Saturday, January 5, 2019

Noted


[The L-train construction zone along 14th Street this a.m.]

Details continue to emerge from Gov. Cuomo's L-train bombshell from Thursday ... like this one today via the Post on Cuomo's untested approach:

The engineering team behind Gov. Cuomo’s miracle L-train cure has little experience working on transit projects — and spent a grand total of an hour evaluating the damage firsthand in the subway line’s tunnel, The Post has learned.

But, in a stunning piece of spin, the governor’s office defended that lack of expertise as innovative thinking.

“We’re breaking the box by ­using the expertise of engineers who don’t usually work on subways in order to improve it,” Cuomo spokesman Patrick Muncie told The Post.

Freshman year



Local artist Lexi Bella completed this mural yesterday of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at First Street Green Cultural Park.

Per Lexi on Instagram: "I have been so inspired by our new women in Congress I had to paint my favorite..."

Friday, January 4, 2019

Friday's parting shot



A reader shared this photo from Avenue A and 14th Street tonight, where workers continue to jackhammer away on the new L-train entrance here... apparently not impacted by the Governor's 11th-hour plan.

Today in Urban Etiquette Signs; 'How dare you'

And a reminder not to discard your mattress and box springs over on this part of 11th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C, via @ChrisRyanAction...



As you can see, there are two notes affixed to the discarded property... starting with an effective:

How dare you

And, uh-oh! ...

We have you in [?] camera. It's a violation to put your garbage in private property.

Keep your BED.

Yours, mine and ours



Piroshka is a supergroup of sorts, featuring Miki Berenyi of Lush as well as KJ McKillop of Moose, Justin Welch of Elastica and Michael Conroy of Modern English. The band's debut record, Brickbat, is out Feb. 15 via Bella Union. The video here is for "Everlastingly Yours."

To L and back: Reactions and questions over Gov. Cuomo's surprise subway announcement



In a surprise move yesterday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the L-train won't be completely shut down between Brooklyn and Manhattan for Sandy-related repairs in April after all.

With this new plan, workers will repair the Canarsie tunnel one tube at a time on nights and weekends, with one track remaining open for service... all over the course of 15 to 20 months.

According to Cuomo, crews will install cables on racks along the inside of the tunnels, and leave the old cables where they are. Per various published reports, the workaround relies on the use of a fiber reinforced plastic, which hasn’t been used in the United States for this type of tunnel repair.

There are questions about all this...


Hmm...



Gersh Kuntzman at Streetsblog has the best post (link here) on answering some questions raised following yesterday's presser.

Meanwhile, here's reaction from two local elected officials...

Sen. Brad Hoylman:

“As the State Senator who represents the entire stretch of the L train in Manhattan, I welcome any alternative to the L-train tunnel shutdown that repairs the tunnel within the current project timeline and maintains train service, while eliminating the need for hundreds of additional dirty diesel buses in our neighborhoods and traffic on side streets.

That said, after three years of planning and community input, my constituents have reason to be circumspect about the details. It’ll be the job of the new Senate Democratic majority along with our Assembly colleagues to provide sufficient oversight of the MTA and this plan.

In addition, we must continue to push for more reliable train and bus service, planned upgrades to our station and bike infrastructure, and work toward the ultimate goal of reducing car traffic through congestion pricing.”

District 2 City Councilmember Carlina Rivera:

“While I believe that the State and MTA are committed to providing the best L train plan for New Yorkers, I am disappointed that today’s news was announced without warning and with nowhere near enough detail, after years of careful planning by our communities.

Residents in my District are now in the dark about how they will be impacted by this new plan, and I am worried that many New Yorkers unnecessarily moved from affected areas and local small businesses suffered preparing for the expected shutdown.

In my discussions with MTA officials [yesterday] afternoon, I did hear some encouraging information, including potentially less noise and construction along 14th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue B. But I am still left with more questions than answers.

As we learn more and weigh the dramatic impact this plan will have on our city, I am calling on the City Council to hold hearings this month on this plan so we and the public can have our questions fully answered from State and agency officials well ahead of the plan’s commencement.

In addition, the city Department of Transportation must stay the course with that the current L Train Alternative Service Plan, including new bike lanes, bus routes, and protected bus corridors, until the public and advocates are able to process and comment on this new plan.

But regardless of how the L Train Tunnel repair goes, our State and City agencies must deeply evaluate how the mishandling of these announcements continues to erode public trust in our most important institutions, and work to redouble their efforts with our communities.”

At an unrelated event yesterday, Mayor de Blasio said that "anything that avoids disruption I favor obviously and a lot of people in Brooklyn, a lot of people in Manhattan have been really worried about the L train shutdown," as reported by the Associated Press. "So, if there is a plan that can be better for the people of our neighborhoods, that's great, but I want to reserve any further judgment until I hear more."

The immediate impact this might have on the construction along 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue B isn't known just yet. There are many questions, such as what does Cuomo's new plan mean for the power substation slated for 14th Street and Avenue B?

The Times had more on East Village impacts:

Construction and congestion on side streets in the East Village could be abated, sparing neighbors fumes from supplemental buses and asbestos in the debris removed from the tunnel.

Andy Byford, who oversees New York City’s subways and buses, said there would likely not be a high-occupancy vehicle lane over the Williamsburg Bridge, as had been planned. Additional ferry service from Brooklyn to Manhattan will also not be needed.

No decision has been made regarding shutting down 14th Street in Manhattan for bus service...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Town Hall provides a few more details on the 24/7 construction at 14th and A

Renderings reveal the MTA's plans for the Avenue A L station; why does everyone look so happy?

Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

What the L: Cuomo calls off full L-train shutdown

Prepping for the new bike lanes on 12th and 13th streets

Bike lane line work continues on 12th Street

DOT puts down the green paint on the new 13th Street bike lane (except for one mysterious spot)

New tenant for 37 St. Mark's Place — REVEALED



The signage arrived yesterday for the next tenant at 37 St. Mark's Place (aka 133 Second Ave.) — Shibuyala, which sells beauty and health-care products from Japan. (Thanks to Steven for these photos!)





Shibuyala arrived in the United States in 2016, and now has stores in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Houston with 50 more outposts expected to open worldwide by 2022, per its website.



We were just talking about 37 St. Mark's Place on Wednesday. Workers have been gutting the space, which has been tenant-free since the 7-Eleven closed in November 2013. (Also, I predicted a dessert place for the space. 0-1 in 2019!)

No word on an opening date. The space is still in the gut-renovation stage.

Here's what to expect inside the shop once it opens, via this Japanese promo clip on the Shibuyala website...

Cienfuegos bows out to make way for Honeybee's on Avenue A

As expected, Cienfuegos wrapped up its nine-plus-year run on the second floor at 95 Avenue A on New Year's Eve.

Back in November, owner Ravi DeRossi told me that it was time to change up concepts at the space. This spring, Honeybee's, specializing in plant-based Texas BBQ and bourbon and rye, will make its debut.

Like his other restaurants — LadyBird and Avant Garden, among them — the menu will be all vegan.

DeRossi told Eater that he's experimenting with a blend of mushrooms and other vegetables to create his own "meat" patties.

He says he wants to avoid “fake meat” products like seitan — instead honing in on vegetable dishes with barbecue flavors.

DeRossi brought on chef Amira Gharib to helm the kitchen. She’s spent time in fine-dining kitchens like Daniel Boulud’s Boulud Sud and Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Matador Room in Miami.

At Honeybee’s, drinks will center almost exclusively on whiskey, specifically rye and bourbon, a first for the cocktail bar owner. All-American craft beers will also be served, he says.

The corner space on Avenue A and Sixth Street also houses two other DeRossi operations — Mother of Pearl and Amor y Amargo.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A concept revamp for the Cienfuegos space on Avenue A

Noted


The Wall Street Journal checks in with a feature (behind the paywall) today on Factory 380, a recently opened Warhol-themed bar located not too far away at 380 Third Ave. between 27th Street and 28th Street.

The name refers to the pop artist’s Manhattan “Factory” or studio, which became home to a host of artists, musicians and assorted creative personalities.

The idea behind the 2,700-square-foot dining and drinking space, developed at a cost of about $600,000, is to capture the energy and vibe of Warhol’s New York in the 1970s...

Design elements range from a collection of photos from Studio 54 to a silver disco ball. Drinks have playful names such as “The Camera Adds 10 Lbs.” and “We Deserve a Smoke Break.”

The article also includes comments from local theme-bar purveyor Zach Neil, whose establishments have included Stay Classy, Beetle House and 'Merica. (He says it's often best to operate themed establishments as short-term businesses or pop-ups.)

Speaking of theme places, the article notes that Neil will open a Harry Potter-inspired coffee shop called Steamy Hallows somewhere in the East Village next month. (Perhaps at his Cake Shake shop on Sixth Street, which has been closed for the past month.)

Thursday, January 3, 2019

What the L: Cuomo calls off full L-train shutdown



Gov. Cuomo announced today that the 15-month L-train shutdown that was to start in April to repair Sandy-damaged tubes is no longer necessary.

During an early-afternoon press conference, Cuomo, joined by a team of Cuomo-appointed tunnel experts (engineering academics with unknown insights into MTA project management), unveiled a new renovation method using a different design for repairs that would require night and weekend closures of one tube at a time.

Details of the plan have yet to be released.

Per ABC 7:

"It uses many new innovations that are new, frankly, to the rail industry in this country ... With this design, it will not be necessary to close the L train tunnel at all, which would be a phenomenal benefit to the people of New York City," he said.

Cuomo said he does not believe this design has been used in the United States before, though it has been implemented in Europe.

The governor said that commuters should not worry about the integrity of the tunnel: Major structural elements were not compromised. The MTA needs to fix the circuit breaker house and power cables that were damaged after the tubes flooded and were therefore exposed to salt water.

Per The Wall Street Journal:

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials spent years weighing repair options, including shutting down one track at a time to maintain some service between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

In 2016, they opted for a full shutdown, reasoning that it could be completed in half the time and at less expense than a partial shutdown. Initially, they said that a full shutdown would be needed for 18 months, but that timeline was later shortened to 15 months.

Judlau Contracting Inc., which won a $477 million contract to repair the tunnel, was offered incentives to finish the work ahead of schedule and penalties of $400,000 for every day beyond the deadline that the project was delayed.

Mr. Cuomo’s decision to alter the project raises questions about how the contractor can now finish the work on time. It also raises questions about contingency plans that were being put in place by the MTA and New York City following years of planning.

The L-train prep work started in July 2017 on 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue B. This past summer, residents learned that this corridor was not only the main construction zone leading up to the L-train closure, but also during the 15 months the MTA expected the trains to be offline between Bedford Avenue and Eight Avenue.

Meanwhile, some quickie reaction via Twitter...











Previously on EV Grieve:
Town Hall provides a few more details on the 24/7 construction at 14th and A

Renderings reveal the MTA's plans for the Avenue A L station; why does everyone look so happy?

Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

Dreams of a light Christmas dashed, attention turns to mysterious hole in Tompkins Square Park



The lights on the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree have been off now going on two weeks.

A mysterious hole arrived near the tree in the days leading up to Christmas Eve Eve.

That hole remains guarded by three sections of a barricade... with "Danger: Do Not Enter" signage...





Word here is an electrical issue KO'd the lights, thus ruining Christmas. Some readers are hopeful that the lights will be back on in time for Easter.

Meanwhile... please do not attempt, despite what you might see on social media...



H/T Steven!

A visit to Rossy's Bakery & Café on 3rd Street



Photos and interview by Stacie Joy

I dropped by to talk to Rossy’s Bakery owner, Rossy Caba, and meet the family, including her mom Norma Ortiz and brother Gabriel Escalante, who runs the bakery and café at 242 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.





How did Rossy’s Bakery get started?
Rossy’s bakery was started by my mom, Norma Ortiz, who was baking out of her apartment on Second Street. She was baking for family and friends and it got too big, too many people were calling for cakes — the apartment looked like a bakery!

So, we started looking for places in the neighborhood — on Second Street, on Orchard Street, but had a hard time finding something affordable. We wanted something already built. This space we’re in now used to be a plumber’s office. [Ed note: The address was also home to Slugs' Saloon, operating as a jazz club until 1972.] We tore it down and rebuilt it. It’s a great location, next to the Post Office, and we get a lot of postal workers and law enforcement here too.


[Rossy's brother Gabriel Escalante]

What are your most popular items?
We are most well-known for our custom cakes, and Norma is still baking them. We feature Dominican-style cakes, which are more moist than traditional ones and have a merengue frosting not buttercream. We do a lot of birthday cakes! Our most popular flavors are the dulce de leche and the tres leches cakes.





We have a website and Instagram and Facebook but we are mostly world-of-mouth.



For our food offerings the most popular are the BBQ ribs and the baked chicken plates. We sell small a small lunch (take-out only) for the afterschool crowd. It’s for $6.50 (a dollar extra for the fish) made with rice and beans and chicken (or meat). We also have a large plate for $9 ($1 extra for fish). Kids love to come in and get empanadas or a smoothie too.

Who is your typical customer?
Neighborhood people, all people. Kids, families. People who like good food.



What, if anything, has changed since you opened?
When we first started, we just had some pastries and cakes, but we learned quickly it wasn’t enough to sustain a business. We branched out and added a juice bar, smoothies, steam tables and small lunches.

We are grateful to the Lower East Side Federal Credit Union — they were so helpful in getting us started. It took some time to hire contractors to build the place out. We have a lease for another six years and we’ve been here for more than 10 years already! We are here for the community and we want to serve the community. We keep our prices reasonable and affordable because times are not easy. Everyone knows each other here in the East Village.







The building right next door will be demolished to make way for a 7-floor luxury residential building. Any concerns about the impending construction and its impact on business?
We may benefit from it, because the construction crew will come here to eat. We are concerned about the noise and the dust. It may be horrendous. They might have to come over and put up plastic sheeting and things to protect our business, if not I will raise hell! We don’t know yet how it will affect the neighborhood other than there will be less affordable-housing options for people.



---

On a recent visit I spotted legendary performance artist Penny Arcade dining at Rossy's along with Dr. Dave Ores...



"This is Lower East Side home-cooking at its best," Arcade told me. "A nice celebration of the food of the neighborhood."

---

Rossy’s Bakery is at 242 E. Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. The café is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A visit to the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street

A visit to Bali Kitchen on 4th Street

A visit to Eat’s Khao Man Gai on 6th Street

A visit to Yoli Restaurant on 3rd Street

Preparing for Saturday's dinner at Il Posto Accanto on 2nd Street

A visit to the Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen on 7th Street

A trip to the recently expanded Lancelotti Housewares on Avenue A

A visit to C&B Cafe on 7th Street

Webster Hall returns this spring



The new ownership of Webster Hall sent out an email yesterday with a bare-bones announcement:

To our closest friends,

Happy New Year, we've missed you! While we've been closed, we have made some venue enhancements and think you will dig them. While updates are still underway, we are pleased to say that Webster Hall will return in Spring 2019.

This announcement took Webster Hall watchers by surprise. Some previous reports suggested that the new concert venue wouldn't be ready until 2020. Billboard reported that there may be a name change here too.

However, it appears that the Webster Hall name will live on ... as seen in a digital rebrand and updated logo posted to Instagram (see below).

As previously reported, Webster Hall closed here on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue in August 2017. Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment and The Bowery Presents bought the landmarked building from the Ballinger family for $35 million in a deal announced in the spring of 2017.

The new ownership filed permits in December 2017 for interior demolition and structural work to renovate the facility and make it ADA compliant. The city approved those permits in March 2018.

Given the scope of the work, there doesn't seem to be that much activity coming from behind the plywood. (Of course it seems downright sedate compared to the full-tilt action going on at the new 13-story Moxy East Village directly across the street.)

EVG reader Tony took these photos from behind the plywood back in the fall showing some old outside wall demo and new I-beam ...





The Washington, D.C.-based Martinez+Johnson Architecture (now part of OTJ Architects) is behind the interior makeover. Per their website, the firm brings "their design sensitivities to cultural arts and institutional projects." Their work includes the restoration of the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn and the Boston Opera House.

Spectrum Catering and Concessions, which services the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Rough Trade and Brooklyn Steel, among other venues, is responsible for the food and beverage here. They applied for a liquor license via CB3 for the address back in the summer of 2017. According to the PDF of the application online at CB3, the old Marlin Room would serve as an additional bar and waiting area for concertgoers entering the grand ballroom.

The building has been around since 1886. It re-opened as Webster Hall in October 1992 after the Ballinger family purchased and renovated the space that was known as The Ritz during the 1980s.

And now the new-look logo...

View this post on Instagram

see ya in 2019! 🎉

A post shared by Webster Hall (@websterhall) on


Previously on EV Grieve:
When Webster Hall reopens, there might be a Moxy Hotel across the street

First sign of upcoming renovations at the former Webster Hall

Permits filed to renovate Webster Hall

The Webster Hall marquee looks to be in danger of falling

The Webster Hall marquee

Plywood arrives at Webster Hall

Juicy Lucy's 1st Street outpost is on a winter break



The rainbow gate has been down at the Juicy Lucy outpost/shack on First and First (prompting one nervous query from an EVG reader about its status).

However, there's now a sign on the kiosk, noting a break for the winter...



The Avenue A Juicy Lucy location (at No. 85 between Fifth and Sixth) remains open in the meantime.

The Juicy Lucy at First and First opened in 1996 (the Avenue A spot in 2000). You can read more about the business via this EVG feature from 2014.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Wednesday's parting shot



Photo on Seventh Street via Derek Berg...

Metropolis Vintage is on the move to a larger space nearby on Broadway



Some positive retail news to start 2019 with. After 23 years at 43 Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street, Metropolis Vintage is moving this April to a larger space at 803 Broadway near 11th Street.



Richard Colligan first opened the store in 1990 at 96 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...

[Courtesy of Richard Colligan]

Read an EVG interview with Colligan from 2010 at this link.

Sushi by M opens on 4th Street



Sushi by M opened during the holidays over at 75 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

A small Omakase and hand roll bar is now in place inside the long-vacant retail space (previously the Postal Shipping Center) ... you can check out the Sushi by M Instagram account for more on their offerings and reservation info ...

This 12th Street penthouse includes a home gym, screening room and 1,600sf guest apartment



The two-story penthouse unit at 130 E. 12th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue has arrived on the market.

Here's the listing via Compass:

East Village penthouse spanning 6400sf interior and an additional 725sf of terraces combines the building top floor (7AB) with its two terraces and 24ft ceiling/skylight with the 1500sf guest loft on 6A.

The living areas on 7AB are dramatic with custom paneling, chef kitchen, separate dining and breakfast areas with the master suite and terraces on a higher mezzanine level. The main level on 7 includes a screening room. The penthouse provides guests with privacy on the sixth floor, and a large gym on the main floor. A staff suite opens into the living room. 6A covers nearly 1600sf and 7AB nearly 4700sf.

Asking price: $12.5 million. (But think of all the money you'll save on gym fees!)

And a look around ...









For someone looking for something more modest, the 1,500 square-foot "guest apartment" below the penthouse is being offered as a stand-alone home for $2.65 million.

All images via Compass

The Continental has likely closed for good on 3rd Avenue


[Photo yesterday by Steven]

After multiple closing dates in 2018, the Continental apparently wrapped it up after New Year's Eve.

This after announcing a Dec. 15 last night, which people thought was the actual last night...



However, in the days that followed, new our-very-last-night flyers arrived on the bar's front door at 23 Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place...



Yesterday, workers removed the neon Continental sign... there's also a goodbye letter from Trigger, who's owned the bar since 1991...


[Photo yesterday by Steven]

In the P.S., Trigger notes: "Stay tuned. We're going to take some much needed time off and then then look to open up something in this very same neighborhood."

The Continental, which transitioned from a live-music venue to a regular-old bar in 2006, had received several extensions in the past year, first in July then October, then Dec. 15.

This is the final business to close on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place. A boutique office building with ground-floor retail is in the works. Parts of the assemblage is already being removed.

And before the Continental, there was the Continental Divide, a bar and live-music venue...



I got this photo via Alex at Flaming Pablum. Head over there to read more about the address.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Shake Shack effect? McDonald's on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has closed after 20 years

Report: Northeast corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Ave. fetching $50 million for development site

Report: NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office building

Demolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

End is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

The Continental gets a 3-month reprieve

New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Does 37 St. Mark's Place actually have a new retail tenant?



On Monday, workers were spotted hauling out pieces of the demolished interior at 37 St. Mark's Place, the long-vacant storefront on the northwest corner of Second Avenue... prompting an all-cap headline: DOES 37 ST. MARK'S PLACE ACTUALLY HAVE A NEW RETAIL TENANT?

This high-profile storefront, now with papered-over windows, has been empty since the 7-Eleven closed here five-plus years ago. (The space was previously J.A.S. Mart.)

Work permits were recently approved for an interior renovation, at a cost of $127,000. No word just yet who the new tenant might be, though. Put me down for something dessert related.

Meanwhile, Nobletree Coffee will be opening soon in the corner space.

Updated 2 p.m.

Steven shared this photo of the interior...



Previously on EV Grieve:
A few more details about renting the former 7-Eleven space on St. Mark's Place

After nearly 4 years empty, 37 St. Mark's Place may be getting new retail tenants

New for lease sign at the old 7-Eleven space on St. Mark's Place