6 posts from August

[Photo from Avenue D]

A mini month in review...

• Chelsea Thai debuts on 1st Avenue (Aug. 6)

• LPC OKs condoplex for gas explosion site on 2nd Avenue and 7th Street (Aug. 8)

• This is what's happening with the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place (Aug. 9)

• City Council unanimously approves tech hub; some disappointment in lack of zoning protections (Aug. 9)

• B&H Dairy celebrates its 80th anniversary (Aug. 22)

• Marshalls opening next month in Ben Shaoul's luxury condoplex on East Houston Street Aug. 24)

Reader report: Body found in car on 12th Street near Avenue B

A man's body was found inside a car on the south side 12th Street just west of Avenue B early this evening.

EVG reader Blair Hopkins shared this photo.

The word here is that the man was unknown to anyone who lived on the block, and that he was likely there for three to four days. The car has Florida license plates.

Will update if/when more information becomes available.

Updated 8:22 p.m.

According to an EVG reader who lives on the block, there were pill bottles laid out on the hood of the car.

The police are apparently looking at security camera footage from the building across the street from the car.

'Divine' madness

The Breeders released Last Splash 25 years ago today. This is the second single, "Divine Hammer."

RIP Village Voice

[EVG photo from October]

Per Gothamist:

Three years after buying The Village Voice, and a year after the paper shut down its print edition, owner Peter Barbey told the remaining staff today that the publication will no longer be posting any new stories.

"Today is kind of a sucky day," Barbey told the staff...

Barbey said that half of the staff, which is around 15 to 20 people, will remain on to "wind things down," and work on a project to archive the Voice's material online.

A few reactions...

Good thing not to say when you fire a bunch of people and shut down an iconic publication:

"Today is kind of a sucky day" https://t.co/SJXbFtXJnz

— Katie Drummond (@katiedrumm) August 31, 2018

Fuck. https://t.co/W0UitLkeQT

— Tyler Coates (@tylercoates) August 31, 2018

It’s hard to even imagine New York without the Village Voice

— Sam Adams (@SamuelAAdams) August 31, 2018

The worst thing about this whole thing is that Barbey, being a billionaire with delusions of grandeur, will never feel any real pain over this. https://t.co/cprFjxHvPD

— Zoë Beery (@noyinzoe) August 31, 2018

Unfortunately for us all, well-intentioned but staggeringly ignorant and egotistical rich idiots are not journalism's salvation. RIP for now VVhttps://t.co/vHbZZTe0Ss

— Hamilton Nolan (@hamiltonnolan) August 31, 2018

With The Village Voice shutting down, who is covering repertory cinema anymore? The LAT does it once in awhile for high profile restorations, but I honestly can't think of any outlet that regularly covers rep film like they did. This is such a loss for film culture and criticism

— Michelle Buchman (@michelledeidre) August 31, 2018

The loss of the @VillageVoice is bad news for all New Yorkers. We should all be concerned about the increasing loss of voices in our city's media landscape. The public and private sectors need to come together to address the crisis facing our #freepress. https://t.co/AO8bMZ0o0F

— Eric Adams (@BPEricAdams) August 31, 2018

Long live the Village Voice: the newspaper that gave New York its cool, birthed generations of some of the best writers this city has ever known, and taught me everything I know about being a journalist here. You will be dearly missed. https://t.co/yi9FGbkQZ7

— John Surico (@JohnSurico) August 31, 2018

I went to college in NYC, spent a couple of years afterwards just screwing around. We waited eagerly for the Voice every week to check for which band was playing where. (Also did boozy dramatic readings of adult ads). This is sad. https://t.co/tciPmJh0rJ

— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) August 31, 2018

When I was still a sheltered yeshiva girl, I'd go to the Village with my friend to go to thrift stores. We'd pick up free copies of the Village Voice and read them in cafes, feeling much cooler than we actually were.

This is some sad news.https://t.co/nJYuf4IPdZ

— Dvora Meyers (@DvoraMeyers) August 31, 2018

i miss 20 minutes ago, when the Village Voice still existed and Bradley Cooper wasn’t America's next great auteur.

— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) August 31, 2018

Baking news: Westville Bakery coming to 9th Street

Signs for Westville Bakery just went up on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue ... where this storefront will be selling the cakes, pies, cookies and seasonal desserts offered at the six Westville locations, including on Avenue A and 11th Street. (The baking is done in Chelsea.)

Jay Strauss, Westville's founder, told EVG correspondent Steven they hope to be open in six weeks.

This space was Zucker Bakery for the past seven years. Zucker's owner decided to retire from the business on July 1.

Westville, the vegetable-centric restaurant, first opened here in 2003.

Updated 9/5

Eater has more details:

Westville’s longtime pastry chef Meital Cohen will be in charge of the food, focusing on sweets such as carrot cake, apple and blueberry pies, assorted cookies, and seasonal specials like a dragon fruit smoothie bowl with berries, almond butter, and granola. But there will also be a savory menu featuring sandwiches, tartines, quiches, and salads. Specific tartines include ones with smoked trout, crème fraîche, and chives or marinated fennel and chickpea salad with whipped feta, while quiches may have roasted vegetables and herb goat cheese or grilled onions and mixed mushrooms. Expect vegan and gluten-free options too.

The EVG podcast: More hawk talk with Laura Goggin

[The Tompkins Square fledgling by Goggla]

I invited East Village-based photographer Laura Goggin (aka Goggla!) back to the East Village Radio storefront studio on First Avenue for another EVG podcast. (Listen to our first session from June here.)

We talked about what has happened this summer with the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, including:

• The joy of the young red-tailed fledgling
• The death of the older fledgling
• The hawks loving the concerts in the Park
• The parenting skills of Christo and Amelia
• The latest on Dora, Christo's ex-mate now in wing rehab (The Post might be interested in her status!)

Anyway, we had a lot of fun recording this...



This link will take you to Goggla's site for more photos and red-tailed hawk narratives. And stay tuned for more EVG podcasts — I'll be posting another one next week.

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

The EVG podcast: Mike Katz and Crispin Kott on the "Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to New York City."

The EVG podcast: A 'Vanishing New York' conversation with Jeremiah Moss

EVG Etc.: Christening the new LES ferry stop; defending the Smith

[A little help? Avenue A at 4th Street]

A guide to next month's NY primaries (Curbed)

The actual number of NYCHA kids who tested positive for lead (The Post)

Displaced tenants from 85 Bowery return home after 7 months (amNY)

Spend your weekend looking at the city's new NYC Street Map, with an interactive tool that lets you view alterations made to the city map dating to 1938 (Off the Grid)

Reading David Wojnarowicz at the Whitney next Friday, Sept. 7 (Official site)

The history of 307 E. 12th St., the onetime Elizabeth Home for Girls in the 1890s (Ephemeral New York)

Christening the new LES ferry stop (The Lo-Down ... amNY... but are ferries really a good solution to transit problems?)

New film series highlights Westerns "that focus on a female protagonist, foregrounding the importance of women both to the Western genre and to the history of the American West" (Anthology Film Archives)

At home with Kiki Smith (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Life in Hell Square (Marketplace)

Check out the Hot Spot Popshop (Art on A Gallery)

In defense of The Smith, the brasserie whose first outpost opened on Third Avenue and 11th Street (Eater)

Michael Cohen, President Trump's former attorney, cleared about $7 million in sale of two properties, including 133 Avenue D (Bloomberg... earlier)

NYC map hit with anti-Semitic vandalism yesterday (The Verge)

We're getting a "London Calling" postage stamp (Flaming Pablum)

Jeremiah Moss on the no-cash-allowed Morgenstern's taking over the former Silver Spurs space on La Guardia (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

... and photographer Kevin Shea Adams is selling prints of photos taken inside the former Hollywood Theatre at 100 Avenue A (demolished to make way for Ben Shaoul's condoplex) ... find his site here.

... and in photos from the mounds of discarded contents from apartments, a Hollywood Legends Last Supper with Marilyn Monroe in the Jesus seat ... spotted on St. Mark's Place...

On this date in 1928

From the NYPL Digital Collections...

P. L. Sperr took this photo, dated Aug. 31, 1928, from Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B ... looking toward the north at the back of the tenements of Fifth Street.

Per the description: "Buildings shown across the horizon, are the Consolidated Gas Co., the Metropolitan Life Insurance and the N.Y. Life Insurance Co."

Renovations for rooftop cottage on 1st and 1st

The Cape Cod-style cottage on the roof at 72 E. First St. at First Avenue is now undergoing renovations... you can see from the street that part of the structure is now covered...


The cottage is part of the penthouse unit, which sold for $3.5 million last September after about six weeks on the market.

The work permits don't offer any specifics on the scope of work taking place.

Here's more on the space, per the original Compass listing:

The crown jewel of this offering is a loft penthouse built on the roof in design of a Nantucket cottage with weathered shingles, cupola and wraparound terrace. New Marvin true divided light windows and a glass block wall highlight extraordinary open views through three exposures. Direct access to the private roof terrace from double french doors create a charming retreat and a rare offering in all of Manhattan. The cottage includes a full bathroom and kitchenette.

As the Post reported last summer, Gale Barrett Shrady was the owner. The cottage addition was the handiwork of her late husband, artist Henry Merwin Shrady III.

She called the charming cottage a "magical little spot" that served as her son's bedroom through college.


[Image via Compass]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Penthouse with rooftop cottage sells on 1st Avenue

That penthouse with a cottage atop 1st Street and 1st Avenue is for sale

Thursday's parting shot

Ready for winter all summer long at East Village Wines on First Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street...

A block party to celebrate the 'masters of hip-hop' tomorrow in Tompkins Square Park

This is happening tomorrow (Friday!) in Tompkins Square Park from 1-6 p.m.

Via the EVG inbox...

Great Minds will be hosting a special edition of I Still Love HER, a monthly event dedicated to celebrating Masters of Hip Hop.

Ending the summer on a high note, they are taking the event outside to Tompkins Square Park for the I Still Love HER Block Party with an all-star lineup of legendary DJs and artists to highlight the history and positive influence Hip Hop has had on our culture and communities.

Grant Shaffer's NY See

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 — and perhaps elsewhere.

All about EVE, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office-replacing rentals on 14th Street

[View of 432 E. 14th St.]

Work continues (one year in!) along 14th Street, as crews are putting in new, ADA-compliant entrances at Avenue A and a new power station at Avenue B for the L train.

Renderings show that one of the Avenue A L-train entrances will be right in front of the new residential building at 432 E. 14th St., site of the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch from 1953 to 2014....



And that residential building has a name — EVE (not to be confused with EVGB on the next block), which is ready to start leasing this fall. CityRealty first noted this earlier in August. Per their report:

Prices of the 113 studio through two-bedroom apartments will range from $2,000 to over $5,000. These figures are consistent with the East Village median rent of $3,963/month, according to CityRealty data. Further apartment details are not yet available, but amenities will include a courtyard, lounge, outdoor exercise and yoga room, bike room, and laundry room.

Here's an updated rendering showing the 13th Street side, where the residential entrance is...


[Via SLCE Architects]

No word on exactly what EVE might stand for (East Village Expensive?). There was some hope that the building would have a name that paid homage to the previous tenant, the much-loathed post 0ffice, such as Next Window Please or You Can Come Back Tomorrow If You Want.

And no word about affordable housing in EVE. The Benenson Capital website still notes the following:

Benenson and the Mack Real Estate Group have formed a joint venture to develop a mixed-use residential and ground floor retail property in New York City's East Village. The 80/20 property will provide both market and affordable housing units.

Reps for Benenson and Mack Real Estate previously sought a variance to build four more floors (to 12 from 8) than the zoning would allow to make up for the "extraordinary construction costs" from poor ground conditions here. They withdrew this request in March 2017.

As for the commercial space, which will have the 14th Street entrance ... the CityRealty post states: "To the delight of residents and neighbors, Trader Joe’s is the building’s retail tenant." There were rumors that the TJ's wasn't happening.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Today in rants: the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office

Meanwhile, at everyone's favorite local post office branch...

UPDATED: Did you hear the rumor about the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch closing?

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

Developer withdraws zoning variance request for former 14th Street post office site

The Peter Stuyvesant-PO-replacing residential building tops out on 14th Street

Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company opens Tuesday on 8th Street

[Photo from Aug. 9]

Way back in April 2017 we spotted the signage over on Eighth Street just west of Broadway for an outpost of Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company... coming in the fall of 2017.

As we wrap up the summer of 2018, the shop is ready for bagel business. They announced on Instagram that they open next Tuesday (Sept. 4!) here at 63 E. Eighth St.

Despite the name, the 16-year-old company has three locations in Astoria, one in Chelsea and zero in Brooklyn. You can find their menu, which includes a variety of sandwiches, soups and salads, here.

In 2016, Gothamist named Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company the city's "Best Chain Bagels." Per Gothamist:

[They sell] spectacular hand-rolled doughy bagels, appropriately crispy-crusted and accompanied by what seems like thousands of spreads and proteins. They have a flavor-of-the-week cream cheese that has, at times, been cannoli cream, red velvet, spinach and white chocolate raspberry. Expect long lines in Astoria on weekday mornings, but your breakfast will be worth the wait.

A post shared by Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Co. (@bkbagelny) on Jun 24, 2018 at 9:29am PDT

How you all doing tonight? Grand opening at the New York Comedy Club on 4th Street this evening

After two weeks in soft-open mode, which included a Jim Gaffigan drop-in, the New York Comedy Club officially debuts tonight at 85 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Amy Hawthorne, the club's director of operations, sent along the opening announcement. Per that release:

The club ... will hold its Grand Opening on Thursday, Aug. 30 with two shows at 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.

The shows will feature NYCC favorites, including Yamaneika Saunders, Sherrod Small, Adrienne Iapalucci, Jon Fisch, Matt Pavich and Matt Richards, along with special guests and unannounced drop ins.

NYCC is offering discount admission through the end of September to anyone who lives or works in the area. Locals can redeem this offer at www.newyorkcomedyclub.com by using code NEIGHBOR at checkout to receive $10 admission Sunday-Thursday. In addition, full-priced weekend admission comes with a free VIP Season Pass for free admission to most shows through January 2019 with RSVP.

You can find the East Village schedule here.

This is the second location for the New York Comedy Club, which opened in 1989 on 24th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

They are taking over the former home of the EastVille Comedy Club, which departed for Brooklyn in April.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Funny business: Comedy club replacing comedy club on 4th Street

Did you hear the one about the comedy club opening tonight on 4th Street?

Chi Ken, the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Store, no longer coming to St. Mark's Place

[Photo from May 2017]

Chi Ken, the Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken Store, had been set for 58 St. Mark's Place. The signage first arrived in February 2017.

Apparently that's no longer in the works — a for rent sign is now up on the storefront here between First Avenue and Second Avenue...



Next door, Clay Pot, serving traditional Hong Kong style open-flame cooked clay pot rice, opened in February...

Dog days of summer (obviously)

A short film by Grant Shaffer... shot today on 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

August 22nd 2018

August 22nd 2018

Emerging from a Summer

that never seemed able

to pass that over bearing

mix of: too hot, too humid,

too wet, too long, just too …

will we now be teased by

a breeze, a night

cool enough to sleep

false security, maligned teasing

summers cruel little joke

what did I expect

an unreasonable summer of old

foolish I know, just call me a

Pollyanna. In the summer sweat,

hopefully, in the Winter shiver.

•

peter radley

A look at the East River Park Track, due to reopen next month

[Reader-submitted photo from Sept. 18, 2017]

Last Sept. 18, the Parks Department shut down the the East River Park Track at the FDR and Sixth Street — without any advance notice — for a year-long renovation project.

Well, here we are almost one year later... and according to the Parks Department website, the construction is 84 percent complete.



A look at the track yesterday shows that work is wrapping up... with noticeable progress... and few, if any, alarming signs (like, say, mounds of dirt on a muddy track)...







The $2.8 million initiative was set to "reconstruct the synthetic turf soccer field and resurface the running track," per the Parks Department website, which includes this rendering highlighting all the improvements...


[Click on image for more detail]

A Parks Department official said the track will reopen on Sept. 10 [Updated 9/12: That didn't happen] ... with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to follow.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The East River Park Track is now closed for renovations; September 2018 reopening expected

Cholo Noir is currently closed 4 renovations

Several readers have noted that Cholo Noir has been closed since at least Aug. 19 here on Sixth Street just east of Avenue A ... Handwritten signs arrived on the front back on Aug. 22 noting a closure for (4) renovations...



There's no mention of the temporary closure on their website or social media properties. Their phone is currently not in service.

Cholo Noir, a Chicano-inspired bar-restaurant, opened in July 2017.

As previously reported, CB3 twice denied a liquor license for the proprietors in 2016 ... among other reasons, there are 20-plus full on-premises liquor licenses within 500 feet of the address. CB3 members also didn't see much public benefit from the concept on a mostly residential block in a nightlife-saturated neighborhood.

Given the amount of work that they already put into the space, ownership went to the State Liquor Authority for a license.

In 2014, the owners received $15,000 by winning the New York Public Library’s New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another no for Cholo Noir

'Low and Slow' on 6th and A