David Chang's Momofuku Ko is expanding in Extra Place

[The current front entrance of Momofuku Ko at 8 Extra Place]

Not too many businesses have had any success in Extra Place, the pedestrian walkway off of First Street between the Bowery and Second Avenue.

Red Hook Lobster Pound was the most recent casualty in this former alley that ran behind CBGB. (Read about the history of Extra Place dating to 1800 here.)

That is with the exception of David Chang's Momofuku Ko, which relocated to 8 Extra Place from First Avenue in November 2014.

Things have been going so well here, apparently, at the critically acclaimed Ko, where the tasting menu is $195 per person, that they are expanding.

Chang and company are on this month's CB3-SLA docket for an alteration of an existing liquor license. According to the paperwork on file at the CB3 website, they are creating a new waiting/dining area with 6-7 tables and 14 seats for a kitchen counter/bar. (You can read their questionnaire/PDF here.)

Here's a diagram at the CB3 website with what the expanded Ko will look like...


[Click for a better look]

The paperwork appears on the doorway of 12 Extra Place, which will be the new entrance...





The sign for the now-closed boutique Inventory remains above the doorway.

The space looks to be in use as an office right now...





So a quick Extra Place business recap: The Japanese housewares boutique Nalata Nalata has the corner space at No. 2. Momofuku Ko will take up No. 4 through 12 (or 14). No. 16 was the Red Hook Lobster Pound. No. 18 is a prep kitchen for Daniel Boulud.

Moving forward Momofuku Place might be a better name for Extra Place.

The May SLA committee meeting is next Monday (the 15th!) at 6:30 p.m. Location: Perseverance House Community Room, 535 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
With new restaurant opening, will Extra Place finally become a dining destination?

Extra Place now officially a Dead End

Extra Place and Heidi currently 'closed for renovation' in Extra Place

Red Hook Lobster Pound in the works for Extra Place

A few more details on Momofuku Ko (aka, TBD) coming to Extra Place

Zabb City appears to have closed on 13th Street

The gate has been down in recent weeks at Zabb City, the reliable and reasonably priced Thai restaurant on 13th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

There's a note on the door about management being on holiday, with normal business hours resuming on April 28. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. The restaurant appears to be closed. The Zabb City phone number has been disconnected, and the website displays a 404 Not Found Error.

Behold the chicken fillet at Ray's

There is a new menu item to note at Ray's Candy Store: Chicken fillet (lightly breaded) on a roll with tomatoes. A $5 item.

Photo by Peter Brownscombe.

More about Yuan Noodle, coming soon to 2nd Avenue

In late April, we noted that there was a new restaurant in the works for 157 Second Ave.

Yuan Noodle is on this month's CB3-SLA committee agenda for a new liquor license. (You can read their CB3 questionnaire here.)

Eater has more on what's to come:

Former financier Jacob Ding is using family recipes to open a Guilin boiled rice noodle and dim sum parlor, after his wife told him she wished that type of restaurant existed.

Ding grew up in Guilin, China, where rice noodles reign. They’re thick and come with various topping such as roasted peanuts, scallions, chiles, and assorted pickles. Ding will serve his dry, as opposed to with soup, alongside a condensed gravy-like sauce and with options like roast pork and braised beef.

Yuan Noodle will also offer classic dim sum dishes, such as shumai, har gow, and vegetable dumplings.

The restaurant is now hiring ...



The address here between Ninth Street and 10th Street previously housed Biang!, the sit-down Chinese restaurant via Xi'an Famous Foods owner Jason Wang, and Alder, Wylie Dufresne's bistro.

Long-empty storefront starting with a clean slate on 6th Street

And in news about new dry cleaners... there is a dry cleaners (Magnolia!) coming to 514 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

As far as I can recall, this space has been empty since Betola Espresso Bar closed in June 2013.

Week in Grieview

[Photo Friday in Tompkins Square Park by Bobby Williams]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

A proposal to co-name part of 2nd Avenue and 7th Street after the victims of the 2015 gas explosion (Monday)

The housing limbo of Raphael Toledano's (former) East Village tenants (Monday) ... while East Village tenants pay Toledano a visit at his Upper West Side home (Thursday)

Anna has left the East Village after 22 years (Tuesday)

New MoRUS exhibit features LES posters and flyers from the 1980s and 1990s (Wednesday)

Veteran restaurateur Sushil Malhotra opening Old Monk in former Babu Ji space on Avenue B (Thursday)

Reader report: Man with knife takes backpack from guest in building on 13th Street and 1st Avenue (Tuesday)

May is Lower East Side History Month (Monday)

90s Forever on 9th Street this month (Wednesday)

L'Apicio serving its last meal on May 20 (Monday)

Construction watch: 287 E. Houston St. (Tuesday)

Parantha Alley opens in the Bowery Market (Monday)

Out and About in the East Village (Wednesday)

A map to track the city's 280 miles of sidewalk bridges (Wednesday)

A look at the MTA's new @LinkNYC on wheels (Friday)

A quick look at Fiaschetteria Pistoia on 11th Street (Thursday)

2 Bros. Pizza unveils new sign, branding on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

'Enjoy the Royal Tenenbaum lifestyle' at the price-reduced Kate Spade house of 12th Street (Friday)

Vogue Magazine held a pre-Met Gala party on 6th Street (Monday, 35 comments)

Bowery Road and the Library of Distilled Spirits check into the Hyatt Union Square (Monday)

Juice Press annex for rent on 1st Street (Monday)

...and how did we not mention the budding sinkhole on First Avenue and Fifth Street from Friday...

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May 7

On this first Sunday in May, someone decided that it might be a good day to toss the Christmas/holiday tree ... and did so on Avenue A and Sixth Street so that we can all enjoy it for a little longer.

Thank you to EVG reader Eli for the photo.

Report: Postal worker arrested after allegedly kicking door, hitting cops

Gothamist has a report on a U.S. Postal employee's bad day yesterday afternoon.

Things reportedly began when letter carrier Daniel Jean tried to deliver mail to the Columbia Care medical marijuana dispensary at 212 E. 14th St. just east of Third Avenue. The security guard wouldn't allow him to enter, and offered to take the mail instead. Jean refused. He ended up coming back three times, the last in which he allegedly kicked and damaged the front door.

Police caught up with Jean on 11th Street and Third Avenue. Per Gothamist: "When police tried to arrest him, the NYPD spokesperson said that Jean allegedly hit two of the cops, injuring their hands, knees and backs."

The NYPD charged Jean with criminal mischief, obstruction of governmental administration and assault.

EVG file photo

Previously on EV Grieve:
A patient visit to the medical marijuana dispensary on 14th Street

Morning crime scene

Spotted on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery... photo by Derek Berg

You won't be able to visit the New York City Marble Cemetery today

In case your plans today included a visit to the New York City Marble Cemetery during its Neighborhood Open Day ... that isn't happening now... a handwritten note here on Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue says the cemetery won't be open today "due to illness" ...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

A message on the Cemetery's website is more ominous: "As of May 5, 2017, the Cemetery is temporarily closed to visitors until further notice."

The New York Marble Cemetery at 41 1/2 Second Ave. between Second Street and Third Street will be open next Sunday (Mother's Day!) from Noon to 4 p.m. Find their schedule for the season here.

Saturday's parting shot

Spotted on Ninth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. Photo by Bobby Williams...

A note about 14th Street today

An EVG reader passes along a gridlock alert for drivers, passengers and crosstown bus passengers (well, anyone) on 14th Street ... there is the Second Avenue Street Festival going on until 5 p.m. today, which is causing some gridlock action as the top photo shows.

Oh, and the L is down for the weekend. (2019 preview!)

#LTrain Riders should plan an alternative route for this weekend travels. pic.twitter.com/BsIg9CAPCl

— Rosie Mendez (@RosieMendez) May 5, 2017

As for the Street Festival, there is a better-than-usual selection of street meat...





...and beware of the lousy Beyonce bootlegs...



Street Festival photos by Steven

Today in photos of police-escorted charter buses on Avenue A

EVG reader Paul Dougherty shares this photo from 9:30 a.m. on Avenue A at Sixth Street... NYPD cruiser (one in front and one in back) escorting three charter buses with tinted windows. The first bus was marked District of Columbia.

Jared Kushner in town checking on his East Village properties? Potential homeowners coming from Steiner East Village? Attendees going to a post-post Met Gala party? Anyone?

Today in community garden plant sales

Both items via the EVG inbox...

UNCOMMON PLANTS FOR CITY FOLK
WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
WHERE: El Sol Brillante Community Garden, 522-526 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B
Rock Garden plants and choice perennials for sun & shade, including native plants
Plants are grown by members of MCNARGS (including many from Tom Stuart) with additional selections from Wrightman, Garden Vision Epimediums, Gowanus

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Plant & Bake Sale, 6th Street & Avenue B Community Garden (southwest corner of 6th and B)
Saturday-Sunday, May 6-7, 12-5 p.m.

Our Horticulture Committee and other volunteers have been hard a work growing and procuring plants, baked goods, and other items to sell.

All money raised from this event goes directly to fund our always FREE Events Programming for the Summer. This includes Music, Spoken Word, Film Nights, Slide Lectures and Talks, Workshops, Drawing in the Garden, and more.

Find more details here.

Friday's parting video

From earlier today... Life in a Steve Croman building when it rains...

Be out of your mind with 'Boredom'

Here are the Buzzcocks with "Boredom" ... circa 1981.

And they are playing Webster Hall on June 9.

EV Grieve Etc.: LES landlord Samy Mahfar settles civil suit; MCA Day happens tomorrow

[Flashback Friday to blue skies from 3rd Street]

Weekend guide to the Lower East Side History Month (Official site)

LES history on display in open-air museum exhibit on East Houston Street (BoweryBoogie)

AG Schneiderman settles civil suit with landlord Samy Mahfar (The Lo-Down)

DA: Driver involved in deadly March crash on the Williamsburg Bridge was driving drunk and going 111 MPH (ABC 7)

Council candidates for District 2 agree to rezone Tech Hub area/East 14th Street (Town & Village)

Details on MCA Day tomorrow in Brooklyn (Gothamist)

The U.S. theatrical premiere of Wang Bing's new film, "TA’ANG," "perhaps the most revealing cinematic portrait yet of life in a refugee camp." (Anthology Film Archives)

Diversions: Early footage of the Plasmatics surfaces (Dangerous Minds)

There were 12 offers for actress Diane Kruger's EV apartment (The Post) ... while Chloe Sevigny is moving back to Manhattan (Architectural Digest)

Past lives of the bunker on the Bowery (Ephemeral New York)

10 galleries to visit on the LES (The New York Times)

Next NYCHA infill site to add more units to Two Bridges neighborhood (City Limits)

... and the gift shop Pink Olive is celebrating its 10-year anniversary tomorrow at 439 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...

Lunch break

Lunch on a steel beam wheatpaste, new on Fifth Street via SacSix ...

EV Grieve Etc.

A few items to note from the past few weeks...and yesterday...


[Photo by Steven]

CJ. Tattoo is opening soon at 103 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

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The Caracas Arepa Bar at 93 Seventh St. appears to be shaping up, at least from the outside...



The restaurant suffered extensive damage during an early-morning fire last September. No word on a possible reopening date, but there is noticeable progress. The Caracas to-go space at No. 91 continues in service.

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Across Seventh Street... Comparti New York signage has been on the door the past few weeks at No. 102...



The space, last home to XyZ Pintxos y Botanas, will be home to a tasting room via Comparti Catering, described as "a full-service catering and events resource."



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East Village Bikes has taken over the Recycle-A-Bicycle space at 75 Avenue C between Sixth Street and Fifth Street...



Good photo opps atop the store van...



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The brown paper fell down inside the storefront for rent at 198 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street...



...offering a glimpse inside the former Empire Biscuit, which closed about 17 months ago...



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And from yesterday, sigange arrived for La Pizza Di Tramonti, the new pizzeria coming to 130 St. Mark's Place near Avenue A...



Still no word who's behind this venture...


[Photos by Steven]

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Also yesterday! Workers continued removing the extensive sidewalk bridge and scaffolding that had covered the corner storefronts on East Houston at Allen...



Sugar Cafe shut down in February... some sort of combo house of nightlife horrors is in the works for the rehabbed spaces...

'Enjoy the Royal Tenenbaum lifestyle' at the price-reduced Kate Spade house of 12th Street

[Image via Sotheby's]

Last June, we noted that this lovely single-family townhouse at 215 E. 12th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue was on the market for $16 million.

The place is owned by a co-founder of the Kate Spade brand (and dubbed the "Kate Spade House" by The Real Deal) ... by October, the ask had been reduced to $12 million.

And now! As Curbed noted Wednesday, there's a new broker and price — $9.95 million. Time to pounce?



Here's the new pitch via Sotheby's:

25 feet wide and voluminous interiors set this home apart from the pack. Vast parlor floor with 13½ foot ceiling height, two fireplaces and floor to ceiling windows allows for ballroom sized entertaining space.

5,000 square feet of interior space with additional FAR that may allow for an additional 5,000 square feet.

Many options for next owner starting with garden level apartment/den. 1-2 bedrooms with 2 full bath and kitchen has separate entrance and Garden access.

Glorious double parlor floor with eat-in kitchen and staircase to the garden level.

Third floor currently has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and could be the ultimate master suite.

Fourth floor has 3 bedrooms, full laundry, full bath and large sky lighted den.

Enjoy the Royal Tenenbaum lifestyle or develop into a one-of-a-kind mansion.

The Royal Tenenbaum lifestyle????



Public records show that the home last changed hands for $4.3 million in 2007.

A look at the MTA's new @LinkNYC on wheels

Back on April 18, Gov. Cuomo announced that the first of 79 new buses equipped with Wi-Fi service and USB ports have arrived for service in Manhattan.

Per the MTA news advisory on this:

After the initial delivery of 3 buses this week, units will arrive at a rate of approximately 3 to 5 buses per week. All 79 buses will be in service by the end of this year and will be based at the MTA’s Tuskegee Depot, running on the M14, M15, M101, M102 and M103.

Anyway, I finally saw one out in the wilds ... on Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place... Go Big Blue!





Per the MTA:

The addition of Wi-Fi provides a new level of connectivity to New Yorkers, bringing ease and convenience to those working, reading emails, or checking in on their social media accounts without impacting their cellular data plans. The number of USB ports on buses will range from 35-55, depending on the make and model, and will be conveniently located throughout the bus.

As for the non-blue-and-gold buses, the MTA is retrofitting the existing fleet with the same "digital-age amenities" as the new ones.

Hopefully Cuomo and Co. will come to their senses and bring back the two-tone green ones...


[Image via the MTA]

The Second Avenue Street Fair is tomorrow (Saturday!)

As far as street fairs/festivals go around here, the annual one hosted by Middle Collegiate Church is a good one, with the community spirit absent in those just with the funnel cakes and tube socks.

Via the EVG inbox...

Join us for our annual Second Avenue Street Fair on Saturday, May 6, 12-5pm! Children and families can enjoy activities like a bounce-house, tie-dye t-shirt making, sidewalk chalk, bubble station, Japanese calligraphy, and more!

From 1-5pm, hear live music on the Middle Church stage featuring celebrated East Village musicians, including the Jerriese Johnson Gospel Choir and Village Chorus for Children & Youth. Voter registration and election information will also be available on our block. It’s an all-day party with Middle Church, filled with art, justice and music — you won’t want to miss it!

And this is not the first street festival of the season... that happened on April 9 with the Astor Place Festival ... and there was the Broadway Festival on April 15 on Broadway from 14th Street down to Eighth Street...


[Photo of what you missed on April 15]

H/T EVG reader Marjorie

Tonight's Astor Blaster Silent Disco is postponed

Astor Blaster POSTPONED TO FRIDAY JUNE 9TH 6:30pm - 10:30pm. We might have the best beats, but we can't beat the rain. With rain forecast for Friday we've RESCHEDULED Astor Blaster to FRIDAY JUNE, 9th, 6:30pm-10:30pm. Join us then for warmer weather, HOT beats, DJ's and one SIZZLING summer shindig. Stay tuned for updates! #AstorBlaster #AstorPlace #astorplacecube #disco

A post shared by Astor Place NYC (@astorplacenyc) on May 3, 2017 at 1:56pm PDT

The Earth School Spring Auction is Saturday (and for a good cause)

The Earth School over on Sixth Street at Avenue B is holding its largest fundraising event of the year on Saturday evening. The Department of Education cut funding for enrichment programs like P.E., music and overnight camping trips a few years back. So the Parents Association raises funds to make up for the deficit. Here are details via the EVG inbox...

This isn't just any adult school fundraiser. This is an underground party with plenty of food & drinks to get you warmed up, live and silent auctions, one-of-a-kind art, live music and later a DJ for dancing the night away! Some of the items up for grabs during the silent and live auctions: NY Marathon Entry, Field Level Tickets to a home Yankees game, Camp Speers One-Week Summer Overnight Camp, One Cup Of Coffee for Life from Madman Espresso, and so much more! All proceeds benefit the kids at The Earth School.

Venue address: Saint Nicholas Hall, 157 Avenue A (corner of 10th Street)
Event dates and times: Saturday, May 6, 6-10pm
Event prices: Admission is $30 (pre-sale at link) and $40 at door (ticket includes food and 2 bar drinks).