'Casino Rat'

As National Poetry Month concludes ...from the Poetry Window at East Village Books (99 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue) ... featuring the work of Johnny H., an East Village poet...

"Casino Rat"

If I could use my comb

On your blood-matted hair I would

If I had been there to say the Words

Before you managed to limbo

Into the non-humane trap

Being defenseless and without sin

Why, I would have done everything

Even opened my jar of luck

And rubbed some on you

However

I have already spent my excess capital

Playing blackjack through the night

Running probabilities to the very end

Have thus concluded that all of us

Are either coming or going

Yet

Despite such knowledge of the flesh

I still bet even money on your dreams

Of slithering out from under your stars

Finding way home to your children

East Village mainstay Cafe Mogador celebrates its 42nd anniversary

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Above left: Jacob Ahiyon, Rivka Orlin and Danny Orlin

April 2025 marked the 42nd anniversary of the East Village institution Cafe Mogador, located at 101 St. Mark's Place.

I stopped by the all-day cafe between Avenue A and First Avenue as they were setting up for service the other day...

Rivka, a longtime neighborhood resident, still stops by regularly for lunch at the Moroccan-inspired cafe she opened with her brother, Josef Ohayon, back in April 1983. 

"Our customers are our family," said Rivka (above with Abdul Matin, the chef of 40 years).

That sense of family was a recurring theme throughout the day. 

"This is a family-run, family-oriented business," said Danny. "We’re grateful for our guests and the strong community of people who continue to support us."

Pop’s Pizza prepping for soft opening on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

A new pizza joint is getting ready to fire up its ovens on Avenue B. 

Pop's Pizza, led by chef and owner Salvatore Falcone, is aiming for a soft opening next week — possibly as early as Monday — at 223 Avenue B, between 13th and 14th Streets, in the former Saint Pizza space. 

Falcone (pictured above with his dog, Cookie) said he hopes to become an integral part of the community.

"We'd like to serve the neighborhood and get involved," he told us.

The idea for Pop's Pizza was born when a friend who lives nearby mentioned the lack of a good pizzeria in the area. So Falcone decided to open one. 

While the space was still mid-renovation during our visit ("It's a mess," Falcone admitted), we did get a shot of the Pop's team in the kitchen testing pies.

Expect classic pies, slices, garlic knots and a selection of soft drinks to start. Down the line, Falcone also plans to introduce Scaccia, a stuffed Sicilian bread roll. 

No website or social media yet, but stay tuned.

Adda Indian Canteen is set to debut on 1st Avenue

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Signage for Adda Indian Canteen went up on Monday evening as the Unapologetic Foods team is set for a soft opening here tomorrow at 5 p.m. at 107 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. (BTW, the storefront signage is expected to be completed today.) 

The soft opening will begin with walk-ins only for the first week. Reservations will open starting May 9, according to co-founder Roni Mazumdar. 

The arrival also marks the closure of the original Adda outpost that opened in Long Island City to great fanfare in 2018. Grub Street declared that Adda "could be the most exciting new Indian restaurant in New York." ("Unparalleled" and "thrilling" were other headline adjectives.) 

At the much larger EV Adda space, Unapologetic Foods will continue to showcase the rich tapestry of India's regional cuisines.

Unapologetic Foods, which includes chef-partner Chintan Pandya, also operates the fried-chicken outpost, Rowdy Rooster, at 149 First Ave. at Ninth Street and the Filipino restaurant Naks, 201 First Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. They recently moved on from a kebab concept at 82 Second Ave. 

No. 107 was previously Huertas, which closed here in August 2023 after 10 years of operation.

Tuesday's parting shot

The Daniel D. Tompkins monument as seen in the west churchyard at St. Mark's in-the-Bowery. 

Tompkins (June 21, 1774 – June 11, 1825) was the fourth governor of New York from 1807 to 1817 and the sixth vice president of the United States from 1817 to 1825. He is buried here in the west churchyard.

Our local park, opened in 1834, is named after Tompkins — as is, somewhat tangentially, a bagel shop.

Last splash? Getting the Tompkins Square Park mini pool prepped for 1 more summer

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

After an extended closure, the Tompkins Square Park mini pool (yes, Tompkins has a mini pool) is finally expected to reopen for the 2025 summer season, New York City Parks officials said. 

The pool initially closed during the pandemic and has remained out of service due to a lack of bathroom access while the park's field house was under renovation the past two summers. 

Now that the all-new field house is in operation, the pool is being prepared for use. Some scraping and leveling work has been done to address tilting issues, and a test run will be conducted to ensure it is safe for swimmers, according to Tricia Shimamura, Manhattan Borough Commissioner for NYC Parks & Recreation, during the April 14 field house ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

The pool for children and their guardians is anticipated to remain open through Labor Day.

Looking ahead, Tompkins Square Park is also slated for a significant upgrade. Last August, Gov. Hochul announced nearly $150 million in capital grants through the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative. 

As part of that, Tompkins Square Park was awarded $6.1 million for a new in-ground pool, which will double the capacity of the current above-ground trailer park model. 

A start date for construction on the new pool has not been announced yet.

Reopneings: Fancy Juice on 1st Avenue

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Fancy Juice is now in a grand-opening mode in its new storefront at 160 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street. 

As we noted a few weeks ago, the shop specializing in açaí bowls, smoothies, and juices was relocating from 69 First Ave., between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, after 10 years in that space. 

Fancy Juice is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Openings: Irving Green on 9th Street

Image via @IrvingGreenNYC 

Irving Green debuted on Saturday at 321 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Per the Irving Green Instagram account, this is an "East Village destination for curated homeware and gifts with a touch of Irish charm." And it's a great fit along with the like-minded small shops on the block.

Opening hours are Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6:30 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m."

The shop takes over for the March Hare, which closed at the end of January. Read about that here.

A look inside Sunflower Cafe, which remains closed for a 'restructure'

The Sunflower East Village, located on the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Fifth Street, announced a closure for a "restructure" last fall, roughly four months after it opened following a lengthy renovation.

We haven't seen anyone inside since then, until last week, when someone removed all the tables and chairs...

... and even a kitchen sink...

Perhaps we have entered the restructuring phase? Google still lists the business, the sibling to the Sunflower Cafe in Gramercy, as "temporarily closed." (A legal notice on the front door last November stated that the tenant owed nearly $177,000 back rent.)

Sunflower is owned and operated by the same individuals as the previous tenant, Eros, the Greek restaurant that quietly closed in August 2022. Eros took over for their diner concept, The Kitchen Sink, in September 2021. 

Several readers have wondered how the place can remain closed for such long periods between concepts. 

Eric Drooker brings ‘Naked City’ to life with cartoon concert on May Day

Info via the EVG inbox...

Eric Drooker, a native of Manhattan's East Side, will give a slide lecture about the neighborhood's changing landscape. He will struggle to answer the question: "Can an artist survive in the 21st Century?" 

Drooker, renowned for his dozens of covers for The New Yorker, has released his latest book, "NAKED CITY: A Graphic Novel." Join us for a special May Day Cartoon Concert on Thursday, May 1, at 8 p.m. at the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, 155 Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street. This event is free and open to the public!

Today in discarded canoes

EVG reader Jackflashnyc shares this... 

This beautiful fiberglass canoe in good working condition appeared overnight on 14th Street in front of the soon-to-open Whole Foods, between First Avenue and Avenue A. The workers say it is not a store prop and is considered trash. 

It will make a great conversation piece mounted to the wall of a 250-square-foot studio apartment. Get it before it's gone oar live with regret.

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

Photos and interview by Stacie Joy 

Billed as "five days of cinema, culture and chaos in the Lower East Side," this year marks the 15th anniversary of the Lower East Side Film Festival. 

I met with the festival directors, East Village residents, partners in life and work, Tony Castle and Roxy Hunt, plus their baby, Leo, and one-eyed dog, Zucchini, in Tompkins Square Park to discuss the upcoming screenings and events.

How did the Lower East Side Film Fest come to be? 

Roxy, myself, and filmmakers Damon Cardasis and Shannon Walker started LESFF in 2011 with a cheap projector, a bottle of whiskey, and a wild idea to screen indie films in a pop-up space on Norfolk Street. It was scrappy, messy, and completely DIY — but the room was packed, and the energy was undeniable. 

We knew we had something. From day one, it was about creating a space for bold, offbeat, underrepresented voices in film. 

How has it changed and evolved over the past 15 years? 

It's grown up in its own weird way. We've gone from folding chairs and extension cords to sold-out screenings at Village East and DCTV's Firehouse Cinema, but the soul of it hasn't changed. We’re still fiercely independent, still prioritizing filmmaker-first experiences, and still committed to showing work that makes people feel something — whether that’s laughter, discomfort, inspiration, or all three at once.

Has living in the neighborhood informed and affected your film selections, festival locations — and choice of judges? 

Absolutely. The East Village and Lower East Side have always had this raw, creative energy — it's punk rock and poetic at the same time. That vibe bleeds into the festival. We don't want films that play it safe. We want the weird ones, the honest ones, the ones that would feel out of place at a more buttoned-up festival. 

As for our judges, we love choosing people who feel connected to NYC's creative scene — folks who understand the hustle and chaos that often come with making something original.

We've heard that an EV Grieve post may have influenced a recent design choice? 

Guilty. We stumbled upon an EVG post that featured Kash from Village East Cinema putting up the week’s film titles on the iconic marquee on the front facade of the building, right at the same time we were developing the new brand identity with Champions Design.

Together, we had crafted a custom typeface based on the letters used on the marquee. It hit us right then — we should call the font: KASH.

Any favorite moments and memories of years past? 

Too many to count — but one that stands out is when we screened "Catfish" in our first year, before anyone knew what it was. Nev Schulman came out and did a Q&A in this tiny, packed pop-up space, and there was this buzz in the room like, "Oh, this thing is about to blow up."

We're actually bringing it back this year for a 15th-anniversary screening — which feels like a full-circle moment. We've also had so many iconic performances mixed into the festival that take the films beyond the screen — ninja-turtle-stilt-walkers, a drag Santa, aerialists, burlesque dancers, 70-year-old contortionists, brass bands, fire-breathing rappers, synchronized swimmers, amateur wrestlers, comedians, ghosts…. I could go on. This year is no different, but you'll have to come to see what surprises we have in store. 

Also, every single time we host our open beer, wine (and sometimes free weed) reception in Village East Cinema, it feels like something no other festival would get away with. And that’s exactly why we do it. 

What can people look forward to this year? 

A really wild, beautiful mix. Our opening film, "The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick," is surreal and hilarious. We've got docs that dig deep ("Not One Drop of Blood"), dramas that wreck you ("Mad Bills to Pay," "Battersea"), and shorts that get pretty unhinged ("Mind F*ck Shorts" is a fan favorite).

We've got parties, filmmaker mixers, and a lineup of jurors that includes everyone from Julia Fox to Rachel Dratch to Sophie Thatcher. It’s going to be loud, strange, and full of heart. 

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You can purchase tickets here and follow the festival on social media.

Village East by Angelika is on Second Avenue at 12th Street. DCTV's Firehouse Cinema is at 87 Lafayette St. between Beach Street and White Street.

14th & C development watch: The beast of 'The East'

Here's our first look in several months at 644 14th St., the imposing ("The Beast," according to an EVG reader) 24-story residential building on the southwest corner of Avenue C. 

Workers are nearly finished with placing the façade of terracotta panels and staggered floor-to-ceiling windows. 

The building that now dominates the eastern skyline also has a new name: The East (formerly 14+C).

According to the building's website, the units are scheduled to be available this fall. You can sign up for more info here. 

The branding goes like this: 

Relaxed, Refined Living from an Eastside Perspective

Reside where quiet meets cool in Manhattan's East Village. Panoramic river and skyline views converge with well-composed interiors for a refreshed take on city life.

The 234-foot-tall building, developed by Madison Realty Capital, will feature 197 residential units, a fitness room, a yoga studio, and a rooftop deck. Information about the number of "affordable" units here, one of the stipulations for being allowed to build a more extensive (by nine floors) building, has not been made public. There will also be ground-floor retail.

There have also been no updates on the status of the residents of the neighboring 5-story building at 642 E. 14th St., many of whom were in rent-stabilized units. The building was abruptly vacated in November 2023 after foundation work next door reportedly caused it to become unstable. 

The full demolition order from 642's landlord remains on hold, as per DOB records, from last summer.

Los Tacos No. 1 coming to Union Square

Fans of Los Tacos No. 1 will have another nearby outpost to visit.

EVG reader Seth Treiman noted that the Los Tacos website now features a "coming soon" message for a location on Park Avenue South at 17th Street, at the northern end of Union Square.

The closest branch of the popular taqueria is on Lafayette near Bleecker. This will mark the ninth Manhattan location for the brand, which first launched here 10 years ago.

Luckin Coffee, China-based powerhouse and Starbucks challenger, opening an outpost on Broadway and 8th Street

Luckin Coffee, a Beijing-based coffee brand with 22,000 locations worldwide, is opening an outpost on Eighth Street and Broadway. (Thanks to the EVG reader for the photo and tip!) 

According to Forbes, the brand "opened an extraordinary 6,066 net new stores in China last year to reach 22,284 outlets, 65% of which are company operated. Luckin also opened 21 net new stores in Singapore to reach 51 locations and launched in Hong Kong with five outlets, while it opened its first store in Malaysia in January." 

In the United States, they're here to take on Starbucks, according to The Financial Times, with drinks initially priced at $2 to $3, in "cities with larger Chinese student and tourist populations, to gain a foothold." 

Luckin was founded in 2017, "and quickly outpaced Starbucks to hold more locations in its Chinese market, then went public on the Nasdaq. Only a few short years later, in 2020, Luckin admitted that it had inflated its sales — a confession that resulted in its removal from the Nasdaq and the agreement to pay a $180 million penalty." 

Here's more from RetailDive: 

Luckin Coffee filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy and exited administration in 2022, minus the executive team that had overseen the accounting fraud. Since then, the coffee chain has surpassed Starbucks to be China's largest coffee retailer in terms of sales. 

Here's the brand's warm-and-fuzzy background story, perhaps written by a bot:

Luckin Coffee is a pioneer of a technology-driven new retail model that offers coffee and other F&B products of high quality, high affordability and high convenience to our customers. 

Our vision is to build a world-class coffee brand and become part of everyone's daily life. 

Technology is at the core of our business. Our technology runs across every aspect of our business, from customer engagement and storefront operations to supply chain management. We leverage our ever-evolving big data analytics and AI to analyze the huge volume of data generated from our operations and continuously optimize our systems. Our focus on technology has enabled us to efficiently elevate customer experience and to grow rapidly with uncompromised quality control. 

The storefront on Broadway and Eighth was previously a Sunglass Hut.

Why Mimi Cheng's is temporarily closed

A story we didn't get to mention this past week... Mimi Cheng's is temporarily closed here at 179 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

Door signage for patrons points to a "building issue."

There are more details in an Instagram post, which cites a gas outage in the building ("looking at you, Con Ed 👀").

The Taiwanese dumpling shop operated by sisters Hannah and Marian Cheng opened in July 2014.

Last fall, a frozen variety of the dumplings became available at tri-state Whole Foods.

In Tompkins Square Park, a creative pushback against tech's reach

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Yesterday afternoon, a coalition of NYC-based groups gathered in Tompkins Square Park to question the growing influence of technology on daily life.

The event combined performance, protest, and community activities, with participants wearing gnome hats inspired by the Orange Alternative and Kabouters. Highlights included a Luddite tribunal, a cellphone "hours wasted" vigil, a cardboard iPhone display, open soapbox speeches, and chalk art, all aimed at pushing back against Big Tech's dominance in politics, culture, and personal life.

Some scenes from the afternoon...

According to the organizers: "As New York City continues to evolve as a hub for innovation and tech development, the event serves as a timely opportunity to critically examine the implications of technology on the daily lives of its residents." 

"This isn't a one-off protest — it's part of a larger movement in New York City demanding accountability and alternatives," Bucky Baldwin, a coalition organizer, said in a statement shared before the event. "As residents feel increasingly alienated by algorithmic systems, automated decision-making, and corporate surveillance, these groups are coming together to imagine a more human, more just city."

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from the Seventh Street side of Tompkins Square Park)...

• Flood gate demo offers a glimpse of future protection along the East River (Monday) 

• Check out the updates coming to the Key Food on Avenue A (Tuesday)

• A look inside the former Fireboat House in East River Park as it faces an uncertain future (Wednesday)

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

• Black Seed Bagels is closing its East Village location (but don't count out a return someday) (Friday)

• This is when the Whole Foods Market Daily Shop will debut in the East Village next month (Thursday)

• Dig this: 1st Avenue pit stop (Monday) 

• Openings: Sky High Club on Avenue C (Tuesday) 

• Videos: 4 minutes on St. Mark's Place in the 1980s (Saturday) 

 • Wisteria watch '25 (Friday) 

• Misoya closes Sunday on 2nd Avenue (Friday) 

• Unapologetic Foods has moved on from 82 2nd Ave. for its kebab house concept (Wednesday)

• Signage alert: The Hood Spot Convenience on Avenue D (Wednesday) 

• Signage alert: Revival Dog Training on 7th Street (Tuesday)

• On Avenue D, Food City Market closes (Monday) 

• Another former East Village 7-Eleven hits the rental market (Thursday) 

• Signage alert: Bar Bianchi on Avenue A at Houston (Monday) 

... and a bonus photo from Chinatown — Division at Eldridge from Thursday...

Karma Bookshop has closed for now in the East Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Karma Bookstore, an offshoot of the Karma gallery on Second Street, closed yesterday at 136 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

After seven years here, the shop specializing in books on contemporary art, as well as rare and special editions, is moving on. 

I stopped by yesterday and talked with Karma's Matt Shuster and Madison Shopene.

.

"We loved being in the East Village, and we hope to be back soon," they said. 

Currently, Karma does not have a new storefront lined up. 

Here's a look at the last day here...

Karma was a welcomed addition to the neighborhood, taking over the storefront that housed the last iteration of St. Mark's Bookshop. Here's hoping they return somewhere nearby.