Updated: Now that is a sinkhole on 1st Avenue and 7th Street

Crews are on the scene this afternoon to tend to the sinkhole that formed nearly in the middle of the intersection here on First Avenue and Seventh Street thanks to a broken pipe... looks like traffic is down to one lane for now... and perhaps the near future.

Thanks to @Cool666_ for the photo!

Updated 6:11 p.m.

Raquel Shapira shares these photos...



And Mr. John is on the scene — this is a big job, this sinkhole.



Also: Seventh Street is closed to vehicles for now between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Updated 9 p.m.

And an in-progress shot of the fill-in a little earlier via Derek Berg...



Updated 3/14



Just one lane (and the bus lane) are open... the bike lane if closed off too...



Updated 3/15

Still working!




[1st Avenue north of 7th Street]

Wheel trouble on 2nd Avenue

EVG reader Chris Rowland shares this photo this afternoon... showing a broken-down car in the middle of Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...

Possibly (or not!) related: The good-sized pothole near the car...

Ciao for Now starting a Tuesday evening soup service

Ciao for Now at 523 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B is returning to service every Tuesday evening from 5-10 p.m. — starting tonight.

The family-owned cafe shut down its dining room after 17 years at the end of January. However, ownership was continuing on with their catering business as well as using the space for community events.

Here's part of Ciao for Now's message yesterday via Instagram:

We are hoping to create a place to gather and enjoy a casual cup of soup together to promote community engagement (and deliciousness). We will have our ginger green tea, wine and beer available along with turkey chili, lemon chickpea leek and tomato bisque soup for sale. You can take a container to go or sit and enjoy your soup here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ciao For Now is closing after 17 years on 12th Street; will continue with catering business

Upcoming restaurant openings: French for 7th Street; Italian for 2nd Avenue

Last night's CB3-SLA docket included beer-wine applications for two incoming restaurants. Committee members didn't hear either item at the meeting, as the applicants agreed to stipulations in advance ... and because both applicants will be operating actual restaurants and not places disguised as bars. Here's a quick look ...

A French restaurant called Papilles is in the works for 117 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...



This is at the former Le Village, which quietly closed back in November.



The 10-table restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight. The proprietor has management experience at Mominette in Bushwick, among other places. You can find a PDF of the application (sample menu included) here.

Meanwhile, an Italian restaurant called Daniela Mia is set for 58 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street...



The 17-table restaurant will have serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, with daily hours of 9 a.m. to midnight. You can find a sample of their extensive menu of pasta, pizza and grilled fish here. There's also a variety of egg dishes served for breakfast and brunch.

Previously, N'eat, which offered "new Nordic fare," had a nearly 8-month-run at the address... they posted a sign on the front door last July stating "Due to unforeseen building issues, we have to close temporarily for maintenance work." And they never returned.

Before N'eat, Cellar 58 served Italian fare here.

Construction (and gold-dusted brick) watch: 196 Orchard St.

An EVG reader who had been away for a little while wrote in to discuss Ben Shaoul's in-progress condoplex on East Hosuton between Ludlow and Orchard.

Per the reader: "Jesus — that is a monstrosity over Katz's."

Anyway, here are a few photos from Sunday showing the progress at the 11-story 196 Orchard St., which will include an Equinox in the retail space... it's nearly bricked all the way up — with windows too...



As for those bricks (as noted before), the developers allegedly went a long way for them...



Back in late January, Architectural Digest took a look-see at the project and heard from Adam Rolston, creative and managing director at INC. Architecture & Design.

“We felt that a traditional glass structure didn’t mesh with the surroundings,” says Rolston, who looked for a material humble enough to belong in the neighborhood that had been home to waves of immigrants over decades, but luxurious enough to attract a contemporary resident.

He found such a candidate in artisanal Spanish bricks infused with gold dust that will gradually oxidize and become darker over time. Produced by the 130-year-old manufacturer Cerámica La Covadonga, the bricks form the instantly recognizable lower exterior building façade and were flown in from the Spanish village of Cadaqués (also known for its anchovies, and a source of inspiration to the painter Salvador Dalí). They symbolize the eclectic and transformational nature of the neighborhood.

And...

Sixty-thousand bricks were used for the building, each infused with 24K-gold dust.

The homes here range from studios ($965,000) to four-bedroomers ($6.5 million).

Previously on EV Grieve:
Making way for Ben Shaoul's new retail-residential complex on East Houston

Katz's is now the last business on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard

Send a salami to your boy next door in the condo

Tonight at La Plaza Cultural: Jump over fire

[Photo from last year by Ryan John Lee]

Here are details via the EVG inbox...

9th Annual Zoroastrian Fire Jumping Event
Tuesday, March 13 (Rain/Snow date: Wednesday, March 14), 6:30 p.m.
La Plaza Cultural Community Garden, SW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street

Jumping over fire is a symbolic gesture to start a fresh new year. This tradition is celebrated for ringing in the Persian New Year and has been celebrated since at least 1700 BCE of the early Zoroastrian era.

There will be music, dancing and snacks; wear your best fireproof pants. The Rude Mechanical Orchestra will also be playing. Invite your friends to this winter to spring fire extravaganza.

Noted

The Post today reported on a career criminal, ID'd as convicted felon Henry Figueroa, who left a loaded Smith & Wesson .380 in the back of an Uber following a ride from the East Village to Harlem.

Figueroa reportedly texted the driver, stating "I’m a police officer and I was wondering if I dropped my side arm." However, the driver already alerted the NYPD about the gun.

So when Figueroa went to retrieve the piece from the driver, an undercover cop was at the meeting spot.

Following his arrest, police discovered a cache of heroin in his underwear.

To the Post:

Heroin was first unearthed in his pocket, prompting police officers to do a strip search, according to the court papers.

The cops then found a clear bag tucked inside his underwear, which contained 84 smaller, individually wrapped envelopes of heroin, the papers say.

Figueroa was promptly booked on a charge of narcotics possession with intent to distribute, as well as a charge of felon in possession of a firearm.

His rap sheet includes being busted in 2012 for breaking into an ex’s house, punching her mom and stealing a basket of clothes.

For a limited time only, catch the J/Z on 9th and C

[Thanks to Alexandra Story for this photo!]

Thanks to the magic of TV pilot making, there's now a J/Z stop for the Bowery on Ninth Street at Avenue C...


[Photo via @evan_kapitansky]

And across the Avenue, A & C Kitchen is standing in for the Avenue C Deli (signs include a double cheeseburger for $6.50 and Molten Velvet in concert)...


[Photo via @EdenBrower]

As previously mentioned, crews for the CBS pilot "God Friended Me" will be filming along Avenue C and side streets today and tomorrow.

Updated:

Here's one more shot, via Salim, showing the arrival of the J/Z stop this morning...



Updated 3/13:

EVG reader Peter D. shared this photo from today... that J/Z stop looking rather lonely there on the corner...

World's tallest rhino sculpture arrives on Astor Place this week

Keep an eye out for a 17-foot sculpture of rhinos this week on Astor Place. (Should be easy enough to spot...)

As previously reported, "The Last Three," billed as the world's largest rhino sculpture courtesy of artists Gillie and Marc Art, will take up a temporary residency on Astor Place near the cube.

And its purpose:

The 17-foot sculpture will be unveiled ... to inspire, educate, and mobilize the global community to raise their voices and affect real change against rhino horn sales. Everyone is invited to get up close and say their goodbyes.

Driven by a false belief in their medicinal benefits, rhino horns are worth more than gold and poaching has condemned the northern white rhinos to the brink of extinction. Only Sudan, his daughter Najiin, and granddaughter Fatu are left.

The sculpture is expected to arrive tomorrow ahead of an official unveiling on Thursday morning. Per the Facebook invite:

Gillie and Marc Art have recreated the last three Northern White Rhinos – Sudan, Najin, and Fatu – in a 17-foot bronze sculpture to inspire, educate and mobilize the global community to raise their voices and affect real change against illegal rhino poaching trade.

Please join us in unveiling "The Last Three" to create a legacy of the Northern White Rhinos, and save future species from extinction.

Order of Events

9:00am - Introduction
9.15am - Speeches
10.00am - Unveiling
10.15am - Photos
10.30am - Interviews

Gillie and Marc’s sculpture will be used to raise critical awareness about the plight of the rhinos and ways people can help.

“Our mission is to collect at least 1-million goodbye messages and put them towards a petition for approaching governments about eliminating the demand for rhino horns through education” says Gillie, “You can help by leaving a goodbye message for Sudan before he’s gone forever.”

And here is a rendering of the sculpture...



You can read more about the project here.

Gillie and Marc Art reportedly invested $150,000 of their own money for the project. (There was also a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $50,000.) Cable network Nat Geo Wild is the main sponsor.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A sneak preview of the world's largest rhino sculpture, coming to Astor Place early next year

Maguey y La Tuna closes on East Houston

Back in January, word spread that El Maguey y La Tuna, the 15-year-old Mexican restaurant on East Houston between Attorney and Ridge, would have to shut down at the end of March after the landlord doubled the rent from $7,000 to $14,000.

Unfortunately, the closing came earlier than previously announced — Maguey y La Tuna closed on Feb. 25.



There's also a notice that the Marshal has taken legal possession of the space on behalf of the landlord...



There was some talk that owner Maria Cortez, who was born and raised on the Lower East Side, was considering opening a food cart to keep serving the community. One of the handwritten notes on the door suggests that people check the Maguey y La Tuna Facebook page for updates.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On East Houston, El Maguey y La Tuna will have to close after the landlord doubles the rent

Zen Yai Pho Shop coming to 6th Street

The new storefront for Zen Yai Pho Shop arrived back on Friday here on Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

This will be an outpost of the Sunnyside-based Zen Yai Pho Shop & Coffee. (You can find their menu here.) A rep for the quick-serve restaurant said that they hoped to be open in late March or early April.

Baron's Dim Sum and Tasty Garden came and went at No. 518 in quick succession in the past year.

Todd Hase Furniture closes on 7th Street

After a year at 111 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, furniture designer Todd Hase has apparently closed up his Home and Mid-Century Modern Shop.

The storefront is empty, and the Todd Hase name has been removed from the windows.

There isn't any mention of the closure, temporary or otherwise, on the front door, Todd Hase website or social media properties.

Todd Hase also has locations in West Hollywood, West Palm Beach and Southampton. Seventh Street seemed like an odd spot for walk-in traffic shopping for, say, an $1,800 French Empire console table or $2,250 Enrique Garcel floor lamp.

Village Style Vintage Shop, the previous tenant here, moved out to Brooklyn in October 2016.

Updated 1 p.m.

The listing for the the storefront is now online. The asking rent is $7,000 per month.

Former Red Square lobby gets the plywood treatment on East Houston

Renovations continue over at 250 E. Houston St., the former Red Square here between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The 13-floor building changed hands for a reported $100 million in the fall of 2016.

The Dermot Company has stated they are "creating a more updated style and fit for the cool East Village neighborhood" with the renovations at the retail-residential complex with the Tibor Kalman-designed rooftop clock.

Apparently now it's time to revamp the entryway for residents... from the old...


[EVG photo from June 2017]

... to the pizzazzy ...



Red Square opened for occupancy in June 1989. Workers removed the building's statue of Lenin from the roof in September 2016. It's now standing on a nearby rooftop on Norfolk Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumors: Red Square has been sold

New ownership makes it official at the former Red Square on East Houston

Apartment listings at 250 E. Houston look to offer glimpse of former Red Square's future

Long-vacant retail space hits the rental market at 250 E. Houston St.

217 E. 3rd St. sells for $5.1 million

There's a new owner for 217 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Here's part of a news release via Cushman & Wakefield:

An undisclosed buyer acquired the property from the estate of Michael Mendez for $5.1 million. The mixed-use property consists of a vacant turn-key restaurant space on the ground floor and three free-market, floor-through apartments. The property is approximately 4,160 square feet above grade, not including a one-story structure situated at the rear of the site and separated by a small courtyard area.

Additionally, the property includes 4,700 square feet of air rights and a useable basement that houses mechanicals and a storage area.

Public records show that an LLC with a Pleasantville, N.Y., address is the new owner. The address matches up to management company Ogrin Associates, a longtime NYC landlord.

And does anyone know what that "one-story structure situated at the rear of the site" is used for?

The last tenant in the retail space was Corlear's NYC, a "Pre-Prohibition style bar executing vintage cocktails." They closed some time in early 2017.

The building arrived on the market last July with a $6 million ask.

Taco Bell nearly ready for Taco Belling on 1st Avenue

Heading north for a second... where the Taco Bell is looking nearly ready to start serving up its specialties like the Chalupa Supreme® and XXL Grilled Stuft Burrito here on First Avenue near 18th Street ... next to the Ponce De Leon Federal Bank (if that helps place it) ...



It will be opening soon, per the signage... with generous hours of 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day except Sunday, when it doesn't open until 8 a.m. (and closes at midnight) ....



This is one of 50 locations (no kidding) that Taco Bell plans to open in NYC in the next five years. (There's also one coming to 647 Broadway near Bleecker that will serve alcohol.)

For nearly 25 years the First Avenue address was the Adriatic until its sudden closure in 2015. Visana, a problematic pizzeria-speakeasy combo, closed down last summer, as Town & Village detailed.

P.S.

My only memento from the long-closed Taco Bell at 58 Third Ave. near 11th Street...

Week in Grieview

[Early morning the other day in Tompkins Square Park]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

About the ongoing issues with the NYCHA (Monday)

Historic Bathhouse Studios for sale on 11th Street (Wednesday)

At Three Jewels, there's coffee out front, and ancient Tibetan wisdom in the back (Friday)

Bravo Supermarkets coming to Avenue D (Tuesday)

Ariel Palitz named NYC's first Night Mayor (Wednesday)

Making room for Mount Sinai's new EV hospital (Tuesday)

Time to rent at EVGB, where studios ('lofts') start at $3,695 (Thursday)

Bar taking over former HiFi space on Avenue A is called Coney Island Baby (Thursday)

Third Street Music School Settlement alum 1st person ever to achieve a double EGOT (Monday)

Cows, pigs and chickens now adorn the walls at the former vegan favorite Angelica Kitchen (Monday)

Reader report: Joe and Pat's will open in 3 weeks (Wednesday)

The Swiss Institute announces June 21 opening on St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)

Mohan's Tattoo Inn arrives on 14th Street (Tuesday)

Catching up with Dora, wing on the mend (Tuesday)

Mahalo New York Bakery debuts on 9th Street (Friday)

Your subway delay map (Saturday)

Rent freeze fight underway for 2018 (Friday)

The Chelsea Thai signage is up on 1st Avenue (Wednesday)

"Give me back my package you bastard" (Friday)

End of days at the St. Denis (Thursday)

The for-real Target signage has arrived at EVGB (Monday)


[Flashback to Wednesday via Derek Berg]

Storm brought down this tree on 6th Street (Wednesday) Milk truck KOs Avenue B tree (Monday)

Report: Developer lands $91 million loan for the Moxy East Village (Saturday)

Former Artichoke Pizza space for rent on 14th Street (Monday)

DOH temporarily closes Pinky's on 1st Street (Monday)

... and from the Citizen app crime files this past week...



---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter

'God' willing, this CBS pilot will be filming on Avenue C the next 2 days

Crews for a CBS pilot called "God Friended Me" will be filming on parts of Avenue C and Avenue D between Eighth Street and 13th Street tomorrow and Tuesday...



Here's the plot via Deadline Hollywood:

"God Friended Me" is described as a humorous, uplifting series that explores questions of faith, existence and science. It centers on Miles (Brandon Micheal Hall), an outspoken atheist whose life is turned upside down when he is “friended” by God on Facebook. Unwittingly, he becomes an agent of change in the lives and destinies of others around him.

Violett Beane will play Cara Weiss. Confident, compelling and quick-witted, Cara is a leading writer at an online magazine. Under pressure for her next big story, her life takes an interesting turn when she meets Miles — thanks to God’s friend suggestion. The cast also includes Suraj Sharma, Javicia Leslie and Joe Morton.

Rejected headlines:
Oh 'God' — another film shoot!

Why in 'God''s name would CBS order this pilot?

March 10

EVG reader Erin spotted this wee tree today on Second Avenue and Third Street... doesn't look as if it takes up much room — why not keep it up year round...?

Noted

New art installation in Tompkins Square Park courtesy of Jerry Foust (former proprietor of the Tompkins Square Park Art Bar).

Thanks to Goggla for the photo!

Updated 3/11

Someone vandalized the sculpture overnight...

In case there's ever a subway delay

[Click on image for the big view]

If you take the subway on a regular basis, then you know that every once in awhile there might be a slight delay with a train or even be some track repair work that alters the schedule.

Anyway! This new map might help. Developer Eric Markfield from Unfounded Labs shared this with me (and a few other people) — the Real MTA map, which shows delays and track work in real time.

As Curbed described it the other day:

The website features a near carbon copy of the MTA’s subway map, but it removes each line that’s currently experiencing delays, planned work, or service disruptions. What’s left is a network that’s far less expansive, but more accurate in real time for commuters.

The site also makes it easy to see what, exactly, is happening to the lines that are experiencing problems. The side panel lets you to click on each hidden line, taking you directly to the MTA Service Status report for those trains.

As the above screengrab shows, there are only a few lines without any kind of delay or schedule change as of 1:09 p.m. today... and likely for the remainder of the weekend.

You may also follow along on the Twitter — @realmtainfo.

Report: Developer lands $91 million loan for the Moxy East Village

[Photo from today, Saturday!]

An item from this past week to note: The Lightstone Group landed $91 million in financing for its Moxy hotel project on 11th Street, as The Real Deal reported.

Bank of the Ozarks provided the debt for the upcoming 311-key hotel at 112 East 11th Street, to be called Moxy East Village. The financing includes $63.1 million in new loans as well as an existing $27.9 million loan from Goldman Sachs that Bank of the Ozarks will now assume. Goldman Sachs previously provided $85 million to Lightstone for the project.

The Moxy website still lists an opening date of late 2018 for this hotel between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue...



To make that deadline, the crew here will need to pick it up... a look through the blogger portal on the double plywood shows that workers remain in the deep pit stages of the foundation...



The 13-story hotel will include a variety of eating-drinking options and a dedicated Instagram account.

Previously on EV Grieve:
An updated look at that Moxy hotel for 11th Street