A sunset view this evening via Bobby Williams...
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Report: Suspect in 6th Street slashing seeking a sentencing deal in court
Per the Daily News:
Francis Salud, 29, balked at the offer of 14 years in prison in exchange for his guilty plea made by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser even though prosecutors had argued for an additional four years and five years parole.
Salud made a desperate push for less time in the slammer, even blaming his attorney for his bad spot. He had demanded new counsel in a letter to the court.
His counter-offer was for 10 years.
Konviser told Salud that 14 years was her final offer, and gave him two weeks to think about his decision.
Around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2016, Anthony Christopher-Smith, a social worker from Newark, N.J., was walking on Sixth Street east of Cooper Square to meet a friend when someone came up from behind him, shoved him down and cursed. His face and back were slashed in the process. Smith reportedly underwent eight hours of surgery, and needed nearly 150 stitches for the wound from his right ear to his lips.
Salud was arrested several days later at an apartment on Fourth Street and Second Avenue. He was previously arrested and charged for a slashing that happened Oct. 18, 2015. He was out on bail at the time of the second attack.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Man's face cut in random slashing on East 6th Street
Report: East 6th Street slashing suspect blames victim (and the government) for attack
Suspect in custody for East 6th Street slashing
Mermaid In (the trash)
EVG reader Jennifer Kellow shares these photos from First Avenue and Second Street from yesterday afternoon...
Public forum set to discuss special business district in the East Village
Community Board 3's Economic Development Committee is hosting a public forum on June 7 to discuss a proposed special district in the East Village "to encourage retail diversity and promote small and independent businesses."
Here's more via a Q-and-A on the CB3 website on the issue:
Why a special district in the East Village and why now?
CB 3 has experienced a dramatic loss of small “mom & pop” businesses in the past 10+ years, and a resulting decrease in the diversity and affordability of local goods and services. Driven by a combination of high commercial rents and real estate taxes, competition from an over-proliferation and concentration of destination nightlife businesses and national chain stores who can afford exorbitant rents, and a lack of daytime foot traffic, the loss of small businesses has been sustained in recent years.
What are the goals of a special district in CB 3?
• preserve the unique, individual character of our neighborhoods
• facilitate a diverse, affordable, and appropriate mix of retail and service providers that meet local needs
• encourage daytime businesses that do not have a disruptive effect on residents
• support existing businesses serving local needs
• limit the ground floor presence of inactive street wall frontages
• promote strong and affordable neighborhoods that are inviting to all New Yorkers, especially families
How will a special district affect certain uses?
The special district is not meant to push out existing businesses and nightlife establishments. Rather, the effort is to strike a balance and create a level playing field for small businesses. In the current proposal, eating/drinking establishments, banks, and chains would have restrictions on maximum total size (2,500 square feet) and maximum street wall width (25 linear feet). They would also be prohibited from combining storefronts across separate buildings.
Additionally, there would be restrictions on how much of a block’s street frontage can be occupied by a particular use — for example, no more than 25 percent of any given block’s street frontage can be occupied by eating/drinking establishments and there cannot be more than 1 chain store or bank per block.
I am thinking of opening a business in the East Village that does not meet the parameters of the special district. Does your current proposal take exceptions into consideration?
In the current proposal, applications for exceptions will require a mandatory review process and referral to the Community Board for a recommendation.
Based on the current proposal, where will the special district be located?
• 14th Street to Houston; 2nd Avenue to Avenue D (excluding N/S sides of Houston and 14th)
• St Marks between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue
The meeting is Wednesday, June 7, from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Sirovich Senior Center, 331 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
Ramen Setagaya reopens today after renovation on St. Mark's Place
The St. Mark's Place branch of Japanese chain Ramen Setagaya has been closed for the past few weeks... with brown paper covering the windows.
But there is a note (as well as new signage) here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... noting a reopening today...
There's also a reopening event this weekend... where the already-affordable student-friendly menu will offer two $5 specials...
Report: Morton Williams won't be taking over the 14th Street Associated after all
[EVG file photo]
After learning that a Trader Joe's was coming to the new development at the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office on 14th Street, Morton Williams has decided not to sign a lease for the nearby Associated, according to a report yesterday in Town & Village.
So for now, Associated will continue on here between Avenue A and First Avenue. The supermarket's lease is up at the end of the year.
Per Town & Village:
Asked about Morton Williams’ decision to withdraw from negotiations, Rick Hayduk, general manager of Stuyvesant Town, said no lease had been signed. Last week, he mentioned this as well, though he confirmed there were negotiations.
“Associated continues with their lease,” he added. “No final decision has been made with respect to the tenant for this space on a go-forward basis.”
Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Associated owners not having any luck shopping for a lease renewal on East 14th Street (34 comments)
Petition drive underway to help save the Stuy Town Associated on East 14th Street
Report: New Stuy Town owner pledges to keep a grocery story on East 14th Street, but it may not be Associated
Report: Morton Williams will take over the Associated space on 14th Street (27 comments)
Against the Grain yields to sustainable omakase restaurant on 6th Street
Against the Grain, the beer annex of Grape and Grain on Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C, has closed to make way for Mayanoki, a sustainable omakase restaurant that has been operating as a pop-up spot in Brooklyn the past five years.
According to Eater, Mayanoki co-owners Josh Arak and David Torchiano are subletting the small space "with the expectation that it will become a long-term arrangement."
Per Eater:
Mayanoki’s $95, 15-course menu will serve varieties such as squid, black sea bass from New Jersey, Spanish mackerel, scallops, oysters, albacore tuna, grouper from Florida, and more. The varieties will change based on what is in season and sustainably available, and the restaurant will work with organizations such as Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and Ocean Wise to guide sustainability choices. To fit in with the local theme, there’s also an all-New York wine and beer list, though sake will be flown in from Japan.
The restaurant officially debuts tonight on Sixth Street. (They had a soft opening this past weekend.) Mayanoki is open Wednesday-Sunday, with seatings at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
A 50th anniversary show commemorating the Grateful Dead playing Tompkins Square Park
[Image via]
On June 1, 1967, The Grateful Dead played their first East Coast show, which reportedly drew 3,000 concertgoers to Tompkins Square Park.
To mark this 50th anniversary on Thursday afternoon, the folks who put on the monthly Dead Night at Clem's in Williamsburg are hosting the following in Tompkins Square Park:
Live music by Grateful Dead cover band Ice Petal Flowers
Pre-show DJ set by Newguy
2 pm - 6 pm
Find the Facebook event page here.
As for the Dead's show in 1967, here's part of a recap via The Village Voice:
June began on Thursday, and the Grateful Dead were in town, and, despite some rumble rumors from the Puerto Ricans, the prospects for peace looked promising. A happy, scruffy parade of 80 marched down St. Mark's Place, complete with police escort, to present the Dead with a white carnation key to the East Village, graciously accepted by Pigpen. And the Tompkins Square bandshell rocked with San Francisco glory until a noise complaint was lodged in the late afternoon. Rather than tune down, the Dead turned off.
H/T Stephen Popkin!
Looking at the future home of 14th Street's 2nd Trader Joe's
[View from 14th Street]
Trader Joe's has reportedly signed a deal to open a two-level grocery in the new development that replaced the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office at 432-438 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.
The Real Deal, citing anonymous sources, first reported on this late last week.
The food purveyor quietly signed a lease about two months ago with Mack Real Estate and Benenson Capital Partners ... for 8,531 square on the ground floor and 14,170 square feet on the lower level.
In May 2016, there were reports of Trader Joe's taking the retail space in Extell's incoming retail-residential complex one block to the east between Avenue A and Avenue B. Target ended up signing a lease for the corner at 500 E. 14th St. The remaining storefront at No. 500 is 14,500 square feet.
The residential entrance (there will be 114 units) to the 8-floor building will be on 13th Street... while access to the Trader Joe's will be on 14th Street.
[View from 13th Street]
The Trader Joe's will likely have a little competition across the street with, reportedly, a Morton Williams. [Updated: Town & Village reports that Morton Williams will not sign a lease now.] Not to mention the small-format Target, which will feature grab-pay-then-go food items and other groceries.
In 2014, a Facebook group was advocating for a Trader Joe's for Ben Shaoul's condoplex at 98-100 Avenue A. That retail spot is now Blink Fitness.
Will a second Trader Joe's on East 14th Street help alleviate the pre-storm lines at the current location between Third Avenue and Irving Place?
Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished
The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building
New residential building at former 14th Street PO will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room
A look at the new building coming to the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office property
Love Gang is moving on 9th Street
[Photo by Steven]
Love Gang, the women's boutique at 436 E. Ninth St., is moving this week — two storefronts to the west here between Avenue A and First Avenue.
"The rent was just getting too expensive — you know the perpetual NYC issue," co-owner Carmen Ruiz-Davila said. "I'm glad that we found a place, especially one that's so close."
The new storefront at No. 434 had last served as a pop-up shop.
Love Gang hopes to be open here on Thursday.
---
Read our interview with Love Gang co-owners Cara Bloch and Ruiz-Davila from December here.
Esperanto offshoot closes on 1st Street; may return elsewhere
Esperanto Fonda, the satellite location of Avenue C mainstay Esperanto, has closed on First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. A for rent sign now hangs on the right side of the entrance.
The quick-serve restaurant, which opened last August, served a variety of tacos, empanadas and burritos.
An Esperanto rep said via email that "Fonda closed due to high rent costs but will be reopening at another location in the near future, with the same exact program." In the meantime, the rep said that Esperanto is set up for to-go window service and delivery with the same menu as Esperanto Fonda.
The First Street address was most recently home to BARA for two years and Prima for three years. The Elephant, a Thai restaurant, was previously here for 17 years.
Moustache has closed on 10th Street
Moustache, the reliable Middle-Eastern restaurant with a backyard garden, has closed on 10th Street. Back on Friday, workers were gutting the space mid block here between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
No word on why they closed. (The Moustache location remains open in the West Village.)
In any event, the space won't be empty for long. An applicant going by Small Plates Inc. is on the June CB3-SLA docket for a beer-wine license for the address. The applicant's questionnaire isn't online just yet.
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