Meanwhile! Another reader wondered, "It could be a pretty sweet spot for a community garden, though I realize a glass windowed high rise is more realistic."
Monday, June 28, 2010
Mystery Lot continues to fascinate
Been some more reader interest of late about the Mystery Lot... the long-vacant parcel of land between 13th Street and 14th Street just east of Third Avenue... Yesterday, a reader noted the presence of a man inside the lot — a man who wasn't whacking weeds, but merely taking it all in.... As the reader described it...."I saw a bearded gentleman enjoying the weather in there." Oh, yeah! See him below...
Meanwhile! Another reader wondered, "It could be a pretty sweet spot for a community garden, though I realize a glass windowed high rise is more realistic."
Meanwhile! Another reader wondered, "It could be a pretty sweet spot for a community garden, though I realize a glass windowed high rise is more realistic."
Whatever happened to simple bar names... and concepts?
I'm thinking about some of the bars that I like in the neighborhood... Joe's, Mona's, Lucy's, Sophie's, Manitoba's, 2A, 7B ... all have pretty simple names — and concepts. Some other bars have been around long enough that I don't even think twice about the names anymore ... the International, the Blue & Gold, Mar's Bar, the Phoenix, the Grassroots, the Holiday Cocktail Lounge ...
Apparently, simplicity doesn't work anymore ... simple names, simple concepts... In the Times last week, Frank Bruni noted the three owners of the new Blind Barber on East 10th Street:
"This troika of tricksters is determined to get your attention. That’s no easy feat in the crowded downtown drinkscape, where the competition comes armed with secret entrances, hidden alleys, pharmaceutical paraphernalia, taxidermy. What’s left? A bar with barbers, it turns out."
Given the economics, I suppose you can no longer open a bar called Jim's where people could come and drink and have conversations and be profitable.
No, wait. I suppose you can no longer open a bar called Jim's where people who live in the neighborhood could come and drink and have conversations and be profitable.
So let's take a look at some of the new bars (and restaurants) that just opened or are opening very soon in the neighborhood:
1) The 13th Step
The team behind Down the Hatch is opening the 13th Step at the former Telephone Bar on Second Avenue. I posted this back in February.
The term the 13th Step means: This term is used as a euphemism for inappropriate sexual advances by a member to a newcomer in AA (such as sponsors toward sponsees).
In a post on the new 13th Step sign last week... some readers here weighed in...:
And!
2) SRO
Theres's a new upscale winery coming to Stanton in the Bowery... at the former annex for the SRO Sunshine Hotel. So. The new owners tastefully decided to name this place... SRO... This name annoyed the CB3/SLA committee last Monday night, as Eater noted. (Read BoweryBoogie's coverage of this place here.)
As Jeremiah wrote about SRO: "another unfortunate appropriation of poverty-related language by caterers to the affluent. Hey, why not call it Flophouse? Or Soup Kitchen? Or Skid Row? Wouldn't that be hip? How about Scabies?"
3) The Ninth Ward
As Fork in the Road reported, the owners of Shoolbred's are taking over the former Thai on Two space on Second Avenue. Per the Fork:
Fine, but... When I heard that name, I recalled my trip to New Orleans in the fall of 2006 — nearly 14 months after Hurricane Katrina wiped out portions of the city. A friend, who was born and raised in New Orleans, took me for a tour of the devastation in various parts of the city, including the Lower Ninth Ward. Houses had been knocked off foundations. Not much remained except some muck — layers of canal water, sewage and dirt — and mold. Doesn't make me feel like a cocktail.
On Friday afternoon, Fork in the Road noted Louisiana-transplant and writer Cajun Boy's reaction via Twitter:
4) Billy Hurricane's
In the former Rehab/Midway space (and Save the Robots) space at 25 Avenue B, an upstairs/downstairs combo is opening soon. Grub Street reported in April that the owners will open the "Bourbon. Beer. Rock'–themed Idle Hands in the basement space while upstairs a group with ties to Thunder Jackson’s and Point Break will open Billy Hurricanes, a Mardi Gras–themed bar trafficking in frozen daiquiris, Cajun food, and a signature drink that will be limited to two per person."
Billy's has a blog. The first post notes:
DNAinfo had a follow-up on Billy's/Idle Hands a few weeks back. Per Patrick Hedlund's story:
Or can you?
Apparently, simplicity doesn't work anymore ... simple names, simple concepts... In the Times last week, Frank Bruni noted the three owners of the new Blind Barber on East 10th Street:
"This troika of tricksters is determined to get your attention. That’s no easy feat in the crowded downtown drinkscape, where the competition comes armed with secret entrances, hidden alleys, pharmaceutical paraphernalia, taxidermy. What’s left? A bar with barbers, it turns out."
Given the economics, I suppose you can no longer open a bar called Jim's where people could come and drink and have conversations and be profitable.
No, wait. I suppose you can no longer open a bar called Jim's where people who live in the neighborhood could come and drink and have conversations and be profitable.
So let's take a look at some of the new bars (and restaurants) that just opened or are opening very soon in the neighborhood:
1) The 13th Step
The team behind Down the Hatch is opening the 13th Step at the former Telephone Bar on Second Avenue. I posted this back in February.
The term the 13th Step means: This term is used as a euphemism for inappropriate sexual advances by a member to a newcomer in AA (such as sponsors toward sponsees).
In a post on the new 13th Step sign last week... some readers here weighed in...:
13th step. What the fuck is that, now we're gonna get all quaint and cutesy and ironic about alcoholism? Gawd sometimes I really hate people and their "creative ideas".
And!
Pretty soon we will have more bars with ridiculous flippant alcohol problem-referencing names like "The Drunk Tank", "Drunk and Disorderly's", "Alcohol Poisoning", "The Binge", "DUI"... possibilites are endless.
2) SRO
Theres's a new upscale winery coming to Stanton in the Bowery... at the former annex for the SRO Sunshine Hotel. So. The new owners tastefully decided to name this place... SRO... This name annoyed the CB3/SLA committee last Monday night, as Eater noted. (Read BoweryBoogie's coverage of this place here.)
As Jeremiah wrote about SRO: "another unfortunate appropriation of poverty-related language by caterers to the affluent. Hey, why not call it Flophouse? Or Soup Kitchen? Or Skid Row? Wouldn't that be hip? How about Scabies?"
3) The Ninth Ward
As Fork in the Road reported, the owners of Shoolbred's are taking over the former Thai on Two space on Second Avenue. Per the Fork:
"The new place will have an 1890s' New Orleans feel, with absinthe drips and classic cocktails, much like Laffite's or the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street. Some food — most likely, Cajun standards — will be served."
Fine, but... When I heard that name, I recalled my trip to New Orleans in the fall of 2006 — nearly 14 months after Hurricane Katrina wiped out portions of the city. A friend, who was born and raised in New Orleans, took me for a tour of the devastation in various parts of the city, including the Lower Ninth Ward. Houses had been knocked off foundations. Not much remained except some muck — layers of canal water, sewage and dirt — and mold. Doesn't make me feel like a cocktail.
On Friday afternoon, Fork in the Road noted Louisiana-transplant and writer Cajun Boy's reaction via Twitter:
A New Orleans-themed bar in NYC called Ninth Ward has opened. Maybe I'll open a NYC-themed bar in New Orleans and call it World Trade Center
4) Billy Hurricane's
In the former Rehab/Midway space (and Save the Robots) space at 25 Avenue B, an upstairs/downstairs combo is opening soon. Grub Street reported in April that the owners will open the "Bourbon. Beer. Rock'–themed Idle Hands in the basement space while upstairs a group with ties to Thunder Jackson’s and Point Break will open Billy Hurricanes, a Mardi Gras–themed bar trafficking in frozen daiquiris, Cajun food, and a signature drink that will be limited to two per person."
Billy's has a blog. The first post notes:
Once we get the kitchen finalized, among other things... we will be ready to rock!
Watch out for our opening night party... will be off the hook!
Please welcome us to the neighborhood.
Are you ready to rock!?
DNAinfo had a follow-up on Billy's/Idle Hands a few weeks back. Per Patrick Hedlund's story:
But even though its door have yet to open, the space has already been forced to contend with negative criticisms that have cast the bar as a theme-park-style venue that will attract rowdy crowds to the residential area..
"There's always going to be somebody who doesn't like it and doesn't want you there," said co-owner Rob Morton, 37 ...
Morton responded to the snipes by saying his group is simply following a long list of glitzier nightlife establishments that have flocked to the formerly gritty area.
"You can't yearn for a neighborhood that was," he said
Or can you?
In case you had any doubt about the future of these corners on the Bowery
New space available signs are up...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Your guide to the doomed corners of the Bowery
Previously on EV Grieve:
Your guide to the doomed corners of the Bowery
123 Third Ave. has glass
Here we are at "East Union Square," where workers started putting in the glass Friday...
Still waiting for that sales center, though...
Previously on EV Grieve:
123 Third Avenue ramps up its marketing efforts with an ad facing away from traffic
Still waiting for that sales center, though...
Previously on EV Grieve:
123 Third Avenue ramps up its marketing efforts with an ad facing away from traffic
Why was Black Market closed this entire weekend?
I don't know the answer... but I was surprised to see the relatively new place closed all weekend...and no note or sign on the gate offereing any explantion...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Why is the Pizza Shop closed?
Lucy's reopens on Thursday
Meanwhile on Avenue A, Lucy's is taking a quick break...
Previously on EV Grieve:
At Lucy's: "We miss you!"
Previously on EV Grieve:
At Lucy's: "We miss you!"
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Part of Avenue A closed due to water main break
As you may have noticed, Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street continues to be closed...
A worker on the scene told me there was a water main break... thanks to the EV Grieve reader for the above photo!
A worker on the scene told me there was a water main break... thanks to the EV Grieve reader for the above photo!
Germany 4, England 1, Avenue C 0
A little while ago after Germany beat England 4-1 in the World Cup... German fans celebrate on Avenue C and Seventh Street after watching the match at Zum Schneider and Alphabet City Lounge....
The cops drove by and paid no mind...
The cops drove by and paid no mind...
The Shepard Fairey mural is just a hole-y mess now
Last night (or early this morning), more of the Shepard Fairey mural on Houston and the Bowery has been ripped apart...
BoweryBoogie has been keeping tabs on the destruction here as well...
BoweryBoogie has been keeping tabs on the destruction here as well...
You have "No Chance" of getting into Zum Schneider this morning
That was the word from a Zum Schneider waitress a little bit ago...Hundreds were on hand for England-Germany in the World Cup... Actually, she was nice about it...she told the people waiting outside the already-full Zum to go to another bar so they wouldn't miss the match...
...the line stretched around Avenue C and west on Seventh Street...
...the line stretched around Avenue C and west on Seventh Street...
Looking for Larry David look-alikes
I was told that the HBO folks were hiring Larry David look-alikes for stand-in duties while filming here... I wanted to find the ad for this...
So I type in "Larry David Look Alikes Wanted in New York" in Google... and, well, this makes sense...
Then I found this! A professional Larry David look-alike for your next corporate event or party, according to the site...
Anyway, never did find the ad for the look-alikes...
Previously on EV Grieve:
East Fourth Street will have to curb their enthusiasm Monday
So I type in "Larry David Look Alikes Wanted in New York" in Google... and, well, this makes sense...
Then I found this! A professional Larry David look-alike for your next corporate event or party, according to the site...
Anyway, never did find the ad for the look-alikes...
Previously on EV Grieve:
East Fourth Street will have to curb their enthusiasm Monday
Saturday, June 26, 2010
8:51 this morning...
and the Tompkins Square Park dog run was empty...
Was just trying to remember the last Saturday morning in which it was empty at this hour...
Meanwhile, the Zip car lot on Second Street was empty too...
(The cars in the background are in a different lot...)
Was just trying to remember the last Saturday morning in which it was empty at this hour...
Meanwhile, the Zip car lot on Second Street was empty too...
(The cars in the background are in a different lot...)
Self-serve tattoos by Ray's
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