Gelarto packs it up on Avenue A

Workers were spotted packing up Gelarto late yesterday afternoon on the northwest corner of Avenue A and Ninth Street (thanks to Steven for the photos)...



The desert shop's management announced via Facebook on May 15 that they'd be closing up in the weeks ahead. Here's part of the message:

It has been a great time for all of us at GELARTO NYC for the past 2 years, but all good things come to an end and that includes our time in the East Village.

We have made many friends and have many lovely and loyal customers on Avenue A, but have reluctantly decided to relocate. We will of course let everyone know as soon as we have our new address, but until then please note you can continue to purchase our gelato at Kings’ and Balducci’s stores (among others) in NY and NJ.

Gelarto, the first U.S. outpost of this Italian brand, opened in June 2017 with Vespa-inspired stools and a painting of the Mona Lisa holding an ice cream cone.

Landlord Icon Realty has had this listing (145 Avenue A) online for weeks now. Per the listing, the asking rent for the 600 square feet is $13,500.

With Gelarto's departure, four of the five businesses that opened in Icon Realty's renovated retail spaces along 441-445 E. Ninth St. (aka 145 Avenue A) have now closed in recent months.

Cafe Pick Me Up moved out away from the corner in May 2015 after 20 years in business. They were housed at 145 and 147 Avenue A, and had two different landlords — Icon on the left, Steve Croman on the right. Café manager Rossella Palazzo told DNAinfo in March 2015 that a rent hike from No. 145 landlord Icon Realty was the reason for the closure.

Updated 8:30 a.m.

Vinny & O shared this interior shot from this morning...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Rent hike forcing Cafe Pick Me Up into its smaller space next door on Avenue A

A two-wing building grows in Brooklyn

As you've likely noticed in recently months on East Houston (or Second Street or Third Street...) looking toward the east... something growing on the skyline...



The photos here from East Houston and Attorney show One South First at 260 Kent Ave., now Williamsburg's tallest building, which recently topped out at 42 floors at the Domino Sugar Refinery site.

And one day it will look like this ...


[Rendering via Cookfox]

The façade by Cookfox is supposed to be reminiscent of a stack of sugar crystals.

Tuesday's parting shots

From Tompkins Square Park today, riachung00 shares these photos... including of a (the?) blond-tailed squirrel...

A multi-vehicle collision with injuries reported on 2nd Avenue at 14th Street

Photojournalist Jefferson Siegel shared this photo from this evening around 7 at Second Avenue and 14th Street ... where there was a multiple-car collision. A cyclist was also struck.

A Lyft driver appeared to be unconscious and was trapped in his car for several minutes until firefighters were able to free him. He was removed to the hospital. The bicyclist appeared shaken. The condition of the other two drivers was unknown. Police stopped southbound traffic on 2nd Avenue at 15th Street.

The above photo shows firefighters working to remove the Lyft driver after placing a neck brace on him.

No word at the moment about the cause of the collision.

A 30th anniversary tribute to the Tiananmen Square protests on the LES

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests.

On this occasion, artist-photographer Adrian Wilson created a tribute on the marquee at the Cheese Grille on Allen Street between Stanton and East Houston...

View this post on Instagram

Just finished this tribute to those who were massacred in Tiananmen Square 30 years ago today. I remember seeing the guy stood in front of the tank and it perfectly symbolized the resolve of the ordinary citizen against his mighty oppressor. This spot is where tourist buses stop and near Chinatown and already so many Chinese have thanked me. The text says "Remember". #tiananmensquare #tianananmen

A post shared by Adrian Wilson's art page (@plannedalism) on Jun 4, 2019 at 2:11pm PDT

Tompkins Square Library branch hosts the NYPL's Summer Reading kickoff event

The Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B has the honor of kicking off the NYPL's Summer Reading event on Thursday.

"[This] is a huge deal for us, and it's the first time we've ever had it here," branch manager Corinne Neary told me.

The festivities (mostly) take place in Tompkins Square Park from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (In case of rain, the activities will happen inside the Tompkins Square Library branch.)

Here's more via the EVG inbox... (and find all the activities at this link):

We will have giveaways (including tickets from the New York Yankees,) face painting, tie dye, henna tattoos, photo booths, crafts, games, tech gadgets and more! There will also be visits from Sesame Street, the North Shore Animal League, and a slew of neighborhood organizations.

Sesame Street's Grover will make appearances at 10:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.

10:30 a.m: DJ Dance Party! Get the day started with DJ Carol C, music, bubbles and beach balls!

11 a.m.: Opening Ceremony

11:30 a.m.: Drag Queen Story Hour and author Jessica Love — Join "Julián is a Mermaid" author Jessica Love and Drag Queen Story Hour's Rev. Yolanda for a fabulous literary experience that celebrates diversity, builds empathy and teaches tolerance. For children of all ages.

12pm: MAPS (Music Art Puppet Sound) artists Rachel Sherk and Aaron Rourk will be leading a fun-filled, art-making project for children of any age.

12-1 p.m.: The North Shore Animal League will have some adorable and adoptable animals inside the branch. Stop by the second floor children's room to meet them.

12:30 p.m: Musical Performance: Third Street Music School — Featuring music and dance performances by students from the school.

1:15 p.m.: Dance Performance: LEGACY, a professional Hip-Hop based dance company founded by head director/choreographer Lacey Thomas.

2 p.m.: NYPL Sings — Join us for a fun sing-along with some fantastic librarians!

3 p.m.: Music Performance: RPM, an acoustic improvisational group.

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

Here's the Sing for Hope piano for Astor Place

[Image via Instagram]

Starting today, the NYC-based nonprofit Sing For Hope will once again place 50 colorfully decorated pianos in parks and other locations around the five boroughs through June 23. The program is now in its eighth year.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that Tompkins Square Park will host a piano as in previous years. (Unless Sing for Hope forgot to add it to the piano map.)

However, Astor Place will have a piano titled "Community of Dreams" created by Joan Dilieto in collaboration with Hetrick-Martin Institute and SVA. Here's more about her:

Born and raised in NY, with studios in both Red Hook and Capri, Italy, Joan has been a painter for many years bridging both cultures into the texture of her work. With the roots of an islander, the sea is always present “as above, so below.” Painting beauty, painting fiction, a mythological narrative emerges. Rich with the ancient art of storytelling, a cast of characters led by the divine feminine lead us into their Byzantine world. Intrigue and identity converge with alchemy and transformation.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Our piano is a collaboration between School of Visual Arts and Hetrick-Martin Institute inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s quote “I dream of painting then I paint my dream.” The youth participants of HMI painted their dreams on tiles that are collaged together onto the rainbow flag. Collage as a metaphor for the extraordinary community of HMI, echoing Sing For Hope’s mantra of #artforall.

A new tenant — and landlord — for the landmarked 137 2nd Ave.

Several EVG readers have noted a new tenant is moving into 137 Second Ave. (next door to the Ottendorfer library branch) between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

In January, The Real Deal reported that the Wing, a women-focused co-working firm, had leased the entire 22,000-square-foot landmarked building. An employee there confirmed to EVG correspondent Steven last week that the Wing was the new tenant.

We first reported that the building was for lease in April 2018.

Meanwhile, the neo-Italian Renaissance brick building has a new owner. According to a post @tradedny, the Cofinance Group, an international commercial real-estate investment firm, picked up the property for $18 million.

And now some dates in history: The building, the former German Dispensary that opened in 1884 before becoming the Stuyvesant Polyclinic in 1905, was designated a New York City Landmark in 1976. Learn more about its history and architecture at Off the Grid here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The historic 137 2nd Ave. — the former Stuyvesant Polyclinic — is for lease

On 2nd Avenue, renovations turn into a seizure by the Marshal at Hot Box

[Photo from April]

Hot Box has not been open in recent months over at 77 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

A handwritten note on the door stated that they were "closed for 'renovations'"...



During that time, there wasn't much, if any, activity inside the space...



And now that renovations sign has been removed... and there's a notice stating that the Marshal has taken legal possession of the space and turned it back over to the landlord...



The restaurant opened in May 2018, offering a quick-serve interpretation on traditional Chinese hot pot with a "signature burner system" for the table.

There isn't any word of a closure – temporary or otherwise — on the Hot Box website and social media properties.

Tough restaurant times at this address in the past two years. Ciala, which briefly served Georgian cuisine before switching to French food, had an inauspicious five-month tenure here.

Monday's parting shot

Photo on Fourth Avenue and 12th Street today via Derek Berg...

When appliances imitate art

Vinny & O spotted this discarded Frigidaire room air-conditioner thing this morning on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... adorned with the stick figure that's similar to what's on the side of Doc Holliday's on Ninth Street at Avenue A...



That mural, by UK street artist STIK and titled "Liberty," went up in September 2013. Stik is known to leave androgynous "stik people" behind wherever he visits.

Here are the next meetings for you to learn more about stormproofing plans for East River Park

Now's your chance to hear more from various city agencies and officials about the plans to stormproof the East Side of Manhattan (aka the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project).



Here's a list of upcoming meetings...

Community Open Houses
• Wednesday, June 5, 4-8 p.m.

and

• Thursday, June 6, 2-8 p.m.

Peter Cooper Village, 360 First Ave., lower level (entrance on the east side at 21st Street).

ULURP Public Hearing – Parks, Recreation, Waterfront & Resiliency Committee
Tuesday, June 11, 6:30 p.m.
PS/MS 188 – The Island School, 442 E. Houston St. (entrance at Houston/Baruch Drive)

CB6 Full Board Meeting
Wednesday, June 12, 7 p.m., 433 First Ave. between 25th Street and 26th Street (NYU School of Dentistry), Room 210

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.