Noted

Spotted on a front door on Seventh Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...

Thanks to EVG reader Jill Hennessy for the photo!

Poke Kitchen in the works for 14th Street

Workers have been renovating the storefront at 250 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

We've been curious about what's next for the space. The CB3-SLA committee docket for September provides the answer: An applicant called Poke Kitchen Inc. is seeking a beer-wine license for the address. (This item will not be heard during the meeting on Sept. 12.)

The applicant's questionnaire isn't online just yet, so we're not sure who's behind the operation. There happens to be a Poke Kitchen that opened in May on East 39th Street (from the same people who own Sushi Zo).

Here's the East 39th Street Poke Kitchen pitch via their website:

Our sushi chef begins every morning with market-fresh, sashimi-quality fish and organic vegetables. With a diverse selection of fish and vegetables to choose from, your poké bowl is readily personalizable. Our fast-casual shop, located in midtown Manhattan, makes the lunch and dinner seafood experience a delicious and healthy one. We look forward to serving your discriminating palate.

Perhaps this is just the second of many more spots to jump on the poke bandwagon and come to the neighborhood. (PokéSpot opened on Fourth Avenue and 12th Street on Aug. 12.)

Poke Kitchen will be the latest food specialty shop to open of late along this block ... joining Pink Bear Ice Cream and (earlier) Vivi Bubble Tea...



... and Patea Bubble Tea and Mr. Moustache...



As for 250 E. 14th St., it was previously home to Saving$ Paradise, which merged with I.Q. Decor back in the spring.

Long-vacant 71 4th Ave. razed to make way for 10-story building

A demo crew made quick work of 71 Fourth Ave., the single-level structure at the southeast corner of 10th Street... as you can see from the handy Blogger Portals...







Workers will next turn their demolition attention to the neighboring townhouse at 82 E. 10th St.

All this is to make way for a 10-story retail-residential building. The approved permit shows retail on the ground floor and 12 dwelling units above. The residential portion encompasses more than 24,000 square feet, so those units will presumably be the crucially needed high-end condos. Floors 2-5 will each have two units while 6-8 will each have one unit while a two-level duplex to top things off.

As previously reported, development has been stalled here for years. The previous tenants, including the Green East deli and St. Marx Music (and previously the Atlas Barber School), were cleared out in early 2007. There were once plans to build a 13-story hotel, though the city surprisingly never OK'd that proposal.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Demo permits filed to raze southeast corner of 4th Avenue and 10th Street

The 'tremendous retail potential' of East 10th Street and 4th Avenue

10 stories of condos in the works for the long-vacant corner of 4th Avenue and East 10th Street

With new building OK'd, corner of 4th Avenue and 10th Street finally ready for razing

Plywood signage arrives for Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan on 4th Avenue and 10th Street

Also on Fourth Avenue and 10th Street ... on the northeast corner... the plywood signage has arrived for Tim Ho Wan, the first U.S. location for Hong Kong-based chef Mak Kwai Pui's Michelin-starred dim sum parlor.

Here's more about Mak and the operation via The Village Voice, who first reported on this opening back in April:

In 2009, Mak left Lung King Heen — a three-starred Cantonese restaurant at Hong Kong's Four Seasons Hotel — to open the original Tim Ho Wan in a Kowloon neighborhood. When rent rose thanks to gentrification, Mak moved the restaurant rather than raise prices. Six years after earning his first Michelin star, little has changed.

Steamer baskets of plump prawn dumplings, Mak's signature trio of baked buns stuffed with barbecue pork, and Chinese-sausage-stuffed glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaf all remain under $5. Even now, the tissues within the boxes placed atop each table serve as napkins. Meanwhile, diners still choose dishes pictured on a paper placemat, fill out their checks with pencils, and rinse their chopsticks in cups of hot tea.

And!

If lines out the door aren't already profitable enough, the New York Tim Ho Wan will also have a liquor license. While the menu will continue to be strictly limited to dim sum, the menu will grow over time and add more dishes appealing to American appetites, including "high quality beef dishes."

The address previously housed Spice, which closed in December 2014.

Previously

NY Grill & Deli opens today on Avenue A and 12th Street

The corner market opens its doors today here on Avenue A and 12th Street.

EVG NY Grill & Deli correspondent Greg Masters shared the above photo of (from left) Sam Ali, owner; partners Ahmed Alzandni and Abdul Ali.

Poppy's Gourmet Corner, the previous tenant here, closed at the end of January.

[Updated] Aroma Kitchen & Winebar giving way to Misirizzi on 4th Street

After 12 years of serving Italian food in a low-key atmosphere on East Fourth Street, Aroma Kitchen & Winebar recently said goodbye (ciao actually) to its patrons...

And coming soon, another Italian venture — Misirizzi...



There's a teaser website up for Misirizzi ... we don't know who's behind the restaurant just yet. Signage points to a September opening here at 36 E. Fourth St. between the Bowery and Lafayette.

Updated 8:30 p.m.

EVG reader Andrew Lax exchanged emails with the new owners, Siria, Matias and Alessandro, who say they have retained Aroma's staff and menu... Misirizzi, which is expected to be open the first week of September, will also offer a lunch service and delivery.

Updated 8/30

Vito, the previous owner, sent an email to Aroma regulars earlier in the summer. It read, in part: "Few changes are in order, the name and the layout, but they will keep the same format, the same atmosphere and the genuine italian food and wine."

Week in Grieview

[A hero to go in Tompkins Square Park via Steven]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

RIP Stephen Konzen, aka the East Village Magic Man (Tuesday) and Richard Kopperdahl (Thursday)

Sept. 2 is the last day for New York Central Art Supply (Friday)

Resident known as the "box man" found dead in Second Street apartment (Monday)

At 112-120 E. 11th Street, concerns about asbestos removal (Monday) ... and a rally (Monday)

Blink opens a sales office on Avenue A (Friday)

A small request to clear the weeds from the Second Avenue explosion site (Thursday)

Former wine and liquor store to become a wine store on Avenue A (Wednesday)

Last day for the Edge: Sept. 24 (Thursday)

Steve Croman gift ideas (Friday)

More rolled ice cream for St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Sugar Cafe is back open (Saturday)

New Museum announces exhibition on the work of Raymond Pettibon (Wednesday)

Former Dempsey's space transformed into the Gray Mare on Second Avenue (Wednesday)

Out and About with Craig (Wednesday)

Park View Office Suites available on Avenue A and Seventh Street (Tuesday)

Another healthy choice at the Death Star: Orangetheory Fitness coming soon (Monday)

Sweetgreen opens on Astor Place (Monday)

Sahara Citi has apparently closed on 13th Street (Monday)

Cava Grill opens on Fourth Avenue (Thursday)

A letter to Peter M. Brant about the jackhammering (Monday)

Restaurant space that has been a lot of things lately ready to be something else (Thursday)

Fish Cheeks opening soon on Bond Street (Tuesday)

The $29.5 million triplex penthouse on Cooper Square (Friday)

Noted

East Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Reminders: The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival is today in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Steven]

Crews are setting up the stage now for the free show today from 3-7 p.m.

Here's a preview via The New York Times:

Sunday’s program, at Tompkins Square Park, will feature a special triumvirate of Jack DeJohnette on drums, Dave Holland on bass and Jason Moran on piano; the singer Allan Harris; the alto saxophonist Grace Kelly; and the Donny McCaslin Quartet, recently acclaimed for its work with David Bowie.

Reminders: NYU Welcome Week starts today

At NYU, Fall Welcome Week begins with the Residence Hall move in...

With this in mind, you may want to avoid the following areas...



Kidding!

But there are parking restrictions around the various residence halls along Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 14th Street...and on 14th Street ... and the one on the Bowery at Second Street...

And maybe today isn't the day you decide to pick up a few non-dorm-related items at Basics Plus on Third Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street. Could be crowded...

Report: 3 East Village residents arrested on gun, drug charges

Three East Village roommates were busted for storing guns and drugs in their East Fourth Street apartment, per published reports.

According to the Daily News, the NYPD executed a search warrant yesterday morning at an unspecified address on Fourth Street ... this followed the arrest of Nico Meneses, who had been found carrying a loaded gun when he was busted for an alleged assault nine days earlier at the Artichoke Pizza in Chelsea. (Which is why the 10th Precinct was involved.)

Per the Post:

Inside they found three loaded handguns, police sources said.

In addition to the firearms, police recovered 20 ounces of cocaine, marijuana and an assortment of 130 prescription pills from the apartment.

Police arrested Devin Detres, Kristopher Gibbs and Meneses, all 24. They reportedly face multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Skippy's Palace offering early (or late?) St. Patrick's Day beer specials on 10th Street

As the signage shows, beer deals abound all night at Skippy's Palace, the semi-secret speakeasy at 84 E. 10th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.



Anyway probably just a leftover from a house-roof rager or something... the address has been home to rooftop noise complaints for years (here and here, as an example).

No, workers aren't dropping off the new Target store this morning on 14th and A

Big Crane Action is happening today on 14th Street and Avenue A... at the site of Extell Development's in-progress retail-residential plazaganza that will one day yield a Target flexible-format store.

Signs at the nearby MTA stop in Steiner East Village points to ConEd work...



Whatever! Just enjoy...

Sugar Cafe is back open

Sugar Cafe on the corner of East Houston and Allen Street reopened its doors yesterday.

As we first noted on Aug. 16, the cafe had to close for undisclosed plumbing issues...there was some thought that the closure was tied to the ongoing/never-ever-ending East Houston Street Reconstruction Project that has been hurting local businesses.

At the opening night of the Vector Gallery on 3rd Street

Last night, the Vector Gallery — aka the Official Gallery of Satan — made its debut at 199 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Founder JJ Brine (below in the camouflage jump suit) previously held forth on Clinton Street, East Broadway ... and in Los Angeles.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped early and shared a few photos ... there were various "Sermons/Situations/Soliloquies" later in the evening for the opening ...



















Previously

Twist and shout

The debut album from the Toronto-based Twist is out today... the above track is for "Can't Wait."

The band was at Mercury Lounge this past Sunday... and hopefully they'll be back around soon...

Steve Croman gift ideas for everyone on your list

An EVG reader shared the following... over at Redbubble, the online marketplace for print on-demand products, seller SansComicSans has created a series of gift items that feature landlord Steve Croman's mugshot.

There are throw pillows (above) ... as well as hoodies...



... iPhone cases...



... and travel mugs...



Find the whole gift gallery here.

Steve Croman, who's always in the discussion for NYC Landlord of the Year, was hit in May with a 20-count indictment on charges including grand larceny and filing false documents.

Croman, whose real-estate empire includes 47 buildings with 617 units in the East Village, is reportedly due back in court next month.

EV Grieve Etc.: Raphael Toledano's tenants come together; Feltman's is NYC's best hot dog

[Photo on 6th Street by Derek Berg]

Tenants sound off on notoriously shady landlord Raphael Toledano (Brick Underground)

Feltman's at Theatre 80 "is NYC's best hot dog" (Gothamist ... previously)

Haircuts, coffee and art at the Vacancy Project on East 10th Street (Sprudge ... previously)

A visit to Kingsley, "an inviting restaurant" on Avenue B (The Village Voice)

Corrupt lawmaker Sheldon Silver can remain free until appeal is heard (The New York Times)

Construction starts at the future home of the Essex Street Market (The Lo-Down)

Hawk action winds down in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)

Man busted for alleged heroin deal on 14th Street and First Avenue (Town & Village, 2nd item)

NYU study offers some L train alternatives (Patch)

Interview with Tim Murphy, author of "Christodora" (B+B ... previously)

Retrospective devoted to Catalan filmmaker José Luis Guerín (Anthology Film Archives)

Lady Bunny's new show (The New Yorker)

Madonnathon at the Metrograph on Ludlow Street (Official site ... read our Q-and-A with "Desperately Seeking Susan" director Susan Seidelman here)

Black Flag at Maxwell's circa 1984 (Flaming Pablum)

Random diversions: When David Lynch did daily weather reports (Dangerous Minds)

...and ahead of the Chi Snack Shop debut in the former Mamoun's space at 22 St Mark's Place... the branded ATM shelter has arrived...



... and at 2 St. Mark's Place, the Greek restaurant that is opening in the St. Mark's Ale House space is hiring ...




[H/T Steven]

Sept. 2 is the last day for New York Central Art Supply

New York Central Art Supply has set Sept. 2 as its last day in business...



On July 11, the Steinberg family, who has run the art supply store for three generations, announced that they were closing the 111-year-old business for good in September. They cited "poor business conditions" and the pending sale of the building at 62 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street as the primary reasons behind the closure.

"We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring and support of the community and our customers," family member Doug Steinberg told me via email. "We are continuing to see if we can find a new home for what's left of our inventory and our paper collection."

For now, there are items up to 60 percent off... they are also selling fixtures and furniture such as flat files.

As for who might be the new owner of the building, there isn't any transaction in public records just yet. One source claimed that the Lightstone Group had purchased No. 62, and that the developers would use the space for part of the Marriott sub-brand Moxy Hotel planned nearby at 112-120 E. 11th St.

Doug Steinberg said that he was not sure who was buying No. 62. "But I am 99 percent sure it is NOT Lightstone," he said. "They actually looked at it and passed. Whoever is buying it is — as far as we know — unrelated to the hotel mania around the corner."

Blink opens a sales office on Avenue A

[Photo via @edenbrower]

Blink Fitness is opening at 100 Avenue A this fall... ahead of that, the gym unveiled a temporary sales office yesterday nearby at 115 Avenue A ... The Blink website for this location shows a rate of $20 a month for an all-access membership ... and $15 a month for access to just the Avenue A gym.

The No. 115 space previously served as a sales office for Ben Shaoul's condoplex at 100 Avenue A.

Tompkins Square Park hosts the annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival on Sunday

[Photo of Ron Miles in the Park last year by Stacie Joy]

Info on the 23rd annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival via the EVG inbox...

City Parks Foundation is proud to announce the 2016 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. The festival is New York City's annual salute to the legendary saxophonist, featuring contemporaries of Charlie Parker as well as young jazz musicians that continue to shape and drive the art form.

In a world of modern music — not just jazz — few figures loom as large or cast as long a shadow as saxophonist Charlie Parker, best known as "Bird" (short for "Yardbird") to generations of musicians. He was born in 1920 and almost 60 years since his death in 1955, he is universally celebrated for single-handedly inventing bebop and bringing jazz into the modern era.

The festival is particularly significant this year given the upcoming centennial of the musical dawning of the term “jazz,” as well as what would have been the 100th birthdays of late jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Ella Fitzgerald.

On Sunday in Tompkins Square Park, audiences will be introduced to DeJohnette - Moran - Holland, the first-time collaboration of influential jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette, innovative pianist Jason Moran, and prolific double bassist Dave Holland.

Listeners will be delighted by performances from award-winning jazz vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Allan Harris and acclaimed saxophonist Donny McCaslin, who will perform his newest album accompanied by his group.

The complete Charlie Parker Jazz Festival schedule can be found on the City Parks Foundation website here.

The Festival is 3-7 p.m. here on Sunday. The Festival is in Marcus Garvey Park tonight and tomorrow afternoon.

Parker, who died in 1955 at age 34, lived at 151 Avenue B from 1950-54.

The $29.5 million triplex penthouse on Cooper Square

[Image via Streeteasy]

62 Cooper Square was home, starting in 1926, to sheet-music company Carl Fischer. The 12-story building was converted to condos (26 in total) in 2001.

The building's crown jewel, the three-level penthouse, hit the market back in the late spring. And, as I learned in a post at Luxury Listings (h/t The Real Deal) yesterday, the home remains on the market. Perhaps because the asking price is $29.5 million?

Here are some details via the listing at Stribling:

The Penthouse at 62 Cooper Square ... covers 15,781 interior square feet, with an additional 2,400 square feet of beautifully landscaped terraces. Located on the top three floors of the Carl Fischer Building, this triplex penthouse offers soaring 10'8 ceilings; 90+ windows; North, South, East, and West exposures; and includes 2 guest apartments and an adjacent guest suite. This truly extraordinary home currently consists of 8 bedrooms, 8 full bathrooms, 3 half bathrooms, 2 private terraces, a billiard room, library, and personal yoga studio.

And a photo or two...





Move in now and you'll likely be able to watch the last few years months of the Astor Place-Cooper Square reconstruction.

Images via Stribling