Spin city: The Alamo remains out of commission on Astor Place

As you likely noticed in recent months on Astor Place, barricades have surrounded the Cube — aka the Alamo — since late last fall.

A spokesperson for the Village Alliance told us this earlier this year: "The Cube, unfortunately, needs some repairs to its base. We are working with the DOT to get it in tip-top shape." 

We're told that the spinning mechanism for the 1,800-pound cube, which manually rotates around a pole hidden in its center, is not working.

A DOT spokesperson told us that workers installed "the temporary in-house fabrication and support" for the cube on April 27.

And next?

"We are completing the painting for phase 1 and the barriers will then be removed," the DOT spokesperson said. "No timeline at this time for the second phase."

So there won't be any spinning of the cube for the foreseeable future (despite the annual lubing of the cube)...

 

Tony Rosenthal created the Alamo, then titled "Sculpture in Environment," .... and it arrived here on the south side of the Astor Place subway entrance in November 1967. Read more Cube history here. 

Captain Cookie & the Milk Man will be taking orders soon on Astor Place

From the EVG tipline: An outpost of Captain Cookie & the Milk Man is opening on Broadway at Astor Place — next door to the Famous Cozy Soup 'n' Burger.

The Washinton, D.C.-based business "is a mobile bakery and dairy bar serving fresh-baked cookies, local milk, and made-to-order ice cream sandwiches." 

Per the Captain's Facebook page: "In addition to the greatest chocolate chip cookie in the world, Captain Cookie serves flavors like Ginger Molasses, Peanut Butter, Cardamom Snickerdoodle, Oatmeal Raisin, Cocoa Cayenne Espresso, Pumpkin Muffaroons, and more! Plus the excellent Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie!" 

The Astor Place location is opening tomorrow. 

Updated 1 p.m.

A rep for the Captain shared this info:

The new Captain Cookie is operated by Neil Hershman, a 27-year-old entrepreneur who is no stranger to the NYC food scene. Hershman successfully runs seven other dessert stores throughout New York, including his debut last year of the city's first Dippin' Dots store. A frequent customer of Captain Cookie during his college days in Washington, D.C., Hershman and his friends often reminisce about the craveable late-night, warm cookies. Realizing nothing could compare to Captain Cookie's quality and service, Hershman says introducing the brand to New York City is a no-brainer. He is currently building an additional Captain Cookie store in Times Square that's expected to open this summer.

A new wrinkle for art installations on Astor Place

Photos by Steven

If you have been wondering about the installation that workers have erected on Astor Place in recent days (H/T Lola Sáenz!) ... here's some info via City Guide:

To celebrate 20 years since first being FDA approved, BOTOX® Cosmetic is unveiling its first-ever interactive Art Installation in New York City. Guests will be immersed in a highly visual, interactive experience tying into the brand's larger mission of creating an open dialogue. Attendees will be eligible for a special BOTOX® Cosmetic offer powered by Allē®, Allergan Aesthetics' loyalty platform. 

Details as follows: WHEN: Friday, April 22–Saturday, April 23 (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET)

ICYMI: Raising Cane's bringing the fried chicken fingers to Astor Place

Photo from 2020 by Vinny & O 

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers — a fast-food chain specializing in, uh, chicken fingers — is opening an outpost on Astor Place. 

Several business pubs (New York Business Journal and Commercial Observer) reported that the Louisiana-based company signed a 20-year lease for 4,300-square feet on the ground floor at 10 Astor Place at Lafayette Street. 

Raising Cane's has more than 615 restaurants in 32 states ... with an outpost slated for Times Square. 

No. 10 was, until August 2020, a Walgreens.

Thanks to the EVG reader for the tip!

On Astor Place, 'The Way Home' aims to educate New Yorkers about the city's housing crisis

"The Way Home," an interactive self-guided exhibition on the city's housing crisis, will be on Astor Place through this weekend. 

Here's more about it via the RXHome website:

New Yorkers will have the opportunity to walk through the maze and learn about the challenges many people experiencing homelessness face in New York City. The interactive maze will educate New Yorkers about the proven solutions the next mayoral administration can take to end and prevent homelessness in New York City. 

For New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, the city's homeless service system is at best, a maze. At worst, barriers like unnecessarily burdensome systems that determine who is deserving of rental assistance and outdated policies that prioritize emergency shelter ahead of permanent housing, keep thousands of New Yorkers, the majority of whom are Black and Latino families, in an unending cycle of homelessness and housing instability.

As CBS 2 reported:

The Department of Homeless Services says people can expect to spend 90 days to a year in a shelter while they apply for affordable housing, but city data shows the average person spends 520 days there, trying to find a home.

CBS 2 has more about the challenges of trying to navigate the shelter system in the search for permanent housing in this report from last night. 

The exhibition — open today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — has been here since Wednesday after a stop outside Brooklyn Borough Hall.

Here's a video preview...

  

Green days: A paint job for the iconic Astor Place subway entrance

On Thursday night, MTA workers were spotted painting the northbound 6 entrance on Astor Place. (Thanks to @adammash for the pic & tip!) 

Here's a look at the finished exterior (it appears workers are doing the inside portion next)...

The landmarked station opened here in 1904 (EVG was first to report on this, though the New York World claimed an exclusive). 

Here's a little more history via Wikipedia, which basically picked this up from the National Register of Historic Places: 

The structure is an imitation of the IRT's original entrance and exit kiosks, extremely ornate structures made of cast iron and glass. The IRT kiosks were inspired by those on the Budapest Metro, which themselves were inspired by ornate summer houses called "kushks." 

The Astor Place entrance is a reproduction installed in the 1980s and was made at the same factory as the originals. The replica was largely based on photographs by renovating architect Rolf Ohlhausen. Like the original entrance kiosks, it has a domed roof with cast-iron shingles."

Wegmans makes it sign official on Astor Place, plus other thoughts on the grocer's arrival

As you likely know, Wegmans Food Markets announced it was opening an outpost — the first in Manhattan for the chain — back on Thursday... taking over the two-level space from the just-closed Kmart here at 770 Broadway. 

By Friday, the Wegmans signage was up... the store is expected to be operating by the second half of 2023 on Astor Place ...

The reaction by EVG readers, via comments, emails, DMs, etc., was generally favorable. Some people appreciated the thought of a first-class grocery coming to the area, a welcome alternative to, say, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. A few folks said they found Wegmans to be overrated and overpriced. Some people said they will miss Kmart. And a handful of commenters were turned off by the perceived celebration of a chain. (And for the record, I've never been to a Wegmans, so I don't have an opinion on their stores.)

Meanwhile, retail reporter Warren Shoulberg wrote a piece for Forbes titled "Wegmans In, Kmart Out: But It’s About So Much More Than That."

Among his observations:

• Any talk of the demise of urban living — and urban shopping — can be tossed aside with this Wegmans' move. It validates the premise that younger generations (and older ones too who don't want to move) are going to continue to choose living in a big city as opposed to the suburbs, small towns and all points in between. 

Young families with kids or about to have kids will go that route — as they have for every generation since the end of World War II — but anyone thinking this was the beginning of the end of urban destinations like New York City needs to rethink that theory.

Stay tuned for more analysis about Wegmans over the next two years! 

Summer of Joy stops at Astor Place this weekend

The Public Theater's Mobile Unit — a reinvention of Joseph Papp's "Mobile Theater," which began in 1957 — is making the rounds again this summer at public plazas around the city. 

Today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday!), the free show will be at Astor Place. 

Details via the EVG inbox...

Each day will begin with the National Black Theatre's Stage for Healing and Resilience, co-produced by The Public Theater and National Black Theatre and featuring organizations local to each tour stop. 

This community stage will be followed by VERSES @ WORK – THE ABRIDGED MIX, written and performed by Mobile Unit in Corrections artist Malik Work, a spoken word show that blends hip-hop and storytelling in a modern version of epic poetry. 

The experience will culminate in SHAKESPEARE: CALL AND RESPONSE, a dynamic new show by Patricia McGregor where Shakespeare's complete works meets Freestyle Love Supreme and Mad Libs.

The shows begin each day at 4:30 p.m.

Reminders: The Astor Place Greenmarket is back on Tuesdays now through Nov. 23

ICYMI! The Astor Place Greenmarket returned for the season last week.

From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can find the following vendors: 

• Kernan Farms Vegetables from Cumberland County, N.J. 
• Remsburger Honey & Maple Honey & maple syrup from Dutchess County, N.Y. 
• Wilklow Orchards Orchard and small fruits, vegetables, cider, baked goods and jams from Ulster County, N.Y.
• Runner & Stone Baked goods from Kings County, N.Y. 

This marks the second year for the market, located on the south plaza at Astor Place (Eighth Street-Lafayette). It will be here through Nov. 23. More details at this link.

Photos from last Tuesday by Steven!

The Astor Place Greenmarket returns TODAY

The Astor Place Greenmarket returns for the season starting today... where, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can find vendors that include: 

• Kernan Farms Vegetables from Cumberland County, N.J. 
• Remsburger Honey & Maple Honey & maple syrup from Dutchess County, N.Y. 
• Wilklow Orchards Orchard and small fruits, vegetables, cider, baked goods and jams from Ulster County, N.Y.
• Runner & Stone Baked goods from Kings County, N.Y. 

This marks the second year for the market, located on the south plaza at Astor Place (Eighth Street-Lafayette). It will be here through Nov. 23. More details at this link.

Photo from 2020 by Steven

Tuesday's parting shot

A view from Astor Place late this afternoon via Vinny & O...

Today is the last greenmarket at Astor Place this season

The Astor Place Greenmarket wraps up its inaugural year today...  the market, done in conjunction between GrowNYC and the Village Alliance, arrived back in August on the south plaza at Astor Place (Eighth Street-Lafayette).

The hours today: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

By all accounts, people seemed to like this greenmarket, especially among the residents who miss the greenmarket at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery. That 26-year-old market did not return after the 2016 season. 

Photo from August by Steven 

Friday's parting shot

A scene this rainy morning on Astor Place courtesy of Derek Berg...

About Correspondences on Astor Place

No, this isn't a low-budget remake of "Dune." Or Gov. Cuomo's idea of a return to indoor dining with limited capacity. (Thanks Eden for the photo!)

Today through Sunday, a performance called Correspondences will take place on Astor Place.

Here are some details via the Village Alliance:

With Correspondences, multidisciplinary artist duo Ximena Garnica and Shige Moriya offer multiple entry points for spectators to engage with questions of being, interdependence, and coexistence. The human body (performer and observer), machines, natural elements, and the urban square mingle in an entangled poetic microcosm while opening inquiries into animate life and environmental ethics.

In the inaugural presentation of this multi-borough project, audiences can safely engage in Astor Place installation over conversation, and bear witness to daily activation periods performed by members of the LEIMAY Ensemble.

Single bodies are enclosed inside transparent chambers partially filled with sand. Bodies are donned with gas masks as they try, time and again, to rise to standing. At intervals, machines attached to the chambers trigger a blast of sand causing the performers to lose their footing, sinking them back down into the ground. This seemingly perpetual eruption repeats throughout daily performance activation periods of Correspondences, both with and without performers.

The first performance is tonight at 8... with additional shows tomorrow through Sunday at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and so on... 

[Photo by Lola Sáenz]

... and here's another view via Steven today ... an undress rehearsal...

GrowNYC opens a new greenmarket at Astor Place on Tuesdays through November

[Random Astor Place photo]

GrowNYC is teaming up with the Village Alliance for a new Astor Place Greenmarket on Tuesdays — starting today. (Last week's debut was washed out due to Tropical Storm Isaias.)

The market, located on the south plaza at Astor Place (Eighth Street-Lafayette), will continue through Nov. 24. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Some info via the EVG inbox:

With a selection of locally-grown vegetables and orchard fruits, baked goods, cider, jams, maple syrup and honey from regional farmers, this Greenmarket is sure to be a community favorite, especially for those residents who were devoted to GrowNYC's previous greenmarket at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery.

GrowNYC's Greenmarkets work to preserve local farmland, while ensuring that New Yorkers across all five boroughs have access to fresh, healthy food grown right here in our region. A central component of Greenmarket’s mission and operations is product integrity: everything sold at market is 100% farmer grown, produced, caught or foraged.

The vendors include:

• Kernan Farms Vegetables from Cumberland County, N.J.
• Remsburger Honey & Maple Honey & maple syrup from Dutchess County, N.Y.
• Wilklow Orchards Orchard and small fruits, vegetables, cider, baked goods and jams from Ulster County, N.Y.

You can find GrowNYC's COVID-19 safety protocols here.

Updated 9 a.m.

EVG correspondent Steven shared these photos from this morning...

At the Juneteenth protest on Astor Place

Peaceful protestors gathered early this Juneteenth afternoon at the Alamo on Astor Place for what was billed as a "Defund the NYPD March" ... with a final destination of City Hall Park. (This was one of more than a dozen protests today just in Manhattan.)

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos ...

Today in ads for Zipcar on Astor Place

A reader shared the above photo from Astor Place this morning... showing a car under what's meant to be a mound of snow (remember when it used to snow here in the winter?)

Here's a closer look at what turns out to be an ad for Zipcar... here are photos via EVG Zipcar Ad Correspondent Steven ... showing some details on the snowbank...









Noticeably missing — a design by one of the many Penistrators ...

[Updated] Report of a fatality at the Astor Place station

There are delays and multiple impacts in 4 5 and 6 service while we remove third-rail power after someone was fatally struck by a train at Astor Place. https://t.co/Z7aQlLpRmm

— NYCT Subway (@NYCTSubway) February 24, 2020

Several readers have passed along information that there are extensive delays on the 4, 5 and 6 trains this afternoon (as of 3:30 p.m.).

According to the MTA and various social media users, a man on the tracks was struck by a southbound 6 train at Astor Place around 3 p.m.

In an alert at 4:18 p.m., the MTA reported that service was resuming. However, the MTA says southbound 6 trains are skipping Astor Place as the NYPD and FDNY continue their investigation.

Will post more information as it becomes available.

Updated:

Per the Post:

Monday’s victim was already on the roadbed in the East Village station when a southbound No. 6 train ran over him around 3 p.m., cops said. He was declared dead at the scene.

It was not immediately clear how the victim ended up in the tracks, police said.

A man was also struck by a train at Astor Place yesterday morning. He was walking along the tracks, according to published reports. He was expected to survive his injuries.

Updated 2/26

According to Gothamist, the victim was an 80-year-old man, who jumped on the tracks to retrieve an item he dropped.

Lubing the Cube

EVG contributor Derek Berg came across this scene today on Astor Place... where workers from the Village Alliance were lubricating the Alamo, an annual event to keep the Cube able to spin on its pedestal.

Police looking for suspect who spraypainted swastikas on Astor Place

Here are details via the 9th Precinct's Twitter feed...

🚨#WANTED🚨 Do you recognize him? He’s wanted for #CRIMINALMISCHIEF. On 9/30/19, he graffitied swastikas on signs in @AstorPlaceNYC. If you recognize him or have any info, ☎️ the 🕵🏻‍♂️ at 646-610-5267 or DM @NYPDTips. pic.twitter.com/Xr4m8WXNnx

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) October 15, 2019

Here's the full photo that the NYPD released...



Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online.