The last free concert of 2021 in Tompkins Square Park

Happening today (Saturday!) in Tompkins Square Park with six bands on the bill between 1-5 p.m. ...

Saturday's opening shot

Morning view from Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place...

True romance

 

Valentine, the second record from Snail Mail, aka current East Village resident Lindsey Jordan, will likely end up on some best-of year-end lists. (Here's a nice recap on her two-album career via NPR.) 

The video for the title track is from "The Late Show" earlier this month.

Build-out at the former Benny's Burritos continues on 6th and A

Work continues over at 93 Avenue A at Sixth Street (aka the former home of Benny's Burritos).

East Village-based photographer Josh Charow shared these pics from today... 

As we reported on Nov. 1, a deli is coming to this storefront. What kind of deli? We don't know! Maybe ones that keep popping up selling beers and bongs... or maybe one that has a decent sandwich that isn't bedecked with, say, artisanal Beaufort d'été.

Benny's closed here on Nov. 29, 2014, after 27 years in business. And what will happen to those Benny's awnings? 

Best wishes to the owners of the March Hare on the shop's 1-year anniversary

The March Hare turned 1 on Ninth Street on Tuesday.

It's an anniversary to celebrate — especially with the difficulties of opening during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, the owners of the whimsical toy store here between First Avenue and Second Avenue are facing another major challenge: Karen McDermott, who runs the shop with her husband Jason McGroarty, was diagnosed with colon cancer last month.

McDermott, 31, who previously worked at Dinosaur Hill on the block, had surgery in late October. According to an Instagram post from the March Hare on Oct. 25:

Surgery went well and Karen is getting a little better every day. Once she is fully healed we will start chemotherapy and hopefully kick cancer out of sight!

You can help support the March Hare by keeping the store in mind with any holiday needs. The shop's hours are posted as 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 321 E. Ninth St. You might want to call ahead: (646) 422-7747.

There's also a crowdfunding campaign to help the couple pay for medical and living expenses. You can find that link here. 

As McDermott wrote in a GoFundMe update:

The outpouring of love I have received through this has been beyond overwhelming, I am so thankful and happy to have known such kindness in my life.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Toy story: The March Hare debuts today on 9th Street

Image via Instagram

Ringing in the holiday season at 3rd & B'Zaar

A seasonal holiday market returns today to 3rd & B'Zaar.

The mixed-vendor market and event space at 191 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B will once again host a variety of local designers, artists, merchants and vintage sellers through Dec. 24.

The 3rd & B'Zaar social platforms — Instagram and Facebook — have been featuring the vendors each day. The space is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday with some later-evening events in the works.

3rd & B'Zaar debuted late last year with a month-long Holiday Market followed by Sex, Love & Vintage in February ... Spring Into Pride in May and June ... and Summer in the City in the, uh, summer...  with several art shows in between. 

Pictured above from left are 3rd curators Frank New, Delphine Le Goff, Delia Anne Parker, Maegan Hayward and Sara Ann Rutherford. Photo by Stacie Joy.

Jo Laurie Loves debuts on 9th Street

Longtime East Village resident Jo Laurie has turned her design studio into a retail store at 620 E. Ninth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

Jo Laurie Loves sells vintage and new items that she has personally curated over the years. Part of the shop is devoted to "old loves," such as her vintage collection...

... while the "new loves" features gifts and accessories...

Laurie has had the space for over 20 years and used it to run her architectural design studio. Laurie decided to add a storefront component "to increase retail opportunities in the neighborhood," she said in an email. 

Her company is registered as a B-Corp, which allows her to distribute 8% of pre-tax profit to provide health and welfare benefits to women manufacturing her products.

Next up: She's working on creating her own line featuring more products from women around the world. 

Jo Laurie Loves is open daily from noon to 8 p.m. Find her website here ... and on Instagram at this link.

'Gimme Five Minutes' with East Village photographer Daniel Root

East Village-based photographer Daniel Root (we've featured his work here and here) is the subject of a new exhibit that opens today at LaMama Gallery on Great Jones.

Here's more via the EVG inbox:

"Gimme Five Minutes: Daniel Root's Production Stills (1984-2005)" includes more than 300 prints of Root's photographs, featuring an impressive cast of pop culture icons illuminating the downtown ethos. The images impress that production stills and quick portraits are in their own right a separate and unique art form. In addition, the exhibition will be supported by archival material from the artist's collection, including professional artifacts, ephemera, CRT video installation, and live performances.

Some of the downtown personalities in the photos include Lydia Lunch, Ann Magnuson, Joey Arias, Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz. Other photos on display include Frank Zappa, Cher, Mary J. Blige, Jimmy Cliff and Robert Smith.

The opening is tonight at 6 and features live performances by Helixx C. Armageddon, Silver Relics and Augusto Machado

The exhibit is up through Dec. 12 at La MaMa Galleria, 47 Great Jones St. between the Bowery and Lafayette. Gallery hours: Thursday-Sunday 1-6 p.m. Find more details here. 

Thursday's parting shot

St. Mark's Place and Second Place on this Thanksgiving night...

Serving up 'Licorice Pizza' this Thanksgiving

"Licorice Pizza," Paul Thomas Anderson's well-received coming-of-age film, opens this evening in 70mm at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street. (Given the 70mm format, it will be playing in the large auditorium — the Jaffe Art Theatre.) 

The thumbnail plot of the comedy-drama: "Alana Kane and Gary Valentine grow up, run around and fall in love in California's San Fernando Valley in the 1970s."

You can find ticket info here. 

And the trailer because it has Bowie's "Life on Mars" ...