Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Howl! on First Avenue
With a reminder that the annual Howl! Festival is next weekend... Check the Howl! website for details.
Photo by Bobby Williams; mural by Chico and Joel.
Manitoba's files for Chapter 11 protection
Genco Importing Inc., which operates Manitoba’s in the East Village, on Thursday filed for bankruptcy protection in Manhattan looking for a little breathing room to tweak its operations and file a restructuring plan. But don’t fear, Manitoba’s fans — the company plans to keep operating during the case.
Such a plan would likely be funded by a capital infusion from current majority owner Steven Van Zandt, a founding member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band who also played a role on HBO’s “The Sopranos.”
Founder and minority owner Richard Manitoba, known from his punk rock days as Handsome Dick Manitoba, blamed the bar’s hard times on its 2008 citation for certificate occupancy violations. The bar made all changes by the following summer but ran up a $100,000 tab doing so.
[Updated] 2 cops cleared of East Village rape charges, convicted of misconduct
Two New York City police officers were acquitted of rape and other felony charges but convicted of official misconduct, a misdemeanor, following a trial in which they were accused of taking advantage of an intoxicated woman they had helped into her apartment.
After more than six days of deliberations, a jury found New York City Police Officers Kenneth Moreno, 43 years old, and Franklin Mata, 28, not guilty of rape, burglary and falsifying records. Mata was also acquitted of tampering with evidence.
An update from the Daily News:
The NYPD fired two Manhattan cops Thursday just hours after they were acquitted of raping a helpless East Village woman.
Officers Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata were given the boot because the jury convicted them of official misconduct for going back to the woman's apartment three times without telling their superiors.
"The guilty verdict reached today involved a violation of the officer's oath of office and merits immediate termination," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. "Both officers will be terminated today."
Both cops face up to two years in prison on the misdemeanor charges when they are sentenced June 28.
Kelly lowered the boom after a relieved Moreno branded the now 29-year-old accuser a liar.
"I thought she made the whole thing up," Moreno said moments after he and Mata were found not guilty of rape charges that could have sent them to jail for up to 25 years.
Gothamist is reporting that there will be a demonstration tomorrow against the acquittal outside the Manhattan Criminal Court building at 100 Centre Street from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
'No wonder the Bowery has become the flip-flop and Baby-stroller Mecca of the World'
You know what pisses me off?
All these "neighborhood activist/artist types" who are mourning/protesting the demolishing of 35 Cooper Square, which is a horrible and sad event. But they also supported "The Festival of Bad Ideas," which was sponsored by Goldman Sachs.
No wonder the Bowery has become the flip-flop and Baby-stroller Mecca of the World.
It will be a joy when Billy's finally closes. I won't have to look at all these #$%@& Yuppies anymore.
Octavia's Porch closes after 6 months
The "Global Jewish" restaurant from "Top Chef" alum Nikki Cascone at 40 Avenue B barely lasted six months, and it was rocky from the start. Early on some residents questioned the name — which paid homage to the passageway in Rome's former Jewish ghetto.
Perhaps this is currently a jinxed spot... Chabela's and Russo's have been in and out of here in fairly quick succession in recent years.
Previously.
[Props to Dave on 7th for the photo]
Lower East Side artists now larger than life — on canvas
It's likely that you spotted a few workers carrying a large portrait of Clayton Patterson up the Bowery the other day...
Indeed, the portrait is the latest from Curt Hoppe, the legendary hyper-realist artist who is among those showing new work starting this Saturday at the Woodward Gallery on Eldridge Street.
Hoppe is currently working on a series of paintings of fellow Lower East Side artists. Here's Patterson posing with his portrait.
Curt also sent along his portrait of Arturo Vega ...
...and in progress.
Curt hopes to show this series together — likely 15 portraits in total ... we're looking forward to seeing these.
[Photos courtesy of Curt Hoppe]
Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-and-A with Curt Hoppe: Living on the Bowery, finding inspiration and shooting Mr. Softee
Indeed, the portrait is the latest from Curt Hoppe, the legendary hyper-realist artist who is among those showing new work starting this Saturday at the Woodward Gallery on Eldridge Street.
Hoppe is currently working on a series of paintings of fellow Lower East Side artists. Here's Patterson posing with his portrait.
Curt also sent along his portrait of Arturo Vega ...
...and in progress.
Curt hopes to show this series together — likely 15 portraits in total ... we're looking forward to seeing these.
[Photos courtesy of Curt Hoppe]
Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-and-A with Curt Hoppe: Living on the Bowery, finding inspiration and shooting Mr. Softee
Bump on 10th and B sends kids to the hospital with bruises and bloody lips
Yesterday morning, 13 school kids were injured when a school bus reportedly went over a speed bump too fast, the FDNY told DNAinfo.
The students were headed to the Ross Global Academy on East 12th Street around 8:30 a.m. The accident happened at 10th Street and Avenue B, the school's executive director, Richard Burke, told Patrick Hedlund.
He said the injuries were minor, "including bumps, bruises and bloody lips."
There isn't actually a speed bump on Avenue B at 10th Street. Still, there's a pretty decent slope with some potholes. I've been sent airborne a few times on the M8 when the driver is trying to beat the light...
In any event, the city might what to take a closer look at this intersection before it gets worse than bumps and bloody lips.
The students were headed to the Ross Global Academy on East 12th Street around 8:30 a.m. The accident happened at 10th Street and Avenue B, the school's executive director, Richard Burke, told Patrick Hedlund.
He said the injuries were minor, "including bumps, bruises and bloody lips."
There isn't actually a speed bump on Avenue B at 10th Street. Still, there's a pretty decent slope with some potholes. I've been sent airborne a few times on the M8 when the driver is trying to beat the light...
In any event, the city might what to take a closer look at this intersection before it gets worse than bumps and bloody lips.
Kinda weird and cool computer repair shop-plasma TV installers-DVD rental place closing on First Avenue
I suppose this isn't shocker ... The store formally known as Intervideo Electronics is closing. And you can see how they've tried to keep up with the times on their sign...
...and they were always good for oddball DVDs that I never knew existed.
And, of course, whenever a little place like this shutters... you have to wonder/worry about what might arrive next ...
...and they were always good for oddball DVDs that I never knew existed.
And, of course, whenever a little place like this shutters... you have to wonder/worry about what might arrive next ...
Apartment rental photo of the day
Woo!
Streeteasy has the listing for this a four-bedroom apartment at 440 E. Sixth St. going for $5,200:
Bonus bed photo!
Streeteasy has the listing for this a four-bedroom apartment at 440 E. Sixth St. going for $5,200:
Fully Renovated 6RM 4BR, Elevator, Huge Bedrooms, Oak Floors, Large Bathroom, High Celings, EIK, Large Living Room, Lots Of Sun Light, Apt Faces Front, Steps From Tompkins Park. Great Share For Four Because Everyone Gets a Large Bedroom, a Large Living Room, Oak Floors, an EIK, High Celings a Pre-War Elevator Buliding Located on the Corner of Avenue A and East 6 St. Students with Guarantors OK.
Bonus bed photo!
Pop Market Store now open in the Morrison Hotel
Last Friday, I noted that a PopMarket Store was opening in the Morrison Hotel space on the Bowery.
And the store opened yesterday. They have vinyl, CD/DVD box sets and T-shirts for just a handful of artists, including Johnny Cash, the Stooges, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, the Clash, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, Pearl Jam and Michael Jackson.
The store will be here through June 30, longer if things go well... They're also showing select documentaries too.
And the store opened yesterday. They have vinyl, CD/DVD box sets and T-shirts for just a handful of artists, including Johnny Cash, the Stooges, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, the Clash, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, Pearl Jam and Michael Jackson.
The store will be here through June 30, longer if things go well... They're also showing select documentaries too.
Waiting to hear about retail tenant for the Copper Building
As we noted last week, there looks to be activity in the retail space at the Copper Building on Avenue B at 13th Street.
Brian Meier, senior vice president at Prudential Douglas Elliman, said via email that the space was sold to an investor, who has a contract out on the storefront. No word just yet on who the new tenant will be...
In any event, you can likely rule out a Subway sandwich shop here.
Brian Meier, senior vice president at Prudential Douglas Elliman, said via email that the space was sold to an investor, who has a contract out on the storefront. No word just yet on who the new tenant will be...
In any event, you can likely rule out a Subway sandwich shop here.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
At the funeral tonight of 35 Cooper Square
Meanwhile, behind the plywood...
Photos by Bobby Williams
Crazy Eddie sent along a few shots too...
Read more about it here.
Get involved in the cause via the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors and Lower East Side History Project.
Updated:
Roger_Paw was there, and has more photos here. BoweryBoogie has coverage here.
That was fast: Nicky's Pho and Lingua closed after just 3 months
In early February, we noted that Nicky's Pho had opened on East Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...
[Photo via EV Grieve reader Hanser]
Grub Street reports that they have closed. Says co-owner Billy Dang, "I made a big mistake for taking the spot, because there’s not enough traffic and it’s not making enough money."
Bet the people opening the former Tonda space down the street will love to hear that lack-of-traffic line. Meanwhile, Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches remains open on Second Street just east of Avenue A.
Grub Street also reports that Lingua on First Avenue near Seventh Street has closed after three months.
Per Grub Street: "Perhaps the menu, which offered a slew of innards, like tripe Florentine, lamb sweetbreads, and tongue, was a bit too adventurous for East Villagers' tastes."
Grub Street reports that they have closed. Says co-owner Billy Dang, "I made a big mistake for taking the spot, because there’s not enough traffic and it’s not making enough money."
Bet the people opening the former Tonda space down the street will love to hear that lack-of-traffic line. Meanwhile, Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches remains open on Second Street just east of Avenue A.
Grub Street also reports that Lingua on First Avenue near Seventh Street has closed after three months.
Per Grub Street: "Perhaps the menu, which offered a slew of innards, like tripe Florentine, lamb sweetbreads, and tongue, was a bit too adventurous for East Villagers' tastes."
The damned: 'Dirty Old Tonight' screens today at BAM
BAM is screening "Dirty Old Town" today at 4:30, 6:50 and 9:30. (Find more details here.) The no-budget fictional film finds Billy Leroy with 72 hours to save Billy's Antiques from becoming a Starbucks.
Today, the Voice called it a "Low-Budget Ode to No-Budget NY." And per W magazine, "the result is a vibrant, visceral portrait of the streets of New York at their most sublime."And from NYPress, "'Dirty Old Town' isn’t really about the fantastic cast of non-actors the producers have unearthed, but the bits of the city being willfully forgotten."
Watch the trailer here.
High-rise for 75 First Avenue back in play
Looks like Revival Week continues. (For example, there's the hotel on the Bowery and Orchard Street back in action on long-dormant sites.)
Meanwhile, there's activity again at the long-dormant site at 75 First Avenue next to the Rite Aid on East Fifth Street. Workers repaired and painted the plywood here...
There's also a new permit on file.
When we last looked in on this development, DOB permits noted that a 14-story, 30-unit condo/apartment building was in the works. Thomas O'Hara was listed as the architect. According to his site:
Here's what it was intended to look like:
HOWEVER, O'Hara is no longer listed as the architect. According to permits, the site is still owned by Ozymandius Realty on West 14th Street. 75 First Avenue is listed under the company's current development projects, though there isn't further information about plans.
So this is one to keep an eye on. There will be a 14-story building of some kind here. And will this revive those Rite-Aid-is-closing rumors?
Meanwhile, there's activity again at the long-dormant site at 75 First Avenue next to the Rite Aid on East Fifth Street. Workers repaired and painted the plywood here...
There's also a new permit on file.
When we last looked in on this development, DOB permits noted that a 14-story, 30-unit condo/apartment building was in the works. Thomas O'Hara was listed as the architect. According to his site:
This cutting edge design with angled balconies and glass facade is designed to attract young cutting edge crowed of the east village.
Here's what it was intended to look like:
HOWEVER, O'Hara is no longer listed as the architect. According to permits, the site is still owned by Ozymandius Realty on West 14th Street. 75 First Avenue is listed under the company's current development projects, though there isn't further information about plans.
So this is one to keep an eye on. There will be a 14-story building of some kind here. And will this revive those Rite-Aid-is-closing rumors?
Here's what left of 186 years of history on Cooper Square
A stairway to a ghost building on the Cooper Square Hotel.
And as a reminder, the 35 Cooper Square funeral/rally is tonight at 6 right here.
Meanwhile, here are a few shots from yesterday via EV Grieve correspondent Bobby Williams...
Reminders tonight: Supporting the Essex Street Market
From Cynthia Lamb in a post at the Lo-Down:
The future of the Essex Street Market is finally being brought to the table at the upcoming Community Board 3 meeting [tonight at 6:30 pm, 189 Allen Street], in light of the public outcry over its possible demolition. The agenda calls for a discussion, which includes representatives from Project for Public Spaces, an organization that seeks to “transform public spaces into vital places that highlight local assets, spur rejuvenation and serve common needs.” The Essex Street Market already is a vital place and a local asset; it can continue to be rejuvenated, and it does serve common needs. How fortunate we are to have such a lively, diverse, historic market in our neighborhood.
[Photo via The Lo Down]
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