'Good riddance' Chase, and — a development to watch in 2016

The Chase branch at 130 Second Ave. and St. Mark's Place closed back on Nov. 13, consolidating with the branch two blocks to the north.

This past weekend someone took notice to this development...


[Photo by Steven]

Had we actually got around to doing one... this would have made some kind of "developments to watch in 2016" listicle or something. To recap! The retail space via Icon Realty has been on the market, with an asking price of $72,000 a month... the listing notes the address is acceptable for "General Retail Use, Restaurants/Bar, Office Space, Gyms/Fitness Centers."

As previously reported,, the former Chase space allows for redevelopment of the current 2,380-square-foot site into a mixed-use retail and residential project of 9,520 square feet.


[Photo from December by Steven]

A few EVG regulars figure we'll be in for a few extra floors here one of these days...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chase space on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent

2 East Village Chase Bank branches are closing for good on Nov. 12

Chase branch on 2nd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has the potential to get 4x larger with new owner

The East Village is down 2 Chase branches

Icon wraps former Chase branch at St. Mark's Place with retail ribbon

North Star Tattoo has closed on East 7th Street

Dave on 7th notes that North Store Tattoo at 74 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue closed down earlier this month...

Per Dave: "Completely cleared out and people are seemingly already redesigning the space."



Proprietor Rodrigo Melo left a message on the shop's website:

After 8 great years of tattooing on East 7th Street ... we have decided to close our shop.

I would like to thank all the great customers and friends that got tattooed with us.

Also a big thanks to all the tattoo artists that worked in North Star throughout the years.

He and his wife will be working out of a private studio in Brooklyn moving forward. The contact info is on the website.

The adjacent space at the address, the former David's Shoe Repair, remains on the rental market.

Till dawn

Photo this evening via Bobby Williams

EV Grieve Etc.: FDR overpass replacement at East Houston; David Bowie singalong in Union Square

[Sunday afternoon photo via Bobby Williams]

DOT ready to replace the bridge above the FDR at East Houston Street (BoweryBoogie)

At the David Bowie singalong in Union Square (Slum Goddess)

A 4th birthday for the East 10th Street Historic District (Off the Grid)

Hearth on East 12th Street and First Avenue has revamped its dining room and menu (Grub Street)

1969 Oscar winner "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" screens again Wednesday at the Regal Cinemas Union Square (Official website)

A picket at the REBNY Gala in Midtown on Jan. 21 (Tribeca Trust)

The city's best "hook-up bars" apparently include the 13th Step and Niagara. About the 13th Step, Gothamist writes: "If it's bros you seek, or the women who love them, this East Village nightmare is the place to go." (Gothamist)

Newly released black-and-white photographs via the New York City Tenement House Department (The Daily Meal)

Emptying out the Tammany Hall building on Union Square East (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Bruno Pizza on East 13th Street is testing a "hot dog-centric lunch menu" (Eater)

New York's medical marijuana program off to a slow start (NBC News)

Native American cinema series continues through Thursday (Anthology Film Archives)

NYC real estate assessed at $1 trillion (The Real Deal)

Upcoming free events at the Manny Cantor Center (The Lo-Down)

An explanation of NYC's now-expired 421-a Tax Program (Curbed)

The Max's Kansas City tribute (The Village Voice)

Anthropologie is selling a "West Village" trash can (The Atlantic)

Remembering 1970s glam rocker Brett Smiley (Dangerous Minds)

Enjoying the first dusting of snow in 2016, almost

[Photo early this morning by Peter Brownscombe]

The light snowfall last evening provided that Dec. 25th holiday feeling (especially given that it was like 75 degrees here this past Dec. 25)...

Tree stands came back in business for the night...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

The snow provided a canvas for people to express their feelings for one another...



And made discarded chairs look all the more less discarded...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

Of course, being able to enjoy the 1/6th inch of snowfall didn't last long as it became apparent that this snowffiti trend continues on...



...bringing us back to the dark days of 2009 ... and reminding us of the pressures of being a child star...

Doesn't seem as if anything can stop this reckless snowffiti (except maybe more global warming): Even the block housing the 9th Precinct was particularly hard hit...

@evgrieve a huge amount of snow vandalism on car hoods on 5th st between 1st and 2nd pic.twitter.com/A8aW8Yd8ct

— James Williams (@mmmEggSandwich) January 18, 2016

And this used to be such a nice neighborhood.

After shooting Thursday night, patrol tower arrives on Avenue C and 12th Street

[Reader-submitted photo]

As previously noted, an EVG reader told us that there were three shots fired in front of 193 Avenue C at East 12th Street late Thursday night.

According to a report in the Post, a 23-year-old man had been shot in the left leg. Police said that the victim, who was trying to leave the scene in a cab, "was uncooperative and refused to give them a description of the suspect."

Yesterday, a reader as well as EVG contributor Bobby Williams pointed out the arrival of an NYPD patrol tower (SkyWatch) on Avenue C at East 12th Street.


[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]

[Updated] Man's face cut in random slashing on East 6th Street

A 30-year-old man was the victim of a random slashing around 4:30 yesterday afternoon on East Sixth Street near Taras Shevchenko Place (between Cooper Square and Second Avenue), according to published reports.

Per the Post:

The victim, who is from Newark, NJ, told cops he was walking in front of 208 E. 6th St. around 4:30 p.m. — heading to a cafe to meet a friend while wearing headphones and looking at his phone — when an unknown Asian man came up behind him and pushed him against a wall.

The attacker cut his face and back with a knife while screaming, ‘F— you! F— you!” the man told police.

The victim, who was taken to Bellevue, was reportedly slashed from his ear to mouth.

Dried blood remains at the scene of the attack on East Sixth Street...



Updated 1/18

The ABC 7 report provides a general description of the suspect, via the NYPD: An "Asian male between 20-30 years old, 5'3', and 150 pounds. He was said to be wearing a dark-colored coat and a dark-colored skull cap."

Updated 11:19 a.m.

DNAinfo reports that the victim needed 150 stitches.

Updated 4:40 p.m.

The victim, Anthony Christopher-Smith, a social worker who lives in Newark, N.J, talked briefly to ABC 7.

"I was just walking up the street. I was heading to go meet a friend for lunch and someone just came up and randomly slashed me in the face and back. I never saw this person before. I have no idea who they are. I have no idea what their motivation was. They just came up an attacked me," Christopher-Smith said. "I couldn't call 911 because I bled so much on my phone that I couldn't press the buttons."

Christopher-Smith now has partial paralysis on the right side of his face. But with physical therapy and time to heal, doctors expect a full recovery. He just hopes the suspect is arrested long before then.

"I didn't realize that I have been slashed because I was shoved against the wall, fell to the ground," Christopher-Smith said.

Updated 5:53 p.m.

CBS 2 also spoke with Anthony Christopher-Smith. You can read that here. There's another detail about the extent of the slashing on his face: "Smith underwent eight hours of plastic surgery, and his doctors said he may regain the ability to smile by this summer."

Updated 8:54 p.m.

The Daily News story includes several rather grainy images of the suspect, according to the NYPD...



Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online.

Updated 1/21

The police have made an arrest in the case.

Week in Grieview

[Zoltar's fortunes; and the Bruins lost to the Flyers this night. Photo by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

So long to the Sock Man on St. Mark's Place (Friday)

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold (Thursday)

Empire Biscuit reduces business hours for the month of January (Thursday)

Out and About with Spike Polite (Wednesday)

Guayoyo has been closed now for one year on First Avenue (Wednesday)

The former New York Macaroni Co. space is for rent on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Fontana's closing this spring on Eldridge Street (Thursday)

More about the Mamoun's Falafel move on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Ruffian is now open on East Seventh Street (Tuesday)

This block of Avenue A is awfully quiet, and why is Lucy's closed? (Tuesday)

Rite Aid relocates ahead of new development on Avenue D (Monday) ... and the demo permits are now on file (Thursday)

The L train was fun while it lasted (Thursday)

Empellón al Pastor divides the bar and tacos on Avenue A (Tuesday)

Boutique office building on East Houston and Lafayette at BP site a go (Monday)

The Sweet Generation storefront turns 1 (Monday)

At the opening-night celebration for Punk Magazine (Friday)

Former Gothic Cabinet Craft space for rent (Wednesday)

Would you be surprised to learn that the East Houston Reconstruction Project is further delayed? (Friday)

Rainbows! DOUBLE rainbows! (Sunday)

... and RIP David Bowie (Monday)


[Mural in First Park by @hektad._official & @pictoform]


[Mural outside the 2nd Avenue F by @hektad._official]

What other photos of squirrels eating things can we post?

From the Post today:

Thanks to unseasonably warm winter weather, squirrels are fatter than normal this year, says evolutionary ecologist Dr. Andrew G. ­McAdam. Lack of snow makes it easier for them to sniff out food, and they have to expend less energy to keep warm. While they normally might be hunkered in a den this time of year, instead they just keep eating.

Other media outlets noted this trend earlier (here and here).

Anyway, this is a flimsy excuse to repost these photos from Jan. 5, 2014...







These photos in Tompkins Square Park came courtesy of EVG official Squirrel-Pizza Correspondent Goggla.

Your move, Pizza Rat (who may be a fake).

Updated 1:44 p.m.

EVG correspondent Steven is questioning the "squirrels-gaining-weight-this-winter" story... as evidenced by this photo from Tompkins Square Park from the fall showing a husky-size squirrel ...



Updated 1/18

EVG reader Mr. Baggs shared these photos from Thursday... unsure if the squirrel is simply carving the pumpkin...



... or eating it...

Morning from Tompkins Square Park

Photo by John Greally

...and a close-up via Derek Berg...



Rejected headlines:
Searching for Bear-y Fischer

Reader report: What happened to the Pak Punjab Deli and Grocery?

An EVG reader says that the 24/7 store hasn't been open lately... the place does look a little lifeless at the moment. And the phone is not in service. There's also nothing on file with the DOB to note a storefront renovation here on Second Avenue at East Third Street.

The place sells homemade Pakistani-Punjabi food at the counter that the Voice has said is "not the best Punjabi in the city, but the friendly vibe and low prices are hard to beat."

Updated: Per the comments, this appears to just be a temporary closure for some renovations.

Report: Avenue C gunshot victim tries to leave in cab, refuses to cooperate with police

[Photo from Friday morning]

Just after midnight on Thursday, an EVG reader told us that there were three shots fired in front of 193 Avenue C at East 12th Street. The NYPD, the reader said, had taped off the scene... and recovered spent 9mm shell casings.

The Post today has more information in its Daily Blotter. According to police officials, a 23-year-old man had been shot in the left leg. He was spotted trying to leave the scene in a cab. "Cops said the man was uncooperative and refused to give them a description of the suspect."

The man was treated at Bellevue for non-life-threatening injuries.

Another Wi-Fi hub arrives on 3rd Avenue

Another Wi-Fi hub was unveiled this past week on Third Avenue... right at East 14th Street (and a block from the Wi-Fi hub that debuted on Dec. 28).

Soon, you will be able to send and receive faxes, charge your pager or hop on the Information Superhighway from right here.



Actually, these payphone-replacing Wi-Fi kiosks will offer free gigabit Internet ... and a charging station for tablets and smartphones, among other things.

This one is also offering free pizza for a limited time only...



You can read more background about the LinkNYC project here.

The David Bowie memorial on East 4th Street, now with Little Debbie Peanut Butter Crunch bars

Outside the New York Theatre Workshop on East Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery... where the David Bowie-created "Lazarus" is ending its already-extended (and sold out) run on Wednesday... (though $1,000 and $2,500 seats remain for the closing-night benefit)...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

Meantime, the Post speculates whether "Lazarus" might be headed to Broadway...

Hunger games

Maybe London's Yak will be back around these parts in the New Year (the trio was here for CMJ shows back in the fall)... they have a newish EP out... though this single, "Hungry Heart," is from early last year.

The Sock Man extends his last day to tomorrow (Saturday!)

[Image via Twitter]

In case you wanted to make one last stop at the Sock Man on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... he extended his last day to tomorrow afternoon...

A photo posted by The Sock Man (@thesockmannyc) on Jan 15, 2016 at 10:04am PST

We first reported on Jan. 7 that the nearly 33-year-old shop would be closing. Owner Marty Rosen is apparently facing an unmanageable rent hike from new landlord Raphael Toledano.

At the opening-night celebration for Punk Magazine

The 40th anniversary of the Punk Magazine exhibit opened last night at the Howl! Happening gallery space on East First Street ... The exhibition showcases work by founding editor John Holmstrom, who created cover No. 1 featuring Lou Reed, as well as some of the artists and illustrators who contributed to the magazine during its three-plus year run, including Robert Romagnoli and Ken Weiner.



EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by early for a few photos...


[John Holmstrom]






[Ramones contact sheet via Roberta Bayley]


[The Sex Pistols puppets from the cover of Punk No. 14]


[Artist Robert Romagnoli and wife Patrice Donnell]


["Ugly Portraits" artist Ken Weiner]


[Raven, sax player for Murphy's Law, Bobby Zou, creative director of the exhibit, and artist Alexander Pernhorst]

The exhibit continues through Jan. 30 at the Howl! Happening gallery space. Visit Howlarts.org for updates and a full schedule of events.

Details:
Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
All events are free
Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project, 6 E. First St. between the Bowery and Second Avenue

I interviewed Holmstrom this morning on East Village Radio. EVR will re-stream the show tomorrow (Saturday) at noon ET. You may listen in via dashradio.com/EVR or the Dash Radio app.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-and-A with John Holmstrom, founding editor of Punk Magazine

John Holmstrom on the CBGB movie and the East Village of 2013

Would you be surprised to learn that the East Houston Reconstruction Project is further delayed?

[What lies beneath East Houston]

Anytime that you've tried to cross East Houston from Avenue A west to the Bowery these past, oh, six years, you've probably wondered, When, dear [____], will this construction ever end?

To answer that very broadly — sometime this year. Probably!

Various reps for the never-ending East Houston Reconstruction Project appeared before CB3's Transportation & Public Safety/Environment Committee on Tuesday night. BoweryBoogie was there and learned that — ding! ding! — there will likely be another delay in completing the project.

Per BoweryBoogie:

Not only is the project delayed three years, but the September 2016 completion date previously provided was stretched again by another month. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s easily the third revised end date in recent memory. Blame more of the “utility interference” that contractors encounter each time the roadway is torn asunder (i.e. encountering issues with different agency wiring that needs attention).

Oh, and here are some photos of the Greenstreets pedestrian plaza outside Punjabi Deli from the fall... the work was finished around that time, but the final planting inside of the planters and bench installation likely won't happen now until the fall...





As, as previously posted, here's how the new Greenstreets and street configurations at Avenue A and Houston will look ...



And here are some general highlights from the city's latest East Houston Street Reconstruction Project newsletter (PDF!):

Proposed Work Schedule Winter 2016
1.Continue excavating and install 36” trunk water main at the Bowery and East Houston Street
2.Continue excavating and install trunk water main on East Houston Street between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery
3.Continue installing new catch basin and chute connection at 2nd Avenue
4.Begin excavating and install new center median planters

The DDC is reconstructing/replacing combined sewers, trunk main, water mains, catch basins, fire hydrants, sidewalks, etc., etc., along East Houston Street, from the Bowery to the FDR Drive. This work phase started in June 2010, when the Lakers beat the Celtics to win their 16th NBA Championship and "Jonah Hex" was playing in theaters.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Coming soon to East Houston: Construction, hell, rodent control stations

Long-threatened East Houston reconstruction starting this month

East Houston Street construction will be a living hell for an extra year

How you can help Punjabi Grocery & Deli stay in business

Never-ending construction continues to hurt Punjabi Grocery & Deli

Taxi Relief Stand arrives on Avenue A; Punjabi Grocery & Deli relieved