The two-story dining structure that almost was on 4th Street

Back on Thursday, EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared these photos from Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... where workers were starting to add a second level — complete with artificial turf — to the dining structure outside Izakaya NYC...

Work continued on Friday morning ...

Though by the end of the day, the job's mission changed to a removal after neighbor complaints — two-story structures are not allowed — led an inspector from the Department of Transportation to the site, who nixed the double-decker.

Here's a look at the de-constructed second level and streeteatery yesterday...

Curbed, who first reported on this Friday, received a statement from Izakaya NYC owner Yudai Kanayama:

Kanayama said he wanted to add extra outdoor space as COVID cases are rising once again, but reiterated that he was taking down the upper level. "I thought the only potential to create more seating was this," he said. The plan had been to lay fake turf upstairs and make the area more like a park or lawn than a restaurant with tables and chairs. "I was basically looking for the best we could do under the restrictions by being more creative and ambitious."

The DOT said that an inspector will return this week to confirm that Izakaya NYC removed the in-progress second deck. 

The ill-fated duplex also made the cover of the Post on Saturday, in which Steve Cuozzo excoriated al fresco dining structures. 

Wegmans makes it sign official on Astor Place, plus other thoughts on the grocer's arrival

As you likely know, Wegmans Food Markets announced it was opening an outpost — the first in Manhattan for the chain — back on Thursday... taking over the two-level space from the just-closed Kmart here at 770 Broadway. 

By Friday, the Wegmans signage was up... the store is expected to be operating by the second half of 2023 on Astor Place ...

The reaction by EVG readers, via comments, emails, DMs, etc., was generally favorable. Some people appreciated the thought of a first-class grocery coming to the area, a welcome alternative to, say, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. A few folks said they found Wegmans to be overrated and overpriced. Some people said they will miss Kmart. And a handful of commenters were turned off by the perceived celebration of a chain. (And for the record, I've never been to a Wegmans, so I don't have an opinion on their stores.)

Meanwhile, retail reporter Warren Shoulberg wrote a piece for Forbes titled "Wegmans In, Kmart Out: But It’s About So Much More Than That."

Among his observations:

• Any talk of the demise of urban living — and urban shopping — can be tossed aside with this Wegmans' move. It validates the premise that younger generations (and older ones too who don't want to move) are going to continue to choose living in a big city as opposed to the suburbs, small towns and all points in between. 

Young families with kids or about to have kids will go that route — as they have for every generation since the end of World War II — but anyone thinking this was the beginning of the end of urban destinations like New York City needs to rethink that theory.

Stay tuned for more analysis about Wegmans over the next two years! 

Sunday's parting shots

A big weekend for discarded furniture with the end-of-the-month move ins and move outs... the above photo was spotted on Ninth Street (thank you Steven!)... and below on 11th Street (thank you Carol from East 5th Street!)

... and Ninth Street at Second Avenue (thank you Doug!) ...

Furniture tagging courtesy of @plannedalism ...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo on First Avenue by Derek Berg) ...

• Renovation watch: This is what the inside of the former Hells Angels HQ looks like now (Thursday) 

• New bike lanes next for freshly paved Avenue C (Tuesday) 

• Brooklyn Bean Roastery closes on Avenue A (Monday) 

• Wegmans makes it OFFICIAL, will take over the former Kmart space on Astor Place (Thursday)

• A short tribute — sob — to the World Famous Pee Phone™ (Friday) 

• Advocates urging City Comptroller to withhold approval for East River Park reconstruction — with update (Tuesday) 

• Report of a slashing outside 7-Eleven on Avenue A (Tuesday) 

• 787 Coffee debuts on 10th Street (Thursday) • Post debuts in new 3rd Street space (Wednesday)

• Now You're Clean, offering self-service dog washing, opens on 10th Street (Wednesday) 

• An encore presentation for the Pyramid Club on Avenue A? (Wednesday) 

• Karma's newest 2nd Street gallery is open (Tuesday) 

• Mochinut bringing mochi doughnuts and Korean-style hot dogs to 2nd Avenue (Monday) 

• "I see you over there" — the return of a Zoltar and words of wisdom (Wednesday) 

• XOXO 2nd Avenue (Sunday) • At long last, workers remove the sidewalk bridge from 75 1st Ave. (Friday) 

• East Berlin set for 169 Avenue A (Thursday) 

 ... and B&H Dairy unveiled a new line of t-shirts this past week... with a logo modeled after the lunch counter's longtime neon sign... $20 at B&H, 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St Mark's Place...

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Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

A new work of fart on the Bowery

New on the gate at 246 Bowery (near Stanton): "Concept'yall Fart" by Mousel D'ohchamp ... Work by @plannedalism on space curated by the East Village-based Lisa Project. Pic by @catscoffeecreativity!

Waiting for the Sunday papers

As seen on First Avenue this morning... 

 With a partial H/T to Joe Jackson.

Summer of Joy stops at Astor Place this weekend

The Public Theater's Mobile Unit — a reinvention of Joseph Papp's "Mobile Theater," which began in 1957 — is making the rounds again this summer at public plazas around the city. 

Today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday!), the free show will be at Astor Place. 

Details via the EVG inbox...

Each day will begin with the National Black Theatre's Stage for Healing and Resilience, co-produced by The Public Theater and National Black Theatre and featuring organizations local to each tour stop. 

This community stage will be followed by VERSES @ WORK – THE ABRIDGED MIX, written and performed by Mobile Unit in Corrections artist Malik Work, a spoken word show that blends hip-hop and storytelling in a modern version of epic poetry. 

The experience will culminate in SHAKESPEARE: CALL AND RESPONSE, a dynamic new show by Patricia McGregor where Shakespeare's complete works meets Freestyle Love Supreme and Mad Libs.

The shows begin each day at 4:30 p.m.

Noted

The urban etiquette notes are striking a kinder tone around here — "please be courteous and refrain from urinating here" as seen on Essex just below Houston (thanks for the photo Stacie Joy!) ... and the other day we had the "please do not defecate here" one.

Revel Without A Cause

Second Street at First Avenue this morning. 

And I have been waiting my whole life to use that headline! 

P.S. 

The officers let out a Revel yell upon leaving...

Saturday's opening shot

Ninth Street this morning ... pic by William Klayer...

Die another day

 

The Parrots, a duo from Madrid, are releasing their second full-length record on Oct. 29. Ahead of that, here's the first single, a take on modern life called "You Work All Day and Then You Die."

Just breathe: A walking tour to see how the air quality varies around the neighborhood

Some community members recently installed real-time air-quality monitors in and around East River Park. (You can check them any time here.) 

Via the EVG inbox:

Funded by donations to LES Breathe, a committee of the nonprofit East River Park Action, these PurpleAir sensors provide a color-coded score from 1 (best) to 500, based on EPA standards and the current PM2.5 (a mix of chemical particles small enough to inhale). 

With all the concerns about air quality (including recent wildfire haze days when readings soared to 165), this data is reliable and will help local residents know when to protect themselves, close windows, turn on filters, and advocate for clearer air.

This link has a lot more details about this campaign... as the group continues to speak out against the city's current plan to demolish East River Park and cut down 1,000 trees to protect the Lower East Side and surrounding neighborhoods from a 100-year-flood event and sea-level rise. 

Tomorrow, members of LES Breathe are hosting a walking tour to see how the air quality varies around the neighborhood and East River Park using portable sensors. 

Details: Saturday, July 31 at Grace Space, 182 Avenue C at 11th Street. Gather at 10:30 a.m., parade at 11:30, a data performance by NY Alive at noon in Tompkins Square Park, and at 1 p.m., the 90-minute Walking on Air tour will leave from (and return to) Grace Space. 

RSVP here.

Last days to see 'Charlie & Regina' at 292 Theatre/Gallery

Longtime East Village-based artists Regina Bartkoff and Charles Schick have been showing their recent paintings and drawings in an exhibit titled "Charlie & Regina." 

You can stop by the 292 Theatre/Gallery today and tomorrow from 1-5 p.m. to check out their work at 292 E. Third St. between Avenue C and Avenue D. 

From Aug. 11 to Aug. 31, you can check it out via an appointment. You can email schickbartkoff@gmail.com to stop by those days in August.

Reminders: Tompkins Square Library hosting mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic this week

As noted back on Monday, the Tompkins Square Library is hosting a mobile vaccination clinic outside the branch at 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (It's across the street from the library.)

The City's Test + Trace Corps will be here today through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

No appointments are necessary, though you can schedule an appointment for the Pfizer vaccine here.

 And according to the city's COVID-19 Vaccine Finder, the $100 incentive is available here...