Monday, January 26, 2015

Interesting new business opening on East 14th Street



Yep. Signage has arrived at the former 99-Cent Discount Center on East 14th Street for a Domino's Pizza.

[Silence]

The space here just west of Avenue A will be adjacent to the new retail-residential complex that the developers said they are catering to millennials.

Thanks to the EVG reader on East 14th Street for the photo

The buildings at 128-130 1st Avenue are for sale



There's a new listing for these two buildings just south of St. Mark's Place.

Here's how Halstead is listing 128-130 1st Avenue:

Two contiguous mixed-use buildings near St. Marks Place, featuring 52-feet of frontage on First Avenue. Approximately 12,000SF interior plus full-basement, with 5-Stories & 19 units, including 16 one-bedroom apartments (most have been renovated), & 3 commercial spaces: (1) a 42-seat Hawaiian Restaurant (soon to open), (2) a newly-opened Bakery, (3) a store that is delivered vacant.

Excellent investment opportunity, ideally located in the heart of Manhattan's hottest emerging neighborhood, with an impressive rent-roll that will increase substantially over the near future.

The price is $14.9 million.

As for those retail spaces.

So the former Mediterranean Grill will be a Hawaiian restaurant. Sweet Generation opened on Jan. 11 in the former First Avenue Pierogi and Deli space. And the wonderfully cluttered Rainbow Music is the third storefront. Based on the listing, the Birdman's shop won't be here much longer. (Last March we heard that the shop was going to be closing in the months ahead.)

The Kurowycky family owns the buildings here. Last July, the family decided to retire after running First Avenue Pierogi and Deli for the past 30 years.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader report: The fabulous Rainbow Music is closing this year in the East Village

Last day for First Avenue Pierogi and Deli

Japanese dining taking over the Sembrado’s Tacos al Pastor space on East 13th Street



Sembrado’s Tacos al Pastor, the Mexican restaurant from Danny Mena, the chef and co-founder of Hecho en Dumbo, quietly closed this past November at 432 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Per their Facebook message last Nov. 14: "Sembrado is moving. We are closing our East Village location … Don't worry, we'll be opening a new location soon!" The restaurant's website states, "expect us on the other side of the river in early 2015."

Meanwhile, the sign is up for the next tenant… Japanese dining featuring sake and tapas...



Not sure what the reason was for the closure/move. Too much taco competition in the neighborhood?

Per the EVG reader who told us about the closure:

"It seems to have gone unnoticed that Sembrado has closed. I'm not sad to see this place go. The food was pretty good but it was clear from their bar set-up, which included many varieties of artisinal/specialty tequilas, how their business model was going to work."

Sembrado's opened in July 2013.

This seems like a tough address for a restaurant. The well-regarded Singapore-influenced Masak closed here in March 2013.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Sembrado’s Tacos al Pastor opening Thursday on East 13th Street

Villacemita, serving authentic Puebla Mexican cuisine, announces itself on Avenue A



Interior renovations continue at 50 Avenue A between East Third Street and East Fourth Street. As we first noted on Jan. 6, a cafe featuring Mexican food is taking over the space that Native Bean held before moving to 36 Avenue A.

The sign is up now for the new tenant — Villacemita, serving authentic Puebla Mexican cuisine ...



There's a teaser website up now for the cafe ... there isn't any further information just yet. The cafe is in line to receive a beer-wine license. The owners were on this month's CB3/SLA committee docket.

According to paperwork (PDF!) on file at the CB3 website, Villacemita's proposed hours are 7 a.m. to midnight every day except for Sunday, when they'd close at 8 p.m. In total, there are 10 tables with seating for 20 people. The owners describes the place as "a small, community-oriented restaurant."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Space that houses Native Bean on Avenue A is for rent

Native Bean space apparently back on the market

Native Bean will be moving on Avenue A

Mexican food spot slated for former Native Bean space on Avenue A

Native Bean reopens in new Avenue A home

Hey, it's a dorm



We've posted photos of the new dorm at 35 Cooper Square and East Sixth Street in various states (like here and here).

Anyway, we just realized that we haven't posted a photo of the (almost) FULLY REVEALED dorm. So here you go.

And, as previously reported, the dorm will house students from Marymount Manhattan College, which is nowhere near here.

A news release from the school in April 2014 said students will be moving in for the fall 2015 term...

As for the rest of the release....

Cooper Square will be an all-encompassing, apartment-style residence hall for sophomore, junior, and senior residents. The new residence hall will be located on the corner of Cooper Square and East 6th Street, otherwise known as one of the most trendy and artistic locations in all of New York City. The 12-story residence will include a floor-wide student lounge, a robust fitness center, a study room, and a beautiful terrace on the 7th floor. The new residence hall is located just a few minutes from the 6 train, where students can quickly make their way up to the Upper East Side for class, or can bike uptown thanks to a bicycle storage room.

And two of the renderings from the release...





Previously on EV Grieve:
City OKs 13-floor dorm for Cooper Square

Updated: Here's what the newest East Village dorm will look like

Dig bottoms out on Cooper Square; here comes the dorm, here comes the dorm!

Your chance to lease the retail space in the new Cooper Square dorm

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Ahead of possibly historic blizzard, Key Food shoppers pretty much making a mess



That's not where you found the oatmeal!

Critters in Tompkins Square Park hoarding sandwiches ahead of epic winter storm



Unless you have a better explanation!

Photo this afternoon by Bobby Williams

Week in Grieview


[1st Avenue and East 9th Street via Derek Berg]

Permit pre-filed for new 12-floor building at 79-89 Avenue D (Tuesday)

Ess-a-Bagel on the move (Monday)

RIP Christopher "Gonzo" Gonzalez (Friday)

Christo and Dora are building another nest (Friday)

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's NYC pop-cultural video gem (Thursday)

Space that houses 1st Avenue's Polish-American diner Neptune is on the market (Tuesday)

Out and About with Gala Darling (Wednesday)

Sunrise where the Domino Sugar Refinery stood for nearly 135 years (Monday)

Warwick and Framus Custom Shop closes on East 7th Street (Wednesday)

Car alarms still annoy (Monday)

New residential building at former 14th Street post office will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room (Thursday)

The Continental files for bankruptcy (Thursday)

Gina's Grill returns (Thursday)

The Save Manitoba's crowdfunding campaign is underway (Wednesday)

Matty's takes over the Idles Hands space on B (Tuesday)

Saint's Alp Teahouse closes for a revamp (Tuesday)

M. White closes on East 13th Street (Friday)

A threat against the 9th Precinct (Monday)

Tuscan food specialist opening 1st U.S. outpost on 4th Avenue for some reason (Tuesday)

City OKs 15-story mixed-use retail-residential building on 14th and C (Wednesday)

Gas problem temporarily closes Thai Terminal (Sunday)

Gingersnap's Organic is leaving the East Village for the West Village (Tuesday)

A $2,400 pizza at Fat Sal's? (Thursday)

All-new 212 E. 14th St. seeks retail tenant (Thursday)

Pinkberry remains closed; UPS InfoNotice® awaits



As we first noted this past week, the Pinkberry on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue abruptly closed on Tuesday… just days away from the FroYo mothership's 10th anniversary.

Meanwhile, a UPS InfoNotice® dated Wednesday remains on the door… looks like they were here for a pick up…



And this Pinkberry location has been scrubbed from the chain's website…



According to this listing, 10 PB locations remain in the city … as well as locations in Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio, among other states not listed here.

Little Pakistan Deli has apparently closed on 2nd Avenue



There hasn't been any sign of life here at 200 Second Ave. between East 12th Street and East 13th Street. We heard a city marshal seized the deli earlier in the week. We noticed it closed starting this past Wednesday.

Meanwhile, next door along this stretch of businesses with Little and country names in them, Little Poland remains alive and well...

Saturday, January 24, 2015

d.b.a. is back open on 1st Avenue



A reader told us that d.b.a. reopened last evening.

The bar at 41 First Ave. between East Third Street and East Second Street closed for renovations in early December.

As previously noted, David McWater is d.b.a.'s new owner. (His other bars include Milano's and Doc Hollidays.)

It was our understanding that the bar would have the same basic look and feel... except for maybe the bathrooms. We'll swing by later to see how it all looks.

Ray Deter and Dennis Zentek opened d.b.a. in 1994. Deter died in July 2011 from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling collison. Zentek died on March 23 from head injuries he sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs.

The d.b.a. in Williamsburg closed for good in late November.

Previously on EV Grieve:
David McWater looks to be the new owner of d.b.a.

Meanwhile outside Gem Spa



We have no idea what's happening here on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place... just rumors (a breakout attempt among them)...





Photos by Derek Berg

NYPD Rally underway now in Tompkins Square Park



A quick note reminder to the drivers and owners:

It is the entrant's responsibility to provide manufacturer's documentation such as sales brochures, workshop manuals, service bulletins, etc., where necessary to substantiate the eligibility of the vehicle and its components.

Photo today by Derek Berg

Last night's winter wonderland this morning



Thanks to EVG reader Peter Brownscombe for the photos from along Avenue A…



… and East 11th Street…

Friday, January 23, 2015

Enjoy the Silence



The London-based Savages have been playing at various (sold-out) NYC venues this month ahead of releasing the follow-up to their debut record, 2013's "Silence Yourself".

Here's live footage of "Fuckers" ...

RIP Christopher "Gonzo" Gonzalez



A reader shares the sad news with us...

Christopher "Gonzo" Gonzalez died at Beth Israel Hospital this morning after suffering a heart attack on Monday. Poet, chef, organizer, member of the Campos Community Garden on 12th Street and longtime resident of the East Village (East 6th Street) since 1990.

There is a vigil at 6 at Campos Gardens 12th between B and C tonight for those who want to pay respects.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition


[Tompkins Square Park the other day via Derek Berg]

Manhattan Borough President: Gigi Li's leadership at CB3 wasn't biased (The Villager)

RIP Faith Seidenberg, the attorney who made McSorley's open to women (The New York Times)

Hey, Sheldon Silver was arrested (The New York Times)

Video of former art gallery space 2B, now home to a Duane Reade (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

A last look at SPURA before the mega Essex Crossing development (BoweryBoogie)

Rev. Billy suing the MTA (Runnin' Scared)

See some French classics from the 1930s-40s (Anthology Film Archives)

The condofication of University Place (The Real Deal)

Seward Park trench collapse (The Lo-Down)

50 years of historic preservation (Off the Grid)

When Lou Reed collaborated with Kiss (Dangerous Minds)

Billie Holiday's NYC (The Bowery Boys)

Allen Ginsberg sets the record straight about LSD (The Paris Review)

And in time for Valentine's — the Death Star necklace (BoingBoing)

... and EVG reader Karen Loew spotted a discarded holiday tree trying to escape from Manhattan at Stuyvesant Cove the other day...

The planets are lining up tonight for your viewing pleasure (hopefully)



Local astronomy buff Felton Davis passed along the following …

Furnerius, Petavius, Vendelinus, and Langrenus were so jagged last night on the rim of the 2nd day old crescent moon that they looked like scabs about to be broken off. Tonight there will be a fascinating arrangement as Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Mars and the Moon all line up in the southwest at sunset.

I will set up on the corner of 2nd Avenue and East 3rd Street as usual, at about 5 p.m., but we don't have a really clear perspective toward the southwest. People may want to check out other locations.



Red-tailed hawk parents Christo and Dora are building another nest on the Christodora House



An EVG reader writes in:

Christo and Dora seem to be back in nest mode. The past day or so they've been carrying sticks and such to shore up the nest (same one as last year, on top of the A/C unit). This morning they were both hanging out in the nest.

It is true. The red-tailed hawk parents are rebuilding their nest that netted three offspring last year on the Christodora House on Avenue B and East Ninth Street ... (someone removed the remains of the old nest in November.)


[Yesterday]

We ran this by our hawk-watching friend Goggla.

They've both been hanging around the nest area, so it's good to know they're back at it. Interesting that Dora is helping out. She did all the supervising last year, while Christo would cut the sticks, then get her approval before taking them over to the nest. She didn't like one of his choices and kicked it out of the tree when he presented it to her.

On Wednesday, Goggla noted Christo's first stick-gathering session of the season.

Last year, Christo didn't start the stick-gathering, nest-building activities until Feb. 14.

To be continued for sure. And visit Gog in NYC for all the off-season hawk activities here.

And now a flashback... a time-lapse video of the hawk kids via East Village resident and photographer Francois Portmann ...



Photos by Bobby Williams

Previously on EV Grieve:
Red-tailed hawks nest on the Christodora House

The hawks of Tompkins Square Park have laid an egg at the Christodora House

More eggsciting hawk news from the Christodora House

Breaking (heh) news: The hawks of Tompkins Square Park are officially parents

OMG baby hawks! (UPDATED WITH VIDEO!)

VIDEO: Watch the baby hawks of Tompkins Square Park dine on some rat

Revisiting the 1980s videos of Nelson Sullivan



Though the years we've posted some of Nelson Sullivan's 1980s videos, including "The first nice Sunday of 1987 in the East Village" ...



... and "Walk with Tish Gervais in the East Village of the mid-1980s"...



A post showing a lot more of Sullivan's work yesterday at Gothamist reminded us of these. In total, Sullivan shot more than 1,900 hours of tape over a period of seven years. Head over to Gothamist for a lot more of his time capsules of downtown life.

His video archive was donated to NYU's Fales Library & Special Collections in 2012.

Sullivan died of a heart attack on July 4, 1989.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The East Village of Nelson Sullivan

The first nice Sunday of 1987 in the East Village

'The Fabulous Personalities of 1980s New York'