The force is apparently no longer with Suffolk Arms

It appears that Suffolk Arms, the cocktail lounge on Houston at Suffolk, will not be reopening after all.

After being closed during the first part of April without any explanation, a sign appeared on the front door noting a temporary closure for "renovations and mechanical upgrades."

Over the weekend, co-owner Giuseppe González, a "Star Wars" fan, left a cryptic, Yoda-esque message on social media...



"Closed, Suffolk Arms now is. See you again, we will." (That lone message also greets visitors to the bar's website.)

Suffolk Arms opened in February 2016.

H/T Vinny & O

Previously on EV Grieve:
Suffolk Arms now closed for renovations and 'mechanical upgrades'

ICYMI: MoMa officials not really into MoMaCha's name on the Bowery

ICYMI 1 — MoMaCha, a café and gallery, opened in late March at 314 Bowery between Bleecker and Houston.

ICYMI 2 — In a trademark lawsuit filed last week, MoMa officials claim that people are already being confused into thinking their museum is connected with the cafe, as Reuters first reported. There isn't any connection between MoMa and MoMaCha.



According to Hyperallergic:

“I don’t understand what MoMA wants from us,” the café’s co-owner, artist Eric Cahan.” Do they want us not to exist? They don’t own the word ‘cha,’ it means tea; they don’t own the word ‘more.’ To me it’s a little confusing. They can have Richard Prince in their collection, but I can’t use Helvetica? It doesn’t make any sense.”

And now, your Slurp Shop signage

The restaurant is taking shape over at 112 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street... the sign is up ...



And since the last look at the spot, the Hunan Slurp Shop launched a website (touting that it's "New York's Best Rice Noodle Restaurant") with a few more details and interior shots.

Our mission is to bring the best Hunan flavor from Southwest China to New York City. We call our Chinese Hunan province rice noodle "Mifen", incorporating seasonal and local flavors into dishes.

And one of the interior renderings ...



No word on an opening date. Their posted hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday; until 11 p.m. on Saturday-Sunday.

The storefront was previously a Ricky's, which closed in April 2016.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Hunan Slurp Shop coming to former Ricky's space on 1st Avenue

Sunday's parting shot

The LUNGS parade in Tompkins Square Park today ... photo by Steven...

Week in Grieview

[Photo on 2nd Avenue by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Fire at 218 E. Ninth St. (Saturday)

East Village super charged in heroin overdose of tenant (Thursday)

The past and future of the Merchant's House Museum (Monday)

Props for the Skateboard Gardener of 7th Street (Wednesday)

The latest I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Friday)

1 month to the Dance Parade and DanceFest (Thursday)

The Donut Pub opening an outpost on Astor Place (Friday)

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival set for Tompkins Square Park on Aug. 26 (Thursday)

LPC chair to step down (Friday)

New restaurant plans for 304 E. 6th St. and 117 Avenue A (Monday)

Construction watch: 3 E. 3rd St. (Tuesday)

Zen Yai Pho Shop now open on 6th Street (Wednesday)

Chickpea has closed on 14th Street (Friday)

Report: Original Fuku is closing on 1st Avenue (Thursday)

Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street is waiting for spring (Thursday)

Bakeri closing at the end of the month on 6th Street (Monday)

Champion Coffee opens on 14th Street (Monday)


[Photo Friday by Pinch]

There's now a public squash court on the Lower East Side (Wednesday)

A look at "Boom For Real," Basquiat's life pre-fame (Wednesday)

Corner watch: 32 Avenue C (Wednesday)

Suffolk Arms now closed for renovations and "mechanical upgrades" (Monday)

A townhouse in a penthouse on 9th Street (Tuesday)

New building permits filed for former St. Denis Hotel property (Tuesday)

What it costs to rent the former Subway (sandwich shop) on 1st Avenue (Friday)

Former El Maguey y La Tuna space for rent on East Houston (Tuesday)

.... and the secret ingredient to the sawdust on the floor at McSorley's?



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[Updated] Police searching for MAGA-hat-wearing suspect involved in Union Square assault

WANTED: Black male wearing a red hat and red shirt both with the words "Make America Great Again" , blue overalls, a black ¾ jacket, and jewelry around his neck. Wanted for assaulting a male on the 4 train platform in Union Square. Call #800577TIPS pic.twitter.com/FliEXrrxNZ

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 22, 2018

The NYPD is looking for a suspect (in the video above wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat) who reportedly shoved a man onto the 4 train tracks at Union Square Friday evening around 8.

According to The Daily Mail, the suspect, a black male, got into a verbal altercation on a 4 train with the victim, who is Hispanic. "Police say the black male made several remarks disparaging the Hispanic man's ethnicity, and the altercation spilled out onto the platform at Union Square." Police say the suspect punched the victim several times before pushing him to the tracks.

Several people waiting on the platform helped the man get off the tracks. The victim was treated for cuts to his head.

The suspect reportedly fled on an L train.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online.

Updated 4/26
The Post reports that the suspect was arrested on Staten Island.

April 22

On the occasion of this Earth Day, someone apparently decided it was time to toss the holiday/Christmas tree ... as spotted by EVG regular Pinch this morning on First Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Happy Earth Day!

Today in posts about cake smells at bus stops

To promote the new season of "Chef’s Table: Pastry," Netflix created a Smell-O-Vision ad of sorts at two NYC bus stops, including 14th Street near Second Avenue.

I read about it on Eater back on Monday, but only just remembered to look at (and smell) the bus stop.

Every five minutes, the ads release a sweet smell, per Eater. There is definitely an odor — not unpleasant ... reminiscent of, say, super sugary breakfast cereal.

Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi is featured in the series... so you can apparently go to Milk Bar around the corner on 13th Street for your fix.

The ad — and sugary scent — will continue here through May 6.

Noted

Spotted in Tompkins Square Park.

Perhaps we'll see one of these soon...

A post shared by Citizens of the Anthropocene (@citizensoftheanthropocene) on Apr 17, 2018 at 5:27pm PDT

[Updated] Report of a fire on 9th Street

FDNYalerts MAN ALL HANDS 218 E 9 ST, MIXED OCCUPANCY FIRE ON THE 2ND FLR,

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) April 21, 2018

The FDNY is on the scene at 218 E. Ninth St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... it's the building directly to the west of the parking garage.

Witnesses at the scene report hearing an explosion...

| @evgrieve Explosion on 9th Street. pic.twitter.com/7StJbgAidr

— Liberation Iannillo (@thevulgarera) April 21, 2018

Will update when more details are available...

UPDATED:

NOTORIOUS shared this a little before 4 p.m.:

Around 3:30 pm there was a loud explosion outside that sounded like a violent car crash. The FDNY arrived almost instantly and shut down the street. The fire appears to be in 218 East 9th, the building with Yakiniku West. It's been 25 minutes since the fire started and it's still going strong. More FDNY are pulling up now.

Steven took these photos of the FDNY's response...









EVG reader jba shared these photos showing some of the damage to No. 218...





... and another view via Aaron Wilson...



CBS 2's Reena Roy has a report...

Yakiniku West restaurant on the first floor and three apartments above were damaged, officials said. Five adults and one child were displaced.

“They were confronted with a heavy smoke condition upon arrival on the first floor,” one fire official told CBS2’s Reena Roy. “We had 25 units operating here with 106 firefighters. There was a lot of overhauling, a lot of walls and ceilings were taken down, too. There’s a lot of damage right now.”

The fire reportedly started behind a refrigerator on the second floor and quickly spread. There weren't any reports of injuries.

#FDNY members are on scene of a 2-alarm fire, 218 E 9 St. Manhattan. Currently no injuries have been reported. pic.twitter.com/1F42rUnHNz

— FDNY (@FDNY) April 21, 2018