Noted

Writer Anna Merlan uncovered this Craigslist posting... which is now making the rounds on Twitter.

So if you need a laugh... or a job.
 

Pretty simple instructions: "My sister is having an outdoor wedding in New Canaan ct in May. I want someone to be naked in the woods and to run through the wedding in order to ruin it. I will protect you from my family."

And New Canaan is said to be nice in the spring.

H/T Stacie!

Celebrating Diwali

Yesterday marked the third day of Diwali, the five-day Hindu festival of lights ... EVG Grieve contributor Stacie Joy shared this photo of Pria Chouhan, who was celebrating at her restaurant Desi Galli on Avenue B yesterday...

Previously on EV Grieve:

• A visit to Desi Galli on Avenue B

EVG Etc.: Looking for holiday volunteers; Remembering Aldo Tambellin

• The Bowery Mission and City Harvest need volunteers this holiday season (FOX 5)

• Remembering Aldo Tambellini, the pioneering filmmaker and artist who in the 1960s opened the Gate and the Black Gate in the East Village, screening films by Kenneth Anger and Yayoi Kusama, among many others (The Guardian ... ARTnews) 

• East Village restauranteurs talk about the possibility of the state suspending indoor dining (Gothamist) 

• An analysis of the ZIP codes New Yorkers exited between March 1 and Oct. 31. Topping the list: Upper West Side, 10023 — 3,368. At No. 20: East Village, 10009 — 728 (The Post)

• East Village resident Douglas Stuart discusses his acclaimed debut novel, "Shuggie Bain" (New York) 

• The Landmarks Preservation Commission is reviewing proposals to renovate and refurbish the façade of Bathhouse Studios on 11th Street (NYY ... previously on EVG) 

•  A positive review (it "wows") for Mokyo on St. Mark's Place (Forbes)

• A preview of the new Half Japanese record (Dangerous Minds) 

• "Dash & Lily," an eight-episode holiday-themed romantic comedy series, debuted on Netflix this past week to positive notices (100% on Rotten Tomatoes!).  As you may recall, the crew filmed quite a bit around the neighborhood in late 2019 (here and here for instance). In the trailer, you can see the locations include Two Boots on Avenue A and the Strand...

RBG mural work resumes

After a few days of rain, @ellestreetart is back at work on the RBG mural on the southwest corner of First Avenue and 11th Street (first reported here) ... she started on Monday...

Earlier this month, workers removed Shepard Fairey's "Rise Above" mural that had been on this space for the past four years.

Fall ensemble

Goggla shared these photos on Tuesday... showing the spectacular fall foliage in Tompkins Square Park... (the recent rains and winds have removed some of these leaves from the trees ... but many are still holding on...) 

Report of a maintenance hole explosion on 1st Avenue

Here's an early reader report... this happened on First Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street:

Last night aprox 3 a.m. there was a HUGE series of explosions rocking the entire block. What sounded like extremely loud electrical crackling was booming as a sustained series of explosions that lasted 10-15 minutes as giant clouds of acrid smoke rose from a vent in the street near the bike lane directly in front of 87-89 First Ave. 

The bizarre crackling/buzzing/explosion sound had me thinking we were under attack again (9/11 flashback). Either that or some kind of "Cloverfield" situation... Multiple firehouses and emergency agencies arrived. 

Con Ed and other emergency crews are on the scene this morning... no official word on what happened. According to the Citizen app, the FDNY described this as a maintenance hole explosion.

It's a heartache

 

Something a little different ... this is "Something on Your Mind," a song from 1971 by Karen Dalton from the folk blues singer's second and final studio album. 

Although Bob Dylan once called her his favorite singer from the Greenwich Village folk scene of the 1960s, she was mostly forgotten until some years after her death in 1993 at 55. 

She is the subject of a new documentary (produced by Wim Wenders) titled "In My Own Time: A Portrait of Karen Dalton" that's featured at DOC NYC this month.

New music from SUSU, the Compulsions

Today, local band SUSU, led by Liza Colby and Kia Warren, released "Slow Death," a Flamin' Groovies cover from their new debut EP, Panther City.

They'll be at the East Village Vintage Collective today from 4-8 p.m. selling music and merchandise. The shop is at 545 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Find more info on SUSU here. 

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Also today, East Village-based guitarist and vocalist Rob Carlyle and his band, the Compulsions, are releasing their third full-length studio album, Ferocious.

The record includes the contributions of guitarists Earl Slick and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal.

Look for more about the Compulsions here.

Workers removing the sidewalk bridge from around the explosion site condoplex

Workers this morning are removing the sidewalk bridge from around 45 E. Seventh St., the 7-story, 21-unit condoplex on the northwest corner of Second Avenue...

In recent years, this corner has been a gathering spot in the summer-fall for travelers/crusties. In October 2018 (pre-sidewalk bridge), for instance, the NYPD set up a light tower here to deter anyone from congregating and camping out.

People have been living under here in recent months as well, capturing the ire of the Post.

As noted previously, this condoplex is on two of the three lots destroyed during the deadly gas explosion here on March 26, 2015. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos... and thanks to Alex R. for the tip!

Updated 5:30 p.m.

Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A continues on without gas — or help from the city

By all accounts, it looked like business as usual yesterday at Tompkins Square Bagels at 165 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street. Customers and delivery people were coming and going through the open doors. The smell of fresh-baked bagels was drifting from inside. 

However, behind the scenes, patrons may not know what owner Christopher Pugliese and his team needed to do to open.

On Wednesday, a carbon monoxide sensor went off related to the storefront's hot water heater.

"We discovered a hole in the flue that brings in replacement air. Because of the hole, replacement air wasn’t getting into the basement, thus the high carbon monoxide reading," Pugliese said. 

However, despite identifying the problem and quickly having it repaired, ConEd shut off the gas to the business. And Pugliese is angry.

"They could've disconnected the water heater. I get why they turned off the gas. It's easier ... I get that life was at risk," said Pugliese, stressing that safety is always a top concern. "But once it's determined that it wasn't a gas issue and the flue had been fixed, I shouldn't have to file permits and jump through hoops, pay fees, and be put on a ConEd waitlist. That is absolute bullshit."

For now, he's estimating a four- to eight-week period to get gas service to the bagel shop restored, a process that includes hiring a plumber, filing permits with the Department of Buildings, waiting for the city to inspect the space — all before ConEd even steps in, all for an issue that has already been addressed.

On Wednesday, Pugliese figured he'd need to close for the interim. "If we didn’t have the Second Avenue store this could've been a death blow," he said.

By yesterday morning, however, Tompkins Square Bagels, which first opened in December 2011, was up and running on Avenue A.

"Over the past 24 hours I bought three electric grills and had three 220-volt power lines installed so I could cook," he said. "They tried their best to shut me down but I am smarter and work harder than they could ever imagine." 

Total cost of the interim cooking system: $7,000

"I am open in spite of the city," said Pugliese, who noted that his shops helped feed the homeless and essential front-line workers during the pandemic's worst days in the spring. "I still did my part to help this city ... and we are all in this together? I just don't see the support on the other end."

A break in at China Town on East Houston

There was a break in this week at China Town, the reliable quick-serve restaurant at 250 E. Houston between Avenue A and Avenue B...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos and spoke with the proprietor, who said that their cash box and other various items were stolen in the process... the proprietor encouraged patrons to order delivery or come pick up food to go ... noting that "things are difficult now."

Autumn leaves

Tompkins Square Park today...

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 NYC ... as well as political observations on current events...

A visit to FlyeLyfe on 11th Street

I’m meeting artist and store owner P.J. O’Rourke at FlyeLyfe, 434 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A, to see what the 35-year-old East Village resident is showcasing at his 13-month-old shop.

He’s selling his original design magnets, tees, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, masks, prints, patches, bags and caps, all printed in house. I’ve seen his stickers around the neighborhood, especially Dr. Fauci the Chronic 2020 and Wuhanalds, but it’s the Trumpkashi, a mashup of Tekashi 6ix9ine and Donald Trump that is getting the most attention while I am visiting...

O’Rourke previously sold merch in the subways via mobile art cart, what he calls his “subway hustle” and a bit of that hustle remains as he sits outside his storefront and calls out to passersby, holding up favorite designs and asking if they want to pay by cash, card or Bitcoin. “NY saved my life,” he tells me. 

“The access to foot traffic is why I am successful. I need the exposure of living in a city with a concentration of so many people. This is especially important if, like me, you don’t have money.”

FlyeLyfe has a month-to-month lease for now, and O’Rourke plans to keep the store in the neighborhood, but hopes to move to an on-the-Avenue spot for increased foot traffic and exposure.

You can keep up with the store here. The shop is open from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Gov. Cuomo sets new curfew for NYC bars and restaurants as COVID-19 cases rise

ICYMI: With the rising number of cases in the state, Gov. Cuomo yesterday announced new COVID-19 restrictions on bars, restaurants, gyms and residential gatherings in New York.

What does this mean?

Effective Friday at 10 p.m., bars, restaurants and gyms or fitness centers, as well as any State Liquor Authority-licensed establishment, will be required to close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. 

Restaurants will still be allowed to provide curbside, food-only pick-up or delivery after 10 p.m., but will not be permitted to serve alcohol to go. 

NYC bars and restaurants were previously mandated to close outdoor dining at 11 p.m. and indoor dining at midnight.

And what else came from yesterday's announcement?

The Governor also announced that indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences will be limited to no more than 10 people. The limit will be implemented due to the recent prevalence of COVID spread resulting from small indoor gatherings including Halloween parties. 

These gatherings have become a major cause of cluster activity across the state. 

"If you look at where the cases are coming from, if you do the contact tracing, you'll see they're coming from three main areas: establishments where alcohol is served, gyms, and indoor gatherings at private homes," Cuomo said in a statement announcing the new restrictions.

The city’s overall infection rate is roughly 2.5 percent in a seven-day average. According to data from the city, the 10009 zip code has an infection rate of 1.16 percent in that timeframe; 0.52 percent in the 10003 zip code.

Reader report: The NYSC outpost reopens on Avenue A

Updated 11/14: This is now a TMPL outpost.

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From the EVG tipline: The New York Sports Clubs outpost reopened this week on Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street.

Several balloons now beckon gym goers through the front door here...

This development comes after Town Sports, the operator of New York Sports Clubs and Lucille Roberts gyms, won bankruptcy court approval last week to sell itself to a group of lenders and private-equity firm Tacit Capital LLC in a deal valued at about $85 million, as I cut-n-paste from a Wall Street Journal article behind the paywall. 

New ownership said they'd reopen 80-plus of the locations.

Town Sports filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 14 ... and this branch opened for a day or two in late September before quickly shutting down again, once again confusing and angering patrons. 

The NYSC website still lists this location as closed. However, people could be seen working out through the windows on the upper floors. Our tipster, a former member, said that he did not receive any notice about a reopening.

This past spring, NYSC members were angry that the club was still charging them membership fees despite the COVID-19 closure. Town Sports did eventually offer refunds.

This 2nd Avenue building comes back into full view

The sidewalk bridge was removed the other day from outside 104 Second Ave. at Sixth Street... ending a nearly three-year run (as seen in Google Street View).

One building resident said that no work was actually done during this time. The Department of Buildings had issued several permits in recent years, including for "removal/replacement of defective brickwork, limestone and terra cotta segments." 

The two restaurants in the retails spaces have also moved on, most recently Jiang Diner after six whole weeks ... and, in the corner space, Madame Vo BBQ, which seems to have permanently merged with its sister restaurant on 10th Street. 

Anyway, nice to see the building again. (And bring back Bamboo House!)

As for sidewalk bridges, I'd say the one outside 19-23 St. Mark's Place has the current record with more than five years maybe? (In emeritus status: the sidewalk bridge around the long-empty P.S. 64 on Ninth and 10th streets.)

Wednesday's parting shot

The East Village-based Thing 1 and Thing 2 playing a few songs along Avenue B this evening... photo by Stacie Joy...

Gallery Watch: Total Running Time by Jibade-Khalil Huffman at Magenta Plains

Text and photos by Clare Gemima

Total Running Time by Jibade-Khalil Huffman

Magenta Plains, 94 Allen St.

Having stumbled across Magenta Plains awaiting the results of the election, my mood was tense and suspended. I was cynical and in urgent need of a distraction, but entering this gallery gave me so much more than that. I was elated by what I saw the second I walked into the almost disguised gallery space on Allen Street (refer to the top photo to avoid missing it entirely).

 
The atmosphere was moody and engrossing. Neons, vocal soundscapes and jolted light flashings from unconventionally hung projectors filled the two-storied gallery space. 

Total Running Time presents a multifaceted insight into the practice of inter-disciplinary artist Jibade-Khalil Huffman, a successful writer and poet working with text and imagery to re-imagine and challenge semiotic hierarchies. His object making involves the re-contextualization of text presented through densely layered video pieces, light work, moving imagery and digital stills. 

The exhibition includes photographic lightboxes and digital photo-collages printed onto transparencies that are manipulated and scrutinized by looped video projections. Layering visuals for Huffman intentionally speaks to conversations and language pertinent to race and visibility. 

Upon looking at a projected transparency work, you’ll find yourself becoming confused about what is printed and what is projected while being completely mesmerized by the piece and its much larger light leak onto the back wall. The prints are saturated with color and cartoon graphics, making for an almost psychedelic and explosive experience. 

Huffman’s work confronts serious subject matter while colliding loose and dated graphics together such as paint-by-number motifs, classic television stills, advertisements from the 1960s and iconography from various American comic books. 

His work embraces contemporary interests such as the degradation of digital media while also saluting recognizable imagery to draw his viewers in. Because of the ephemeral nature of Huffman’s work, I suggest Total Running Time be a show you visit more than once. 

Whether his pieces juxtapose illustrations with video or projections with digital prints, his work looks and feels different with every photographic iteration, video capture and sensory interaction. 

Total Running Time by Jibade-Khalil Huffman is showing at Magenta Plains until Dec. 16. 

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Clare Gemima is a visual artist from New Zealand. New-ish to the East Village, she spends her time as an artist assistant and gallery go-er, hungry to explore what's happening in her local art world. You can find her work here: claregemima.com 

Last Avenue B Flea for 2020 is this Saturday

The fourth and final Avenue B Flea for 2020 is coming up on Saturday. Same time and place: Avenue B between 10th Street and 12th Street from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Find the vendor info via the Facebook link.)

The Avenue B Flea this past Saturday turned into a celebration ... as news broke that morning that Joe Biden had become the president-elect. EVG contributor Stacie Joy was on the scene...

... and organizer Lisa Marie with her husband Suke...

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• The next Avenue B Flea is Saturday, and here's how they came to be