Today outside 100 Avenue A

Previously. Photo by Bobby Williams.

[Updated] Madman Espresso now open on East 14th Street

On Monday, EVG reader Tony told us that an espresso bar is ready to open at 319 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... in space that previously housed a Verizon store.

Tony follows up, noting that Madman Espresso has opened...

Looks like a nice space. Please let us know if you try it.

Updated Jan. 6

Here's a photo of the cafe with its sign...

Noted

Spotted on Third Avenue...

Hey Upper West Side – Eat It!

More rats my ass...

Dining on rat this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... photos by Bobby Williams...

Altered Images

Because we just don't play enough Canadian synth-pop around here... Images In Vogue with "In The House" circa 1986. Kudos to Robert Smith's hairdresser, who must have been doing a lot of freelance...

See a little of the 1970s-1980s East Village tonight on Turner Classic Movies

Thanks to EVG Facebook friend Steven for pointing out the late-night (early-morning) schedule at Turner Classic Movies...

The cable channel is showing two films from No Wave cinema pioneer Amos Poe... "The Foreigner" from 1978 at 2 a.m. and "Alphabet City" from 1984 at 3:45 a.m. ... both filmed in and around these parts.

Alex wrote about "The Foreigner" a few years back at Flaming Pablum.

Here's a scene featuring Debbie Harry...



Then there's a Hollywoodized "Alphabet City."

Here's the plot cut-and-pasted from Wikipedia:

The film takes place entirely in one evening, with the time being indicated chronologically on the clock in Johnny's Trans Am. Early in the evening Johnny meets with his friend Lippy, an eccentric cocaine dealer played by Michael Winslow. They discuss the planned burning of an apartment building, called for by the mob. As their discussion progresses, it becomes clear that it is Johnny who must carry out the burning of the building before the night is over, and moreover, his mother and sister live in the targeted building. This request from the Mob pushes Johnny to plan a split from the Mob, which proves difficult...

Hmm. Did I mention that lead Vincent Spano wears studded ankle bracelets?

I wrote this about it five years ago:

I wanted to like the movie more than I did. It's definitely worth watching for many reasons, such as seeing a hammy Jami Gertz play a high-priced teen hooker.

And here's the trailer ...



And you should also quickly realize if you are watching the correct movie called "The Foreigner."

East Side students to return to repaired East Village school in 2 weeks

[From November, via Bobby Williams]

As you'll recall, students and faculty had to evacuate East Side Community School and Girls Prep Charter on East 12th Street back in September when a maintenance worker found part of the eastern wall separating from the rest of the structure.

In the last few months, workers have busy rebuilding the damaged wall. One estimate via NY1 put the students back in the building in late February.

However, East Side Principal Mark Federman just tweeted the following...

January 18 is our last day at NT and PS 1.Back at East Side in 2 weeks #fb

— Mark Federman (@MarkEastSide) January 4, 2013

So this likely puts the return date at Jan. 21 for the students who have attending other area schools ... more details as they become available...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Schools making it work while repairs continue at 420 E. 12th St.

Rodent revelations: The Upper West Side has twice as many rats as we do

[Tompkins Square Park last fall, via Bobby Williams]

City stats released yesterday show that the Upper West Side (the 10024 and 10025 zip codes) have lodged more than 1,183 "rodent complaints" with 311 in the last two years, according to the Post.

As reported: "The UWS had nearly twice many reports as the Lower East Side and the East Village, which phoned-in 688 complaints in the same period."

Are we going to just sit here and take this from those wusses? Now get out there and leave even more half-eaten containers of food and slices of pizza on the sidewalks and in Tompkins Square Park!

On a serious note, Gothamist has a cool interactive map showing the number of complaints in the five boroughs by zip code. Find that here.

Construction site at 185 Avenue B remains shut down for now

Back in November, we pointed out the pounding noise coming from the construction site at 185-193 Avenue B... where workers are putting in the foundation for the new apartment complex at East 12th Street.

Per a resident adjacent to the space:

That construction at Ave B and 12th has become the bane of the neighborhood. The vibrations and shaking from it are endangering the old buildings nearby. The noise is unbearable. Why isn't there an uproar in protest from the local residents and merchants? Has the EV become a neighborhood of sheep?

According to one complaint to the DOB:

"Pile driving is shaking old buildings nearby; this new construction is set up to do a lot more of this; it is unnecessary and inappropriate construction technique for this old neighborhood."

Apparently the DOB finally took notice, issuing a Full Stop Order on Dec. 18 ... the site remains shut down several weeks later. A DOB inspector found a "vertical crack between buildings 181/183 Avenue B" directly next door to the site, per DOB paperwork.

In addition, the inspector didn't notice "a flagman" when deliveries were being made at the site ... this is especially troublesome given its proximity to the school next door.

The Specific Violation Condition(s) and Remedy via the DOB website:
FAILURE TO SAFEGUARD ALL PERSONS AND PROPERTY AFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS.

There's a hearing on the matter scheduled for Feb. 7. Meanwhile, some neighbors are enjoying the construction-free days. "That was like Christmas coming early," said one resident of the Stop Work Order.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Inside the Charles

Former landmark countercultural theater now for rent on Avenue B

7-story building in the works to replace former countercultural theater/church on Avenue B

Bargain Express has closed on East 14th Street

The months-long closing sale at Bargain Express has come to an end on East 14th Street. Ace photographer East Village Hawkeye was on the scene yesterday as the store, which lost its lease, closed for good here between Avenue A and Avenue B...

... and later...

And what's next? A still-unspecified new development that will eat up much of the block. As we previously reported, eight parcels consisting of 222 Avenue A and 504 - 530 E. 14th St. (not including No. 520) were leased for a 99-year period by the respective owner of East Village 14 LLC.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Conspiracies: What next for 14th Street and Avenue A?

Those ongoing rumors about the future of East 14th Street between Avenue A and B

Petland is moving away from East 14th Street, fueling more new development rumors

This winter at the Tompkins Square Greenmarket

From the EV Grieve inbox...

[Dec. 23 via the EVG Twitter account]

Tompkins Square Greenmarket is open year round with a great winter farm lineup. Note that we have a special addition for the winter: W. Rogowski Farm will be filling in for Norwich Meadows Farm while they are out over the winter.

Tompkins Square Greenmarket
Avenue A & East 7th Stret
Sunday 9am – 5pm year round

• Baker's Bounty Breads and pastries from Union County, NJ
• DiPaola Turkeys Turkey and turkey sausage from Mercer County, NJ
• Meredith's Bakery Baked goods from Ulster County, NY
• Pura Vida Fisheries Wild-caught fish and seafood from Suffolk County, NY
• Red Jacket Orchards Orchard and small fruit, juices and preserves from Ontario County, NY
• Ronnybrook Farm Dairy Milk, yogurt, butter, and ice cream from Dutchess County, NY
• W. Rogowski Farm certified Naturally Grown vegetables from Orange County, New York
• Stannard Farms Vegetables, orchard fruit, plants and meat from Washington County, NY

EBT accepted 9am – 4pm
WICx2: Double your WIC Fruit & Vegetable Checks at the Market Info Tent
Compost Collection & Textile Recycling 8am – 1pm

[UPDATED] Mamoun's remains closed on St. Mark's Place, thanks to Con Ed

Just after Dec. 25, we noticed that Mamoun's was closed on St. Mark's Place... we didn't think much of it... maybe they were taking time off when so many people were away, or something ... Well, one week later, the place is still closed. And there's a sign on the door with an explanation...

Here's basically the same message via Mamoun's Facebook page:

Con Edison shut off our gas at the Saint Marks location because of a gas leak at the building. Our line was not affected but they shut it off anyway. We cannot get con edison to come back and turn it back on because of their huge bureaucracy! We have been trying since Friday. Any suggestions people? Does anyone out there know anyone at Con Edison that could help us out?

Earlier in the fall, East Village Thai on East Seventh Street had to close because of a gas problem in the building. They didn't reopen for two months.

Updated Jan. 5.
Back open!

@evgrieve happy to report Mamoun's on St. Mark's is back open. Couldn't resist so of course I had falafel for breakfast.

— joshappelbaum (@joshappelbaum) January 5, 2013

From Naked Pizza to Joe's Pizza on East 14th Street

In recent months, we've noted for some reason that Naked Pizza on East 14th Street near Third Avenue has been closed ... turns out that's a permanent closure, though with a promise of a new location.

Meanwhile, The Daily Meal reports that the second location of Joe's Pizza will be taking over this space.

Here's what New York has to say about the Carmine Street pizzeria that has been around since 1975:

It's the epitome of what a slice is supposed to taste like: thin-crusted, with the proper balance of bold sauce and cheese that tastes like cheese, not rubber. Joe's also bakes Sicilian slices and pies, but he doesn't do fancy pie concoctions, heroes, garlic knots, or other diversions.

H/T Grub Street

Exclusive first look inside the new TD Bank coming to the former Mars Bar space

As you likely heard, the Post reported this week that a 4,300-square-foot TB Bank branch is opening in the former Mars Bar space. Now, a TB insider tells us that the branch will be modeled after the actual Mars Bar... with some former patrons working as tellers...

Here's an exclusive, hush-hush look at a training session at the branch one recent evening...

[Photo by Slum Goddess]

Oh, please don't boo! I'm very sensitive!