Showing posts with label Lucy's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lucy's. Show all posts

Friday, December 1, 2023

DOH temporarily closes Lucy's over paperwork snafu

Photos by Steven 
Reporting by Stacie Joy 

On Tuesday, the Department of Health temporarily closed EV old-timer Lucy's (aka Blanche's Lucy's Tavern) at 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

According to DOH records: "Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations." 

While Lucy's doesn't offer any dining options, the city requires training in food safety and basic handling procedures for bartenders or managers, such as sliced fruit for mixed drinks.
The bar was cited for a similar infraction in February 2022. Longtime proprietor Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius told EVG's Stacie Joy that she thought her bookkeeper had paid the previous fine and had the proper paperwork on file. 

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. 

And there's another paperwork issue to manage: the bar's liquor license expired yesterday. 

Lucy said she is asking the State Liquor Authority to help her find someone who speaks Polish to assist her with the confusing paperwork required to start the renewal process. 

The bar may be closed for some time while all this gets straightened out.

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Monday, July 24, 2023

Summer scheduling: Lucy's returns after Aug. 10

After service on Saturday night, Lucy's (aka Blanche's Lucy's Tavern) is now on its (customary) summer break...
See you back on Aug. 11 here at 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

P.S.
Liking that Spirograph-y lettering!

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Legends of the fall: Lucy

Photos by Gabby Fiorentino 

From a recent night at Lucy's (aka Blanche's Lucy's Tavern), 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street ... with longtime proprietor Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius...

Sunday, February 27, 2022

About the new neon Lucy's signage at Lucy's

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

You may have noticed a new Lucy's sign hanging in the front window at Lucy's (aka Blanche's Lucy's Tavern), 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

Proprietor Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius' birthday is Feb. 10, and a friend bought her the sign as a gift. 

Lucy said that she doesn't usually celebrate her birthday as it is also the anniversary of her husband's death ... but this year she celebrated with this new sign...
BTW if you're on Instagram, you can follow Lucy's here.

Friday, August 13, 2021

This Friday the 13th is a lucky day for Lucy's reopening on Avenue A

After a two-week break (per usual this time of year), Blanche's Lucy's Tavern — aka Lucy's — reopens this evening here at 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

Happy Friday the 13th!

Photo from last summer by Stacie Joy

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Saturday's parting shot

A portait of Lucy outside her bar at 135 Avenue A ... thanks to @GrittyGotham for sharing this...

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Curbside dining space removed outside Lucy's on Avenue A

Earlier this week, we noted that someone had taken up residence in the unfinished curbside space outside Lucy's on Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Yesterday, the Department of Homeless Services posted a notice stating that the city will clean up this space beginning today. Well, not only did someone clean up the structure, they also just removed the entire thing, as Steven noted...
Lucy's has been closed of late... but a lot of money did go into the unfinished structure for a business struggling to stay afloat these past 10.5 months. No word on who ordered it to be removed.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Curbside eviction notice outside Lucy's

As noted on Monday, someone has taken up residence in the unfinished outdoor space outside the currently closed Lucy's on Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

As Steven notes, the Department of Homeless Services has posted a notice here stating that the city will clean up this space beginning tomorrow...     
Meanwhile, Lucy's has not been open since Gov. Cuomo revoked indoor dining back in December. Several people have asked about her.

And so the person who runs Lucy's Instagram account posted this message yesterday in her Stories..

Monday, January 25, 2021

Noted

A reader mentioned this today in a previous post about curbside seating... someone has moved into the unfinished outdoor space outside Lucy's on Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Steven and Eden shared these photos... not sure if people are living here now or just they just opened a store or lending library...
Not sure when Lucy's was last open... likely until the 25-percent indoor capacity was revoked in December...

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Lucy's is back open on Avenue A

Blanche’s Lucy’s Tavern — aka Lucy’s — reopened last week here at 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

Proprietor Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius had been on her usual late-summer hiatus (though slightly longer this time around)... EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the other night and found Lucy stationed behind the bar...
... and assisted by Luke, who was helping distribute the variety of new food offerings, including sandwiches, pizza and mini-croissants (Lucy also really likes deviled eggs!) ...
Lucy says that she's thrilled to be back ... and she plans on being open at the mandated 25-percent capacity daily from 5-11 p.m. ... oh, and no pool for now...

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Lucy's will reopen next month


[Photos yesterday by Steven]

Blanche’s Lucy’s Tavern — aka Lucy’s — will be closed now until later next month here at 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

A sign on her front door notes a September return (and we're not sure if this means Sept. 20 or maybe September 2020 in general)...



Lucy's reopened back on May 30 after the PAUSE for take-home drinks ... before going on hiatus again until late June.

Proprietor Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius, who has worked here for nearly 40 years, typically closes up late in the summer to visit her native Poland. (We're not sure if this is the case again this year.)

We look forward to seeing her again. Like many other businesses, Lucy's has struggled to stay afloat in recent months. Upon returning in late May, she told Bedford + Bowery that she already owed $50,000 for rent and water, though her landlord had offered to only charge her half of June's rent.

Friday, June 26, 2020

Checking in on Blanche’s Lucy’s Tavern



Blanche’s Lucy’s Tavern — aka Lucy’s — reopened back on May 30 for take-home drinks here at 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. However, she went on a short hiatus this past week, and returns today at 4.

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

“What’s behind this door?” I ask Ludwika “Lucy” Mickevicius and her bartender Gary Johnson. “The basement,” I am told, “it used to be part of an ice cream shop. Do you want to take a look?”

Do I ever! It’s Friday night, and I’m inside Blanche’s Lucy’s Tavern — colloquially known as Lucy’s — to take a few photos of Lucy and her bartender/helpers as well as the space, most of which is dark and empty due to the COVID-19-related closures.

Lucy’s is selling drinks to go from a flower- and American-flag-decorated table in the doorway, and a sign detailing the beer varieties available, including Polish brew Å»ywiec.



We climb down the steps to explore the basement, with Gary pointing out the taps and wiring as well as specialty bottles and supplies. I’m fascinated with the space and we both remark on the lack of any broken glass. We squeeze our way upstairs through the stockroom (no easy feat as it’s piled high with beer!) and out into the bar pausing to look at the covered-up pool tables and darkened jukebox.













I’m not a drinker, so it’s with a bit of shame-faced embarrassment I ask for some water, but Lucy hospitably mentions she doesn’t drink either and we enjoy some coconut water, sitting so far apart from one another it’s hard to communicate or hear one another from under our masks.

We chat for a bit about the future of bars in NYC, and what socially distant pool games might look like. Lucy’s concerned about paying the rent, and about safely attracting clientele during the pandemic. She rings up my icy coconut water order on an old-fashioned cash register, and I step outside to see if anyone has purchased any beer from Walter Zoeller, a retired firefighter, and today, Lucy’s assistant.

It had the feel of a summer’s day when I stepped into Lucy’s, humid and hot, swampy behind my mask, but while I was inside a brief rainstorm had occurred and when I left the sun was shining but the temperature had dropped and so had the humidity. The four of us looked to the skies in search of a rainbow, which I am sure is some sort of metaphor.

Lucy’s is open from 4 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, May 30, 2020

The door is now open at Lucy's on Avenue A



A welcome sight on Avenue A ... Blanche’s Lucy’s Tavern — aka Lucy’s — is back open now for take-home drinks here at 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street... EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by to say hello to proprietor Ludwika "Lucy" Mickevicius, who's serving drinks from a to-go table at the front door...



You can't go inside the longtime bar, where Lucy has been these past 40 years ... but Stacie did get the grand tour (including the basement!)... we'll post those photos at a later date...



Lucy's is open from 4-10 p.m.

Monday, April 20, 2020

A hopeful sign of things to come at Lucy's



There hasn't been any activity at Lucy's in recent weeks (except for that letter for Lucy on April 12). The bar on Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street has been closed since March 14 during the COVID-19 crisis.

In recent days, however, one of Lucy's signature smiley-face signs appeared on the front door — "We will open soon" ...

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Sunday's parting shot



A card for Lucy at Lucy's on Avenue A. The bar has been closed during the COVID-19 health crisis since March 14. We haven't heard anything about Lucy in recent weeks — we hope that she is doing well!

Thanks to Lola Saénz for the photo today...

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Lucy's is on summer break



Speaking of notes for customers... Lucy's at 135 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street is now temporarily closed (this after service on Saturday night).

A note, with a more elaborate smiley face, is on the front door...



Lucy usually takes off for several weeks this time of the summer to visit family in Poland. Come back soon!

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Lucy's


[Random Lucy's photo from 2009!]

The March 19 issue of The New Yorker includes a short Bar Tab feature on Lucy's, 135 Avenue A:

In the back, East Village lifers shot pool, and a man celebrated his roommate’s arrest, which had resulted from a brawl over unpaid rent. Flush for now, he bought a round of Serbian slivovitz (a throat-burning plum brandy) and toasted the N.Y.P.D. in absentia.


[Above photo of Lucy from New Year's Eve 2015 by Peter Brownscombe]

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Lucy's is currently on the usual summer hiatus


[Photo by Steven]

There is usually some cause for concern when people notice that Lucy's hasn't been open of late on Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Lucy usually takes off for a few weeks this time of year to visit family in Poland. (In 2016 for instance, the bar was dark from July 22 through Aug. 5.)

She has randomly closed for a short period of time without any explanation (here and here).

Anyway, the note on the front door this time around states "We will open soon."