Photo by Stacie Joy
A 30-second dance party on First Avenue and Houston... unfortunately, our attention span is about only 12 seconds at the moment...
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Crowd lines Avenue A for secret show featuring Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE
Photos by Stacie Joy
Drom hosted a surprise show last night featuring Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE — which helps explain the line along Avenue A near Sixth Street.
The two rappers have a collaborative release, the double LP Pompeii // Utility, out tomorrow, created alongside Surf Gang, the NYC-based label and producer collective.
Some fans waited for hours to get inside — and not everyone made it.
They'll be playing much larger venues this summer, including including July 8 at the Brooklyn Paramount.
Cozy Soup 'n' Burger seeks help to stay open
Third-generation owner John Strats recently launched a GoFundMe campaign amid ongoing financial challenges stemming from the pandemic.
"For over five decades, Cozy Soup 'n' Burger has been a staple in our community," he writes. "It's become more than just a place to eat — it's a gathering spot where memories are made and traditions are kept alive."
But like many longtime businesses, the diner has struggled to fully recover in recent years and is now facing mounting expenses.
Funds raised will go toward payroll, inventory and rent, to keep the doors open for years to come.
If you're inclined, you can support the effort here.
Or, as always, consider stopping in for a meal — or maybe a T-shirt — to help keep a neighborhood institution going.
A Keith Haring-inspired 'Pop Shop' tribute on 8th Street
Timed to coincide with the Haring exhibition at the Brant Foundation on Sixth Street, the installation runs through April 17 and nods to the artist's Pop Shop, which debuted in 1986 on Lafayette Street.
The space features donated posters from Sur Rodney (Sur) and ephemera from Mark Harada, all available for purchase. Proceeds support Allied's mission and public projects, including Le Petit Versailles Garden on Second Street.
Visits are by appointment only (212-529-8815); additional details are available via Allied's online shop.
A Nite and Day business brewing on 9th Street
The space will operate as a daytime coffee shop (Dayglow) and a nighttime taproom (Niteglow).
This will be the second NYC location for the combo shop ... Niteglow also has an outpost on Wilson Avenue in Bushwick, which includes a brewery, along with sibling Dayglow.
More on this operation as more info becomes available.
La Fleur Café & Market was the previous tenant in the storefront.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Good Friday Blues at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery
St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery is marking the 25th anniversary of its Good Friday Blues service this week.
The annual Good Friday program blends blues music, drama and dance to recount the Passion story. The service is directed by Jeannine Otis and includes guest sermons from the Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings, the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas and Nell Gibson. The St. Mark's Choir will also take part.
The service runs from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday at the church, 131 E. 10th St. at Second Avenue.
Admission is free.
Small Village Deli off to a loud start with neighbors
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Residents who live near the new Small Village Deli — which opened last weekend on the NW corner of Avenue B and Fifth Street — say they're already dealing with quality-of-life issues tied to the 24/7 operation.
For starters, issues existed even before the market opened. Neighbors questioned the ultra-bright signage. According to a Department of Buildings summons posted to the door last month: "Observed illuminated sign approx 80 sq feet above premises, no permit on file, creating a safety hazard."
The violation carries a $2,500 penalty.
Several neighbors have cited a new and loud exhaust system — described by one resident as sounding "like a jet engine" — along with persistent cooking odors entering nearby apartments.
"I was lying in bed, awake before 6 a.m., enjoying the wonderful silence. And then the fan went on at 5:59 a.m.," said Kim-Nora, who lives across the street. "The exhaust system noise seems well above ambient street-level noise at this time of day. This should be the quietest time of day right now … but that thing just sounds like a big truck idling at high RPMs. Difficult to hear the birds now."
The space at 76 Avenue B has housed several businesses in the past 15 years — including restaurants (Oda House and Caffe Buon Gusto) and a deli (Zips) — though neighbors say the current setup is creating new issues.
Loyan Beausoleil, vice president of the 6 & B Garden next door, said she stopped in to raise concerns about the noise ahead of the garden's public reopening in April.
"I told them how the fan was very loud in the garden, explaining that we are their neighbors and are hopeful they would make sure it was quiet before we open," she said. "[The owner] was very rude to me and yelled that we were just going to have to get used to it, adding that he was not going to change it."
Beausoleil said she left without arguing, but noted that several nearby delis have built better relationships with the community. (The owner asked EVG to leave on a recent visit.)
"Once the garden is open, I will encourage visitors to avoid Small Village and choose the other delis that act like good neighbors," Beausoleil said.
Another longtime tenant in the building, who asked not to be named, said the fan ran overnight and was audible even with windows closed.
"Sounds like a big Mack truck idling right outside your window. And that's with all the windows closed — and the weather is about to warm up, and we want our windows open — and I want to hear the birdsong starting at 4 a.m.," the resident said. "It's literally a nightmare."
The tenant (and others) said they have contacted the landlord, spoken with the super and deli staff, and filed a 311 complaint, with plans to reach out to Community Board 3 and other local officials if the issue continues.
"Like I have time for this?" the resident added. "If it's killing my sleep, I guess so."
Openings: Lucky Cafe on Avenue A
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
There's a new coffee-and-matcha option on Avenue A.
Lucky Cafe opened on Sunday at 64 Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.
The cafe serves coffee, matcha and a selection of baked goods from Brooklyn's Colson Patisserie.
Owner James Phillips (above) and "master barista" Max Vitkus — both East Village residents — are behind the venture.
The space itself has a thoughtfully designed interior, with a warm color palette and a few welcoming extras for now, including chocolate and caramel sauces to top drinks, plus games, books and cozy seating nooks.
For now, hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, though that could shift a bit as the team settles in.
Introducing ChatEVG™
After 18 years of covering the East Village, it was probably inevitable: EVG is entering the AI space.
Introducing ChatEVG™ — a Large Language Model (LLM) trained on nearly two decades of posts, reader tips, comments, rumors, CB3 agendas and menus from long-closed neighborhood restaurants.
ChatEVG™ can understand, summarize, generate and predict human-like responses based on user prompts.
Early testing suggests it performs especially well when asked to:
• Decode "closed for renovations" signs
• Translate broker-speak on storefront listings ("turnkey," "motivated seller," etc.)
• Add just enough reassuring language to make you uneasy ("bring your architect," "no plans for a full liquor license at this time")
• Translate broker-speak on storefront listings ("turnkey," "motivated seller," etc.)
• Add just enough reassuring language to make you uneasy ("bring your architect," "no plans for a full liquor license at this time")
There are still a few bugs to fix. For example, ChatEVG™ will sometimes suggest that readers who disagree simply move back to Ohio (or Iowa) or the suburbs, and remind you that "New York has always been about _____."
It also tends to assume that any new business will close within six months.
In any event, built for peak neighborhood performance, ChatEVG™ also offers:
• A proprietary Nostalgia Engine™ calibrated to 18 months after you moved here
• Predictive modeling on whether a "coming soon" sign means two weeks or two years
• Automated detection of smoke shops or markets posing as something else
• Predictive modeling on whether a "coming soon" sign means two weeks or two years
• Automated detection of smoke shops or markets posing as something else
For now, on this April 1, ChatEVG™ is open.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tuesday's parting shot
6 posts from March
• Checking in with Phil Hartman on Two Boots’ future on Avenue A — and the East Village (March 26)
• The CityBench that baffled residents on 3rd Street has been removed (March 26)
• The empty lot on 2nd Avenue between 2nd and 3rd streets is for sale (March 19)
• What it’s like living among 2 fraternities in 1 East Village building (March 18)
• Dana Beal, longtime marijuana activist, serving months-long prison sentence in Idaho (March 16)
• Saturday night's alright for the New Colossus Festival (March 8)
Police searching for suspects in 2nd Avenue carjacking
Police are searching for four suspects in a carjacking involving a rideshare driver last week in the East Village.
According to authorities, the 51-year-old driver was sitting in his vehicle near Third Street and Second Avenue around 1:30 a.m. on March 23 when a group approached and asked for a ride.
When he declined, one of the individuals displayed a firearm, and the group stole the vehicle, police said.
The suspects drove off, and the car was later recovered in Newark, per media reports.
The driver was not injured.
The NYPD released the video clip via X...
Tips can be shared confidentially with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or online.🚨WANTED FOR A ROBBERY: On Monday, March 23, 2026, at approximately 1:30 AM, in front of 50 2 Avenue, confines of the 9th Precinct, a 51-year-old male victim was approached by four unidentified individuals while he was seated inside his vehicle. The four unidentified individuals… pic.twitter.com/qWm74zYk0I
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) March 31, 2026
A new edge in Tompkins Square Park
Photos Saturday by Stacie Joy
Skateboarders in Tompkins Square Park got a pleasant surprise Saturday morning.
Early that day, a crew delivered a 15-inch-high granite ledge to the multipurpose courts/TF. (The ledge sits outside the main field and walking lanes, so it won’t need to be moved for field hockey leagues.)
As Quartersnacks first noted, this arrival was a collaboration among the Parks Department, Nike SB, The Skatepark Project and California Skateparks.
On Saturday morning, we spotted skaters lining up to test out the ledge … and start wearing down the edges.
As of yesterday, the Ledge remained the main draw here... and it was already showing a little wear...
After years of complaints, a ruling in tenants' favor on 9th Street
Top photo by EVG
All other photos courtesy of Jeff Rae
ICYMI: Tenants at 109 E. Ninth St. are claiming a rare win in their ongoing fight with their landlord.
According to city officials, landlord Michael Geylik has been found to have harassed tenants — prompting officials to revoke his Certificate of No Harassment (CONH), an unusual step typically reserved for more serious cases.
At a March 24 press conference outside the building between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, City Council Member Harvey Epstein and Assemblymember Deborah Glick's office, as well as the Cooper Square Committee and Take Root Justice, joined tenants in calling attention to the decision and pushing for the restoration of essential services, including shared bathrooms, kitchen space and other basic building functions.
As first reported by Hell Gate, the remaining six tenants in the longtime single-room occupancy (SRO) building — some paying as little as $155 a month — have said the landlord removed communal bathrooms, showers and a kitchen after buying the property in 2021 with the promise of rebuilding them. Those amenities were never restored.
The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development ultimately determined there was sufficient evidence of harassment to revoke the CONH, a move that could help tenants remain in their homes and compel the landlord to make repairs.
Tenants and advocates are now calling for the return of all essential services, completion of repairs, and an end to eviction proceedings against current residents.
Signage alert: Taqueria Emilio on Avenue B
Last week, a tipster told us a taqueria was in the works, but we didn't have a name.
Looks like this will be the fourth location for Taqueria Emilio, which started in Inwood, later expanded to a second outpost near Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, and a third in Brooklyn (now showing as "permanently closed" via Google).
The Inwood location earns high marks in The Infatuation's "cheap eats" section.
The taqueria takes over the space formerly occupied by Burgers on B.
H/T EVG reader John Greally
Karma out, Conall’s in at 51 1st Ave.
Per its website: "Conall's Public House serves hearty, made-from-scratch Irish dishes, hosts lively nights of live music, and pours the finest drinks inspired by the Emerald Isle."
Its Instagram account has this: "New Irish Cocktail Sports Pub."
Owner Gene Lennon is behind several other local establishments, including Juke Bar on Second Avenue and 12th Street, and The Mayfly on Houston and Suffolk (not to mention Trinity Pub on the UES).
You can register for the opening party this spring here.
Monday, March 30, 2026
Monday's parting shot
The original bronze plaque was ripped off a few weeks back.
P.S.
If you're on Instagram, you can follow @the_daily_basquiat for more frequent art updates here.
Outdoor dining season returns this week as curbside setups reappear
Under current city rules, licensed roadway cafés can operate from April 1 through Nov. 29.
In recent days, we've spotted curbside dining setups of various sizes going up around the East Village (bottom two photos by Stacie Joy)...
Meanwhile, the City Council is expected to advance legislation that would again allow year-round operation of roadway dining setups.
The change would eliminate the need for restaurants to dismantle and rebuild curbside setups each season. This costly and time-consuming process has contributed to a sharp drop in outdoor dining citywide, according to Crain's.
The proposal, led by Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler, reportedly has support from Council leadership, the mayor's office and hospitality groups. However, opponents have concerns about sanitation, design, and the loss of parking spaces.
A City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on the bills was held on March 3. During roughly three hours of public testimony — with 47 speakers — some opponents of the year-round plan noted that only one committee member remained in the room for the duration.
Supporters of the measure say a permanent program would better support small businesses and neighborhood activity.
"Seasonal outdoor dining has shown how our streets can serve people first," Sara Lind, co-executive director of Open Plans, told EVG via email.
Restler told Crain's that it's important the measure passes before summer so businesses have time to plan ahead for 2027.
For now, the seasonal setups are back — and the debate continues.
Previously on EV Grieve:
10 years later: Ninth Ward announces itself again on 2nd Avenue
Ninth Ward signage is now up on the new building at 180 Second Ave. (H/T Choresh Wald!)
As previously reported, the New Orleans–themed bar closed here after service on Feb. 14, 2016, with plans to return following a gut renovation of the building between 11th Street and 12th Street.
That timeline — initially expected to be about 18 months — stretched into nearly a decade amid construction delays, landlord issues and the pandemic.
In July 2024, the owners were back before Community Board 3 seeking a new liquor license for the address as part of their long-awaited return.
Now, with the signage in place, it's one of the clearest signs yet that the Ninth Ward is getting closer to reopening here.
Good news for those who've been waiting a decade for that next drink here.
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