A climb up into the Hare Krishna tree

A tree crew showed up today in the center of Tompkins Square Park ... with the Hare Krishna tree the focus of their attention. (There were admittedly a few anxious moments while people wondered what they might be doing. You never know what the city has planned.)

However, the workers said they were there to test equipment... with one worker showing the other some tree-climbing tips, per EVG correspondent Steven ...











Thanks to Steven for the photos.

EVG summer storylines

[RIP East River Park via Dave on 7th]

Three stories that we've been following this summer and late spring...

The pending closure of East River Park

• Last week to comment on the city's plans to close East River Park (Aug. 27)

• An annual reunion in East River Park (Aug. 4)

• City Planning Commission will hold its hearing on the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project tomorrow (July 30)

• Next steps in the plan to rebuild East River Park (July 19)

• This week's public meeting about stormproofing East River Park (July 16)

• A visit to East River Park (July 10)

• Here are the next meetings for you to learn more about stormproofing plans for East River Park (June 3)

The plan to put synthetic turf at Tompkins Square Park

• No winners yet in Tompkins Square Park synthetic turf battle (Aug. 27)

• Petition to 'Save Tompkins Square asphalt!' closing in on 19,000 signatures (July 8)

• Skateboarders upset over plan to add synthetic turf to the northwest corner of Tompkins Square Park (July 2)

The ongoing challenges at Gem Spa

• Get your Gem Spa t-shirts or photos of Madonna — at Gem Spa! (Aug. 16)

• A July 4 moment at Gem Spa (July 4)

• Will you buy a Gem Spa T-shirt? (June 28)

• The Gem Spa Zoltar is alive and well and telling fortunes an L-train ride away in Bushwick (June 19)

• "Gem Spa is open!" (June 18)

• What is happening at Gem Spa? (June 11)

A visit to Gem Spa (May 10)

A Labor Day weekend book sale at Mast

Happening at Mast Books, Avenue A at Fifth Street, all Labor Day Weekend long...

View this post on Instagram

BOOK SALE! All weekend long. Hundreds of books, most in the $5 to $10 range! Starts this afternoon at 2pm through Labor Day.

A post shared by Mast Books (@mastbooks) on Aug 30, 2019 at 8:36am PDT

Another driver wedges car on the bike lane adjacent to the FDR

[Screengrab via PIX11]

Police are searching for the BMW driver who cruised along the bike-jogging path adjacent to the FDR, abandoning the vehicle after it became wedged between the highway's retaining wall and Con Ed at 15th Street early this morning.

Per PIX11:

Police said the driver of the car fled the scene and was nowhere to be found.

Authorities do not know where the car entered the sectioned-off path or how it got stuck there.

WATCH: Tow truck lifts car out of bike path where it had been previously wedged on the N/B side of the FDR Drive near 14th street. No reports on injuries. HEAVY delays beyond Brooklyn Bridge @PIX11News pic.twitter.com/qs2QuWZUfn

— MARISSA TORRES PIX11 (@MarissaTorresTV) August 29, 2019

In July 2018, a woman driving a Porsche Cayenne managed the same feat...

@NY1 @patkiernan How did the driver even manage this? Blocked the fdr path this morning. #Bailedthrough thesunroof @Porsche pic.twitter.com/wBLY4yLhsx

— michael feldstein (@majy10016) July 27, 2018

Thankfully no one was injured in either reckless driving incident.

Welcoming baby Luna

On Aug. 7 at 1:48 a.m., Luna Rivera, weighing 7.2 pounds, arrived in a water bath birth at her parent's home on Third Street.

She was greeted by her mother, Juana Rivera, 33, and father, Edward Rivera, 34. She joins siblings Edward Rivera, Jr., 6, and Rex Rivera, 3.

All three of the Rivera children were birthed at home under the guidance of East Village-based midwife Cara Muhlhahn. (You may have read about her here or here.)

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was at the Rivera house in the days after Luna's birth. Stacie shared these photos — with the Rivera's permission — of Baby Luna's first few days at home.








[With Juana]


[With Edward]


[With Edward Jr.]


[With Rex]


[The grandfather, Eduardo Rivera]


[Cara the midwife with Juana]

The former DeRobertis building on 1st Avenue is now the Slater, where the penthouse is $15k

As previously reported, there have been ongoing renovations at 174-176 First Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street.

The residential units above the storefronts (Black Seed bagels has been in the north space since October 2015) hit the rental market earlier this summer.

For starters, the building has a new name: the Slater.



And a few building blurbs via Streeteasy...

Each apartment in this newly gut renovated building is sprawling with natural light from both Eastern and Western exposures.

The state-of-the-art kitchen touts high-end stainless steel appliances consisting of a Whirlpool Microwave, Fisher and Paykel Stove and Oven, Liebherr Refrigerator, LG Dishwasher and a Summit Wine Cooler.

And...

Additional features guaranteed not to be found elsewhere include USB electrical outlets, HD video intercoms and Latch Keyless entry system on every apartment door.

The building’s expansive furnished communal roof deck will also have a pergola, bbq station and high top bar for entertaining with 360 degrees New York City skyline views.

Together, these renovations are one of a kind and guaranteed to be the envy of the neighborhood. At The Slater, you’ll find premium finishes and the best comforts.

The penthouse, featuring seven bedrooms and four bathrooms, has an asking price of $15,125. (The fine print: "The price advertised is the net effective rent with one month free on a 12 month lease.")

This building was owned for generations by the DeRobertis family. They closed DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe here after 110 years in business in December 2014. The economy, age and health reportedly compelled the four DeRobertis siblings to sell the building (for $9.9 million, per public records).

In May 2018, High Point Property Group reportedly bought the five-story walkup for $12.1 million. The seller was a joint venture between EBMG, LLC and AMJ Equities.

The current landlord has said they'll return a refurbished DeRobertis neon signage to the storefront above Black Seed.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ugh: The 110-year-old DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe closes after Dec. 5

[Updated] 110-year-old DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe looks to be closing once the building is sold

174-176 First Ave., home of DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe, is for sale

Let's take a look at the DeRobertis in-house bakery

What happened to the DeRobertis neon sign on 1st Avenue?

Niconeco Zakkaya debuts on 10th Street

Niconeco Zakkaya is now open at 263 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The business, which started in 2015 as an online enterprise, sells original Japanese stationery and other handcrafted items.

You can check out their wares on Instagram...

View this post on Instagram

Lovely mailart on the wall from my dear friend @queenie_abelle❤️ Some new arrivals in the shop👋 Weekdays opening 11:00-19:00📝 See you!😊 #niconecozakkaya

A post shared by niconeco zakkaya (@niconeco_zakkaya) on Aug 28, 2019 at 10:00am PDT

Previously on EV Grieve:
Niconeco Zakkaya, seller of Japanese stationery and gifts, opening a shop on 10th Street

Here's info on the LUNGS CSA

The folks at Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) passed along news about their ongoing community-supported agriculture (CSA!) program... and info about how to take part this fall...

The program runs week to week. A person can sign up just the weeks they want produce. One just pre-pays for the weeks they want to participate. It is $10 per week and you get a full bag of locally grown seasonal produce.

In September, the Miracle Garden, 194 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, serves as the pick-up spot Show up between 1-3 p.m. at Miracle Garden this coming Sunday [Sept. 1] and start supporting an amazing community organization that promotes the community gardens in the East Village while also supporting local farming and healthy eating.

All the money goes to the local family farm.

Questions about the CSA? Ask away via email: info@lungsnyc.org.

Breakfast deals

[Photo from January by Stacie Joy]

EVG friends @allblackcats shared this photo from outside Rossy's Bakery & Café, the family-run establishment at 242 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C... $2 gets you a coffee and either a bagel or doughnut...



For more on Rossy's, read our A Visit To feature from January right here.

Getting a quick round in before the rain today

Finding a quiet area of Tompkins Square Park, near the Avenue B playground construction zone, to practice the short game this morning ... photo by Steven.