Openings: A trio of quick-serve vegan options

Three new vegan options opened around the neighborhood last week. (H/T to Matt @vegan.nyx)

A quick recap: 

• PLNT Burger's first NYC outpost opened last Monday at 139 Fourth Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street. (Previously on EVG.) 

The Virginia-based chain, started by celebrity chef-Food Network star Spike Mendelsohn, has multiple locations in the mid-Atlantic region. You can find the PLNT menu here. 

The space, with room for several diners, is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

• Raíz Modern Mexican is up and running at 120 First Ave. (not 120A and 120 1/2!) between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

As previously noted, Raíz is a plant-based, fast-casual restaurant featuring burritos, tacos, salads and bowls. You can find a menu here. 

They are open Tuesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. 

• Vegan Grill, a quick-serve, plant-based restaurant, debuted Thursday at 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (First reported in October.) 

The business got its start in late 2019 on Castle Hill Avenue in the Bronx; this will be its third outpost after a grand opening in Williamsburg earlier this month. 

You can find a menu here and some food pics on Instagram. 

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Top pic via Instagram

Noted

As seen today on the NE corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place... thanks to @unitof for the photo. 

Annnnd some background here.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with takeout for two via Derek Berg) ... 

• RIP Billy the Artist (Sunday) 

• More details about the fire that destroyed the Essex Card Shop (Wednesday) 

• Behold the 21-floor office building that's replacing the B Bar & Grill on the Bowery (Tuesday) 

• RIP David Simon (Wednesday) 

• Report: Madison Realty Capital can proceed with takeover of long-empty P.S. 64 (Wednesday) 

• Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge debuts on Avenue B (Thursday) 

• Last weekend in business for Dress Shoppe II (Friday) 

• Oddly configured Walgreens is closing on Union Square (Monday) 

• Nai Tapas Bar set to open in new 2nd Avenue home (Monday) 

• The latest at East River Park: night work at Delancey; passive lawn set to debut (Monday) ... Reader report: The new passive lawn in East River Park is a 'sodden mess' (Tuesday) 

• [plant-baked] returns today with limited hours (Friday) 

• A new broker for 20 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• The Bronx Brewery announces itself on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Openings: TLK on 3rd Avenue (Friday) 

• TD Bank is shrinking on 3rd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Another taker for 179 Essex St. (Monday)

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Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics. 

Sunday's opening shot

View from Tompkins Square Park this morning... and several vendors are setting up for the Greenmarket today on A and Seventh ...

Snow day

Here are some scenes from today... whatever this was — nor-easter! blizzard! bomb cyclone! winter storm Kenan! ... that left a reported 7.5 inches of snow in Manhattan... thanks to Derek Berg for the pics!

EVG Etc.: Nor'easter updates; red-tailed hawk archives

Photo yesterday by Derek Berg

• Nor'easter updates (Gothamist)

• Marking the 50th anniverisary of the murders of rookie officers Gregory Foster and Rocco Laurie, who were gunned down on Avenue B and 11th Street while on foot patrol (Daily News) 

• NY mask mandate extended to Feb. 10 (NBC 4)

• NYCHA's shift to private management may drive evictions (City Limits) 

• Chef Jae Lee of Nowon on Sixth Street talks about the decision to give up drinking (Eater) 

• Goggla has an archive page dedicated to the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park dating to 2013 (Laura Goggin Photography) 

• Check out some Essential Cinema at Anthology Film Archives on Second Avenue and Second Street (Official site)

• More about Empire Cannabis Clubs, which recently expanded to the LES (NY1 ... previously on EVG) 

• More about the Kim's Video series at Metrograph (WNYC ... previously on EVG) 

• Hannah Traore Gallery debuts on Orchard Street (Hypebeast) 

• Reviews/thoughs on the "Meet Me in the Bathroom" documentary (Pitchfork ... Variety ... Brooklyn Vegan)

Mid-morning check-in: Still snowing

A reader shared a scene from along 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... as of mid-morning, sources in Tompkins Square Park are putting the snow totals at 6 inches. The city is under a winter storm warning until 7 p.m.

First look at East Village streets that are snowy, empty

As you likely noticed, the winter storm is upon us. 

The latest... a winter storm warning is in effect until 7 this evening, with totals of 5-8 inches expected (though some reports already have the city at more than 5)...

.@NWSNewYorkNY has issued a Winter Storm Warning for NYC: Until 7:00 PM on 1/29. 5-8" of snow with wind gusts up to 45 mph expected. Avoid unnecessary travel. If you must travel, use mass transit. Info: https://t.co/ytwmuQS4K4. https://t.co/3AmmBFaUN5

— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) January 29, 2022

Here are a few random photos from this morning (7:30-8ish)...

Angels and demons

 

The latest video from Surfbort came out this week... the video, which marks the directorial debut of pro skater Lizzie Armanto, is for "Lot Lizard 93" via the Keep On Truckin' record.

'Snow alert' is on ahead of Winter Storm Kenan

Winter Storm Kenan [????] is expected to descend upon the metropolitan area this evening into tomorrow, per the shouty people on TV and the internet. 

Here's the latest from the EVG inbox:

The New York City Emergency Management Department today issued a hazardous travel advisory for Friday evening, January 28, through Saturday, January 29. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for New York City in effect from 7 p.m. Friday through 7 p.m. Saturday, January 29. 

A Winter Storm Warning is issued when heavy snow of 6 inches or more is expected to significantly impact mass transit, utilities, and cause difficult travel conditions. New Yorkers should prepare for snow covered roads and limited visibility. New Yorkers are advised to avoid travel Friday night through Saturday evening, as roads will be dangerous. 

According to the latest National Weather Service forecast, light snow will develop Friday evening, becoming steadier and heavier overnight into Saturday morning. Snow will continue through Saturday afternoon and begin to taper off in the late afternoon. A total of 8 to 12 inches of accumulation is expected with this event, with locally higher amounts possible. Temperatures will be in the low 20s to mid-teens with wind chills near or below zero from Saturday morning through mid-day Sunday. Wind gusts may also be as high as 50 mph with strong gusts continuing through Saturday night, producing low visibility due to drifting and blowing snow, even after snowfall has ended. 

The City's Sanitation Department has issued a "snow alert" beginning on Friday, January 28, at 4 p.m. The Sanitation Department is pre-deploying over 700 salt spreaders to pretreat roadways ahead of the first snowflake and is prepared to dispatch plows in all sectors when more than 2 inches of snow accumulates. 

As of 3 p.m., Key Food was holding its own with items people feel compelled to buy before any storm (bread, milk, etc.). 

No word on the supply of shrimp cocktail that's always on display for impulse buying at the checkout at Union Market on Avenue A and Houston Street...

A cleanup on Houston and B

A reader shares this photo from this morning... showing the DSNY cleaning up underneath the sidewalk bridge on the NW corner of Houston Street and Avenue B (6 Avenue B) ... where Max has been living off and on for a few years. 

There wasn't any sign of Max at the moment... or the dozens of suitcases marked with "FBI evidence."

[plant-baked] returns today with limited hours

Photos by Stacie Joy

[plant-baked] returns today at 117 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

The small bakery with a to-go window had been closed since Dec. 19 while the owners, East Village residents and real-life partners Yunsu and Parker, managed some unforeseen personal circumstances.

Starting today, Yunsu will be at the shop with limited hours and offerings for the time being. (Parker will be back at the bakery in a bit.) You can find the shop open Wednesday-Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 

The bakery opened here in January 2021. Read Stacie Joy's interview with Yunsu and Parker at the link below... 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• A visit to [plant-baked]

Last weekend in business for Dress Shoppe II

As previously reported, Dress Shoppe II, the Indian boutique at 83 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street, is closing, ending a 20-plus year run in the East Village (44 years total). 

Sunday is the shop's last day. 

Saroj Goyal has been doing her best to keep the business going since her husband of 50 years, Purushottam Goyal, died in September 2019. (In a previous post, you can read more about the closing and the financial arrangements with the landlord, the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association II.) 

There are advertised specials on items up to 80-percent off. The shop is open from noon to 8 p.m. daily, with 1-6 p.m. hours on Sunday. 

Moving forward, Saroj will be selling items via Etsy. You can follow along on Instagram too.

Photo by Steven

Openings: TLK on 3rd Avenue

TLK debuted last month at 58 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street. (First mentioned here.)

During the pandemic, hospitality veteran Michelle Morgan, who grew up in Chinatown, opened Tiger Lily Kitchen as a delivery-only business in Gramercy Park. The food gained a following, so Morgan relocated to a space with room for in-person dining. 

Here's more background via the restaurant's website:

Its concept and menu draws inspiration from Michelle's mother, who was born in Hong Kong, and her travels throughout Asia. The vegetarian lifestyle she encountered helped build the platform to be veggie-forward — serving a healthy, Hong Kong inspired, Asian menu that is mostly gluten free and vegan based, with meat options.

TLK is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Hours: Wednesday-Thursday noon to midnight; Friday noon to 2 a.m.; Saturday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday 5 p.m. to midnight.

Find the restaurant's website here. 

Photo courtesy of KK Chote/MST Creative

Thursday's parting shot

A Christmas scene at Gutter Beach tonight on Second Street outside Il Posto Accanto ... (Pic via @ilpostoaccanto) ...

A food and clothing drive Saturday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park

East Village-based artist and entrepreneur P.J. O'Rourke is hosting a food and clothing drive on Saturday afternoon from 1-4 ... at the Ninth Street/Avenue A entrance to Tompkins Square Park. 

During those hours, he'll be collecting new or gently used warm-weather clothes for men and women... as well as non-perishable food items. (He plans to donate the food to the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish on Avenue B at Ninth Street; he was finalizing the outlet for the clothing.)

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• A visit to FlyeLyfe on 11th Street

Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge debuts on Avenue B

Photos by Stacie Joy

Hekate Café & Elixir Lounge is now open at 167 Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street.

As EVG contributor Stacie Joy reported a few weeks back, Lucky Bar owner Abby Ehmann (above) and Brooklyn Roasting Company founder Jim Munson are behind this venture.

A refresher:

"Hekate Café and Elixir Lounge will be a warm space infused with feminine energy, serving coffee and espresso drinks, specialty teas, and magical elixirs. There will also be interesting merchandise for sale with an emphasis on the mystical."

In a storefront that previously housed a dry cleaners, the new business is across the street from Lucky, the bar Ehmann opened in September 2016.

For now, Hekate is serving up coffee drinks daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.     

Then! After 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, there will be "resident witches" on hand for tarot card readings and to answer questions while the shop gets into its coffee groove and figures out the work-in-progress magical elixirs. (Ehmann invites customers to join them for tastings and creating.)

Hekate will also host an array of special evening events, including art and photo openings. Check out the events page at this link.  

The Bronx Brewery announces itself on 2nd Avenue

Exterior signage arrived yesterday for the Bronx Brewery at 64 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street. (Thanks to Steven for the photo!)

We're told that this outpost is an approval away from being all systems go in the weeks ahead. 

Once open, the multi-level space will "combine limited-release brewing, the brewery’s signature events, art & music," per a release about the Bronx Brewery East Village. The space will also feature the first U.S. location for Swedish brand Bastard Burgers.

This outpost of the Taproom, Brewery and Backyard in the South Bronx has been in the work for several years — the initial coming-soon announcement came on March 12, 2020, 10 days before NY State went on PAUSE.

No. 64's retail space has been vacant since NYC Velo moved next door to No. 66 in the spring of 2016.

TD Bank is shrinking on 3rd Avenue

You may have noticed the construction at 47-53 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street ... workers are dividing up the retail space, and sources tell us that the TD Bank is downsizing and will vacant the corner spot.

According to the listing,  the corner storefront will be available starting in September with an ask of $150 per square foot. (Bring back Bendiner & Schlesinger blood labs!) 

TD's mini move continues the trend in which banks downsize their branch networks. Per CNBC on Friday: "U.S. banks shuttered 2,927 branches last year, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data." 

Thanks to Steven for the photo...

RIP David Simon

Several readers have pointed out a small memorial on the SW corner of Second Avenue and 11th Street for David Simon, a familiar presence here who recently passed away.

The Rev. Anne Sawyer at the adjacent St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery told us that she had a fond memory of hosting a 70th birthday party for David on the church property last year. "He asked if we could have a BBQ, so we did," she said, noting that she didn't have any other details on this passing at the moment. 

"I would be happy to host a celebration of life or memorial for anyone who would like to gather," she said.

Thanks to Steven for the photos!