These festive-looking balloons on 3rd Avenue will make you forget this gloomy weather!

Look, balloons! And some in large bags!

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Andru Cann
Occupation: Musician
Location: Houston Street between Avenue A and B
Time: 3:30 pm on Monday, Nov. 30

I’m from Manchester, England. I was 24 years old when I came here. Music brought me here. I found I was able to play the kind of music I wanted to play. I came here mostly to study jazz and play jazz, which is what I continue to do, although I expanded to classical music and also incorporated that with film making because films require music. I was able to go to college and I was able to get four degrees including music composition and education. I was going to teach in the school system, but that was just too intense for me.

I don’t really make much money from the music but I get by, which is very nice because a lot of people come here and are never able to do that. There have been ups and downs. I’ve had many, many regular day jobs. I’ve worked in offices, washing cars, selling this, that, and the other, working in stores, and teaching. It’s good to do it privately, part time. That’s a good day job. It’s still a lot of fun. Not too much of any one thing, that’s the trick.

I’ve lived in the same building the entire time I’ve been here, since 1980. The neighborhood way back when I came was more or less abandoned. The hippie period had ended and then the punk rock scene had started, but that [scene resided] more in the East Village, whereas as you got to the Lower East Side it was mostly struggling families.

After being here for awhile, it became the center for cocaine, heroin, then later crack. Everyone from the whole city would come down here. There was a constant flow of people. The crime rate and the break-ins ... I came before that and I saw it turn into that. There were some major streets that were the no-go areas because it wasn’t worth going down them – you would be hassled too much.

That lasted about 10 years and then all of a sudden, like almost overnight, the police and the mayor decided to have the war on drugs. So they came to clean it up. Even though the most I ever did was smoke pot, but I even stopped smoking pot. It was just too dangerous to smoke on the street because you could get beaten up or taken in. I would be on my roof and cops would come up with their guns out saying, ‘What are you doing here?’ I said, ‘I live here.’ And they said, ‘This is a paranoid area. You have to be careful. Stay indoors.’ And that’s understandable, because it was a paranoid area.

One time I was walking right on that corner there, Norfolk Street, and a cop said, ‘Hey pick up your property.’ I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ ‘Don’t get funny with me,’ and he started going for his handcuffs. He said, ‘It’s right there; that vial down there.’ So what am I going to do? I thought if I run, they’re going to probably catch me, so I’ve got to talk my way out of it. The best way I thought would be to get on his side. I said, ‘Hey, listen. We love you coming down here to clean the area up. I’ve lived here a long time.’

And somehow that word love, it calmed him down. He eventually let me go, but even then he said, ‘Oh before you go, can you pick up that vial and throw it down the drain?’ And I knew what would happen if I did that. Even then he was still trying to get me. I said, ‘No, that’s not my job, sorry,’ and walked off. I could have been in jail now for having crack cocaine probably. And that was unfortunately the modus operandi for some rookie cops who came down here. Their mentality was that anybody walking down here would be scoring drugs, so you might as well bust them anyway.

We’ll go to the happy stuff because I could talk about the other stuff… The happy stuff is that for the 35 years I’ve lived here, you’ll walk around and see the same people, the familiar faces, and even though you might not say hello to them, you think in your mind that they’re still here. You’ve grown old together. It’s a neighborhood.

I’ve also said goodbye to a lot of characters in the neighborhood too. Antonio who lived down here. He was a Cuban artist. I actually worked in an office with him one time, and in his apartment there was like a 100 paintings of fruits, apples, oranges, grapes. And he can’t understand why nobody wants to buy his art. I didn’t have the heart to tell him, well maybe no one wants a picture of an apple. There was a guy named Fred, his mother lived in the same building, and he died of AIDS. These were happy people to hang out with.

In the building on the first floor there was a guy called Lenny who was a screenwriter. He was like Lenny Bruce. His name was Lenny, but he came from the Lenny Bruce period. He had a lot of jokes like Lenny Bruce. He used to sing this song, which I recorded him singing it. I’m going to sing it for you right now so that he’ll become famous from that song. It goes like this:

Night after night, the taxis brought me home.
Down East Houston, to the home I’ve never known before.
And there goes Harry and there Bob
And there goes Dick and there goes Rob.
But in the middle of my story, there was grief.
In the middle of my story, there was crime.
Night after night, the taxis brought me home.
Down East Houston, to the home I’ve never known before.

That was his song. He used to love singing it. He was a very good singer. There you have it. There’s Lenny’s song.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

Team behind Shoolbred's and Ninth Ward vying for 10 Degrees Bistro space on Avenue A

[EVG photo from September]

Nic Ratner and Robert Morgan, owners of three establishments on Second Avenue — Shoolbred's, Ninth Ward and Kingston Hall — look to be expanding their reach to Avenue A.

According to public documents (PDF!) on file at the CB3 website, Ratner and Morgan are applying for a new liquor license for the former 10 Degrees Bistro and Flea Market Cafe space at 131 Avenue A.

There aren't many details, such as a proposed name and menu served, on the questionnaire filed ahead of Monday night's CB3 SLA committee meeting. The paperwork shows 8 tables good for 31 seats as well as an L-shaped, 15-foot bar. The proposed hours are Sunday-Thursday 1 p.m. to 2 a.m.; until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

As we first reported on Aug. 18, the landlord took legal possession of the restaurant between St. Mark's Place and East Ninth Street. A sign arrived the next day noting that 10 Degrees was closed for maintenance. They never reopened.

The proprietors of Ten Degrees Bar, which remains open around the corner on St. Mark's Place, took over operations of the Flea Market Cafe in March 2013 ... changing the name to 10 Degrees Bistro in December 2013.

The December CB3-SLA committee meeting is Monday night at 6:30 in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New-look Flea Market Cafe shows itself on Avenue A; reopens March 11

Flea Market Cafe reopens today, and here's the menu

Was the fire at Flea Market yesterday suspicious?

On Avenue A, Flea Market Cafe is now Ten Degrees Bistro

The Marshal seizes 10 Degrees Bistro on Avenue A

10 Degrees Bistro won't be reopening on Avenue A

Baiting stations arrive at the 2nd Avenue explosion site

An EVG reader passes along word about the recent (Friday?) arrival of baiting stations on Second Avenue and East Seventh Street, the site where three buildings (Nos. 119-121-123) were destroyed in the deadly gas explosion this past March 26.



According to the city's Rat Information Portal, there are "Active Rat Signs" at 123 Second Ave., the address of one of the buildings lost on March 26.

The reader also noted the unfortunate proximity of the baiting stations to the memorials for Moises Ismael Locón Yac and Nicholas Figueroa, the two men who died in the explosion.

If you're Jonesing for a new apartment on East Houston

[Photo from August, oh August!]

Rentals are now on the market at Jones LES (website here), the new 13-floor residential building on East Houston at Ridge Street.

Per Buzz Buzz Home (h/t Curbed!), there are five units available at the moment, with leases ranging in price from $2,854 for a studio to $5,477 for two bedrooms.

The 78-unit building includes 16 affordable apartments.

The photos at Streeteasy look pretty nice, with items carefully and photogenically draped over things... just like a real apartment, except not on the floor...





As for the amenities! Per Streeteasy:

Residents have access to a unique mix of amenities, including a lobby lounge, library, fitness center, and a private garden with exclusive street access. Fourteen stories above jones hill, residents can enjoy a landscaped rooftop with remarkable 360-degree city views, complete with an outdoor screening area...

Lobby lounge! Oh, hello! Would you like to see my boxing gloves? They are on my wall...



And the roof deck...



From the TV screen on the roof, you can apparently watch people in the lobby lounge...



As for the name, Jones LES, here's the explanation via the marketing copy:

In 1776, the home and gardens of judge thomas jones sat at the highest point on the lower east side. This location became known as jones hill. For manhattan at the time, jones hill afforded some of the most incredible vistas in lower manhattan. These view experiences can be relived today exclusively at jones l.e.s

We always read that this hill was roughly the area now of Grand and Pitt.

The parcel here sat empty for years, the property of reclusive real-estate baron William Gottlieb.

Previously on EV Grieve:
An L-Shaped footprint ready to make its impression on East Houston Street

An abandoned car in an empty lot that will soon yield a 13-floor residential building

On East Houston, work begins on a new 13-floor residential building

What 331 E. Houston St. will look like one day

A look at 331 E. Houston St., with a rooftop deck for outdoor showers and 'Live Free or Die Hard'

16 affordable apartments now available at the incoming 331 E. Houston St.

Full reveal at 331 E. Houston St.

331 E. Houston St. now with a teaser site and name — Jones LES


[Jones LES lot in July 2013]

Report: Last stand for St. Mark's Bookshop

The financial struggles continue for St. Mark's Bookshop.

DNAinfo is reporting this evening that the store "might not make it into the new year unless it raises $150,000 in the next month," based on a crowdfunding campaign launched yesterday afternoon.

The store, now in its 38th year (spread over several locations), opened in its new home at 136 E. Third St. just west of Avenue A on July 19, 2014, after well-documented financial struggles with escalating rents and declining business at its previous home on Third Avenue.

Despite lower rents in the new location, the bookshop is still in arrears. Here's part of a letter that Bookshop co-owner Bob Contant shared with the crowdfunding campaign:

Unfortunately, we were quite undercapitalized for the move and the bookshop has not recovered. Cost overruns left us with little money to stock the store with books...

In an interview with Lisha Arino at DNAinfo, Contant said, "We’ve been going along for the past year just trying to replace the key books in the store and yet we’re doing less and less business because the inventory is depleting ... This is our last stand."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: St. Mark's Bookshop prepping fundraiser ahead of possible move to Avenue A.

Is this the new home for the St. Mark's Bookshop?

Report: St. Mark's Bookshop signs lease for East 3rd Street space

Renovations at the future St. Mark's Bookshop on East 3rd Street

St. Mark's Bookshop seeking buyers with an ownership interest

If you'd like to hear an overview on what the city has planned for the P.C. Richard and Son space

[EVG file photo]

As you may know, the city has plans to redevelop the city-owned site that P.C. Richard (and Son!) has leased the past 19 years at 124 E. 14th St. at Irving Place.

As Crain's first reported last month, the city's Economic Development Corp. (EDC) is now accepting proposals to encourage developers "to pitch projects that include new office space for booming industries in the neighborhood, such as technology and creative businesses."

Tomorrow night at 6:30, CB3's Economic Development Committee will hear an RFP overview ... the city's EDC reps are also looking for local input on the project.

The meeting is at the Village View Community Room, 175 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The P.C. Richard and Son discussion follows a presentation about Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's Small Business Jobs Survival Act.

The P.C. Richard is set to close when the lease is up in February. The electronics store recently announced plans to open its first location in Harlem.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Last holiday for P.C. Richard on East 14th Street

[Updated] The Cock is heading to the former Lit Lounge space on Thursday

After a battle with residents and Community Board 3, it looks as if The Cock is still packing up and moving several blocks up Second Avenue to the former Lit Lounge space.

As an EVG reader noted, the bar has taken to social media with the announcements... noting a Thursday opening date...

You should tell everyone you know that we're moving on Thursday to 93 2nd Avenue. #nyc #gay #eastvillagenyc #homo

A photo posted by The Cock Bar (@thecock.nyc) on Nov 30, 2015 at 6:57pm PST

In August, the CB3 SLA committee voted against owner Allan Mannarelli's application to move the Cock from its current Second Avenue home to the Lit space between East Fifth Street and East Sixth Street.

The application was heard again before CB3 last month. According to the minutes (PDF) of that meeting:

Community Board #3 denied its application [in August] for a new full on-premise liquor license, in part, because 1) there was substantial opposition from area residents, citing the already overwhelming conditions on this block of Second Avenue from the existing thirteen (13) full on-premise liquor licenses, which include crowds of people on both sides of the street so big that residents have to walk in the sidewalk, drunken people, noise from people, noise emanating from the open facades of businesses, trash and vomit on the street, 2) there were resident complaints of noise and crowds from people in front of the existing business located at 93 Second Avenue and the sometimes impassable conditions from patrons at night in front of this storefront, which is situated behind a bus kiosk, making the available sidewalk significantly narrower for pedestrians, 3) the principal made misrepresentations about its business to Community Board #3 when it applied for its full on-premise liquor license at 29 Second Avenue, for The Cock when it was located at 198 Avenue A, and for Superdive, located at 200 Avenue A, 4) there is a substantial difference in residential character between the block of Second Avenue where its business is presently located, which is comprised of mixed low and medium rise commercial and residential buildings on one side of the street and commercial lots and buildings on the opposite side of the street, and 93 Second Avenue, between East 5th Street and East 6th Street, which is densely populated with five (5) and six (6) story residential tenement buildings ...

And...

BE IT RESOLVED that Community Board #3 asks that the SLA not consider the alteration of the full on-premise liquor license, for 93 Art LLC, by majority principal Allan Manarelli for the premise located at 93 Second Avenue, between East 5th Street and East 6th Street, to wit decreasing its size by one (1) floor and reducing its certificate of occupancy to one hundred fifty-seven (157) people until this principle has appeared before Community Board #3 for the hearing of this application.

Keep in mind that the Community Board's decisions are only advisory. The State Liquor Authority has the final say in these matters.

Lit first closed at the end of July after 13 years. There was talk of a relocation to Brooklyn, but those plans never materialized.

In July, according to multiple published reports, police arrested a teacher and coach at Leman Manhattan Preparatory School for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old girl inside the bathroom at Lit Lounge.

Updated 5:23 p.m.

An EVG reader passed along this photo of the Cock sign now up at the old Lit space...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Confirmed: Lit Lounge is closing on 2nd Avenue

New, confusing signs up at the former Lit Lounge space

Reports: Prep school teacher arrested for having sex with 16-year-old girl in bathroom at Lit Lounge

Jason Wang bringing Xi'an Famous Foods offshoot Biang! to the former Alder space on 2nd Avenue

In the past few years, Jason Wang has helped his father expand Xi'an Famous Foods from a small food stall in Flushing to a mini empire in the city with several locations, including 81 St. Mark's Place, that serve their popular hand-pulled noodles.

Now Biang!, his family-style Chinese restaurant, is moving from Main Street in Flushing to 157 Second Ave. between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

Biang! is on this month's CB3 SLA committee docket for a beer-wine license. According to the questionnaire (PDF!) on file at the CB3 website, the restaurant will have hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, until 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The configuration shows 16 tables good for 32 seats, as well as one standing bar without any seats.

After two-and-a-half years in business, Chef Wylie Dufresne closed Alder, his well-regarded bistro here, at the end of August. The address had been on the market with an asking rent of $17,389 plus key money.

The December CB3-SLA committee meeting is next Monday night at 6:30 in the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Updated 7:46 a.m.

Several readers have noted that Wang opened this Xi'an offshoot several years ago in Flushing. I edited the headline and post to reflect this.

Meanwhile, here's the message on the Biang! website (you can find the menu there too):

As of November 18, 2015, Biang! is closed until re-opening at a different location which is to be announced within the month. The current Flushing location will be converted to a Xi'an Famous Foods for fast-casual dining needs! Please stay tuned to this website for updates.

Here's The New Yorker on Biang!:

Unlike its sibling restaurants, with their lines and numbered food pictures on the wall, Biang! is a sleek, sit-down affair. (Biang, the name of the restaurant’s signature noodle, mimics the sound the noodles make when they are being snapped into shape.) Biang!’s menu has all the staples, including those cold-skin noodles, but with an even more traditional bent.

Image via CB3

Oh rats: CB3 reportedly tops in Manhattan for vermin

Community Board 12, which covers Washington Heights and Inwood, no longer has the worst rat problem in Manhattan, according to DNAinfo.

Per DNAinfo, the new honor goes to:

Community District 3 — which covers the Lower East Side, East Village and parts of Chinatown — earned the new No. 1 ranking for 2015, the Health Department said.

Well, I didn't see this report online just yet... The department reportedly ranks districts "based on measures of active rat signs, such as fresh tracks, droppings, holes and gnaw marks." (Mmmmmmm)

Anyway, you are welcome CB12!

Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg

Ian Schrager's 215 Chrystie now in the condo-building phase

Well, I've mostly been following along with the developments at Ian Schrager's hotel and condo development at 215 Chrystie St. just below East Houston via Curbed and BoweryBoogie.

Walked by the construction site the other day and hello!



When completed, the Herzog & de Meuron-designed building will be 28 stories, featuring 370 hotel rooms via Schrager's Public Hotel brand, topped off by 11 ultra-luxury condos, which appear to be going up now ...



The final product will have a real, authentic street-art vibe...



Oh! Well, you can see the 215 model inside the Schrager Sales Office in the Death Star/51 Astor Place...



According to Streeteasy, several of the residences are in contract. And several units are still up for grabs, including PH3 which is selling for $18.75 million... and includes top-of-the-line everything (kinda just guessing with that price) with 360-degree views that you can take in from your John Pawson custom-designed concrete tub.



Simply toss a piece a plywood over the tub and outfit with some table felt for when the gang comes over later for poker night.

Report: Sheldon Silver found guilty in corruption trial

Assemblyman #SheldonSilver was found guilty Monday of selling his office for legal fees https://t.co/2jIzzNAM0H pic.twitter.com/jsICVP0see

— POLITICO New York (@politicony) November 30, 2015

In case you missed the news this afternoon... let's go to the Times:

Sheldon Silver, an assemblyman who rose from the Lower East Side of Manhattan to become one of New York State’s most powerful politicians, was found guilty on Monday in a federal corruption trial, ending a case that was the capstone of the government’s efforts to expose the seamy culture of influence peddling in Albany.

The 71-year-old Silver faced seven counts of honest services fraud, extortion and money laundering ... and he was convicted on all counts. He now faces up to 130 years in prison.

To Twitter for some reaction...

We'll be convening a conference of imprisoned New York state legislators at the earliest opportunity. I believe we have enough for a quorum.

— Fake Sheldon Silver (@ShellySilver) November 30, 2015

Noted

OK, who keeps doing this?

Photo by Derek Berg

Previously on EV Grieve:
Strategically placed trash bags raise suspicion of hijinks on Avenue A

Someone placed free handmade scarves in Tompkins Square Park

Goggla spotted these this morning by the entrance on Avenue B at East Eighth Street...



The tags on the scarves read:

I am not LOST!
I was made with you in mind.
I am yours to keep.
Stay warm with my hugs!

Updated: Bagel Belly coming to 3rd Avenue

You may have noticed some activity at 114 Third Ave. near East 14th Street, home until May of Delicacity (aka Robin Raj!).

Now there are posted signs about the new tenant...



... 114 Bagel & Grill Inc.



The applicants are on CB3's SLA committee meeting docket on Dec. 7 for a beer and wine license. There isn't any other information about the place online just yet.

The place is described as a restaurant ... Maybe they will grill — and not toast! — their bagels?

Updated 7 p.m.

The questionnaire (PDF!) from the applicants is now online at the CB3 website.

The deli/cafe will be called Bagel Belly. And the proposed hours are 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. The proprietors also own Namu Deli & Grocery at 252 Third Ave. between 20th Street and 21st Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More Robin Raj intel (and what about those cartoon hams?)

Oh no! Robin Raj is no longer Robin Raj!

Robin Raj finally makes the move, though there's no sign of the cartoon ham

Live above Robin Raj

Reader report: Rent hike KOs Delicacity (RIP Robin Raj) on 3rd Avenue

New plywood for the empty lot where the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office once stood

This past Friday, workers removed the sidewalk bridge from outside where the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office once stood at 438 E. 14th St. near Avenue A...





... and a view from the East 13th Street side via EVG regular Greg Masters...





Workers then put up a new plywood fence...


[GM]


[GM]

... and by Saturday...





An 8-story retail-residential building featuring 114 units is on tap. (Waiting for the rendering via SLCE Architects to appear on the plywood.)

The residential entrance will be on East 13th Street, as previously reported ... a short walk to the incoming Avenue A L train entrance.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building

New residential building at former 14th Street PO will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room

... and one last time...


[Photo by Gian G. via Yelp]

Encouraging signs at Nino's

[EVG photo from Nov. 11]

Nino's on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place had to close on Oct. 21 due to a gas leak in the building, according to a sign on the door. (There was a similar sign a storefront away at Yoshi Sushi, 131 Avenue A.)

On Nov. 17, the pizzeria was hit with an eviction notice.

Nino Camaj, the owner of Nino's, told Bedford & Bowery last week that the gas was shut off in the building without any notice to him or the residents.

"Now they want us to pay rent for the month we have been closed, and I’m not paying that, that’s their problem." Camaj’s lawyers are currently in conversation with the lawyers of the landlord, Citi Urban Management, to dispute the rent charged for the month during which Nino’s was forced to remain closed.

Meanwhile, this past weekend, Nino's posted help wanted signs...





... perhaps a good sign that the business will be up and running soon enough.

2 'modern jewel box retail spaces' for rent on Lafayette

The new building construction phase has (mostly) ended here at 372 Lafayette on the southwest corner of Great Jones.

And the retail-for-rent signs on the ground floor of the residential building are now in place...



We checked the listing via Sinvin for more details on the two spaces on the market (dubbed "NoHo's Newest: Small Spaces, Big Presence"):

Two gorgeous modern jewel box retail spaces located in one of the trendiest areas in downtown Manhattan. Impressively high ceilings with huge showcase windows. Where sophisticated shopping meets downtown cache, this part of NoHo is quickly becoming the east side’s answer to Bleecker Street.

And why does "this part of NoHo is quickly becoming the east side’s answer to Bleecker Street" sound more like a threat? Anyway! No mention of the asking rent. You need to ask. But possession is immediate.

The last business on this corner was ZP Auto Repair Shop.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New skyline for Lafayette Street?

Another corner still primed to fall on NoHo

Demolition starts on former garage and lot; new developments coming for Lafayette Street

Looking at the future luxurious corners of Lafayette Street

New, improved inflatable Santa arrives on East 14th Street tree lot

[Happier days in 2013]

JUST when we though that the tree stand on East 14th Street and First Avenue would go another holiday season without a Santa Claus...


[Saturday morning]

... an EVG reader let us know that a new, [maybe] improved Santa inflatable now adorns the trailer...





Maybe by Dec. 25 this st. Nick will look as grubby as the previous one... maybe we will witness a Christmas miracle...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another year without grubby ol' St. Nick on East 14th Street; what to tell the children?