Shoring up the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church on 2nd Avenue

Workers last week erected scaffolding inside the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue and Seventh Street.

A church rep told us that they are "finishing stabilizing the remaining façade, weatherproofing bricks that were never exposed to the elements before — that kind of thing." They are hoping to have this work done before the end of the year.

Last Dec. 5, a fire destroyed the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street, including Middle Collegiate Church. The fire spared the steeple and its historic contents — the New York Liberty Bell, which dates to the early 1700s. The bell is for now housed at the New York Historical Society. 

The FDNY previously said that faulty wiring at 48 E. Seventh St. was to blame for the six-alarm fire. An FDNY spokesperson told 1010 WINS that the fire had been deemed "non-suspicious." No. 48 was demolished. (More background here.) 

Middle Collegiate Church is currently raising funds to help rebuild the sanctuary (link here).

In an outdoor service in early October, Middle Collegiate welcomed back churchgoers for the first time in 10 months. 

Superiority Burger's original 9th Street space closes ahead of move to new home on Avenue A

Superiority Burger said farewell yesterday to its original home at 430 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.... even painting over that hand-painted Superiority Burger signage [with the odd word break and weird kerning, per EVG commenter EV Signage and Font Troll].

In the months ahead, Brooks Headley and Co. will be moving to 119 Avenue A, where Superiority Burger is taking over the Odessa space. They'll have a lot more space for diners as well as a liquor license. 

Brooks told EVG correspondent Steven that he hopes to be ready with the new space between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place in late February-early March. And he plans on holding onto this Ninth Street outpost for the time being.

The popular all-vegetarian quick-serve spot opened in the East Village in June 2015. 

Surf's up for Patagonia on the Bowery

The Patagonia outpost on the Bowery has closed.

The sustainable outdoor brand closed here at 313 Bowery at the end of October. (Other NYC locations, such as on Greene Street and West 14th Street, remain open.) No reason was cited for this closure. 

Patagonia opened here in late 2012 as the brand's first East Coast Patagonia Surf Store. They were active with sustainable causes through the years, such as supporting Surfrider, a nonprofit committed to protecting NYC's waterways and coastal communities. They'd also share information from East River Park Action. 

Previously, the space was a pop-up shop for a rock-inspired clothing line called Andrew Charles created by Andy Hilfiger and Steven Tyler ... and the Morrison Hotel Gallery. 

And a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

The space adjacent to CBGB housed the CBGB Record Canteen and, later, the 313 Gallery.

315 Bowery, the former CBGB, remains the John Varvatos outpost. 

H/T @hot_sauce_map  

A new florist for Sunny & Annie's

Next time you're at Sunny & Annie's for a P.H.O. Real or maybe a Mona Lisa, you can also snag some flowers here on Avenue B at Sixth Street...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy notes that a new florist is now open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.at the deli along the Sixth Street side...  

Jiang's Kitchen is in soft-open mode on St. Mark's Place

Photos by Steven

Jiang's Kitchen debuted back on Thursday here at 65 St. Mark's Place just west of First Avenue.

As we've been reporting, this is from the team behind the now-closed Jiang Diner on Fifth Street.

A look at the menu shows some of the favorites from that establishment, including the big-plate chicken. 

Jiang's Kitchen is in soft-opening mode through Nov. 24. (There's an introductory 15-percent-off deal too.) They are open daily from 5-10 p.m. Find a menu and delivery options here.

Jules Bistro closed here during the pandemic after 27 years in business. 

Boarding up Papaya Dog

Last month, Papaya Dog shut down without any warning (first reported here) on the northwest corner of 14th Street and First Avenue.

And last week, someone boarded up the windows and doors...

... fueling speculation that this was the first sign on pending demolition ahead of some new development.

Perhaps someday, but for now, there's nothing new on file with the DOB indicating any kind of construction.

Given the two smashed windows here, this looks to be more of a defense plywooding. 

In the midnight hour, Sweet Village Marketplace opens on 1st Avenue

As we've been reporting, a new deli called Sweet Village Marketplace is coming to the NW corner of First Avenue and Ninth Street. 

And, per EVG correspondent Steven, the shop will make its debut at midnight (!!!???) tonight.

Steven got a look inside the space... lots of corner-deli-type items... including sandwiches, salads, fresh juices... 

This space has been empty since the Bean left here in November 2019. 

A tradition like no other returns this holiday season on 9th Street

OK, maybe that headline is overselling it a bit. 

The Christmas holiday lights went up today on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue, as Steven points out... 

As we've said, it's always festive on this block during the holidays. This year shall be no different.

And new stores joining your familiar faves on the block in 2021 include A Sustainable Village... Art+Ray ... Pillow-Cat Books... Spooksvilla ...  and a new home for Duo NYC.

And for those keeping tabs of such things, the lights are not early — they arrived on Nov. 1 last year.

Updated: 

A few evening-time photos here by Steven...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a fall shot outside St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery on 2nd Avenue at 10th Street) ... 

• Documenting the city's 'clean-up' along Tompkins Square Park on 7th Street (Monday) ... City removes tent encampment from 7th Street outside Tompkins Square Park (Thursday) 

• Speaking out for the return of the former P.S. 64 to the community (Wednesday) 

• There won't be a Cookie Walk this Christmas (Monday)

• Your chance to hear Citi Bike's expansion plans (Tuesday) 

• A new chapter at the 11th Street Community Garden with debut of a lending library (Wednesday) 

• First look at Lil' Frankies Grocery on 1st Avenue (Wednesday) 

• Italian specialty shop Via Della Scrofa debuts on 4th Street (Thursday) 

• Bar Veloce returns from pandemic hiatus (Monday)

• Work starts on the Union Square Holiday Market (Wednesday) 

• Cinnamon Girl bringing cake, pie and coffee to 2nd Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Ahimsa Garden is leaving the East Village (Thursday) 

• Lahore Deli — home of the world's best chai? — has closed on Crosby Street (Tuesday) 

• Miss Kita by the sea (Friday) 

• A look at Tiger Lily Kitchen, opening soon on 3rd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Plant-based Mexican cuisine next for 120 1st Ave. (Monday) 

• The new outpost of the Wild Son opens today (Tuesday) 

• Former Zum Schneider space now for lease on 7th Street and Avenue C (Wednesday) 

• Beyond the sea: Crab Du Jour shapes up on 1st Avenue (Wednesday)

• Holy smokes! Another accessories store setting up shop, this time on 2nd Street (Monday)

... and from the Citizen app late Friday night... anyone see burning golf carts here?

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

Fall is a many-splendored thing

Thanks to Goggla for sharing these photos of the fall foliage in Tompkins Square Park from earlier this week ...

East Village Flea happening TODAY

Given the very likely chance of a bonkers storm yesterday afternoon, the organizers of the ongoing East Village Flea decided to postpone yesterday's event until today. 

So! 

The flea marketing will be taking place today (Sunday!) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the east side of First Street and First Avenue. (And they are back this coming Saturday as well.) 

Follow @NexusFlea for updates.

Weekend dining with Amelia and Christo

A moment with Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park... enjoying a pigeon in the company of each other... thanks for Steven for the photos...

Saturday's parting shot

Saying hello to Yoda outside Book Club on Third Street... photo by Stacie Joy...

What the hail? A moment from this afternoon's storm

From B&H Dairy's outdoor space on Second Avenue when the hail was coming down ... pic by Derek Berg.

NYC remains under a severe thunderstorm watch until 7 p.m., per the NWS. Things are more dicey for parts of Long Island, where a tornado warning is in effect until 3:30 p.m.