6 posts from May

[4th and the Bowery via Derek Berg]

A mini month in review...

Films on the Green to play in Tompkins Square Park on 2 Friday nights in July (May 4)

Funny business: Comedy club replacing comedy club on 4th Street (May 7)

Printed Matter will have a bookstore inside the Swiss Institute's new 2nd Avenue home (May 8)

Q&A with the authors of the "Rock & Roll Explorer Guide to New York City" (May 10)

Bird watch: A nesting American robin on 3rd Street and Avenue B (May 22)

When Caitlin met Cáit (May 24)

May 31

The EVG reader who shared the above photo admits that there was debate whether this discarded item on Avenue B near Fourth Street was once actually a tree used in the celebration of Christmas. (Also called a Christmas tree.) Will update the post upon any verification that traditional ornaments, such as garlands, baubles, tinsel and candy canes, were, in fact, hanging from this tree.

Grant Shaffer's NY See

East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer recently introduced a new comic series, NY See. It's an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around NYC — mostly in the East Village.

We'll share the panels here in this ongoing weekly feature.

The messenger

New York's first-ever "night mayor" wants to get the city's residents and nightlife business owners to learn to coexist https://t.co/enpQFzDvQk

— Grub Street (@grubstreet) May 31, 2018

Grub Street files an interview with East Village resident Ariel Palitz, the senior executive director of the Office of Nightlife at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment ... aka the recently appointed night mayor.

Here's an excerpt:

Her history with complaining neighbors has made Palitz a target for accusations of impartiality. One resident even called in to WNYC during Mayor de Blasio’s weekly appearance to tell the politician that Palitz was “very far from being a neutral, unbiased party.” De Blasio defended his pick, describing her as a “person who can find a fair approach.”

His commitment to making the role work, though, is as vague as that answer. Despite the “night mayor” title, Palitz cannot introduce bills or sign any legislation. Her role is purely advisory. “This is really intended to be an educated opinion that informs the administration about the issues for all the stakeholders and to be an advocate for the industry as well as the community in a way that has not existed before,” she says. “I’m a messenger.”

Read the full piece here.

Previously

The sad state of the former Grassroots Tavern

[Photo from Monday]

I talked with a fewer former regulars of the Grassroots Tavern at 20 St. Mark's Place who are disappointed in the state of affairs outside the landmarked building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

The front of the bar, which closed on New Year's Eve after 42 years here, was recently tagged ... the handrail is broken ...



... and it looks as if someone took a jackhammer to the area outside the door...



... and the plant in the front window that was dead when the bar was open is now really dead...



In January 2016, Klosed Properties bought 20 St. Mark's Place from Jim Stratton, who was also the majority owner of the Grassroots.

Bob Precious, who operates the mini chain of Irish-style pubs called The Ginger Man (including the one on 36th Street), is the new owner of the former Grassroots space.

An EVG reader who lives near No. 20 reports that she hasn't seen anyone enter the bar space in several months.

To date, there haven't been any new work permits filed for the address.

However, someone yesterday did begin the process of removing the tag from the entryway...



Updated 6/1

After someone removed the tag... another one went up in its place last night...



Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Your chance to live in this historic home above the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

SLA says live music and DJs can return to Club Cumming

The live music and DJ programming are returning to Club Cumming starting tonight.

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority (SLA) signed off on a license alteration for the bar-cabaret on Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Alan Cumming, one of the bar's owners, announced the news on Instagram:

We just left the State Liquor Authority meeting and they ruled in our favor so @clubcumming is allowed once more to have live performances and DJs!!! Rejoice!!! Thanks to everyone who supported us. We have only tried to comply and make good since we discovered the license error, and finally we have been allowed to go on as before.

Ironically our dealings with our community board — us wanting to protect and preserve the @clubcumming community — has made us all realize just how passionately people feel about our little bar and the inclusive, non-judgmental merriment we try to create.

As previously reported in March, the SLA was investigating Club Cumming for its live music programing, including piano and cabaret nights, which was happening without the proper permits. The bar suspended its live music and DJs until they could apply for the appropriate license.

Last month, CB3’s SLA committee (four members present) unanimously voted to grant the license alteration, though with stipulations — "provided they are not scheduled and that there are no ticket sales or entrance fees."

However, a few weeks later, the full CB3 board voted to recommend a denial of Club Cumming's alteration. This is where it gets a little granular.

We'll let The Villager explain from a recent article:

Susan Stetzer, the district manager of CB3, said at the SLA Committee meeting ... that DOB issued a statement to her explaining that the club was in Use Group 6 — a specific zoning group that does not allow scheduled performances, ticketed sales or events with cover fees, according to Stetzer’s statement in the meeting minutes.

But a DOB spokesperson told The Villager otherwise. Because the building was constructed before 1938, it does not have what is known as a “certificate of occupancy” — which is what sparked the whole debate after a 311 complaint was lodged over the club lacking a valid “C of O.”

The building also has a so-called nonconforming commercial use, specifically, a commercial use in what is technically a residential zone — in this case, a bar on a residential sidestreet. However, because the building is pre-1938, it does not need a certificate of occupancy, according to DOB. Additionally, the “nonconforming commercial use” is allowed because of the building’s age, according to a DOB spokesperson. A 311 complaint about “no C of O” led DOB to send an inspector to check out the address on Dec. 22, 2017. The department found no violation that day. A spokesperson added that the department has no jurisdiction over issues related to live-performance ticketing.

However, despite DOB’s finding of nothing amiss, the SLA issued a violation at the end of February. That, in turn, sent Club Cumming to the community board for approval of a liquor-license modifcation.

In any event, the SLA apparently sorted through the various DOB bureaucracy and approved the amended license for Club Cumming, which opened last September in the former Eastern Bloc space.

Previously

Mr. Bing is not returning to St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

Mr. Bing, which specializes in the Northern Chinese street food crepe (aka a jianbing or bing for short), has been closed for the past month at 115 St. Mark's Place near Avenue A. The sign on the door mentions a closure for renovations.

The note to patrons has been a source of confusion for a few residents, given that Mr. Bing arrived as a pop-up business last October that would only be here for several months.

A rep for the quick-serve restaurant told me via email: "The pop-up is indeed closed, but Mr. Bing had a great time in the East Village."

No word on what's next for the space... or what happens to the beer-wine license that CB3 OK'd for Mr. Bing last September.



Mr. Bing, a regular on NYC's food market and festival scene the past two years, will continue on at UrbanSpace Vanderbilt food hall, among other locations.

The previous tenant at 115 St. Mark's Place, Water Witch Mercantile, closed at the end of 2016 after just two months in business.

Full exposures at Thirteen East + West

At last look, only the eastern half of the Thirteen East + West condos had been revealed... now 442 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue is out in the open, free of its scaffolding and netting...


[No. 442]


[No. 436]

Each 6-floor building features six full-floor, two-bedroom homes that will be "sun-drenched" according to the press materials.

When the sales launch, the prices will range between $2.350 million and $3.7 million.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Tracking the coming changes to East 13th Street between Avenue A and 1st Avenue

A look at the new luxury condos coming soon to East 13th Street

Temporary art and future condos on East 13th Street

Demo time for East 13th Street garages that will yield to luxury condos

A look at the residences coming to Thirteen East + West on East 13th Street

Jazz standards and regulars in Tompkins Square Park

Some late-afternoon jazz in Tompkins Square Park today via Park regulars the Eric Paulin Quartet.

Thanks to Vinny & O for the photo.

Manhattenhenge, take 2

[Nothing to see here!]

After a promising and photogenic start last evening, some low-sitting clouds obscured the setting sun, spoiling the first Manhattanhenge of the year (#Disappointhenge).

However, if all goes well tonight, the sun will align with the street grid around 8:12. (Full sun on the grid!)

The next dates for Manhattanhenge 2018 are July 12 and 13.

And if you want some background on all this Manhattenhenging, read this by Neil deGrasse Tyson at the Museum of Natural History.

You had mail

So long to the tagged and broken postal relay box that was on St. Mark's Place and Avenue A ... workers hauled it off this morning.

Photo by Derek Berg

A vegan café for 9th Street

A vegan café called called V ❤️ U is coming to 428 E. Ninth St.

EVG correspondent Steven ran into its owner, Junie Ishimori, yesterday in front of the space between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Ishimori, who previously co-owned the vegan ice cream shop Stogo on 10th Street for four years, is just starting work on the café, and hopes to open by the end of the summer.

This storefront was previously Mr. Throwback, which moved across the street in December.

2 new vendors for the Bowery Market

The Bowery Market, the year-round open-air food court at 348 Bowery and Great Jones, has welcomed two new vendors.

The Fruitsand opened earlier this spring. According to their listing at the Bowery Market website, they sell "special sandwiches made with Japanese milky bread called Shokupan, organic fruits and handmade whipped cream. Japanese food that has a long history of over 100 years."

A post shared by THE FRUITSAND. (@thefruitsand) on May 12, 2018 at 11:55am PDT

On Saturday, L’Arte del Gelato, which has locations in the Chelsea Market as well as near several museums, will debut here.



A Bowery Market rep told me that they'll be adding one or two more vendors this summer.

The Market launched in July 2016 with five vendors. Alidoro is the only original tenant left. The other vendors are Sushi on Jones, Oaxaca Comida Calle and Dosa Royale.

Truth in listings: A co-op that needs some TLC

Most often the photos that accompany sales or rental listings feature carefully staged photos to make a positive first impression on potential buyers or renters.

That's not the case with this one-bedroom co-op on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. The Streeteasy listing notes that the place "Needs TLC."

Perhaps to prove that point, the only two photos with the listing offer an unvarnished view of the place — at least of a closet and top of the refrigerator...





The residence is listed at $425,000, with a note that it is in "need of a full renovation." And HDFC income restrictions apply here — one person $120,000; two people $137,000, per the listing.