The everyday artwork hiding in plain sight in Tompkins Square Park

Photos and text by Stacie Joy 

Unexpected little treasures are scattered around Tompkins Square Park. 

And unless you're looking closely, you might walk right past them. I'm talking about tiny bronze sculptures of everyday litter that look like they belong on the ground. Except these are solid bronze, bolted or epoxied into place. 

I first learned about them when a friend asked if I knew about the miniature sculptures hidden throughout the park. I didn't! So we set out to find them. 

Our first discoveries included a crushed can, cigarette butts and a pack of gum. Intrigued, I went home and spent a good amount of time searching online for information about the artist or artists responsible. I found very little.

The next day, we were back at it, scouring the park for more. This time, we spotted a condiment packet and a cup with a lid and straw.

We started joking about what else we might find cast in bronze around the park. A syringe? A dime bag? A pack of cigarettes? A condom? 

Lo and behold, over the next few days, we found those too!

And there were more: a tiny airplane bottle of booze, a flattened water bottle, a bottle cap and even a slice of pepperoni pizza on an overturned paper plate.

All cast in bronze. All blending into the park's landscape. Rogue art sculptures hiding in plain sight.

I have no idea who created these sculptures, how long they've been here or when they were installed. 

So far, there's precious little information available online. Our search also brought a few encounters with some of the park's less artistic inhabitants, including several particularly hefty, dog-sized rats. 

And then there was this moment: I was crouched low to the ground, staring intently at the dirt and leaves for another miniature sculpture, when a clearly intoxicated guy on a nearby bench offered unexpected encouragement. 

"Yeah, sis, I see them too…" 

So, a little Tompkins Square Park mystery. Who is responsible for these tiny bronze tributes to the litter of everyday life? And how many more are out there?

If you're the artist — or know who's behind them — I'd love to hear from you. 

H/T to Hot Chocolate Jen.

At the grand opening of Le Freak Boutique on 12th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

Le Freak Boutique is now officially open at 513 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

After a soft opening in mid-September, the shop celebrated its grand opening this past Friday.

The space is a combination hair salon and boutique, offering a mix of vintage clothing, jewelry, original designs, artwork, housewares and accessories from local artists. 

And to the grand opening celebration ...

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. 

More info at the Le Freak Boutique website... and Instagram.

Signage alert: Blue People on 9th Street

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Blue People is opening a cafe at 443 E. Ninth St. at Avenue A. 

The new spot will serve coffee, tea and matcha, with an emphasis on creating a neighborhood gathering place, according to its website. 

The space previously housed Hello, Yam!, which closed in May. 

Perhaps there's room for another coffee option here, with both Blank Street and Starbucks closing around the corner in recent months. 

No word yet on an opening date.

At the Halloween Hellride in Tompkins Square Park (RIP Halloween Hellride)

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Text by EVG

The Halloween Hellride jam and skate competition took place on the Tompkins Square Park multipurpose courts (TF) Saturday afternoon ... in honor of the Hellride quarter-pipe ramp that famously appeared here back in July. (RIP!) 

The afternoon's lineup included a nine-stair best trick challenge, a Mini Hellride best trick contest and a one-minute full-park run. 

 There were rules, apparently. We're not entirely sure what they were. 

The degree of difficulty changed early and often, though, with skaters finding new ways to push things a little further.

Check it out.

Hell Ride skate at the Tompkins Square Park training field https://t.co/Ci3LYwz6Sj

— Stacie Joy (@Joy_of_photos) October 31, 2026

Postscript 

EVG reader NYvinster told us this morning that the Parks Department trashed a good number of the ramps on the multipurpose courts...

And later this morning... a few rails and ledges remain...

The Harry Styles pop-up shop wraps up its 2-month East Village run

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Above: The three-block-long line for Harry Styles merchandise on Saturday. 

The Together Together Store, the Harry Styles-themed pop-up at 22 E. Second St., has wrapped up its two-month East Village run. 

Sunday was the final day for the temporary shop, which opened on Aug. 26. 

Yesterday, we spotted workers dismantling the space.

The shop, open Wednesdays through Sundays, sold merchandise tied to Styles' tour, including his 30-night Madison Square Garden residency, which ended Saturday. 

The pop-up brought plenty of Harry Styles fans to the block, along with controversy. 

In an EVG exclusive, the shop made headlines in September when longtime East Village cookbook seller Bonnie Slotnick was arrested following a confrontation with a security worker outside the store. 

The next court date for Slotnick (photographed below last evening) is tomorrow, Nov. 4.

Neighboring merchants spoke about the pop-up's impact on the block, including long lines, crowded sidewalks and access to their storefronts. While some expressed frustration with the disruptions, others said the pop-up's staff had been helpful and responsive to their concerns. 

The post-pop-up experience wasn't entirely welcoming, either. A staff member yelled at me to leave when I entered through the open doors to take a photo late yesterday afternoon. After I retreated to the doorway and raised my camera, the staffer blocked my view of the mostly barren room with crates.

As the shop entered its final month in early October, a note (with flowers) was delivered to businesses on the block, thanking them for their hospitality: 

"As we enter our last month here, we wanted to take a moment to say how grateful we are to have been welcomed into your community and to share this space with you."

The note also encouraged neighbors to reach out with any issues, adding that the store wanted only "to be additive to your community." 

Another correspondence with a gift basket arrived as the Styles shop prepped to close: a final thank you and a wish for a happy holiday season. One merchant tore up the card in disgust.

The shop also donated a bench to Albert's Garden, according to its Instagram account. The 50-year-old community garden is directly next door to the one-level space used for the pop-up.

For her part, Slotnick made homemade cupcakes for her neighbors, including Adrian Rew of Ergot Records...

And now, after more than two months of Harry Styles mania, Second Street is going in one direction again: back to normal. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Checking in with Bonnie Slotnick after Friday's arrest outside the Harry Styles pop-up

An early winter break for the fruit vendor on 1st Avenue?

The longtime fruit vendor on the southeast corner of First Avenue and Sixth Street appears to have packed up for the season. 

A reader spotted the vendor clearing out over the weekend, presumably for the customary winter hiatus — though the departure comes a little earlier than usual. 

The stand has been a familiar presence on the corner for years. 

There's no word yet on when the vendor might return (usually March or April). 

For now, we'll hope this is just an early start to the winter break, and not a permanent departure.