Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with an opossum pic in Tompkins by Clay Roberts)... 

• The Loisaida CommUnity Fridge on 9th and B needs a new home — here's why (Monday) 

• RIP Hettie Jones (Tuesday) 

• A happy retirement to Jane and Billy, closing Katinka after 45 years in the East Village (Wednesday)

• Printed Matter/St. Marks is leaving St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• Gov. Hochul makes a splash with funding for new in-ground swimming pool at Tompkins Square Park (Friday) 

• German supermarket powerhouse Lidl is opening an outpost on the Lower East Side (Monday) 

• The multipurpose courts in Tompkins Square Park are closed for painting (Monday) ... Painting it black on the TF in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday) 

• NYU buys dorm on Cooper Square that everyone already thought was an NYU dorm (Tuesday)

• Renovating 82 2nd Ave. for the arrival of Kebabwala from the Unapologetic Foods team (Tuesday) 

• At a 6th & B Garden Variety performance with Angela Di Carlo and Dirty Martini (Thursday) 

• A look inside Castellano Electric Motors on the Lower East Side (Thursday) 

• A late summer refresh for Bin 141 (Wednesday) 

• A signage setback at Ben's Deli (Wednesday) 

• A lot of hoop-la for this high-tech basketball backboard in Tompkins Square Park (Friday)

• '24 comeback for Elvis on Great Jones (Monday) 

• UWS hotspot Bánh Vietnamese Shop House opening a new restaurant in the East Village (Monday) 

• A quartet of murals for 2nd and A (Wednesday) 

• Summer ends on a positive note as the shopping soundtrack of our lives returns to Key Food (Friday) 

... and a reader shared this photo of some comfy new seats to wait for the M9 on Avenue C...

Week in Grieview

Posts that past week included (with a Friday evening photo from 4th and A)... 

• Details on the arrests for the deadly shooting in Tompkins Square Park on July 12 (Friday) 

• Former St. Emeric property will yield to housing for seniors and formerly homeless individuals (Friday) 

• A few more details on the future of East Village classic bar Lucy's (Thursday) 

• Scoop: After nearly 30 years, Starbucks is closing its Astor Place location (Sunday) ... Farewell to the Astor Place Starbucks, now officially closed (Monday) ... Before (and after) Starbucks on Astor Place (Tuesday) 

• Report: Whole Foods leasing the former Associated space on 14th Street in Stuy Town (Monday) 

• ICYMI: Mount Sinai receives conditional approval from the state to close Beth Israel (Monday) 

• Report: RYCO Capital buys 6 East Village rentals in $103-million deal (Wednesday) 

• Reopening day at International Bar (Thursday) 

• Oh no! O'Flaherty's has departed its gallery-performance space on Avenue A (Friday)

• A broken window at Two Boots (Tuesday) 

• Cuts & Slices bringing its acclaimed oxtail pizza to the Lower East Side (Wednesday) 

• A new restaurant for the former Mighty Quinn's space on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Aoi Kitchen closes on 6th Street; owners announce new concept for the space (Monday) 

• EV restaurant roundup: Four Four South Village, Don Chicken, De La Soul donuts and more (Wednesday) 

• Sammy's Halal reopens on 1st Avenue (Tuesday) 

• The J. Crew-Jack's Coffee combo has opened in NoHo (Monday) 

• Buy Me Flowers pushes up daisies on 7th Street (Thursday)

• These are the opossum days of summer in Tompkins Square Park (Thursday)

• Curbside advice about discarded couches (and other large items) (Tuesday) 

... and on the heels of recent posts about East Village NYC T-shirts for sale at a Forever 21 in San Diego and a neighborhood named for the East Village in Downington, Pa., ... a reader shares this signage from Barcelona, home to a well-reviewed vintage shop called Loisaida...

These are the opossum days of summer in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven

Hello, is it me you're looking for? 

It has been a while (January), but we finally have an opossum sighting in Tompkins Square Park—with photographic evidence!

Over the years, opossums have been sighted in Tompkins Square Park (hence its own EVG opossum tag). 

We don't know how many members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia might live in the Park. We've tried to tag them, but we haven't gotten close enough with the spray paint. (That is a joke!)

Anyway... enjoy the cuteness...

The first opossum sighting of 2024 in Tompkins Square Park

Thanks to EVG reader Richard for this up-close shot from yesterday in Tompkins Square Park. 

There have been opossum sightings through the years in the Park (hence its own EVG opossum tag).

And now some facts about these members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia:

Opossums' diet includes all types of bugs and insects, including cockroaches, crickets, and beetles. They also eat mice and rats. Nocturnal opossums are attracted to neighborhoods by the availability of water, pet food left out at night, and overripe, rotting fruit.

Odd that opossums would be attracted to this neighborhood — as we have none of these things!

At the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Festival

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Festival — the 32nd of the event FKA Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade — took place this past Saturday. 

On a perfect fall day, crowds descended onto Tompkins Square Park for the event, co-hosted by Dan Schachner, a former NFL referee who now serves as host of the Puppy Bowl, and Jolie Dudley, co-founder of Must Love Dogs and Comedy. (They are pictured below with event organizer Joseph Borduin in the middle.)

The main stage was in the center of the Park, where EVG contributor Stacie Joy was stationed. There was also a second stage on the ballfields/skate area.

As for the hundreds of entrants... standouts included topical costumes, such as the spotted lanternfly and the FBI/Mar-a-Lago presidential papers ... and plenty of pop-cultural outfits (the "Star Wars" franchise is always popular) ... and the Midtown Uniform tribute with Brad and Chad and the bodega kitty, complete with a moveable shop.  Oh, and there was also an opossum.  (You can find a list of the winners here. You can vote for the Best in Show at this link.)

And now just a few of the many contestants...

The Dog Parade/Festival occurred in East River Park in 2018, 2019 and 2021. (That venue is no longer available.) The 2020 pandemic version was mostly virtual, with a small in-person/dog event at Lucky on Avenue B.

Rest easy, citizens of 12th Street — the large animal invader has been slain

The following report showed up on the Citizen app late Sunday night — "large animal invaded home."

The address was listed as a building on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

The report prompted A LOT of speculation — at least in the EVG Instagram Stories.

What could this large animal invader be? A crocodile? A deer? A bobcat? C.H.U.D.? Chupacabra? So many possibilities! (Also, keep in mind that Citizen has posted inaccurate information in the past.) 

Ever-curious EVG contributor Stacie Joy ventured over to the building to learn more about this urban creature/home invader...

Stacie spoke with the super, Oly, who held up the slain beast...

So how did what appears to be a baby mouse on a glue trap end up as a "large animal" home invader? 

Here's what we pieced together based on some Instagram messages and the visit to the building.

The residents of the unit heard a "loud" screeching coming from the kitchen. Living adjacent to a community garden, maybe an opossum found its way into the building and was trapped in an airshaft or in the walls. Thinking it was some kind of animal control situation, they called 311. The 311 operator then told the residents to contact their local police precinct.

It's not clear at the moment how this became a "large animal invader." Perhaps the NYPD was curious, too, as we're told eight officers eventually responded to the scene.

Week in Grieview

Posts from the past week included... 

• East River community group gets action on the release of (heavily redacted) value engineering study (Tuesday) 

• Report of a fatal fire on 5th Street (Friday) 

• Meeting Chef Wayne from the Bowery Mission (Friday) 

• The Union Square Food Emporium looks to be closing at the end of May (Thursday) 

• Police make arrest in fatal punch on 1st Avenue and 11th Street (Tuesday) 

• Checking on in Meat + Bread on Allen Street (Wednesday) 

• Movies theaters prep for reopening (Thursday) 

• Hub Thai debuts new Avenue A space (Thursday) 

• A stroll by a Goya display in this week's NY See (Thursday) 

• Gallery Watch: 'Last Supper' at LatchKey Gallery (Wednesday) 

• This is the new tenant for the NW corner of 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• 787 Coffee opens an outpost on 14th Street (Monday) 

• Catch a wave at this incoming Asian restaurant on 6th Street (Thursday) 

• Report: The Knickerbocker Bar & Grill will be reopening soon on University Place (Wednesday) 

• Mike's Cleaners is closing on Avenue A (Monday) 

• A much-needed beach day for Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Wednesday) 

• A new pizzeria for the former Muzzarella Pizza space on Avenue A (Monday)

• Openings: Mi Salsa Kitchen on Allen and Houston; Davidovich Bagels on Avenue A (Monday) 

• When Charles the dog blasted Daft Punk on 2nd Avenue in a video directed by Spike Jonze (Sunday)

• 347 E. 4th St. sells; conversion to residential use is in the works (Tuesday) 

• The first opossum sighting of 2021 in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday) 

• About Nudibranch, bringing a pop-up tasting menu to 130 1st Ave. this month (Friday) 

• Leasing underway at Stella LES on Avenue C and Houston (Wednesday) 

• Construction watch: 799 Broadway (Tuesday) 

• New signage for the incoming Greenwich Marketplace on 4th Avenue (Monday)

... and I Know! I Know! This used to be such a nice, safe neighborhood... via the Citizen app...

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The first opossum sighting of 2021 in Tompkins Square Park

We got a really good look at the (an?) opossum today in Tompkins Square Park... Steven took these photos... the last sighting in November 2020 came late in the afternoon, and the opossum was hiding in some holly bushes. Not today though...

There were multiple opossum sightings in late 2017. Remember Opie aka Nicodemus Punch Sugarpop?

Previously on EV Grieve:
• The opossum has pretty much made Tompkins Square Park her/his home now

• The opossum of Tompkins Square Park — now on video

• Opossum where art thou?

• Opossum drama in Tompkins Square Park

Oh look at the opossum in Tompkins Square Park

An EVG reader shared these photos from Tompkins Square Park today ... where an opossum was spotted lurking in some holly bushes... right there!

Nearly three years have passed since our last opossum sighting here (whatever happened to Nicodemus Punch Sugarpop aka Parachute ChingChing Yanoonoo aka Opie...?) 

Updated 7:30 p.m. 

Steven and Eden had a sighting this evening...

Previously on EV Grieve:
• The opossum has pretty much made Tompkins Square Park her/his home now

• The opossum of Tompkins Square Park — now on video

• Opossum where art thou?

• Opossum drama in Tompkins Square Park

This afternoon in squirrel photos

From Tompkins Square Park today, riachung00 shares this photo of a (the?) blond-tailed squirrel...



... one of the elusive members of the Park's wildlife, a group that includes the black crowned night heron and opossum (and I don't know what happened to the oppossum).

Week in Grieview

[Caught in the rain on Avenue A via Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Q&A with the authors of the "Rock & Roll Explorer Guide to New York City" (Thursday)

Printed Matter will have a bookstore inside the Swiss Institute's new 2nd Avenue home (Tuesday)

Funny business: Comedy club replacing comedy club on 4th Street (Monday)

The latest I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Friday)

At Dual Specialty Store (Thursday)

Don't be surprised to see a human take your order (and cash) at the Astor Place Shake Shack (Monday)

Tinkersphere leaves 5th Street for the Lower East Side (Friday)

An injured opossum on Avenue B (Monday)

The former East Village Cheese space has a new tenant on 7th Street (Friday)

Bareburger making its Orchard Street debut (Thursday)

Moxy East Village arrives at the lobby level (Monday)

Pink Bear Ice Cream and Steam Rice Roll has apparently closed on 14th Street (Tuesday)

Cafe Zaiya has closed on Cooper Square (Wednesday)

About the bar-restaurant proposed for 2 St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

2 years later, 136 2nd Ave. ready for its restaurant (Wednesday)

Hot Box looking ready to debut on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

Report: Ravi DeRossi bringing Fire & Water to 7th Street (Tuesday)

... and something for the birds on St. Mark's Place... photo by EVG reader Hansley Yunez...



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An injured opossum on Avenue B

Photos and report by Mark Cyr...

Last night, the NYPD found an opossum lying on Avenue B, near Seventh Street along Tompkins Square Park, where a car had been parked. The opossum was alive and looking around at onlookers, but making no effort to move. In the words of the NYPD officer holding back the crowd of onlookers, "He is playing possum. We don't know what he might do."



An NYPD Emergency Services Unit (ESU) was called to deal with the opossum.

An NYPD officer explained that the NYPD's job was to remove any wildlife found at ground level. The ESU officers waited for an animal crate to be brought and then they dropped a loop over the opossum's head and moved him into the crate. The ESU officers said the opossum did not resist.







The ESU officers said that the opossum appeared to have a broken leg. They thought he had probably fallen asleep under a parked car and gotten hurt when the car drove away. They said the opossum would be taken to animal rescue for evaluation. The crowd applauded as the opossum crate was carried away.

This opossum was gray, not white. This does not seem to be the same opossum I photographed in Tompkins Square Park, in December.

FLASHBACK... to December


[Photo by Mark Cyr]

So to recap, the opossum the NYPD took away last evening is NOT Nicodemus Punch Sugarpop aka Parachute ChingChing Yanoonoo aka Opie...

Previously on EV Grieve:
The opossum has pretty much made Tompkins Square Park her/his home now

The opossum of Tompkins Square Park — now on video

Opossum where art thou?

Opossum drama in Tompkins Square Park

Week in Grieview

[Last night at Royal Tailor on 11th Street]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Pile driving for new building on Avenue C prompts arrival of crack monitors next door (Wednesday)

At the annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant (in Queens) (Monday)

Jimmy Carbone and Paloma Rocket collaborating on new venture for the Jimmy's No. 43 space (Tuesday)

The latest I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Friday)

Honoring actor Joseph Sirola at Theatre 80 on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Bad news for fans of Siggy's Good Food (Wednesday)

Still House relocating to 9th Street (Friday)

Clay Pot opens on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

A London-based hairdresser gave free haircuts to the homeless in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

Avant-Garde-Arama at Performance Space grand re-opening (Thursday)

Retail for rent signs arrive for Steiner East Village storefronts (Tuesday)

A look at the former GG's space on 5th Street (Friday)

McSorley's turns 164 (Monday)

A spin through Downtown Yarns on Avenue A (Thursday)

Awaiting repairs for a sidewalk vault on 4th Street (Wednesday)

All is quiet at 75 1st Ave. (Thursday)

Last weekend for the Stone on Avenue C (Thursday)

Report: Financial firm takes the Death Star penthouse (Wednesday)

Chat 'N Chew reboot opens (Tuesday)

...and an opossum update from last night in Tompkins Square Park...

Opossum spotting! Dog barking at poor Opie up in his tree! @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/NiXovGhM0O

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) February 25, 2018

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