Renee Nicole Good memorial vandalized outside St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery

Photo from Jan. 12 by Stacie Joy 

In recent days, someone vandalized the memorial honoring Renee Nicole Good and others who have died as a result of immigration enforcement outside St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery at 10th Street and Second Avenue.

Church officials responded in an Instagram post last evening, writing: "Our dignity cannot be erased."

 

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A post shared by St. Mark's Church in the Bowery (@stmarksbowery)

Local City Council Member Harvey Epstein also documented the damage...

 

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A post shared by Council Member Harvey Epstein (@harveyforny)

A banner now hangs outside the church reading: "We will not keep silent. Our dignity cannot be erased." (Photos yesterday by Steven.)

... alongside an RIP message for Good, a 37-year-old mother of three originally from Colorado who was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

On Jan. 12, faith leaders and community members gathered at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery for a Vigil of Lament and Hope honoring Good and others. The service included prayers, reflections, music and moments of silence, bringing together clergy and neighbors from multiple faith communities across the city.

The memorial for Good began to grow in the days after her death.

Progress report: Metro Acres Market build-out continues (and a signage fake-out)

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

An EVG reader shared the above photo from Friday, when Metro Acres Market signage arrived at the southwest corner of Fifth Street and First Avenue. The EVG newsroom emptied in anticipation of it going up to replace the Rite Aid sign. 

No sign of the signage over the weekend, however ...

So we checked in for an update with Ennis Said, who owns this location with his siblings. He said the sign had been scheduled to go up last week, but the installation conflicted with work on the outdoor stalls. 

And as for those — amid speculation about recycling or cart storage — Said confirmed they'll be used to display and sell produce outside. 

Meanwhile, here's a look around inside to see how the grocery is progressing ...

No word on an opening date.

While it is not related to the other Metro Acres Markets, residents may be familiar with the brand. One opened several years back on Clinton Street in Seward Park. 

The East Village Rite Aid closed last August. The 63-year-old pharmacy chain filed for bankruptcy twice in two years before shutting down entirely. 

The EV lease for the 8,500-square-foot space was auctioned off last summer. The auction was just for the lease, not the single-level building. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Metro Acres Market confirmed for former East Village Rite Aid

Openings: Salumeria Rosi on Avenue B

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Salumeria Rosi finally made its East Village debut last Wednesday at 222 Avenue B between East 13th and 14th streets.

This is the second NYC location for the northern Italian restaurant and salumeria, which first opened on the Upper West Side in 2008. 

The new location closely follows the Uptown model, offering housemade pastas, salumi and imported cheeses, antipasti, and a concise Italian wine list, while adding a neighborhood café that opens earlier in the day. 

The café begins service at 8 a.m. daily, with coffee from Italian roaster Hausbrandt and a selection of breakfast pastries, including cornetti, sfogliatelle and maritozzi, as well as tarts and croissant sandwiches.

At 11:30 a.m., the dining room opens for lunch, serving panini alongside the full menu. Beginning at 5 p.m., the space transitions to dinner and bar service. (Find the menus here.)

The menu centers on northern Italian dishes, including seasonal antipasti, fritti, fresh pastas, etc. Standbys from the Upper West Side location carry over, along with nightly pasta specials and a few East Village-specific additions. 

Owner Andrew Loscalzo (below) designed the space himself, drawing inspiration from Milanese style and traditional salumerias.

The previous tenant here, The Roost, a coffee bar by day and speakeasy-esque cocktail lounge by night, closed in the spring of 2024. We first heard about Salumeria Rosi's plans around that same time.

On St. Mark's Place, Moody Tongue will house Tokyo-based Pizza Studio Tamaki

The Moody Tongue space on St. Mark's Place will soon be serving Pizza Studio Tamaki's pies, an acclaimed Tokyo-based pizzeria led by Tsubasa Tamaki.

The owners of Moody Tongue Pizza, Jeremy Cohn and Jared Rouben, are still the tenants and operating partners of this Pizza Studio Tamaki location.

Ahead of the opening at 123 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue this spring, the team will host a limited pop-up tomorrow and Wednesday from 6–11 p.m., marking Pizza Studio Tamaki's first appearance in the United States. 

According to press materials, during the pop-up, Tamaki will serve a small selection of pizzas and starters reflecting his Tokyo-style take on Neapolitan pizza ... where his dough is fermented for roughly 30 hours, made with a proprietary blend of Japanese and American flours, then baked at high temperatures in a custom oven. (Pete Wells has more about Tamaki at the Times here. You need pop-up reservations here.)

Following the pop-up, the space will be redesigned ahead of the permanent opening, with plans to refresh the concept while keeping Tamaki's core approach intact. 

Moody Tongue opened here in late 2024, billed as serving NYC's first Tokyo-Neapolitan pizzeria. 

Sunday in East River Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Taking in the river views from the open section of the Delancey Street pedestrian bridge with ferries and smokestacks....

[Updated] Flooding forces temporary closure of Avenue B Duane Reade

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated Feb. 2: The store is back open...

------

The Duane Reade-Walgreens on the corner of Avenue B and Second Street is temporarily closed after what staff described as a sprinkler-system leak that caused flooding inside the store.

A corporate spokesperson said, "There has been an emergency at this location and the store and pharmacy are temporarily closed." 

An employee told EVG that everyone is OK and crews are inside making repairs. Staff said the closure is temporary and the store is expected to reopen in the next few days. 

In the meantime, customers are being directed to the Duane Reade at 100 Delancey St. (at Ludlow) or the NE corner of Third Avenue and 14th Street.

H/T Salim!

Week in Grieview

Post this past week included (with a photo from St. Mark's Place — Physical Snowffiti? (sorry) — from Friday night).

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• Remembering longtime East Village resident Mary Buchen (Jan. 28) … and Mac McGill (Jan. 30) 

• Redesign in the works for the Tompkins Square Park mini pool (Jan. 27) 

• Crowdfunding effort moves to guard a tree around Tompkins Square Park (Jan. 28) 

• Where to find an official Warming Center close to the East Village (Jan. 29) 

• Local scenes from a day of "no work, no school, no shopping" (Jan. 30) 

• Something from nothing: A new coffee shop, Gnihton, opens on 11th Street (Jan. 29)

• It snowed! (Jan. 25) 

• Construction watch: 231 Bowery (Jan. 28) 

• Signage alert: Buena Vista on the NE corner of 2nd Avenue and 5th Street (Jan. 30) 

• Did you know? There's a Pizza Hut on the Lower East Side now (Jan. 28) 

• The East River shows off a rare winter look (Jan. 27) 

• New igloo to market? This deal won't last! (Jan 27) 

And thanks to all the EVG readers who shared snow pics this past week... here's one from EV resident Heather Dubin from Washington Square Park... dog sledding!

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Along Second Avenue today...

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

In the frozen tundra of Tompkins Square Park, spring bulbs remain in progress. 

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'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

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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

Signage finally arrived yesterday at 88 Second Ave. on the NE corner of Fifth Street. (Thanks to EVG reader Danielle!)

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.

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A post shared by Buena Vista Restaurant & Bar (@buenavistany)

There has been a lot of speculation in recent months about what is next for this high-profile corner. (A worker here told EVG's Stacie Joy that the restaurant would be serving "Dominican food" without any other details.) 

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's parting shot

An early morning today view along Avenue A at Third Street...

Where to find an official Warming Center close to the East Village

The deep freeze continues in the days ahead (temps will struggle to reach 20 over the next few days)... with a cold weather advisory in effect until later this morning as wind chills could reach -10. 

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's parting shots

Lots of reader photos tonight from along Avenue C outside C-Squat (top photo by Jose Garcia). 

And a little later...

... and you could even say it glows...

As Jose told us, helped a young artist create the snowman... "everyone gathering stuff to help her, and then we were all happy to see her happy, especially in such cold and bitter times. It was a community moment for sure."

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.

The neighborhood feels a little less bright without Mary.

Crowdfunding effort moves to guard a tree around Tompkins Square Park

Here's an item about a small but meaningful win for 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.