Saigon Sandwich Adds Juice/Smoothie Counter

Everyone's favorite and affordable Banh Mi sandwich place on Broome between Mott and Elizabeth (map) has expanded their menu and public presence. They have added a fresh juice and smoothie counter with extensive choices, as well as iced and hot tea and coffees, to the store front next door.

If you've never been, keep the place in mind next time you are around. You're sure to like it; they do a very good job at a very affordable price, and they do it quick and with pleasure. And as Jim Lesczynski Yori Yanover wrote, "with affection," in his Grand Street News editorial this week, supporting the local business community (or not) has powerful social consequence.

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Not To Be Outdone By Shepard Fairey's Deitch Wall, Building On Broome And Bowery Covers Up In Plywood

342 Broome Street, (or 150 Bowery as others report) seen above on the NW corner of Broome and Bowery, was partially hidden behind a plywood exterior yesterday. The building has been empty and available for what seems like years; a peek behind the wall and inside windows showed some ancient demolition, but no new clues as to what my be going on.

Maybe the building owner liked the looked of Shepard's Fairey mural down the way, which was recently covered midway in plywood after having been heavily damaged? Either way, this wall is definitely inviting its own penis. Your move, penistrator.

UPDATE: There is a demo crew on site this morning doing a "full gut renovation."
UPDATE: Plans are for a restaurant. Bowery Boogie has more. Eater reported in March that "the owners of sleek Williamsburg Japanese restaurant Zenkichi just signed at lease at 150 Bowery, right by Broome."

Related: For comprehensive coverage on the radical changes taking place on the Bowery, see Bowery Boogie, EV Grieve, and Curbed. 

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Light Poles On Elizabeth And Broome Get A Fresh Coat Of Paint

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Shopping Box Boutique Opens On Broome Street

A new retail store has opened their doors, and boxes, at 360 Broome Street in the space formerly held by Klurk, the mens little fashion boutique that could.

Shopping Box, as the newly opened store is called, has lined their walls with shelving consisting of rows of white boxes; most of these boxes are holding items for sale. The items however, are owned not by the store but by others looking to sell them.

As is common in Japan, according to the proprietor, each box in the store is available for rent, with a high of $7 a day to secure yourself an eye level box in the window. The prices drop slightly for boxes above and below eye level. Though advertised at a daily rate, it was unclear if the boxes could actually be rented daily, as opposed to monthly, or weekly.

At the time of visit yesterday, the offerings at Shopping Box included brand new mobile phones for $250, luxury leather goods from Louis Vuitton and Gucci reaching upwards of $1,600, and all manner of bric-a-brac, such as ceramic ashtrays, for just a few dollars.

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Photo credit: Paolo Mastrangelo/NYC The Blog

New York City DOB Goes On The Offensive Against Illegal Billboards

NPA billboards (seen top left) proliferated on corners all over Manhattan. That alone raised eyebrows, but it was those small "win these posters inside" signs sitting atop the ads that were really suspect. And though you really could win a poster as advertised, there was something fishy about the offer, as if they were used to skirt the regulation by changing intent.

Ryan Fitzgibbon, spokeswoman for the City Department of Buildings, told the New York Times:
“If outdoor advertisement is allowed, a permit from D.O.B. must be obtained in order to post an advertisement or a sign,” she said, adding, “Advertisements are not allowed on construction fences.”

The DOB has its work cut out for it—there are thousands of illegal advertisement structures in the city—but it seems that DOB has been making progress. On May 28, 2009, for the first time ever, the DOB forcibly removed an illegal ad at 174 Broadway. What's more, The New York Post reports that a federal appeals court ruling in February finally authorized the city to enforce regulations that the billboard industry has hotly contested since the Giuliani administration. This has resulted in a "blitz against illegal signs and billboards along the city's busiest roadways," with 53 voluntarily removed.

It's quite possible you've noticed the results in your own neighborhood. As of late, the DOB has also been focusing on street level billboards owned by NPA. The sites first get covered in white paper, before being taken down completely. Note the photo above showing the results of these efforts, on corner of Mulberry and Kenmare.

What about the signs advertising free posters?

MIRF "Elaborate" On New Work And Jon Lennon

Last Friday, NYC The Blog posted a photo of relatively new work on Broome St. by the graffiti duo Mint and Serf (MIRF).

The work was tagged "Jon Lennon," who happens to work across the street at GoldBar.

Asked via email the reason for a special greeting to Lennon, Mint and Serf explained: "he is part of our extended family." So there you have it, a graffiti duo with an extended family. 

Quizzed about relatively new pieces popping up elsewhere around the neighborhood, they declined to respond. See photos of those below.

Graffiti Duo MIRF Say Hello To Jon Lennon

The graffiti pair Mint and Serf (MIRF) tagged a wall on Broome St recently, just west of Mulberry, adding to the growing collection of their tags—already in and sprouting up anew—around the neighborhood.

The tag sits directly across the street from GoldBar and pays special homage to a one Jon Lennon. Lennon, as of this writing in Black Book magazine last summer, is the doorman at GoldBar.

Apparently Mint and Serf wanted to say hello.

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NoLiTa's Klurk To Close At End Of Month

NoLiTa's Klurk, holding it steady at 360 Broome St (btw Elizabeth and Mott) for a decade, is set close to at the end of the month when their lease is up, according to the owners.

New York Magazine described the line by Hong Kong designer Brian Chik as "an affordable hybrid of Galliano edginess and Hong Kong pimp." I'm not sure if I would go that far, though some items here and there might be described as muted Galliano. A common refrain oft repeated concerned Klurk's form fitting cuts and small sizes. Guerilla Shopper warned: "if you ARE that hip and svelte, I strongly suggest checking it out."

Most appreciated, the boutique had minimal items and a curated selection every season that allowed you to pick up a unique item here and there for a reasonable price without much fuss.

The owners told NYC The Blog there is interest in opening another location elsewhere, though admitted that they have become more and more involved with other aspects of the business; mainly designing and consulting for others.

New New York: Corner of Broome and Mulberry

This photo was taken in September; the building looks much the same today. Like other buildings in the immediate neighborhood, being renovated or having been renovated (11 Spring comes to mind), outside appearances imply it is a very well done renovation. Even the sidewalk out front was handled with meticulous care by the contracting crew, identified by a sign on sight as Super Touch Contracting. When the utility outlets were ready to be capped on the sidewalk, workers were sanding and polishing the metal caps. They have a thick coat of gloss or some sort of protective coating on them. Nice touch, or a Super Touch, if you will.

Bike Polo in Sara D Roosevelt Park

Capturing a quick moment of the bike polo games that take place every Sunday during the summer and fall in Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Lower Manhattan, on Broome St btw Chrystie and Forsyth Streets.

You wouldn't describe the games as exciting. But spectators aren't actually on a bike riding around "the pit" as it's called, wacking a ball around, which is most likely, a lot of fun.

The Bike Polo players in Sara D Roosevet Park on Sunday are well organized, and maintain a website. There they publicize games, organize tournaments, and act as a central clearing house for information on the sport in New York City. They have even succesfully resisted efforts to turn "the pit" into a dog run. Unfortunately, those who were hoping NYC would be hosting 2010 North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships will be disappointed. The organization will be

"...focusing all its energies and resources on a bid to host the 2011 World Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships. We have therefore decided not to bid on hosting the 2010 North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships.

PAC vs NPA: Taking Over Illegal Ads with Illegal Art

Jordan Seiler's Public Ad Campaign hit the streets of New York City on Sunday to reclaim alleged illegal advertisements placed by the NPA advertising company. Reporters at the New York Times and ANIMAL New York were both tagging along and have more on the story.

At 3:30 pm, NYC The Blog happened upon two artists, Philip Lumbang and Shai Dahan, (seen in the video above) who just finished adding some art to whitewashed ads on Broome and Chrystie Streets. They explained that approximately 120 signs were targeted on Sunday, signs that Public Ad Campaign maintain are illegal and erected without proper permits or permissions.  (See a photo set of their work here.) The Times reports:

A spokeswoman for the City Department of Buildings, Ryan Fitzgibbon, said on Sunday that it was difficult to immediately address Mr. Seiler’s claims. “If outdoor advertisement is allowed, a permit from D.O.B. must be obtained in order to post an advertisement or a sign,” she said. “Advertisements are not allowed on construction fences.”

It is no secret, however, that such advertisements abound, and on Sunday morning Mr. Seiler pointed to a construction fence near his studio that was covered with dozens of pasted posters.

It is this advertising, illegal in nature and often encouraging you to "Buy this, do this, eat that," Lumbang told NYCTB, that is particularly offensive.

Shai Dahan explained: "We can be out here for 45 minutes and have cops roll up on us and be like, 'Hey, you're not supposed to do that' but at the same time, [NPA] puts this stuff up on a weekly basis...and when was the last time you saw any of those guys in handcuffs?"

Representatives for NPA did not return phone calls or emails requesting comment.