Alphabet Plaza is rising on East Houston and Avenue D

Crews arrived in late October to start work on the lot at East Houston and East Second Street/Avenue D.

In October, the city OK'd plans to erect an 12-story mixed-used apartment building for this space. According to the DOB, the building will be 108,953 total square feet, with 9,640 set aside for retail.

Per documents, Jerry Kahen of Alphabet Plaza LLC is listed as the managing partner. Avinash K. Malhotra Architects is the architect of record. The firm's projects include the W Downtown and 2 Gold Street. (And we're still waiting to see the renderings. Have you seen them? Let us know via email!)

As the "What's Going on Here?" sign shows, the projected is expected to be completed by July 1, 2014.

The project is well on its way, as these photos from EVG Facebook friend Edward Arrocha ...











We'll leave you with a sentiment from Curbed's mention of this project last November: "Given Avenue D's proximity to the East River, hopefully Malhotra and team will make Alphabet Plaza better protected against flooding than 2 Gold."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will Avenue D finally turn into Avenue C?

Listing appears for Houston and Avenue D development

Report: 12th-story 'Alphabet Plaza' in the works for Second Street and Avenue D

Alphabet Plaza ready to rise on Avenue D

Sidewalk Café celebrates 20 years of live music; Antifolk Festival starts tonight

[EVG file photo via Bobby Williams]

From the EV Grieve inbox...

MANHATTAN LANDMARK TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF LIVE MUSIC
Winter Antifolk Festival to Launch Sidewalk Café’s Year Long Calendar of Festivities

To mark 20 years of live music at Manhattan’s Sidewalk Café, the East Village landmark will present Sidewalk LIVE, 20th Anniversary, a year-long celebration of special initiatives ... Sidewalk will kick off the festivities with the Winter 2013 edition of the bi-annual Antifolk Festival, Feb. 19 to 28.

Sidewalk LIVE, 20th Anniversary will include a series of panel discussions by Sidewalk artists, record releases, an online photographic retrospective, anniversary oriented food and beverage offerings, the introduction of new musical programming, performances by notable Sidewalk alumni and the Summer Antifolk Festival.

The ten-day Winter Antifolk Festival launch of Sidewalk LIVE will feature some 80 artists (schedule follows) representing the entire span of Sidewalk’s remarkable music timeline, including those whose careers were launched there, singer-songwriters such as: Jeffrey Lewis (performing with legendary musician Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders and the Fugs): Jason Trachtenburg; and Seth Faergolzia of Dufus (performing with John Ludington).

The Winter Antifolk Festival will take place Feb. 19 – 28 with more than 80 free evening concerts over the ten-day period at SideWalk Café, 94 Avenue A (at 6th).

For more information and schedule details of the Winter Antifolk Festival and Sidewalk LIVE, go here. You can watch a live stream of each night's show here.

Come live in John Leguizamo's former home here on 'Artists Row'

A new listing appeared Friday on Streeteasy for a home at 268 E. Seventh St. between Avenue C and Avenue D ... Price: $3.9 million.

Curbed pointed out that John Leguizamo lived here at one point ... take a look...









Leguizamo watchers on the block figure that the actor moved away here about 10-11 years ago... the listing notes that this was a single-family home now split up into three residences — "perfect for a single user or investor."

The Sotheby's listing also notes that the "townhouse sits on 'Artists Row' in the vibrant East Village Community."



Artists Row? (Sure, Kiki Smith lives on this block, but...)

We couldn't find anyone whoever heard of this block being called Artists Row.

"That's the first I've ever heard of this term as well," said Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. "Certainly I've known of people in the arts who have lived in houses in this row over the years, but the term may be a relatively new broker creation."

Looking at the former Polonia space, soon to be home to David Bouhadana's sushi restaurant Dojo

Just noting some recent activity at 110 First Avenue, former home of the dearly departed Polonia, the homey Polish diner that closed in December 2011.

As we noted last October, 25-year-old David Bouhadana, the onetime executive chef of the former Sushi Uo on Rivington Street, was looking to open a sushi restaurant here in the shadows of Subway's big new sign.

CB3 OK'd the liquor license in October... And Crain's reported last month that Bouhadana signed a 15-year lease to open what will be called Dojo... opening this spring...

Per the building's broker: "This is a continuance of strong chefs and entrepreneurial restaurant groups coming to the neighborhood. We've seen over the years just an influx of great concepts coming to the East Village."

Previously.

Are the rats in Tompkins Square Park now dining with plastic forks?

They're evolving! By next week, they'll be ordering in via Seamless. Photo today by Bobby Williams.

Whoa, look at what will be sprouting up at Norfolk and Delancey

OK then. This 12-story, 38-unit residence has been OK'd by the city to rise at 100 Norfolk Street, in space that was once used as the refrigeration facility for Ratner's.

The building will include a 5,000-square foot rooftop and a 2,000-square-foot roof deck, according to ArchDaily, which first reported on this yesterday.

Per ArchDaily:

Highly visible from Delancey Street and in close proximity to Williamsburg Bridge, 100 Norfolk will become an iconic addition to Lower East Side skyline, signifying the passage between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Do you think that this is an iconic addition to the LES skyline?

Check out The Lo-Down and BoweryBoogie for more. And here's more from Crain's on the deal from last spring.

Museum of the City of New York seeking Superstorm Sandy photos

From the EV Grieve inbox...

[East 11th Street last November. Photo by Goggla]

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – Superstorm Sandy Photography Exhibition

Museum of the City of New York

On October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy moved into the greater New York metropolitan area and altered the physical and psychological fabric of the region. As recovery efforts progress and the future of essential infrastructure, including waterfront repair, is considered, the Museum of the City of New York seeks contemporary photographs of the areas and people affected by the storm – photographs that portray the region before the storm, during the dramatic hours of the storm’s landfall, the immediate aftermath, and the relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts of individuals, organizations, and government agencies – for consideration for inclusion in an exhibition at the Museum to open in April.

Deadline for entries is 12pm March 3, 2013. For full guidelines and to submit images, click here.

Scaffolding arrives at historic 330 Bowery

Workers arrived this morning to erect a sidewalk shed and scaffolding at 330 Bowery, the historic circa-1874 building that once housed the Bouwerie Lane Theater and various banks before that...



According to the DOB, workers will be painting the landmark cast-iron building here at Bond Street sea-foam green and removing all the ornate details.

KIDDING! Jeez.

Actually, according to the all-cap stylists at the DOB:

ESTERIOR [Ed note: Exterior?] REPAIRS CONSISTING OF REBUILDING PARAPET WALL & RESTORING EXISTING STAIRS AS PER PLANS FILED HEREWITH. NO CHANGE TO USE, OCCUPANCY OR EGRESS

In 2007, "self-storage king" Adam Gordon bought the building and made condos, including a penthouse that went for some $14 million.

About Alec Baldwin's 'rant'

The Post has an "exclusive" today about an alleged run-in between Alec Baldwin and a Post reporter and photographer... among other things, he reportedly used a a racial epithet about the photographer, who is black, and said to the reporter "I want you to choke to death." (Baldwin's spokesperson called the racial accusations "completely false.")

Putting aside what may or may not have happened... all the reports say that this confrontation occurred "on an East Village street." It was on East 10th Street outside his apartment building at University Place, which The New York Times refers to as Greenwich Village.

You may now continue with your Presidents' Day.

Mystery Lot no longer recognizable

As these photos by EV Grieve Former Mystery Lot Correspondent Katja show... our little graffiti- and weed-filled lot is all grown up now.. on its way to becoming an eight-story, 83-unit luxury condo building.





They can't take our memories, though.

Reader report: Someone vandalized Portal 1 on Avenue C

A local East Villager passes along these photos of Portal 1, one of 13 portals by Nicolina and Brazilian artist Perola Bonfanti... passersby can scan the QR code on each one, then "you will begin the journey to uncover their mystery."

Unfortunately, someone ripped off the QR code on the Portal located on Avenue C and East Seventh Street. According to the reader, the artists are in South America but are working on a long-distance repair.



Here's the website for the portals.

UnReal Estate Friday night at MoRUS

From the EV Grieve inbox...

A Benefit Show for UnReal Estate; A Late Twentieth Century History of Squatting in the Lower East Side

Friday Feb 22 - 7pm-11pm
@ MoRUS
Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space • 155 Ave C

Unreal Estate Squatter History slide show by Fly

War In The Neighborhood slide show
by Seth Tobocman
with Ben Barson and Eric Blitz

words from Penny Arcade!

$5-10 sliding scale NoOne turned away for lack of $$ !!

Here's the Facebook events page with more details.

We'll have more on this show later this week.

EV Grieve Eatery Etc.: Alder's rustic look; First Avenue's next noodle joint; Pudgie's empty canopy

Haven't done one of these roundups in some time...

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Progress at noted LES chef Wylie Dufresne's new pub called Alder, opening on Second Avenue near East 10th Street... looking rustic or cabin-y...



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EVG regular WIlliam Klayer notes the new "tapas and noodle bar" is opening at 141 First Avenue, which has been a few ramen places since its day as a fish market...







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... and, sadly, the iconic signage for the shuttered Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's action-packed combo on First Avenue has been stripped off the canopy. Note on the door still says "pardon our appearance during renovation."

East Village sunset

Photos today by Bobby Williams...

Week in Grieview

[Off-road driving on Avenue A? Photo via Crazy Eddie]

Motor City Bar is closing (Monday)

Mike Bakaty talks about the early days of tattooing in the East Village (Wednesday)

Tom Cruise sells in the American Felt Building on East 13th Street (Monday)

New Jared Kushner tenants are organizing (Tuesday)

Why the East Village is like Ireland (Wednesday)

Former Whole Earth Bakery space will be an Italian restaurant (Monday)

Chloë Sevigny showed her new line at the St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery (Tuesday)

New York Health & Racquet Club headed to Avenue A? (Wednesday)

C-Town reopened on Avenue C (Monday)

Verso reopened on Avenue C (Friday)

Own the Avenue A 7-Eleven! (Thursday)

Let the First Avenue pizza war begin (Friday)

"Sexy hot bartending robots" wanted (Wednesday)

FIRE BREATHER! (Wednesday)

Verizon sucks (Thursday)

There are a lot of places around here to buy coffee (Monday)

LES hotels with special day rates (Tuesday)

Woo: Lawmaker wants to curb fee-based pub crawls

The Post reports today that Democratic Assemblyman Micah Kellner has introduced "a bill that would pull the plug on pub crawls by yanking the liquor licenses of bars that promote the boozy block-by-block odysseys."

"It creates mayhem," Kellner said. “We’re not trying to legislate common sense. What we can legislate is licensed liquor establishments promoting and enabling dangerous behavior.”

According to the article, "his bill targets bars that sponsor organized pub crawls requiring a fee to participate. Informal gatherings among friends would not be outlawed."

The article includes the classic "if people don't want" quote:

“If people don’t want to live around nightlife they shouldn’t live in Manhattan,” said Kevin Barry, a 27-year-old Upper East Sider. “It’s incredibly shortsighted.”

Speaking of pub crawls, a reader asked us if we saw the pub crawl last night that featuring a group of bar-hopping thrill-seekers all holding onto a rope and wearing wigs on Avenue A. So sorry that we missed it. But someone must have photos.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Pub crawl ban brewing?

Celebrating lent is getting out of hand

Outside St. Brigid-St. Emeric on Avenue B last night. Not sure where the stretch limo's occupants were.

Sunday morning with Zoltar

Zoltar watching 2nd Avenue traffic pass by.... vine.co/v/br0U3DezEdL

— evgrieve (@evgrieve) February 17, 2013

Previously.

[Updated] Report: 19-year-old woman dies on East 12th Street after night of drinking

A 19-year-old college student was found dead this morning in the lobby of 125 E. 12th St., according to published reports.

The Post reports:

A doorman discovered Jocelyn Pascucci — a Stony Brook University student from East Meadow — unconscious in the lobby of the building at East 12th Street and Third Avenue just before 5 am.

She had been bar-hopping in the neighborhood and drinking heavily, which may have exacerbated her heart condition, law enforcement officials said.

Pascucco, a Marine Vertebrate Biology major, got separated from friends and walked a short distance to the apartment building, wearing only one shoe, police sources said.

A doorman reportedly let her into the building because she looked "cold and drunk."

Updated:

The Daily News has more information.

Jocelyn and her friends spent the first part of the evening at a concert at Webster Hall, family members said. They hit a few bars afterward, but she soon got separated from her group.

Her last stop was a bar just down the block from where she collapsed, police sources said.

Richard Pascucci said he and his wife had just driven to Stony Brook to help their daughter with laundry.

"We made cookies for her and brought them to her for Valentine's Day," he said. "We always used to go fishing. I’m going to miss that."

Updated:

Several media outlets have posted Jocelyn's photo from Stony Brook's website.

Hawk vs. pigeon today in Tompkins Square Park

The pigeon eventually escaped... Later, though, the hawk dined on an already-dead pigeon... Photos by Bobby Williams... not sure if it was the same pigeon...

Things that we were staring at on the sidewalk outside McDonald's on Third Avenue today

[Updated] On the 'No 7-Eleven' Bodega Walk today

Via the No 7-Eleven Twitter account.

Previously.

Group shot here by Ingrid Kellerman ...



And a video of the walk by Matteo Minasi ...



Off topic, be sure to check out the car at the 1:30 mark.

Today in meteor woo

As we first reported yesterday you may have heard, a meteor blast shook Russia's Urals region yesterday.

The Post had a local angle today:

That didn’t stop science geeks and party kids in the Big Apple from celebrating the cosmic rarity.

“I’m getting drunk in honor of the asteroid,” said Maria Hess, 21, who bellied up to the bar at Jimmy’s 43 on the Lower East Side.

2nd 'No 7-Eleven' bodega walk today

From the EV Grieve inbox...



Previously.

I'm so dizzy

Here's Red Lorry Yellow Lorry with "Spinning Around" from 1985.

2 Bros. Pizza now open on First Avenue

[Photos via AC]

The 2 Bros. Pizza location on First Avenue near East 14th Street opened today... and let the $1 pizza wars begin...



Eater's Greg Morabito put it this way the other day: "But really, there should be no competition here: Vinny Vincenz serves one of Downtown Manhattan's best utilitarian slices. The regular $2.50 slice is easily three or four times better than one of those crummy pieces of wet cardboard served at 2 Bros., or at any of the other dollar slice joints in the area."

Agree?

Previously.

The Nuyorican Poets Café has its new HVAC unit

[Via Facebook]

From the EV Grieve inbox...

This week, the Nuyorican Poets Café installed a new heating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit! Hurricane Sandy knocked out our heating in October; thanks to our fans and supporters, we finally have heat again at the Café

The Café on East Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C also made an appearance this week on MTV's "Washington Heights." You can find that episode here. The Café is featured starting at the 3:50 mark for a few minutes, and then several times during the segment from 32 minutes in to the end.