Sunday, December 25, 2022
Week in Grieview
• Man found dead with a slash wound to his neck on Avenue A (Monday) ... NYPD release wanted poster in connection with Avenue A homicide (Thursday)
• Moroccan specialty shop Timbuktu being forced out after 20 years on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday)
• Hamilton Fish Park Library reopens for limited service starting (Monday)
• A Punk Magazine-Iggy Pop holiday 'Loser' extravaganza at Metropolis (Thursday)
• Storefront renovations and reveals on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Monday)
• When Santa Claus came to the Lower East Side — with an assist from the FDNY (Thursday)
• Season's Supermarket Greetings (Friday)
• No new trees for these 2 East Village spots (Thursday)
• Dunkin' debuts on East Houston (Thursday)
• An EVG 15-year anniversary (Wednesday)
• The East Village Sauce outpost shutters for now on 12th Street (Monday)
• Jell & Chill peacing out on 7th Street (Friday)
• Signage alert: Caleta on Avenue A, with a Jan. 7 debut (Tuesday)
• FULL reveal at 14 2nd Ave. (Monday)
... and a scene from the New York School of Burlesque student showcase last weekend at Drom on Avenue A (photo by Stacie Joy) ...
A Merry Mystery Lot Christmas
Saturday, December 24, 2022
Saturday's parting shot
EVG Etc.: East Village shroom bust; rent history insights
Photo by Derek Berg
• The DA's office has charged 33-year-old Kenwood Allen with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, one count of second-degree robbery, and two counts of second-degree assault for causing fatal overdoses of two people Allen robbed in venues on Seventh Street and Ludlow Street (The Post ... Gay City News ... press release from DA's office)
• Police arrest four people during an investigation into the sale of magic mushrooms at East Village stores Come Back Daily on 11th Street and City Clouds on Seventh Street (PIX11 ...
• More about Kōbo by Nai, now open on Avenue A (The New York Times... previously on EVG)
• How to get your rent history in NYC (The City)
• Revisiting the great Veniero's on 11th Street (Eater)
• Adam Zhu on the enduring creative stamina of New York (Document Journal ... previously on EVG)
• Latke time at Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery (NY1)
• Remembering filmmaker Robert Downey Sr.'s influence on the LES (The Daily Heller)
• Winter memories in the East Village (Laura Goggin Photography)
• Riding with the Citi Bike Boyz in Tompkins Square Park (Curbed)
• An oral history of the Pyramid Club on Avenue A (Document Journal) What's next for the space? (EVG)
• The most borrowed books from NYC’s public libraries this year (Gothamist)
• Yo La Tengo pays tribute to the Ramones with Marky Ramone at the Bowery Ballroom (Brooklyn Vegan)
• Recent EV arrival Anna Delvey, still under house arrest, has made $300,000 this year selling her art online (Artnet)
• How the Lower East Side has changed since 1988's "Crossing Delancey" (New York Jewish Week)
Saturday's opening shot
The temperature was in the single digits (9) as of about 8:30 a.m., with wind chills below zero. There's a wind-chill advisory today, as highs will only reach 18, per the National Weather Service.
Friday, December 23, 2022
Friday's parting shot
Photo by Derek Berg
A professional line waiter at work today outside New York Theatre Workshop on Fourth Street...
It's Xmas time
East Village-based singer-songwriter Jesse Malin has released a new video for "Xmas, etc.," a re-recording of the song that appeared on his debut LP, The Fine Art of Self Destruction ... that record will be expanded and reissued in celebration of its 20th anniversary early next year. (Read more about that here.)
You can catch Malin and his band at Webster Hall on March 25, 2023.
Noted
Season's Supermarket Greetings
Photos by Stacie Joy
While out and about this holiday season, EVG contributor Stacie Joy starting keeping tabs on the neighborhood's grocery stores (such as Associated on Avenue C above) to see how the markets were decorating for the season.
Many places were on the bah-humbug-y side, perhaps with just a few cashier-area holiday tinsel-y ornaments.
These were the groceries putting in the holiday décor effort, starting with Pioneer/Met Fresh on Avenue D between Eighth Street and Ninth Street ...
... Union Market on Houston and Avenue A...
... H-Mart on Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street ...
...New Yorkers Food Market on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and Sixth Street...
... Whole Foods Market® Bowery ...
... and the clear winner in the grocery holiday games — Key Food on Avenue A and Fourth Street,
Key was also the only shop with any Hanukkah signage and opting for the traditional Chanukah spelling...
Please note that Key closes at 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve (tomorrow) and will be closed all day on Christmas. So plan ahead. (Sidenote: We finally found where they stock the mustard now — aisle 1, which doesn't make sense, after the Great Key Reorganization. Stayed tuned for the next investigative series on mustard presentation.)
Jell & Chill peacing out on 7th Street
You just have three days left for the shop's traditional handcrafted Bīng Fěn Ice Jelly, a Sichuanese cold dessert jelly. Jell & Chill closes after service on Sunday.
Per the shop's Instagram account: "Given the current circumstances we chose not to renew our lease."
The owners are looking to open in another NYC location.
Hours: Today from 3-8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 2-8 p.m.
Thursday, December 22, 2022
When Santa Claus came to the Lower East Side — with an assist from the FDNY
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
The 7th Precinct and FDNY Engine 15/Ladder 18/Battalion 4 came together this past Saturday on Pitt Street to help brighten the holidays for some Lower East Side families.
Christopher Lee, co-owner of the Parkside Lounge on Houston and Attorney, filling in for the real Santa Claus who was busy prepping for Dec. 24, distributed toys to happy children and their grateful parents.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy was on hand for some of the quality Santa time...
[Updated] NYPD release wanted poster in connection with Avenue A homicide
Updated 12/26
Police have arrested Roland Codrington (see below). He is accused of two murders — on Avenue A and a doctor Friday in Marcus Garvey Park. In both deadly assaults, the victims were killed with a knife. And in both deaths, the suspect did not previously have any interaction with the victims.
More details to follow.
-----
Police have placed reward posters near the crime scene. The poster states the 9th Precinct "is attempting to identify and apprehend this individual." (Thanks to the reader for the photo.)
According to published reports and police sources, 51-year-old James Cunningham was found on the sidewalk with lacerations on his neck just before 1. a.m. He reportedly had a glass of seltzer at Spike's, 218 Avenue A, where he was a regular, per the Daily News, and was attacked after leaving. Police and media reports say that the suspect jumped Cunningham during a confrontation. Police have not yet revealed a motive in the deadly attack.
Sources told the Post that "Cunningham himself was just arrested 10 days ago and charged with menacing with a knife."
Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. All calls are strictly confidential.
Updated 12/25WANTED for Homicide in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/mwvePZlmQR
— NYPD 121st Precinct (@NYPD121Pct) December 24, 2022
Sources say the suspect, identified as Roland Codrington, is also wanted for an attack at an East Harlem bar on Thursday night.
Updated 12/26The following individual has been identified as Roland Codrington. If you have any information on his whereabouts contact @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. https://t.co/7UPzMAj5eA
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 24, 2022
Here's the press conference announcing the arrest of Codrington.
Watch as Police Commissioner Sewell and NYPD executives provide an update on an ongoing police investigation. https://t.co/izdFygSP6O
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 26, 2022
A Punk Magazine-Iggy Pop holiday 'Loser' extravaganza at Metropolis
Photos by Stacie Joy
Iggy Pop recently announced that he has a new record, Every Loser, (his 19th studio album) coming out next month.
As part of this release, there's also a new edition of Punk Magazine (No. 22 for those of you keeping track) — 47 years after the very first issue. This edition is available along with the record via Iggy's website.
Ahead of this release, East Village resident John Holmstrom (above), the co-founder, editor and illustrator of Punk Magazine, provided a sneak preview of the edition on Saturday night at Metropolis Vintage on Broadway and 11th Street.
The party included some Punk fans and contributors, such as illustrator Bruce Carleton and East Village-based photographer Godlis...
In a recent newsletter, Holmstrom provided the back story on how this Every Loser issue of Punk came together.
It started with a text this past July from the record's producer, Andrew Watt, who is a Punk fan (especially Mutant Monster Beach Party in issue No. 15).
This guy, Andrew Watt, said he wanted me to devote an entirely new issue of Punk to Iggy's new album. He wanted it to be an authentic Punk magazine, with the whole scraggly, hand-lettered mess of photos and comic strips we usually came up with."What was your last issue number?" he once asked."Twenty-one," I replied. (Our CBGB Tribute!)"Then this will be Punk magazine Number Twenty-two," Andrew said. (And to be honest? He stuck to this promise all the way through. This is an authentic Punk Magazine. I enjoyed complete creative control throughout.) An entire issue devoted to Iggy Pop… Great idea, right? How could I say "No!"? So I agreed to do it. What could go wrong?
And...
Andrew told me how he was sure I would like the new Iggy LP. I have to admit I was skeptical at first. You know: "That’s what they all say." A few weeks later, he sent me the tracks, and I was blown away. "Best Iggy Pop solo LP!" I gladly told him. By now, I would have killed an army of Nazi Disco Zombies to produce this new issue of Punk Magazine that details Iggy's amazing career and highlights his amazing new album!To me, Iggy was the first "Punk." He started it all, the most important person in the history of punk rock, best musician, most influential, etc. Once I heard this amazing new Iggy LP I started putting ideas together and researching everything about Iggy I could find on the Internet. I have to admit I hadn't kept up with all of the intimate details of Iggy's career since the 1970s, but he was always there. I always noticed that he was up to this or that.There's a lot about Iggy Pop on the internet, but most of it refers to The Stooges and Iggy's drug years before he cleaned up his act in the early 1980s. Well, yeah, these are all interesting stories, but mostly old and retold many times over.So rather than tell the same old dismal stories about "The Depths of Drug Addiction" or track down the many photos where he cut himself on stage, I decided to focus on Iggy's amazing creative career and his work: a bunch of great studios LPs, lots of quotable Iggy quotes, a massive number of film roles, (too many music videos to list), etc. So I got started on putting together the magazine.
This issue of Punk can only be purchased through the official Iggy Pop website.
You can subscribe to Holmstrom's newsletter here.
Previously on EV Grieve:
No new trees for these 2 East Village spots
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Days later, however, we were surprised to see that the newly created tree wells in front of 40 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street and 26 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street were filled in ...
We tracked down a city official who told us the following: "The trees can't go in by 40 Avenue B and 26 Avenue A because the buildings have basements under the sidewalks that Parks found when they excavated. [That is likely] true of the others, though without specific addresses cannot confirm."
Meanwhile, you can follow this link to request a street tree on your block — hopefully in a spot not above a basement.
Dunkin' debuts on East Houston
Photos by Stacie Joy
There's a new Dunkin' in town... the outpost debuted Tuesday at 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B (first mentioned here).
And it's a pretty spiffy-looking Dunkin' ...
EVG contributor Stacie Joy met the family running this franchise...
There was a Dunkin'/Baskin Robbins combo along this stretch previously... though in the one-level storefronts were demolished to make way for a new 11-story residential building.
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Anniversaries: 15 years ago today
The very first post arrived on this site on Dec. 21, 2007. It was an item from Page Six (!!!???) about the possible sale of Sophie's and Mona's, two longtime favorite East Village bars.
The site went by — not joking! — Sophie's Bar Blog for a brief period. (And why not Mona's Bar Blog?) After a few weeks of handwringing, it turned out that the bars would stay in the family and remain pretty much the same to this day 15 years later. (I explain the site's evolution from Sophie's Bar Blog to EVG here.)
Anyway, taking this moment to thank you for reading the site for however long it has been these past 15 years and 38,546 posts, and for sharing in the adventures of living in this neighborhood — for better or worse. And thank you for sharing tips, photos, anecdotes, observations, complaints, and perspectives on day-to-day life here, past and present.
Couldn't do any of this without all of you.
I'm incredibly grateful to Derek Berg and Steven for their daily contributions... and to Stacie Joy for lending her photography and reporting talents in covering happenings around the neighborhood.
And now, a happy and healthy holiday season to you. (If you have a Christmas tree and need to discard it before leaving town, please place it where we can get a good photo of it!)
Photoshopped photo from the archives courtesy of EVPinhead. And I give that business six weeks!
Workers arrive with construction materials at the former P.S. 64 on 9th Street
Photos by Stacie Joy
Workers arrived yesterday and began to unload construction materials, including cement and cinder blocks, plywood, 2x4s and fire suppressants at the long-vacant former P.S. 64, 605 E. Ninth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.
It's not immediately clear what the scope of the work will entail. The long-standing Stop Work Order and Full Vacant are still on file with the department of buildings.
As always with this address, there's an air of mystery about what is happening. No new work permits were spotted on-site, where none of the workers were seen wearing protective gear while entering the building that has been vacant for 21 years. (There's speculation among some P.S. 64 watchers that workers will be sealing up the entrances to keep people from entering the premises.)
The property that Gregg Singer purchased from the city in 1998 for $3.15 million fell into foreclosure earlier this year and is reportedly in the hands of lender Madison Realty Capital.
The five-floor building is being offered for use as medical space or educational-related purposes. Meanwhile, some residents want to see the space used again as a community center, as it was during its time as Charas/El Bohio Community Center. Singer evicted the group on Dec. 27, 2001.
Last week, Sarah Ferguson filed a lengthy feature for The Village Voice about what has transpired.
Among many other things, no one knows who owns the property now.
This past January, a court ruled that Madison Realty Capital, a $10 billion global private equity firm, can foreclose on the property. Although Singer is fighting that too, he appears to be running out of money. Singer now owes Madison nearly $90 million in interest and principal, along with late fees and interest charges of $30,000 per day, which started accruing as of the January 20 court judgment, according to a report compiled by a court-appointed referee.Singer's attorneys and Madison Realty Capital did not respond to numerous calls and emails seeking clarification on the current ownership status of the building or their intentions for it. Both sides were supposed to appear in court in June, but the meeting was postponed, so the fate of this old school is still in limbo.
Some local elected officials, residents and Charas supporters are hopeful the limbo doesn't last another 20-plus years.
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