Old Flat Top apparently has a new friend

[EVG photo from August 2011]

There was a time when you would see Old Flat Top (rear) with its friend the Free Willie Nelson (front) around the neighborhood, mostly on East Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue near where owner Ron Britt lived. Until the Free Willie Nelson — a 1973 Dodge Mahal Travco — caught on fire on East Sixth Street back in September 2011. And we never saw the Free Willie Nelson again...

Old Flat Top remained around... and now, as EVG regular Salim notes, OFT looks to have a new friend... spotted earlier on East Third Street...


[Photo this a.m. by @salim]

At this point we don't know if the second RV is a new resident or just visiting...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Everything that you've ever wanted to know about the "Free Willie" Nelson RV on Third Street

The Free Willie Nelson caught on fire!

Memorial for the Free Willie Nelson

Wayland owners catching a Drift on Avenue C

[129-131 Avenue C]

Babel is currently downsizing their hookah empire at 129-131 Avenue C between East Eighth Street and East Ninth Street. They are vacating the space at No. 129, which was home a few years back to the neighborhood bar Duke's.

As for No. 129, Robert Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall, who own The Wayland on Avenue C and East Ninth Street, have plans to open a new venture in the space called The Drift.

We asked Ceraso for more details.

"We are planning a neighborhood bar," he said via email. "No cocktail list. No high concept. Just a relaxed little neighborhood place for all of our neighbors who have been so great to us over the last four years at The Wayland."

They will go before CB3's SLA committee on Oct. 19 with their plans. (Find a PDF of their CB3 questionnaire here.)

"When that space was brought to our attention, the first thing we thought was of Duke’s and how Avenue C doesn't have a friendly little neighborhood place any more since Duke’s and Teneleven closed down," he said. "As much as the neighborhood supports The Wayland, we understand that sometimes people just want a relaxed drink without the live music, the crowds and the cocktails lists."

The Drift will also serve a variety of tacos and salads.

"We envisioned The Drift as a laid-back bar that takes some slight inspiration from small seaside bars that we’ve been in over the years," said Ceraso, who recently opened Good Night Sonny on First Avenue and St. Mark's Place. "The little places that have a mix of locals, surfers, backpackers and expats. My partner Jason and I have had a lot of experience in those bars over the years and the feel of those places has a special place in our hearts."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Babel expanding on Avenue C

Duke's is gone

Last chance for input on the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project

[Image via]

There are two remaining design presentations and outreach sessions this week regarding the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project.

Officials will be presenting actual design alternatives that residents can provide feedback on the project, which is being designed to mitigate future climate change and flood risks along the East River.

Here's the official description of the project:

The East Side Coastal Resiliency Project is a federally funded coastal protection initiative aimed at reducing flood risk due to coastal storms and sea level rise on Manhattan's East Side from East 23rd Street to Montgomery Street.

The ESCR Project is a priority of the City of New York as outlined in the 2015 One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City and by the innovative Rebuild by Design competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The project design intends to integrate flood protection into the community fabric, improving access to the waterfront rather than walling off the neighborhood.

As a CB3 rep told us:

"If folks are interested in providing feedback on what the waterfront will look like for the foreseeable future, then they should attend one of these two sessions ... these sessions are the opportunity for the public to weigh in on actual design alternatives. The waterfront will never look the same again, and people deserve a right to weigh in on that decision-making process."

Presentation locations:

Tuesday, Oct. 6
5:30-7:30PM
Grand St. Settlement
80 Pitt St.

Thursday, Oct. 8
6:30-8:30PM
Washington Irving High School
40 Irving Place

Brewing Soon signage arrives for Caffe Bene on Avenue A

Work is moving right along on the southeast corner of Avenue A and 13th Street, where the former laundromat is getting closer to becoming a Caffe Bene… the Brewing Soon signage arrived late last week…



… announcing the coffee and waffles from the company based in Seoul, South Korea … as well as a hiring notice…

The proprietors for this location received the OK from CB3 for a beer-wine license during the August meeting. Here's what CB3 had to say via the meeting minutes (PDF):

[W]hile Community Board 3 is reticent in approving an additional liquor license for a chain coffee shop at a previously unlicensed location in this already overburdened area which is serviced by many coffee shops, given that such a license is likely to be approved and the applicant has made amendments to its method of operation in response to community concerns...

A Caffe Bene is also in the works for the former Pinkberry space at 24 St. Mark's Place between Third Avenue and Second Avenue … Here's a look at that storefront on Saturday…



They have not applied for a liquor license. Yet anyway.

Previously on EV Grieve:
2 Caffe Bene locations coming to the East Village (45 comments)

Reader report: Rent hike washes away longtime Avenue A laundromat

Work starts on the 2 Caffe Bene spaces in the East Village

Mimi's close to serving hummus and other Middle-Eastern fare on East 14th Street

Just noting the recent arrival of the signage at the new home for Mimi's Hummus on East 14th Street just west of Second Avenue...



Back in the spring, Eater reported that the Ditmas Park-based Mimi's was expanding into Manhattan with locations at the Vanderbilt food hall next to Grand Central (now open!) and the East Village.

The 6-year-old Mimi's, which Eater says serves "some of the city's best hummus and shakshuka," will have an expanded menu here that includes "a few larger plates at dinner like lemon chicken meatballs, brisket, and the Middle Eastern rice and lentil dish mejadara."

We reached out to Mimi's to see if they have an opening date in mind. Will update when/if we hear back.

The small space was previously home for eight months to the $1 pizza/BBQ combo of Wicked Wolfe BBQ.

Laying the foundation for 26 Avenue B

The excavation continues at 26 Avenue B between East Second Street and East Third Street, where there are plans for an 8-unit, 6-floor residential building.



H/T Stacie Joy

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] 6-story apartment building ready to rise from the former Croxley Ales beer garden

[Updated] Report: 28 Avenue B has been evacuated

Full-stop work order served at construction site adjacent to evacuated Avenue B building

Resident wants stuff back that workers took from not abandoned apartment

Is 26 Avenue B ready for its new building now?

(Stuffed) Pizza Rats sighting on 1st Avenue

Here's a New York City Nature Scene from this afternoon on First Avenue between St. Mark's Place and East Seventh Street...



EVG correspondent Steven, who took these photos, didn't see anyone around to take credit for this installation...



However, the Pizza Rats are the work of Tina Trachtenburg, a.k.a. "Mother Pigeon," who creates soft sculpture pigeons and other urban vermin that she sells in city parks. She recently unveiled her Pizza Rat plushie in honor of the real-life Pizza Rat.

Week in Grieview

[Last Sunday's Super Blood Moon via Derek Berg]

Murder conviction for man who beat grandfather to death on East Sixth Street (Monday)

Someone tagged the 1832 white marble stoop of the Merchant’s House Museum — again (Tuesday)

NYPD searching for two suspects in armed robbery Monday night at VideoGamesNewYork (Wednesday)

The historic Charlie Parker Residence is for sale on Avenue B (Friday)

Blink Fitness coming to Avenue A (Monday)

Closing time: Portraits of three newly shuttered storefronts (Wednesday)

Subway (sandwich shop) closes on Third Avenue and NYU (Thursday)

Catching up with two former East Village residents six months after the Second Avenue explosion (Monday … Tuesday)

Out and About with Matthew (Wednesday)

Moms speak out about guns with the help of an illustrated book (Thursday)

Owners of the Cock head straight to State Liquor Authority for Lit Lounge space (Thursday)

Arepa Factory coming soon to Avenue A (Wednesday)

Demo time for East 13th Street garages that will yield to luxury condos (Tuesday)

A new mural and beer store on Second Avenue and East Sixth Street (Monday)

Shorty's eyeing former Bodhi Tree space on Third Avenue (Friday)

Look at 137 Avenue C now (Tuesday)

Maybe reporting excessive Airbnb works (Monday)

About community Wi-Fi in the East Village (Tuesday)

Asbestos removal underway at Peter Brant's incoming gallery space on East Sixth Street (Thursday)

It's Hitchcocktober! (Thursday)

Bleecker Street charmer has a chance to look like its pricy condo neighbors (Friday)

East Village Cheese opens (Tuesday)

Madina Deli Shop opens in former Reciprocal Skateboards space on East 11th Street (Friday)

East Village home prices are up by 38% since 2004 (Wednesday)

… and spotted waiting for the 4-5-6 train at Union Square yesterday…


[Photo by @Doug_e_Doug]

St. Stanislaus on 7th Street represents in the 78th annual Pulaski Day Parade

In case you are just waking up or watching the Jets game in London … today is the 78th annual Pulaski Day Parade in New York City. This year's theme: "Polish-American Businesses and Leaders, the Building of America."

As always, St. Stanislaus on East Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue took part in the parade… EVG Senior Float Photographer Derek Berg provided these shots of the church's 2015 edition.

A look at the Ray's Candy Store photo exhibit

You have two more days to catch "At Ray’s: Connection Is Why We’re Here," the photography exhibit highlighting Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A by Whitney Browne.

EVG regular Peter Brownscombe stopped by the gallery space at 103 Allen St. and Delancey yesterday (the opening was Thursday night)...









Gallery hours today are 2-8 p.m. … and Monday, 6-9 p.m.

Find more details here. The exhibit is co-presented with miLES.

You can read our Q-and-A with Browne here.

Headless man, walking backwards, ready for colder weather

Happy early Halloween … Photo Thursday by Russell Atwood (author of "Losers Live Longer") on Second Avenue between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street…

The coast is clear...

Tompkins Square Park today by Bobby Williams...

Replacing and extending some water mains on the Bowery

Meant to note last week the start of the water main upgrade on the Bowery between East Fourth Street and Great Jones …



Tried to find a completion date for this via the DDC website… came up with this… a June 2019 timeline.



That's probably for the entire Bowery project (though it is conceivable that it could take the city three-plus years just for this block) … the DDC map shows the extension/replacement work going down to Canal.

Chucky's in love at Mikey's

I always like (and actually look forward to seeing now) Andre Trenier's 1980s-inspired murals on the roll-down gate at Mikey Likes It, 199 Avenue A near East 12th Street.

This month it's Charles Lee Ray … aka Chucky from the Academy Award-winning "Child's Play."

And the flavor of the month: Child's Play: spiced pumpkin ice cream with cinnamon streusel, buttered pecan pieces and cheesecake chunks.