Tuesday's parting shot

Photo by Jose Garcia 

Springtime along Ninth Street (and outside vintage shop Spark Pretty).

Wisteria watch underway for spring 2025

Our first reader dispatch of the spring about the world-famous wisteria outside 35 Stuyvesant St. at 10th Street: 

We have our first bloom on the block! Despite the cold! Much relief, as that vine has looked a little rough all winter. It’s the little purple fluff on the black window trim...

And the lovely townhouse there is still on the sales market.

No April fool's

Photo by Robert Miner

As seen on 11th Street this April 1 ...

Al fresco comeback: City’s outdoor dining program returns

This is no April Fool's — roadway dining season officially kicks off today, April 1. 

Restaurants and bars participating in the Dining Out NYC program may now start serving in their roadway dining structures. The city allowed approved establishments to begin setting up last Tuesday, before today's official start.

This is the first year of the new program. Per 2023 City Council legislation that Mayor Adams later approved, establishments can operate sidewalk setups year-round, while roadway dining operates seasonally, from April 1 to Nov. 29. (Sidewalk cafes are allowed year-round.)

The revised regulations stipulate that roadway cafes must now be open-air, easily portable, and simple to assemble and dismantle. 

According to a city press release, 2,600 establishments have approval to operate on roadways or sidewalks. "By April 1, NYC DOT estimates 600 roadway dining applicants and another roughly 2,000 sidewalk applicants will be able to operate." 

However, the Post noted Sunday: "Only seven restaurants out of 3,000 hoping to set up al fresco have received outdoor liquor licenses from the State Liquor Authority, meaning thousands may not be able to legally serve alcohol outside." 

We haven't seen much curbside-dining construction in the East Village, but we spotted several in the works on the Lower East Side over the weekend, including outside hotspots like Le Dive and Dudley's.

On Saturday evening, as the temperatures started dropping from the 80s to the 50s, we saw several restaurants and cafes with chairs and tables on Broome Street.

Regardless, based on the number of applications, there will be far fewer establishments with outdoor setups compared to 2020 and 2021. According to NYC Comptroller Brad Lander's office, an estimated 12,500 restaurants offered outdoor dining at the height of the pandemic. 

Also, Streetsblog reported that most curbside dining will be in wealthier neighborhoods in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Enjoy a coffee outdoors

Mudspot Café (top photo) has a compact curbside space ready for today. ("Smaller and cuter" than post years, they noted on Instagram.) 

Meanwhile, last week, EVG's Stacie Joy spotted C&B Cafe starting work on the coffee shop's outdoor space.

Owner Ali Sahin said there will be six tables with 12 seats total — and no roof, though perhaps a few umbrellas at some point in the future. The floor panels will be removable for ease of cleaning.

"We are approved for the roadside dining structure, and we are doing the absolute minimum of what the city requires because they will change their minds and the rules," Sahin said. 

He continued: "We want to spend as little money as possible; this is already pretty expensive. And at the end of the season, we'll toss it, as it's too expensive to store and we have no room or space to store it."

Several restaurateurs said they opted out of curbside dining this time due to the new, complex, and costly process, spanning over 30 pages of rules and regulations.

Pasta de Pasta making return engagement in larger 1st Avenue home

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

An all-new Pasta de Pasta is set to debut today at 165 First Ave. just north of 10th Street.

Three of the four business partners were on-site yesterday (from left): Fatih Cimic, Eda Kabil and Tugay Ese. (Not pictured: Serap Oyal, who runs the Pasta de Pasta outpost in Turkey.)

Pasta de Pasta debuted at 192 First Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street last June. 

The quick-serve pasta-bowl concept went viral on TikTok, partly thanks to its video-friendly fettuccine tossing in a large Parmesan wheel by the front window.

However, Pasta de Pasta later morphed into the like-minded Pastasole at 192 First Ave. According to Ese, while traveling in Turkey, his partner allegedly cut him out of the business, including its social media platforms. Ese said he owns the Pasta de Pasta name, and the case is now in the court system.

The new Pasta de Pasta will have all the original hits with various ingredients and add-ons.

Here's a look inside the space yesterday as staff geared up for the grand opening. The team was preparing arancini; elsewhere, a worker loaded Tiramisu into the dessert case.

We also met the chef, Bahadir Kiliq...

Pasta de Pasta plans to be open from noon to midnight. There isn't any alcohol service for now, though ownership may consider that for in-person dining down the road. You can follow them on Instagram for updates.

The health-food market Commodities was at 165 First Ave. under various ownership for 30 years, eventually closing in late 2022

The 2 retail spaces at 106 Avenue B are for lease

The two storefronts at 106 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street recently arrived on the leasing market. 

Per Meridian Capital Group, each 800-square-foot storefront has a $7,500 monthly ask. Both will be delivered in white-box condition, the listing states. 

The northern storefront has been off-market for about 20 years... with Anwar/Akter Grocery in the shop, which sold wide-ranging items including sodas, snacks, religious amulets, sombreros, school supplies and hardcore adult DVDs with titles like "Anal Pleasures." The grocery suffered an unceremonious ending in July 2022. 

Fabano Florals used the southern space for pop-ups.

Monday's parting shots

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Capturing a few portraits at Superiority Burger, 119 Avenue A.

First (above) with SB regular Cáit O’Riordan. 

Owner Brooks Headley ...

... and Fowzy, who was recently promoted from bar manager to a GM...

6 posts from March

A mini month in review... with a photo on 2nd Avenue by Derek Berg 

• After nearly 40 years, Sixth Street Specials prepares for its final ride in the East Village (March 20) 

• Staggering toward the April 1 start of outdoor dining in NYC (March 19) 

• An early spring report from 97 St. Mark's Place (March 19) 

• Yummy Hive post mortem (March 17) 

• The new old Lucy's reopens (March 3) 

• Report of a fatal shooting at Tom & Jerry's on Elizabeth Street (March 1)

Housing lottery is underway for 49 apartments at the all-new 280 E. Houston St.

The application process is underway (deadline May 27!) for one of the 49 apartments at the brand-new 280 E. Houston St., the 12-story mixed-use building on the north side between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Households that earn $33,909 to $218,010 are eligible to apply for units at The Houston, a development via SMA Equities being constructed through the city's Inclusionary Housing Program.

The apartments are designated for New Yorkers earning between 40% and 130% of the area median income (AMI), which varies based on household size. Studio rents start at $989. First bedroom and two-bedroom units are also available. 

First, some amenity info: 

At The Houston, modern design and urban sophistication converge to create an unparalleled residential experience. More than just a home, this contemporary residence invites you to embrace a lifestyle of comfort and convenience. Elevate your day-to-day living with exclusive amenities such as a fully equipped gym*, secure bike storage*, a stylish media room*, a versatile recreation room*, and a professional business center*. The pet policy allows a maximum of one dog up to 45 lbs. at full growth, with certain breed restrictions.(*fees apply) Rent includes all utilities (gas stove, electricity including electric hot water and heat).

A percentage of units are set aside for: 

• Residents who live within the confines of Community Board 3 (20%)

• Residents with mobility issues (5%) 

• Residents who are city employees (5%) 

• Residents with vision/hearing needs (2%) 

Find more details and apply here. (Be sure to read the fine print, such as do NOT submit multiple applications or apply online AND via U.S. mail.)

 

Some background from previous EVG posts: No. 280 encompasses 224,809 square feet of residential, commercial, and community space. The residential portion will total 211,028 square feet for 157 apartments, with an average size of 1,300 square feet. The retail section — the listing is here — will feature 12,000 square feet. 

Last July, Gothamist reported that the construction company, which has ties to Mayor Adams, illegally started work on the building before obtaining the essential permits. 

The parcel previously housed a single-level strip of storefronts that relocated closer to the residential building at No. 250 E. Houston St. (Kapri Cleaners and the FedEx Office Print & Ship Center) or closed (Subway, Mattress Firm, and China Town) several years ago. 

The elongated trapezoidal lot housed a gas station until about 1987. 

Prep work (plywood, pedestrian barriers, etc.) started in February 2023. The building is still under construction, though it appears to be winding down.

H/T Brick Underground

How to vote on what neighborhood projects receive capital funding from City Council

Participatory Budgeting Vote Week is underway in NYC. 

Per the city: 

Between Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, April 6, residents across New York City will cast their ballot and vote for locally developed projects to improve schools, parks, libraries, and other public spaces in their community. Voting is open to everyone ages 11 (or at least in 6th grade) and older who lives in or has a special connection to (i.e., goes to school or works) in one of the 23 participating Council Districts. Help shape the future of your community by casting your vote today. 

City Councilmember Carlina Rivera's District 2, which includes the East Village, Gramercy Park, Kips Bay, the Lower East Side and Murray Hill, has $1 million in funds available ... and nine projects up for a vote.

• Lower East Side Playground Soccer Field Redesign

• Bathroom Upgrades at Washington Irving School 

• Bathroom Upgrades at Bard High School Early College 

• Sensory Gym at P.S. 19 East Village Community School 

• Auditorium Air Conditioning at P.S. 63 STAR Academy and The Neighborhood School 

• Union Square East and West Median Refurbishment

• STEM Lab for M361 The Children's Workshop School 

• Tree Guards for District 2 Street Trees

• Argus Cameras for PSA4, 6th, 9th, 13th Precincts 

You may vote (once!) online here until Sunday, April 6. Or! You can vote in person (once!) at the following locations...

Stuy Town grocery starting to look more Whole Foods-y

There's noticeable progress at the incoming Whole Foods Market Daily Shop at 409 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

We have entrances...

... and more shelving...

As previously reported, Whole Foods Market is opening a smaller-format store, Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, in this space. No word yet about an opening date, other than some time this year, which narrows it down to April-December. 

Last Fall, Beam Living shared the following email with StuyTown residents about what to expect: 

This store will be one of the first locations of the new Whole Foods Market Daily Shop — a recently announced quick-shop concept from the grocer. Whole Foods Market StuyTown will provide a convenient option for grab-and-go meals and snacks, weekly essentials, and the wide range of fresh, seasonal produce that Whole Foods Market is known and loved for. This location will also feature Juice & Java, which provides coffee, tea, fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, sandwiches, soups, and desserts. 

You can read this EVG post for more details. 

NYC's first Whole Foods Market Daily Shop opened at 1175 Third Ave. on the UES last fall.

Associated closed here in December 2019. Joseph Falzon, the store's owner, said that a confluence of factors had cut business nearly in half.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Today at the A99 Anarchist Collective on Ninth Street at First Avenue... here every Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.: "A hub of radical art, mutual aid, community power and anarchist resistance."

Noted

Urban etiquette signage as seen in a tree well on Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B: 

To the low life 

who took the plants 

[Karma] a bitch 

May your life be [taken] 

in a bad way. We try 

to make the block nice.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo on Ludlow Street)...

• "A reminder of the tragedy that left many physically and emotionally wounded..." (Wednesday) ... Wednesday's parting shots (Wednesday) 

• RIP Janne Schaefers (Wednesday) 

• Terra Thai reopens with new grab-and-go items (Tuesday) 

• An impromptu goodbye party as Sabor A Mexico closes on 1st Avenue (Thursday)

• Williamsburg hit Titi's bringing the empanadas to 7th Street (Wednesday) 

• A moment with East Village artist Scooter LaForge (Friday) 

• A few more details on the condo conversion of a former tenement synagogue on 4th Street (Monday) 

• Residential rendering reveal at the former 9th Street parking garage (Monday) 

• At the annual fundraiser for the Sixth Street Community Center (Tuesday) 

• Last days for Current Coffee and Sunday C&C Eatery at the Bowery Market (Wednesday) 

• After December fire in building, Jane Cookshop will not be reopening on 9th Street (Monday) 

• Urbanspace Union Square has shut down to make way for Time Out Market (Tuesday) 

• A week left for 'Before the Clean-Up' at new East Village gallery Smilers (Saturday) 

• 7 years vacant, the storefront on the NW corner of 3rd Avenue and 12th Street is now for rent (Monday) 

• At the closing party for Lori McLean's jewelry shop (Saturday)

• Checking in on the bunny of 13th and B (Sunday) 

• Bánh Anh Em looking closer to opening on 3rd Avenue (Tuesday)

• On St. Mark's Place, sidewalk emerges after lengthy construction stint (Thursday) ... Welcoming back another East Village sidewalk (Friday) 

• Venerable Joe's Pizza becomes Jonas Pizza for a day to celebrate the Jonas Brothers (Sunday) 

... and more spring in Tompkins...

EVG Etc.: Explaining the new composting rules; crowdfunding for La Sirena

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Wrapping up Women's History Month at the Tompkins Square Library branch

Local stories of interest from other sources this past week include...  

• Compost avoiders will be fined starting on Tuesday (Gothamist) ... How the city will enforce mandatory composting (CBS 2) ... A guide to composting (The City) 

• An explainer on applying for unemployment in NYC (The City) 

• Postal workers at Cooper Station on Fourth Avenue indicted for kidnapping, attempted rape of co-worker (1010 WINS ... DA's release) 

• How can NYC's next mayor bring down homelessness? (Gothamist) 

• A feature on La Sirena Mexican Folk Art on Third Street (ABC 7... owner Dina Leor has a crowdfunding campaign here) 

• Sauerkraut fish stars at this new Third Avenue restaurant (Grub Street... previously on EVG)

• Momofuku's Kabawa, serving Caribbean cuisine, debuts in Extra Place (The Times) 

• The Post picked up our bunny-on-B story (The Post... previously on EVG) 

• Now playing: "Julie Keeps Quiet" is "a drama of startling revelations" that made a splash at Cannes last year (Metrograph) 

• Cult classic "Harold & Maude" gets a screening on April 14 (Village East by Angelika)

• Luna Park at Coney Island officially opened for the season yesterday (NY1) 

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

At East Village Tattoo, celebrating its first anniversary today at 207 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B...

At the closing party for Lori McLean's jewelry shop

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Last Saturday, Lori McLean held a closing party at her eponymous jewelry shop at 207 Avenue A, between 12th Street and 13th Street. 

As we reported, McLean decided to retire from running a storefront after two decades.

After a summer hiatus, she will continue doing custom work for clients. (Check her website for details.) 

EVG's Stacie Joy stopped by for the shop's farewell...

McLean had two East Village storefronts, first on 11th Street then 207 Avenue A. 

"My landlord is great and really saved us during the COVID shutdown," she said of No. 207, which will be available to rent in May.

A week left for 'Before the Clean-Up' at new East Village gallery Smilers

Flyer via @smilersnyc 

You have a week left to catch the latest exhibit at Smilers, a small basement gallery that debuted in Janaury on Sixth Street. 

"Before the Clean-Up" features photography by Nick Waplington and Lizzi Bougatsos as they documented the 1990s NYC underground club scene...

The show, which opened on March 6, runs through next Saturday. Hours: noon to 6 p.m., Thursday to Saturday. The gallery, launched by Mark Beasley and Laura Tighe, is at 431 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. (The address was also home to William Wegman's studio.) 

Also: Our old EVG friend James Maher has launched a new video series about photography books and shows in conjunction with Miwa Susuda of Dashwood Books and Session Press. His first interview is with Nick Waplington. Watch that here.

Noted

Photos by William Klayer 

This morning on First Avenue and Ninth Street... OK, who stole the lug nuts?

Saturday's opening shot

Morning view from Ninth Street and Stuyvesant... High of 80 (!!) today with a mix of sun and clouds and the possibility of a passing shower, though likely not. There's also an 80% chance of being annoyed by large groups of people having brunch outdoors.