Work is underway on Avenue B's permanent Open Street redesign

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Department of Transportation has officially begun construction on the permanent redesign of the Avenue B Open Street between Fourth Street and 12th Street, a project that will bring expanded pedestrian space, new bike connections, loading zones and intersection safety improvements to the corridor.

As we've been reporting, one of the biggest changes will be converting Avenue B to one-way northbound traffic for motorists between Seventh Street and 10th Street while creating a two-way bike connection along the entire corridor. 

The redesign also includes curb extensions, additional pedestrian space and other traffic-calming measures. 

The DOT will also add neighborhood loading zones at the beginning and end of each block to accommodate deliveries and reduce large-truck traffic along the corridor. Vans will continue to be permitted on Avenue B for deliveries, loading and unloading. 

Meanwhile, pedestrians can continue to use the Open Street daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Per DOT officials in a media release on Monday: 

The agency will redesign every intersection in the project area with new pedestrian curb extensions that are protected with planters, bike corrals, granite blocks, or other elements. 

These sidewalk expansions will provide the triple benefit of creating more public space for pedestrians and shortening crossing distances while also improving visibility between crossing pedestrians and other road users. 

We stopped by yesterday as DOT crews continued installing new signs along Avenue B.

One worker pointed out the newly installed "Do Not Enter" signs on the southbound side of B at 10th Street tied to the one-way traffic pattern.

As we stood there, car after car continued driving through them. 

"It will take some time for drivers to get used to it," the DOT worker said. "That happened at 14th Street too." 

Nearby, crews were installing new No Parking/No Standing signs, while fresh spray-painted markings on the pavement offered a preview of the new street layout.

Construction is expected to continue in phases over the coming months. The DOT says the project is intended to build on the success of the Open Street, which launched in 2020, while creating a safer and more permanent streetscape for pedestrians, cyclists and local businesses.

The Pizza Pusha says goodbye to 4th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Stoned Gourmet Cannabis Pizza has closed at 235 E. Fourth St. near Avenue B. 

Owner Chris Barrett — better known to many customers as "The Pizza Pusha" — opened the restaurant in the fall of 2020, serving cannabis-infused pizzas, snacks and drinks in a space with blacked-out windows, a dining room and a private smoking lounge. 

Barrett said the closure came after a combination of building issues and an impasse with the landlord.

"The rats chased us out," he told EVG yesterday morning. "The rats are scaring my customers, especially at night. Plus electrical problems. The A/C is broken, and it costs $30,000 to fix, and the landlord won't help."

Barrett said he paid $12,500 a month in rent, plus an additional $10,000 for the apartments upstairs after tenants complained about smoke. 

"I stopped paying," he said. "I said that's it." 

According to Barrett, city marshals arrived yesterday morning shortly after he finished clearing out the space.

"I cleaned the place out at 8 a.m., and the marshal came at 9," he said.

The business isn't disappearing entirely. Barrett said everything — including the staff — is relocating to a new Astoria location featuring three floors, a backyard with a retractable roof and more parking. 

"I'm so sad to go," he said. "I love this place. I love the neighborhood. This was my first restaurant. All morning, people have come by to say they are sad to see us go." 

Barrett said he had hoped to resolve the building issues but ultimately couldn't justify making additional investments in the East Village location. 

"Up until a couple of days ago, I thought we could work things out, but in the end, no deal," he said.

As for what comes next at 235 E. Fourth St.? 

"You know what I think?" Barrett said. "I think this place is going to sit empty." 

HT to the EVG reader who first alerted us to the marshal's notice.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• A visit to Stoned Gourmet Cannabis Pizza

There's still time to see 'Art-Work: Balance' at the Clemente

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Above left: Curator Arthur Polendo 

and ABC No Rio ED Gavin Marcis

If you haven't made it over to "Art-Work: Balance" yet, there's still time. 

Organized by ABC No Rio and on view through July 12 at the Clemente Center, the group exhibition explores the often unseen balancing act between making art and earning a living.

Rather than depicting day jobs directly, the participating artists examine how work outside the studio — whether fulfilling, exhausting or simply necessary — shapes their creative lives and artistic practice.

"Art-Work: Balance" is on view on the fourth floor of the Clemente, 107 Suffolk St. between Rivington and Delancey. Gallery hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Previously on EV Grieve: • Inside the new ABC No Rio

Tuesday's parting shots

Photos by Derek Berg 

On Fourth Street today ... a worker trying to stay cool with a solar-powered hat. The fans spring to life in sunlight.

6 posts from June

A mini month in review (with Knicks pride on Avenue A by Stacvie Joy) ...

• Bob Bert celebrates Beach Bongo Bloodbath at the Bowery Palace (June 19) 

• A Thursday night on East Village Radio with Adrian Rew of Ergot Records (June 17) 

• Knicks in 5! (here and here and here and here) 

• NY Copy Print & Ship Center preparing to close after 34 years on 7th Street (June 4) 

• Community input wanted for the $30.2 million renovation of the Tompkins Square Library (June 2) 

• For HAGS, bigger things are on the menu with new space on the Bowery (June 1)

The Swiss Institute to leave St. Mark's Place for a permanent home on the Bowery

The Swiss Institute, the contemporary art nonprofit that has called 38 St. Mark's Place home since 2018, is leaving the East Village. 

The organization announced yesterday (PDF here) that it has purchased the ground floor and lower level of 250 Bowery, giving it a permanent home for the first time in its 40-year history. 

The new location will expand the Swiss Institute's footprint from roughly 7,000 square feet on St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue to 11,000 square feet. 

A renovation by the architecture firm Johnston Marklee is set to begin this fall, with the new space expected to open in the spring of 2027 near Stanton Street on the Lower East Side. 

The museum said it will continue to offer free admission and plans to use the larger space for exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives and community events. Sunday is the last day on St. Mark's.

The Swiss Institute debuted at 38 St. Mark's Place in 2018 after relocating from Tribeca. During its time in the East Village, the nonprofit became known for its free exhibitions, public programming, and bookstores (including Printed Matter) ... not to mention a landscaped roof deck with lovely East Village views.

While work is underway on the Bowery, the Swiss Institute said it will continue presenting exhibitions and programs at off-site locations in New York and internationally. 

Back in September 2016, when SI announced its move to the former Chase branch, it felt like one of those rare real-estate surprises that everyone could celebrate. We'd braced ourselves for another chain fast-casual restaurant or other generic retail tenant. 

Instead, the neighborhood got eight years of free contemporary art and public programming. While SI isn't moving far, its departure is another meaningful cultural loss for the East Village — and the latest gallery to head elsewhere. 

The building is available for lease (PDF here), billed as "flagship corner retail" and "all uses considered." There's no mention of the asking rent.

Checking in on Gizmo

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

It's been about 20 months since Gizmo reopened at 626 E. 14th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C after being forced to leave its longtime First Avenue home of 32 years. 

Happily, the sewing-supply-and-repair shop appears to be settling in just fine. The iconic neon sign is glowing, the shelves are stocked with buttons, thread and notions, and owners Rosa Malmed and Hossein Amid are still helping keep the neighborhood stitched together.

As we've said before, it's nice to see one of the East Village's useful businesses not only survive but find a new home in the neighborhood. 

Gizmo is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

More Christmas in June, but not for the usual reason

At first glance, today's Christmas tree sighting on 13th Street west of Second Avenue looked like another entry in our ongoing "Why is there a discarded Christmas tree out in [random month]" file. 

Wait! 

EVG reader Rob Frankel shared these photos, letting us know the trees — along with some really fake-looking snow — are part of the set decoration for the upcoming film "Clashing Through the Snow," which is scheduled to film tonight.

The holiday comedy for Amazon Prime Video stars Christopher Briney, Michelle Randolph, Lukas Gage, Paris Hilton and Julia Fox. Read more about it here.

Leftöver Crack returns to Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Tompkins Square Park welcomed Leftöver Crack back on Saturday afternoon for a free, all-ages show presented by Show Brain.

The performance marked the band's return to Tompkins Square Park, where it first played in August 1999 during a Riot Reunion show. In the years that followed, the park also hosted performances by related projects, including Choking Victim reunions and Star Fucking Hipsters. 

Leftöver Crack has been on tour since early May, starting on the West Coast before making its way east. Ahead of Saturday's performance, the band reflected on its longstanding connection to Tompkins Square Park, writing on Instagram: "We all live for music & the power of anarcho-punk activism & to play for free in the park that made us who we are is an honor that we shall never take for granted."

Here are a few scenes from the afternoon, starting with vocalists Scott "Stza" Sturgeon and Tibbie X ... before an enthusiastic crowd...

Band tour manager (and EV resident) Holli P. with the 15-song setlist...

And in the crowd for the show...

Saturday's show also featured the Dollheads, Pilfers, Loosey and Balaclava.

... and a moment with Leftöver Crack right after the show...