2010 April | The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side

A new operator wants to serve alcohol at the home of the old White Slab Palace, which was shuttered by authorities last year.

Liquor License Applications: A Preview of February’s List

Back to School: Bureaucrats Fix Spelling Error!

Scenes From Chinese New Year Celebrations

Three Centuries of Domestic Architecture on the L.E.S.

photo via nycjewishtours.org

This Sunday the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy will offer a comprehensive architectural tour exploring housing on the Lower East Side from the Federal era to the pre-housing legislation of 1867. The tour, titled: O! Multitudes! – Three Centuries of Domestic Architecture on the Lower East Side, will explore what was once one of the most crowded area of the world. Continue reading Three Centuries of Domestic Architecture on the L.E.S.

NYU’s Open House, Bridge Battles, Klezmer on Eldridge Street

NYU’s open house: “a somewhat raucus cocktail party sans alcohol.” (NYT).

What the mayor really wants from the Charter Revision Commission (City Pragmatist).

Rising tensions on the Williamsburg Bridge (Brooklyn Paper).

City closes 7th Street hostel (EV Grieve).

A tribute to the “Father of Klezmer.” (Tablet).

This Week's Music Picks

Here are musician Ken Beasley’s top music picks on the Lower East Side this week:

Kaki King

KAKI KING - Friday, April 16

Kaki King is a bonafide guitar dynamo, but you won’t find any of her signature fretboard acrobatics on her new album “Junior.” King has come out with a recording that shows a more mature artist, concerned with creating and writing, over dazzling and showboating. Not to say that King was ever showboating. Continue reading This Week’s Music Picks

Good Morning!

Photo by William Alatriste/New York City Council

It’s been a tough week or so on the Lower East Side. So we begin the day on a positive note: yesterday’s ceremony at City Hall honoring the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force. Among their recent successes: the swift arrests of several teens accused of targeting Asian women in the neighborhood. The City Council, including Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilmember Margaret Chin, presented the team with a special proclamation. This morning, we’re headed over to the seaport for another City Council event — a news conference detailing plans to establish a regional food market there. Look for another beautiful day, with a high of 71.

75 Essex: "Facade of Building is Cracking"

The Eisner Brothers Building, at 75 Essex, gets a Scaffolding

Walking down Essex Street yesterday afternoon, I encountered workers putting up scaffolding along the front of 75 Essex (otherwise known as The Eisner Brothers Building). A quick perusal of the D.O.B. website revealed a complaint on March 31st, stating: FACADE OF BUILDING IS CRACKING, PIECES ARE BREAKING APART, SMALL DEBRIS IS FALLING ONTO THE SIDEWALK. A violation was served a day later.

Continue reading 75 Essex: “Facade of Building is Cracking”

Holder Says New York Terror Trials Not "Off the Table"

In an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, Attorney General Eric Holder said the 9/11 terror trials could still take place somewhere in New York — and that a venue here is “not off the table.” Yet he acknowledged the Administration was taking “into consideration the concerns that have been raised by local officials, and by the community in New York City”about high security costs and the impact on neighborhoods.

Continue reading Holder Says New York Terror Trials Not “Off the Table”

Fire Update: Elected Officials Reach Out to Displaced Tenants

Tomorrow evening, elected officials and representatives from NYC agencies will meet with residents who were displaced by Sunday night’s fire on Grand Street. It will be a chance for tenants of 283 and 285 Grand street to ask questions and resolve any concerns they have about transitioning from emergency housing (in a midtown hotel) to short-term housing elsewhere in the city. The meeting will take place at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, 62 Mott Street, at 5:30pm.

Continue reading Fire Update: Elected Officials Reach Out to Displaced Tenants

Big Art Group Takes Over Abrons

The NYC experimental performance company, Big Art Group, will be celebrating it’s 10th anniversary with Big Art Group: Takeover at Abrons Arts Center, starting tomorrow night and running through the weekend. The internationally acclaimed group will use all three of Abrons’ performance spaces to present multimedia projects from their past, present, and future. The event has already made quite a splash, garnering attention from Hilton Als in The New Yorker and Tom Sellar in the Village Voice. Get your tickets while they last, here. The Sleep| 7pm |$15. Flesh Tone | 8:30pm | $15 | Take Over package | (discounted admission to both shows)| $25.

A Tomato Grows on the LES

Photo by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis

A parking-lot manager growing a vegetable garden in a corner of this parcel on the Lower East Side. The lot is part of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area. Photographed September 2009.

Firehouse Closures, Chinatown Transportation Issues on CB3 Agenda Tonight

Seven Alarm Blaze at 285 Grand Street, Manhattan

Firefighters battling Chinatown blaze Sunday night. Photo by Leung Photography via Flickr.

There will be some especially timely issues on the agenda when Community Board 3′s transportation committee meets tonight. Among them: a discussion about the impact on the neighborhood if Mayor Bloomberg goes ahead with his plan to close up to 20 fire houses (citywide).

Continue reading Firehouse Closures, Chinatown Transportation Issues on CB3 Agenda Tonight

Owner of Grand Street Buildings Cited for Fire Safety Related Violations

Photo by TJ Ryan via Flickr.

This morning, fire investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the massive fire that ripped through three Grand Street buildings Sunday night, killing an elderly man, injuring dozens and leaving more than 90 people homeless.

Their attention is focusing on two of the buildings (283 and 285 Grand), which are going to be demolished because they’re structurally unstable. The owner – Fair Only Real Estate Corp. – was cited for building code violations numerous times in the past several years. Continue reading Owner of Grand Street Buildings Cited for Fire-Related Safety Violations

Grand Street Fire Investigation, Obama Backs Maloney, Protesting NYU

Investigators still searching for the cause of the Grand Street fire (Daily News).

President Obama endorses Rep. Carolyn Maloney (Daily News).

Continue reading Grand Street Fire Investigation, Obama Backs Maloney, Protesting NYU

Good Morning!

Photo by Spodeworld, via Flickr.

This morning, more details are emerging about possible fire code violations at the Grand Street buildings ravaged by fire Sunday night. We’ll have more about that today. Meanwhile, elected officials are working to make sure the displaced residents have a place to live after this week. Continue reading Good Morning

Grand Street Fire - Preparing for Demolition

Photo by Jennifer Strom

A new crane has gone up over Lower Manhattan’s skyline. This one is to aid the demolition of 283 and 285 Grand Street, the buildings destroyed in yesterday’s 7-alarm fire.

Taste of the LES: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

We resume our series profiling the participants in this year’s Taste of the Lower East Side with a perennial neighborhood favorite — Sugar Sweet Sunshine. When I arrived on a sunny afternoon last week to interview co-owners Debbie Weiner and Peggy Williams, they were sitting outside enjoying a (very) rare respite from the kitchen. Since opening in 2003, Sugar Sweet Sunshine has thrived on a simple concept — serving delicious cupcakes and other tempting treats, while at the same time creating a comfortable, laid back hangout for the neighborhood.

Continue reading Taste of the LES: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

Send Us Your Tips

get our daily email

Follow Us

Local Events

Categories

Three Centuries of Domestic Architecture on the L.E.S.

NYU’s Open House, Bridge Battles, Klezmer on Eldridge Street

This Week's Music Picks

Good Morning!

75 Essex: "Facade of Building is Cracking"

Holder Says New York Terror Trials Not "Off the Table"

Fire Update: Elected Officials Reach Out to Displaced Tenants

Big Art Group Takes Over Abrons

A Tomato Grows on the LES

Firehouse Closures, Chinatown Transportation Issues on CB3 Agenda Tonight

Owner of Grand Street Buildings Cited for Fire Safety Related Violations

Grand Street Fire Investigation, Obama Backs Maloney, Protesting NYU

Good Morning!

Grand Street Fire - Preparing for Demolition

Taste of the LES: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

Recent Comments