Openings: Gia Trattoria on the Bowery; Marufuku Ramen on 2nd Avenue

Gia Trattoria opened this week (Tuesday!) at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond. (First reported here.)

Here's more about the restaurant via their website:

Gia ... brings craveable Italian food, handcrafted drinks and much more. In addition to an array of mouthwatering wood-fired pizzas, Gia's menu includes flavorful pastas, appetizers, shareables, snacks and entrees. 

Menu highlights include: the Pesto Rossa Pizza, Calamarata pasta with squid, san marzano, capers, pine nuts and fennel seeds, "Fairytale Eggplant" with gorgonzola, sun-dried tomatoes and pickled scape and Branzino with fennel confit and herbs. 

You can find the menu at this link. 

And the posted hours:

Tuesday-Thursday: 5-10 p.m.

Friday: 5-11 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-11 p.m.

Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Most recently this space was Gino Sorbillo, the first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" of the same name. The "temporarily closed for renovation" sign arrived here in early January ... after a November 2017 opening. 

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Marufuku Ramen opened Monday at 92 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. (First reported here.) 

This is the first NYC location for the growing brand that has five outposts in California and one in Texas. 

About their food, via the Marufuku website:

Marufuku proudly serves the authentic Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen — featuring milky and umami rich broth made from boiling pork bones for long hours, an ultra-thin artisanal noodles that match perfectly with the broth, and Cha-shu made from specially selected pork. 

Steven took these photos as they opened on Monday...

Hours:

Sunday-Thursday: 5-10 p.m., until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The previous tenant, Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen debuted in January 2020 and never reopened after the PAUSE went into effect in March 2020. Some EVG readers may recall that Kabin Bar & Lounge was here until March 2015.

A warm and fuzzy shoot for NY Lottery in Tompkins Square Park

Crews were out this morning setting up for a New York Lottery commercial in Tompkins Square Park... Derek Berg got a look at the fuzzy numbers...

... we also heard they had an pre-Cemusa newsstand up on Avenue B at 10th Street...

Happy returns: New location of Gaia Italian Café — REVEALED!

After closing nearly one year ago on East Houston Street, the new shop and takeout location for Gaia Italian Café has been revealed.

EVG reader Jonathan Calvenna shared this photo of Gaia Bagnasacco's new outpost here at 119 Essex St. between Rivington and Delancey.

Per Jonathan:

Stopped by to check it out yesterday just as Gaia was walking up the block. She invited me in for a look and said it would likely be a smaller operation than her previous spot on Houston Street, focusing on takeout at first. However, that could change. Ideas are in the works. She anticipated being open by August. Google currently shows her as open at that address, but that's not the case just yet.

So no indoor dining in the new space. 

Bagnasacco closed her popular business on July 26, 2020, at 251 E. Houston St. between Norfolk and Suffolk after nine years. 

At the time, Bagnasacco recommended following her social media accounts for updates on a possible encore for the cafe. She teased the new space in the late spring without revealing the address. 

In the interim, she has been selling her pasta, meal kits and sauces via an online shop — and all available for local delivery.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Closing Day at Gaia’s Italian Café

Illustrations from the pandemic

Throughout the pandemic-fueled PAUSE in NYC, East Village-based visual designer and illustrator Robin Muccari documented his experiences while taking walks at night and during breaks from working in his small apartment. 

He shared those illustrations and observances in a recent post on Medium. 

What follows is a small selection of his work... visit the site for more... (with a thank you to Loren DeVito) ... 

Then the hoarding crisis quickly came into play. People left Trader Joe’s and Target on 14th Street and Avenue A with many bags of toilet paper, sanitizer, bread, and more. 

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Those who took it seriously, though, kept at least a six-foot distance and some were uncomfortable helping others. 

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But despite the panic, there were still people who thought they either didn’t need a mask or didn’t wear it at all times. They were oblivious to others who coughed or sneezed near them. This happened enough that people screamed at them in the neighborhood.

Openings: Yubu on 7th Street, Evil Katsu on 9th Street

Yubu recently debuted in the sliver of a storefront at 86 E. Seventh St. just west of First Avenue. (First sighting here.)

The quick-serve shop offers a variety of Korean snacks and beverages ... and specializing in tofu pockets filled with items ranging from avocado to beef bulgogi. You can find their menu here

For now, they are open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (with a 9 p.m. close on Friday and Saturday). 

As previously noted, this spot has been a launching pad for businesses that grew and expanded into larger spaces elsewhere.

Abraço was here for 10 years before moving across the street in early 2017. Last summer, Suki, the Japanese curry shop, relocated to 111 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. (Suki also opened a sushi outpost on St. Mark's Place.)

In between these two, we had Cafe Che/Benny's Burritos & Empanadas, which, unfortunately, didn't catch on...

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Evil Katsu is now in its opening week at 435 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

This is the first permanent space for the quick-serve restaurant that offers various katsu sets, sandos (aka Japanese sandwiches) and sides. 

Three East Village residents — Asher Sendyk, Chris Wagenlander and Hai Oliveira — are behind Evil Katsu, which got its start late last year as a pop-up ghost kitchen providing takeout and delivery on the Lower East Side.

The three hospitality veterans found themselves out of work during the pandemic last year and decided to start their own business on a month-to-month lease with the hopes that it would catch on. (It did.)

You can read our interview with Sendyk from December right here. Find their website and menu here. Listed hours are noon to 9 p.m., and closed on Mondays. 

Thanks to JG for the Evil Katsu pic!

Sushi by M debuts in new space on 2nd Avenue

Sushi By M, which offered an omakase experience from a compact space on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery, has moved into a larger space nearby.

Chef Tim is now operating from 300 E. Fifth St. on the southeast corner at Second Avenue. (He applied for a beer-wine license here back in April.)

The new location serves lunch from noon to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 11 p.m. You can visit their website for menus, reservations, etc.

Sushi by M first opened in December 2018.

As for 300 E. Fifth St., the last tenant was Spiritea, a fruit-and-milk tea shop, which debuted here in May 2019 and never reopened during the pandemic. The storefront had been vacant since 100% Healthy Blend (or maybe just Healthy Blend) closed after three months in November 2016. More memorable previous tenants include Dahlia's and Mary Ann's.

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

Tuesday's parting shot

Stomp resumed performances this evening at the Orpheum Theatre on Second Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Seventh Street.

The show is among the first Off-Broadway productions to return following the PAUSE of March 2020. Go here for safety info and tix.

Stomp is now in its 26th year in the East Village, though it seems longer...

A smoky late-afternoon view of Midtown

A look at Midtown late this afternoon from the East Village via EV Weather. 

Some background on what's happening from AccuWeather:

After a smoky sunset Monday evening, heavy smoke continued to hang over the Northeast on Tuesday, as a result of more than 100 wildfires burning in the western U.S. and more in Canada. Air quality advisories were in effect for much of Canada and had been issued for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York City as the smoke descended from the upper levels of the atmosphere. 

The AQI reading in New York City Tuesday afternoon was an unhealthy 122, the highest this year so far. At this elevated number, health effects can be immediately felt by sensitive groups. Healthy individuals may experience difficulty breathing and throat irritation with prolonged exposure, and should limit outdoor activity.

The smoke will likely clear out overnight as a cold front moves into the area, AccuWeather notes.

NYPD IDs person of interest in 1st Avenue homicide

🚨WANTED for QUESTIONING in regard to a HOMICIDE: Do you know this guy? On 7/14/21 at approx 6:00 AM, at 1 Ave and East 6 St in Manhattan, a 37-year-old male was found deceased with a puncture wound to his chest. Any info? DM @NYPDTips, or anonymously call them at 800-577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/JK03h6gAea

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 20, 2021

The @NYPDnews account today released these images of a person of interest wanted for questioning in connection to the homicide of a 37-year-old man found on First Avenue early last Wednesday morning...

According to published reports, 37-year-old Marvin Bellamy, who lived in the Frederick Douglass Houses on the Upper West Side, was found with a puncture wound to his chest on First Avenue near the McDonald's between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. He reportedly died later at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. 

Per amNY this morning:

A week into the ongoing investigation, police did not disclose a possible motive for the stabbing, or the circumstances leading up to the deadly attack. 

Police sources also did not known of any possible connection between Bellamy and the person of interest, whose image was captured by a nearby security camera on the day of the incident.

The morning sun

You may have noticed the red-ish/orange sun rising in the sky this morning ... (thanks to dwg for the photo below) ...

Lee Goldberg at ABC 7 explains:

A big ridge in the jet stream is transporting western wildfire smoke our way next couple of days. Most of the smoke is in the upper atmosphere and won't dramatically impact air quality, but the sky may look a little milky and the sunrise and sunset may be enhanced.

But why the red/orange? 

As we cut-n-paste from another TV station: "The smoke filters out shorter wavelengths of light, leaving mostly red and orange wavelengths to shine through and be seen by the naked human eye."

RIP Joe the tailor

Several readers have shared the sad news that Joe Ariyav, the longtime proprietor of Joe's Custom Tailors on 14th Street, has passed away. We hope to get some more details soon. 

The sign about Ariyav's death arrived last week on the storefront here between First Avenue and Second Avenue (H/T @brohattan). The notice instructs customers to call a number to retrieve any items that may be inside. 

We knew that Joe's had been around for years, but was surprised to read via Manhattan Sideways that the shop dates to 1965.

More details on 2 new fast-casual Indian restaurants from the owners of the Masalawala

Back on June 23, we reported that restaurateurs Roni Mazumdar and Chintan Pandya of the Masalawala fame were opening a quick-serve establishment at 149 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street. 

The restaurateurs, who also operate Adda and Dhamaka, apparently have big designs on fast-casual Indian food.

As the Times reports, Mazumdar and Pandya are opening two spots in the East Village.

The first of the team's fast-casual restaurants, the fried chicken-centric Rowdy Rooster, opens in August on First Avenue and Ninth Street. Mr. Pandya is studying the numerous Indian iterations of fried chicken, from pakoras to Chicken 65, a spicy snack that supposedly originated in a hotel in Chennai. 

A month later comes Kebabwala, on Second Avenue and Fifth Street, which will focus on classic kebab preparations like chicken tikka and seekh kebabs.

Kebabwala will be going into 82 Second Ave., which has seen several restaurants come and go through the years, including 7 Spices and Reyna Exotic Turkish Cuisine. The owners are expecting a fall opening.

As for 149 First Avenue, which will house Rowdy Rooster, the storefront has been vacant since Afandi Grill closed after 13 months in October 2019. And several years earlier, This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef roamed the space until March 2014.

In April, Mazumdar and Pandya decided not to renew the lease for the Masalawala, bringing an end to its 10-year run just below Houston at 179 Essex St., as Eater first reported. 

Photos by Steven

The Anthology Film Archives returns with in-person screenings on Aug. 5

Quick update to our last post... The Anthology Film Archives will start hosting in-person screenings again on Aug. 5.

The 51-year-old NYC institution on Second Avenue and Second Street is returning with a very Anthology-like screening... 

Anthology Film Archives marks its long-awaited post-pandemic reopening with a program that could only take place "in real life," projected theatrically and on film: our brand-new restoration of Paul Sharits's rarely screened early masterpiece, Razor Blades (1965-68). 

The latest in our ongoing series of restorations of Sharits's films, Razor Blades is a typically mind-bending, consciousness-expanding experiment in perception and a classic among "expanded cinema" works. 

By means of color combinations, the strobe-like flickering of the dueling projectors, a high-volume stereo soundscape, and single-frame imagery, it demonstrates the cinema's capacity for exploring the mysterious interaction between light, color, rhythm, eye, and mind. The double projection piece never exhibits precisely the same way, rendering every screening a unique experience.

Find more details about the reopening here. 

As previously noted, the Anthology has been showcasing its independent, experimental and avant-garde fare online since the start of the pandemic. 

Former Banco Popular space for rent on Houston and B

From the not breaking news department... the retail space at 310 E. Houston St. at Avenue B is for rent. 

The for-lease signs have been up since the spring, but the corresponding listing only just arrived online. 

This was the Banco Popular branch, which, per trends, shuttered in late January. 

According to the RIPCO listing, there are two available here — totaling nearly 4,000 square feet. 

Comments per the listing: 

• Space will be delivered in white-box condition 

• No food uses considered 

• Divisions considered 

And pricing is available upon request. 

What would you like to see here? Record store? Zine shop? Or we could bring back the Gaseteria, which closed here in 2005 when the lot was going condo...

Gaseteria pic via