The good shepherd

A man walking on East Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue tonight noticed that someone had discarded this framed photo of sheep.

He thought that his kids might like the print. So he carried it off with him...



Photos by Derek Berg

Noted

CBGB's Reopening! At Newark Airport: ht @readmyback pic.twitter.com/m9Ay6VaI8j

— WFMU (@WFMU) December 21, 2015

In case you didn't already hear/see this everywhere earlier today... CBGB is opening as restaurant in the Newark Airport. (No one noted which terminal.)

Per Grub Street:

What exactly pre-flight dining has to do with the seminal punk institution is not clear, but it was previously reported that Harold Moore, the otherwise-celebrated New York chef had been recruited to handle food duties at this strange business. And a quick glance at the menu reveals that the people behind this outpost think wedge salads and turkey clubs served in a fun environment will make diners nostalgic for that time they saw Bad Brains rip up the stage for the first time.

And to some mostly negative reactions on Twitter...

This is so fucking depressing to me. CBGB being used to sell wedge salads & chili dogs. WTF? Is nothing sacred? https://t.co/HLLxyHht63

— Jessie (@VampyreMermaid) December 21, 2015

I'm really hoping the story about the CBGB restaurant at Newark Airport is a hoax.

— Rob (@Svelteassassin) December 21, 2015

For people who love the new CBGB, try my hot wings restaurant, "Moulin Rouge" in Spokane. https://t.co/cqarYa6xKr

— dax shepard (@daxshepard1) December 21, 2015

Hope Newark Airport CBGB opens before I fly back to L.A. because I'd like to be the first person to smear shit on the bathroom walls there.

— Tom Ceraulo (@tceraulo) December 21, 2015

CBGB will reopen...as Maxwell's

— Shawn Perry (@A_Shawn_Ti) December 21, 2015

CBGB will reopen...as a DMV

— Shawn Perry (@A_Shawn_Ti) December 21, 2015

Anyway!

Report: Legal battle over the ownership of 80 St. Mark's Place

[EVG file photo]

DNAinfo looks at the legal battle shaping up between Thomas Otway and his brother Lorcan, proprietor of Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place.

Per DNAinfo:

In court papers filed Dec. 14, the brother, Thomas Otway, also accuses his sibling of coercing their mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, into transferring the deed to the property to him in 2010.

“This transaction was not intended to benefit or otherwise made in [Florence’s] best interest, but rather, was undertaken for the self-serving profit and financial gain of [Lorcan] to [Florence’s] corresponding detriment, damage and harm,” Thomas said in the filing in Manhattan Surrogate's Court.

Thomas, a math professor at Yeshiva University who lives in Croton-on-the-Hudson, N.Y., claims that through a trust, he and his brother were supposed to own an equal share in the two-building property at 78-80 St. Mark’s Place.

He took legal action last week, the filing says, after years of negotiations between him and his brother about the property didn’t lead to any tangible results.

For his part, Lorcan Otway told DNAinfo that "all the allegations are false, misleading and will be addressed in a court of law."

Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue houses a theater, the William Barnacle Tavern and the Museum of the American Gangster.

The new Tompkins Square Bagels will arrive before the 2nd Avenue subway

As we first reported back in June, Christopher Pugliese, the owner of Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A, is opening a second East Village location.

However, in recent months, we hadn't seen much, if any, activity at the former Open Pantry space at 184 Second Ave. between East 11th Street and East 12th Street — the soon-to-be home of his second shop. (His other store remains at 165 Avenue A.)

Then this sign arrived at the Second Avenue storefront on Wednesday...


[Photo by Shawn Chittle]

We asked Pugliese for an update on the renovation.

Turns out that the Department of Buildings (DOB) has been behind the delays, he said.

"The killer is, the DOB approved all of our major alterations very quickly," he said. "They came back to us with a list of about 12 minor objections and asked us to make adjustments. Little things like 'move this staircase six inches to the right,' or 'put the skylight here instead of there.' That has been dragging on for months."

He had hoped to be open for business by now.

"The whole thing is very frustrating. I signed my lease in June. I don't have money to spare on rent for an empty space. My landlord was nice enough to give me two more free months when I came to him and told him what was going on. That's unheard of in this town," Pugliese said. "We are hoping to get final approval this month, work for three to four months on the build out and open in time for spring.

"But I will beat the Second Avenue subway — that's for sure."

Previously on EV Grieve:
After 40-plus years, Open Pantry looks to be closing on 2nd Avenue

Rumor: Tompkins Square Bagels possibly opening a 2nd East Village location on 2nd Avenue

A 2nd Tompkins Square Bagels confirmed for former Open Pantry space on 2nd Avenue

Tompkins Square Bagels makes it official on 2nd Avenue

Juice Vitality coming to 1st Avenue

The coming soon sign is up at 192 First Ave., where Juice Vitality (JV) is next up to take the storefront here between East 11th Street and East 12th Street.

The signage notes that they will serve and sell smoothies, fresh juice and bubble tea, all of which are in ample supply in the neighborhood.

Previous tenant Medina Deli moved around the corner in October to the former Reciprocal Skateboard space on East 11th Street.

A question about Extell construction noise on East 14th Street

[EVG photo from September]

Extell Development's ongoing construction (and previous demolition and pile-driving) continues to make neighbors living near the site on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B unhappy. (Not sure what ever came of the Extell noise meeting back in September.)

As previously reported, Extell is putting up two 7-floor retail-residential buildings ... 500 E. 14th St. at Avenue A will have 106 residential units … while, further to the east, 524 E. 14th St. will house 44 residential units.

A nearby resident writes in: "Do you have any ideas for what to do about construction noise? Seems Extell is running a generator non-stop at their site." (To power the recently arrived lights?)

The resident tried the community email address that's posted on the East 14th Street field office ...



The resident said that the email address "amusingly" doesn't work. (We tried it too, and received a bounce back.)



The phone number listed does work, with a voice-mail with instructions on leaving a message about the construction. The outgoing message says that project personnel will "continually monitor site conditions ... to ensure that there are minimal disruptions to the community. Thank you for your cooperation."

Previously on EV Grieve:
The disappearing storefronts of East 14th Street

[Updated with correction] 8-lot parcel of East 14th Street primed for new development

New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

1st activity at 500 E. 14th St. since the demolition phase, and when the standing water froze

Community meeting tonight to address construction noise at Extell's East 14th Street development sites

Some more details on the condos at the former East 6th Street synagogue

[Rendering via the 415 website]

The Times recaps what has transpired to date (with some new details) about the former Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

As you probably know, the historic building is being converted from a house of assembly to three houses of condos, with prices ranging from $2.95 million to $4.4 million (that unit includes two terraces).

A few passages from the Times then:

The congregation that has occupied the building since 1910 will still be there, on the ground floor and the basement level. In fact, the condominium deal has allowed the synagogue and its building to survive.

Two of the apartments include the synagogue’s original, newly restored stained-glass windows, and one also has an original door, now with glass cutouts to let in light, as part of a living room wall.

And!

As part of the current agreement, the developers are providing at least $20,000 annually to the congregation for the next 198 years, in addition to a $600,000 payment up front. East River is also giving the synagogue a $180,000 “fit-out allowance” for the synagogue to design and rebuild the sanctuary and other spaces, like offices or meeting spaces in the basement.

Also!

The developers received permission to bump up part of the roof a little to create the second level of the penthouse, though the change is not visible from the sidewalk.

It may not be visible from the sidewalk directly in front of the building, but the addition is noticeable from across Sixth Street and in Village View. It's also in plain view in the rendering on the 415 website.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Plan to add condos to historic East Sixth Street synagogue back on

Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue

A final look inside the Anshei Meseritz synagogue on East Sixth Street

Stained-glass windows removed ahead of condo conversion at Congregation Mezritch Synagogue

Condos at former East 6th Street synagogue will start at just under $3 million

Sidewalk bridge comes down as condo conversion continues at former East 6th Street synagogue

History reimagined with $4.4 million penthouse at former 6th Street synagogue

Today we're 8 (in blog years)

EV Grieve started eight years ago today. On this occasion.

This is a moment to thank you for reading and commenting and offering feedback and story ideas and theories and everything. This site doesn't work without you.

And thank you to the frequent EVG contributors, including Dave on 7th, Derek Berg, Stacie Joy, James Maher, Steven who, like Cher, doesn't use a last name, and Bobby Williams.

Someone recently asked me what my favorite all-time EVG post was. I have no idea. But I found this one to be the most compelling in recent years.

Report: Manhattan Cryobank wants Stuy Town's sperm

An EVG reader shared this story with us from the past week that we missed...

As Town & Village first reported, Midtown-based Manhattan Cryobank sent a mailer to to all of Stuyvesant Town’s buildings (though not Peter Cooper’s) "because of the high population of NYU graduate students and men in their early twenties to early thirties."

As you might expect, the mailer didn't go over real well with some folks.

Per one resident:

“This is the kind of PR that Tishman and CWCapital have been putting out that people are sending us that. We’ve never received this kind of thing — this is what they think this neighborhood is? What if you sent your kid down to get the mail? We do not want to be known as the sperm bank neighborhood. I think the new people (Blackstone) should know about this. They bought a sperm bank.”

Anyway, Spring Break!

Free trees for the holidays!

Well, people leaving town for the holidays (perhaps!) continue to toss their trees. (Maybe MulchFest should move up their date from January?) The tossed trees seem to be everywhere...



So perhaps if you've been holding off on buying a tree this holiday season, then you can pick one up for free. (Or if you want a second tree for the home.) Or if you want a new tree, then you can check out Stacie Joy's round-up of neighborhood stands here.

Photos today by Derek Berg

At the 9th Precinct's annual holiday event for kids

The 9th Precinct hosted its annual children's holiday party yesterday on East Fifth Street ... Derek Berg stopped by to check in on the present action...









A lot of happy faces (though not everyone was happy!).

And at first glance, we thought Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer might be leading the crowd in xmas carols ... nope – she was just thanking the 9th Precinct...

A moment on East Houston

Via our friends at In Alphabet City...

A happy ending for this discarded Christmas/holiday tree

A discarded tree sits rejected on East Fifth Street last evening. However! EVG correspondent Derek Berg, who took this photo, reports that a neighbor adopted the tree and brought it in for his/her own apartment.

Also, this tree tried to escape from Saifee Hardware on First Avenue ...

Have a holly, jolly 9th Precinct Christmas today

[Photo via @edenbrower]

The 9th Precinct is hosting its annual children's holiday party today on East Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. As the flyer shows, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there. Not sure about Officer Tubbs. The festivities last from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, the 9th Precinct has been getting into the holiday spirit as well inside the station house ...

#TisTheSeason2015 for getting into the #holidayspirit at the @NYPD9Pct pic.twitter.com/QJHvprlWUi

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) December 10, 2015

Die another day

I've lost track of Gary Numan's musical output in recent years. The English singer-songwriter continues to be productive releasing new material ... and yesterday's announcement that he will be playing three shows at the Gramercy Theater in May prompted me to revisit the above track — "I Die: You Die" — from 1980.

A sign of vandalism on East 2nd Street

This morning, an EVG reader found that her car and at least two others had been vandalized on East Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Someone used a staple gun to attach tarot cards to the car tires. The reader, who said that the tires will need to be replaced, filed a police report.

EV Grieve Etc.: Remembering Adam Roth; Converting Streit's to condos

[Off to Grey Gardens! Photo by Derek Berg]

RIP Adam Roth (Daily News ... Billboard)

Streit’s matzo factory headed toward condo conversion (The Real Deal)

Extell unveils affordable housing building on the LES (DNAinfo)

TeaNY has closed on Rivington (BoweryBoogie)

Catching up with Steve Cannon (The Villager)

NYCHA is underprepared for emergencies: Scott Stringer (Capital New York)

Reactions to de Blasio’s zoning proposals (City & State ... Gothamist)

ACME changing concepts on Great Jones (Grub Street)

42-year-old Soho health food restaurant Spring Street Natural is on the move (Eater)

Essex Crossing Site 6 update (The Lo-Down)

A few of the NYC institutions that closed this year (The Commercial Observer)

When the Cockettes came to NYC in 1971 (Dangerous Minds)

The shadows of December (Gog in NYC)

Holiday gift idea: Membership to the Anthology Film Archives (AFA site)

HiFi owner Mike Stutz interviews EVG on this podcast ... part of Live at Fi — Transmissions From The Hifi Bar in NYC series (iTunes)

... and free pet photos with Santa Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Police Service Area #4 on East Eight Street and Avenue C... (no pub crawl though...)

Q-and-A with East Village artist James Romberger

James Romberger is an artist-cartoonist known for his depictions of the neighborhood's streetscapes. In the mid-1980s, he was co-founder of the East Village installation gallery Ground Zero. His work has been shown in galleries around the city, and is in the public collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum.

Romberger's latest drawings — his first solo show of new pastel drawings since 2002 — are currently exhibiting at the Dorian Grey Gallery on East Ninth Street.

Per Dorian Grey, the exhibition "focuses primarily on witty, closely observed still lives and scenes from the vicinity of his birthplace on Long Island's North Fork.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy recently spoke with Romberger about his work.



The East Village and Lower East Side factor heavily into your work over the years. Why did you choose to feature your surroundings in your cartoon and pastel work?

Like many artists, I tend to draw what is around me because knowing it so well; I can invest the work with believable detail. But I like to draw different locales. For instance, my comic Post York is about NYC after the ice caps melt and the city floods, while my other recent graphic novel done with my partner Marguerite Van Cook, The Late Child and Other Animals, is about her growing up in England and France. I’ve been to those places, so I’m able to draw them convincingly.

How have the changes in the neighborhood over the years you’ve lived here affected your work? How do you feel about the changes?

It is a little odd for me to try to draw locally because it is so cleaned up. I am not nostalgic for slums, poverty, and drug-dealing, and I realize NYC is always changing, but I do miss some of the multicultural character of the neighborhood that has been lost, and many of the wealthier people moving in now are not interested in culture.

The city doesn’t support arts other than sanctioned forms — street art is obliterated, dancing isn’t allowed, etc. Small businesses are not supported, either. Real estate greed is what runs NYC.





Why did you decide to focus on the North Fork/Greenport, Long Island area for your latest exhibit, and do you envision a return to East Village/LES-based work?

For most of the past decade, I had been doing more comics than gallery-oriented pastel drawings. But I spent the summer staying at a friend’s house out on Long Island and drawing what was around me was a good way for me to get back into doing that sort of work.

The work isn’t entirely without social relevance —interestingly, like NYC, Greenport also largely functions by the exploitation of undocumented workers and I showed that. However, there are some new East Village drawings at Dorian Grey and I am drawing more NYC scenes now.

What’s next for you, work-wise?

I am working on making Post York a full book, and Marguerite Van Cook and I and our son Clockwork Cros are doing a show together called “The Nuclear Family” at the HOWL! Happening Gallery on East First Street opening April 6, 2016.

-----

The Dust pastels show runs through Jan. 3 at Dorian Grey Gallery, 437 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.



All photos by Stacie Joy

Family looking for information about Peter Schedler

Several EVG readers have spotted these flyers in locations on East Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... with several posted outside No. 160.

The family of Peter Schedler is looking for information about his whereabouts last Friday night or Saturday morning. (Peter's brother Spencer, who wrote the note, gave his OK for us to repost the flyer).

The note reads:

"I am looking for any information regarding my brother Peter... and his activities in the building last Friday night and Saturday morning. If you saw him, heard from him, or heard anything that evening, it would be an extreme comfort to know. There is no criminal investigation, and we are not looking for anyone to blame. Absolutely no authorities will be involved. As I am unable to speak with him, I just want to know any details that you may have to help fill me and my family on his whereabouts that night.

Even if you think it was insignificant but you heard or noticed something, please contact me. It would be greatly appreciated and help our family who dearly loves him. Thank you for your help."

Spencer's email address is raised3rd@gmail.com.

Peter, who had worked as a senior executive for Live Nation, Warner Music Group and and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, among others, was found dead on Saturday morning. He was 39. His obituary is published here.

"Peter will be remembered for being passionate about whatever he set his mind to and his big ideas. There was very little that he did not hold a strong opinion on. He certainly lived his life to the fullest during his 39 years, with a wide network of friends from all walks of life. His outgoing, loyal and friendly personality will be immensely missed."

[Updated] DOH temporarily closes Little Poland on 2nd Avenue

The DOH has temporarily closed Second Avenue stalwart Little Poland, one of our favorite places to eat.

An inspection on Tuesday yielded 66 violation points, including for "Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations." They've always had excellent scores in the past.

Anyway, when they reopen here at 200 Second Ave. between East 12th Street and East 13th Street, we might finally try the pancake special that the diner has been offering since earlier in the fall...



Updated 12:46

They will reopen at 3 this afternoon...

Reader report: Gas main replacement brings new wildlife to East Seventh Street

A resident on East Seventh Street between Avenue C and Avenue D shares the following:

East 7th Street between Avenue C and D has been graced with multiple weeks of gas main replacement, causing the area's typical wildlife, frisky rats, to find alternate habitat. You'll notice in this photo, the planter's dirt has been covered in Belgian block and chicken wire to prevent the erstwhile rodents from nesting in them.

Well, the absence of our rats has brought another form of wildlife to 7th Street. Peeking from between the planters is a frightened little opossum.



311 has uninterestingly responded that opossums are the "property owner's problem."

We hope the little guy hasn't been poisoned by the block's copious rat bait stations...

The new Astor Place CVS actually opens... TODAY

Well, after faking us out once... the CVS at 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star opens today. (The sign on the door originally said Sunday, Dec. 13, which meant that we got all dressed up for nothing — except church, of course.)

As noted previously and previously, CVS will eventually be joined by three more ground-level businesses — Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports.

Meantime, see you in the Beauty section!

Previously on EV Grieve:
You can finally shop at 51 Astor Place!

BREAKING: CVS is the 1st retail tenant for the Death Star! (42 comments)

1st sign of the incoming CVS at 51 Astor Place

CVS has teamed up with Watson, IBM’s supercomputer

3 new retail tenants for 51 Astor Place: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports

At It's a Wonderful Life!: A benefit for Rev. Jen Junior (the greatest dog actress of all time)

[Bad Santa]

Last night at Cake Shop on Ludlow Street, Rev. Jen put on a benefit to help pay the medical bills for her ailing dog, Rev. Jen Junior. (Anything leftover was to go to Waggytail Rescue.)

So Rev. Jen assembled a group of musicians, comedians, performers — and more — for the benefit. Photographer Walter Wlodarczyk, a friend of EV Grieve (AFOEVG), was there and shared these photos from the evening...


[John S. Hall]


[Angry Bob]


[Even Twice]


[Rev. Jen Junior]


[Master Lee]


[Dusty Santamaria]


[Janeane Garofalo]


[Johnny Bizarre]






[Rev. Jen Junior]