EVG Etc.: East Village shroom bust; rent history insights

Photo by Derek Berg 

• The DA's office has charged 33-year-old Kenwood Allen with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, one count of second-degree robbery, and two counts of second-degree assault for causing fatal overdoses of two people Allen robbed in venues on Seventh Street and Ludlow Street (The Post ... Gay City News ... press release from DA's office) 

• Police arrest four people during an investigation into the sale of magic mushrooms at East Village stores Come Back Daily on 11th Street and City Clouds on Seventh Street (PIX11 ... 

• The holiday season with a broken boiler at the Baruch Houses (CBS 2 ... The City) 

• More about Kōbo by Nai, now open on Avenue A (The New York Times... previously on EVG) 

• How to get your rent history in NYC (The City) 

• Revisiting the great Veniero's on 11th Street (Eater) 

• Adam Zhu on the enduring creative stamina of New York (Document Journal ... previously on EVG) 

• Latke time at Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery (NY1) 

• Remembering filmmaker Robert Downey Sr.'s influence on the LES (The Daily Heller) 

• Winter memories in the East Village (Laura Goggin Photography) 

• Riding with the Citi Bike Boyz in Tompkins Square Park (Curbed)

• An oral history of the Pyramid Club on Avenue A (Document Journal) What's next for the space? (EVG) 

• The most borrowed books from NYC’s public libraries this year (Gothamist) 

• Yo La Tengo pays tribute to the Ramones with Marky Ramone at the Bowery Ballroom (Brooklyn Vegan) 

• Recent EV arrival Anna Delvey, still under house arrest, has made $300,000 this year selling her art online (Artnet) 

• How the Lower East Side has changed since 1988's "Crossing Delancey" (New York Jewish Week)

Saturday's opening shot

A view of the steam from the Con Ed power plant on 14th Street and Avenue C this morning. 

The temperature was in the single digits (9) as of about 8:30 a.m., with wind chills below zero. There's a wind-chill advisory today, as highs will only reach 18, per the National Weather Service.

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

A professional line waiter at work today outside New York Theatre Workshop on Fourth Street...

It's Xmas time

 

East Village-based singer-songwriter Jesse Malin has released a new video for "Xmas, etc.," a re-recording of the song that appeared on his debut LP, The Fine Art of Self Destruction ... that record will be expanded and reissued in celebration of its 20th anniversary early next year. (Read more about that here.) 

You can catch Malin and his band at Webster Hall on March 25, 2023.

Noted

Someone shared thoughts on the rendering for the in-progress 10-story office building at 1 St. Mark's Place and Third Avenue...

Season's Supermarket Greetings

Photos by Stacie Joy 

While out and about this holiday season, EVG contributor Stacie Joy starting keeping tabs on the neighborhood's grocery stores (such as Associated on Avenue C above) to see how the markets were decorating for the season. 

Many places were on the bah-humbug-y side, perhaps with just a few cashier-area holiday tinsel-y ornaments. 

These were the groceries putting in the holiday décor effort, starting with Pioneer/Met Fresh on Avenue D between Eighth Street and Ninth Street ...

... Union Market on Houston and Avenue A...

... H-Mart on Third Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street ...

...New Yorkers Food Market on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and Sixth Street...

... Whole Foods Market® Bowery ...

... and the clear winner in the grocery holiday games — Key Food on Avenue A and Fourth Street,

Key was also the only shop with any Hanukkah signage and opting for the traditional Chanukah spelling...

Please note that Key closes at 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve (tomorrow) and will be closed all day on Christmas. So plan ahead. (Sidenote: We finally found where they stock the mustard now — aisle 1, which doesn't make sense, after the Great Key Reorganization. Stayed tuned for the next investigative series on mustard presentation.)

Jell & Chill peacing out on 7th Street

After three-plus years at 110 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue, Jell & Chill is closing in the days ahead. 

You just have three days left for the shop's traditional handcrafted Bīng Fěn Ice Jelly, a Sichuanese cold dessert jelly. Jell & Chill closes after service on Sunday. 

Per the shop's Instagram account: "Given the current circumstances we chose not to renew our lease." 

The owners are looking to open in another NYC location. 

Hours: Today from 3-8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 2-8 p.m.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Happy Haulerdays from Second Avenue!

When Santa Claus came to the Lower East Side — with an assist from the FDNY

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

The 7th Precinct and FDNY Engine 15/Ladder 18/Battalion 4 came together this past Saturday on Pitt Street to help brighten the holidays for some Lower East Side families.

Christopher Lee, co-owner of the Parkside Lounge on Houston and Attorney, filling in for the real Santa Claus who was busy prepping for Dec. 24, distributed toys to happy children and their grateful parents.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was on hand for some of the quality Santa time...

[Updated] NYPD release wanted poster in connection with Avenue A homicide

Updated 12/26

Police have arrested Roland Codrington (see below). He is accused of two murders — on Avenue A and a doctor Friday in Marcus Garvey Park. In both deadly assaults, the victims were killed with a knife. And in both deaths, the suspect did not previously have any interaction with the victims.

More details to follow.

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The NYPD is searching for a suspect in connection with the early-morning homicide Monday outside 214 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. 

Police have placed reward posters near the crime scene. The poster states the 9th Precinct "is attempting to identify and apprehend this individual." (Thanks to the reader for the photo.)

According to published reports and police sources, 51-year-old James Cunningham was found on the sidewalk with lacerations on his neck just before 1. a.m. He reportedly had a glass of seltzer at Spike's, 218 Avenue A, where he was a regular, per the Daily News, and was attacked after leaving. Police and media reports say that the suspect jumped Cunningham during a confrontation. Police have not yet revealed a motive in the deadly attack.

Sources told the Post that "Cunningham himself was just arrested 10 days ago and charged with menacing with a knife." 

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. 

WANTED for Homicide in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/mwvePZlmQR

— NYPD 121st Precinct (@NYPD121Pct) December 24, 2022

Updated 12/25 

Sources say the suspect, identified as Roland Codrington, is also wanted for an attack at an East Harlem bar on Thursday night.

The following individual has been identified as Roland Codrington. If you have any information on his whereabouts contact @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. https://t.co/7UPzMAj5eA

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 24, 2022

Updated 12/26

Here's the press conference announcing the arrest of Codrington.

Watch as Police Commissioner Sewell and NYPD executives provide an update on an ongoing police investigation. https://t.co/izdFygSP6O

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 26, 2022