Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Caffe Béne now selling South Asian-inspired groceries and snacks
47 St. Mark's Place is for sale for the first time in 50 years
The property consists "of 6 one-bedroom and 2 two-bedroom apartments. The property is built 25 feet by 63 feet and sits on a 25 foot by 93.92 foot lot with approximately 7,990 gross square feet. The property is zoned R8B allowing for approximately 1,409 gross square feet of available air rights.
Has Saxon + Parole closed?
Saxon + Parole reps have not responded to multiple requests for information on its status. OpenTable lists S+P as permanently closed.
And with one dream coming to fruition, another one comes to a pause. Our NYC locations of Ghost Donkey, The Poni Room and Saxon + Parole are temporarily closed due to COVID-19. It has been a pleasure serving you, and we hope to do so again soon.
S+P opened here in September 2011, replacing the company's Double Crown restaurant.
Monday, September 21, 2020
Monday's parting shot
2-plus minutes of Pandemic
Pandemic is one of the local bands on the regular circuit in Tompkins Square Park in recent months... EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared this clip from yesterday of the band, whose members are Luis Ayala, Papote Jimenez, Carlos Acevedo and Zoilapianista.
The band plays every Tuesday and Sunday at 5 p.m. in Tompkins.
'Project Stun' at the F stop on 2nd Avenue
In case you haven't been by the Second Avenue F stop at Houston... FL00D and Stänzi have collaborated to create "Project Stun," described as "a hybrid street art and animated experience," on view (and digitally here) through September.
Paying homage to local culture and creativity from decades past, "Project Stun" emits hope upon the streets of New York City. These words hold power — letter by letter, chaotic expression seeps through in philosophies of NYHC, iconic musical influences (Bad Brains, CBGB) and signature motifs from the creators' archives.
Native Bean wraps up 20 years on Avenue A
"There is hostility from the city to us, the small businesses," he continues. "We are just a source of revenue to them and we are subject to harsh treatment. Every time an investigator comes it's a couple thousand dollars. Agencies just write tickets and charges. Small businesses are the heart of the city but we have no voice. I wish the city were kinder."
[Aljerjari with manager Mahammad Fofana]
Ali doesn't rule out opening another business in the future, when COVID-19 subsides.
La Mia Pizza debuts on 4th Avenue
Check out their menu, which includes calzones, salads and wings, right here.
Pie by the Pound closed here in July 2019 after 17 years in business. A regular told us at the time that the lease was up, and the owner wanted to pursue other opportunities.
The Dolar Shop bringing hot pot to 3rd Avenue and 11th Street
Closings: Brazen Fox, the Nugget Spot, Hu Kitchen, Mancora and Apna Masala
"It's with a heavy heart that we announce the permanent closure of our 14th Street location. For 7 years we called this home, making friends from all over the world that share the same love for NUGS. We're not throwing in the towel just yet, but in order for us to return in the future we have to take these necessary actions now. "
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Week in Grieview
Thank you
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Last night in Tompkins Square Park
'May she remind you to keep going'
12th Street hosting a voter registration drive this weekend
The East 12th Street Block Association, in conjunction with the community gardens between Avenue A and Avenue B and the East Village Vintage Collective, is hosting a voter registration drive this weekend (Saturday and Sunday!) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be two locations for registrations on each side of the street (one is to be in front of the El Sol Brillante community garden).
Per the invite: "As this is such a crucial election, we must do all we can to ensure people are registered and VOTE."
The East Village Vintage Collective, pictured above, is at 545 E. 12th St. between A and B.
St. Brigid is now hosting a flea market on Saturdays
Founded in 1856, the Saint Brigid School was one of seven city Catholic schools marked for closure by the Archdiocese.
To date, the Archdiocese has not stated its plans for the space. Mary Help of Christians hosted a weekend flea market before the property was sold for what became Steiner East Village.
Report: Father-son bandits busted for alleged ATM heists
Friday, September 18, 2020
'Nonsense' you say!
Baby Kong arrives at the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden
Thanks to a Good Stuffed Animal Samaritan, there's now a Baby Kong in the Sixth Street and Avenue B Community Garden
Back in February we had the story about how Kong, the stuffed animal that longtime East Village resident Nefertiti Jones had as a child, ended up in the Community Garden. (Link to the story is below.)
Unfortunately, Kong went missing earlier this month. As Jones wrote in an Instagram post, "I am heartbroken my beloved Kong was stolen ... Kong who was loved by so many people and had become a permanent fixture on Avenue B was taken a few days ago. If you have seen him please bring him back."
Now though, someone placed a Baby Kong in the spot with a note...
The note reads in part: "I offer hope and health to all who care for me. Hopefully, mommy and daddy Kong come back to visit. If not, I am here to carry their legacy!"
H/T Briar and the 6th & B team!
The Merchant’s House Museum reopen to visitors on Saturday (tomorrow!)
More history: "Built in 1832 and home to a prosperous merchant family, the Tredwells, and their Irish servants for almost 100 years, it remains complete with the family’s original furnishings, household objects, clothing, and personal memorabilia."
Construction watch: 24 1st Ave./101 2nd St.
Nearly seven have months have passed since we checked in on the 101 Condominium, Rybeck Development's condoplex on First Avenue and Second Street.
There has been a lot of progress — despite the work stoppage during the COVID-19 PAUSE. The 7-story, 23-unit residential building, looks to have reached the top, as this Second Street view shows...
The work includes Saturdays, which has annoyed some neighbors. This past Saturday, a nearby resident wrote in to say: "They are using concrete pumps on diesel engine trucks — the engine never turns off and gets very loud during the pumping process — plus foghorns and car horns to communicate."As for what's to come, the studios are starting at $895,000. The listed amenities include a full-time doorman, fitness center, lounge area, grill & wet bar and an "immaculate indoor/outdoor park."
Two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished to make room for the 101.
No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block
• Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million
• 7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space
• Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue
• The 411 on the 101 Condominium
Has Spiegel closed?
Elsewhere in NYC: Pearl Diner reopens for curbside dining
An adjusted menu of basic, diner-style classics, as well as the restaurant’s well-loved breakfast menu, is now available for in-person service as well as delivery via apps like GrubHub and Seamless.The Saturday reopening was a joyous occasion for longtime fans and newcomers alike. "They were all regular customers that showed up," [owner Alex] Pritsos said. “"We also had one or two tourists from Italy. Apparently one of the hotels nearby is now hosting some Italian tourists."
The Pearl opened in 1962, and is one of the last standalone diners in Manhattan. As Nick at Scouting NY said about the Pearl's neon sign: "at night, [it] makes New York City look like New York City."
[Photo from 2010 by James & Karla Murray]