Monday, May 22, 2017

New East Houston condos 'effortlessly embody the sophistication of Lower East Side living'



Some seven months after the "condos coming soon" banner was unveiled at 265 E. Houston St., developer Central Construction Management has put a few of the condoplex units on the market. (H/T Curbed and BuzzBuzzHome!)



There are three two-bedroom, two-bathroom units available, ranging from $2.45 million to $2.55 million. (There are seven units total in this 10-floor building.)

Here's the pitch, via Streeteasy:

Ideally located in Lower East Side Manhattan, this spectacular collection of apartments are finished to the highest standard with exquisite Italian Carrara marble and white oak flooring throughout. Private keyed elevators lead directly into each residence, where refined design, spacious floor plans, and a modern neutral color palette perfectly meld minimalist style with contemporary luxury.

With oversized windows, sleek living areas, private outdoor spaces, and expansive common roof top terraces boasting dramatic views of the city, these stylish homes effortlessly embody the sophistication of Lower East Side living.

A tranquil escape from the city, the elegant master bathrooms offer a peaceful space to luxuriate. Smooth Carrara marble walls and floors are complemented by pure white Robern cabinetry, bespoke recessed medicine cabinets, and jet black rainshowers with attached shower heads. The ergonomic double-sinks and marble-enclosed Kohler tubs are fitted with black faucets crafted by local manufacturers Watermark Designs. Secondary baths are finished with glossy white Nemo tile and Restoration Hardware cabinetry.

The corner was home to the Iglesia Pentecostal Arca de Salvacion (below). In 2008, developer 265 East Houston LLC purchased the plot for $500,000, public records show.


[Via]

Work at 265 E. Houston St. (aka 179 Suffolk St.) dates to early 2010. As you may recall, construction in the pit conveniently destabilized the building next door at No. 255, which caused Action for Progress to vacate.

Speaking of next door... Not much construction action here just yet...



Developer Samy Mahfar, the property's owner, has approved plans for a 10-story residential complex that will look like...



But for now...

Babu Ji going and coming



Workers have removed almost all the remnants of Babu Ji from outside the former Indian restaurant on Avenue B and 11th Street...



As we first reported on May 4, Sushil Malhotra, founder of Curry in a Hurry, Akbar Dawat and Café Spice, among others, is opening a new Indian restaurant in this space. We recently spoke by phone, and Malhotra said he was still finalizing details on the Avenue B space. He did promise it will be a fun restaurant.

Babu Ji had been closed here since early March following the disclosure of a second wage-theft and overtime lawsuit against owners Jessi and Jennifer Singh.

However, it appears Babu Ji will live on not too far away. An Eater tipster spotted Babu Ji signage at 22 E. 13th St. between Fifth Avenue and University Place a few weeks ago.

A sidewalk bridge for the future Joe and Pat's on 1st Avenue



The sidewalk bridge arrived last week outside the future East Village home of Staten Island-based pizzeria Joe and Pat's at 168 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street... and workers removed the large sign of the previous occupant, Lanza's...



There's nothing on file yet at the DOB (except for a permit for the sidewalk bridge) to indicate what might be happening outside here. There is also a permit issued May 10 for kitchen renovations, including new plumbing and an updated HVAC system... (estimated cost per the DOB: $199,000).

No opening date just yet. The original Joe and Pat's opened on Victory Boulevard in Staten Island in 1960.

Previously

Former Joe and Misses Doe space for rent on 1st Street



The for rent signs are up at the space that previously housed the bar-restaurant Joe and Misses Doe at 45 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue...



Florence Fabricant first noted this closure on May 2 in the Times.

Husband-and-wife owners Joe and Jill Dobias left this message on the restaurant's website:

"We are excited to announce that we will be joining the Jean-Georges Vongerichten & Phil Suarez Restaurant Group as part of their management team, Joe as the Executive Chef and I, as the Operations Manager and will operate their restaurant Le Dock on Fire Island for the Summer 2017 season. We will miss our regulars in the East Village but we look forward to an exciting new time in our careers. Hope to see everyone at the beach!"

JoeDoe opened in 2008, changing up in 2013 to become Joe & Misses Doe. They also ran the the excellent quick-serve JoeDough sandwich shop at 135 First Ave. for several years.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Week in Grieview


[Photo from Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Sen. Hoylman calls for immediate stay on all Steve Croman-initiated tenant cases (Wednesday)

Report: Sunshine Cinema on East Houston to close in January (Friday)

Arson at historic Lower East Side synagogue (Sunday)

Empellón Cocina closes after 5 years (Friday) Ditto for L'Apico (Friday)

Demolition watch: 112-120 E. 11th St., future home of a Moxy hotel (Monday)

An ode to Cafe Orlin (Thursday)

Out and About with designer Gustavo Roldan (Thursday)

Fire-damaged Caracas Arepa Bar now for rent (Wednesday)

A look at the incoming Bea Arthur Residence for homeless LGBT youth on 13th Street (Tuesday)

Post office-replacing residential building reaches ground level on 14th Street (Monday)

Fat Cat Kitchen opens on 14th Street (Tuesday)

Report: Body found in John V. Lindsay East River Park (Thursday)

Tailors Atelier expanding next door on 9th Street (Monday)

LES landlord hit with $1.2 million Airbnb lawsuit; 536 E. 14th St. among the properties (Thursday)

The 'commanding retail presence' of Extell's new 14th Street development (Wednesday)

Report: Drama on 13th Street as family of actress Rosario Dawson looks to buy affordable housing (Tuesday)

The Village Pourhouse still looks like the Village Pourhouse outside, but E.Vil is on the way (Monday)

Elite New York Sports Club now open on Astor Place (Wednesday)

Chinese restaurant in the works for former funeral parlor on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

Flagpole Day in Tompkins Square Park (Monday)

Dance Parade and DanceFest photos galore (Saturday ... Sunday)

...and thanks to Thrillist for naming EVG one of the city's best neighborhood blogs. (Read article here.)

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Do you wanna dance?


[East 4th Street at the LaMama Block Party]

EVG contributor Derek Berg took in some of the dancing that was going on around the neighborhood yesterday... here's a selection...

The Dancing in the Street La MaMa Block Party







The 41st annual Ukrainian Festival











The Festival continues today on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. Performances are at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

The Dance Parade







DanceFest









Find more DanceFest pics here.

Daddy issues?



Spotted on 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A...

The Village View tag sale is today (Sunday!)



The sale is in the playground just behind 60 Avenue A at the corner of East Fourth Street and Avenue A ... from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

And go here photos from a previous VV sale.

H/T EVG reader Steph!

Saturday, May 20, 2017

At the DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park



The annual Dance Parade ended in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon ... where the DanceFest began... EVG contributor Stacie Joy was in the Park and shared these photos...





























A Spring Forward plant (and other things) sale on 13th Street



At the Dias y Flores Community Garden on 13th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Other places where there will be dancing in the streets today



Busy day today... with the Dance Parade and DanceFest and the Ukrainian Festival... and there's the Dancing in the Street La MaMa Block Party on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ...

Join La MaMa as we celebrate our 55th Anniversary with a Dancing in the Street Block Party with free performances and workshops, a bouncy castle, hula hoops, cotton candy, food carts, local restaurants, community organizations, children's activities, sidewalk chalking, DJ Todd Jones and dancing in the street.

Now in its 12th season, La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival is taking place in all La MaMa venues. This wide range of dance programming supports La MaMa’s commitment to presenting diverse performance styles that challenge audience’s perception of dance and reflects La MaMa’s longstanding mission to present performance that transcends politics and unifies cultures.

More details here.

Also on the block today...

EAST 4TH ST. BLOCK PARTY this SATURDAY, May 20, 11-4pm [Part of the La Mama Theater Dance Festival]. We'll be open all day from 11-7pm & hosting a sidewalk book sale with @arthurjfournier, @mastbooks @grey_frame @antifurniture & tarot readings by @nansekawashima. In support, of The 4th St. Food Co-op, the only one left in Manhattan, a portion of the sales of books & tarot card readings will go to The 4th St. Food Co-op. . . . The 4th Street Food Co-op, which was originally a buying club, has existed on 4th Street between Bowery and 2nd Avenue since the early 1970’s, however officially became a cooperative in 1995. The Co-op has no owner or paid employees, it is entirely run by volunteers and occupies a Mutual Housing Association (MHA) building. Despite the challenges of remaining afloat without a for-profit business model, the 4th Street Food Co-op has managed to remain open to the public and continues to provide access to non-GMO, organic, and ethically sourced foods and household products.

A post shared by FORTNIGHT INSTITUTE (@fortnight_institute) on

Friday, May 19, 2017

Friday's parting shot



Day 1 of the Ukrainian Festival on Seventh Street... Find the weekend schedule here.

Photo by Derek Berg

Live Wire



This year marks the 40th anniversary of Wire's first record — the post-punk classic "Pink Flag."

The U.K.-based band is still active, recording several albums in recent years, including Silver/Lead earlier this spring.

The above is for "Short Elevated Period" from that new album... and below is a live track from 2015...



You can see them live at the end of September with three shows at Baby's All Right in Williamsburg.

Tonight and tomorrow at the Anthology Film Archives: 'Light Fantastic'


A rare screening of "Light Fantastic" plays tonight and tomorrow at 7:30. Find more details here. The Anthology Film Archives is on Second Street at Second Avenue.

Reminder: the Dance Parade (and DanceFest) is tomorrow (Saturday!)

As previously noted, tomorrow (May 20) is the 11th-annual Dance Parade ...



The parade ends in Tompkins Square Park, where DanceFest happens from 3 to 7 p.m. on four different stages...