2015 Citi Bike recap: 10 million-plus trips

[Photo from Dec. 15 on 7th and A by Derek Berg]

On Thursday afternoon, the 10 millionth trip was taken on a Citi Bike.

On this occasion, Mayor de Blasio and Citi Bike released a statement:

Ridership increased 24 percent in 2015 – including seven days in which ridership exceeded 50,000 trips, twice during the Papal visit in September.

Citi Bike has far and away the highest ridership volume of any bike share system in the nation, and is on par with the largest bike share systems in the Western hemisphere. There have been nearly 9 million trips taken on Mexico City’s similarly sized EcoBici bike share in 2015, and London’s larger Santander Cycle Hire was on pace for 9,943,074 trips in 2015.

As for the 10 millionth trip taker, he or she is receiving a free year of membership, plus three gift memberships to share with family and friends, per the statement.

Happy New Year's Ray

A late-night/early-morning scene at Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A...



And Ray turns 83 this month...

Photos by Peter Brownscombe

[Updated] Gone but not forgotten

Remembering a few of our friends and neighbors who died in 2015...


[Image via Facebook]

Ralph Feldman, longtime East Village resident, former FDNY fire marshal

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Christopher "Gonzo" Gonzalez, poet, chef, member of the Campos Community Garden

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Steven Steinberg, third-generation owner of New York Central Art Supply

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Walter Przedpelski, lifelong resident of East Ninth Street

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[Photo by Sally Davies]

Charlie Romonofsky, dog walker, father of Sweet Pea

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Mary Bellis, aka CalmX, filmmaker, artist, writer.

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Brian Fair, owner of St. Mark's Sounds

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Shane Keogh, bartender, musician, jokester

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[Photo by Goggla]

Hank Penza, owner of the Mars Bar

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Joy Ryder, singer, musician

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[Husko, left, with his father. Courtesy of the Velez family]

RIP Milton "Husko" Velez, Jr., father of three

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[Photo of Adam Purple in 2012 by @rahav]

Adam Purple, activist, environmentalist

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[Image via Facebook]

Morris Faitelewicz, 9/11 first responder, Community Board 3 member

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Ian Jones, model, photographer

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[Photo via Facebook]

Patrick Salt Ryan, bartender, singer-songwriter

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Donna Harris, homeless resident of Avenue A/Tompkins Square Park

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[Photo of Amnon Kehati, standing in back, via The Villager]

Amnon Kehati, longtime partner at Sidewalk Cafe

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[Image via]

Adam Roth, guitarist, composer, actor

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[Photo by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis for The Lo-Down]

Walter Kühr, owner of the Main Squeeze Accordion shop

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[Image via Facebook]

Moises Ismael Locón Yac, restaurant worker, devoted family man

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Nicholas Figueroa, recent college graduate, oldest brother

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Updated 1/2



Judith Malina, co-founder of the Living Theatre

99¢ Pizza now serving 99¢ pizza on Avenue A

The discount pizzeria had its Grand Opening last evening here at 91 Avenue A at East Sixth Street.

The pizzeria is operating out of the space that last housed Benny's to-go. Not sure what's going on with the former D-Lish Pita storefront next door. There has been some work done on that space as well.

Meantime, let us know if you try this pizza. (Seriously.) We'll also post a night-time photo of the storefront some time. It is quite bright. (Seriously.)

Updated

Here it is at night... via EVG 99¢ pizza corespondent Steven...





Previously on EV Grieve:
How about some 99¢ pizza for Avenue A

Incoming 99¢ pizza place on Avenue A will be called 99¢ Pizza

Everybody's working for The Weeknd!

As we wrap up the year, just a quick thank you to everyone here who made The Weeknd No. 1 in the East Village! Woo!

First Avenue at East Second Street.

Headline (and fashion inspiration) via

The latest PS 64 debacle: Investors sue Gregg Singer

[EVG file photo]

Developer Gregg Singer, who has spent nearly 18 years trying to convert the former P.S 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center into student housing, is now reportedly being sued by his investors.

The Real Deal has the scoop:

Investors in the long-stalled redevelopment of the former PS 64 in the East Village are trying to force the building’s sale, claiming their partner is bleeding them dry to line his own pockets with management fees worth $30,000 per month.

A trio of financial backers led by Los Angeles-based Onyx Asset Management is asking a judge to boot developer Gregg Singer as manager of project, alleging several conflicts of interest that have led to him “wasting and dissipating the assets” of the partnership, according to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday.

And!

The asset manager said it and the other investors put almost $8 million worth of debt and equity into the project, and after paying off the defaulted mortgage the development partnership took out a $22 million bridge loan at 11 percent interest, guaranteed by Onyx.

Despite earlier reports that Singer had signed the West Village’s Ballet School as a tenant, however, progress at the site struggled, and in July the company defaulted on the loan, kicking the interest rate up to 16 percent.

Singer bought the formerly city-owned building on East 9th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C in 1998 for $3.15 million. There has been a movement to return the building to use as a cultural and community center.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood

Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market

Efforts continue to fight the dorm planned for the former PS 64 on East 9th Street

Testimony Of Councilmember Rosie Mendez regarding the former PS 64

[Updated] At the 'Save Our Community Center MARCH AND RALLY'

Landmarks Preservation Commission asks to see modified plans for former PS 64

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approves application for modifications at PS 64

'Misinformation' cited as DOB issues Stop Work Order at the former PS 64; community meeting set for Sunday afternoon

Development drama continues at the former P.S. 64, where the city approved dorm-conversion permits (again)

[Updated] The former P.S. 64 appears to be for sale

Here's the Bluestone Lane Coffee signage at 51 Astor Place

The Bluestone Lane Coffee signage is now up over at 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star ... on the Fourth Avenue side next to the front entrance...



Sorry!



And right next door to the incoming Chop't...



What is Bluestone Lane Coffee? There are five locations in the city. And, via their website:

Bluestone Lane offers a refined product proposition dedicated to producing the highest quality coffee and complimentary foods, delivered in an engaging way. We are focused on creating environments where customers are immersed in the experience and leave feeling like a local.

Bluestone Lane Coffee is influenced from the renowned coffee culture hub of Melbourne, Australia, where premium coffee is a way of life.

Meantime, not sure exactly where the other retail tenant, Flywheel Sports, will live in the building. According to Well + Good, the incoming Flywheel will feature a stadium-seating studio with more than 70 bikes. Plus! "[I]t will be the first to introduce a new, instructor-controlled LED lighting system."

Also, when did someone chop down these trees outside 51 Astor Place?



Previously on EV Grieve:
3 retail spaces available at 51 Astor Place (22 comments)

You can finally shop at 51 Astor Place!

3 new retail tenants for 51 Astor Place: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports

Where to apparently live like a movie star on East 13th Street

[Image via Streeteasy]

From outside, 228 E. 13th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue looks like a typical neighborhood walkup...

But! Don't be fooled. Here's a new listing for the penthouse at Metropolitan Property Group:

PALATIAL PENTHOUSE apartment with a massive WRAP AROUND TERRACE and a tremendous private ROOF DECK! If you want to experience downtown Manhattan like a movie star this is the place for you! The apartment is extremely private and occupies an entire wing of the building. It's located in an immaculate Art Deco ELEVATOR building with laundry room.

Take a look...







Three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Asking rent: $7,500 per month.

Updated 1/4

Streeteasy lists the unit at 228 E. 13th St.

397-401 E. Eighth St. now with mini balconies, AC units

So 397-401 E. Eighth St. at Avenue D, where a nine-story building with 33 units, has been in the works for a long time, is starting to really look like a residential building...



We still haven't seen any information on what we're told is a rental building.

Before the start of the construction during the summer of 2014, the site sat stalled for years. There were plans for a six-story building on the property in 2006, but those plans never materialized.

Here's the rendering...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Meanwhile, before we christen Avenue D the next Greenpoint...

Stalled development site on Eighth Street and Avenue D asking $5.2 million

Long-stalled East 8th Street lot coming back as 9-story residential building — with penthouse

[The lot in February 2010]

Pre New Year's Eve balloon fun on East 4th Street

Perhaps someone is getting an early start on NYE here at 52E4 — the 15 stories of condo on the Bowery and East Fourth Street. Or maybe it's just someone's birthday. Or something else!

Photo via Derek Berg

Time for barber pole dancing on East 6th Street

Yesterday, the folks at Ace of Cuts on East Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B unveiled a Disco-esque barber pole outside their shop, perhaps as a way to overtake the bear outside Josie's as the block's top attraction... (Or perhaps to test before taking this to Time's Square tomorrow night?)

EVG reader Laura Gurfein, who took above photo, also shared this video... showing the barber pole in all its glory...

Free the trees! Also, MulchFest is coming

Oh, just noting that the tree penitentiary/corral has arrived in the middle of Tompkins Square Park. Where you can deposit your tree ahead of MulchFest 2016, scheduled for TWO action-packed days: Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 9-10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No word if anyone will be on guard duty here.

EV Grieve Etc.: Permanent protection for an LES community garden; travel like Patti Smith

[Avenue A at 9th Street via Bobby Williams]

Permanent protection for the Siempre Verde Community Garden? (The Lo-Down)

Kossar’s Bialys closer to reopening (BoweryBoogie)

The former Winnie's Bar in Chinatown looks to be getting — shocker! — an upscale makeover (DNAinfo) ... that looks suspiciously familiar (Grub Street)

A photo tour of Autre Kyo Ya, now open at 10 Stuyvesant Street (Eater)

The political past of East Fourth Street (Off the Grid)

Check out the "Essential LES Guide" (The Lo-Down)

A new pair of adult red-tailed hawks hanging around the Lower East Side (Gog in NYC)

How a Russ & Daughters manager helped fulfill his mother's last wish (DNAinfo)

Some 2015 NYC vanishings (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Real estate horror stories from 2015 (Gothamist)

ICYMI: Bidding farewell to NYC after 2 days (heh):

I take pride in knowing that I lived in New York when it was still gritty. When you could still ride a Ferris wheel in the middle of a giant toy store. When you couldn’t walk across Forty-second Street without getting hassled by crowds of topless painted women. When the M&M’s store didn’t have a limit on the number of pounds of candy you could smuggle out in your conference’s complimentary tote bag. (The New Yorker)

What's in Patti Smith's suitcase? (BoingBoing)

New York magazine's Where-to-Eat-in-2016 list includes East Village spots Noreetuh (First Avenue), Oiji (First Avenue), Babu Ji (Avenue B) and Superiority Burger (East Ninth Street) (New York)

Diversions: The Punk Rock Fun Time Activity Book (Dangerous Minds)

RIP Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister: His friends and fans share their thoughts (BBC News) ... a collection of his best quotes (The Guardian) ... and Alex contemplates life without Lemmy (Flaming Pablum)

#Lemmy #motörhead pic.twitter.com/gbrlk6tMy4

— East Village Radio (@EVRadio) December 29, 2015

Mamoun's Falafel is moving on St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

Workers have been gutting the former Red & Gold Boil at 30 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

And a familiar name will be taking over the space: Mamoun's Falafel.



EVG correspondent Steven got confirmation yesterday that Mamoun's will be relocating here from its current location a few storefronts away at No. 22 this coming spring.

Red & Gold Boil closed after 13 months in business in early October. The previous tenant, Japadog, had a better run with 25 months in operation.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Breaking: Japadog is closing for good after tonight on St. Mark's Place

Reader report: Crab Shack in the works for former Japadog space on St. Mark's Place

Here is your Red & Gold Crab Shack! signage on St. Mark's Place

The Marshal seizes the former Red & Gold Boil on St. Mark's Place