Book Club turns the page on 1st anniversary

In some more positive local business news... Book Club turns 1 today at 197 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

The bookstore-cafe, operated by East Village couple Erin Neary and Nat Esten, enjoyed five-plus months in business before having to close for the COVID-19 PAUSE in March. However, they were able to fullfill orders online, and Nat logged hundreds of miles making deliveries via his bicycle. (They reopened for to-go service on May 1, and in-store shopping in June.)

There was also an additional five-month wait for their beer-wine license. Anyway, starting today, they will have limited indoor cafe seating (in addition to their outdoor space) for coffee and other drinks.

Here's part of an email to customers via email:

We're so grateful for the community of the East Village and beyond for supporting us through every clunky step of shutting down and reopening. We wouldn't still be here if not for you! THANK YOU.

Photo from November 2019 by Stacie Joy

Concerns over COVID-19 prompt cancellation of the annual Cookie Walk

Likely not a surprise, but disappointing nonetheless: Organizers have cancelled what would have been the 12th Annual Cookie Walk at St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church on Avenue A and 10th Street.

According to an Instagram post from Saturday:

It is with heavy hearts that we have officially cancelled this year’s St. Nicholas Cookie Walk. The safety of our guests, bakers and workers is our top priority. We hope to see you all in December 2021.

The always-festive event, held in early December, offers about 75 varieties of homemade cookies and pastries each year. As the name implies, you take a walk around cookie-filled tables and pick your favorites to eat on the way home instead of gifting.  

On 3rd Avenue, Feast exits, Yellow Rose arrives

After seven years at 102 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street, Feast has closed.

Ownership announced the news early last week on Instagram:

It's with bittersweet news that we're officially announcing the closing of our doors here at Feast. We've shared incredible memories and irreplaceable friendships with staff and guests alike. And for those reasons alone, we are eternally grateful.

In the spring of 2014, the restaurant made international news ... when a patron at Feast was asked to remove her Google Glass headset before dining. The diner, the organizer of a Google Glass user group, refused to do so, and left the restaurant. 

She wrote about the incident on Google +. Shortly afterwards, 13 one-star reviews of Feast appeared on Google from people who commented on the diner's post. The negative reviews were not based on the restaurant's food, but rather the no-Glass policy. (You can relive the memories here!)

Moving forward, the space already has a tenant. In recent weeks Feast has hosted a pop-up collaboration with Yellow Rose, a Tex-Mex-style eatery. Starting on Wednesday, Yellow Rose will be here full-time.

Per the Infatuation: "Expect a menu of a bunch of delicious tacos, spicy hominy soup with long fideo noodles, micheladas, and desserts."

Updated 11/10 

Grub Street has a feature on Yellow Rose here. Excerpt!

Four years ago, Dave and Krystiana Rizo moved to New York by way of San Antonio. Soon, Dave was cooking at Superiority Burger, while Krystiana managed and bartended at the East Village location of Emmy Squared just a few blocks away. But even as the couple was diving into the New York food scene, they craved the cooking from back home.

The former Otto's Tacos space is for rent on 2nd Avenue

The for rent sign arrived last week at 141 Second Ave., officially bringing an end to Otto's Tacos here between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

The tasty quick-serve tacqueria closed at the start of the PAUSE in March, and never reopened. (The other OT locations are also out of business.)

Otto Cedeno opened his first restaurant here in November 2013. 

There wasn't any closure announcement on the OT social media properties or website, which is now offline.

Meanwhile, the asking rent for No. 141 is available "upon request." A lot of things have come and gone here through the years, such as Good Guys, a Subway (sandwich shop), part of a Max Brenner outpost and Burritoville (sob).

The Whiskey Ward reopens today on Essex

A quick note on a bar not too far away... the Whiskey Ward reopens today with limited capacity at 121 Essex between Rivington and Delancey ... this is their first day back in business since the PAUSE took effect in mid-March. 

For now the Whiskey Ward will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight.

Business partners Sandee and Joe celebrated the bar's 20th anniversary back in January ... quite a feat considering the LES churn. Helps that this space has remained low-key and affordable. Welcome back!

Photo via the Whiskey Ward website

Sunday's parting shot

"Kill the snakes" ... as seen outside the Sixth Street and Avenue B Community Garden today... thanks to EVG reader Doug for the photo!

Scenes from a Biden-Harris victory

EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos from around the East Village yesterday in the jubilant hours after the Associated Press and other media outlets reported that the Biden-Harris ticket had won the election ...  

... and a few scenes from in and around a raucous Washington Square Park...

Week in Grieview

Posts from this past week included... (and top photo is of Tompkins Square Park the other morning)... 

• The East Village Community Fridge can use some fresh-food donations (Friday)

• A Taste of the Tropics on Avenue C (Monday) 

• RIP Pastor Diane (Friday) 

• Organizing the Avenue B Flea (Thursday) 

• A very East Village Halloween (Sunday) 

• Halloween night with Moral Panic (Sunday)

• Report of a death outside the Orpheum Theatre (Tuesday) 

• Caracas Arepa Bar is closing its East Village outpost after 17 years (Thursday) 

• Ducks Eatery will close after 8-plus years on 12th Street (Monday) 

• Businesses along Broadway and the Bowery board up their windows ahead of Election Day (Tuesday) 

• Gallery watch: Crichoues Indignation at the Hole NYC; Vantage Points at GRIMM Gallery (Wednesday) 

• The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black in Tompkins Square Park (Monday) 

• The giveaway continues on 9th Street (Friday) 

• 4 years on, the Shepard Fairey mural is being chipped away on 1st Avenue and 11th Street (Tuesday) 

• This week's NY See (Thursday) 

• After Con Ed work, Cafe Himalaya and Prim Thai are reopening (Tuesday) 

• Incoming office building makes first appearance above the plywood at 141 E. Houston (Monday) 

• Veniero's has a temporary new space on 11th Street (Thursday)

• The vacant corners on the west side of 3rd Avenue and 13th Street (Monday)

• Opening and/or coming soon: The Dolar Shop, Kyuramen (Monday) 

... and a moment from yesterday with Amelia and Christo on 10th and A... photos by Steven...

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Grant Shaffer's NY See — special post-election edition

Here's a special post-election NY See panel courtesy of East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer ...

It's anarchy Christmas time...

The holidays arrived early (like everywhere else!) at Search & Destroy, 25 St. Mark's Place... the anarchy Christmas wreath is now in place over the door...

Saturday's parting shots

Celebration photos around the neighborhood via Derek Berg... mote to come tomorrow...

Local cafe owner's champagne assist makes global headlines as Biden captures U.S. presidency

A Reuters photographer captured a moment on Seventh Street this afternoon as C&B Cafe owner Ali Sahin demonstrated his pouring techniques here during a Biden celebration between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Thanks to the reader for sharing this screengrab!

Noted

As seen outside the Grayson on First Avenue... photo by Vinny & O...

Biden wins, and Village View reacts

Avenue A responds to the news of @JoeBiden’s election pic.twitter.com/evRJl641ND

— evgrieve (@evgrieve) November 7, 2020