Debi the Gardener retires

[Photo from Nov. 13 by Steven]

Deborah Hulse, better known as Debi the Gardener to regulars of Tompkins Square Park, retired yesterday after nearly 15 years with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Born and raised in Greenwich Village, Hulse was a musician before entering the world of gardening. She received a Certificate of Horticulture from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens while working at Union Square Park. Hulse started at Tompkins Square Park in March 2009.

In 2012, the East Village Community Coalition recognized her tireless dedication to beautifying the grounds at Tompkins Square Park with its Outstanding Pigeon Award.

EVG correspondent Steven spoke with her yesterday. Hulse said she will miss the flowers and plants that she tended to through the years. "They are my children."

She also discussed the many residents that she has become friends with at the Park. Hulse won't be a stranger though: She has plans to stop by from time to time. Other retirement endeavors include revisiting her music career.


[Photo yesterday by Steven]

The Parks Department has not made plans to replace Hulse just yet.

In the kitchen with Chef Jae Lee at Nowon

Nowon debuted last week at 507 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. This is the first restaurant for Chef Jae Lee, who is serving non-traditional Korean fare here in the 34-seat space.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by before the grand opening, and watched Lee create, plate, taste and share his royal kimchi rice dish (dry aged ground beef, egg, bean sprout and seaweed) ...

















Lee previously helmed the kitchen — a pop up called Him — at Black Emperor on Second Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street, where he was responsible for the popular guest menu. His dry aged double cheeseburger with kimchi mayo and dill pickles, which Gothamist called "one of NYC's greatest burgers" when served at Black Emperor, is available here too, though only from 5-7 p.m.

He also served as the executive chef of Rice & Gold at Hotel 50 Bowery.



Nowon, named for the residential district of Seoul where Lee is from, pays tribute to the culture of Korea as well as his family.



Nowon is currently serving dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and until 11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. A weekend brunch service is in the works in the months ahead. (Also coming soon: the liquor license, with beer, wine and soju cocktails.) Find more details at the Nowon website ... and Instagram account. And here's a copy of the menu.

Cereal killer: Kellogg's NYC Café shutters on Union Square`

[TT Tiger pic via Instagram]

The Kellogg's NYC Café opened on the northern section of Union Square in December 2017, an event that inspired far too many posts on some local blogs.

Now an EVG reader alerts us that the space on the second level of 31 E. 17th St. (above the AT&T store) — which offered a DIY cereal-creation station as well as Pop Tarts — closed last week.

The announcement came via Instagram...

View this post on Instagram

Today we share that KNYC Union Square is permanently closed. We are sincerely thankful for the support of all our great guests of this unique cereal experience. While Kellogg is busy creating the next adventure, the Union Square space will be open as The White Box through our partner Co.create NYC for special events. Contact info@cocreatenyc.com for more information.

A post shared by Kellogg's NYC (@kelloggsnyc) on Nov 25, 2019 at 9:10am PST

Previously on EV Grieve:
Crunch time at the Kellogg's NYC Café on Union Square

Oh Gr-r-reat! Kellogg's cafe opening slightly delayed on Union Square

Kellogg's Union Square cafe closer to snapping, crackling and popping

Kellogg’s NYC, will be slinging cereal at an all-day breakfast café on Union Square next month

Please do not sit on this thing that looks exactly like a chair

Spotted outside East Village Postal today on First Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street ... a new place to rest for a moment?



... or ...



... a writing easel getting some air. (Complete with a warning not to sit!)

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

A memorial for longtime East Village resident Susan Leelike

Susan Leelike, a longtime East Village resident and activist, died on Oct. 26. She was 81.

This Saturday afternoon, there's a memorial for her friends and family ... and any resident who wants to stop by to pay his or her respects and share a memory.

Details:

Peter Jarema Funeral Home
129 E. Seventh St. west of Avenue A
Saturday, Dec. 7
1-3 p.m.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Susan Leelike

Happy holidays from NY See!

East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer will return with more NY See panels in March...

Former Bean space for rent on 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Steven]

The Bean's sudden departures from their spaces on First Avenue and Ninth Street and Second Avenue and Third Street on Nov. 24 took a lot of people by surprise. For starters, the coffee shops always looked crowded, and they have a loyal neighborhood following.

Owner Ike Escava told us the following: "Due to rising costs the decision to close was unfortunately the only one we could make."

Now the Second Avenue space is on the retail market. (There isn't a listing yet for the First Avenue storefront.) Here's more about 54 Second Ave. via the listing:

Amazing corner retail in the heart of the East Village. High ceilings and a no cooking infrastructure in place. Landlord will consider venting for a qualified operator. Great storage basement with walk-in, storage, etc. Very strong corner in great neighborhood. Potential for a sidewalk café and all uses are considered. Ideal for non-vented or vented food, fitness, bank, retail, salon/spa and many other types.

The asking rent is between $135 to $155 a square foot for the space, listed at 1,355 square feet.

The Bean opened here in December 2011.

The prime corner space was vacant for years, and home to the infamous "crazy landlord" who "must rent this store."


[Circa 2010]

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Crazy Landlord sign

'Crazy Landlord' back to being crazy!

54 2nd Ave. has been sold

The 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue locations of the Bean closed for good yesterday

Williamsburg Pizza debuts on 14th Street

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

Williamsburg Pizza is serving slices now at 226 E. 14th St. between Second and Third Avenue.

The restaurant has a dine-in option with tables and counter space ... not to mention a liquor license.

This will make the fourth Williamsburg Pizza location... joining the original out on Union Avenue in Brooklyn, on the Upper East Side and on Broome Street on the LES. (Their pies are also served at 310 Bowery.)

As previously noted, the pizzeria has plenty of fans (one example). And a few years back New York magazine gave them the Best Slice Joint nod.

This pizzeria combined two storefronts, including the former Krust pizza.

Report: 2 homeless men stabbed in fight at the 2nd Avenue F stop

Two men were stabbed in a wild subway brawl in the East Village. https://t.co/skXafDaE6y

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) December 5, 2019

Two men were reportedly stabbed last night around 8:40 during a two-on-three fight on the uptown F-train platform at Second Avenue and Houston Street.

The Daily News reports that police are searching for three men — one black, one Hispanic, one white, all in their 40s, who escaped in the train tunnel. The five men involved in the fight were all said to be homeless.

From the News:

One witness, a homeless man who only gave his first name, Eric, described the wild melee.

“They beat him and cut him bad and dragged him up the stairs,” he said of the 27-year-old victim. “He was leaking heavy. The other guy got cut in the head and he ran like a little b----."

Both of the victims (the other is 24) were taken to Bellevue Hospital for non-life threatening injuries, according to the Post.

Signage and storefront reveal for Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen at 92 2nd Ave.

[Photos by Steven]

We have a combo reveal — storefront and signage — at 92 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street ... where Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen is expected to open by the end of the year...



This has been a long time in the making. In the fall of 2018, CB3 OK'd a beer-wine license (they were originally seeking full liquor) for the Sanpou Group, which operates 30 restaurants worldwide, including Sanpoutei Ramen, which started in Niigata, Japan, in 1967.

Reviews of the restaurant note that "Sanpoutei is defined by its authentic Niigata-style ramen, a shoyu-ramen in a clear fish stock-based broth."

As previously noted, Sanpoutei will join a crowded ramen market in the East Village... other recent-ish arrivals include Tatsu Ramen on First Avenue ... and TabeTomo on Avenue A.

Kabin Bar & Lounge closed in March 2015 at this address. While there were a few potential suitors, the storefront sat empty for nearly four years.

Also of note (maybe?): A sign for Black Star Bar, which closed here in 2004, still remains on the building...



Previously on EV Grieve:
The first sign of Japanese ramen shop Sanpoutei arrives at former Kabin space on 2nd Avenue