A ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially unveil the renovated Tompkins Square Park field house

Top photos from Saturday

After nearly two years of work, the Tompkins Square Park field house — now without the protective chain-link construction fence — has returned to service. (And farewell to the porta-potties!) 

To mark the occasion, there's a ribbon-cutting ceremony today (Monday!) at 3 p.m. featuring Susan Donoghue, NYC Department of Parks commissioner, and several local elected officials. The public is invited to the event on the Ninth Street transverse between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Look for the giant ceremonial scissors.) 

The reconstruction of the field house that serves the 10.5-acre park included a complete renovation of the building's interior and exterior, upgrading all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Accessibility improvements feature reconfigured layouts, new entryways, ADA-compliant ramps, and renovated restrooms and maintenance areas. 

The mayor's office funded the $5.6 million renovations, which were much needed because the field house rarely had heat or hot water, and the restrooms made a strong case for exorcism before plumbing.

The space, which includes the Slocum Memorial Fountain, has been closed to the public during renovations. 

Here's a look (through the gate) at the area behind the field house from last week ...

The Tompkins Square Park mini pool (yes, Tompkins has a pool) was also out of commission for two consecutive summers. However, the pool was not part of the renovation project, as you can see from this photo from last week...

Expect a new pool in the years ahead, though. Last August, Gov. Hochul announced nearly $150 million in capital grants to fund 37 projects as part of the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. 

Tompkins Square Park will receive $6.1 million for a new in-ground pool, which will double the current capacity of the above-ground model for children and their guardians. The project's start date has not been announced.

Another bubble tea option for St. Mark's Place

Signage is up for ChaHalo's first NYC outpost ... to be located in the lower level at 23 St. Mark's Place.

The brand has 1,000-plus locations worldwide selling a variety of teas, including bubble tea. 

Per their website:

ChaHalo is a tea culture-related brand based on Eastern culture and concentrate the poetic and leisurely atmosphere of Chang'An into a cup of Chinese tea, sharing the leisurely and magnificent Eastern culture with the world. 

The shop will be in a lower-level space in the retail strip between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

The last tenant in the space, Mi Tea, "closed for renovations" in January 2020 and never reopened... and the storefront's entryway has been a crash pad for travelers in recent years.

Plywood report outside the former Crocodile Lounge on 14th Street

Renovations continue at 325 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

In recent weeks, workers have placed green plywood over part of the front, including the retail space. A few readers asked what was happening with that storefront, previously home to the Crocodile Lounge. 

Nothing too revealing in public records, where work permits show wiring for the basement retail space (marked as "white box") and walk-in cooler. 

As previously reported, in a transaction posted in October, an LLC connected to The Sabet Group bought the four-story building for $3.3 million, down from its initial $5.5 million ask. For generations, a family has owned the building known as The James McCreery House. 

The retail space has been home to restaurants for many years, including Il Faro and, in the 1990s, Manila Garden. The place was the Crocodile Lounge in recent years, which never reopened after the COVID shutdown in March 2020. 

Daytonian in Manhattan has some history of No. 325 at this link.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo on 3rd Avenue by Derek Berg)... 

• Leadership dispute erupts at the Sixth Street Community Center as longtime executive director dismissed (Thursday) 

• RIP Clem Burke (Monday)

• East Village musician Jesse Malin bringing his life story to the Gramercy Theatre (Wednesday) 

• Saved from the dumpster: Classic Lower East Side signage rescued (Wednesday) 

• A visit to Holographic Studios on 2nd Street (Tuesday) 

• Why an East Village business chose a modified shipping container for its curbside service (Thursday) 

• Brooklyn's Maya Taqueria is bringing California-style tacos to Avenue A (Wednesday) 

• New East Village café aims to blend coffee and creativity (Monday) 

• First look at the revamped dog café Boris & Horton (Friday) 

• A Record Store Day appreciation of East Village record stores (Saturday) 

• Angels on A has closed (Tuesday)

• Fancy Juice moving up 1st Avenue (Monday)

• Signage alert: Bánh Mì Café on 10th Street (Monday) ... The Burger Guy on Avenue A (Monday) 

• On Avenue B, Green Line gets trimmed (Friday) 

• Would Chelsea and Rick from season 3 of 'The White Lotus' live in the East Village? (Sunday) 

• Openings: Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao on Houston Street (Tuesday)

The tariff economy at Economy Candy

Media outlets have published numerous articles on the potential impact of tariffs on both businesses and consumers. 

Closer to home, an Associated Press article from Monday on 88-year-old LES institution Economy Candy titled "Trump's tariffs hit a sour note in landmark NYC emporium of sweets" made the rounds. 

An excerpt: 

Stepping into Economy Candy feels like a time warp. Its name is emblazoned on a sign in a vintage, blaring red script, and crossing below its green-and-white striped awning, past the bins of Smarties, butterscotches and Lemonheads in the front window, an indecipherable sweetness fills the air, oldies music sounds overhead and customers mill around stacks of candy bars they forgot still existed. 

It represents just a blip in the country's $54 billion candy industry. But it was already feeling the weight of surges in prices of cocoa and other ingredients before tariffs were layered on. 

Candy and gum prices are up about 34% from five years ago and 89% from 2005, according to Consumer Price Index data. Price, according to the National Confectioners Association, has become the top factor in consumers' candy purchase decisions, outweighing a buyer's mood. 

Still, owner Mitchell Cohen...

... wore a smile anyway. He wants this to be a happy place for visitors.

"You travel back to a time when nothing mattered," Cohen says, "when you didn't worry about anything." 

You can read the full article here.

Saturday's parting shot

At the end of the Second Avenue EV Festival this afternoon during a fairly crappy weather day... and the second street fair that we've seen tnis year...

A Record Store Day appreciation of East Village record stores

Photos by Stacie Joy

Record Store Day (RSD) — the annual celebration of independent record shops — is happening today. 

As always, vinyl enthusiasts can look forward to limited-edition releases from artists across various genres, as well as special reissues (and reissues of reissues) and previously unreleased recordings. 

The East Village has several great record stores... and we like them all. 

On 12th Street, Academy LPs stopped taking part in RSD last year. (They do the big $1 bin sale at the Brooklyn annex.) The offshoot of Academy Records on 18th Street first appeared in 2001 on 10th Street and Fourth Avenue before settling into its current location between Avenue A and First Avenue in 2008.

These first photos are all from Academy the other week...

Also, a shout-out to the excellent A-1 Records on Sixth Street (thanks to Jeremie for letting us take the pic)... the shop turns 30 next year...

Here are all the full-time local record stores... all excellent in their own ways. (And as far as we know, Limited to One is the lone RSD participant. Details here.)

• A-1 Record Shop 

439 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue 

• Academy Records 

415 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue

• Ergot Records 

32 E. Second St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery 

• Limited to One Records 

221 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue 

• Manhattan45 

220 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue 

• Stranded Records 

218 E. Fifth St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square

Saturday's opening shot

The morning view from 7th and A... expect more of the same today — drizzle/rain/cool temps... per AccuWeather...

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

On Houston and B... a countdown no one is particularly excited about...

Be 'Afraid'

 

Torture and the Desert Spiders, "a left-field garage project based around the songwriting" of the Brooklyn-based Anna Kunz, has several shows coming up in the neighborhood, including Wednesday at Mercury Lounge and a residency at Baker Falls (April 22 and 29). Check them out.

The video here is for the track "Sinéad, I'm Afraid."

An oppportunity to decorate Ukrainian Easter eggs

Tomorrow (Saturday), the Ukrainian American Youth Association is hosting its annual event to decorate pysanky — Ukrainian Easter eggs. 

Attendees use dyes, beeswax, and a stylus (all provided) to decorate the eggs with traditional Ukrainian designs. You get to keep what you make. 

The event, which will last from noon to 5 p.m. and include several food vendors, will be held at the Ukrainian National Home, second floor, 140 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Details are on the above flyer.

On Avenue B, Green Line gets trimmed

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

We heard that several (unlicensed) local smoke shops were busted yesterday by local law enforcement (a multiagency raid under the New York City Sheriff's Joint Compliance Task Force). 

Among them: Green Line at 42 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

Police said there weren't any arrests. Summons were issued, and some merch was seized.

Per a Green Line employee: "They didn't find anything — just Juul pods and cigarettes and stuff. So, we're good. The store is open again!"

First look at the revamped dog café Boris & Horton, which debuts tomorrow on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Boris & Horton, New York City's first dog café when it opened in 2018, is back — this time with new ownership and a fresh vision for its future. 

After announcing its closure last November, former owners Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman left the door open for someone new to take over. Brooklyn resident Carol Krakowski has stepped in, reopening the café tomorrow (April 12) on Avenue A at 12th Street with a renewed focus on service and community. 

Krakowski, who has a dog named Baja, originally planned to start a dog business of her own. When she learned Boris & Horton was available, she saw an opportunity to build on what existed. 

"We hit it off," she said of her early conversations with the previous owners. "I'm thrilled to be here."

Krakowski is joined by general manager Ben Kaufman, an East Village resident (and his dog Mufasa). Together, they're introducing several changes while maintaining the café's original charm.

The name, branding, and dog-friendly mission remain, but guests will notice a new menu, hospitality-focused service, and minor tweaks to make the space more welcoming. 

"We want to give the community a third space," Krakowski said. 

Dogs are still welcome — provided they're well-socialized and up-to-date on vaccinations. There's a $5 flat service fee for the dog-friendly side of the café, which is waived for members. Memberships include unlimited visits. Laptops are discouraged in the dog area, especially after 5 p.m. and on weekends, to encourage social interaction.

Other updates include an accessibility ramp for people and pets, soundproofing for neighbors, and fewer electrical outlets to minimize screen time. A new "paw patrol" host will greet guests and help with seating, and staff members will receive dog behavior training. 

The café will serve coffee from Devoción and feature local vendors such as Little Chonk, known for its dog bags. 

The fully electric kitchen will offer items like a breakfast burrito with chorizo, maduros, and aji verde; arepas; salads; and sandwiches on housemade sourdough focaccia, affectionately named after its starter, "Benedict Sourbatch."

For dogs, the menu includes "Barkuterie Boards" with butcher cuts, pupper cups, and treats. 

Addressing past concerns from the community over the previous ownership's fundraising efforts, Krakowski said, "I hope people are open to giving us a chance. We want the lovers to love it — and for others to know that I am a new owner."

Kaufman added, "Carol is separate. We're doing something new."

The grand reopening is tomorrow (Saturday, April 12!). 

Boris & Horton will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can follow them on Instagram here.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Crews and mannequins for "Dexter: Resurrection" were in the neighborhood today... we spotted some filming on Lafayette, and there was likely action elsewhere... 

Michael C. Hall reprises his role as Dexter Morgan in the sequel series set to debut this summer. The cast includes Krysten Ritter, Steve Schirripa, Neil Patrick Harris, Peter Dinklage and Uma Thurman.

A sign of the end at Mount Sinai Beth Israel

Photo by Pinch 

Workers this afternoon were seen removing the Mount Sinai Beth Israel sign from atop the now-closed hospital on 16th Street and First Avenue... one day after the facility shut down for good.  

Updated:

Leadership dispute erupts at the Sixth Street Community Center as longtime executive director dismissed

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Tensions are mounting at the Sixth Street Community Center, a long-standing institution on the Lower East Side, after the sudden termination of Executive Director Howard Brandstein earlier this week.

Brandstein, who has led the Center for nearly 35 years, was allegedly locked out of the building early Tuesday morning in what supporters describe as an abrupt and unilateral decision by the Center's current board of directors.

Founded in 1978, the Sixth Street Community Center between Avenue B and Avenue C has been an invaluable resource in the neighborhood, offering youth programs, organic food through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative, and free meals and produce during the pandemic. It has also played a role in advocating for community land trusts and affordable housing.

Supporters of Brandstein, who describe themselves as Friends of the Sixth Street Community Center, allege that the board acted without proper transparency or input from the larger community. They point to changes in the board's structure and bylaws over the past year, including a reduction in membership and the elimination of the Center's Advisory Board, as signs of a concerning shift in governance. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, Brandstein called the firing "retaliatory," citing a human rights complaint he filed earlier this year against the board. 

"After almost 50 years of service... this small group of authoritarians is determined to destroy all we have worked for," he said, adding that he intends to fight the decision. 

According to Brandstein's statement and accounts from his supporters, board members entered the Center in the early morning hours, removed security cameras, changed the locks, and restricted his access to email and office space. A termination letter, which was said to be presented to police at the scene, was unsigned. A source at the 9th Precinct confirmed that officers were there on Tuesday morning and escorted Brandstein off the property "after getting fired via an email that he didn't receive." 

Supporters said the termination tactics felt more like the moves of a ruthless Fortune 500 corporation than those of a grassroots organization built on decades of community sweat equity. 

For their part, the four-member board released this statement to EVG: 

The Sixth Street Community Center confirms that Howard Brandstein is no longer with the organization. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on personnel matters. Our focus remains on advancing the mission of the Sixth Street Community Center: fostering community empowerment, providing vital programs and services, and promoting the well-being of our neighborhood. 

We remain deeply committed to serving our community and continuing the important work that has been the heart of our organization for decades. We thank our supporters, partners, and community members for standing with us as we move forward together. 

The Friends group has launched a petition calling for Brandstein's reinstatement. They also raised concerns about recent decisions by the board, including reduced food distribution, higher fees for after-school programs, and the hiring of what they characterize as an anti-union law firm.

Brandstein has been an East Village homesteader since 1978. He helped others reclaim 17 abandoned buildings, including his current residence, per Village Preservation. 

The leadership dispute has sparked debate among residents and stakeholders about the Center's future and the role of community oversight in nonprofit governance. Some say the internal conflict risks overshadowing the vital services the Center continues to provide.

Why an East Village business chose a modified shipping container for its curbside service

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

In the past 10 days, we've seen a handful of East Village establishments set up curbside structures in this new Outdoor Dining era. 

Per 2023 City Council legislation, roadway dining operates seasonally, from April 1 to Nov. 29. The revised regulations stipulate that roadway cafes must now be open-air, easily portable, and simple to assemble and dismantle. 

At Book Club Bar, owners Erin Neary and Nat Esten chose a more cost-effective route by renting a modified shipping container with four tables and eight seats. (Westville East on Avenue A also selected a container model — see photo below.) 

Neary (below) provided some insights about the application process and why they chose this way to add seats outside the bookstore at 197 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

What made you select this rental company — kef? 

This company was ready to go. They are based in Ohio but store the containers in New Jersey. 

They were primed and ready to work with the City's specs. They bring it, set it up, and take it away. They repair it over the winter. 

Also, the shipping container floor panels pop up for cleaning, and there is space for drainage. 

What is the cost, and what are you responsible for? Last week, Streetsblog reported that bars and restaurants could spend up to $35,000 for a setup in the roadway. 

We pay the rental lease fee. The cost of our lease is $750 per month. We also pay the City's permit and license fees. [Book Club bought the tables and chairs.]

The setup is smaller than the curbside structure you had in recent years.

In years past, we shared our space with Kolkata next door, during COVID, when there were fewer restrictions. We would not have been allowed to share, nor would they have wanted to share the expense.

This time, the structure has a floor. We didn't have one last time, and there is a manhole that can't be covered. 

Aside from coffee, tea and espresso drinks, Book Club serves alcohol. Will guests be able to bring beer or wine outside? 

A fun surprise to us after they had accepted our application, the SLA said we had to file an alteration. We filed the permit, but needed one to file for the alteration. And we're ready to pay. As of April 1, we have conditional approval. 

It's daunting, and it takes a lot of steps. I was impressed by the application site, which has a tracker that updates you on where you are in the process. I was willing to do it, but I understand why people wouldn't.

Despite all the work, Neary is looking forward to warmer days ahead. 

"We open our doors in the summer, and it flows into the outdoor space," she said, "It's inviting!" 

----------- 

The larger shipping container dining structure at Westville East on Avenue A and 11th Street...

Wednesday's parting shots

The 6 a.m. view today of Mount Sinai Beth Israel on First Avenue and 16th Street... two hours before the hospital would close for good after 135 years of service to downtown New York...

Donald David, who took these photos, said his two children were born here. 

Background.

East Village musician Jesse Malin bringing his life story to the Gramercy Theatre

Yesterday, East Village musician Jesse Malin announced the details about his new show, "Silver Manhattan: A Musical Guide to Survival," which he described as "a play, a story and a concert performed live on stage with a full band" starting monthly this September.

"We will be working it up all summer to bring it to you," he said in the Instagram announcement. "While I am still recovering, I won't be touring for a while, so you might have to come to my neighborhood to see me and the boys do this thing."

Presale tickets for the shows at the Gramercy Theatre on 23rd Street start today. (Password: JESSE.) The public sale starts Friday. Find ticket info here. 

In May 2023, Malin suffered a rare spinal stroke that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Malin, a partner in several local establishments, including Niagara, 96 Tears and the Bowery Electric, returned to the stage for the first time since early 2023 this past Dec. 1-2 at the Beacon Theater, billed as "the largest hometown show of his career." 

He performed a set with his band. Then special guests, among others, Jim Jarmusch, the Hold Steady, Fred Armisen, Lucinda Williams, Rickie Lee Jones, Jakob Dylan, Butch Walker and J Mascis joined him on stage. 

On March 26, Malin was among the musicians to pay tribute to Patti Smith at Carnegie Hall. 

Malin, a Queens native, launched his music career at age 12 while fronting the hardcore band Heart Attack. He was later the lead vocalist of D Generation during the 1990s. Malin has become a prolific singer-songwriter with nine studio albums and an assortment of collaborations, including Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Billie Joe Armstrong.

Saved from the dumpster: Classic Lower East Side signage rescued

An iconic Lower East Side sign won't disappear with its storefront — it's headed to a museum.

Yesterday, workers from the New York Sign Museum (housed in space adjacent to Noble Signs in Brooklyn) removed the Louis Zuflacht/154/Smart Clothes sign from 154 Stanton St. at Suffolk Street, sparing it from an unceremonious ending in a dumpster. (Thanks to EVG reader Seth for the photo and tip!) 

The New York Sign Museum is a nonprofit foundation "dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of advertising and signage in New York City and the surrounding areas." 

The current two-story building on Stanton and Suffolk is due for a luxury upgrade, adding two floors and a penthouse. Here's a rendering showing the possibilities for a lux conversion at No. 154 (we haven't seen a final rendering) ...

According to Ephemeral New York, the sign dates to 1942 and served (until yesterday) as a "a time machine to the Lower East Side's midcentury days as a neighborhood crammed with cut-rate clothes and accessories shops — and aggressive store clerks hawking their goods to crowds of shoppers." 

Mr. Zuflacht was born in Austria in 1881 and arrived in New York in 1900. After an unsuccessful attempt at selling clothes at 184 Stanton St., Zuflacht took over No. 154 in the early 1940s and worked for decades with his sons at the tailor shop and haberdashery. He died in 1986. It's not immediately known when the shop closed. 

Since the mid-1980s, the space has been home to various businesses, including a vintage shop or two and the New York Studio Gallery. 

The subsequent businesses (and the landlord) kept the Zuflacht signage up through the years. 

Per Ephemeral New York: 

And why should they? It's a wonderful remnant of a certain era in Manhattan, and an accidental memorial to a man who invested much of his life in a Lower East Side garment district of inexpensive "smart" clothes for bargain-hunting buyers. 

And we're glad to see it preserved as part of the city's rich small business history.