NYPD seeks suspect accused of endangering the welfare of a minor

Updated: Police made an arrest in this case.

Police are searching for a suspect wanted in connection with endangering the welfare of a minor. 

The incident happened on March 16 just before 8 a.m. near Fifth Street and Avenue C. According to NYPD officials, the suspect approached a 12-year-old girl and asked her to accompany him. The man fled after a good Samaritan intervened.

WANTED for AN Endangering the Welfare of a Child in the v/o of E 5th Stand AveC . #Man @NYPD9pct on 3/16/22 @ 7: 49 AM Suspect approached the 12 y/o female victim asked her to accompany him, a good Samaritan intervened and the individual fled Reward up to Call 1-800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/pEPeKnLJQ2

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) April 9, 2022

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. All calls are strictly confidential.

Checking out the reasonably priced art of Steve Keene at Public Gallery

Steve Keene's "SK Art Show" opened Thursday at Public Gallery. 

And a nice-sized crowd turned out to see what the prolific Brooklyn-based artist had for sale... most of the pieces are marked at a 2-for-$5 price point. (Thanks to EVG reader Kerri Savage for the pic!)

You can read our previous post here or here for more on Keene, whose work includes album covers for Pavement.

Public Access is at 105 Henry St. near Pike Street. Gallery hours this weekend — Saturday-Sunday noon to 6 p.m. 

Friday's parting shot

Spring finally in Tompkins Square Park earlier today... thanks to Sonya for the photo...

Headed for a breakdown

 

Francis of Delirium (an up-and-coming duo now living in Luxembourg!) recently released a new full-length release ... the video here is for "The Funhouse." 

And you can catch the band on their first North American tour... out at Warsaw on April 14 and Baby's All Right on April 27.

Learn the art of decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs

Tomorrow (Saturday, April 9) from noon to 6 p.m., the Ukrainian American Youth Association is hosting an event to help learn the art of decorating pysanky — Ukrainian Easter eggs. Dyes, beeswax and a stylus are used to decorate the eggs with traditional Ukrainian designs. You can take what you make home with you. 

The event takes place at the Ukrainian National Home, second floor, 140 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. Details are on the above flyer. All the proceeds will go toward humanitarian aid.

Noted

A message for the package thief here on Avenue B. 

Good morning! 

And thanks to the EVG reader for sharing this...

Inside the Blue Door

Photos by Stacie Joy

There has been some mystery/intrigue around longtime business Blue Door Video at 87 First Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street... maybe it's the goofy window displays. Like, what do they sell?

Apropos of nothing (Easter?), EVG contributor Stacie Joy decided to pop by for a visit. The friendly staff (no, they were — that wasn't sarcasm) said she could take photos as long as she didn't include any patrons or private areas, such as the viewing booths...

The shop has a healthy supply of cut-out DVDs of super-obscure titles spanning many genres (3 for $10!) ...  along with some forgotten Hollywood fare (we see you "Laws of Attraction" with Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore and your 18% Rotten Tomatoes score!) ... 

... and there are some VHS copies... (Dibs on that "Quantum Leap" episode!) ...

... and the adult titles...

There's a clothing section with lingerie ... and shoes (?)... 

... and various accessories... 

There's also a sale section...

This visit doesn't provide insights into everything that might go inside here, but hopefully, this will remove some of the mystery behind Blue Door Video...

Former Coyote Ugly space on 1st Avenue hits the rental market

A for-lease banner has arrived outside 153 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street. (Thanks to Steven for the photo!)

The space, a recent recipient of a gut renovation, is notable for being the home of the first Coyote Ugly, which held forth here with bartop dancing and body shots for 27 years. CU left this address in September 2020 ... for new digs on 14th Street. 

The KSR listing notes the CU connection here (but not the asking rent!)... 

As previously reported, there was a new tenant lined up for No. 153. 

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop founder Stratis Morfogen had plans to open a rock club here. (The questionnaire on file at the CB3 website from February listed the establishment's name as E. Village Bar, while the New York Post called it E.VIL Rock Club in an article last fall.)

This concept dates back to 2017 (another flashback here) when E.VIL had designs on 64 Third Ave. (later going to the Ainsworth). 

In any event, this application was withdrawn before the CB3-SLA committee meeting, per public records. And now, the space is on the rental market...

East Village vegan standby Organic Grill is moving to the West Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Organic Grill, the rustic health-food cafe with a vegan menu, is leaving its longtime home at 123 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place this month for a new home in the West Village. 

In an interview this past Friday, co-owner Vlad Grinberg said the Organic Grill has a new larger space opening later in April at 133 W. Third St., next to the Blue Note Jazz Club in the West Village.

While Grinberg had been planning to open a second outpost, their EV departure was not in the cards... and coming after their First Avenue building was sold twice during the pandemic. Organic Grill had until the end of the summer left on their lease, but the new landlord didn't want them to stay and negotiated for an early release from the lease. 

The First Avenue OG will close by the end of April, which will — hopefully — coincide with the debut of the West Village location. This WV spot will eventually feature refrigerated prepare-at-home foods like the OG's vegan burgers. The West Third Street space will also have several new menu items, including a variety of pasta dishes

Grinberg owns the restaurant with his wife, Olga Grinberg, and stepdaughter Julia Chebotar. 

The restaurant opened in August 2000 as an homage to Grinberg's mother, who turned to vegan and macrobiotic foods when diagnosed with cancer. Grinberg, a former social worker, said that a macrobiotic and vegan diet extended his mother's life by nearly 10 years. 

Grinberg called this a bittersweet moment as he wanted to stay in the East Village. However, he is actively looking for another space in the neighborhood. We hope to see them here again soon.

A Healthy Deli for 1st Avenue

Another day, another new deli!

Signage is up now at 158 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street for Healthy Deli. (Thanks to Steven for the photo!)

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Update! Wait! Per the comments, that looks like "Heathily" 

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The incoming shop will offer a variety of organic products, fresh juices, salads, etc. — similar to some of the other delis that have opened along Avenue A and at First Avenue and Ninth Street. And First Avenue and Seventh Street. 

First Avenue did lose two corner markets during the pandemic — on the SE corner of 10th Street and the SE corner of 12th Street.

No. 158 was previously the spa Yu's on First.