This week in East Village TV shoots

The NBC series "The Blacklist" makes a return to the neighborhood today...  the FBI show starring Megan Boone and James Spader — now in its eighth year — has filmed in and around Tompkins Square Park multiple times through the years (2014 ... 2017).

Signage today points to a shoot around (or in?) the Park... with production vehicles parked on parts of Seventh Street, Eighth Street, Ninth Street and 10th Street.

Also returning this week... "Russian Doll" (still going as "Black Gumball" on film notices)... looks to be filming in multiple locations... with notices up along several streets and avenues... including in and around St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church on 10th Street and Avenue A... 

... whose exterior doubled as Maxine's apartment building, where the party never stopped. 

Aside from "The Blacklist" and "Russian Doll," here are the other TV shoots around here in 2021:

• "FBI" 

• "New Amsterdam"

• "Pose"

Activity at the former Khyber Pass

There has been activity in recent days over at 34 St. Mark's Place ... the former Kyber Pass here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

Not sure at the moment what's happening with the space. Permits point to some plumbing work.

The Afghani restaurant that dated to the mid-1980s quietly closed during the pandemic. (Reported here in June.) Given its longevity on the block, some readers felt as if Khyber Pass deserved more press following its closure.

The storefront is currently for rent. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Greenwich Marketplace debuts on 4th Avenue

Greenwich Marketplace is now open at 120 Fourth Ave. at 12th Street... (coming-soon coverage here).

An EVG reader ducked his head inside the door and reports finding the usual corner market offerings with a larger-than-average deli counter serving up a variety of sandwiches, wraps, paninis and salads as well as breakfast items (omelettes, French toast, egg sandwiches, etc)... and not to mention smoothies and fresh juice.

There are also geographically friendly names on the menu, such as the NYU Wrap featuring grilled chicken, mozzarella cheese, onions, lettuce, tomatoes and avocado ($9.49). You can find the menu at Seamless.

The previous tenant, the PokéSpot, officially closed this past summer after four years. Before that, we had a Subway (sandwich shop) here.

Subway Dreams on 2nd Street

NYC-based illustrator Peach Tao has a new mural up on Second Street at First Avenue (outside the First Avenue Laundry Center).

There are a lot of details in the mural ... including a tribute to the Asian grandmother in San Francisco who fought back against someone randomly attacking her...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos of the work in progress late last week...

In the summer of 2019, Peach helped paint a new sign at Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A.

A sneak peek at the new C&B space

As we reported on Dec. 2, C&B chef-owner Ali Sahin is expanding his cafe into the vacant retail space — the former dry cleaners — next door here at 178 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The other day, Ali gave EVG contributor Stacie Joy a sneak peek at the under-renovation storefront...

Ali hopes to have it up and running in about a month. The larger C&B will not have indoor dining, but rather increased space for staff — and more room to bake bread. The reconfigured C&B will also have a longer to-go counter for patrons.

Meanwhile, C&B remains open daily for to-go service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

With sale of building, the Central Bar signs off after nearly 20 years on 9th Street

The Central Bar, the bi-level sports bar-lounge at 109 E. Ninth St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, has closed.

Ownership made the announcement back on March 18 via Instagram. (Thanks to MP for the photo!)

Per the notice: "Our landlord has sold the building and the new owners will not be keeping us as tenants."

The note goes on to thanks patrons for nearly 20 years of patronage.

The sale hasn't hit public records just yet.

Some years back, the address was home to Pageant Book & Print Shop, and its storefront served as a location for Neil Simon's "Chapter Two" and Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters."

And you can now find Pageant Print Shop at 69 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Four Four South Village is now open on 7th Street

Four Four South Village is now open (as of last Thursday) at 11 E. Seventh St. just east of Cooper Square...

... this is the first NYC outpost for the chain that specializes in Taiwanese beef noodles. (Find their menu here.) 

They are open for dining indoors and out...

The previous tenant, Le Sia, which served a Chinese crawfish boil, was not able to survive the downturn during the pandemic. Le Sia debuted in January 2018. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

The last days of the former B Bar & Grill

The one-level structure that housed B Bar & Grill (1994-2020) awaits demolition on the southwest corner of the Bowery and Fourth Street.

Meanwhile, several people have noted the unglamorous ending for the one-time hotspot... the exterior walls now a high-profile spot for tagging...

As we first reported in January, permits were filed for a 21-floor mixed-use development — a 283-foot-tall office building. According to the proposed plan, the well-employed architect Morris Adjmi's building will encompass 98,799 square feet, with 26,000 square feet set aside for use as an unspecified community facility. 

CB Developers paid $59.5 million for a stake in 358 Bowery, previously a gas station before its conversion into the bar-restaurant. B Bar owner Eric Goode, who owns a handful of hotels, including the Bowery Hotel across the way, assembled air rights to build the larger development on this corner space. 

As for the B Bar, it was expected to close for good this past August. However, the bar-restaurant never reopened after the PAUSE. As we reported back on April 3, 2020, nearly 70 B Bar employees were laid off without any extension of benefits or offer of severance pay.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• CB Developers pay $59.5 million for an interest in 358 Bowery — current home of the B Bar & Grill and likely a new development

• B Bar & Grill lays off its staff without severance

F&M Slice Pizza has closed on Avenue C

F&M Slice Pizza closed up on Saturday over at 153 Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

Eden shared the photo, noting: "Not enough business, and the rent is too high." 

The pizzeria, which arrived here as F&F in late 2011, served budget-friendly 99-cent slices and other items like Jamaican beef patties.

You can bet your bottom dollar that you'll find things for $1 and more here

The Dollar & More store (first reported here) had its grand opening on Saturday at 135 Third Ave. between 14th Street and 15th Street  (thanks for the photo, Doug!) ... expect to find a variety of, say, bulk paper towels, cleaning supplies and other assorted housewares.

Signage also promises toys, pet supplies, party supplies (balloons, much like the ones at the front door, and wrapping paper, not White Claw Variety Packs)... 

Longtime tenant JAM Paper & Envelope closed here in January 2018 after 25 years in business. The company closed its storefronts in a shift to e-commerce.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo on Second Avenue today by Derek Berg...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo by Derek Berg from Friday on Sixth Street)...

• Donations for Ryo, who returned home after a months-long hospitalization to find an empty apartment with new locks (Thursday)

• A walk around inside the long-abandoned — and ghoulishly beautiful — P.S. 64 (Thursday) 

• Hate crime arrest made in assault of Asian woman on Astor Place (Tuesday) 

• A visit to First Avenue Laundry Center (Tuesday) 

• The shirtwaist dress on the Bowery (Wednesday) 

• On the runway along Avenue B (Tuesday) 

• More scaffolding — and now demolition — for this troubled Avenue C corner (Friday) 

• Van Da to treat NYC's 'Warrior Women' to dinner on its 1st night back (Friday) 

• This week's NY See finds a lovingly cradled bottle of wine (Thursday) 

• Gallery Watch heads to Canada (Wednesday) 

• Report: Hate crime investigation on Allen Street as 66-year-old Asian man assaulted (Sunday) 

• Bagel Boss to preside in storefronts on 14th Street, East Houston (Monday) 

• There's now a sidewalk bridge outside Cafe Himalaya (Tuesday) 

• The disappearing pay phones along Avenue A (Wednesday) 

• 2 break-ins on 7th Street (Friday) 

• This new map will immerse you in the neighborhood's Greek Revival style (Friday) 

• Planet Taco now orbiting 2nd Avenue (Monday) 

• With lease up, Squish Marshmallows will look for a new home (Monday) 

... and someone decided to toss a rock through an Avenue A-side window at Union Market last night ...

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

And now, YOUR NEW RITE AID SIGNAGE ON 1ST AVENUE

After weeks of anticipation, the new Rite Aid signage/brandage has arrived at the outpost on First Avenue and Fifth Street. 

As you can see, gone are the blue and red chevron color blocks (sob!) with a new blue and green (Seattle Seahawks-esque) logo that includes a graphic of a mortar and pestle with an herbal sprig. 

This "integrated rebranding effort is part of Rite Aid’s RxEvolution strategy ... to transform the company into the leading whole health destination that treats mind, body and spirit," per a press release.

Sunday's opening shot

Along the Seventh Street side of Tompkins Square Park this morning...

Tokio7 reopens today

Tokio7, the consignment shop on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue, reopens to the public today.

Since January, they had only been selling online and taking in-person appointments. 

Moving forward, they'll be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily... only five people inside at a time... and cash only at the moment.

The shop closed late this past August ... several months after someone looted the place. 

Tokio7, which sells second-hand designer and vintage clothing, shoes and accessories, debuted on the other side of Seventh Street in 1996 ... before moving to this location in 2010.

Follow them on Instagram for more info.

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And if you're on this block, you could swing by Enz's. Owner-designer Mariann Marlowe opened her rockabilly and retro clothes shop at 76 E. Seventh St. in December.  

Marlowe had previously operated the shop at 125 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place for 18 years after relocating from St. Mark's Place. (The store dates to the 1970s on Grove Street.)

Exploring Planet Taco

As previously reported, Planet Taco opened last Saturday on Second Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Last evening, Eater critic Robert Sietsema shared his thoughts on the place... 

Excerpt!

The menu became bewildering in its length. There are 13 Mexican tacos, 3 tacos representing American cities, 4 national tacos, and 3 named after planets. As if that weren’t enough, 11 sauces are available in a rainbow of colors. Beyond that, there are soups, burritos, Mexican rice, grilled fruit, fajitas, fried calamari, avocado fries and regular fries, quesadillas, bowls, nachos, tres leches cake, and dessert tacos.

Ownership plans to whittle down the menu items as soon as they see what's moving. 

And?

I’m pleased to report the Mexican tacos are generally solid, and priced on par with the neighborhood at $3.75 to $6. Naturally, there’s birria. The corn tortilla has been dipped, the consomme deeply flavored, and the meat copious, though not as tender as it might be. Even with this slight defect, it’s the best birria taco in the East Village. 

However, the al pastor was better in the Mexican category, with a painstaking micro dice of fresh pineapple on top. The chorizo was actually made with intact sausage rather than the usual ground sausage, and it flung off a bit of heat; while the adobo chicken, coated with a lackadaisical red sauce, was a bit dry; it was the only one we wouldn’t gladly order again.

The quick-serve shop is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Find the menu here.

Photo on March 20 by Steven

March 26

Given yesterday's record-breaking temperatures for the date... perhaps someone thought it was time to discard their Christmas tree a mere three months from the big day. 

EVG reader 8E shared the above pic from last night on Astor Place and Broadway. 

In this era of disinformation, deep fakes and alternate trees, 8E did attempt to verify the date of the find, though could only secure a paper from March 25.

Friday's parting shot

Today marks the sixth anniversary of the deadly gas explosion on the northwest corner of Second Avenue at Seventh Street. 

Remembering the two men who died that day, March 26, 2015: 

• Nicholas Figueroa 

• Moises Locón 

• Dedicating Moises Locón Way and Nicholas Figueroa Way on 2nd Avenue at 7th Street

The 'Sweet' hereafter

Japanese Breakfast (aka Michelle Zauner) released a single earlier this month... ahead of a new record out on June 4... the video, an homage to "The X-Files," is for "Be Sweet" ...

Pinc Louds to play Tompkins Square Park tomorrow (Saturday!) afternoon

Pinc Louds, favorites from the pandemic summer of 2020 in Tompkins Square Park, play their first show of the year here tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. 

Lead singer Claudi played a solo set last Saturday in the Park ... where Steven took the top pic... and Stacie Joy the one below...

Previously on EV Grieve:

• An end-of-summer appreciation: Pinc Louds

This new map will immerse you in the neighborhood's Greek Revival style

Village Preservation has unveiled an impressive new interactive map celebrating the many examples of Greek Revival architecture in Greenwich Village, the East Village, NoHo and beyond (look for guest appearances from Staten Island, Brooklyn Heights and Chelsea).

The launch coincides this week with the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Greek War of Independence, which helped inspire Greek Revival architecture in America, where the young democracy looked to the world's first democracy and its struggle for independence as a template for architectural expression. 

Local entries that showcase the Greek Revival style include Colonnade Row on Lafayette Street, St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery and what's now the East Village's Sixth Street Community Synagogue (originally the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Matthew, pictured above). 

"You'll find many other familiar landmarks, as well as some obscure ones and surprises, as well as great Greek Revival buildings of these neighborhoods which have been lost over the years, and some of the original Ancient Greek models that inspired them," said Village Preservation Executive Director Andrew Berman in an email. "It's a great way to mark the anniversary of an event that took place over 5,000 miles away which nevertheless had such a profound effect right here at home and can still see today."

You can access the map and more history at this link.

More scaffolding — and now demolition — for this troubled Avenue C corner

An EVG reader shared these photos from yesterday at the southeast corner of Avenue C and Third Street:

"Activity at the corner again. At first, it sounded like they were finally taking down the sidewalk shed, but they're actually putting up additional barriers and appear to be readying for construction work of some kind."

As previously reported, residents have long complained about the drug activity on this corner. On Jan. 18, a 36-year-old man was shot and killed here. According to published reports, the man was shot multiple times around 8:40 p.m. Since then, the NYPD has parked a patrol car here.

The sidewalk bridge has helped give cover to any activity here... for the past eight-plus years. 

At one point, there were plans for this corner... with the filing of permits with the city in July 2005 for a new 6-floor residential building here. The city disapproved the plans in May 2006, and nothing more happened with the project.

However, the landlord filed a permit in the fall of 2017 with the DOB to "rebuild exterior walls; replace windows and sistering of floor joists to address" the various violations on file.

And now — several years after the initial repair work? According to newly issued work permits, there are plans to "partially demolish the building." In January, there was a permit — since withdrawn — to demolish the building's "second, third and roof floors." 

Public records list the landlord as Abraham Benelyahou of Fairfax Management Corp. In 2014, the Daily News referred to him as "Manhattan's worst landlord."

[Via Google in 2010]

Van Da to treat NYC's 'Warrior Women' to dinner on its 1st night back

Photo of Yen Ngo from November by Stacie Joy 

Van Da, the modern Vietnamese restaurant at 234 E. Fourth St., reopens April 1 here between Avenue A and Avenue B.

And on the opening night, owner Yen Ngo plans to honor the women who have helped "lift our city up and forward."

She explains in an Instagram post:

Throughout history, women have always carried communities forward, uplifting one another, providing life and nourishment in all forms (and hardly get the credit for it.) History repeats itself again throughout this pandemic, hearing so many stories about women who have lifted their communities and led the way through a worldwide crisis, offering hope and inspiration to those around them.

We've been mulling over ways to re-open in exactly 1 week on April 1st that honor what NYC has fought through and, at the same time, honor the women who have held the torch to lift our city up and forward.

On Thursday, April 1, we are dedicating our opening night to treat 75 of these heroic women and a companion to thank them for their courage, resilience, and leadership with a special fixed menu and wine pairing.

Please help us treat our local NY Warrior Women to an evening out by nominating them ... 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by VAN ĐA (@vandanyc)

The deadline to nominate someone is 8 p.m. on Monday. And you need to do it on Van Da's Instagram account.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• A visit to Van Da on 4th Street

2 break-ins on 7th Street

Late this past Saturday, someone broke into two neighboring businesses along Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

As EVG contributor Stacie Joy reports, the thief broke into Peter Jarema Funeral Home, where he trashed the office and made off with several iPads and laptops. 

As Danny Buzzetta, Jarema's owner/director, notes, they're not a cash business.

Meanwhile, at Ruffian Wine Bar, the thief took cash, electronic items and personal stuff, per partner/co-owner Patrick Cournot ...

Ruffian had released a montage on Instagram Stories of the suspect from surveillance footage ...

In more positive developments: Fawzy and Ola at B&H Dairy on Second Avenue reported on Instagram yesterday that the NYPD has arrested the thief who broke into and robbed the lunch counter (he took the entire register with its $500) this past November. 

Per their post: "He was caught due to fingerprints left in the restaurant. He's facing up to eight years in prison. Apparently, the same perp had robbed several other businesses in the neighborhood, one on St. Mark's and another on Avenue C."

Reopenings: Double Down Saloon on A

Double Down Saloon, the dump (said in a loving way!) that serves bacon martinis and Ass Juice at 14 Avenue A, has reopened for the first time since March 2020. (The space was put to use for a video shoot with Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus back in October.)

The bar, the sibling to the Las Vegas original, is now open from 4-11 p.m. under the current 50-percent capacity and other COVID protocols here between Second Street and Houston. 

This post has a list of some other recent reopenings.

Thursday's parting shots

Because one photo here on Seventh Street west of First Avenue won't suffice... photos by Derek Berg today...

Donations for Ryo, who returned home after a months-long hospitalization to find an empty apartment with new locks

Sierra Zamarripa, the owner of Lovewild Design, 136 Avenue C between Eighth Street and Ninth Street, is collecting donations for a longtime resident who came home after being hospitalized with COVID-19 only to find new locks on the door to a now-empty apartment.

Here's more via Sierra:

I am reaching out in hopes of finding support for our neighbor Ryo.

A few months ago Ryo was taken away by ambulance ... some weeks after that a crew was in the hallway cleaning out his apartment and we thought he had died. In fact, a friend of his set up a memorial to him in front of his building at 133 Avenue D asking if anyone knew what had happened to him. 

Yesterday Ryo returned home after hospitalization and months of COVID rehabilitation. He arrived to the building to find his locks changed and his apartment emptied out except for his piano and tortoise, who was left alone for months.

Ryo had worked throughout the pandemic as a restaurant worker. He has no shoes, no toothbrush, no documents or ID, no passport, no fridge or stove. 

He needs assistance to get his life back and move forward. 

If you are able to contribute non-monetary donations, we'll be collecting donations at  Lovewild Design. We’re open 12-6 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. 

He's medium build, wears men's 9.5/10 shoes wide, 38 waist and cannot take in perishable food yet until building management installs a fridge.

Here's a spreadsheet on what has been donated.

There's also a GoFundMe now at this link.

Ryo lives at 133 Avenue D between Ninth Street and 10th Street in a building said to partially owned by former Yankee Alex Rodriguez. Ryo did stay in the apartment last night thanks to a donated mattress. It's unclear at the moment if he will be able to stay there moving forward. 

Updated 8:30 p.m.

Page Six has more on the story, including that Barbara Corcoran is also an owner of the building.

A rep for Corcoran defended their actions, saying they "made every effort to locate the Resident including calling local hospitals and contacting Adult Protective Services."

"After APS was alerted to the situation, an APS caseworker was assigned to the Resident," the rep, Mitchell Kossoff, said. "Despite the effort of the APS caseworker and this office, the Resident could not be located and the apartment was cleaned by a company that specialized in bio clean-up services on Feb. 17, 2021. in conformity with all governing regulations."

Gothamist has a report here.