The president of SantaCon was arrested today on federal charges accusing him of diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars meant for charity to personal expenses, according to CNBC.
Prosecutors allege that Stefan Pildes used funds from the ticketed holiday bar crawl, which claims to raise money for charity, for a range of purchases, including home renovations, luxury vacations, and a Manhattan apartment.
According to the indictment, only a small portion of the roughly $2.7 million raised through SantaCon was donated to charity.
A Gothamist analysis from 2023 found that "the organization raised $1.4 million through SantaCon programming from late 2014 through the end of 2022, and that less than a fifth of that money has gone to registered nonprofits."
If you've spent any time in the Key Food on Avenue A and Fourth Street, then you already know: the grocery's soundtrack — emanating from the ceiling speakers — leans heavily toward pop and alternative songs from the 1980s, with some early 1990s to break things up.
Not just a few familiar tracks in rotation — we're talking a steady stream of synths, power ballads and the occasional deep cut that has you lingering in the aisles longer than planned.
After a few reader notes (and several in-store listening sessions through the years), we decided to take this more seriously.
So… we made a playlist.
The EVG Loves Key Food playlist on Spotify is now live, currently 183 songs strong (about 13 hours) — all inspired by what's been playing over the store's speakers.
A quick note: just because a song made the playlist doesn't necessarily mean we like it. (In fact, many of these songs kinda suck, but we don't discriminate when it comes to the soundtrack of our shopping lives.)
You can find everything from the expected to the "wait, really?" — the kind of mix that makes a routine grocery run feel like a slightly surreal trip through, say, 1987.
Just ask Brooks Headley, owner of Superiority Burger and a Key Food soundtrack superfan.
Headley, who creates epic, Shazam-defying playlists for his vegetarian diner at 119 Avenue A, is always running to Key Food to grab things like three out-of-season tomatoes, ripe bananas, every pack of Arnold potato buns, and a case of broccoli. ("It's an integral part of R&D for new dishes," he says.)
Brooks, the floor is yours:
I have always been struck by the music! It’s so special. I am even apprehensive to be quoted about it. I love it so much! And don’t want to ever change. It's this pastiche of 80s music with an emphasis on deep cuts. I have been known to extend my shopping to finish out, say, "Talk of the Town" by Pretenders, or more recently, "Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand, which had me belting out the words.
I feel the best place for shazaming is near the tofu and tempeh at the end of aisle 1 near all the weirdo probiotic drinks (fuck Erewhon coming to NYC! All hail Key!) The crowd rules, neighborhood folks. Grocery stores are quiet despite being full of people. No one's talking, just silently cruising through. I swear to God I once heard the version of "Our Lips Are Sealed" by Fun Boy Three, but I didn’t take a video for proof, so did it even happen?
And now, 13 hours of the Key Food soundtrack ...
We'll keep adding to the playlist as new-to-Key tracks surface, as we did the other evening with "I'll Be You" by the Replacements, the lead single from the band's sixth studio album, Don't Tell a Soul, in 1989.
Coming tomorrow: A long-awaited revelation — just who is programming this music for Key?
Updated: The small dog run is back open... crews were there trimming this morning. Looks like the tree is good to stay!
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The small-dog run in Tompkins Square Park has been closed in recent days due to a tree limb that Parks says could potentially endanger both dogs and the public.
A Parks Department source said crews initially arrived with a bucket to make some cuts but found more extensive damage than expected, prompting Forestry to take over.
Staff noted falling bark, cracking limbs and a deeper, less visible crack in the tree.
A service request has been submitted, and Parks is awaiting repairs. (Hopefully it is a repair and not a removal.)
There is no set timeline yet for when the run will reopen.
Many readers-residents know this space as the longtime home of Royal Bangladesh Indian Restaurant, which ran from 1978 to 2022... and as one of the three restaurants at the address with Milon and Panna II, which still enjoys viral moments of its own.
This basement space was previously home for a minute or two to the apostrophe-free Smokers Basement, a smoke shop-exotic snack joint.
Longtime East Village resident Glenn Belverio will be part of a screening and performance event this Saturday afternoon at Coney Island's Sideshow theater.
The event features two rare screenings of Belverio's 1990s public-access program "The Brenda and Glennda Show," which blended drag, political action and camp humor in downtown NYC.
The screenings include an early 1990 episode, "Takeover of the Empire State Building," featuring a guerrilla-style rooftop talk show staged by drag performers and ACT UP activists, as well as "Target Bush/Wigstock 1991," which documents the march on President George Bush's summer house in Kennebunkport, Maine, and Brenda and Glennda rallying for National Health Care at Wigstock in Union Square.
Belverio will be interviewed onstage by author and New Yorker writer John Colapinto, followed by an audience Q&A and live performances by Brooklyn-based drag artists Nancy Nogood, Reina NoBuena and Oliver Herface.
City officials and local residents packed a meeting last Tuesday (April 7) evening to discuss the planned closure of the Bellevue men's shelter and the relocation of intake services to the East Village.
As previously reported, the city — via an "emergency executive order" from Mayor Mamdani on March 5— said it will close the longtime Bellevue facility on 30th Street by the end of April, citing deterioration of the building.
Beginning May 1, adult men seeking shelter would be directed to Project Renewal's facility at 8 E. Third St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery, while intake for adult families (without minor children) would move to 333 Bowery between Second Street and Third Street.
The proposal drew criticism for what several elected officials and residents described as a rushed and non-transparent process.
Local City Councilmember Harvey Epstein questioned why the decision was presented as a done deal with little advance notice or community input.
Assemblymember Grace Lee also spoke, raising concerns about the neighborhood impact beyond the East Village into her 65th District, the Lower East Side and Chinatown; the lack of advance notice; and the absence of a clear operational plan for how the intake site would function day to day.
A central theme throughout the evening was the distinction between an existing shelter and an intake facility. While residents said they were generally supportive of Project Renewal and familiar with the current shelter operations, several speakers emphasized that intake sites function differently — with a higher volume of people coming and going, often in crisis.
Representatives from the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), including Commissioner Erin Dalton, said the site would have a limited number of beds and that people would be processed indoors rather than lining up outside.
Still, many attendees expressed skepticism that activity would remain contained or limited to a steady flow. One official described arrivals as a "trickle" throughout the day — a characterization several neighbors challenged as unrealistic.
Several residents raised quality-of-life concerns, including potential increases in drug activity, theft, public urination and emergency vehicle traffic.
Others focused less on the use itself and more on how the city handled the rollout. Some opponents also circulated materials ahead of the meeting, raising additional concerns about zoning and safety — including whether a citywide intake operation is appropriate for a residential block and whether the change would trigger a "fair share" or environmental review.
That question came up during the meeting as well. DHS officials said a fair-share analysis was not required because a shelter already exists at the site. However, some attendees argued that converting it to an intake facility constitutes a different use.
DHS officials said they would continue working with the NYPD and local stakeholders on a safety and operations plan, though details remain limited with the May 1 start date approaching.
A Mamdani administration official told the Post the East Village intake sites would be temporary until a permanent location is developed elsewhere, a process expected to take years.
Meanwhile, some Third Street residents say they are planning to file a lawsuit to block the relocation. For now, the plan remains in place, with intake services set to shift to Third Street next month.
An EVG reader on Second Street attended the meeting and shared notes; other residents also contributed insights.
A for-rent sign hangs in the window at 170 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... bringing an official end to the Cosmic Cat Cafe here.
On Feb. 9, two notices appeared on the front door: a closure notice from the Department of Health and a letter from the landlord.
According to the landlord, due to the "extreme weather," a cold-water pipe broke in the building "and created a leak that found its way into the cafe."
Meanwhile, the DOH apparently visited that day, which seems odd if the place was closed... they handed out 71 violation points, per public records, including:
• Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
• Food preparation area, food storage area, or other area used by employees or patrons, contaminated by sewage or liquid waste.
• No hand washing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or ware washing area. Hand-washing facility not accessible, obstructed, or used for non-hand-washing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device.
And the cafe never reopened. There hasn't been any notice about a closure — temporary or permanent — on the cafe's Instagram account.
A restored slice of pre-gentrification East Village life is returning to the big screen this month.
Phil Hartman's "No Picnic" — a black-and-white, downtown-set neo-noir from 1986 — runs in a new 4K restoration for a week at the Film Forum starting on Friday.
Hartman wrote the script and directed; Doris Kornish produced; and Wim Wenders' company, Grey City, served as executive producers.
The film premiered at the 1986 Sundance Film Festival, where Peter Hutton won the Best Cinematography award.
"No Picnic" follows down-and-out jukebox operator Macabee Cohn (David Brisbin), who drifts through tenements, dive bars and derelict East Village streets in search of a mysterious woman in a striped dress.
The cast also includes Myoshin, Anne D'Agnillo and Luis Guzmán, with appearances by Steve Buscemi, Richard Hell and other downtown fixtures.
The film screened at Anthology Film Archives in 1990 but was largely unseen until a new restoration debuted earlier this year at MoMA's To Save and Project festival.
We caught up with Hartman, the co-founder of the Two Boots Pizza empire, to talk about the film, the era it captured, and what it's like to see it resurface nearly 40 years later.
You've said you were trying to capture places that were "vanishing before your eyes." Did you have a sense in 1985 of just how much would disappear?
Yes! Some of my fave places were already in danger of extinction, like the Orchidia, Hy and Lil's, Kiev Restaurant; plus El Bohio [CHARAS] — our home base — was already feeling threatened. New "hot spots" were starting to appear, but we always loved the places that were not hot, like Pete's Bar on East 5th, which no one but a few cops went to.
And I still mourn the loss of the hoop courts in the NW corner of Tompkins Square Park, where once upon a time, my friends and I whupped [Jim] Jarmusch, [Richard] Edson and [John] Lurie in 3-on-3!
David Brisbin in "No Picnic"
Were you following any particular indie formula when you set out to make it?
The standard formula for a low-budget indie is to pick an insular location, like a house ("Return of the Secaucus 7") or a bar ("Last Night at the Alamo"), and invite a group of actor friends to hang out for a few long weekends.
But "No Picnic" has 100-plus characters and 100-plus locations, because we didn't want to miss anyone or anything. That required not just an amazing cast and crew, but the buy-in of the community, who not only tolerated us running around with our 16mm camera but also actively participated, like the kids with the sparklers, the lady with her chihuahua, and the amazing meringue band at the street fair.
We were truly blessed to capture a time and place that deserve to be celebrated, not forgotten.
When you watch "No Picnic" now, what details of the neighborhood jump out most, the ones people today might not even notice?
Well, the "bones" of the neighborhood are intact — the five-story tenements with gorgeous cornices and window pediments so intricate you can't believe they were put on poor people's houses. I've also been noticing how important fire escapes are in "No Picnic" — reflecting how important they've always been in the East Village: a place to hang out when it's hot, to go visit your neighbors, to decorate with rocking horses or houseplants, and to hang a banner, whether it's "rent strike," "speculators beware!" or "Black Lives Matter!"
There's clearly a strong interest in the film — the MoMA screening sold out this past January. Why do you think this moment in the neighborhood is resonating today?
I think the bad old days of the East Village represent a time of authenticity and affordability, but let's not forget it was also dangerous and dirty, and you had to stop your toddler from picking up hypodermic needles in the park.
However, the creative energy was amazing — especially the music: seven or eight times in "No Picnic" characters break into song ... melodies seemed to be in the air back then!
Does the film feel like a time capsule to you, or something more immediate?
Well, some of the most colorful folks in the film are gone — Princess Pamela, Rafik, Santa Claus, Pete Rose; and some of the most iconic places are, too — Adam Purple's garden, St. Marks Cinema, CHARAS, Shea Stadium, etc. — all thankfully immortalized.
But I still love the East Village, no matter how much it's changed, because giants walked these streets: [Allen] Ginsberg, [Carolee] Schneemann, [Ed] Sanders, [Jonas] Mekas, Lady Bunny, Hettie Jones ... and their spirit forever fills the air for me!
A restaurant called Recente, featuring an "upscale Italian menu," is seeking a full on-premises liquor license for 182 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.
The operators are hospitality vets Willem Hock and Lukas Canan. Hock previously served as general manager at Dante NYC (2017-2021) and later as director of guest relations for Golden Age Hospitality, overseeing venues including The Nines, Bar Bianchi and Le Dive.
Canan worked as a bartender at Dante NYC (2017-19), was beverage director at Sovereign Remedies in North Carolina, and later bar manager at the Freehand Hotel in Manhattan.
Recente would replace the 22-year-old tenant, Cacio e Pepe.
Photo by Stacie Joy
• Wine Art Laboratory Inc, 40 Ave B (op) (bar/tavern)
We mentioned this one a few weeks ago... Wine Art Laboratory is in the works for 40 Avenue B between Third and Fourth Streets.
Per the questionnaire on file with CB3, this will be a Georgian-style restaurant with a wine bar... with daily hours of noon to 2 a.m.
Residents may still have some lingering concerns from previous tenants. El Carnaval, a Panamanian restaurant and bar, drew noise complaints and was accused of serving liquor without a license in the summer of 2021.
Dora's Restaurant followed, facing similar issues — along with DJs playing to largely empty rooms.
Photo by Stacie Joy
• B Scene (B Scene Corp), 50 Ave B (op) (bar/tavern)
After a lengthy discussion during last month's SLA committee meeting, Ehmann withdrew her application for the two-level space.
This month, she has dropped the "nightclub" ask for a bar/tavern license.
You can read the questionnaire here. And our Q&A with Ehmann here.
• Forsythia NYC (JDS Restaurant 2 LLC), 32 E 1st St (op) (restaurant)
The owners of Forsythia on Stanton Street plan to open an events space in a storefront within the condoplex at the NE corner of Second Avenue and First Street.
The space will be closed to the public, available to host events as well as weekly cooking classes.
Forsythia, which serves Roman-inspired pastas from chefs Jacob Siwak and Mark Coleman, opened in 2020 between the Bowery and Chrystie.
• Sous Vide Panda LLC, 218 E 10th St (op) (restaurant)
Kuro Neko is the proposed new Japanese restaurant for 218 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue — the former Rai Rai Ken space.
According to the questionnaire, the space will include eight tables with 16 seats, a counter/bar with five seats, and a private dining area for six to eight guests.
Background recorded music is planned, with no outdoor seating. Proposed hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
CB3's SLA meeting is tonight at 6:30. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited public seating is available. The first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery, will be accommodated.
House of Shawarma is the next tenant at 153 Second Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
One EVG reader at first thought the new name is Nar... the Turkish word for pomegranate, symbolizing something rare and precious, per the Internet.
If you're on Instagram, you can follow House of Shawarma here.
The previous business at No. 153, 16 Handles, closed in January after 15 years of FroYo service. A new outpost is expected to open a few blocks south on Second Avenue.
Signage arrived on March 31 for Sanwits at 149 First Ave., between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
This is being billed as a Filipino sandwich shop. (Photo below by EVG reader Wes.)
The previous tenant, Rowdy Rooster, had been "temporarily closed" here since the fall, with a note on the door promising that "new things are coming."
That appears to be Sanwits.
The Rowdy Rooster signage disappeared in January (photo by Steven).
The new venture looks to be from the Unapologetic Foods team — the same group behind Rowdy Rooster. (Unapologetic Foods is currently the only account following Sanwits' placeholder Instagram.)
We've reached out to an Unapologetic Foods rep for more details.
The lettered Conall's Public House signage went up on Friday at 51 First Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street.
As we mentioned on March 31, Conall's — per its website — "serves hearty, made-from-scratch Irish dishes, hosts lively nights of live music, and pours the finest drinks inspired by the Emerald Isle."
Expected to open SOON. Follow Conall's on Instagram for updates.
Work continues on the SW corner of Avenue C and Sixth Street, where the wall is being prepped for a new mural by Thrive Collective's Marissa Molina — described as a "celebration of the neighborhood," per Jonathan Neville (below) of First Street Green Art Park.
The wall previously featured the long-running "Alphabet City" mural, which lasted nearly 11 years before falling into disrepair and being relentlessly tagged. It was painted over last summer.
This one-story windowless structure — as mysterious as it is nondescript — is said to be used now by Astound Broadband, an American telecommunications holding company.
An EVG reader shared this photo from 6:30 this morning... as seen on the corner of Clinton and Houston — a green cab atop a safety bollard... did the driver confuse the accelerator with the brake?
