EV Grieve Etc.: Details on the LGBTQ Solidarity Rally; About the Bowery Presents deal

Details on the LGBTQ Solidarity Rally outside the Stonewall Inn tomorrow afternoon at 2 (Facebook)

NYU Anti-Fascists vs. the Proud Boys at NYU last night; 11 arrests (Gothamist)

Ex-con arrested after stealing jeep from the East Village (DNAinfo)

A look at Economy Candy in the 1980s (Ephemeral New York)

Black History Month in NYC: 15 historic sites to visit (Curbed)

C&B Café at 178 E. 7th St. near Avenue B turns 2 tomorrow (Instagram ... previously)

AEG deal to buy half of Bowery Presents does not include Bowery Ballroom or Mercury Lounge (Pitchfork)

This weekend: "Beyond Cassavetes: Lost Legends of the New York Film World (1945-70)" (Anthology Film Archives)

Nation senior editor Lizzy Ratner tells Jared Kushner's family story in a personal meditation on her own family's passage to America, which parallels that of Kushner's (The Nation)

Hanging around with some hawks (Laura Goggin Photography)

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: We've only got three more days at our 7th St location before mov… https://t.co/17dcXiaXI5 pic.twitter.com/sWYPr4Xzpr

— TurntableLab NY Shop (@TurntableLabNYC) February 3, 2017

Troubles at the the Cornelia Street Cafe (Off the Grid)

An interview with Tod [A] of Cop Shoot Cop (Flaming Pablum)

The American Political Items Collectors show is Sunday in Seward Park (The Lo-Down)

There goes the Carnegie Deli sign (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

If you feeling like going out Sunday night but not have to be subjected to the Super Bowl, here's one option: Jimmy's No. 43 at 43 E. Seventh St. is offering a break from the game — no TVs with "old-time folk singers in the back room."

Or there's always a screening of the 1977 Paul Newman comedy "Slap Shot" down at the Metrograph on Ludlow Street Sunday night at 8:45 ...

Only 'Yesterday'

There's a new release of demos from 1982 by the Glasgow-based pop duo Strawberry Switchblade ... these New York Dolls fans only released one proper record in the day, which included the catchy "Since Yesterday" (circa 1984), which is apparently about nuclear war. Enjoy!

RIP Officer Bianca Bennett

With heavy hearts we morn the loss of Police Officer Bennett #dynamic #nypdcadet #nypdexplorer #nypdtraffic #NYPD #finest pic.twitter.com/ZtGxC5qO7s

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) February 3, 2017

Officer Bianca Bennett, who worked at the 9th Precinct on Fifth Street, died in a single-car crash in the Bronx on Wednesday night, according to published reports. She was 27.

Per the Post:

Sources say Bennett was a passenger in a red Dodge Durango driven by a fellow off-duty officer, who lost control and ran off the roadway. The SUV flipped and burst into flames.

The other officer reportedly sustained trauma and burns to both of his legs. He remains in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital.

The rookie officer was set to marry her high school sweetheart in April.

Thank You everyone for the outpouring of support during this difficult time as we prepare to say goodbye to a true shining star #NYPD pic.twitter.com/Wr1xpgZ3Qh

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) February 3, 2017

An appreciation: the Village East Cinema

The Village East Cinema on Second Avenue at 12th Street is one of my favorite places to see a movie here or anywhere.

And the theater was the subject of a recent feature at 6sqft, which provides a history of the space as well as details on the restoration of the main auditorium's ornate ceiling.

Per the post, which features photos by James and Karla Murray:

Village East Cinema was once known as The Louis N. Jaffe Theater, built in 1925-26 by the Brooklyn lawyer, developer and prominent Jewish leader Louis N. Jaffe. Jaffe built the theater as a permanent home for the Yiddish Art Theater to be devoted to the work of Maurice Schwartz, a renowned Yiddish speaking actor known as “Mr. Second Avenue.”

The Yiddish theater produced many of the creative figures of the 20th century American stage, including actors, directors, writers and designers, and had a major influence on theatrical form and content.

And!

Yiddish theater was performed at the Jaffe Art Theater from 1926-1945, but the theater itself changed its names numerous times and housed many different Yiddish theater companies. The theater later showed vaudeville productions and was used an off-Broadway theater venue, housing the original productions of “Grease” and “Joseph & the Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which both went on to Broadway.

The theater also was used to show burlesque, dance, concerts, and movies but finally closed in 1988. The interior was converted into a complex of seven movie theaters in 1991 in a way that retains most of the original spaces, but with new uses.

Read the whole post here.

The piece also notes that the theater is on both the State and National Historic Registers and its façade and interior including the lobby and domed auditorium are designated New York City landmarks.

A few other FYI things... all screenings before noon are just $8. And on Thursdays, moviegoers 55 and over can get $8 tickets for all times.

And there's a 75th-anniversary screening of "Casablanca" on Feb. 14.

Coming next week:
I went to the AMC Village 7 and got vertigo looking at the carpet...



Previously on EV Grieve:
At the Village East Cinema

98 Favor Taste signage arrives on St. Mark's Place

The signage arrived yesterday on St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue for 98 Favor Taste, as these photos via EVG Senior Signage Correspondent Steven show ...





The restaurant comes via Liju Lin, who has run the 99 Favor Taste restaurant in Sunset Park since 2011 ... and the Grand Street location since 2012.

The restaurants specialize in traditional Korean-style barbecue and Chinese hot pot meals.

Upon opening on Grand Street, the Voice gave 99 Favor an enthusiastic review... calling it "a feastly orgy: trays heaped with raw meats and fishes, feathery greens and fungi, boiling and bubbling pots, and popping and sizzling meats top every table. Diners crowd around, heads-down, slurping noodles and soup with chopsticks, only looking up to tend the meat, cooking at arm's distance away."

These storefronts have been vacant going on five years now. Timi's Gelateria Classica™ closed at the end of 2011 in one of the spaces… while Michael "Bao" Huynh's Baoguette Cafe shut down at summer's end in 2012.

Previously

Reader mailbag: A call to keep the lights on the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo from Tuesday]

EVG regular Jose Garcia writes in:

I've been wondering whether you think there might be any sympathy for keeping the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park lit beyond the holiday season.

Not sure who (Parks Department?) is responsible for it but for me at least it's become something of a beacon of hope and the beauty of our neighborhood given the toxic political atmosphere.

I'm guessing it would be a matter of costs and also perhaps it would be unhealthy for the tree?

The lights usually remain illuminated until some time in February... like in 2009, it was Feb. 7... in 2014, it was Feb. 17.

It was pretty nice to see it lit up that one St. Patrick's Day.

Some temporary signage for Abraco on 7th Street

Earlier this week, a temporary sign arrived outside the newish home of Abraço at 81 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Abraço owners Jamie McCormick and Elizabeth Quijada moved into this larger space from across the street from their former address back in September...

Perhaps the new sign will help those who think that Abraço closed at 86 E. Seventh St.



We've heard from a handful of people, who saw the for rent sign at No. 86 in recent months, asking when/why Abraço was no more.

The cafe, now in its 10th year of business on the block, has an active Instagram account showing some of the daily specials.

Progress at Little Tong Noodle Shop, coming soon to 1st Avenue

[Photos by Steven]

A worker has been painting the exterior of the former Schnitz space this past week on First Avenue at 11th Street...



As we first noted in late December, a self-described "fast causal" restaurant called Little Tong Noodle Shop is set to take over the corner spot.

The applicants were OK'd for a beer-wine license last month. (This item was not heard during the committee meeting on Jan. 9.) According to the questionnaire (PDF!) on file at the CB3 website, the restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m to midnight. The owners also plan on operating a four-table sidewalk cafe with 12 seats from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Simone Tong, who worked for Wylie Dufresne’s now-closed wd~50 on Clinton Street, is the chef. While work continues on the First Avenue space, Tong is hosting several preview dinners this month at Jimmy's No. 43 on Seventh Street, as Bedford + Bowery reported.

Meanwhile, here's a look at how the interior is shaping up via the restaurant's Instagram account...

Day 14. Aka- let's hide the WC. #noodles #chineserestaurant #chinesefood #yunnan #ricenoodles #eastvillage #nycfoodie #nycfood #nycrestaurants #eeeeeats #newyork #newyorkcity

A photo posted by Little Tong Noodle Shop (@littletongnyc) on Feb 1, 2017 at 2:04pm PST

No word yet on an opening date.

Schnitz, which served old-fashioned schnitzel sandwiches with unconventional toppings, was in operation from March 2014 to August 2016. Something Sweet, the family-owned bakery, was here until July 2012.

Previously on EVG:
Little Tong Noodle Shop taking the former Schnitz space on 1st Avenue

Last-minute things to do on Groundhog Day: See 'Groundhog Day'

The Bill Murray comedy from 1993 is playing tonight at 7:30 at Gobbler's Knob the Village East Cinema on Second Avenue at 12th Street. Tickets are $10 each and available here.

Condos at Rite Aid's new neighbor on 1st Avenue will range from $1 million to $6 million

[Pit work at 75 1st Ave. one recent evening]

As you may know, an 8-story condoplex — featuring 22 residences — is coming to the long-empty lot at 75 First Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

To date, we'd only seen photos of broker Ryan Serhant's team in suits brandishing shovels at a groundbreaking ceremony ... and not any of the actual new building.

Now though, Colonnade Group, the developer behind the project, has released some renderings, as first posted yesterday at The Real Deal.

75 First. Coming soon 😎

A photo posted by Ryan Serhant (@ryanserhant) on Feb 1, 2017 at 3:42pm PST

Here's an interior shot...


[Image via the Colonnade Group]

HTO Architects designed the building. The prices will range from around $1 million for a one-bedroom to $6 million for a three-bedroom. The amenities include a fitness center, lounge and library, private and common roof deck and bike storage.

As for No. 75's neighbor... the bears have been lined up for Valentine's Day...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer: A shorter building in the works now for 75 First Avenue

High-rise for 75 First Avenue back in play

Long-stalled First Avenue site now has a brand-new rendering

Report: Long-dormant 1st Avenue development site changes hands

Plywood report and the future of 75 1st Ave. (Spoiler: condos)