Sexy East 9th Street raccoon for Halloween

Photos last night on East Ninth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C by Shawn Chittle…

Some rat proofing for Tompkins Square Park

EVG contributor Derek Berg came across workers contracted by the city this morning installing (burying) rolls of these wire wool blankets of sorts four inches below the ground in Tompkins Square Park... apparently part of the Mayor's rat reservoir plan ...





... this material helps prevent the rats from burrowing or whatever rats do underground... the materials can also be fashioned into shorts and tank tops for anyone who may want to sit on the park lawn in the spring or summer months...

[Updated] City forces the country's 1st Hemp Bar to close on St. Mark's Place

The Brooklyn Dark Hemp Bar — who bill themselves as the first Hemp Bar in the United States — opened at 9 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue on Aug. 15.

And it appears that the cafe, which sells pastries, coffee, tea, etc., has sold its last hemp-based product, at least for now.

The note on the front door explains…



Per the note via CEO Lev Kelman:

"Even after passing all health and sanitation guidelines, the Health Department is requiring us to install 2 additional sinks despite the lack of space."

As of now, Kelman is unsure whether he will be able to reopen the shop, he told us via a Facebook message. Meanwhile, you can still find their products in various stores in the city and online.

Updated 10/27

The Village Voice, who did not give us any credit, picked up on our story and spoke further with Kelman.

Before opening, Kelman had the site inspected to make sure it was up to health standards. There were two sinks left from the space's earlier incarnation as a cafe called I Am Coffee. One was used for hand washing, the other for rinsing utensils and plates.

But in early October, Kelman says, city health inspectors came in with new rules, which he was cited for violating: There needed to be at least four sinks: one for soaking dishes, two others for sanitizing and rinsing dishes, and for hand washing.

Kelman went to court to contest the violations, and instead was slapped with an $800 fine, on top of being forced to close his business...

Updated 10/28

Scott Beyer at Forbes, who gave us credit, has a follow-up story. Read that here.

Per a city spokesperson:

Brooklyn Dark Hemp, like every other restaurant in NYC, needs to wash its dishes and cookware properly. A three compartment sink enables washing, rinsing and sanitizing to occur separately, critical for preventing contamination. This restaurant, like others, can request a variance if it can assure the Department that sanitizing can occur safely.

The city also said that the side-by-side sinks each needs a separate drainage system.

"Kelman refused to comply with this demand, knowing that it would skyrocket his business costs while adding no decipherable public safety benefits. It would also be impractical – even impossible – in such a small store that produced very few dirty dishes."

Previously on EV Grieve:
First U.S. hemp bar is now open on St. Mark's Place

The 'stunning boutique collection' of new residences on East 1st Street in 'The Bowery District'

The broker bunting has arrived on the scaffolding at 64 E. First St., where luxury condos are a-rising on the corpse of La Vie between First Avenue and Second Avenue …



There's a teaser site now for the six, full-floor residences. No pricing, but a few details:

Generous full-floor residences
2 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms
Deep-set casement windows
Private outdoor terraces for each residence

There's also some new brandage action for the building… apparently this address is located in (heh) "The Bowery District" … (sounds more glamorous than Midtown South, aka MiSo?)…



Anyway, eventually, as the rendering on the plywood shows, the building will eventually look like … oh, never mind!



Here it is for real…


[Official for real rendering]

Also! Bonus Crane Operation here on East First Street coming up this Sunday!



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

Report: A small victory for the Stage vs. Icon Realty

[Photo last Tuesday by Steven]

In our post last week about the sidewalk message outside the Stage at 128 Second Ave., an EVG commenter had some info about a recent judge's decision about the ongoing legal battle here with landlord Icon Realty.

DNAinfo has more details about the order issued on Oct. 15 by Judge Nancy M. Bannon, which bars Icon from evicting the Stage based on gas-tampering charges, pending the outcome of the lawsuit owner Roman Diakun filed in the spring.

In addition to preventing an eviction based on the gas-siphoning claims, Bannon also ordered Stage to make “timely and full payments of all rent and additional charges as required by the lease,” according to court documents.

“It’s a nice victory for Stage but the case is not over, unfortunately,” said Diakun’s attorney Ross Kordas about the court’s most recent decision. “We hope that we can resolve it and be open soon.”

Diakun has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

The landlord, however, remains convinced the restaurant worked on the gas lines illegally, putting the building’s tenants at risk, said representative Chris Coffey.

“We are confident that the right thing will happen and they will vacate that space,” he said.

Meanwhile, expect to continue seeing the gate down here between St. Mark's Place and East Seventh Street for the near future. Bannon ordered both parties to appear for a preliminary conference this coming Jan. 28, per DNAinfo.

The 35-year-old diner has been closed since March 30.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Report: Icon Realty serves the Stage an eviction notice

Stage owner Roman Diakun responds to allegations of illegally siphoning gas

Petition to help reopen the Stage

[Updated] The Stage is giving away its bulk food and supplies to charity

Report: The Stage is suing landlord Icon Realty to halt eviction process

The Stage is now crowdfunding to help in its legal fight with Icon Realty

Incoming sign of Virgola on East 7th Street

The signage has arrived at 111 E. Seventh St. for Virgola, the Greenwich Village-based oyster-and-wine cafe that's opening an outpost here between Avenue A and First Avenue...



Owner Joseph Marazzo told DNAinfo in August that the East Village location will have the same vibe as the original — "with a dimly lit, black interior similar to the Greenwich Avenue bar and a new steel bar."

The previous tenant here, The Bourgeois Pig, closed after 10 years in late January, moving to a new location on MacDougal Street.

Photos by EVG contributor Steven…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Oysters coming to the former Bourgeois Pig space on East 7th Street

DOH temporarily closes Sushi Dojo on 1st Avenue

Sushi Dojo, chef David Bouhadana's well-regarded restaurant at 110 First Ave., had to sit out this past weekend after a DOH-mandated closure.

Several EVG readers noted the arrival of the telltale yellow sticker last Wednesday here between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street. A look at the DOH report notes just 21 violation points from a visit on Oct. 21. The two "critical" sanitary violations:

• Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
• Food worker does not use proper utensil to eliminate bare hand contact with food that will not receive adequate additional heat treatment.

Given the horror show of violations (flesh flies!) that we've seen at some places, this seems like pretty ticky-tacky stuff in comparison, especially to shut down a restaurant for five-plus days over…

Updated noon

Eater has more on the story here.

Per Bouhadana:

We were closed for one thing and one thing only, not wearing gloves. Sushi chefs are not supposed to wear gloves. 17 employees lost their job because the DOH has been harassing me for four months and threatening me for this issue. I have 20+ of the best sushi chefs behind me and many more ready to bat for me. We will solve this BS rule, a rule I don't stand by. Sushi is being ruined my gloves, freezing fish and more issues...

Some Citi Bike docking station details for the week

[File photo by Derek Berg]

An FYI gleaned via the Citi Bike Tumblr:

We will have some temporary challenges in the East Village due to construction projects. This will affect our normal valet schedule.

East Seventh Street and Avenue A:
• Docking station will be removed Monday 10/26 through Friday 10/30
• PM valet cancelled at this station and moved to East 10th Street and Avenue A (M-F from 7-10:30 PM)
• East 14th St and Avenue B will continue to operate valet service M-F from 7-11 PM through the winter

East Ninth Street and Avenue C:
• Removed Monday 10/26 for private construction
• Station should return in two weeks, but exact install date TBD

Updated 8:50 a.m.

Mike H. on East 9th Street shares this photo of workers loading up the docking station on Ninth and C...

Week in Grieview

[Headed to the opera house via Derek Berg]

Report: 25 to life for man who beat grandfather to death on East Sixth Street (Wednesday)

Ess-A-Bagel has a new home on First Avenue (Friday, 51 comments)

How tall will 98-100 Avenue A get? (Thursday)

Carol Lipnik, live at Pangea on Second Avenue Sunday evenings (Thursday)

Understanding a landlord's harassment tactics (Tuesday)

If you are in the market for a life-sized replica of GG Allin (Thursday)

About the #helloicp installation at the future home of the International Center of Photography (Tuesday)

Stuy Town sells (Monday)

Gas leak closes Nino's for now (Thursday)

In op-ed, Raphael Toledano says that he wants "to make the East Village a better place" (Friday)

Out and About with Gina (Wednesday)

A look at Kingsley, opening this fall on Avenue B (Wednesday)

People are complaining about rats (Monday)

David's Cafe opens on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

"The whole thing finally was shut down when someone hosed the party down" (Tuesday)

New cafe in the works for 42 Avenue B (Monday)

Thanksgiving dining deal season underway (Wednesday)

Past rent due at the former Organic Avenue (Thursday)

Chipotle announces itself in Stuy Town (Monday)

Familiar names on the list of the city's most demo-happy developers (Thursday)

East First Street Juice Press expansion looks official (Monday)

You and your family can be buried close to your East Village home for $350,000 (Friday)

New residential buildings come into full view on Lafayette Street (Thursday)

… and the Harmoney Korine mural in First Street Green Art Park got a nose job…

At the 25th annual Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade

Nearly 300 canines and maybe 1 rooster took part in the 25th annual Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade yesterday … there were at least two pizza rat costumes … as well as costumes based on Donald Trump, "House of Cards," "Back to the Future" and Joe Namath… Here's a sampling of the costumes via EVG contributor Stacie Joy…





































… and um…



… and Best in Show… this Day of the Dead-themed ensemble featuring two Chihuahuas and a Yorkshire terrier. The owners are apparently from Dallas.



EVG contributor Derek Berg shared these photos…













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You can check out more photos via Goggla … and editrrix …

Christo to Dora: Silly dogs think they need to dress up to be photographed

Yesterday afternoon from atop St. Brigid's on Avenue B… photo by Bobby Williams.

Dan and John's Wings now open on 1st Avenue

[Photo last evening by EVG contributor Steven]

Dan and John's Wings opened their doors last night for business at 135 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and East Ninth Street.

The two have been selling their wings at Smorgasburg, the outdoor food festival on weekends in Williamsburg and now in Coney Island.

Per their website:

When two friends from Buffalo found themselves in Brooklyn without authentic Buffalo wings, they decided to make their own. Using recipes they learned working in Buffalo bars and pizzerias, Dan and John bring Buffalo's legendary flavor to Brooklyn, New York.

You can find their menu.

The storefront previously housed sandwich specialist JoeDough, which closed in February 2014 after two-plus years.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dan and John's Wings opening a storefront on 1st Avenue