Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices coming to 2nd Avenue in Gramercy Park

An EVG reader shared this photo from several blocks outside the usual coverage zone ... showing that a Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices outpost is opening on Second Avenue between 21st Street and 22nd Street.

For now this appears to be the only Manhattan location for Ralph's, which got its start in Staten Island in 1928. There are multiple outposts on Long Island, Queens and in New Jersey. (Thanks to Shiv in the comments who pointed out that a Ralph's closed a few years back on 24th Street near Lexington.)

The Ralph's Instagram account notes this location will open in early March.

Tuesday's parting shot

Christo on the hunt early this evening in Tompkins Square Park... photo by Steven

Today in discarded 'Stomp' props

Workers at the Orpheum on Second Avenue were taking out the trash today — some banged-up garbage cans belonging to cast members of "Stomp," now in its 25th year here between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...





Thanks to Steven for the photos!

The final days of Sidewalk

[Photo from Feb. 12]

Sidewalk Bar and Restaurant is winding down its 34 years on Avenue A and Sixth Street this week.

Staff is telling patrons that the last day of service is Feb. 23.

As I first reported on Dec. 10, hospitality vets Laura Saniuk-Heinig and Alyssa Sartor are taking over the space. (Saniuk-Heinig is the general manager at the Bar Room on East 60th Street; Sartor co-owned August Laura in Carroll Gardens.)

Many current Sidewalk fans are curious if the new owners will continue on with the nightly live music program, including the country's longest-running open-mic night.

In December, Saniuk-Heinig told me in an email that "we are looking forward to keeping the music aspect of the room still alive. Exactly what kinds of shows, we do not know yet." She also didn't know what the name will be moving forward.

In an email from early February, she said "Still working on the name and music aspect."

Meanwhile, as for the current Sidewalk, you can find the remaining (packed) music schedule here.. Saturday marks the final Sidewalk open mic. (Updated 2/20: Nick McManus captured some scenes from the final winter Antifolk Fest here.)

Sidewalk opened in the corner spot in 1985 ... eventually expanding to the space next door when Sophie's relocated to its current home on Fifth Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
New owners set to take over the 33-year-old Sidewalk Bar & Restaurant on Avenue A

Crooked Tree closes after 20 years on St. Mark's Place

After 20 years of serving up crêpes and other cafe fare at 110 St. Mark's Place, Crooked Tree has closed here between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The closure came after service on Valentine's Day. (You can read their thank you to patrons on Facebook here.)

The owners of David's Cafe right next door were on this month's CB3-SLA agenda for a new liquor license for this space. The CB3 paperwork was on display outside the cafe in recent weeks...





Crooked Tree owner Daniel Rivera is also a partner in David's Cafe. Not sure at the moment what they have planned for the former Crooked Tree. The questionnaire on file at the CB3 website (PDF here) doesn't contain too many revealing details.

A new marquee for Webster Hall

Webster Hall will have a new marquee when it reopens this spring.

So far, this is the only noticeable change to the exterior of the landmarked building on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue ...





The previous Webster Hall marquee became partially dislodged from the front of the building in February 2018...


[Photo in February 2018 by Michael Giacoppi]

Workers blocked off the street and secured the sagging sign with a sidewalk bridge...



The new Webster Hall owners made the surprise spring-return announcement at the beginning of the year. Previous estimates had been for 2020. Still, no word on an official opening-night date or subsequent first act. (One EVG tipster heard the venue will reopen in late April.)

Webster Hall closed 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 Bowery Presents will be booking the shows here moving forward.

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.

As previously reported, 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.

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.

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

Plywood arrives at Webster Hall

C&B Cafe now part of new venture taking over the former Cafe Orlin space on St. Mark's Place

In its in its fall preview last September, New York magazine wrote about Joya Loves Louie, a vegetarian cafe-market-bar combo expected to open in the former Café Orlin space at 39-41 St. Mark's Place east of Second Avenue.

Apparently chef Joya Carlton, whose résumé includes the Orchard Grocer, is not part of the new establishment, which now goes by Paper Daisy.

And as several EVG readers (thanks to everyone for the photos) have pointed out in recent weeks outside the small space adjacent to the cafe... there's a C&B sign here...



Ali Sahin, chef-owner of C&B Cafe at 178 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, said that the space at 39 St. Mark's Place will be a new C&B outpost for takeout only... and he is continuing on with the Seventh Street location, which recently turned 4.

Meanwhile, the signage is up for Paper Daisy. (Will update when more information about it becomes available.) There's an Eventbrite notice for a launch party at Paper Daisy on March 5 for a "Daisy Jones & The Six" book.


[Photo yesterday by EVG reader Brian I. Oxman]

Cafe Orlin closed in October 2017 after 36 years at the address.

Previously on EV Grieve:
1st sign of activity at the former Cafe Orlin space on St. Mark's Place

No trespassing (or hunting or fishing) at the former Cafe Orlin

Cafe Orlin will close after 36 years in business (34 comments)

Report: Danny Meyer is closing Martina on 11th Street

In case you missed this from back on Friday, Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group announced that it is closing Martina, the high-profile pizzeria on 11th Street at Third Avenue, Eater first reported.

March 31 24 is the last day. In a statement, Meyer said that "despite numerous efforts to turn around Martina's financial performance around ... we were not able to succeed at developing a large enough audience to sustain the business."

In December, Meyer and Co. changed up formats for this offshoot of Marta, switching from a quick-serve format to table service. (The pizza reviews had been so-so.)

Martina opened in August 2017 in a newly created space at 55 Third Ave., aka Eleventh and Third, the 12-floor residential building on the corner.

[Updated] Under St. Marks won't be available for the Frigid Festival, which starts on Wednesday night

[EVG photo from 2017]

Updated 2/20: Shows scheduled for Under St. Marks will now be at the IATI Theater at 64 E. Fourth St.

The annual Frigid Festival gets underway on Wednesday at several East Village venues. Unfortunately, Erez Ziv, Frigid's artistic director, has learned that one of the main venues for Frigid, Under St. Marks, 94 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue, isn't available now.

Ziv and company are currently searching for new venues to keep the festival going as planned...

Under St. Marks has operated here as an experimental theater space since the 1970s. Under St. Marks is currently operated by the Horse Trade Theater Group.

Meanwhile, there aren't any new work permits on file with the city for 94 St. Mark's Place that might shed light on the scope of work necessary in the basement space.

9th Precinct hosting a Build the Block meeting Thursday evening for Sector B

If you're planning your week out... the 9th Precinct is hosting another Sector Safety Summit for East Village residents and business owners. The next one is scheduled for Thursday evening for those in Sector B.

This Sector encompasses the north side of Seventh Street to 14th Street, from the east side of First Avenue to the east...

❗️REMINDER❗️Sector B has an upcoming #BuildtheBlock meeting and they want you there!

It’ll be Thursday, February 21, 2019, with doors opening at 6:30PM, at 620 E. 13th Street, which is the Tanya Towers Community Residence. #NYPDConnecting #NYPDProtecting pic.twitter.com/NJn9cVv91g

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) February 16, 2019

Per the NYPD: "This is an avenue for you to voice your grievances or concerns with issues in and around the neighborhood."

Find the sectors and the responsible officers here. Use this map to find out what Sector you're in, and what meeting you should attend.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments and the meeting will start promptly at 7 p.m. in the the Tanya Towers Community Residence, 620 E. 13th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Noted

NY news anchor Chris Williamson came across this scene on a Bed-Stuy sidewalk last week...

Just another day in New York City. pic.twitter.com/ilX1IaME5B

— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) February 14, 2019

Apparently there's some sort of copyrat in the works... which might explain this discovery today in Tompkins Square Park...

@evgrieve Arejected romantic proposal, overdoing it on vitamin water, and a tragic end. pic.twitter.com/k1lzd1wj3k

— Cecil Scheib (@cecilscheib) February 18, 2019

An anniversary for McSorley's

McSorley's is celebrating their 165th anniversary this weekend (officially Feb. 17) over at 15 E. Seventh St. near Cooper Square.

The bar opened in 1854 with the tagline Drunk - Drunk - Sawdust - Drunk, as local historian Pinhead once noted. (This old EVG post has a few other fake comments about McSorley's opening.)

Photo via @NYCGO

Sunday's parting shot

Photo on the Bowery by Lola Sáenz...

Week in Grieview

[Avenue A]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

After the last call: East Village photographer captures bars at dawn (Thursday)

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue (Tuesday) ... The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

Here's how to reserve free tickets for the Basquiat exhibit opening next month at the Brant Foundation on 6th Street (Monday)

Jerry's New York Central is closing on 4th Avenue (Monday)

Patti Smith, John Zorn and Jim Jarmusch headline tribute to Jonas Mekas at City Winery (Friday)

UCB East has closed; what's next for their space on Avenue A and 3rd Street? (Monday)

SMØR now serving Nordic fare on 12th Street (Friday)

Raising awareness of the vacant storefronts in the East Village (Tuesday)

Craft+Carry outpost slated for 116 St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Patisserie Florentine has closed on 10th Street (Thursday)

Explosion-site condoplex now in the pile-driving phase on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

Bookstore trends we like to see (Monday)

MTA releases more details on the new L-train rehab plan (Thursday)

Virginia's reopens after December fire next door (Monday)

Your 'Russian Doll' reader (Sunday)

Attention Kmart drinkers... (Tuesday)

No one seems to want to keep these historic Anglo-Italianate townhouses on 10th Street (Wednesday)

The write stuff? Short Stories debuts on the Bowery (Monday)

KC Gourmet Empanadas debuts on Avenue B (Friday)

Two new quick-service options for Houston and Allen: pizza and gyros (Thursday)

Melt Shop makes way back to 4th Avenue (Tuesday)

The Marshal serves notice at Tapanju Turntable on 4th and B (Tuesday)

Donosita on Avenue B is for lease (Wednesday)

...

The Patti Smith/Punk mural arrived last July on Second Street at First Avenue... it was tagged, and stayed that way for months...



... and it was cleaned off this past week...



---

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Next steps for the proposed office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

[The current northeast corner of St. Mark's Place at 3rd Avenue]

As I first reported on Feb. 3, Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) wants to transfer the air rights from the landmarked Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place to add more floors and square footage to their office building in the works for the northeast corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

In the first step in this process, REEC reps appeared before CB3's Landmarks Committee on Wednesday night. The committee ultimately voted against the special permit (it was a 2-1 count). This nonbinding vote goes to the full CB3 board on Feb. 26.



Three media outlets had reporters at the meeting. You can read the recaps at Curbed ... Gothamist ... and Patch.

And a few excerpts from the various coverage. Per Curbed:

"I think a number of us are concerned. This is the entrance of St. Mark's place which is a really historic street in our neighborhood," said Carolyn Ratcliffe, a member of the board’s landmarks committee, who noted a 19th century apartment building will be demolished and small businesses booted to make way for the new office building. "It's about how we feel about that street and the entrance to that street and it’s like having the whole corner turned into a modern glass [building]."

And in response...

REEC pushed back and said neighborhood advocates are being shortsighted about the deal’s implication’s for the Hamilton-Holly House.

“People are talking about preserving the neighborhood and the way it feels but they’re not thinking about the long-term benefits of the preservation of 4 St. Mark’s (the Hamilton-Holly House) going forward simply because people are upset that there might be a building on the corner seems out of spite to want to hurt the individual landmark building,” said Brandon Miller, a managing partner at REEC.

Under the approved deal, REEC would pay $4 million for the air rights to Castellan Real Estate Partners, the owner of 4 St. Mark's Place. During the meeting, Miller said the company also contributed $500,000 toward the recent restoration of No. 4. And 5 percent of the air rights sale proceeds — $200,000 — would go into a dedicated account for future maintenance of No. 4.

And Patch lays out the complicated steps ahead:

REEC is asking asking the Landmarks Preservation Commission to issue a report to the City Planning Commission to allow for 10-story building. If the LPC gives the greenlight, REEC would then apply for a special permit for around 8,300 square feet of air rights and modify part of the zoning resolution through a special permit.

Once in City Planning's hands, the special permit would snake through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), which is ultimately sent to City Council where the local councilmember, Carlina Rivera, would have a binding vote. Rivera has not yet weighed in, but her spokesman said the councilmember is listening to community feedback.

Regardless, REEC already filed permits (last October) for an as-of-right five-story, 29,030-square-foot building on the corner.

The full CB3 board meeting is Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Location: P.S. 20, 166 Essex St. (between East Houston and Stanton).

Previously on EV Grieve:
Developers of 3 St. Mark's Place are looking to increase the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal

The lobbyists behind the air-rights transfer and zoning variance for 3 St. Mark's Place

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Foxy Flea & Festival this evening at Coney Island Baby on Avenue A

Coney Island Baby is playing hosting this evening (starting at 5) to Foxy Flea & Festival, where you'll find vendors selling a variety of vintage clothing and assorted records ... there'll also be a handful of live performances and DJs at the venue, 169 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street. There's a suggested $5 cover.

Saturday's parting shot

One of the murals by East Village-based artist Scooter LaForge on display now at Howl! Happening. His show, titled Homo Eruptus, is up through March 13 at the gallery, 6 E. First St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Deconstruction at Theater for the New City; Homo Eruptus at Howl! Happening

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 NYC.

St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church in the morning

A view this morning of St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church on 10th Street and Avenue A.

Some history of the landmarked building via The New York Times in 2008:

The church, at 288 East 10th Street, near Avenue A, was built in 1882 and 1883 as the Memorial Chapel of St. Mark’s in the Bowery, one of the city’s oldest Episcopal parishes, as the gift of Rutherford Stuyvesant, a descendant of the Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant, in memory of his wife.

In 1911, St. Mark’s rented the church, which served members of the area’s large Eastern European immigrant community, to the Holy Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church, which remained there until St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church, a Carpatho-Russian congregation, assumed the lease in 1925. The church is named for the archbishop of Myra (located in what is modern-day Turkey), who is a patron saint of children, sailors, merchants and students. The congregation bought the building from the Episcopal Diocese of New York in 1937.

The church is also known for its annual Cookie Walk ... perch for the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park ... and, now, the exterior for Maxine's apartment (that bathroom!) in "Russian Doll."

P.S.
I forgot that "Gossip Girl" filmed here in 2010.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Your 'Russian Doll' reader

Hanging 'Tough'

Ex Hex is back with a new album, It's Real, out on March 22 via Merge Records. The video here is for "Tough Enough."