Con Ed still making repairs on East 7th Street

Residents on East Seventh Street between Avenue C and Avenue D had been understandably upset and concerned about reports of stray voltage on the block... after several days of non-action, Con Ed crews arrived to make the necessary repairs on Sunday.

Per the New York Post story on this matter:

"The yellow tape is out there to keep people away from the energized objects," Con Ed spokesman Allan Drury told The Post on Monday. Con Ed workers discovered the problem early Friday but had limited access to the area because of tightly parked cars, he said. Repairs were completed on East Seventh Street late Sunday, he said.

Although Con Ed said that repairs were completed on Sunday, crews have been working at the site every day since then. The photos on this post are from yesterday.




Previously on EV Grieve:
Beware of 'stray voltage' here on Avenue A and East 2nd Street

Resident shocked about Con Ed's nonchalance over stray voltage

Noted

Signage tomfoolery on East Seventh Street via Derek Berg

Holiday greetings from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

An almost year-end message from the proud parents of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has been thoroughly enjoying her second holiday season in the neighborhood this year. Times are lean around these parts so less of Holiday Tree wonder but an intense focus on tennis balls and she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the snow.

As much as the snow it seems she has intently focused on tennis balls. She is less into the Tompkins Square Park dog run these days (though she remains a frequent visitor there to do her business) but has developed a taste for the East River Park. She was recently busted there for being “off leash” but she remains a devoted fan. Mostly because she has developed an important collection of stray tennis balls she collects there voraciously.

She (and we) send all of her neighbors the warmest of holiday wishes. Xo

On the next episode: Kita is curious why only Grain-Free Chicken Meal Formula Dry Dog Food is available at this New Year's Eve buffet.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meet Kita

The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Happy holidays from Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street has her first ever annual checkup

Angry residents don't want this food cart on Avenue A and East 2nd Street

Some residents who live on Avenue A and East Second Street are unhappy about the recent arrival of a Halal cart. And there is a movement afoot to get the cart booted from the southeast corner of Avenue A and East Second Street.

Here's a flyer hanging in a nearby apartment building:



According to one resident: "Aside from blocking bike racks, garbage cans (upon seeing me photograph, the cook moved the garbage can further into the crosswalk (ILLEGAL), he has deposited grit and ashes from his grill on the sidewalk."




The resident also talked with the Halal employee about all this. "He simply stated that he knows the residents aren't happy but simply — talk to his boss."

Another couple took up the argument with the employee as well. "All the vendor said was, 'Tony likes our food. Do you know Tony?' Well, we don't know Tony and the block doesn't like your food truck blocking our sidewalks."

Oscar bait at Luke's Lobster

Spotted this week outside Luke's Lobster on East Seventh Street…



-----

Previously!

Meanwhile at Bloom 62...

So how are things settling in over at Bloom 62, Ben Shaoul's luxury conversion of the former nursing home on Avenue B and East Fifth Street? Everyone getting along?

Spotted on the currently vacant retail space...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Ben Shaoul is the new owner of Cabrini nursing home, will convert to condos

Report: Local politicians reach out to Ben Shaoul as re-sale of the Cabrini Nursing Center seems likely

More details on Cabrini's closing announcement

Q-and-A with Patricia Krasnausky, president and CEO of Cabrini Eldercare

East Village apartment building details

Somewhere in the East Village...

Please show some love for Zoltar too

Outside Gem Spa … via EVG contributor Derek Berg

How long did it take before someone tagged the 'Girls' mural on East 12th Street?

12 days, give or take a day. We spotted the artists starting the mural on the weekend of Dec. 13… Could have been worse…



And we still have a few more weeks before the show's new season on HBO…

The latest issue of The Shadow is now available

Look for NYC's only underground newspaper at the following locations:

Gem Spa (St. Mark's + Second Avenue)
St. Mark's Books (31 Third Ave., at East 9th Street)
East Village Books (99 St. Mark's, between First Avenue + Avenue A)
INK (Avenue A, between East 4th + 5th Streets)
Blue Stockings Books (172 Allen St.)
MoRUS (Avenue C, between East 9th + 10th Streets)
Spoonbill Books (218 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn)
Revolution Books (146 W. 26 St. )
Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books (34 Carmine St.)

Happy Boxing Day!

East Sixth Street this morning via Dave on 7th...

Con Ed reviewing what was done about stray voltage warnings on East Village streets

[Avenue A on Sunday]

Several media outlets picked up our post about resident reports of stray voltage on East Seventh Street and East Second Street … (The reports were at the Post … Fox 5 and CBS New York …)

New York News

The stray voltage reportedly shocked several dogs… and some residents are upset that Con Ed took too long to respond to the issue… as well as did a lousy job of communicating, what, exactly, all the tape and cones were for on the scene.

As one resident told us on East Seventh Street: "This area has had current running through the detailed area for days, with none of the residents receiving any information on the danger. The area has NO SIGNAGE warning of the danger of electrical shock."

Community Board 3 has been in contact with Con Ed officials about the situation. Here's what a Con Ed official had to say about the matter on Tuesday afternoon, via CB3 officials:

We have made all repairs on 2nd and 7th Streets to eliminate any stray voltage. We understand the concern that you and others have raised. We have a comprehensive program in which we frequently inspect for stray voltage and secure an area if any stray voltage is found until the repairs can be made. The program has been very effective and we have been able to promptly find and correct stray voltage, whether it’s from Con Edison equipment, equipment belonging to property owners, or the City.

I understand that there are particular concerns about the setup of cones and warning tape on 7th Street. We are reviewing what was done there and will also take a close look at how we are securing locations in general. Our goal is to keep the area safe. We are happy to discuss the matter with you and the Community Board.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Beware of 'stray voltage' here on Avenue A and East 2nd Street

Resident shocked about Con Ed's nonchalance over stray voltage

In Memoriam: Roger M. Lane

Report: 'Jodie Lane Place' sign is gone; City says it will be replaced

Soft opening for Mee Noodle Shop this weekend?

That's the word we're hearing anyway from the folks at Mee Noodle Shop … returning to the East Village after a seven-year absence… the Mee crew has been busy here at 223 First Ave. between East 13th Street and East 14th Street testing the new equipment…

Stairs Bar taking over the former Il Bagatto space on East 2nd Street

We were a little surprised last weekend to pass by 192 E. Second St. and find the above sign… this space was home the past 18 years to Il Bagatto, which announced its closure in early December.



The new venture is a gay bar called Stairs … and they have been open for happy hour … ahead of an official opening on Saturday… We don't know much else about the place at the moment…



As for Il Bagatto, their menu is still available next door at its sister restaurant, Il Posto Accanto.

[Thanks to EVG Facebook friend Elise Podell for the photos]

What it takes to work at the Standard East Village's 'highly anticipated' new restaurant

[EVG file photo of Café Standard]

The Standard East Village is hiring… there's another open call tomorrow… so in case you might be looking for a job at the hotel's new, still-unnamed restaurant (reportedly opening next month, per Eater) … or just curious about what they're looking for in employees … here's the notice via Craigslist …

THE STANDARD, EAST VILLAGE - highly skilled F&B staff *OPEN CALL* (East Village)
The newly redesigned Standard, East Village is currently seeking highly-driven / ambitious Managers, Sommeliers, Bartenders, Servers, Hostesses, Runners, Bussers, Barbacks and Baristas for our highly anticipated restaurant.
*OPEN CALL* FRIDAY, December 27 from 3pm-6pm.

DO YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING DIRECT EXPERIENCE:
• Handling a New York based fashion & media clientele.
• Working in a fast-paced, downtown environment.
• Cooperating with a large, creative, and diverse team
• Extensive and in-depth previous food and beverage training required!

YOU'RE WELCOME TO APPLY IF THIS IS SPECIFICALLY YOUR BACKGROUND!

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE IS:
• Skilled with deep casual fine to fine-dining, exemplary and intuitive service and all facets of hospitality.
• Charismatic and possesses natural ability to engage and serve diverse guests and high-profile clientele
• Confident and proactive without being overbearing.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• A clear thinker in high pressure situations.
• A background with a 'farm-to-table', product driven menu.
• Interested in growing with an innovative and fast growing company.
• Conveys a personal sense of style and sophistication.
• Comfortable interacting with high-profile guests in fashionable & socially dynamic environments.

We offer a ton of great perks as well as an opportunity to grow!

Thanks, we look forward to hearing from you!

To be considered: You're invited to come by The Standard, East Village (25 Cooper Square) *OPEN CALL* *OPEN CALL* FRIDAY, December 27 from 3pm-6pm. Bring your resume along - you'll be able to fill out an application and meet some of the team.

See you there!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Big changes in the works for the Standard East Village lobby, outdoor space; Café on the Bowery anyone?

A holiday feast

A rat, no turkey or ham for this red-tailed hawk on East Seventh Street.

Photo by peter radley

Happy holidays, etc.

Waiting for the M9

Avenue C and East Third Street this morning

Avenue A, shortly before 8 a.m., Dec. 25

Merry Christmas from Iggy Pop

Former Avenue B resident Iggy Pop unveiled his 2013 Christmas message on Monday. Suitably strange.

The Abominable Snow Monster of East 7th Street

Bumble photo by Bobby Williams

Christmas Day Party at La Plaza Cultural

[EVG La Plaza photo from the fall]

From the EVG inbox… if you are around tomorrow…

Longtime East Ninth Street resident Jimmy is having a Christmas Day Party at La Plaza Cultural Community Garden, noon till nite for everyone who's still in town ...La Plaza Cultural Garden is on East Ninth Street and Avenue C. There will be food and a bonfire. Bring your musical instruments.

The Facebook invite page is here.

Merry Christmas Eve afternoon!

Discarded today on St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue… plenty of life left in this one in case you need a tree or a second one…

Photo via Robert Miner

Where you can find some Candlelight Caroling action later today

Stuyvesant Square Park... Second Avenue and East 16th Street... starts at 5 p.m.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Dirty ol' Santa on Rivington Street by OLD MAN FANCY]

Another chance to see "In No Great Hurry," the documentary on street photographer Saul Leiter (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

The holiday windows at Frank's Bike Shop on Grand Street (BoweryBoogie)

Holiday sing-along at Sophie's (Slum Goddess)

Soaring red-tailed hawks in Tompkins Square Park (The Gog Log)

The history of the televised Yule Log in NYC (Runnin' Scared)

When Woody Allen was a comic strip (Dangerous Minds)

Strolling on Union Square in 1908 (Ephemeral New York)

A trip to Burp Castle on East Seventh Street (The New Yorker)

Kossar’s Bialys now open Saturdays down on Grand (The Lo-Down)

You can get Xi'an Famous Foods pretty much delivered anywhere in the city now (Grub Street)

The mysterious fallen man on East 29th Street (Flaming Pablum)

Tonight is the 13th annual 'I Hate Christmas Party' at Casey Rubber Stamps

Time again for this annual event at Casey Rubber Stamps, one of our favorite stores around... hosted by the legendary John Casey... perhaps you can expect some holy spirits and Veniero's cheesecake like last year.

Thanks to EVG reader That One Day for the flyer...



Here's a little more on the shop via WNYC...

The walls of his narrow shop — which doubles as his workshop — on 11th Street in Manhattan are lined with myriad stamps ranging from whales to peas-in-a-pod, spider webs, shells, guns, teeth, the Manhattan skyline and even that most fearsome creature: the bed bug. About half his business comes from selling pre-made stamps that range from $3 to $15. The other half is custom designs that customers request or bring in.

Rubber stamping is a simple technology that dates back about 150 years — and to judge from the operation at this tiny store, it really hasn't changed that much.

The shop is at 322 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Someone actually paid $57 million for this East Village building

Wow. $57 million for this dorm-looking thing on Third Avenue and East 11th Street? (And you thought that the Yankees overpaid for Beltran!)

Oh, anyway, this 12-story residential thing with retail space hit the market back in April. Now The Wall Street Journal reports that the Benchmark Real Estate Group LLC is the new owner.

Per the Journal:

The mixed-use property has 55 rental apartment units and 10,500 square feet of retail space. The current commercial tenants are the Smith, an American restaurant, Asian market M2M and NY Copy Printing Co.

Benchmark plans to invest money from its $45 million first mortgage to renovate and upgrade the apartment units and increase the retail space by 15% to 20%, said Russell Frahm, head of Mesa West's New York origination team.

The original listing noted that "[a] buyer may wish to expand the residential floor plate above and restore the building above by reskinning glass." And this is the rendering...



Oh boy.

All I want for Christmas is…

The old Blarney Cove sign. Still there on East 14th Street. How do we get this down ahead of the demolition of this block?

Also on the xmas list, world peace, etc.

The Odessa name has been removed from its former sidewalk canopy

Speaking of signs... noticed last week that the name of the "Odessa" had been removed from the sidewalk canopy at the former Odessa Cafe and Bar.

There was talk that the Odessa folks would reopen the space at 117 Avenue A, but that is not going to happen, as we noted last week.

Oh well. Anyway, we always like sidewalk canopies you know.


[August]

Report: Several dogs jolted by stray voltage on East Village streets

[Sunday on East 7th Street]

The Post has more details about the reports of stray voltage on various East Village streets, such as East Seventh and East Second.

In particular, residents were pissed that Con Ed didn't tell residents about the potential danger … simply putting up some cones and yellow tape with a subcontractor sitting nearby in a car. Meanwhile, several dogs were zapped by electrified manhole covers...

Here's the Post with more from East Seventh Street between Avenue C and Avenue D:

It took calls to 311, 911 and, finally, a visit from the NYPD before a Con Ed repair crew arrived ... And while cops were talking to the safety manager, a passing pit bull got jolted.

“The yellow tape is out there to keep people away from the energized objects,” Con Ed spokesman Allan Drury told the Post on Monday.

Con Ed workers discovered the problem early Friday but had limited access to the area because of tightly parked cars, he said.

Repairs were completed on East Seventh Street late Sunday, he said.

Another neighborhood dog, a black standard poodle named Maybelline, was zapped so violently on Sunday that her heart stopped temporarily, said the dog’s owner, Catherine Kord.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Resident shocked about ConEd's nonchalance over stray voltage