Sunday, February 16, 2025
Sunday's opening shot
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Sundays at Bullet Space this month: zine swap tomorrow; 'Signs of Life' ongoing
Meanwhile, the current exhibit, "Signs of Life," remains on view on Sundays this month...
The urban artist collab is at 292 E. Third St. between Avenue C and Avenue D.
Bleecker Street Bar to host winter carnival benefiting former manager’s cancer battle
From 3 to 7 p.m., the bar will hold a raffle with various prizes. There will also be a vintage clothing pop-up.
Bleecker Street Bar is at 648 Broadway between Bleecker and Bond.
Saturday's opening shot
The snow will turn to rain later tonight and into tomorrow, per the National Weather Service.
Meanwhile, over at the downtown 6 yesterday... this report came in via the Citizen app...
Who's going to blame this on congestion pricing?
Friday, February 14, 2025
Friday's parting shot
Photo by Andrew Jacobs
Happy Valentine's Day from 10th Street between B and C to one and all...
Mind the gap
We continue to highlight indie acts performing at this year's New Colossus Festival, which will take place in East Village and LES venues from March 4 to 9.
Find Festival info here.
EVG Etc.: Who's running for mayor this year?; Is curbside dining kaput?
• Trump administration claws back $80 million sent to NYC to house migrants (The City)
• Fact-checking FEMA's payments to NYC to house migrants (The Associated Press)
• Danielle R. Sassoon, a Republican and acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned after being told to drop the corruption charges against Mayor Adams ... five high-ranking DOJ officials followed suit (CNBC ... The Associated Press)
• Good time to mention this: Who is running for mayor this year? (City & State)
• Park Service erases 'transgender' on Stonewall website (NPR)
• Down: Vehicular traffic. Up: pedestrian traffic (Gothamist)
• Outdoor dining might be doomed as just 40 of 1,400-plus applicants for the new roadway dining have made it through the city's labyrinth process (Grub Street ... Streetsblog)
• New Yorkers were more likely to be killed in traffic crashes than in shootings in 2024 (Gothamist)
• Local landmarks and landmarks-to-be of Black History (Village Preservation)
• A Q&A with Jamian Juliano-Villani, "the Chaos Agent of the New York Art World" (Interview ... previously on EVG)
• About "Danger and Opportunity," a new play set to open at East Village Basement, 321 E. Ninth St. (Playbill... official play site... East Village Basement site)
• Three nights of Paul McCartney at the Bowery Ballroom (Brooklyn Vegan)
• Inside Dirt Candy's trademark dispute (The New York Times)
• A visit to Cuts & Slices on East Houston (ABC 7 ... previously on EVG)
• A global coffee price spike will soon hit your wallet, or however you pay for coffee (NBC News)
... and eggs remain crazy expensive right now... so beware of these obvious traps, like on Fourth Street... sure, it's just an unattended case of eggs...
Bronx Brewery has closed on 2nd Avenue
Photos by Steven
After three years at 64 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street, Bronx Brewery has closed its East Village location.
After three unforgettable years, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our East Village location. 64 Second Ave was meant to be an extension of our Bronx roots, but it quickly became something so much more — a sanctuary, a gathering place, a second home.To our staff, friends, family, community partners, guests, and even that one squirrel who ran inside—we are endlessly grateful. Thank you for filling this space with your energy, your laughter, your stories... and, of course, your cheers.
The space also featured the first U.S. location for Swedish brand Bastard Burgers.
The original location in the Bronx (b. 2011) and the newer one in Hudson Yards will remain open.
This retail space had been vacant since NYC Velo moved a storefront to the north in 2016.
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Thursday's parting shot
Photo by Francine Lange
Pre-Valentine's Day eve at Sunny's Florist, Second Avenue at Sixth Street...
Do you have what it takes to be the coolest block in the neighborhood?
This month, the Lower East Side Ecology Center is launching "The Coolest Block in the Lower East Side" (and NOT a Magnetic Fields song), billed as "an exciting new initiative designed to encourage community stewardship of street trees in the East Village, Lower East Side and Chinatown neighborhoods.''
OK! What else?
... this community-driven contest fosters environmental awareness, local engagement, and a healthy dose of competition, bringing together neighbors, schools, and organizations to transform their blocks into vibrant, green spaces.Residents, community groups, block associations, schools, and local organizations are invited to compete for the title of the Coolest Block in the Lower East Side. Participants will focus on key street tree care activities such as soil aeration, mulching, watering, and general cleanup, all while showcasing creativity and community spirit.
Interested? Then, fill out this Interest Form.
There will also be a kick-off event on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Sixth Street Community Center. For event information, click this link.
Checking in on the Hamilton Fish Park Library renovations
Photos by Stacie Joy
The Hamilton Fish Park Library, located at 415 E. Houston St. between Pitt and Columbia, has been closed since the end of 2023 for "building improvements."
The library is expected to reopen at the end of 2026 following the $19-million gut renovation, which includes a new open concept with floor-to-ceiling windows for better lighting.
Per a CB3 presentation on the renovations:
This goal will be accomplished by replacing existing translucent glass brick masonry units with new fully transparent windows on the Houston Street façade. This strengthened visual connection between the library exterior and interior improves the space's quality and draws in more visitors. The surrounding community will benefit from a revitalized and modernized public space, which accommodates the needs of the library patrons and improves its overall functionality.
Here's a look at the work in progress the other day...
During the closure, patrons have been using:
Previously on EV Grieve:
Signage alert: Dumpling Xi on 4th Avenue
Photo by Jeanne Krier
Signage for Dumpling Xi is now on the SE corner of Fourth Avenue at 10th Street.
The China-based company has 800 outposts. As far as we know, this is the first one here. There is one in Flushing as well, per a reader email.
Plenty of dumplings and dim sum around here, like at Bites of Xi'an a few storefronts away on 10th Street and Tim Ho Wan right across the street.
Several restaurants have come and gone in the retail space of the new-ish 10-story cantilevering condoplex. Most recently, Hou Hot Pot closed on Jan. 1.
Hey, the Heytea signage has arrived
Photo by Steven
The Heytea signage arrived Monday at 128 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.
As we noted in October, the brand started in China in 2012, and now there are 4,000-plus locations worldwide selling a variety of milk and fruit teas... including a handful in NYC. They are known for drinks topped with a layer of cream cheese foam.
No word on an opening date.
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Wednesday's parting shot
School shuffle: La Salle Returning to 2nd Street as St. George seeks new tenants
For starters, La Salle Academy is returning to its building on Second Street near Second Avenue for the 2025-26 school year after 15 years of leasing space from St. George Academy (above) at 615 E. Sixth St. near Cooper Square.
That announcement was first made about a year ago. (More on that below.)
Meanwhile, last week, a real-estate listing to lease three floors for office space at the current St. George Academy caught our attention.
St. George Academy Principal Andrew Stasiw explained that with La Salle's move, they'll have extra space for use. He mentioned that they are in talks with several schools about leasing the space. (He also said he was unaware of the other listing, as the broker did not have an exclusive arrangement with the school.)
Meanwhile, St. George — also known as St. George's Ukrainian Catholic School — will carry on as it has since 1946, when it was founded as a private Catholic college-preparatory high school.
"[We] will continue to run our Academy on the bottom three floors, as well as our Saturday School program, and a host of other programs," Stasiw wrote in an email.
To make way for the return of La Salle on Second Street, the Nord Anglia International School New York, which leased the building, is moving to Gramercy Park for the fall.
La Salle Academy, one of the oldest all-male Catholic high schools in New York City, will be moving back to Second Street for the fall... their home from 1856 through 2010 when they started to lease the building.
La Salle sold its annex property on the SE corner of Second Avenue and Second Street in 2020 for $14.5 million. That building and two others were demolished to make way for a development that has yet to materialize.
According to a March 2024 release from Salvatore LaRocca, chairman of the Board of Trustees at La Salle Academy:
" ... the renovated building on 2nd Street will allow us to expand and create new academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs to ensure that La Salle offers its students the best 21st century education possible. These improvements along with our continued commitment to providing a Catholic education in the Lasallian tradition will ensure that our graduates are prepared to succeed in a rapidly changing environment."
Bluestone Lane has closed on Astor Place
An EVG reader shared these photos, with one showing an empty storefront.
There isn't any closing notice for patrons on the door of the Australian-inspired coffee shop. However, a Bluestone Lane rep confirmed the closing with EVG.
This Bluestone outpost (the eighth in NYC at the time) opened in April 2016.
We thought they might have seen an uptick in business after Starbucks closed on Astor Place last summer.
Still, many coffee choices are nearby, including two branches of the Bean, Astor Plate, the Madman Espresso airstream trailer outside the Uptown 6 stop, Hidden Grounds around the corner on Third Avenue, Think Coffee on Fourth Avenue, and Irving Farm New York on 10th Street. To name a few in the immediate area.
Wednesday's opening shot
Photo by Cecil Scheib
A morning view of a snow-dusted (so to speak) Tompkins Square Park...
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Tuesday's parting shot
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