Week in Grieview

[Photo on East 1st Street from yesterday]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

The St. Mark’s Church Greenmarket will not be returning this year (Thursday)

David Chang's Momofuku Ko is expanding in Extra Place (Monday)

Nest watch in Tompkins Square Park (Friday ... Saturday)

New 7th Street rental named for artist Louise Nevelson; amenities include a backup generator (Tuesday)

Report: Crews working to clean up the Con Ed oil spill in the East River (Wednesday)

Demolition watch: 3 E. 3rd St. (Wednesday)

Celebrating Hummus Day (Friday)

About the cantilevering condos coming to 4th Avenue and 10th Street (Tuesday)

Report: East Village resident pays fine for renting out city-subsidized home on Airbnb (Tuesday)

A Sean Spicer lawn ornament for the bushes of Tompkins Square Park (Friday)

The 7th Street Village Farm is for rent (Thursday)

Behold the chicken fillet at Ray's (Monday)

Zabb City appears to have closed on 13th Street (Monday)

Looking at the BP-replacing condos coming to 32 E. 1st St. (Wednesday)

Jennifer's Way Bakery reduces store hours to service online orders (Friday)

A help wanted ad on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

New dry cleaners coming to 6th Street between A and B (Monday)

More about Yuan Noodle, coming soon to 2nd Avenue (Monday)

Supporting 249 E. 2nd St. during the construction next door (Friday)

Details on the 17th annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash (Monday)

Taxi Parts Inc. departs the East Village (Wednesday)

Below 7th closes again on 7th Street (Thursday)

---

Follow EVG on Instragram and/or Twitter

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo on 2nd Avenue at 6th Street by Derek Berg) ... 

• Holyland Market is closing on St. Mark's Place; owner to focus on hummus biz (Monday) 

• A visit to Archie's Press on 10th Street (Thursday) 

• Gaia Italian Café Shop is coming to the East Village (Thursday) 

• Cooper Union: Longtime Stuyvesant Street businesses "informed us of their decision to vacate the property" (Wednesday) 

• Report: Relief supplies for Ukraine stolen from 2nd Avenue nonprofit (Wednesday) 

• 9th Precinct now issuing tickets to anyone parking in Neighborhood Loading Zones (Tuesday) 

• Gallery Watch: Emily Oliveira at Geary on the Bowery (Friday)

• Longtime East Village artists bring 'Double Trouble' to the Tompkins Square Library branch (Tuesday)

• A broken gate at 89 1st Ave., where permits are still pending for a new building (Wednesday)

• La Fleur Café to set up shop on 9th Street (Monday) 

• The taco cart is BACK on 2nd Street and Avenue A (Thursday) 

• Indoor service is back at Abraço (Sunday) 

• Openings: Nudibranch on 1st Avenue (Wednesday) ... Openings: Essex Squeeze on 5th Street (Tuesday) 

• A new restaurant for the Papilles space on 7th Street (Tuesday) 

• Avenue A Deli and Grill shapes up (Monday) 

 ... and from EVG reader David Sippel from Friday on Second Avenue at 14th Street — a mini-tree discard for the books... 

---

Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

[Updated] East 12th Street prepped for Obama visit

As you likely know by now, President Obama is in town this evening... Among other things, he'll be holding a dinner fund-raiser thing at the Gotham Bar & Grill (we hear that the roasted cauliflower risotto is good!) on East 12th Street between University Place and Fifth Avenue...

Here are Officers Weber and Sanchez...

Meanwhile, multiple readers have noted an incredible NYPD presence in the area ... and there are reports of the NYPD randomly towing cars all along 12th Street — down to Avenue C. And a reader notes that parts of Avenue C are shut down. There's even a rumor that the fund-raiser tonight at a private residence is in the East Village (note to self: pick up some hummus).

[Thanks to Christina Holmes for the photos ... and Shawn Chittle for the tips]

Updated: A few photos from Bobby Williams...

Mandolino Pizza coming soon to 13th Street

Signage is up for Mandolino Pizza here on East 13th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue...



We don't know a thing about the pizzeria just yet, like will it be more of a slice-to-go place ... or a sit-down-and-order-a-whole-pie establishment... (or both!)

Mandolino takes over the space from Sahara Citi, the hookah/hummus restaurant that closed this past summer after four years in business.

In any event, despite the nearby NYU dorm presence, it has to be a tough pizzeria market right in this area ... you have Joe's around the corner on 14th Street, which serves one of the city's best slices ... Gotham Pizza recently opened on 12th Street and Third Avenue (I finally tried a slice there and really liked it)... and for a sit-down meal, there's Bruno Pizza on 13th Street between Third Avenue and Second Avenue that reviewers really seem to like.

Virage is now Bar Virage, which reopened last night

The retooled Virage reopened last night at Second Avenue and East Seventh Street. As you can see the place is now called Bar Virage… to match the name, the space now has a more bar-centric feel — the 20-plus-seat bar is now in the middle of the former dining room …


[Photo from late yesterday afternoon]

And there are changes on Virage's menu as well. While several of the restaurant's Middle-Eastern options (hummus, chicken kebab, etc.) remain, there are expanded offerings … such as lamb sliders with goat cheese, arugula and tomato served alongside fries ($14) and Medi tacos with homemade laffa bread and featuring chicken shawarma, shrimp or skirt steak ($12). The new menus are not online just yet.

The 14-year-old Virage closed for renovations on March 24, as we first reported.

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 1st Avenue yesterday by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Angelica Kitchen closing on April 7; friends raising money to pay off expenses (Friday, 52 comments)

Che Cafe bringing empanada pockets to Seventh Street (Wednesday)

Mimi's Hummus closes on 14th Street (Wednesday)

4 St. Mark's Place prepped for renovations, expansion (Tuesday)

Jason Wang's Biang! closes after 15 months on Second Avenue (Tuesday)

The landmarked Father’s Heart Ministry comes back into view on 11th Street (Friday)

First sign of Fat Cat Kitchen on 14th Street (Monday)

Tableside Italian Cook Shoppe now open on Sixth Street (Saturday)

Out and About with Jennifer Brodsky (Wednesday)

Rock club E.Vil is coming to the East Village (Tuesday)

Retail space in the former Amato Opera House seeking to the tune of $35k monthly (Monday)

There are pigeons trapped inside the former P.S. 64 on Ninth Street (Monday)

Lions BeerStore has closed; Wall 88 Restaurant up next (Tuesday ... Thursday)

Black Market will be going by Sister Midnight on Avenue A (Monday)

A new all-you-can-eat sushi option on Second Avenue (Thursday)

Pizza-master Gino Sorbillo marks his arrival on the Bowery (Wednesday)

Make a bid on 64 Second Ave. (Monday)

Is this studio the East Village at its best? (Thursday)

Spring Spa signage blooms on Fifth Street (Monday)

The randomly placed piano in Tompkins Square Park is no longer randomly there (Monday)

A sign for Nobody Is Perfect on Fourth Street (Friday)

...new outside the Second Avenue F stop ... mural by @pyramidoracle...



...and an EVG readers shared these photos of a new piece via @colp_one outside Spiegel on Second Street at First Avenue...





---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter

The last night, for now, at Ben's Deli

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

"Stacie, I promise you, we'll be back," Ben says this past Sunday evening, while gesturing with his cigarette. "We have a long lease. We've been here for 45 years. We will come back. When all this is over."

He tries to finish his smoke before heading back in the deli on Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street to grab some hummus for the road, but forgets that he's wearing a face mask and has to maneuver things around in order for the cigarette to find its target.



Ben's youngest son, Gamal, is packing up some cereal and snacks for Ben's grandkids back home. Meanwhile, store employee Glenn is carting perishables into Ben's "office," his Astro van parked across the street. A few people come in to say goodbye and grab some last-minute supplies. The mood is somber.





There's still some milk and yogurt left on the shelves, which Ben offers to me as I take some final images. I know there is social distancing in place, and I am also wearing a mask, so I don't know if he can see I am moved by the shuttering of the store. I wish I could touch his arm, communicate in some way how sorry I am that this is happening.





"I worry about you and the neighborhood," he says. "There's crime now, much worse that it was before. People have no work, no jobs, and soon, no money for rent. Then what will happen? Not good. Take care, be careful."

His son steps around the figure sleeping on the sidewalk in front of the store in order to pull the gate down. Ben shakes his head, climbs in his van and takes off for home.





Previously on EV Grieve:
On Avenue B, Ben's Deli is closing for now; first time in 45 years

'Artisinal cocktail bar' in the works for Avenue B

Most of the items on tonight's CB3/SLA docket are pretty straightforward ... exisiting places looking to upgrade or transfer a license... or a known entity, such as The Bean, applying for a liquor license...

One of the more curious items is:

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

This is the upstairs space that has been home to White Noise and Uncle Ming's ...

According to documents (PDF) on file with CB3, the team behind Alchemy Consulting is taking over this space. If their names are on the application, then it's likely safe to assume that they are taking a more active role than just creating a drinks menu, like they have for, say, The Rusty Knot.

As you can see from the screengrabs below, the place is being described as an "artisanal cocktail bar" that will, aside from cocktails, serve "locally sourced sandwiches, crudite, hummus and desserts."

Alchemy Consulting is described its website as "a firm based on increasing the profitability of bars and restaurants around the country through innovative beverage design." New York clients include Bar Seven Five at the Andaz Wall Street and the bars at the Hotel Williamsburg.

Here's the description of Bar Seven Five:

Revolutionizing the traditional New York bar concept, Bar Seven Five combines modern accessibility and classic cocktails in the heart of Lower Manhattan. The central bar, fast becoming one of New York City’s most popular lounges, features neither front nor back, so patrons can enjoy complete ease of interaction with their designated bartender while watching their cocktails being prepared. Using artisanal ingredients, the staff at Bar Seven Five works to create classic cocktails with an emphasis on pre-prohibition design. Taking inspiration from the turn-of-the-century Pullman train car bars, each cocktail is individually prepared, served, and garnished directly in front of the guest in a miniature shaker.

Mandolino Pizzeria has closed on 13th Street

An EVG reader spotted workers cleaning out Mandolino yesterday, bringing an end to the pizzeria that opened in January 2017 here between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

A "for rent" sign is now in the front window. The Mandolino website is "under construction" and there isn't any message about a closure or move on their Instagram account.

Speaking of Instagram, Paris Hilton recently stopped by for some reason...

The heiress and Queen @parishilton and princess of Long Island turned celebrity radio host @chanelomari spotted @mandolinonyc celebrating Paris Hilton’s new single “I NEED YOU”. They Loved the bruschetta and Pizza!!! #celebrity #iheartradio #toptags #instagram #glamourous #instagood #italianrestaurant #newforkcity #foodies #omg #authentic #eatwell #eatfamous #restaurantlife #italianfood #bestplacestogo #eater #eatingnewyork #mandolinonyc #tagsforlikes #unionsquarenyc

A post shared by Mandolino Ristorante (@mandolinonyc) on Feb 18, 2018 at 9:50am PST

EVG readers we spoke with generally liked the place, which offered a variety of salads, pastas and whole Neapolitan pies (no slices). Despite being next door to an NYU dorm, it didn't seem to attract a big student following. Said one reader: "It was 'fancy' pizza, a teeny bit expensive, so maybe not student-y enough."

And as previously noted, this is a tough pizzeria market right in this area ... you have Joe's around the corner on 14th Street, which serves one of the city's best slices ... there's Gotham Pizza on 12th Street and Third Avenue ... Bruno Pizza on 13th Street between Third Avenue and Second Avenue ... not to mention Danny Meyer's buzzy Martina, which opened last August on 11th Street at Third Avenue.

The Mandolino space was previously home to Sahara Citi, the hookah/hummus restaurant that closed in August 2016 after four years in business.