An assortment of masks on East Village streets

A roundup of face masks — homemade (from a bra, as seen in the last photo) or store-bought — spotted on East Village streets by Derek Berg in recent days...



























On April 2, Mayor de Blasio urged New Yorkers to wear face coverings, such as cloth masks or bandanas, when going out in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Report: First red-tailed hawk egg hatches this year in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Goggla]

It appears that at least one egg belonging to Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, has hatched.

Goggla reported this from Sunday:

Christo delivered food to the nest, and Amelia seemed to tear pieces off and feed at least one hatchling deep in the nest. We're not sure when exactly the hatch occurred, but today was the first day an obvious feeding took place.

Goggla has a video and more details here.

Commodities has reopened

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

Commodities Health Food was back open yesterday at 165 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.

The market closed after the business day on March 29 for what turned out to be a two-week break during the COVID-19 crisis.

Moving forward, their hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Commodities also accepts EBT/SNAP and offers a 5% discount for seniors.)

Meanwhile, East Village Organic at 124 First Ave. reopened this past Friday after a similar two-week hiatus.

Nowon launching takeout and delivery service today on 6th Street

[Photo from December by Stacie Joy]

Chef Jae Lee is reopening Nowon, the well-regarded Korean restaurant here at 507 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Starting today, he'll be serving takeout items and offering delivery via GrubHub from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is also teaming up with Frontline Foods to provide meals for health-care workers.

Nowon closed on March 15 at the start of the ban on dining at NYC restaurants and cafes.

Find more details at the Nowon Instagram account.

Reader appreciation: Root & Bone and Fonda

[Photos by Stacie Joy]

Erin shares this two-fer of Avenue B neighbors via the EVG inbox...

I’d like to recommend both Root & Bone and Fonda during this difficult time. So grateful to both for being open and providing delicious food and drinks with safety and cleanliness.

Root & Bone has fed me delicious fried chicken — as well as bottled cocktails — multiple times now. Both were expertly packed with all the trimmings ... Their staff has been extremely friendly and warm in these difficult times, and have really gone the extra mile with customer care. They also have a takeout menu for the time being featuring some very affordable specials.

Fonda is a restaurant I meet friends in fairly regularly ... and the environment from the takeout window is still welcoming. They are continuing to serve all the classics with some special pricing on margaritas and guacamole for walk-up orders. Additionally, they are cleaner than a Swiss lab, making sure to wipe down even pens and the card reader between each use.

Fonda is at 40 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street. They are open for takeout and delivery from 4 to 9 p.m. Root & Bone is at 200 E. Third St. near Avenue B. They are open for takeout and delivery from 5 to 9 p.m.

Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes! So far so good! Thank you for the suggestions!)

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Reader appreciation: Le Fournil Bakery

• Reader appreciation: Abraço

• Reader appreciation: Post

• Reader appreciation: Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery

• Reader appreciation: Barnyard Cheese Shop

Monday's parting shot

Sunset in Tompkins Square Park... thanks to Michael for the photo...

This evening's rainbow action

Shortly after 7 — right after the nightly cheer for health workers — this arrived (the rainbow!) ... the top photo is by Ellery Kurtz — looking east from Sixth Street and Second Avenue... and here's a wider view courtesy of Steven Fabian...



...and from Fourth Avenue — thanks to Emily Gordon for this...



There were reports of a double rainbow for a moment too...

Is this your cat?

The folks at the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden are looking to find the owner of this cat, who volunteers say has been causing a few problems for Oreo, their resident feline 😿 ... more details in the tweet below from today...

Hi neighbors! This cat has been coming to our garden this week + starting fights with our very elderly garden cat, Oreo. If you know who this cat belongs to, please ask them to keep it inside, otherwise we will need to trap it. Thanks for helping us spread the word! pic.twitter.com/6WLz43TTEX

— 6B Garden (@6BGarden) April 13, 2020

A list of East Village crowdfunding campaigns

In recent weeks, many East Village merchants — or their patrons — have established GoFundMe pages to help them stay in business or compensate employees during the COVID-19 crisis.

What follows is an alphabetical list of the crowdfunding campaigns that we've received. Let us know in either the comments or via email of other East Village businesses who are crowdsourcing right now...

• Ace Bar

• Amor Y Amargo; Honeybee's and Mother of Pearl

• Anyway Cafe

• Avant Garden

• B&H Dairy Cafe

• Barcade St. Mark's

• Beauty Bar

• Bibi Wine Bar

• Big Bar

• Bite

• Black & White

• Boilermaker

• Bowery Ballroom/Mercury Lounge

• Brindle Room

• Butter Lane Cupcakes

• C&B Cafe

• Cafe Mogador

• Cooper Still

• dba

• Dlala Salon

• Death & Co.

• Double Down Saloon

• Dream Baby Dream

• Factory Tamal

• Gem Spa

• Gnocco

• Gray Mare

• Holiday Cocktail Lounge

• The Izakaya NYC

• Jane's Exchange

• Jeepney

• Josie’s, Mona's and Sophie’s

• KGB Bar

• Kafana

• Khiladi (The Indian restaurant on 11th and B is collecting money to deliver meals to hospital workers.)

• La Sirena Mexican folk art

• Lavagna

• The Library

• Limited to One Records (via Patreon)

• Lucien

• Lucky

• Maiden Lane

• Mary O's

• Mimi Cheng's (specifically for their Dumpling for Doctors plan)

• Mochii

• Niagara, Lovers Of Today, Tompkins Square bar, Cabin Down Below

• Nomad

• Nowhere Bar

• Nublu

• Otto's Shrunken Head

• Pangea

• Paradise Hospitality (the parent company of East Village bars Boulton & Watt, Drexler's, Mister Paradise, Paper Daisy)

• Parkside Lounge

• The Phoenix

• Pink Olive

• Pinks

• Planet Rose

• Porsena

• Raclette

• The Roost

• 787 Coffee

• The Roost

• Sake Bar Satsko

• Scratcher

• Shampoo

• Sing Sing Avenue A

• SOMA Cakes (for hospital workers)

• Spiegel

• Standings

• Superiority Burger

• Swift Hibernian Lounge

• 2A/Treehouse ... as well as Berlin Under A

• Takahachi

• Think Coffee

• Third Rail Coffee

• Three Jewels

• TIC Restaurant Group (includes Sobaya, Rai Rai Ken, Hi-Collar, Sakagura, Decibel, Curry-Ya, Otafuku, Shabu Tatsu, Hasaki, and Cha An)

• Tile Bar (along with Magician)

• Tompkins Square Bagels (All donations to this fund will be used to support the hospitals, first responders and homeless shelters in New York.)

• Tuome

• Turntable Lab

• Village Square Pizza

• The Wayland (plus Goodnight Sonny, The Wild Son and Lost Lady)

Foxface introduces new offerings, including the Foxface Farm Stand

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

In recent weeks during the COVID-19 crisis, Ori Kushnir and Sivan Lahat, the owners of Foxface, have stopped making their signature sandwiches from the shop inside Theater 80 on St. Mark's Place.



Instead, the East Village residents have introduced several new offerings, including Provisions, a pantry of sorts, and the Foxface Farm Stand, where you can order farm-fresh items such as eggs, dairy, meats and honey. In addition, there's the Bread Stand, where fresh baked bread is available.

Sivan walked me through how it works.

For starters, visit their website at this link to place an order for pick up at Foxface, 80 St. Mark's Place just west of First Avenue, Friday through Sunday noon to 4 p.m.



Provisions features pantry items, canned foods and their homemade pastrami, among other items, that are available to order any time before the weekend pick up.

The deadline for the Bread Stand is 10 a.m. on Wednesdays for pick up on Friday.

The order deadline for the Farm Stand, which will soon feature fresh produce, is 9 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Ori and Sivan test and curate everything they sell.

"We guarantee top quality and freshness," Sivan told me. "The farms we use are all nice small family operations less than 100 miles away."

Here are the eggs that I purchased and picked up on Saturday...



You can find more details and see photos of their offerings via the Foxface Instagram account here.

Another look at the COVID-19 memorial on Avenue A and 10th Street

There are new additions to the memorial on the southeast corner of Avenue A and 10th Street that arrived on March 26 (first reported here).

It was originally erected in honor of Edd Conboy, a licensed therapist and director of social services at Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia, who died on March 20 of a stroke. He was 69. His brother Jim, an East Village artist, created this as his family was unable to hold a funeral in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

As noted, the memorial has continued to evolve... people adding flowers and tallying up the deaths due to COVID-19... and sharing some conspiracy theories related to 5G... (these photos are from Saturday)...







Jim Conboy created the styrofoam sculpture, titled "Transfiguration." A handwritten message on the mirror still reads: "U are not alone, We all reflect your spirit."

The Post picked up our original story in the print edition yesterday.

St. Dymphna's debuts to-go window on Avenue A

St. Dymphna's reopened over the weekend with a to-go window for taking home drinks.

Weather permitting, they'll be open daily from 2 to 8 p.m. here on Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Other nearby drinks to-go options along Tompkins Square Park include 7B/Horseshoe Bar/Vazac's (noon to 8 p.m.) and Maiden Lane (1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) — both weather permitting. So probably not today given the rain.

And if you're just tuning in for the first time in awhile, St. Dymphna's relocated here from St. Mark's Place last August.

Reader appreciation: Barnyard Cheese Shop

Via the EVG inbox...

Barnyard has been open throughout the coronavirus crisis, and I appreciate their sandwiches now more than ever. I've also picked up a few of their grab-and-go items (try the roasted squash with pumpkin seeds).

I used to live next door to them when they were on 9th and C — they've been a good neighbor to me.

Barnyard Cheese Shop is at 168 Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street. They are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Wednesdays. (They also run Brix Wines right next door.)

Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes! So far so good! Thank you for the suggestions!)

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Reader appreciation: Le Fournil Bakery

• Reader appreciation: Abraço

• Reader appreciation: Post

• Reader appreciation: Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery

Sunday's parting shot

A card for Lucy at Lucy's on Avenue A. The bar has been closed during the COVID-19 health crisis since March 14. We haven't heard anything about Lucy in recent weeks — we hope that she is doing well!

Thanks to Lola Saénz for the photo today...

Week in Grieview

Posts this last week included...

• RIP Edgar Artur Cajamarca (Monday)

• East Village Neighbors lend helping hands to Vision Urbana to assist local residents in need (Friday)

• 14th Street residents enduring construction hell while under stay-at-home orders (Thursday)

• Whistling in Tompkins Square Park with Michael Lydon (Wednesday)

• City locks up basketball courts, exercise bars in Tompkins Square Park (Saturday) Handball courts now locked up in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday) The Tompkins Square Park dog run is now closed (Tuesday)

• NY PAUSE extended through April 29 (Monday)

• Checking in on Bin 141 (Saturday)

• This week's NY See (Thursday)

• Sunny & Annie's still holding it down on the corner of 6th and B (Monday)

• East Village Organic reopens (Friday)

• City Harvest opening distribution center in the former Associated on 14th Street (Friday)

• The frequency of the M14A (Thursday)

• Mystery of the Anti-COVID-19 volunteer drone task force (Monday)

• Here's more about New York Theatre Workshop's virtual programming (Wednesday) Livestreams from La Mama (Tuesday)

• Mudspot Café closes for the week (Monday)

• Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter and Two Boots Pizza have temporarily closed (Monday)

• A new St. Mark's Place-like business opens on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

... and thank you signage to essential workers was added to the 6th & B Community Garden this weekend...



---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter for more frequent updates.

Laundromat update

The Wash 'N Clean on 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B closed on Thursday... and, per the gate signage, will reopen on April 18.

Readers have also noted other places that have either reduced their announced hours of business or close on random days.

Our list of open laundromats and dry cleaners from April 1 is here.

Instagram follow of the day

View this post on Instagram

"I was cast first. And then they told me about this pop star that was just blowing up while [the casting] was happening. Suddenly it was like, “Who’s this beautiful girl singing this pop song?” I remember watching her in the “Lucky Star” video and just going, “Oh my god.” It was electric. Everybody at that time fell in love with her. Including me. I remember her cool outfit — I’d just got one too, and I wasn’t wearing it, but the Agnes B. pencil skirt. Her whole look, with the black rubber bracelets — she just had this whole vibe. She was very much like, [affects Madonna voice], “Hi stranger.” Exactly like it was at the end of the movie" Did you and Madonna get close during filming? "We were very bonded during the movie. Very close during the making of the film. We’ve kept in touch through the years. I have lost touch with her, but a few years ago I went to Madonna’s Oscar party with Laura Dern, and saw her for a minute. The year Guillermo del Toro won. I haven’t seen her since, though. I missed her shows. I wanted to go, but I was out of town." Did you reminisce at all? "No, no. She was in her party mode. We didn’t get a chance to really talk. I see her from afar, like everyone"- @rosannaarquette 🎬❤👑💃 @madonna #madonna #madonnamovies #susan #dss #goodgoingstranger #intothegroove #iconstyle #desperatelyseekingsusan #madonnamusic #queenofpop #madonnastyle #80smadonna #madonna80s #allhailthequeen #madonna80squeen #susanthomas #madonnafans #madonnasrevolution #iconic #bossbitch #madonnaphotos #rebel #madonnapictures #whenmadonnaruledtheworld #desperatelyseekingsusan1985 #80smovies

A post shared by DesperatelySeekingSusan1985 (@desperatelyseekingsusan1985) on Apr 2, 2020 at 11:43pm PDT

If you are a fan of the 1985 Rosanna Arquette-Madonna caper filmed, in part, in the East Village, then this account is for you... you'll find a mix of trivia and anecdotal details about "Desperately Seeking Susan" on this fan site by someone who really likes Madonna.

Also, RIP Mark Blum, who played Arquette's husband, spa king Gary Glass...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DesperatelySeekingSusan1985 (@desperatelyseekingsusan1985) on Mar 26, 2020 at 5:14pm PDT

Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-&-A with Susan Seidelman, director of 'Smithereens' and 'Desperately Seeking Susan'

Saturday's parting shot

Some soft served via Stella and the to-go window at Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A... thanks to Lola Saénz for the photo...

EVG Etc.: tracking COVID-19 cases by zip code; remembering Little Italy butcher Moe Albanese

[At Sake Bar Satsko via Andrew Adam Newman]

• New data shows that Hispanic and black New Yorkers are dying from COVID-19 at higher rates than other racial groups (Gothamist ... the City)

• ProPublica, the nonprofit newsroom, has a coronavirus tracker that compares positive cases in the city by zip code. As of April 10, 348 of the 782 people tested in the 10009 zip code have had a positive result, which is 44 percent less than the NYC average. Find the tracker here.

• City Hall's COVID-19 budget adjustments (NY Post ... Streetsblog)

• RIP legendary Little Italy butcher Moe Albanese (Eater)

• Elizabeth Blackwell, NYC's first female medical doctor — not to mention the first woman to practice medicine in the entire country — opened her clinic in this neighborhood (Ephemeral New York)

• Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis, senior minister at Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue, talks about the meaning of Easter this year (WNYC)

• A tour of what's still open in Chinatown (Eater)

• How Christo and Amelia are faring this week (Laura Goggin Photography)

• 12 classic books about the East Village and Greenwich Village (Off the Grid) Looking for a book? You can still order online at Third Street's Book Club (Official site)

• Classic Stage Company on 13th Street has moved its Classic Conversations Series online (Official site)

• "Never Rarely Sometimes Always," which some critics are calling the best film of the year, had an abbreviated run at the Angelika. It's now available to stream. (Reviews: Artforum... AV Club)

• About East Village-based musician and bar owner Jesse Malin's new live YouTube show (B&B)

• Actress Julia Fox, an East Village resident, on what movies she's rewatching from home (Vulture)

• Diversions: "Twin Peaks" turned 30 this week (SYFY Wire... Newsweek ... The New York Times)

... and via the 9th Precinct...

While you were stay(ing)-at-home, these nearly 900 glassines packed with heroin were bound for our #EastVillage streets. Luckily they never made it!—thanks to the sharp eyes 👀 of our Field Intelligence Sergeant and Anti-Crime Team. #NYPDProtecting pic.twitter.com/xbUu25ipfW

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) April 10, 2020

Saturday at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery

Morning views outside St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery on 10th Street and Second Avenue in Abe Lebewohl Park...



... and staying safe...

Day starter

An early morning look at Tompkins Square Park via an anonymous reader...

City locks up basketball courts, exercise bars in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

The city locked up the basketball courts yesterday in Tompkins Square Park in a move to prevent people from using the pull-up bars, parallel bars and other equipment in the fitness area.

This comes after the city removed the hoops from the backboards, closed the playgrounds, shut down the dog run and sealed up the handball courts.

With each day, some residents wonder when the entire Park will be locked up for use during the CONVID-19 crisis.

Friday's parting shot

[Click to go big]

A flashback to last night... a look to the east... thanks to Michael Kramer for sharing this!

'Grinding' it out

Been listening to healthy doses of the Cure these days. (More than usual.) Here's "Grinding Halt" from the soundtrack to the 1980 NYC classic "Times Square." (Not sure when this video was recorded in the 1980s...)

Checking in on Bin 141

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

The bistro on the northwest corner of Avenue A and Third Street has a variety of grab-n-go meals available for $10 plus tax.





Owner Rafik Bouzgarrou has also turned part of the dining room into a makeshift market...



... where you'll find toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, water, among a few other items...