A moment on Broadway near 11th Street earlier today... photo by Derek Berg...
Showing posts with label Coronavirus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coronavirus. Show all posts
Saturday, March 28, 2020
A talk with retail food workers during the COVID-19 outbreak
If it's of interest... Vogue has a feature online about grocery store and restaurant employees working during the coronavirus outbreak.
East Village businesses are well-represented: Layne Rawlings of East Village Organic on First Avenue; Viviana Robles and Gabriela Maldonado of Westside Market on Third Avenue and 12th Street; and Liz Quijada, the co-owner of the cafe Abraço on Seventh Street.
And in the photo above, there's Lesya Pshyk, who works at the East Village Meat Market. "I’m responsible to help the people of New York, but I’m also worried about my children and my mother sitting at home. I’m very positive; that’s the main thing. I think everything is going to be alright."
Find the full article here.
Photo via Twitter by Sinna Nasseri
Veniero's is closing after today for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak
Today (March 28) is the last day for walk-in service at Veniero's Pasticceria & Caffe, 342 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
And today then, cakes, cookies and pastries at the circa-1894 bakery are 50 percent off (IN STORE ONLY).
Venirero's is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.
Thanks to Lola Saénz for these photos!
Updated 11:54 a.m.
The closure extends to all facets of the business, including deliveries...
The return of the psychic hotline?
In case you were wondering how some neighborhood psychics were adapting to the current business landscape...
Friday, March 27, 2020
This week in East Village street scenes
[By Ben Lebovitz]
Second Avenue (above) ...
St. Mark's Place...
[By Christopher Pelham]
East River Park...
[Photo by Stacie Joy]
C-Town on Avenue C...
[By Dave on 7th]
First Avenue at Seventh Street...
[By Robert Miner]
The Bowery at Fourth Street...
[By Derek Berg]
The Union Square Trader Joe's is back open
EVG regular Pinch reports a line to get in as well as a shipment of groceries.
This location, as well as several others in NYC, closed for a "thorough cleaning and sanitization" after an employee "either tested positive for COVID-19 or is receiving treatment for a suspected case," according to a statement on the Trader Joe's website.
The TJ's website reports that an employee of the wine shop who tested positive for COVID-19 was last present in the store on March 22.
No more hoops for now at the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts
[Photo by Daniel]
Workers came in yesterday and removed all the rims from the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts...
[Photos by Steven]
This comes after reports of too many people playing basketball this past weekend — without anyone practicing social distancing. (One reader witnessed someone spraying a ball with Lysol.) The reader also noted the presence on Sunday afternoon of the NYPD midcourt...
EVG correspondent Steven spotted one resident, out for a bit of exercise, not minding the absence of a hoop...
"Now I never miss."
East Village Organic now closed for the next week
The market on First Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place expects to reopen on Friday, April 3, after closing after the business day yesterday.
Here's part of a more detailed message via their Instagram account:
East Village, we love you so much. But this week the best way to serve you each is to close.
We also became aware that two confirmed cases of COVID-19 spent time in our little shop.
We've decided to take a week to air it out, monitor the health of our brave little staff and regroup.
No one is handling this perfectly, but we're hoping that we're handling it well enough.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
RIP Edd Conboy
A memorial is on the corner of 10th Street and Avenue A for Edd Conboy.
According to social media posts, Conboy, a licensed therapist and director of social services at Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia, died last Friday of a stroke. He would have been 70 on Tuesday.
The inscription on the mirror reads in part, "u are not alone, We all reflect your spirit." The mirror is on a block marked COVID-19.
Thanks to Melissa Mennillo for the photo.
[Updated] Checking in at Il Posto Accanto
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
Updated: Bea and Julio decided to close after service last night for the duration of the outbreak.
When I arrive to pick up a to-go lunch order at Il Posto Accanto, 190 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, I am ready to ask owners Bea and Julio (officially Beatrice Tosti Di Valminuta Pena and Julio Pena, or President Petunia and Babycakes as they call one another) how they maintain such optimism in the face of this pandemic.
However, taking one look at their faces, I can see it’s not the right question. Bea tells me they thought they’d have been busier, that they are not receiving many orders at all. Julio tells me he plans to keep the restaurant open at least until Sunday, but he doesn’t know for how long after that.
They both plan to go day by day and hope if they have to shutter that it will be temporary. They worry about their staff, and their comfort level and fears — most have families to support, and admit that they haven’t been paying themselves, that all money is going to their workers. No one is sure how rent will be paid.
After The New Yorker released a story on the restaurant Tuesday, longtime customers have been calling to brainstorm ideas for keeping the place open.
One customer plans on ordering food for 20 of his friends and having everything delivered so they can host an online shelter-in-place virtual Il Posto supper, complete with wine. Another customer encourages delivery via DoorDash, and pushed the restaurant to open an account.
Julio talks about the difficulties he’s faced with delivery services and the fees they want to charge. Right now, the restaurant uses DoorDash and Try Caviar, but if you are local and want a delivery you can call them directly and, as Bea says, “a valiant gentleman will deliver your food to you on bike if you are on the East Side approximately 10 blocks north or south of the restaurant.”
Julio says if you want an order for pickup, you can phone it in and he’ll make sure you get it in whatever way is most comfortable for you. He can leave it outside the door for no-touch pick up, or have it just inside the door waiting. He can run your credit card if you prefer not to pay cash.
Bea’s been making homemade hand sanitizer from 190-proof Everclear and spraying it on everything (except the food), even packages arriving from UPS and FedEx. She also sprays my hands, carefully avoiding my camera lens, and offers some to the DoorDash courier who arrives to pick up the veal saltimbocca with prosciutto sage white wine sauce and crab coquettes with pea shoots and spicy aioli order.
She even absently sprays some on her phone as she chats with her childhood friend, still in Rome, trapped in her home since the quarantine started there. Listening to them talk it feels like a preview of what we can expect here.
“I’m very happy Americans have discovered cooking at home, even if this is what it takes,” Bea tells me as she packs up my sciue spaghetti with tomato sauce and basil to go.
You can keep up with the restaurant on Instagram for updates and daily specials, and view our 2018 story on the East Village mainstay here.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Checking in on what's open for takeout and delivery
Updated 4/5: Bobwhite is closing tonight after service.
Recent additions to our list of what's open for takeout and delivery include:
• Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, 94 Avenue C at Sixth Street, is open for takeout and delivery from noon to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. They have an app for ordering either pick-up or delivery.
And right next door...
• Alphabet City Beer Co., 96 Avenue C. They've expanded their grocery items, adding fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy products. Open from noon to 7 p.m.
Despite health crisis, critics persist
[Photo by Steven]
Spotted at the Grafton, 126 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. The Irish pub is temporarily closed during the coronavirus outbreak, as the sign explains in a smaller font size than some would like.
Checking in on Compare Foods
[All photos by Stacie Joy]
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by Compare Foods, 71 Avenue D at Sixth Street, yesterday.
Here's her report:
For those who have been in search of toilet paper, Compare Foods has you covered! A huge supply of all different types of tp. No price gouging either. Also available huge sacks of rice. Store is well stocked with merchandise.
On the downside, the social distancing here was less than ideal... and not on par with what we've seen at other supermarkets.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
[Updated] Union Square Trader Joe's temporarily closed after employee is suspected of having COVID-19
[File photo]
Updated 3/27: This location, as well as the wine shop, reopened today.
The following information comes directly from the Trader Joe's website:
We would like to notify customers of the following locations that a Crew Member recently present in the store has either tested positive for COVID-19 or is receiving treatment for a suspected case. Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed the store for thorough cleaning and sanitization:
Trader Joe’s (Grocery Store) on 142 E 14th St & (Wine Store) on 138 E 14th St.
The Crew Member was last present in the store on March 22, 2020. We encourage customers who visited the store over the 14-day period ending on March 22, and have health-related concerns, to contact the New York State Department of Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotline: (888) 364-3065.
Stores in Elkridge, Md., and Plainview, N.Y., were also closed.
Back to the TJ's message:
We are working closely with local health officials to take all necessary measures. We are connecting with all Crew Members at the respective locations, encouraging anyone who may have been in contact to follow CDC-recommended self-monitoring guidelines and to call their healthcare providers right away if they develop any symptoms. While the store is closed, Trader Joe’s will be paying all Crew Members for their scheduled shifts. As soon as the store has been fully cleaned and restocked, we plan to reopen.
As we continue to respond to this rapidly evolving situation, our focus remains on doing whatever is necessary to safeguard the health and safety of our Crew Members and customers and best support our communities.
The store is expected to be closed for several days, according to an internal email seen by BuzzFeed News.
H/T Gojira
RIP Nashom Wooden
According to published reports, Nashom Wooden, a legend in the drag community who lived on the Bowery, has died. Friends say that Wooden died from COVID-19. (Update: According to the Times, he was 50.)
A NYC former drag star, Nashom Wooden (who was Mona Foot), has died of covid-19. Nashom was a treasure.
— michael musto (@mikeymusto) March 23, 2020
Here's more via Paper:
Wooden's life looks like a history lesson in fabulous downtown culture. He worked as a salesboy at Charivari, the groundbreaking designer fashion chain of stores where Marc Jacobs folded t-shirts as a teen. He later also worked at Pat Field, the eponymous boutique of "Sex & the City" stylist Patricia Field. He first performed in drag at Boy Bar, a gay bar and drag spot on St. Mark's Place famed for their gorgeous Boy Bar Beauties like Miss Guy, Connie Girl, Princess Diandra and Raven O. He did an off-Broadway show, "My Pet Homo," with RuPaul. He was cast in Joel Schumacher's 1999 film, "Flawless," and co-wrote the title song with his group, The Ones. It was a worldwide dance hit.
Since 1997, he had been working as bartender, doorman and DJ at the Cock on Second Avenue.
You can read about Wooden's drag past in this interview with Michael Musto from 2017.
Checking in on TabeTome
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
Traditional Japanese ramen and tsukemen restaurant TabeTomo has set up a to-go station here at 131 Avenue A between St. Mark’s Place and Ninth Street that has proven to be a popular spot.
Here, you'll find omusubi (filled rice triangles wrapped in seaweed), donburi rice bowls, croquettes, hot sake and cold beer in addition to its signature ramen and tsukemen.
Manager Roka Kishimoto, owner Tomotsugu Kubo and chef Julio Roche welcome me when I show up to pick up my order — from a safe distance and allow me to watch and photograph as they prep other meals to go.
There is a well-stocked customer cleaning/sanitizing station, and customers can also call in and order ahead of time and grab their order through the open accordion doors. Several people on bicycles did just that while I was there.
Best-selling items include the salmon omusubi for $2.50 and the brewed-for-60-hour pork-broth-based ramen for $13 (a vegan version is also available).
It’s cash only and current hours are noon to 9 p.m. daily. You can follow TabeTomo on Instagram here.
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