Monday, March 2, 2015

Juice Press on East 10th Street (the one near Avenue A) closes for renovations



And this is a legit closed for renovations, not one of those "closed for renovations" tactics (examples here and here and here) …

Not sure exactly what is being renovated here. (We thought it might also serve as a JP test kitchen.)

One tipster on the block heard that the JP was expanding into the vacant storefront next door… but that rumor hasn't been confirmed.



There are approved work permits on file with the city for "interior renovation with partition and plumbing works" on the first floor.

This Juice Press location opened in June 2011.

Former space housing 1st bar for pregnant women returns to market on Avenue A


[EVG photo from September]

The corner retail space on Avenue A and East Fifth Street served as an advertising repository last October for some bar-finding app disguised as Gestations — "NYC's first bar for pregnant women."

The storefront has sat empty since East Village Pharmacy moved from here to 41 Avenue A in early 2011.

And now there's a new broker for the space…





So far, we haven't spotted the listing online at the Tower Brokerage website. And is the space next door that housed Twist for lease as well?

In any event, this is a good block for independent retail here between East Fifth Street and East Fourth Street … you have a coffee shop/cafe (Croissanteria), a housewares shop (Lancelotti), a used bookstore (Mast), a magazine shop (Ink on A), a gift shop (Alphabets), a dry cleaners … not to mention the lottery place and the liquor store.

Previously on EV Grieve:
No, 'NYC's first bar for pregnant women' isn't opening on Avenue A

People behind Gestations still pretending to be opening a bar for pregnant women on Avenue A

The Nite Owl opens for night owls and probably other people



North River's transformation into the Nite Owl looks complete at 166 First Ave. near East 10th Street.

Several EVG readers told us that The Nite Owl was open for business on Saturday evening...



Said one reader: "Not a single table and chair left. All high tops with stools and the bar. So much for a restaurant."

The Nite Owl is serving food. Here's a look at the menu on display outside… featuring bar-food items like chicken nuggets, smoked deviled eggs, burgers and tacos…





We first noticed North River closed after service on Feb. 21… a sign on the door said there "there are changes afoot at North River." North River, which served American-style comfort food from chef Adam Starowicz, opened in December 2013.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

[Updated] To date, March seeming a lot like February


[2nd Avenue and St Mark's, via Derek Berg]

How has your March been so far? Here are a few scenes from this fine day...


[2nd Avenue via Derek Berg]

And in Tompkins Square Park ... via Bobby Williams...





Updated 8:40 p.m.

Still feeling like February! And January! Some photos here via EVG reader John Iz... East Seventh Street and Avenue B... and around Tompkins Square Park...







Checking in on the Tompkins Square Park igloo quinzhee



Still standing! And likely will be through like May...

Photo by Grant Shaffer

Week in Grieview


[Photo from Friday on East 10th by Michael Sean Edwards]

Arrest made in the shooting death of a man outside the Lillian Wald Houses (Monday)

Rosie Mendez co-sponsors proposed new city legislation cracking down on Airbnb (Friday)

Benny's to-go closes on Avenue A (Friday, 29 comments)

Condos now for former Mary Help of Christians property (Thursday)

Hummus Place not reopening on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

Black Seed owners reiterate commitment to preserving the former DeRobertis space (Friday)

Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks opens on East Second Street (Tuesday)

East Village Cheese hopes to move somewhere else in the East Village (Wednesday)

Out and About part 2 with Sheila Rothenberg (Wednesday)

West Village-based jeweler Lori McLean relocating to East 11th Street (Tuesday)

Buildings on East Ninth Street getting taller (Tuesday)

NYPD searching for knife-wielding suspect wanted for six store robberies, including on East Seventh Street (Wednesday)

Verdigreen vintage furnishings boutique coming to East Seventh Street (Monday)

Construction watch: 76 E. Houston St. (Monday)

A penthouse for "50 Shades of Grey" fans? (Tuesday)

Met Foods space is now for rent on Third Avenue in Gramercy Park (Wednesday)

Why the subway is late and crowded a lot (Tuesday, 35 comments)

Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches hasn't been open lately on East Second Street (Monday)

After just 2 months, Matty's is closed for now on Avenue B (Wednesday)

Expanded lobby on the way at Eleventh and Third (Monday)

About the "equipment malfunction" at the Con Ed plant (Tuesday)

A few details about the Tompkins Square Park igloo quinzhee (Monday)

Transformation of Louis 649 to Mace continues on East Ninth Street (Thursday)

… and people are pretty much giving up on spring already…


[9th and A this morning via William Klayer]

Reward for Sugar is now $10,000, thanks to NBA all-star David Lee



The plight of Sugar, the Amstaff/pit bull mix that went missing this past Monday, has attracted the attention of David Lee, a former Knicks star who is now with the Golden State Warriors.

Yesterday, Lee offered to double the reward for Sugar to $10,000. Lee posted this on his Instagram:



And here is an update this morning from the Find Sugar Facebook page:

We appreciate your support so much, here are a few updates on our efforts:

We are using Pets Detectives. The police are aware, on the lookout, and even have several retired NYPD officers who have volunteered their time to help us. We are procuring/reviewing any surveillance video we can get our hands on. We are checking every imaginable place, and speaking with every imaginable delivery guy, doorman, courier, street vendor, taxi driver, etc… in NYC. Thank you so much for your suggestions.

Sugar's owner, Morgan Bogle, is an East Village resident who was away on business at the time of the disappearance. Bogle told Bedford + Bowery on Wednesday that her dog-sitter of three years was "found with PCP dust on him and in him and taken by the police to Bellevue Hospital psych ward where he’s being held incoherent and not allowed any visitors."



There's also now a "FindSugarNYC" billboard on 26th Street and Seventh Avenue.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More about Sugar, the missing pit bull mix with a $5k reward (55 comments)

Reader report: Man dies after fall from East 5th Street roof



Police are on the scene in the courtyard behind 536 E. Fifth St., where residents awoke this morning to news that a young man either fell or jumped to his death from the roof of the 6th-floor building.

Detectives in the building told a resident that the victim was "stripping off his clothing as he went up to the roof, and that he was most likely high" at the time, estimated at 5:15 a.m. Police have not said if the young man intentionally jumped or fell.

According to the building resident, the victim was a recent college graduate who did not live at the address here between Avenue A and Avenue B.

"Not sure what exactly he was doing here, but the kids in the building often have parties — though we didn’t hear anything last night," the resident told us. "It's really sad."

Cafe life



Outside the soon-to-be-demolished Mobil station on Avenue C and East Houston…

Hey, it's the first sunrise of March



Photo by Caz Lulu via Facebook

At least it's not going to snow today or anything, haha — right?