A new sign for Casey Rubber Stamps

[Photo via]

Casey Rubber Stamps, one of the neighborhood's (or city's) great shops, has a new sign.

Gone are the charmingly hand-drawn block letters (above) marking the entrance here at 332 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

And now, there's equally charming new signage that fits the cluttered quaintness of Casey Rubber Stamps...


[Image via Instagram]

Earlier this week, Fodor's Travel Guide included Casey in a listicle titled "Don't Overlook These 11 Tiny NYC Sights."

Per the feature:

John Casey, an Irishman with a thick brogue who’s been making rubber stamps since the Carter administration, thinks the problem with the world today is that people don’t get their hands dirty anymore. His remedy? Stamps.

"Stamps are different to images on a screen. They’re tactile," Casey explains. "You can sit in front of the computer all day but you never get your fingers wet. Your hands don’t get covered in ink. With stamps, you can make a mess and get it all over the place."

People from all walks of life meander into his cramped East Village store to peruse the little eccentric stamps. Using red rubber, a Vulcanizer and wooden blocks, Casey’s is one of the only places left that makes novelty stamps the old-fashioned way.

"What do people do with these stamps?" Casey asks. "How the hell do I know? That’s exactly the point. People come in and say, 'What can I do with this?' It doesn’t matter. Buy it because you like it. You’ll figure it out later."

Wednesday's parting shot

An early morning graduation-day scene from Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place via Vinny & O...

A discovery in Tompkins Square Park

Leah Tinari, the East Village-based artist, shared this photo with us.

Earlier today in Tompkins Square Park, her son Mars found this Garden State Crematory ID near the playground construction toward Avenue B and Seventh Street.

This find sent all of us to research this business. The Garden State Crematory was established in North Bergen, New Jersey, in 1907. Notable cremations here include Sid Vicious, Joan Rivers and Kate Spade.

Not sure how this ended up in the Park... likely someone spreading the ashes of a loved one, per cmarrtyy in the comments.

About the discovery, Mars said, via his mom: "I just have a habit of looking down not to step in dog poop, and you know, I like to find stuff."

A moment with the Party Bus Express on Avenue A this morning

A dispatch from this morning via EVG reader Clare Farris...

This guy was on the east side of Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street at 7 a.m., bus turned off, blocking the entire stop, just chillin. I pointed to the sign and made wtf hands, and he opened the door to talk.

This is a bus stop.

What do you think this is? (Kind of pointing to his obvious bus.)

This is a city bus stop. People get on and off here.

I’m allowed to be here, my friend. [doors close]

The MTA bus driver almost didn’t stop, had to be waved down like a taxi, and wouldn’t even acknowledge me when I asked if he had any way to report shit like this.

If it had been pretty much any other kind of bus, I could carry on with my life. Not when it’s a Party Bus Express.

1-floor expansion planned for Avenue A building that housed the Sidewalk

The new owner of 96-98 Avenue A has filed plans with the city for a one-floor extension at the building that previously housed Sidewalk Bar and Restaurant.

Plans were filed with the Department of Buildings (H/T to the tipster!) back on Friday for the expansion, which will see the building at Sixth Street go from four to five floors.

Despite the expansion, the taller No. 96-98 would have 10 residential units instead of the current 11. The filing also shows that there are plans for a roof deck.

As we've been reporting, a new bar-restaurant is in the works for the ground floor. (Details are scarce.) The Sidewalk, with a long-standing open-mic night, closed in February after 32-plus years in business.

Workers have gutted the former Sidewalk. Here's a look inside the space the other day...


[Reader-submitted photo]

Penn South Capital closed the deal for 96-98 Avenue A for $9.6 million back in March. The listing for the property had stated that the floor area ratio allowed for one more floor to be added to the building.

Pini Milstein was the principal owner of the building as well as the operator of the Sidewalk. Parag Sawhney, founder of Penn South, told Patch in early April that Milstein decided to retire.

As for the new landlord's plans for the building (aside from the extra floor): "We have a new restaurant tenant that will keep the open mic tradition alive. We love the East Village and believe in preserving what make its so special."

Former UCBeast space for rent on Avenue A

We've been waiting for the for-rent signs to arrive outside the former Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's East Village outpost, UCBeast, on Avenue A at Third Street... adjacent to Two Boots.

Well, there aren't any signs, but the space — officially 44 Avenue A — is on the rental market.

Per the Kassin Sabbagh Realty marketing materials...





It's a large space, with entrances on Avenue A and Third Street ... featuring a bar, ADA compliant bathrooms and, most important, a 99-seat theater space.



The rent is available upon request.

The comedy venue on Avenue A and Third Street opened in September 2011. UCB took over part of the expanded Two Boots empire — the video store on Avenue A and the Pioneer Theater around the corner on Third Street...


[Image from 2002 via Cinema Treasures]

The Pioneer Theater, which screened indie, underground and cult fare, closed on Nov. 7, 2008, after an eight-year run. As owner Phil Hartman said at the time: "[I]t was always a labor of love and never commercially viable."

We've talked with several residents of fantasyland who'd love to see the space used for some type of cinematic venture similar to the Metrograph, the boutique two-screen theater — which also features a restaurant, a bookstore and a lounge — down on Ludlow Street.

Citing financial difficulties, Upright Citizens Brigade Theater closed UCBeast on Feb. 9. UCB now presents three nights of programing at SubCulture, a 130-seat venue on Bleecker Street. You can find the schedule for UCB at SubCulture via this link.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Two Boots Video store "in contract" — largest available retail space on Avenue A

[Updated] Your 'Hot Chicks Room' sign update

[Updated] Resident starting a petition to have the 'Hot Chicks Room' sign removed at the Upright Citizens Brigade

Breaking: UCB will remove the 'Hot Chicks Room' sign!

'Hot Chicks Room' sign will now bring ruin to compost

Report: Upright Citizens Brigade closing East Village outpost next month

Reader report: Martial arts for the empty storefront on 11th and C

EVG regular Jose Garcia shares some intel about activity at the long-empty storefront on the southwest corner of 11th Street and Avenue C.

The word from a worker here: A martial arts studio is opening soon ... and it will take up the full corner retail spot.

The space has been empty since August 2017, when the New York Health Choice (aka Eastside Market) gave it up after nearly five years in business.

The previous tenant, the Monk Thrift Shop, closed in December 2010. At the time, neighbors heard that — why not? — a bank branch would open here.

A new sign for Commodities

[Photo by Steven]

The new signage arrived for Commodities Health Food on Monday here at 165 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.

As we reported in January, new ownership took over the Commodities Natural Market. The owner, Ashok Patel, took EVG correspondent Steven at the time that he'd eventually be changing the name to Commodities Health Food.

Commodities first opened here between 10th Street and 11th Street in 1993. Last fall, there were rumors that the health-focus market was closing. Thankfully that wasn't the case.

Any reader thoughts on the shop these days? On second thought, don't share your thoughts on the shop these days! There's always Yelp!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Commodities is under new ownership on 1st Avenue

Spring scenes from Tompkins Square Park

A photogenic spring day in Tompkins Square Park this Tuesday. The top photo comes from riachung00.

... and Allen Semanco shared this shot of honeysuckles...



Also!

Steven spotted a worker dropping dry ice into the rat holes ...







Stylish Rat Ice logo TBH.

Also, as previously noted (likely in middle school science class), dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. As it melts, it turns into carbon dioxide gas, which fills the burrows, suffocating any rats inside. Using dry ice reduces the risk to other animals and children that poison can pose, per an article that I cut and paste this from.

Time for the 24th annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts at Theater for the New City

The Theater for the New City is presenting its 24th annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, the performance marathon in and around its space at 155 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street starting Friday at 6 p.m. ... and happening through Sunday.

Find the full rundown of performers and artists and times here.

Meanwhile, the Lower East Side Festival of the Arts Exhibit continues... and the opening reception is tomorrow (Wednesday) night from 5:30 to 8.



The multidisciplinary art exhibit features painting, sculpture, photography, collage and mixed media... and it will be up at the Theater for the New City through June 30.

A Stop the Ban rally at Middle Collegiate Church

In response to the spate of anti-abortion legislation in several states, more than 50 organizations, including Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and NARAL Pro-Choice America, are participating in #StopTheBans protests nationwide today.

The Middle Collegiate Church is hosting a rally at noon on its front steps, 112 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. Find more information at the Facebook event page.

The main NYC event takes place at Foley Square starting at 5:30 p.m. Details here.

Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

[EVG photo from last week]

Workers continue to gut the subterranean space at 20 St. Mark's Place where the Grassroots Tavern was for 42 years (1975-2017).

And late last week, EVG contributor Derek Berg got a look inside at the murals that were discovered on the wall when workers ripped out the bar ...









We don't know how old these are. As we recall, the Grassroots space was previously a Greek restaurant. (If any pre-1975 historians or former GR employees want to chime in about these murals.)

The address, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. (It received landmark status in 1971, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.)

-----

Updated 10 a.m.

Thanks to Gar for this link to Daytonian in Manhattan with a post on the history of the building:

By 1931 the house was home to the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant. An incident there on July 1 reflected the gangster-driven atmosphere of the East Village in the Depression Era.

Abe Rothbard was playing cards in the cafe that night. Police later noted he had a criminal record. Patrons noticed an unknown man open the door and motion for Rothbard to go outside. When he reached the door, the man beckoned him to step further out on the sidewalk.

The Times reported "He followed him to the stoop and then four shots were fired by a third man from the sidewalk. Rothbard fell, seriously wounded." The mysterious attackers escaped.

At the beginning of the Depression, Urbain Ledoux had opened The Tub, a homeless shelter, in the old Schuetzen Hall down the block at No. 12 St. Mark's Place. Ledoux, known to the men he helped as “Mr. Zero,” accommodated 135 homeless men on cots and steamer chairs. He advertised “auctions” of the men’s services in order to find them temporary work. On New Year’s Day 1929, over two thousand homeless men ate dinner there. The line outside was unbroken from early morning through the afternoon.

The year following the hit on Abe Rothbard, Ledoux took over the Hungarian Cafe. On January 3, 1932 The Times reported "Urbain Ledoux, who prefers to be called 'Mr. Zero,' announced yesterday that he would open a week from today a temperance saloon to be known a the 'Growler' at 20 St. Mark's Place. He intends to sell in it near-beer for 3 cents a glass; baked beans, soup, pudding, bread, pies and cake at 1 cent an order." Down-and-out men could "take their ease and play dominoes, checkers or cards, or read the newspapers."

-----

Also late last week, EVG reader and GR regular Eskapee took possession of part of the former Grassroots sign (a worker was putting it out for the taking).



Meanwhile, as we noted last week, the space has been on the retail market. This apparently brought an end to the nearly 18 months Bob Precious had spent trying to open a bar-pub here.

In an email on Friday, Precious provided a recap about what happened to his venture, tentatively called Subterranean:

Essentially, the landlord was not able to deliver the space to us. We waited almost a year and a half from the time we signed our lease for them to complete their work and, as of April 1 of this year, they were not able to commit to a date when their work would be done.

It could easily have been a two-year total wait — an impossible situation for a small company to be in. We had fixed costs — salaries for two employees hired specifically to spearhead that project, and had paid professional fees — designer, legal, structural engineer and HVAC, and could not rationalize staying in any longer. A sad situation for us because we believed in the bar and the location.

There are several unsubstantiated rumors making the rounds about the building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, including that a new tenant has been signed for the old Grassroots space — for an unspecified Asian-style eatery.

What is known, however, is that the place needs a lot of work. Steven took these photos yesterday... showing the old GR bar sink going off to parts unknown...



... and a look inside ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

Parents, students ride together in bid for 2-way protected bike lane on Avenue B

[Photo via @pekochel]

Members of the East Village biking community along with street safety advocates came together yesterday morning to make their case for a protected two-way bike lane on Avenue B.

Big turnout this AM as cyclists, adults and kids alike, call for a protected bike lane on Ave B. #BikeAveB #BikeNYC pic.twitter.com/KyvU2cHzOH

— Bike Commuter NYC (@driversofnyc) May 20, 2019

As the #BikeAveB petition notes:

Despite being a narrow avenue, Avenue B allows two-way travel for cars, but has no dedicated lanes for anybody who wants to ride a bicycle. Yet parents and neighbors alike are already choosing to ride down this unsafe corridor.

To make the problem worse, trucks and commercial vehicles have no curbside loading zones. Every day we see them double-parking in order to make deliveries to the dozens of small businesses along Avenue B.

We need a safe, two-way protected bike lane on Avenue B, complete with pedestrian safety improvements!

[Photo from yesterday]

On June 19, East Village parent Choresh Wald, who helped launch the initiative, will make the case for the bike lanes before Community Board 3's Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment Committee. The meeting starts at 6:30 at the University Settlement, Houston Street Center, 273 Bowery.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Making the case for 2-way bike lanes on Avenue B

Looks like a Flamingos Vintage Pound is coming to 1st Avenue

Renovation work is going on inside the papered-up windows at 143 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

EVG correspondent Steven notes that signs are now up inside the windows for Flamingos Vintage Pound...



This will be the latest location for FVP, which as the name implies, sells vintage clothing by the pound. An outpost opened on Stanton Street last summer. The company, now in its 10th year of business, has multiple stores in Europe, as well as in Los Angeles, Houston and Miami.

Anyway, not really what we expected for the space that has been empty for nearly 18 months. It seemed destined to be an e smoke shop.

Until December 2017, this space was home to the bar-restaurant portion of Paquito’s. The quick-serve Mexican restaurant still operates a newly remodeled outpost next door.

Experiential CBD shop opens on 11th Street

Come Back Daily debuted this past Friday over at 516 E. 11th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

EVG regular Gojira shared these photos of the shop that sells a range of products derived from CBD.



Come Back Daily, which also has outposts in Harlem and Tribeca, offers an educational component as well. Per their website:

Come Back Daily was created to solve the issue of misinformation surrounding the Cannabis plant. The community needs a specially curated place that is safe to learn and experience the benefits of CBD, can do for them.

Founder and cannabis expert Steve Phan worked for a CBD company where he noticed a need for peer to peer interaction. While operating the company’s live chat, even after extensive explanations and links to the product for them to purchase, individuals still wanted to come in and see/talk to someone physically.

And there are products...









Come Back Daily is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

This space on 11th Street was previously the 10 Thousand Steps Bookstore, the Hungarian speciality shop/gallery that is in the process of relocating.

Empty Avenue B storefront yields psychic adviser

You likely had a feeling that a psychic adviser has set up shop at 228 Avenue B — right next to Mona's between 13th Street and 14th Street.

The storefront had been empty for a few years after the 567 Framing Shop moved out.

So, yeah.

Monday's parting shot

A tree grows on Avenue B (7th and B, specifically). Thanks to EVG regular Greg Masters for the photo!

Happy 1-month anniversary, red-tailed hawklets of Tompkins Square Park

Steven shares this photo today of red-tailed hawk Amelia feeding her two young ones in Tompkins Square Park.

It's not immediately clear what is on the menu — something to please tiny tummies, obviously. (Simple battered rat with apple sweet potato and cinnamon? Freshly mauled pigeon with fruit and yogurt peaches? The possibilities!)

As Goggla noted, the first hatch started or occurred on April 20. (It's possible hatching could have started earlier, per Googla, thus ruining our 1-month anniversary sentiments.)

H Mart will open very, very soon on 3rd Avenue

[Photo Saturday by Steven]

The H Mart is looking very close to opening here in the retail space of NYU's Alumni Hall on Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

How close?

An H Mart manager told EVG correspondent Steven that they could open as soon as today, though more likely a little later this week. Updated: It's now June 3.





We first spotted the branding for the Asian-American supermarket here last August. This will be the third H Mart in Manhattan (the others are on West 32nd Street and Broadway on the Upper West Side). Overall, H Mart, based in Lyndhurst, N.J., has more than 70 outposts in the United States and Canada.

Workers combined four retail spaces on this block to fit this H Mart — the former Birdbath and Citi Habitats office (both of those businesses left in the summer of 2014 ... as well as a Subway (sandwich shop) and Saint's Alp Teahouse.

The former Thaimee Table space is for rent

A for-rent sign arrived late last week at Thaimee Table, the now-closed Thai restaurant at 99 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street.

As we reported on May 10, the Marshal had taken legal possession of the space. However, Chef Hong Thaimee's business partner, Matt Bruck, said in an email that they planned to reopen this past week.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The space has been emptied out. There isn't any mention of a closure on the Thaimee social media properties. The restaurant's website is now offline. Bruck did not respond to an email about the closure.

Chef Thaimee, who previously worked in the kitchens at Jean-Georges’ Spice Market and Perry Street restaurants, opened Ngam in 2012 (The Village Voice named Ngam NYC's No. 1 Thai restaurant in 2013) ... the restaurant was later renamed Thaimee Table.

The Marshal's notice remains on the front window of Thaimee Box, the quick-serve option around the corner on 13th Street near Second Avenue. That space hasn't been open in months, according to a reader who lives nearby.



Meanwhile, Chef Thaimee's third establishment, Thaimee Magic, remains in service in the Urbanspace 570 space on Lexington Avenue.

As for 99 Third Ave., the asking rent for the storefront is $18,995, per the listing.

No Dollface for the former Bar Virage space on 2nd Avenue

Dollface, Ravi DeRossi's vegan-diner concept, will have to find a home elsewhere.

A for-rent sign now hangs at the former Bar Virage on Second Avenue at Seventh Street.

Back in February, DeRossi appeared before Community Board 3 for a full liquor license for the space. However, CB3 issued a denial, citing among other reasons, its proximity to Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

But didn't Bar Virage have a full liquor license? Yes. Per the CB3 minutes from February:

Community Board 3 does not know whether a determination was made by the SLA about this house of worship when the previous applicant was considered for a full on-premises liquor license but believes that a full on-premises liquor should not now be approved within the proximity of this location to a longstanding house of worship in this community...

The minutes note, too, that "this applicant has also failed to submit any indication of its outreach to the community or support by the community for this application through petition signatures or other means."

In an email on Saturday, DeRossi confirmed that he will be looking for another spot for Dollface in the East Village.

Bar Virage closed in late December after 20-plus years in business. No reason was cited for the closure.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ravi DeRossi plans vegan diner in former Bar Virage space

Call me by your...: Gallery-cafe combo By Name opening on the Bowery

By Name, an "art-inspired cafe concept," is coming soon at 324 Bowery near Bleecker Street.

The space will sell a variety of fruit-milk teas and bento boxes...



The By Name Instagram account states that their goal is to "create a contemporary art community for emerging artists to gain more exposure."





This space was once Agozar!, the Cuban bistro-bar that closed in November 2017. The other part of the former Agozar! is now Codex, which sells used and new books with a focus on literary fiction and art.