The return of the anonymous, animal-loving snow shoveler of the East Village

Residents still digging out from Monday's blizzard are receiving an assist... and it's a familiar name for some of you — the anonymous, animal-loving snow shoveler.

You may recall this story from the snowy days of 2016... an anonymous individual who voluntarily shoveled out snowbound cars (see the links below) ... leaving behind a note explaining the act of kindness ... anyone who wanted to express his or her gratitude could donate to the shoveler's favorite cause — Mighty Mutts/Ollie's Place Animal Rescue. 

Here's more from the snow shoveler last evening via email:

I wanted to let people know that I've been shoveling out random cars again and it's too wet out to leave notes on cars.   

If someone wants to make it clear that they don't want their car shoveled out they can. If I've already shoveled someone's car and they are furious I can put the snow back. I am extremely careful and never touch the cars.

As in the past no one should feel any obligation for the service. It is something I enjoy doing and I'm getting some exercise but if they want to make a donation to Mighty Mutts/Ollie's Place Animal Rescue, go for it.  

Photo of a random shoveled-out parking space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• There is an anonymous, animal-loving snow shoveler in the East Village

• More about the anonymous, animal-loving snow shoveler of the East Village

The latest single from Phony Express: 'Pickup On 11th Street (Richie's Guitar Shop Bop)'

Phony Express, the prolific and anonymous pandemic-era East Village band, has released a new single — "Pickup On 11th Street (Richie's Guitar Shop Bop)." 

Per the band in a statement to EVG: "Richie is a close friend of the band. He’s been quietly inspiring music in our neighborhood for more than 35 years."

Have a listen: 

   

Previously on EV Grieve: 

The debut of Phony Express, a local pandemic-era band who collaborates by phone

EVG Etc.: Weathering the storm with Amelia and Christo; Prepping for International Clash Day

 

• Man slashed on the L-train platform on 14th Street and First Avenue (The Post ... ABC 7)

• Cuomo nows says restaurant workers and cab drivers are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines (Gothamist ... the City) 

• Noreetuh on 1st Avenue launches a free weekly meal for unemployed restaurant workers (Instagram ... h/t Eater) 

• Testing out Big Stick Willy's, the delivery-only cheese stick business in the East Village (Grub Street) 

• Exploring the life and music of free jazz great William Parker (The Brooklyn Rail) 

• How did Amelia and Christo weather the storm on Monday? (Laura Goggin Photography) 

• City lags in clearing bike lanes of snow (Streetsblog) 

• International Clash Day 2021 is TOMORROW (KEXP) 

• What the Ramones played at their last-ever U.K. gig on Feb. 3, 1996 (Glide Magazine) 

Tree pic along Tompkins Square Park on 10th Street

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 ... 

C&B Cafe turns 6

A quick — and slightly belated! — happy 6th anniversary to C&B Cafe over at 178 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Chef-owner Ali Sahin's A+ breakfast-lunch-coffee to-go shop opened in late January 2015. 

While it was certainly a challenging year for any local business (C&B's woes included a break-in), Sahin did have plenty to celebrate, including a successful crowdfunding campaign to purchase a new oven, a lease to extend the space into the vacant storefront next door and a headline-grabbing champagne assist as Biden won the presidency. 

Here's to the next six years... 

Photo from April by Stacie Joy

Space where Momofuku got its start is for rent on 1st Avenue

163 First Ave. just north of 10th Street is now on the rental market.

The space is notable to some local food aficionados for being where David Chang's Momofuku empire got is start .... first as the home of Noodle Bar (2004) before it moved a few storefronts away... later becoming Momofuku Ko for six years (2008-2014), which is now open in a larger space on Extra Place ... and then the first outpost of his Fuku fried chicken sandwich chain (2015-2018).

There was speculation that Chang would hold on to the space, as Eater noted after Fuku closed: 

The space, near and dear to Momofuku as the location that kicked off Chang’s empire, will continue to serve as an incubator — though what else the company has up its sleeves is TBD.

Not much info on the retail listing, except that the space is vented for cooking, though all uses are considered. 

Photo by Steven with assistance from EV Arrow

P.S.

Bring back Wraparama!

Snowplow collides with the Iggy's curbside space on Ludlow Street

We noted a few of the curbside dining spaces that were damaged during Monday's blizzard (a small number all things considered). 

While Mother Nature may have wreaked some havoc... at least one city employee was responsible for plowing into the curbside space outside Iggy's Keltic Lounge on Ludlow between Stanton and Rivington.

According to an Iggy's employee, "our barrier is a foot closer to the sidewalk than everyone else around us. We have reflectors and a giant construction barrel on the side where the cars come down the street."

Still. 

"This guy got close, backed up, and got closer. What the hell?" 

The curbside space, which the tavern was still using (though not Monday evening) is still standing, though slightly askew. 

The carpenter who built the structure this past summer will assess the damage tomorrow...

Wednesday's parting shot

Thanks to EVG reader Danny for this photo from Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ...

3rd Street piano update

An EVG reader provided an update about that piano on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue that appeared during Monday's blizzard... prompting a stranger to pay a visit and play a few songs... 

Anyway, as you can see, someone shoved the piano over. Or else it slipped. 

P.S. And who is going to comment, "This never would have happened if the Hells Angels still lived here!"

You could even say it glows

EVG reader Karen shared this from Tompkins Square Park last night... an igloo with mood lighting...

   

 The lighting was said to be done for staging purposes to help rent the space...

Former Snowdays space will yield a sushi counter on 10th Street

A restaurant called Omakase Sushi is in the works for 241 E. 10th St. just west of First Avenue... a public notice is on the front door as the proprietors will seek a beer-wine license before Community Board 3 this month...

The application posted on the CB3 website (PDF here, which includes a sample menu) shows that the sushi counter will (eventually) be open daily from noon to midnight. 

David Chen is listed as the proprietor. While he has not been licensed before within the confines of CB3, he does have experience running this type of business. (The questionnaire does not provide the names of previous restaurants.)

The virtual CB3-SLA meeting is Monday night at 6:30.

Snowdays, the dessert shop specializing in Asian-inspired shaved frozen cream (aka snow cream), closed late last summer, unable to continue in business during the pandemic. The shop, originally called Snowdays Shavery, opened here in August 2014. The space was previously a Kung Fu Tea location. 

Before this it was Vinyl Market, the electronic/DJ specialty shop. Anyway, don't recall that this space was ever licensed for alcohol before.

Pre-snow photos by Steven

Thanks to Mighty Quinn's, Otto's Tacos is making a (virtual) return

All four outposts of Otto's Tacos permanently closed late last year, including the one on Second Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

However, the quick-serve tacqueria has made a comeback thanks to Mighty Quinn's Barbeque.

In an article this week on ghost kitchens and delivery-only restaurants, CNBC reports that Otto's has become a virtual brand, an increasingly popular concept thanks to COVID-19.

After their closure, Otto's founder Otto Cedeno reportedly contacted Mighty Quinn's.

Per CNBC:

The two companies opened their flagship locations in the East Village neighborhood two blocks away from each other less than a decade ago, and their founders were friendly, swapping industry updates and tips, particularly as the coronavirus pandemic hammered New York City. 

But rather buying Otto's Tacos outright, Mighty Quinn's struck a deal instead to license the brand and bring it back to life as a virtual brand. The barbeque chain also sells chicken wings under the virtual brand Sugar Wing. 

"We decided, rather than bringing on additional kitchen capacity, to utilize what we already had at Mighty Quinn's to execute their menus," said Mighty Quinn's co-founder Micha Magid.

For now, the digital, delivery only location for Otto's is on the Upper East Side (as of last month). Otto's will be expanding to other neighborhoods in 2021. Service will likely one day include the East Village, given that both Otto's and Mighty Quinn's started in the neighborhood ... and because Otto's has a built-in audience here.

The former Otto's storefront on Second Avenue is said to become another taco shop.

Deli in the works for the SE corner of Avenue C and 10th Street

After years of use as a bar-restaurant, the storefront on the southeast corner of 10th Street and Avenue C will soon be home to a deli.

According to the @TradedNY site, the new tenant is Green Land Gourmet Deli. No word at the moment when they plan to open or what they might have to offer (aside from the usual deli-type fare!).

From July 2018 to the end of 2019, the space was a reincarnated East Village Tavern (in name only) and, briefly, Daytripper (same owners). 

Prior to this, a different set of owners ran East Village Tavern, which closed in November 2016 after eight years following a reported rent dispute with landlord Steve Croman. 

Photo via the EVG archives

Another pizzeria slinging 99-cent slices coming to 14th Street

A 99-cent sliceria is coming soon to the former Rainbow Nails & Spa space at 424 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

EVG regular Gojira, who shared the above photo, notes that the interior "is still littered with the salon furnishings, so no idea when this is all going to happen."

This is the latest no-frills pizza shop to open around here ... a 99-cent joint opened last fall at 246 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ... joining the September debut of 99-Cent Fresh Pizza & Hot Dog at 131 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Meanwhile, a New York Sal's Pizza is opening soon at 536 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Tuesday's parting shot

The snow teddy outside the March Hare on Ninth Street... photo by Derek Berg...

Mystery pianist playing some snow tunes on 3rd Street

During the snowstorm last night, a mystery man arrived ... and started playing a piano that was out on the sidewalk on Third Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

EVG reader Max shared the photo and video clip below... and noted that the man returned this evening around 5. "He's taking some requests from neighbors out the window, and had some admirers stop to watch."

A post-blizzard look at curbside dining structures

We spotted a few restaurant employees shoveling out their curbside dining structures today following the nearly 18 inches of snowfall in the past 36 hours...

This was the second major snow test for restaurants, forced to come up with alternate ways to serve patrons after the state shuttered indoor dining in March 2020. 

The city banned curbside dining last night during the winter storm. (Plus, many restaurants aren't open on Mondays.) Most of the streeteateries looked to have weathered the blizzard.

Several of the less-sturdy-looking structures were damaged, such as outside Sushi Dojo on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street (h/t to our friends at the DeColores Community Yard!) ... this space was not in use right now, as the restaurant is just offering delivery and takeout...

Thai Hub's tent space, still in use at times, on Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street was also KO'd ...

And Ramen Setagaya on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue didn't have much of a space anymore... this is a photo of it from Saturday...

And now...

Indoor dining at 25 percent is set to return on Feb. 14. Back in September, Mayor de Blasio announced that the city’s outdoor dining program would be made permanent.

Updated 6 p.m.

The folks at the DeColores Community Yard also spotted damage to the curbside space at Ama Raw Bar on Avenue B near 12th Street...

And Eden points out the remains of the space at Jiang Diner on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Updated 2/3 

Not an outdoor structure... but EVG reader Joe points out that the awning of the currently closed Nowhere came down on 14th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Snowstorm photo recap

We've been buried under an avalanche of snow photos here... so we're sharing a few more shots from the big storm yesterday, which left an estimated 17.2 inches in Central Park as of this morning. 

Goggla took the top shot in Tompkins Square Park... and here are others along Avenue A...

And here's a selection from Alan Good in Tompkins Square Park...

... and as you may know, Alan is the owner of HENGE Outdoor Ping Pong Tables, and responsible for donating the two in Tompkins Square Park...

They cleared the table yesterday, and plan to return today to move out the more recent snowfall. (They also leave free balls and paddles under the table.) 

Derek Berg provided two more scenes...

RIP Ricky Powell

Ricky Powell, the celebrated downtown photographer best known for his work with the Beastie Boys and other iconic figures in the early days of rap, has died. He was 59. Media outlets have reported that he died of heart failure. 

From Pitchfork:

In his heyday in the in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Powell was a mainstay in the downtown Manhattan art and music scene. His portraits and candids of musicians like Eric B and Rakim, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, and Madonna, as well as downtown NYC denizens like Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sofia Coppola, and Laurence Fishburne, have been shown in art galleries and published in several photo books.

In 1986, he quit his day job (selling lemon ices) to go on tour with the Beasties Boys as they opened for Run-DMC.

He would become a regular with the band, from cameos in videos and lyrics, such as in "Car Thief" on Paul's Boutique. 

Powell later hosted the cable access show "Rappin’ With The Rickster," which chronicled the oddities of daily NYC life as well as up-and-coming actors, musicians and scenesters.

You can read more about his life and the outpouring of tributes to him at these sites: 

• Complex

•  Brooklyn Vegan

• Rolling Stone

And here's a January 2020 interview with him on OG Talk at the Organic Grill on First Avenue...

Image via Wikipedia

Monday's parting shots

Scenes from Tompkins Square Park this afternoon courtesy of Steven... good packing snow... and a lot of it (15.3 inches reported at Central Park...)

Noted

Two random scenes from today... Above on Eighth Street at Avenue B, Dave on 7th reminds us to remember to roll up the windows to our vehicles ahead of a nor'easter... ... and below, a reader shares this from 12th Street... a challenging day to be moving...

Happy No. 22 to Lavagna

Taking a break from posts about snow to wish Lavagna, the low-key Italian restaurant at 545 E. Fifth St., a happy 22nd anniversary.

In a time when far too many restaurants are closing, I'm happy to see that Lavagna has been able to continue to make it work during the pandemic. 

Will quote this review from over at The Infatuation from a few years back:

The place has been in business since 1999, and it’s still busy every night. Chalk it up to an excellent and consistent menu of pastas and entrees that keep the regulars coming back, exceptional daily specials, and a really good wine list. It’s everything that you want a cozy Italian restaurant to be, and it’s not even all that expensive. 

Lavagna, which is just west off of Avenue B, is open for some sidewalk and curbside seating and takeout and delivery from 5-10 p.m. daily. (Ordering from their website is simple.)

Congratulations to Yorgos and the entire Lavagna family.

Photo via the Lavagna Instagram account

Afternoon view

EVG reader Carol Kendzierski shares this view of the New York City Marble Cemetery on Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Mid-morning snow break (Still Snowing Edition)

EVG regular Greg Masters shared these photos from Tompkins Square Park this morning ...