Friday, October 31, 2014
EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition
[Head, St. Mark's Place, via Bobby Williams]
How Katz's stays in business against the odds (Slate)
Parcel of five buildings on the Bowery sold for $45 million; more luxury on the way (BoweryBoogie)
Photo Cut-Outs: From M. Henry Jones’ animated film Soul City, 1977-79 (Gallery98)
Looking for Pussy Galore in Tompkins Square Park (Flaming Pablum)
The latest on on the plight of the Siempre Verde Community Garden (The Lo-Down)
A noon-to-midnight marathon tomorrow of 7 rarely-screened, bona-fide horror classics (Anthology Film Archives)
A fall scene in Tompkins Square Park (Gog in NYC)
More photos and video from the last concert in Tompkins Square Park for the year (Slum Goddess)
Upscale floral designer lands on Avenue B (Women's Wear Daily)
About the latest NYC graffiti crackdown (Vice)
A look at "Sometimes Overwhelming," Arlene Gottfried's black-and-white shots of the people of New York in the 1970s and 80s (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)
Hipster heat map? (Business Insider)
Celebrities who wear Ramones T-shirts (Dangerous Minds)
... and tomorrow is the last day to see the work of Jane Wilson at DC Moore Gallery at 535 E. 22nd St. ... in celebration of her 60-year career. The exhibition will feature a group of rarely seen 1960s cityscapes inspired by Tompkins Square Park... the Times wrote about the exhibit today here...
[Rain on Avenue B, 1965. Oil on canvas]
At the 35th anniversary of the Pyramid Club
Photos and text by EVG contributor Stacie Joy
The 35th anniversary party Tuesday night for the Pyramid Club was filled with more media and PR people than guests.
Sponsored by Stoli vodka (whose new marketing campaign is targeting East Village mainstays), there were Stoli drink specials as far as the eye could see and several famous people to gawk at, like Taye Diggs (he played Benny the landlord in the first Broadway production of "Rent," in case you wondered about the connection), Andrew W.K. (the Stoli “Professor of the Party”), and Andy Rourke from The Smiths (DJ’ing ’80s hits when I left).
Truthfully, though, I was there for Lady Bunny. She was the life of the party — singing and dancing and then secreting me away downstairs for some one-on-one time.
Lady Bunny told me that she started go-go-ing at Pyramid in 1983 by undercutting the other drag queens by $10 (they normally made $50 and she only charged $40), and quickly became a resident go-go dancer at the club at 101 Avenue A for the next 15 years.
She said the manager was a junkie and she felt he’d be happy with the extra money to put toward drugs. Of course this was before the Giuliani years when cabaret licenses were impossible to score. The East Village’s underground scene was exploding, and bringing its music, drag queens, drugs and culture to the masses.
A low-rent Studio 54, with poor but always-fabulous people is how Lady Bunny described the Pyramid Club. She informed me that we couldn’t sit around crying and bitching for what has changed, what we’ve lost; that we should acknowledge it, celebrate it, and create policies that will create change for the future.
Social media got a chunk of her blame: so many people out there documenting everything with their phones instead of being in the moment and enjoying what’s occurring in real time. We talked about how depressing the news can be and how she recommends that we log off, go out and enjoy what’s happening now in the city.
The John's of 12th Street documentary premieres next month
John's of East 12th Street, the 106-year-old East Village treasure, is the subject of a new feature documentary that premieres next month.
Here are details on the 68-minute film via Vimeo:
JOHN’S OF 12TH STREET is a portrait of a century-old Italian-American restaurant in New York City, one of the last of its kind in a rapidly changing East Village. This observational documentary loosely follows the rhythm of the restaurant’s day, which swings between boredom and frenzy as the old rooms empty and fill. No one who works at John’s is actually Italian, but some have been here for 40 years, including two pairs of brothers and a father and son. JOHN’S OF 12TH STREET catalogues the overlooked details of working life and a vanishing New York City.
The documentary is from Vanessa McDonnell, a filmmaker and editor based in Brooklyn.
The film debuts on Nov. 12 at Spectacle in Williamsburg. Details here.
Previously on EV Grieve:
About the new ownership for 105-year-old East Village institution John's of 12th Street
Report: Deal for East Village treasure John's of 12th Street is off
Out and About in the East Village with Nick Sitnycky Part 1 and Part 2
Gutting the check-cashing shop on East 5th Street
The saga continues for three small businesses on East Fifth Street just east of Second Avenue... back in July, the shopkeepers had to vacate their storefronts due to a structural issue in one of the apartments above in 300 E. Fifth St.
This week several readers noted that Jamie's check-cashing storefront has been gutted... as these photos via Derek Berg show...
Jamie, whose family has owned the business for 67 years, has moved his operation to a secure van outside his shop... He is understandably frustrated, but remains hopeful that he can return soon... workers are strengthening the ceiling and floor joists.
Previously on EV Grieve:
3 small businesses temporarily closed due to structural issues at 300 E. 5th St.
Empire Biscuit turns 1
On this occasion Wednesday night, the owners closed the storefront at 198 Avenue A between East 12th Street and East 13th Street for a celebration …
Previously on EV Grieve:
Incoming Empire Biscuit on Avenue A launches Kickstarter campaign (122 comments)
Report: Empire Biscuit opens today (65 comments)
A new boutique for kids and families on East 9th Street
As you can see from the above flyer, an.mé — a boutique for kids and families — has its grand opening today at 328 E. Ninth St between First Avenue and Second Avenue from noon to 7 p.m.
Business partners Melissa Scott and Annie Ju opened the shop several weeks ago ...
"We are really excited to be able to open a store in the East Village," Scott said. "We have lived her for almost 15 years and wouldn't want to be in business anywhere else."
And the store has extended a special discount to readers for 10% off their entire purchase when they mention EV Grieve today through Sunday.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
A Taylor Swift, 'Welcome to New York' mash-up courtesy of Clayton Patterson
Longtime LES documentarian Clayton Patterson has re-imagined/re-edited Taylor Swift's much-maligned "Welcome to New York" video … with archival footage from his archives circa the 1980s and early 1990s, including the Tompkins Square riots… there's also some footage of GG Allin writhing around on Avenue B for good measure.
Per Clayton's message via email:
Are there no NYC songwriters or musicians who could write a song and be a face representing the city? There is no talent in NYC? What is the message to struggling or successful artists? Where are our politicians on this corporate insult to NYC talent? Where are the agencies that represent NYC talent? What is the message to struggling or successful artists? What is the message to the average NY'er? Tell me DeBlasio is different from Bloomberg. It is one thing to make NYC into a corporate mall filled with cookie cutter corporate businesses, but now we have an individual with almost no relationship to NYC as the face and voice representing the city. It is like we have lost our mind?
November CB3/SLA highlights: The return of Lucky Cheng's
CB3 released its November calendar of meetings yesterday ... including the two nights of fun for the SLA licensing committee. Lots of items on the agenda this month, including a new home for Lucky Cheng's on Ludlow Street.
Here's a look at some of the applicants over the two nights. We'll pass along more info once it becomes available.
Monday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 pm
Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. (between Second Avenue and The Bowery)
Renewal with Complaint
• Percy's Tavern, 210 Ave A (op)
Applications within Saturated Areas
• Vintage B Inc, 56-58 Ave B (aka 235-237 E 4th St) (wb)
This is the former Vella Market (and Kate's Joint) space at East Fourth Street.
• To be Determined, 137 Ave C (op)
This is the new bar/restaurant going into the Sunburnt Cow quarters. The building is currently getting a head-to-toe renovation.
• To be Determined, 206 Ave A (op)
• To be Determined, 137 Ave A (op)
We went through this last month. It was a mistake then.
• Table 12 (188 Ave A Take Out Food Corp), 188 Ave A (upgrade to op)
Alterations
• Cornerstone Cafe (AO Cafe & Restaurant LLC), 17 Ave B (aka 241 E 2nd St) (alt/op/convert service counter to patron bar with 5 seats)
New Liquor License Applications
• Parmys Kabob and Grill Inc, 124-127 1st Ave (upgrade to op)
We noted this change a few weeks back.
• 41 1st Avenue Rest Corp, 41 1st Ave (op)
This is the address of d.b.a. Dennis Zentek, who opened d.b.a. in 1994 with friend Ray Deter, died on March 23 from injuries he suffered in a fall. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident.
• To be Determined, 188 2nd Ave (wb)
Looks like there's a taker for the former Shima space at East 12th Street. We noticed that the for rent signs were down the other day.
Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm
University Settlement at Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery
Applications within Saturated Areas
• Lucky Cheng's (Red Room Hospitality LLC), 154 Ludlow St (op)
Lucky Cheng's, which closed its Midtown location last summer after the death of owner Hayne Suthon, looks to be making the move back downtown permanent. (They had been operating out of the DL on Delancey Street.)
The Living Room was the most recent tenant at 154 Ludlow St.
New Liquor License Applications
• Lucille (Little Rebel Inc), 134 1st Ave (op)
Hmm, this is the address of Simone Martini Bar.
Items not heard at Committee (meaning neighbors don't have any say in these items)
• The Bean (147 First Ave Bean LLC), 147 1st Ave (wb)
• G & Nishi Inc, 54-56 Third Avenue (wb)
• 4T USA Inc, 127 4th Ave (wb)
• Zund New York Inc, 84 E 10th St (wb)
b=beer only | wb=wine & beer only | op=liquor, wine, & beer | alt=alterations
When the jet ski arrived on East 5th Street
EVG regular Jose Garcia shares this...
It showed up about two weeks ago on East Fifth Street near Avenue C. It's not attached to the car in front of it.
It was the subject of a hive of activity when it first arrived. Mechanical repairs, etc.
And now it has become a seemingly permanent fixture on the street. Carefully and tenderly moved according to alternate side parking schedules.
Passersby can't seem to resist sitting on it. I guess I'm having aquatic fantasies. I think the jet ski itself might be sentient.
Veselka celebrating its 60th anniversary with FREE FOOD on Monday night
Veselka has been celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Back in the summer, the restaurant at 144 Second Ave. (at East Ninth Street) turned prices on some items back to 1954. (Surprise! There were lines!)
Now on Monday night from 6 to 11, Veselka is getting rid of its tables and serving free food. Per the invite: "Mirth and Mingling Strongly Encouraged!"
As the Veselka anniversary invite notes, in 1954, a house cost $10,000, rent was $85 and a movie ticket was 70 cents. And Wolodymyr Darmochawal and his wife Olha opened a small newsstand, candy shop and lunchonette that they named after the Ukrainian word for "rainbow."
Hitchcocktober ends tonight with 'Strangers on a Train'
Hitchcocktober wraps its month-long stay tonight at the Village East Cinema on Second Avenue and East 12th Street with "Strangers on a Train."
The films start at 8 p.m. Head to the Village East Cinema website for more info and tickets.
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