2 new Citi Bike docking stations for Avenue A

The Citi Bike expansion in the East Village saw the arrival of two new docking stations on Avenue A this past week ... with 41 docks between 11th Street and 12th Street outside Steinerville (above) ... and 41 docks between 13th Street and 14th Street...

In November, DOT reps told a Community Board 3 committee that "demand shows 1,804 docks [are] still needed in CB3." The proposal calls for an installation of 683 docks for now, with more capacity coming by extending existing stations. (Find the presentation here.)

Other new Citi Bike locations include Fifth Street at Avenue A, Fourth Street at Avenue B, Seventh Street at Avenue B, Sixth Street at Second Avenue and 14th Street at First Avenue (SW corner) and 10th Street at Second Avenue. 

And for anyone keeping tabs on parking around Avenue A, the removal of the abandoned dining structure Thursday outside the former August Laura gave back four spots on Sixth Street ...

Friday's parting shot

Please do not bang on glass plastic. 

 NOTED at the East Village Prescription Center on Avenue A and Third Street... pic by Stacie Joy...

You give love a bad...

 

Dehd's new single, "Bad Love," debuted this week (appropriately enough on Feb. 14 and featuring another rather campy-goofy video — this one is still a fave) ... this is the Chicago-based band's first single from the upcoming album Blue Skies, out on Fat Possum May 27.

And Dehd will be at the Bowery Ballroom on May 24.

[Updated OMG] An Avenue A product available on Avenue A: an investigation

The other day, EVG reader Nancy shared a photo of Avenue A napkins, which she said she purchased at Key Food on Avenue A.

This email caused some confusion in the EVG Newsroom. As far as we knew, Avenue A products — some 370 strong (for real) — were sold exclusively at Associated.

We thought Nancy was confused... perhaps she was at Associated on Avenue C and Eighth Street. (We make this mistake all the time and only realize it when we don't hear any Mike + the Mechanics or Glass Tiger playing via the store sound system.) 

So we headed over to Key to see for ourselves. 

We don't recall ever seeing Avenue A products here. (Then again, we never realized that Key sold firewood, which was upfront by the birdseed and those big tins of Keebler Export Sodas that no one has bought since 1994.) 

Sure enough, one pack of Avenue A napkins was left this morning ...

... seemingly a popular pick at $2.99...

So we don't know why (at the moment) an Avenue A product reserved for Associated, Met, Pioneer and Compare Foods brands ended up here. 

Meanwhile, the firewood is nearby now...

Updated 7:33 p.m. 

Thankfully, EVG Senior Key Food Correspondent Stacie Joy is on the case now... 

An explanation: According to the store, the issue is that this brand has just become available at the distribution warehouse. So the warehouse is where KeyFood/ManDell shops, and you can select/order anything listed as available at the warehouse. This brand is now listed as "available," so Key bought it and stocked it. 

There are three products from this line now at Key: the napkins, paper towels and, oddly, crackers.

The 1980s East Village as seen through the lens of photographer Peter Bennett

Last June, we reported on the passing of Arthur Enrique Guerra, the founder of Guerra Paint & Pigment on 13th Street. The post included a photo of Guerra's mural on St. Mark's Place of John Spacely, aka Gringo, from 1983. Peter Bennett took that iconic photo of the Gingo mural. 

Bennett, a native New Yorker who now resides in Los Angeles, recently shared more photos from the era. He grew up in Greenwich Village and lived in the East Village from 1979 to 1988. (You can read more about him here.) He gave us permission to post these EV street scenes from the 1980s. (Top photo is outside the former Love Saves the Day on the NW corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street.) 

Here are a few more shots from his archives (click on the image to go big)  ...  

St. Mark's Place...

Second Avenue at Seventh Street...

Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place (NW corner) ...

Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place (SW corner) ...

Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Fifth Street at Avenue D ...

Fifth Street near Avenue C...

There are some more photos here. 

If you liked these, perhaps we can have an encore one of these days. Thanks to Peter for sharing!

Looker has closed on Avenue B

A for-lease sign is hanging now on the door here at 42 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street, marking the official closure of Looker. 

The bar-restaurant, serving vegan bar food and cocktails, debuted this past April... a sibling to the former occupant here, Post. (Post is open in a larger space around the corner at 217 E. Third St. between B and C.) 

In an Instagram message, ownership told us that business was off, which was made worse during the omicron-fueled COVID surge in December and early January. 

Thank you to Vinny & O for the photo

Thursday's parting shot

Last Christmas, I gave you my beer 

But the very next day, you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears 

I'll give it to someone special 

As seen today in Tompkins Square Park... thanks to Eden for the pic!

[Updated] City is removing abandoned curbside dining structure on Avenue A and 6th Street

City crews are on the NE corner of Avenue A and Sixth Street this morning dismantling the abandoned dining shed outside the now-closed August Laura. (Thanks Goggla for the pic!) 

As of this writing, they have yet to remove the restaurant's longer structure on Sixth Street.

As previously reported several readers-residents have complained about the structure on the Sixth Street side. The bar-restaurant August Laura closed in the corner space here in early December. Neighbors say the space has become "a 24-hour shooting gallery."

Complaints to the city on these two structures date to Dec. 23.

To be continued...

Updated 9:46 a..m. 

Sixth Street side is coming down... pics via Goggla....

Updated 2 p.m. 

And later... thanks to Steven for the photo on the Sixth Street side...

Eileen Fisher makes 9th Street closure official

Photos by Steven

As a follow-up to our previous post (from Feb. 7) about the Eileen Fisher storefront on Ninth Street: The shop has made its closure official.

The Eileen Fisher sign was removed from the storefront ... and there's now a note on the front door  ...

The note reads in part: 

After much thought, we have decided to close our 9th Street Eileen Fisher store. 

We thank you for being part of this special community and will miss you.

The outpost had been closed since late August for "building maintenance." There were rumors the shop had closed in early February, though there wasn't anything official about it made public.

This was Fisher's first location, opening in 1987. Her brand grew to 50-plus shops around the country and sales in various department stores.

As Manhattan Sideways wrote this about the Ninth Street outpost: "[I]t is not even owned by the larger corporation behind the other shops, but rather by Eileen Fisher herself. Sample garments are sold here – some that never made it into production. Many of the pieces found here are different from what is in the rest of the line each season." 

[Updated] Verameat closes on Feb. 22

Updated: Vera has decided to close the shop on Tuesday, Feb. 22 — with a 65-percent off sale going on until then.

While on the topic of Ninth Street ... several EVG readers have noted the for-rent sign hanging in the front window at Verameat at No. 315 between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Owner and designer Vera Balyura announced (via Instagram) last month that her lease was up here in April... and she was debating what to do next. Perhaps close her physical locations (here and in Brooklyn) and go online only? 

As for staying in this spot... unfortunately,  the landlord apparently isn't interested in negotiating a deal for her to stay (she also had to pay full rent during the pandemic when the shop couldn't even open). 

Balyura has been selling her unique jewelry designs from here since 2011. 

You can follow the shop on Instagram for updates... and visit the store in the weeks ahead.

Measure what you eat at DM Restaurant

DM Restaurant opened earlier this month on the SE corner of 10th Street and Fourth Avenue... officially 71 Fourth Ave., the first retail tenant for the deluxe 10-floor cantilevering condoplex that arrived here in 2019.

This month, ownership received administrative approval from CB3 for a liquor license at this location. The online questionnaire describes DM's food as "Asian fusion (both Chinese and Korean)."

Several EVG readers pointed out this opening ... though no one we know has eaten here just yet.

The DM's Yelp page notes that this is the first North American outpost for the brand with 200 locations worldwide. 

And per the name, you order your food by the decimetre/decimeter. The menu features a variety of wings, fries, beef patties, etc. ... not sure exactly how this all works if someone wants to go investigate...

Some happy campers on 10th Street now as NYPD relocates RV

The camper that had been parked on 10th Street east of First Avenue is no longer on the block. 

Updated 11:30 a.m. 

The NYPD explains what happened in a tweet...

RV illegally parked = tracking down the owner, explaining the violation, & having him relocate the RV to private property. Your Transportation Safety Officer is always out, making sure the East Village Streets are safe. @NYPDPBMS pic.twitter.com/vuO9N2dcTu

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) February 16, 2022

As noted here, some unhappy residents who lived nearby painted messages outside (and on) the camper late last week with directives such as "move" ... "leave" ... and "Camper time to go."

Those messages remain on the sidewalk.

Photo today by Steven

Uncle Johnny is closing on Avenue D

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Updated: Uncle Johnny's last day is now Feb. 21.

Uncle Johnny Grocery Deli Supermarket is closing at the end of the month on the SW corner of Avenue D and Fifth Street. 

Sources told EVG contributor Stacie Joy that the lease is expiring at this grocery where the hot prepared foods, such as roasted chicken, rice and beans and tostones, are a draw. 

We don't know how long Uncle Johnny has been here (a long time) ... Stacie recently stopped by the store as the shelves were starting to empty ahead of the March 1 close date...

Avenue D is also served by Met Fresh Supermarket, Food Emporium, USA Super Stores and various small markets-delis.

9th and C looks to be home to the second coming of former LES cantina La Flaca

An EVG tipster shares these photos of the former Esperanto space, which apparently has a new tenant.

A sign on the door here on the NW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street for the USPS includes the names La Flaca and Robert Gonzales ... 

Gonzales, a native of New Mexico, operated La Flaca — billed as "New York's premier New Mexican bar and restaurant" — during a 10-year run (2010-2020) down on Grand at Suffolk. Looks as if they're just starting to settle in here and have yet to appear before CB3 for a new liquor license.

Esperanto quietly closed sometime in 2021 after 22 years in service.

A look at a few of tonight's applicants to appear before CB3's SLA committee

Here are a few of the applicants who are scheduled to appear virtually tonight during CB3's SLA Committee meeting... (we already covered the return of the Brindle Room here).

• Milk Burger, 321 E. Houston St. (Questionnaire here)

The quick-serve burger joint with an outpost in the Bronx is slated for this block of East Houston between Attorney and Ridge (storefront photo above from a few weeks back). 

Erik Mayor, an East Harlem native, opened his first Milk Burger in that neighborhood (since closed, and there was some early drama there). He's seeking a full liquor license for this spot, 

El Maguey y La Tuna closed here in 2018 after the landlord reportedly doubled the rent.

• Salang Group LLC, 225 Avenue B (Questionnaire here)

A bar-restaurant serving an omakase menu is applying for a liquor license for the second-level space between 13th Street and 14th Street that currently houses the closing-soon Pouring Ribbons. 

The still-unnamed establishment is proposing daily hours of 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. with the occasional jazz musician or two for entertainment, per the questionnaire online for the public.

As for Pouring Ribbons, their last week of service is March 23-26, per Instagram.

• E. Village Bar, 153 First Ave. (Questionnaire here) 

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop founder Stratis Morfogen is opening a rock club here at the former Coyote Ugly between Ninth Street and 10th Street. (The questionnaire on file at the CB3 website lists the establishment's name as E. Village Bar while the New York Post called it E.VIL Rock Club in an article last fall.)

This concept dates back to 2017 (another flashback here) when E.VIL had designs on 64 Third Ave. (later going to the Ainsworth). 

In any event, E.VIL 2022 has proposed daily hours of 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. in a room with a maximum occupancy of 110. 

--

The public meeting meeting starts tonight at 6:30 via Zoom. Or by Phone:  +1 646 518 9805, +1 929 205 6099 (Meeting ID:  921 9931 7942)  

Former Red Square art hauled away

There hasn't been much happening in recent weeks (so we're told!) along 250 E. Houston St. now that workers have demolished the one-level strip of storefronts here between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

One bit of activity: A reader shared these photos from Saturday... when workers hauled away the street sculpture that had been installed for years above the former Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins...  ... and by the way, does anyone know who created this sculpture with the Einstein license plates (among other items)...?

Our previous posts at this link have more background on what's been happening to date here.

As we first reported on Jan. 18, there is a permit on file with the city for a 6-floor residential building on this property. 

However, sources tell us that this was just a preliminary filing to allow for the demolition ... and that the plans for the building will actually be closer to the size/scope of the adjacent 13-floor residences at 250 E. Houston St., the former Red Square that opened in 1989. 

Another rally to return the former P.S. 64 to the community

Photos by Peter Brownscombe 

On Sunday afternoon, several local elected officials, community activists and residents gathered on Avenue B at Ninth Street to rally for the return of the former P.S. 64 (aka CHARAS/El Bohio) to the community ...

Last month, Supreme Court Justice Melissa Crane ruled that Madison Realty Capital can move forward with a foreclosure against building landlord Gregg Singer after years of delay. 

When this news circulated, several sources EVG spoke with said that the report was expected. At this point, though, sources said what happens next, or what this means for the future of the building, is anyone's guess. 

However, the answer is clear for the group members — nearly 100 strong — in attendance Sunday afternoon.

"CHARAS was the heart of the community, where all could gather, learn, create and celebrate," said Chino Garcia, co-founder, CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center. "We urge the city to seize this opportunity to right the wrongs of the Giuliani administration in sending CHARAS to auction and restore this once vital institution." 

The building at 605 E. Ninth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C became the CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center after the school left in 1977. The group was eventually evicted in December 2001 when Singer took over as the landlord. (He bought the property from the city during an auction in 1998 for $3.15 million.)

Singer has wanted to build a dorm here.

As Gothamist reported, a rep for Singer distributed a press release at the rally stating that "if approved, the dormitory plan would inject more than $20 million into the economy of the local community. The developer blamed local politicians for halting development and creating 'a vacant eyesore in the community.'"

There has been a call to return the building for community use in years past. Given this movement some hope: then-Mayor de Blasio's statement at a Town Hall on Oct. 12, 2017, that the city would take steps to reacquire the building. According to published reports, the Mayor said he'd work to "right the wrongs of the past." 

Those plans have never materialized, and it has sat empty these past 20-plus years.

It's not known where Mayor Adams may stand on the issue. 

Meanwhile, other local elected officials made their feelings known...

Our treasured CHARAS/El Bohio was and continues to be a galvanizing force for good in the East Village.

Proud to show love today with friends and neighbors, and look forward to working with @NYCMayor to return this cherished space to the community, its rightful owner. pic.twitter.com/V2FrDePaPh

— NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera (@CMCarlinaRivera) February 13, 2022

Looking forward to working with @NYCMayor to preserve our beloved CHARAS / El Bohio Community Center. There is no reason why a precious building should sit vacant for decades while the need to connect families to services and resources is high. pic.twitter.com/0b9nVdidiR

— Harvey Epstein (@HarveyforNY) February 13, 2022

On this Valentine’s Day Eve we aren’t asking for flowers, or chocolate or even a spa day, we’re asking for the return of the CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center!

We’ve been fighting for 20+ years & we won’t stop until it’s once again serving the people of the Lower East Side. pic.twitter.com/9vCChszQCD

— Senator Brad Hoylman (@bradhoylman) February 13, 2022

Tonight at 6:30, CB3's Land Use, Zoning, Public & Private Housing Committee will receive an update from the Charas Steering Committee. The public may attend via Zoom at this link. (This is the fourth item on the agenda.)