Out on a walk with Touchy Blinky

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

I received an urgent message one recent evening about an interactive art installation with music in Tompkins Square Park. So I raced over to see for myself.

There, I met East Village resident Uriel Guy, the creator of what's known as Touchy Blinky. It was something to behold in the heat of a summer night in the park. Uriel showed me how Touchy Blinky works by adjusting the lights, patterns, colors and music.



I had some questions, so we agreed to meet up the next time he brought it out. I tagged along with Uriel and his friends as they steered the piece from its East Third Street home to Tompkins Square Park.



How did Touchy Blinky come to be?

Touchy Blinky came about as I wanted to build the biggest Burning Man art installation that I could fit in my one-bedroom East Village apartment.

Originally I envisioned it as a musical instrument — something that people can press buttons and affect the music played, but by the time I built the buttons and light parts of it I realized I am not musical at all, and decided to focus it on the tactile and visual experience, which proved to be even better than the original idea.

It was actually planned to leave NYC for good this summer and permanently live at Burning Man and create room for other projects, but with coronavirus canceling the event, I decided to put it on wheels and share it with the neighborhood. I want to help keep the East Village — and NYC — weird.







How did you create the piece?

I wanted to create a giant musical instrument. The main considerations were to make something portable, so I can take it to places in [a car], and cool, so people enjoy it.

After prototyping a few versions, I had one that survived about a year and required tons of maintenance, so some more work later, I created the one I have now. I’m very proud that I was able to do it all on my own — design, woodwork, electronics and coding.

One of the happiest moments was when I realized I can use takeout containers with paper towels instead of having a custom-made box. That’s probably what made the project affordable and brought it to life rather than get abandoned along the way.

The name came up as half a joke when trying to find names with my girlfriend at the time, but it described it perfectly and sat well with the "this is just for people to enjoy" attitude of the project.





Where have you and Touchy Blinky traveled?

The first version — may God rest its soul — went to a festival named Transformous and to the NYCResistor Interactive Show in Brooklyn.

This version has been to Burning Man a few times, where it’s double in size, with the other half in storage there, the National Mall for the Catharsis on the Mall event, and a couple of parties in NYC and one in D.C.

What’s the general reaction to Touchy Blinky? How do you decide where to bring it?

The question I get most often is, "What is it?," which I admit I don’t have a good answer to. It seems that people like it, and I'm happy to say we're starting to get regulars. I'm very glad to meet new people from the neighborhood.

Generally, I try to find places where Touchy Blinky won't be too much of a nuisance. Mostly it's just Tompkins Square Park ... but there are walks planned soon to the Lower East Side and Washington Square Park.







You can keep tabs on Touchy Blinky via Instagram.

Professor Thom's doesn't look to be reopening

Several tipsters have claimed that Professor Thom's will not be reopening on Second Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street.

The sports bar, which showcases Boston teams, has been closed since mid-March at the outset of the COVID-19 PAUSE. Meanwhile, the bar's website domain has expired and the phone has been disconnected. An email to bar bounced back as undeliverable.

A retail listing for the two-level space also arrived in mid-May, with an update on Monday. The broker describes it as a "fully vented commissary kitchen" with 4,000 total square feet.

Professor Thom's opened in 2005, and became known for hosting "Lost" viewing parties during that era of TV.

Tuesday's parting shot

Outside B Cup Cafe on Avenue B and 13th Street this morning ... hearts by @newyorkromantic ... photo by Vinny & O...

Hoops return to the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts

Workers in Tompkins Square Park were spotted late this afternoon putting the hoops back up in the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts... one of the amenities that the city was returning for the start of Phase 3.

And as this photo by Goggla shows, some kids were ready to play. However, any kind of organized team sports and group play are off-limits, as they remain high-risk activities.

The Parks Department removed the hoops on March 26.

Afternoon views

Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, were spotted this afternoon taking a break atop the cross at Most Holy Redeemer and Nativity Church on Third Street...



Meanwhile, lord knows what kind of trouble their kids are getting into at the Park!

Thanks to Steven's bionic vision for the photo!

Punjabi Grocery & Deli reopens on Friday

[Photo from 2019 by Vinny & O]

Inexpensive eats favorite Punjabi Grocery & Deli reopens Friday here at 114 First St. between Avenue A and First Avenue... hours have yet to be determined...

View this post on Instagram

hours TBD. all social distancing guidelines must be followed. masks and gloves mandatory. looking forward to seeing you all there on opening day! (photo credit @jeffjablansky)

A post shared by Punjabi Deli NYC (@punjabidelinyc) on Jul 5, 2020 at 6:23am PDT

The small, no-frills shop that offers delicious fare such as curried chickpeas and saag and samosas, closed on March 21 as the COVID-19 crisis took hold in NYC. This is a very welcome return.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• At long last a taxi relief stand for East Houston and 1st Street outside Punjabi Grocery & Deli

Construction watch: 15 Avenue A

Post-PAUSE work continues at 15 Avenue A between First Street and Second Street.

As previously reported, there are approved plans on file with the city for a gut renovation and extension of the currently vacant building. No. 15 will receive two new floors, moving from four to six... with five residential units (likely condos) in the making.

You can see part of one of the new floors in the photo...



The new retail tenant is expected to be a wine bar from Bushwick-based pizzeria Roberta's.

Chef-owner Carlo Mirarchi told Grub Street last fall that they’ll be opening what he calls Roberta’s Wine Bar.

Roberta's got its start in Bushwick in 2008. As Eater noted, Roberta's has been on an expansion kick, with openings in several food halls, and adding two locations in Los Angeles and one in Williamsburg ... not to mention its frozen pizza business.

The retail space at 15 Avenue A was previously the Family Dental Center, which moved down to Essex Street in 2017. The retail listing at the time noted that this would be a "great location" for a restaurant.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Former Avenue A dental center is 'great location for restaurant'

2 years in, Suki relocates to larger space on 1st Avenue

Suki, the Japanese curry shop, is now open (as of yesterday) from noon to 10 p.m. for takeout and delivery in its larger space at 111 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

It was a short move for the restaurant, which relocated from its six-seat spot around the corner at 86 E. Seventh St.

Chef Kelly Cho opened Suki in July 2018 and received favorable notices in the Times and via Michelin.

No. 111 was previously home to Maharlika, which closed in December after eight years.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Suki is moving to a larger space around the corner

Rumors: A new tenant for the long-empty bank branch on Avenue A and 4th Street

After sitting vacant for the past two-plus years, a tipster tells us that there's a new tenant for the former Santander branch on the southwest corner of Avenue A and Fourth Street.

Brown paper now covers the windows of the storefront. Santander pulled out at the end of April 2018.

Rumors of the new lease brings an end to ChaShaMa's tenure here. The nonprofit partners with property owners to transform unused real estate into spaces for pop-up galleries.

The new lease also brought a premature end to Darrell Thorne's current show. The Brooklyn-based designer and performance artist (and onetime East Village resident) was midway through an interactive exhibit titled "Under Glass and in Color" here. It was expected to be up through July 12, but went dark at the end of June.


[Photo of Thorne by Stacie Joy]

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Designer Darrell Thorne is 'Under Glass and In Color' on Avenue A

• ChaShaMa making a bank statement at former Santander branch on Avenue A

On 2nd Street: Life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

This mural, titled "unalienable," went up over the holiday weekend alongside the 1st Ave. Laundry Center on Second Street at First Avenue. The work — freehand spray — is by BKFoxx.

[Updated] Phase 3 begins today

[The TSP dog run in April via Stacie Joy]

Gov. Cuomo cleared NYC to enter Phase 3 of the state's four-phase reopening plan today.

Under this phase, personal care services — including nail and tanning salons, spas, massage parlors and tattoo shops — can open with COVID-19 safeguards in place. (Note: State regulations prohibit any service that requires a customer to remove a face mask, so no tongue piercings or facials.)

In addition, the Tompkins Square Park dog run is expected to reopen today after nearly three months ... and the hoops are said to be returning to the basketball courts — here and elsewhere in the city. However, any kind of organized team sports and group play are off-limits, as they remain high-risk activities.

NOT part of Phase 3: Indoor dining, which has been postponed indefinitely given the rise in COVID-19 cases in other states. This story was well-covered last week at Eater ... Gothamist and Grub Street.

Updated 9 a.m.

The Tompkins Square Park dog run is confirmed open... (thanks Steven!)

John's of 12th Street remains closed due to mechanical issues

John's of 12th Street has been closed since mid-May due to a plumbing issue in the building that's unrelated to the classic Italian restaurant here between First Avenue and Second Avenue...



Unfortunately, it looks as if the necessary repairs and subsequent inspections are moving at a glacial pace. From the restaurant's most-recent Instagram post — five weeks ago:

Con Ed and building still resolving the plumbing issue. Hopefully the city will be able to move very quickly to get whatever inspections and such needs to be done so we can resume making the best Italian food for the world’s best customers.

John's, which opened in 1908, had been offering takeout and delivery this spring.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Exclusive: New owners of John's of 12th Street look to carry on the restaurant's tradition

Illumina East closes on Avenue B

Illumina East, the second-floor yoga studio at 96 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, is now closed.

Owner Rian Bodner officially announced the closure last week in a Facebook post:

This space did more than I expected, lasted longer, frankly, than I expected. Brought in all the right people, all the right challenges. It's hard to ask myself if I would have done it all if I knew I would have to hand the keys back today. Yes. I might even have been easier on myself. More patient. More willing to trust. I know we will continue on somehow but at this moment I think I finally feel sad about it. Thank you everyone who poured a piece of their magic into Illumina East. I don't know what's next, but it's an opportunity to dream bigger.

Small yoga and pilates studios in the neighborhood have had to pivot to offering classes online. Gyms and small studios were supposed to resume operations in the state's Phase Four reopening plan.

However, last week, Gov. Cuomo blindsided owners by taking them out of the mix. As NY1 reported, gym owners wonder when they may open if there isn't a Phase 5.

More than 3,000 people in the NY fitness industry formed a coalition to file a lawsuit against Gov. Cuomo. Per NY1: "Owners of the gym say they should be considered essential businesses because they help people get or stay healthy."

There are several online petitions in circulation calling for smaller studies to be able to open in Phase 3. (Here and here.)

You can revisit our post on at-home fitness options at this link.

ICYMI: 6 E. 2nd St., home of Ramones history, is for sale

As Jennifer Gould recently reported at the Post, 6 E. Second St. is now on the market for $7.25 million.

A loft in the four-level building just east of the Bowery — at Joey Ramone Place — was the longtime home of Arturo Vega, the artistic director for the Ramones who created the band's iconic logo.

The listing via B6 Real Estate Advisors is now online:

The four (4) story property consists of one (1) retail store, along with three (3) residential units. The current residential units consist of three (3) full floor loft apartments. All three (3) of the loft apartments are fair market.

The property has 26 feet of frontage on East 2nd Street and has a depth of 63 feet. Additionally, the property is comprised of approximately 6,408 square feet broken down as follows: 4,806 SF residential and 1,602 SF retail.

The retail tenant, the John Derian Company, apparently also owns the building.

There isn't any mention of Vega or the Ramones in the listing. Other onetime residents here include Fayette Hauser, John Flowers and Pam Tent of the Cockettes.

As for the Ramones, plenty has been written about their relationship with the space (Joey and Dee Dee lived here early on, the band signed their first contract on Vega's coffee table, etc.)... and here's footage of the band playing in the loft in February 1975...



Vega died in June 2013 at age 65.


[Above the front door at No. 6]