The Alamo is free on Astor Place (though it's not ready to spin)

ICYMI: Workers removed the barricades surrounding the Alamo on Astor Place late last week. (Noted here and here on Saturday.) 

As previously reported, barricades had surrounded the Cube — aka the Alamo — since late last fall.

We were told that the spinning mechanism for the 1,800-pound cube, which manually rotates around a pole hidden in its center, was not working.

The Department of Transportation installed the temporary in-house fabrication and support for the cube on April 27. After some painting, workers then took away the barricades. A DOT spokesperson previously told us that they didn't have a timeline for repairing the spinning component.

Tony Rosenthal's sculpture first arrived here in November 1967. 

A terrible way to try to kill rats

Updated 5/23: Several residents report that, via 311 calls, the city has removed the cement from the tree pit.

To combat rats burrowing in the tree pit outside 185 E. Third St., building management decided to cover the space in concrete.

As an unhappy resident here between Avenue A and Avenue B noted, the concrete will inhibit the tree's ability to take in water and oxygen and could likely result in its death.

There are better options ... which the city discusses via its online Rat Academy courses for property managers, business owners, etc.  Find other rat resources via the city here.

Thanks to Suzy Kunz for the photo. 

Monday's parting shot

Between downpours early this evening on First Avenue at St. Mark's Place...

Report: Man shot dead on 3rd Street and Avenue D last night

A man was shot and killed last night on Avenue D and Third Street around 11:15, according to media accounts and police sources.

CBS 2 reports that the victim is 39-year-old Bronx resident Brandon Atkinson. He was found with a gunshot wound to the head and pronounced dead at Bellevue. 

No other details are currently available. 

This was one of four shootings last night or early this morning in the southern half of Manhattan. 

Per NBC New York: 

The shootings will compound the problem already plaguing Manhattan this year, as the city confronts a massive spike in violent crime. Year-to-date through May 8, shooting incidents in the NYPD"s Patrol Borough Manhattan South are up 31% over last year. 

According to the NYPD's CompStat system, for the period from Jan. 1 to May 8, shooting incidents in Manhattan South are now at their highest since 1997.

On April 29 at 9 a.m., a 42-year-old man was shot and killed outside the Mariana Bracetti Plaza public housing development on Fourth Street at Avenue C. Police arrested a suspect in that shooting. 

The St. George Ukrainian Festival returns to 7th Street this weekend

After a two-year pandemic-related hiatus, the St. George Ukrainian Festival returns to Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square this coming weekend. (The 2019 Festival was the 43rd edition.) 

The three-day festival celebrates Ukrainian culture, music, and food with various performances and vendors selling traditional arts and crafts...

This has long been the neighborhood's best annual event. With Ukraine in the hearts and minds of so many people worldwide, this promises to be an especially emotional festival. 

Stuy Town ownership nixes plans for 2 heat and power plants

Beam Living and Blackstone have agreed not to move forward with the two proposed Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants in Stuyvesant Town. 

This news came via the Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association late last week. 

Over the past 18 months, the TA had been working with local elected officials in speaking out about the proposed plans. (Here and here.) 

In 2018, Beam Living announced plans to build a fossil-fuel-burning CHP plant between 245 and 271 Avenue C. Two years later, they announced their intention to create a larger CHP plant under a garage floor on 20th Street. 

Via the EVG inbox:

"This is a highly satisfactory resolution to an issue that concerned many residents. I am grateful to all who signed petitions and postcards and came to our rallies, and to the cadre of hard-working tenants who formed our CHP strategy committee," said Susan Steinberg, president of the Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association. "I also want to acknowledge the effective support of our elected representatives. In particular I want to call out our Council Member Keith Powers, whose nonstop negotiations with Blackstone resulted in their pulling the project. Finally, I want to acknowledge Blackstone for its willingness to recognize how critical this issue was for us and for doing the right thing."

After years of working tirelessly with the Tenants Association, my colleagues, and residents, this is a great outcome.

Big thanks to @ST_PCV_Tenants, @RepMaloney, @bradhoylman, @HarveyforNY, @MarkLevineNYC, & every single person who helped organize. https://t.co/REpJ0p0qy2

— Keith Powers (@KeithPowersNYC) May 12, 2022

A spokesperson for Beam Living, which manages Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, released this statement to the media: 

"We always take our community’s feedback seriously and are pleased with the dialogue we have had about our collective commitment to making StuyTown and Peter Cooper Village more sustainable and resilient. We are proud of the progress we have made to date and remain committed to bringing resilient and green infrastructure to our community." 

No word at the moment what might happen to the already-built CHP structure (top pic) on Avenue C.

Davey's Ice Cream will reopen on 9th Street

Photos by Steven 

Davey's Ice Cream will reopen this summer in a new home — 309 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Owner and local resident David Yoo made the announcement Friday on social media.

After eight-plus years, Davey's closed its original outpost at 137 First Ave. in March. At the time, Yoo promised that the shop would be opening elsewhere in the neighborhood.

Hopefully, there will be space here for the Davey's Ice Cream lettering from the previous shop... 

Calexico team trying Asian-Latin fusion with Big Cat on 2nd Avenue; a move for Keybar

Calexico is changing up concepts at 99 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

The Cal-Mex chainlet will its East Village outpost for Big Cat, "serving Asian-Latin fusion cuisine and a mix of classic cocktails, regional draft beers and a modest wine list." 

Reps for the company (founded as a food truck in 2006 by brothers Dave, Jesse and Brian Vendley) will appear before CB3's SLA committee tonight for this change in operation. 

The questionnaire on file on CB3's website has more info about the new concept, including this sample menu...

Calexico arrived in the EV in July 2019. The restaurant has been closed since late 2020. 

In other items on tonight's agenda...

The owners of Keybar on 13th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue are looking to relocate to the more high-profile SE corner of Avenue A and 13th Street (the former Caffè Bene). You can read the Keybar questionnaire here. 

And what about the soon-to-be-former Keybar space at 432 E. 13th St.? 

The team behind the Spotted Owl on Avenue A and Iggy's Keltic Lounge on Ludlow Street have designs on a yet-to-be-named bar. Questionnaire here. 

The committee meeting starts tonight at 6:30. Find the Zoom link here.

Noted

Smart Smokers has (quickly) opened at 143 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street... another smoke-related shop — one of many that have popped up around this neighborhood and others in recent months. 

The signage also changes colors...

The space was last Flamingos Vintage Pound, which closed for good during the pandemic. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Moments after the Pinc Louds show ended this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... and happy trails to longtime drummer Raimundo (right), who's moving on to new "musical and creative adventures."