'We will not go quietly into the night!' A midnight fireworks display

An EVG reader shared the above video from last night.

A description from the reader: "Nearing midnight, an explosive celebration on April 3 in the East Village, looking Northwest-ish from First Avenue and Third Street."

There were apparently two rounds of rooftop fireworks — with one lasting nearly a minute. Several people were able to catch the second round...

Fireworks going off around midnight in the east village in nyc. Whoo. pic.twitter.com/qBoo0rXTFh

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) April 4, 2020

H/T President Whitmore for part of the headline!

Village Farm Grocery has closed for now on 2nd Avenue

The corner market on the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street closed yesterday...



This after reducing hours in recent days. As EVG correspondent Steven noted, Village Farm Grocery remained open even after the blackout and Superstorm Sandy... and they are the latest neighborhood deli to close during the COVID-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, several blocks to the south on Second Avenue... East Village Farm and Grocery at Fourth Street is open — but only for deliveries... no customers permitted inside...

Friday's parting shot

Outside Forbidden Planet on Broadway today... photo by Derek Berg...

The 7 p.m. cheer, 7th Street style

The #ClapBecauseWeCare cheer for health-care workers and first responders tonight at 7 had a new wrinkle on Seventh Street — someone blasted the Jimi Hendrix version of "The Star Spangled Banner."

Thanks to Susan Schiffman for the clip!

Your very own Oh Sees concert

In lieu of any live shows in the foreseeable future... here's a recently (March 21!) released video of Oh Sees rehearsing their new record (not sure which one, given that they release about eight LPs a year!).

Enjoy all 56 minutes. Depending where we are in the world, Oh Sees are currently scheduled to play Webster Hall in September.

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's the latest NY See panel, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Nashom Wooden

The East Village photography of Martin Mahoney

Earlier this year, East Village-based photographer Martin Mahoney invited me to his upcoming group show at Westbeth Gallery, which was to take place March 19 to April 19.

Given the COVID-19 crisis, Westbeth cancelled the show.

Mahoney had planned to show a selection of his photographs. I asked him if I could share some of his work here (find more at his Instagram account) ...



Mahoney moved to the East Village in 1985 from Wexford Town in Ireland.

"While I’ve always had an interest in photography, I’ve lost many pictures of the old neighborhood and it’s characters and regret not taking more of the rapidly disappearing buildings and people who are being replaced with soulless glass boxes," he told me. "So I decided about two years ago to try to capture the essence of what is left of the old neighborhood and preserve it as best I can before it’s lost forever."











... and here's a selection of his black-and-white shots ....

Odessa is back open for takeout and delivery

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Like me, maybe you panicked a bit when you saw that the Odessa Restaurant at 119 Avenue A was closed in recent days.

Luckily, it was only a temporary staffing issue and longtime manager Dennis Vassilatos says they hope to stay open as long as they can get delivery people in. The affordable diner is down to one delivery person, with new hires starting soon.



Dennis says they’re going to take things day by day and hope to stay open. Hours now are 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. until 5 a.m. weekends, but he cautions some days they might not open until 5 p.m., so call first.



"Times are difficult, and uncertainty is part of our lives. People are afraid. I hope everything works out and we are all healthy," he says before showing me a fresh Boston cream pie, available for $5 a slice.



Previously on EV Grieve:
A Visit to Odessa Restaurant

East Village Organic now closed until April 10

[Photos by Steven]

Last Friday, we noted that East Village Organic was closing for the next week on First Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Unfortunately for EVO fans, the closure has been extended for another week, as the sign outside the market notes.



Here's their message via Instagram last evening:

View this post on Instagram

We love you each. We arent ready to come back yet. Please support any small businesses that are still opperating this time, and show kindness and compassion for the employees of the larger grocery stores that we are all depending on right now. Edit: the EVO fam is healthy. No worries there. #stayhome

A post shared by East Village Organic (@eastvillageorganic) on Apr 2, 2020 at 6:56pm PDT

Sauce Pizzeria deliver free pies to hospital workers; landlord chips in and freezes rent

[EVG file photo]

The crew at Sauce Pizzeria, 345 E. 12th St., has been making and delivering up to 400 pizzas at no charge for hospital workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

Owner Adam Elzer said he got the idea after hearing from a nurse who said she and her fellow workers didn't have time to eat, as NBC New York reported.

When Elzer's landlord discovered that they've been delivering to 40 different hospitals in all five boroughs, he reportedly offered to help.

Per NBC New York:

"I saw what Adam was doing on social media honestly and when we noticed what he was doing it was very clear that we needed to help him," said Ben Kraus of A&E Real Estate Management. The group also donated more than $20,000 to help Adam get more pizzas to more medical workers.

Sauce opened here between First Avenue and Second Avenue in September 2018.

Updated 3:45 p.m.

A few people asked when Sauce is open for takeout-delivery. The answer! 5-10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Whole pies only...


[Photo by Lola Saénz]

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The pizzeria isn't the only local restaurant helping out. Frank Prisinzano, the owner of Supper, Frank and Lil' Frankies, and his team have been delivering meals to local hospitals.

Ho Foods, Kura and 886 teamed up to donate and provide meals for hospital workers. Their goal is 2,000 bentos by the end of this week.

Previously on EV Grieve:
San Loco's special delivery to 2 local hospitals