A Vintage Block Party on St. Mark's Place today

Funny Pretty Nice and Romeo's are presenting A Vintage Block party on St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue today from 2-7 p.m. 

Funny Pretty Nice, a vintage and second-hand boutique with outposts on MacDougal and University Place, co-hosted a block party with Romeo's in April.

Take in the vintage action outside 118 St. Mark's Place, near Romeo's, the cocktail lounge that opened this past December. 

This block of St. Mark's Place takes part in the city's seasonal Open Streets program ... and is closed to through traffic Friday from 4:30 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Tompkins Square Park today...

About the 'Mutual Aid Plaza' benefit show this Sunday at La Plaza Cultural

La Plaza Cultural plays hosts tomorrow (Sunday) to a Washington Square Park Mutual Aid benefit show and collection drive. 

Here's more about the fundraiser — Mutual Aid Plaza — and WSP's work: 

It's no secret that, like many New Yorkers, we have struggled this year. Sustaining our community space has been a week-to-week challenge. Somehow, we have been able to get it together and pull it off. We're hoping that with your help, we can get ahead of things and also make some much-needed purchases to improve our distro space. 

We really need a new canopy. The one we've been using to keep our distro dry during inclement weather was recently damaged. Actually, two canopies would be ideal to cover the four tables we use to serve our community. We also need a new light! 

During Sunday's show, we will also be receiving any clean, good-condition seasonal clothing, hygiene supplies, bedding, sleeping bags, and tents you can bring to La Plaza! 

WSP Mutual Aid, now in its third year, distributes its products on Friday evenings. 

La Plaza is on the SW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street. Gates for the benefit open at 4 p.m. (and is scheduled to run until 8 p.m.). There is a suggested $15 donation, though " no one will be turned away for lack of funds!"

Last weekend for A Sustainable Village on 9th Street

Photo from last month by Stacie Joy 

A Sustainable Village will close tomorrow after the business day at 318 E. Ninth St., between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... and will continue on with its University Place outpost.

Ownership (local resident Em Hynes) announced the closure on Instagram: 

We tried to maintain both locations for as long as we could, but the market is tough. The refill concept and zero-waste movement are still new to many New Yorkers. It requires extensive education and a receptive community willing to shift their consumer habits and rethink how they shop. 

We will now focus on education, offering learning workshops, meet-the-maker events, and building onto this incredible community. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you in our other space.

Moving forward, you can visit them at 50 University Place between Eighth Street and Ninth Street.

A Sustainable Village opened in the East Village in September 2021.

A steamy situation on 10th and B

The FDNY has paid two visits to 10th Street and Avenue B this morning. 

The firefighters arrived around 7:15 after a report of a possible fire in the curbside dining structure at Soda Club. However, we're told there wasn't actually any fire. 

An EVG reader who shared these photos reported that the FDNY returned around 8:50 as residents spotted steam coming up from below the structure. The firefighters (and likely some Con Ed folks are on the way) are now focusing on a wider swath of Avenue B and 10th Street.

Summer previews: Budding sinkholes to watch

Here in the bus lane on Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, a pothole-sinkhole is in the early stages of development.

Derek Berg, who took the top photo last evening, sprung into action and moved the trash receptacle in front of the crumbling pavement to prevent a possible loss of an M15. 

This morning, more official cones and a single barricade are on the scene...

Anyway, something to monitor as you're coming and going from Le Fournil...

Saturday's opening shot

A hot summer Saturday morning on 14th Street near First Avenue...

Friday's parting shot

A PSA on Third Street between Avenue A and First Avenue... per EVG reader Kait, who shared the photo: "Two manholes on this block were steaming from under parked cars. Appreciate FDNY signing it so we know it’s legit."

A forest of 'Memories'

 

Earlier this month, local musician-artist Ruby Trademark (aka Ruby Aldridge) released a new single and video... "Please Don't Be a Memory" is a giddy, bare-knuckled 107-second rush of sound.

Basketball diaries: one of the courts is back open in Tompkins Square Park

One of the two basketball courts is back in action in Tompkins Square Park. (Thanks to the EVG reader for the photo and tip.) 

The courts have been closed since June 5 for a new mural design. The cracked courts also needed to be refurbished, and workers were installing new backboards and rims. 

We'll have more about all this later, as the courts will officially be unveiled on Monday afternoon.

Rocks off: The Fillmore East memorial plaque is MIA on 2nd Avenue

Photos by Steven 

The plaque commemorating the Fillmore East at 105 Second Ave. near Sixth Street is MIA. 

It looks to have been ripped from the storefront here at the former Apple Bank, which closed and merged with the outpost on Fourth Avenue in March.

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (now Village Preservation) and Two Boots placed the memorial here in the fall of 2014 to honor the venue that helped launch some of the biggest names in music from 1968 to 1971.

Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, said they were aware of the missing plaque and were looking into it. 

The sibling to Bill Graham's Fillmore in San Francisco brought performers such as Led Zeppelin, the Doors, B.B. King, Roberta Flack, the Byrds, the Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez and the Who to the East Village starting in March 1968. 

For the last show (an invitation-only performance) on June 27, 1971, there were reportedly three billed acts — headliners The Allman Brothers Band plus The J. Geils Band and Albert King ... and special surprise guests Edgar Winter's White Trash, Mountain, The Beach Boys and Country Joe McDonald.

Archival photo courtesy of Amalie R. Rothschild

Summer vacations: B&H Dairy on 2nd Avenue

Photos by Steven

B&H Dairy, 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, will be closed for its annual summer vacation starting Monday... with a return to service on Thursday, July 11.

So, if you're craving a tuna melt, blintzes, or borscht, stop by the old-school lunch counter today through Sunday. Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Blank Street Coffee reopens on 1st Avenue and 13th Street

Photo by Lola Sáenz 

The green-fronted Blank Street outpost reopened on the NE corner of First Avenue at 13th Street. 

This outpost of the V.C.-funded coffee chain closed to the public in May 2023 to become a "training + innovation lab." 

With this return, the East Village is back up to two locations — joining the one on Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

Friday's opening shot

Photo by Steven

It may be a little early for the dog days of summer.

In any event, we're told she has enjoyed chilling in the Tompkins Square Park compost pile in the mornings...