Once again, FABnyc is hosting Load OUT! – a creative recycling and repurposing riot during which we bring together gently used materials from arts organizations throughout the East Village and LES. Take home costumes, props, and furniture for your next artistic endeavor! This edition of Load OUT! is part of SUSTAIN – a day encouraging recycling, reusing, and repurposing in your everyday life, presented by FABnyc in partnership with Downtown Art.
Admission: FREE for artists & students / $5 for general public.
11 am – 2 pm
Rod Rodgers & DMAC Lot, 11 E. 3rd Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery
The four band members, along with their manager, all lived in 123 Second Ave. across the street... one of the three buildings destroyed during the deadly gas explosion on March 26, 2015.
The Timeshas a piece on the band, who were on tour in Los Angeles at the time of the explosion. The members are all living in the neighborhood again thanks to the Cooper Square Committee.
And today's festival is a benefit for Cooper Square. (Tickets are $30.)
Free show aside, the festival takes place on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.
Taste of East Village is an outdoor culinary festival ... benefiting the affordable housing preservation and development work, social services, and senior programming of the Cooper Square Committee.
We feature dishes from more than 15 of the East Village’s best restaurants and eateries (see the list below), and live entertainment from local musicians — The Jazz Passengers, Maquina Mono, Public Access TV, Rachelle Garniez, Bill Popp and the Tapes, Bern and the Brights.
Buying a Taste of East Village ticket helps raise money for Cooper Square Committee’s affordable housing development work (including the Bea Arthur Residence for homeless LGBT youth), greening and resiliency programs, tenant counseling, organizing and anti-eviction work, and social services for low income households and senior citizens.
NYC's Boss Hog from their appearance back in July in the KEXP studios. The video here is for "Fix Me," from 1989's Drinkin', Lechin' & Lyin' EP ... (You can watch the full KEXP set here.)
Here's some news about the East Village Eye, the influential arts newspaper/magazine hybrid that published 72 issues from May 1979 through January 1987. Via the EVG inbox...
The events point to the Eye’s key role in nurturing talent and giving voice to a generation of artists and writers whose groundbreaking work commented on the art and social history of the period and the unique collaborative spirit that flourished amid the rubble and rumblings of the EV/LES in the 80s.
Sunday, Sept. 18, 7 PM East Village Art: Scene or Circumstance?
A Panel Discussion with Leonard Abrams, Yasmin Ramirez, Ph.D., Sur Rodney (Sur), Arthur Fournier, and Anthony Haden-Guest
Expanding upon the East Village Eye Show, key figures from the period and beyond discuss the times and the neighborhood that changed the culture forever. Moderated by Leonard Abrams, editor and publisher of the Eye.
Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25 7 PM East Village Eye Showcases the Films of The 1980s
From The Cinema of Transgression known for its shocking themes and black humor and Sara Driver’s “lost” debut film to a fully restored version of Tommy Turner and David Wojnarowicz’ Where Evil Dwells and films that helped define the No Wave scene by key members of Downtown No Wave Cinema, this evening presents works by some of the most important filmmakers to come out of the East Village in the 1980s.
Reflecting the cultural turmoil and the explosion of creative expression of the times, these films illuminate the groundbreaking, sometimes shocking, experimental ethos of the neighborhood. Included are Coleen Fitzgibbon LES (Lower East Side) (1975); Vivienne Dick Liberty's Booty (1980); James Nares Rome 78 (1978); Sara Driver You Are Not I (1981); Tommy Turner Simonland (1984); Richard Kern Stray Dogs (1985); Nick Zedd They Eat Scum (1979); Richard Kern & Nick Zedd Thrust in Me (1985); Tommy Turner and David Wojnarowicz Where Evil Dwells (1985)
And tonight at the Delancey, there's the East Village Eye Party starring James Chance & The Contortions, The Lenny Kaye Connection and the Sic F*cks. Ticket info here.
Ssäm Bar closing for renovation; neighbor Booker and Dax relocating (Eater)
Yuh-Line Niou wins battle for Sheldon Silver’s former Assembly seat (The Lo-Down)
City moves ahead to develop the Elizabeth Street Garden (DNAinfo)
The schedule for the Feast of San Gennaro, which started yesterday (Time Out)
Random diversions: Alice Cooper's Paris TV special in 1982 (Dangerous Minds)
... and happy 30 years in the EV restaurant business to Stephen Shanaghan (pictured left) and Arnoldo Caballero, who own and operate Pangea at 178 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street...
On my ride to work I see the police light up a woman who biked past the crosswalk to the corner. They gave her a red light ticket even though she did not cross through the intersection.
Looks as if the former Chase branch on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place won't be torn down after all.
Back in February, landlord Icon Realty filed demolition permits for the address, 130 Second Ave.
At the time, there apparently weren't any takers for the space, which had been on the market since last summer with an asking price of $72,000 a month, per the listing. The address was being marketed for use as retail, a restaurants/bar, office space or a gym.
Now comes word that the Swiss Institute, a non-profit cultural center currently located on Wooster Street, has signed a lease for the space. Here is part of the news release:
Swiss Institute (SI) announced that it will be relocating to a new long-term home in New York City’s East Village, moving into a building at the corner of St. Marks Place and Second Avenue. The organization has selected Selldorf Architects to design the renovation of the 7,500 square foot building, due to open in the Spring of 2017.
Swiss Institute has hired Selldorf Architects to oversee the transformation of its new building. The 7,500 square foot space features four levels – basement, ground, second floor, and roof. The design for the building will create spaces for exhibitions, projects and public programs, a library, a bookstore, and a usable rooftop.
SI’s new home is located within half a mile of several prominent cultural and educational institutions including Anthology Film Archives, Cooper Union, Danspace Project, ICP, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New Museum, New York University, The Poetry Project, and The Public Theater.
“This new building offers tremendous opportunities to expand upon our mission and serve a growing audience, to whom we will continue to offer forward-looking exhibitions and public programs, always free of charge”, said Swiss Institute Director Simon Castets. “We look forward to joining and contributing to the diverse community of cultural organizations and artists that have called the East Village home for many years.”
SI had lost their home in Soho to Jeffrey Deitch, per ARTnews.
As for the Chase branch, which merged with the one two blocks to the north, there were rumors galore about what Icon Realty was going to do to the space. Leasing to an arts organization was not among the predictions. In reporting on this move, ARTnewsfloated the following:
A rumor going around was that there would be a biergarten up top, which would befit a Swiss art concern, but at this time that tidbit is unconfirmed...
CB 3 Public Hearing: FY 2018 Budget Priorities
Monday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m., Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. (between Second Avenue and the Bowery)
What parks need reconstruction? What programs need funding? Help us assess the needs of our community.
Every year the Community Board submits a list of capital and expense budget priorities to city agencies. This hearing is your opportunity to have input into these district budget priorities. Tell us how money should be spent in Community Board 3.
Organizations, groups and individuals representing all segments of the community are encouraged to participate.
Back in June we mentioned that Sugar Sketch, a bakery (cakery per the sign), is coming to 172 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B...
Their soft opening starts today... with 20 percent off items through Sunday...
Here's more about the proprietor from the Sugar Sketch website:
Martina Nardo has been a Pastry Chef and Cake Designer for the past six years in New York City. Born and raised in Rome, Italy, her passion for both food and art stems from her heritage. Her grandmother taught her to appreciate the simplicity of Italian cuisine, its flavors, and the cultural value associated with it. Her mother – a graphic designer and illustrator – has played a major influence encouraging her to apply creativity towards her cakes making them true works of art.
Upon receiving her BA in Psychology from the New School, she began her studies of the Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education and finished her studies with a degree in Cake Designs and Techniques at The French Culinary Institute in NYC. After working in several kitchen settings throughout Manhattan, Martina launched Sugar Sketch in 2013.
She has been making cakes, cupcakes and cookies by order... this will be the first retail space.
Workers recently removed the sign from a women's discount boutique on Nassau Street down in the Financial District ... revealing cool ghost neon signage for Loft's Candies...
Per Wikipedia, English immigrant William Loft opened a candy store on Canal Street in 1860... at one point they were the "largest maker and seller of candy in the world in the second decade of the 20th century." In 1941, Loft merged with PepsiCo. By 1990, the last Loft's retail store had closed.
I have no idea when this location ceased operations. The storefront had been home to a Lily's Boutique in recent years. According to the Commercial Observer, Two Boots Pizza will be opening its first Lower Manhattan location here ... complete with a pizzeria and bar/lounge.
Two Boots, which got its start on Avenue A (different location than its current home) in 1987, now has 17 locations in six states.
EVG reader Bobby G. notes that this is what's left of the majestic American elm that stood on East Third Street between Avenue C and Avenue D... Per Bobby: "It was cut down today. Why? I do not know."
One EVG reader said that the tree had a bit of a lean, and that the city was worried that it might fall during a storm.
Regardless, as Bobby G. said, "it is a great loss to the block."
Today, Nixon Figueroa, whose son Nicholas died in the gas explosion at 119-123 Second Ave. in March 2015, visited the site and cleared out the weeds that had been growing. (Mr. Figueroa was assisted by one of his other sons.)
[Photo by Lola Sáenz]
[Photo by Steven]
The memorials for Nicholas and the second victim of the blast, Moises Ismael Locón Yac, had been obscured by the weeds in recent months.
Back in April 2015 we first reported that 3 E. Third St. was on the market as a new development. Per the listing at the time: "This is a rare opportunity to acquire a boutique development site in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Manhattan."
Now comes word that Brooklyn-based Barrett Design has filed plans (as of yesterday) for c-c-condos.
Barrett will build a seven-story mixed-use building totaling approximately 18,000 gross square feet with a retail condo on the ground floor and five apartments above, consisting of four full-floor units and a duplex penthouse.
For the past 20-plus years, 3 E. Third St. has been home to 3 East 3rd Dorm — short-term rentals for students and interns. The developer filed for demolition permits on Aug. 29.
After its usual summer hiatus, Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, 33 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square, has reopened (as of last weekend).
And the basement cafe, a fundraising arm of the St George Ukrainian Catholic Church just up East Seventh Street, has expanded its hours ... to include Wednesday and Thursday...
The offerings, including pierogies (or varenyky) remain as inexpensive as ever...
LinkNYC announced a service update yesterday to their network.
Here's their statement... with the news arriving in the third paragraph:
Eight months ago, we launched a first-of-its-kind network to improve the quality of life in this great city where so many of us work and live. To date, we’ve seen lots of curiosity and excitement, and also some unexpected challenges that we need to address, as you’d expect with any project this bold.
With 400 Links installed in three boroughs, nearly 475,000 New Yorkers and visitors have signed up to use the fastest broadband publicly available in New York City and they have used it more than 21 million times. We’ve heard from New Yorkers who use the Links to save data on their mobile plans, call relatives across the the country, and get a much-needed quick charge.
We also know that some users have been monopolizing the Link tablets and using them inappropriately, preventing others from being able to use them while frustrating the residents and businesses around them. The kiosks were never intended for anyone’s extended, personal use and we want to ensure that Links are accessible and a welcome addition to New York City neighborhoods.
Starting today, we will be removing web browsing on all Link tablets while we work with the City and community to explore potential solutions, like time limits. Other tablet features — free phone calls, maps, device charging, and access to 311 and 911 — will continue to work as they did before, and nothing is changing about LinkNYC’s superfast Wi-Fi. As planned, we will continue to improve the Link experience and add new features for people to enjoy while they’re on the go.
The change came apparently after numerous reports of people watching porn at kiosks and, in some cases, masturbating, Gothamist noted.