'Make Me Famous,' a documentary on 1980s-era East Village-based painter Edward Brezinski, debuts in NYC

"Make Me Famous," a documentary that will be of particular interest to East Village/LES residents, is making its theatrical debut.

The official recap:

A madcap romp through the 1980's NYC art scene amid the colorful career of painter, Edward Brezinski, hell-bent on making it. What begins as an investigation into Brezinski’s legacy and mysterious disappearance becomes a sharp, witty portrait of NYC’s 1980s downtown art scene resulting in an irresistible snapshot of an unknown artist that captures the spirit of an iconic era.

 

Here are some NYC screenings dates-times (Updated 6/23: The Roxy has more dates now through the weekend of June 30-July 2.) 

• June 22, 23 and 24 at Roxy Cinema, 2 Avenue of the Americas, Cellar Level

• June 24 and 25 at New Plaza Cinema, 35 W. 67th St.

• June 26 and 28 at Alamo Drafthouse, Lower Manhattan 

Follow the film's Instagram account for updates.

And read an interview with director Brian Vincent and producer Heather Spore Kelly, at The Moveable Feast. Here's another piece via The Village Voice.

Previously

The Regal Union Square multiplex is not closing after all

ICYMI: Last Thursday, Regal announced that the company had signed a new lease with Related to continue the operation of the multiplex theater on Broadway and 13th Street. (News release here.)

In January, Cineworld, the parent company of Regal Cinemas, the second-largest chain of movie theaters in the United States, announced that it was closing 39 locations, including the Regal Union Square Stadium 17, as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. 

From the news release: "In cooperation with our partners at Related, we are excited to enter into a long-term lease agreement for this premiere entertainment destination providing moviegoers from the area the best place to watch a movie for many years to come," said Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger. 

The theater underwent a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in early 2020. 

Those pre-pandemic enhancements included the arrival of a bar... and the Pepsi 4DX auditorium, "where the on-screen visuals of action-packed blockbusters are enhanced through special effects including motion-synchronized seats, wind, fog, rain, lightning, snow, bubbles, vibration and scents." (The way "Cocaine Bear" was meant to be experienced!) Not to mention the ScreenX auditorium, "where movie fans go beyond the frame of the movie screen by expanding feature films to the left and right walls of the theater." (It takes some getting used to, IMO.)

The theater debuted in November 1998 as part of the United Artists family. 

Photo from January in case you were wondering why "Plane" is showing... and H/T Simon.

Monday's opening shot

At the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection, 59 E. Second St., on this Juneteenth holiday.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo of LaMama's iconic founder Ellen Stewart on Fourth Street yesterday by Derek Berg) ... 

• How these East Village volunteers finally made Wi-Fi a reality for asylum seekers (Monday) 

• Report: East Village musician Jesse Malin paralyzed from the waist down after spinal stroke (Wednesday) 

• 18-year-old cyclist killed in collision on 1st Avenue at 17th Street (Friday)

• Police: Woman dies after jumping from 3rd Street residential building (Sunday) 

• Sunny has retired, but her popular flower shop remains in the family (Wednesday)

• Birthday wishes for Rossy on 3rd Street (Thursday) 

• Goodbye for now to HaveAHeart Studio, the rehearsal space below New Double Dragon (Thursday)

• Cafe Mogador provides a free meal to asylum seekers staying in the East Village (Friday) 

• Signage arrives for Downtown Burritos Cocina Mexicana on 1st Avenue (Monday)

• Community group urges Mayor Adams to reacquire the former P.S. 64/CHARAS 'now' (Tuesday)

• Saturday afternoon with Tits Dick Ass (Tuesday) 

• Celebrating downtown nightlife legend Brian Butterick, aka Hattie Hathaway (Wednesday) 

• Documentary on collage artist Michael Anderson to debut at the Anthology Film Archives (Saturday) 

• Taking a look inside the incoming Target on Union Square (Wednesday)

• Signage alert: Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Tree limb down in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday) 

• Sauce returns to service on 12th Street (Thursday) 

• At 188 Allen St., a curbside dining demolition like no other (Friday) 

• Almost-opening report: Memphis Seoul on 1st Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Yet another broker for 20 St. Mark's Place (Monday)

• Plywood report: Ghost signage disappears again on Avenue A (Saturday) 

• Closings: Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea, Wild Mirrors (Tuesday) 

• A Tacombi takeover on 12th Street (Monday)

... and those Balenciaga ads are getting more elaborate, as seen on First Street and First Avenue...

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Police: Woman dies after jumping from 3rd Street residential building

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Law enforcement officials said a 35-year-old woman who lived in Brooklyn died Thursday night after jumping from the roof of an East Third Street building. 

According to the officials, the woman entered 233 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C before moving across rooftops to where she leaped from 227 E. Third St.

Officials said that this is being treated as a suicide. 

Witnesses said that she survived the fall, landing on a vehicle outside No. 227. Emergency responders rushed her to a hospital, where she died from her injuries. 

It was not immediately known if she knew anyone in the Third Street buildings or why she was in the East Village. Nearby residents said that the woman was not familiar to them.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources. 

Young hawks are having an ongoing play date in Tompkins Square Park

As noted the other day, Amelia and Christo's three 2023 red-tailed hawk offspring have fledged and been active in Tompkins Square Park this past week.

Here's a sampling of some up close-and-personal moments (top two photos by Derek Berg)...

And the following two photos are by Steven...

... and you may get busted taking photos, FYI ...

EVG reader Nancy Van Epps shared this rather camouflaged view of a fledgling...

Goggla, who has documented the red-tailed hawks here for years, offered up some sensible advice about this playful period (via the EVG comments):

As the fledglings are out and about now, this is a good time to remind everyone to take care when watching them — give them a lot of space as they learn to fly and hunt. If they are on the ground, please keep dogs away and let them do their thing. It's normal for them to be on the ground eating or playing. If you have reason to believe they are in distress, call 311 and ask for the Urban Park Rangers.

Find Goggla's photos here.

And for equal time to other TSP-based birds, a pigeon (and a pretty cool hat) for your consideration by Daniel Efram...

Guerilla theater in the mist... of Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Derek Berg 

From Friday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... some entertaining street/park theater... (Eden has a video clip here)...

Documentary on collage artist Michael Anderson to debut at the Anthology Film Archives

Text by Daniel Efram

"No Compromise When It's Time to Die," a documentary about NYC-based collage artist Michael Anderson (1968-2020) "during the unexpected last year of his life," is set to make its North American premiere at Anthology Film Archives on June 27. 

Longtime East Village resident and documentarian Fred Riedel, who produced and directed the film, will be on hand for a Q&A. Afterward, friends and fans of Anderson's can attend an afterparty at the Bowery Electric featuring a set by Rubin Kodheli, who performed the soundtrack to the film. 

"Michael Anderson and I connected creatively when he reached out to me over Instagram asking if he could rip up a poster I'd made for my film about Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo in order to turn it into an original collage portrait of Ranaldo," said Riedel. "I visited Michael during the process of converting the shards of many copies of the poster into an amazing artwork, which we then both agreed should be the basis for a new poster of the film. 

"From that grew an interest in his large, gregarious personality and work," he continued. "It didn't take too long to see a film in that. Though I'm profoundly saddened that he wasn't able to see the edited work, I feel very fortunate to have captured some kind of essence of him and his creative process and to be able to share that with others." 

Riedel has a long history of producing and directing video and TV programs with Jem Cohen, Jeff Preiss, Keith Griffiths, Simon Field, Lee Ranaldo, Ravi Coltrane, Marc Maron and Charles Busch, among others. 

The film plays at 7:30 p.m. on June 27. You can buy tickets here. Anthology Film Archives is at Second Avenue and Second Street.

Plywood report: Ghost signage disappears again on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy

Back in February, workers removed the rolldown gate on a vacant storefront on Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street (the former lottery place). In the process, the workers uncovered ghost signage for a long-ago shop that sold carriages, strollers and toys.

There was some hope/speculation/wishful thinking among some readers/residents that the signs would remain on the scene, worked into the renovated storefront façade like at 2A down the block. 

Well, as of now, someone has removed the signs ... the workers on the scene said they did not know what happened to them...

A private equity firm bought this block-long residential building last fall for a reported $64 million.  

P.S.

Yes, that fresh plywood was tagged overnight. 

There's a Summer Kick-Off Block Party on 4th Street today

Cooper Square MHA II is hosting a summer kick-off block party today from noon to 6 p.m. on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery. 

Some bullet points of what attendees can expect, via the EVG inbox: 

• DJ Tony Bonilla
• bouncy house 
• resident flea market 
• food 
• raffle 
• vendors 
• kids' activities 
• community organizations

[Updating] 18-year-old cyclist killed in collision on 1st Avenue at 17th Street

Photos by William Klayer 

See below for updates

An 18-year-old cyclist riding a pedal assist Citi Bike was reportedly struck and killed by an Amazon box truck earlier this afternoon on First Avenue at 17th Street. 

First Avenue was closed to traffic at 14th Street around 12:40 p.m. today.

There isn't much information about the collision at the moment (we'll update when authorities release more substantial details).

The name of the cyclist has not yet been released. Media reports say that the driver stayed at the scene "and no crime was suspected." 

From reporter Liam Quigley on Twitter, who was on the scene: "An incredibly upsetting crash this afternoon. A young person came up asking if their friend was dead and started crying. The Amazon driver looked not much older than them. He too was crying, holding his head in his hands."

Updated 6/17 

NBC 4 reports that the cyclist lived nearby.

Another detail from NBC 4: While emergency responders were tending to the victim, someone rode off on the Citi Bike.

Streetsblog has more here, including that the truck, a new all-electric model, did not have any license plates, though there was an expired temp tag on the dashboard.

Updated 3 p.m.

Streetsblog has new information from the police about the collision here. 

Officials identified the cyclist as Malcolm Livesey, who lived in Stuyvesant Town and attended School of the Future of East 22nd Street.

Updated 6/18

There is a makeshift memorial to Malcolm at the site of the collision...

'Voices' carry

From the WEVG request line: Something by the Cure ahead of the band's three-night stand next week at MSG. 

This is "Other Voices" from 1981's Faith, the Cure's third studio album.

Now be sure to listen all weekend for a chance to win a Splish Splash family 4-pack!

Cafe Mogador provides a free meal to asylum seekers staying in the East Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Last evening, East Village mainstay Cafe Mogador, 101 St. Mark's Place, provided a free meal to the asylum seekers staying temporarily at the former St. Brigid School on Seventh Street and Avenue B.

Danny Orlin (middle above), son of Cafe Mogador founder Rivka Orlin, was there with some of the restaurant's staff member to distribute the meals — chicken tagine with rice.

The recipients were very appreciative, and everyone loved the food...

At 188 Allen St., a curbside dining demolition like no other

Photos by Steven 

Early yesterday morning (6:40!), city crews from the DOT and DSNY joined forces to remove the curbside structure outside 188 Allen St. between Houston and Stanton.

Earlier this month, the DOT issued a termination notice for the space outside the now-closed Cheese Grille. A group of artists and some art fans had hoped the structure could continue on as 188 Allen Street Gallery, an art space that has showcased a variety of artists since last summer (see here and here). It was an outgrowth of the pandemic-era space that Cheese Grille used.

NYC street artist SacSix, who has curated shows here as well as created murals on the storefront, appealed to the DOT in a recent Instagram post, inviting city officials here "to see how small business entrepreneurs can create incredible communities in unique spaces." 

However, the DOT showed its appreciation of the space with chainsaws and crowbars...  

A few pieces were salvaged by artists, some of whom spent the night here ahead of the demolition... 

The removal was accompanied by pianist Kristopher Hull, who performed "A requiem for 188 Allen Chopin nocturne in c-sharp minor"... 

... and later... the return of three parking spots... 

About the Lower East Side Book Crawl — Pride Edition — tomorrow (Saturday!)

Tomorrow (Saturday!), six downtown businesses "will celebrate the diversity and resilience of the neighborhood's indie bookshops by offering discounts, special giveaways, and curated selections of queer books."

The participating shops:

• Bluestockings Cooperative Bookstore, 116 Suffolk St. 

• Book Club Bar, 197 E 3rd St. 

• P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard St.

• Printed Matter, 38 St. Mark's Place (at Second Avenue)

• Sweet Pickle Books, 47 Orchard St.

• Yu & Me Books, 44 Mulberry St.

Hours for the book crawl: noon to 7 p.m.

Thursday's parting shot (aka June 15)

A reader shared this photo from Cooper Square today... a mere six months from Christmas... or to next the Christmas season.

Birthday wishes for Rossy on 3rd Street

Photos and text by Stacie Joy 

If you passed by Rossy's Bakery today on Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C, you may have noticed that owner Rossy Caba, recently diagnosed with cancer, isn't wearing her signature red chef's coat. Today, for her birthday, she's wearing pink. Specifically, breast cancer-awareness pink. 

Happy birthday Rossy, and here's to kicking cancer's ass.

About the In-N-Out Burger ads for 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

An EVG reader shared the above photo from today on the NE corner of Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place for In-N-Out Burger NYC 2023. 

The plywood surrounds 132 Second Ave., where Dallas BBQ closed last December after decades in business here. Legal notices via the State Liquor Authority here mention that hospitality vet Curt Huegel is opening a new bar-restaurant in the space. 

Anyway, as far as anyone knows, In-N-Out Burger doesn't have any plans for an NYC outpost ... with the furthest eastern outpost arriving in Tennessee sometime in 2026.

Fake In-N-Out Burger ads have made the rounds in NYC through the years (like here and here), much to the chagrin of the chain's many fans. So this is likely a gag... (and so far away from April 1). Updated: The company told Eater the ads are FAKE!

In-N-Out Burger opened up in 1948 as California's first "drive-thru" hamburger stand.

Goodbye for now to HaveAHeart Studio, the rehearsal space below New Double Dragon

Photos and interview by Stacie Joy 

It was a bittersweet message and offer from musician Cheri Leone in the EVG inbox that had us replying with an immediate “yes!” Did we want to tour one of the last of the underground East Village music studio spaces before it was closed for “renovations?” 

I met up with Cheri and bandmate Matty Karas (together they are the Trouble Dolls) and we venture downstairs, under New Double Dragon at 37 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street, into the subterranean area that houses their rehearsal space. 

As I get busy snapping photos in the basement, we talk about the space, who else shares the studio (various two- and four-legged friends) and the possible plans for the building.

How did you get the rehearsal space? Where will you go next? 

We found out about the space from a friend of a former bandmate who lived nearby on Third Street. We’ve been rehearsing there, with the Trouble Dolls and various other bands and/or projects, for about 23 years. 

I have no idea where we’ll end up, but we’re actively looking for a new home. I’ve been canvassing the East Village, talking to landlords, brokers — really, talking to any strangers on nearby streets who look like they live in the area — and asking if they know of any available basement spaces for rent. Affordable urban caves are hard to come by! 

Does the space have a name? 

At some point I named the space HaveAHeart Studio, both as a tribute to our (small, furry) part-time cohabitants in the basement, and because I happened to be dealing with some larger, more callous rats at the time, and thought it might act as a word-charm against assholes. 

Who else used the space? 

Pre-COVID there were a few more musicians in there; now it’s Matty, Chris (Trouble Dolls drummer) and I, Rob (East Ghost West Ghost), and Jason (Afroskull, Dark Streets).

Any information about the building? Any chance you can come back once they renovate the space? Or do you think it will be sold and that question will be moot? 

We’re not sure what will happen to the building... Word is that major renovations are planned. [Background here.] BTW shout out to Shawn [Lin] and his family at New Double Dragon! People of the East Village: order big and order often from New Double Dragon, while you still can.

We have been invited back to the future, fabulously renovated 37 First Ave.; hope that offer is good. Decades of EV-infused music have been made at this location. The landlords shouldn’t kill that ancient mojo.