EV Grieve

Monday, February 17, 2020

Hearts for Gem Spa

[Photo By Derek Berg]

Earlier today, Hash Halper (aka @newyorkromantic) was spotted chalking hearts outside Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place... showing a little love for the corner shop that has had its financial struggles in recent months... (photos below by Steven)...

Checking out the new International Center of Photography at Essex Crossing

The International Center of Photography (ICP) opened in its new four-story home in Essex Crossing on Jan. 25.

I finally had the chance to check out the space (I missed the media preview!) at 79 Essex St. between Delancey and Broome the other evening.

The four opening exhibits, with links to their descriptions, are:

• Tyler Mitchell: I Can Make You Feel Good

• CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History of Hip-Hop

• James Coupe: Warriors

• The Lower East Side: Selections from the ICP Collection

And here are a few random photos of the photos and exhibits...

The space is much better suited to the work than its rather unwelcoming home of a few years on the Bowery, which featured dimly light basement galleries. The new building reunites the ICP school and library, and will also offer public programming. (A cafe is coming soon too.)

The current exhibits are up through May 18. The ICP is open every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (to 9 p.m. on Thursdays). They are closed on Tuesdays. You can find admission price and other details at this link.

Curb alert! Your chance to score free items from the now-closed Obscura Antiques and Oddities

Mike Zohn, co-owner of the now-closed Obscura Antiques and Oddities, is cleaning out the basement of the shop at 207 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

This afternoon (Monday, Feb. 17), he'll be putting out a few items on the curb for anyone to take. Up for grabs: Some folding chairs from Cafe Pick Me Up, a 2015 Avenue A casualty.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• A visit to Obscura Antiques and Oddities, closing soon on Avenue A

• After 20-plus years in the East Village, Obscura Antiques and Oddities is closing

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Sunday's parting shot

King of the hill today in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg...

Week in Grieview

[Table to go via Derek Berg]

Posts from this past week include...

Updating: FDNY battling 3-alarm fire on the southeast corner of 2nd Avenue and 7th Street (Monday) Fire-damaged Via Della Pace unsure about reopening on 7th Street; Cafe Mocha in bad shape (Wednesday)

Dun-Well Doughnuts is done with St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

Things that go boom in the night: As Bush Tetras prepare for their 40th anniversary show (Friday)

A Visit to Stanton Street Yoga (Tuesday)

For now, both entrances to the 1st Avenue L-train station are located at Avenue A (Saturday)

Japanese variety store Teso Life coming to the former St. Mark's Market space (Thursday)

Houston House shapes up on East Houston Street (Thursday)

Window watch: 11 Avenue C (Wednesday)

Another look at the incoming tech hub (Monday)

It is alive: Bait & Hook is returning — under new management (Tuesday)

Village Crêperie coming soon to 9th and A (Monday)

Openings: Strings Ramen on 2nd Avenue (Monday) Openings: Lovenburg on 6th Street (Monday)

Promoting the Stokes on 2nd Avenue (Sunday)

... and as previously reported, the Duane Reade by Walgreens on Third Avenue at 10th Street closes on March 2...

Ahead of that, the Hair Color section has already been cleared out...

---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter

Last day for Dun-Well Doughnuts on St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

Dun-Well Doughnuts concludes its three-plus-year run today at 102 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

As we first reported on Tuesday, the vegan doughnut purveyors decided to shut down this outpost to work on other areas of the Dun-Well business.

Here's the official announcement on Instagram:

In order to focus upon new endeavors at our flagship Brooklyn location and to expand our wholesale operations, we have decided to close our St. Mark's location this month. This is a bittersweet decision as we have loved being part of the St. Mark's community over the past few years. We hope you’ll continue to support us as we move into our next chapter!

Dun-Well can now be found in almost 20 NYC locations including several Whole Foods Markets and cafes throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens and we plan to expand our reach to bring our doughnuts to an even larger community.

Christopher Hollowell and Dan Dunbar opened the first Dun-Well in East Williamsburg in 2011. They debuted on St. Mark's in July 2016, shuttling in fresh doughnuts daily from their Montrose Avenue HQ.

The posted hours today are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., though you should likely get there sooner rather than later...

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Saturday's parting shot

A scene on Union Square today via Derek Berg ...

For now, both entrances to the 1st Avenue L-train station are located at Avenue A

The L train's new Avenue A north entrance — for Eighth Avenue-bound commuters — opened this past Monday.

For the next few months, you'll need to use the Avenue A entrances for all L-train action. (The Brooklyn-bound side arrived this past Nov. 4 at Avenue A.)

This morning, workers boarded up the north entrance at First Avenue.

This side is expected to be closed for repairs until May.

The south side entrance at First Avenue is expected to reopen in April...

Once the MTA complete the First Avenue entrances, the ones at Avenue A will close again so workers can add the finishing touches. No word just yet from the MTA about when all four entrances — two at First Avenue and two at Avenue A — will all be accessible at the same time.

When all the construction is wrapped up, the revamped 14th Street First Avenue station will have four entrances — including the two on either side of 14th Street at Avenue A as well as two new platform-to-street ADA elevators that will be ready for use this summer. (Find more details on this MTA advisory.)