EVG Etc.: Report: NYCHA mishandled Riis Houses arsenic crisis; Beth Israel patient care lagging

Morning view of Astor Place

• Watchdog report: The NYCHA bungled its response to concerns about the water at the Jacob Riis Houses two years ago (Gothamist) ... NYCHA failures led to panic over nonexistent arsenic (The City) 

• 19-year-old Riis House resident on Avenue D arrested for alleged role in killing 16-year-old Mahki Brown in Soho (The Post)

• With Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital winding down to close, patient care suffers (The New York Times)

• Human service professionals discuss what's needed to reduce homelessness in NYC (NY1) 

• Harvey Epstein to run for City Council District 2, currently represented by the term-limited Carlina Rivera (City & State)

• E-bike shops are blowing off the city ban on unsafe batteries (The City) 

• Police arrest man who has allegedly been menacing neighbors for years along Avenue C (The Post) 

• The red-tailed chicks are GROWING in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography) 

 • Lower East Side History Month continues (Official site)

• Pastrogi: When you merge Katz's Deli pastrami and Veselka pierogi (1010 WINS)

• New single by Scottish alt-rock band Travis pays tribute to the now-closed Black & White on 10th Street (Billboard ... previously on EVG)

• A feature on East Village Pizza at 145 First Ave. (NBC 4) 

• Sietsema checks out the boba pancakes and Japanese souffles at Little Uluh on 14th Street (Eater) 

• Revisiting the sincere glamour of Candy Darling (Document Journal) 

• Out of the shadows! See "The Third Man" on the big screen on Monday (Village East by Angelika) 

• And a month-long trip back to the 1980s started yesterday at the Film Forum on West Houston (details)

 

DanceFest reinforcements

Photos by Steven 

In case you are attending or participating in today's DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park ... the city did bring in some additional porta-potties to handle the overflow (sorry) crowd...

We counted seven extra toilets, which, with the three existing comfort stations, brings the grand total to 10 for the day. 

As previously reported, the restrooms in the Tompkins Square Park field house are now closed as part of an 18-month renovation that has now reached the one-year mark.

At the start of Joey Ramone Weekend at Metropolis Vintage

Photos and text by Stacie Joy 

Ahead of Joey Ramone's birthday (May 19!), East Village resident John Holmstrom, the co-founder, editor, and illustrator of Punk Magazine, is hosting a special celebration of the lead singer of the Ramones in the basement at Metropolis Vintage, 803 Broadway and 11th Street.

I stopped by the longtime shop last evening as Holmstrom's "Cartoonist Jam Session" was just getting started. 

As Holstrom put it, a group of artists and cartoonists "will be scribbling drawings on huge murals that will be auctioned off to raise money for the Lymphoma Foundation." (Ramone died of lymphoma in 2001 at age 49.) 

Among the early arrivals... illustrator Cliff Mott...

... and SVA student Noah Zeines...

Elsewhere, I talked with owner Richard Colligan, who started the business on Avenue B in 1990...

... and sales associate Skeleton Boy...

Tonight's festivities include Monte A. Melnick, the Ramones' tour manager, hosting a "Rock ‘N Roll High School" screening in the Metropolis basement...

Saturday's opening shots

Early morning along Avenue A... barricades are up for the 18th annual Dance Parade... and then the DanceFest from 3-7 in Tompkins. Details here. 

And on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square...

... getting ready for day 2 of the Saint George Ukrainian Festival...

'Close' encounters

 

Gustaf, the Brooklyn-based art-punk band, is wrapping up a tour with a homecoming finale next Thursday at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Check out their live-wire set sometime if you can.

The video here is for "Close."

An evening of classical harp music at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

Tomorrow (Saturday) evening, the Most Holy Redeemer/Nativity Parish on Third Street hosts another evening of free music ... featuring Juilliard harpist Amanda Kengor. 

The event starts at 7:30 p.m. at the church, 173 E. Third St., between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Unfortunately, we hear that this will be one of the last evenings of music programming here due to budget cuts. The last performance is scheduled for May 24.

After a fire upstairs, a gutted TabeTomo hopes to reopen on Avenue A in August

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

TabeTomo remains closed after an early morning fire upstairs at 131 Avenue A on April 24. 

According to ABC 7, five residents sustained minor injuries while fleeing the six-floor building on the NW corner of St. Mark's Place. Firefighters recovered a lithium-ion battery from a unit, per ABC 7. 

At TabeTomo, a tskumen specialty shop, owner Tomo Kubo (below) told me yesterday that reconstruction of his restaurant is expected to start in the week ahead.

Once underway, Kubo hopes that renovations will be complete in two to three months — with an eye on reopening in August if all goes well. 

The business was insured, he said. 

"It costs a lot — very expensive," he said of the gut renovation ahead. "We want to renovate and reopen as soon as possible." 

Kubo ushered me inside the space, where the air was still thick with the smell of a fire. 

"There was no fire damage — all the damage was water," he said. "Between the ceiling and the second floor, there was much damage to the wood, which could warp. And we want to avoid mold. It's not a good environment for food. We cannot sell food in here now." 

The interior has been stripped to its studs.

Tubo is grateful for all the support from neighbors. He also praised the FDNY for their quick response. 

"I appreciate people who care about the store and encourage me, and I care about the employees who work here," he said. "Since it takes so long to renovate, I am worried, Will customers return? It's heartwarming that people in the East Village care. This gave me confidence and a reason to reopen." 

The TabeTomo staff onsite yesterday (from the left): Esan, Victorino, Tomo Kubo and Abe Naoto.

-------------------------

On May 8, some tenants of 131 Avenue A rallied outside the building in conjunction with the Cooper Square Committee. 

The concerned tenants demanded that landlord Citi-Urban adequately address problems, such as cleaning smoke- and water-damaged units and allowing residents who feel unsafe to move out without penalty. Tenants, some of whom had to navigate rusted fire escapes, said that this was the second fire in the building in the past six months, the other occurring on Nov. 8.

A Celebration of Joey Ramone this weekend at Metropolis Vintage

Joey Ramone was born on May 19. In addition, 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Ramones' first live show.

To honor his memory and celebrate his life, East Village resident John Holmstrom, the co-founder, editor, and illustrator of Punk Magazine, is hosting a special Joey Ramone Weekend in the basement at Metropolis Vintage at 803 Broadway at 11th Street. 

As Holstrom wrote in his newsletter: "A bunch of artists and cartoonists will be scribbling drawings on huge mural that will be auctioned off to raise money for the Lymphoma Foundation. So feel free to hang out with a bunch of crazy artists who love the Ramones..." 

Joey died of lymphoma on April 15, 2001. He was 49.

The mural event is tonight (around 7 p.m.). On Saturday evening, Monte A. Melnick, the Ramones' tour manager, is hosting a screening of "Rock ‘N Roll High School" at Metropolis.

   

The annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at Bowery Electric on Sunday night is sold out.

After a short break, Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery is back open on Avenue A

Photo yesterday by Lola Sáenz 

It was good to see the gate open yesterday at the wonderful Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery, 215 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. 

The Martinez family (Pompeyo and Maria) had been away for a break since May 7. Apparently, there wasn't a sign for patrons, and we heard from a few nervous Zaragoza fans. 

All is well!

Thursday's parting shot

This week, a new mural arrived outside 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. It was created by L.A.-based artist Corie Mattie and curated by the Lisa Project NYC.

The 18th Annual Dance Parade steps off on Saturday, ending in Tompkins Square Park

The 18th edition of the Dance Parade takes place this Saturday, winding up in Tompkins Square Park for the DanceFest. 

According to organizers, more than 10,000 participants —"representing a kaleidoscope of dance styles"  — will participate in the festivities starting at 11:30 a.m. on 17th Street and Sixth Avenue. 

The parade makes its way across Eighth Street to Astor Place, where there's a grandstand at St. Mark's Place, before ending in Tompkins where hopefully there will be more than three (unlocked) porta-potties for the thousands of people expected.

And here are details on the activities from 3-7 p.m.: 

The festivities culminate with DanceFest in Tompkins Square Park, offering a cultural extravaganza that's inclusive for everyone. Expect dance performances on two stages, site-specific acts, a DJ dance party, and free dance classes at The Joyce Theater's New York Center for Creativity & Dance offered by Grand Marshal Lil Buck, Mark Morris Dance Group and Peridance. Bring your dance shoes and rock out to disco DJs Tone Love, Misbehaviour, Kenny Parker, Ameer and a Soul Train set on the Social Stage. 

This is a rain-or-shine event, and the forecast looks pleasant enough RN, with overcast skies and temperatures in the 60s.

A look at Carnitas Ramirez, opening soon on 3rd Street in the East Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Work continues at 210 E. Third St., just east of Avenue B, where the owners of Taqueria Ramírez, the celebrated Greenpoint establishment, are debuting Carnitas Ramirez at the end of the month. 

Owners and life partners Tania Apolinar and Giovanni Cervantes opened the Mexico City-style taqueria in Greenpoint in September 2021. It later landed at No. 49 in Pete Wells' top-100 NYC restaurants for the Times. 

The other day, I met up with Cervantes (left) and Yvon de Tassigny, a former chef at St. Anselm in Greenpoint who will be heading up the kitchen.

True to its name, carnitas — slow-cooked pulled pork, supplemented here with just lard and salt — will be the specialty of the house. They will also offer a vegetarian option. There's a beer and wine license, too.

Carnitas Ramirez expects to open its doors on May 31. Initially, the restaurant will operate only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. until "we sell out" or "about 7 p.m." 

You can keep tabs on opening dates via Instagram.

Wonder debuts its new kind of food hall today on Stuyvesant Street

Wonder, a new-era delivery and food-hall concept, debuts today along Stuyvesant Street between Third Avenue and Ninth Street. 

The brand currently operates 10 locations throughout New York City and New Jersey, offering pick-up, delivery, and dine-in (ordered via touch screens) from a collection of chefs, including Bobby Flay, Marc Murphy, Jose Andres, Nancy Silverton, and Marcus Samuelsson, and restaurants such as Tejas Barbeque, Di Fara Pizza, and Barrio Cafe. 

Meanwhile, at-home diners can choose their meals via a "super app." A list of available restaurant brands is available here. 

Marc Lore, a billionaire former Walmart executive and serial entrepreneur, is driving this venture. In an interview with the Times in March, Lore hinted at Wonder's potential, stating that it "could be the Amazon of food and beverage." According to the Times, the company has made strategic moves to solidify its position, acquiring the meal kit company Blue Apron, securing a $100 million strategic investment from Nestlé, and signing a deal with Walmart to establish Wonder in four of its stores. 

Wonder's arrival marks the end of a nearly 24-month vacancy in the building that Cooper Union had subleased to the Yoshida Restaurant Group for more than 25 years. (This post has more background.)

Previously

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Umbrella trio on Second Avenue and Seventh Street...

At the first Show Brain show of 2024 in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The weather held out on Sunday afternoon for Mother's Day — and the season's first show by Show Brain, which has been bringing live music to city parks the past few years. 

Here is Ozzie Silva of Show Brain with East Village-based singer-songwriter-composer Franzi Szymkowiak of Lukka (her band was not on the bill this day)...

The lineup included the gloom punk of Desert Sharks...

... and the high-spirited eclectic punk fusion of headliners Pinc Louds...

And taking in the bands...

The next Show Brain production in Tompkins Square Park is on June 30. (Keep tabs via the SB Instagram account.) 

The next concert promoted by Chris Flash of The Shadow is on May 25. Follow these shows on Facebook.

The annual Ukrainian Festival is this weekend

The St. George Ukrainian Festival takes place on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square this coming weekend. 

The three-day festival — one of the best neighborhood events — celebrates Ukrainian culture, music, and food with various performances and vendors selling traditional arts and crafts. 

The Festival kicks off on Friday evening, May 17, and continues through Sunday late afternoon, May 19. 

We haven't seen the schedule times for the outdoor performances just yet — they're usually on Saturday afternoon and evening and again on Sunday. We'll update you when we hear more about them.

Heading back to Downtown Beirut

Photo by David Vega via Flaming Pablum 

On Friday evening, you can revisit a celebrated and long-gone East Village bar (RIP 1994).

Lucky on B plays host to two shorts filmed at Downtown Beirut, 158 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street...

A description: 

Join Lucky for a little trip down memory lane with the premiere of two classic videos torn from the East Village's storied past: "The Look of Love" and "Night at Downtown Beirut." 

Created by Mike Enright, who has also contributed a bunch of CDs to our eclectic jukebox, these shorts were shot at the old Downtown Beirut, one of the best bars in history! We'll let people gather for a few drinks between 6 and 6:30, screen one film, take another drink break, and then screen the second film. They're each about a half hour long, and while everyone's drinking, Mike will be showing some of this other video art. 

Lucky on B is at 168 Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

This screening is part of Lower East Side History Month. 

P.S. There was also Downtown Beirut II at 157 E. Houston St. near Allen. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Mourning lost bars; early morning at Downtown Beirut

• Downtown Beirut, around 1990, about 3 a.m. 

Alex has more on DB at Flaming Pablum.

Tuesday's parting urban etiquette note

Photos by Stacie Joy 

As seen on 10th Street between Avenue C and Avenue D... 

Please have your alarm checked. It is going off and disturbing the community!

Fresh compost for Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven 

Tompkins Square Park received a fresh compost mound today via the LES Ecology Center...

The compost came from Governors Island, where Earth Matter runs a small farm. 

The LES Ecology Center has been without a permanent home since having to vacate East River Park in 2021 for the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project. 

This article from March at The City has updates on the uncertain future of NYC's composting program. Like many other critical city programs, composting faces severe threats due to city budget cuts. 

In a positive sign, during International Compost Awareness Week last week, the LES Ecology Center raised $27,000 to sustain their programs in the months ahead.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LES ECOLOGY CENTER (@lesecologyctr)

Citi Bike dock swap along Avenue A

EVG reader Newman points out that Citi Bike crews have removed the docking station on Third Street at Avenue A ... and relocated it to Fifth Street at Avenue A...

The Third Street dock arrived in February, and a Citi Bike rep told us that it was permanent. Citi removed the docking station on Fifth Street last fall to accommodate the (recently completed) Con Ed transformer work. 

We reached out to Citi/Lyft to learn more about this As the Docking Stations Move.