The restaurant offering dumplings and hot pot is now open on Second Avenue at 12th Street.
DumplingGuo began life as Dumpling Go here, and closed for parts of the spring and summer for a revamp.
We posted a copy of their menu here.
Monday, August 15, 2016
DumplingGuo is now open on 2nd Avenue
The restaurant offering dumplings and hot pot is now open on Second Avenue at 12th Street.
DumplingGuo began life as Dumpling Go here, and closed for parts of the spring and summer for a revamp.
We posted a copy of their menu here.
NY Grill & Deli opening later this week on Avenue A and 12th Street
The storefront renovation on the southwest corner of Avenue A and 12th Street is winding down. The signage/awning arrived on Saturday.
One of the employees told EVG regular Greg Masters, who took these photos, that NY Grill & Deli is expected to be open later this week.
Poppy's Gourmet Corner, the previous tenant here, closed at the end of January.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
RIP Ernest Russell
[Photo by Legacy Russell]
Longtime East Village resident Ernest Russell, a photographer and artist, died on July 31. He was 72. He is survived by his two daughters Angola Russell, a lawyer, and Legacy Russell, a writer, curator and artist.
Legacy shared the following tribute with us.
Before there was AOL, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat — there was DIGITALMAN. DIGITALMAN to many of us is Uncle Ernest, Ernie, Uncle Junie, Daddy, El D, Big E, ER, F STOP, ZERO, The King of St. Mark’s, or one of my personal favorites — coined by my dad’s late friend John — “Oooyyy-knee”. (Dad hated that one.)
The energy my dad brought into the world was electric.
In a recent telephone conversation with poet Fred Wilson, Fred told me of how he met my dad via his connection with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). He encountered dad for the first time in a picket line. Dad turned to him and asked, “Hey man, you wanna get arrested today?” When Fred hesitated, dad repeated the question: “Do you wanna get arrested today, or not?”
Growing up with my dad meant there were lessons constantly being doled out, and constantly questions being asked. In moments where I came home from school frustrated or upset about something that had happened with a classmate or teacher, he often reacted by telling me, “Legacy, you gotta get tough.”
As I grew older, when faced with professional obstacles and looking for advice, dad would hand me packages wrapped in brown paper, usually from a cut up Trader Joe’s shopping bag and marked with an all-caps Sharpie signature: “FOR LR LOVE DAD”. Inside, nine times out of ten, was a copy of Sun-Tzu’s Art of War. Where dad pushed me to have a thicker skin, he also never hesitated to cry with me, fight with me, laugh with me, dance with me, sing with me. His ability to be both brave and vulnerable at the same time was inspiring. I collected copies of Sun-Tzu’s treatise as gifted by dad over the years; they often made appearances at birthdays or Christmas. In college when my phone would ring late at night, I would answer to hear jazz playing in the background; dad and I would talk about the day and at some point inevitably he would ask, “Legacy, are you reading Art of War? Are you sure you’re paying attention?”
I paid attention. As a kid I watched my dad like a hawk trying to figure him out. To some degree, he was always a mystery to me. Fiercely independent, creative, compassionate, silly, loving, outrageous, irreverent, I wanted to know every part of him, I so wanted to crack the case of the first man I fell in love with. No matter how much I knew about him, I never knew it all, there were somehow always things he said or did that surprised me.
In moments where it felt like there was no order, there was always a method in place, and often one with a flair. When I was a kid he would take me on nighttime bike rides around New York City; we’d fly across town and stop off at La Taza del Oro on 8th Avenue where we’d sit on stools and eat heaps of black beans and yellow rice. On the way home, I’d sit on the bike’s crossbar, sweating in my helmet in the summer heat, and when I started to fall asleep dad, worried that I would fall off, would chirp loudly, “Stay alert, Eyes-of-the-Moon!”
When I decided I was finally old enough to walk to school alone I came to dad preparing for a fight, dad shocked me by granting me permission to do so without missing a beat; I later found out that the strange sense that someone was following me for those first months was in fact dad himself running behind me, hiding in shops and behind trees when I would look over my shoulder. In times where I raised an eyebrow, Dad said it best, “Legacy, don’t you know that I’m a fool?”
When I first started rebelling as a teenager, sneaking around and breaking curfew to hang out with friends, dad, a legendary night owl who was often up until three or four in the morning playing on his computer, would be awake and waiting for me when I got home. I’d unlock the door and step into the brightly lit room of our studio apartment and he would turn around in his computer chair with his finger next to his mouth like Dr. Evil, “Legacy — what am I? A frickin’ idiot?” He always told me that he had “spies in the neighborhood” which is inevitably how he somehow knew I was drinking 40s at Union Square with characters dad deemed less than desirable, or was now wearing fishnets and a plunging neckline when I had walked out of the house in a decent turtleneck and pants.
When I announced as a little girl that I wanted to be a writer, it was dad who had me practice reading my poetry and short stories aloud. When I got super into Shakespeare and entered into a competition at school to perform a soliloquy of Lady Macbeth’s, dad videotaped me rehearsing for hours: “What beast was ’t, then, / That made you break this enterprise to me?”
In the mid-90s, Dad encouraged me to write to black theatre critic Margo Jefferson at The New York Times and ask her to be my mentor. I wrote a pithy letter to Margo, asking simply if, no big deal, we could just meet weekly to critique my new work; eventually Margo responded saying she wouldn’t be able to meet weekly, but that she’d love to keep in touch. Years later, when, in a curiously elegant twist of fate, Margo ended up on the Advisory Board of a journal for which I am now Visual Arts Editor, she wrote me saying, “I still have a letter from you! And imagine my delight when I read about your life and work in the Times a few years ago.”
Dad was a proud member of a diversely eclectic creative and political community. Though always a Harlem boy at heart, he claimed the East Village as his primary stomping ground where, for many years, he hosted friends and family for gatherings at the apartment, or twilight walks and conversations in this very park. In a 1964 New York Times article, dad, a member of the steering committee of East River CORE, was quoted saying, “Emergency repairs are no substitute for a decent school . . . That's why we’re marching.”
Dad spent a lifetime marching, instilling in me the importance of civil rights, vibing deeply with a mantra of equality and justice for all. He also believed in the power of self-love as a politic itself, a key component for collective action. “Love self!” he always reminded me,“You cannot love someone else or stand up for someone else without understanding how to love and defend yourself first.” Both dad and my mom Kamala were the first people in my life to teach me that black lives matter in their demonstrating how to build that self-love and love for others, an enduring lesson that has shaped how I see the world and a key part of my purpose within it.
Dad, you done good. Thanks to you and mom for gifting to me the most wonderful life, you two most wonderful parents. Ernie, we are going to miss you fiercely. And don’t you worry, we’ll keep fighting the good fight in your honor.
Week in Grieview
[@nyyankeedog out for a ride. Photo by Bobby Williams]
Permits filed to demolish 5 buildings on 11th Street to make way for new hotel (Monday) ... Preservationists say city ignored pitch to designate part of 11th Street as a historic district (Tuesday)
Report: Red Square has been sold for $100 million (Wednesday)
Target offers details about its flexible-format store opening summer 2018 on 14th and A (Friday)
Debate over commercial overlay for 255 E. Houston St. and surrounding blocks continues (Thursday)
Box Kite Coffee now looks to be reopening on St. Mark's Place (Thursday)
4 years of Out and About in the East Village (Wednesday)
Former Mercadito space on Avenue B will be home to Guac (Friday)
On 10th Street, Prime & Beyond has closed; popular Japanese steakhouse coming next (Monday)
Workers are putting in the foundation for the return of the Alamo (Wednesday)
The Quad Cinema reopening pushed back to the fall (Wednesday)
Reader report: M2M to move; Wagamama on the way (Wednesday)
Cafe-office space in the works for Cooper Square dorm retail space (Monday)
Roof fire at 190 Bowery (Monday)
Former Barbone space for rent on Avenue B (Monday)
Signs of life at Lanza's (Friday)
The VNYL will feature Long Island Iced Teas on tap, candied-bacon quinoa sushi (Thursday)
The Christodora House in print now, and soon, on TV (Tuesday)
The PokéSpot opens on Fourth Avenue (Friday)
Kotobuki back in action on Third Avenue (Thursday)
Double rainbow (Thursday)
... and last week someone put up this memorial flyer with a rose on St. Mark's Place where performance artist Klaus Nomi once lived ... he died on Aug. 6, 1983, at age 39...
1st look at the new Mac Board Pro
Another cool design aesthetic from Apple... the interface isn't as clean as other Apple products, though. And you may need more room to use this at a coffee shop.
Spotted on Second Street near Avenue C.
Looking at Centre-fuge Trailer Cycle 21
Here's an early morning look at the in-progress Cycle 21 of the Centre-fuge Public Art Project ... at the rotating outdoor gallery/construction trailer here along East First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
The artists taking part this time are Damien Miksza ... COL_Wallnuts ... ski_ur_newyork ... kwuemolly ... Julia Cocuzza and J. Mike Kuhn...
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Head games
The New York International Fringe Festival is underway ... the photos here are of "Peregrinus," a play without text performed today on East Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery... the top three photos are by Derek Berg
...and a few photos from the performance by Liza Béar...
The Fringe Fest continues through Aug. 28. Find the performance schedule here.
Meanwhile at the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall
Workers repaired the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall this past week with new weatherproof boards ... in preparation for Logan Hicks to return perhaps as early as Monday. (The extreme heat with a torrential downpour in late July ruined his previous stencil-in progress.)
Meanwhile, someone decided to create his or her own mural on the blank canvas... not sure what it was. Crews were out this morning quickly painting it over...
Friday, August 12, 2016
Making the 'Scene'
Dinosaur Jr. has just released a very good new record titled "Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not." And tickets for their dates on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Irving Plaza went on sale today.
Now we'll travel back to 1991, where Dinosaur Jr. plays "Freak Scene" on a European tour that featured Sonic Youth and Nirvana.
EV Grieve Etc.: Good vibes at Thursday Kitchen; dog days of summer for the red-tailed hawks
[Downpour photo from yesterday by Derek Berg]
High marks for Thursday Kitchen on East Ninth Street (Gothamist ... previously)
Rivington House co-owner, Slate Property Group, facing new scrutiny (The Lo-Down)
Operators of Vintage Thrift, a nonprofit that funnels its funds into organizations for low-income Lower East Siders, needs new warehouse space — soon (DNAinfo)
NYC Best Pizza listicle includes Joe's on East 14th Street (Gothamist)
"The Lost Arcade" — a documentary on the legendary Chinatown Fair arcade on Mott Street — opens today at the Metrograph on Ludlow Street (Official website)
Another report on the potential East Houston upzoning (B+B)
Red-tailed hawk action winding down in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography)
If you ever wanted to see John Derian's East Village bedroom (The New York Times)
A look at some of the gates of the 100 Gates Project on the LES (NY Yimby)
"Blow-Up" and "Blow Out" screen next Friday at the Anthology Film Archives (Official website)
Some history of Veniero's — since 1894 — on East 11th Street (Untapped Cities)
Top Hops unveils a beer-to-go option in the Essex Street Market (BoweryBoogie)
Addressing the cargo shorts backlash (Flaming Pablum)
...and Chris Stein of Blondie posts a lot of his early 1970s shots on his Instagram account... if you care to follow...
Target offers details about its flexible-format store opening summer 2018 on 14th and A
As you know, Target has signed a lease to anchor the retail space in Extell's new development rising on Avenue A and 14th Street.
And yesterday, Target shared details about the flexible-format store, projected to open in summer 2018 at 500 E. 14th St.
Via the EVG inbox...
Growth in urban markets is a priority for Target, and Target’s flexible store design allows for store locations in smaller locations and assortments are tailored to meet the needs of local guests. The East Village Target store will be approximately 27,000 square feet on two-levels, with 9,500 square feet on the street level and 17,700 on the lower level. The locally-relevant, catered assortment for urban guests will include:
· An assortment of men’s and women’s apparel and accessories
· Home items dedicated to refreshing small living spaces, as well as urban apartment and condo essentials
· Food selections, including grab-and-go items spanning sandwiches, salads, beverages, snacks, and more
· Health, personal care and beauty products including a multicultural assortment
· Portable technology products and accessories
· Services include Target Mobile and Order Pickup
Flexible-format stores are a priority for Target and guests have responded well to having these customized stores available in areas where they previously couldn’t have been opened before.
In a prepared statement, Mark Schindele, senior vice president, Properties, Target, said: "We’re thrilled to be partnering with Extell Development for this terrific location just below Stuyvesant Town, and we can’t wait to be part of the East Village neighborhood."
Target is only taking half of the available retail space at 500 E. 14th St. So there is room for another largish retailer.
Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated with correction] 8-lot parcel of East 14th Street primed for new development
New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units
Breaking (pretty much!): Target is coming to 14th Street and Avenue A (55 comments)
More on Target, and a look at its incoming home on 14th Street and Avenue A
Signs of life at Lanza's
On Wednesday, someone removed the state's orange SEIZED stickers (and picked up the mail) from the front of Lanza's on First Avenue... exactly one month to the date that the longtime Italian restaurant had closed for what the posted legalese said was for "nonpayment of taxes."
While it appears someone has been inside the restaurant here between 10th Street and 11th Street ... there's nothing about a reopening — just a sign noting they are "closed until further notice."
The PokéSpot opens today on 4th Avenue
The PokéSpot, serving the increasingly popular (in NYC) Hawaiian raw-fish salad, opens to the public today on Fourth Avenue and 12th Street, the corner space that previously housed the Subway (sandwich shop) until late January.
You can find their menu here.
Or here...
Previously on EV Grieve:
The PokéSpot set for former Subway (sandwich shop) space on 4th Avenue
Former Mercadito space on Avenue B will be home to Guac (and probably some chips)
[Photo by Ralph Sutton]
The signage is up now at 179 Avenue B for Guac, showing tacos and tequila here between 11th Street and 12th Street.
This incoming Mexican restaurant/bar is via Vincent Sgarlato, who owns and operates Eleven B and 11B Express across Avenue B.
CB3 OK'd a liquor license for the space back in March. According to the official meeting notes (PDF):
Community Board 3 is approving this application for a full on-premise liquor license although this is a location in an area with numerous full on-premise liquor licenses because 1) this applicant has operated a business with a wine beer license on this block for ten (10) years without complaints, 2) although one (1) resident appeared and two (2) letters were submitted in opposition to this application, this applicant has demonstrated support for this application, in that it has furnished seventy-one (71) petition signatures from area residents in support of its application, and 3) the applicant is proposing to operate a business with a similar method of operation to the previous business and with reduced nighttime hours [ed note: to 1 a.m. instead of 3 a.m.].
No. 179 was home to Mercadito until March 2015.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
This evening's hot double-rainbow action
From St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue... thanks to Chris Protopapas for the photo
And this link was in the comments...
Discarded couch of the day
Spotted on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place... photo by special EVG correspondent Christine Champagne...
(Also, the couch is NOT affiliated with LinkNYC.)
Paint out the barrel...
Chico is at working on a new mural for the gate at Zum Schneider on Avenue C and Seventh Street, as these photos by EVG reader Daniel Root show ...
By the way, Zum Schneider celebrates its 16th anniversary on Aug. 19 starting at 4 p.m. Details here.
Headline H/T
Debate over commercial overlay for 255 E. Houston St. and surrounding blocks continues
On Tuesday morning, City Council’s Zoning and Franchises subcommittee heard from community members and elected officials about controversial landlord Samy Mahfar's request for a commercial overlay on East Houston Street and parts of the Lower East Side.
First, a quickie recap of what has transpired through the years at 255 E. Houston St. between Suffolk and Norfolk...
No. 255 previously housed the day-care center Action For Progress. They were displaced in the spring of 2010 when construction next door at 179 Suffolk St. destabilized the building.
Last summer, Mahfar, the property's new owner, filed plans for a 10-story residential complex with 53 residences and 4,600 square feet for community facilities.
However, as BoweryBoogie first reported in late February, Mahfar is seeking a commercial overlay for the parcel, with 7,240 square-feet for commercial use ... while the project grew to a 13-story building with 63 units that looks like...
In May, CB3 approved a resolution opposing the change. City Councilmember Rosie Mendez and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer have also opposed the commercial overlay. Still, the de Blasio-controlled City Planning Commission approved the application on July 13.
Now to Tuesday's City Council meeting. Both the Lo-Down and DNAinfo attended and covered what transpired.
Per the Lo-Down:
The developer argues that it makes little sense to restrict ground floor uses along a thoroughfare that already features many different kinds of shops and food/nightlife establishments. But Mendez said there’s no question the community wanted street-level spaces along this part of East Houston Street to be reserved for community facilities. “There is by no means,” said Mendez, “a shortage of places to eat and drink in my neighborhood. Yet facilities meant to provide services for people living in the area have become harder and harder to find.”
Mahfar's lawyer reportedly said repeated efforts to find a tenant failed. "There is no demand for a community facility on East Houston Street."
However, CB3 district manager Susan Stetzer disagreed. Per DNAinfo:
Stetzer ...provided written testimonies from the operators of several not-for-profit community groups —The Educational Alliance, Henry Street Settlement and University Settlement — stating the groups had never been contacted regarding the space and would be interested in renting it as a facility.
The subcommittee did not reach a decision on Tuesday. There's no word yet when that might occur.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Next for 255 E. Houston St.: Community facility/school/medical building?
10-story building now in the works for 255 E. Houston St.
Kotobuki back in action on 3rd Avenue
On Tuesday morning, we noted that Kotobuki was returning to 56 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street. Signs said they were reopening in August.
Well, that was a short wait — the sushi restaurant actually started service on Tuesday night.
Kotobuki, which has several Long Island locations, closed in the fall of 2014 after after two-and-a-half years in the East Village. (It was replaced by the more upscale Saki, an offshoot of Sushi of Gari.)
You can find Kotobuki's menu here.
Well, that was a short wait — the sushi restaurant actually started service on Tuesday night.
Kotobuki, which has several Long Island locations, closed in the fall of 2014 after after two-and-a-half years in the East Village. (It was replaced by the more upscale Saki, an offshoot of Sushi of Gari.)
You can find Kotobuki's menu here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)