Must be the season of the Witches

"A Gathering of Witches" takes place tomorrow (Tuesday) night at Berlin, 25 Avenue A at Second Street...

Per the EVG inbox...

It's Halloween week and the witches are gathering to conjure up some heavy sights and sounds to awaken the ghosts of NYC/LES.

Sabbathwitch
Kembra Pfahler
Steph Paynes
Tracy City
The Buzz & The Hum
Guest DJ: Tony Mann
Celebrating drum goddess Leesa Harrington-Squyres born under the sign Samhain.

Starts at 8 p.m.

Ticket price: "Pay What You Witch"

200 new trees will grow in the East Village

We've received reader reports from around the neighborhood in recent days about city contractors digging up and replacing soil in tree pits.

EVG regular Daniel shared these top two photos from Thursday on 10th Street outside the Tompkins Square Library branch...



Word is nearly 200 trees will be planted in the East Village in the months ahead.

Among the locations receiving new trees — Seventh Street at Avenue A (thanks Paul W.!) ... shade for Joe Strummer...



... and Cooper Square near Seventh Street...



The city has an interactive map that shows you where the new trees will be... and when you can expect them on your block...



The above is just a screengrabs. Find the map at this link.

You can also find the city's current tree map right here.

Kent takes over Vanessa's Dumpling House on 14th Street

Bargain-eats favorite Vanessa's Dumpling House recently closed at 220 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue for what the sign on the gate described as a "modernization."

The Dumpling House is back open, though Vanessa's name has been replaced by Kent's on the marquee.

EVG regular Stephen Popkin stopped by on Friday as the Kent's team was prepping to reopen for the weekend...



Here's his field report: "The place was looking mighty clean but not renovated — it was exactly the same inside. The same friendly staff was there to great me ... I’m very happy."





No word at the moment who Kent might be — aside from, presumably, the new owner. (Or it's just a random name.) This location is no longer on the Vanessa's website.

Joseph C. Sauer Park closed now for year-long renovation

The reconstruction of Joseph C. Sauer Park is underway here on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...



We've been reporting on this in recent weeks (see links below)...



To recap: As previously reported, while the $4 million redesign of the Park was welcome, local residents were unhappy with the Parks Department's plan to install a 4-foot fence here upon completion of the rehab. According to a petition that was in circulation, the shorter fence would "make the park less secure and an unsafe place for children to use."

However, on Oct. 18, local Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and City Councilmember Carlina Rivera announced a deal with the city that would keep the fence at 8 feet.

The renovations — part of Mayor de Blasio’s Community Parks Initiative — have a completion date of October 2020, per the Park's website.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A petition to keep the 8-foot fence at Joseph C. Sauer Park on 12th Street

Year-long renovations expected soon at Joseph C. Sauer Park on 12th Street; locals want fence to remain at 8 feet

Pols: Fence at Joseph C. Sauer Park on 12th Street will remain at 8 feet

A look at the incoming Williamsburg Pizza on 14th Street

The Williamsburg Pizza signage/awning is up now at 226 E. 14th St. between Second and Third Avenue. The opening is expected soon. (Don't have an exact date.)

The restaurant, which will have a dine-in option with tables and counter space, combined two storefronts here, including the former Krust pizza ...



This will make the third Williamsburg Pizza location... joining the original out on Union Avenue in Brooklyn and the one on Broome Street on the LES. (Chef/owner Nino Coniglio also makes pizza at 310 Bowery.)

As previously noted, the pizzeria has plenty of fans (one example). And a few years back New York magazine gave them the Best Slice Joint nod.

Fat Buddha reopens after early spring fire upstairs

Fat Buddha is back in business (soft open was on Oct. 18) over at 212 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street.



The bar-lounge had been closed since March 29 when a fire tore through an apartment on the third floor of 505 E. 13th St. at Avenue A.

The fire caused extensive damage to this retail space, as the owners documented on Instagram.

[Updated] Daytripper has not been open lately

Updated 12/4: The bar has returned as Grinchy Tavern, a Dr. Seuss-inspired pop-up for the holiday.

Several readers have pointed out that Daytripper, the bar featuring beer pong, darts and foosball on the southeast corner of Avenue C and 10th Street, has been dark for the past month...



There isn't any mention of a closure — temporary or permanent — on the bar's website or now-private Instagram account. Google lists the place as permanently closed...



The owners of the East Village Tavern (the second iteration) changed the name to Daytripper in the late summer. The name change coincided with CB3's denial of East Village Tavern's application to extend their hours to 4 a.m. and add karaoke, live music and DJs.

According to the State Liquor Authority's database, the liquor license for the owners — St. Vince Group LLC — is active through June 2020.

The lone review of Daytripper on Yelp noted the following along with one star: "Very corny, and very out of place. I don't know why you'd open a college douchehole on Avenue C. Narrowing down your clientele that is the opposite of the culture of the neighborhood. Not enjoyable, and the TVs are annoying."

Sunday's parting shot

Down and out for this straw man on Fourth Street... photo by Derek Berg.

I'll be there for you?

A man, described in media reports as a homeless ex-convict, was caught with a brick in the backyard of the home linked to David Schwimmer on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Per the News:

Police caught Eric Rosa, 29, lurking in the backyard of the actor’s E. Sixth Street home near First Ave. about 12:30 a.m., allegedly trying to break in with the brick.

It's not entirely clear if the actor still lives in this townhouse. The Post reported in 2017 that Schwimmer was house-hunting elsewhere in the neighborhood following the split from his wife.

Reader photo from 2013

Week in Grieview

[Photo in Tompkins Square Park today by Derek Berg]

Posts from this past week included...

Reports: 2 women kicked out of Downtime on Avenue B for confronting accused rapist Harvey Weinstein at event for artists (Thursday)

At the 29th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade (Monday)

Pols: Fence at Joseph C. Sauer Park on 12th Street will remain at 8 feet (Monday)

Gut renovations continue at the soon-to-be-expanded 264 E. 7th St. (Thursday)

Here then, the Lower East Side Quality of Life Improvement Plan (Wednesday)

After 10 years, Luke's Lobster is closing its East Village outpost on Oct. 31 (Monday)

Seems like old times: The post-prison life of Steve Croman (Wednesday)

The Salvation Army Family Store on 4th Avenue is closing next week (Friday)

Will the new Avenue A L-train entrances open soon? (Tuesday)

A sign of love at the incoming Paloma Rocket-Carbone Pizza on 7th Street (Thursday)

This week's NY See (Thursday)

Positive signs for Gem Spa (Friday)

Afandi Grill closes on 1st Avenue (Wednesday)

Newsstand arrives on 4th Street and the Bowery (Monday)


[Early evening bat sighting in Tompkins via Steven]

Looking at the Book Club signage on 3rd Street (Tuesday)

Your AT&T store signage on 14th Street and First Avenue (Friday)

The Wild Son shapes up on 1st Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Monday)

These 5 East Village restaurants are seeing Michelin stars (Thursday)

Old Fashioned Pizza debuts on 13th Street (Wednesday)

Stormproofing watch: Haven Plaza (Tuesday)

Report: Alleged host of 7th Street sex parties arrested for a probation violation (Monday)

A look at the under-renovation Irving Plaza (Thursday)

... and a peak fall shot from along 10th Street this past week by riachung00...



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Sunday morning street and Park scenes

From 10th and B and Tompkins Square Park this morning... thanks to Vinny & O for the photos...



Also, it's raining. (Should I start a daily weather post?)

Saturday, Oct. 26

[St. Mark's Place this morning]

Among the free things to do today...

• Local tribute band The Meetles will be performing in Tompkins Square Park from 2 to 6 p.m. In addition to the songs from their usual playlist, which contains classic rock music from the 1950s to 1980s, expect some Halloween-related tracks. More details here.

• Here's your chance to experience the current interpretation of the piece "Live Free or Die" from Michael Shenker's The Squatter's Opera. It starts at 12:30 p.m. in La Plaza Cultural Community Garden on Ninth Street and Avenue C. This link has all the details.

• The latest edition of Paul Tschinkel’s ART/new york series features longtime Bowery resident Curt Hoppe, exploring his work as a photographer and realist painter. Info on the program at this link. The discussion, along with a film, takes place from 7-9 tonight at Howl! Happening, 6 E. First St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Also, this is not free... "Downtown 81" starring Jean-Michel Basquiat is screening today and tomorrow (and next week) down at the Metrograph.