Lois will yield to Accidental Bar on Avenue C

Lois, the wine bar at 98 Avenue C between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, closed last fall with plans to return this spring.

 

During the break, though, owners Nora O'Malley and Phoebe Connell decided to pursue other opportunities. 

"It is not, however, the typical COVID closure story," O'Malley told me via email. "The good news is that our dear friend Austin Power — yes, for real — will be taking over the space."

With an official June 1 opening date, Power will debut Accidental Bar, dedicated to sake.

Per a media release on the new space:

Similar to Lois, Accidental Bar will offer a revolving beverage list of sake, along with a curated selection of wines and beers on tap.  Power will offer limited release seasonal sake sourced directly from Japan along with exclusive experimental sake brewed by the renowned Brooklyn Kura, some of which will be on tap. Power will also offer a seasonal menu of small plates inspired by his home and his husband's home — South Carolina and Kyoto, respectively — to complement the experience. 

Ali Sahin, the owner of C&B on Seventh Street, introduced Power to the Lois owners several years ago.

"[A]nd so began my love of visiting Austin, first at Sake Bar Satsko just down the block and later at Tokyo Record Bar, learning about what I liked in sake and hearing the new things he was excited about that week," Connell said.

Accidental Bar will be open six days a week: Monday and Wednesday-Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m., with a 10 p.m. close on Sundays. 

Image via @accidentalbarnyc 

Brought to life: Electric Burrito signage arrives on St. Mark's Place

The neon signage for Electric Burrito arrived back on Friday at 81 St. Mark's Place just west of First Avenue.

This is the Southern California-style burrito shop that started as a pop-up concept at Mister Paradise around the corner on First Avenue. Mister Paradise co-founder Will Wyatt and bar GM Alex Thaboua are behind this to-go venture that expects to open on the week of May 17.

The menu includes burritos inspired by Thaboua's upbringing in San Diego and house-made sodas.

You can check out the Electric Burrito Instagram account for some burrito pics.

Until March 2020, this space was an outpost of Xi'an Famous Foods.

Photo by Steven

Glass acts: Zero Irving gets its rooftop Sky Lounge

Here's our first look at 124 E. 14th St., aka Zero Irving (and formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center and 14 @ Irving ... and tech hub) since the start of the year.

EVG regular Pinch pointed out that the 21-story building is all glassed up these days. And it looks like that tenant-only rooftop Sky Lounge is coming together. 

Here's what the latest Zero Irving e-newsletter has to say: "Bulkhead permanent roofing installation for the roofing membrane work is ongoing. Layout for drilling for connections and installation of perforated steel panels is ongoing."

Roofing membrane!

A February article in Fortune included Zero Irving in a piece on "what the COVID-safe skyscraper will look like." Per the article:

The building is equipped with state-of-the-art touchless technology that will allow tenants to enter the building using an app on their phones. The app will open the building’s electric revolving doors, get tenants through security turnstiles automatically, and arrive at their floor through elevators equipped with destination dispatch — all without touching a thing.

Zero Irving is expected to open later this year.

And some of the background on the project...

The building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October. Food-hall specialists Urban­Space officially signed the lease for 10,000 square feet on the ground level late last summer.

The new building — long contested by local preservationists and community groups (see links below) — sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC

• Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood

• City Council unanimously approves tech hub; some disappointment in lack of zoning protections 

• The conversation continues on the now-approved tech hub for 14th Street

Full reveal at the 101 Condominium's 1st Avenue side

A quick update: Workers recently removed the sidewalk bridge from outside the all-new 24 First Ave. — aka the 101 Condominium, Rybeck Development's 7-story, 23-unit condoplex ... 

The Second Street side of the development is still under wraps... as you will recall, two addresses — 24 First Ave. and its property mate 99-101 E. Second St. — were demolished to make room for the 101...

Our previous post has the 411 on the 101.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Onetime home of Lucky Cheng's and adjacent property sell for $12 million

• Demolition permits filed to bring down former Lucky Cheng's building on 1st Avenue

• The 411 on the 101 Condominium

Sunday's parting shot

An EVG reader shared this photo from today... showing a car door squeezed in among the deliveries in this East Village lobby...

Week in Grieview

Posts from the past week included (with a photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg) ... 

• The EVAC, an arts venue, replaces FlyeLyfe on 1st Avenue after 1 day in business — why? (Wednesday)

• At the March to Save East River Park (Monday) 

• Concern for the main lawn in Tompkins Square Park (Monday) 

• Opening day at the new Bluestockings Cooperative on the Lower East Side (Saturday) 

• Happy Hatch Day for Amelia and Christo, the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park (Friday) 

• Spring forward with Al Diaz (Thursday) 

• Reopenings: Ukrainian East Village restaurant, Little Poland (Monday)

• A new era of small talk in this week's NY See (Thursday) 

• Live music returns to these 2 Avenue A venues (Thursday) 

• A print edition of the Village Voice is now out (Tuesday) 

• Report: Mermaid Inn plans to reopen, though the SLA isn't helping (Thursday) 

• Report of a trash fire outside Saifee Hardware (Sunday) 

• 145 2nd Ave. returns to view (Thursday) 

• A little of the old Coyote Ugly at the new Coyote Ugly on 14th Street (Tuesday)

• Signs of life at Sanshi Noodle House (Wednesday) 

• You can now stay out until midnight at a bar or restaurant (Monday) 

• On second thought, Chef Hans looks to be the new tenant for 120 1st Ave. (Wednesday) 

• Brazen Fox returning to the Brazen Fox space (Thursday)

... and another 4/20 is in the books... didn't get a chance to mention Lexi Bella's art in First Street Green Art Park...

And thank you to Spotted by Locals for naming EVG one of the 6 best blogs in NYC. Link here.

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

Weekend wisteria watch

The NYC famous wisteria outside 35 Stuyvesant St. at 10th Street is in bloom ... these photos are from yesterday here just west of Second Avenue ...

If you can't experience it in person this year, then there's always the jigsaw puzzle! 

Remembering the city's biggest opera fan, and what will become of her memorabilia?

Lois Kirschenbaum, a fan fixture at the Metropolitan Opera for more than 50 years, has died at 88. https://t.co/WYkMvITA4e

— NYT Obituaries (@NYTObits) April 10, 2021

Longtime East Village resident Lois Kirschenbaum died earlier month. She was 88. 

The Times covered her passing (see tweet above), and followed up with another story on who they called "the queen of the Metropolitan Opera’s stage door since the 1950s."

Corey Kilgannon has a feature on her extensive collection of autographed photos of opera stars as well as singed programs — a number that exceeds 200,000. And they are all sitting in boxes in her spare bedroom now.

Kirschenbaum was a switchboard operator from Flatbush, Brooklyn, who became perhaps New York's biggest and longest-standing opera buff — and an obsessive autograph collector. For over half a century, she spent about 300 nights a year at the Met and other musical and dance performances. Legally blind since birth, she would usually sit in the uppermost balcony and follow the action with a pair of large binoculars, always hustling back after the curtain call — programs and headshots in hand — to gather signatures.

Her will, drafted in 1992, directed her collection to be left to the "Lincoln Center Research Library," which, as the Times notes, is likely a reference to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.

Its executive director, Jennifer Schantz, said the library was "delighted and honored," adding, "We look forward to reviewing the collection and learning more."

But...

Since the library does not accept all such donations, however, Kirschenbaum’s friends still fear the material might wind up discarded.

Opening day at the new Bluestockings Cooperative on the Lower East Side

The new home for the Bluestockings Cooperative officially opened yesterday at 116 Suffolk St.

The collectively-run activist center, community space and feminist bookstore previously held a successful crowdfunding campaign, which raised more than $100,000 to help Bluestockings build out the space between Rivington and Delancey.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the space yesterday for an opening-day look...

Bluestockings opened at 172 Allen St. between Stanton and Rivington in 1999... before moving on at the end of last July. 

You can follow the Bluestockings Instagram account for updates. The hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Today is the last day for Bluestockings on Allen Street; new LES location in the works

Benny's Burritos still frozen in November 2014 time on Avenue A

Here's your periodic reminder that a) Benny's Burritos closed almost seven years ago and b) the storefront has sat vacant since November 2014. 

Anyway, every so often the gates are up here — like yesterday! — on the southwest corner of Avenue A and Sixth Street... showing the well-preserved Benny's museum (though the menus have come down from the doors since our last look).

Benny's closed here on Nov. 29, 2014, after 27 years in business.

The prime corner space has sat empty since then. At least one prospective tenant kicked the tires on the space in 2017. (The Benny's to-go spot next door, which closed in February 2015, is now the 99¢ pizza place called 99¢ Pizza.)

Anyway, no idea why the gate seems to open every few years. The original rental ask for the spot was $22,000.

Mark Merker, who launched Harry's and Benny's Burritos in 1987, attempted a revival with Benny's Burritos & Empanadas at 86 E. Seventh St. in January 2018, but it didn't last.

Hello, Whiskers!

Workers finished removing the sidewalk bridge from around the northwest corner of Ninth Street and Second Avenue late yesterday afternoon. 

And for the first time in nearly three years, you can see the Whiskers Holistic Petcare storefront...

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Today in sweet deals on 14th Street

As seen at the Immaculate Conception on 14th Street at First Avenue... part of the usual weekend flea market at the church. (One of the regular vendors, and not the folks along the sidewalk selling canned goods and broken answering machines.)

Saturday's opening shot

A crew was out early (7 a.m.) to put up the stage for today's HC show in Tompkins Square Park.

The bill features Madball, Murphy's Law, Bloodclot, Wisdom in Chains and the Capturers (plus DJ Franky 2Far). There's a noon start time, per the flyers, though a worker said the show starts at 2.

The devil's advocate

 

NYC-based Pretty Sick released a new song yesterday, "Devil in Me" ... which is the first track from the band's forthcoming EP titled Comedown, out on June 17. Check out the video above...

Open Culture on the Open Streets of Avenue B

Tomorrow (Saturday!), several community groups and artists are coming together for Open Culture, an afternoon "to lounge, listen to music and help draw a giant street mural with tape artist Kuki." 

This is happening from 1-5 p.m. on Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street.

Happy Hatch Day for Amelia and Christo, the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park

It appears that at least one egg belonging to Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, has hatched. (And thanks to Steven for these photos!)

Goggla has been keeping an eye on the nest and has noticed a change in behavior starting on Tuesday evening... as the two went into parenting mode. 

Per Goggla:

Christo perched on the edge of the nest while Amelia stayed inside. He appeared to be watching and/or waiting, something we've seen him do on hatch days in previous years. The hawks stayed in this position for over two hours, which is also notable. Finally, Amelia got up and the two of them fussed around with some food, Christo watching as Amelia tore it up, then went through the motions of feeding a chick deep in the nest.

What's going on up there?

We have no idea how many eggs or chicks there are in the nest, but can expect 1-3 nestlings. It may be another week or so before we catch a glimpse of any fuzzy white heads peeking over the edge of the nest, so we'll have to wait and be surprised.

Head over to Goggla's site for more details... plus check out her video of Christo riding out the hailstorm on Wednesday from atop St Nicholas of Myra on Avenue A and 10th Street. 

Openings: Looker bringing vegan bar food to Avenue B

Looker, serving vegan bar food, debuts today (1 p.m. until ... ?) at 42 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street.

This is the sister restaurant to Post, the former tenant here...  as previously reported, the four-year-old cafe moved around the corner to a larger space on Third Street. 

Not sure what else to say about Looker at the moment... they do have an Instagram account chock-full of 1980s throwbacks...

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A post shared by LOOKER (@lookerny)

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 ...  

Spring forward with Al Diaz

Acclaimed street artist Al Diaz, whose career spans 50 years in NYC, is the subject of a new (virtual) exhibition via the East Village-based Howl! Happening starting tomorrow.

On Tuesday, Diaz added a seasonal touch to the gate at 246 Bowery (at Stanton Street) ... the message reads: "Spring. Nature's Most Optimistic Gesture."

NY1's Roger Clark caught up with Diaz while on the Bowery.

If the letters on Diaz's work look familiar, it's because they are made up of reclaimed New York City Transit Wet Paint Sign characters, and subway system icons.  

"Being a New Yorker and all, it's a kind of ubiquitous alphabet, constrained alphabet, that as commuters we see every day," said Diaz, who makes messages of all sorts with those letters intended to inspire action.

Diaz grew up in the Jacob Riis Houses on Avenue D. He started writing graffiti at age 12. As a teen in the late 1970s, he and his friend Jean-Michel Basquiat collaborated on a series of cryptic messages seen around the city signed from SAMO©. 

The show at Howl!, titled A Subterraneous Journal, features work that Diaz created during the pandemic. 

Find more info about the exhibit, which is on through May 30, at this link. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• The EVG podcast: Al Diaz on BOMB1, SAMO© and Basquiat

Live music returns to these 2 Avenue A venues

Live events, with limited attendance, have returned to venues on Avenue A.

Drom, 85 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street, is welcoming back an array of acts. (Schedule here, flyer above.) 

The club is also the new home of DJ TM.8's Temptation INXS — 80s Dance Party Saturdays. (The first one on May 1 is already sold out.) This was a long-running dance night at the now-closed Pyramid Club.  

Live music is also back (as of April 16) at Berlin – Under A at 25 Avenue A and Second Street. Check out their Facebook account for upcoming shows.