Construction watch: 11 Avenue C

Crews have starting digging in and pile-driving at the triangular lot (the former Mobil station) between Houston Street, Avenue C and Second Street...





...where the city OK'd plans for a 10-story, mixed-use building with 46 residential unit on Dec. 5. The rendering, first revealed back in the fall, is now on the plywood...



Rotwein + Blake are the architects of record. Here's more about the all-new 11 Avenue C via their website:

The narrow triangular site, presented numerous challenges from its odd shape to zoning constraints, Rotwein+Blake crafted a well thought-out solution to maximize potential development opportunity for the client. At ten stories, the building will have 4,600 SF of ground level retail, 46 residential apartments and a landscaped roof terrace.

The buildings retail component engages the more lively Houston Street side on a pedestrian level, with an abundance of storefront glass, awnings and stone details, while the residential entrance on 2nd Street, creates a more private and embracing gesture. The brick and zinc façade blend a modern twist to a historic warehouse style, reminiscent of the now, chic residential adaptive reuse projects of Soho and Tribeca.

The rendering states the project's completion date as March 2018.

Previously on EV Grieve:
You have a little longer to get gas on Avenue C

Plans filed for new 9-story building at site of Mobil station on East Houston and Avenue C

State seizes Mobil station on Avenue C and Houston for nonpayment of taxes

New residential building for former Mobil station lot will be 10 floors with 0 zero affordable units

A look inside the last East Village gas station

Verizon Wireless takes over former Verizon Wireless storefront on 2nd Avenue

Back in April, the Verizon Wireless outlet on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place closed after nearly three years here.

After several months on the rental market... the for lease sign came down and renovations commenced ... and yesterday, signs went up in the window showing the new tenant — Verizon Wireless...



H/T Steven

A new era for outdoor group fitness on 9th Street

EVG reader Moe spotted this scene today on Ninth Street at Third Avenue... likely the treadmills for the incoming Orangetheory Fitness here at 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star.

Noted

Spotted on 11th Street and Avenue A... and unrelated to this note, we've heard from several residents about someone stealing packages this holiday season from their lobbies/entryways...because residents either don't close the door behind them or buzz any rando in...

Photo via Shawn Chittle

An explanation about the disruption in gas service

You hear enough stories about gas service for cooking being shut off for months at a time around here (examples here and here and here).

The landlord (AJ Clarke RE) provided residents at this East Ninth Street building (Super Eddie's!) with an explanation of what was happening ... with a timeline when things might be back in service... and why it could take so long:

So, with the gas shut off and the risers not passing the pressure test (most buildings in NYC, unless fairly new, will not pass the test), it is going to be probably several months until the cooking gas is turned back on. This is due to the procedure that has to follow: Proposals have to be given for the re-piping, permits have to be applied for, the actual work has to be done, and the most time consuming part of the puzzle: DOB & Con Edison inspections.

The explanation is more than some residents in other buildings receive (silence) ... some residents I've talked to in the past feel as if landlords need to do more for tenants than provide (or pay for) a hot plate. Maybe a little $$$ for some take out.

H/T Steven

Previously on EV Grieve:
How much of a rent discount for not having gas for cooking?

East 12th Osteria resumes service

[Reader photo from Saturday night]

Multiple EVG readers have noted that East 12th Osteria is back in business... dinner service resumed last Wednesday evening here on First Avenue and 12th Street.

This comes after the State seized the space early last week for nonpayment of taxes. Those notices coincided with flyers stating that the restaurant will be relocating.

Eater reported that restaurant serving Northern Italian cuisine owed more than $190,000 in unpaid taxes.

Despite the back taxes, the State appeared to be willing to work it out with chef/owner chef Roberto Deiaco.

Per Eater:

Department of Tax and Finance spokesman James Gazzale says that they are still in contact with the owner and want to work out a plan to return the business. "We never want to see this happen," he says.

We reached out to East 12th Osteria for comment and will update when/if we hear back.

[Updated] A line-waiting opening for Tim Ho Wan

[Photo Saturday by Bayou]

As previously noted, the first U.S. location for the Hong Kong-based, Michelin-starred dim sum parlor Tim Ho Wan opened on Friday... and, not surprisingly, the opening here on Fourth Avenue and 10th Street attracted dim-sumgoers who waited in line in single-degree temps that day for the cheap goods. (Rather inexpensive — every dish costs less than $5.50.)

Eater and Gothamist both reported on the lines.

Per Eater:

Chef Wai Chan will be running the kitchen here. He’s a Chinese immigrant who’s been living in New York for years, and before getting going in the kitchen, he went to Hong Kong to train for several weeks. Tim Ho Wan’s quality is what must set it apart from other dim sum restaurants, Pui says. The team’s been working on the location since last year, and they’ve tried many of the dim sum restaurants here since then.

During the soft opening phase through Jan. 17, Tim Ho Wan will have limited hours. Lunch service will be from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. with dinner service from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. The grand opening is Jan. 18.

The world famous #TimHoWan pork buns will be available at #TimHoWanUSA. pic.twitter.com/I7OlIzRaCy

— Tim Ho Wan USA (@timhowanusa) December 10, 2016

Updated 5 p.m.

Eater declares that Tim Ho Wan "Has NYC’s Most Maddening Food Line."

Eater senior critic Robert Sietsema shared this long-line dispatch:

After a further wait of 50 minutes, during which the queue crept along steadily in a way that encouraged us to remain, we finally reached the front door, where a woman with an iPad stood.

She was very nice, but told us that our further wait would be 2.5 hours, and offered to take our cell number and call us back. I objected, "Normally, when you stand in line, you expect to get in when you reach the front of the line. Couldn’t you have taken our numbers when we arrived so we didn’t have to wait in the sleet?" She shrugged, and didn’t answer. My guess is that the spectacle of dim sum devotees shivering in line for hours was an important element of the opening publicity campaign...

A ride on the MTA's vintage fleet

As you may have read, the MTA and New York Transit Museum rolled out a vintage fleet of subway cars (and buses) once again this holiday season,... EVG reader Mike House shared these photos from the the Second Avenue F stop today... the fourth of four Sundays that the trains were in use...

Week in Grieview

[Photo outside Westside Market by Christine Champagne]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

At the 25th annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting (Sunday)

Sidewalk bridge arrives just in time for La Sirena's busiest time of the year (Friday)

McSorley's back on the A list (Thursday)

Out and About with the owners of Love Gang (Wednesday)

Report: SantaConners "plunder" One and One, causing $5,000 in damages, owner says (Tuesday)

Baci e Vendetta opens at 131 Avenue A (Friday)

That time this restaurant closed after less than 2 weeks on St. Mark's Place (Friday)

Aftermath of a shooting outside the Hells Angels clubhouse (Tuesday ... previously)

New at Ray's for the holidays — apple fritters (Tuesday)

SantaCon 2016 in photos (Sunday)

Odd Eye brings vintage and design collectibles to Fifth Street (Thursday)

PokéVillage opens on 14th Street (Monday)

The latest issue of The Shadow is now available (Tuesday)

Lucky 7s: Extell's 7-story developments look to be topping out on 14th Street (Tuesday)

The Redhead closing sooner than expected (Monday)

Convive Wine & Spirits now open on Avenue A (Tuesday)

Checking in on the future home of Viking Waffles on Avenue C (Wednesday)

Jared Kushner apparently didn't pay the ConEd bill on Ninth Street (Monday)

Pastry chef Sebastian Brecht bringing chocolate to East Fourth Street (Friday)

October surprise on the Bowery as Drake opens shop (Thursday)

#notourpresident storefront not coming to Second Avenue (Monday)

And lastly, a few photos from yesterday's pretty-for-awhile snowfall...




[Halloween 2017 potentially in danger?]


[Never build on sloped garbage storage bins]



EVG reader John shared this photo (find more here) from Second Avenue...

A Greenmarket FYI

With Christmas and New Year's falling on Sundays this year... today is the last day for the Tompkins Square Greenmarket until Jan. 8.

Dec. 18

One week before Christmas is a good time to discard last year's tree (or, by the look of things, the tree from 2014)...

Bonus: The lights and stand are intact...



Avenue A and Fourth Street if you want to save your money from buying a fresh tree this season. This one is ready to go.

At the 9th Precinct's Christmas Event today

The 9th Precinct hosted its annual children's holiday party today on East Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... EVG correspondent Derek Berg stopped by for a few photos...

This handless snowmaid will warm your hearts in Tompkins Square Park

Some family-friendly (unlike this) snow fun in Tompkins Square Park today ...

And there's also this creation...which is still seeking a corporate sponsor...



Thanks to Greg Masters for the photos!

A Bowery Mission event at Eleven Consignment Boutique today

Saturday December 17 3-9pm @elevencboutique donate a winter item to our clothing drive for the Bowery Mission and receive 40% off your transaction of clothing or shoes 'tis the season to be generous tell your friends @elevencboutique

A photo posted by Eleven Consignment Boutique (@elevencboutique) on Dec 9, 2016 at 1:36pm PST

Sorry for the late notice... I only just heard about this... Eleven Consignment Boutique has a location on First Avenue at 11th Street...

Try the chimney?

Earlier this morning (8-ish) on 13th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

As I continued toward Second Avenue, I heard Santa start yelling/screaming something like %#^@*@*%$$#@!, which led me to think he had been out since last Saturday.

'Bad weather' dooms weekend flea market, per the dramatic headline

The flea market at the Immaculate Conception Church on 14th Street near First Avenue is closed for the rest of the year... per the signage...



The vendors will return on Jan. 7.

Hey kids — Santa is coming to the 9th Precinct today

The 9th Precinct is hosting its annual children's holiday party today on East Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Happening snow or shine?)

The Claus clan will there... as well as refreshments and entertainment, including the all-new orange parking cone toss.

Friday's parting shot

Photo in Tompkins Square Park today by Bobby Williams...

'Cold Light' on a cold night

From the April release "Blue Wave," here's "Cold Light" by Operators, a side project via Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner that also features New Bomb Turks drummer Sam Brown and multi-instrumentalist Devojka.

Sidewalk bridge arrives just in time for East 3rd Street shop's busiest time of the year

A sidewalk bridge bridge arrived yesterday outside a row of buildings on East Third Street — much to the dismay of Dina Leor.

Leor is the owner of La Sirena, the small Mexican folk-art store at 27 E. Third St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery. Business is challenging enough without a sidewalk bridge obscuring part of the block — especially two days before what is traditionally her busiest shopping weekend of the year.

"Yesterday, on the coldest day of the season — I really felt for the workers — building management had a sidewalk scaffolding put up out front with no notice to the commercial tenants," she said.

Leor called the management (the property is owned by the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association) to find out what was happening. The response she received: "a few repairs and upkeep." She wondered why this couldn't wait until January.

And why wasn't there any notice?

"I would have been able to make a banner so people could know we are here and open on the busiest week of the year ... the week that gives us the financial boost to hopefully continue on with our evolving assemblage," said Leon, who has run La Sirena for 18 years. "I count on foot traffic. This is like the Grinch who stole La Sirena's Christmas."



Previously on EV Grieve:
With the help of Rosie Mendez, La Sirena gets a new lease on East 3rd Street

Out and About in the East Village with Dina Leor

EV Grieve Etc.: LES residents file suit against Steve Croman; 62-story tower planned for Clinton Street

[Beating the light on 1st Avenue via Derek Berg]

Stanton Street residents file suit against Steve Croman over "harassment" tactics (DNAinfo)

Another lawsuit for Ben Shaoul (Commercial Observer ... previously)

Starrett Corp. plans 62-story building at 259 Clinton St. (The Lo-Down)

More about Jared Kushner's Westminster Cares program (B+B ... previously)

Average Manhattan apartment cost $2.2 million in 2016 (Curbed)

Some history of the former Public National Bank of New York branch on Seventh and C (Ephemeral New York)

Peter McManus Cafe on Seventh Avenue may only have a year left (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

A Slum Goddess SantaCon experience (Slum Goddess)

The U.S. theatrical premiere of Ted Fendt's "Short Stay" (Anthology Film Archives)

The original "Miracle on 34th Street" at midnight this weekend (Sunshine Cinema)

A review of the new Honeybrains on Lafayette: "Unsurprisingly, I didn't feel any healthier, and definitely not any smarter, after two meals here, each of which cost me about $30. Both times, however, I did walk away feeling hungry." (Gothamist ... previously)

Red-tailed hawk hunting and gathering in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)

More about the Halal Guys going global (Crain's)

...and there's a Christmas ceramics sale today and tomorrow at the Sirovich Center, 331 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue...10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ...

Celebrating with Melissa

Sharing a moment ... and perhaps a piece of cake with (presumably?) Melissa on 9th Street this morning...



Photos by Steven

That time this restaurant closed after less than 2 weeks on St. Mark's Place

[Photo from June 2011]

In recent months, several restaurants have closed after a short time in business.

In late November, for instance, 100% Healthy Blend (or maybe just Healthy Blend) shut down at Second Avenue and Fifth Street after less than three months.

And at the beginning of November, 'Merica, described as "the most American bar and restaurant in the world," switched concepts after three weeks in operation on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Each time a restaurant comes and goes so quickly, someone asks if this is a record for a closure.

In recent years, at least in the nine years of EVG, an Italian restaurant called Tre Scalini holds the dubious East Village record, closing after less than two weeks at 130 St. Mark's Place in 2011.

Here's the EVG post from July 21, 2011:

Back on June 17, we pointed out that an Italian restaurant called Tre Scalini was taking over the former Bello's space at 130 St. Mark's Place near Avenue A.

I meant to note when they opened... If I had to guess, then I'd say they opened around July 1... During the weekend of July 8, I spotted this sign...

I walked by a few times and never saw anyone inside, save the owner and a worker or two. I last saw it open on July 10. I've walked by every day since then. It has not been open in the past 10 days.

If this is all true, then it was probably a good idea that they never changed the awning from the previous tenant.

They weren't even open long enough to merit a Yelp review.

By my count, they were open nine or 10 days. I wondered how many guests they served (if any) ... and why they decided to bail so quickly. (Did their lease have some kind of escape clause? There was still the cost of renovating the space.)

Tre Scalini wasn't a new venture. They had a location on 58th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue that eventually closed. They re-opened 13 years later on St. Mark's Place. There was also a location on Melville, Long Island, that now goes by a different name.

The restaurant that eventually took over this space, Kura, has been open for three-plus years.

Plywood comes down at 131 Avenue A to reveal new cafe Baci e Vendetta

[Photo via EVG reader JG]

The plywood came down yesterday to reveal Baci e Vendetta, the new wine bar-cafe at 131 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

This prime space across from Tompkins Square Park was the 10 Degrees Bistro until the fall of 2015 ... and the Flea Market Cafe before that.

Back in December, CB3 OK'd a beer-wine license for the owners of Shoolbred's and Kingston Hall (and formerly Ninth Ward) on Second Avenue. The CB3 meeting notes refer to the new establishment as "a New Orleans Cajun restaurant."

Baci e Vendetta, Italian for Kisses and Revenge, doesn't have much of a Cajun ring to it. Anyway, we're not sure at the moment who's behind this venture that debuted last night.

The space looks nice...

Be transported to another era. Our bar features 6 varieties of wines on tap including prosecco. #nyc #bar pic.twitter.com/ZiQdzHx0s2

— BacieVendetta (@BacieVendetta) December 15, 2016

Here's a look at the food and beverage menu... (click on images to go big)




According to the Baci website, these are the hours:

Sunday – Thursday: 9 am – midnight
Friday – Saturday: 9 am – 2 am
Brunch — Sat – Sun: 9 am – 4pm

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

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

Pastry chef Sebastian Brecht bringing chocolate to 4th Street

Signage is up at 63 E. Fourth St. noting "Obsessive Chocolate Disorder" in this storefront between Second Avenue and the Bowery. The name on the door notes the name of Sebastian Brecht, Chocolatier.

A 2007 feature in the Times on Brecht, a well-regarded pastry chef, reports that he "built a reputation by supplying Dean & DeLuca with cakes during its glory years and by working with fancy party caterers who fed his confections to the likes of Mick Jagger, Bon Jovi and Hillary Clinton." (His father was Greenwich Village historian, poet and author Stefan Brecht.)

We don't have any further details on the business at the moment. The space was previously home to Bond Street Chocolate for seven years.