A Sustainable Christmas

Now for a little holiday cheer... earlier this month, A Sustainable Village, the new eco-friendly shop at 318 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, held its first tree trimming party.

The owners, Em Hynes (left) and Jaclyn Roster, invited EVG contributor Stacie Joy to stop by for the festivities... which include making ornaments...

A Sustainable Village is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. You can follow them on Instagram here. 

EVG Etc.: The 'pointless demolition' of East River Park; the city's worst landlords

Morning shadow on Avenue A 

• Mayor insists there won't be a new round of business or school closures amid COVID surge (ABC 7)

• An update on the teens who climbed out their fourth-floor window during the fire at the Jacob Riis Houses Thursday morning (CBS 2 ... previously on EVG) ... There's a GoFundMe for the family at this link. 

• Tompkins Square Middle School students speak out against sexual harassment and assault (CBS 2) 

• What we'd lose if Casa Adela closes (Grub Street ... previously on EVG)

• Eileen Myles on "the pointless demolition" of East River Park (artforum) 

• City Council votes in favor of the SoHo/NoHo rezoning plan (Gothamist) 

• The 2021 list of the city's worst landlords (Patch) 

• Sweet Pickle Books celebrates its first year on the LES (Publishers Weekly) 

• Diversions: Pleasant Gehman and Coyote Shivers lead a group of ducks, swans and geese to Dee Dee Ramones' grave at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (NBC Los Angeles)

Saturday's parting shot

A moment from the 9th Precinct's annual holiday party today on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... photo by Derek Berg...

HBD Marty Rev

 

Martin Rev, the keyboardist and one-half of the influential duo Suicide, turned 74 today. Enjoy the clip of "Ghost Rider" from 1980.

Also HBD to Keith Richard (No. 78), who has several ties to this neighborhood as well (here and here and here, for instance).

Testing, testing

As you are likely well aware, the rise of COVID cases in the city has spurred lines for testing as people prepare to travel for the holidays... or simply just want to get tested.

There have been social media reports (#CityMD) of 2-3 hour waits at CityMD. (The above photo is from this morning around 8 as the line outside the 14th Street CityMD outpost stretched halfway down the block between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.)

Some knowledgeable/trustworthy sources online have reminded people about free city-run test sites. Find that list here. And this site has the wait times for NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 testing locations. And here's a list of free mobile testing units. You'll have to travel a little bit for this — none of the locations are in the East Village.

The city is reportedly expanding testing sites, distributing masks and giving away at-home test kits... though, as many people have pointed out in news articles on this winter surge: 20 months in, it shouldn't be so difficult to get a test. (And this article at The City reports: "De Blasio Shut Down 20 City-Run COVID Testing Facilities Ahead of Omicron Surge.")

Also: The city's Vaccine Command Center is here.... the COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Finder is here.  

A holiday concert at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

Photo this month by Stacie Joy 

The Church of the Most Holy Redeemer celebrates the season with a candlelit carol concert tomorrow (Sunday!) afternoon at 4. The event is free (you can register here). 

Proof of vaccination is required, and attendees must wear a mask. Organizers say that there will be enough room in the church for people to remain socially distant.

Westville East on Avenue A is closed for renovations until Jan. 3

In case Westville East on Avenue A at 11th Street was in your dining plans for the remainder of the year... Per the notices on site, the restaurant is now closed for renovations until 5 p.m. on Jan. 3.

On Avenue B, we're seeing firsthand what happens when the city disbands the DOT proofreaders

Updated 12/20: The city has fixed the MHP-MPH errors!

On Thursday, city workers put down the roadside markings on the recently repaved Avenue B.

EVG reader Krikor Daglian first pointed out the transposed letters in MPH < MHP.

Vinny & O (and several others!) then pointed out that the MHP is on the entire length of the Avenue, from Houston to 14th ...

Perhaps the DTO DOT intends this to mean Minimum Horse Power. (H/T John G. for that one!)

First! (aka Saturday's opening shot)

We have an early participant here on Avenue A at Ninth Street for MulchFest in Tompkins Square Park ... the two-day event is set for Jan.8-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

And not to be scoldylocks, but you're supposed to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and stands before dropping off your tree.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (finally) in Tompkins Square Park

After a few attempts... the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree is now LIT! ALL OF IT. Not just the top part.

Still, we had a nice time at the tree (half) lighting this past Sunday. xo

Photo by Steven

Relive your 'Feelings'

 

A favorite track/album from 2021... London-based Dry Cleaning with "Strong Feelings" from their debut release New Long Leg.

The Community Holiday Feast in Tompkins Square Park is now taking place on Sunday

Here's an update to our previous post on the Community Holiday Feast in Tompkins Square Park. Given the threat of rain tomorrow, the Feast will take place on Sunday, Dec. 19.

As a reminder of what this is about: A group of East Village residents, including author Jeremiah Moss and EVG contributor Stacie Joy, is hosting a Community Holiday Feast in Tompkins Square Park. 

From 2-4 p.m., volunteers will be serving free hot meals provided by East Village businesses and residents. 

The following businesses have volunteered food and other products for the event: the Bean, C&B Cafe, East Village Vintage Collective, Food for Life, Mary O's, Rossy's Bakery & Café, San Loco, S'MAC and Subject NYC. The local volunteer group East Village Loves NYC will also donate. 

Organizers could still use some volunteers to help out during the event. Interested residents can use this email to contact the group.