Facelift underway at Porto Rico Importing Co. on St. Mark's Place

As noted here, Porto Rico Importing Co. on St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue is temporarily closing starting today for what the owners, the Longo family, describe as a "much-needed facelift."

According to a sign on the front window for patrons: "We will be reshelfing, fixing the floor, moving the ice machine, and adding a better drip brewer."

Workers wasted no time getting started, as these photos by EVG regular Lola Sáenz show...



The coffee-and-tea shop will be back open the day after Labor Day — Sept. 4.

The story behind JR's eye on the Bowery

By now you've likely seen the eye on the Bowery at Great Jones (first noted here on Aug. 1) ...



The work is by JR. This past week, the French artist-photographer explained the story behind this work via his Instagram account...

New piece up in NY! (Corner of great jones and Bowery), here is Maria story: “Growing up, I never told anyone I was undocumented. I lived in current fear of sharing my status with anyone - what would they think of me? Would law enforcement find me and then deport me? It wasn’t until l met other undocumented youth that empowered me to come out of the shadows and proudly state, “I am undocumented and unafraid”. Current political times have created a lot of uncertainty for the undocumented community, but I have committed myself to empower others to speak their truth, and to live their life to the fullest, regardless of their status.” Maria Praeli, de Peru, vivo en Washington, D.C. 25 años Si, @mariapraeli Thanks @luigerman @maybetakao @luanasaltiel @marc @jkscatena @joshuabgeyer @fergusonag

A post shared by JR (@jr) on Aug 19, 2018 at 10:27am PDT

JR's show at Galerie Perrotin on Orchard Street wrapped up on Aug. 17.

Noted

A quick recap to yesterday's finds on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...


[Photo by @EdenBrower]

... and...


[Photo by New York Shitty]

These items were salvaged and currently part of the encampment on Second Avenue and Seventh Street this morning... the passed-out panda now has an X spraypainted on top of its head...





There were actually two of these paintings (inscribed to "sexy mother fucker" ... and why anyone would just want to own one) discarded on the corner. Not sure where the other one is, and where it might turn up...

Friday's parting shot

Thanks to @EdenBrower for sharing this photo... spotted on Second Avenue and Stomp.

A Friend in need

Here's the English Beat with "Best Friend" ... which sounds as good today as it did upon its release in 1980.

Noted

Thanks to our friend Miss Heather, who shared this find from Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place...



Sexy motherfucker!

La Plaza Cultural Block Party

[Photo by Steven]

There's a block party tomorrow (Saturday!) on Ninth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C via the folks at the La Plaza Cultural community garden.

From 1-8 p.m. you'll find free BBQ, dancing, face painting, games for children ... and live music via Willlie Cole and Bobby Garcia.

Marshalls opening next month in Ben Shaoul's luxury condoplex on East Houston Street

The neighborhood is getting another big-box retailer with the arrival of Marshalls next month.

The off-price sellers will open on the East Houston Street side of Ben Shaoul's Katz's-adjacent condoplex between Ludlow and Orchard streets.

According to the Marshalls website (H/T EVG regular IzF!), this location — the seventh in Manhattan — opens on Sept. 27...



Back in May, BoweryBoogie reported on the rumor that a T.J. Maxx was slated for Shaoul's luxury building, constructed in part with hand-laid, gilded-bronze brick imported from Cadaqués. TJX, the parent company of both Marshalls and T.J. Maxx, apparently changed up brands for this space.

The 11-story, 94-unit building, officially 196 Orchard St., has units ranging in price from $1.075 million to $5.995 million. A three-level Equinox Fitness center is the other retail tenant here. (The Equinox branding recently arrived...)



This property on East Houston previously housed a single row of storefronts, including Ray's Pizza, Bereket and Lobster Joint.

Marshalls will join the recently opened Target location on 14th Street and Grand Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Making way for Ben Shaoul's new retail-residential complex on East Houston

Katz's is now the last business on East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard

The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival is Sunday in Tompkins Square Park

Time again for the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival ... the 26th edition includes a date in Tompkins Square Park on Sunday from 3-7 p.m.

Gary Bartz — "hailed as one of the greatest alto saxophonists since Cannonball Adderley" — is the headliner.

Also on the bill, via SummerStage:

Audiences attending the show are in for a treat, as they’ll also hear longtime gospel, blues, and jazz pianist, Amina Claudine Myers, the boundary-breaking trio The Bad Plus, and UNHEARD, a piece honoring Charlie Parker featuring musicians Immanuel Wilkins, Joel Ross, and Adam O’Farrill commissioned in association with The Joyce and George Wein Foundation under the artistic supervision of The Jazz Gallery.

The Jazz Festival will also have dates up in Marcus Garvey Park today and tomorrow.

Parker, who died in 1955 at age 34, lived at 151 Avenue B from 1950-54.

On St. Mark's Place, Porto Rico Importing Co. temporarily closing for a facelift

Porto Rico Importing Co. on St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue is temporarily closing tomorrow for what the owners, the Longo family, describe as a "much-needed facelift."

EVG regular Lola Sáenz shared these photos, including this shot of the sign for customers...



Per the sign: "We will be reshelfing, fixing the floor, moving the ice machine, and adding a better drip brewer."

The coffee-and-tea purveyors will return on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

The Longo family has owned the business, with four locations now, since 1958. Peter Longo took over the business in 1976 after the death of his father, Angelo.

Here are the weekend hours for Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen

As a reminder... Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, the basement cafe that serves as a fundraising arm of the St George Ukrainian Catholic Church, will be open today through Sunday... returning a little bit early from their customary summer break. Look for full-time hours in September.

Meanwhile, Streecha is open today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday for all your borscht, pierogi and stuffed-cabbage needs.

They are located at 33 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

On the Bowery, an homage to the Alleged Gallery era

Over on the Bowery, the exterior of the Hole has been transformed, complete with the original signage from Aaron Rose's Alleged Gallery, which had a 10-year run from 1992-2002 on Ludlow Street.

The transformation is part of a gallery exhibit that opens tonight here at 312 Bowery near Bleecker titled "Now & Then: A Decade of Beautiful Losers."

Per the Hole website:

The “NOW & THEN: A DECADE OF BEAUTIFUL LOSERS” exhibition venerates the 10-year anniversary of the ‘Beautiful Losers’ documentary that made its US premiere on August 8, 2008 at the IFC center in New York. "Beautiful Losers," directed by Aaron Rose and Joshua Leonard, captured the characteristic spirit of a community of artists affiliated with the Alleged Gallery [at 172 Ludlow St.]. ‘Beautiful Losers’ depicted a community of artists including Barry McGee, Ed Templeton, Mike Mills, Thomas Campbell, Jo Jackson, Shepard Fairey, Chris Johanson, and Margaret Kilgallen during the Alleged Gallery era.

The exhibit is up through Sept. 1.

Thursday's parting sidewalk bridge shot

Workers were erecting a sidewalk bridge late this afternoon at 101 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue... home to Cafe Mogador, whose sidewalk cafe now gets some extra, and maybe unwanted shade.

Permits for the sidewalk bridge don't appear to be on file with the city just yet.

New owners vying for the Great Jones Cafe space

[EVG file photo]

It appears new proprietors are preparing to take over the Great Jones Cafe, the 35-year-old restaurant near the Bowery that has not open since the untimely death of owner Jim Moffett on July 10.

EVG reader JS shared this item from Community Board 2's September meeting agenda (which is not yet online):

Applications to the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) for Corporate Change Application to existing Restaurant Wine (RW), Tavern Wine (TW) or Full Liquor On-Premise (OP) Licenses: J.F. Jones, Inc., d/b/a Great Jones Café, 54 Great Jones St. 10012 (100% Corp Change) (OP – Restaurant)

That's not much to go on for the moment. A tipster has told us that the Cajun-themed Great Jones Cafe would be returning — in some form. The tipster's exact words: "They're trying to keep it the same."

Will update when more details are available about the applicants.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A request not to leave any more bread at the Great Jones Cafe

RIP Jim Moffett, owner of the Great Jones Cafe