Monday, August 7, 2023

Noted

Photo by Stacie Joy 

As seen on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B today...
Beware of Prowler!!! 
You are not welcome in this building! Do not return! 

Otherwise, steps will be taken for all of our safety!

The lights were back on last night in Tompkins Square Park after 3 evenings of darkness

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Updated 8/8: We have an update on the lights here. Spoiler: Timer issue.

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The lights were on in Tompkins Square Park last evening...
... and for the first time since Thursday night, according to multiple residents. 

Here's one reader report about Friday night: 
The entire park was dark last night and the previous one. People were using their phone flashlights to navigate. Oddly, the only lights that were working were in the construction trailer outside the field house. No cops anywhere despite recently seeing patrols earlier in the week, but I'm guessing the Union Square incident likely had their focus elsewhere. Very bizarre, and I've never seen anything like it. 
EVG reader Janie Heath shared this clip from Saturday on Avenue A near the Seventh Street entrance that shows a completely dark Park ... and people entering nonetheless...

   

Also, on Saturday night: Someone called 911 to report a "blackout," per the Citizen app ... (and the blackout was IN the park, and yes, that Thompson error)...
We contacted a parks rep about what may have happened with the lights.

Also of note: The lights were ON during the day yesterday.

Updated: 

The lights remain on during daylight hours... (photo by Steven)...

Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe coming to this prime East Village corner space

Coming-soon signage is up for the next tenant on the NE corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue — Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe.

This will be the second location for the business, which opened in Prospect Heights in 2010. From their website: "Our bagels are hand-rolled, kettle boiled, and baked on premises — made the Olde fashioned way."

No word on an opening date.

The prime space has been empty since Sanshi Noodle House closed last summer after a year-plus in service.

Bar Virage closed here in December 2018 after 20-plus years.

Last week for Huertas

As a reminder... Huertas, the popular Basque restaurant at 107 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, is closing... Saturday is the last night in service. 

There's a new landlord for the building, and chef Jonah Miller could not come to "suitable terms" for a new lease, he previously announced. 

So in case you want to pay a visit... Huertas is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-10 p.m. ... with an 11 p.m. close on Friday and Saturday. 

Find reservation and menu info here.
Huertas opened in April 2014.

Top photo from January

Motel No Tell announces itself on Avenue A

Temp signage is up for Motel No Tell at 210 Avenue A... a new bar-tavern on the NE corner of 13th Street...
A group led by hospitality vet Ronan Downs, whose numerous NYC credits include Becketts Bar & Grill in the Financial District, is behind this Avenue A project. (Here's a PDF of their July 2022 questionnaire on the CB3 website.)

According to the State Liquor Authority, the liquor license is still pending for the address, though the owners did receive a "Conditional Approval Letter" last week.

No word on an opening date. There is an Instagram account here.

There have been several other suitors for this space since Percy's Tavern closed in 2017. An establishment called Relax at Blondie's was in the works dating to late 2021.

And some of you might recall No-Tell Motel, a scene-y bar via Deb Parker at 167 Avenue A (now Mama Fina's) between 10th Street and 11th Street that closed in the early 1990s. 

Raíz Modern Mexican is closed for now on 1st Avenue

Photos by Steven

Raíz Modern Mexican is now in "closed for renovations" mode at 120 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

The gates have been down since this past Tuesday, Aug. 1
There isn't any mention of the closure on Raíz's website or Instagram account.

In an Instagram message, the restaurant confirmed they were closed for renovations, with a possible reopening next month.

The retail space has also been listed on LoopNet since April, with the last update on the storefront posted on Aug. 1. 

The plant-based, fast-casual restaurant — featuring burritos, tacos, salads and bowls. — debuted in early 2022.

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg)... 

• East Village Loves NYC aids asylum seekers in Midtown during Saturday's heatwave (Tuesday

• RIP Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Thursday

• The chaotic scene at Union Square (Friday

• City Council votes on a permanent outdoor dining program (Thursday)

• Raising awareness of Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s proposed merger with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (Sunday

• Baker Falls shapes up (Friday

• Report: The historic 137 2nd Ave. — the former Stuyvesant Polyclinic — has a new owner (Wednesday

• Theater for the New City ready to take to the streets (Saturday)

• Butter Lane leaves 7th Street for a new home in the American Dream Mall (Wednesday)

• From crabs to wings on 1st Avenue? (Friday) • The Summer Streets days of summer are upon us (Friday

• CineKink is back with its 20th-anniversary film festival (Monday

• Openings: Dora's Restaurant on Avenue B; Rynn's on 5th Street (Monday)

• Signage alert: Anjelly on St. Mark's Place; Rice Bird NYC on 9th Street (Wednesday)

• Local 92 has closed on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday

• Like a breath of fresh Urban Air on 1st Avenue (Friday)

• Something to frown about at Smileys (Monday

... and six years after our last podcaster paparazzi photo of the week ... a return engagement with Marc Maron, here on 2nd Avenue (photo by Derek Berg) ...
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Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

A moment at the community fridge on Bleecker

A reader shared this photo from Thursday at the community fridge outside Overthrow Boxing Club at 9 Bleecker St. just west of the Bowery. 

Miguel (left) and Power from Artists Athletes Activists were stocking the fridge. 

Per the reader: "Seeing them is a good reminder that the fridge is stocked around 2 p.m. on Thursdays. On Sunday, they offer cooked meals from East Village Love NYC." 

The city's first plant-based community fridge arrived here in February 2021.

Find a map of all the NYC community fridges at this link.

EVG Etc.: Club Cumming honors slain dancer O'Shae Sibley; Anthology Film Archives presents a John Wilson-curated series

Photo from 1st Avenue at 6th Street 

• On Sixth Street, Club Cumming honors O'Shae Sibley, who was murdered while dancing at a gas station in Midwood, Brooklyn (CBS New York ... update on the case here

• The body of John Castic, a Goldman Sachs analyst, was found in Newtown Creek three days after being reported missing following a concert at Brooklyn Mirage. Castic, who lived on the Lower East Side, was 27. (PIX11 ... Daily Mail

• Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera on her just-passed legislation that creates a "Current Conditions" report for cyclists (Streetsblog)

• An interview with LES post-punk/no-wave vets Bush Tetras (The Guardian ... previously on EVG

• To celebrate the return of HBO's "How to With John Wilson," the filmmaker is guest-curating a special two-part series at the Anthology Film Archives on Second Avenue (Official site

• Or go "Back to School" with Kirsten Dunst films at Metrograph on Ludlow (Official site) ... or spot the East Village locations in "The Godfather Part II" Tuesday evening (Tickets

• Public Access, the gallery that started on St. Mark's Place before relocating to Henry Street, has closed (Instagram... previously on EVG

• Claud, the 1-year old restaurant and wine bar at 90 E. 10th St., will not be pivoting to a bakery after all amid liquor license confusion (Eater... Instagram

• The International Puppet Fringe Festival coming to the LES next week (Time Out

•  A feature on local resident Hila Perry — aka, Hila the Earth — who's hoping to inspire climate action through music (CBS New York

• EV's Tompkins Square Bagels isopening an outpost on the Upper East Side (Patch)

... and we mentioned this in last week's links roundup ... the corner of Rivington and Essex was to be co-named "Morris 'Moishe’ Cohen Way" to honor the founder of NYC's oldest candy shop, Economy Candy (and very much still open!)

Saturday, August 5, 2023

The East Village Rocks for Ukraine tomorrow at the 6th and B Garden

This is a make-up date for the event.

The 6th Street and Avenue B Garden plays host tomorrow (Sunday, Aug. 6) to two local bands in a program titled "East Village Rocks for Ukraine!" 

From 5-7 p.m., you can enjoy the sounds of the Timbres and Soul Cake ... as well as information on the current situation in Ukraine. 

The community garden is on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue B.