The Day | Rents Just Keep on Climbing

Bistro CafeStephen Rex Brown

Good morning, East Village.

Signage for that Middle Eastern cafe from the owners of Tompkins Finest Deli has gone up at First Avenue and Second Street, as you can see above. And further up the avenue near St. Marks Place, the space that formerly held Cotan will be replaced by another sushi joint, according to an employee from neighboring JoeDough. The Local spotted plywood going up yesterday.

The Local reported last night that a scuffle on Bleecker and Lafayette Streets involving an alleged iPad thief ended with two police officers going to the hospital with cuts on their arms and legs.

If the Parks Department didn’t want to bait Tompkins Square Park last summer, here’s why: Three red-tailed hawks have been found dead in and around Central Park, and The Times reports that the culprit is rat poison. In happier hawk news, City Room is asking readers to name two baby hawks that just hatched in Washington Square Park.

Citing the latest Citi Habitats report, the Real Deal notes that Manhattan rents are still breaking records. During this year’s first quarter, the average East Village studio went for $1,820 and a one-bedroom went for $2,612.

Jonas Mekas chats with the Wall Street Journal about “My Mars Bar Movie.” Yesterday, The Local posted the first five minutes of the film, which opens at Anthology Film Archives on Friday.

Dangerous Minds reports that Richie Teeter, drummer for the Dictators, has died at 61. His bandmate Handsome Dick Manitoba says, “Besides being an excellent drumer and singer, Rich was one of the sweetest guys I ever met.”

The Villager reports that when Basketball City opens in May at Pier 36, $25 six-week clinics will be offered, and residents of Chinatown, the Lower East Side, and the East Village will have priority.

Apparently not happy with NYU’s modified 2031 plan, anti-expansion groups have retained the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in their fight against the university, according to City Biz.

Empellon tweets its new brunch menu. Buttermilk-masa pancakes with smoked maple syrup and mole poblano butter, anyone? Also: churros in full effect.