Thursday's opening shot

Photo by Stacie Joy

Happy Thanksgiving from Key Food... where Green Pigeon Peas are aplenty... (BTW: Should you need anything, the grocer on Avenue A and Fourth is open 24/7 per usual)...

Giving thanks: Free turkey giveaway returns to the neighborhood for the 5th year

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

The fifth edition of this pre-Thanksgiving local turkey drive took place Friday afternoon on Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. (The giveaways in previous years took place at different locations around the neighborhood. Last year's event was at CLLCTV.NYC art space on Third Street.)

Dozens of turkeys were donated to area residents who might need a little extra help this holiday season.

As in the previous years, the sponsors included Joey Aponte and Dennis Aponte, owners of the Cabin NYC on Fourth Street, the NYPD Hispanic Society, Johnny Marines and local entrepreneur Freaky Frige... 

The volunteers distributed 150 turkeys, the ingredients for some side dishes as well as cooking supplies to help put it all together ...

Distributing free turkeys to local residents ahead of Thanksgiving

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

On Tuesday, community members came together to distribute 120 turkeys to area residents who might need a little help this holiday season during these financially challenging times. 

The giveaway occurred at the CLLCTV.NYC art space on Third Street just east of Avenue B. As in previous years, the sponsors included Joey Aponte and Dennis Aponte, owners of the Cabin NYC on Fourth Street, the NYPD Hispanic Society, Johnny Marines and local entrepreneur Freaky Frige.

It was a way for these residents to give back to their LES community...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by to take in some of the Thanksgiving cheer...

Wednesday's parting shot

Happy trails if you're traveling this Thanksgiving weekend — Planes, Trains and Louis Vuitton bags... thanks to Derek Berg for the photo.

A fundraising raffle to help Lower East Side families this Thanksgiving

The second-annual Thanksgiving Fundraiser Raffle is underway... a partnership among Loisaida Inc., the East Village Merchants Association (EVIMA) and Cooper Square Committee. 

Organizers say their goal is to raise $4,000 for Thanksgiving food for Lower East Side-based families.

Via the EVG inbox: 

The funds raised from this online event will go directly toward purchasing Thanksgiving food for the Loisaida Inc. Center's annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, which will take place this year on Nov. 21. During last year's fundraiser, we raised $1,541. We were able to provide 500 turkeys to members in need in our community. 

This year, with food costs rising, we want to give even more and have a goal of $4,000! Nov. 1 through Nov. 15, raffle tickets starting from $1-$20 will be on sale. You can purchase tickets to win any of the 40-plus prizes, which total nearly $5,000 in value! Raffle prizes include items and gift cards from local small businesses in the Lower East Side/East Village. 

You can buy raffle tickets or make a donation here. You can also find a list of the raffle prizes at this link.

Thursday's parting shot

St. Mark's Place and Second Place on this Thanksgiving night...

Thanksgiving day's opening shot

EVG reader Andy took this photo last night on Essex and Delancey outside the former Roma Pizza ... a Thanksgiving-themed installation in the gutted carcass of an ATM ...

Thanksgiving weekend in review: SantaCon canceled; Max Fish finished at 120 Orchard St.

ICYMI: Posts from the holiday weekend included: 

• Giving thanks at the Mariana Bracetti Plaza (Wednesday) 

• Gallery Watch: NYNY2020 by Melissa Brown at Derek Eller Gallery (Wednesday) 

• Max Fish says farewell to 120 Orchard St.; new outpost planned (Wednesday) 

• A Thanksgiving feast for neighbors in need at the East Village Community Fridge (Thursday) 

• There won't be an official SantaCon this year (Friday) 

• A visit to Hello Banana Vintage (Friday) 

• The 3rd & B’Zaar Holiday Market is now open for the season (Saturday) 

Art by @dylanegon on Lafayette ...

A Thanksgiving feast for neighbors in need at the East Village Community Fridge

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

This morning, a few dozen volunteers got together to prepare and serve Thanksgiving holiday meals to those in need at the East Village Community Fridge, located at S’MAC on the northwest corner of First Avenue and 12th Street.

East Village residents cooked, wrapped, labeled and bagged homemade meals while local restaurateurs Jill and Kimo Hing of San Loco and Marco Canora of Hearth provided additional supplies and assistance. 

Spearheaded by organizers Diane Hatz of East Village Neighbors mutual aid group and Sarita and Caesar Ekya of S’MAC, this effort fed more than 75 individuals and families. 

Says Sarita, “Today is a wonderful day for many and a yet also terribly lonely and hard day for many. We wanted to bring some joy through food to those who otherwise wouldn’t get that. Isn’t that what true community is all about?” 

Diane added, “The pandemic has really brought out a sense of community in the East Village. Every day I see more and more neighbors dropping things off at the fridge, and more and more local businesses are donating items and even hosting fundraisers. Most people who donate to the fridge drop off a few items as they go by, and others are stopping to take a few things they need. This really is a collective community effort.” 

Today’s bagged meals included items like turkey and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, roasted veggies, cornbread, green bean casserole, shortbread cookies, and slices of pie. 

Masks were also provided to those who needed them. If you are interested in making a donation to the Community Fridge, then you can bring labeled, wrapped food by anytime or make a cash donation here.

Community Fridge organizer Diane Hatz ...

Marco Canora of Hearth...

Kimo Hing of San Loco with Jill Hing's homebaked cornbread, cranberry loaves, and pumpkin chocolate chip bread ...

and Jill Hing's pecan chocolate homemade pie ...

Giving thanks at the Mariana Bracetti Plaza

This past Saturday, the proprietors of bar-restaurant the Cabin NYC on Fourth Street, Joey Aponte and his brother, chef Dennis Aponte, paid a surprise visit to the Mariana Bracetti Plaza. 

The brothers, along with local entrepreneur Freaky Frige, donated more than 20 turkeys to the residents here on Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

The Apontes, who grew up in the Vladek Houses, were planning do to several other surprise turkey drop-offs in other public housing complexes on the LES.

"It feels good to give back to people in need from my neighborhood, the Lower East Side," Frige told EVG contributor Stacie Joy, who shared these photos. "I love my hood."

A Thanksgiving without Odessa

This is the first time in nearly 13 years of EVG history where we haven't hyped up the Thanksgiving special at Odessa five or 10 times by this date in November. (Please see the link farm at the end of the post.)

As you know, the diner, dating to the mid-1960s here on Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, closed in July. Longtime manager Dennis Vassilatos said that Odessa was shutting down after a prolonged slump in business due to COVID-19.

Closer to the last day, however, co-owner Steve Helios told Gothamist that Odessa was only closing temporarily, that the space would be renovated. (The building's landlord is Odessa partner Mike Skulikidis.)

To date, four months later, no work has been done on the space... here's a look inside this week...

As for Thanksgiving... through the years they stuck with a winning offering — glass of wine, cup of cream of turkey soup, etc. And pricing — and signage! — for the Complete Dinner remained unchanged since 2014, when management bumped the meal from $15.95 to $18.95.

We are thankful for all the meals that we enjoyed at Odessa through the years. Perhaps we'll see another Odessa bounty next year.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Odessa breaks out the Thanksgiving Special signage

• It now seems like Thanksgiving with the Thanksgiving Special at the Odessa

• Odessa unveils Thanksgiving Special; complete dinner still $18.95

• Thanksgiving at Odessa

• Still the best Thanksgiving deal around

• 1 idea for a last-minute Thanksgiving meal

• A tradition almost as traditional as Thanksgiving itself

Good news if you're done with summer

EVG Fall Holiday Decoration Correspondent Goggla spotted Halloween items out at the Kmart on Astor Place... not to be outdone, the Rite Aid on First Avenue at Fifth Street trotted out the Thanksgiving decor...



Look for the Christmas trees by Labor Day.

Is it Nov. 28 yet? Turkey time again at the Odessa with the $18.95 Thanksgiving Special

Thanksgiving Season is officially upon us as the Odessa management hung the familiar Thanksgiving Special signage yesterday morning here at 119 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...



As you can see, they are sticking to the formula — glass of wine, cup of cream of turkey soup, etc. — that has served them well all these years. And pricing for the Complete Dinner remains unchanged since 2014, when management bumped the meal from $15.95 to $18.95.

It is quite a good deal, and one that I have enjoyed on past Thanksgivings. God Bless us everyone. (Wrong holiday?)

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Odessa breaks out the Thanksgiving Special signage

• It now seems like Thanksgiving with the Thanksgiving Special at the Odessa

• Odessa unveils Thanksgiving Special; complete dinner still $18.95

• Thanksgiving at Odessa

• Still the best Thanksgiving deal around

• 1 idea for a last-minute Thanksgiving meal

• A tradition almost as traditional as Thanksgiving itself

Flashback to 2009…

Thanksgiving weekend's parting shot

Time for the guests to leave ("Chewie Get Us Out of Here") ... photo on Avenue C in Stuy Town the other day via EVG reader Doug...

Today in last-minute dessert-related needs

As on previous Thanksgiving days... Sweet Generation, 130 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, is open today until about 4:30 p.m. (or while supplies last).

Owner Amy Chasan shared a list of available items, including pumpkin, pecan, traditional apple and apple crumble pies ... cupcake packs (Cranberry Black Sesame, Bourbon Chocolate Caramel, Caramel Apple Crumble, Pumpkin Spice) ...cookie platters ... pumpkin breads, etc.!

Sweet Generation, who turns 4 in January, partners with several nonprofit organizations and local high schools to create an internship program that teaches baking, food safety, customer service, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to teens and young adults from low-income communities.

Meanwhile, down First Avenue between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, the 59-79-99-cent shop is open for last-minute table-setting needs... probably find some Easter stuff in there too...

A tradition almost as traditional as Thanksgiving itself

The familiar Thanksgiving signage arrived just a little bit later this year than usual over at the Odessa, 119 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place ...



The complete dinner price remains the same as in recent years — $18.95. (Management bumped it from $15.95 to $18.95 for Thanksgiving 2014.)

Neither here nor there but this link takes you to Veselka's Thanksgiving menu.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Odessa breaks out the Thanksgiving Special signage

It now seems like Thanksgiving with the Thanksgiving Special at the Odessa

Odessa unveils Thanksgiving Special; complete dinner still $18.95

Thanksgiving at Odessa

Still the best Thanksgiving deal around

1 idea for a last-minute Thanksgiving meal

[Updated] Sweet Generation's Thanksgiving

In case you need something last-minute and bakery-related tomorrow...Sweet Generation, 130 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, will be open on Thanksgiving day starting at 8 a.m.

Several residents told me that they were happy to find the bakery open last Thanksgiving.

I asked owner Amy Chasan about working that day.

"We will be open until at least 3 p.m., and will have tons of pies, assorted brownie and cookie platters, cakes, and seasonal cupcakes. I work the counter with my fiancé all day so my team can be with their families and we can still serve the community," she said. "We have a lot of fun working that day and helping people with last-minute treats."

Sweet Generation, who turns 3 in January, partners with several nonprofit organizations and local high schools to create an internship program that teaches baking, food safety, customer service, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to teens and young adults from low-income communities.

Updated 2 p.m.

Speaking of pies ... Bakeri, 627 E. Sixth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C, is open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. ...

A post shared by Bakeri NYC (@bakerinyc) on Nov 20, 2017 at 7:45am PST

Odessa breaks out the Thanksgiving Special signage

The familiar Thanksgiving signage arrived yesterday at the Odessa, 119 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Pricing for the Complete Dinner remains unchanged since 2014.

Old Monk offering a free meal this Thanksgiving

Via the EVG inbox...

This Thanksgiving, Avenue B’s contemporary Indian restaurant Old Monk will serve a complimentary Thanksgiving buffet to all patrons that visit.

To thank the neighborhood that has embraced the restaurant since it opened this past summer, as well as help those in need, Chef/Co-owner Navjot Arora has crafted Indian-inspired Thanksgiving dishes including Turkey Meatballs in a curry sauce, Tandoori Chicken Wings, Carrot & Green Bean Poriyal with coconut, Cumin Potatoes, House-Baked Naan Bread, Cranberry chutney with mango yogurt and more.

He hopes to feed more than 300 New York City residents who may not have an opportunity to celebrate the holiday with a warm meal.

WHEN: Thanksgiving, Thursday Nov. 23 from noon-3 p.m.

WHERE: 175 Avenue B at 11th Street

A rep for Old Monk told me that "Anyone who walks through the door will be welcomed. They just need to show up during the [noon-to-3 p.m.] time frame."

EVG file photo via Cheyenne

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope that you are enjoying the day cooking, eating, thanking, visiting, avoiding, etc.