Photo by Derek Berg
Along Second Avenue today...
Saturday, January 31, 2026
6 posts from January
Sunday, Jan. 25, in the snow on St. Mark's Place
A mini month in review...
• The classic Japanese restaurant Beron Beron has closed on 1st Avenue (Jan. 5)
• Inside the film 'Irregular,' a love letter to Sophie’s (Jan. 13)
• Community gathers at St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery for a 'Vigil of Lament and Hope' (Jan. 13)
• A look inside the sidewalk stations that test the East Village’s drinking water (Jan. 14)
• A 'cleanup only' operation on 11th Street and 1st Avenue (Jan. 17)
• Paulie Gee tells us more about his slice shop opening on 1st Avenue in the East Village (Jan. 20)
Saturday's opening shot
Wind chill advisory in effect again over the weekend, with WC lows as low as -10.
We might be speaking for the entire class here: Ready for spring.
Friday, January 30, 2026
Friday's parting shots
Photos by Stacie Joy
Thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets today as part of a nationwide day of action advocating for "no work, no school, no shopping" to protest the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
In the East Village, there was a "ShutDown Sit-Down" outside La MaMa on Fourth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
"Let's sit in solidarity and show our neighbors that we care," organizers Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw said.
On Houston Street, we spotted some students heading to Foley Square, a gathering spot for protesters.
Remembering Mac McGill
A memorial celebration for Mac McGill, a longtime East Village artist, activist and homesteader, will take place tomorrow (Jan. 31) from 1–4 p.m. at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery (Second Avenue and 10th Street).
McGill, a native New Yorker who passed away last fall, was a familiar presence in the neighborhood for decades through his creative work and long-running advocacy around housing and environmental issues.
For Minneapolis
Several readers shared the video for Bruce Springsteen's protest song "Streets of Minneapolis," released on Wednesday in response to the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
As of this morning, it was No. 1 on the iTunes charts.
Signage alert: Buena Vista on the NE corner of 2nd Avenue and 5th Street
The next tenant here is Buena Vista.
This will be the second outpost for the restaurant located at 536 Ninth Ave. in Hell's Kitchen.
Per their website:
Buena Vista is a gourmet Latin American restaurant in NYC, offering an elevated gastronomic experience in the heart of the city. With its vibrant ambiance, refined décor, and authentic cuisine, the restaurant transports you on a culinary journey through Latin America.
The diner Kitchen Sink went dark in the summer of 2021... and ownership later transformed the space into a Greek restaurant called Eros... which quietly closed in August 2022 ... to later emerge as Sunflower East Village, which closed for a "restructure" four months later.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Where to find an official Warming Center close to the East Village
NYC remains in an enhanced Cold Blue.
There are several Warming Centers available in Manhattan, the closest to the East Village being:
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
462 First Ave., between 27th and 28th streets
Open 24/7
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur
227 Madison St., between Clinton and Jefferson streets on the LES
Open 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
There are also warming buses around the city, including at:
• Paul’s Place Drop-In Center
114 W. 14th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues
Open 24/7
Find more info at NYC 311.
Check on your people, NYC. ❄️ This cold weather is serious. Some neighbors face higher risk, including older adults, people with disabilities, and people without stable housing. If someone needs help, City resources are available. Reach out. Speak up. Take action. 💙 pic.twitter.com/9y2iB4bJVB
— NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit (@MayorsPEU) January 27, 2026
Something from nothing: A new coffee shop, Gnihton, opens on 11th Street
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
A new coffee shop recently debuted at 528 E. 11th St., between Avenue A and Avenue B.
The storefront is now home to Gnihton, a brick-lined café serving coffee drinks, pastries, and sandwiches, run by Mariami Emukhvari (below), along with her business partner, Murtaz "Muro" Buskadze, and barista Giorgi "JK" Gagua. All three are originally from the country of Georgia.
We recently stopped by and spoke with Emukhvari about the shop's unusual name and her plans.
Why did you choose this neighborhood and this space?
I always wanted to start my own business, and the idea of owning a small business in the city felt like a dream. When I told Muro (below right) about it, he got interested right away and didn't hesitate to get involved.
We started looking for a small, cozy space for a coffee shop. I remember driving around for hours, and when we entered this neighborhood, I knew it would be the perfect place. This street has lots of stories to tell, and I wanted the coffee shop to be a small part of that.
The vision was to create a cozy, comfortable place where people could feel at home — enjoy coffee, listen to relaxing music, and notice small details like flowers and pillows.
How did you come up with the name Gnihton?
Gnihton is a palindrome — "Nothing" spelled backwards. It's pronounced nee-ton.
The idea of creating something from nothing was always exciting to me. Muro suggested the palindrome as a name, and I loved it instantly.
What's your background, and did you have experience in hospitality?
Neither of us had experience running a coffee shop, which is why JK got involved. He's an experienced barista and very creative. His contribution has been priceless.
He also does stand-up comedy as a hobby and brings that humor into our Instagram channel, which makes it more fun. But in the end, it's the coffee that matters most.
Gnihton is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with plans to extend the hours.
And keep an eye on their interesting drink specials, too...
You can follow the shop on Instagram at @gnihtonnyc.
H/T CW on B
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Wednesday's parting shots
And a little later...
Remembering longtime East Village resident Mary Buchen
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Mary Buchen, a 45-year East Village resident, artist, horticulturist and world traveler, died on Jan. 9. She was 77.
Known as the "Queen of the Horts," Buchen was a co-designer of the iconic "hands" fence at the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden and a beloved friend and neighbor.
We spoke with her husband of 54 years, Bill Buchen, who shared the following remembrance:
Before her passing, Mary was surrounded at home by loving friends and left this world in a respectful, caring, holistic and peaceful environment. She was deeply moved by the outpouring of support and knew how loved she was.Mary was a uniquely kind and caring person who loved her friends, her dog and, most of all, gardening. She was a wonderful co-partner in Sonic Architecture, working in 74 locations around the world, including helping design the world's first sound parks and sound playgrounds.In addition, she explored the globe on more than 50 trips, traveling to India 20 times, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Indonesia and Thailand, doing things most people wouldn't dare to do and only dream of. Hiking at 15,500 in Nepal in tennis shoes and blue jeans? Tubing in Laos among water buffalo, reptiles and snakes? Traveling through Brazil, Bolivia and Peru on $1.50 a day on the worst busses possible? Check!
She lived a vibrant full life of risk and adventure with no regrets. Gardening was her lifeforce and passion. She was a Sufi, in love with the wonder of plants and flowers.
A temporary memorial has been set up on the stage at the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden, where neighbors may sign a book and leave flowers or notes. A larger day of remembrance is planned for later this summer.
Crowdfunding effort moves to guard a tree around Tompkins Square Park
A crowdfunding effort to protect one of the vulnerable trees along the perimeter of Tompkins Square Park is (as of last night) just a few dollars shy of its $2,000 goal.
The campaign was organized by Zachary Thomas and Tal Roded, who serve together on Community Board 3's Parks, Recreation, Waterfront & Resiliency Committee. Their goal: to install a durable metal tree guard around a Ginkgo tree on Seventh Street near Avenue B, which is currently exposed to the daily grind.
Enter tree guards, which help protect against dog waste, vehicle and delivery damage, and soil compaction from foot traffic, all of which can slowly kill a tree.
Last year, according to the GoFundMe, while walking the park's perimeter, Thomas noticed a troubling imbalance: of the 58 trees lining Tompkins Square Park, only seven had guards. That leaves nearly 90% exposed to damage every day.
NYC Parks is prepared to install a guard, but with limited funding and street tree maintenance low on the priority list, the cost has fallen to the community. The quoted price for the fabrication and professional installation of a standard metal tree guard is $1,950 — a one-time investment that is meant to last for years.
The campaign's success shows just how much neighbors care about the small details that keep the East Village green. It may only be one tree, but it's a step toward protecting the edges of Tompkins Square Park — one guard at a time.
You can read more about this campaign in a Substack post by Thomas and Roded.
Construction watch: 231 Bowery
Photo from Jan. 23
ICYMI: The New Museum, including its 60,000-square-foot building expansion next door, will reopen on March 21... featuring twice the exhibition space and several major new commissions that will be on long-term view in and around the building.
And there's free admission during their opening weekend on March 21-22. (You have to register for the free tickets starting next month. Details.)
Demolition wrapped up at 231 Bowery, the former 6-floor building that stood next to the New Museum here at Prince Street, in the fall of 2022.
No. 231 was home to Daroma Restaurant Equipment until the spring of 2011, when they moved down the Bowery (and the owner pleaded guilty to tax fraud). The New Museum bought the building for $16.6 million in September 2008.
Openings: Mag New York City on Avenue A
Photos by Stacie Joy
Mag New York City debuted late last week at 66 Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street... the shop specializes in vintage and streetwear brands (new and used)...
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Closed on Mondays.)
You can keep tabs on merch via Instagram.
Did you know? There’s a Pizza Hut on the Lower East Side now
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
We somehow missed this one entirely, but the chain opened an outpost in mid-December at 134 Delancey St. between Norfolk and Suffolk. And yes ... it's that Pizza Hut.
If you grew up in the era of the classic dine-in Hut, you already know the vibe we're talking about: the giant red nubby cups, the checkered tablecloths, and those fake stained-glass chandeliers that made every booth feel like you were having a special occasion dinner... even if it was just a personal pan pizza and a stack of quarters for Ms. Pacman.
This is not that.
This is a very 2025-era, order-at-the-window version ... complete with bullet-proof glass between you and your nostalgia.
Still, it's kind of wild (and weirdly comforting?) to see that familiar name back in the neighborhood mix.
Anyway, if you've been craving a little throwback… or just want to see what Pizza Hut looks like in its modern, no-frills form… now you know.
Of course, you might recall the Pizza Hut-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's combo that closed on the NW corner of Second Avenue and 14th Street in 2010.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Noted
Photo by Edmund John Dunn
New to market on 14th Street near Avenue A... Charming ground-level unit with open-air ventilation and a thoughtfully carved private entrance. Features original snowpack walls, an artisanal ice alcove (perfect for cold plunges or storing beverages), and a minimalist cardboard sign for added security. Steps from Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Marketplace, the L train and M14 buses, and existential dread...
The East River shows off a rare winter look
The East River rarely freezes solid thanks to its saltwater mix and strong tidal currents — but it's not unheard of.
As Ephemeral New York has documented, the river fully froze a handful of times in the 1800s, when hardy New Yorkers could actually walk between Manhattan and Brooklyn — no bridge tolls, ferries or $38 Lyft required.
Virtual meeting set for Tompkins mini-pool and basketball courts redesign
Top photo by Stacie Joy
Updated: You have until Feb. 13 to leave comments with Parks about this project.
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NYC Parks is kicking off the design process for a reconstruction project involving the Tompkins Square Park mini-pool and basketball courts — and there’s a virtual community meeting scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
According to Parks, the project will include a major change to the mini-pool: the current above-ground pool will be redesigned as an in-ground pool.
Parks is also inviting neighbors to weigh in on what they'd like to see as part of the improvements, with a focus on how this section of Tompkins can better serve the community.
Sign up for the meeting at this link.
Here's an aerial view of the area that will eventually be under-construction along 10th Street and Avenue B...
... and how it looked the other day before the snow...
In August 2024, Gov. Hochul announced nearly $150 million in capital grants through the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. As part of that, Tompkins Square Park was awarded $6.1 million for a new in-ground pool, which will double the capacity of the current above-ground trailer park model.
Other areas of the park have undergone renovations... last April, the field house and restrooms reopened after more than 18 months of rehab work.
In 2023, reconstruction of the multipurpose courts took place.
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