Photo by Derek Berg
Along St. Mark's Place this evening...
Friday, August 1, 2025
Dreamin’ slow in a burnin’ world
Here's another video from EVG bands-we-like alum Dead Tooth... the single is "Chuckin' and Wingin' it."
The song is on the Queens-based band's recently released debut record.
You can find the record on Bandcamp.
And today is Bandcamp Friday, where the platform waives its revenue share and passes the funds directly to artists and labels.
About the East Village Kitchen, popping up tomorrow on 12th Street
Photo from last Saturday at the Summer Celebration on 12th Street
In 2021, East Village resident Rachael Perregaux began hosting pasta-making classes out of her apartment — working from an impressively compact 66-square-foot kitchen.
Since then, the private chef, who was featured in The East Village Cookbook, has expanded her culinary offerings to include dinner parties and custom-prepared meals for families and individuals across the neighborhood and elsewhere.
She now operates the East Village Kitchen, with pop-ups that started six months ago.
Tomorrow (Saturday!) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., she'll be at the Community Boutique & Café, 515 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... with a variety of sandwiches, pastries and more...
This weekend: the 37th annual Tompkins Square Park riot reunion
Bands are scheduled for both afternoons:
Aug. 2:
- L.O.T.I.O.N.
- Dollhouse
- Cruciform
- Pure Terror
- Decept
- Hated
Aug. 3:
- Rebelmatic
- Ricanstruction
- Future Strangers
- Frida Kill
- Skitzopolis
- Carlos the Chords
And here are the individual posters for each day...
July Citizen crime watch
Friday's opening shot
After the storms have passed, we're in for some (thank you!) cooler, drier (humidity-wise) weather. Those morning clouds will give way to some sunny skies later... and the weekend weather is near summer-perfect: Low 80, sunny, no humidity.
So open the windows wide... unless you live around 4th and B, where workers are jackhammering.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
6 posts from July
• Complaint filed with NY AG over firing of Sixth Street Community Center executive director (July 17)
• Most Holy Redeemer to halt regular masses this fall amid uncertainty about its future (July 16)
• At the last night of Minca (July 16)
• Farewell to the old East 10th Street pedestrian bridge (July 10)
• FDNY firefighter brings artistic touch to Engine 28, Ladder 11 on 2nd Street (July 10)
• City shutters reticketing center for asylum seekers at former St. Brigid School on 7th and B (July 1)
About the large film shoot now in the East Village ('Good Sex' for the SEO)
Film notices state the project as "Dodging Productions." (More like "Dodging PAs!")
Eh, anyway, Stacie J. did a little digging, and the production is the Lena Dunham-directed Netflix rom-com called "Good Sex" with Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, Rashida Jones and Meg Ryan.
Flyers state production will be today and tomorrow (not sure about any outdoor shots tonight in this downpour).
There will be some indoor scenes at the movie-and-TV-scene staple 7B/Vazac's/Horsehoe Bar...
Mass e-bike seizure sparks tensions and debate on 11th Street
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
In a coordinated enforcement effort yesterday afternoon, NYPD officers and Sanitation workers impounded dozens of e-bikes, mopeds, and bicycles from 11th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.
The action, which began around noon and wrapped up by 3 p.m., took place on a day when the heat index hit 100 degrees and came amid mounting tensions over how public space is shared along this corridor.
Bikes locked to poles and scaffolding were cut free with power tools and loaded into NYPD vehicles. Personal items — including food delivery bags, folding chairs, and other belongings — were discarded.
The block was closed to vehicle traffic for the duration of the operation.
Nearby, the longtime food truck stationed at the southeast corner of 11th Street and First Avenue was asked to relocate. It moved across the avenue, and the corner space will now be used as a designated corral for legal bike parking.
A surge in complaints
The sweep followed a stretch of recent signage posted along the block announcing the scheduled "cleanup," part of a joint initiative by the 9th Precinct and the Department of Sanitation.
Officials said the enforcement is a response to a surge in community complaints about noise, congestion, and food waste stemming from the block's unofficial use as a waiting and staging area for e-bike delivery workers (aka, deliveristas). Quality-of-life issues have been regularly mentioned at 9th Precinct Community Council meetings.
The area, particularly the sidewalk in front of the under-renovation Madina Masjid Islamic Council of America on the northeast corner, one of the city's oldest mosques, has become a gathering spot for the workers due to its central location and availability of curb space.
Hector, a building super on the block, said the bikes often block access to trash bins and attract rats due to leftover food containers.
"We can't get through some days," he said.
A mixed reaction
The enforcement action drew sharply mixed reactions. Some neighbors expressed gratitude to the police for "cleaning up the block." Others shouted at officers and tried to stop the bikes from being taken.
A few residents translated information into French for West African delivery workers, many of whom were caught off guard. (The NYPD posted multiple flyers along here on Friday.)
"We don't sell drugs — we deliver food," said one delivery worker, declining to give his name. "We work hard. We buy a $2,000 bike, and they take it from us. How do we work now?"
Said one officer: "We spoke to the community, we spoke to Joco [which provides e-bikes to delivery workers], we spoke directly to the delivery workers. We put up signs in multiple languages. This is community policing. This is not just us being the big, bad police."
Tensions boiled over at times, with some skirmishes occurring among residents, law enforcement, sanitation, and the bike owners.
One woman walking by screamed at the police, "Why?! Why are you harming them? Why are you taking their means for work?"
One sanitation worker looked at me ruefully and said, "This is the worst part of the job."
Police confirmed that no criminal summonses were issued, though some sanitation code violations may be forthcoming.
All bikes were tagged and vouchered and are being held at the 9th Precinct for 30 days. A receipt or other proof of ownership is required to reclaim a bike. Officers stressed that no immigration documents are needed and that immigration status is not being checked.
Delivery workers insist they've taken steps to keep the area clean and orderly, but say they need somewhere to rest between jobs. Police maintain the broader goal is to balance the needs of workers, residents, and businesses in an increasingly crowded corridor.
"This is not a one-time sweep," said one law enforcement source. "We'll continue to assess and enforce as needed. We're looking for a lasting solution."
All sides seemed to agree on one thing: This is a problem without a clear-cut solution.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Wednesday's parting shot
Coool Dad (and Ross Hater) created the illustration and had a T-shirt made via Zazzle.
You can order one if you'd like here. (Only Zazzle is making $$$ on this.)
A look at Monday afternoon’s rooftop fire on 2nd Street
EVG reader P. Skiff shared these top three photos... as the FDNY quickly arrived on the scene...
EVG's Stacie Joy was there after firefighters had extinguished the flames...
One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
There wasn't any immediate word on the cause or extent of the damage. The FDNY quickly had it extinguished.
Thankfully, it looked a lot worse than it was...
[Updated] These are the movies screening in Tompkins Square Park this summer
Here's what is on the docket:
• Aug. 14 — "Mistress America"
• Aug. 27 — "Summer of Soul"
• Sept. 19 — "Birdman"
Each screening (roughly at 8:30 p.m.) begins with a short film by a LESFF alum, followed by the feature presentation. The screenings take place in the center of the park where the bands usually perform on weekends.
The invite promises "complimentary refreshments and surprises throughout the night."
NOTE: The screening of "Mistress America" scheduled for tomorrow night has been moved to Aug. 14 due to the expected rain in NYC.
The series is in partnership with presenting sponsor Searchlight Pictures and local Assemblymember Harvey Epstein ...with community support from East Village Community Coalition, Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES), and Loisaida Inc. Center.
Find more info here.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Please don't pick the flowers
Their care and consistency have kept the spot vibrant and green, season after season. (We've given it a shout-out every so often.)
Unfortunately, a sunflower was recently snipped from the plot on Monday ... a disheartening act for those who work hard to keep this corner blooming. (The young man was caught in the act, and he was very apologetic, we're told.)
Urban gardening is challenging enough without losing flowers to passersby (as we've seen on Second Street).
Supporters of this plot shared a message with EVG: If you're walking by, admire the garden — but please, let the blooms be...
Details about the 9th annual East Village Queer Film Festival next month at wild project
The festival "embraces an inclusive Queer identity, featuring films that entertain, explore, and promote queer-themed issues, work by and featuring LGBTQIA+ artists, as well as work inspired by the expanded innovative and audacious downtown Queer avant-garde."
Check out the roster of films (and buy tickets) here.
The venue is at 195 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.
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