16 Handles returns all glown up

16 Handles recently returned from its closed-for-renovations state on Second Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street with new signage that no longer looks like 16 Hindles.

Here's more on the new look via the EVG inbox from Friday...

In celebration of the brand’s 10th birthday, 16 Handles East Village has a fresh new look, complete with custom neon signs, the brand’s signature bold colors, and exposed brick, giving the East Village store the ultimate glow up. The brand will also be working with local artists to paint murals to amplify the space.

The store has also incorporated an entirely new element — #TreatsBy16 counter-serve Fro-Yo, ice cream, and desserts — by bringing a soft-serve machine behind the counter. The very first product to launch with this new concept is the #GalaxyCone ... a deliciously sweet combination of Cotton Candy and Sweet Taro Pie frozen yogurt, served in a cotton candy cloud cone with stars and galaxy-themed hues of blue, pink, and purple.

Don't be surprised to see a human take your order (and cash) at the Astor Place Shake Shack

The Shack Shack at 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star debuted this past October on Third Avenue and Ninth Street.

Let's quickly revisit the press release about this opening of Danny Meyer's growing burger empire:

A reflection of Shake Shack’s relentless focus on excellence, experience and hospitality through innovation, the Astor Place Shack will introduce a new guest flow at the restaurant ... the Shack is designed to enhance operations and guest experience and will feature kiosk-only ordering, a cashless environment, and an optimized kitchen for greater throughput.

Custom-designed by Shake Shack, the Shack kiosk was developed to allow Shake Shack to serve more guests at peak times – whether in-Shack, for pickup via the Shack App, or even delivery – resulting in fewer lines, less wait time and quicker speed of service at every channel. Several kiosks will line the Shack and team members known as Hospitality Champs will be stationed around the kiosks to assist guests with their orders and answer any questions.

Apparently this kiosk service didn't reflect so well with patrons. During an earnings call with analysts this past Thursday, Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti reported that humans will be put to work taking orders here moving forward.

Business Insider had the story on Friday:

[A]fter receiving complaints from furious customers who wanted to pay with their hard-earned legal tender, the burger chain is reversing course and adding cashiers to cashless locations going forward, its chief executive officer told analysts.

"Some of the things we've clearly seen is that our guests do often want to pay with cash,” CEO Randy Garutti said in response to an analyst’s question. "In the first rollout at Astor Place, we did not accept cash at all, and there are people who have told us very clearly 'we want to pay with cash.'"

"So in this next phase, we're going to go ahead and have cashiers as well as kiosks," he continued.

Otherwise business is quite good for the chain here and elsewhere. Shake Shack posted first-quarter earnings that topped analyst expectations.

Meanwhile, to help re-acclimate anyone on how to interact with a human in this situation, here are some tips on what to say:

• Hi (or hello or, perhaps, hey)
• How are you?
• Is Danny here?
• Thank you!

H/T Eater and Edmund John Dunn!

Sunday's parting shot

Photo at the Tompkins Square Park dog run by Derek Berg...

Informational meeting Tuesday for HDFC homeowners

HDFC homeowners in the neighborhood are holding an informational session on Tuesday night from 7-9 at the Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave. The above flyer has all the details.

Here's a recap from an EVG reader and co-op resident about what's happening from an earlier post:

This new proposed Regulatory Agreement is overreaching and would result in a loss of autonomy and decision-making abilities that benefit HDFC buildings, as well as costing individual shareholders hard-earned equity.

The new rules include a 30 percent flip tax on all units when they sell; the requirement of hiring outside managers and monitors at our expense; a ban on owning other residential property within a 100-mile radius of New York City; and more draconian clauses. Community meetings to discuss the agreement have been contentious and hostile, and so far not one HDFC in the entire city has publicly supported the plan. Very few HDFCs in the city need financial help and we strongly oppose a "one size fits all" regulatory agreement that will cost us money, resources, and most important, value in our home equity.

For more background, you may visit the HDFC Coalition website here ... and the East Village/Lower East Side HDFC Coalition website here.

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 9th Street by Steven]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

City Council investigating claims of tenant retaliation at NYCHA properties (Tuesday)

Here's what the new condoplex at 118 E. 1st St. will look like (Friday)

Joe & Pat's now open on 1st Avenue (Monday)

Empty corner storefronts on Avenue A (Tuesday)

Films on the Green to play in Tompkins Square Park on 2 Friday nights in July (Friday)

Neighbors at First Street Green Art Park (Sunday)

5 big events in May that you may or may not already know about (Tuesday)

L.A.-based ramen shop opening outpost on 1st Avenue (Monday)

Meryl Meisler's Lower East Side of the 1970s and 1980s (Wednesday)

Sales office vacated as Ben Shaoul reportedly sells Liberty Toye; building to return to rentals (Thursday)

Moving day for Bareburger (Monday)


[Wisteria in bloom on 10th Street by Sarah Greenwood]

VVN’s Tea bringing art and tea to the former Neptune space on 1st Avenue (Tuesday)

Plant-based chef Matthew Kenney's Arata opens today on 2nd Avenue and 4th Street (Friday)

Film Forum now closed for renovation, expansion (Thursday)

Unwrapping the future Swiss Institute on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Monday)

A return of the East Village Tavern? (Thursday)

Pile driving phase over (for good?) at 11 Avenue C (Wednesday)

Mochii is a new rice flour dessert shop on 7th Street (Wednesday)

Former New York Central Art Supply store serving as a temp home for the Brunch Theatre (Wednesday)

EastVille Comedy Club has left 4th Street for Brooklyn (Monday)

The boozy Taco Bell on Broadway doesn't appear to be happening (Thursday)



And Derek Berg took this photo of Debbie the gardener in Tompkins Square Park earlier this week ... as she was planting two new (cherry blossom?) trees in the section called No Elm Island...



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At the NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally 2018

Several hundred participants took part in the annual Cannabis Parade & Rally today ... starting in Herald Square and wrapping up in Union Square, where EVG contributor Stacie Joy took these photos...

























The rally aims to "end cannabis prohibition, stop racially motivated arrests and expand and improve the state’s medical marijuana program."

Today's parade participants included gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon, who issued a statement saying, "I believe it’s time for New York to follow the lead of eight other states and DC and legalize recreational marijuana."

Updated 5/6

The Daily News has a recap here ... including a photo of Nixon speaking with Aron "Pie Man" Kay.

A 2nd Avenue Street fair tomorrow

In case you didn't see the posted No Parking signs, um, posted along Second Avenue this week... tomorrow (Saturday!) marks one of the better street festivals around... sponsored by the Middle Collegiate Church.

Per their website:

Join us for our annual Second Avenue Street Fair from 12-5pm! Children and families can enjoy activities like a bounce-house, tie-dye t-shirt making, sidewalk chalk, bubble station, art projects, and more! From 1-5pm, hear live music on the Middle Church stage featuring celebrated East Village musicians, including the Jerriese Johnson Gospel Choir and Village Chorus for Children & Youth. Voter registration and election information will also be available on our block. It’s an all-day party with Middle Church, filled with art, justice, and music — you won’t want to miss it!

Shadow play

The video is for "Disarray," a track from the most recent (March 23) record by Preoccupations, a Canadian post-punk band from Calgary.

EVG Etc.: Dedicated bike lanes for Delancey Street; films about or involving Basquiat

[Photo on 2nd Avenue by Derek Berg]

Report from NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer says that Airbnb has cost renters in New York City $616 million (The Real Deal)

Dedicated bus and bike lanes coming to Delancey (The Lo-Down)

Check out the schedule for Lower East Side History Month (Official site)

This series brings together a selection of films about or involving Basquiat (Anthology Film Archives) Also: Basquiat’s New York (Vulture) Also: Art collector sues Sotheby’s to stop sale of $30 million Basquiat painting (Daily News)

La MaMa to receive Tony Award for regional theater (Variety)

Should we be worried about the new ownership for Eisenberg's? (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Bruno Pizza on 13th Street serving pizza ice cream (New York Post)

Info on expanded ferry service along the East River (Town & Village)

Remembering the Ritz (pre-Webster Hall) on 11th Street (Off the Grid)

Back issues of Tribe magazine now available (A Gathering of Tribes)

Producer claims he was swindled out of millions by Jeff Koons and Larry Gagosian (New York Post)

Q&A with Danny Fields on "My Ramones" (Mother Jones)

Photo essay: Exploring the last dry docks in Brooklyn (Curbed)

The 10th annual Lower East Side Health and Wellness Fair & Walk-A-Thon is tomorrow... more details here.



...and returning yesterday for the fifth season...

@evgrieve COME ON pic.twitter.com/XtnQV8m0S8

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) May 3, 2018

Here's what the new condoplex at 118 E. 1st St. will look like

Back on Monday, we noted that construction had started in the empty lot at 118 E. First St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

At that point, there hadn't been any sign of renderings for the 9-story condoplex with ground-floor retail.

However, workers affixed the rendering on the plywood yesterday. And here ya go...



As previously noted, the 9-story residential building will include seven units divided over 12,500 square feet of residential space — most likely condos. And from the look of the rendering, everyone will have a terrace to take in the sights and sounds of the tranquil East Houston Street and Essex intersection.

Warren Freyer's Freyer Architects is designing the building. The developers have been previously ID'd as Acacia 118, LLC, based in Nolita, and fronted by Cynthia Wu and Robert Marty.

Previously on EV Grieve:
118 E. 1st St. arrives on the market with so many possibilities, and air rights

118 E. 1st. St. will yield to a new 9-floor residential building

Demolition of 118 E. 1st St. begins to make way for 9-story residential building

Construction starts at 118 E. 1st St., future home of a 9-floor residential building

Films on the Green to play in Tompkins Square Park on 2 Friday nights in July

Films on the Green, the free outdoor French film festival produced annually by the French Embassy, FACE Foundation and NYC Parks, announced its slate of summer movies yesterday.

First, here's this year's theme:

From Parisian bistros to the vineyards of southern France, the 2018 Films on the Green lineup through a selection of 12 classic and contemporary French films explores the profound relationship between French culture and gastronomy, an integral part of France's social fabric.

Tompkins Square Park will once again play host to the series on the following Friday nights:

• July 6 — "Le Boucher." IMBD describes the 1970 thriller this way: "An unlikely friendship between a dour, working class butcher and a repressed schoolteacher coincides with a grisly series of Ripper-type murders in a provincial French town." (FWIW, this is on Roger Ebert's Great Movies list.)

• July 13 — "Romantics Anonymous" (or if you want, "Les émotifs anonymes"). Per IMDB: "Romantics Anonymous is a 2010 French-Belgian romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Améris and starring Benoît Poelvoorde and Isabelle Carré."

In keep with the culinary theme of this year's festival, maybe hit up Ray's Candy Store beforehand for some beignets.

Plant-based chef Matthew Kenney's Arata opens today on 2nd Avenue and 4th Street

[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

Plant-based chef Matthew Kenney's latest Second Avenue venture debuts today with Arata.

Florence Fabricant at The New York Times has a preview of the restaurant on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street that "highlights the diverse and abundant plant-based ingredients of Asia":

Arata, which has sleek, minimalist décor, will serve kimchi pancakes; several salads; rice cakes with long beans and sugar snap peas; tempura mushroom hand rolls; and steamed buns with mushrooms, eggplant and other fillings tucked inside. Assorted ramen and udon bowls will brim with ingredients like chickpeas, smoked tofu, Sichuan tempeh “sausage” and baby bok choy. A cacao matcha tart is one of the desserts.

Kenney is also involved with 00 + Co. and Bar Verde right next door on Second Avenue. And in March, Kenney teamed up with Pure Green to launch PlantMade, a cafe on Second Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

This corner space on Second Avenue and Fourth Street has been four restaurants since 2012 — La Contrada ... Contrada (not to be confused with La Contrada) ... Calliope and Belcourt.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Matthew Kenney bringing yet another plant-based restaurant to 2nd Avenue

Thursday's parting shot

Christo keeping cool in Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Bobby Williams...

Film Forum now closed for renovation, expansion

[Image via @filmforumnyc]

As expected, the Film Forum over on West Houston closed after its screenings Tuesday night for the next two months to add a fourth screen and upgrade its three existing auditoriums.

As the Times reported last fall:

The updates will also involve a full renovation of the theater’s other three screens, including new seats, more leg room and a more dramatic slope (with stadium seating in the rear rows) to improve sightlines.

Those seats were really awful.

Oh, and Film Forum director Karen Cooper on the expansion via a news release:

Too often, New York landmarks disappear, only to be replaced by nail salons and chain drug stores. Happily, New Yorkers are committed to seeing films that take risks and break the mold, as well as discovering movie history.

You can read more about the renovations at the Film Forum website here.

The Film Forum has been in its Houston Street space between Sixth Avenue and Varick since 1990. It was established in 1970.

Closer to home, there are plenty of movie-theater choices... such as the Anthology Film Archives on Second Street and Second Avenue ... the Village East Cinema on Second Avenue at 12th Street ... the Angelika Film Center on Houston and Mercer ... Cinema Village on 12th Street near University...the Metrograph down on Ludlow near Canal ... and the Quad Cinema on 13th Street between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue.

Keeping Cooool today on 1st Avenue

Previously

A scene from the morning commute

From 14th Street and Avenue B... photo via EVG reader Sonya...

Sales office vacated as Ben Shaoul reportedly sells Liberty Toye; building to return to rentals

Workers yesterday stripped away the Liberty Toye signage from the sales office with tinted glass at 44 Avenue B as rumors circulated that developer Ben Shaoul's Magnum Real Estate sold the nursing home-turned-residential building down the block.

The Real Deal reported yesterday that Shaoul was in contract to sell the condo conversion at Fifth Street and Avenue B for $85 million. The 81-unit building hit the sales market — bitcoin accepted! — as condos back in November, complete with a new name (Liberty Toye taking over for Bloom 62) and paint job.

Per The Real Deal:

Sources said Magnum now plans to withdraw the offering plan from the New York state Attorney General’s office and return deposits to buyers who’ve gone into contract. The property is expected to continue to operate as a rental, sources said.

At least 14 units are in contract, according to StreetEasy, ranging from a studio last asking $675,000 to a two-bedroom that was asking $1.55 million.

So this will apparently end Shaoul's nearly seven tumultuous years owning the former Cabrini Nursing Center, which shut down in June 2012. The 240-bed center — sponsored by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — provided health care for low-income elderly residents in the East Village. Shaoul reportedly paid $25 million for the property and closed down Cabrini.


[Photo from 2014]

Apartments at the new Bloom 62 — "the right place to plant your roots" — arrived in the spring of 2013, with prices topping out at $7,600 for a four-bedroom apartment. Despite the upgrades, some people thought that the units still looked like nursing home rooms, though with better lighting.

Under Shaoul's watch, the rental building gained a reputation for its rooftop DJ parties that annoyed neighbors. Shaoul finally cracked down on the ragers in the summer of 2015.

Shaoul attempted to sell the building several times — $72 million in 2014 ... and $80 million in 2015.


[April 2018]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Ben Shaoul is the new owner of Cabrini nursing home, will convert to condos

Report: Local politicians reach out to Ben Shaoul as re-sale of the Cabrini Nursing Center seems likely

More details on Cabrini's closing announcement

A look at the 'Hip young crowd planting roots at Bloom 62'

Have you heard the rooftop parties at Ben Shaoul's Bloom 62? (52 comments)

Ben Shaoul looks to make a whole lot of money converting nursing home into high-end housing

Ben Shaoul is selling Bloom 62 for $73 million — all cash!

1st signs of Ben Shaoul's Bloom 62 going condo on Avenue B?

More details on Ben Shaoul's condo conversion Liberty Toye, where you can buy with bitcoins

A return of the East Village Tavern?

[Photos by Shawn Chittle]

Signage arrived yesterday at the former East Village Tavern space on 10th Street and Avenue C for – East Village Tavern.

The signage notes that someone is "bringing it back" along with "Cocina Mexicana." The sign also features branding for Pilsner Urquell ...



A quick recap of what has happened with this space in the past 18 months...

East Village Tavern closed here in November 2016 after eight years in business. Bar management blamed a disagreement with landlord Steve Croman for the closure. A Croman rep reportedly said that the Tavern owners were behind on rent to the sum of $78,000.

Over the course of eight months, starting in April 2017, three applicants went before CB3 for a new liquor license for the space .... and the Board issued denials in all three cases. The operators of a Miami-based restaurant called the Irish Times Pub and Eatery looked at opening an outpost here. Those plans never materialized.

Last December, CB3 didn't approve a license for the Snow Leopard, a jazz club whose applicants didn't have any ownership experience. And in January, an applicant wanted to open the place to serve "Classic and New American cuisine" with a menu featuring a variety of sandwiches.

In any event, we don't know yet who is behind the new East Village Tavern. It's difficult to imagine that the former Tavern ownership would want to deal with Croman again — and vice versa.

H/T Shawn Chittle!

The boozy Taco Bell on Broadway doesn't appear to be happening

Last fall, Taco Bell announced that it was opening a slew of outposts in the city, including a booze-serving Bell at 647 Broadway near Bleecker.

There hadn't been any activity at the former ZiGi Shoes space... and now a for rent sign has arrived on the storefront.

TB refers reportedly refers to these outposts as cantinas, which "boast flashy millennial-baiting features like digital menu boards, digital queues, open kitchens, and shareable tapas-style menus," per Eater. Popular cantina drink menu items include "Twisted Freezes" — a slushy-like, uh, slush that mixes flavors like margarita, piña colada, lemonade and cherry blue raspberry with tequila, rum, vodka, whiskey or spiced rum.

The cantina on the Bushwick/Bed-Stuy border — announced at the same time as the Broadway locale — is reportedly awaiting its liquor license.

Free Count Dankula on 4th Street

Thanks to EVG reader Liz S. for sharing this from Fourth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue... another call to free Count Dankula written on a discarded sofa...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Free Count Dankula on 9th Street

Go on a free walking tour of Tompkins Square Park this Friday afternoon

[Photo from March 31 by Peter Brownscombe]

The Tompkins Square Park Library is hosting another free walking tour of Tompkins Square Park (the one on March 31 was quite popular) ... happening this Friday at 1 p.m.

Per the NYPL website:

Enjoy a visually informative one hour walking tour of Tompkins Square Park with your hosts, East Village street photographer Michael Paul and Tompkins Square Library Manager Corinne Neary, through the East Village's gathering place for picnics, festivals and community events ever since it opened in 1837.

In the mid 19th century the Square offered reprieve from a hard life for our country's new immigrants, in what was once the most densely populated neighborhood in America. See the statues, memorials, landmarks and yes, the trees that currently play home to our park's 21st century residents, the red-tailed hawks Christo and Dora [Ed note: and Amelia]!

The walking tour starts promptly at 1 p.m. (rain, shine or heatwave — oh, and bring water) in front of the Tompkins Square Library, 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. RSVP here. This neighborhood walking tour is part of Jane's Walk at Municipal Art Society.

Speaking of Tompkins Square Park and the library... here's a photo by P.L. Sperr from the NYPL Digital Collections ... from Avenue B at Seventh Street circa April 1935 ... with the Empire State Building in the background...


[Click to go big]

As we noted in this EVG post from April 1935, the cart on the corner was the last to sell churned buttermilk before being replaced by yet another peanut vendor.

The Earth School Spring Party and Auction is Saturday night

This Saturday evening, the Earth School (on Sixth Street and Avenue B) is holding its largest fundraising event.

With the Department of Education cutting funding for enrichment programs like P.E., music and overnight camping trips several years back, the Parents Association turned to raising funds to help make up for the deficit.

Here are details via the EVG inbox...

The Earth School Spring Party & Auction

Venue address: Saint Nicholas Hall 157 Avenue A (corner of 10th Street)
Event dates and times: Saturday, May 5, 6-10 p.m.
Event prices: Admission is $30 (pre-sale at link) and $40 at door.
Age range: Adults 21+ only

This isn't just any adult school fundraiser. This is an underground party with plenty of food & drinks to get you warmed up, live and silent auctions, and a DJ for dancing the night away! Some of the items up for grabs during the silent and live auctions: Bowery Hotel one night stay plus Gemma restaurant gift certificate, 3-year Select Membership to Equinox, a VIP Tour of the David Bowie Exhibit, gift certificates to Veselka, Hearth, and many other local restaurants and much more. All proceeds benefit the kids at the Earth School.

In addition, the Parents Association is raffling off a pair of "Hamilton" tickets for $5 each. All proceeds go to the Earth School. Details here.

Pile driving phase over (for good?) at 11 Avenue C

[Photo from yesterday]

After another month of noisy construction on Avenue C and East Houston, the pile driver departed the lot over the weekend.

EVG reader IzF, who lives nearby, shared the news. Now there's hope among neighbors that this is it for the pile driving. There was nearly a one-month reprieve from March 2 to March 29, when the foundation support work started up again, which IzF described this way: "It feels like my bed is being kicked hard by a giant. Horrible."


[Photo from yesterday]

As previously reported, a 10-floor building with 45 luxury rentals via BLDG Management will rise in this triangular lot. (This previous post has a summary of what's been happening here.)

... and from earlier this spring ... someone paid tribute to the NEKST tag (read more about Sean “NEKST” Griffin here) that was visible above the now-demolished gas station here...







Previously on EV Grieve:
Pile driving resumes at the site of the East Village's last gas station, where a 10-floor building will rise

The demolition of the Mobil station and full NEKST reveal


[Photo from September 2016]