Urmila RamakrishnanGood morning, East Village.
Last night, the sun aligned with the east-west streets at dusk, giving views of what is dubbed Manhattanhenge. The twice-a-year event only lasts about half an hour, but provides a look at the sun and the city that the Village Voice calls “magical.” But don’t worry if you missed last night because the best viewing is this evening.
About 40 Con Ed customers who live near Great Jones Street were without lights Tuesday night during a power outage, according to the Con Ed site, which reports that power was restored this morning.
The renovations of Extra Place are nearing completion, with a recent installation of streetlights, EV Grieve noted.
Check back later today for James Traub’s exploration of Jack’s Luxury Oyster Bar and a video report by Khristopher J. Brooks on the upcoming changes to rent laws.
Laura E. Lee Extra Place.Construction is scheduled to begin Monday on a new plan to turn the historic Extra Place alley into a pedestrian walkway for retail patios and a new local arts venue.
The art space is a collaboration between developer Avalon Bay and Fourth Arts Block, a non-profit coalition of arts organizations.
“We’re really excited” said the arts block’s director Tamara Greenfield. “We think it is a fantastic opportunity.”
The vacant alley, tucked off First Street between Bowery and Second Avenue, has special historical significance. In the 1970’s, the backdoor for the legendary music club CBGB opened to the alley and bands like The Ramones were photographed in the space.
“It managed to make garbage look beautiful, in its context,” said Rob Hollander of the Lower East Side History Project.
Read more…
Ronald Sosinski, 62, is the director of The Proposition art gallery at 2 Extra Place and an East Village resident for more than 20 years. He and his business partner, Ellen Donahue, opened E.M. Donahue Gallery for Contemporary Art on East 11th Street between Avenues A and B in 1985 and followed the art scene to SoHo in 1987 and to Chelsea in 2002, where the space was renamed The Proposition. After more than 20 years away from the East Village, Mr. Sosinski and Ms. Donahue reopened the gallery on Extra Place (First Street just off of Bowery) in 2010. Mr. Sosinski discusses The Proposition’s current show and the gallery’s new location.
NYU Journalism’s Mark Riffee reports.
“A Step Back into the Future” is on display until May 1. The show features mid-20th century furniture by James Mont, custom wallpaper by Este Lewis, and a sculpture by Mickalene Thomas.
Jamie Newman The stage at Extra Place, a venue located in the basement of what was once C.B.G.B.The burgeoning private-event and music space Extra Place — known to those in the know as EP — has already hosted hot ticket events. Designer John Varvatos celebrated his 10th year in fashion with a party here. “Oakazine,” the edgy design and fashion magazine, held a new issue release event. The CMJ music festival programmed performances on the Extra Place stage. Situated in what was the basement of legendary rock club CBGB (the John Varvatos store occupies the main part of the former CBGB space upstairs), Extra Place by the Max’s Kansas City Company is quickly declaring itself a destination for New York’s entertainment elite.
“We’re striving to re-create the wildness and the lifestyle that the old CBGB space used to breed,” Brett Kincaid, the venue’s manager, told The Local. “We want to recapture that time period and all of the revelry that comes with it, but add a modern twist, some relevancy.”
Read more…
