The 'No 7-Eleven' chalk campaign expands its reach; plus, drip art

The No 7-Eleveneers were at it again last night ...



... expanding their protest beyond the construction site at the corner of East 11th Street and Avenue A to the 7-Eleven at St. Mark's Place ...



...where a security guard sought to dissolve the protest with some water, creating the first piece of "No 7-Eleven" drip-art.

Scaffolding still going up at 330 Bowery

On Monday morning, we happened to be on Bowery and Bond when workers started erecting scaffolding at the historic 330 Bowery... late yesterday afternoon, they were still going at it... been awhile since we've seen such intricate scaffolding with so many walkways, ladders, etc. So much of scaffolding seems so homemade around here these days. Not this.







Workers will eventually be repairing portions of the exterior and stuff, per the DOB.

Blackstones taking over Village Scandal space on East Seventh Street

Blackstones, the hair salon at 19 E. Seventh St., is expanding into the neighboring space recently vacated by The Village Scandal.

After a nine-year eviction battle, the landlord took possession of the Village Scandal, the longtime vintage hat shop, at 19 E. Seventh St., on Feb. 4. The shop was cleared out on Feb. 6.

The sign in the hat shop's former window notes a May opening, and "hairdressers wanted."

Previously.

Soon, we will all be writing our rent checks to Jared Kushner

Jared Kushner isn't done yet shopping for buildings in the East Village. The Post reports today that the Kushner Companies, a major residential and commercial landlord, is in contract for two deals with Icon Realty Management's Terrence Lowenberg and Todd Cohen on a $28.8 million portfolio of 55 apartment and five retail properties.

The deal features 325 E. 10th St. ... as well as 329, 331, 333 and 335 E. 9th St.

The recently renovated 325 E. 10th St. was previously part of the Hotel Toshi empire, the short-term apartment rental network in New York City. Last fall, the city OK'd additions to 329-335 E. 9th St.

As previously reported, Kushner bought 17 buildings with 267 apartments and 23 stores for $128 million. Plus! He is also in contract for a $49 million, six-building package from Magnum Real Estate/Meadow Partners.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Jared Kushner paid $49 million for 7 more Ben Shaoul-owned properties in the East Village

Rumors: Is Ben Shaoul selling his East Village properties?

More about Jared Kushner's East Village buying spree

Hotel Toshi takes over 325 E. 10th St.

When Hotel Toshi took over an East Village building

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Jacquelyn Gallo
Occupation: Public Relations, Curator, Bartender
Location: Avenue A between 6th and 7th
Time: 8:15 on Friday, Feb. 17

I’ve been in New York for 10 years. I still fall in love with this city every single day. I’m from satanic, KKK, crazy-town Florida and every single day I see stuff here that I’ve never seen before.

I’m from Fort Myers, which is a big town now, but there was nothing to do, so I started listening to music. Escapism is very important when you’re young and that was how I got into music. I wasn’t a drug person and I wasn’t into that type of escape. I did what I could there. I ran a record shop for four years and held club nights and brought bands to town. I brought Iggy Pop and Flogging Molly and a bunch of cool groups.

I had wanted to move to the city since I was eight. I studied writing at the New School, which I loved and I’m probably going back next year. I worked in the photo industry as a post-production producer. I was also doing casting, production, and I did a lot of photo production for Barney’s and Sephora.

Then, about a year and a half ago, I joined this very strange, theatrical punk rock band called Jugger-nut. The band is 12 members. We have every caricature. There are five main dancers and some extras that come. I’m a dancer/performer and I do a nunchuck routine. We’re playing in the Mr. Lower East Side contest [tomorrow night] at Cake Shop. It’s Rev Jen. She has this annual male pageant where the men have to compete against each other. There’s talent and swimsuit. It’s hilarious and a really big honor to play there.

Something about joining the band. I was like, “I can’t live these two lives anymore.” Working in fashion and judging girls by how expensive they looked didn’t sit well with me. So I just started doing public relations and not taking the other jobs. I also wanted to get more involved in art curating, so I started doing shows. I prefer to use interesting spaces instead of traditional galleries to hold shows. The last show I co-curated was called CREEPERS!.

About six months ago, I was combing the streets of the Lower East Side and East Village looking for a cool place with a sense of humor and I thought of the Pyramid Club. I’ve been working here ever since. A very nice family runs it and we immediately had a good relationship. They asked if I wanted to bartend as well.

The Pyramid is an institution and a new forum now. RuPaul started here; Red Hot Chili Peppers played here; Nirvana played here. This place has such a great history. People still come in here and are like, “I haven’t been here in 25 years.” They tell these amazing stories and I’m like, well, guess what happened last week?

It’s still here, it just needs the young people to re-awaken it. It’s important to have a space where this stuff can happen. This space brings in a lot of interesting people from all over. We’re trying to do something very different. We have a monthly black light fantasy dance dance party called Last Unicorn down in the basement. We book two performers a month and we also try to get people who don’t normally perform to do something interesting.

I remember when I first moved here and everybody was like, “The East Village has changed so much.” It’s the normal gripe, which I understand, but am not a supporter of. Come in and do something here. We have an open forum. That’s the thing — it’s the people. There’s no building that’s haunted by the ghost of coolness. Yes, Mars Bar was great. I loved it and went almost every day. Amy who worked there now works across the street [at Sidewalk]. Plenty of the Mars Bar people go there. I mean, it’s not the same thing, you can’t get naked and light stuff on fire, unfortunately, but if you like that then create another space. Things change all of the time ... you can’t just kill the energy. You just have to keep blowing on the embers and eventually the fire will start again.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

The Mystery Lot developers using famous dead comedians to sell condos at The Jefferson

As you know, the Mystery Lot, the long-empty weed-filled lot off East 14th Street near Third Avenue, will soon be home to an eight-story, 83-unit luxury condo building.

For years, the land here was home to the Jefferson Theatre, which opened in 1913 as a B.F. Keith's vaudeville theater. The Cinema Treasures crew believe the Jefferson was in operation until 1977, when it ended its run as an XXX theater showing fare billed as "the adult film bonanza" for $1.99. The abandoned theater was demolished in 2000, and The Mystery Lot was born.

[Undated photo via]

Last night, a reader passed along a poster on the plywood outside the construction site, which shows how the new residences are being marketed.


Yes, you, too, "can live on a site once inhabited by W.C. Fields, Mae West, the Marx Brothers, Burns & Allen, Milton Berle and Jack Benny!"

This pitch will likely appeal to my grandmother, though can't say the same for your average condo buyer looking for private rooftop cabana terraces, a feature of six of the deluxe spaces.

There's also a teaser site now where you can register for information on "21st Century living in the heart of Olde New York."



Per previously released materials, shared building amenities include a library, fitness center, residents and business lounges, and a rooftop terrace with an outdoor kitchen. Perhaps there will even be Marx Brothers Film Festivals on the roof.

Find more on the old building's history at Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.

Previously on EV Grieve:
City approves new building for Mystery Lot

The Mystery Lot likely facing a luxurious end

The last days of the Mystery Lot

Before it was the Mystery Lot

More marketing and branding for The Jefferson

Aside from playing up the historic elements of the land here off East 14th Street near Third Avenue... where the Jefferson Theatre once stood...



The incoming Jefferson condo features an array of marketing messages... like that you can "live funky but chic" ...



...that the neighborhood is a "cultural magnet for artists, actors, musicians, writers and entrepreneurs" ...



...that the East Village is "America's original bohemian enclave... the birthplace of cool" ...



All something to remember while using the technogym equipment and roof-top BBQ ...



What do you think of this marketing campaign?

Notorious 'Rat Castle' being pitched as 'Swank' on Ludlow Street

The future of Ludlow Street has been a popular topic in recent times, with the loss of the Pink Pony and the impending Closure of Motor City Bar... not to mention an uncertain future for The Hat and Les Enfants Terribles...

As for future development, there's the longtime eyesore at 179 Ludlow adjacent to Katz's... a stalled development dubbed "the Rat Castle." (Among the notable points in this unfinished building's history: Madonna's reps reportedly checked out the retail space in 2007 to open a Kabbalah Center.)

Fast forward a few years: In November 2011, CB3 OK'd plans for the developer to complete the residences and retail portion.

Now an EVG tipster points us to a listing for the retail space at Newmark Knight Frank ...



The rendering shows the space being used as some type of boutique called ... Swank. Ha.



For further reading on 179 Ludlow... visit BoweryBoogie ... Curbed ... and The Lo-Down ...

Here's your Joe's Pizza signage on East 14th Street

Well, Joe's Pizza is opening a second NYC location at the former Naked Pizza space on East 14th Street near Third Avenue... Gone is that food-court looking Naked Pizza ...

Here's what New York has to say about Joe's, 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.

Perhaps this will bring back some dignity to these $1 slice times ...

Plans for fish and meat market, restaurant at 125 First Avenue on hold for now

After reading our post Friday about the future of 100 Avenue A, a few people asked us what was going on with 125 First Ave. between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. Previously, the space had been home to a hookah bar and before that Prana, the health food shop.

As you may recall, there were plans in January 2012 to open a fish/meat market-restaurant concept here. (Read our post on it here.) CB3 later OK'd a liquor license for the applicants, a group that included Ray LeMoine, an owner of the late Bowery Beef inside the Bowery Poetry Club.

Nothing much has happened to the space the past year, save the arrival of more stickers and graffiti. We asked LeMoine for an update.

"A piece of the financing fell apart but we'd still like to do the project," LeMoine said, adding that he has been focusing his attention of late on Heathers, the bar on East 13th Street that he and his partners took over last summer.

He also said that they would likely try something aside from the seafood concept. Recent seafood arrivals include Lobster Joint and Bait & Hook, among others ... not to mention Union Market...

Maybe we'll revive those Starbucks-for-this-space rumors from 2010!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Fish and meat market, restaurant in the works for First Avenue

Croxley Ales extension now open on Avenue B

As we first reported last July, Croxley Ales, the beer-wings-and-sports bar, was planning to expand into the space next door on Avenue B.

The extension opened last night. And aside from additional seating in the form of booths, the space has 13 flat-screen TVs.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Croxley Ales looking to expand on Avenue B

This East Village penthouse comes complete with its own private swimming pool (and lawn)

So here is what a monthly $13,500 rent could get you these days in the East Village... let's head on over to the penthouse at 79 East Second St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. First, the listing via Town Residential:

RARE FIND...SIMPLY STUNNING 2 Bedroom/2.5 Bathroom LOFT w/ JAW-DROPPING VIEWS!

* Unique 1600sf Penthouse - Fully FURNISHED
* Furnishings are brand new from RESTORATION HARDWARE
* 1400sf Private rooftop w/ DECK and LAWN! Yes a lawn!
* Private 14'X8' resistance POOL, 4 feet deep, Yes a pool!
* South and North full city views
* N/S/E/W Exposures
* Floor to Ceiling Windows
* Wood Burning Fireplace
* Air Conditioning
* 2 Equal size Queen bedrooms w/ en-suite bathrooms

Let's head to the pool!



Now let's go to the lawn...



And to the dining room...



Been trying to picture this place... hard to see from the street, of course... to the Google Stalker Map, enhanced by the Grievestrator...



Thoughts on this home?

[Photos via Town Residential]

H/T Shawn Chittle

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Avenue A and St. Mark's Place via Bobby Williams]

More on the Housing Authority's plan to use public housing space for new developments: "The reality is that the financing model for public housing in America is broken. The trend is toward permanent deficit." (The New York Times)

The Living Room receives an extension (BoweryBoogie)

The "inverted ship’s hull" inside St. Brigid's on Avenue B (Ephemeral New York)

Photos and video of Sunday's Hawk-Pigeon match in Tompkins Square Park (The Gog Log)

Celebrating Clayton Patterson's "Jews: A People's History of the Lower East Side" (The Lo-Down)

At Boulton & Watt: "The vibe is sort of steampunk minus the punk — call it steamprep?" (Gothamist)

Conversation from an Upper West Side diner (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth on their 13 all-time favorite records (The Quietus)

RIP Mark Kamins, the DJ and producer who discovered Madonna (BlackBook)

... and he produced her 1982 song "Everybody."

Noted

Today, the Post reports that "The vending machine of the future is coming to your local bar, funded in part by one of the city’s grants for startup companies." The machines will offer products tailored to its location.

So with that in mind. The wall-mounted machine, with its credit card-only payment system, made its NYC premiere yesterday at the neighborhood's Pub-Crawling Capital — the Village Pourhouse on Third Avenue at East 11th Street.

Per the Post:

At its debut location, the machine is the perfect one-stop-shop for guys looking to get lucky. It sells minty gum and mouthwash and will soon feature condoms and Old Spice cologne.

“People are here a lot of times to meet new people of the opposite sex. It’s important to have fresh breath and smell great,” said Brian Shimmerlik, the mastermind behind the machine.

Materials arrive for new 6-story apartment building on East Third Street

On Saturday, EVG regular Steven Matthews noted the arrival of some materials at 321 E. Third St. near Avenue D, one of those empty lots that we've been monitoring.

The space, long the subject of a tug-of-war between various factions, was officially sold last June to the vague 321 E. Third Street Realty LLC. And now we know what the plans are too: a 6-story, 30-unit apartment building. Permits were filed in December... and on Jan. 14, the city disapproved the first round of plans. Gerald J. Caliendo is listed at the architect of record. (No sign of renderings. We'd love to see them via email ...)

This is now the booming part of the neighborhood... Directly across the street at 316-318, a Karl Fischer-designed, 33-unit apartment building is in the works. And the 12-story Alphabet Plaza is going up on Avenue D at East Second Street/East Houston.

Who knows when and where it will end...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Another parcel of East Village land ready for development

Q-and-A with Penny Pollak, the fire-breathing East Village actress and writer

[Bobby Williams]

Last Wednesday, we posted photos that peter radley and Bobby Williams took of a woman breathing fire in Tompkins Square Park... turns out that this was Penny Pollak, the East Village-based (occasional fire-breathing) actress and writer who also hosts Penny's Open Mic Tuesday nights at Under St. Mark’s Theater.

We thought that this would be an opportune time to talk with Pollak, who also recently started a travelogue performance blog of sorts, about fire breathing. And other things.

How long have you been breathing fire (if that is the correct term for it)?
About 7 or 8 years ago a friend of mine mentioned he needed another firebreather to do gigs with, and having never even seen someone breathe fire, I obviously volunteered. He taught me how to do it and all of a sudden I’m hurling flames outside of dungeons-and-dragons events in rural Pennsylvania.

What were you rehearsing for this particularly afternoon?

I got a call from a casting director for a WWF commercial that morning asking me if I can actually breathe fire or is just on my resumé. I told him I could send him a video audition by that evening, so I grabbed some kerosene and a lighter then hit Tompkins Square Park. It’s been several years since I’ve done it but turns out it’s just like riding a bike… except with fire.

Several people sent me photos of the fire breathing that day in the Park. Did you feel as if you were receiving a lot of attention?

It’s funny, I didn’t really notice. But that’s the thing about the East Village — nothing seems out of place. A girl breathing fire in the Park is just another Tuesday in the neighborhood. Also I was just really concentrating on getting the biggest flames I could on film without setting my hair on fire. But now that I think about it, I should have put on a hat.

What is the secret to successful fire breathing?

Don’t set yourself on fire.

Penny’s Open Mic is now in its sixth year at Under St. Mark’s Theater. How have you seen this evening continue to evolve?

The great thing about the show is that it’s constantly evolving. Tons of new performers every week and really talented regulars are always there to grace the stage. It’s a wonderful mix of a little bit of everything. Being in a theater I think inspires people to be more theatrical and take bigger risks with their art. I love that every show I never know what to expect which keeps me on my toes and having fun.

Alphabet Plaza is rising on East Houston and Avenue D

Crews arrived in late October to start work on the lot at East Houston and East Second Street/Avenue D.

In October, the city OK'd plans to erect an 12-story mixed-used apartment building for this space. According to the DOB, the building will be 108,953 total square feet, with 9,640 set aside for retail.

Per documents, Jerry Kahen of Alphabet Plaza LLC is listed as the managing partner. Avinash K. Malhotra Architects is the architect of record. The firm's projects include the W Downtown and 2 Gold Street. (And we're still waiting to see the renderings. Have you seen them? Let us know via email!)

As the "What's Going on Here?" sign shows, the projected is expected to be completed by July 1, 2014.

The project is well on its way, as these photos from EVG Facebook friend Edward Arrocha ...











We'll leave you with a sentiment from Curbed's mention of this project last November: "Given Avenue D's proximity to the East River, hopefully Malhotra and team will make Alphabet Plaza better protected against flooding than 2 Gold."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will Avenue D finally turn into Avenue C?

Listing appears for Houston and Avenue D development

Report: 12th-story 'Alphabet Plaza' in the works for Second Street and Avenue D

Alphabet Plaza ready to rise on Avenue D

Sidewalk Café celebrates 20 years of live music; Antifolk Festival starts tonight

[EVG file photo via Bobby Williams]

From the EV Grieve inbox...

MANHATTAN LANDMARK TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF LIVE MUSIC
Winter Antifolk Festival to Launch Sidewalk Café’s Year Long Calendar of Festivities

To mark 20 years of live music at Manhattan’s Sidewalk Café, the East Village landmark will present Sidewalk LIVE, 20th Anniversary, a year-long celebration of special initiatives ... Sidewalk will kick off the festivities with the Winter 2013 edition of the bi-annual Antifolk Festival, Feb. 19 to 28.

Sidewalk LIVE, 20th Anniversary will include a series of panel discussions by Sidewalk artists, record releases, an online photographic retrospective, anniversary oriented food and beverage offerings, the introduction of new musical programming, performances by notable Sidewalk alumni and the Summer Antifolk Festival.

The ten-day Winter Antifolk Festival launch of Sidewalk LIVE will feature some 80 artists (schedule follows) representing the entire span of Sidewalk’s remarkable music timeline, including those whose careers were launched there, singer-songwriters such as: Jeffrey Lewis (performing with legendary musician Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders and the Fugs): Jason Trachtenburg; and Seth Faergolzia of Dufus (performing with John Ludington).

The Winter Antifolk Festival will take place Feb. 19 – 28 with more than 80 free evening concerts over the ten-day period at SideWalk Café, 94 Avenue A (at 6th).

For more information and schedule details of the Winter Antifolk Festival and Sidewalk LIVE, go here. You can watch a live stream of each night's show here.

Come live in John Leguizamo's former home here on 'Artists Row'

A new listing appeared Friday on Streeteasy for a home at 268 E. Seventh St. between Avenue C and Avenue D ... Price: $3.9 million.

Curbed pointed out that John Leguizamo lived here at one point ... take a look...









Leguizamo watchers on the block figure that the actor moved away here about 10-11 years ago... the listing notes that this was a single-family home now split up into three residences — "perfect for a single user or investor."

The Sotheby's listing also notes that the "townhouse sits on 'Artists Row' in the vibrant East Village Community."



Artists Row? (Sure, Kiki Smith lives on this block, but...)

We couldn't find anyone whoever heard of this block being called Artists Row.

"That's the first I've ever heard of this term as well," said Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. "Certainly I've known of people in the arts who have lived in houses in this row over the years, but the term may be a relatively new broker creation."