Above Black Seed Bagels

Regular readers of this blog will no doubt remember my post about the newly-opening, local, beloved Black Seed Bagels, on First Avenue, in the location of the former, beloved De Robertis. And why not? It was only twenty minutes ago!

Here are some pictures of the building itself — the floors above the bagel shop:

Directly above Black Seed Bagels.

Above and to the right.

You know what would be a great idea? For the owners of the building to rent these apartments to the workers of Black Seed Bagels! Then they could hang that sign that says: If you lived here, you'd already be home" next to the time clock, and it would be true!

Living and working… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #blackseedbagels #firstavenue #derobertis #constructionsites #renovations

Inside Black Seed Bagels

East Villagers are all abuzz over the opening of the new, local, beloved Black Seed Bagels, in the location of the former, beloved De Robertis, on First Avenue!

It was rumored to be difficult to take pictures of the inside as it was being constructed, but one blog's difficult is another blog's easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!

Here is a picture of the inside of Black Seed Bagels, currently under construction:

Inside Black Seed Bagels.

Neighbors are excited for the local air to be filled with the delightful smell of fresh-baked bread!

East Villagers love bagels!

#eastvillage #blackseedbagels #derobertis #firstavenue

Inside Black Seed Bagels

I was walking up First Avenue yesterday morning, when I saw the door open to the soon-to-be Black Seed Bagels. East Villagers may remember this as the once and famous DeRobertis Pasticceria.

I didn't take a picture because, even though it was an open door, I couldn't think of anything to say about it. By the time I got to work, I had thought of something, so I decided to take a picture the next time I passed. That day was today:

Inside the soon-to-be Black Seed Bagels.

Someone who was probably the construction manager asked me if I was from Eater, or some local blog. Not from Eater, I told him, but yes, I have a (very popular) blog. He said the owners didn't want pictures of their space on blogs.

I can understand why; the pictures I've seen have been pretty bad!

He was very polite, but I already had my picture and, more importantly, something to say about it, so… what could I do?

So here's what I have to say: When the news came that Black Seed Bagels was moving in, some people thought they would leave the inside as it was, that is, dilapidated. I knew then that the inside would require extensive renovation, and that little if anything would be salvaged. And besides, who wants a new bagel shop that looks like an old man's 19th-century social club?! Go to a museum!

That's why I took this picture, so I could say that… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #blackseedbagels #derobertis #dilapidation #firstavenue

Giant Step Forward

Back in early March, I said that since DeRobertis Pastry Shoppe on First Avenue was now closed, First Flight Music School should ask the new building owner to remove the awning that had been blocking their windows.

I happened by there yesterday morning, on my way to work, when I saw that they've done just that:

Light-blocking awning removed.

East Villagers couldn't be happier with the way things have been shaping up in the neighborhood this Spring! Next step: remove that dingy Pastry Shoppe sign.

It's out with the old and in with the new… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #derobertis firstavenue #firstflightmusicschool #signs

Let the Sunshine In

Now that DeRobertis Pastry Shoppe on First Avenue is closed forever, I predict that the people at First Flight Music School will ask the new building owner to remove the sign and awning that have been blocking their windows all these years:

Sign and awning blocking windows.

When the DeRobertis family owned the building, First Flight didn't have much leverage, but now that there's a new owner, maybe they do!

What an amenity, to have light coming through the windows!

#eastvillage #firstflightmusicschool #derobertis #firstavenue

DeRobertis Still Closed

I passed by De Robertis on First Avenue the other day, and saw that they are still closed:

De Robertis, on First Avenue.

Their awning is down now — only the frame remains.

In happier news: Veniero is still open!

#eastvillage #derobertis #firstavenue #veniero

Veniero

I was walking across East 11th Street this morning, when I passed Veniero. The first thing I noticed was that most of the letters in their bottom neon sign were not lit:

Burned out neon lights.

Taking a look at the other side, I noticed the same thing:

Burned-out neon, and a flag.

The three letters at the outer end of the sign are lit, and the others are out. That's either a coincidence, or it has something to do with the way neon lighting works.

I was thinking that they should fix this, but then it occurred to me: Why bother? It's not as if there are any other pasticcerias they're in competition with!

DeRoberti is still closed.

They should fix it though, it still looks better.

Sources tell me Veniero was giving away free pastries today, to celebrate their 120th anniversary (note the 1894 sign, above)! I walked right past, and didn't see any indication of free anything! Bleh. I'll bet it was that white banner, in the second picture, above. Pshaw!

How do you pronounce their name? I've always pronounced this ven-ee-AIR-oh, but I've heard people pronounce it ven-EAR-oh.

You say ven-EAR-oh, I say ven-ee-AIR-oh. Let's call the whole thing off… in the East Village!

#eastvillage #neon #11thstreet #veniero #deroberti #signs

Veniero

I had a whole story ready to tell when I took this picture, all about how people think that the East Village is a bastion of blame-America-first communism, when in fact it's one of the most patriotic neighborhoods in the city. I even took this picture to demonstrate this:

Big-ass flag outside Veniero.

But this photo has even more meaning now, with the announcement today of the closing of DeRobertis, another pasticceria just half a block away, on First Avenue.

Veniero: first, last and always… in the East Village!

#eastvillage #veniero #derobertis #firstavenue #11thstreet