Virginia's is closing on 11th Street; owners will look for a new location

Virginia's, the bistro on 11th Street just west of Avenue C, is closing after service on New Year's Eve. 

Per an email to patrons (thanks to the EVG readers who shared this): 

We have battled through a pandemic and a fire, either of which would have been reason enough to give up. Instead, we persevered — mostly because of the support of our loyal guests and hardworking team. 

With our lease expiring, we have made the very difficult decision to leave our current location in the New Year. Hopefully, this is only goodbye for now as we search for a new home for Virginia's. 

Please stay tuned as we search for a larger location with a longer lease. Thank you all so much for all of your support. We hope to see you once more on New Year's Eve for an unforgettable farewell party!

The restaurant opened here in May 2015.

Image via Instagram

Renovations underway at the long-vacant retail space at 123 Avenue A

Work is underway inside the vacant storefront at 123 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...

A worker on the scene told EVG correspondent that the space would eventually house a deli. (There isn't any sign of work permits on file online with the DOB just yet.)

The storefront has been vacant since Tony (aka Abdul) died in the fall of 2018. Tony, who owned the building, ran the deli, which operated under various names in this spot for 25 years.

Meanwhile, a block or so to the south, another deli is in the works for another long-vacant spot on the corner of Sixth Street and Avenue A — the former Benny's Burritos.

Brownout at the former St. Brigid School

Work continues at the former St. Brigid School on the NE corner of Avenue B and Seventh Street.

EVG reader Robert Miner reports that workers painted the former school's green strip brown on Sunday.

And yesterday...

... workers removed the St. Brigid's banners from out front...

In February 2019, the Archdiocese of New York announced that St. Brigid School would cease operations at the end of that academic year, a move that blindsided students, parents and faculty alike. Founded in 1856, the Saint Brigid School was one of seven Catholic schools marked for closure by the Archdiocese in 2019. 

Given its A-plus EV location with Tompkins Square Park views, some residents have figured this property would end up a high-end condoplex much like the former Mary Help of Christians on Avenue A and 12th Street. 

However, as Dave on 7th pointed out, the work here suggests that the Archdiocese is prepping the two-level building for rental for another school (perhaps a charter school?). 

A corner to watch in 2022!

Closing time: 1 month remains for Dress Shoppe II

Photo by Derek Berg

The closing sale sign went up late this afternoon at Dress Shoppe II at 83 2nd Ave between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

As previously reported, the Indian boutique’s last day is Jan. 31. 

Saroj Goyal has been doing her best to keep the shop going since her husband of 50 years, Purushottam Goyal, died in September 2019. There have been financial challenges, and thanks to the efforts of Humans of New York and New York Nico, there was an outpouring of support to help Saroj make arrangements on the back rent and to take care of herself as she underwent treatment for breast cancer.

In the previous post, you can read more about the closing and the financial arrangements with the landlord, the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association II.

You can find the Dress Shoppe II Etsy account here. The shop is open from noon to 8 p.m. daily, with 1-6 p.m. hours on Sunday.

Signs of life at East Village Social

Updated 12/30: EVS is back open, as Eden reports!

We noted the other day that East Village Social (EVS) has not been open since early November. A reader notes the signs of life here this evening...

The bar-restaurant is NOT open at the moment. But! Per the reader: "That's the beauty of it. It's not open. But they're telling us that they're alive. It's a signal from…somewhere."

In the comments, another reader commented that there is a gas issue in the building at 126 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue that may be to blame for this temp closure.

The EVS Instagram account posted a video on Christmas Eve featuring EVS and the Saint Mark's Saints doing a covering "Fairytale of New York" from inside the space... with a see you in 2022 message. 

Citi Bike docking stations arrive on 5th Street, 7th Street

As a follow-up to our post yesterday... a reader shares that workers have installed the new Citi Bike docking stations on Fifth Street at Avenue A (48 docks) and Seventh Street west of Avenue B (47 docks) ...

According to a DOT presentation last month, "demand shows 1,804 docks [are] still needed in CB3." For now, though, the proposal calls for an installation of 683 docks ... with more capacity coming by extending existing stations.

The presentation showed 11 new stations, with an "equipment swap" on 10th Street between A and B and an expansion of the existing station on 13th Street at Avenue A. This EVG post has a map of where the docking stations are due.

Let us know if you spot any other new docking stations in the neighborhood. 

A Visit to Made Up There Farms

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

I’m carrying an EpiPen to visit beekeeper Idan Cohen on East Third Street near Second Avenue. I’m hoping the bees won’t be able to tell I’m allergic. However, it’s all worth it to see the hives, bees and honey Idan tends on the rooftop of his building. 

After some “getting to know you time” with the bees and rooftop garden, I head downstairs to watch Idan’s wife and kids sell the fall 2021 harvested honey to passersby and neighbors and learn more from the apiarist about the process of local honey-making.

How did you come to tend bees on the rooftop of your building?

I love cooking. It’s a passion that always leads me in search of local and fresh produce. That search brought me to build a rooftop farm on our building in the East Village eight years ago, producing most of the vegetables and herbs we consume in the summer. 

A natural addition to the farm was beehives. I wanted to not only produce honey but also have my daughters learn about bees and how to care for them. Nothing would make me happier than to watch them gardening and beekeeping as adults. 

What’s the beekeeping process like? How did you start, and how is this season’s harvest going? 

The season starts in the spring when temperatures rise over 60 degrees, and the bees become more active. A lot of our work as beekeepers has to do with making sure the bees are happy and thriving and free of disease. That requires opening the hive every two weeks and making sure the queen is laying eggs, the workers are producing honey, and that the bees are pest and disease-free. If you help them stay healthy, they will do the rest. 

You, your wife and your kids sell the honey on Third Street near Second Avenue from time to time. Aside from that, where can neighbors go to purchase the honey? 

My daughters, Ellie (age 7) and Eve (4), wanted to share the honey with our neighborhood, so they decided to open a farmstand on sunny days and call it Made Up There Farms. 

For those who missed us, you can reach out through my Instagram account or through my wine and cider project at wipwines.com, and we can set up a pickup. 

Any expansion plans? 

We plan to add a third hive next spring and make natural mead — honey wine. I like the idea of drinking a hyperlocal wine made in the East Village from East Village flowers.

Happy 10th anniversary to Tompkins Square Bagels

Tompkins Square Bagels is celebrating its 10th anniversary late this month at 165 Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

The shop had its soft opening here on Dec. 16, 2011. (The outpost at 184 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street debuted in November 2016.)

Congratulations to owner Christopher Pugliese and the staff at both locations.

It hasn't been easy these past two years. In November 2020, ConEd shut off the gas at the Avenue A location. (Service returned on Dec. 31.) At the time, a carbon monoxide sensor went off related to the storefront's hot water heater, and workers discovered a hole in the flue that brings in replacement air. 

Because of the hole, replacement air wasn't getting into the basement, thus the high carbon monoxide reading, Pugliese said at the time. However, despite identifying the problem and quickly repairing it, ConEd shut off the gas to the business.

To keep the shop running, Pugliese, who helped feed unhoused residents and essential front-line workers during the pandemic's worst days in the spring of 2020, spent $7,000 to buy three electric grills and have three 220-volt power lines installed so his team could cook. 

You can read more about how TSB overcame all this here.

Tuesday's parting shot

Weather-proofing work continues at the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue at Seventh Street... photo today by Derek Berg...

That's a wrap on the first round of the holidays

As seen on Second Street ... and as a reminder, please use clear, untinted bags for your recyclables. 

Thanks to the reader for this pic!