Distro disaster: City rejects warm homemade meals for hungry asylum seekers in the East Village, opts to serve moldy rolls

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Note: Faces of the asylum seekers have been blurred 

Despite assurances from the site supervisors at the former St Brigid school for a cooperative effort in a food and clothing distribution yesterday, things did not go according to plan.

As is the case so often when working with the city's asylum-seeker sites, like here on Seventh Street and Avenue B, snafus started early, with access denied, not allowing us to feed people, and (literally) shutting the doors and windows to the clothing pipeline.

After a week of intense media attention and freezing temperatures, asylum seekers waiting in line to receive placement are now allowed indoors, where they can begin trying to find space in a new shelter after receiving their 30-day notice from previous locations. 

Some opt for reticketing elsewhere (anywhere in the world, one-way tickets are available), but only a few. I personally have only witnessed three in the past week. Those who cannot be placed in the system return to Bathgate in the Bronx, where they can sleep on the floor and start the process here again the following morning. 

Since people were indoors yesterday, on-site officials would not let them exit and re-enter to receive the donated meals and clothing that they needed.

At one point, a pipeline was established to provide clothing and food through the windows, but security soon shut all the windows and ended this makeshift distribution.

The volunteer-run East Village Loves NYC prepared 450 hot Halal meals, and Pep Kim from Cafe Chrystie donated hot coffee, sweatshirts, socks, and other merch to the effort. Coats, scarves, and gloves were also donated by local residents via a drive with the East Village Community Coalition.

While some people received the much-needed meals, many were prohibited from receiving assistance. 

Pastor Will Kroeze from Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish on Ninth Street and Avenue B was able to take some of the extras to provide for other community members in need. 

EV Loves NYC co-founder Mammad Mahmoodi explains, "The City requested our meals multiple times. We put so much effort and energy into getting 450 meals, snacks, coffee, tea, etc. together — from 5 a.m.! — to be rejected [from providing] service inside for hungry folks. We even moved to send some meals via windows that they blocked. Meals were outside, hungry folks inside, and the city blocked the connection." 

In an image provided by an anonymous source from inside St. Brigid, we were shown the on-site meals delivered by ReThink Foods that indicate mold on the rolls. 

I spoke with site management, who told me that the city-run site "receives food adequate for the needs of the migrants."

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a pic of St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery from Thursday)...

• Help for the family of Ommatt Cruz, who died Nov. 17 in a construction accident in the East Village (Monday) 

• At the grand opening of El Rinconcito on Avenue C (Monday) 

• RIP Bob Contant (Saturday) 

• Rockwood Music Hall 'getting back to basics,' closing its Stage 2 space (Friday) 

• Watch the video presentation for the 'City of Yes for Economic Opportunity' text amendment (Sunday) 

• Apartment fire temporarily shutters Scarr's Pizza on the Lower East Side (Monday)

• In 2024, Bank of America will be moving on up on 2nd Avenue (Monday) 

• The 'Snappy' new show at O'Flaherty's (Friday) 

• Openings: Potenza Centrale on Avenue B (Tuesday) 

• Demolition underway on the fire-damaged Middle Church façade (Monday) ... Steeple watch (Tuesday) ... Brick by brick: Historic steeple removed from the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church (Friday) 

• A Thanksgiving Day message to stop throwing eggs on 9th Street (Thursday) 

• Sharaku Japanese Restaurant emerges from plywood frozen in 2020 time (Tuesday) 

• EV trees in the fall (Thursday) 

• Scaffolding and sidewalk bridges coming and going along Avenue A (Friday) 

• Incoming bagel shoppe on a roll with renovations (Monday) 

• Signage alert: Hen House on 1st Avenue (Friday)

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EVG Etc.: Veselka continues its support of Ukraine; CBGB memories 50 years later

Reader-submitted EV skyline pic

• Perspectives on NYC's budget crisis (The City) 

• Veselka has raised more than $400,000 to support humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine ... and has employed former Ukraine residents who came to the U.S. (NY1) 

• Teen arrested in fatal stabbing of an unhoused man in Sara D. Roosevelt Park on the Lower East Side (Daily News ... ABC-7) 

• A look at the Fair Housing Framework, the affordable housing legislation passed earlier this month by City Council (City Limits) 

• Support for Mayor Adams is sinking amid federal investigation, poll shows (Gothamist) 

• If you want to speak out against having a 32-foot 5G tower on Seventh Street and Avenue B (Village Preservation) 

• Kushner Companies sold a multifamily property at 504-508 E. 12th St. for $19.5 million. An entity controlled by Sabet Group bought the 50-unit property (The Real Deal) 

• This Broadway building owner takes retail landlord to court ... 1 Great Jones Alley located on Broadway near Fourth Street (Habitat) 

• A look at the slate of films featured in the month-long World Cinema Project courtesy of Martin Scorsese and others! (Anthology Film Archives) 

• A new exhibit at Brooklyn Museum, Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines, includes REBEL FUX by longtime East Village resident Kate Huh (Official site) 

• A quick review of Kolachi on 1st Avenue (The Infatuation... previously on EVG) 

• Rice to Riches is opening on Ludlow and Rivington (Eater) 

• Ex-Rolling Stone Press director Jonathan Wells recalls his first visit to CBGB (Reader's Digest) 

• Street closures and info about the Thanksgiving Day Parade (NY1)

Demolition underway on the fire-damaged Middle Church façade

The top 3 photos by Jacob Ford; the rest via Derek Berg 

Workers today began to remove the remains of Middle Collegiate Church's fire-damaged façade at 112 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street... the first day of what is expected to be a two-to-three-month job...

This afternoon, around 3:30, church leaders and members of the Middle community gathered to mourn the sanctuary that they called home.

"This is a really important day," said the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis (above and below in the red hat), the church's senior minister. "The beginning of something new but the end of something old."

As previously reported, church leaders said they must remove what remains on the property within the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. According to a report commissioned by the church, the culmination of an 18-month review, there was too much damage to the existing structure to integrate it into Middle Collegiate's new home, that it wouldn't withstand a full-scale rebuild on the property. 

The church structure was destroyed during a six-alarm fire early morning on Dec. 5, 2020. The fire reportedly started inside 48 E. Seventh St., the five-story residential building that once stood on this corner. FDNY officials blamed faulty wiring at the under-renovation No. 48 and said the fire had been deemed "non-suspicious." 

By December 2024, officials hope to create a new worshiping space for up to 225 people in a two-story structure adjacent to the church and their property at 50 E. Seventh St.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Workers prepping to remove the remains of the fire-damaged façade at Middle Collegiate Church

• The remaining structure of the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church will be demolished

Apartment fire temporarily shutters Scarr's Pizza on the Lower East Side

A fire on Friday in an apartment directly above Scarr's Pizza has temporarily closed the popular pizzeria on Orchard Street.

Paper-plate signage on the front door breaks the news to patrons...

There weren't any reports of injuries (or the cause, for that matter) ... only one window in the building just below Hester is currently boarded up. There also weren't any posted vacant notices on the front door to the residences. So hopefully the damage isn't too extensive. 

You can keep tabs on the Scarr's Instagram account for updates. 

This past summer, Scarr Pimentel moved to this larger space from across Orchard. 

Scarr's is usually in the conversation for NYC's best pizza accolades (here and here)... in April, Pete Wells at the Times included Scarr's in his list of NYC's 100 best places to eat.

Q&A with Colin Simpson, aka reggae artist Ras Redemption

Interview and photos by Stacie Joy 

I recently talked with Colin Simpson, an aspiring reggae artist who goes by Ras Redemption. He lives and works on the Lower East Side, overseeing maintenance as a superintendent for a residential management company. 

He told me about his recently released single, "Brethren," and how the neighborhood reminds him of his hometown in Guyana. 

Tell us about your journey to the Lower East Side.

I was born and raised in Georgetown, Guyana, and moved to the United States in 2007, living first in Brooklyn. I moved to the Lower East Side in 2011 for work and have lived here ever since. 

I have a video about my journey on YouTube if you want to check it out for more about me. 

How do you describe your music? 

My music is uplifting, redeeming, inspirational and universally friendly. Reggae is righteous music; it's about awakening and knowing yourself. It frees you from whatever tribulation is going on in life, and it's music to keep you grounded and focused. 

So, my music and lyrics mirror that — it mentally takes you to a different place.

You live and work on the Lower East Side, whose locales appear in your music videos. How has the neighborhood influenced your work? 

It has influenced me in a positive way. I come from a place where, from the moment you're awake to when you're out in the street, you greet everyone in a warm and friendly manner, and I get that same response from living in this neighborhood — it reminds me of home. 

Living on the Lower East Side inspires me to write positive music, making me want to extend/show that same kind of warmth and gratitude to the world. 

Where can people see and hear you perform? 

I’m in the studio working on my first EP and some new singles. So, for now, if people want to hear more of my music, I’m on all digital platforms and social media. 

You can find Colin's social media and videos at this link.

Demoliton of the fire-damaged Middle Church façade starts on Monday

Photo Tuesday by Steven 

On Monday, workers will begin to remove the remains of Middle Collegiate Church's fire-damaged façade at 112 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

Earlier this month, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister at Middle Collegiate Church, told us this is expected to be a two-to-three-month job. Lewis also explained that it's a combination demolition-salvage operation. Workers will sift through the remains of the building, initially completed in 1892, to save any of the limestone and ironwork for use in the new sanctuary that will eventually rise on the property.

As previously reported, church leaders said they must remove what remains on the property within the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. According to a report commissioned by the church, the culmination of an 18-month review, there was too much damage to the existing structure to integrate it into Middle Collegiate's new home, that it wouldn't withstand a full-scale rebuild on the property. 

On 3:30 Monday afternoon, church leaders and members of the Middle community "will gather to mourn the sanctuary it called home."

From an announcement about the start of the demoliton:

While this is a moment of communal grief, it will also clear the way for Middle to build a new sanctuary as the community continues to rise. The gathering will embody an ethos that has always defined New York: Resiliency that rebuilds from tragedy by reshaping the neighborhood in ways that honor the past but chart a bold new future. 

The church structure was destroyed during a six-alarm fire early morning on Dec. 5, 2020. The fire reportedly started inside 48 E. Seventh St., the five-story residential building that once stood on this corner. FDNY officials blamed faulty wiring at the under-renovation No. 48 and said the fire had been deemed "non-suspicious." 

By December 2024, officials hope to create a new worshiping space for up to 225 people in a two-story structure adjacent to the church and their property at 50 E. Seventh St.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Workers prepping to remove the remains of the fire-damaged façade at Middle Collegiate Church

• The remaining structure of the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church will be demolished

ICYMI: Flaco is backo on the Upper East Side

Flaco continued to enjoy his sunny life on Fifth Avenue earlier today, just across the street from Central Park, where perhaps he will go hunting later. Thanks to Sarah Bramwell for sharing this photo. 🦉 ♥️ pic.twitter.com/r4DT2DqbGC

— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) November 15, 2023

After nearly eight-plus days of a downtown sojourn, Flaco — the only Eurasian eagle owl in the wild in North America — has returned to his usual confines around Central Park. 

There were rumors of a Central Park return yesterday... and the @BirdCentralPark X account was able to confirm the sightings later.

Flaco was first spotted in the East Village on Nov. 6 at the Kenkeleba House Garden off Avenue B and Third Street. He was seen multiple times over the next few days here and on the Lower East Side... even inspiring some we've-been-there-too poetry.

H/T Steven

At long last the new location of El Rinconcito is ready to open this Friday

Photo from last fall by Stacie Joy 

The owners of El Rinconcito have announced a grand opening for Friday (Nov. 17) in their new home at 73-75 Avenue C.

The family-owned Latin American restaurant has been ready to open for the past year but apparently had Con Ed issues with the building here between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

From an Instagram post this week:

We will be FINALLY opening our doors for business after so many setbacks, but nothing will take us away from serving our community we love in the Lower East Side. It’s official: your favorites will be here on Friday, November 17 ... Huge thank you for all your patience and ongoing support; it gave us the push we needed when times were tough.

El Rinconcito will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The restaurant closed in the summer of 2021 at its home of 27 years at 408 E. 10th St. between Avenue C and Avenue D. (The building on 10th Street was undergoing a gut renovation.) 

El Rinconcito has been serving delicious and inexpensive food in the neighborhood since 1994.

From Tompkins Square Park: Christo in Don't You (Forget About Me)

Photos by Steven 

Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl, is getting all the attention this week after decamping to the East Village and Lower East Side from Central Park. (And yes, we have a Flaco post coming soon.) 

This may be why Christo, the resident red-tailed hawk of Tompkins Square Park, has been extra photogenic of late ... as seen yesterday near 7th and A ...

And 2023 marks Christo's 10-year East Village anniversary.

Headline H/T

Workers prepping to remove the remains of the fire-damaged façade at Middle Collegiate Church

Photos by Stacie Joy

In the days ahead, workers will begin to remove the remains of Middle Collegiate Church's fire-damaged façade at 112 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

On Tuesday, workers erected a sidewalk bridge on Seventh Street... along the north side of the church structure that was destroyed during a six-alarm fire early morning on Dec. 5, 2020.

The fire reportedly started inside 48 E. Seventh St., the five-story residential building that once stood on this corner. FDNY officials blamed faulty wiring at the under-renovation building and said the fire had been deemed "non-suspicious." 

In a phone interview with EVG on Wednesday, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister at Middle Collegiate Church, offered a timeline for the work ahead after an arduous approval process among multiple city agencies over the last year.

"Now everything is, 'on your mark, get set, go,'" said Lewis, who noted they want to get the work underway before any disruptive winter weather starts.

There are two permits awaiting approval, and then workers will start — likely in the next week for what is expected to be a two-to-three-month job. Lewis also explained that it's a combination demolition-salvage operation. Workers will sift through the remains of the building, initially completed in 1892, to save any of the limestone and ironwork for use in the new sanctuary that will eventually rise on the property.

In January, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) signed off on a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition. So why the 11-month wait?

"Then we had negotiations with [the LPC] about what we wanted and what they wanted, which was, 'How much could we preserve? How much could we leave up safely? How would we take down what we take down safely?' That has been a several-month process," Lewis said. "We went back and forth with different plans, with our engineers, their engineers, our architect and their evaluators."

Then came the paperwork with the Department of Buildings and the Department of Transportation (workers will need to use a lane of Second Avenue during the demolition phase). They also needed to negotiate a controlled access zone agreement with neighbors on either side of the church.

As previously reported, church leaders had said they must remove what remains on the property within the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. According to a report commissioned by the church, the culmination of an 18-month review, there was too much damage to the existing structure to integrate it into Middle Collegiate's new home, that it wouldn't withstand a full-scale rebuild on the property. 

Lewis previously told us they spent $4 million to reinforce, stabilize and weatherproof the façade. (Preservation groups, including Village Preservation, had urged the LPC not to grant permission for demolition until further studies could occur.)

"Every time I walk by that façade, that vacant lot ... and there's just rubble — it takes me right back to the fire. The façade is a symbol of resilience — it survived! But it really didn't survive, which is why we made the case to take it down," Lewis said.

The demolition and salvage operation is just one of the projects underway. The church also owns 50 E. Seventh St., just east of Second Avenue, which is currently vacated after suffering collateral damage during the fire. 

A two-story structure with a glass dome behind No. 50 connects the building to Middle Collegiate's former sanctuary. Lewis said they have plans to create a new worshiping space for up to 225 people in the two-story structure (which they called their social hall). No. 50 will house different church social programs as well as space for the community to use for meetings or other purposes.

Lewis said they hope to have this ready by December 2024.

A lot is happening now with the church, which has been holding services from their temporary home — East End Temple, 245 E. 17th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

"My first job is being a pastor. My second job is raising money, and my third is raising a building," Lewis said. "It has been really hard. But we've had so much love from the community and love from the city. We're still here!" 

A bench for Dennis Edge in Tompkins Square Park

Photo by Goggla 

Updated: Since receiving this, the campaign has already met its financial goal. We'll leave the information here for anyone interested in purchasing one of his books

Dennis Edge, an East Village resident since 1970, passed away on Sept. 1. He was 85. 

For years, he documented the birds of Tompkins Square Park, where he was a regular and welcome presence. And now friends are raising money to have a bench dedicated in his memory. 

Here's more via the campaign: 

His passing left a hole in the hearts of our community and an empty bench in Tompkins Square Park. You could see him sitting on a bench photographing the Red-tailed Hawk pair or migratory species. He was always happy to share his knowledge about birds in a joyful and non-judgmental way. He helped inspire others to become birders and to care for nature. 

Please help us raise the funds for a bench for Dennis. This will memorialize his contribution to the community of the Lower East Side and Tompkins Square Park. This will be a place friends, loved ones, and birders can meet for remembrance, reflection, and birding, for generations to come. 

Also, Dennis had self-published a book, "Tompkins Square Park Birds and Other New York City Bird Stories." Below is the information on how to order a copy...

EVG Etc.: Tensions at Cooper Union; 'Basquiat x Warhol' at the Brant Foundation

A view inside La Plaza Cultural the other afternoon 

• The body of 13-year-old Kavion Brown Godfrey, a student at Lower East Side Prep, was pulled from the East River. He was last seen entering the river near Sixth Street on Oct. 20. (CBS News ... People) 

• Tensions at Cooper Union over Israel-Hamas war protest (CBS New York ... The New York Times ... NBC New York) 

• Early voting is underway — here's a primer on this year's elections in NYC (The City)

• Eleven years after Sandy, the Army Corps of Engineers' plan to protect the city from coastal storms still on the drawing board (City Limit)

• Report: Chains are using theft to mask other issues (CNN Business)

• Life at 58-72 Avenue A under the new landlords (Hell Gate ... previously on EVG) 

• A look at the new "Basquiat x Warhol" exhibit, opening Wednesday at the Brant Foundation on Sixth Street (Time Out... previously on EVG)

• Details on "Connected Cozmos,' a new art exhibit curated by two NYU students at the recently opened Cozmos on 10th Street near Avenue A (Washington Square News)

• The well-reviewed "Past Lives," filmed partly in the East Village, is enjoying another run at Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue — several screenings are in the large Jaffe Art Theatre auditorium (Official site) 

• The H.P. Lovecraft-inspired series continues through Nov. 5 (Anthology Film Archives)

• Thurston Moore discusses his new autobiography (The Guardian) 

• Q&A with "Gen Z thrifting icon" Emma Rogue, who has a popular shop on Stanton Street (Mashable)

Time for the Lower East Side Halloween Book Crawl

The Lower East Side Halloween Book Crawl returns... taking place tomorrow (Saturday!) from noon to 7 p.m. 

The participating shops: 

• Bluestockings Cooperative, 116 Suffolk St.

• Book Club Bar, 197 E. Third St. 

• P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard St. 

• Printed Matter/St. Mark's, 38 St. Mark's Place 

• Sweet Pickle Books, 47 Orchard St. 

• Village Works, 12 St. Mark's Place 

• Yu and Me Books, 115 Delancey (temp location) 

Per organizers: "Each bookstore will offer discounts and perks (such as free merchandise and free snacks) throughout the day."

Tomorrow: Psycho Parkula and the Tompkins Square Book and Arts Fair

There's a psychobilly Halloween show (dubbed Psycho Parkula!) set for tomorrow afternoon in Tompkins Square Park. Catch the bill of bands from 2-6.

At the same time, the Tompkins Square Book and Arts Fair will be taking place.

Per the invite: "Come and get works of art, hand-made crafts, zines, books, clothing, records, videos, and more, including FREE stuff, all offered by members of your community on the Lower East Side."

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included ... (with a photo outside Cabin on 9th by Chris Rowland)... 

• An overhead view of Tompkins Square Park when the lights are off (Wednesday) 

• RIP Maryanne Byington (Tuesday) 

• The milling of the multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park is underway (Tuesday) 

• This nearly block-long parcel on 2nd Avenue is now for sale (Monday) 

• A last look inside Wegmans before its grand opening on Astor Place (Monday) 

• The DOT wants your feedback on the future of East River Park waterfront access (Friday) 

• Capturing Monday's rainbow action (Monday)

• On Union Square, Target debuts ahead of its announced opening day (Thursday) 

• Speaking out against the ongoing sweeps on 9th Street and 1st Avenue (Friday)

• On the CB3-SLA docket: A new home for Han Dynasty on 3rd Avenue; a Sunflower for 2nd Avenue (Monday) 

• The Dash Snow tribute has been painted over on the Lower East Side (Thursday) 

• How to tote around the Essex Card Shop with you (Saturday) 

• What's happening at the former Trader Joe's Wine Shop on 14th Street? (Thursday)

• About the Earth School's Fall Fair on Nov. 4 (Thursday)

• Storefront signage alert: Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart on 2nd Avenue (Monday) 

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The DOT wants your feedback on the future of East River Park waterfront access

The following invite is via the Department of Transportation about a public meeting this coming Monday evening...

We are writing to invite you to join us at East Village/Lower East Side Waterfront Access Study's upcoming Community Workshop #3. The study is evaluating opportunities for improvements in the FDR Drive corridor from Montgomery to 14th Street considering mobility, circulation, safety, accessibility, open space, environment, resilience, and stormwater management. 

The workshop will be held at the Lower Eastside Girls Club, Baker Hall, 402 E. Eighth St. near Avenue D, on Monday, Oct. 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. 

At the meeting, you'll have the opportunity to share your feedback on improvement concepts for Montgomery St., Jackson St., Delancey St., Houston St., and E. Sixth St. along the FDR Drive corridor.

You can register for the workshop here. 

East River Park is currently being gutted as part of the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project, estimated to be completed by the end of 2026.

The Dash Snow tribute has been painted over on the Lower East Side

Top photo by Gabriel Sommer 

After 14-plus years on a north-facing wall of 205 Allen St. at Houston, someone has painted over the tribute to artist Dash Snow. 

The portrait arrived about a month after Snow was found dead in July 2009 at the Lafayette House on Fourth Street. He was 27. 

Graffiti writer SEEDR was credited with the work, one of many that popped up around downtown at the time. 

As far as we know, this was the last of the portraits still in existence...

Above photo from August 2009 by Salim

Dedicating Frances Goldin Way

This past Thursday, the community came together to dedicate the stretch of Fourth Street between Cooper Square and Second Avenue as Frances Goldin Way...

Here's more about Goldin from the Cooper Square Committee: 

Frances Goldin was one of the Lower East Side's most noteworthy and accomplished activists, civic leaders, and advocates for affordable housing. She was a leader in the establishment of the Cooper Square Committee, its affiliates, and the Metropolitan Council on Housing while fighting tirelessly for more than 50 years for the racially just integration of the Seward Park Urban Renewal area. She was dedicated to gay rights and was once honored on the lead float in the annual Gay Pride Parade in NYC. She was also a distinguished literary agent and founded her own firm representing many Pulitzer Prize-winning authors.

The East Village resident died in 2020 at age 95. 

And here's the moment of the unveiling...

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cooper Square Committee (@coopersquare)

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from the Loisaida Fall Festival on 3rd Street yesterday by Stacie Joy)...

• Tenants crowdfund to aid East Village super critically injured in high-speed car collision (Tuesday) 

• Why the benches were removed from across the street from the 9th Precinct (Monday) 

• The reconstruction of the multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park begins on Oct. 16 (Saturday) 

• So the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade will take place this year after all (Wednesday) 

• Thinking about Dennis Edge (Thursday) 

• Tenants and businesses are now without gas at 199 E. 3rd St. (Monday) 

• Here are J. Kathleen White's 2023 dioramas at the 9th Street Community Garden & Park (Friday) 

• Here's the next business for the former Grassroots Tavern space on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday) 

• The Hard Swallow is now closed (Thursday) 

• Posse officially in Effect now with the Beastie Boys on 14th Street and Avenue A (Thursday) 

• Behold this amazing miniature of Mars Bar (Tuesday) 

• Spellbound! It's the return of Hitchcocktober (Tuesday) 

• A Bank of America is checking into the corner of 2nd Avenue and 7th Street (Wednesday) 

• Retail spaces at the historic 4 St. Mark's Place are now for rent (Monday)

• In case you felt like seeing this exhibit featuring a classic Lower East Side bagel shop (Tuesday)

• Look at 6 Avenue B now! (Wednesday) 

• The Avenue Cafe bringing pastries and coffee to St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• Must be the season of the pop-up Halloween shop on Avenue A (Friday)

• 231 1st Ave. up to its 4th business in the past year (Wednesday) 

• 2 bad signs at Luzzo's on Avenue B (Thursday) 

• House of Munchies debuts on 1st Avenue (Monday) 

...and thank you to everyone for keeping tabs on the tire clamp story... the contraption is now outside the construction office in Tompkins... (photo by Steven)

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