Thoughts on the 2014 version of the Tompkins Square Park riot of 1998

[Photo from May 1 by Michael Donovan]

Back on May 1, filmmakers Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini recreated the Tompkins Square Park riots of 1988 for their low-budget adaption of the Eleanor Henderson novel "Ten Thousand Saints." (Read more about the film, due next year, right here.)

Ada Calhoun, who grew up on St. Mark's Place, was 13 in 1988 ... and she was one of the curious onlookers watching the reenactment on May 1. Today at The New Yorker, she shares some thoughts on the filming ... as well as of those who worked as extras on the set.

One man in the gaggle looked more convincing than the others. He was wearing a jacket with a logo for the eighties hardcore band Sheer Terror, and a backward black baseball cap. He had neck and face tattoos, including one that read “Queens” in elaborate script, and two teardrop tattoos under one eye. He identified himself as Danny Diablo, a hardcore musician and native New Yorker who lived near the park at the time of the riots.

“No way,” he said, when asked if he took part in the original riots. “I was a hardcore kid. I didn’t care about politics. My friends are drinking at a bar by here. I hope they don’t come and give me a hard time for doing this.” Asked what the sign he carried said, he appeared embarrassed. It compared Mayor Ed Koch to Hitler. “I actually love Ed Koch,” he said. Next to Diablo, a longhaired man wearing a heavy black leather jacket with fringe chimed in, “Why am I in this jacket? Isn’t it supposed to be August?” He shrugged. He’d answered a casting call. He was just going to go with it.

Read the whole article here (which includes an EVG shout-out).

Previously on EV Grieve:
Filmmakers will recreate the Tompkins Square Park Riot of 1988 this Thursday night

Film crew recreates 'tent city' in Tompkins Square Park

Film crew uses 'D Squat' and phone booths to recreate an 1980s East Village on 6th Street

[Updated] First Avenue subbing for Avenue D today

Another 'riot' in Tompkins Square Park, this time for the cameras

Halloween outside Diablo Royale Este

Outside the Halloween party at Diablo Royale Este on Avenue A Saturday night...








... featuring the new outdoor urinal...

Ethos Meze East Village is now open on Avenue A

The Mediterranean-themed restaurant quietly opened on July 2 here at 167 Avenue A ... it's an offshoot of Ethos Meze on Third Avenue and East 36th Street.

We don't know much else about the place ... and haven't seen any previews at the food sites...



What we do know is that it took over the space that previously housed neighborhood scourge Diablo Royale Este, which closed at the end of August 2012.

Has anyone tried Ethos Meze East Village?

Previously on EV Grieve:
For lease signs up now at the former Diablo Royale Este on Avenue A

Smelling smoke above Diablo Royal Este

EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams noted that fire crews responded to the report of smoke this afternoon around 3:50... they were looking at the space above Diablo Royale Este on Avenue A... There weren't any reports of anything amiss, though.

"Again, we are sorry for now and the next time"

Ha. Here's Eater's comment of the day... they picked up on the Diablo Royale Este 'Boats 'N Hoes' post of mine....

"We're truly sorry but damn we made a fortune that night. We promise not to do this again (unless we can equal or surpass what we made that night. Again, we are sorry for now and the next time." [Diablo Royale Mess]

Anyway! And now a word from our sponsor...

9th Precinct community topics: Diablo Royale, bike lanes

I commend anyone who takes the time to attend the various community meetings... and Jill did so last night at the 9th Precinct's Monthly confab....

A few highlights via Blah Blog Blah:

• "There was a complaint about Diablo Royale, the crowds, noise and violations of their agreement to not use the backyard after 11pm."

• "There was discussion about the bike lanes on 1st and 2nd Avenues. The police explained that they are distributing pamphlets and issuing summons to everybody who isn't following the rules".

Lordy, we may have to issue rewards to anyone who receives one of these pamphlets... In fact, I may set my bike on fire while riding on the sidewalk up and down Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue just to get one...

Will 228 First Avenue become part of Taco Town?

Yesterday, Grub Street provided plenty more information about El Camion, which opens tomorrow on Avenue A at 12th Street... (They have a PDF of the El Camion menus too.)

Given El Camion's proximity to the Mercadito locations... and Diablo Royale Este... La Lucha... Benny's... San Loco...Zaragosa ... it's no wonder Daniel Maurer dubbed this "Taco Town."

Which brings me to.... last April, workers began gutting the former David's Bagels space on First Avenue near 14th Street... At the time, a nearby shopkeeper told me the space will become a Mexican restaurant. "Tacos, burritos — that kind of shit."

I haven't heard any updates about this space... and the work permits are pretty standard:

"Installation of drywall partitions, plumbing fixtures, kitchen cooking equipment in existing eating and drinking establishment. Also replacement of existing storefront with new..."

Moonstruck Eatery closes on Avenue A

That's it for the Moonstruck Eatery. The diner has called it a day at 167 Avenue A after one year here between 10th Street and 11th Street.

The space has been on the market since April, per a listing at LoopNet.

Four other locations of Moonstruck Eatery remain in the city. (The Avenue A address has already been scrubbed from the website.)

The previous tenant, Ethos Meze East Village from the same owners, lasted less than a year in business. (And before this, it was the world-famous Diablo Royale Este, which closed at the end of August 2012.)

I never tried the souped-up diner. Friends who dined here said it was all serviceable, but the decor was all wrong, part ski lodge, part homage to the Raven, the bar Karen Allen owned in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."


[Moonstruck Eatery pic via LoopNet]

Action-packed November CB3/SLA agenda: The Bean wants booze; so does Japadog

[Via The Bean on Facebook]

Woo. Here we go.

SLA & DCA Licensing Committee
Monday, November 14 at 6:30pm — JASA/Green Residence, 200 East 5th Street at Bowery

Renewal with Complaint History

• The Porch (The Porch Inc), 115 Ave C (op)

The Porch closed up last month, as Dave on 7th pointed out. We heard that the Porch was moving and an Indian restaurant was taking over... perhaps from the same owners?

• Kelly's (Diddler Doyle Corp), 12 Ave A (op)

• Kenka (Hinomaru Inc), 25 St Marks Pl (op)

• Diablo Royale (East Village Café & Restaurant LLC), 167 Ave A (op)

Arrive early for a good seat. This will be dramatic, perhaps.

Applications within Resolution Areas

• Cafetasia (Cafetasia Inc), 85 Ave A (up/op)

Seeking 100-ounce vodka tubes too?

• Essbar (102 Ave C LLC), 102 Ave C aka 230 E 7th St (up/op)

Edi & the Wolf upgrading...

• Nublu, 151 Ave C (op)

Nublu temporarily moved to under Lucky Cheng's back in August ... as the Nublu blog said during the summer, "last week we got our liquor license taken away due to an anonymous complaint that we are too close to a House of Worship." You can read about it all here.

• Pouring Ribbons (Lead to Gold Inc), 225 Ave B (op)

Anyone know what's going on here... the White Noise space?

• To be Determined, 116 Ave C (op)

The former Lava Gina space.

• Japadog Inc, 30 St Marks Pl (wb)

As we first reported last month, Japadog, the crazy popular Vancouver-based artisanal hot dog stands, is opening its first NYC outpost here.

• Alphabet City Beer Co (Alphabet City Wine Co LLC), 96 Ave C (b)

Looks like a beer companion to Alphabet City Wine... 96 Avenue C has been a vacant storefront for some time... we'll have more on this later...

Alterations/Upgrades

• Cien Fuegos (Cien Fuegos LLC), 95 Ave A (alt/op)

• Peels Restaurant (Radley Realty Corp), 325 Bowery (alt/op/additional standup bar)

New Liquor License Applications

• Shoolbred's, 197 2nd Ave (op)

• Nevada Smiths (92 Nunz Walk Inc), 100 3rd Ave (op)

Maybe they're not closing after all!

• The Bean (54 2nd Ave Bean LLC), 54 2nd Ave (wb)
The Bean (147 1st Ave Bean LLC), 147 1st Ave (wb)

Interesting... What do you think about The Bean also serving wine and beer at its new locations?

• Nicoletta (Letta #1 LLC), 160 2nd Ave (wb)

A taker for the former Cafe Centosette space at 10th Street.

• Ichibantei LLC, 401 E 13th St (wb)

This is the the eatery that serves a range of Japanese "soul food" just east off First Avenue. A scratch from previous agendas...

• Golden Cadillac, 446-448 E 13th St (op)

The (now former?) Mug Lounge.

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b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations |up=upgrades

East Village eatery odds and ends: Opening the Ballarò sidewalk cafe; hiring at the Ninth Ward; looking at the Library's mirror in the bathroom

Ballarò Caffè Prosciutteria on Second Avenue between Fourth Street and Fifth Street now has their sidewalk cafe up and running...(the CB3/SLA approved it in April.)



...not sure about the couch, though...



26 Seats on Avenue B between 10th and 11th is on the CB3/SLA docket this month under the Alterations/Transfers/Upgrades ... to something called Paris Cuisine Inc.



A new fancy cocktail bar called Ninth Ward is opening on Second Avenue in the old Thai on Two place...from the people behind Shoolbred's across the way... Oh, and they're hiring now...



An espresso and wine bar is coming to the former Hala Pita space on Ninth Street near Avenue A...



Oh, I saw these T-shirts on sale on Mulberry...




Something new coming to the former Chabela's space at 40 Avenue B... to something called Little Printz Cafe LLC.



And East Village Feed reported: "The New York Film Academy Café will be continuously screening silent films on it’s new 65 inch television located on the outside of the Astor Place café." And you could see the TV in the window if there wasn't such a glare...and I wasn't, inexplicably, standing behind the tree...



And here's the smoking area...



The Bhakti Cafe is now open at 25 First Ave. ... (Well, it's not open for the day yet in this picture...)



Many places were closed on Memorial Day, but, oddly enough, Avenue A's brand-new Diablo Royale Este closed for the entire holiday weekend...



Hey, when did the Library get a mirror in the bathroom? (the one on the left.) Did I just not notice?



Hey, when did Katz's get that sandwiches sign? Did I just not notice? Too busy getting into shoving matches with those German tourists last time?

East Village eatery odds-and-ends: DBGB getting happy and cheap; Planet Rose expanding

I don't recall ever seeing this sign outside DBGB before... they want us to get happy with them now?



As discussed earlier, Planet Rose is expanding on Avenue A near 14th Street... and they have a new awning on the storefront to the left...



Last summer here!



This photo by an EV Grieve reader shows the continued progress at Motek, a coming-soon French creperie and cafe on St. Mark's Place near Avenue A...



Oh, and this on Fourth Avenue near 13th Street... I like the tag on the rolldown gate...



A note for smokers at Diablo Royale Este on Avenue A...



And the Brindle Room on East 10th Street serves Genesee...which I haven't had in about 25 years...around the time I thought they had stopped making it...

Week in Grieview

[Yesterday on St. Mark's Place via Bobby Williams]

El Sombrero will stay open until early December (Monday)

What it might be like living inside the cube on Astor Place (Wednesday)

Found photos in the East Village (Friday)

Buy a synagogue (Tuesday)

Former Diablo Royale Este space on A will become a Greek restaurant (Thursday)

Rite Aid closing on East 14th Street (Monday)

Out and About with Sally Young (Wednesday)

Looking at the murals at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut (Thursday)

Is Mighty Quinn's the best new restaurant in NYC? (Tuesday)

Jerry's Artarama coming to 4th Avenue (Wednesday)

A new 13-story building for 331 E. Houston St. (Monday)

Alphabet Scoop has returned (Sunday)

Progress report on 31-33 Second Ave. (Tuesday)

The Lyric Diner returns (Thursday)

The Halal Guys are opening their first restaurant here (Tuesday)

How to see the inside of CBGB again (Friday)

What's coming to the former Mama's space (Tuesday)

Louis C.K. filmed here (Wednesday)

Today's sign of the apocalypse

"Introducing The Hopsicle Experience, a frozen can of beer, sliced in half and served like a Push Pop for big kids," now at Diablo Royale Este on Avenue A near 10th Street. (Source — who else? UrbanDaddy!)

Tompkins Square Bagels owner explores opening a fish market on First Avenue

[Photo by Blue Glass]

After learning that the former Something Sweet space on First Avenue is for rent, Tompkins Square Bagels owner Christopher Pugliese has expressed interest in opening a fish market here at the corner of East 11th Street.

"I wish I had some fancy elaborate business plan to lay out, but basically I just want to sell fish on First Avenue," he said.

But this isn't exactly some whim. Pugliese has been thinking about such an idea for awhile. He explored a fish/cheese/meat market concept for the former Diablo Royale Este next door to his shop on Avenue A... though that plan didn't work with the landlord, who wants to keep a liquor license on the premises. (Pugliese said any market concept would remain alcohol free.)

"I think it would be great because right now people have to walk all the way to Whole Foods to get a halfway decent piece of fish," he said. "When they do this, they probably buy other goods there too instead of spending money at Commodities, Russo's or Veniero's. Best case scenario, this corner of First Avenue turns into a kind of food shopping hub."

Previous ideas for a fishmonger in the neighborhood were fairly well-received.

However, Pugliese has been met with some resistance.

"Some of my friends I've told think it's nuts to try this and even the landlord of the space made it a point to tell me, 'Listen kid, nobody in the East Village cooks,'" Pugliese said. "I think they're wrong. I think this is yet another hole in the neighborhood that needs to be filled."

And this hasn't been the first time people weren't into his ideas.

"I may not get this space. I had the idea for [Tompkins Square Bagels] for many years before I actually got it opened. I had to see a lot of landlords. If a fish market doesn't happen here, then I'll just keep trying."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tompkins Square Bagels turns 1

Here's more of the November CB3/SLA docket

[Root & Bone on East Third Street]

Yesterday we looked at three of the applicants on the November CB3/SLA agenda. (Find that post here.)

And please note that the CB3/SLA meetings are now double the fun, double the drama! The meetings are now spread out over two nights.
So here's a look at some more of the above East Houston (mostly!) applicants... starting with Monday!

Monday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm — Community Board 3 Office, 59 East 4th Street (btwn 2nd Ave & Bowery)

Applications within Saturated Areas

• Brownstone Lounge & Grill, 240 E 4th St (op) (aka 50 Ave B)

That was quick. In the face of neighbor opposition and skepticism from Board members about a rather half-baked business plan, the applicants looking to take over the former Affaire space decided to withdraw their application during the October CB3/SLA meeting. Guess they have it all figured out after a month.

Alterations
• Rockwood Music Hall (Ken Rock Enterprises LLC), 192 Allen St (op/acoustic music in basement)

• Nublu (Tatu LLC), 151 Ave C (op/expand to upstairs)

New Liquor License Applications

• To be Determined, 8 Extra Pl (op)

Most likely the new location for Momofuku Ko.

• DY Schnitz LLC, 177 1st Ave (wb)

The mystery applicants taking over the former Something Sweet bakery.

• Root & Bone (Root & Bone LLC), 200 E 3rd St (op)

As previously reported, "Top Chef" alum Jeff McInnis and current "Top Chef" contestant Janine Boothwas are joining forces to open a restaurant called Root & Bone at the former Mama's Food Shop and Heart N' Soul on East Third Street and Avenue B.

• 9 East First Street LLC, 9 E 1st St (op)

The former Veselka Bowery space. Eater and Grub Street reported that restaurateur John McDonald signed a lease for a steakhouse/oyster place here.

• To be Determined, 269 E Houston St (op)

About the 500th time an unknown applicant has signed up to take over the former Local 269 venue on East Houston at Suffolk. The applicants always seem to withdraw before the meetings.

• Gaia Lounge (Sams 1 Lounge Inc), 103 E 2nd St (wb)

The former Animal Crackers pet shop near First Avenue.

• Moonstruck (88 2nd Ave Food Corp), 88 2nd Ave (op)

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b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

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Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 pm — Community Board 3 Office, 59 East 4th Street (btwn 2nd Ave & Bowery)

Applications within Saturated Areas

• Cantina LES (Black Fish LLC), 8-10 Ave B (op)

The former M&M Variety Hardware between Houston and East Second Street looks to become a bar/restaurant serving Mexican fare... the applicants had previously looked at 1 Ludlow St.

New Liquor License Applications

• To be Determined, 134 1st Ave (op)

This is the address of Simone at St. Mark's Place... anyone know what's happening here?

• Ginger (Gold River Restaurant Corp), 109 1st Ave (upgrade/op)

• Ethos Meze (167 AA Rest Corp), 167 Ave A (op) (saturated area)

As we first reported on Oct. 3, the Diablo Royale Este space will become a Greek place from restauranteur John Kapetanos, who operates Ethos Gallery, Ethos Meze and the Moonstruck Diners, among others.

Corporate Change (not heard at committee)

• Paprika (Inter Pepe Inc), 110 St Marks Pl (wb)

• Croissanteria (Croissanteria Inc), 68 Ave A (wb)

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b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations

Meanwhile, in the "Ave A Mexican Margarita Ring of Death"

From the mind of Shawn Chittle...

You're turning the knob on your radio and this commercial comes blaring across...

Booze fans!
Booze fans!
Booze fans!
Friday!
Friday!
Friday!

It's a duel! El Diablo vs. El Camion in a title bout! Winner takes on La Lucha in the "Ave A Mexican Margarita Ring of Death" now featuring a sudden death round with the deadly "Table Doce" (Table 12) and his metal chair machine of doom! You remember what he did to former lightweight challenger La Ceiba right? THAT'S RIGHT FIGHT FANS! GONE! GONE! GONE!

Get your tickets at all Ticketmaster location or any Lincoln tunnel,
Holland tunnel, or LIRR ticket window!

******JUST ANNOUNCED FANS!******

Zaragosa to open concession stand fight night!!!

CATCH FIGHT NIGHT ON AVENUE A! YOUR FRONT ROW SEAT to all the ACTION!

165 Avenue A being prepped for a bar/restaurant?

Speaking of this stretch of Avenue A... several residents have said that 165, the former home of the Monk Thrift Shop, is being turned into a bar/restaurant...



The space is adjacent to Diablo Royale Este. Nothing from the DOB suggests that a restaurant is (legally) in the works...

It's just another Saturday night on Avenue A

And on Saturday evening, this party bus rolled up to Diablo Royale on Avenue A... where a bridal party/bridesmaids extravaganza spilled out into the bar... an EV Grieve reader captured a moment of all this bar-hopping glory...

In total, the reader estimates the party bus idled here in front of the bar for a good 20 minutes or so...

... and a little video ...