Ah! @BennyPack reports that a Citi Bikes docking station was there waiting this morning on the southeast corner of Avenue C and Second Street. Anyone else wake up to a docking station in front of their building or street?
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Citi Bike docking station magically arrives overnight on E. 2nd. St.
Ah! @BennyPack reports that a Citi Bikes docking station was there waiting this morning on the southeast corner of Avenue C and Second Street. Anyone else wake up to a docking station in front of their building or street?
Noted
EVG reader Galwegian notes that someone is not impressed with one of those dumb surveys that you've been seeing around the last month or so ... this one on Avenue B near East Second Street...
Papaya Dog back open
Meant to note that Papaya Dog on First Avenue and East 14th Street is back open after a brief bout with the DOH earlier this week. Violations included "Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations," among other things you may not want to know about.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Tonight in Tompkins Square Park
Filming the HBO series "The Newsroom."
Jeff?! Jeff! I love Jeff Daniels! Jeeeffffff! I love you! Shit, I lost my phone. I gotta pee. Oh shit...
Workers spotted clearing out East Sixth Street synagogue awaiting condofication
Last we heard, there were still plans afoot to convert the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 E. Sixth St. into condos. The historic building in the new landmark district is in bad shape and the congregation has apparently dwindled.
Last month, CB3's Landmarks Subcommittee heard a proposal about the renovations, which include a penthouse addition and an elevator. Synagogue leaders reportedly signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million.
The committee tabled the discussion for another meeting, as DNAinfo's Serena Solomon reported. (The proposal was set to go before the Landmarks Preservation Commission on April 9. We never heard what transpired at that meeting.)
There still aren't any permits on file with the city related to the latest project. Meanwhile, several readers have noted activity here between First Avenue and Avenue A... this afternoon, EVG reader Stephanie spotted workers removing items from the synagogue...
Yesterday, a resident complained to the city that: "ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION RENOVATION BEING PERFORMED WITHOUT VALID PERMIT."
According to the DOB, when an inspector arrived for a second visit, "ACCESS DENIED BY MALE AT GROUND LEVEL ENTRANCE DOOR."
Previously on EV Grieve:
Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue
Last month, CB3's Landmarks Subcommittee heard a proposal about the renovations, which include a penthouse addition and an elevator. Synagogue leaders reportedly signed a 99-year lease with East River Partners worth some $1.2 million.
The committee tabled the discussion for another meeting, as DNAinfo's Serena Solomon reported. (The proposal was set to go before the Landmarks Preservation Commission on April 9. We never heard what transpired at that meeting.)
There still aren't any permits on file with the city related to the latest project. Meanwhile, several readers have noted activity here between First Avenue and Avenue A... this afternoon, EVG reader Stephanie spotted workers removing items from the synagogue...
Yesterday, a resident complained to the city that: "ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION RENOVATION BEING PERFORMED WITHOUT VALID PERMIT."
According to the DOB, when an inspector arrived for a second visit, "ACCESS DENIED BY MALE AT GROUND LEVEL ENTRANCE DOOR."
Previously on EV Grieve:
Play spot the potential penthouse atop the East Village synagogue
More details on plans for the former P.S. 64
[Bobby Williams]
As the photo from yesterday shows, workers continue to clear out the former P.S. 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center. Per the building permit on file with the city: "INTERIOR DEMOLITION OF NON LOAD BEARING PARTITIONS."
As you know, there are plans on file to convert the building into a 500-bed dorm called University House on East Ninth Street just east of Avenue B. Earlier in the month, developer Gregg Singer said that he already had a 15-year agreement for 200 of the beds with Cooper Union, as The Wall Street Journal first reported.
And Singer sat down with The Villager for a lengthy feature in this week's issue.
A few highlights of what Singer says will be a state-of-the-art facility:
The basement — formerly home to a 400-seat auditorium where F.D.R. once riled the masses, and where the Fringe Festival was staged — would now house a bike room, fitness center, TV lounge and game rooms outfitted with pool, ping-pong and foosball tables, along with Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
And how about the idea of bringing 500-students into a residential neighborhood?
“Manhattan has almost 2 million people. These kids are already coming to the East Village,” [Singer] said.
“They are putting three to four students in studios around here,” he noted. “This is a safe and managed environment. Isn’t that better than cramming them in all these brownstones?”
And!
“Unused as an elementary school since 1977, the century-old structure sat empty for the past 11 years,” reads an April 18 press release on the University House dorm. “The building occupies much of the city block, where its vacancy has inhibited local development and the growth of small businesses in the neighborhood.”
Councilmember Rosie Mendez is not pleased with the developments here.
Mendez said she met with Cooper President Bharucha to voice her displeasure.
“I told him I’m not happy with this dorm plan, the community is not happy,” she said. “There will be protests, and I will be joining in when that happens.”
Read the whole article here.
Meanwhile, as we noted Tuesday, the East Village Community Coalition started a petition campaign that reads:
COMMUNITY USE - NOT DORMITORY
Respect our community. Respect this community treasure: Old P.S. 64 located at 605 East 9th Street.
Old P.S. 64, a designated New York City landmark, has a long and valued history serving our community. This building could easily serve our community again. Dormitory use of this building does not serve our community. Cooper Union should not house students in old P.S. 64.
We ask that old P.S. 64 be returned to use for our community.
Find the petition here.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Will old PS 64 get a theater for nonprofit groups?
Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood
Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market
2 new sidewalk bridges arrive as city disapproves latest plan for P.S. 64
Former Lucky Cheng's honky tonked; let's graze the menu!
Workers continue to transform the former Lucky Cheng's on First Avenue into Pride and Joy BBQ...
Meanwhile, MenuPages posted their menu, which includes "snacks & big bites" and "Grazin'" sections...
[Click image to enlarge]
There is a Guy Fieri vibe here with items like Myron's "Cupcake" chicken ... Bowl 'O Burnt Ends ... Pulled Pork Egg Rolls...deep fried 'smores brownie... you can wash it all down with a Big Texan or Mountain Cooler. Welcome to East Flavor Town!
Remembering Bobby 'Books' Brooks
EVG Facebook friend Roy Lee shared this photo from the mid-1990s of Bobby 'Books' Brooks, proprietor of Reborn 14, the ramshackle used bookstore that once lived at 238 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
"His store was a mess. I offered more than once to come in and help him straighten it up but he said he knew where everything was," said Roy, who recalled Bobby as part of a late-night group of old-timers who drank at O'Hanlon's.
The store was open from roughly 1987 to the late 1990s. Here's a review of it via The ARChive of Contemporary Music:
Reborn 14
Now this is a real junk shop. Books and vinyl smelling of fresh cat pee. Albums as marked inside the covers and singles at $2 reflect pricing while intoxicated. They actually have a toilet in the back which is available to all who can find it. Unique. Recover at the Beauty Bar across the street.
Unique indeed, the kind of store that really can't exist here anymore for several obvious reasons.
"I found a death record that almost has to be him," said Roy. "Still, it would be fun to see who remembers him or his weird little store."
Anyone?
Pre Citi-Bike launch, DOT introduces 'Street Safety Managers' to the streets
Early yesterday morning, we noticed a group of DOT employees congregating outside the Bean on First Avenue and East Ninth Street...
A DOT news release offers up an explanation:
Managers complement commercial cycling education and enforcement efforts, come in advance of May Citi Bike launch
New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan today announced that DOT Street Safety Managers (SSM) are assigned to key bike and pedestrian corridors and bridge paths in Manhattan to help enhance safety among pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, further enhancing street safety as bike ridership grows, as DOT starts enforcement of commercial cycling laws and in advance of the 6,000-bike launch of the Citi Bike system. The SSMs will monitor locations with dense pedestrian and cyclist activity to reinforce existing traffic rules, advising bike riders to ride in the direction of traffic, yield to pedestrians and stop at traffic signals; instructing pedestrians to await traffic signals on the curb and not stand in bike paths; and discouraging cars from parking illegally in bike lanes. Shifts of four SSMs will be assigned to different locations in Manhattan weekdays during the morning and afternoon rush hours from April through October.
“Our streets have never been safer and we’re educating everyone on how to use them safely, and enforcing against those who don’t,” said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. “With more people out in the warm weather we’re committed to doing even more to get out the message that safety is the rule of the road.”
EVG reader @malusbrutus passed along this photo from yesterday at Second Avenue and East Ninth Street ...
He notes that the DOT personnel are not issuing citations, rather just offering warnings.
Also!
"In related news, police officers regularly stand on the north side of 14th street and 1st avenue to ticket cyclists who break traffic laws on their morning commute."
Updated:
The bike haters at the Post has a piece on this today.
Taxpayers are forking over cash so a small army of city DOT employees can baby-sit rogue cyclists, reminding them of the basic rules of the road so they don’t pedal into pedestrians.
Read more, including some local reaction, here.
In the midnight hour: Citi Bikes docking stations arrive near Union Square
At the strike of midnight (or close enough) @sandwichboarder noted the arrival of another Citi Bike docking station ... this time on Broadway near East 14th Street...
Didn't know about the late-night docking action. So be warned. You may wake up with one on your sidewalk. At least if you live around here.
More about Max Fish maybe moving to Brooklyn
At The New York Times today, Cara Buckley has more on the probable move of Max Fish to Brooklyn.
Owner Ulli Rimkus gave her this via text message: "We are trying to move to Williamsburg. Nothing certain, except that we have to move." She declined to answer more questions. And this: She "later shooed a reporter out of her bar."
And what do longtime neighbors at Katz's and Russ & Daughters think?
They "met the news with resignation bordering on nonchalance. The rapid gentrification of the neighborhood made the bar's departure feel inevitable, they said.
"Everything else is gone," said David Manheim, 38, a waiter at Katz's. "Why shouldn’t Max Fish be gone too?"
Previously on EV Grieve:
The art evolution of Ulli Rimkus and Max Fish
From Tin Pan Alley to Max Fish
From froyo to eyebrow threading on First Avenue
For a few months last year, 159 First Ave. served as home to NLYU Yogurt ... before hosting a 2-for-1 boxes of Fruity Pebbles closing sale in October... the place had been for rent... one day we noticed the for rent sign was down, the next day, an eyebrows threading salon opened...
Your move, 7-Eleven...
Getting a Handle on a FroYo empire
Speaking of FroYo... TheStreet.com has an article on 16 Handles' expansion plans. The self-serve froyogurters opened their very first store right here on Second Avenue back in the innocent days of 2008...
And today! Per the article:
It now has 37 locations across six states through franchising. It plans to more than double that amount by the end of 2014.
16 Handles has some big shoes to fill though. Frozen yogurt sales topped $760 million in 2012 with TCBY, Red Mango and Pinkberry controlling half of the industry, according to IBISWorld.
In the Q-and-A, founder and CEO Solomon Choi says that he plans "to be at a 100 stores by end of next year and at 150 stores [by 2015] and also in a couple different countries at that point.
$760 million? Maybe we should open a FroYo place too...
3:35 a.m.
By Bobby Williams.
And if you look closely, you can see an outline of a penis... Oh, wait — that was Mars! Never mind!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Permits filed to demolish Mary Help of Christians church, school and rectory
[August 2012]
Reps for developer Douglas Steiner filed permits today to demolish the now-vacant parcel of Mary Help of Christians that includes the church, school and rectory, according to DOB records.
Steiner, owner of the Brooklyn Navy Yard's Steiner Studios, bought the property last year for $41 million, as the Local reported in November. Aside from the three properties mentioned above, the deal included the former flea market lot.
Rumors of development here have been swirling since 2008, when The Real Deal reported that the Archdiocese of New York had sold two-thirds of the playground space along Avenue A had been in an all-cash deal for $10.4 million. That deal never materialized.
This is roughly the area of development that we're talking about... the church, adjacent school and rectory, and playground where vendors used to 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...)
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.)
No official word just yet on what new residential-retail development will rise here. There was some talk of an 80-20 split to include affordable housing.
Given the demolition permit, it doesn't appear that part of the church will be incorporated into the design of the new building, much like NYU did by sort of including the façade of St. Ann's into the entrance of the 12th Street dorm.
The church opened in 1917.
The church in 1920 via the NYPL Digital Gallery ...
BMW drives into the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams showroom on Lafayette
EVG reader Joe Burrascano just sent us these photos... around 2 p.m. on Kenmare and Lafayette...
... the BMW ended up inside the showroom of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, the home furnishings company. No word on injuries.
And this can be a tricky intersection... More info when it's available...
Stupid infidelity survey shows that cheaters prosper at Momofuku
A website called Ashley Madison — "the most famous name in infidelity and married dating" — asked its users to name the city's most popular "cheaters restaurants" ... and tallied up the 10 most popular affair restaurants, as published by the Post today...
As you can see, Momofuku on First Avenue ended up at No. 6 on the list. Why? Who knows! Of course, Momofuku does mean "lucky peach," as their website shows.
As you can see, Momofuku on First Avenue ended up at No. 6 on the list. Why? Who knows! Of course, Momofuku does mean "lucky peach," as their website shows.
The last interesting empty lot in the East Village
Now that The Mystery Lot on East 13th Street is officially A Luxury Lot... we're nearly out of abandoned lots that are rather mysterious around here... save for this lot... the one off Houston/East Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...
This lot still holds some surprises, such as hosting the occasional crucified bear ... We don't know much about the lot (making it all the more mysterious!) ... just that the owner isn't interested in selling off the parcel... Still, enjoy it while you can.
Photos by Bobby Williams
Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at the dwindling number of East Village lots
This lot still holds some surprises, such as hosting the occasional crucified bear ... We don't know much about the lot (making it all the more mysterious!) ... just that the owner isn't interested in selling off the parcel... Still, enjoy it while you can.
Photos by Bobby Williams
Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at the dwindling number of East Village lots
The May CB3-SLA docket: The Living Room back on for E. 2nd St.; more pizza for 1st Avenue
It's another action-packed CB3-SLA committee docket for May... CB3 released it early yesterday evening...
First! The time and place:
And now, a few of the highlights...
Sidewalk Cafe Application
• Heart N' Soul Restaurant (Mama's Bar LLC), 200 E 3rd St (unenclosed)
What replaced Mama's here back in March at Avenue B...
Applications within Saturated Areas
• Donostia (EV Cafe LLC), 155 Ave B (wb)
Interesting. This is the former Zee's Pet Shop next to Sheen Brother's ... asking rent had been $2,500.
• East Village Social (TDDG Inc), 122-126 St Marks Pl (op)
• Ludlow House (Soho-Ludlow Inc), 139 Ludlow St (op)
Previously.
• Papaya King (PKNY2 LLC), 3 St Marks Pl (wb)
Beer for the King?
• Zen 6 Ramen New York LLC, 186 Ave A (wb)
Looks like some ramen at the former Kamui Den ... they closed back in February.
Alterations
[Photo by esquared™]
• Affaire (Chow Main Corp), 50 Ave B (alt/op/additional stand-up bar)
Asking for an upgrade to full liquor.
New Liquor License Applications
• The Living Room (ACP Project), 173 E 2nd St (op)
Back on the agenda. Read the background here.
• Han Dynasty (Han Dynasty NYU Corp), 90 3rd Ave (wb)
• Goats (Goat Brothers Inc), 213 2nd Ave (op)
Currently Nightengale Lounge.
• Risotteria Melotti (Melotti USA LLC), 309 E 5th St (wb)
This is what is taking over the short-lived Ballaro Bakery near the 9th Precinct...
• Masombrado LLC, 432 E 13th St (op)
Someone is quickly moving into the former Masak space...
• Bruno Pizza LLC, 223 1st Ave (op)
WOW. Someone is quickly moving into the former Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery space... and this will make THREE pizza places almost right in a row here... (And maybe this is a pizzeria from Bruno di Fabio? Just throwing it out there...)
• Everyman Espresso (Everyman Espresso LLC), 136 E 13th St (wb)
Beer and wine to woo back Katie Holmes? Or at least have to serve before and after plays at the Classic Stage Company...
Corporate Change (not heard at committee)
• Fat Buddha (Lo Eng Inc), 212 Ave A (op)
• Mama's Food Shop (Mama Bar LLC), 34 Ave B (op)
b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations
First! The time and place:
SLA & DCA Licensing Committee
Monday, May 20 at 6:30pm — University Settlement Neighborhood Center
189 Allen Street (btwn Houston & Stanton Sts) (north of main entrance)
And now, a few of the highlights...
Sidewalk Cafe Application
• Heart N' Soul Restaurant (Mama's Bar LLC), 200 E 3rd St (unenclosed)
What replaced Mama's here back in March at Avenue B...
Applications within Saturated Areas
• Donostia (EV Cafe LLC), 155 Ave B (wb)
Interesting. This is the former Zee's Pet Shop next to Sheen Brother's ... asking rent had been $2,500.
• East Village Social (TDDG Inc), 122-126 St Marks Pl (op)
• Ludlow House (Soho-Ludlow Inc), 139 Ludlow St (op)
Previously.
• Papaya King (PKNY2 LLC), 3 St Marks Pl (wb)
Beer for the King?
• Zen 6 Ramen New York LLC, 186 Ave A (wb)
Looks like some ramen at the former Kamui Den ... they closed back in February.
Alterations
[Photo by esquared™]
• Affaire (Chow Main Corp), 50 Ave B (alt/op/additional stand-up bar)
Asking for an upgrade to full liquor.
New Liquor License Applications
• The Living Room (ACP Project), 173 E 2nd St (op)
Back on the agenda. Read the background here.
• Han Dynasty (Han Dynasty NYU Corp), 90 3rd Ave (wb)
• Goats (Goat Brothers Inc), 213 2nd Ave (op)
Currently Nightengale Lounge.
• Risotteria Melotti (Melotti USA LLC), 309 E 5th St (wb)
This is what is taking over the short-lived Ballaro Bakery near the 9th Precinct...
• Masombrado LLC, 432 E 13th St (op)
Someone is quickly moving into the former Masak space...
• Bruno Pizza LLC, 223 1st Ave (op)
WOW. Someone is quickly moving into the former Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery space... and this will make THREE pizza places almost right in a row here... (And maybe this is a pizzeria from Bruno di Fabio? Just throwing it out there...)
• Everyman Espresso (Everyman Espresso LLC), 136 E 13th St (wb)
Beer and wine to woo back Katie Holmes? Or at least have to serve before and after plays at the Classic Stage Company...
Corporate Change (not heard at committee)
• Fat Buddha (Lo Eng Inc), 212 Ave A (op)
• Mama's Food Shop (Mama Bar LLC), 34 Ave B (op)
b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations
DOH temporarily closes Papaya Dog
Ugh. The DOH paid a visit to Papaya Dog on East 14th Street and First Avenue yesterday ... and apparently didn't like what they saw during the inspection. The report isn't yet online...
Photo via James and Karla Murray.
About the swimming pool rumor at the former Cabrini Center
Last week, some neighbors adjacent to the former Cabrini Center were hearing rumors of an outdoor pool at the incoming luxury apartments on East Fifth Street and Avenue B... perhaps what would be the end product of all that jackhammering out back.However! A resident spoke to the construction manager at the site of the former health care facility for elderly patients ... According to the manager, they are putting in an "at grade" recreation area, with benches and a little lawn/garden.
Per the resident: "We'll see."
Previously.
Organic Avenue coming to Third Avenue
EVG regular William Klayman pointed out yesterday that there's a new tenant arriving at the former travel agency on Third Avenue and East Ninth Street... a new location of Organic Avenue, which is, according to their website:
[T]he leading provider of organic cold pressed juices, raw food cleansing programs, snacks, superfoods, truly natural beauty products, healthy lifestyle education and community building events. The company helps people learn how to transition and maintain a healthy lifestyle that is pleasurable and sustainable, while also friendly to people, animals and the environment.
Organic Avenue is controlled by Weld North, an investment company concentrating on education, health and wellness, consumer services and marketing businesses.
They have nine locations now in Manhattan, with three more on the way soon... Seems like a good fit for the office crowd/workers arriving soon at 51 Astro Place next door?
School of rock
From the EV Grieve inbox... via a parent at the Children's Workshop School on East 12th Street between Avenue B and C ...
And in case you were curious, Lisa Lisa, born Lisa Velez, is the sister of school principal Maria Velez-Clarke.
This year's annual Schoolapalooza event for the Children's Workshop School is at the Clemente Soto Velez Center on Suffolk and Rivington tomorrow night ... and will feature Lisa Lisa (of 1980s Cult Jam fame) and the Demolition String Band. There will also be a silent auction ... find more details here.
Children's Workshop has seen more than $500K in budget cuts over the past five years, and we completely depend on this event to bridge the budget gap every year.
And in case you were curious, Lisa Lisa, born Lisa Velez, is the sister of school principal Maria Velez-Clarke.
'Newsroom' flash!
You may have sign the signs up like this one on East 12th Street... Aaron Sorkin's "The Newsroom" will be filming in parts of the neighborhood today and tomorrow...
Dave on 7th, who took the photo, asks, "Wonder what big news event they'll be recreating?"
Oh, and the second season starts on HBO on July 14. Guest stars this season will include Jane Fonda, Patton Oswalt and Marcia Gay Harden.
Another show that I've never seen. Anyone?
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
[Updated] Max Fish is apparently moving to Brooklyn; eyeing August close date
Well, the EVG inbox is filling up with news that Max Fish will be moving from its Ludlow Street home to... Metropolitan Avenue, according to this online petition, first noted this evening by The Lo-Down.
Per the petition:
‘We’ll Take the Spirit and Everything Else With Us’ -Ulli
The Lower East Side institution and cultural icon Max Fish will be moving. We are seeking a 2pm - 4am liquor license for the following address:
132 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
If you've enjoyed time at The Fish please sign and share this petition. And if you live or know anyone that lives within 500 Feet of either 132 Metropolitan Ave or 99 North 1st St in Brooklyn, please contact me directly at: tmq777@gmail.com.
Several people have been sharing the petition on Facebook. No other info is immediately available, such as when Max Fish would close up on Ludlow Street... where it opened in 1989.
In December 2010, reports surfaced that the demand of rising rent costs might lead to Max Fish's closure. However, by January 2011, owner Ulli Rimkus had received a lease extension.
Updated:
The petition is also posted on the Max Fish Facebook page... word we received from the Max Fish camp is that they're eyeing an August closing date on Ludlow Street ...
Previously on EV Grieve:
The art evolution of Ulli Rimkus and Max Fish
From Tin Pan Alley to Max Fish
Because every New York mayor needs an anthem
You may have seen this video making the rounds earlier today (Gawker, Politico) ... St. Mark's Place resident Jimmy McMillan who's running for mayor representing the "Rent is Too Damn High" party ... it comes courtesy of Animal New York...
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
James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.
Note: Matilda Restaurant hosts Disco With EDG, a disco-themed fundraiser for the Experimental Dance Group tonight at 5. Matilda is located at 647 E. 11th Street at Avenue C. With a $20 donation, guests will receive two drinks and samples of the restaurant's Tuscan-Mexican menu.
By James Maher
Name: Bryan Alejandro Scott
Occupation: Speech Pathologist, Dancer / Dance Teacher
Location: Matilda, 11th Street between Ave B and C
Time: 5 on Wednesday, April 17
I’ve been in the neighborhood for 29 years. I’ve lived in the same place on 12th and C the whole time. I’m a creature of habit. I was born in London and I used to live in Queens, where I went to high school. Part of my life was in London and part of it was in Queens.
We got to the city and I felt that this was one of the greatest neighborhoods. It was slightly unexplored. Most people didn’t even know that anything existed past 3rd Avenue, but we did. Plus it was affordable for us. I feel like some people made it out to be like it was so bad and dangerous, Alphabet City, but I don’t think it was unlike any other community. If you were looking for trouble you could easily find it, but if you were careful about what you did you were safe. There was a lot of respect for neighbors. People worked; people had families; people did their thing. There wasn’t a lot of activity on Avenue C. It was very quiet.
I feel like I’ve always been a jack of many trades. I’ve worked all kinds of jobs. I went to school for speech and language pathology and communication disorders and when I got out of college I worked for the International Paper Company in business as a marketing sales rep.
Now they were very conservative and I think you can tell from the Liberace vest that I’m not. I did the best I could. I was an in-style conservative, but selling paper, for me, I’m not putting it down, but I couldn’t see myself doing it for 20 or 30 years. I also worked in Paris for a year as a makeup artist, I worked for the city as a health coordinator, and eventually I got back into school at NYU and got my masters in speech pathology.
I started late with dancing. I was a gymnast when I was young but it got expensive. I was in high school and I was doing fairly well and I went to gymnastic camps where everybody was into it. But then my coach thought I might benefit if I took ballet class. So I did and from there I developed a love of dance. So I pursued it.
I did some auditions for some plays and through a play I got involved in a workshop for dance and that’s really how I became a Dunham technique, which is a type of modern technique from Katherine Dunham, and eventually got into a Dunham based dance company and performed in Theatre Row from around the 90s through around 2002. I stopped, not because I got too old, but because the director died.
The Dunham technique is a combination of ballet, African and Caribbean movement. It’s a modern technique usually done to drums. Katherine Dunham was the first black female to have a dance company in the United States and she was a person that led the way for many others. People like Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe and Eartha Kitt took classes at the Dunham School.
I’ve parlayed my career from being a dancer to a more of a choreographer and mentor. I started teaching dance out of the lobby of my building. Those kids are probably 25 years old now. I started teaching straight out of college and I progressed to the school system. I now work at the Children’s Workshop School on East 12th street as a speech and language therapist during the day and one day I went to the principal and I said, “Hey I have this idea, I would like to start a dance company.”
It started as a small experiment, working with special-ed kids. I thought that the kids who had emotional or behavioral problems, if they learned dance and found something that they liked, then their academics would approve. And it did. I do think the arts needs to be back in the schools. I think it will help many children embrace the educational process.
Now we’ve got an after-school program and we meet once a week for two and a half hours and we are ready. The kids are ages 7 to 11. I teach them the Dunham technique, jazz, and other modern techniques. They have to do reports on different people. I want them to know a little bit of everything. We’re called the Experimental Dance Group, EDG.
This year, I’m doing my first fundraiser, which is going to be [tonight, April 24] here at Matilda. It’s a really good family restaurant and the owner’s daughter is actually part of my dance company. This affair is to raise money for costumes and the cost that’s involved with doing what I do because I’m not funded by the school. And it’s a way of giving young people something positive to feel about themselves.
The fundraiser is a disco theme. I love disco; disco was a great time. People don’t realize that disco brought a lot of people together. All races, sexuality, all levels of income. It was a fun, fun period. I don’t know why people got into hating disco. That’s not for this interview, but if you ever want to go into that with me, I can talk to you about that.
James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.
Note: Matilda Restaurant hosts Disco With EDG, a disco-themed fundraiser for the Experimental Dance Group tonight at 5. Matilda is located at 647 E. 11th Street at Avenue C. With a $20 donation, guests will receive two drinks and samples of the restaurant's Tuscan-Mexican menu.
Proposed dorm for former 35 Cooper Square looks to be 4 floors taller
Nearly two years ago, the historic, circa-1825 building at 35 Cooper Square was quickly demolished.
As we first reported last Aug. 21, developer Arun Bhatia filed paperwork for a 9-story dorm for an unspecified school in this space.
The proposed plans called for a 9-story dormitory with 43 rooms ... plus retail on the ground floor. In total, the building would be nearly 35,000 square feet (at a height of 117 feet).
And that was that. The plans continued to be "pending" with the DOB.
Until this week, when subsequent paperwork filed with the DOB yesterday show a 13-story dorm in this space instead...
Perhaps if they wait a little longer they can get it up to 18 floors.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Something 28,998 square feet or so coming to Cooper Square (and goodbye Cooper 35 Asian Pub?)
Here's what's coming to 35 Cooper Square: 9-story dormitory
Straight to hell: Keeping a watchful eye on the Joe Strummer mural
Workers continued putting up the scaffolding and construction netting at 112 Avenue A and East Seventh Street yesterday ...
[Bobby Williams]
DOB permits point to "facade repair" on the building.
As long as that doesn't turn into "oh, we accidentally painted over the Joe Strummer mural."
And we're off to a fine start... Per Dave on 7th, the workers "ran the conduit for the scaffold lights uncaringly across Joe's face. Prophetic?"
Previously on EV Grieve:
Joe Strummer gets a splash of Niagara
Joe Strummer gets a new look, skyline
[Updated] Joe Strummer would have been 60 today
[Bobby Williams]
DOB permits point to "facade repair" on the building.
As long as that doesn't turn into "oh, we accidentally painted over the Joe Strummer mural."
And we're off to a fine start... Per Dave on 7th, the workers "ran the conduit for the scaffold lights uncaringly across Joe's face. Prophetic?"
Previously on EV Grieve:
Joe Strummer gets a splash of Niagara
Joe Strummer gets a new look, skyline
[Updated] Joe Strummer would have been 60 today
There's a 'No 7-Eleven' planning meeting tonight
[Bobby Williams]
From the EV Grieve inbox...
NO 7-Eleven, a grassroots movement resisting the spread of chains and franchises, is holding a neighborhood-wide meeting tonight. Their goal is to require that all corporate clone stores, including banks, be required to obtain approval before opening a new location so the community can have a say in the number and location of corporate chains and franchises. Details below. Please spread the word.
Limit corporate clone stores before they limit our food, our commerce, our labor, our streets and our New York City character
7-Eleven is opening a new location on the corner of 11th Street and Ave. A in June.
7-Eleven already opened 32 locations in Manhattan and has an additional 100 stores on the way!
Their plan is to over saturate the neighborhood with locations and remove any and all competition.
If you are as concerned about protecting the East Village and future of the city, please attend:
Next 'No 7-Eleven' Meeting
6:30-8:00pm
93 St. Marks Place
Between First Avenue and Avenue A
More details:
The No 7-Eleven blog ... Facebook ... Twitter...
Other news items from the No 7-Eleven group include:
1. 'NO 7-Eleven' just won a grant from Citizens Committee. "One important concern for them is the low quality of food offered to low-income neighborhoods. We share that concern and hope we can make a difference with our effort to have all corporate 'formula' stores (including banks, btw) throughout our fair city go to the local community board for approval before opening."
2. 7-Eleven Corp. has delayed its opening on 11th Street and Avenue A by a month, from May 13 to June 13. And it still has no franchisee.
3. NO 7-Eleven will be featured at the New Museum's Ideas City Festival, May 4 on the Bowery. "We'll have our Community Wheel of Fortune and our NO 7-Eleven Players there to perform."
Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] More from the anti-7-Eleven front on Avenue A and East 11th Street
Avenue A's anti-7-Eleven campaign now includes arsenal of 20,000 stickers
'No 7-Eleven' movement goes global with BBC report
Meanwhile in Paris, Vélib’ — a large-scale public bicycle sharing system
Given all the discussion about Citi Bikes coming here soon, Dave on 7th shared a few photos on Monday of the Barclays Cycle Hire from a recent trip to London.
And now! Another reader passes along some photos, this time from a trip to Paris... Here's Vélib’ — the city's large-scale public bicycle sharing system that launched in July 2007. The system encompasses around 18,000 bicycles and 1,200 bicycle stations, as I lazily borrowed from Wikipedia.
More from Wikipedia: "Vélib’ is operated as a concession by the French advertising corporation JCDecaux. As of 2012, Vélib' is the world's second-largest bikesharing program, after the 61,000-bicycle system in Hangzhou, China."
Here, the bike-share program will feature, at the outset in a few weeks, 6,000 bikes at 330 stations. (Go here for the East Village docking stations.)
As for Paris, the EVG reader helpfully noted that the bikes are very popular and that "French women look sexy on them." There you have it.
And now! Another reader passes along some photos, this time from a trip to Paris... Here's Vélib’ — the city's large-scale public bicycle sharing system that launched in July 2007. The system encompasses around 18,000 bicycles and 1,200 bicycle stations, as I lazily borrowed from Wikipedia.
More from Wikipedia: "Vélib’ is operated as a concession by the French advertising corporation JCDecaux. As of 2012, Vélib' is the world's second-largest bikesharing program, after the 61,000-bicycle system in Hangzhou, China."
Here, the bike-share program will feature, at the outset in a few weeks, 6,000 bikes at 330 stations. (Go here for the East Village docking stations.)
As for Paris, the EVG reader helpfully noted that the bikes are very popular and that "French women look sexy on them." There you have it.
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