Photos by Stacie Joy
Tabby the Great with her art today in Tompkins Square Park...
Sunday, September 6, 2026
EV Grieve's East Village Week in Review
Posts this past week included (with comings and goings on 2nd Avenue via Derek Berg)...Never miss a post with the weekly EVG newsletter. Free right here.
• A break-in, an arrest and questions about the system: An East Village resident shares her harrowing story (Sept. 3)
• Mayor Mamdani joins Lower East Side tribute to Chino Garcia at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery (Sept. 1)
• Elected officials push to keep AMC Kips Bay 15 open (Aug. 31)
• Continuing the effort to preserve Most Holy Redeemer (Sept. 2)
• Police search Most Holy Redeemer after reported break-in (Sept. 3) … NYPD sources: There was no bomb or active-shooter threat at Most Holy Redeemer (Sept. 5)
• Public meeting set on possible Village View parking lot sale (Sept. 3)
• In search of a monk parakeet (Sept. 1)
• Salumeria Rosi sets reopening dates on Avenue B (Sept. 2)
• Scenes from "Independent Thinkers" at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery (Sept. 4)
• Cold comfort at Le Petit Versailles (Aug. 30)
• Double Zero closes after 12 years on 2nd Avenue (Sept. 2) … 886 has closed on St. Mark's Place (Sept. 1)
• Tow story (Aug. 30)
• Why we didn't have coverage of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival (Aug. 30)
• 6 posts from August (Aug. 31)
... and Shaky Eyez, selling smokes and exotic snacks, debuted this past week to help class up the corner of 14th Street and 1st Avenue... photo by William Klayer...
Show Brain brings more live music to Tompkins Square Park TODAY
Singer-songwriter Sid Simons headlines with:
• 95 Bulls
• Dauber
• Joudy
Line check at the 2 Harry Styles pop-up merch shops
The main "Together, Together" pop-up is at 22 E. Second St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery. A second location — reportedly the express version — is on Great Jones Street between the Bowery and Lafayette Street.
We happened to walk by both shops yesterday and found blocks-long waits. The Second Street location had two separate lines — one going up Second Avenue to Fourth Street... and another around and down the Bowery to First Street.
Despite the wait, the line-dwellers we spoke with were cheerful and excited...
The pop-ups coincide with Styles' 30-night "Together, Together" residency at Madison Square Garden, which continues through Oct. 31.
Seems as if the merch also requires a residency...
Saturday, September 5, 2026
WBAI’s CBGB series continues Sunday
Episode 4 follows on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m.
Jillian Jonas, a former CBGB employee and senior producer of WBAI's public-affairs program "Living for the City," hosts the series.
The programs focus on CBGB's first wave of music, roughly from 1973 to 1978, and include stories and voices that have often received less attention in accounts of the club's history.
Both episodes will air on WBAI.
NYPD sources: There was no bomb or active-shooter threat at Most Holy Redeemer
Photo by Stacie Joy from Wednesday
Reporting by SJ
Multiple NYPD sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly, provided additional details about the extensive police response late Wednesday afternoon at Most Holy Redeemer Church on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.
The initial 911 call reported that a young, thin white man had forced his way into the church. According to the sources, the caller did not report a bomb, explosives, a suicide vest or an active shooter.
The Emergency Service Unit K-9 teams were requested to help search the large building for the suspect — not in response to an explosives threat, the sources said. Officers searched the church for about two hours but did not find the man.
The investigation has uncovered no evidence of a crime beyond the suspected attempted burglary, which left a broken door lock and window. Police have found no indication that anything was taken.
As previously reported, the block was closed as ESU officers, Strategic Response Group members, multiple K-9 teams and other law enforcement personnel responded. Some officers carried shields and long guns.
EVG has not received an explanation for why such an extensive response was deployed for the reported break-in.
Friday, September 4, 2026
Dear Diary
Photo from Tompkins in July by Stacie Joy
The debut LP from NYC-based Diary arrives today... we love their first single, "Keep Comin' Up" ... and enjoyed seeing them live in Tompkins this past July.
The video below is for "Drive It" ...
Diary's record release show is out at Union Pool on Sept. 12.
Scenes from 'Independent Thinkers' at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery
Photos by Stacie Joy
The annual "Framing the Village" exhibition returned to St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery last night with an opening reception for its 2026 installment, "Independent Thinkers."
Curated by Marc Kehoe (below), the group show features work by roughly 65 independent local artists.
Here are a few scenes from the reception...
The exhibition continues through Sept. 30 in the Parish Hall at St. Mark’s Church, 131 E. 10th St. at Second Avenue. Regular viewing hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
To find the Parish Hall, enter through the gates and follow the path on the right to the back of the church.
Friday's opening shot
Most everyone has likely already left for Kellerman's Mountain House.
Around here, expect a mix of sun and clouds with an ick of humidity.
The weather folks expect more comfortable conditions moving into the long weekend.
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Thursday's parting shots
A break-in, an arrest and questions about the system: An East Village resident shares her harrowing story
Photos and interview by Stacie Joy
A longtime East Village resident woke early Saturday morning to find an intruder in the bedroom of her apartment near Seventh Street and Avenue B.
The man had entered through an open fire-escape window, she said, and was standing at the foot of her bed, masturbating. After she threatened to call the police, he left the apartment. Officers later arrested a man nearby after searching the surrounding buildings and gardens.
The resident, whose identity EVG is withholding, chose to share her story to explain what she learned about responding in the moment — and to raise questions about the parole and court systems she is still trying to understand.
The following Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. Some details about the suspect's criminal history, parole status and pending case reflect the resident's understanding of events and have not been independently verified by EVG.
Can you tell us what happened?
I came home Saturday night, and I went to sleep at about 12:30, and I woke up at about 4:20 a.m. because there was a man just standing at the foot of my bed, violently masturbating.
It took me about 45 seconds before my brain could make sense of what was happening. I saw a solid mass moving violently. I couldn't really understand it.
Finally, I sat up in bed and started shouting, "Get the fuck out of here," maybe six or seven times. He didn't respond. I couldn't really see him because it was dark.
He didn't leave until I said, "I'm calling the police," and reached for my phone.
How did he enter the apartment?
He came through the building next door. Police found the roof door open. He then climbed over the roof, came down my fire escape and entered through my open bedroom window without waking me.
What happened after you said you were calling the police?
He went into the hallway and continued masturbating. He was wearing a white shirt, which is important because he left it on my bedroom floor and changed into a black one.
When I went to call the police, he picked up a bag that he had left in my daughter’s room and slipped out the front door. My daughter wasn't home, thankfully.
I locked the door behind him. I could hear him standing on the other side, and then I called 911.
My neighbor had heard me screaming. He looked through his peephole and got a good look at the man as he walked downstairs.
Based on the building's camera footage, we later learned that he disappeared into the garden.
How was he found?
When the police arrived, I rode with officers for about 20 minutes while my neighbor searched in another police car.
We didn't find him, so we returned and stood on the street in front of a garden.
My neighbor then saw him in the garden and yelled, "That’s him!" Everyone started yelling, "Get him!" The man scaled a wall into my neighbor's private garden. I ran upstairs to get the garden keys.
When I came back down, I saw him running past me.
He ran toward Avenue C, where officers saw him. He turned and ran back toward Avenue B, passing me again. Several officers chased him, caught him and placed him under arrest.
I took pictures of him after the arrest. When my neighbor confronted him, he threatened my neighbor.
What happened after the arrest?
I gave a police report, and investigators processed the crime scene. I had to remain outside my apartment all day. The following day, I gave a deposition and testified before a grand jury.
I also found the white shirt he left on my bedroom floor and brought it to the precinct. There is a lot of evidence.
My understanding is that bail was set at $100,000. I wish he had been remanded, but he was not.
What did you learn afterward about his parole status?
Another neighbor found the man’s bag in the garden. It contained a parole ID indicating that he had been released on Aug. 27. The crime occurred on Aug. 29, so he had been out for less than 48 hours.
The bag also contained paperwork about his parole. It appeared to tell him not to use drugs or alcohol, to find legal employment and to maintain good relationships with his family.
From what I saw, there did not appear to be information about services available to him.
Why do you believe the system failed?
From everything I understand, there was an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest, and he should have been detained. I'm trying to determine whose responsibility it was to identify that warrant and act on it.
As far as I can tell, this never should have happened to me because he should have been rearrested after being paroled.
What changes have you made to secure your apartment?
Window poles. They're easy to remove if you want to open your window, but people without bars on their windows and with a fire escape window are vulnerable.
[I bought] a set of poles for $25 on Amazon, and they're adjustable, and you can just stick them in your window so that nobody can open your window from the outside.
Or you could get a gate that covers the whole window, but then no light comes in, and you feel like you're in a jail.
Editor's note: FDNY regulations strictly govern window gate locks and access to fire escapes. Residents should ensure that any window stops or security devices allow for immediate, tool-free emergency egress from the inside.
What do you believe helped you during the incident?
What finally got his attention was when I said I was calling the police. He didn't seem to hear anything I said before that, but he heard the word "police," and then he left.
How are you processing everything personally?
I know that I'm incredibly lucky. People kept saying to me, "Oh, my God, this is my worst nightmare." But it could have been worse. I didn't wake up with someone’s hand over my mouth or a gun to my head.
I'm lucky that my daughter wasn't home, and I'm lucky that police caught him.
I'm trying to protect women going forward.
If officials can identify where the communication breakdown occurred, maybe somebody else won't have to go through this.
What systemic or legal concerns remain for you?
Another upsetting development: Since this is considered a sexually motivated crime, an automatic restraining order was filed on my behalf — and it includes my name! I was told that he has a right to know it, but I don't agree with that.
I'm also trying to understand how someone with his criminal history and what I believe was an outstanding warrant was released. I want to know where the system failed and who was responsible for acting on that information.
Right now, I feel like a victim of the criminal justice system even more than the criminal.
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Police search Most Holy Redeemer after reported break-in
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Updated Sept. 5 here.
------
Police searched Most Holy Redeemer Church for about two hours early this evening after a witness reported seeing a man force his way inside the closed building at 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.
The block was roped off as Emergency Service Unit officers, Strategic Response Group members, multiple K-9 units and other law enforcement personnel responded.
Some officers carried shields and long guns while teams searched the building.
The size of the response alarmed onlookers.
Officers repeatedly told people at the scene that there was no bomb threat. It was not immediately clear what prompted such an extensive response.
Police called off the search around 6:30 p.m. without finding the man.
Some at the scene speculated that he had left before officers arrived, though this was not confirmed.
Police sources confirmed that the man damaged the doors.
Photos from the scene also show a broken window. It was not immediately known whether anything had been taken or if there was additional damage inside.
The break-in occurred two days after neighbors, former parishioners and preservationists gathered outside the church to call for its preservation and reopening after a year-long closure.
Public meeting set on possible Village View parking lot sale
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at STAR Academy (P.S. 63), 121 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.
Assemblymember Keith Powers, State Sen. Brian Kavanagh and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal are also expected to attend.
According to a flyer distributed to Village View residents, attendees will be able to provide feedback on the proposal.
Registration is not required to attend.
As previously reported, the Village View board has been exploring a possible sale of the property.
According to minutes from the co-op's January board meeting, directors voted to hire Alan Cohen of ABS Partners under a six-month exclusive contract to market Parking Lot 7 — located on Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue — to prospective residential developers.
The board's decision to retain a broker has prompted questions among some shareholders about what, exactly, could be built there and how any future project might affect the co-op and the surrounding neighborhood.
The possibility of redevelopment has raised concerns among some shareholders, who say they want more transparency about the process and assurances that affordable housing will be considered if the site ultimately moves forward with development.
Continuing the effort to preserve Most Holy Redeemer
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
A small group gathered outside Most Holy Redeemer Church on Monday evening to call for the preservation and reopening of the historic parish at 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Organizers have said that recent actions by the Archdiocese of New York suggest the property could remain permanently closed and eventually be sold.
Parishioners, neighbors and preservationists have urged the Landmarks Preservation Commission to consider the 1851 structure for landmark designation.
Church leadership previously cited a shortage of priests and concerns about the building’s condition as reasons for moving services to St. Brigid on Avenue B.
In January, the Department of Buildings issued a "failure to maintain" violation after an inspector observed detached ceiling plaster inside the sanctuary.
Most Holy Redeemer has reopened only once since regular services ended — for a special Mass in January.
Find the petition about landmarking here. (And write a letter here.) You can follow the Facebook group Save Most Holy Redeemer Historical Church here.
Double Zero closes after 12 years on 2nd Avenue
The posted sign reads:
Dear Valued Patrons,After 12 years in the East Village, we have made the difficult decision to close Double Zero.We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years. It has been a pleasure serving you, and we truly appreciate your loyalty, your visits, and the many memories we've shared. The restaurant industry has become increasingly challenging, with rising food and operating costs, the realities of our lease, and a broader slowdown in the plant-based dining trend making it increasingly difficult to operate sustainably. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision that continuing Double Zero is no longer financially sustainable.Thank you for being part of the Double Zero family. We are grateful for every one of you and for the support you have shown us throughout these 12 years.
Citing strong customer demand, a representative told EVG in May that Double Zero had returned under its original name. Consultant chef Matthew Kenney had also rejoined the operation.
Double Zero and Bar Verde merged in early 2025 to form Plant Made, which served vegan pizzas and Mexican fare. Double Zero later reopened in the storefront next to its original space.
The vegan pizzeria debuted in 2016 as 00 + Co., part of Kenney's plant-based hospitality portfolio.
Salumeria Rosi sets reopening dates on Avenue B
Photo from August by Stacie Joy
Salumeria Rosi will reopen its cafe on Tuesday, Sept. 8, followed by the restaurant on Friday, Sept. 11.
The Northern Italian restaurant at 222 Avenue B between 13th and 14th Streets has been closed since early July following severe weather and flooding.
As previously reported, owner Andrew Loscalzo said the building sustained damage that required structural repairs.
Later this month, Salumeria Rosi, which debuted in January, plans to remain open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with music and a late-night menu.
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