Week in Grieview

[A view from Avenue A]

Posts this past week included...

RIP Steve Cannon (Tuesday)

Petition to "Save Tompkins Square asphalt!" closing in on 19,000 signatures (Monday ... now up to 24k)

RUMOR: The Boys' Club building on 10th and A has a new owner; will remain in use as a nonprofit (Wednesday)

Sioné is the name of Samy Mahfar's residential building at 255 E. Houston St. (Monday)

A visit to East River Park (Wednesday)

Café Social 68 coming to Avenue A (Monday)

787 Coffee for 101 2nd Ave. (Monday)

A rendering and vintage erotic playing cards (NSFW) at the under-renovation (and mysterious!) 84 2nd Ave. (Tuesday)

P.C. Richard is gone on 14th Street; preservationists want answers about tech-hub commitments (Tuesday)

Through the years of the 4th Street Photo Gallery with Alex Harsley's "Entanglements" (Thursday)

Closings: Pie by the Pound wraps up 17 years on 4th Avenue (Thursday)

Irving Plaza is now closed for renovations (Thursday)

The sandbox in the Tompkins Square Park playground is nearly out of the all-important sand (Friday)

This week's NY See (Thursday)

The Marshal seizes Chouchou on 4th Street (Monday)

Neapolitan Express comes to a halt for now on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday)

Prepping 183 Avenue B for demolition (Wednesday)

A food delivery for the former/future Sidewalk Cafe (Monday)

Kikoo Sushi's second 1st Avenue outpost is now open (Thursday)

Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea coming to former CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice space on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)

24 1st Ave. has been demolished (Monday)

Another reminder that a Calexico outpost is opening on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)

... and thanks to EVG reader Annabelle for this shot from Wednesday as Esperanto was opening for the evening on Avenue C and Ninth Street...



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Report: Fatal shooting outside the Lillian Wald Houses on Avenue D

A man was shot and killed early Saturday morning behind the Lillian Wald Houses on Avenue D near Third Street, according to published reports.

The victim, 35, whose identity has not been released, was shot in the face around 2:45 a.m. He died at the scene, per the Daily News.

The Villager reports that the NYPD are checking surveillance cameras they may have captured the shooting and a possible suspect.

The plot thickens with cliffhanger signage at Starbucks on Avenue A

After a brief closure for electrical issues on Friday, the Starbucks on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place closed again late yesterday... with a mysterious note greeting potential customers — "Something went wrong..."



The sign is just begging for an ending.

An EVG reader reports that workers are inside this morning... and it appeared they would be opening. Or not.

H/T to EVG reader Toni Pole!

At the WitchsFest USA — A Pagan Street Faire

The eighth annual WitchsFest USA — A Pagan Street Faire took place today on Astor Place from Lafayette to Broadway... EVG contributor Steven shared these photos from the event, which included a variety of mystical energies...







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And via Derek Berg...







... and also on-hand... not part of the actual Street Faire, but drawing attention ...

Remembering Steve Cannon

Steve Cannon, the writer and poet who founded the East Village-based magazine and gallery A Gathering of the Tribes, died this past Sunday. He was 84.

There's a celebration of his life tomorrow at the Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery between Bleecker and Houston. Here are a few details via the Facebook invite:

A gathering to remember Steve Cannon and collectively mourn his loss will be held this Sunday, July 14, at the Bowery Poetry Club from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A more formal memorial service/celebration of life will be held in October, so that those who live out of town, or who are currently traveling for the summer may attend. Details about the memorial service in October will be announced soon.

On Sunday, in addition to featured speakers, a sign-up sheet will be available at the Bowery Poetry Club for those who wish take the stage and share a story of remembrance, a poem, a song or dance, or anything of your choosing, in honor of Steve.

We ask that all who take the stage keep their artistic remembrances to under three minutes in length, respecting the large number of people who will wish to share.

The WitchsFest USA — A Pagan Street Faire is today on Astor Place

The WitchsFest USA — A Pagan Street Faire is happening today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Astor Place between Broadway and Lafayette. Here's what to expect via the WitchsFest website:

On July 13 please join us ... as we present in its 8th Year, WitchsFest USA – A Pagan Street Faire: Join us for a Magickally Enchanted day charged with mystical energies in the heart of New York City’s East Village ...

We invite you to come dressed in your favorite costume of the woodland creatures of the Realms of the Fae, Nymphs, Satyrs, and much more. For a Magickally Witchey day of workshops meant to expand your knowledge of the Arts of Practical Magick and Witchey performances that will keep you spell bound throughout the day, culminating with a Summer Blessing Ritual.

Feel the Magick, feel the power, feel it here as it begins with the Gathering of Witches, Voodoo Priestess, Warlocks, Psychics, Pagan Information Groups and other teachers of their own Crafts, from within New York and around the United States as they share their wisdom with us. You’ll enjoy shopping from our many array of magickally enchanting vendors where you can purchase books signed by your favorite authors, jewelry, enchanted ritual tools, spells handmade by true beings of their own spiritual Crafts, and much, much, more!

Noted

Photo from Seventh Street between Avenue B and Avenue C via Dave on 7th.

Flashback to Wednesday at the same spot...


[Photo by EVG reader Jill]

'Gold' standard

Here's the French dream-pop band Marble Arch with "Gold" from their spring release "Children of the Slump."

Shocker: Starbucks on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place closed 'due to electrical issues'

Updated: 7/13: They are back open.

The Starbucks outpost on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place is closed for the moment... signage points to an electrical issue...



Meanwhile, in non-electrical news, Starbucks will no longer sell copies of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal or USA Today at its stores nationwide starting in September, per the Post.

Updated 7/13

CLOSED AGAIN!





Thanks to Steven for the photos!

The sandbox in the Tompkins Square Park playground is nearly out of the all-important sand

The sandbox in the playground along Avenue A and Ninth Street in Tompkins Square Park is looking a little light on the sand these days.



The sand level is low enough that you can see the foundation...





Parent Choresh Wald, who shared these photos, noted: "It is the lowest I've ever seen it."

No word on what happened to the sand. Stolen? Eaten? Climate changed?

'Aya of Yop City' screens for free tonight in Tompkins Square Park via Films on the Green

The 2019 Films on the Green series — focusing this year on female directors in French and Francophone cinema — returns to Tompkins Square Park tonight for a free screening.

The selection is "Aya of Yop City," an animated film (based on the graphic novel) from 2013 directed by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie. It was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film at the 39th César Awards.

The synopsis!

In warm Ivory Coast's working-class district of Abidjan or Yop City, the 19-year-old aspiring doctor, Aya, dreams of finishing her studies despite her father's opposition. But, Aya lives in a poor West African township during the 1970s, where getting married to a rich man and starting a family is every girl's aspiration — at least, that's what Aya's best friends, Bintou and Adjoua, are hoping for. Under Yopougon's bright sun, three girls, three different destinies and three parallel lives intertwine, as life keeps going.

And the trailer...



The film will start at dusk (give or take a few minutes). There was a nice turnout for last week's screening of "Tomboy" in the Park...

Beat happening: the 7th annual Nuyorican Poets Café block party is tomorrow (Saturday!)

Nuyorican Poets Café is hosting its seventh annual block party tomorrow (July 13) on Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Per their invite: "The Block Party will feature exciting activities including a DJ, bouncy houses, sumo wrestling, inflatable boxing, open mic, poetry, as well as free food and refreshments! Come join us as we come together as a community for a day of summer fun!"

You can check out the 2018 edition of the block party via these photos by EVG contributor Stacie Joy.