SMØR reopens today after a brief renovation

SMØR, the Nordic cafe on 12th Street, is back in action today following a temporary closure for some floor work, per the door signage... 

The cafe is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. here just west of Avenue A.

And look for some news in the days/weeks ahead about an expanded space on the block for SMØR. You can follow their Instagram account for updates.

Thanks to Steven for the photos. H/T Lola Sáenz

Friday's parting shot

Nice to see the windows again this holiday season at the 99-cent store at 73 First Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street... the sidewalk bridge came down here this past summer after nearly five years for the condoplex next door. 

Thanks to Goggla for the photo today!

How 'Soon' is now

 

Loveless, My Bloody Valentine's sonic masterpiece, turned 30 yesterday. (Happy anniversary!) 

So enjoy the video for the album's last track — "Soon." 

You can read more about the record here ... and here.

Judge issues temporary restraining order, halting construction for now at East River Park

Photos Monday by Daniel Efram 

A judge has issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to East River Park Action, halting the demolition of East River Park as part of the $1.45-billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project.

Here's more via an email from East River Park Action last night:

Appellate court judge Judith Gische heard arguments from Arthur Schwartz and Kathryn Freed, attorneys for East River Park Action, who requested the TRO.

The City's lawyer argued that the city was only doing preparatory work, and would not impose "irreparable harm" … until Thanksgiving.

The judge decided that because park users were already excluded from the tennis courts, she would grant the TRO and cause all work to cease pending further expedited hearings on our Parkland Alienation appeal.

The City has until [noon today] to file a reply, and our attorneys have until Monday at 10 to reply to the reply. The hearing should be in the afternoon. Stay tuned!

One notable thing was that the judge did, at one point, refer to the "formidable appeal." Kudos to our pro bono attorney wizards.

Right now in East River Park work has stopped because the community has fought back pic.twitter.com/rgdScRMGNQ

— Our Park (@ERPAction) November 5, 2021

East River Park Action and opponents of this version of the reconstruction project continue to speak out, stressing there's a better path forward to protect the Lower East Side and surrounding neighborhoods from a 100-year-flood event and sea-level rise — one that doesn't cause 1,000 mature trees to be chopped down.

"Phased work operations" began on Monday below Houston Street at the Brian Watkins Tennis Center. According to the construction notice, four tennis courts on the north side and the tennis center will remain open through the end of the 2021 permit season on Nov. 21. All tennis courts and the tennis center including restrooms will be closed until 2024 — subject to change, per the city.  

Two activists were arrested on Monday at the site for not heeding freshly posted "no trespassing" signs at the tennis courts.

Opponents of this plan were at the site all week, drawing a huge police presence on Monday...

CBS 2 and The Village Sun also have coverage.

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the eviction of the Charas/El Bohio Community & Cultural Center

A group of community leaders, local elected officials and residents will gather tomorrow (Saturday) to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the eviction of the Charas/El Bohio Community & Cultural Center.

We've written a lot about what has (and mostly HAS NOT) transpired here through the years here at 605 E. Ninth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. (The commemoration looks to be happening on the 10th Street side of the building starting at 12:30.)

Here's a recap via the office of District 2 City Councilmember Carlina Rivera:

Lower East Side elected officials, residents, and artists rally to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the eviction of Charas/El Bohio Community & Cultural Center to call on the City to take action to immediately stop the destruction of the building.

 

For over 20 years, Charas/El Bohio Community & Cultural Center provided arts, community and nonprofit space for the Lower East Side and greater New York City area. Mayor Rudy Giuliani auctioned the city-owned building in 1998. Developer Gregg Singer purchased the building and evicted the center on Dec. 27, 2001. 

 

Two decades later, the building remains vacant and has been allowed to deteriorate to the extent the Department of Buildings issued a Full Vacant Order in 2019 for failure to maintain the property. 

 

The owner Gregg Singer has taken no significant steps to repair the damage, stabilize the building, or restore the facade, and is currently in foreclosure by mortgagor Madison Capital Realty.

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio stated at a Town Hall on Oct. 12, 2017, that the city would take steps to reacquire the building. The administration has yet to act, despite follow-up inquiries from the community coalition and its elected officials. Community activists and elected officials alike call on the City once again to take steps to save this local treasure. 

 

The rally will kick off hours of street performances by local artists, poets and musicians that showcase our decades-long efforts to return this once-vibrant center to the community.

As previously reported, Singer has wanted to turn the building into a dorm called University Square. The DOB continues to maintain a Stop Work Order — dating to August 2015 — on the property. 

In years past, several local elected officials, community activists and residents have asked for the return of the building for community use. The building became the Charas/El Bohio Community & Cultural Center after the school left in 1977. The group was eventually evicted when Singer took over as the landlord. It has sat empty these past 20 years, causing locals to be concerned about its crumbling façade, among other issues. 

This link features Singer's POV on what has transpired with the building.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• A walk around inside the long-abandoned — and ghoulishly beautiful — P.S. 64

Photo from March by Stacie Joy

USA Super Stores debuts on Houston Street and Avenue D

Yesterday saw the GRAND OPENING of USA Super Stores — "Your Friendly Neighborhood Savings Center" — on the NW corner of Houston and Avenue D (address is officially 310 E. Second St. in the retail space of the Adele). 

We'll go back for a walk around the store on another day. (Not at all familiar with this store brand.)

For now, we'll just check out the sale circular... It looks like a solid place to pick up a gallon of milk ($2.99, limit 2) ... a 12-pack of Bounty paper towels ($22.99, and perfect before the next threat of snow flurries) and a Queen Super Plush Micro Mink Blanket ($17.99) ... not to mention a Portable Party Speaker (49.99)... 

Anyway, as you can see, they have a little bit of everything, from groceries to housewares to clothing... all at discounted prices...

This large retail space was previously home to a Duane Reade (RIP November 2019).

H/T to the EVG readers who pointed out this arrival!

Breaking: It's Christmas time at Rite Aid

The Rite Aid on First Avenue at Fifth Street is introducing Christmas-related items. (Given the supply chain issues, don't wait to buy!) 

No sign yet of a headless Santa here. 

Thanks to Goggla for the pic!

Work on green space for long-vacant site on 4th Street near the Bowery is underway

Construction is now underway on an open green space in the long-vacant lot on Fourth Street between 2 Cooper Square and the Merchant's House Museum. (Thanks to the EVG reader for the photo!) 

Since the 1990s, the Department of Environmental Preservation has used this city-owned space to work on shafts connected to the underground network of tunnels that supply NYC's drinking water. 

Several years ago, there were public meetings to gather ideas for some sort of "passive recreation space" here between the Bowery and Lafayette. 

Here's a look at a schematic via the Parks Department website ... (click on the image for a better view) ... as you can see, the space will include benches, synthetic turfgrass and some trees...

This project, which dates back years, was funded by Mayor de Blasio and now-former City Councilmember Rosie Mendez. Per the Parks Department, work here is slated to be complete in October 2022.

New outpost of the Wild Son opens Tuesday on 1st Avenue

Photo by Steven from September

Updated 5 p.m. The post has been updated to reflect a new opening date — Tuesday, Nov. 9. The Wild Son outpost at 132 First Ave. will be closed starting tomorrow for a minor refresh.

Starting Tuesday (Nov. 9), the Wild Son will be open in its new outpost at 130 First Ave. — directly next door from its current spot on the SE corner of St. Mark's Place.

As previously reported, the restaurant is opening a lunch counter at No. 130 with a daytime breakfast and lunch service.

In late September, Robert Ceraso, the cafe's co-owner, told us they were extending the daytime service currently only offered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to all weekdays.

The new Wild Son space will also feature an updated menu (find it here), which features some "greatest hits," like the Good Morning Sunshine and the Grandma Anna egg sandwiches, plus a few other sandwiches, salads ... along with coffee, teas and juices.

The lunch counter seats 10 patrons, with additional room outside. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

And what will become of the corner space where the Wild Son is now?

According to a rep for Endless Hospitality, who also operate EV spots the Wayland, Goodnight Sonny and Pop’s Eat Rite, 132 First Ave. will close for a few weeks and reopen as a cocktail bar/restaurant called Bar Lula, which "will take inspiration from modern French bistros and the bold flavors, colors, and culinary traditions of Mexico."

The Wild Son relocated to the East Village from Little West 12th Street in May 2020. 

A very quick pivot for Chichen Itzá, now going as Tompkins Village Cafe on 10th Street

Photos by Steven

After less than three weeks in business, Chichen Itzá has apparently closed at 277 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

The Mexican restaurant is now dark ... and there are signs in the window noting a new venture titled Tompkins Village Cafe (thanks to the commenter who pointed this out in the previous post)...

The menus posted to the storefront yesterday show a variety of breakfast items (including a Good Morning Salad), sandwiches and burgers...

It's not immediately clear if the folks behind Chichen Itzá are also doing the new cafe concept ... or what made them pivot the business after two-plus weeks in existence here. (We first saw them open on Oct. 16.)