Monday, December 2, 2024
December trees
When is the annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park?
The event, sponsored by C&B Cafe, features the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and refreshments via Veselka.
An illegal smoke shop bust on 10th Street
Photo by Steven
According to police and published reports, law enforcement officials confiscated "100 pounds of pot products" over the weekend from an illegal dispensary on 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.
The shop, not named in the media accounts, was said to be a newish space at 279 E, 10th St.
Per 1010 WINS:
An inspection at 279 East 10th St. was prompted by 311 complaints from the community, and upon searching the location, law enforcement officials discovered 43 pounds of THC flowers and pre-rolls, 30 pounds of THC vapes and 27 pounds of THC edibles.
The seizure was part of the city's "Padlock to Protect" program.We want to thank the community for being our eyes and ears for illegal activity throughout the five boroughs!
— NYC SHERIFF (@NYCSHERIFF) November 30, 2024
The Sheriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force sealed another illegal smoke shop today, seizing over 100 pounds of cannabis and other unregulated products! pic.twitter.com/TDGGUR6WeK
Monday's opening shots
Photos by Lola Sáenz
The latest in the occasional and ongoing witless pink-out at 57 Great Jones St., including painting over the commemorative plaque for one-time resident Jean-Michel Basquiat...
Sunday, December 1, 2024
At Night 1 of TV on the Radio's residency at Webster Hall
Photos by Daniel Efram
TV On The Radio is back ... celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut release, Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes, with a deluxe version of the album with previously unreleased tracks.
The Brooklyn-based band just wrapped up four nights at Webster Hall on 11th Street (Nov. 25-26, Nov. 29-30), the first live shows in five years (not counting the surprise TV Eye gig last Sunday or the Vans-Max Fish celebration in September).
Dan Efram, who shared these photos, called Monday's kick-off show a "mesmerizing, rejuvenating and affirming performance."
Here's a look at the band, including core members Tunde Adebimpe, Kyp Malone and Jaleel Bunton (Dave Sitek was not part of this residency)...
Read an oral history of the great East Village zine shop See Hear
Photo by Jerry B. via Yelp!
A weekend read for your consideration via Animal New York. Freddy Alva delivers an oral history of See Hear, the (late) great zine shop down a few steps at 59 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
Alva, a one-time employee, spoke with owner and founder Ted Gottfried as well as co-workers Reuben Radding, Chesley Hicks, Rob Price ... and longtime customer Thurston Moore. Find the post here.
The shop was around from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s... including a brief revival on St. Mark's Place. Alex has a tribute from 2013 to See Hear at this link.
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Saturday's parting shot
6 posts from November
• A new community fridge for the East Village (Nov. 21)
• $400,000 revamp planned for the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run (Nov. 20)
• After over 50 years, Ludlow Garage on the Lower East Side to close its doors (Nov. 14)
• The Avenue A 7-Eleven is now closed. The reason why may not surprise you. (Nov. 12)
• Lower East Side indie mainstay Rockwood Music Hall abruptly closes, musicians say (Nov. 11)
• At the sneak preview of Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop on 7th Street (Nov. 10)
Friday, November 29, 2024
The 'Ghosts' in you
The band with local roots recently released their fifth LP, To the Ghosts, this past summer.
Enjoy the extended live set and interview...
Previously on EV Grieve:
A Black Friday look at Budget Mart on Avenue A
Photos and text by Stacie Joy
As we reported, Budget Mart opened on Nov. 13 at 33 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street.
We've gone back for a few visits to look at the well-stocked and organized storefront currently featuring enough Christmas decorations to make your place look like Dyker Heights ...
Budget Mart's owner has other stores in Queens and Brooklyn, such as P&P Discount Furniture.
During our visits, the staff, including Sahriah (pictured) behind the counter, have been friendly and attentive...
As noted in our previous coverage, there are a lot of slippers available, plus socks and underwear, with familiar brands like Hanes. Not to mention toys, suitcases and gadgets galore.
Don't want to wait for a Duane Reade or Rite Aid employee to un-incarcerate your toothpaste? Budget Mart has got you covered...
Guys, want to be ready for gray sweatpants season? Here are various (although not 50) shades of gray sweatpants...
Best sellers so far? Management cited the holiday-season merchandise, kitchenware and clothing.
More merchandise, such as household items and winter clothes, will be available soon. The manager noted, "We are open to suggestions and opinions from the community."
Hours are daily from 10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. No social media or website right now.
Reminders: The work of Kenny Scharf is now at the Brant Foundation through February
In case you are looking for something to do (with visitors?) in the neighborhood this weekend... the exhibit featuring Kenny Scharf, a pioneer of the street art movement in the 1980s East Village, is underway at the Brant Foundation next month.
FYI details:
... the exhibition brings together over 70 paintings, sculptures, and objects created throughout the artist's expansive career, beginning with works from the late seventies. The survey is compiled from the Brant collections as well as major loans from institutions and private collections, including The Whitney Museum of American Art (New York) and The Broad (Los Angeles).Kenny Scharf is co-curated by Peter M. Brant & Tony Shafrazi in close collaboration with the artist.
Tickets (here) through Dec. 22 are currently available, and the remaining tickets (Dec. 23 – Feb. 28) will be released in the upcoming weeks.
The exhibition will be open Wednesday through Sunday. (Tickets remain for this weekend.)
Tickets are $20, $15 for students, and $15 for East Village residents. Admission is 50% off every Wednesday from 2-6 p.m.
The Brant Foundation's first show at 421 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue in the spring of 2019 featured work by Basquiat — some 70 works collectively valued at $1 billion. Other exhibits include a career-spanning Warhol collection in the spring of 2023.
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Thursday's opening shot
This holiday season, we're grateful for our readers. Your support, curiosity and engagement inspire us every day.
And now, we're announcing our new paywall. (KIDDING!)
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Wednesday's parting shot
Watch the Veselka documentary this holiday season
The well-reviewed film (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), directed by Michael Fiore and narrated by David Duchovny, who grew up nearby, opened at the Village East by Angelika on Feb. 23.
A description:
New York City's beloved Ukrainian restaurant, Veselka, is best known for its borscht and varenyky, but it has become a beacon of hope for Ukraine. As the second-generation owner Tom Birchard reluctantly retires after 54 years, his son Jason faces the pressures of stepping into his father's shoes as the war in Ukraine impacts his family and staff.
Late last week, the filmmakers learned that "Veselka" is eligible for consideration in the Documentary Feature Film category for the 97th Academy Awards. There are 169 films on the list. A shortlist of 15 films will be announced on Dec. 17.
Per Variety: "The race for best documentary feature is always full of surprises, and this year, no single nonfiction film has yet emerged as "the one to beat."
And the trailer...
Final week for Boris & Horton?
Photo by Stacie Joy
Boris & Horton is done to its last few days on the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street. Or are they?
In announcing their schedule this last week on Instagram, they wrote: "we're hopeful that one of our customers will be taking over and reopening in 2025."
This has been the home to the city's first dog cafe for the past six-plus years.
Earlier this month, ownership (daughter-father Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman) posted notices that they would close at the end of November. This development happened even after a successful crowdfunding campaign and a newly enacted subscription plan earlier this year.
From an Instagram post on Nov. 11:
Despite these efforts, we've experienced a significant drop in our monthly subscriptions, with almost 90% churn, and our sales are slightly down compared to last year when we initially made the difficult decision to close.
Mikhly and Holzman said they've previously met with potential suitors but have yet to close a deal.
The retail space remains on the rental market.
Still, it sounds like they are keeping the faith this Thanksgiving week...
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Another tree-mendous post
Report: Kushner Cos. sell 2 more East Village buildings
The latest to go: 318 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue (above, left), and 99 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. Public records show that Sky Management Corp. paid $11.2 million for the buildings with 33 residential units.
How did Kushner fare on these investments? To Crain's:
The firm broke about even on 318 E. 11th, selling the 6-story, 18-unit mixed-use site near Second Avenue for $7.6 million this month after paying $7 million for it in 2012, the register shows. A two-bedroom there that leased in August was advertised for about $5,000 per month.But Kushner Cos. incurred a significant loss with 99 E. Seventh, a 5-story, 17-unit multifamily building near First Avenue that went for $3.6 million after costing $5.1 million in 2012, according to deeds. A two-bedroom there was listed this month at $4,200.
Most recently, the real-estate development firm sold six EV buildings: the four contiguous properties at 329, 331, 333, and 335 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ($26.9 million), and 516 and 518 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B ($11 million).
At one point, Kushner Cos. was the second-largest owner of East Village residential buildings, trailing only convicted felon Steve Croman.
Back to Crain's:
With the deals, the firm has sold about 60% of its East Village portfolio, which at its peak about a decade ago totaled roughly 40 buildings between East Houston and East 14 streets, and Avenue B and Third Avenue, according to a Crain's analysis. Today, by contrast, Kushner Cos., which often invested alongside partners, appears to own just 15 sites, including 201 E. Second St., 500 E. 11th St. and 165 Ave. A., based on public records.
The publication previously pointed out that the exit is due, in part, to the "rules passed as part of pro-tenant reform laws in 2019 have made it more difficult for landlords of rental sites to run the traditional playbook of converting regulated units into pricier market-rate versions. Some landlords have blamed those reforms for stifling the investment sales market."
ICYMI: This February, Blue Man Group to take final bow on Astor Place after 34 years
Photos from 2019 by Stacie Joy
The Blue Man Group will end its long-running show — some 17,000 performances — at the Astor Place Theatre this coming Feb. 2.
No reasons were cited for the end of the production here and in Chicago. According to The Guardian, "The announcement comes at a time when theaters around New York and across the country are struggling to stay afloat amid dwindling ticket sales and shrinking audience sizes compared to pre-pandemic shows."
In 1987, a trio of Lower East Side artists — Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink — started what would "arguably become the most financially lucrative performance art troupe in the world." Cirque du Soleil bought the show in 2017.
Before taking up residency on Astor Place on Nov. 17, 1991 (EVG readers gave the show six weeks tops), the group played out and about at a variety of local venues, including King Tut's Wah Wah Hut on Avenue A at Seventh Street (where Niagara is now).
Per the flyer from August 1989: "Bring a walkman to the show!"
Flyer via the King Tut's Wah Wah Hut Facebook page
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