Remembering Nicholas Figueroa and Moises Locón

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the deadly Second Avenue gas explosion, which killed two men, injured two dozen people, and leveled three buildings (119, 121 and 123 Second Ave.).

There is a memorial plaque on site for the two men who died that day — Nicholas Figueroa and Moises Locón.

Officials dedicated this plaque in May 2021. The Village Preservation advocated for its placement here on the new residential building at 45 E. Seventh St. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• RIP Nicholas Figueroa 

• RIP Moises Locón 

• Dedicating Moises Locón Way and Nicholas Figueroa Way on 2nd Avenue at 7th Street

Remembering Nicholas Figueroa and Moises Locón

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the deadly Second Avenue gas explosion, killing two men and leveling three buildings (119, 121 and 123 Second Ave.).

There is a memorial plaque for the two men who died that day — Nicholas Figueroa and Moises Locón.

Officials dedicated this plaque last May. The Village Preservation advocated for its placement here on the new residential building at 45 E. Seventh St. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• RIP Nicholas Figueroa 

• RIP Moises Locón 

• Dedicating Moises Locón Way and Nicholas Figueroa Way on 2nd Avenue at 7th Street

How to help 73-year-old East Village mainstay B&H Dairy get up and running again

[EVG photo from yesterday]

B&H Dairy, the classic small lunch counter at 125 Second Ave., remains closed after the deadly explosion on March 26 killed two men and brought down three buildings several storefronts away.

Word came via Facebook that B&H would reopen by yesterday here between St. Mark's Place and East Seventh Street. That didn't happen. However, an employee told Eater yesterday that the 73-year-old kosher dairy restaurant was getting its gas hooked up again … and hoped to be up and running soon. (Hopefully in time for Saturday.)

However, the expenses have piled up these past two weeks. Now, the East Village Community Coalition, Fourth Arts Block and miLES are helping B&H owner Fawzy Abdelwahad launch a crowdfunding to "keep alive its tremendous history in the East Village."

You can find more details about the campaign here. Investments range from $5 (you get a big thank you on Facebook) to $150 (10 percent B&H discount for the year).


[Undated photo via Smallknot]

Patti Smith is headlining the East Village relief benefit Sunday at Theatre 80

Author Alan Kaufman, who's helping to organize the fundraiser at Theatre 80 Sunday evening for displaced East Village residents, confirmed to EVG contributor Stacie Joy this afternoon that Patti Smith is now headlining the event.

All the money collected will be donated to the Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES) to help those affected by the deadly gas explosion at 121 Second Ave. on March 26.

The benefit at Theatre 80, 80 St. Marks Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue, will feature “performers and celebrities from the world of music, literature and drama,”per the Facebook event page.

As previously noted, Sting and Trudie Styler donated a sum reported at $36,000 for the benefit.

There are a handful of tickets, ranging from $70 to $150, left. You may order them here.

We'll have more information about the event from Stacie tomorrow.

Image by smial via Wikipedia

Remembering East Village blast victim Nicholas Figueroa

[Image via Facebook]

Friends and loved ones filled the R.G. Ortiz Funeral Home in Washington Heights this afternoon to pay their respects to Nicholas Figueroa, 23, one of the two victims in the Second Avenue gas explosion on March 26

From the Post:

Nicholas Figueroa was the kind of man fathers would want to marry their daughters, his Scoutmaster said at his wake...

“He was very young, so motivated,” Luis Benitez said as services got under way. “He was a pillar of the community.”

From the Daily News:

"It's devastating," Neal Figueroa said. "There are no words adequate to describe my brother. This room speaks for itself. Look at all these people who have come to honor my brother."

From DNAinfo:

"He had all the love for everybody," his father, Nixon Figueroa said. "Everywhere he goes he gave a good smile, he brought life into people. He was a caring kid."

The funeral for Figueroa is tomorrow at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, 207 W. 96th St., at 10 a.m.

Services for the second victim, Moises Ismael Locón Yac, 27, will reportedly be in his native Guatemala.

The East Village residents who launched a crowdfunding campaign to help with Locón's funeral expenses have been unable to track down any of his family members. If his family can't be found, then the money will be returned to the individual donors. The campaign has raised $6,361 in eight days.

Meanwhile, the NYPD is "poised to launch a homicide investigation" into the deadly blast, according to published reports.