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...

Work underway on Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter mural on Jimmy Carter Way

A new mural honoring the legacy of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter is taking shape on Sixth Street. 

Last week, volunteers from Citi joined Habitat for Humanity New York City & Westchester County to paint the mural on the side of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church at 737 E. Sixth St., between Avenue C and Avenue D. 

Here's an in-progress look...

The church sits on the block that was co-named Jimmy Carter Way last fall, in recognition of the Carters' decades-long commitment to affordable housing and community service. 

The mural also pays tribute to a significant chapter in East Village history. In 1984, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter helped launch Habitat for Humanity's partnership in New York by volunteering across the street at Mascot Flats, helping rehabilitate the building into affordable housing.

The project also marks the return of Habitat's Community Impact Program, which mobilizes volunteers to improve neighborhood nonprofits, community centers and other shared public spaces across the city. 

No word yet on when the mural will be finished.

June 29

Daniel Root made this early morning discovery on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... just getting an early start on the Fourth of July, we assume.

Monday's opening shot

Photo by Mark Hado

One of the juvenile red-tailed hawks catches the evening light the other day.

In a new post this morning, Goggla reports that all three fledglings continue to do well as they hone their flying skills, practice catching rats and mug for the hawkarazzi. 

Amelia and Charlie, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, welcomed three bouncy baby fuzzballs to the nest in late April. 

Just another reminder that the seasons have a way of flying by...

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

As the Queer Liberation March left Union Square this afternoon ... for the march to Foley Square...

Scenes from the annual Dyke March in Washington Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy

The annual Dyke March took place yesterday afternoon, with thousands of participants making their way from Bryant Park to Washington Square Park.

The first New York City Dyke March was held in June 1993 as a grassroots demonstration celebrating lesbian visibility and activism. The event remains volunteer-run and emphasizes protest, community and LGBTQ+ solidarity. 

Here are a few scenes from the early evening from Washington Square Park, where the march concluded.