Polish G. I. Delicatessen has officially closed

[Reader-submitted photo]

Back on Friday, an EVG reader spotted workers removing shelves and equipment from the Polish G. I. Delicatessen on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. With that, it appears the shop is now closed for good.

Eater reported that that the Eastern European specialty foods shop was closing on June 30. However, counterman David Cohen kept the space open for several weeks after that, selling coffee and doughnuts from the mostly empty storefront.

There are two versions of what will happen next with the business.

1) Cohen told Eater that they would be taking a two-month vacation and returning with hopes of opening in a new location. "Nothing is sure, but we'll see what happens," he said. EVG reader DrGecko said the shop would reopen on Ninth Street in September.

2) Multiple readers told us that chef-owner Grace Iwuc was retiring, and closing the shop. The retail listing for the space notes that "the owner is retiring and selling her 10-year lease of $2,600/month." Several readers wondered how a business could find a more reasonable rent in a different locale in the neighborhood.

The Polish G. I. Delicatessen opened in 1996.

H/T Luke A

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Polish G. I. Delicatessen is closing at the end of the month

Bonefade Barbers mark arrival on Avenue A

A tipster told us last month that a barber shop is opening at 115 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

On Saturday, the coming soon message/skull arrived for Bonefade Barbers.

The space hasn't had a full-time tenant since Alphabets closed here in February 2014 and moved to 64 Avenue A.

Here's Martina

Just a quick post to note that the plywood came down last week outside Martina, the Roman-inspired pizzeria from Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group that's opening next month on 11th Street at Third Avenue...



The previous Martina post (here) had a few more details on the place.

Eventually the space will look like this rendering...



Meanwhile, the corner slot on 11th and Third — the former M2M — still has the plywood treatment while workers carve out the incoming Wagamama.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group planning Martina for 55 3rd Ave.

Darkstar coffee opens on Great Jones

Darkstar Coffee opened late last week at 2 Great Jones St. between Broadway and Lafayette.

As you can see, the place wasn't open for the day yet when I stopped by on Saturday morning...



It doesn't appear to be related to the Darkstar Coffee in Perth, Western Australia.

The cafe shares space with In Living Stereo ... where they had a small but well-curated record shop that closed back in the spring.

Sunday's parting shot

A moment with El Gatito on Avenue A ... photo today by Lola Sáenz

Campaign to get a wax statue of Paul Giamatti at Madame Tussauds™ comes to the East Village

EVG reader MP spotted this on Ninth Street.

Via the WaxPaulNow website:

For too long, we as Americans have sat back and ignored the flagrant oversight that is the dearth of wax statues of Paul Giamatti at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. What Times Square is to New York, Paul is to the institution of acting itself. No longer shall we remain silent. Join us; make your voice heard!

Week in Grieview

[The former Village Gifts Friday morning on St. Mark's Place]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

The real story behind the so-called Lower East Side hoarder (Tuesday, 55 comments)

The Living Stage Summer Festival coming to Meltzer Tower Garden (Friday)

Out and About with Brian Breger (Wednesday)

Basketball courts at Open Road Park getting refurbished thanks to NBA star Kevin Durant (Tuesday)

An update on Steiner East Village, "Usherer of Alphabet City Gentrification" (Wednesday)

Montauk Salt Cave coming to 10th Street (Monday)

Gelarto officially (re)opens on Avenue A (Friday)

Townhouse living on 5th Street for $7.5 million (Friday)

N'eat is currently closed (Thursday)

Report: Man arrested after 3 failed bank robberies (Thursday)

Traveling and panhandling (Monday)

Going up and going down on 14th Street (Tuesday)

New EVG feature looks at the rent-stabilized apartments of East Village residents (Thursday)

More about Boris and Norton, the dog-friendly cafe coming to Avenue A (Thursday)

Ladybird about a month away from opening on 7th Street (Wednesday)

Café Floral Delight now open on 10th Street (Thursday)

What's happening with the former Edge space? (Thursday)

La Newyorkina joins Astor Plate on Astor Place (Thursday)

Retail space at 347 Bowery sells for $20 million (Monday)

Looking at the Allegro Coffee Roasters, now open at Whole Foods Market® Bowery (Tuesday)

More about Martina, Danny Meyer's "fine-casual pizzeria" coming to 11th Street (Wednesday)

Mayahuel closing Aug. 6 on 6th Street (Tuesday)

Yuan Noodle in soft-open mode on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

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Your weekly update on the Tompkins Square Park sinkhole

The first two photos are from Wednesday evening at the Eighth Street/Avenue B entrance to Tompkins Square Park...







... and today...





Have you seen anyone work on the month-old sinkhole this past week? Doesn't seems as if there was much, if any, progress this week.

Previously

Today in randomly sticking it to the man (aka Noted)

5th and B...

Report: About the 20 year old who spent the night locked inside a Lower East Side bar

This was the ultimate walk of shame https://t.co/N7eSoSnH17 pic.twitter.com/BpJpi9vfSy

— New York Post (@nypost) July 22, 2017

The Post files two stories about a 20-year-old New Jersey resident who reportedly passed out in the women's restroom at Boss Tweed's, the bar/saloon on Essex near Delancey.

Article Article No. 1:

Therese Hipolito, 20, of Flemington, could be heard shouting from behind the roll-down gate at Boss Tweed’s ... before cops set her free at around 9:20 a.m. [yesterday], police and witnesses said.

And...

The reveler had been tossing back drinks with a gal pal when she nodded off on the floor of the bar’s rest room some time before workers closed up at 4 a.m., sources said.

She woke up a few hours later, freaked out and called 911 at 7:55 a.m., according to cops.

Bartenders had failed to check the bathroom before closing up, cops said.

The bar may now be in hot water over the underage drinker, a police source said.

Then in article No. 2, she told the Post that she believes her drink was spiked.

“Whatever happened last night, I’m not that kind of person.

“I would never be in the city just drinking. I was at a friend’s birthday party. I had one shot and one glass of champagne. And the last thing I remember, I go get a slice of pizza with my friend and we sit back down in a booth [at the bar] and that was my last clear memory."

And about being locked in:

“How do you not notice someone sleeping on the floor of your bathroom? There are only two stalls," she said, adding, "I’m going to sue them."

Speaking of her night behind the bar’s bars, she said “it’s really not like me – it’s so inappropriate and trashy."

Boss Tweed's closed earlier this year ... and reemerged as a more upscale lounge that advertises Super Model Karaoke on Wednesday evenings.

[Updated] RIP Joseph Rago

Joseph Rago, a Pulitzer-Prize winning editorial writer at The Wall Street Journal, was found dead Thursday evening in his apartment on St. Mark's Place. He was 34.

According to The Wall Street Journal:

The New York Police Department found Mr. Rago dead in his apartment at 7:40 p.m., according to a police official. The authorities went to check on Mr. Rago after he didn’t show up for work on Thursday. Paul Gigot, the editor of the Journal’s editorial page, had alerted the paper’s security officials, who then contacted the police.

Mr. Rago was found with no obvious signs of trauma and emergency responders declared him dead at the scene, the police said. The cause of death was being determined by the medical examiner on Friday.

Here's more via the Journal:

He did his homework, becoming one of the most well-sourced people around on health care, with sources throughout Washington and among academics on the left and right, Mr. Gigot said in an interview on Friday.

“He was the kind of person you liked to have a beer with — I know that’s a cliché, but it’s actually true,” Mr. Gigot said.

Rago started at the paper as an intern in 2005 after graduating from Dartmouth that year.

Remembering the career of an extraordinary colleague,

Joseph Rago https://t.co/LGBPrVZBN8 via @@WSJOpinion

— Larry Kudlow (@larry_kudlow) July 22, 2017

Updated 9/12

Reported by Patch today:

"The cause of death is sarcoidosis involving lungs, heart, spleen, hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes," Julie Bolcer, director of communications for the Medical Examiner, said in an email. "The manner of death is natural."

Sarcoidosis, which causes severe inflammation of the organs, is still relatively mysterious to doctors.

According to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research: "Despite the best efforts of researchers for more than a century working to better understand the complexities of this disease, sarcoidosis remains difficult to diagnose with limited therapies. Many patients suffer for years before arriving at the correct diagnosis or discovering the best treatment plan."

A theft in the Immaculate Conception Church sacristy

Signs are up outside the Immaculate Conception Church on 14th Street near First Avenue... noting a break-in back on Monday...

Per the sign: "[A]n individual was observed making an unauthorized entry into the sacristy through the sanctuary. This individual proceeded to pilfer some small items."

At Death's door

Taiwan Housing Project, featuring members of noise-rock bands Harry Pussy and Little Claw, opens for the Thurston Moore Group tonight at the Bowery Ballroom.

The above track by Taiwan Housing Project is "Veblen Death Mask," from their recently released album of the same name on Kill Rock Stars.

Trumpets of Summer

Trumpets of Summer

The trumpets of summer reverberated,

Whether in celebration or warning,

Its fiery presence assured,

A procession of days before us,

The fanfare of resonance fulfilled.

•

peter radley

EV Grieve Etc.: Fight for community gardens; hawks in the heat

[Photo in the NYC Marble Cemetery by Derek Berg]

Mapping all the LES developments (Curbed)

Community gardens fighting for survival against developers and the city (Commercial Observer)

LUNGS Environmental Education Project continues with its free urban nature exploration for children in neighborhood community gardens. Learn more about The Living Classroom here.

Saying farewell to the Cup & Saucer (The Lo-Down)

CB4 has joined the ranks of Manhattan community boards calling on DOT to improve safety at intersections along streets with protected bike lanes (StreetsBlog)

The red-tailed hawks in the heatwave (Laura Goggin Photography)

9 facts about Union Square (Gothamist)

City decides to fund community land trusts, including with the Cooper Square Committee (City Limits) ... reaction (City Limits)

An early look at MoMa's upcoming show, "Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art in the East Village, 1978–1983" (Blouin Artinfo)

City retail vacancies climb (The Real Deal)

Tenants of 83 and 85 Bowery protest their "slumlord," the owner of Dr. Jay's (B+B)

Happy No. 12 to Alex! (Flaming Pablum)

Sinkhole in the bike lane along the Stuyvesant Cove Park (Town & Village)

More Mondo Bava this weekend at the Quad on 13th Street (Official website)

AC/DC at the Palladium in August 1977 (Mashable)

... and if the northbound lane of the FDR at East Houston is in your weekend plans...

#FDRDrive northbound exit 5 closed from 11PM on 7/21 to 10AM on 7/23. Motorists on Houston St/Southbound FDR & #bikenyc/ped not impacted. pic.twitter.com/Z5giDuNkIo

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) July 20, 2017

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Follow EVG on Instragram and/or Twitter for more updates

Gelarto officially (re)opens on Avenue A

Following an opening sneak preview back in June, the owners of Gelarto closed to make a few improvements to their gelato business at 145 Avenue A at Ninth Street.

On Wednesday, the new shop reopened... EVG contributor Steven shared these photos of the interior...







According to the Gelarto Instagram account, the shop's hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday).

Townhouse living on 5th Street for $7.5 million

There's a new listing for 526 E. Fifth St., a single-family residence between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Here are a few highlights via the listing at Compass:

526 East 5th Street is a 20 foot wide single family townhouse spanning over 5,200 square feet across four stories. Originally built in 1900, a modern restoration led by renowned architect Annabelle Selldorf resulted in masterful engineering paired with character rich details. The impressive features include a 35 foot deep extension, exceptional light through four exposures, wide plank reclaimed floors, and a triple exposure windowed kitchen.

And!

One of the highlights of this home is the entire fourth floor devoted to the master suite. Stretching across this level is the oversized master bedroom with a wood burning fireplace, dressing room, incredible windowed bathroom, and sunlit private den with exposed beams. This one-of-a-kind bathroom is lined with custom Moroccan fish scale tiles and features a dual vanity, claw foot tub and oversized stall shower. The charming den has floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a juliet balcony, a black marble powder room and a spiral staircase leading to the roof deck.

Additional amenities include a roof deck with treetop and downtown Manhattan views, a full sized laundry room on the garden level, brand new wiring and mechanicals, central AC, massive storage cellar and Citiquiet windows.

The listing has many interior shots... and in case you wondered what happened to the signage from Allied Hardware on Second Avenue. (Icon Realty wouldn't renew their lease.) We heard that the hardware store owners sold the sign for $100...



The asking price is $7.5 million.

Several years ago the multiple-dwelling building became a single-family residence. The new townhouse arrived on the market for $8.45 million in 2013.

An LLC called 526 E. 5th Street with a Brooklyn address bought the building for $3.2 in 2011. It changed hands to an LLP in 2015 for $6.5 million, per public record. It's unclear if any actual humans were living here.

The Living Stage Summer Festival coming to Meltzer Tower Garden

You may have seen some activity at Meltzer Tower Garden on First Street between First Avenue and Avenue A...



Volunteers from the Superhero Clubhouse along with University Settlement are prepping the space for the Living Stage Summer Festival.

Here are details via Facebook:

The Living Stage combines horticulture, theatrical design, and community engagement to create recyclable, biodegradable, biodiverse, and edible performance spaces.

Created by and for the Lower East Side community, The Living Stage Summer Festival features family-friendly activities including a live, original, intergenerational performance, music, gardening information sessions, and tours. There will be opportunities to engage with local nonprofits, businesses, gardeners, artists, and community leaders. Join us!

A free event for the whole family!

Meltzer Tower Garden, 94 E 1st St

Friday, August 4, 5-8pm
Saturday, August 5, 12-5pm
Free Outdoor Performance: Friday 7pm, Saturday 4pm

Find more info here ... and here.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo on First Avenue today by Derek Berg

Saturday in Tompkins Square Park

Via the EVG inbox...

WHO: Blonde Boy Wilson + The Chosen Frozen - Gas - Skitzopolis - Ruckus Interruptus - Universal Truth Machine - Density ... plus special guest Jennifer Blowdryer

WHAT: Amazing bands, political speakers and literature tables

WHEN: Saturday, July 22, 2 pm - 6 pm

Sponsored by The Shadow (the latest edition will be available at the show)...

Updated with new flyers...

Report: Man arrested after 3 failed bank robberies

Somebody's been watching too many heist movies https://t.co/qrXMoZPhCE

— New York Post (@nypost) July 20, 2017

The NYPD has arrested a man for attempting (unsuccessfully) to rob three local banks, two on the Lower East Side and one on Broadway near Astor Place.

"This was a very bad bank robber," a police source told The Post, who reported that cops arrested Richard Callison, 22, of Oradell, N.J., near 14th Street and Third Avenue.

During his attempted robbery Tuesday at the Bank of America on Delancey Street:

[He] also failed to make off with any dough, despite passing the teller a note that said: “Give me all the big bills, make the wrong move and you will get shot.”

The missive ended with the words: “Rapido, rapido.”

The teller was not intimidated by the note, and simply locked her drawer and walked away from the window, leaving the crook standing there empty handed, police sources said.

Neither here nor there but the suspect does have a passing resemblance to Spaulding Smails from "Caddyshack."

I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant

East Village resident Susan Schiffman has been photographing the apartments of rent-stabilized tenants living in the East Village for her Instagram account, I Am a Rent Stabilized Tenant. Starting today, she is sharing some of the photos here for a new EVG feature.





Tenants: Drew (since 1997) and Mia

Why did you move to the East Village?
Drew had been coming to the city for many years to attend the Halloween parade and visit his brother. He moved here from Colorado. One year he dressed up as Prince. His first roommate in the apartment's birthday was Oct. 31.

How did you get your apartment?
Drew was interested in the apartment but lost it to two NYU students. The first night the students moved in they went out for the night. When they came back all of their stuff had been stolen. They decided they didn't want to live there and Drew got the apartment.

What is your favorite thing about where you live?
The stoop. Drew said he met practically everyone he knows on his block on the night of a blackout. He brought out his grill and started grilling all the food in his fridge before it went bad. Neighbors brought out chicken wings. A nearby restaurant brought over some sushi tuna to grill.







If you're interested in inviting Susan in to photograph your apartment for an upcoming post, then you may contact her via this email.

More about Boris and Horton, the dog-friendly cafe coming to Avenue A

[The same photo I posted on Monday]

Back on Monday, I reported that Boris and Horton, billed as "New York's first dog friendly coffee shop and community space," was in the works for the former Ost Cafe and Raclette spaces on Avenue A at 12th Street.

The applicants, Coppy Holzman and his daughter, Logan Holzman, appeared before CB3's SLA committee meeting that night for a new beer-wine license.

Allegra Hobbs at DNAinfo was at the meeting, and has more details in this article:

Boris and Horton, named for owners Coppy and Logan Holzman's respective pooches, will be divided by a glass wall into two sections per Department of Health rules — a cafe side will offer up beverages alongside pastries and sandwiches, while the pet-friendly side will provide a lounging space for folks with dogs, plus a photo booth and pet supplies.

"It's like basically going to someone's nice living room with your dog, and it's adjacent to a place where you can get all your food and coffee," said Coppy Holzman.

And!

Patrons are free to move between the spaces as long as their dogs stay on the designated dog side, explained the Holzmans — and staff will be on hand to momentarily watch dogs if an owner has to dash to grab a coffee.

And dog-less New Yorkers who just want to hang out with a bunch of dogs are welcome throughout, they said.

The CB3-SLA committee approved the application with some stipulations, "including installing soundproofing and monitoring noise from canine visitors."

Boris and Horton is expected to be open this winter.

Café Floral Delight now open on 10th Street

Café Floral Delight opened earlier this month at 380 E. 10th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Here's more about the operation via the cafe's Facebook page:

Café Floral Delight offers delicious coffee from Devoción, pastries from the wonderful Balthazar, and beautiful custom designed buttercream cupcakes by Jiahn, the owner herself.

EVG reader EVJackie, who shared these photos, stopped by yesterday and wrote in:

I went in this morning and got a cold brew and a sugar cookie that was decorated with edible flowers. They have other goodies too, like cupcakes and various breakfast-type pastries. They were also promoting their yogurt/compote parfait today by giving away free samples. It was pretty good, so I'll probably go back.

The cafe's hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday...


[EVG photo]

Meanwhile, next door, I Salon is coming soon... it appears to be their second NYC location...



The I Salon space was previously home to a pawn shop, which moved to a new storefront a block away between Avenue C and Avenue D.

N'eat is currently closed

N'eat, which serves "New Nordic fare," has not been open this past week (and perhaps longer) here at 58 Second Ave. The sign on the door between Third Street and Fourth Street says: "Due to unforeseen building issues, we have to close temporarily for maintenance work."



There isn't any mention of the closure on the restaurant's website or social media properties. A call to the restaurant reveals that the number is no longer in service. N'eat is not accepting reservations, and OpenTable notes that the restaurant is "permanently closed." Lastly, there aren't any new work permits, which might indicate work on the building, on file for the address at the DOB.

The restaurant opened in early November.

La Newyorkina joins Astor Plate on Astor Place

As previously noted, Astor Plate, the food-and-drink kiosk serving Mud Coffee, opened back on Saturday.

And yesterday, a second food vendor debuted for the season on Astor Place, adjacent to the uptown 6 stop.

Here's more about La Newyorkina via the EVG inbox...

Founded in 2010, La Newyorkina features an amazing array of sweets and treats from Chef Fany Gerson’s native Mexico. The La Newyorkina story started with paletas (hand-made, seasonal ice pops) using traditional Mexican flavors like tamarind, chocolate and dried chiles. The paletas were sold out of carts at local food festivals and built a loyal following at Smorgasburg, Jacob Riis Park and the High Line. La Newyorkina’s Astor Place kiosk will showcase a broader menu, including a variety of Mexican confections and pastries (paletas, ice cream and chamoyadas) as well as Dough doughnuts for breakfast.

In other Astor Place news, Jim Power and Julie Powell will be hosting Mosaic Making Workshops and giving three guided walking tours of the Astor Place Mosaic Poles on Saturday. Find the details here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
La Newyorkina softly opening on Astor Place place today; first of 2 new food vendors

What's happening with the former Edge space?

The Edge, the neighborhood bar on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue, closed last September after 29 years in business.

The space had been on the rental market... of late, though, the for lease sign hasn't been visible.

An EVG tipster says there has been some activity in the space, and points to clues in the front window of a possible new tenant...



However, there aren't any work permits on file for the storefront that might provide any details, such as if workers are venting the space for cooking.

Updated

This sign is now on the front door... Reso Box...