1st Avenue and 6th Street bearing fruit once again

The vendor(s) have returned for the season yesterday here on First Avenue and Sixth Street outside Village View...



They've been away since Oct. 31.

Thanks to EVG reader Riley McCormick for the photos yesterday!

A call to help preserve Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place

members of the staff at Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to help keep the enterprise alive.

Here's part of the appeal via GoFundMe:

From prohibition speakeasy to beloved Off Broadway playhouse, Theatre 80 St Marks is a beacon of historical and cultural significance in the East Village.

But maintaining, restoring and preserving the historic site with ever-escalating costs in a gentrifying neighborhood is challenging and expensive.

Theatre 80 is one of the last surviving family owned and operated Off Broadway theaters, occupying two beautiful and historic 1830s townhouses, which along with a 199-seat theater includes The William Barnacle Tavern, Sidewalk Of The Stars and The Museum of The American Gangster.

Theatre 80 has relied on generous contributions from patrons and friends to help bridge the gap in the past, and once again we are reaching out to the community for help.

Theatre 80 is dedicated to making performing arts more accessible to both audience members and artists and a huge variety of performers and production companies have made Theatre 80 their artistic home.

You can find more info on the campaign here.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo in Tompkins Square Park today by Derek Berg...

Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros

The last Rhinoceros on this earth

Made from metal by clever craftsmen

Impervious to new cruel bullets

Three taking the noble stance of one

Grand beasts cleverly combined yoga

By making themselves greatly smaller

They may go unnoticed for a while

Dispelling fears of being no more

Vanished, no trace, of living before

Melted as plowshares into weapons

No more to traipse the great savanna

The Chinese with non a firming loss

This deed being but a double cross

Our love shown to the Rhinoceros.

•

peter radley

Previously on EV Grieve:
Goodbye Sudan

A warning about off-leash dogs in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo from January by by Bobby Williams]

There have been an increasing number of complaints in recent months about people letting their dogs run loose in areas of Tompkins Square Park ... areas outside the Dog Run.

Now, someone has called in the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP!).



PEP officers were in the Park yesterday talking to dog owners who had their pets off-leash... one of the officers told EVG Off-Leash Dog Correspondent Steven that PEP will be a more constant presence now in the Park... no word if they were handing out tickets or just issuing warnings...

On the David Bowery

The David addition arrived at this Bowery street sign at Bleecker yesterday afternoon...



Not sure at this moment who's taking credit for this... There was a similar David Bowery tribute on the Bowery and East Houston in January 2016 after Bowie's death...

Team behind West Village wine bar Entwine eyeing former Golden Market space

As mentioned back on March 26, notices for a new full liquor license arrived on the door at 118 First Ave. at Seventh Street — the former Golden Market.

The applicant's questionnaire is now online at the CB3 website ahead of Monday evening's SLA committee meeting.

According to the paperwork (PDF here), the applicants also operate Entwine, a wine bar over on Washington Street (at West 12th) that serves Mediterranean-style menu items. (They were the subject of one of those annoying Boîte features at the Times in 2012.)

The bar-restaurant, which doesn't have a name just yet (TBD!), has proposed daily hours of 11 a.m. to midnight during the week and until 2 a.m. on weekends. The configuration shows 12 tables seating 38 guests and a bar with 14 stools.

There's also a proposed menu, showing a variety of sandwiches and tartines, and entrees that include grass-fed lamb chops, free-range oven-baked chicken thigh and grilled branzino.

The CB3-SLA meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Monday in the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

Golden Food Market closed last July after 35 years in business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Restaurant in the works for former Golden Food Market on 1st Avenue and 7th Street

Golden Food Market closes on 1st Avenue and 7th Street

Construction watch: 298 E. 2nd St. (aka Houston House)

Checking in on 298 E. Second St., where East Village-based Starleeng Equities is putting up an eight-story, seven-unit residential building here between Avenue C and Avenue D along East Houston ... workers recently reached the top...



As New York Yimby reported back in 2016, the residential units should average 1,967 square feet apiece — most likely condos. There will be a duplex apartment on the ground and second floors, with full-floor apartments on the third through eighth floors.

The condoplex, going by Houston House, is environmentally friendly, with the design via Passive House specialists Zakrzewski + Hyde Architects and featuring cross-laminated timber (CLT).

City Realty had more details on this last week:

While Houston House won’t go for Passive House certification, it will still have several green features. CLT requires little energy to produce and will provide extra insulation in the building. Oversized, triple-glazed windows will help cut down on electricity and control heat loss/gain. Houston House’s commitment to the environment even extends to its amenities: The building will have a bike room.

Here's a look at the plywood rendering...



Nest Seekers International’s Ryan Serhant will be doing the condo selling here. Sales have not yet been announced.

According to public records, the building that housed the Houston Street Beer Distributors sold for a little more than $7 million in the fall of 2015.


[Photo from August 2016]

Previously on EV Grieve:
298 E. 2nd St. latest development site up for grabs

East Village now minus 2 beverage distributors

Something brewing (demolition) for former beer distributor on East 2nd Street

Greetings from 1983

Last week Alex at Flaming Pablum shared his discovery of the East Village Walking Tour video from 1985... he's back with another find — a documentary from 1983 titled "Greetings From New York."

Here's the brief YouTube description for the 28-minute video: "Obscure documentary from 1983 with segments on downtown fashion designers, graffiti artists, and the hardcore scene."

RIP Anthony Pisano

[Photo by Marty Wombacher]

Anthony Pisano, a longtime East Village resident who lived in a converted storefront full of antiques and whimsical curiosities on Seventh Street, died last Friday. Pisano had cancer, according to a nephew. He was 86. (We don't have all the biographical information at the moment.)

Pisano lived here between Avenue A and First Avenue for nearly 40 years. You probably saw him sitting outside, the sounds of Sinatra coming from inside the apartment that people often mistook as some kind of store. When that happened, he often invited people inside for a look around.

From a 2010 New York Times feature:

One recent evening, two women strolling by stopped and stepped inside.

“Come in; satisfy your curiosity,” he said. Later Mr. Pisano explained that he gets many such visits every day. And each time, he says, he gets the same reaction. As the curious step into the recesses of the space, they’re startled to come upon a bed, a kitchen and a piano. It becomes apparent that this is no shop. It’s Mr. Pisano’s home.

“What is privacy?” he said. “Privacy prevents me from meeting people.”

He leaves the front door ajar ... Passers-by peer at a collection of unusual items — like a Bill Clinton doll on an antique model boat. Nothing is for sale, though he estimates he gives away 10 to 12 trinkets every day.

Pisano moved into the space in 1978. At the time, Pisano, a musician and former merchant marine, rented three spaces: the storefront, the apartment above it and the store next door, where he opened a cafe. He paid $150 a month for each, per the Times.

He also raised his two children, Anthony Jr. and Antoinette, here.

Marty Wombacher paid a visit to Pisano's home for this blog post in 2012. As Marty wrote: "He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet."


[A scene from "This Is My Home"]

Pisano's nephew launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for funeral expenses.

Per the GoFundMe page:

Everyone who knew him called him “Tony.” But for me it was “uncle Tony.” He lived his life simply and didn’t gather much monetary savings. His wealth came from love and compassion for his fellow human beings and sharing conversation.

As his remaining family is trying to pull together to fulfill Anthony’s final wishes. It is a very difficult task to afford a proper burial and memorial for him.

Updated 4/13

Here is viewing information...

Paradiso has closed on Avenue B

[Photo via @KGleasonWriter]

Paradiso, the low-key Italian cafe run by Alessandra Veronese and her husband Jose at 105 Avenue B, has closed.

A sign greeting patrons here near Seventh Street notes that they are "moving on! To wherever the future is taking us!"

Not sure at the moment why the cafe closed. They opened here in January 2009.

There's a new listing for the space, which has a $4,200 monthly asking rent.

Veronese previously operated La Casalinga (1991-2008) at 120 First Ave. near Seventh Street.

Karma Books now open on 3rd Street

Karma Books, an offshoot of the Karma gallery on Second Street, opened this week at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue ... in the former home of St. Mark's Bookshop.

An EVG reader who took a quick look inside the store reports an art-focused selection, with some big coffee-table books on contemporary art as well as rare and special editions.

Here's a selection of their titles, as seen on Instagram ...

A post shared by Karma (@karmabooks9) on Apr 6, 2018 at 7:07pm PDT

A post shared by Karma (@karmabooks9) on Apr 7, 2018 at 9:19am PDT

A post shared by Karma (@karmabooks9) on Apr 6, 2018 at 7:06pm PDT

A post shared by Karma (@karmabooks9) on Apr 6, 2018 at 6:48pm PDT

Previously on EV Grieve:
Bookstore coming to the former St. Mark's Bookshop on 3rd Street

CB3 commitee OKs upgraded license for live music and DJs at Club Cumming — with stipulations

It was standing-room only — even on the sidewalk outside — at Monday night's CB3-SLA committee meeting at the Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The main event: a license alteration for Club Cumming to include live music and DJs. As previously reported, Club Cumming on Sixth Street was under investigation by the State Liquor Authority for its live music programing, including piano and cabaret nights, which was happening without the proper permits. The bar-cabaret between Avenue A and Avenue B suspended its live music and DJs until they could apply for the appropriate license.

Several dozen supporters showed up at the meeting — so many that CB3 reportedly asked people to wait outside the Perseverance House Community Room...

A post shared by DJ Matty Glitterati (@matty_glitterati) on Apr 9, 2018 at 3:57pm PDT

Here's a recap via Bedford + Bowery:

Ultimately, CB3’s SLA and DCA four present committee members did vote unanimously to grant the license alteration, which would allow live music and DJs “provided they are not scheduled and that there are no ticket sales or entrance fees.” The committee stated this was because the bar’s zoning “does not provide” for them, and they lacked the power to change that.

According to CB3 officials, the situation with Club Cumming had more to do with compliance rather than complaints. (And it wasn't reported if anyone spoke against the upgraded license.)

“The bottom line is how [the Department of Buildings] interprets it,” stated District Manager Susan Stetzer. Historically, [committee chair Alexandra] Militano added, the DOB has not allowed scheduled performances and ticketed events to exist in a residential area, even at spaces licensed to have live music and DJs. Club Cumming’s address, 505 East 6th Street, is in zoning area R7B, a type of “residential district.”

It will be interesting to see how CC's owners, Daniel Nardicio and Alan Cumming, revamp their schedule once the license gets the final OK via the SLA.

Cumming, an East Village resident who spoke at the committee meeting, later thanked the Club's supporters on Instagram yesterday:

Last night our community board approved the change to our license so that live performance and DJs can happen again at @clubcumming. Now we just have to have the actual license changed by the State Liquor Authority and the show can go on again! It was a truly humbling and beautiful thing to see so many people turn up and show their support for our little bar, and to hear those who spoke express how important it has become as a safe community gathering place that both nurtures new talent and celebrates the artistic and cultural legacy of the East Village.

Club Cumming opened last September in the former Eastern Bloc space.

You can read coverage via Patch here.

In case you are screaming for more ice cream

[Image via Oddfellows]

Two ice cream shops with local roots are expanding.

• OddFellows is opening its fifth location today on East Houston at Mott, as BoweryBoogie first noted.

This branch will be a Coffee & Cream by OddFellows Ice Cream Co.

Per the OddFellows website:

"Coffee & Cream by OddFellows Ice Cream Co. will feature 12 rotating flavors of ice cream plus sorbet, soft serve, and of course, coffee. Not just any coffee. We have hired a great crew of baristas and we'll offer a rotating selection of beans from across the country. We are starting with one of New York City's finest: Café Integral (Nolita). We'll also have coffee soft serve, a special coffee sundae, matcha, kombucha on tap, cold brew on tap and more."

This marks the fifth location for the Brooklyn-based brand ... which also has an outpost on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

• Morgenstern's has designs on a new outpost on West Houston at LaGuardia. According to Patch, they have also filed for a liquor license for this location.

The Commercial Observer reported that the monthly rent is $35,000. They are expected to open in June. The shop is owned by Nick Morgenstern, who also ran the now-closed GG’s on Fifth Street.

This Morgenstern's replaces the Silver Spurs coffee shop, which closed at the end of March after a decrease in business and an increase in rent. Silver Spurs debuted on this corner in 1979.

Morgenstern's first shop opened at 2 Rivington Street between the Bowery and Freeman Alley in 2014.

Noted

Here's a late-afternoon look at the line for the annual (since 1979) Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... looks as if the line stretches back to Third Avenue? The West Side Highway?

The Ben and Jerry's opened here in January. Apparently this is their Grand Opening.

Thanks to Lola Sáenz for the photo!

Previously on EV Grieve:
7 years later, a Ben & Jerry's is returning to the East Village

These spray painted boots are made for...

They are being made for "SEAGULLMACHINE," a play starting Saturday at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre... photo today on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery by Derek Berg

A look at the other OTHER hawk in Christo's life

[Amelia on the left with Christo]

Last Wednesday, as Dora was leaving Tompkins Square Park for a wing-rehab stint on Long Island, an unknown female red-tailed hawk quickly took up residence in the now-empty nest. She and Christo, Dora's longtime companion, then mated.

Since then, the Park's hawk watchers have had a chance to observe this newcomer. (For the record, she isn't Barucha/Nora/Not-Dora, Christo's hawk-pal from when Dora left the first time around.)

Goggla was the first report on the hawk, who last week showed considerable skill maneuvering in that day's wind gusts that reached 50 mph. "For this reason, a fellow hawk-watcher suggested calling the new girl 'Amelia' after Amelia Earhart." (Hopefully this Amelia will enjoy a less-mysterious existence.)

Steven shared these photos of Amelia from recent days...







... and coming in for a landing...



As Goggla points out, she is larger than Christo... she has also been assisting in nest-building duties.


[Amelia on the right here with Christo]

There's no timeline yet for Dora's possible return... So all eyes now on Amelia.

Concern again for Merchant's House Museum as developer moves forward with hotel next door

Nearly four years have passed since we heard much about the proposed 8-floor hotel at 27 E. Fourth St. — next door to the Merchant’s House Museum here between the Bowery and Lafayette.

In April 2014, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved plans for the hotel. Now the City Planning Commission has received the developer’s application for the special permits they need to begin construction.

Tomorrow night, Community Board 2 is holding a public hearing on the proposed construction. The meeting starts at 6:30, NYU Silver Building, 32 Waverly Place, Room 520.

This development is of grave concern to preservationists, not to mention the leadership of Merchant's House, the circa-1832 building that is a city, state and federal landmark. (It is one of only six residences in NYC that is both an exterior and an interior landmark.)

However, landmark status does not guarantee protection from adjacent construction, and Merchant's House officials are worried that the ensuing excavation and subsequent work will damage their building.

Merchant’s House has issued a call to action (read that here):

Why Say NO!

• The proposed hotel, at 100 feet tall, is in violation of the City’s Zoning Resolution. The developer’s application for a zoning text amendment – “spot zoning” – in effect would rewrite the law for a series of waivers that benefit the developer alone.

• At eight stories, the proposed hotel towers over the 4 ½ story Merchant’s House (completely blocking sunlight to the rear garden) and is grossly incompatible with the surrounding buildings in the Noho Historic District.

• If the Planning Commission approves the application, the developer would be able to proceed – and the museum’s fragile, 186-year-old building would suffer catastrophic structural damage and likely collapse during construction.

• The Merchant’s House is New York City’s only family home preserved intact, inside and out, from the 19th century. It is a vital – and irreplaceable – New York City cultural institution, open to the public since 1936.

If the Merchant’s House — Manhattan’s first designated landmark in 1965 — can’t be protected, NO New York City landmark will be safe from out-of-control private development.

For their part, as Curbed has reported, the developers have promised to take extensive measures to ensure that the neighboring structure will not be harmed.

Over an 18-month period, architect Ed Carroll presented three different designs to the LPC before receiving the OK in 2014. The hotel is still apparently underwhelming. Per Curbed:

"Yeah, the building is boring, but it's appropriate," said Commissioner Michael Goldblum. The other Commissioners concurred, for the most part, that the new design featuring beige brick, glass, and metal spandrels, met the basic requirements they had set out for it. The only Commissioner to vote against the proposal, Margery Perlmutter, called it "drab on so many levels." "I feel like we've been exhausted into saying yes to this proposal, so I'm saying no," she said.

[Via SRA Architecture and Engineering]

The proposed site of the hotel, 27 E. Fourth St., currently houses Al-Amin Food Inc., which stores food carts.


[EVG file photo]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Landmarks Preservation Commission OKs plans for hotel next door to the Merchant's House

Plans filed for new 8-story hotel next to the historic Merchant's House Museum on East 4th Street

More about Bubbleology Tea, possibly coming soon to 1st Avenue

Over the weekend, some Bubbleology Tea backgrounders went up on the window at 120 1/2 First Ave., where applicants are hopeful to open a franchise here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

As noted last week, the applicants are seeking a full-liquor license this month for the former International Bar space... the info on the window notes how the London-based chain got its start...



... with info on the variety of bubble teas they serve...



There's also a notice that nine of their 43 bubble teas contain alcohol (in case you were wondering why they were seeking a full liquor license) ...



In addition to the beverage menu, Bubbleology Tea will serve a "variety of authentic Sweet & Savoury Toasted English crumpets, as well as assorted snacks," per their questionnaire on file at the CB3 website ahead of Monday evening's meeting.

We'll take a look at a few other applicant's on Monday evening's SLA committee docket later this week. The CB3-SLA meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on April 16 in the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Bubbleology Tea seeking full liquor license for the former International space on 1st Avenue

A reminder of the development to come at 24 1st Ave. and 99-191 E. 2nd St.

These "sold" development site banners went up yesterday at 24 First Ave. ... and on its sister property at 99-101 E. Second St. ...



As reported late last month, Sergey Rybak of the South Brooklyn-based Rybak Development was the winning bidder during an auction in February. According to EPIC Commercial Realty, who represented the buyer and the seller, the winning bid was $12.25 million.

So far there's nothing new on file with the DOB for the addresses. The property can be developed with or without the inclusionary housing air rights, providing between an additional 19,000 and 22,000 square feet. No word yet about what Rybeck plans to do with the L-shaped assemblage.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property on the development market for $26 million

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

'No fees whatsoever' here at 14 St. Mark's Place (no private bathrooms either)

Just noting the recent arrival of the multiple for rent signs that adorn the entryway at 14 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue (home of Funkytown!) ...



Reminiscent of, say, Lumber Liquidators, the ads promise "no fees whatsoever not even for credit reports" ...



This address has peddled studios with shared bathrooms in previous years. In 2015, Brick Underground noted a studio with an $1,150 ask. The shared bathroom was down the hall... (I recall a few people chiming in saying these units were a better deal for students than a dorm room...)



The signs do promise that the units are "recently renovated," so... there are a few units at Naked Apartments... this one, asking $1,250 a month, looks cozy... the bathroom is shared ... There is a fridge and a sink...

CB3 to hear request of support for low-income housing at former 2nd Avenue church site

Members of CB3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee will hear a request for support tonight from the Cooper Square Community Land Trust to acquire the former Church of Nativity Church for use as low-income housing.

The church here between Second Street and Third Street closed in July 2015 as part of a consolidation reportedly due to changing demographics and a shortage of priests available to say mass. The Church of the Nativity merged with Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street.

The Cooper Square Community Land Trust is proposing 116 units of low-income housing along with a community center and meditation center in honor of Dorothy Day. (The Friends of Nativity had previously proposed a Dorothy Day Shrine and retreat center with services for the homeless at 44 Second Ave. Read more about that proposal here.)

The parish was first established in 1842 and for time was a Jesuit mission parish. Dorothy Day, the co-founder of the Catholic Worker, was a parishioner. Her funeral mass was held there in 1980.

Last December, parishioners held a prayer service on Second Avenue to ask the Archdiocese of New York to turn over the church to the land trust.

Here's part of the coverage via The Villager last Dec. 7, including comments from Valerio Orselli, project director for the Cooper Square Community Land Trust:

Joseph Zwilling, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of New York, said ... that the Church of the Nativity belongs to Most Holy Redeemer, since the two merged, and is not owned by the archdiocese.

“In parishes where there is unused property, the archdiocese works with parish leadership to determine the best course of action,” he said. “Nothing has been determined at this time for Nativity Church.”

“We understand they have many responsibilities. This is one of 18 churches,” Orselli said of the number of former archdiocese churches currently for sale on the open market. “We are not expecting action tomorrow. But I’m hoping they will meet with us sooner rather than later. We are trying to make the project proposal concrete. It will take at least a couple of years. All we are asking now is for the church not to sell the building to a developer.”

There has been speculation that the block from the church to Second Street will eventually yield to a luxury retail-residential complex.



The Cooper Square Community Land Trust has been preserving affordable housing in the Lower East Side for more than 20 years, and in collaboration with the Cooper Square MHA owns, manages and operates 21 buildings.

The CB3 committee meets tonight at 6:30 at University Settlement, Speyer Hall, 184 Eldridge St. between Rivington and Delancey.

Previously on EV Grieve:
As the Church of the Nativity closes for good tonight, take a look at the original structure

Parishioners fight to save the Church of the Nativity on 2nd Avenue

Parishioners hope their prayers are answered with former Nativity space on 2nd Avenue

Beijing-based hot pot chain taking over the former Dunkin' Donuts storefront on 14th Street

First Lamb Shabu, a Beijing-based hot pot chain with more than 300 locations in China, is opening its first Manhattan outpost at 218 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

According to the Commercial Observer, the company, which has a location out in Flushing, signed a 10-year lease for the space with a $20,000-per-month rent.

The storefront has been empty for several years, ever since Dunkin' Donuts decamped for a smaller space on the block in August 2015.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East 14th Street Dunkin' Donuts shuffle complete

The Dunkin' Donuts space on East 14th Street is for rent

Scumbags & Superstars closing this month on Clinton Street

[Photo via Instagram]

The shop/brand that sells clothing and a variety of B-movie monster pins, patches and "everything weird" at 100 Clinton St. between Rivington and Delancey is closing on April 22.

Here's part of the message that founder George Rosa posted on Instagram Friday:

I want to thank everyone that has supported the store over the years. All the regulars & neighborhood people that come [through]. First in Brooklyn & then when we moved into Manhattan to the Lower East Side. It was a wild ride! And a lot of fun times. But as you know New York City has changed drastically. And we've been doing the impossible for years now. We weren't even supposed to be here this long. But we persevered. We are a very small independent brand. Run by me & a couple of buddies. And for many reasons we will have to close up the store in the next few weeks.

We want everyone to come by the shop at least one last time & say goodbye before we close. There'll be a going away party all weekend on April 21st & 22nd for our final last 2 days. Noon to around 10 PM each day. We hope all our friends & supporters can make it out & party with us! There will be free booze & food & lots of friendly weirdos.

This is the end of the shop. But not the end of brand by any means. We are traveling every month this year to conventions.

The shop will also continue on with its online business.

Scumbags & Superstars, which got its name from the Talking Heads song "Lifetime Piling Up," started in Bushwick and eventually moved to the LES in early 2016.

After its debut in Brooklyn in late 2014, the store came under fire for what some people considered the offensive use of Native American iconography in its logo.