Art and ice cream tonight at Alphabet Scoop

Alphabet Scoop has its official season opening today at 543 E. 11th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Here's more about the seasonal ice cream shop, operated by the Father's Heart Ministries next door:

Alphabet Scoop is a job and life skills program for teens. The program is designed to prepare teens with the skills needed to advance in their school and work endeavors. Teenagers receive classroom instruction and work under a shift supervisor in the retail store.

Current mood

Photo in Tompkins Square Park today by Steven

Happy Hummus Day!

Hummus Day is actually tomorrow. And it appears that you will be able to celebrate on Astor Place today. As these early-morning pics by EVG reader Liz S. show, crews are setting up some hummus-related tasting tables on Astor Place...



This is sponsored by Sabra Dipping Company...


[Another reader-submitted pic]

Updated 1 p.m.

Here are a few pics from Steven showing the Hummus Day in action...





There are also Hummus Goody Bags for the taking...

Nest watch in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by Bobby Williams]

For the fourth consecutive spring, red-tailed hawk couple Christo and Dora once again welcome home(?) a new batch of hawklets, as Goggla has been documenting.

To date, it has been difficult to tell how many kids are up in the nest in Tompkins Square Park. There has been visual confirmation of at least one...




[Photos by Steven]

Per Goggla:

"The number of hawk babies up in the nest in Tompkins Square is still difficult to determine. Christo and Dora definitely have one, possibly more, but it's been a challenge to get a good view of what's happening up there. We will just have to wait for the nestling(s) to get bigger."

Until then... a quick recap. Christo and Dora raised their offspring in Tompkins Square Park last spring/summer ... after bringing them up on AC units in 2014 and 2015. No word on a family reunion this summer.

Jennifer's Way Bakery reduces store hours to service online orders

Jennifer's Way Bakery at 264 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue has reduced hours now, as of Wednesday ... opening just on Friday through Sunday...



Another sign on the door points to an increase in online orders for the organic bakery that makes its products without gluten, dairy, soy, refined sugar or peanuts...





Another Facebook post notes that the bakery is selling most of the vintage items in store. "Time for spring cleaning and giving the bakery a new look."

The bakery is owned by Jennifer Esposito, the Brooklyn-born actress (currently on "NCIS"), who was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2009. The bakery opened in March 2013.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Jennifer Esposito responds to reports that she fled East 10th Street for Denmark

Supporting 249 E. 2nd St. during the construction next door

249 E. Second St. has been set with braces ...



There have been several complaints filed with the city this year about No. 249 ... due to the construction next door at the all-new Avenue C, future home of a 10-story, mixed-use building with 46 residential units at the former site of the Mobil station.

Per one complaint on file with the DOB (in their all-cap style): "DEMOLITION AND DRILLING BE DONE. CRACK IN CEILING WALL IN MAIN ROOM. APARTMENT SHAKING AND VIBRATING EXCESSIVELY TO THE POINT OF FURNITURE MOVING."

There was a partial stop-work order issued last month when No. 249 reportedly shifted.

And this isn't the first time a building adjacent to a development site has been damaged during construction. There were reports of cracks at 183 Avenue B during the foundation work for the 7-story mixed-used residential building at 185 Avenue B.

In 2015, No. 249 hit the market for $6.95 million. As far as I know the building was never sold.

On the rental market: 432 E. 13th St.

Teshigotoya, the Japanese restaurant at 432 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, quietly closed earlier this year.

The space is on the market. The listing shows an asking rent of $10,500 a month for the 800-square-feet of space. (There's also a $30,000 fixture fee.)

This spot has been a tough sell in the past few years. Masak, the well-regard Singapore-influenced restaurant, closed in April 2013. Then came Sembrado’s Tacos al Pastor, the Mexican restaurant from Danny Mena, the chef and co-founder of Hecho en Dumbo. And, I'm told, Teshigotoya went through an ownership change at some point after its early 2015 opening.

In previous posts about openings and closings at this address, commenters have said this is a tough block for foot traffic. Will the arrival of condos at the Thirteen East + West development ... or the 8-story residential building going up across the street at the former post office help make something work here?

Thursday's parting shot

A look at the new-look Sheen Brothers awning and black exterior at 10th Street and Avenue B ... (part of an overall exterior rehab at 157 Avenue B/346 E. 10th St.)

And the corner deli as seen last fall...

Noted

As you may have heard, the President fired the FBI director the other day.

Anyway, update your LinkedIn profiles! Because there are now "Looking for an FBI Director" flyers on St. Mark's Place.

"I am really looking for an FBI director. This is not a joke! Just trying to drain the swamp and hoping to meet the right person. I am a professional president and have been told 3 times that I am not under investigation. You know who you are. To me each and every person is beautiful. Open to the relationship morphing into something more profound."

No word if interested applicants can drop off résumés at Westminster offices.

Thanks to Goggla for the photo!

Hello, is it me you're looking for?

Found discarded on 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue... outside Academy Records, oddly enough.

The added art on Lionel's sweater should make this more valuable.

Thanks to Christine Champagne for the photo!