Thursday, March 19, 2020

Thursday's parting shot



Photo from Union Square via jdx ...

It won't be a self-quarantine Christmas after all



Today, the first day of spring, on Avenue A...

Checking in on Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery



EVG regular Lola SaƩnz reports that Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery is up and running at 215 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. Pompeyo and company are making their Mexican food (to go) ... the small shop also has other grocery items (beer! milk! rice!)



For now, the shop is open from 9 a.m. to late evening.

The return of Grant Shaffer's NY See



After a brief hiatus, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's NY See — an observational sketch diary — is back.

Working 9 to 5 at East Village Organic


[Photo by Steven]

So you know the hours for Whole Foods. (See previous post.)

Meanwhile, East Village Organic, 124 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Whole Foods allows customers 60 and over to shop an hour before the general public



Whole Foods Market has adjusted its hours of operation and set aside a special time for seniors to shop so they're less exposed to the coronavirus, per a company statement.

All Whole Foods stores are allowing customers 60 and older to shop for an hour before opening to the general public.

“We are setting aside this time to help these customers, who national health authorities have identified as among the most vulnerable to COVID-19, feel more comfortable shopping our stores and helping to ensure they are able to get the items they need in a less crowded environment,” Whole Foods said in a statement.

At the Whole Foods Bowery, 60-and-over shoppers can start at 7 a.m. (ditto for the Union Square outpost, which has the same 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. hours)...



Thanks to Mercedes Sanchez for these photos!

Daily bread at C&B Cafe



C&B Cafe, 178 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, is one of the many local businesses who had to dramatically adjust its method of operation in recent days. For now, the cafe, which opened in January 2015, is able to offer sandwiches for takeout.

Chef-owner Ali Sahin has also been busy making 4-pound loaves of sourdough that take three days to prepare.

He discusses it in an Instagram post:

I have been baking bread in the cafe for almost 4 years. Some days bread would come out perfect but for the most part it was inconsistent and I didn’t care as much. Funny enough last 2 weeks my bread is coming out perfect. So I have been baking bread everyday. Bread is holy where I come from. I was thought a wasted crumb is a big sin.

So don’t waste a crumb of it and share it with others. I was told that if my bread rises so would my house. And my house did rise to be a successful cafe. Starting from [March 19], I am shrinking my menu to sandwiches only. I will keep baking bread as long as I have flour so you can keep ordering sourdough if you need bread at home.

C&B will be closed on Friday, so Ali can "go visit city offices to find out what kind of relief they are offering to small business." You can order bread by stopping by or sending a DM via Instagram.

A heartbreaking look at temporarily closed East Village businesses


[Photo by Paul Gale]

On Monday, Mayor de Blasio announced that restaurants, bars and cafes will only be allowed to serve only takeout and delivery. A good number of East Villages restaurants are continuing to operate (find our list here) ... while some bars have gotten creative.

Other bars and restaurants decided to close up for the duration. Here's a look several East Village businesses now on hiatus during the coronavirus outbreak...


[Photo by Vinny & O]


[Photo by Steven]




[Photo by Pinch]





911 calls in the coronavirus era



Reported at the McDonald's on 14th Street near First Avenue via the Citizen app.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Wednesday's parting shot



Photo on Avenue A by Grant Shaffer...

EVG on Twitter


In the weeks ahead I'll also be posting more to Twitter... in case you are on Twitter...

Loews Village 7 likely closed for 6-12 weeks



The Loews Village 7 on Third Avenue at 11th Street is likely out of commission for up to 12 weeks.

AMC, the country's largest theater chain, made the announcement yesterday.

All AMC locations in the United States will close for at least six to 12 weeks, in compliance with local, state and federal directives, and as a precaution to help ensure the health and safety of moviegoers and theatre staff. AMC will continue to monitor the situation closely, and the Company will remain flexible on reopening, in accordance with CDC recommendations and governmental directives.

No word on the status of AMC employees during that time.

And how long will that stories-high ad for Dave Bautista vehicle "My Spy" remain up...?


[Photos from a few weeks ago]