3 chances to hear about the city's plan to stormproof East River Park — and the East Side

[Photo of East River Park from last week]

You have several chances this week to learn more about the city's plans to stormproof the East Side of Manhattan ...



Per the invite via the city's Department of Design and Construction (DDC):

Please stop by to learn more about current plans for flood protection along Manhattan’s Lower East Side and planned park improvements. City agencies and members of the design team will be available to explain and answer questions about the design, the associated Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) application, and the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Community members are encouraged to drop in to the Open House at their convenience.

Community Open Houses
• Tuesday, May 14
4-8 p.m.

• Wednesday, May 15
2-8 p.m.

Both info sessions are at the Lower Eastside Girls Club, 402 E. Eighth St. at Avenue D.

And on Thursday, DDC reps will make a presentation before CB3's Parks, Recreation, Waterfront, & Resiliency Committee at 6:30 p.m. That public meeting is at the BRC Senior Services Center, 30 Delancey St. between Chrystie and Forsyth.

As previously reported, to stormproof the East Side and protect residents from storms the magnitude of Sandy, the city plans to "lift" East River Park by up to 10 feet when work starts in March 2020.

Creating the intricate flood protection system would see the city close East River Park for up to three and a half years, shutting down the current amenities, cutting down many of the trees and rebuilding the newly renovated running track, among other things.

The draft environmental impact statement — 900-plus pages — for the East Side Coastal Resiliency project is currently available for review and comment. My previous post here has more details on the review process and links to relevant materials.

Last fall, the city unveiled an updated plan, which took residents, community leaders and local-elected officials by surprise after years of outreach and groundwork. The revamped plan — released without any community input — is radically different than what had been discussed, and its expected cost will increase from $760 million to $1.45 billion. City officials have said in various presentations that this approach will provide a reduced construction time, resulting in an operable flood protection system for the 2023 hurricane season.

Meanwhile, community coalition group East River Alliance has a petition in circulation calling for a change to the plans.

Per the petition:

East River Park is the largest park in Manhattan below 59th Street and a precious recreation space for a community where many residents cannot afford vacations.

There will be no access to a 3-mile stretch of waterfront from 23rd Street to Montgomery Street. No ball games, barbecues, sprinklers and playgrounds, runners, bikes, walkers — for nearly four years.

We demand that the City reconsider this plan. Our community deserves a resiliency plan that includes:
• Flood protection now and during construction
• Phased closing during construction and immediate reopening of completed sections
• Real alternatives for healthy recreation during construction
• Consideration of other options including flood protection along the FDR and covering the highway to create additional parkland

Find the petition here.

A look at 119-121 2nd Ave. post sidewalk-bridge collapse

[Photo Friday by Steven]

As we reported late Friday afternoon, a box truck veered off Second Avenue and collided with the sidewalk bridge on the northwest corner at Seventh Street — the site of the deadly March 2015 gas explosion.

Several EVG readers who were on the scene had said that a car cut off the box truck prior to the collision. Thankfully no one was injured.

Crews replaced the sidewalk bridge by the end of Friday.

Here's a look at the corner as of Saturday morning ...



You can see how much progress has been made on the project — a seven-floor residential building with 21 condo units with ground-floor retail that got underway in January. Work looks to be starting on the fourth floor this week...





Shaky Cohen's Nexus Building Development Group paid $9.15 million in June 2017 for the empty lots at 119 and 121 Second Ave.

The new building will include a commemorative plaque that honors the two men who died in the explosion — Nicholas Figueroa and Moises Locón.

Previously on EV Grieve:
2nd Avenue gas-explosion defendants due back in court June 21

Ravi DeRossi's Fire & Water is closed for now on 7th Street

Restaurateur Ravi DeRossi is currently enjoying the opening of Honeybee's over at 95 Avenue A.

Meanwhile, though, one of his other establishments, Fire & Water, remains dark at 111 E. Seventh St.

Tony Mongeluzzi, the corporate executive chef of DeRossi's restaurant group DeRossi Global, which includes Ladybird, Avant Garden and Death & Co., had been working on the Fire & Water menu — veganizing sushi and dim sum — for a year before the restaurant was set to open last fall here between between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Sadly, Mongeluzzi died last September at age 31.

"He had been with my company for many years. He was a very close friend and one of the best chefs I have ever come across in my life — vegan or not," DeRossi said in an email on Saturday. "He tragically passed away just a few weeks before we were supposed to open."

Fire & Water eventually did open in late November.

"We tried to make it work with another chef but failed miserably. Our hearts just weren't in it," DeRossi said. "So for now the space is closed while we figure out what to do next."

Jackdaw, coming soon to the former Durden space on 2nd Avenue

Jackdaw is the name of the bar-restaurant opening soon at 213 Second Ave. at 13th Street... you can see the outline for Jackdaw on the marquee here ...



The Jackdaw Instagram account describes this as a "craft bar and kitchen" that will serve brunch, lunch and dinner.

CB3 OK'd the new liquor license last December for Curt Huegel, who runs a handful of establishments around the city, including Campagnola, Printers Alley, Galli and Bill's NYC.

While it sounds like an Aerosmith song or Johnny Depp character, Jackdaw is actually a crow-like black bird.

Durden, a "Fight Club"-inspired sports bar, closed earlier this year after five-plus years in the corner space that previously housed the Nightengale Lounge.

Updated 5/17

Sandwicherie has closed on 4th Avenue and 13th Street; doomed corner status yet?

That's all for Sandwicherie New York on the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and 13th Street.

EVG regular Laura shared these photos from Saturday, showing that the quick-serve, health-conscious sandwich shop has been emptied out...



Sandwicherie opened here in April 2017.



This has been a challenging corner for businesses since the longtime deli was rent-hiked out of here in November 2012. The space has been home to Fresh & Co. and Pie Face and now Sandwicherie in the past five years. Next!

Bright Horizons signage arrives at EVGB on 14th Street

As noted late last month, Bright Horizons, one of the country's largest child-care providers, is opening at 524 E. 14th St. in the retail spaces at EVGB.

EVG reader Brian Carroll notes that the BH signage arrived back on Friday here at the newish residential complex between Avenue A and Avenue B.

This is the first retail tenant for No. 524. There's still another space available right next door. The day-care center joins Target, which opened in EVGB's corner spot at Avenue A (500 E. 14th St.) last summer.

Week in Grieview

[Space Invader's Lou Reed mosaic circa 2015 at 110 St. Mark's Place]

Report: 10 teens hospitalized after someone tossed chemical from above during party at First Houses (Monday)

Report: Preservationists want probe of the tech hub deal on 14th Street (Monday)

Sidewalk bridge collapses at explosion site on 2nd Avenue; box truck culprit, witnesses say (Friday)

A visit to Gem Spa (Friday)

At the NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally 2019 in Union Square (Sunday)

The Blind Pig is closing on 14th Street following 50% rent hike (Monday)

The 43rd annual Saint George Ukrainian Festival is May 17-19 (Thursday)

Countdown to the Dance Parade and DanceFest (Wednesday)

A new storefront for A Repeat Performance, and word about the next tenant (Friday)

Report: RGB gives nod to rent increase; final vote coming June 25 (Wednesday)

Tea time for 2nd Avenue and 5th Street (Monday)

Peeping Amelia and Christo's 2019 offspring (Wednesday)

New 3rd Street condoplex off the Bowery is called 3E3; first unit hits the market (Monday)

Hamilton Fish Park Library will operate with limited services during upcoming AC renovations (Tuesday)

Once again, everyone's favorite 14th Street triplex with a garage door for a wall is back on the market (Wednesday)

Asian Taste opens on 3rd and B (Thursday)

Winning projects revealed in District 2's Participatory Budgeting vote (Wednesday)

See the She NYC Arts Summer Theater Festival on 4th Street this June (Tuesday)

Capital One leaves the East Village (Friday)

Signup for the Washington Square CSA ends June 1 (Tuesday)

The Marshal visits Thaimee Table, who will return next week (Friday)

Honeybee's debuts on Avenue A (Friday)

11 Avenue C finally makes first appearance above street level (Tuesday)

The #Rethinklink campaign (Tuesday)

When workers unpack dry goods at the incoming H Mart (Monday)

The rent due at the now-closed Beijing Express (Monday)

Construction watch: 809 Broadway (Wednesday)

Lord, what fools these mortals be! A pop-up Shakespearean-themed restaurant for Broadway (Tuesday)

And that above post generated several great comments... like:

Anonymous said...
If music be the food of love ... separate checks

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are included in our lunch special

And...

DrGecko said...
And when there's a long line for the bathroom ...

Stand not upon the order of thy going, but go at once.

And...

Sir Francis Christopher William Bacon Marlowe Stanley, 69th Earl of EV said...
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swear?

Do you think because you are virtuous, that there shall ne on more cupcakes and India pale ale?

Eight artisanal, organic, farm-to-table , curated, wild boars roasted at brunch, but twelve persons here splitting the bill or paying one with Venmo

---

Spotted yesterday morning in Tompkins Square Park... a memorial for L-Doo









---

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Peter Brant and the legacy of Basquiat

[EVG photo from March]

Tomorrow (May 13) is the last day for the Basquiat exhibit at the Brant Foundation on Sixth Street.

On this occasion, J. Faith Almiron contributes an essay — titled "No One Owns Basquiat, Not Even Peter Brant" — to Hyperallergic that explores how Brant "has cogently influenced the legacy of Basquiat on several fronts."

And there are thoughts on the exhibit, which features some 70 works collectively valued at $1 billion:

Without guiding text or a road map, laypeople may feel disoriented or find the space aloof. On the top floor, there is a skylight that brings in natural luminosity against the artwork. If you follow it, the rooftop offers a panoramic view of the city.

Although it belies any pedagogical purpose characteristic of civic institutes like public museums, the bare presentation does not detract from the ethos and impact of the artwork. For example, the second-floor stuns with a wall of paintings framed on signature canvas stretchers innovated by former assistant Stephen Torton, from floor to high-vaulted ceilings.

And...

Beyond the high volume and overwhelming demand, Basquiat exhibitions diversify the demography of its attendees. Unlike any other artist before or since, Basquiat invites everybody into the museum — art nerds, hip-hop heads, immigrant kids, post-colonial ex-pats, rebels young and old, everyday Black and Brown folk, thirsty celebrities, and indeed rich white people too. Basquiat hails you to revel in his glorious defiance, then take a piss on the walls of an oppressor.

Previously on EV Grieve:
1 month in: Basquiat at the Brant Foundation

May flowers

The Mother's Day morning scene outside Village Farm Grocery on Second Avenue at Ninth Street (not to be confused with East Village Farm & Grocery on Second Avenue at Fourth Street) ...



And happy Mother's Day!

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Saturday's parting shot

Sunbathing in Cooper Square this afternoon ...

A moment on Avenue A

License-plate spotting today on Avenue A at Fourth Street.

Photo by Vinny & O.

Wake up to the annual plant and bake sale at the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden

The 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden is holding its annual plant and bake sale today and tomorrow... from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Plants for outdoors and indoors. Flowers and vegetable gardening. Lots of home-baked goods from garden members. Find it on the southwest corner of Avenue B at Sixth Street.

Friday's parting tweet

@evgrieve there’s also a naked guy on Houston between 1st as 2nd ave rolling in the street and punching cars. It’s been an eventful day

— bacondevil (@bacondevil) May 10, 2019

Revolution rock

"Mercedes Marxist," the new blast by Idles (or IDLES), is available to stream now... the actual vinyl is out in August. Embedded here for your pleasure is the audio track.

The band's playing at (a sold out) Brooklyn Steel tonight.

Updated: Sidewalk bridge collapses at explosion site on 2nd Avenue; box truck culprit, witnesses say

[Photos by Steven]

The recently erected sidewalk bridge on Second Avenue at Seventh Street collapsed this afternoon around 4:20, according to witnesses.



Updated: Workers on the scene said that the collapse occurred after a box truck collided with the sidewalk bridge. (One EVG reader said that a car had cut off the truck, causing it to swerve and collide with the sidewalk bridge.) There aren't any reports of injuries, which is amazing given the time of day on a nice spring afternoon. (Last summer and early fall, this was the site of a traveler-crustie camp site that led to tabloid headlines.)





Work started in January here on a seven-floor residential building with 21 condo units and ground-floor retail. Work had recently reached the second floor.

An explosion — due to an illegal gas system — on March 26, 2015, leveled three buildings, killing two men and injuring more than 20 others. The landlord of the former 119 and 121 Second Ave. and two others are still awaiting a trial date.

Thanks to Steven for the photos from the scene. And to Edmund John Dunn for an early alert about the collapse.

Updated 5/11

Workers have replaced the sidewalk bridge...

EVG Etc.: City Council strengthens tenant protections; old Essex Street Market closes

[Photo on 1st Avenue this a.m. by Lola Saénz]

Police are looking for a man who tried to sexually assault another man in the victim’s apartment on 13th Street and Avenue B (Town & Village)

City Council — in a bill sponsored by Carlina Rivera — votes to strengthen tenant protections (Curbed)

With more cars and trucks killing people on NYC streets, Council Speaker Corey Johnson pledges vote on new legislation, known as the Vision Zero Street Design Standard bill (amNY ... Streetsblog ...The Guardian)

Comptroller Stringer’s office: Billions for NYC Sandy recovery has not been spent (amNY)

Farewell to the old Essex Street Market (The Lo-Down)

Check out the paintings East Village-based photographer Steven Hirsch created while covering the trial of "Socialite Scammer" Anna Delvey (artNet)

The International Center of Photography close on a $29 million new headquarters at Essex Crossing (The Real Deal)

Abel Ferrara’s new film about Pier Paolo Pasolini, and starring Willem Dafoe, opens today at the Metrograph (Official site)

A great sign: Ideal Glass on Second Street (Ephemeral New York)

The World’s Fair in cinema series continues (Anthology Film Archives)

And happening tomorrow (more details here) ...

Ecological City: Procession for Climate Solutions takes place tomorrow [May 11] with 20 site performances celebrating ecological sustainability initiatives throughout the community gardens, neighborhood, and East River Park waterfront on the Lower East Side. Ecological City 2019 features a spectacular creative community affirmation of the community’s vision for the #ESCR (East Side Coastal Resiliency) waterfront development plan, including a 40-foot Mobile Mural – LES Ecosystem of Sustainability.

A visit to Gem Spa

Photos and interview by Stacie Joy

Updated: Since this post, Zoltar has been removed from the shop's front. Gem Spa has also reduced hours and discontinued newspaper sales.

Parul Patel is running a few minutes late for our appointment and she calls to say she’s on her way. So I use the time to take in Gem Spa, the iconic corner shop and newsstand at 131 Second Ave. and St. Mark’s Place that has a long history in the neighborhood — and not just for its signature egg creams. (Look at the Gem Spa Wikipedia entry for its sprawling legend.)

Patel, whose 76-year-old father Ray owns the shop, soon arrives, issuing a flurry of instructions to employees as she sets up the house special chocolate egg cream (seen below with pretzel stick and chocolate-covered jelly ring).









As her father’s in declining health, Parul has been handling the store’s management. The Patel family has owned the store since 1986.

Parul says the egg cream has been made for almost 100 years at this address. While chocolate is the current best-selling flavor, she also offers vanilla, strawberry, orange creamsicle, and black-and-white.

She plans to debut some new flavors soon – and scoop! – I saw the creation of the first-ever cookies and cream version.







Future flavors also include mocha and hazelnut or Nutella flavor. Upcoming offerings may include ice cream and milkshakes, and new flavors of e-cigs, as well as adding jewelry and handbags to the hats and accessories already being sold outside the shop.



Last month, Gem Spa lost its license to sell lottery and tobacco products (with the exception of e-cigs) due to an employee twice selling cigarettes to an undercover underage buyer. The state has suspended the store’s license for six months and also leaves them unable to apply for a license to sell beer.

Neighborhood icon (and EVG favorite!) Zoltar arrived in 2011, when the machine’s owner offered to license it to Gem Spa. (They keep 50% of the profits.) Zoltar seems to be busiest at night although he gets to pose with tourists often during the day.





The store recently joined Instagram — you can follow it here.

Gem Spa has also been enjoying some media exposure of late, including a deep dive on the shop's history at Gothamist... and a visit by NY1's affable Roger Clark.











“Gem Spa serves and loves its locals, tourists, and eccentrics,” Parul tells me, before sending me on my way with a chocolate-covered jelly-topped graham cracker and a smile.





Visit our previous A Visit To features here.

A new storefront for A Repeat Performance, and word about the next tenant

[Photo Saturday by Dan Scheffey]

A Repeat Performance received a new storefront last weekend.

As we previously reported, the bric-a-brac shop at 156 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street is closing on July 31 after 39 years in business.

Store founder Beverly Bronson died last May. Sharon Jane Smith (pictured below), who has worked at the shop since 1987, has said that it's time to move on...


[Photo Tuesday by Steven]

So why a new storefront for a business that's closing in a few months?

Smith told EVG correspondent Steven this week that her friend, jewelry designer Lisa Linhardt, will be moving into the space after A Repeat Performance closes this summer. "So it’s not going to be the disaster that people think," Smith said.

Linhardt originally had a shop right next door, starting in 2008, but moved to Mott Street in 2013. She misses the neighborhood.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A Repeat Performance, until July 31