EVG Etc.: The first 10th Congressional District TV debate; Coleman Skatepark at 10

Photo by H.H. in Tompkins Square Park 

• 18-year-old suspect in a fatal East Village shooting has been apprehended in West Virginia (PIX 11 ... the Post ... previously on EVG) 

• Highlights from the first televised debate in the race for the 10th Congressional District: "Dan Goldman and Carlina Rivera ... weathered attacks for their personal finances — Goldman, an heir to Levi Strauss, for investments in Rupert Murdoch's conservative News Corp. and Rivera for holdings in a fund that invests in gun manufacturers Smith & Wesson and Sturm Ruger." (POLITICO ... Gothamist) 

• "Murphy's has been attracting fans and skeptics with its well-designed interior and $6 Jamaican patties" on Ninth Street (Eater ... previously on EVG) 

• Checking in on HAGS on First Avenue (Eater) 

• The Coleman Skatepark beneath the Manhattan Bridge turns 10 (Quartersnacks) 

• The M102, which runs from the East Village to Harlem, is the slowest bus in the city (Thrillist) 

• In conjunctiopn with the ICP's new exhibition, "William Klein: YES – Photographs, Paintings, Films, 1948-2013," the Anthology Film Archives hosts screenings of a selection of his films (Official site) 

• Three chances to see Jim Jarmusch's "Stranger Than Paradise" on a big screen this weekend (Metrograph) 

• Loving to hate Dimes Square (The Daily Beast) 

• On the town with the East Villains TikTok crew (The Cut) 

• Why the gallery Magenta Plains doubled down on Chinatown (artnet)

Wednesday's parting shot

The late-afternoon shadows in Tompkins Square Park as caputured by EVG reader dwg today...

El Primo Red Tacos primed for 151 Avenue A

Renovations continue inside the north storefront at 151 Avenue A, where the first NYC outpost of Miami-based pop-up hit El Primo Red Tacos is in the works here between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

As the name suggests, El Primo specializes in "red tacos," which Eater Miami describes as "birria tacos dipped in a soup-like liquid that gives them a red glow." 

And more from Eater:

El Primo "focuses on one thing only: birria, beef shoulder that is slow cooked in a “red” stew made with tomatoes and seasonings. The chefs then fill tacos with the beef, which also stains the tortilla giving them that red color, and then serves it with a side of broth made with the birria cooking liquid to dip the tacos in."

Reps for owner Frank Neri, who hails from Tijuana, will appear before CB3's SLA committee on Aug. 22 for a new liquor license for the space. According to the questionnaire on file with CB3, the quick-serve spot will have seating for 10 guests inside. They also plan on getting the backyard space licensed, which could accommodate 28 people. Proposed hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, with a 3 a.m. close Thursday through Saturday. (The outdoor space would close at 10 p.m., per the questionnaire.) 

The questionnaire includes a menu from Miami...

El Primo's Instagram account lists a September opening for the East Village. 

The CB3 SLA meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 22. You can tune in via Zoom here.

This north storefront at 151 Avenue A has been vacant since Mamani Pizza, a 99-cent slice joint, closed in June 2017. (Because someone will mention it: San Loco was in the south storefront at No. 151 until February 2014.)

5 years later, signs of progress at 180 2nd Ave.

We're now into year number 5 of gut renovations at 180 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street ... which has meant almost five years of a blocked bike lane and a section of Second Avenue ... not to mention a sidewalk bridge blocking out the light for sidewalk cafes at the restaurants on either side of the building — Pangea on the right and Cacio e Pepe on the left.

According to the previously approved work permits with the city, workers are converting the building to residential use and adding two floors — from five to seven — in the process. Permits show that there will be one residential unit on each floor. (Condos?)

As the top photo shows, workers appear to have started the framework for that seventh floor. (See below for a rendering of the all-new No. 180.)

As previously reported, dating to June 2017, the building was designed to earn LEED Platinum and Passive House certification, complete with a green roof with solar hot water panels for each residential unit.

The Chicago-based Polish National Alliance was the previous owner of No. 180. The building housed the Józef Pilsudski Institute of America, the largest Polish-American research institution specializing in the recent history of Poland and Central Eastern Europe. (They found a new home in Greenpoint.) According to public records, an LLC bought the building for $6.75 million in June 2014. City Realty listed the new owner as Robert Stern.

As for the ground-floor retail space, the Ninth Ward was the previous tenant. That New Orleans-themed bar closed in February 2016. The Ninth Ward was said to return to this space after the gut renovations, but that was in mid-2017.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• The renderings for the all-new 180 2nd Ave. include Leonardo DiCaprio on a Citi Bike

A memorial for Jack the cat on 7th Street

In recent days, several EVG readers (thank you!) have let us know about Jack the cat, "who was so super adorable and hung out on the fence between B and C on Seventh Street." 

Jack died in May, though the memorial arrived on the north side of Seventh Street at the start of the weekend...

A message at the memorial states that Jack died after an illness. "Many thanks to all his friends — he so looked forward to your visits... We all miss him."

Signage alerts: Hi-Note on Avenue B; Le Burger on 5th Street

From the EVG inbox... reader-submitted photos showing new signage... Annabelle shared the top pic from Hi-Note, opening soon at 188 Avenue B between 11th Street and 12th Street in space that was previously the jazz club Rue-B. 

This will be a coffee shop-cafe-karaoke bar (at night) combo from the team who ran Baby Grand, the now-closed karaoke bar on Lafayette. (Read our previous post on Hi-Note for more.)

You can follow the Hi-Note Instagram account for updates.

Meanwhile, signage is up (H/T JG!) for Le Burger at 540 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B... the former home of Black Iron Burger (RIP 2019).

According to the questionnaire from last month on the CB3 website, ownership ran the now-closed UES spots 1742 Wine Bar and Giorgio's Brick Over & Wine Bar.

The hours here are to be noon to midnight daily.

Tuesday's parting shot

A look at the clouds late this afternoon/early evening from Tompkins Square Park when it seemed as if we were in for a storm... photo by Steven...

Prince of the city, 9th Street edition

A recent arrival on Ninth Street at First Avenue ... Prince art courtesy of Billy Barnacles (in a collab with Dave Hogan)... Billy often leaves his art around town for people to find. 

Thanks to Steven for the photo!

A look at the remaining red-tailed hawk fledgling in Tompkins Square Park

Photos yesterday by Steven 

Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, welcomed three chicks to the nest this spring. 

Unfortunately, as you may have heard, two of them died last month. 

As Goggla first reported, a fledgling died on July 4 from what appeared to be frounce, "a naturally occurring illness that afflicts raptors."

On July 27, the second fledgling was found with its eyes closed and looking weak on a fire escape across from the Park on Seventh Street. Sgt Dan of the Urban Park Rangers was able to scoop up the unwell hawk, who died later that night at the Wild Bird Fund.

While a cause of death has not been determined, from what Goggla observed (and based on what happened in previous summers), she strongly speculates that it was rodenticide poisoning. 

Meanwhile, the third fledgling appears to be healthy, remaining active in the Park (despite this heat) ... and providing a thrill for onlookers... 

You can visit Goggla's site for more photos of Amelia, Christo and the fledgling.

TabeTomo owners have new venture planned for St. Mark's Place

The owners of TabeTomo at 131 Avenue A have plans for a new restaurant at 120 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

CB3 granted administrative approval for a beer-wine license for the space, a yet-to-be-named venture that will offer sushi and other Japanese cuisine. According to the questionnaire on file at the CB3 website, the restaurant will be open daily from 5 p.m. to midnight ... offering an "immersive dinner menu." 

As we understand, TabeTomo, which opened in December 2018 and is billed as NYC's first tsukemen-focused restaurant, will remain in operation. (They also run TomoTomo on West 52nd Street.) 

No. 120 previously housed the retail outlet for Squish Marshmallows. Owner Katherine Sprung's lease was up here after five years, and she now focuses on custom and catering orders.

Thanks to Steven for the photo!