Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Cooling off on Ninth Street at First Avenue. 

About this weather, per PIX11: 

The heat wave should become official on Thursday as temperatures rise in the lower 90s. In the afternoon, a frontal boundary will start to move closer to the region and bring the chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms. Some storms could end up being on the severe side with damaging winds and hail. 

The temperatures back off on Friday, with highs expected in the mid-80s. While it will not be as warm, it will still be humid. In the afternoon and evening, another round of showers and thunderstorms will develop as the front will remain near the region.

Openings: Cafe La Fe on 1st Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Cafe La Fe recently debuted at 70 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Owner Yarissa Suarez was born and raised on the Lower East Side (Orchard Street) and lives on Norfolk Street. 

On the menu, the empanadas, with various fillings, are the main draw here... along with an assortment of coffee drinks (via La Colombe) and juices. 

In this family-owned business, Yarissa will receive part-time assistance from her son Yaslir, who would like to be billed as "entertainer, cleaner and sous chef."

Cafe La Fe is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a 9 a.m. start on Saturday and Sunday.

The storefront was previously home to Pinky's Space.

Vintage video shop 8 Bit and Up is closing in the East Village

Photo by Stacie Joy 

If you've been by 86 E. Third St. recently, you've likely seen the store-for-rent sign outside here between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Shop ownership has confirmed that the retail business is closing later this month after 15 years. 

Per a message on its website: 

I am sad to inform you that 8 Bit And Up Video Games will be closing its retail doors on Sept. 23rd, 2023. After more than 15 years, it's time to retire! I want to thank everybody who has supported us all these years.

The shop, a fantastic time capsule for video games of the 1980s and 1990s, will have a presence on eBay. 

You can watch a short video about 8 Bit Up from 2011 — back when it was on the second floor of St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue.

Concerns about some basic playground amenities in Tompkins Square Park

The playground along Avenue A and Ninth Street in Tompkins Square Park has seen better days.

For starters, there's just a dusting of sand on the sandbox surface... which, at this point, resembles a cement bunker, and certainly not the first time ... (Thanks to Choresh Wald for the following 3 playground photos)

Meanwhile, the synthetic turf on the playground is peeling and cracked, creating potential tripping hazards...

We've talked with several parents/parkgoers who remain frustrated with the shoddy conditions in and around Tompkins... made worse with the field house renovations happening through the fall of 2024 that have closed the mini pool for two summers ... and the good times of the three porta potties.

The Tompkins Square playgrounds along Avenue B and Seventh Street were revamped in recent years (2019).

Storefront shuffle on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy

Yesterday we noted that Whim Golf has closed after a summer pop-up at 66 Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. 

What's next? The vintage shop that has been at 70 Avenue A is making the move to two storefronts to the north.

And 70 Avenue A — now with brown paper covering the windows — will be home for the third consecutive year to a Halloween pop-up shop...

No word just yet on the opening dates for either storefront.

Tuesday's parting shot

Photo by Lola Sáenz 

A moment on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place today...

Indian hit masters Unapologetic Foods opening Filipino restaurant Naks on 1st Avenue

The Unapologetic Foods Group team — owner Roni Mazumdar and Chef Chintan Pandya — has announced details for its latest East Village restaurant. 

Reps for Unapologetic Foods describe Naks, 201 First Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street, as "a soulful heritage Filipino restaurant." Dhamaka Chef de Cuisine Eric Valdez, raised in the Philippines, will helm the kitchen at Naks.

A Naks rep shared this info about the restaurant expected to open this fall:

In Tagalog, Naks is slang for an expression of surprise and admiration. The menu and dining room will be divided into two sections: one serving regional dishes a la carte, and the other a tasting menu known as Kamayan, where the food is served family style on a banana leaf and eating with one's hands is encouraged. 

You can sign up for updates from Naks here. Grub Street has a preview of the restaurant here.

Last year, we heard that Unapologetic's acclaimed restaurant, Adda Indian Canteen, would relocate to No. 201 from its current Long Island City home. However, they decided to pivot to a different concept for the space.

No. 201 was previously home to Jeepney, the Filipino gastropub that closed in September 2021 after nine years at this location.

Unapologetic also operates the fried-chicken outpost, Rowdy Rooster, at 149 First Ave. at Ninth Street. They previously announced plans for the kebab-focused Kebabwala at 82 Second Ave.  

Hello to Hello, Yam! on 9th Street

Coming soon signage is up for Hello, Yam! at 443 E. Ninth St. at Avenue A (H/T Steven!) ...

The shop will specialize in Japanese sweet potatoes... seen in some quarters as the best sweet potatoes.

The business takes over the space, adjacent to Village Creperie, from Anine Eyelash Extensions, which relocated to Bond Street.

Whim Golf has closed on Avenue A

After a summer pop-up at 66 Avenue A, Whim Golf has closed fore good here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. 

The golf-themed fashion brand had a well-attended wrap-up party last Thursday night with several jazz musicians, including longtime East Village resident William Parker. 

We also understand they were able to find a home for their putting greens.

We'll have a follow-up post on what's next for this storefront, located in a building that changed hands last fall for $64 million and is undergoing a gut renovation that saw the departure of longtime retail tenant Ink in this strip in July.

ICYMI: Petopia is temporarily closed on Avenue A

Several readers have mentioned this... so passing it along: Petopia is currently and temporarily closed on Avenue A at Second Street. 

Signage on the storefront notes the closure is so "the landlord can perform emergency repairs to the ceiling in our store." (Photos below by Stacie Joy)

The outposts on 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue and Third Avenue at 29th Street are open. 

Workers have been doing roofing and façade-repair work in the city-owned First Houses on Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street.