About those new sketchy pink boxes around the East Village

You probably noticed (well, how could you not?) the arrival of these PINK clothing collection boxes ... conveniently located in our favorite corners of the East Village...











BoweryBoogie noted that the clothing collection boxes, which belong to a Florida-based company called USAgain, also arrived on the Lower East Side.

They've been in Bayside, Queens longer. According to the Times Ledger there:

A woman who answered a call placed to the phone number on the box said Our Neighborhood Recycling ships the clothes overseas but hung up without giving more details. Community leaders said they fear whomever is placing the boxes around the neighborhood is taking the clothes donations and selling them for personal profit.

Anyway, the collection boxes are illegal. You can report them to the city here.

EVG reader Creature first alerted us to the arrival of these boxes on Friday ... after he spotted the lone red one on East Sixth Street near First Avenue ...

Brick by brick, Eleventh and Third's transformation into luxury rentals underway

The 12-story residential building at 200 E. 11th St., which Benchmark Real Estate Group paid $57 million for late last year, is starting to lose the dorm look of its NYU neighbors here along Third Avenue.

The rebranded Eleventh and Third is going through a top-to-bottom renovation, and there are already noticeable differences on the building's exterior.



Meanwhile, inside, two-bedroom rentals will be fetching upwards of $10,000 a month.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Someone actually paid $57 million for this East Village building

Reimagining this 12-story East Village building, now on the market

NY Copy & Printing forced out of longtime E. 11th St. home, opening second location on E. 7th St.

Rebranded 'Eleventh and Third' will have rentals upwards of $10k

Retail space housing The Smith and M2M asking $25.5 million on 3rd Avenue

Opening of the new St. Mark's Bookshop pushed back a week

St. Mark's Bookshop was set to open in its new storefront today... however, as you can see from their tweet yesterday afternoon, there is a slight delay...

We probably won't open at 136 East 3rd Street until next week. Call ahead: 212-260-7853
— St. Mark's Bookshop (@stmarksbookshop) June 30, 2014

They are now officially closed (as of Sunday) at 31 Third Ave. and Stuyvesant Street, their home since since 1992.



... and at 136 E. Third St. ...

At the Adele, the grass is greener on the, oh forget it

We were walking by the Adele, the new 12-story, mixed-used apartment building at East Houston and Avenue D ... and noticed there are now several mini plots of grass on The East Houston/Second Street (south!) side of the complex.

A nice touch, though it seems a little lost here. Or maybe the Adele will have a KanJam league for residents.

The art of travel

EVG contributor Stacie Joy spotted this art car today on First Avenue and East Ninth Street ...

99-Cent Discount Center latest lost-lease casualty on East 14th Street

[Photo by EVG Facebook friend Cheryl Pyle]

The crowded shop here with a little bit of everything at 440 E. 14th St. just west of Avenue A is closing this week ... lost their lease.

The 99-Cent Discount Center joins former next-door neighbor Stuyvesant Stationery in the Lost Least Club. And, of course, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office closed in February and reopened a retail space a block away.


[The former post office on Saturday]

So now three, single-level storefronts all in a row will be vacant ... prompting some discussion among EVG regulars again about the possibility of new development along here. Perhaps something like what's going in to the east on 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Meanwhile, there's nothing on file with the DOB to suggest any new buildings for 438 or 440 E. 14th St.



Previously on EV Grieve:
First sign of more development on East 14th Street?


[EVG file photo from September 2013]

Updated: The 2nd Avenue BP station closes tomorrow

As we previously reported, the BP station on Second Avenue at East First Street is closing … tomorrow is the last day.



MRM Auto Repair, which leased space here, moved to West 38th Street last month.

As for what's next for the BP property here, a tipster tells us that a boutique hotel will eventually rise here. For now, though, this is still in the rumor stages — there aren't any building plans on file with the city at this time.

Meanwhile, the BP station on East Houston and Lafayette will eventually be replaced by luxury something.

Updated:
The station will now close after the business day on July 6.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How much longer will the East Village have gas stations?

The East Village will soon be down to 1 gas station

RUMOR: Gas station going, boutique hotel coming on Second Avenue? (31 comments)

BP station on 2nd Avenue closes this month

In other gas station news: Mobil reopens on Avenue C and East Houston

[Photo from Saturday]

The station was back in business Saturday morning after a 9-day closure … the State of New York seized the property on June 19 for nonpayment of taxes.

While the station was closed, at least one local person/blogger stood around the lot taking photos.





Speaking of this lot… back in March, Hakimian Property filed plans (waiting for approval) to erect a 9-story mixed-use building on the site. Plans call for 45 residential units and 4,550 square feet of commercial space.

The Times reported in October 2013 that construction would begin when Mobil's lease expires in two years — roughly toward the end of 2015.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Mobil on Avenue C is still going strong — for now

You have a little longer to get gas on Avenue C

Plans filed for new 9-story building at site of Mobil station on East Houston and Avenue C

Hey, the new Dunkin' Donuts is now open on Cooper Square

The one at the former Norman's Sound & Vision space at 67 Cooper Square opened Saturday. The official Grand Opening is today.

Previously on EV Grieve:
But of course!: Former Norman's Sound & Vision space becoming a Dunkin' Donuts

Dunkin' Donuts-branded door handle arrives on Cooper Square

1st signs of activity at Alex Stupak's incoming restaurant on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place

Several readers noticed workers inside the former Sushi Lounge space on Friday … not much activity according to EVG reader Russ, but the first sign of life for the new restaurant that Alex (Empellón Cocina, Empellón Taqueria) Stupak plans to open here on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place …

Otherwise, the corner remains the same this summer.


[EVG photo from yesterday]

Stupak told Eater in March that he plans on having a small facility here at 132 St. Mark's Place to make tortillas for his restaurants.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Chef Alex Stupak vying for former Sushi Lounge space on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place

As the for rent signs turn on Avenue A

Here are a few scant details about chef Alex Stupak's new venture on St. Mark's Place

CB3 OKs liquor license for Alex Stupak's new restaurant on St. Mark's Place

Weekend recap: The Houston/Bowery Mural Wall has been boarded up

In case you missed this post from Saturday... find it here.

The Nathaniel wants you to know its name on 3rd Avenue

[Photo from May 10]

Over at 84 Third Ave. and East 12th Street, where the newly christened building The Nathaniel awaits completion, there is a notice up ...



...for a proposed, non-illuminated blade sign reading The Nathanial ...



Which is actually already in place.



As previously noted, studios here in the 9-floor luxury building start at $3,470; one-bedrooms start at $4,600; two-bedrooms start at $6,650; and three bedrooms at — !!!! — $11,500. There is also a rooftop reflection pool for reflection on how much your rent is.

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

Bendy thing sighting as 84 Third Ave. eclipses the AMC Loews Village 7

Upscale rentals and a rooftop reflection pool at The Nathaniel on 3rd Avenue

3 colors later, Saints Tavern is now Kamikaze & Co. on St. Mark's Place

[November 2012]

Saints Tavern arrived in late 2012 in the former Typhoon Lounge on St. Mark's Place just west of First Avenue.

Then the place became really purple in May 2013 …


[Bobby Williams]

Now! It's gold! We spotted workers painting it on Friday … there's also a new name and concept — Kamikaze & Co., which, per the sign, serves "craft beer, Asian-style tacos and cocktails" …




[Last evening]

What will the next color be here?

As for Saints Tavern, we never knew anyone who went in here. Recent Yelp reviews are full of 1 stars, for what that is worth.

At the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer carnival today

Earlier we mentioned that it was Day 2 of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer carnival … EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for a look …

















The church is on East Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B … the carnival entrance is behind the building on East Third Street …

Noted

[Photo by Stephanie Nilva via Facebook]

Heh. Someone did a little switcheroo with the advertising on the bus stop on First Avenue near East First Street late this afternoon … Oh no! Not Cemusa approved!

Skate expectations

East Ninth Street today via Bobby Williams…

Week in Grieview

[2nd Avenue bike lane]

Movie nights returning to Tompkins Square Park (Thursday)

Goat Town closing; pizzeria on the way (Monday)

Baby hawk down (Tuesday)

St. Mark's Bookshop moves to East Third Street next week (Thursday)

The Halal Guys open their restaurant on East 14th Street (Friday)

About the boxing gym coming to the former home of the Yippies (Wednesday)

Out and About with Kate (Wednesday)

Gigi Li re-elected to CB chair (Tuesday)

Joselito's leaves Avenue D (Monday)

The Incubator Arts Project ends run at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery (Monday)

The Olympic closes tomorrow (Monday)

The Stage goes on vacation (Friday)

Continuum Cycles is returning (Wednesday)

Adinah's Farm has closed (Tuesday)

Bascis Plus confirmed for Third Avenue (Monday)

Former JoeDough space for lease on First Avenue (Wednesday)

Archangels Antiques closes for good today; get your 'charming goodies free'

[Photo from March by William Klayer]

After nearly 21 years selling vintage cufflinks, eyeglasses and buttons at 334 E. Ninth St., Archangel Antiques is closing. It's officially a retirement. Today is their last day here between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Until 5 p.m.

There are sales. And there is stuff out front for free, as you can see in this photo by @peterfeld …



Blogger O That Sherry (via Jeremiah's Vanishing New York) recently wrote about the space. She has more on co-owners Gail and Richard.

Gail bemoans the situation. They cannot keep up with the increased rent. Besides competition with other vintage clothing stores in the area, East Village’s demographic is mostly students. Generally speaking, students do not have money or taste. Gail argues that to buy vintage, “you have to have a little sense of adventure, style, and be willing to stand out a bit.”

While there is nothing wrong with buying what everyone else is wearing from H&M or Urban Outfitters, she adds that “Young people just don’t have a sense of personal style.”

Ipswich Watch & Clock Shop, which had been subletting space here, has a new home at 434 E. 11th St. just west of Avenue A.

Previously on EV Grieve:
21 long years! Archangel Antiques announces retirement, store to close at the end of June

Today is Day 2 of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer carnival

You enter through the church's back lot on East Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Just follow the sound of the music.)

Whatever you feel about organized religion, you will find inexpensive food and drinks…



… two bouncy castles …





… and games where you can take out your rent-hike frustrations on some landlords …



All in all some quality community spirit time. Today from 1-9.