Grant Shaffer's NY See

[Click on image for more detail]

Here's this week's NY See, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's comic series — an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

The McDonald's on 14th Street at 1st Avenue is now closed, and gutted, for the time being

The McDonald's at 404 E. 14th St. near First Avenue was boarded up on Tuesday ... its McSignage removed.

The DOB permits posted on the plywood note an "interior renovation."



There isn't any note to patrons about a closure — temporary or permanent. (The McDonald's at 25 Third Ave. at St. Mark's shut down in June 2017 after 20 years in business.)

The arrival of the work permits, of course, suggest a renovation or upgrade, perhaps like the McD's on Delancey and Essex.

Several of the one-star Yelp reviews about this location state that this is among the worst McDonald's in the city.

Thanks to EVG reader Tara Cox for the photos and tip!

The Dumpling Shop moving into the former San Loco space on 2nd Avenue

The coming soon signage is up at 124 Second Ave. where the Dumpling Shop is prepping for a grand opening here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.


[Photo by Steven]

According to Facebook, the Shop is "[a]n internationally inspired culinary experience through one of the world’s most iconic foods: dumplings."

Dumplings are red, violets are blue, the dumplings we create aren’t what you’re use to. 🌹🌹🌹 Here at The Dumpling Shop, we’re not only trying to reinvent what goes inside the dumpling, but on the outside, as well! Perhaps you may see our creation as Valentine’s Day special? (hint hint)

A post shared by The Dumpling Shop (@thedumplingshop) on Jun 28, 2018 at 3:59pm PDT

The previous business at this address, San Loco, closed in June 2017 "due to a rent increase that is unsustainable," as owner Jill Hing put it. San Loco opened in this location in 1986.

Updated 8 a.m.
Thanks to the commenter to point out the Shop's website, which includes the menu.

O.O.T.D. opens on 7th Street

Back in May we heard that a clothing boutique was opening in the former East Village Cheese shop on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The shop, O.O.T.D. (Outfit of the Day?), debuted this week here at 80 E. Seventh St. Don't know too much about them at the moment. O.O.T.D. has an Instagram account...

A post shared by OOTD (@ootdnyc2018) on Jul 3, 2018 at 6:37pm PDT

East Village Cheese closed here without any notice in early December after two-plus years at this address.

Yuan Noodle has closed on 2nd Avenue

[Top 2 photos via Chris Rowland]

Yuan Noodle has closed at 157 Second Ave. less than a year after debuting to positive notices here between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

There are two signs on the front window. As of yesterday afternoon, one sign noted that the business was for sale (via Yuan's owner Jacob Ding, who's also a commercial real-estate broker) ... and the other one, upside down, noted a closing sale...



Upon opening last summer, Eater wrote that Yuan "is nothing short of spectacular." The New York Times praised Yuan's signature Guilin mi fen (rice noodles).

In recent weeks, Yuan started looking like a restaurant that was closing, offering 2-for-1 shot deals ...



... and signs for all-night happy hours and $25-all-you-can-drink specials...



Anyway, not sure what happened here. (There isn't any note about the closing on the Yuan website.) This has been a challenging space to make work. Biang! — the sit-down Chinese restaurant via Xi'an Famous Foods owner Jason Wang — closed here back in March 2017 after 15 months in business. The previous tenant, Wylie Dufresne's bistro Alder, closed after two-and-a-half years at the end of August 2015.

As noted before, if Wang and Dufresne, given their successes, couldn't make the space work ... not sure who can. Other recent restaurants here (before 2013) included Plum and Cafe Brama.

In May, applicants from Butter Midtown received CB3's OK to open a Mexican restaurant at No. 157. Given the business-for-sale sign, this deal apparently fell through.

Despite the application on file at the CB3 website, Ding told Eater in May that his restaurant was not closing.

Waiting for the fireworks

Goggla shares this photo of Christo and Amelia's red-tailed hawk offspring... with an Amelia photobomb...



Previously on EV Grieve:
The EVG podcast: Red-tailed hawk talk with Laura Goggin

You've made yourself clear

Spotted on 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

July 4

Spotted on Seventh Street by Dave on 7th, who writes: "Time to declare your independence from the tree you bought for Xmas."

Noted

This sculpture arrived overnight on 10th Street and Avenue B (where other similar works have been on display in recent years) ... this one is carrying a presidential briefcase...





Thanks to Vinny & O for the photos!

Tuesday's parting shot

Rainbows and heat relief on 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue ... thanks to Gregg Greenwood for the photo!

EVG Etc.: NYCHA's staggering repair bill; CitiBike's new owner

[Sunset and shadows on St. Mark's Place]

The NYCHA needs $32 BILLION for repairs over the next five years (Curbed) More than 800 kids tainted by lead in NYCHA buildings, city says (Daily News)

Why Gabrielle Hamilton, chef/owner of Prune on First Street, would want to team up with an accused sex harasser (The Post)

Lyft buys CitiBike (Gothamist)

Should you worry about falling window A/C units? (Curbed)

Q-and-A with writer/DJ/goth scholar Andi Harriman (Flaming Pablum)

Grand/Clinton Street gridlock update (The Lo-Down)

Opening a fire hydrant is a long city summer tradition (Ephemeral New York)

The business success of Luke's Lobster, which got its start on 7th Street in 2009 (CNBC)

1986 Tonya Harding doc "Sharp Edges" gets a 1-week run starting Friday (City Cinemas Village East ... and background here)

U.S. premiere of the documentary "A Skin So Soft" begins on Friday (Anthology Film Archives)

About that cartoon video for Richard Hell's "The Kid With the Replaceable Head" (Dangerous Minds)

NYC’s first bike counter is at the base of the Manhattan Bridge (Streetsblog)

There's a special breakfast-taco menu tomorrow from 6:30-11 a.m. at Superiority Burger on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

Official announcement flyer from @doodoodillon for July 4th. STARTS AT 6:30am. AM. IN THE MORNING. We are closed for normal business hours on July 4th. Ok!

A post shared by @ superiorityburger on Jun 25, 2018 at 9:14pm PDT

An EVG reader shared this photo ... showing that GoLocker has set up shop at 508 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B in a building owned by the Kushner Companies.



The Brooklyn-based company, which launched in 2014, delivers parcels to lockers stored in neighborhood businesses. There was a set of GoLockers in the back of the Gentle Wash Laundromat on Avenue A, though those were recently removed.

... and EVG reader Andy Reynolds reports that an equipment truck for "The Deuce" shoot on Seventh Street this week took out a nice-sized branch near Second Avenue...

Hey, it's almost the Fourth of July

[Pic from 2015]

Once again, the Macy's 4th of July fireworks will launch from the East River... tomorrow night.

Here are some basics via the official Macy's News Release:

The 42nd Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® will feature more than two miles of prime viewing along the shores of the East River. Macy’s annual Independence Day celebration will offer front row views for more than three million spectators in New York City and another 12 million viewers nationwide. The show, beginning at approximately 9:25 p.m. will ignite the sky over the East River centered in midtown with a series of more than 75,000 shells and effects.

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks can be viewed from any area with an unobstructed view of the sky above the East River. The seven barges stationed between East 23rd and East 40th Streets are best seen from:

MANHATTAN

Public viewing will be set up along elevated portions of the F.D.R. Drive. The lanes will be opened to the public at approximately 7 PM with access at Houston, 23rd, 34th, and 42nd.

As Curbed noted in its July 4 preview, those 75,000 shells are up from a paltry 60,000 from last year. (Like comparing "Geostorm" to "Independence Day.")

Here's a map to give you a better idea of the barge location for optimal viewing...


[Map via Macy's and EV Arrow]

And if you're just going to be randomly driving around, there are some street closures to be aware of:

• East Houston Street between Baruch Place and FDR Drive
• Avenue C between 13th Street and Avenue C Entrance Ramp to FDR
• Avenue C Entrance Ramps
• 6th Street between Avenue D and FDR Drive
• 10th Street between Avenue D and FDR Drive
• 14th Street between Avenue C and Avenue B
• Avenue C between East 16th Street and East 23rd Street

And the always friendly reminder from the 9th Precinct...

As we enter into the last weekend before the #FourthofJuly we want to remind you that #fireworks are not only dangerous but illegal.
Leave them to @Macys and the professionals.
Be safe and have fun! #EastVillage #NYC pic.twitter.com/4CtucFabIP

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) June 29, 2018

Among other things, this could happen...



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