Openings: Shifka on the Bowery

Shifka is set to debut today at noon at 324 Bowery, near Bleecker (next door to Think Coffee).

As previously mentioned, this "One Stop Pita Shop" is from the team behind Sami & Susu, a Michelin Bib Gourmand wine bar on Orchard between Houston and Stanton. 

Owners Amir Nathan and Jordan Anderson began offering various pitas at their Mediterranean-inspired space, and these pitas became popular enough to open this spin-off location. 

Shifka offers pita sandwiches like Harissa Chicken, Lamb Kebab and Cauliflower Shawarma, along with bowls and dips. The space also serves beer and wine, with counter seats and open-kitchen views.

Opening hours: Noon to 10 p.m. 

If you're on Instagram, you can follow the Shifka account for updates. 

Openings: Zesty Tabbouleh on 2nd Avenue

Zesty Tabbouleh is now open at 82 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. (Thanks to EVG reader Danimal for the photo!) 

The Lebanese restaurant offers small plate staples such as baba ganoush and salads (the zesty tabbouleh salad!) ... and shawarma platters, kebabs, and fresh fish. Coffee drinks are also listed at just $2.

The restaurant has an Instragram account here. 

No. 82 has been vacant since 2019. The Unapologetic Foods team had plans for a kebab house here, but they decided to move on back in the spring.

Monday's parting shot

View of a rainswept Tompkins Square Park this evening (and no sign of any downed branches)...

Work stops, plans change for new building on 1st Avenue and 2nd Street

Work has come to a halt over the past six weeks at the northwest corner of First Avenue and Second Street, where the first few floors of a new residential building are visible above the plywood. 

Turns out there’s a good reason for the pause. According to Department of Buildings filings, the project has changed from a seven-story, 22-unit building to an eight-story structure with 24 units.

So expect to restart here in the weeks ahead ... and keep an eye out for an updated plywood rendering for the mixed-use building, officially 88 E. Second St.

The site previously housed three buildings — 33, 35 and 37 First Ave. — which were demolished in early 2024. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• 37 1st Ave., once home to some East Village music history, is now rubble 

• Goodbye for now to HaveAHeart Studio, the rehearsal space below New Double Dragon

The last of the East Village Juice Press outposts has closed

A for-lease sign hangs in the window at 201 E. 10th St. just east of Second Avenue. 

The Juice Press storefront recently shuttered without much notice, bringing an end to 15 years of Juice Press in the East Village. 

The very first Juice Press debuted at 70 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue in 2010. (The location never reopened after someone broke in and looted the space in June 2020.)

The plant-based food and beverage brand eventually grew to more than 80 locations in seven states. 

There was also a Juice Press on 10th Street closer to Avenue A that closed in 2015 (thanks to landlord Steve Croman, sources said at the time). 

The JP website still lists about 20 locations in NYC. 

Founder Marcus Antebi, who showed a sense of humor before debuting JP on First, is no longer involved with the company and has since launched a venture called goodsugar, which has a UES outpost.

Basquiat biopic 'Samo Lives' returns to film in Tompkins Square Park

Crews are expected to be back in Tompkins Square Park today to film scenes for "Samo Lives," the Jean-Michel Basquiat biopic written, directed and produced by Julius Onah. (Not sure if they will film in this wind and rain today.)

Filming began here on Sept. 15 with sightings in Tompkins Square Park of Kelvin Harrison Jr. in the title role alongside an actor playing Andy Warhol.

As we first reported, actor Danny Ramirez plays Al Diaz, an East Village native and "SAMO©" collaborator. However, despite a few conversations with Onah, the real-life Diaz has no formal role in the project, which will also tell part of his history.  

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• About 'Samo Lives,' the Basquiat biopic now filming in the East Village 

• 'Samo' story: Real-life Al Diaz shut out of new Basquiat biopic

Former Good Beer space 0n 9th Street may yield a cafe-bar

A new cafe-bar called Cahoots NYC is in the works for 422 E. Ninth St., between Avenue A and First Avenue. (H/T Steven!)

The applicants, listed as Cheyenne Garcia and Daniel Frehner, who have experience working at establishments in Portsmouth, N.H., are scheduled to appear before Community Board 3's SLA committee on Oct. 20 to seek a liquor license for the space. 

The application on file for the public shows 13 tables with seating for 38, and proposed hours of operation from 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

The application includes a sample menu featuring various pastries and sandwiches as well as breakfast fare such as a granola bowl and avocado toast...

Good Beer, a shop-and-bar hailed as a craft beer pioneer, closed here in 2022.

CB3's SLA meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. The Zoom link is here. This is a hybrid meeting, and limited seating is available for the public. The first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery, will be accommodated.

Signage alerts: More convenience for Avenue B

Signage went up this past Friday for Saba Candy & Grocery at 106 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

The signage showcases lottery tickets, cold beer, soda, dairy, pet food and detergent (!). 

This is likely an upgrade over Anwar/Akter Grocery, which sold a wide range of random items, such as religious amulets, sombreros, school supplies, and adult DVDs with titles like "Anal Pleasures." Not to mention expired groceries. The grocery suffered an unceremonious ending in July 2022. 

This is one of the two recently renovated storefronts in this building. The northern space will eventually be home to Shinzo Sushi. (Background here.) 

A few blocks to the north, signage (and balloonage!) is up for Boutique Convenience at 166 Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street...

The storefront was last Smoke City Exotics, an unlicensed weed/smoke shop that got busted in June 2024.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a 2nd Avenue sky view via Olivia Coffey)

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• Sixth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D to be co-named Jimmy Carter Way (Monday, Oct. 6) … Here’s Jimmy Carter Way (Tuesday, Oct. 7) 

• Fundraiser launched for man seriously injured in 9th Street fall (Tuesday, Oct. 7)

• Family affair: 30 Years of Exit9 on Avenue A (Thursday, Oct. 9)

• New interactive map helps tenants check for lead risks in their buildings (Wednesday, Oct. 8) 

• First wave of artists announced for the 2026 New Colossus Festival (Thursday, Oct. 9) 

• Save these election 2025 dates (Sunday, Oct. 5) 

• Workers clear out Chris French Cleaners as demolition looms for corner of 4th Avenue and 9th Street (Monday, Oct. 6) 

• Harvey Epstein seeks feedback on the future of the large dog run in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday, Oct. 8) 

• Meet Rhaenys, the new kitty at MJay Convenience (Wednesday, Oct. 8) 

• You’ll hardly recognize the former Crocodile Lounge on 14th Street (Monday, Oct. 6)

• Picture this: A museum devoted to vintage photobooths opening in the Lower East Side (Thursday, Oct. 9) 

• Check out the first video from local Band Tough Darlings (Friday, Oct. 10) 

• A supermoon warmup (Monday, Oct. 6) 

• Signage alert: Jungle Bowls on 6th Street (Wednesday, Oct. 8) 

• Kobano has not been open lately on the Bowery (Monday, Oct. 6) 

• ICYMI: Diorama season! Miniature magic returns to the corner of 9th Street and Avenue C (Saturday, Oct. 4) 

And this week in product placement at Pillow-Cat Books on Ninth Street... pic by Eve Smith...

ICYMI: Time Out Market debuts on 14th Street

ICYMI: Time Out Market debuted in late September at 124 E. 14th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. (Thanks to EVG reader Brian for the photos.)

The space features a bar and a stage, along with communal tables and about 300 seats, including 70 on the terrace for outdoor dining. 

Here's a rundown via 6sqft: 

• Patty Palace by Chef Kwame Onwuachi: Curried patties and coco bread 

• Kababwala by Unapologetic Foods: Chicken, goat, and bison kebabs inspired by India’s night market culture 

• Taqueria El Chato: Suadero, pastor, and tripa tacos, made-to-order vampiros and quesadillas, along with chorizo and mushroom options. 

• Lori Jayne Burger: Bushwick-born burger joint with steak frites

• Fornino: Signature pizza, salads, and seasonal specials

• Kam Rai Thai: Smoky grilled pork buns, crispy Hat Yai fried chicken with sticky rice, wok-charred pad see ew, and more 

• Paninoteca by Anthony: Italian American sandwiches 

• Coffee & Pastry showcase: Drinks from Coffee Project NY and La Colombe, croissants, egg muffins, and navettes from Chef Daniel Boulud's Épicerie Boulud, cinnamon rolls from Sunday Morning, shortbread from the Shortbread Society, and sweets from Magnolia Bakery. 

Daily hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Time Out currently has 12 other similar markets worldwide, including a 24,000-square-foot converted warehouse that opened in 2019 in Dumbo. 

Urbanspace Union Square had its food hall here from December 2022 to March 2025 on the ground floor of Zero Irving (formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center, 14 @ Irving, and tech hub).

Saturday's parting shot

As always on Avenue A, Ray's Candy Store tonight...

Saturday's opening shot

A look at First Street Green Art Park this morning.

The InGardens Festival continues here through Monday with some free musical performances. (Check out the schedule here. Enter the park either on First Street near Second Avenue or along Houston Street.) 

And here's one of the latest murals — a tribute to Larry Clark's 1995 film "Kids" by t0newash.

To whom it may 'Concern'

 

Here's the first video from Tough Darlings, a relatively new band that features some local music veterans (Alice Donut, Wharton Tiers Ensemble, etc.).

The video is for "You of Your Concern." 

Meanwhile, you can see them live on Oct. 26 at Berlin on Avenue A.

About the annual Garden Party Fundraiser at El Sol Brillante on 12th Street

El Sol Brillante's annual Garden Party Fundraiser takes place tomorrow (Saturday!) at 522 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

The all-day neighborhood celebration will include live music, food and drinks donated by local businesses and volunteers, and craft stations for all ages. 

The event is free and open to the public, offering food (a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options) and drinks for a suggested donation. Garden T-shirts will be available for purchase. (Guests may also buy an unlimited food and drink option, which includes $5 off one T-shirt. Details here.) 

All proceeds support the garden and its community programs.