[Updated] Structural damage prompts evacuation at East 12th Street school building

The following notice went out this afternoon:

FROM: Notify NYC

Staff/Students of East Side Community School (420 E 12th St) will be relocated to PS 19 (185 1st Ave) 9/25 until further notice.

There isn't any other information at the moment on the school's website or Twitter feed... Currently, the school's entrance is blocked by caution tape... a hard hat at the scene said that they were "still trying to figure out" what happened...

The address is also home to the Girls Prep Lower East Side Middle School. According to DNAinfo, students at Girls Prep were sent to P.S. 188 on East Houston.

More details as they become available...

Updated 7 p.m.:

Here's a message on the East Side Community School website from Principal Mark Federman...

As you may know, earlier today we experienced a structural issue concerning our school building. The building’s East wall (adjacent to the nearby church) was found to be separating from the rest of the structure. Experts from the city’s Department of Buildings and the School Construction Authority are still assessing the situation but we know for certain that extensive review and repairs are required to ensure the building’s safety before we may re-enter it.

For tomorrow (Tuesday), our school is relocating to nearby P.S. 19, located at 185 1st Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets. Students should arrive by 9am (and there will be a parent information session for parents who are able to attend.) High school students will be dismissed at 12:30 pm and middle school students will be dismissed at 3:30pm. Beacon is available tomorrow at P.S. 19 until 6 pm for families who cannot make other arrangements after school.

We will be located off-site on a day-to-day basis, until the building situation has been resolved. Please remember that school is out on Wednesday for the Yom Kippur holiday. For Thursday, our school may have a temporary home for the duration of the repair work. The temporary site will be determined shortly and as soon as I have that information, I will pass it along to all of you as well as hold an information session. The Department of Education will also be holding an informational session with parents and staff to discuss in more detail what happened at our building and the nature of the repairs required to allow our safe return.

DNAinfo noted that the discovery of the structural problems prompted school officials to evacuate the building.

DNAinfo has more on the story here.

Updated 9-25:
The account in the Post adds a little drama.

Some students ... said they felt desks shake just moments before school officials notified them of the structural damage.

Updated 2:45 p.m:

Here's the latest via DNAinfo:
"Beginning Thursday, students at Girls Prep Lower East Middle School will be housed in P.S. 158, located at 1458 York Avenue ... The East Side Community School will move to Norman Thomas High School at 111 E. 33rd Street.

Meanwhile, the DOB issued full vacate orders at the school ... as well as for the Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church next door ... and the adjacent Mary Help of Christians school on East 11th Street.

Both properties had been vacant. The church closed for good after mass on Sept. 9.

Who called the Ramones a 'bumptious band of degenerate no-talents'?

In case that you haven't seen this yet (I first spotted it Friday over at Flaming Pablum, and the item is making the rounds) ... a little afternoon entertainment via a July 1976 issue of UK weekly music newspaper Melody Maker.

The author did not care for The Ramones, saying that the only place for their "notoriously discordant music is the sweaty downtown Manhattan dives to which they are no doubt accustomed."

At author at the time was 17-year-old Steve Morrissey, who would grow up one day to save fainting woman at the Strand. And front the Smiths and enjoy a successful solo career.

[Click to enlarge image]

Per Buzzfeed, you can buy the issue on eBay ... going for $56.89.

Reaching the summit at 21 E. First St.

Workers have reached a ceremonial milestone in the construction of the 12-floor building along the former 9-17 Second Ave. ... officially known as 21 E. First St. now.

They're up to 12 floors. And on Saturday, workers planted the flag atop the building...

A few more views... (the handy arrow points to the 12th floor on the East First Street side ...)

A view from East Houston...

...and on the ground floor, on the plywood, keeping the memory of the Mars Bar alive...

Previously.

Zoltar arrives on St. Mark's Place, sees 'a great deal of happiness' in return for $2

An exciting development to report outside Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place: A Zoltar Machine arrived yesterday! (Like the one in the movie "Big," I think.)

My fortune said something about a Death Star. Weird. I wanted to ask Zoltar if he will last longer here than the Boxer machine did.

Your move, 7-Eleven.

Renovations under way at the Standard East Village

The Standard East Village unveiled major plans to alter parts of its public space earlier this year. (First reported here.)

Among other things, the Standarders plan to close the second-floor bar/terrace to convert it to a guest room (with terrace). Or maybe a gym. The hotel will also expand the lobby and take over half of the current garden space that lines East Fifth Street. There will also be a lobby garden (with soundproofing). And an outdoor cafe along the Cooper Square side.

So some of this work has apparently started...

[Above photos by Bobby Williams on Friday]

What served as the lobby is now closed ... this space will be part of the cafe (if we read the plans correctly)...

Looks like check ins are currently taking place in the area where the bar was to the left of the front entrance.  Eventually the lobby will be accessible via East Fifth Street.

Eater has more on the revamp from a CB3/SLA meeting in May, where hotelier Andre Balazs received approval for the changes:

Balazs wants to move the lobby into the garden space, so that 60 percent of the outdoor space will now be indoors. This is all part of a plan to reorient the ground floor and entrance of the hotel. The bar addition will actually be a small service bar measuring 16 feet by eight feet. There will also be about 18 stools for guests, but this is not going to be a monster lounge.

Reader report: SOS Chefs reopening on Avenue B

There has been some activity of late at 104 Avenue B near East Seventh St., where SOS Chefs closed in June 2011. The high-end specialty shop, which opened in 1996, sold an array of obscure spices, dried fruit and exotic oils that won them a loyal following that reportedly included Momofuku’s David Chang and Prune’s Gabrielle Hamilton.

When the store closed, a sign appeared that read in part: "We are going to take some time to discover new things, and to see what the next steps may be in the evolution of SOS Chefs."

Apparently owner Atef Boulaabi has had time for that discovery... according to an EVG reader who lives on the block, the store will reopen on Oct. 1. No word yet if the store cat will return.

Previously on EV Grieve:
SOS Chefs, high-end supplier to A-list restaurateurs, is closing on Avenue B

EV Grieve Eatery Etc.: Calamari and fries at Ray's; table and chairs at L'Apicio

Ray has unveiled a new item at Ray's Candy Store ... calamari and fries ($6.95)...

... We're in.

[Photos by Shawn Chittle]

Meanwhile, reliable sources say that Ray has also been testing out a fish-n-chips platter... Updated! Ray has unveiled the fish and chips too... with a sign like no other, via Dave on 7th...

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A quickie progress report on L'Apicio, opening on East First Street in the Shoppes at Avalon Bowery Place ... chairs and tables have arrived...

... and a look inside...

According to Eater: "Chef Gabe Thompson, of L'Artusi and Dell'Anima, will create an 'Italian inspired' menu, and Joe Campanale will be in charge of the wine and cocktails."

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Back in December, we noted that Oliva, the Spanish tapas bar with a prime corner at Houston and Allen, was on the market. Here's a look at its replacement...

BoweryBoogie has been following the developments here, noting a few weeks ago that Mezetto "will serve Mediterranean-style tapas and reportedly carry aggressive hours of operation (9am-12am Sun-Th; 9am-2am Fri-Sat)."

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And signage has arrived for the latest dessertery on St. Mark's Place...

As DNAinfo first reported in February, Macaron Parlour is taking over the vacant storefronts at 111 St. Mark's Place, part of the former Chocolate Library. The desserts debuted at the Hester Street Fair in 2010. Fillings include things like candied bacon and maple cream cheese.

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Oops! Dunno how this photo got here from Second Avenue and East 14th Street...

Everyday is like Sunday

I didn't see it myself, but... apparently Morrissey was in the store today and came to the rescue of an elderly woman who fainted.
— Strand Book Store (@strandbookstore) September 23, 2012

The tweet making the rounds tonight...

When the Circus (Amok) came to town

Circus Amok is, according to their website, "a New York City based circus-theater company whose mission is to provide free public art addressing contemporary issues of social justice to the people of New York City."

And they brought their show to Tompkins Square Park this afternoon...

Photos by Bobby Williams. Lady Gaga jokes will not be accepted for the last two photos.

Cracked tree limb closes part of Tompkins Square Park

Ugh. As a precaution. Let's hope that the whole tree doesn't need to come down...

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Week in Grieview

An East Village artist is trying to keep the East River waterfront free of garbage and debris (Tuesday)

East Village down to its last gas station (Thursday)

7-Eleven opening at former Bar on A and Angels & Kings space (Wednesday)

Orchard Alley reopens (Monday)

City OKs plan for Mystery Lot development (Wednesday)

More and more progress at St. Brigid's (Monday)

Rainboots thief (Tuesday)

Union Market update (Monday)

A memorial at 236 E. 13th St. (Tuesday)

2 pizzerias down (Thursday)

Klean & Kleaner "ideal for a bar/restaurant" (Wednesday)

Dangling rat (Monday)

Looking at David Schwimmer's bricks (Tuesday)

The city really wants to evict Jerry Delakas (Monday)

Maybe I'm a star

East 10th Street between Avenue B and C this afternoon. Photo by Shawn Chittle.