Stand out at SantaCon this Saturday by dressing in a polar bear suit

Per a seller on the Lower East Side via Craigslist:

Get the hottest costume for Santacon - a polar bear. Unleash the beast within. This costume is well constructed, warm, and stylish. Wearing this costume, you are guaranteed to grab the attention of the opposite sex. In fact, it's very likely they'll help you take it off. Buy it now!

The costume is clean and was worn once for a holiday event. I paid a lot more than I should have for it, but I couldn't resist. Now it's yours for half the price ($100) and twice the self-control.

The costume is four pieces: The head, the body (with attached gloves), and two feet (the feet have never been worn). It also comes with a convenient carrying bag. Buy it and make this the best Santacon of your goddamn life.

Might be fun to wear to the MulchFest 2016 as well!

Look for the gory details tomorrow on the SantaCon 2015 not-a-pubcrawl route.

The apartment where the golden rule 'is that no one else can tell anyone else to be quiet'

[Via @TimHerrera]

An East Village apartment-for-rent listing via Craigslist has been making the rounds of late. (The ad is no longer live.)

Esquire wrote about it last week in a post titled Is This the Worst NYC Apartment Listing You've Ever Seen?

Sounds promising!

Apparently the ad is for real... here are some excerpts...

"We are all in our late 20's - early 30's here in NYC to live it up, take advantage of the sweet neighborhood, and have as much fun as possible while still managing to make it to work on time!"

"We all play in bands, love live music, and entertain guests on a regular basis along with the occasional open jam session at random hours of the night."

"If you are the type of person whose main source of entertainment is sitting at home, watching Netflix on your laptop, this apartment is definitely not for you.

"The neighborhood is loud, people in the building make a ton of noise, once in while, you may even want to pop in some ear-plugs... but we love it here!! There is a drum-kit in the common room along with guitars & amplifiers, where we jam out on a regular basis, create art, and engage in stimulating conversations with other tenants in the building. If this is something you would enjoy, please join us!"

The rent is $1,325.

And the room measures 11 x 6.

Anyway, Esquire spoke with the person who takes out the for rent ad. His name is Haffro.

And here's part of the Q-and-A between Esquire and Haffro:

How big is that place? It seems pretty small from the description.

It's a four-bedroom. Actually, a three-bedroom apartment, but I moved into the utility closet. It's a pretty big closet, 6 x 5. I live in there, and I just rent out the rooms. The biggest bedroom is 12 x 11, the middle is 12 x 10, the smallest is 11 x 6. They're all fully furnished, so when people come in, I don't have them bring their own shit. The ideal roommate would be someone moving in, coming to NYC with a suitcase and a backpack. The entire place costs $3800.

What reactions have you gotten to the Craigslist ad?

We don't really get that many responses. I probably get five or six each time I repost it. You can repost it every 48 hours. When I do get a response, I have another response I cut and paste in there, and the main thing is, I'm like, "All right, I just want you to know, in our apartment I think of it like a living, breathing art space. We have one golden rule, and the one rule is that no one else can tell anyone else to be quiet."

After being told that some people think it sounds like the worst living situation ever, Haffro responds:

If you don't like live music, what do you like? What're you gonna watch, Netflix? It pisses me off. We're trying to create a creative environment; people can bring their guitars, smoke weed. It's a very progressive building. Some people will walk by and say, "I saw the door open, I heard some music, I thought I'd stop in." I mean, you know the East Village, you know the idea. It used to be very punk rock. It's not like that now, kind of boutique a little bit, fancy cocktail bars. For me, I just live at dive bars, just mop bucket, disgusting-smelling bars. Those are the places I like...

H/T @FashionByHe

Are you in the market for bulletproof plastic?

If so, then read on... Spotted this ad on Craigslist:

I have 4 pieces. 2 pieces 39"x48" and 2 pieces 34"x48" , 1 inch thick,$75 each

Not sure if you will be able to test it before buying.

Looks legit...

EV Grieve Etc.: Landmark potential for 138 2nd Ave.; Richard Hell at the Strand

[2nd Avenue photo by Derek Berg]

138 Second Ave. up for landmarking (DNAinfo)

A 'super awesome Mario Kart set-up' on East 10th Street (Gothamist)

The joke Craigslist ad for a 'hip artist loft' on the LES that was actually a bar's bathroom (Jezebel)

Richard Hell launches his new essay collection, "Massive Pissed Love," tomorrow night (Strand books)

Alexander Olch discusses the incoming Metrograph cinema on Ludlow Street (The Lo-Down)

No more horse patrol on Hell Square for now (BoweryBoogie)

Because there haven't been enough Black Seed-bagel-opening stories (WWD)

Previewing the Will Ferrell-themed bar called Stay Classy on Rivington (Eater)

A review of Bruno Pizza on East 13th Steet (Grub Street)

Iggy Pop at age 19 (Dangerous Minds)

… and, randomly, a photo of Jack Black outside 770 Broadway (HuffPost/aol, etc.) on East Ninth Street yesterday afternoon…


[Photo by Derek Berg]

Noted

An EVG reader sends along this Craigslist ad for an apartment available for rent (the address isn't listed) ... the reader thinks these might be the three most random restaurants mentioned together in a Craigslist ad ...

Conveniently located just a block from the F train and steps from some of the city's best restaurants and nightlife including Black Iron Burger, Katz's Deli, and L'arte del Gelato

L'arte del Gelato is based in the Chelsea Market with carts at Lincoln Center and the High Line during the summer.

[Updated] The former P.S. 64 appears to be for sale

[EVG file photo]

Updated: Several people have noted that this listing is a fake, so enjoy the humor then

Perhaps developer Gregg Singer is giving up his plans to convert the former P.S 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center into student housing.

An ad for the long-empty space arrived yesterday on Craigslist.



Per the listing:

East Village Development Site

Area: East Village (between Avenue B & Avenue C)

Plans: Approved with Community Facility

Zoning District code: C1-5/R7-2
Other district code: C2-5

No Due Diligence as Development Site comes with approved plans.

Seller wants to close this out very quickly!

Asking price: $33 million.

While the Craigslist ad doesn't mention the specific address for the landmarked, block-thru building between East 9th Street and 10th Street, there aren't any other properties that fit this bill on the block.

The number on the ad is for Cornerstone Properties, which provides commercial and residential sales in New York City and surrounding area. (This listing doesn't appear yet on the Cornerstone website. We reached out to them for details.)

The building last hit the market in March 2012. That listing didn't come with an asking price.

As reported on Monday, the DOB approved permits for conversion of the existing building to a dorm on June 19, a move that caught local activists and politicians by surprise. However, the approved permits may be short-lived. Last Friday, the DOB added a "notice to revoke" message atop the permit.

Singer bought the formerly city-owned building in 1998 for $3.15 million … and has to date unsuccessfully been able to convert the long-emtpy space into student housing. Meanwhile, there continues to be a movement to return the building between to use as a cultural and community center.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood

Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market

Efforts continue to fight the dorm planned for the former PS 64 on East 9th Street

Testimony Of Councilmember Rosie Mendez regarding the former PS 64

[Updated] At the 'Save Our Community Center MARCH AND RALLY'

Landmarks Preservation Commission asks to see modified plans for former PS 64

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approves application for modifications at PS 64

'Misinformation' cited as DOB issues Stop Work Order at the former PS 64; community meeting set for Sunday afternoon

Development drama continues at the former P.S. 64, where the city approved dorm-conversion permits (again)

Week in Grieview

[Friday night's blue moon via Derek Berg]

After 40 years, punk rock mainstay Trash and Vaudeville is leaving St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

Chase space on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent (Monday)

The NYPD removes the patrol tower from Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

The 3rd annual MoRUS film festival is underway (Friday)

The Church of the Nativity closes (Friday)

Report: 28% of East Village apartments serve as illegal hotel rooms on Airbnb (Thursday)

Checking in with Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Friday)

Out and About with Wendy Scripps (Wednesday)

Summer camp at Cooper Union (Friday, 57 comments)

Reader report: Super Mario statue swiped from Sixth Street (Wednesday)

Ashiya Sushi has moved away from the East Village (Monday)

Alex Shoe Repair on Second Avenue has closed (Friday)

Reports: Prep school teacher arrested for having sex with 16-year-old girl in bathroom at Lit Lounge (Thursday)

Shelter for homeless woman on Lafayette sold to make way for retail (Wednesday)

Hoops dreams: Checking in on the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts (Wednesday)

Bed-Stuy is the new East Village, per a Craigslist ad (Monday)

Penthouse comes into view at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery (Tuesday)

Making way for Ben Shaoul's new retail-residential complex on East Houston (Monday)

XYZ puts up its letters on East Seventh Street (Monday)

Homeless model says that he lived on an East Village rooftop for six years (Thursday)

Avenue C subs for Downtown Brooklyn (Tuesday)

Zoltar gets a scrubbing (Tuesday)

Signage spotting: Sea Beauty Spa on Avenue B (Thursday)

A note about some old lady who rammed your car (Sunday)

One year after closing, the Rodeo Bar space remains vacant on Third Avenue (Wednesday)

CVS has teamed up with Watson, IBM’s supercomputer (Friday)

… and parallel parking is always the most difficult part of learning to drive…


[Photo on East 9th Street via Derek Berg]

The importance of being earnest in room-for-rent ads on Craigslist

[Image via]

Spotted on Craigslist:

$750 Large Room East Village (East Village)

Spacious Room — fit for Oscar Wilde.

Sleigh bed, new mattress.

$750. Six months minimum, first/last mos. to move in.

Wilde's real-life home in London sounds a little roomier than this.

Bed-Stuy is the new East Village

Well, at least according to this listing at Craigslist…



Per the ad:

BedSty is new East Village but with out east Village price tag.
Perfect share for students, young professionals welcome.
Bring your cats and dogs with you.

The three-bedroom apartment is asking $2,500.

You will likely have to invest in a toilet-paper holder, though.

East Village (temporarily) down 1 psychic

The psychic who has been psychicing from the psychic's space above Dunkin' Donuts on First Avenue at East Sixth Street has moved out of her home of 17-plus years, according to Bill the Libertarian Anarchist.

Apparently she is taking her business to Midtown.

It is not immediately clear what will become of this space. (The psychic signs remain as of this writing.) As we exclusively reported last fall, the business was for sale on Craigslist.

Flashback!



Meanwhile, what is your favorite psychic ability? Put us down for levitation.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Can someone lend me a $1 so that I can become a gypsy?

Remembering Rothstein's Hardware on the LES with free posters

[Image via Facebook]

The single-level buildings along 50-62 Clinton St. between Stanton and Rivington are ready to make way for luxury condominiums.

Rothstein's Hardware, which has been serving the Lower East Side for more than 60 years, was one of the displaced businesses. Raymond Rodriguez, the store's owner since 1981, was able to find new space at 106 Ridge St.

Upon hearing about the store having to leave its longtime home, LES resident Rachel Zaretsky, the great granddaughter of the original owner, took photos of the interior ... and made newsprint posters of the space for anyone who may like to have one.

Via email, she tells us: "They are free and I'd like to offer anyone who cares a chance to look at a place that no longer exists ... that had some significance to me and the neighborhood."

She will be outside 52 Clinton St. this afternoon from 2-5 with the posters. (There's a Craigslist ad about this here.)

Milk and Hops looks to be opening soon on Broadway

The sign went up Sunday at 779 Broadway near East Ninth Street for Milk and Hops, the incoming cafe/market from the folks behind Astoria Bier & Cheese.



According to the shop's Facebook page: "Milk and Hops is a craft beer bottle shop, gourmet food store and grilled cheese place all in one."

A Craigslist help-wanted ad says "shifts starting as early as February 18th."

Thanks to EVG reader Shell Azar for the photos!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Astoria Bier & Cheese closer to bringing craft beer and grilled cheese to Broadway

Open Pantry is now selling off its inventory and equipment

Last Thursday, we passed along the sad news that Open Pantry was going to close it 45-year-old coffee shop/grocery at 184 Second Ave. in the weeks ahead.



The sign above on the Open Pantry front door explains.

There's now a listing on Craigslist noting that the store is selling its inventory and equipment.

Not much info is featured on the listing (including the name Open Pantry, but the photos all show the familiar interior) ...



Several readers on our previous post said that the proprietors, the Pappas family, also own the building here between East 11th Street and East 12th Street.

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

Can someone lend me a $1 so that I can become a gypsy?

Noticed a listing on Craigslist for the psychic's space about the Dunkin' Donuts on First Avenue and East Sixth Street…



Sounds like a good deal for $1! Here's more from the ad:

For sale
Great location nyc
Well established 17 yrs
2 yr lease renew it with no problem
1 bed room living room. Reading room
2nd flr corner plc neons move in condition
No back bills

Who's in?

Craigslist apartment scammer is on the loose again

[From March: NYPD photo of the suspect, aka David Horowitz and Michael Bryant]

You may recall a post back in March, in which police were looking for a man who they say conned 10 women out of more than $20,000 with fake Craigslist ads for East Village apartments.

Apparently he's still up to his old apartment-scamming tricks.

Someone left this comment on the post last week:

I was just scammed by this individual. He did the exact same thing. I was shown the apt with keys and everything. I went to move in yesterday and found two other individuals already living in the studio who said they had rented it from the same guy. He took two payments from me of $2,200. He also showed the studio to the couple that are currently staying there.

This man works with a woman and also took two payments of $2,200. I went online and googled East Village Craigslist rental scams and the picture of this man came up and recognized him immediately as this is who I met that subleased this studio to me and the other renters.

I went to the Police yesterday [Sept. 5] and told them the story and have a meeting with a detective tomorrow. The other renter is coming with me and said she went to the police today and was told that this man was arrested a few months ago and got out and is now doing the same scam again using a different alias. The police officer also mentioned that this was a big case and there are some 36 accounts against this man.

The apartment in question this time is at 178 Ludlow St. CBS New York broadcast the story last night. There's some surveillance video too, though it's not the greatest quality. You can watch the video and report here.

As always: Anyone with information that could help in the investigation may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Andy Warhol-owned townhouse used to swindle apartment hunters in the East Village

Former Le Souk space 'needs a real restaurant operator'

Save for a few mysterious parties, Le Souk has been dead and gone now five years this October. (The State Liquor Authority terminated Le Souk's liquor license in October 2009.)

Since then, the space has been empty (much to the delight of neighbors) ... and on and off the market several times. We spotted a listing for the space at 47 Avenue B between East Fourth Street and East Third Street back in July 2011. The asking price then was $25K.

For rent signs arrived along this Avenue B corridor earlier in the summer. And now the listing has arrived on Craigslist. Let's check it out (Bolding via EVG):

This is a restaurant space that has an atrium in the back, the ansil/flute are in place. there is 6,627 square feet on two floors that could be divided for the right tenant. The asking rent is $331,350 per annum and $27,612.50 per month. This place needs a real restaurant operator. there was a liquor license at one time the new tenant would have to apply for a new one. Tenant will pay their proportionate share of real estate taxes as well as their own utilities which will include water, gas and electric. ownership would be willing to split up this site.

The photos at Craigslist are worth flipping through to admire the ancient ruins of Le Souk. Let's carbon date that disco ball.

Meanwhile, the former Max space at 51 Avenue B also remains on the market. Asking rent is $10,000 a month. This space has been vacant for 20 months.

Previously

We'll always have Craigslist

[The actual hottie with broccoli]

From today...

hottie with broccoli - w4m - 25 (East Village)

you were walking through the east village with broccoli casually tucked in your backpack. I knew we were meant to be, but you turned before I gathered the nerve to say something.

We should share our mutual love of broccoli. I could tell you a few of my secret recipes.

[Updated] Turk is missing!

@evgrieve This dog escaped from an east village groomer around 10:45am. We're trying to help locate him. pic.twitter.com/Y0jahCxmz6

— Paws & Relax (@pawsandrelax) July 11, 2014

Turk (answers to Turkey as well) was last spotted this morning on Avenue B and East 13th Street. Here's an ad with another photo on Craigslist.

Updated 12:46

Turk has been found! He made it all the way to Soho! He is back with his family...

Now what for the Odessa Cafe and Bar?

The Odessa Cafe and Bar closed after service last Aug. 31.

Since then, there have been several suitors for this space at 117 Avenue A between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

In February, the plan called for a bar-restaurant serving Nashville Hot Chicken from a Ravi DeRossi-backed operator. However, as we understand it, the group backed out after failing to receive a 4 a.m. liquor license. More recently, an applicant, believed to have been someone affiliated with Webster Hall, withdrew from the May CB3/SLA committee meeting.

And CB3 released its June meetings agenda yesterday — no takers this time around for 117 Avenue A.

According to the listing on the Tower Brokerage & Picken Hospitality website, the asking rent is $22,500, plus a $50,000 fixtures fee. (A tipster also pointed us to a Craigslist ad for the space from a different broker where the asking rent is $19,500.)

Meanwhile, if you've looked inside in recent months, you can see that it is eerily preserved …



Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Odessa Cafe and Bar for sale on Avenue A

Former GM from Tribeca's Tiny's & the Bar Upstairs part of team to buy the Odessa Cafe

Reader report: Odessa Cafe and Bar will remain open through Sept. 6

Former Odessa Cafe and Bar will serve comfort food specializing in Nashville Hot Chicken

Mediterranean Grill and the Efendi Hookah Lounge have apparently closed on 1st Avenue

Workers were spotted yesterday clearing out the space at 128 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and East Seventh Street … home of the Mediterranean Grill and the Efendi Hookah Lounge next door…



Thanks to EVG reader Raquel Shapira for the photos…





The space, which was previously home to Kebab Garden, has been on Craigslist for weeks.

Now, let's all have some wishful thinking for the return here of La Focacceria!