Gruppo signage arrives at new Avenue B digs

As you may know, Gruppo is relocating to a new home down Avenue B... to 98 Avenue B between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street (at the former Layaly space) ... Dave on 7th notes the letters are up ...

No definite timeline for an opening date... you can see there's a little work left to do on the inside...

The latest on Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen's closure

On Tuesday, we brought the sad news that Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen at 130 St. Mark's Place was closing this month after nearly 34 years in business...

Donna, a friend of owner Peter Silvestri, just updated the Bakery's Facebook page:

Yesterday the Auctioneer changed the date to Sunday the 30th from the 27th so we have a few more days in the store. Keep the prayers coming and maybe the landlord will have a change of heart. : ). Several people are making good suggestions let’s see what happens.

Saturday the 29th will be the last day Whole Earth Bakery & Kitchen will be open for business. We will close around 6pm Saturday and that will be a good time for a party…come on by! Peter would love to see all his friends and fans any day up to closing really! Sunday the Auctioneer professionals come in to set up and the Auction is at 2pm that afternoon

Volunteers will be very much needed Weds, Thurs and Fri afternoons from 11am to whenever we get it done, hopefully early. Please consider coming by to help Peter get ready for the auction. We need to organize the store and the basement. That would be wonderful and so appreciated!

'For rent' signs arrive at Araman on Avenue B

As noted last month, Amaran is closing on Avenue B at East Seventh Street at the end of the holidays... And today, Dave on 7th noted that a "for rent" sign went up at the store that specializes in imported home goods ...

First discarded Christmas tree of the season

Well! Two weeks before Christmas and ... Wait. What? Shit. Four days before Christmas and we already have a tree that someone has dragged (presumably) to the corner... in this case, First Avenue at East 12th Street...

Perhaps someone decided that they no longer liked the tree... or, more likely, someone will be away during the holidays and didn't want to return to a deader tree in a few weeks. Or there's another logical explanation...

Today, we're 5; TV Grieve exposed

Today marks the five-year anniversary of EV Grieve. 

A couple of you may recall the humble beginnings here, when I was known as TV Grieve — a blog about television. And Tara Reid. Here's an early post...

But it was a crowded marketplace, so I rebranded and...

OK, I made that up.

Anyway, thank you for your support, comments, gripes, tips, photos, Lady Gaga jokes, camaraderie, passion — everything. Thank you.

Doing this every day, seven days a week, often swings from being completely exhilarating to utterly depressing. (And back!) I've thought about slowing down... gently bringing the site all to an end.

Funny, though. Maybe some time passes. And I'm in another part of NYC or out of town ... and I find myself taking pictures of plywood around storefronts and for lease signs on restaurants for absolutely no reason ... I can't really stop. And I really do love living here.

So ... we might be stuck with each other for awhile.

I hope so. I'm not going anywhere. I hope that you're not either.

On second thought, 84 Third Ave. will now be 12 stories instead of 9

Back on Oct. 1, real-estate blogger Andrew Fine rounded up some facts and figures about the under-construction 84 Third Ave., the retail-residential combo coming to the corner of East 12th Street.

The DOB previously OK'd the Karl Fischer-designed 94-unit, 9-story building with 72,000 square feet of residential, 9,500 square feet of commercial and 327 square feet (!) of "community space."

However, as Fine noted, the rendering that has made the rounds is actually 13 stories, a mere four over what the city approved. Plus! Two workers on the site told Fine that the building would be 13 stories.

Turns out the building will reach 12 stories. An EVG commenter yesterday pointed this out. And, sure enough, the DOB OK'd the additional floors, according to paperwork filed Nov. 28...

Here's what this means in square footage...

November 2011...

November 2012...

Per the DOB, the three additional floors will yield 20 more apartments.

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

Former Nevada Smiths down to its last floor; city OKs work for new building

[Image via A Fine Blog]

Reader questions: Is Cafe 81 still open on East Seventh Street?

Over on Seventh Street near First Avenue, Cafe 81 hasn't apparently been open lately, according to a reader who's curious about the space... One Yelper claims that they've been closed since Sandy. They do have a recent history of closing for short periods of time, then reopening.

Anyway, we haven't heard anything ... have you? (We called, and there isn't any answer...)

As you may know, Cafe 81 used to be the lovely and amazing Verchovyna Tavern aka George's Bar aka Bar 81. They closed Jan. 1, 2005. Jeremiah paid tribute to it several years ago...

Previously on EV Grieve:
At Cafe 81, you'd better be quiet or someone will throw a shamwow at you

Vazac's in the early morning

Seventh and B...

Winter Friday Flashback: Any more friendly and I would have thought that I was at the DMV

On Fridays this winter, and probably spring and summer ... we'll post one of the 16,000-plus EVG, uh, posts from yesteryear, like this one from April 17, 2008...

------

So I had a stack of coins that I needed to cash in. Will usually lug them over to the Coinstar machine at the Food Emporium. Easy enough.

Meanwhile, I always walk by the newish Commerce Bank branch on 10th Street and Third Avenue. Made something of a vow to never go into any of the 37 bank branches that have opened in this three-block radius. Still. The bag was heavy. Anyway, Commerce doesn't charge a fee for the coin machine. Plus, I figured I'd save a few blocks of needless exercise. And I was curious about the spiffy new branch.

I was immediately greeted by a Commerce hostess/representative. She took me over to the coin machine. She asked me if I had ever used one before. I said yes. So she showed me how to use the machine anyway, and explained that there was some contest in which I could try to guess the total amount of coins. She went about all this as if she was the prom queen forced by her mother to be nice to the kid with the thick glasses and asthma. (I don't wear glasses or have asthma. But you get the idea.)

After the coin counting had ended (I missed my guess by $25!), I stood in line with my coin receipt to hand to a teller. There were three tellers working. And no line. Each teller had his or her head down, intently working on something. I stood there for a few awkward minutes before I started coughing, clearing my throat, etc., to perhaps alert the tellers that someone was standing there.

Finally a teller motioned me forward. The machine didn't take a Susan B. Anthony $1 coin. I asked the young man if they were still in circulation. (Perhaps this might be worth, say, $1.15 now!) He sighed and said yes. I asked him then if I could please trade it in for a bill. "As you wish," he said. At the end, I said "thank you." He did not.

A paver for Jake in Tompkins Square Park

A worker was putting in a new paver this morning around Temperance Fountain in Tompkins Square Park... As the photo by Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C shows, the tribute is for Brit's dog Jake...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tributes set in stone in Tompkins Square Park

At the New York Healthy Choice grand opening today on Avenue C

This morning, we mentioned that New York Healthy Choice was opening today on Avenue C at East 11th Street.... it's owned by Jose and the folks behind Yankee Deli across the East 11th Street... EVG reader Robert Galinsky stopped by and took these photos...

Noted

Dave on 7th spotted this along Avenue A near East Fourth Street this afternoon...

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[EVG reader Richard L. sends along what he calls "a lucky shot" of the hawk in flight in Tompkins Square Park]

John Holmstrom on Punk (Capital)

Facelift for an East Fourth Street townhouse (The Gog Log)

Dr. Dave helps ex-cons remove their tattoos (Narratively)

First look inside Mighty Quinn's on Second Avenue (Eater)

Can you "Houstanize" Lucky Burger on East Houston? (BoweryBoogie)

Fairway opens tomorrow on Second Avenue in Kips Bay (DNAinfo)

More liquor-license drama for 106 Rivington (The Lo-Down)

You never get used to seeing new IHOP signage (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Reverend Jen's Anti-Slam is back; starts tonight at the Pyramid

Starting tonight, Rev. Jen's Anti-Slam will be holding forth at the Pyramid Club at 101 Avenue from 7-9:30 (followed later by the BritPop/New Wave night).

Here's the official news release:

REVEREND JEN'S ANTI-SLAM IS BACK!
Thursday, December 20, 7-9:30 p.m. (and every Thursday thereafter)
Still only $3

After evil developers bulldozed the Anti-Slam's first home, Collective: Unconscious (where it was held for nine years), things haven't been easy on the little open mic that could. It has moved to a theater that closed, to several different bars, to a hair salon (for 2 nights) and finally to Bowery Poetry Club, which closed this summer for renovations. Now after a five-month hiatus, the Anti-Slam is back and it's staying downtown!

For over 16 years, the Anti-Slam has continually provided audiences with some of the best entertainment the city has to offer. Pros and amateurs alike share the stage, and both are given equal respect and a place to try out new things. Each performer gets 6 minutes of stage time and a perfect "score" of 10. Everything is welcome – comedy, poetry, music, interpretive dance, primal scream therapy, prose, genius and stupidity. It is truly the home of the visionary, downtrodden and tired. As always NYC's only "It Elf" Reverend Jen hosts.

On this occasion, we asked Reverend Jen a few questions ...

On the changing Lower East Side/East Village nightlife dynamic:

"We haven't let gentrification stop us from being a vibrant community. It's been tougher to find venues, but in the past year, we have seen the birth of ASS Studios (Art Star Scene Studios) the most underfunded motion picture studio in history, the Assdance Film Festival and Faceboyz Folliez,which celebrates its one-year anniversary this Saturday at Bar 82.

"The only changes to the latest incarnation of the Anti-Slam are the day of the week it falls on (Thursday instead of Wednesday) and the fact that it's only two-and-a-half hours long instead of 5 or 6. Nothing will ever replace the old Collective (which, by the way, is still an empty lot) but the spirit of mad eccentricity and creativity is still alive. Everyone will still get a 10."

On returning from "retirement":

"Taking a break from the Anti-Slam is a necessity every once in a while. Promoting my book 'Elf Girl' while also making movies, working a day job, writing a screenplay, making paintings and finishing two other books exhausted me.

"Then the Bowery Poetry Club closed and I took it as a sign from the universe. I was planning on continuing the break when someone from Pyramid contacted me so I thought why not. Like post-"Glitter" Mariah Carey, I will likely be hospitalized for exhaustion. But I miss everyone so it'll be worth it."

[Photo via RevJen.com]

Deck the walls!: Santa and his reindeer visit the Mystery Lot

Hey! Look who showed up at the Mystery Lot this holiday season...

Festive, yes?

All together now!

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to the Mystery Lot

Thanks to EVG reader Katja for the photo...

More bike corrals on the way for East Village businesses

CB3 has OK'd bike corrals (CityRacks!) for two East Village businesses — the 4th Street Food Co-op and Continuum Cycles on Avenue B.

These will be similar to the ones that the DOT installed in front of Mudspot on East Ninth Street back in April ...

[Photo via EVG reader Robert]

Jill Woodward wrote this last week at the The 4th Street Food Co-op blog:

We need the parking because so many of our members and shoppers arrive by bike, and it can be difficult to find a parking place near the store.

[Outside the 4th Street Co-op last night, via EVG]

The tradeoff is 1-2 fewer spaces for automobiles in exchange for up to 20 spots for cycles. That calculation can result in more business for the neighborhood, according to a recent report by TA.

We also understand that Mudspot and Bluestockings on Allen Street have the go-ahead to expand their current bike corrals... No timelines on when the DOT will install any of these bike racks ... word is early 2013.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Here's your new East Ninth Street bike rack (18 comments)

Good Guys now open on Second Avenue

Subway-replacement Good Guys opened yesterday on Second Avenue near East Ninth Street, per Blue Glass... they are open 24/7, and feature an extensive number of menu items, like wraps, burgers, salads, etc.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Second Avenue Subway now a Good Guys Burger

Another East Village Subway closes

New York Healthy Choice opens today on Avenue C

Several of us have been curious about what to expect from New York Healthy Choice, the new market opening on Avenue C at East 11th Street. Bobby Williams notes that the store opens this morning at 7.

Per an EVG commenter on last week's Healthy Choice post:

The owner of this is the same person/people who own Yankee Deli and the incoming Yankee Pizza across the street.

I spoke with a couple of people at Yankee Deli a few months ago about it and it is essentially going to be a fancier grocery store for the neighborhood with a — their words — "HUUUGEEE butcher counter". So, yay!, good meat.

Was only a week or so from opening at the time of Sandy, but obviously that timeline had to be changed.

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

EV Grieve's last-minute holiday gift ideas

Spotted in the window at Brickman & Sons on First Avenue...

You know how it is sometimes. You're at the bar with your friends, and everyone seems to be talking at once! You need to cut through the clutter and make your point! Then look no further than the Mega-Sound Megaphone, which will slip easily into one of the three or four bags that you're carrying. It's also good for tracking down your friends who may have stranded you on a quiet side street at 3 a.m.

Perhaps you can think of other uses for it. Regardless, it's $9.99.

* Requires four C batteries

A gift idea for the Mama's Food Shop lover in your life

And now a more serious gift idea... Yesterday we heard from Jeremiah Clancy, the former owner of Mama's Food Shop, which closed after 15 years in July...

We are selling a Mama's commemorative tee for any one that misses the old Shop on East 3rd Street. They are $35 and can be ordered by contacting the Mama's email through Jan. 1. The shirts are unisex and are light gray – they come in XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL.

His friend Alexia Stamatiou designed the shirts.