EV Grieve

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Is CBGB back from the dead?

[Corbis]

First Marky Ramone's (probably fake) leather jacket, now this?

So Gothamist is reporting this morning that somebody or another will be opening a new outpost of CBGB. Per Gothamist:

We have it on good authority that the legendary venue is still alive in spirit, and angling to take over a new space in Manhattan. With the contents of the original club still around in a basement somewhere, if all goes according to plan it will even look like the old space.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn Vegan notes a tweet from an alleged official CBGB Twitter account that asked, "who would you like to see at the #CBGB Music Festival this summer? No band to big or to small."

Hmmm... so where does all this rate on the idea scale — good, bad...

h/t @saywhatagain

Another look inside the East Village Farms and the old Hollywood Theatre on Avenue A

[Kevin Shea Adams]

The East Village Farms on Avenue A between Seventh Street and Sixth Street is on the clock... we now understand that the closing date has been moved to Feb. 5, with a sale starting next Wednesday. (The owners will take any leftover inventory to their new store on 48th Street.)

The staff here says the building's owner will demolish the structure. There still aren't any permits on file with the DOB ... and still no official word from the landlord.

Anyway, as you know, the space was originally a theater in operation from 1926-1959. EV Grieve reader Lambert Jack got a look at the sort-of-secret theater a few weeks back ...

Now, East Village-based photographer Kevin Shea Adams shares his photos from a recent trip inside the bowels of the store. (You can read his post and see more photos here.)

Find more of Kevin's photography here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

There is no news about 51 Astor Place

Well, except that it's gone. Per Bobby William's shot yesterday...

Meanwhile, at the Post yesterday, Steve Cuozzo checked in on several high-profile projects around the city... "We gave owners, brokers, p.r. reps and inside moles a chance to share good news about the following projects, representing billions of dollars of private investment, some bolstered by public subsidies."

He couldn't find any good news about the projects including at 51 Astor Place, which he notes is being built entirely on spec. So the incoming 430,000 square-foot building remains tenantless for now...

And, as you know, it will look like this some day.

Meanwhile, EV Grieve reader Terry Howell shared these photos with us... the first is from Jan. 27, 2011...

And this is from Friday...

We echo Terry's feelings about the building:

"I have watched the demolition of the former Cooper Union building with mixed feelings, mostly deep grief for the loss of the trees. The building itself was meh but I was used to it and I fear what will replace it."

Previously on EV Grieve:
51 Astor Place demolition begins July 1; 17 months to build new black-glass tower

East Village — the new Midtown?

Workers chopping down the trees at 51 Astor Place

2 new delis for Avenue C

Well, we've heard from several correspondents — Dave on 7th, Bobby Williams and Matt LES_Miserable — that a new deli is in the works for the empty storefront on the southwest corner of Avenue C at 11th Street...

The last tenant, the Monk Thrift Shop, closed in December 2010. At the time, neighbors heard that a bank branch would open here.

Anyway, nothing in the DOB paperwork suggests any kind of chain, like, say, a 7-Eleven. Of course, there are already two delis on the other side of 11th Street.

Meanwhile, down Avenue C a bit... at 27 Avenue C between Second Street and Third Street... another new deli is opening...

Again, the DOB permits don't show a chain-related store in the works. The DOB shows that the place is going by "Fresno Gourment Deli."

Previously, 27 Avenue C hosted the New York City Poker Tour.

This is what Tompkins Finest Deli will look like

Well, speaking of new delis... The other day, Bobby Williams passed along photos of the new deli coming to Avenue A near 10th Street... the one that is replacing the previous deli here...

Matt LES_Miserable took a look inside...

He notes: "Looks like every other deli that's opened the last few years. Well, at least they were happy and invited me in to look."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ave. A Mini Market abruptly closes

On second thought, Avenue A Mini Market not reopening

Avenue A Mini Market now without part of its front window

Love and a silverware tray

We always enjoy the more Garry Marshall-movie-sounding Missed Connections ...

silverware tray - w4m - 27 (East Village)
hello strange guy - i just walked into a random junk dollar store on 14th st somewhere between 1st and B looking for a silverware drawer tray and the only other person in there was you, and you were looking for the same thing. we both bought one even though the only option was kind of garbage. you were tall and wearing what looked like a motorcycle helmet. i dont know why i'm writing this, i've never used this before - as far as i know the only thing we have in common is that we both use silverware. as good a foundation as any, i guess.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Today in photos of really big tow trucks on St. Mark's Place

Here to tow away the rest of the neighborhood?

Photo by Bobby Williams.

[UPDATED] What it will cost you to dress like Marky Ramone

[RR Auction]

At the City Room blog today, Aidan Gardiner notes that some Ramones paraphernalia, including Marky's leather jacket, is up for grabs in an online auction at RR Auction.

Per the auction site:

Marky’s iconic leather jacket, stage-worn from 1978 to 1983

Marky Ramone’s owned and stage-used jacket. Black leather jacket by Real Leather, New York–London, was used on stage between 1978–1983, features two US pins on the lapels, a single star pin to each shoulder, zip-up cuffs and a buckle at the waist. Jacket is signed on the back in gold ink “Marky Ramone.” In fine condition, with expected wear from stage use. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity ... bearing the printed signature of Marky Ramone.

Current price: $3,146.

An RR rep told Gardiner that the jacket has been "well maintained and bore no scent of stage sweat." And presumably, no scent of pasta sauce.

Meanwhile...

UPDATED:

Caution! The folks at the City Room are now reporting that Marky is calling bullshit on this one. Marky says that the jacket is not his! Read the rest at City Room.

Two weeks (or so) in the demolition of 9 Second Ave.

After demolishing 11-17 Second Ave., workers turned to the removal of 9 (71/2) Second Ave. on Jan. 5.

Bobby Williams and I walked by (almost) every day to keep tabs on the progress... As you know, all was torn down to make way for a 12-story apartment building...

Friday, Jan. 6