No Malice Palace remains closed for now after the death of its owner

An EVG reader shared this... No Malice Palace, the bar on Third Street just west of Avenue B, remains closed...



It turns out that bar owner Phil Sherman died right before Thanksgiving 2016...



A note by the door and on the bar's Facebook page (on Jan. 12) note they will reopen "as soon as all legal formalities are completed and ownership is transferred."

The building, No. 197, hit the sales market in March 2016 for $7.5 million. According to public records, it sold to Northstar Properties last summer for $6.3 million. The seller is listed as an LLC c/o Simon Baron Development Group.

According to the original listing, No Malice Palace has a lease through December 2019. The bar opened in 1999.

For rent signage arrives at the former Sigmund Pretzel Shop space on Avenue B

Sigmund Pretzel Shop closed last October after seven years in business at 29 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street.

Meanwhile the for rent signs have just arrived. I'm curious how outrageous what the asking rent is... unfortunately, the listing (PDF here) at ABS Partners says that info is available upon request...



As for Sigmund's, their Urbanspace Vanderbilt location lives on in Midtown ... and the popular pretzels are on the menu of several restaurants in the city and sold via carts at various locations and events.

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 7th Street yesterday by Susan Schiffman]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Staten Island pizzeria Joe & Pat’s taking over the Lanza's space on First Avenue (Wednesday)

Out and About with Eric Rignall, owner of Inkstop Tattoo, celebrating 20 years on Avenue A (Wednesday)

At the Women's March on NYC (Saturday)

New owner of 629 E. 5th St. offers tenants incentives to move out early (Tuesday)

New map offers look at area's civil rights and social justice history (Monday)

When there was a bank building on East Houston at Avenue A (Friday)

What are those green bicycle lights on Citi Bike? (Monday)

Two units hit the market at Poppy Lofts on Avenue B (Friday)

El Sol Brillante garden members collecting funds to repair their fence (Friday)

You will still have a few more seasons to enjoy the East Houston Reconstruction Project (Thursday)

The phone books are here (Tuesday)

Former beverage distributor on Second Street demolished to make way for 8-story condoplex (Tuesday)

Secara has not been open lately on Fourth Street (Thursday)

Sandwicherie New York yumming soon in former Fresh & Co. space on 4th Avenue (Tuesday)

Spanish street artists PichiAvo will bring "Urbanmythology" to the Bowery Graffiti Wall (Thursday)

Beer & Cigars replace Massage & Bodywork on Avenue B (Tuesday)

Construction watch: 688 Broadway, aka 1 Great Jones Alley (Thursday)

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Today's big crane action

Apparently some kind of cell tower removal/addition here on Sixth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. Or else there's another explanation...

Saturday's parting shot

A view downtown earlier via Bobby Williams...

[Updated] At the Women's March on NYC

EVG correspondent Steven shares a few photos from along the Women's March on NYC route this afternoon...









Crowd estimates in NYC are at 200,000400,000-plus (see below) ... the route stretches from 47th Street and Second Avenue to the Trump Tower. There are reportedly hundreds of other marches in cities across the world ... "to march in support of equality and promote civil rights for every human."

A big thank you to the organizers and the men and women of the NYPD for keeping 400,000 New Yorkers safe during today's #WomensMarchNYC. pic.twitter.com/vkGharcQqk

— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) January 22, 2017

And a few more photos via Steven...











And via Derek Berg...

Happy Squirrel Appreciation Day

Happy #SquirrelAppreciationDay! Learn all about NYC's squirrels and how you can help keep them safe and healthy: https://t.co/wgkFgmClJE pic.twitter.com/iVDI4wHGa3

— NYC Parks (@NYCParks) January 21, 2017

I was unaware of this day. Thank you NYC Parks!

Well, then let's repost some squirrel shots from the vast EVG Squirrel Photo Vault ...


[Photo by Goggla]


[Photo by Mr. Baggs]


[Photo by Steven]


[Photo by Goggla]


[Photo by Bobby Williams]


[Photo by Goggla]


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

Friday's parting shot

Photo tonight on Fourth Street by Derek Berg...

State fare

Some synth-pop and white pant suits circa 1984 courtesy of Industry's "State of the Nation."

Avenue A, 3:10 p.m., Jan. 20

At Fifth Street... RIP

EV Grieve Etc.: RIP Wayne Barrett; a 'Coping with the Election' film series at the Anthology

[Photo on St. Mark's Place by Derek Berg]

Wayne Barrett, who spent 37 years at The Village Voice investigating developers and landlords, has died at age 71 (The New York Times)

Investigation is ongoing in the murder of Brooke Garcia, 27, who was strangled in the Lillian Wald Houses (Patch)

Luxury developers discuss Lower East Side real estate (The Lo-Down)

Anthology Film Archives on Second Avenue and Second Street launches "Inauguration of the Displeasure Dome: Coping with the Election" series (Anthology Film Archives)

City art galleries close on Inauguration Day (DNAinfo) ... while several NYC museums are offering free admission today (Curbed)

Before the Palladium there was the Academy of Music on 14th Street (Ephemeral New York)

On Wednesday, Caffe Bene reopened on Avenue A at 13th Street following a renovation that saw the arrival of a more-extensive menu and new seats... (Rish, the owner, is on the left in the photo below...)


[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

Founded on Mott Street in Chinatown in 1933, Fong Inn Too has closed (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Remembering Lydia Lunch’s "The Gun Is Loaded" (Dangerous Minds)

...and a contingent from the Lower East Side Girls Club are among the locals taking part tomorrow in the Women's March on Washington. The girls worked with artist Sophia Dawson on Monday to create signs for the march...







Girls Club photos by Amy Goldwasser

When there was a bank building in the middle of East Houston at Avenue A

EVG reader Steph Romeo was watching "The Naked City" from 1948 when she spotted this...



...and a view from East Houston near Norfolk looking west to Essex and Avenue A... a thin building in what is now the middle of East Houston...



On the left, you can spot the Provident Loan Society Building, which is still there today (not for long, though) on the southwest corner of Houston and Essex...



Steph look further, and found this image from the comprehensive digital collections at the NYPL... here's a shot of the building's front entrance circa 1929 ... showing the Community State Bank (not another bank branch!) and a dental office in the address that is listed as 2-4 Avenue A aka 240 1/2 E. Houston. ...


[Via NYPL]

I didn't have a chance to do any further research to find out when the building was razed ... it's also a good reminder to rewatch "The Naked City" and the subsequent TV series inspired by the film, which has many Lower East Side locations. I've haven't watched any of that in more than 10 years.

2 units hit the market at Poppy Lofts on Avenue B

Back in September, we noted that the new condos at 26 Avenue B near Second Street were going by the Poppy Lofts, a name that likely has nothing to do with the area's former reputation as a heroin hotspot.

In any event, there are now two units available via Ryan Serhant's crew at NestSeekers International.

Here's more about the development in general:

Positioned at the convergence of the East Village and the Lower East Side, Poppy Lofts is an exciting new development that possesses 5 incredible floor-through units with stylish interiors and private outdoor space. The building features a Glen-Gery dark gray brick façade adorned year-round with outdoor planters that contain seasonal flowers and manicured greenery. Amenities include a virtual doorman system, deeded storage units, bike racks, and a private keyed elevator.

Crafted to fit the needs of a modern lifestyle, each apartment boasts an open layout and a wealth of thoughtful finishes. Residence features include double-pane energy windows, coffered ceilings, radiant heated floors in all bathrooms, in-unit Bosch washer/dryers, LED lighting, hardwood floors, and sleek kitchens with solid quartz waterfall countertops and stainless steel appliances.

As for the units, the three-bedroom penthouse (1,309 square feet) is asking $2.215 million... while a two-bedroom residence (943 square feet) is fetching $1.95 million.

The two-level penthouse includes four outdoor spaces. Here's the description of that unit via Streeteasy, where you can also find a bunch of photos of the place:

The first level of the home is conveniently partitioned into a living area and a sleeping area. The living area contains an open-concept living room, dining room, and kitchen as well as a powder room and a slender balcony adorned with French doors. The kitchen is equipped with solid quartz countertops, cabinets from German Kitchen, and a suite of luxurious appliances that include a Bosch electric cooktop and wall oven, a Blomberg stainless steel refrigerator, and a Sharp microwave. Both of the homes spacious bedrooms lie opposite the living area.



The second bedroom has its own closet space and a west-facing window while the master bedroom contains a pair of closets, a pristine ensuite bathroom, and a roomy balcony. On the second level resides a sizable office/den/library that has eastern and western exposure and comes with an attached full bathroom. The room is flanked on either side by a pair of large terraces that work as spaces for entertaining guests or as secluded oases of privacy.

In the 1980s, the nearby corner of Second Street and Avenue B was a notorious heroin cop spot. As Andrew Roth pointed out in "Infamous Manhattan," the intersection of East Second Street and Avenue B "probably saw more heroin retailing than any other spot on Earth."

There's an open house here Sunday afternoon from 2:30-4 near a notorious brunch cop spot.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] 6-story apartment building ready to rise from the former Croxley Ales beer garden

[Updated] Report: 28 Avenue B has been evacuated

Full-stop work order served at construction site adjacent to evacuated Avenue B building

Resident wants stuff back that workers took from not abandoned apartment

Is 26 Avenue B ready for its new building now?

Avenue B condos near former heroin hot spot named Poppy Lofts

El Sol Brillante garden members collecting funds to repair their fence

[Image via]

An EVG reader shared this crowdfunding campaign that has been underway the past month for El Sol Brillante, the community garden on the south side of 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

In 1993, our garden, with help from the Green Acres Foundation, commissioned a beatiful, one-of-a kind iron fence to be built by the talented artist and welder Julie Dermansky.

This amazing work of art replaced our broken down chain link fence that was approximately 15 years old and becoming unable to hold out those who wished to break in. Since then, it has become a beloved fixture in our neighborhood, and has even been celebrated in several publications.

Despite our periodic painting and TLC, after almost 25 years, the harshness of weather and sidewalk existence have taken their toll on the posts, bottom support and panels with rust setting in.



As you can see from the pictures, the fence requires serious repair. We have met with 3 contractors and have received their bids. Ironically, the repair will cost more then the original fence.

We're asking for your help to raise the funds we'll need to preserve this treasured landmark in our community.

As of this writing, the garden has raised $505 of an estimated $10,000 to repair the fence. You can read more about the campaign here.