Day-long CBGB Festival in Brooklyn this September to feature Iggy Pop, Jack White

Today, the CBGB brand announced the CBGB Festival, set for Sept. 27 at Under the K Bridge Park in Brooklyn. Presented with The Bowery Presents, the one-day festival will feature 21 bands, including headliners Iggy Pop and Jack White. 

The lineup playing on three stages includes artists from multiple eras, such as Sex Pistols, Johnny Marr, Lunachicks, Marky Ramone, The Damned, and Melvins. Bands associated with the original CBGB hardcore scene — Gorilla Biscuits, Murphy's Law, and Cro-Mags — will also perform, along with newer acts like The Linda Lindas, Lambrini Girls, Destroy Boys, Angel Du$t, Scowl, Pinkshift, Teen Mortgage, YHWH Nailgun, Soul Glo, and Lip Critic. 

Presale registration is open now at CBGBFEST.COM. Presale begins Thursday at 10 a.m.; general ticket sales start Friday at 10 a.m. 

General admission tickets start at $149. There is a "Young Punks" ticket option ($73) for concertgoers under 24 years old. Those tickets will be available in person only on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at the Bowery Presents box office at Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 N. 6th St.

This is not the CBGB brand's first foray into festival territory. You may recall the CBGB Music & Film Festival from 2012-2014. 

CBGB closed at 315 Bowery in October 2006.

Friends and 'Neighbors'

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Two East Village artists, hmac and Peter Arkle, joined forces for a quick show at 616 E. Ninth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

"Neighbors" opened with a Thursday evening reception, followed by a Friday afternoon viewing — offering a chance to explore the contrasting styles of these friends and neighbors. (They live on the top floor of the same East Village building, which Peter moved into when hmac was 1, he noted.)

For Arkle, this was also a way to create something different from the illustrations he's known for in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and New York. (He also drew the neighborhood map at the Avenue A Trader Joe's.)

A zine released for the show includes a Q&A with hmac and Arkle. (Arkle's spouse, Amy Goldwasser, conducted the interview.)

An excerpt: 

How does the neighborhood inform your work? 

hmac: I love how accessible everything is in the radius that we have. I was from Montana, which was very quiet and a one high school town. But it's neighborly and community-based in a similar way that I get in the East Village. I can go to get spraypaint in 15 minutes. I can go to the park. I can ride my bike around. It gives a playground to me, like I'm rerooting my roots. 

Peter: If I were sitting at my desk trying to make up characters, I'd be struggling. But I love being able to walk everywhere, the density of this place, and you cannot walk a block without seeing interesting people doing interesting things. 

And the building?

hmac: Working on the roof adds much more breathing room to explore what I soak up out there. Then I'm able to paint but also look down from our building and see people fighting with 2x4s. I need ventilation. I sprawl. And it's the one place I can leave things to dry. 

Peter: The roof's an extreme place. Say you're just a beginner at spraypainting; there's a lot of paint that's not even going on the canvas. It's just sort of around. 

hmac: The wind picks up your paint and throws it. Then it dries in the air and flings onto your work. 

Peter: There's something about the roof that makes you be more big. The elements are in there. You can look at that painting and know forever you were in this crazy place when you made it.

We look forward to more from these two...

Kijitora, a Williamsburg-based coffee shop, is opening an outpost on 14th Street

Kijitora, a cat-themed coffee shop with two Brooklyn locations, is opening a space at 534 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Thanks to Russell for the photo!) 

Aside from a coffee service, the cafe offers a slate of Japanese-inspired drinks, pastries and food, including a grilled cheese with housemade shokupan. 

You can read more about owner Ayaha Otsuka in this Greenpointers post from last summer. 

Kijitora takes over from Amara Coffee, which closed last month after less than a year in business.

Matcha House next for the former ChikaLicious space on 10th Street

Signage for Matcha House has arrived at 203 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Thanks to Rob Gall for the photo!) 

Per the new brand's website: 

Matcha House is built on the idea that excellence should be the standard. Every detail — from the moment our tea plants sprout from their seeds, to our tearista's craft of your drink — is thoughtfully studied and curated to produce the highest quality and taste. 

We hope you leave our House feeling energized and connected, yet calm and grounded. 

You can follow their Instagram account for opening updates. 

Chika and Don Tillman closed their dessert bar here, ChikaLicious, last summer after 21 years in business. They now operate by appointment only on Astor Place.

Nosh Up (officially) closes down on St. Mark's Place

A for-rent sign has arrived at 24 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, marking the official end of Nosh Up.

The gate, currently used as a message board for travelers, has been down at the market for the past two months. A closure was expected.

Nosh Up, which sold fresh-made sandwiches, grilled paninis, salads, quesadillas, etc., just opened in October.

Not sure why they didn't even make it to six months.

The business took over for Jewels, the body jewelry and piercing parlor. The address has a lot of recent history—Ben & Jerry's! Pinkberry! No. 24 was also the Ice Cream Connection in the early 1970s before the owners of Dojo opened the Japanese restaurant here in 1974 (RIP 2007).

Thanks to EVG reader Brandon for the photo!

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo by Stacie Joy yesterday on Avenue B from the LUNGS Spring Awakening)... 

• More details emerge on Corner Bistro's proposed East Village location (Monday) 

• On 4th Street, Wash Rite Laundromat cleaned out by rent increase, patrons say (Monday) 

• Rite Aid is closing its remaining New York stores, including on 1st Avenue in the East Village (Wednesday) 

• Stripped to the studs: former church on 4th Street sees full gutting (Tuesday) 

• Closing night highlights at the Lower East Side Film Festival: 'The Big Johnson' makes NYC debut (and takes the top prize) (Thursday) 

• Ki Smith Gallery revisits hip-hop’s 'Golden' era through rare photographs (Wednesday)

• Community Board 3 to discuss new entrance to Tompkins Square Park on 10th Street (Thursday)

• Almost a full reveal at the all-new Barrier Free Living building on 2nd Street (Tuesday)

• The hit Hulu series 'Rafael's Interiors' (nudge, nudge) is filming in the East Village (Tuesday)

• Checking in on the Key Food checkout situation (Saturday) 

• When someone dumps an industrial-size fridge on Avenue C (Tuesday) 

• Reader mailbag: Uncovering the location of this Keith Haring snapshot (Sunday)

• Signage alerts: Yumsen Eats on 1st Avenue (Monday) 

On Thursday morning around 10, a fire was reported in an apartment on the third floor at 440 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. Edmund John Dunn shared these photos showing a significant FDNY presence...

There weren't any reports of injuries. Witnesses said the FDNY was on the scene quickly, helping several residents (and at least one dog) safely exit.

We have not heard about the extent of the damage. How No. 440 looked yesterday morning.

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Jeremiah Moss 

A moment during today's five-band Punk in the Park show in Tompkins...

Updated: Checking in on the Key Food checkout situation

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

As noted this past week, Key Food at Avenue A and Fourth Street retired a row of its self-checkout terminals.

In its place: a good old-fashioned staffed register, which will make four for the grocery. 

The move is part of a broader effort by store management to ease congestion and improve the checkout experience. The new models — arranged in a single pass-through lane — aim to speed up transactions and tighten security, potentially reducing the familiar bagging-area standoffs that not even a surprise Mike + the Mechanics track can fix.

Store manager Richie added that the full point-of-sale overhaul should be completed by the end of May.

And the new human-operated register will be up and running "soon."

One question remains: will the CAKES FOR ALL OCCASIONS signage return to the relocated cake station, now with random puddings and parfaits?

Richie wasn't sure. I made a case for its reinstatement. 

Updated 5/11 

The new checkout is now in service...

About tomorrow's Show Brain-sponsored concert in Tompkins Square Park

The season's first free show by Show Brain, which has been bringing live music to city parks the past few years, happens tomorrow (Sunday). 

The lineup (headliner first): 

• Skorts 

• Tea Eater

• Pons 

• Francie Moon 

• Bec Lauder & the Noise 

The show is from 2-6 p.m. 

Today (Saturday) marks the first concert of the season via The Shadow with a five-band Punk in the Park showcase. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Bands we like: Francie Moon 

• Bands we like: Skorts

A celebration of East Village community gardens TODAY

The annual Spring Awakening, postponed from last Saturday, is taking placing today.

Hosted by Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS), the event helps celebrate the neighborhood’s community gardens. There are activities during the afternoon on Avenue B between Seventh Street and Ninth Street from noon to 4 p.m., including pony rides. 

You can visit the LUNGS website for more details on the activities.

Saturday's opening shot

Photo from Tompkins by James Chambers 

Partly sunny and breezy with a high of 75 today, per local weather sources. Tomorrow, Mother's Day, looks to be the same but maybe even nicer. 

What you're 'Feeling'

 

The Brooklyn-based Mei Semones has just released her debut record, Animaru, a dreamy blend of jazz, bossa nova and indie rock. Something we'll be playing all summer. 

The video here is for "Dumb Feeling."

Saturday in Tompkins — Punk in the Park

The live shows are back this 2025 season in Tompkins Square Park with Punk in the Park tomorrow (Saturday afternoon). 

On the bill sponosred by The Shadow: The Undead, Nihilistics, The Coffin Daggers, Jones Crusher and Skitzopolis. 

And there's more live music on Sunday afternoon via Show Brain. More on that in another post. 

 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• New photo book explores the punk heart of Tompkins Square Park

The annual plant and bake sale is this weekend at the 6 & B Garden

The 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden is hosting its annual plant and bake sale this weekend, with plenty of options for anyone looking to add some green to their home — or just pick up something sweet. 

The sale runs Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at the garden on the southwest corner of Avenue B and 6th Street. 

Proceeds support the garden's seasonal calendar of free events and programming.

A ceramic and arts sale at the Sirovich Center

This month, the Educational Alliance celebrates "the vibrant creativity and cultural contributions of older New Yorkers during the fourth annual CelebratEArts Festival." 

As part of this, the Sirovich Center is hosting a Cermanics & Art Sale today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Per the invite: "Shop unique ceramics, mosaics, paintings, and jewelry, all handmade by talented community artisans."

The Sirovich Center for Balanced Living is at 331 E. 12th St., between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Find more programs associated with the CelebratEArts Festival here.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

Reps from PETA gathered in Tompkins Square Park today, urging the public to respect the area's pigeons. 

The appeal comes in the wake of an arrest last week tied to alleged pigeon poaching (for target practice) on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place.

Closing night highlights at the Lower East Side Film Festival: 'The Big Johnson' makes NYC debut (and takes the top prize)

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The 15th edition of the Lower East Side Film Festival wrapped up on Monday evening with a closing night screening with strong local interest — the NYC premiere of "The Big Johnson." 

The documentary chronicling the life of Dean Johnson, the drag queen, rock star, and activist of the 1980s and 1990s East Village, took home the top prize for Best Feature.

   

Writer-director Lola Rock'N'Rolla's film, the closing night screening at the Village East by Angelika, is a mesmerizing, unapologetic dive into the chaotic brilliance of Johnson's world. It captures not just a person but an era — with all its danger, glamour, and defiant joy.

Here's Rock'N'Rolla with Festival directors (and East Village residents) Tony Castle and Roxy Hunt...

Downtown luminaries Michael Musto and Chi Chi Valenti (below) are both featured in the film. 

"Lola Rock'N'Rolla has done a heroic job of compiling and condensing miles and miles of interviews and archival footage into a brilliant examination of a changing city, scene and star — namely rocker/activist Dean Johnson," Musto told me. "Dean was always mischievously dangerous in a way that we needed. In fact, I always felt safer when he was around."

Elsewhere at the theater on Second Avenue at 12th Street...

Afterward, the party moved on to the Slipper Room on Orchard Street.

The entertainment included Peekaboo Pointe ...

The Festival, which included jurors Julia Fox, Rachel Dratch, and Sophie Thatcher, also featured the NYC premiere of the SXSW selection "The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick." 

With its mix of local stories and bold voices, the Festival once again proved why it remains a downtown staple 15 years in. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• About the Lower East Side Film Festival: 15 years of keeping it reel

Community Board 3 to discuss new entrance to Tompkins Square Park on 10th Street

Community Board 3's Parks, Recreation, Waterfront, & Resiliency Committee meeting tonight includes this agenda item: Support to create an entrance to Tompkins Square Park on 10th Street.

The meeting notice doesn't mention where the entrance might be. Given that you can enter Tompkins on 10th Street from the basketball courts near B and the multi-purpose courts/TF near A, it seems logical that the proposed entrance would be mid-block behind the recently renovated field house.

This is a topic that will likely merit further conversation. 

Tonight's meeting is at 6:30 at the BRC Senior Services Center at 30 Delancey St. (between Chrystie and Forsyth streets).

Lane change underway at Key Food

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Workers yesterday removed one of the self-checkout lanes at Key Food on Avenue A and Fourth Street...

Coming in its place: A good old-fashioned staffed register, expected to be installed by the end of the day. 

As we first noted on April 22, Key management wants to enhance the checkout experience. 

"We felt that another standard lane would help reduce some of the backup we've seen at the staffed registers," a high-level Key Foods source previously told us.

What else can you expect here? The rest of the aging self-checkout terminals will soon be getting the boot. The new models will be arranged in a single pass-through lane with upgraded technology to speed up the process and enhance security. 

The move should also provide more streamlined access to the mysteriously popular canisters of Keebler Export Sodas that line the wall along the checkout area.

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy

The sandwich signs of Sunny & Annie's on Avenue B and Sixth Street ...