The 7 p.m. cheer, 7th Street style

The #ClapBecauseWeCare cheer for health-care workers and first responders tonight at 7 had a new wrinkle on Seventh Street — someone blasted the Jimi Hendrix version of "The Star Spangled Banner."

Thanks to Susan Schiffman for the clip!

Sauce Pizzeria deliver free pies to hospital workers; landlord chips in and freezes rent

[EVG file photo]

The crew at Sauce Pizzeria, 345 E. 12th St., has been making and delivering up to 400 pizzas at no charge for hospital workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

Owner Adam Elzer said he got the idea after hearing from a nurse who said she and her fellow workers didn't have time to eat, as NBC New York reported.

When Elzer's landlord discovered that they've been delivering to 40 different hospitals in all five boroughs, he reportedly offered to help.

Per NBC New York:

"I saw what Adam was doing on social media honestly and when we noticed what he was doing it was very clear that we needed to help him," said Ben Kraus of A&E Real Estate Management. The group also donated more than $20,000 to help Adam get more pizzas to more medical workers.

Sauce opened here between First Avenue and Second Avenue in September 2018.

Updated 3:45 p.m.

A few people asked when Sauce is open for takeout-delivery. The answer! 5-10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Whole pies only...


[Photo by Lola Saénz]

---

The pizzeria isn't the only local restaurant helping out. Frank Prisinzano, the owner of Supper, Frank and Lil' Frankies, and his team have been delivering meals to local hospitals.

Ho Foods, Kura and 886 teamed up to donate and provide meals for hospital workers. Their goal is 2,000 bentos by the end of this week.

Previously on EV Grieve:
San Loco's special delivery to 2 local hospitals

B Bar & Grill lays off its staff without severance

Layoffs have, unfortunately, been commonplace in the battered NYC restaurant industry in recent weeks as restaurants and bars were ordered to close except for takeout or delivery during the COVID-19 crisis.

For example, Danny Meter's Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG), one of the city’s most prominent restaurant companies with 20 eateries, laid off a reported 2,000 employees. (Meyer did announce that he was forgoing his compensation and donating it to a relief fund for all USHG employees.)

Countless other restaurants have followed suit with layoffs. Last Thursday, employees of the B Bar & Grill on the Bowery at Fourth Street learned that they had been terminated, effectively immediately. There wasn't any extension of benefits or offer of severance pay.

One of the now-unemployed B Bar staffers shared the letter sent to employees, and signed by owner Eric Goode, that provides insights into how some of the city's restaurant staffers have been blindsided by layoffs in recent weeks ...


[Click to go big]

The letter reads in part:

This unquestionably is the most difficult time in all our lives. The severity of this crisis has put our business and community in an uncharted territory. We regret that this action is necessary and hope that this layoff will be temporary. While we do not know how long this layoff will last, we hope and expect it will be less than six months. You will be provided with COBRA information under separate cover (if you had insurance through garden café associates). Please note that your compensation and benefits from the Company shall cease as of the Layoff Date, March 26, 2020.

And...

The suspension of operations has had a direct and immediate impact on our B Bar family. With most our staff currently without jobs, we plan to do what many in the hospitality industry are already doing and take immediate action with an appeal to our communities to help raise funds that will help our staff in the interim. More information to follow.

Per the former employee:

Eric Goode responded to employee pleas for two weeks paid leave with very little - some directions about how to apply for unemployment and a "yours truly" sign off. This termination without pay was sudden and decisive, leaving many of the staff left with nothing to feed their families. Many of these staff members have worked at 20-plus years. Mr. Goode is currently living on his multimillion dollar ranch in California.

Goode has been enjoying positive press in recent weeks for his role as the co-director and co-writer (along with Rebecca Chaiklin) of "Tiger King," the hit docuseries that recently debuted on Netflix.

Meanwhile, as reported last fall, CB Developers paid $59.5 million for a stake in 358 Bowery — the home of the B Bar & Grill since 1994. Goode, who owns a handful of hotels including the Bowery Hotel, has been assembling air rights to build a larger project on this corner space.

According to the ex-employee: "We're closing for good in August. They said they were going to let us know two-three months in advance before the final closing date, however."

Previously on EV Grieve:
CB Developers pay $59.5 million for an interest in 358 Bowery — current home of the B Bar & Grill and likely a new development

Coronavirus Urban Etiquette Sign of the day

Spotted on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue by William Klayer.

Signs telling people not to discard their disposable gloves (or masks) are needed. EVG correspondent Steven spotted these late yesterday afternoon on one block — the west side of First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...

Tompkins Square Library launches online programming this week

The Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street, currently closed during the COVID-19 crisis, is launching some online programming starting today.

In the weeks ahead, the library will be offering sessions for kids and adults, from book discussions to guitar lessons to yoga sessions via the video conferencing Zoom platform. (You can set up a free account on your computer or smartphone.)

Upcoming programs include:

Thursday, April 2, 6-6:40 p.m.: Book Discussion Group. This is our regularly scheduled monthly discussion, and we will be talking about "In West Mills" by De'Shawn Charles Winslow.
Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/329408695.
Meeting ID: 329 408 695.

Monday, April 6, 1-1:40 p.m.: Short Story Discussion Group. We will be reading Edith Wharton's short story, "The Other Two." You can read it for free online by clicking the link.
Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/261814141.
Meeting ID: 261 814 141.

Tuesday, April 7, 6-6:40 p.m.: Vinyasa Warrior Yoga. Out longtime yoga teacher, Maggie Frey, has kindly volunteered to lead a class from home! Open to all levels. No experience required.
Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/193598517.
Meeting ID: 193 598 517.

Keep this in mind, per branch manager Corinne Neary: "This is very new to us, so we might experience some growing pains as we learn."

Visit the branch's website here for more programs.

Meanwhile, the NYPL's main website has a lot of resources to explore, such as their historical NYC postcards collection and maps.

On Avenue B, Ben's Deli is closing for now; first time in 45 years

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Ben (Ben Gibran, owner of Ben’s Deli at 32 Avenue B near Third Street) greets me at the door of the shop telling me the bad news.

"For 45 years we’ve been on Avenue B and we’ve never closed the store. Ever. Not after 9/11, not after Superstorm Sandy," he says. "But this, this virus is a new thing. Nobody knows what will happen. Every day more places close. My wife, my kids, all worried. I have grandbabies at the house. No one can get sick."

It’s a matter of days, Ben says, before he’ll shutter the store.

For how long? "I don’t know," he says, "maybe a month, maybe two? We will look at it day-to-day."



Ben’s son Haas tells me there’s still a good supply of bleach, which a lot of people have been looking for, and notes that beer has been selling well since the start of the pandemic shutdown.

They both hope people will come get some supplies (they’d like to sell all their perishable dairy supplies ASAP) before the upcoming closure and that everyone remains safe and healthy, so they can see their customers again when the reopen.

Wednesday's parting shot

A thank you to the mail carriers... as seen on Seventh Street by Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C...

Noted

An EVG reader shared this "visitation paradox" from the lobby of a residential building on 12th Street... likely from the Department of the Landlord Department.

This is a list of laundromats and dry cleaners still open in the East Village

Several laundromats/dry cleaners have temporarily closed in recent days in the neighborhood, prompting this inventory of places that remain open.

Some places didn't have their hours posted. Some places had their hours listed, but then closed earlier than stated. Some places were open one day, then not the next. So all hours are subject to change. It's best to CALL AHEAD before lugging your laundry to any place on the list.

Here's the in-progress list in alphabetical order (with thanks to Stacie Joy and Steven for scouting help) ...

OPEN

• Alice Dry Cleaners, 74 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. (212) 673-7434. Posted hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Best Cleaners on A, 99 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. (929) 364-9093.

• Bubbles N Go Laundromat, 173 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (212) 677-8777. Posted hours: 8 a.m to 8 p.m.; last wash at 6 p.m.

• Choice Cleaners, 24 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street. Google lists them as open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• Cosmo's Launderama, 142 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. (646) 602-2557. Self-serve laundry only for now. And they are closed Thursdays and Fridays, open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (The Cosmo's at 121 First Ave. closed for several days. The gate was still down on Monday.)



• First Avenue Laundry Center, 33 First Ave. at Second Street.

• Gentle Wash Laundromat, 97 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. (212) 673-6886. Posted hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drop-off service and self-wash for now.

• J J Cleaners & Laundromat, 339 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (212) 475-9081. Posted hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drop-off service and self-wash for now.

• K & W Best Dry Cleaner & Laundry, 229 E. 11th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (646) 918-7135.

• Kapri Cleaners, 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (212) 420-8853.

• Laundry to You, 34 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. (212) 979-6595. Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for drop-off service.

• Lavanderia, 108 Stanton St. near Ludlow Street. (212) 228-2423. Posted hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last wash 3 p.m.

• Load Laundromat, 602 E. 14th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. (917) 265-8226.

• Lois Cleaners, 45 Third Ave. at 10th Street. (212) 995-1684.

• Mango Dry Cleaners, 514 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (917) 535-5137.

• Mike's Dry Cleaners & Tailors, 62 Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. (212) 674-1957. Posted hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drop-off service plus dry cleaning and tailoring.

• New Phoenix Laundromat, 199 First Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street (212) 677-1690. [They were closed on March 31, but back open now.]



• Quality Plus Dry Cleaners, 200 Second Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. (212) 358-8838. Posted hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday for dry cleaning and drop-off laundry service.

• Sew Good Cleaners, 337 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (212) 777-8441. Open for drop off on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Sunrise Cleaners, 66 E. Third St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Only open two days a week — Monday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for dry cleaning and drop-off laundry service.

• Up Cleaners & Drop Off Laundry, 185 Avenue C near 12th Street. (212) 677-7982.



• [Updated April 9: Closed until April 18] Wash 'N Clean On 14, 540 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (646) 654-6774. Posted hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last wash at 3 p.m. (They are also closed on Thursdays.)

• Wash Rite Laundromat, 112 E. Fourth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (212) 598-1800. Posted hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for drop-off service only.

CLOSED

• AAA Cleaners, 216 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street

• C & C Dry Cleaning & Alteration (aka Amy's), 178 E. Seventh St. near Avenue B

• Chris French Cleaners, 57 Fourth Ave. at Ninth Street

• G & M Laundromat, 336 E. 13th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue

• Here to Clean, 124 Avenue C at Eighth Street. Open from 7 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday.


[La La Laundry photo by Steven]

• La La Laundry, 180 Avenue B at 11th Street. They closed yesterday until April 13.

• Lin's Laundromat, 194 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street

• Lucky 999 Laundromat, 55 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street. Closed as of April 1.

• Michelle Cleaner, 169 Avenue C between 10th Street and 11th Street.

• Pinnacle Cleaners, 299 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue

• Quick Coin Ave B Laundromat, 46 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street

• Quick Coin One Laundromat, 175 First Ave. at 11th Street

• 69 Avenue C Laundromat at Fifth Street

• Supreme Laundromat, 96 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street

• Tenth Street Laundromat, 286 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. Undated sign says they'll be closed for another week.

• Up & Up Laundromat, 13 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street

• Zip Laundry Center, 164 Stanton St. between Clinton and Suffolk

NOT VERIFIED YET

• Yang Tze River Laundromat, 324 E. Third St. between Avenue C and Avenue D

Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery temporarily closes

[Photo from August by Stacie Joy]

In case a knish was in your near future. Neighborhood institution Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery, 137 E. Houston St. at Forsyth, is now closed for at least the next week amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Here's part of their message via Instagram yesterday:

Due to concern of possible exposure for our wonderful employees, Yonah Schimmel will be closed from now through Passover, which starts next Wednesday evening. We'll post again when we know our exact reopening date.

In addition, we will not be filling any Goldbelly orders until we reopen. We're very sorry but we have to put the health and well being of everyone first.

Please be safe, follow social spacing suggestions and together we'll get through this unbelievable time as best we can.

Noted

As seen on Second Avenue and 12th Street. The flyers have been spotted on many streets.

Multiple residents have said that they've already filed a price-gouging complaint with the Attorney General’s office. (Form here.)

Stop work order: Non-emergency construction has halted in NYC

[The incoming tech hub on 14th Street from Saturday]

ICYMI: New York State has implemented a ban on non-essential construction during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Moving forward, only emergency construction — a project necessary to protect health and safety of the occupants, or to continue a project if it would be unsafe to allow it to remain undone until it is safe to shut the site — is exempted from the ban.

Other essential construction includes work on roads, bridges, transit facilities, utilities, hospitals or health care facilities, affordable housing, and homeless shelters.

In addition, someone who is the sole employee/worker on a job site is also exempt from the ban that Gov. Cuomo announced late last week.

This Department of Buildings link has more details on the ban and how to file paperwork for projects in the interim.

Commodities is now temporarily closed on 1st Avenue

Updated 4/13 — Commodities is back open now with hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Several EVG readers reported that Commodities was planning to close up shop on Sunday.

Walked by yesterday for a confirmation — the market is currently closed for an unspecified amount of time...



Meanwhile, two blocks to the south, East Village Organic is expected to reopen for business on Friday after a short break.

Exercise options and at-home workouts from East Village-based fitness providers

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Interested in isolation yoga or some quarantine pilates? Dancing wildly while sheltering in place? Maybe some HIIT while adhering to the mandate to stay at home and observe social distancing?

Here are some ways you can do just that, and support the hard-hit fitness industry. Included are links to some free, low-cost or donation-based local services as well as more formal price structures for private virtual classes.


[Image via the Flying Squirrel website]

• Flying Squirrel Studios, the cozy pilates space on Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B, is offering virtual mat classes (and virtual private sessions) via Zoom. Mat classes are $15. Find more details at this link.

• The Pilates Local in Union Square has some Vimeo-based free beginner and intermediate mat workouts here. There is also a 15-minute spinal stretch class.

• East Village resident, personal trainer and Avea Pilates instructor Sabrina Castro is offering livestream classes via Zoom, including a 50-minute “Pilates and Chill” class on Fridays at 11 a.m. for $15. You can learn more about her classes here. She also offers 30-minute free coffee-break classes from time to time to get you off the couch.

Meanwhile, Avea Pilates on Avenue A at Seventh Street (second level) is offering virtual classes. Details at this link.

• If you like a bit of dance mixed in with your Pilates, then check out Bianca Falco’s private and semi-private online classes at this link while her Rivington Street space is closed.



• Chinese Hawaiian Kenpo Academy has online group classes or private lesson trial class for $19 (available via Zoom, Facebook Messenger and other apps) for first timers, or a two-month special for $199. More here.

• Now Yoga has hourlong online yoga offerings, including yin and mindfulness/mediation and discussion classes, and well as traditional vinyasa and stretch and restore.

The studio also offers always-free Yoga 4 Cancer (for survivors or those currently in-treatment). All classes are by donation if you so choose, and are done via Zoom. You can see the schedule here. Studio owner Renata Dibiase says she hopes to offer downloadable classes for rent via Vimeo platform soon.



• Stanton Street Yoga is offering $5 at-home drop-in classes for both beginners and more seasoned yogis, with additional yoga nidra, breathwork and meditation classes available. Classes are conducted via Zoom, and you can register and see the current schedule here. You will need to have a (free) Mind Body account to participate.

• Body Evolutions Studio East Village has at-home chair and mat exercises via Zoom, FaceTime or Facebook Messenger with a suggested rate of $40/private session. Gyrotonics master teacher and studio owner Billy Macagnone says, “Motion creates emotion, so the way we move can very much dictate the way we feel.” You can email info@bodyevolutions.com (attention Gloria) to set up a session.

• Blink Fitness, which has a location on Avenue A and Fourth Street at Lafayette, is doing free live and on-demand Facebook videos for at-home workouts, like this one that uses Tide bottles and a suitcase!

• Planet Fitness is offering free live via Facebook at-home 20-minute workouts to relive stress and keep mobile daily at 7 p.m. here.

• Union Square’s 305 Fitness has free twice-daily (at noon and 6 p.m.) YouTube-based live dance digital events, including classes like Hump Day Hot Mess with Ana and Country Hoedown. There’s also a 30-minute kid-friendly dance class on Sunday evenings at 6.

• If Qi Gong is your thing, then you can move energy and promote balance and adaptability at home with LES resident and Abrons Arts Center instructor Ilona Bito, who has sliding scale classes available. More info here.

• Sky Ting Yoga, which has a studio down on Allen Street, is offering online yoga classes daily. Find more info at this link.



Some other options include solo running, biking or walking, an especially nice path is along the East River Park. There are a few outdoor gyms and tracks but the city has closed them to group fitness activities and encourages you to observe strict social distancing of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.

NYC Parks Department has these strengthen and tone handouts for legs/glutes, back/core and arms/shoulders, most of which you can do at home. If you do not have lightweight dumbbells at home, then you can use milk jugs, water bottles or detergent containers instead.


[Click for a bigger view]

The Starbucks on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place reopens today

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

The neighbor's Starbucks locations have been closed since around March 20. Now, however, the outpost on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place reopens this morning (March 30) only for mobile ordering via the Starbucks app or delivery via Uber Eats.

The hours: Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a 7 a.m. open on Saturday and Sunday.

According to a rep, the St. Mark's outpost will be the only Starbucks location open in all of lower Manhattan as of now.

Black Seed Bagels closes for duration of coronavirus outbreak

Black Seed Bagels decided to shut down after service yesterday afternoon. The shop's locations, including the East Village outpost on First Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street, are closed until further notice.

In an Instagram message, the owners wrote in part:

Thank you for your incredible support over the past month as we navigated how to best serve our guests and take care of our employees, as well as others in the hospitality industry.

At this time, we have decided to temporarily close our shops ... in order to do our part to protect the health and safety of our loyal staff, customers, and the general public.

H/T Steven!

The COVID-19 memorial on Avenue A and 10th Street

This memorial arrived on 10th Street and Avenue A on Thursday. It was in memory of Edd Conboy, who died on March 20 of a stroke at age 70.

According to an EVG commenter, his brother Jim was unable to have a memorial or funeral during the COVID-19 outbreak. And this was a way to help pay tribute to him.

The memorial is evolving to honoring those who have died of COVID-19 around the world, with updated statistics on the mirror...



The inscription on the mirror reads in part, "u are not alone, We all reflect your spirit."

... and this message — "Stay 6 feet apart or be 6 feet under" — was added some time yesterday...

Checking in on New Yorkers Foodmarket

New Yorkers Foodmarket, 107 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, is an uncrowded grocery option (especially now that Key Food on Avenue A always seems to have a line outside).

The market has plenty of essentials in stock, including fresh produce, canned goods, paper towels, soda, etc., as seen in these photos from yesterday afternoon...











Two recent visits found just a handful of shoppers inside, all at a comfortable distance from one another.

New Yorkers Foodmarket is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.