Carroll Gardens institution PJ Hanley's opening an East Village outpost on First Avenue

Many thanks to EV Grieve reader dmbream for pointing out that work started yesterday at the long-dormant 122 First Ave. -- between Ruben's and Kim's (Seventh Street and St. Mark's). According to the work permits, the space is being renovated by the folks behind P.J. Hanley's, the Carroll Gardens mainstay and one of the alleged oldest pubs in Brooklyn.



As Jeremiah first reported back in June 2008, this space -- the former Cosmos Parcels, a 45-year-old Ukrainian packing and shipping shop -- would soon become a jazz cafe. I liked the sound of the plans for the jazz cafe. Do we really need an Irish pub here?

As dmbream noted: "Another Irish pub-style place...RIGHT next to Lunasa? Fantastic planning, guys."

Why 99X is closing

Yesterday, we reported that 99X was closing up shop on 10th Street... we asked Bert at 99X via e-mail what happened:

It was a combination of things. Drop in sales/poor economy, a lot of stores went out on the block so there is not that much foot traffic, the rent is high and Fred Perry opened a store down in SOHO which took a lot of our business. Everything did not happen all at once but it all happened within the past year and has gotten us to where we are now.

Air conditioning inspection at the former Amato Opera

On one recent November day, we noticed a sign hanging from the former home of the Amato Opera on the Bowery.



Perhaps a clue to the new tenant?!



Nope. Just a letter from the Bureau of Fire Prevention Inspectors. They need to inspect the air conditioning unit, which seemed to be working OK when the Amato Opera closed in May.

The Coop preps for winter

At the Cooper Square Hotel. Keeping the bold-faced names warm.

For lease signs removed at former Chocolate by the Bald Man space

Max Brenner's Chocolate by the Bald Man closed last July on Second Avenue and Ninth Street.

Anyway! The "for lease" sign that was in the window has been removed...



...and perhaps some work is being done on the interior...



A prime chunk of EV property...any chance that this might become something that the neighborhood wants or needs...?

99X is closing

As their slogan reads, "Outfitting the Underground since 1978."

I also looked at the store's Twitter account...



A shame. And I rarely walk on this stretch of 10th Street between Fourth Avenue and Third Avenue, a dead zone of empty storefronts....



...and stalled development...

Window at Cooper Union's new academic building being used to advertise McKibbin Street keggers

Ah, at the McKibbin Street dorms in Bushwick.



Hey, and visit the 248 McKibbin St. MySpace page.

Business as usual at Superdive?

Oh, the magic is back... Superdive was closed Friday night for a private party...



Which reminds us of the heady days of this past summer...



Aug. 22


Aug. 16

Nothing compares 2 U?: St Mark's karaoke/billiards/gourmet deli palace gets a sign

That mammoth three-story karaoke/billiards/gourmet deli palace, 2 U Karaoke Lounge Suites at the former Mondo Kim's space on St. Mark's, has unveiled its new signage...




...and it's rather difficult to read...looks like some rejected concepts from U2's PopLife tour...



Previously on EV Grieve:
What we now know about the karaoke empire on St. Mark's Place

Coming soon: A gourmet deli to go with your karaoke on St. Mark's Place

Karaoke taking over Mondo Kim's space

Kurve loses its Michelin Star, among other things

Last week!



Now!



Which is all really confusing. Last Tuesday, Kurve employees hung the star, which really belongs to Kurve owner Andy Yang's Rhong Tiam on LaGuardia Place. So it was shady to put the star up here, of course. However, Kurve is now going to become another outpost of Rhong Tiam, according to food editor Bret Thorn. (Via Eater.) So why not just leave up the star...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Also at Kurve, a hanging

Xoom opens today on Seventh Street

Also, in the comments on our last Xoom post, owner Jennifer London told us exactly what an infusional is:

"smoothies made with a shot of espresso in them. There is also one with chai and one with mate."

Previously.

St. Mark's Surf City smoothie shop shuttered

Between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. Former home of the hot smoothies.

The ramenators continue the branding process

The folks at May Chan Ramen & Robatayaki on Second Avenue and Seventh Street (the former Love Saves the Day location) have introduced a new logo for its charmless brown storefront and bricked-up windows...




Flashback to this spot last year...



Previously.

Butter Lane turns 1 today

Wow, can't believe that it has been one year.

Mac is lost

Sixth Street and Avenue B.

Spidey's rickshaw stolen -- and recovered on Avenue A

Bob Arihood has the story at Neither More Nor Less.

Tyson Beckford continues to leave skid marks

Page Six notes this today...

Tyson Beckford knows how to leave an impression -- and skid marks. The supermodel partied with Ice-T and Coco at La Pomme on West 26th Street the other night. After letting everyone know he is the new face of Aprilia, he hopped onto his imported, custom-made $20,000 motorcycle and tore up the street by doing donuts to wow the crowd.

Flashback to September, when Beckford and his buddies burned rubber on the Bowery for something to do with Fashion Week...



And the aftermath of the entrance... a little rubber left on the Bowery...




Previously on EV Grieve:
Gee, I don't understand why the Post said that the Bowery has "an L.A. vibe" (And now: A scene featuring backflips and Tyson Beckford!)

Nuts

A friend said that he saw a man calmly walk into Whole Foods on Houston and the Bowery, grab an armful of nuts that are conveniently located by the front entrance, and turn around and continue on his way...

The Times on the Pizza Shop's closing

The Times notes the closing of The Pizza Shop on Avenue A... In a comment to us, co-owner Kevin Cole said that the rent was too high... Per the Times:

But the recession took a toll, as did customers’ continuing exodus to Brooklyn’s cool neighborhoods — and the $11,000 monthly rent. "It's hard to be competitive on this strip, and we just weren't doing the volume anymore," said Kevin Cole, 39, one of the four owners and an experienced pizza maker, as well as the front man for the rock band the Turbo A.C.'s.

I hope that they can find some more affordable space somehwere in the neighborhood to open another shop...we need more places like The Pizza Shop here.

I do not want to know what this cab driver was doing in Extra Place this morning

Pedicabs now officially a profession

Under new citywide regulations that went into effect this weekend, pedicabs must now be insured and inspected for safety. The Times notes how the pedicab biz started hereabouts...

New York City’s pedicab business, by most accounts, began on an East Village side street circa 1995, as a close-knit collective of tricyclists squeezed into a garage next door to the Hells Angels. Tap dancers, undertakers and striptease artists were among the first drivers.

But as the business grew, so did its troubles. Hundreds of new bike operators arrived, pestering tourists and testing the city’s tolerance.

Thank you...come again...

As our friend Karate Boogaloo would say, "Just because."

The Au Pairs from 1981.

Reminder: Benefit for the Lower Eastside Girls Club tomorrow

A very worthwhile missive from our inbox...

On Saturday November 21st from Noon to 3:30 PM, join host and MC Cemi Guzman at The Bowery Poetry Club (308 Bowery at 1st Street, F Train to 2nd Avenue), for a celebration of the work of The Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York.

Following in the footsteps of his father, actor and activist Luis Guzman, Cemi is producing this fundraising event as his high school senior year Capstone Project. “This is a way for me to honor my family’s Lower East Side roots and support a really exciting youth organization, one that is creating the next generation of leaders,” Cemi told his faculty advisor.

As organizer and MC of this event, Cemi has put together an exciting line-up of talented performers and local artists. Teens (and their adult friends and supporters) will be entertained by:
· Speakers: Luis Guzman, Liz Murray and author Ivan Sanchez
· Performances by: Cuculand from Yerba Buena, La Bruja, Kess (from the L.E.S), Krazy Race (From L.A), Mike Imperiale (From L.E.S) & Leon Heartman
· Comedy: Ruperto Vanderpool
· And dropping by to talk about art: Local fashion designer Victoria Keen, the one and only Lee Quinones, one of the originators of graffiti and New York Street Art

Admission to this event will be sliding scale for adults (tix sold at the door for $20 and up). Youth are being asked to bring a donation of canned or packaged food, which will be donated to the Middle Collegiate Church Food Pantry.

For more information about the Girls Club visit www.girlsclub.org.

ONE reason to go to a Barnes and Noble

Meanwhile, as Jeremiah has discussed, this is Independent Bookstore Week. As he wrote, "go visit an indie and buy their books -- before it's too late."

Yes! Plant saved from certain cruel (crueler?) fate at Kurve!

First, my apologies for the lousy photo. It was dark out when I passed Kurve on Second Avenue at Fifth Street last night. (Uh, being night, it would be dark!) And no way could I use the flash, and alert the 38 people working at the Starship Thaiper...and risk being pelted with foie gras torchon (with red currant jam) and spicy king salmon tartare....

Anyway! The plant has been saved! It has apparently been picked up!



Previously!



And previous to that previously!



Thank you to all of you who helped make the rescue a reality! Another Michelin Star for them!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Despite hard-hitting expose, plant at Kurve worse off than ever

200 block of Avenue A, after 8 p.m., Nov. 19

Walking on Avenue A between 12th Street and 14th Street last night around 8:15, noticed modest crowds at Drop-Off Service, Common Ground and Destination (below)...



...and at Superdive...