Christo on the lookout in Tompkins Square Park... photo by Steven...
Sunday, July 14, 2019
A campaign to co-name part of 6th Street after Donald Suggs Jr.
Donald Suggs, a longtime resident of Sixth Street, died in October 2012 from an apparent heart attack. He was 51.
His friends and loved ones have a campaign underway to petition the city to co-name the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Avenue B Donald Suggs Jr. Way. (There was a similar campaign in late 2012, though those plans didn't materialize.)
Suggs lived for years at 526 E. Sixth St. There are petitions up along the block here between Avenue A and Avenue B for people to sign...
Some background on him from a Donald Suggs Jr. Street Naming Project website:
Donald was a senior editor at The Village Voice, a former associate director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and a program director at Harlem United Community AIDS Center.
His work as an organizer included an early campaign against homophobia in the music industry that was the basis for the British Broadcasting Company film by Isaac Julien, "A Darker Shade of Black."
Through numerous appearances on "The Ricki Lake Show," he became nationally known for his witty commentary as a relationship expert and for his scathing critiques and rigorous insight into modern white backlash against people of color and LGBTQ communities’ decades before “Alt-Right” rebranding and Trumpism.
He penned the first major article about the transgender Harlem Ballroom Scene in New York for The Village Voice and his writings from The Advocate to The New York Times and his activism, which began as a pro-feminist undergraduate at Yale University, led to ground breaking discourse on black LGBTQ people around the world.
Donald was former board chairman for the public access cable network Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN). In 2001, he founded People Using Media to do Prevention, or the PUMP project, which taught young people from neighborhoods decimated by HIV how to produce HIV prevention videos to combat the spread of HIV within their communities ... His work continues to be cited for changing the landscape of American HIV messaging campaigns.
The petitions will be imp through tomorrow (Monday) on Sixth Street.
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
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!
Saturday, July 13, 2019
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]
Friday, July 12, 2019
'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?
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