Reports of a fire at St. Mark's Comics

Just after 2 on St. Mark's Place... more to come...

Thanks to @tallassazn

And so, 24 hours and $24,784.50 later: The Bean has reopened

Proof!

Previously.

Kudos to @xjdx

This morning at the Bean

Not open yet.

@bslif Lots of stunned faces staring at door.

Anyone missing an orange kitten?

A reader found the kitty this a.m. on Ninth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D. Maybe 4 or 5 months old? If so: grieve98@gmail.com

Has the Bean reopened yet?

The Bean GM tweeted yesterday that they were simply late on paying $24,784.50 in taxes and they'll be back open today...

EV Grieve reader Creature went by this morning.... not open yet. And I think they usually start at 7 a.m.?

Previously on EV Grieve:
New York State seizes the Bean on First Avenue!

Our very own (alleged) ponzi schemer also (allegedly) bilked the Christodora House

Law enforcement officials are on the hunt for "fugitive hedge-fund manager" Brian Kim, who the DA charged with running a $4 million Ponzi scheme. (He may be hiding in Italy, according to reports. More here from the Journal.)

The 35-year-old founder of Liquid Capital Management also happened to live in the East Village — the Christodora House on Avenue B. More details on Kim, a CNBC pundit on Asian futures derivatives trading, are starting to emerge.

From the Post today:

The Manhattan DA's office discovered Kim was missing after he failed to show up for a Jan. 4 trial as part of earlier charges, where he stood accused of stealing $435,000 from the Christodora House.

In regards to the condo funds, Kim allegedly falsified documents identifying himself as the president-secretary of the condo association, allowing him to transfer $435,000 from the association's bank account to a bank account he set up for Liquid Capital. Within a month of making the transfers, he depleted all the money he had stolen — trading most of it away.

Kim was arrested in 2009 as part of that scheme, which led to an investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission into his hedge-fund business, which focuses on futures trading.
He now faces three indictments for stealing money from his condominium association, jumping bail and financial fraud.

If you spot Kim, then please call Joe Kernen.

[Image via CNBC]

The Daily News had the story yesterday, though I can't get their site to load today.

Thinking about Coyote Ugly (currently shuttered)

As I reported last night, the DOH has shuttered Coyote Ugly on First Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street... I imagine it's only temporary... I'm waiting to hear back from a CU rep...

Coyote Ugly opened in the East Village on Jan. 27, 1993, and spawned a worldwide empire ... and I realized last night that I've only ever been there once (and, oddly enough, I was with my dad...). As much as I like cheap beer and denim shorts, it seemed too fake gritty for my taste... and there is that whole "tourist trap" stereotype associated with the bar... especially after the movie... Maybe I'm wrong? I'll go back.

Happy McSorley's Day!

Hey! It's Feb. 17 ... seven years ago, Mayor "Put some ice in my beer!" Bloomberg declared McSorley's Day in New York... Here's an ad for the day from yesterday's Post ...

The bar is also celebrating its 157th (or 149th!) anniversary....

Meanwhile, we're hoping for a quote from Minnie McSorley about the Big Day. (Find her Facebook page here.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Happy 155th birthday, McSorley's (or not)

P.S.
Not today, but you should try lunch there one of these lazy days... as Jeremiah did.

An East Village apartment worthy of a diplomat

I was just trolling some one-bedroom apartments... and came across this listing in Tompkins Square Plaza at 190 Seventh St. just east of Avenue B...

Building Features: Diplomats OK, Doorman, Elevator, Laundry, New Construction,

This building has a lavish attended lobby with leather waiting area, for guests to await. The rear building is located through a beautiful courtyard with fountains, benches tables and chairs to enjoy your coffee while reading the paper. Upon entering the apartment, the first thing you notice is space, and lots of it. Open to the corner kitchen with room for a dining room table, your living room will cause envy among your friends.

I've seen plenty of "diplomat-friendly" listings around Union Square, Gramercy Park, Kips Bay and streets closer to the UN... just don't recall many ads mentioning diplomats here... Anyway, it has a diplomat-friendly price of $3,200 for the one-bedroom apartment...

Julius Klein gets a D

We've had some high-profile DOH shutters of late... Coyote Ugly... Yerba Buena... And now!

Over on East First Street at the Julius Klein/Art & Design studio...

A grade of D from the DOH? Ha!

The Lower East Side gets another 'high-end boutique residential rental property'

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Silverstone Property Group, a New York City based full service real estate company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of 157 Suffolk Street ... The 6 story, 22,398 square foot residential apartment building consists of 33 apartments and 2 retail stores. Silverstone purchased the building for $8.8M, or approximately $392 per square foot, in an all-cash, off-market transaction with the private seller. Silverstone will be renovating the building to create a high-end boutique residential rental property, as well as leasing the retail space which has been vacant for many years.

Sooo... dumb question, but what happened to all the former residents of this pre-high-end boutique residence? Buy outs?

Noted

On the St. Brigid's plywood on Avenue B.

GM: The Bean will reopen tomorrow

Here's the rest of the message on the Bean's FB page...

"Sorry guys!!! WE MESSED UP!! Late filing '09 taxes!! Yes, '09!!! Will be open tomorrow!!! Very, Very unprofessional on our part. I am truly sorry. Guy"

Here's the other official document on the Bean's front doors... (thanks Anna)

Previously on EV Grieve:
New York State seizes the Bean on First Avenue!

[Thanks to jdx for the tip]

DOH closes Coyote Ugly

Last night, I noticed that Coyote Ugly was closed during prime happy hour time... (Noted this via Twitter)

...and this evening ... the gate is up, revealing the DOH sticker....

They scored 40 points on their last DOH visit in December... the major violations:
Sanitary Violations
1) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
2) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
3) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
4) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
5) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Imagine they'll be back open soon enough...

[Pic via]

Fistfight on Crusty Row

EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams was on the scene after a fistfight broke out on Crusty Row in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon around 4... As he noted: "Police were called and one guy decided to run away. Cops tackled him by the chess boards and took him away."

The killing moon

[About the headline]

Noted

Via @TessTheGreatt

Report: The Bean owes $24,784.50 in back taxes

Earlier today, we reported that the State shuttered the Bean on First Avenue at Third Street for failure to pay back taxes. Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo has a follow-up:

The Department of Taxation and Finance spokeswoman added that four warrants for failure to pay taxes totaling $24,784.50 are still open on the property.

Oh, never mind about that whole 'breaking news' on East Second Street thing

Heh. Well! Upon closer inspection, it appears that the DOT closed off Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B so that WABC can film crews filling potholes...

Thanks to Samo for the photos.

Breaking: Something big happening on East Second Street

We don't know yet... but Samo sends along this shot... East Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is blocked off... news crews on the scene...

[Updated: Oh, never mind!]

The next sliver of space for development: The parking lot at 277 Seventh St.

In recent years it seems as if, say, some restaurant gardens and single-level buildings have a shorter and shorter life expectancy around here. Soon, they may all be pricy apartments. Massey Knakal now has a listing for the 22-foot-wide parking lot at 277 E. Seventh Street west of Avenue D... Per the listing:

A 22’ wide vacant development site on the northern side of East 7th Street between Avenues C and D. The site benefits from a curb cut. Currently, there are 10 cars parked at an average rent of $300/month. It would be suitable for a single family or multi-unit development.

And the price for the parking lot: $1.95 million. This space is adjacent to the new Lower Eastside Girls Club building presently under construction here on Avenue D between Eighth Street and Seventh Street.

On St. Mark's Place, terminal salvation

Last night, EVGayBear took a few photos of the FDNY removing that giant hand duct thingee from atop 79 St. Mark's Place...

Bob Arihood was there too, and passes along some photos of the scene around 9:15 p.m. ... the problem was with the the stainless steel flue terminal ... which had come loose...

...and apparently now sitting in front of the building...

Coming soon to Seventh Street: coffee and ice cream

The city issued permits last week for the former City Copies on Seventh Street just east of Second Avenue. We've been curious what might be going in here... Workers on the scene told an EV Grieve reader that the storefront will soon be home to "coffee and ice cream."

DOH gives Yerba Buena a clean bill of health

Last Friday, the city inspected Yerba Buena at 23 Avenue A near Second Street ... and found enough violations to immediately shutter the Latin eatery...

The DOH returned Monday, and found zero violations... and the DOH gave YB the OK to reopen...

B Bar aiming for sidewalk cafe and takeout window; promise more community discussion

We've been keeping an eye on the construction/renovation on the wall at early Bowery ruiner B Bar at East Fourth Street... According to the DOB, the B Bar is adding "an additional opening in existing exterior wall on Bowery." But! That's just part of it...

Via a post at Grub Street, it appears that the B Bar wants to add a 28-seat sidewalk cafe and a takeout window. The NoHo News blog has the story and details...

NoHo News has an update from Monday evening's CB2 Sidewalk Committee hearing:

"The CB#2 Sidewalk Committee agreed that the B Bar needs to address how they are going to handle the patrons they already have before they are granted public space for even more. That said, Eric Goode has agreed to more detailed discussion regarding the B Bar and its new plans."

East Village soon to be home to restaurants called The Beagle and Marry the Ketchup

I couldn't attend Monday night's CB3/SLA meeting. However, Eater's Jackie Goldstein was there ... here are a few highlights:

• Heartbreak Cafe on Second Avenue and Second Street gets the OK for a sidewalk cafe. This, though, after the Heartbreakers apparently agreed that they wouldn't seek a sidewalk license... Regardless, they were OK'd for eight tables and 32 seats on the Second Avenue side. This whole episode put a committee member in a snit.

• Momofuku Milk Bar gets the OK for a new location across the street from their current 13th Street digs. The booze will only be served in the desserts or something. And they'll have two beers on the menu. Rather, two different kinds of beer.

• Marry the Ketchup is approved at the old Permanent Brunch space on First Avenue. They'll seafood and oysters.

• I've heard the most about The Beagle, which is OK'd to take over the Orologio space at 162 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street. One resident told me their menu had entrees priced between $26-31. But, a Beagle rep said that was an old menu, and of the 31 items, 20 are $12 and under. Still, one resident told me how unhappy he is with menu items such as whole pigs and foie gras.

Read the full Eater post here.

Octavia's Porch really wants you to know that they're delivering now

Earlier this month, we noted that Octavia's Porch on Avenue B was starting delivery service ... Meanwhile, we've been spotting the menus to the restaurant co-owned by Nikki Cascone from "Top Chef" season four taped up on city property on corners from Houston to Seventh Street, Avenue A to Avenue C...

FDNY removes dangling duct on St. Mark's Place

A little earlier this evening, the FDNY was on the scene at 77 79 St. Mark's Place just west of First Avenue... Reader EVGayBear sent along these photos with a short narrative: "So this duct was hanging off the roof of the building, and the firefighters went up in their ladder, ripped it off, and took it down before it could fall and crush people. I guess the high winds knocked it over."

I was also thinking that duct looked familiar for a moment... like, a hand...