Saturday's opening shot

Today's sunrise as seen along Avenue A at Tompkins Square Park...

Friday's parting shot

New temp signage at Veselka on Ninth Street at Second Avenue ... thanks to Steven for the photo...

The big 'Hurt'

 

It's just Feb. 19, yet some folks have said that the new record (Collapsed in Sunbeams) by UK-based singer-songwriter Arlo Parks will be one of the year's best. It's that good.

The video here is for a previously released single called "Hurt."

Indoor dining to expand to 35-percent capacity next week

Gov. Cuomo today announced that indoor dining will expand from 25 to 35 percent starting next Friday (Feb. 26!). The news comes one week after the return of indoor dining in NYC.

During today's press briefing, Cuomo said that COVID-19 data continue to improve, allowing New York to continue on a path toward reopening.

The rest of the New York state's restaurants, including on Long Island and in Westchester, are operating at 50 percent capacity. As the governor noted, the 35-percent capacity will be the same as New Jersey's current mandate. 

Cuomo originally ended indoor dining in the city in December after two-plus months ahead of an expected holiday-related spike in COVID-19 positivity rates. 

You can read more reaction/analysis via Gothamist and Eater.

Photo of Lavagna on Fifth Street last weekend by Stacie Joy.

Manhole watch on 12th Street

There was a report earlier this afternoon — via the Citizen app — of an exploding manhole on 12th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

Nothing appears to have actually exploded here outside No. 222... though we have a smoker... the FDNY is on the scene and keeping watch...

This kind of thing is to be expected these days TBH. As Gothamist has reported:

The phenomenon typically happens after a major winter storm, as de-icing salt seeps into the ground, corroding subterranean wires and unleashing gas, which in some cases sparks fires and blows the several-hundred-pound manholes straight into the sky.

Mid-morning snow photo break

As seen on 14th Street and First Avenue this morning exiting the L train... not sure what's going on ... and why members of the NYPD counterterrorism unit are here... 

Pic via William Klayer...

Planet Taco entering 2nd Avenue's orbit

Temp delivery signage is up for the new quick-serve taco concept coming to 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street ... say hello to Planet Taco... (thanks to Steven for the photos!)

We don't know anything about this operation at the moment. Hopefully, the tacos will be out of this world. (Sorry!)

As we noted last month, another taco shop was prepping to take over this space last leased by Otto's Tacos. 

Unfortunately, Otto's never reopend after the PAUSE in March 2020 ... and the space hit the market back in the fall. 

Meanwhile, Otto's has become a virtual brand ... now being sold via Mighty Quinn's Barbeque — just on the Upper East Side for now.

Reader report: Someone broke into our apartment while we were at home

An EVG reader shares the following...

We had a break-in at around 3 a.m. [Wednesday] night; guy stole two laptops ... But the worst thing was I heard him, and ran into the living room and saw him scrambling out the window, then ran into the bedroom shrieking like Jeannie Bueller and wound up face to face with him on our balcony. (I was inside and he was outside, fortunately.) We stared at each other, frozen for a moment, like cartoon characters, and then he climbed back down while I banged on the glass. 

Cops said there have been a ton of break-ins lately. Moral: Everybody make sure to lock all your doors and windows at night — even in this weather.

The reader added the following: "Back up your data every night if you can, and if you have a Mac, have 'Find My' enabled so you can de-authorize it immediately and erase it." 

The above photo is of a random EV building, and not the one that was broken into between First Avenue and Second Avenue on Wednesday night.

Noted

An EVG reader shares this Urban Etiquette Sign from a building on Ninth Street... which asks the occupant to please be considerate of other tenants (tennants!)... Why?

All of us can hear everything that happens in your apartment... 

Yes.... 

Everything ..... 

      (Literally ... everything)

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's the latest NY See panel, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood and NYC ... 

Let's talk about the weather

A winter storm advisory is in effect this morning through tomorrow evening... here are a few details via the National Weather Service...

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY... WHAT...Snow expected. Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are expected Thursday, with total snowfall accumulations of 5 to 9 inches by the end of the event on Friday. A light glaze of ice accumulation is possible Thursday Night as well. WHERE...Portions of northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut and southeast New York. WHEN...From 4 AM Thursday to 7 PM EST Friday. IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will be a long duration winter weather event. Light to moderate snowfall is likely early Thursday morning into afternoon. A light wintry mix of sleet and/or freezing rain is possible for a period Thursday evening into Thursday Night, before turning back to light snow on Friday morning and ending in the afternoon or evening.

Ahead of this, the city suspended Open Streets and Open Restaurants roadway dining today. However, sidewalk dining remains open. In addition, Alternate Side Parking Regulations will be suspended through Saturday.

Photo from Tompkins Square Park by Vinny & O

No more desire for this deli, apparently

EVG regular Salim shares this photo from the southeast corner of Avenue B and Fourth Street, where Your Desire For Food quietly closed in recent weeks. 

We hear the deli owners, who run several in the area, just weren't able to make it work here.

Your Desire in Food opened this past June (and we found them to be very welcoming), and offered a variety of fresh-made sandwiches and salads. 

There is ample competition here with more-established delis, including the East Village Finest Deli right across the street ... and Ben's a block to the south... and Sunny & Annie's and their topnotch sandwiches two blocks to the north.

The previous tenant here, East Side Gourmet Deli, closed in April 2019. Their sign remained on the storefront, as Your Desire simply hung a banner over part of it.