Monday, March 28, 2011

Avenue B, 5:57 p.m., March 28

East 10th Street, 8:39 a.m., March 28


Photo by Steven Hirsch [Posted with permission]

EV Grieve Etc: Mourning Edition


More thoughts on rent deregulation (Save the Lower East Side!)

How to deal with your man in Tompkins Square Park (Nadie Se Conoce)

Beware the fake real estate agent (Runnin' Scared)

About urban graffiti knitters (Fast Company)

About penis graffiti (The Grumbler)

DOH shutters original Ray's (Eater)

A look at the Single Fare 2 show (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

A recap of the Little Italy Unity Rally (BoweryBoogie)

Is your super the next reality TV star? (The Lo-Down)

At the CD release party for Eden and John's East River String Band (Slum Goddess)

A burger at Whitmans on East Ninth Street (Marty After Dark)

Person from Browns Mills, N.J. upset by new CK ad on Lafayette and Houston (CBS)

Buy a nice corner of the Bowery


Here's you chance to become a Bowery real-estate baron and reap the gold! Per the RKF website, you can invest in the space at the Bowery and Bleecker...

Per the listing (PDF):

The market has experienced a revitalization in recent years and presents a vibrant mix of new residential, retail, hotel, cultural, dining and nightlife offerings.
The property features:

• 6,600 sf on two levels: 3,400 sf on the Ground Floor and 3,200 sf in the Lower Level
• 129 feet of wraparound frontage
• Two existing liquor licenses in place
• Fully built kitchen

This is a rare opportunity to purchase an income-producing retail condominium on the Bowery with an existing liquor license in-place.

No word if the "Star Wars" pinball machine is included.

Last day for Houston Deli & Grocery

As I first reported last month, Brooklyn's Union Market will open a fancy new shop on Avenue A and Houston that will include a beef-aging facility and personal shopping services...


Meanwhile, the current tenant at 240 E. Houston St., Houston Deli & Grocery, closes today...


I stopped by during the weekend. I asked about the closing date. The owner, shaking his head and fighting back tears, said several times, "They wouldn't offer us a lease..."

Not much left...


New hope for 35 Cooper Square

During the weekend, workers arrived at 35 Cooper Square to begin removing the sewer and water from the property...


[Photos by Bobby Williams]


...the next steps in the demolition of the historic building... However, there is some positive news about the home via David Mulkins, chair of the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors (BAN). City Council member Rosie Mendez's office has brokered a meeting between developer Arun Bhatia and BAN members to discuss possibly sparing the building.

Meanwhile, as we pointed out five weeks ago, workers have left the roof exposed to the elements. You may write to the developer's rep, Jane Crotty (Jane@gacnyc.com), and ask them to put the protective covering back on the rooftop.


Updated: DNAinfo reports the meeting is set for April 12.

Nevada Smith's turning red

Here on Third Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street.

Before!


Saturday!


Sunday!


Perhaps the new exterior will put to rest the years-old rumors that they're moving to a bigger space?

Cat adoption center opens on East Ninth Street

Atomic Passion, the vintage clothing shop on East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, closed early last spring.



The space remained vacant until a few weeks ago... after some renovations, it appears the new tenant is ready for business.


It's Ollie's Place, a branch of the Mighty Mutts organization and veteran Murray Hill cat adoption center. A fire knocked them out of their 26th Street location. (No cats were harmed — you can read about it here.) And here's the Ollie's Place website.


They're open 6-8 pm Monday through Thursday, and from 12-6 pm on the weekends.

Village Sheeple


A new sign by Timothy Dark outside Billy's on East Houston...

Retail comings and goings and comings

On Seventh Street, Fab 208 has closed one shop in preparation of moving across the street to smaller quarters... The new store opens Friday.



And East Village Pharmacy has relocated from Avenue A and Fifth Street to its new home down the block on Third Street...


Now we can speculate what is coming to Fifth and A ... the "for lease" sign says no restaurants, but food OK...

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Late-day FDNY, NYPD action

A few late-Sunday actions involving the NYPD and FDNY via Bobby Williams... Police responded to a call about a "sick person" on Avenue C near 10th Street...



... A police officer crawled into the apartment in which the person was supposed to be.. but no one was home...


And on the 500 block of East Sixth Street between Avenue A and B... The FDNY responded to a call about a gas leak ... the FDNY ended up turning off the gas in the basement of the building ...



During times like these, we need photos of adorable dogs

Thanks to Allen Semanco for these photos from the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run...