Sunday, June 27, 2021

At the 27th annual Drag March

Photos by Stacie Joy

A larger and more festive Drag March took place this past Friday evening... as participants gathered in Tompkins Square Park before making the nearly hour-long walk to Sheridan Square and then the Stonewall Inn.

Last year's edition was a much smaller, and more organic gathering during the throes of the pandemic.

The 27th annual Drag March was an aptly joyous start to Pride Weekend...
... and as the march got underway along Ninth Street ...
The Drag March got its start during the Stonewall 25th anniversary celebrations in 1994.

Here's a HuffPost piece from 2018 with more history:
Brian Griffin, aka Harmonie Moore Must Die, was a member of the AIDS advocacy group ACT UP and Women’s Health Action and Mobilization (WHAM) in the mid-1990s, an activist who saw the power of drag to confront intolerance and practice civil disobedience in a way that also celebrated queerness. But at planning meetings for the Stonewall 25th anniversary celebrations, Griffin told HuffPost, the committee made it clear that it was only interested in presenting a somewhat sanitized version of LGBTQ activism.

"The committee for Stonewall 25 had actually asked — and it still seems quite unbelievable — that they didn't want anyone to show up in leather or drag. It still, 25 years later, blows my mind," Griffin said. "They wanted to normalize the image of gay America for a mass audience. They wanted to present a palatable image of gay men and women, men and women who were normal."

Week in Grieview

Posts this last week included (with a photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg) ... 

• RIP Art Guerra (Tuesday

• Report: Mount Sinai Beth Israel decides against plans to relocate and downsize (Monday

• A Visit to Brix Wines and Barnyard Cheese Shop on Avenue B (Thursday

• Owners of the Masalawala said to be opening to-go spot for Indian street food on 1st Avenue (Wednesday

• Who is Savannah Guthrie? This Jeopardy! guest host helped raise $105K for the Bowery Mission (Monday

• 6 a.m. on the fire escape (Friday

• A petition to fund Public Land schoolyards for community use (Thursday

• Last few days for Spring Into Pride at 3rd & B’Zaar (Friday

• Avenues is a real-estate office-espresso bar opening on 10th Street (Monday

• Do you have what it takes to Stomp? (Wednesday)

• Sushi next for the former Fresco space on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday

• City pools reopen (Friday

• Reopenings on Avenue A: the Library, Sing Sing (Monday

• A residential conversion for the former storefront at 111 St. Mark's Place (Tuesday

• Al Horno Lean Mexican Kitchen looks to have closed on 1st Avenue (Monday

• Notes for Apt. #2 (Wednesday

• A quick turnover at 328 E. 6th St. (Wednesday

 ... and congratulations to S'MAC owners Sarita and Caesar Ekya, who celebrated 15 years in the East Village on Thursday... (photos by Lola Sáenz)...
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Savannah Guthrie raised $217k for the Bowery Mission while guest host of 'Jeopardy!'

On Monday, we mentioned that Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of the "Today" show on NBC, served as guest host on "Jeopardy!" 

In honor of the late Alex Trebek, the show matches contestant winnings with a donation to the charity of the guest host's choice. 

Guthrie's choice was The Bowery Mission. After her first week, she raised more than $105,000. 

And upon completion of her second week, she totaled $217,985 ...

Young red-tailed hawks are off to a flying start in Tompkins Square Park

The two young red-tailed hawks continue to be quite active in Tompkins Square Park, honing their hunting and flying skills. (Check out Goggla's site for more photos and commentary.) 

These photos by Steven from earlier this past week show one of Amelia and Christo's offspring heading out of the Park and onto a building on Seventh Street...
... and a rare photo of the siblings together...
... and with Papa Christo...
...and some bonus footage via Greg Masters of one of the juveniles with his very first pigeon...

 

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Celebrating the work of Jillian Jonas, who captured 'a golden age of LGBTQ+ nightlife and performance'

Village Preservation has added a new set of photos to its historic image archive: Jillian Jonas Collection — Downtown Drag+Performance in the 1990s. 

 Per the description:
Jillian Jonas was the house photographer at the legendary Boy Bar on St. Mark's Place in the early 1990s, where she captured thousands of images of drag performers who mixed gender-bending and illusion with downtown in-your-face attitude. This collection includes images not only from Boy Bar, but the Pyramid Club, Wigstock, the Gay Pride Festival, and dozens of other downtown nightlife and performance venues of the early-to-mid 1990s. 
Her pictures capture a golden age of LGBTQ+ nightlife and performance, as well as an edgy slice of life when drag and blurred boundaries of gender were just beginning to make inroads into the broader public consciousness, largely through this vibrant local scene. 
You can check out the collection here.  

An art collective today at First Street Green Art Park

The organizers behind the Nexus Flea are hosting an art collective today at First Street Green Art Park

The free event includes some (unplugged) musicians: 
Momentum 1 p.m. (Jazz) 
Dave Scott 2 p.m. (solo) 
Aliens 3 p.m. (art duo) 
Lün Badi 4 p.m. (solo) 

The show takes place from noon to 6 p.m. at First Park, 33 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

[EVERYTHINGISM] on 9th Street this weekend

NYC-based photographer/multidisciplinary artist Avery J. Savage is hosting [EVERYTHINGISM], a solo exhibit of his work today and tomorrow at Chiro-fit, 432 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

You can check out his work today from noon to 7 p.m. and tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. (You can book a time slot here.)

Friday, June 25, 2021

Friday's parting shot

At the start of the Drag March this evening in Tompkins Square Park... thanks to Greg Masters for the photo... more pics on the way...

Hold the phone

 
The debut full-length record from the Brooklyn-based Pom Pom Squada Friday at 5 favorite of late — is out today. 

The audio clip here is for "Drunk Voicemail." 

You can read an interview with lead singer/lyricist Mia Berrin at NPR.

Free vaccinations tomorrow at Middle Collegiate Church

Various elected officials, community groups and city agencies have organized a free vaccination pop-up event tomorrow at Middle Collegiate Church, outside the office-rectory space at 50 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The event takes place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Last few days for Spring Into Pride at 3rd & B’Zaar

This is the last few days for Spring Into Pride over at 3rd & B’Zaar, the mixed-vendor market and event space at 191 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The space, featuring 30 local designers, vintage sellers and artists, ends its two-month run on Monday. Hours: 1-6 p.m. 

The organizers have held a variety of special events here in recent weeks, including a Drag Bingo night, which EVG contributor Stacie Joy documented...
3rd & B’Zaar debuted late last year with a month-long Holiday Market ... followed by Sex, Love & Vintage in February.... with several art shows in between. 

Organizers will soon unveil the next theme for 3rd & B’Zaar this summer.

Make a splash: City pools reopen tomorrow

Dozens of outdoor city pools reopen for the season tomorrow (June 26) ... locally, this means the Hamilton Fish Pool on Pitt and East Houston (above), the Dry Dock Pool on 10th Street and Avenue D and the Tompkins Square Park mini pool...   
Outdoor hours are from 11 a.m. through 7 p.m. daily, with a break for pool cleaning between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Find more info about city pools at this link.

Parks officials say they're still determining whether the Lap Swim program — as seen at Hamilton Fish —is feasible this summer. And still not feasible: breath-holding contests ...
During the pandemic last summer, only 15 city pools opened, and not until Aug. 5

Thanks to Steven for the Tompkins Square Park pool pics. Top pic via EVG.

It's 6 a.m. Do you know where your neighbors are?

In case you haven't seen this viral video that got its start on TikTok (since removed, it seems). However, it has been shared by multiple sites and sources, garnering millions of views in the process. (Thank you to the EVG readers who shared this starting back on Saturday.) 

Not sure when or where this was filmed — an undisclosed East Village building. Anyway, per the clip, it's 6 a.m., and three people are on the fire escape doing whatever they're doing and wooing ... soon, a resident starts yelling "shut the fuck up" and "hey asshole." 

The male fire escapee then tells the neighbor to "relax." (😬) Then some other neighbors join in — "shut the fuck up" ... and you can see the rest in the clip (sound on!) via @Complex ...

EVG Etc.: NYC Primary results (so far); Pride Weekend activities

Photo on Seventh Street by Derek Berg 

• A look at Primary results from Tuesday (The City) ... 5 takeaways from the primaries (The Hill) ... Carlina Rivera easily wins reelection (City & State ... her victory tweet

• It's Pride Weekend (Gay City News ... NBC New York ... the Times

• NYC Rent Guidelines Board sets mid-year hike for stabilized tenants (City Limits

• Police arrest suspect who knocked an Asian man unconscious on the Lower East Side (Daily News)

• East Village native Legacy Russell appointed executive director and chief curator at The Kitchen (Culture Type ... previously on EVG)

• State abruptly ends alcohol-to-go policy (Eater... the Times ... Gothamist

• "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" turns 50 (Axios)

• A piece on the new LGBTQ+-friendly Stickett Inn on First Avenue (Time Out ... first on EVG

• At the open auditions for Stomp (Gothamist ... previously on EVG

• Fashion boutique (and East Village alum) Cafe Forgot opens first permanent space on lower Ludlow Street (WWD

• Man asking for change outside Think Coffee on the Bowery at Bleecker "attacked" a 61-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman (The Post

• Lower East Side Film Festival returns to in-person events this July (The Lo-Down)

Friday's opening shot

A view this morning from outside the main lawn in Tompkins Square Park... there has been some discussion about the trash situation in the Park, where staff leaves out the large trash bags... and then the trash sits out overnight.

As Park regulars have noted, it's not uncommon to find the bags ripped open by rats overnight, the contents spread over the lawn. 

Thanks to Goggla for the photo.

Thursday, June 24, 2021

A Visit to Brix Wines and Barnyard Cheese Shop on Avenue B

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

During my recent visit to sister shops Brix Wine and Barnyard Cheese, several neighbors dropped by to tell owner Beatriz Gutierrez how pleased they were that the longtime businesses were still up and running to serve the East Village.

In February, Barnyard temporarily closed on Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street with a rather cryptic note for patrons. However, the shop reopened in April — at the same time, Brix moved one storefront to the north, leaving a vacant space between the two businesses. 

Gutierrez told me more about the temporary closure, plans for the storefront that now separates Barnyard and Brix, and her deep appreciation for her customers. 
There’s been a lot of change in your shops recently. Can you explain what happened with the temporary closure, the moving of locations, and what you plan to do with the new space in the middle?

Barnyard's temporary closure allowed us to rethink the layout in anticipation of the city and state's capacity guidelines. We desperately needed to have people come into the store since most of what we offer is visual — the cheeses, jams, fresh bread, house-made prepacked foods, etc. We were able to do that, and it seems to be working. 

As for Brix, the closure of Barnyard gave us the time to move the wine shop to the space next door, which is bigger and provided space to carry and store more inventory. It was a blessing in disguise. 

The middle space — still in the conception stage — will be an extension of both Brix and Barnyard. A sort of Adult Learning Center, if you will, where we plan to have tastings, culinary classes, advanced and specialized wine seminars, cheese school, and private gatherings.  

How do you see the local economy shaping up as we continue to move into a recovery phase from the pandemic?

I see a better tomorrow for everyone. Although we are still recovering from more than a year of hardship caused by the pandemic, we managed to survive, and since reopening, the East Village has come back to support us and a collective sigh of relief has been breathed by everyone. 

The support, gratitude, and well wishes have been overwhelming and so appreciated. We are grateful to everyone who came back through our doors. 

As a small-business owner, what were some of the lessons learned from the pandemic?

So many things have been learned, but I’d say the top three are: Never give up. You have a purpose. Loyalty is everything. 
What do you have to say about your regulars and other patrons these past 15-plus months?

I'd have to say that they are the most supportive and wonderful customers a small business could hope for. We are able to exist because of them. We strive to create a place that provides something useful, serves it with pride and a good attitude, and make a visit something they can count on in the future.

I really believe our customers get that at Brix and Barnyard. They have come back and continue to do so. I can't thank our neighbors enough for sticking by us.  

What's next for the shops?

What's next is the middle store. It has to be something that enhances the neighborhood and fills a void. What do we need? Stay tuned.
Barnyard Cheese is at 168 Avenue B and Brix Wines is at 170 Avenue B. 

Barnyard hours:
Monday — Saturday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Brix hours:
Sunday — Thursday: Noon to 8 p.m; until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday

Rats on 1st Street

An EVG reader who lives on First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue shared a video from Tuesday evening... showing "the rat family that has taken over the sidewalk." 

Per the reader: "This area has always been a rat haven, but it has really gotten nuts since about early March." 

In the video below, the rats are seen moving back and forth in front of Abetta, the longtime boiler and welding service, and a stray bag of garbage. 

"Not sure where the garbage bags are from since it's not garbage day on First Street — nobody else has garbage out," the reader points out.

Some of the rats also jump up into the chassis and the wheels of the parked cars nearby. 

"At one point I counted 12 rats while filming these videos. There are even some cute little baby rats."

See for yourself...

 

Residents can file rat and mouse complaints with 311 here. Whether the city might take corrective action is another story...

A petition to fund Public Land schoolyards for community use

There's a petition in circulation now titled "Fund the Trust for Public Lands Schoolyards" and addressed to Mayor DeBlasio, City Council and NYC Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter.

The petition asks the following: 
We write to you today, as parents, PTA members, and community members ... to urge you to adopt the City Council's recommendation of including funding (approximately $1.8M) to open 23 Trust for Public Land schoolyards to the public during after-school hours, on weekends and on holidays. This investment will open schoolyards across the city ... to the surrounding community, providing vitally needed open space.
Closer to home, several local playgrounds have been closed to the public since early 2020, including behind P.S. 19 on First Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street (pictured above). This playground, featuring a synthetic turf field and painted track, debuted in June 2018 ... and was open to the community after school and on weekends and holidays — just not when in use by P.S. 19 or any of their after-school programs.

Since 1996, the Trust for Public Land has helped revamp playgrounds at New York City public schools through a public-private partnership. Aside from P.S. 19, they've worked on playgrounds in the East Village at P.S. 15 The Roberto Clemente School and the Children’s Workshop School/East Village Community School.

Find the petition here.

H/T Choresh Wald!

Previously on EV Grieve:

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Wednesday's parting shot

As seen by Stacie Joy today on Fourth Street between Avenue B and Avenue... cue the Alice Cooper!

Big Belly trash cans go MIA around Tompkins Square Park

As you may have noticed, the city has removed the solar-powered, Big Belly trash cans around Tompkins Square Park. 

The plain ol' trash cans are now back on the corners, such as Seventh Street and Avenue A (above!) and 10th Street and Avenue A...
And Vinny & O shared these photos from 10th Street and Avenue B yesterday ... (that one outside Sheen Brothers seemed to be chronically full or on the fritz) ...
The Big Belly trash cans arrived here in July 2017 as part of the city's $32-million plan to combat vermin in rat-popular neighborhoods, like this one.

The Daily News previously reported that each can costs $7,000. Not sure how effective they are/were with trash piled atop the pricy cans (here and here, for example) or being out of order (here and here, for example).

The Big Belly receptacles remain inside Tompkins Square Park...