Friday, February 28, 2020

Today in ads for Zipcar on Astor Place



A reader shared the above photo from Astor Place this morning... showing a car under what's meant to be a mound of snow (remember when it used to snow here in the winter?)

Here's a closer look at what turns out to be an ad for Zipcar... here are photos via EVG Zipcar Ad Correspondent Steven ... showing some details on the snowbank...









Noticeably missing — a design by one of the many Penistrators ...

Zadie's Oyster Room has closed



Zadie's Oyster Room closed last evening after nearly four years in service.

The wine bar-restaurant at 413 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue drew inspiration from NYC's oyster houses from the late 19th century.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by Zadie's last night. Chef-owner Marco Canora, who also runs the nearby Hearth (opened 2003) and Brodo, said that he had no choice but to close the doors ... and expressed regret that a place like Zadie's couldn't draw bigger crowds on a consistent basis with its reasonably priced menu and neighborhood-y crowd. (We heard rumors earlier in the month that Zadie's was closing after the departure of Chef Mike Campanile.)


[Canora]

Zadie's opened in June 2016. He was previously involved with the wine bars Terroir and Fifty Paces at the address.

Now, though Canora says that he doesn't haven't any plans to open a new venture here, and is giving up the space.

Stacie reports that the crowd last evening was festive, with Zadie fans celebrating the space rather than mourning its departure...











Previously on EV Grieve:
A visit to Zadie's Oyster Room on 12th Street

Stargirl 2020



You've likely seen these flexing, amorphous figures around on various buildings, construction sites, sidewalk cellar doors and at least two USPS trucks in recent weeks.

Here's just a sampling from the past week-plus...





People recall first seeing these in early to mid January...









The figures are growing in popularity, at least among a few Instagram users who have referred to the character as Super Girl (or Supergirl) and Power Puff Girl. We don't know who the identity of the artist, but the person calls these figures Stargirl.



The spray-painted drawings are pretty consistent — a smile, flexing arms and a star on the belly. Sometimes she is alone. Other times in packs. She has been spotted on the Lower East Side. We've had a sighting via a reader on 14th Street and Sixth Avenue. We haven't spotted many, if any, east of Avenue B...



Once she did the splits...



Several times the name Gwen appeared nearby...



























The photos of these on Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place are from late January. They've been painted over.





But there will be many more, no doubt.

The former Manitoba's space receives the plywood treatment on Avenue B



Workers yesterday put up a plywood front outside the former Manitoba's bar at 99 Avenue B ... something they did the previous day at the currently vacant space next door (East Side Ink moved from here to the adjacent storefront in early 2017) ...



One of the workers told EVG correspondent Steven, who took these photos, that they are renovating the exterior of the two empty storefronts. He didn't know about any possible new tenants.

A mystery applicant was on the CB3-SLA docket last October for the Manitoba's space, but they withdrew before the meeting.

Manitoba's closed here between Sixth Street and Seventh Street last June after 20 years in service.

P.S.

To recap, East Side Ink is open at 95 Avenue B, next door to their former home.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Manitoba's has closed

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Cover letters: Signage comes down at the now-closed Zum Schneider on Avenue C



As you likely know, Zum Schneider wrapped up 20 years of business on Avenue C and Seventh Street on Tuesday night (more like early Wednesday morning).

This afternoon, a worker was spotted removing the biergarten's letters from the exterior (thanks to @michaelfrias27 for the photos!)



Presumably that's someone affiliated with Zum Schneider removing those letters for use in their new location. Owner Sylvester Schneider has said he will find a new NYC outpost for his bar-restaurant.

Previously on EV Grieve:
More details about Zum Schneider's February closing date on Avenue C

In bloom



The daffodils are coming up in Tompkins Square Park ... and Goggla notes that we're on crocus alert too...



Happy February!

Here's a look at the new Half Gallery exterior on Avenue B and 4th Street



Workers are removing the plywood from the retail space on the northwest corner of Fourth Street and Avenue B... revealing the all-new storefront that will soon house the the Half Gallery...



In mid-December, the gallery announced it was relocating from the Upper East Side to 235 E. Fourth St.

The gallery, which has worked with Rene Ricard, Louise Bonnet and Nathaniel Mary Quinn, started on the Lower East Side in 2008 before heading north. Here's more via ARTnews:

Bill Powers, who founded Half Gallery, said that many of the artists the gallery has worked with “have a real connection to [the East Village] and that art scene,” adding that the move is “a little bit of a homecoming.”

With the Swiss Institute, the Brant Foundation, and other art institutions opening in the East Village recently, the neighborhood remains a hotspot for art, Powers said, adding, “We used to get a bigger crowd for openings when we were downtown because I think the gravity of the art world, spiritually, is downtown or in the outer boroughs.”

The space is expected to open soon featuring Tanya Merrill's first-ever solo exhibition.

The gallery takes the space of Tapanju Turntable (and Kate's Joint until 2012!).

The exterior is already a marked improved over the Turntable front, which had the warm, inviting look of a visitor's center at a North Korean prison.

JUICE is a new gallery on St. Mark's Place, and its first group show debuts tonight



Tonight marks the first group show at JUICE, a gallery space adjacent to the Dr. Brendan computer repair shop at 8 St. Mark's Place just east of Third Avenue...



Brendan McElroy and his brother Daniel McElroy are behind JUICE, described as a "non-profit gallery dedicated to long-term community building in the instant age."

Brendan, the founder of Dr. Brendan, is now a partner in the new location of St. Dymphna's on Avenue A.

Tonight from 7-10, you check out the group show featuring pieces by Lucien Smith, Spencer Sweeney, Harif Guzman, Jim (The Mosaic Man) Power, Maggie Lee, Perry Khalil, and Eric Smith.



The space got a test run in late January with show featuring local photographer Chad Moore.

More details made public about the 101 Condominium on 1st Avenue and 2nd Street



Workers put up the broker bunting yesterday at the 101 Condominium, Rybeck Development's condoplex rising on First Avenue and Second Street...



The signage offers more details on this 7-story, 23-unit residential building, including pricing. The studios are starting at $895,000. (No other pricing is mentioned.) The listed amenities include a full-time doorman, fitness center, lounge area, grill & wet bar and an "immaculate indoor/outdoor park" ...



Here's are a few new factoids about the building via the 101 website:

The 101’s facade of charcoal-gray masonry and pristine symmetrical glass surrounds its reinforced concrete structure in subtle curves, boasting a design that is, like the East Village itself, bold enough to dare and strong enough to last.

And!

The 101 developers have gone beyond the building code’s requirements to cushion and shield each residence with spray foam insulation. The absolute standard in modern homes, spray foam insulation seals your walls, floors, and ceiling cavities against air movement, including spaces around electrical outlets and light fixtures, and where walls meet windows and doorways. Never losing its shape, spray foam provides sound attenuation while reducing air flow, minimizing drafts and cold floors. Save on your monthly energy bill while keeping your home quieter, warmer, and more tranquil.

Sales will commence in the the third quarter of 2020.

Two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished to make room for the 101.

No. 24 's previous occupants included the cabaret Lucky Cheng's (1993-2012) and Club Baths, the first openly gay-owned bathhouse (1971-1983)... and Cave Canem and La Nouvelle Justine in between.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that housed Lucky Cheng's on 1st Avenue now on the auction block

Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

7-story residential building pending at the former Lucky Cheng's space

Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

The 411 on the 101 Condominium