Laundromat update

The Wash 'N Clean on 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B closed on Thursday... and, per the gate signage, will reopen on April 18.

Readers have also noted other places that have either reduced their announced hours of business or close on random days.

Our list of open laundromats and dry cleaners from April 1 is here.

Instagram follow of the day

View this post on Instagram

"I was cast first. And then they told me about this pop star that was just blowing up while [the casting] was happening. Suddenly it was like, “Who’s this beautiful girl singing this pop song?” I remember watching her in the “Lucky Star” video and just going, “Oh my god.” It was electric. Everybody at that time fell in love with her. Including me. I remember her cool outfit — I’d just got one too, and I wasn’t wearing it, but the Agnes B. pencil skirt. Her whole look, with the black rubber bracelets — she just had this whole vibe. She was very much like, [affects Madonna voice], “Hi stranger.” Exactly like it was at the end of the movie" Did you and Madonna get close during filming? "We were very bonded during the movie. Very close during the making of the film. We’ve kept in touch through the years. I have lost touch with her, but a few years ago I went to Madonna’s Oscar party with Laura Dern, and saw her for a minute. The year Guillermo del Toro won. I haven’t seen her since, though. I missed her shows. I wanted to go, but I was out of town." Did you reminisce at all? "No, no. She was in her party mode. We didn’t get a chance to really talk. I see her from afar, like everyone"- @rosannaarquette 🎬❤👑💃 @madonna #madonna #madonnamovies #susan #dss #goodgoingstranger #intothegroove #iconstyle #desperatelyseekingsusan #madonnamusic #queenofpop #madonnastyle #80smadonna #madonna80s #allhailthequeen #madonna80squeen #susanthomas #madonnafans #madonnasrevolution #iconic #bossbitch #madonnaphotos #rebel #madonnapictures #whenmadonnaruledtheworld #desperatelyseekingsusan1985 #80smovies

A post shared by DesperatelySeekingSusan1985 (@desperatelyseekingsusan1985) on Apr 2, 2020 at 11:43pm PDT

If you are a fan of the 1985 Rosanna Arquette-Madonna caper filmed, in part, in the East Village, then this account is for you... you'll find a mix of trivia and anecdotal details about "Desperately Seeking Susan" on this fan site by someone who really likes Madonna.

Also, RIP Mark Blum, who played Arquette's husband, spa king Gary Glass...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DesperatelySeekingSusan1985 (@desperatelyseekingsusan1985) on Mar 26, 2020 at 5:14pm PDT

Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-&-A with Susan Seidelman, director of 'Smithereens' and 'Desperately Seeking Susan'

Saturday's parting shot

Some soft served via Stella and the to-go window at Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A... thanks to Lola Saénz for the photo...

EVG Etc.: tracking COVID-19 cases by zip code; remembering Little Italy butcher Moe Albanese

[At Sake Bar Satsko via Andrew Adam Newman]

• New data shows that Hispanic and black New Yorkers are dying from COVID-19 at higher rates than other racial groups (Gothamist ... the City)

• ProPublica, the nonprofit newsroom, has a coronavirus tracker that compares positive cases in the city by zip code. As of April 10, 348 of the 782 people tested in the 10009 zip code have had a positive result, which is 44 percent less than the NYC average. Find the tracker here.

• City Hall's COVID-19 budget adjustments (NY Post ... Streetsblog)

• RIP legendary Little Italy butcher Moe Albanese (Eater)

• Elizabeth Blackwell, NYC's first female medical doctor — not to mention the first woman to practice medicine in the entire country — opened her clinic in this neighborhood (Ephemeral New York)

• Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis, senior minister at Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue, talks about the meaning of Easter this year (WNYC)

• A tour of what's still open in Chinatown (Eater)

• How Christo and Amelia are faring this week (Laura Goggin Photography)

• 12 classic books about the East Village and Greenwich Village (Off the Grid) Looking for a book? You can still order online at Third Street's Book Club (Official site)

• Classic Stage Company on 13th Street has moved its Classic Conversations Series online (Official site)

• "Never Rarely Sometimes Always," which some critics are calling the best film of the year, had an abbreviated run at the Angelika. It's now available to stream. (Reviews: Artforum... AV Club)

• About East Village-based musician and bar owner Jesse Malin's new live YouTube show (B&B)

• Actress Julia Fox, an East Village resident, on what movies she's rewatching from home (Vulture)

• Diversions: "Twin Peaks" turned 30 this week (SYFY Wire... Newsweek ... The New York Times)

... and via the 9th Precinct...

While you were stay(ing)-at-home, these nearly 900 glassines packed with heroin were bound for our #EastVillage streets. Luckily they never made it!—thanks to the sharp eyes 👀 of our Field Intelligence Sergeant and Anti-Crime Team. #NYPDProtecting pic.twitter.com/xbUu25ipfW

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) April 10, 2020

Saturday at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery

Morning views outside St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery on 10th Street and Second Avenue in Abe Lebewohl Park...



... and staying safe...

Day starter

An early morning look at Tompkins Square Park via an anonymous reader...

City locks up basketball courts, exercise bars in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

The city locked up the basketball courts yesterday in Tompkins Square Park in a move to prevent people from using the pull-up bars, parallel bars and other equipment in the fitness area.

This comes after the city removed the hoops from the backboards, closed the playgrounds, shut down the dog run and sealed up the handball courts.

With each day, some residents wonder when the entire Park will be locked up for use during the CONVID-19 crisis.

Friday's parting shot

[Click to go big]

A flashback to last night... a look to the east... thanks to Michael Kramer for sharing this!

'Grinding' it out

Been listening to healthy doses of the Cure these days. (More than usual.) Here's "Grinding Halt" from the soundtrack to the 1980 NYC classic "Times Square." (Not sure when this video was recorded in the 1980s...)

Checking in on Bin 141

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

The bistro on the northwest corner of Avenue A and Third Street has a variety of grab-n-go meals available for $10 plus tax.





Owner Rafik Bouzgarrou has also turned part of the dining room into a makeshift market...



... where you'll find toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, water, among a few other items...