Budding Second Avenue sinkhole now out of the running as a sinkhole to watch this summer

After our "2 potential sinkholes to watch this summer" listicle from Friday... several readers pointed us to another budding Sinkhole to Watch ... this one on Second Avenue at East Seventh Street, an intersection well-known for famous sinkholes...

As seen yesterday...

Yes, perfect!

But! Today, workers patched up the hole for now...

111 St. Mark's Place is for sale

[Massey Knakal]

There's a new listing for 111 St. Mark's Place, the six-story building pictured here between Avenue A and First Avenue. The asking price: $4.2 million.

Here's the Massey Knakal listing:

The property features 2 commercial units and 10 residential apartments all which are junior 2-bedrooms. Of the 10 residential apartments 2 are RC, 2 are RS and 6 are FM. The average rent regulated rents are renting only at approximately $11/NSF which is a fraction of the market, as the FM units are renting for approximately $45/NSF. All of the FM units have been fully renovated and feature granite countertops and high-end appliances. The property currently generates approximately $280,272 in annual gross revenue and nets approximately $203,394 in annual operating income.

The property benefits from being less then one block away from Tompkins Square Park where residents can enjoy beautiful summer days as well as outdoor festivals and concerts. Prospective purchasers have an opportunity to acquire a well maintained, beautiful brick building located in one of the most desirable residential neighborhoods of Manhattan.

(Per the listing we learn that the two rent-controlled units are $285 and $256, respectively.)

According to public records, the building was previously sold in May 2009 for $1.1 million to a group that included Alistair Economakis.

Meanwhile, the vacant storefronts here will soon be home to the under-construction Macaron Parlour, as DNAinfo first reported back in February.

Per the Macaron Parlour website, the shop will open next month.

Aiko's stencil art on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall

A few photos from last evening of Aiko putting her mark — via stencil and spray paint — on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall... Photos by EVG regular peter radley ...

Claim this land!

You know the empty lot over on East Second Street near Avenue D...?

Anyway, there are now signs on the Second Street side providing information on how you can use this space... Members of 596 Acres recently posted these ... (the Brooklyn-based group of gardeners have identified vacant lots throughout NYC ... they want to help empower local residents to take them over and make the land something useful and green ...)

It's a great opportunity to do something with this space... the surrounding area won't be green for too much longer. Behind this property... the Karl Fischer-designed, 33-unit apartment building is under way where 316-318 E. Third St. used to be... workers demolished the circa-1835 house back in March.

And to the east of this plot... on the corner of Houston and Avenue D ... a big development is in the works... But this particular parcel will remain empty, as I understand it...


Read more about 596 Acres in this Times feature from April.

The Wayland plans to expand on Avenue C

The Wayland opened on Avenue C at East Ninth Street back in January... and now the cocktail bar and music venue plans to expand to the empty space next door that Bite Me Best recently vacated.

Rob Ceraso, one of the owners, confirmed the move.

"The main catalyst for the expansion was to gain a full kitchen. When it was offered to us it was hard to say no," he said in a message via Facebook. "Our food has become more popular than we had originally anticipated. We've grown out of the tiny kitchen we designed behind the bar."

Ceraso said that most of the former pizzeria will be used as a kitchen and prep area. In addition to offering more menu items, they will increase the size of the bar by five-six seats... with another four seats at a table.

He noted that the kitchen will continue to be open during almost all of the bar's business hours. They've been serving food until 2 a.m. on weeknights and 3 a.m. on weekends.

And the general reception so far for The Wayland, which took over the Banjo Jim's space?

"Things have been going well," Ceraso said. "The neighborhood has been really great to us."

The Wayland appears before the CB3/SLA committee next Monday for approval.

The Meatball Factory looks rather closed

EVG reader Tony noted the following this past weekend:

The Meatball Factory/Pop-up Restaurant/The Meatball Factory Plus has not looked very open the past week, with no sign of any movement in other ways, either. Hopefully it is not going to become a 7-11 or IHOP East.

True. The space looked rather deserted when we stopped by. They were not open during their announced hours yesterday. The inside was in some disarray... there were dirty glasses ... empty shelves... scattered tables and chairs...

Perhaps, like several other restaurants (Prune, The Immigrant), The Factory took off last week for vacation. But there's no note... No message on Facebook... No outgoing phone message...

The Meatballers opened here on 14th Street and Second Avenue to some fanfare last October (our dearly departed reviewer liked it!) ... the place had a celebrity chef of sorts, "Top Chef" alum Dave Martin, who left in the spring,

The Factory apparently closed in early May ... quickly becoming a pop-up restaurant by The Hole people called Hole Foods.

It reopened in late May with an expanded menu that featured a little bit of everything. Sake! Sangria! Fajitas! A raw bar!

As you may recall from last July ... a Meatball Factory rep told an EV Grieve reader that the meatballs here "will put the Meatball Shop to shame."

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Renovations for the Meatball Factory

Noted

Spotted at everyone's favorite, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office on East 14th Street... Via Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C, who noted: "Don't bother — there's no pleasing those other doors."

Wine bar aiming to take over former Furry Land Pet Supplies

Furry Land Pet Supplies closed up here on Avenue A near East 12th Street last January... Now, a couple hopes to open a wine bar in this space. The applicants are on the July CB3/SLA docket.

We'll have more information on this later. Meanwhile, the proprietors did meet with neighbors, one of whom noted that, aside from wine, they will serve "light appetizer-type food." No kitchen. With a closing time of 2 a.m.

The CB3/SLA meeting is next Monday at 6:30 p.m. The usual place: JASA/Green Residence, 200 E. Fifth St. at the Bowery.

Inside the new Nevada Smiths, featuring 2 life-size projection screens

So Nevada Smiths closed up on Third Avenue last November... and as we first reported, the soccer/football bar was going to move north one block to 100 Third Ave. (In the meantime, they've been showing matches at Webster Hall.)

Anyway, work continues at the address... and owner Paddy McCarthy gave DNAinfo's Serena Solomon a guided tour of the new space last week... You can read the article here.

A few highlights of the new, $3 million establishment:

The bar will broadcast soccer matches and other sporting events from around the world on 20 plasma televisions scattered throughout the space, as well as a pair of massive projection screens that measure 18 feet by 10 feet.

"It will be the only [television screen] you can see life-sized people on," said McCarthy, boasting that the projection screens are the biggest of any bar in New York City. The screens are so large, in fact, that a crane had to hoist them into the building through a window, with the job requiring an eight-man team.

For McCarthy, the sound system is a huge focus of the new Nevada Smiths because he wants sports fans to hear games crystal clear.

"No matter where you are, there will be speakers everywhere," he said, noting the space will be soundproofed throughout.

McCarthy also said that the space won't be just for sports fans — there'll be a wine bar in the basement.

One last note: McCarthy is renting an apartment directly above the bar.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Those persistent rumors about 74-76 Third Avenue and the future of Nevada Smiths

The East Village will lose a parking lot and gain an apartment building

'Endless Brunch' will live on when the Sunburnt Cow reopens

On Thursday, we passed along the news release stating that The Sunburnt Cow on Avenue C will temporarily close and "not only undergo a physical transformation, but ... also shift focus to more gourmet oriented food and drink as opposed to its current deal-driven status."

Given the end of its "deal-driven status," we assumed that also meant the end of the drunken brunch deal, featuring "all you can drink" uh, drinks... and hordes of woo-wooers weekend afternoons...

Not so!

Per a Sunburnt Cow rep: "The Cow plans to continue the weekend 'Endless Brunch' when it reopens."

Our apologies to the temporarily crestfallen Endless Brunch crowd.

Per the Cow's Facebook page, they will remain open through August ... before the renovations begin.

Week in Grieview

[Avenue A at East 10th Street]

St. Mark's Bookshop looking for smaller home (Monday)

Parishioners hear that Mary Help of Christians has been sold (Friday)

Moving away from 50-58 E. Third St. (Tuesday)

Meet the brothers who bought 50-58 E. Third St. for $23.5 million (Thursday)

The future of the Bowery Poetry Club (Friday)

Jugger-nut! (Monday)

Aiko! (Tuesday)

Sinkholes! (Friday)

The end of the Odessa Cafe and Bar? (Friday)

Temporary sunroof at 154 Second Ave. (Thursday)

A cab rams into the Staples on Broadway (Sunday)

Mourning TomKat's breakup (Monday)

Chico's temporary Kiss mural (Wednesday)

Nicoletta's hilariously small delivery zone (Friday)

'Bernie Williams' is missing [Updated: RETURNED HOME]

Creature and several other readers noted these flyers that they first noticed on Friday night... around the southern stretch of Avenue A and side streets...

...and an earlier version of the flyer...

[Via Creature]

Updated: Per the comments, Bernie has returned home after a short holiday...

Keeping cool in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Bobby Williams.

More on the Cro-Mags stabbing at Webster Hall Friday night

Colin Moynihan at The New York Times has more on the assault that took place Friday night at Webster Hall involving Harley Flanagan and current members of the Cro-Mags.

Per the article:

John Joseph, the band’s lead singer, said that Mr. Flanagan had been at odds with other members of the Cro-Mags since he left the band in 2000 and had not been permitted to rejoin.

“This dude has been a negative thorn in the side of this band forever,” Mr. Joseph said. “I hope he gets what’s coming to him.”

Flanagan was reportedly charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

BoweryBoogie was a witness to the assault... read his reports here.

Having a barrel of fun on East 14th Street

At First Avenue via Crazy Eddie, who notes the "Death Race 2000" vibe... either that or the barrels melted.

Sunset on East 11th Street

Photo by Shawn Chittle.

Today in photos of rats looking out of a sewer grate

Our friends @nyccorners were staking out a sinkhole in Tompkins Square Park today, trying to snap a shot of a huge rat sticking its head out...

But!

Little did they know, the rats were staking them out ... from the sewer grate...

Siggy's Good Food opens tonight on Elizabeth Street

The second outpost of all-organic Brooklyn Heights restaurant Siggy's Good Food opens today at 5 on Elizabeth Street... just a little ways in between Houston and Bleecker. (Siggy's replaces Rice, which closed in the spring, per Eater.)

Per the Siggy's website:

It is our belief that pure, good food plays a vital and significant role in our lives, promoting physical and emotional well-being. "Organic – back to better!" highlights the difference between organic, naturally grown food – full of vital nutrition and lots of life, as opposed to artificial, instant food. We believe in the power of food and its positive effect.

They will serve dinners only for the first week, then open for lunch as well...

Cooling centers

Someone emailed us, suggesting that we mention where people can find cooling centers in the neighborhood. So... To find the cooling center closest to you, call 311 or visit OEM's Cooling Center Locator here.

Here are locations that we found...

Tompkins Square Library
331 E. 10th St

Campos Plaza
611 E. 13th St.

John Paul II Friendship Center
103 E. 7th St.

Hamilton Fish Park Library
415 E. Houston St.

Meltzer Towers SC
94 E. 1st St

Ottendorfer Library
135 Second Ave.

Exclusive: It will be hot today

[8 a.m. on East 14th Street and Second Avenue]

I was thinking of maybe putting together a Hottest Day of the Summer post for tomorrow ... So, if you have some good Hot in the East Village-type photos that you'd like to share, please send them my way via the EV Grieve email.

If not, then I'll just post some stuff from EV Heave.

A lonely job

St. Mark's Place this morning.

Aiko in progress

Aiko got started last night working on the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall ... just a little progress to show... we'll check in later the mural is further along...

This morning under the Steve Jobs tree in Tompkins Square Park

More on the Steve Jobs tree here.

[Updated] Reader reports: Stabbing shuts down Webster Hall

[Via ‏@drunk8gods]

Word is coming in that the NYPD shut down Webster Hall tonight following a fatal stabbing... still working on details. Lots of rumors at the moment. Sick of it All and the Cro-Mags were on the bill as part of the CBGB Festival...

It's still early, but here is what people are putting out on Twitter...

Webster Hall closed down apparently someone got killed in the balcony...

— chuego (@chuego) July 7, 2012

Stabbing at Webster hall cro-mags and sick of it all shut down. #cops

— Mike Marinelli (@mikemarinelli) July 7, 2012

Updated 8:59 p.m.:

Here's more via Horns Up Rocks... who reports that a concertgoer was stabbed in the eye...

Updated 9:01 p.m.:

OK, BoweryBoogie is there... His report:

Harley Flannegan, founding member of the Cro-Mags stumbled into the VIP lounge with a knife. Security mobilized in a hot minute and beat the shit out of him.

Cops quickly appeared and took him away in cuffs. Not before stabbing some dude in the chest (said victim left the scene with a bandage over the wound).

Updated 9:35 p.m.

WABC is reporting that two people were stabbed; wounds not fatal.

Updated 10:41 p.m.

Horns Up Rock reports that Flannegan allegedly stabbed his bassist, Mike “The Gook” Couls ...

Updated 11:40 p.m.

The Post reports that two people were also bitten ... and the paper is referring to it as a "melee."

Developing: Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church has been sold

It looks as if the end is finally here for Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church on East 12th Street near Avenue A.

Rumors of development here have been swirling since 2008, when The Real Deal reported that two-thirds of the playground space along Avenue A had been sold in an all-cash deal for $10.4 million. That deal never materialized.

Some four years later, the Church and adjacent school are still standing. In the past 24 hours, we've heard from multiple people that the church has been sold.

According to one parishioner:

Sadly, this does not seem to be a false alarm. Hearing consistent reports that the church and school property have been sold, but absolutely no info on developer's identity or plans.

The parishioners are still praying for a miracle as they say the rosary every evening at the church. I'm sure they would appreciate community support.

There is still a Spanish-language mass at the church every Sunday morning at 11:30. And there's always still hope...

Meanwhile, this is roughly the area of development that we're talking about... the church, adjacent school and rectory, and playground where vendors set up for the weekend flea markets... (the three buildings on the southwest corner of 12th Street and Avenue A aren't owned by the Archdiocese...)

[Via Off the Grid]

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and other community groups submitted a request to the Landmarks Preservation Commission asking them to landmark the church. The LPC denied the request. (Read about that here.)

The church opened in 1917.

We'll post more information this weekend as it becomes available.

Soundtrack for your Ratstravaganza

The Specials with "Rat Racer" circa 1980.

People are pretty much just mocking Verizon's brown wall now

Well, as EVG Verizon Brown Wall Correspondent evilnyc notes... the freshly planted Verizon Brown Wall along East 13th Street at Second Avenue lasted just about a week... and now, there's even an arrow pointing to the seemingly useless security cameras...

Previously on EV Grieve:
First tag reappears on the Verizon building

Brownout: Verizon building graffiti painted over

Verizon is going to blow the budget on brown paint

The Houston/Bowery Mural Wall is ready for Aiko's art

Workers started painting over the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall last night... As we understand it, Aiko will work on her creation tomorrow... Looking forward, actually, to seeing her creation...

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Can Shooting a Movie in this Heat Make an Actor Sweat?

Oh, just a few photos from the "Can a Song Save Your Life?" shoot going on now outside Vazac's on Seventh Street and Avenue B...

As mentioned earlier, the film is about "a dejected music business executive forms a bond with a young singer-songwriter new to Manhattan." It stars Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Catherine Keener.

Knightley is currently cooling off inside Vazac's with a 24-ounce can of Natty Light. Well, not really.

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Because it has been a few days since we posted anything about the CBGB movie

The Wall Street Journal checks in with a piece on the CBGB biopic, appropriately headlined "The Bowery Went Down to Georgia." (Heh — very bloggy!)

There's a recap of the movie news to date... the reporters also speak with some locals on the Bowery, like the fellow who books musical acts at the John Varvatos boutique. He hadn't heard about the movie. Across the street, a worker at Think Coffee said, "The fact that they're shooting in Georgia is indicative of how this neighborhood is changing. I don't even know where they'd have to shoot the film here to get the same feel."

[Image via Facebook]

Closing sale continues at Magic Fingers, Old Good Things

A few weeks ago, we reported that longtime East Village resident Susan Leelike is closing her shop, Magic Fingers, Old Good Things, at 220 E. 10th St. (Between First Avenue and Second Avenue.)

Susan let us know that she has more inventory than she originally realized in her 20-plus year-old shop, and she will likely stay open through July with the sales on her vintage jewelry and collectibles.

Hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 3-7 p.m.

See more here.