Avast, matey! Know ye th' Skull & Scuppers? I've a fierce fire in m belly t' swill a pint or two o' grog

Seventh Street and Avenue C. Sorry — just making up for missing “Talk Like a Pirate Day" last week.

City of dreams, laundry

The Wall Street Journal has an item today on the new book "New York: Portrait of a City" (Taschen, 560 pages, $69.99). Per the WSJ:

"Erika Stone's 1947 photograph of a Lower East Side tenement's brick-wall exterior seems to capture New York at two extremes: city of dreams (as rendered by an outdoor advertiser, anyway) and city of laundry."

[Erika Stone/Katrina Doerner Photographs, Brooklyn]

Is Superdive really open?

Superdive does look more open than usual... and the sign out front says they are open.... but as of 9 pm or so, it was deserted....

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Avenue A...

Holy Keg Stand! Eater reports that Superdive has reopened!

This and the former Aces and Eights on the same day....?

[File photo]

Oh my genitals

From 1981, the Suburban Lawns.

Breaking! (former) Aces and Eights has reopened

Via a message from new GM Jamie-Lynn Argent:

"We're open again! With proper paperwork! Yay!"

And she adds in the comments: "We are still re-branding and re-naming! The contest runs until Oct 1st. Also feel free to stop by anytime and talk to me."

Above photo taken just after 5 today...

Previously.

Taco time on First Avenue

EV Grieve First Avenue correspondent Blue Glass notes that the new taqueria has opened here near 10th Street....at the site of the former Western Union. If anyone one checks it out, then please let me know how it is... Apparently there is another location in town too.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Western Union now delivering tacos

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

We have an update from EV Heave, who is pissed that he or she wasn't included here originally (EV Heave)

The person who throw bags of poop into the doorways of Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren stores (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

How is James Franco's 'Howl'? Here's one opinion that we trust (Patell and Waterman’s History of New York)

Dave has another message on his T-shirt (Nadie Se Conoce)

A big swath of Canal Street is for sale (BoweryBoogie)

Video from Max's Kansas City (Stupefaction)

How to avoid renting an illegal death trap of an apartment (Curbed)

A great shot of the old Howard Johnson's on Times Square (Greenwich Village Daily Photo)

It's Apple Day on Sunday (Lower East Side NY)

And our friend AWKWORD notes the (temporary) return of graffiti artist YME to NYC ... Plus! AWKWORD spotted this tag on Second Avenue... "Is this an old YME tag that never got buffed off the truck? Or is there some young wannabe YME out there...?"

Breaking! Select bus spotted on First Avenue

As a reader notes ... "Spotted: a select bus in motion on First Avenue. no passengers."

Soon, we will see a rise of the machines!

Jim Joe reaches new heights

We used to seeing graffiti writer Jim Joe's mark at street... like in this shot from EV Grieve reader Andrew....



...or...



Anyway, I'm not sure how long this has been up here... but I just noticed it the other day. I was standing across from 7B on Avenue B... and looked up...

Noted

Via @MScaduto: "Maybe because you're the type of girl who posts hundreds of flyers around the East Village."

Former Miracle Grill garden space sprouts $6K apartments

As mentioned earlier today, the former Miracle Grill space is on the market. And the eatery's garden is now an apartment building at 92 Seventh St. ... which, coincidentally enough, has just been revealed after months of hiding behind the scaffolding and sidewalk shed, etc., etc.

So here's what it looks like...




Looks pretty decent as far as these things go. But what will be happening on the inside?

I took a look at the listings.

There are studios going for $1,950. And there are photos...






...and the roof deck... (UFO!)



The apartments get bigger... There's a three-bedroom (convertible to four!) going for $5,995. Description:
Brand Spanking New! Luxury 3BR Conv 4BR Bedroom With Balcony, High Ceilings, Floor To Ceiling Windows, White Custom Cabinets, Black Corian Counters, Stainless Appliances, Key Elevator, Video Intercom and Laundry Room on Premises.

Hmm... home for a family or a party pad?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Miracle Grill garden not-so-suddenly looks like a condo

Renaming Aces and Eights: See you at Drink 'til U Stink!

As the new Aces & Eights GM mentioned the other day, the bar will rebrand itself whenever they reopen. To that end, "Aces & Eights LES will be holding a naming contest when we reopen and I am hoping to get input and support from not only our staff and customers, but also from residents in East Village and Lower East Side."

I'm all for second chances and certainly think the bar deserves one.... though I'm not so keen on contests. As our friend Billy Gray noted over at Guest of a Guest: "A noble gesture, maybe, but put on your snark-retardant suit." Indeed! Read on...

Although the contest rules and what not have yet to be announced, a few helpful EV Grieve readers jumped in with suggestions for a new name:

Esquared:
How about simply calling it "WOOOO!" — apt and succinct.

Bowery Boy:
Sleepy Neighbors Club
Silent but Deadly Bar & Grill
Up All Night Restaurant
Block the Sidewalk Bar
Old Neighborhood Bedtime Story
F the Sleepy Locals Lounge
Our Music is Your Music Bar
Baseline Vibrations... In Your Child's Bedroom Bar & Lounge

Glamma:
Puke Bar & Grill
There Goes the Neighborhood (Again)
Denegration
UES POS

Lux Living:
Chug 'n Chunder Grill
Beer, Bitches, & Burritos
Drink 'til U Stink
Superdive

It's a dog's life (circa 1985-1999)

Well, there have been some ugly accusations leveled against the proprietor of this website, EV Grieve. Given recent posts, some people are under the impression that this is a pro-cat, anti-dog site. Simply not true!

Uh, but seriously, the folks at East Village-based phoDOGraphy recently posted a set of pics titled "New York City Street Dog Photos, 1985-1999." As they note: "My neighborhood (the East Village/Alphabet City) would be unrecognizable to anyone who left in 1985. Photos from the dawn of phoDOGraphy reveal a much darker place, before there were restaurants and grocery stores with whole wheat bread."

And they gave us the OK to post a few photos from the set...so here are a few doggy (and ducky!) shots from the East Village...






Cat lovers, take note.... according to Mark at phoDOGraphy: "We have 7 cats, and I will eventually have a gallery of unusual cat portraits online, so stay tuned."

Marketing an East Village restaurant space

Last month, I pointed out the new "for lease" sign on the former Miracle Grill space on First Avenue near Seventh Street...



At the time, I didn't see any information on the space.... In recent weeks, Newmark Knight Frank have added more details... and here's how they're pitching the space... Curious the restaurants that they chose to highlight as neighbors...



Some of these places, of course, like Ninth Street Espresso, aren't even close to this space...Perhaps they were just going for a variety of sign fonts...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Miracle Grill garden not-so-suddenly looks like a condo

Rock with me: Billy Hurricane's is open (Bedlam too!)

Billy Hurricane's and its space mate, Idle Hands, opened this week at 25 Avenue B. Grub Street's Daniel Maurer swung by for a preview:

Signs advertising a 96-ounce “Das Boot” (à la Heidelberg), scorpion bowls, and “huge-ass beers to go” (meaning growlers) say it all. But this isn’t strictly a place for getting daiquiri-tarded: If popcorn doesn’t do, you can order wings, tater tots, an Andouille burger, a chicken po boy, a BLT, and the occasional beignet special (the menu will expand soon). And if your friends have dragged you here and you just can’t handle gimmicks like the “Wheel of Fortune” of drink specials, you can always retreat downstairs to the quieter bourbon bar, Idle Hands. Take a look at both.

No word whether the bartenders are attractive, sexy, fun and loud.

Also, Grub Street checked out Bedlam on Avenue C... You can read that here. To be honest, I was walking by the place last night and thought I'd see what was what. It was closed for a private party. Or so I was told.

If it's the end of September, then it must be time for Octoberfest

The annual Octoberfest at Zum Schneider starts Saturday... through Oct. 10...




[Via Zum Schneider]

Will the Germans take Avenue C again the fall?

This fall's must have item: Gas Mask Bongs

I actually have no idea where this photo was taken. I found it on Twitpic with the caption:

The East Village is trying to be weird again. Really.

Noted

Several readers sent along the New York magazine Q-and-A with 19-year-old actress Sarah Hyland, who lives in the East Village.

Some excerpts!

Who's your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
Carrie Bradshaw or Mickey Rooney. When I was 15 I thought I was [Carrie] reincarnated. And I just love Mickey Rooney! Who doesn't? He's so tiny and cute.

Do you give money to panhandlers?
It really depends. If they really look like they're having a hard time, then yes. But I've seen so many people in the East Village pretend they're missing a leg and then they pull it out of nowhere and walk away with all the money they got during the day. So it really depends. I usually give money to talented-musician panhandlers.

I have no idea why you people sent me this link. I like Mickey Rooney too. So, lay off. She's only 19.

4th Street Food Co-op gets new signage — 12 years later

When the sign went up at the 4th Street Food Co-op, it was only meant to be temporary. That was back in 1998.



But now! There's a new logo, based on a design by contest winner Lauren Ruggeri. The winning logo was selected by vote from the entire co-op membership. The final touches on the logo will be added today, and will eventually be added to the co-op's website.



[Photos courtesy of Jill Woodward, 4th Street Food Co-op]

Knife and Fork, fish and chips... under one roof

Eater reports that the chef from Knife + Fork, the East Fourth Street eatery that closed closed in June, will revive his old restaurant in the upcoming Percy's Tavern on Avenue A at 13th St. As Eater reports, Percy's will be in the bar section, serving pub fare like fish 'n' chips. And beer. This is at the former Al Diwan space.

The Knife + Fork chef is Damien Brassel. Back in June, Percy owner Larry Watson, an East Village resident, brought his chef with him to the CB3/SLA meeting. He said that he aspires to be like Northern Spy around the corner on 12th Street. And he mysteriously wouldn't name the Michelin-starred restaurant where he currently works out of fear of losing that job. (Watson said everyone will be suitably impressed when they hear where he worked.)

But I don't think the chef with Watson that night was Brassel....

Report: SLA yanks Aces and Eights' liquor license

The Lo-Down has been following the Aces & Eights saga. And as they report today:

One of the reasons Aces and Eights succeeded in conducting business without a basic operating permit from the city’s health department was that the previous tenant of 34 Avenue A, Mo Pitkin’s, had possessed a permanent liquor license. That allowed the Aces and Eights management to secure a temporary liquor license and to open its doors (in April 2009) without having to produce any city permits — while its own application for a permanent license was pending. The city shuttered the bar Sept. 14, after finally catching up with the paperwork loophole.

Late last week, the NY State Liquor Authority followed suit, yanking Aces and Eights’ right to serve alcohol.

Aces and Eights still closed; new bar looking to rebrand and change image

One week after the DOH shuttered Aces & Eights on Avenue A... the bar remains closed...



...groups with events planned for the bar have had to go elsewhere....



On our previous post, Jamie-Lynn Argenta, the new general manager of Aces & Eights LES, left this comment:

Aces & Eights Saloon LES has been closed by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene due to paperwork and permit issues. We will be open Monday. I am currently General Manager of the bar; my name is Jamie-Lynn Argenta. I understand that our image has been tarnished because of prior wrongs, however I hope we can look towards building a more cooperative and cohesive bond with the community in the future.

We strive to be a positive, successful force in this community. As the former GM Tom Michaelsen pointed out last year on EV Grieve , Aces & Eights LES has made many charitable contributions. We have also supported our customers’ efforts to give back by hosting numerous fundraisers for a wide array of charitable causes, and we will continue to do so when we reopen. This bar strives to be viewed as a professional and respectful establishment within this community. And I would like to encourage people to give us feedback and help us foster our growth with the community.

As EV Grieve posted, we will be changing the name of the bar. Aces & Eights LES will be holding a naming contest when we reopen and I am hoping to get input and support from not only our staff and customers, but also from residents in East Village and Lower East Side . It will give people a chance to help us rebrand and change our image; it will give residents an opportunity to help shape what kind of establishment we will become. We look forward to serving you again.

Monday may have been a little optimistic ... in any event, are you willing to give the bar a second chance?

Clearing up any bagel rumors

Apparently there are some rumors about how Christopher Pugliese plans to operate Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A once it opens. He left this comment about the speculation:

I am NOT, NO WAY, EVER, going to stay open 24 hours. I'm 40 years old with a wife and (hopefully) kids on the way. 24 hours ain't going to happen. All 40 of said years have been spent on the streets on NYC. I understand, and have respect for the fact that people LIVE HERE. My Nana and Papa, Mom and Dad, me, we all grew up in busy parts of town. I'm not going to let anything happen in my shops that I wouldn't want to happen if they were living upstairs. THE STORE WILL NOT BE LOUD OR NOISY. But don't take my word for it, go and check out my other shops in Brooklyn and see for yourself. We are small time, hard working, decent guys. WE DON'T and never will sell cigarettes, whatever those things are called that kids roll joints with, beer, win, or lottery tickets. PLEASE, before you go and make all kinds of bad feelings and accusations, get your facts in order.

You may read the rest here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Coming this fall to Avenue A: Tompkins Square Bagels

Looking for Joey Ramone Place

I wrote about the Joey Ramone drink at Peels on Monday.... some people pointed out that this actually made some sense seeing as Peels is on the corner of Second Street and the Bowery — aka Joey Ramone Place.

True. So I thought I'd walk by and check out the street sign. Don't recall seeing it lately.... So I looked...



...and looked...



...and looked...



....and...



...and...




Oh! There it is way up there!




For a moment, I thought the sign had been ripped off again. (Or removed by the city.) How many times has it been stolen anyway? Five? So now it's up there pretty high ... out of the reach of thieves... The sign first went up in November 2003.

Also, the Times has a great piece from October 2001 ... when the idea of Joey Ramone Place came before CB3. According to the article: "only two of the eight board members said they had heard of his band, the Ramones." They even asked for a Ramones primer...

Today's drink special: The Joey Ramone

Speaking of The Joey Ramone... an old friend of Joey's sent this photo along...



It's the work of rock photographer Joe Stevens (aka, Captain Snaps), who gave me permission to post the picture ...