Cowabunga, dude: Teenage Mutant Turtles are (temporarily) moving into this EV space

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The former Swiss Institute space on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place is getting a temporary tenant this weekend — with some mutant turtles moving in. 

Paramount is bringing its "World of TMNT" promotion to 130 Second Ave. as part of New York Comic Con weekend. 

The Splinter and Sons Bodega pop-up runs Friday through Sunday, starting at noon each day. Visitors can play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video games, take part in photo ops and pick up exclusive merch, etc.

As previously reported, the nonprofit contemporary art institution closed its East Village space on July 5 after eight years, ahead of a move to a new home on the Bowery.

In August, leasing materials for the two-level, 7,200-square-foot space advertised "all uses considered."

Maybe that includes becoming a perpetual pop-up space.

Some shut-eye for Shaky Eyez after multi-agency bust on 14th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

A multi-agency enforcement action took place yesterday at Shaky Eyez, the smoke shop at 402 E. 14th St., just east of First Avenue. 

According to legal documents on the door, authorities seized cannabis flower, flavored vapes, cigarettes, and other tobacco products, as well as unlabeled cannabis. 

The shop was also cited for unlicensed cannabis processing and its proximity to a house of worship. We're told that one person was arrested.

For now, the shop is padlocked...

... and rather empty...

Shaky Eyez opened over the summer in a storefront that has housed smoke shops in recent years. Signage for the business first appeared in June. 

The enforcement action apparently didn’t end sales on this stretch of 14th Street. When we stopped by around 8 last night, people outside the storefront were offering items for sale from a bag and jacket pockets. 

Readers have continued to report similar activity outside the shop and along this section of 14th Street. This corridor has seen ongoing complaints about open-air drug sales and quality-of-life issues through the years.

Have you seen Ruco?

A longtime former East Village resident is hoping for help finding Ruco, an 18-year-old Monk parakeet/Quaker parrot who lived in an apartment on 11th Street between First and Second Avenues. 

David Lemaire, who now lives in Massachusetts and regularly travels to New York City, told us that Ruco was being cared for by his former spouse, who died in late August in the apartment they had shared for 45 years. 

After the NYPD conducted a wellness check, Lemaire said the family was initially told that Ruco had also died, though that was never confirmed. 

When relatives were finally able to enter the apartment last week, however, there was no sign of Ruco — and a window was open. 

The family later learned about recent sightings of a Monk parakeet around Tompkins Square Park. They're now wondering whether the bird spotted around the park could be Ruco.

One potentially helpful detail: Ruco responds to the word "honey" as a question. Lemaire said they used the word when offering Ruco a drop of honey as a bribe to get him back into his cage — including after one previous escape. Lemaire said calling out "honey?" may get Ruco's attention and even prompt him to approach.

If you've seen a Monk parakeet in Tompkins Square Park or elsewhere in the neighborhood — particularly if you have a recent photo or know where the bird has been spending time — you can contact Lemaire at davidhlemaire@gmail.com.

Openings: Thone, a Georgian cafe on 6th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Georgian bakery café and natural wine bar Thone debuted this past Friday evening at 501 E. Sixth St., tucked next to Corner Bistro just east of Avenue A. 

The new spot shifts with the clock: coffee, pastries and traditional Georgian breads in the morning, switching over to wine and snacks around 5 p.m. 

A staffer said the Georgian name "Thone" reflects the concept of an accessible neighborhood anchor  – welcoming, budget-friendly and meant for everyday drop-ins rather than special occasions.

We stopped by on opening night, where friends and family were on hand and the evening wine service was already in full swing.

Hours: 8 a.m. to midnight daily.

Coming attractions: A Thai tea shop for 10th Street

A new tea shop, Chong, is coming to 201 E. 10th St., just steps east of Second Avenue. 

Tea aside, Chong's Instagram account says it will also serve Thai toast and desserts. Their tagline: "Thai tea matters."

The new arrival joins a cluster of nearby drink options. Prince Tea House is across the street, while Marcha House is next door.

The space was previously Juice Press, the last of the brand's EV locations to close.

Say cheese? The photo booth boom continues on 10th Street

Photo and H/T: Steven 

The city's photo booth trend shows no signs of abating. 

A tipster tells us that a storefront devoted to photo booths is coming to 159 Second Ave. at 10th Street. 

787 Coffee, which has a cafe next door, most recently used the space as an office. 

We don't have a name or opening date yet for the incoming business. More details when we get them.

Tuesday's parting shot

View of a perfect fall weather day from the main lawn in Tompkins Square Park...

2nd annual East Village Music Festival set for La Plaza Cultural

The East Village Music Festival is returning for a second year.

The all-ages neighborhood music fest takes place on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at La Plaza Cultural, 137 Avenue C at Ninth Street. 

The afternoon will feature live music from Pinc Louds, Momentum and others, along with food and activities for kids. 

Organizers launched the festival last year as a community-minded showcase for local music. 

A $10 donation is suggested, with proceeds going to the participating artists and festival organizers. 

And, as you might expect from an outdoor show at La Plaza, there will be plenty of garden time between sets.

Signs of opposition to the Meltzer Tower replacement plan

Meltzer Tower as seen from 2nd Street 

Signs opposing the proposed replacement of Meltzer Tower have begun appearing around the East Village, as both neighboring residents and some tenants of the NYCHA senior complex voice concerns about the plan.

One flyer spotted on Avenue A, headlined "Help Us Save Meltzer Park," focuses on the landscaped open space next to the 20-story tower at 94 E. First St. It warns that a new building on the site would mean the loss of the park and its trees, along with years of construction, and says residents of First and Second Streets between First Avenue and Avenue A would be affected. 

The flyer also criticizes the lack of outreach to the surrounding community and directs neighbors to EVG's Sept. 18 report detailing the proposal. 

An email address — meltzerpark@gmail.com — is provided for people interested in updates or joining the East Second Street Block Association. 

A second flyer, titled "Stop the Demolition of Meltzer Tower," raises concerns among current residents about the plan itself, questioning why the existing tower couldn't instead be renovated and modernized — as originally announced in 2024 — and calls for preserving the open space along First Street for senior amenities.

As EVG first reported, NYCHA and its private PACT partners are considering a "build first" approach: construct a new building beside the existing tower, allow residents to remain in place during construction and then move them directly into the replacement building. 

The proposal for a new tower comes as the PACT team has documented extensive repair needs in the existing building. Presentations from the resident meetings are available as PDFs under the “Resources for Residents” section of the Meltzer PACT website.

At a May 15 resident meeting, the PACT team said Meltzer Tower has more than $80 million in projected repair needs over 20 years, with many building systems beyond their useful life. The work would include repairs or replacement of the façade, roof and windows; heating and hot-water systems; plumbing and electrical systems; ventilation equipment; kitchens, bathrooms and flooring; and building security systems.

The proposal remains in the planning stages. The building shown in materials presented to Meltzer residents is conceptual, and the final footprint has not been determined. The current timeline calls for construction to start in late 2027, with residents moving into the new building in late 2029. 

The plans presented so far have not detailed what would happen to the existing tower or its site after residents move.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Exclusive: New proposal calls for replacing Meltzer Tower

After years in the works, 'Loisaida Walls' takes shape on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The oft-tagged walls of the Con Ed substation on Avenue A continued to receive a colorful makeover. 

On Saturday, local artists took part in the Loisaida Walls community painting day between Fifth and Sixth streets. The project, a collaboration between Con Edison and ArtBridge, brought artists and neighbors together for an afternoon of live painting along the substation walls.

The participating artists are TOOFLY, Andre Trenier, Indie184, Chino BYI, Cekis, Hiphopismyreligion, Jappy Agoncillo, Minha Fofa, Optimo NYC and Ski Mystress Therapy. (CRAMCEPT was here too.)

Among the artists stopping by on Saturday was Al Diaz, who grew up in the Jacob Riis Houses on Avenue D and, as a teenager, created SAMO© with his friend Jean-Michel Basquiat.

City Councilmember Harvey Epstein said the project was eight years in the making, following years of discussions with Con Ed about the graffiti and the company's repeated efforts to clean the wall. 

"We've been working with Con Ed for years around the graffiti issues and getting this mural up," Epstein told EVG. "I'm very excited that it's really come to fruition after all these years." 

Epstein said the Avenue A facility had become Con Ed's most expensive site in the city to power wash because of the recurring graffiti. 

"We partnered with ArtBridge and Con Ed to make this a beautiful wall," he said. "This is really going to change things for this block and really help our neighborhood. I love the project." 

For their part, Con Ed had reps out along Avenue A on Saturday...

Meanwhile, work will continue on the murals along Avenue A... as well as on the Fifth Street and Sixth Street side...

ArtBridge is a nonprofit that produces public art projects across the five boroughs.

What’s next for this prime 3rd Avenue corner?

A for-rent sign went up several weeks ago outside the former outpost of the Bean at 31 Third Ave. and Stuyvesant Street. 

We've been waiting for the online listing to appear to get a better idea of what's being offered here. So far, we haven't spotted the space among JLL's New York retail listings. 

The Bean closed this location in May after nearly nine years in business. The cafe opened here in September 2017, taking over the space that St. Mark's Bookshop previously occupied.

Given the size and visibility of the storefront at this prime Third Avenue-Stuyvesant Street corner, we're curious to see what might be next...

Reiwatakiya has closed on St. Mark's Place

Reiwatakiya, the Japanese and Korean beauty and lifestyle shop at 37 St. Mark's Place, has closed after more than three years in the East Village. 

The shop, which carried skincare and cosmetics alongside other Japanese goods, opened in early 2023. 

Its last day was Sept. 26. 

"After several wonderful years in the East Village, it's time for us to say goodbye," the company wrote on Instagram in announcing the closure, thanking customers who stopped in over the years. 

The storefront just west of Second Avenue has had a recent history with a Japanese beauty retailer. Shibuyala opened its first New York City outpost here in March 2019 before Reiwatakiya took over the space. 

Reiwatakiya continues to operate elsewhere in the U.S., with five locations listed on its website.

About a Pee-wee Herman pop-up on the Bowery

Pop-ups haven't exactly enjoyed the best reputation around here lately, but here's one that may be worth an exception. 

The Pee-wee New York Pop-up Shop is setting up at 213 Bowery at Rivington Street for five days, starting Wednesday. 

The shop will be open Wednesday from 4-8 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 

Paul Reubens, the actor and comedian who created the iconic Pee-wee Herman character, died of cancer in July 2023. He was 70.

Demolition begins for 25-story development at the Bowery and Great Jones

Top 3 photos by Stacie Joy

Other pics by EVG

Demolition is underway on the northwest corner of the Bowery and Great Jones Street, where a 25-story residential building with retail space is in the works. 

This past week, workers demolished the former Bowery Market at 348 Bowery. Notices for asbestos abatement have also appeared at the two neighboring buildings, 350 and 352 Bowery, which are also slated to come down.

For now, the garage, dating to the days of Downtown Auto & Tire (RIP 2012)...

As previously reported, developer Lonicera Partners assembled the three properties for a new development at 56 Great Jones St. 

Plans call for a 25-story residential building with ground-floor retail. The original filings called for 94 apartments, including 27 Mandatory Inclusionary Housing units. A version with additional floor area would include three more MIH units.

The project itself does not require Landmarks Preservation Commission approval because the development site sits outside the NoHo Historic District. However, the developer sought permission for a roughly 5,000-square-foot expansion that would cantilever slightly over 354 Bowery, which is within the historic district.

Village Preservation, Community Board 2, other preservation groups and neighbors opposed that portion of the proposal. At a Feb. 25 hearing, the LPC voted 5-1 in favor, one vote short of the six needed for approval because five commissioners were absent. 

The proposal returned to the LPC on April 7 and was approved with modifications, per Village Preservation. The Commission directed the applicants to work with staff on details of the "gasket" connecting the historic buildings and the new development, including its configuration, color and materials. 

For now, the most visible change is at street level: the former Bowery Market is gone, and preparations are underway to demolish its two neighbors. 

The Bowery Market closed last October. 

Macario is moving its Guadalajara-style sandwiches to Avenue B

Macario is leaving Park Slope for the East Village. 

The Mexican sandwich shop announced that it will close its Brooklyn location and move to 167 Avenue B between 10th and 11th streets later this fall...

Macario opened in Park Slope in August 2025, specializing in lonches bañados, a Guadalajara staple dating back to the 1950s — essentially a sandwich topped with a warm, slightly spicy tomato-based sauce.

Owner Marshall Dean grew up in Guadalajara and lived there for more than 40 years before moving to the United States. He told BKMAG last year that opening Macario had been a longtime dream and a way to introduce one of his favorite foods to New Yorkers. 

The lonches come with pulled pork, pulled chicken or panela cheese and are served on birote, a Guadalajara-style sourdough roll custom-made for Macario. The menu also includes quesadillas and guacamole. 

No. 167 was previously Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge.

Barryville General now in soft-open mode with its new market and cafe on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Barryville General has begun its soft opening at 70 Avenue A, ahead of its official debut on Oct. 16. 

The market, which expanded into the storefront next to its existing Barryville General shop between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, is starting with a limited selection of food, drinks and pantry items. (Below from left, co-owner and EV resident Sean Naughton with co-founder Eric Komovoff.)

The opening lineup includes coffee from Café Aroma, baked goods from Party Bus and dairy-free soft serve from Lavender and Truffles, available on Fridays for now. 

During the soft-opening period, the market will generally be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Once the market officially opens, regular hours are expected to be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

The coffee menu includes $3 espressos, plus a café bonbon, cortado, house latte, and a sweet plantain latte made with housemade plantain syrup. The owners also plan occasional extended evening hours featuring soft serve — and potentially a late-night sourdough grilled cheese. 

Below is barista Gabriella...

Barryville General Goods, the clothing side of the business, debuted back in December. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Barryville General expanding next door on Avenue A with a café

Sunday's parting shot

As seen outside Al-Andalus at 511 E. Fifth St. between venues A and B... a rather substantial dragon has taken up residence on the sidewalk, wings spread and looking considerably more menacing than your average October decoration.

Blessing the animals on 9th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish observed the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi today with a Holy Eucharist and a Blessing of the Animals.

The church at 602 E. Ninth St. at Avenue B marked the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with its annual Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Animals, welcoming neighborhood pets—and their humans—for the service. 

Pastor Will and Vicar Wayne Olsen presided over the festivities, offering blessings to the assembled four-legged congregation.

A few scenes from a particularly lively Sunday service...