La Vie

Here's a look at the new condos coming to East 1st Street

This is what the new condo building at 64 E. 1st St. will really look like

Week in Grieview

[Photo on Avenue A by Derek Berg]

Work starts on new home of the East Village Cheese Shop (Tuesday)

Two Caffe Bene locations coming to the East Village (Monday)

Rent hike allegedly dooms East Sixth Street mainstay Gandhi (Monday) .. and there are takers for the space (Wednesday)

Reader report: Large portfolio of East Village buildings ready to change hands (Tuesday)

A smaller Galleria J. Antonio reopens on Avenue A (Monday)

Dallas BBQ is back in BBQ action (Friday)

Out and About with Norman (Wednesday)

Bodhi Tree closes on Third Avenue (Monday)

Wylie Dufresne is closing Alder on Second Avenue (Tuesday)

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest (Wednesday)

Lit Lounge has closed (Thursday)

Bikes, By George! — now as a sidewalk shop (Thursday)

Development drama continues at the former P.S. 64, where the city approved dorm-conversion permits (Monday) and is it for sale? (Thursday)

Barnyard Cheese "closed until further notice" on Avenue C (Tuesday)

The Robyn on East Third Street is for sale (Friday)

Historic carriage house on East 13th Street hits the market for $18 million (Wednesday)

First condo units at 189 Avenue C are now for sale (Friday)

51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star receives $370 million loan (Thursday)

New Clinton Street Baking Company emerges from behind the plywood (Friday)

Taking to the sidewalk for boiler help (Wednesday)

… and the ping-pong tourney action continues in Tompkins Square Park on Friday nights…


[Photo by Carl Bentsen]

At the Tompkins Square Riot Anniversary concert, Day 2

Today was Day 2 of the the 27th Tompkins Square Park Riot Reunion ... featuring bands such as Iconicide, the Deceivers and Nihilistics as well as speaker like Aron "the Pieman" Kay... the following photos are by John Penley via Facebook...





















Previously on EV Grieve:
At the Tompkins Square Riot Anniversary concert, Day 1

EV Grieve Etc. Instagram edition

From our friends at Academy Records on East 12th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A...

In case you missed it the first time - Our 12th st store will be closed this week 8/10-8/16 for sprucing up. We'll be cleaning, painting, organizing and digging hidden gems from long-buried collections out of the back room. When we reopen our bins and display walls will be teeming with fresh meat!

A photo posted by Academy Records NYC (@academyrecords) on Aug 9, 2015 at 3:01pm PDT

-------

And tomorrow evening at the new East Village Vintage Collective, 545 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B ...

Always nice when @flatbushbrown visits the store. Check out the chalkboard sign for our next event. Tomorrow, we're screening Valley Girl at 7:30pm. BYOB. If you have a low seated chair, you can bring that too, otherwise we'll provide blankets. See you there, it'll be totally radical. #movienight #manicmonday #evevents

A photo posted by EV Vintage Collective (@evvintagecollective) on Aug 9, 2015 at 12:26pm PDT

On the rebound: Tompkins Square Park basketball courts are back

The hoops and nets arrived this weekend… and now the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts are back in play…


[Random pic from yesterday morning]

The courts had been out of commission since May 29, with an original reopen date at the end of June. As previously cut-and-pasted, the New York City Parks Department teamed up with YouTube for the renovations. The logo in the middle of the courts is of the Parks Department. A few EVG commenters wondered if a YouTube logo might make its way on the court somewhere… well, not so far.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tompkins Square Park basketball courts closed for renovations; YouTube-backed hoops on the way

WE HAVE BACKBOARDS NOW IN TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK

New mural in progress at Best Housekeeping on Avenue A

Ori Carino is working on a new installation on the roll-down gate at Best Housekeeping on Avenue A at East Second Street…



We last saw him create a mural here in July 2014.

Summer Sunday in the New York Marble Cemetery on East 2nd Street

[Image via]

Today at the New York City Marble Cemetery on East Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... via the EVG inbox...

A reminder….. that we invite you to join us under the summer sun at our Neighborhood Open Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

And for your calendars...

Upcoming Neighborhood Open Days at the New York City Marble Cemetery:
Saturday, Sept. 12
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

And!

Fall Open Weekend, with historic displays, photos and artifacts
Saturday and Sunday
Oct. 17-18
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Read more about the cemetery here.

At the Tompkins Square Riot Anniversary concert, Day 1

All photos by John Penley via Facebook…























… and the NYPD patrol tower made a return visit…



And, oh dear...











Day 2 of the riot reunion shows return tomorrow at 2… Find more info and photos from today here.

Updated: Here are more photos via our friend editrrix at Flickr

My Little Village Postal Store returns to a refurbished home

After a month of relocation to East Seventh Street…



… My Little Village Postal Store returned this past week to its renovated home at 151 First Ave. between East 9th Street and East 10th Street.



As EVG regular Peter Brownscombe reports, the shop has new mailboxes and floor and apparently a new name — East Village Postal, as seen in the mosaic doorstep… (The store's older sign will remain, however.)









As Peter notes, despite different owners, this is the shop's first renovation since 1988.

All photos by Peter Brownscombe