Happy 2018 from Ray

And happy birth month to Ray, as the proprietor of Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A will be 85 on Jan. 25.

Thanks to Rainer Turim for the photo!

New at Ray's Candy Store: chicken and waffles (ice cream optional)

The paper-plate signage is up at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A, announcing the latest menu item — chicken and waffles ($9, or $11 if you want ice cream with it)... and here's Ray's with the non-ice-cream version...



News and photos by Peter Brownscombe

Documentary filmmaker looking for archival photos-footage of Ray's Candy Store

A local filmmaker is working on a documentary about Ray and Ray's Candy Store. He’s looking for older photos or footage of Ray and the store on Avenue A near Seventh Street ... like the one above from the late 1970s by Michael Sean Edwards.

Here's the contact info: ray@rayscandystore.com

Tuesday's parting shots

Halloween at Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A... photos by Lola Sāenz ...

EVG Etc.: Mark Burger cow status; menu update at Ray's; free pizza on Broadway

Workers are breaking down the now-closed Mark Burger at 33 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Management said that higher rents and a changing St. Mark's Place were behind the closure.

And the Mark Burger cow is going to a new home. Derek Berg spotted it on the moo-ve Sunday... apparently the owner's family will take in the cow (and have it restored by the original artist) ...



The cow was designed by Rumiko Tsuda as part of the CowParade New York in 2000. This work was titled "Diversity of People."

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And over at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A, there's a new (plastic) dish on the menu...



Chicken wings, as EVG regular Peter Brownscombe passed along...



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And at 740 Broadway near Astor Place, the Washington, D.C.-based &pizza opens today (Oct. 3) ... they're giving stuff away...

ASTOR PLACE - SHOP NO. 23 // it's all happening tomorrow // first 100 people in line get FREE PIZZA // first 23 people to request the & tattoo get FREE INK from @firstclassnyc + FREE PIZZA FOR A YEAR // big thanks to @maspaz x @misschelove for making their mark on the shop #makeyourmark

A post shared by &pizza (@andpizza) on Oct 2, 2017 at 8:27am PDT

There's a special Restaurant Week tasting event at Ray's Candy Store tomorrow (Monday!) night

Via the EVG inbox...

Date: Monday, Aug. 21
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: 113 Avenue A @ E 7th Street
Cost: $10 per person (cash only)

Join us at the shop and enjoy a most unique tasting menu cooked up by Chef Ray himself! Guests will be served a 5-course meal including selections of Ray's famous delicacies. We don't know what the chef has in store, but know that you will definitely leave satisfied! Your choice of egg cream, coffee, tea, or soft drink included.

NYC Restaurant Week: Not Just For The Michelin-Rated Joints!!!

More info and RSVP here.

This morning at Ray's Candy Store

The reading of a passage from Omar Khayyam to a Persian customer...



As Peter Brownscombe, who shared these photos, says: Ray provides this service upon request at no extra charge.

Ray's is at 113 Avenue A near Seventh Street.

Behold the chicken fillet at Ray's

There is a new menu item to note at Ray's Candy Store: Chicken fillet (lightly breaded) on a roll with tomatoes. A $5 item.

Photo by Peter Brownscombe.

At Ray's 84th birthday celebration at Ray's Candy Store last night

[Photo last night by Peter Brownscombe]

Ray Alvarez, the proprietor of Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A, turns 84 this month.

And once again several of Ray's friends/regulars celebrated his birthday inside the shop between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

In a break from the more burlesque tradition, there was a Persian-themed event last night paying tribute to Ray's Middle-Eastern roots ... the evening included a reading from the "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyám," a variety of Middle-Eastern food and a belly dancer named Amanda.

EVG correspondent Stacie Joy shared a few photos...



















This is the 10th anniversary for a birthday extravaganza at Ray's. Check out Bob Arihood's photos from Ray's 74th birthday bash here.

Updated 11:30 a.m.

Here's a shot via EVG regular jdx ...

New at Ray's for the holidays — apple fritters

Over at Ray's Candy Candy Store, 113 Avenue A near Seventh Street, Ray has introduced a new menu item for the holiday season — apple fritters ...



As EVG regular Peter Brownscombe reports, Ray produced the first offering (above) on Sunday. They were well-received. Pricing has yet to be determined.

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As previously noted, photographer Whitney Browne, who works a few shifts at Ray's, is selling prints this month — all the proceeds are going directly to Ray. A set of four prints is $100 or $25 each (plus shipping). Per Whitney: "One print purchase = 2 hours Ray can pay someone to work in the store while he gets some rest." See a gallery of available shots here.

Ray's Candy Store named best East Village restaurant

Ray was pleased to learn that Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A was named "Best Restaurant" in the East Village by readers of Time Out. (Officially the Time Out Love New York Awards.) Fried Oreos for everyone! For dinner!

The other reader awards in this neighborhood were ... Bar: Alphabet City Beer Co. on Avenue C ... Cafe/Coffee Shop: Coffee Project New York on Fifth Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square (they were picked the best in the city) ... Shops: East Village Cheese on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... and Local Culture: UCBEast on Avenue A and Third Street (the runner-ups in this category were City Cinemas Village East and Anthology Film Archives in case you were wondering ... like I was)...



Thanks to EVG regular Peter Brownscombe for the photos...

's makes triumphant return to Ray's Candy Store

[Photo from July 7]

Earlier this month, Chico updated the facade at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A ... And as many people noted, the apostrophe s was missing from Ray's name. Ray Candy Store.

The punctuation help has arrived. EVG correspondent Steven notes that the 's has been added to the sign...

An updated facade at Ray's

Chico started work at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A, yesterday... not sure of the status given the late afternoon/early evening rain...

Back in October 2011, Chico created a tribute awning here in memory of the late Bob Arihood.

The previous hand-painted sign was quite weathered ...


[Photo via Forgotten NY]

Who wants an egg cream?

Morning milk delivery today at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A...Photo by Peter Brownscombe

An 83rd birthday celebration for Ray at Ray's Candy Store

[Bettina May]

Ray Alvarez, the hard-working proprietor of Ray's Candy Store, turned 83 last month.



And, as is tradition, some of Ray's friends/regulars brought in entertainment — burlesque dancers Pearls Daily, Lilin Lace, The Maine Attraction, Bettina May and Lickety Split — for a birthday celebration, which took place last night at the shop at 113 Avenue A.

EVG correspondent Stacie Joy shared a few photos...


[Lickety Split]


[The Maine Attraction]


[Lilin Lace]


[Pearls Daily]







The Ray's birthday party celebration with dancers goes back to 2007. Check out Bob Arihood's photos from Ray's 74th birthday bash here.

Happy New Year's Ray

A late-night/early-morning scene at Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A...



And Ray turns 83 this month...

Photos by Peter Brownscombe

Now at Ray's Candy Store — popcorn shrimp

EVG regular Peter Brownscombe notes that Ray has introduced the latest menu item here at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A near East Seventh Street...

Popcorn shrimp...



Served without — or with! — fries...

Another A for Ray

EVG regular Peter Brownscombe reports that Ray has retained his A rating after the completion of his long-awaited Health Department sanitary inspection yesterday at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A.

The good DOH news continues since those darks days in May 2011.