About Manhattan's Noho

By Kevin Korber of Village Confidential

The Landmarks Preservation Committee recently denied a request by Jeffery Kamen Architects to build a rooftop addition to 33 Bond Street, according to reports released this week. The objection from both the LPC and local residents was that the expansion would make 33 Bond Street out of code with its current landmarked status.

33 Bond Street was originally a three-story brick building erected in the 1830s and converted into a four-story building in 1911. Kamen Architects, which has been in the building for some time, built a three-story expansion in the building’s backyard in 2003, which angered residents who claimed that the expansion blocked sunlight.

The newest proposed addition would increase the height of 33 Bond Street by 30 feet. While this would not be out of character for the block on which it resides-there are many taller buildings on that section of Bond Street-the expansion would be too drastic of an addition to a building which has received landmark status.

Local outcry was evident, as residents argued that landmark status was put in place to prevent projects like this. One resident feared that the neighborhood would become “Add-On City” if the project were approved, citing a penthouse expansion on 45 Bond Street and a rejected expansion on the nearby Puck building.

Ultimately, the LPC agreed with residents, saying that Kamen Architects’ expansion was “overwhelming” and that the building was too small to take on such an endeavor. No word yet as to what Kamen Architects plan to do next.

By Kevin Korber of Village Confidential

The famed Village music venue Joe’s Pub, which has seen performances from the likes of Adele, Alicia Keyes, and Amy Winehouse, is set to re-open today after being closed for the summer. The venue has been undergoing renovations in order to make it more accessible.

The newly-renovated Joe’s Pub will contain more seating, increasing in capacity from 150 to 190. Better sight lines to the main stage will also be available. Also, a new entrance will connect Joe’s Pub to the nearby Public Theater.

The renovations are extensive, but managing director Kevin Abbot has emphasized that the new changes have not overhauled the space that patrons have come to know and appreciate over the years. “It was imperative to us that people would walk in and say ‘Oh, it’s still Joe’s Pub. They’ve just cleaned it up a little bit,” he said.

The first show at the new venue is tonight: Stew and Heidi will be performing selections from the musical Passing Strange, which recently won a Tony award. More information can be found at www.joespub.com

Lupa-The She Wolf gets it right

We are just back from Rome and have essentially ate our way across the city, so going to an Italian restaurant in New York is definitely taking our chances. BTW, there is no bad pasta in Rome, but there is terrible Pizza.

Lupa, the she wolf, symbol of Rome, is wonderful bistro that gets it right. The waiters are extremely knowledgeable, (do you know the difference between Borsci and Lucano digestifs) and are actually helpful, rare in New York.

Appetizers are served in soup bowls and are tasty and distinctive. I liked the Winter Squash alla Romana. Pastas are bountiful and have interesting twists; the Bavette Cacio has a bread crumb topping. The major compliant is that the selection is small. The main courses fish or meat are seasoned just so. Sorry, Vegans need not apply. While the wine list is not cheap the variety is amazing and half carafes are available. Desserts are definitely Italian style and even the Tartufo, an ice cream bombe, has a certain savior faire.

Italians entertain at restaurants not usually at home and Lupa always has several large groups going at one time. Rather than assign a single waiter to a large table teams of waiters work together and that way everyone gets served together.

Warning the front room is noisy and reservations are not only a must, but weekend reservations are hard to get. Dinner for two with an inexpensive wine comes to about $140.

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