Spotted on Second Avenue on the steps of the former Church of the Nativity between Third Street and Second Street... hurry, because I'm going back as soon as I find a VCR.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Sunday morning freebies
Spotted on Second Avenue on the steps of the former Church of the Nativity between Third Street and Second Street... hurry, because I'm going back as soon as I find a VCR.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Friday, November 10, 2017
At the Scream Helplessly at the Sky event in Washington Square Park
Photos and text D. Task Efram
On Wednesday evening at Washington Square Park's new Ai Weiwei "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors" sculpture, many RefuseFascism.org resistors joined in the Scream Helplessly at the Sky event (one of many taking place nationwide), in dishonor of the one-year anniversary of the president and administration.
There was an air of satisfaction as nearly 150 people chanted, danced and screamed upward in a primal scream, hoping to alleviate the year's worth of destructive administration actions, media and science censorship, predatory denial and encouragement. Many found great relief in joining with their fellow humans in a primal action as well as to celebrate some long-awaited positive resistance voting from Tuesday's elections.
There were approximately 10 disruptors who were pleased to give support to the current administration as well as throw shade on the RefuseFascism ralliers. Many actively disrupted and screamed at peaceful participants; anxiously sharing their facetious claims to any camera or microphone pointed in their general direction.
King Trump (played by the ubiquitous puppeteer/activist Elliot Crown) made an appearance. Dressed in a tattered suit, The King seemed to be in no condition to stand and defend himself.
Everything under the 'Son'
If you have 9:10 to spare... Brian Eno teamed up with Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine on an expansive soundscape for Adult Swim Singles titled "Only Once Away My Son."
I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant
East Village resident Susan Schiffman has been photographing the apartments of rent-stabilized tenants living in the East Village for her Instagram account, I Am a Rent Stabilized Tenant. She will share some of the photos here for this ongoing EVG feature.
Photos and text by Susan Schiffman
Tenant: Raquel S., since 1983
When my parents came for the first visit, before I did all the renovations here, when the apartment still looked like hell, my father sat on the futon on the floor with tears streaming down his face and he said, You moved to America to live like a Bedouin?
When I picked them up at the airport I had to tell them that I had a bathtub in the kitchen. So I said, In America you can make coffee and take a shower at the same time. That is basically my story.
Why did you move to NYC?
I didn’t know the East Village existed. I came from a kibbutz in Israel. I just felt suffocated both in the kibbutz and in Israel. I used to be a dancer and I wanted to study acting and mime, and more dance.
I did do theater here. Mostly in the EV. I acted, directed and produced. I even had a theater for 5 minutes. On Ninth Street in 1986. The New York Theater Asylum with a partner Tri Garrity.
Immediately when I arrived to New York, the East Village became my place. It was an instant attraction. Why? Maybe because I was a bit marginal? And most everyone else seemed a bit marginal. I loved all the colorful people here.
I met my husband about a year and a half after I got here. We were married for 36 years till his death, last year. My beautiful gay husband.
I got the apartment through a friend. One day the landlord knocked on my door and asked me if I wanted the lease. First I thought it was a trick, but then I realized he was serious. He always treated me nicely. Though the building suffered — years and years without heat.
I love the East Village — the community, it is still a lovely community, and it was affordable.
What do you love about your apartment?
Well, at the end of the day, my apartment is my temple. I made it so. Before the renovations, you have no clue what it looked like. It was disgusting. And the roaches. The first time my parents came to visit, one night I came in at 11 and saw my parents on all fours chasing roaches. I told myself, That’s it, I’m gonna win the war.
And I did. But as I’m growing older, I want a real kitchen, a real bathroom, and a real bedroom. I really do want it.
If you're interested in inviting Susan in to photograph your apartment for an upcoming post, then you may contact her via this email.
Photos and text by Susan Schiffman
Tenant: Raquel S., since 1983
When my parents came for the first visit, before I did all the renovations here, when the apartment still looked like hell, my father sat on the futon on the floor with tears streaming down his face and he said, You moved to America to live like a Bedouin?
When I picked them up at the airport I had to tell them that I had a bathtub in the kitchen. So I said, In America you can make coffee and take a shower at the same time. That is basically my story.
Why did you move to NYC?
I didn’t know the East Village existed. I came from a kibbutz in Israel. I just felt suffocated both in the kibbutz and in Israel. I used to be a dancer and I wanted to study acting and mime, and more dance.
I did do theater here. Mostly in the EV. I acted, directed and produced. I even had a theater for 5 minutes. On Ninth Street in 1986. The New York Theater Asylum with a partner Tri Garrity.
Immediately when I arrived to New York, the East Village became my place. It was an instant attraction. Why? Maybe because I was a bit marginal? And most everyone else seemed a bit marginal. I loved all the colorful people here.
I met my husband about a year and a half after I got here. We were married for 36 years till his death, last year. My beautiful gay husband.
I got the apartment through a friend. One day the landlord knocked on my door and asked me if I wanted the lease. First I thought it was a trick, but then I realized he was serious. He always treated me nicely. Though the building suffered — years and years without heat.
I love the East Village — the community, it is still a lovely community, and it was affordable.
What do you love about your apartment?
Well, at the end of the day, my apartment is my temple. I made it so. Before the renovations, you have no clue what it looked like. It was disgusting. And the roaches. The first time my parents came to visit, one night I came in at 11 and saw my parents on all fours chasing roaches. I told myself, That’s it, I’m gonna win the war.
And I did. But as I’m growing older, I want a real kitchen, a real bathroom, and a real bedroom. I really do want it.
If you're interested in inviting Susan in to photograph your apartment for an upcoming post, then you may contact her via this email.
The end is nearing for the Sunshine Cinema
[EVG photo from August]
It's getting closer for the end credits to roll at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema on East Houston.
As The Lo-Down first reported yesterday, the new owners of the building housing the theater have filed demolition permits to take down the three-level structure here between Eldridge and Forsyth.
Back in May, the Post reported that East End Capital and K Property Group bought the building for $31.5 million with plans to convert it to a mixed-use development with retail and upstairs office space. The site includes 20,000 square feet of air rights.
First sign of the impending new development came in August when workers were taking soil samples...
[EVG photo from Aug. 10]
Landmark reportedly had the opportunity to buy the property, but decided against it after CB3 voted down a proposal for a full liquor license for a cafe in the theater in 2012 for pre- and post-movie drinks and dinner.
Landmark instead decided to invest in a state-of-the-art theater (with an adjoining bar-cafe) that recently opened on West 57th Street.
The Sunshine is expected to close in early 2018. No date has been set. As of now, the Sunshine website lists midnight movies scheduled through Jan. 27 with a possible grand finale of "Dog Day Afternoon."
And a little history of the theater/building, via its website:
Opened December 21, 2001. Built in 1898, the Sunshine Cinema building was formerly the Houston Hippodrome motion picture theatre and a Yiddish vaudeville house but for over 50 years it had been shuttered serving as a hardware warehouse. Landmark has restored the theatre back to its artistic roots and now offers the art-house film lover five state-of-the-art screens dedicated to first-run independent and foreign film as well as non-traditional studio programming...
Given the numerous alterations through the years, the building was never deemed landmark-worthy by the city.
Anyway, I've been taking a few photos each time that I visited the theater in recent months, such as when I was the only person in the auditorium for a screening of "Wetlands" in September...
... and one day maybe...
[East End Capital]
The East End Capital website states that "ground breaking is expected in the second quarter of 2018."
For what?
While pursuing tenants interested in utilizing the structure in its current form, work is also underway for a new, best-in-class office building with retail at the base – a first in the rapidly evolving Lower East Side.
Remembering Kate Millett
Per PBS:
Millett championed the causes of feminism and mental health across a lifetime of work, and helped pioneer the field of gender studies and contemporary American conceptions of sexual freedom.
The Bowery Alliance of Neighbors shared the following yesterday via email:
Ms. Millett was also a long-time resident of the Bowery, residing at 295 Bowery, a building that had once housed the notorious McGurk's Suicide Hall, site of multiple suicides carried out by young female prostitutes.
Upon learning that the building was to be demolished, Millett led a valiant effort to have the building declared a NYC Landmark, and hoped to establish a museum memorial to women who had died there. Sadly, these efforts were unsuccessful, and the building was demolished.
When we were preparing an historic signage poster about 295 Bowery (see below), Kate was a very helpful adviser.
In 2004, the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association helped Kate Millett and her spouse Sophie Keir relocate to a nearby spot just east of the Bowery.
A wonderful neighbor on many levels, Kate will be missed.
Old Monk offering a free meal this Thanksgiving
Via the EVG inbox...
This Thanksgiving, Avenue B’s contemporary Indian restaurant Old Monk will serve a complimentary Thanksgiving buffet to all patrons that visit.
To thank the neighborhood that has embraced the restaurant since it opened this past summer, as well as help those in need, Chef/Co-owner Navjot Arora has crafted Indian-inspired Thanksgiving dishes including Turkey Meatballs in a curry sauce, Tandoori Chicken Wings, Carrot & Green Bean Poriyal with coconut, Cumin Potatoes, House-Baked Naan Bread, Cranberry chutney with mango yogurt and more.
He hopes to feed more than 300 New York City residents who may not have an opportunity to celebrate the holiday with a warm meal.
WHEN: Thanksgiving, Thursday Nov. 23 from noon-3 p.m.
WHERE: 175 Avenue B at 11th Street
A rep for Old Monk told me that "Anyone who walks through the door will be welcomed. They just need to show up during the [noon-to-3 p.m.] time frame."
EVG file photo via Cheyenne
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Report: Part of a man's leg discovered along the East River
There are published reports that part of a man's leg was found washed up along the East River near the FDR and Sixth Street.
Someone spotted the leg (from the knee down) around 11:30 a.m.
Per the Daily News:
It was not immediately disclosed if a foot was attached to the extremity, which was brought to the city Medical Examiner’s office. Further tests will be done to try to determine who the leg belonged to and how it became separated from the person’s body.
And via NBC 4:
Details remain scarce at this point, but an NYPD spokesperson said, "When you find a leg in the water, that's suspicious in itself."
Report: Arrest made in Avenue D murder
On Saturday, police arrested Rashawn Taylor, 18, a resident in the Smith Houses. He is charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon, The Villager reports.
The NYPD did not cite of motive in the shooting. However, a super who works nearby "blamed the shooting on rivalries between groups of young men living in different public-housing developments along the East River."
As for Campbell:
“Everyone is just sick about it,” said the victim’s grandmother Irma Campbell, who said she helped raise Malik and his identical twin brother, Eli, in Haven Plaza, a block of subsidized housing located off Avenue C at 12th St.
Malik grew up in Haven Plaza with his parents and attended the Earth School on Avenue B and East Side Community High School on E. 12th St.
His grandmother described him as a “good kid, very polite and caring,” though she conceded he had run afoul of the law recently. At the time of the shooting, he was on probation for a low-level drug offense — “pot and pills,” she said.
The packing peanuts are here! The packing peanuts are here!
To pack up the horse head? Or unless this is some kind of new dessert.
Photo on Seventh Street today by Derek Berg...
Happenings 1 month from today
Among the Good Santa-Bad Santa events taking place on Dec. 9 ...
The 9th Annual Cookie Walk is set for Dec. 9-10 at St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church on Avenue A and 10th Street (find more details here)...
--
Also on Dec. 9 — SantaCon... the location hasn't been disclosed yet, though the East Village is always a good possibility as the host...
The 9th Annual Cookie Walk is set for Dec. 9-10 at St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church on Avenue A and 10th Street (find more details here)...
--
Also on Dec. 9 — SantaCon... the location hasn't been disclosed yet, though the East Village is always a good possibility as the host...
Meet Fresh bringing teas and taro balls to Cooper Square
The second retail space in the base of the Marymount Manhattan College dorm has a new tenant.
Signage went up yesterday here on Cooper Square and Sixth Street for Meet Fresh, a Taiwan-based chain that serves teas and desserts. (Thanks to EVG reader Harry Weiner for the photos!)
The company, now 100 locations strong, was started by the Fu siblings. Here's their story via the Meet Fresh website:
Sister and Brother Fu grew up in a generational farming family in the Feng Yuan District of Taichung, Taiwan. Using traditional food materials and processes, they made chewy taro ball desserts, soft herbal jelly, and delicate traditional tofu pudding, as a continuation of traditional delicacies while integrating innovation!
This marks the first NYC location for the brand. It joins neighbor Pourt, the cafe-networking space, in the dorm storefronts.
The 13-story dorm opened for Marymount Manhattan College students in August 2015. The dorm sits on a lot previously occupied in part by 35 Cooper Square, the Federal-style building that dated to 1825.
Landlord accused of tenant harassment in Chelsea new owner of 7th Street building
[Image via Streeteasy]
A recent transaction to note: 61 E. Seventh St. changed hands for $8.3 million, according to public records dated from late October.
The Sabet Group is the new owner of the 20-unit walk-up between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The seller was listed as the Zimmerman Family Trust.
Streeteasy lists 20 units for the building, where the average rental was $2,400.
In the summer of 2016 the Sabet Group bought 92-94 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. (Gut-renovated units there are now asking upwards of $7,000 a month, per Streeteasy.)
The Sabet Group has been accused of tenant harassment in the past.
Per Bedford + Bowery:
Tenants in two buildings on 25th Street even took their complaints, which included unmitigated construction, severed telecoms, bug infestations and gas leaks, all the way to the New York State Supreme Court last year. More recently, the company was criticized for dramatically raising the rents on several newly acquired tenants in the West Village, including the prestigious Joffrey ballet school.
As Curbed noted in June 2016, "Sabet Group's inflexible rents also forced famed drag lounge Boots & Saddle to relocate after more than four decades in the building."
Stuy Town to catch some major solar rays
[Rendering via]
Via the EVG inbox yesterday...
Blackstone and Ivanhoé Cambridge today announced plans to implement the largest private multi-family residential rooftop solar project in the United States. The project will be run by StuyTown Property Services (SPS), the property management company of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village.
This 3.8 Megawatt (DC) solar energy system will span across the property’s 22 acres of rooftops. Once completed, StuyTown will have tripled Manhattan’s capacity to generate solar power. NYC-based renewable energy developer Onyx Renewable Partners is project developer for the installation, which is expected to begin this winter and reach completion in 2019.
The installation will consist of 9,671 high efficiency solar panels and will generate enough energy to power over 1,000 New York City apartments annually. The project is expected to offset approximately 63,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, comparable to removing 12,000 cars from the road for a year.
StuyTown is the first multifamily building in NYC to have received an ENERGY STAR certification, which it has won three years in a row for its sophisticated energy management technologies ... The community has been particularly active and enthusiastic in supporting StuyTown’s compost waste pickup, averaging just over 10,000 pounds of organic material collected weekly – representing 17 percent of all residential compost waste collected in Manhattan. StuyTown has already reduced on-site greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent since 2007, and has now expanded into the solar sphere as part of its larger commitment to environmental sustainability.
StuyTown is the largest rental apartment complex in the U.S., with 11,200-plus multifamily units in 56 buildings across 80 acres in Manhattan’s East Village. It houses more than 27,000 New Yorkers and represents 1.7 percent of Manhattan’s population.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Documentary filmmaker looking for archival photos-footage of Ray's Candy Store
A local filmmaker is working on a documentary about Ray and Ray's Candy Store. He’s looking for older photos or footage of Ray and the store on Avenue A near Seventh Street ... like the one above from the late 1970s by Michael Sean Edwards.
Here's the contact info: ray@rayscandystore.com
Someone vandalized the entrance to the Chinese Hawaiian Kenpo Academy on 2nd Avenue
[Photo by Ryan John Lee]
Last night around 8:30, someone vandalized the front of the Chinese Hawaiian Kenpo Academy (CHKA) on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.
A CHKA spokesperson said that they were giving their free women’s self-defense class when one of the building's residents notified them that someone had tossed a can of paint at the entrance.
"We did not see who did it," the spokesperson said. "We called 911 and the police came right away, spoke to the landlord on the phone and made a report."
Several witnesses as well as the CHKA spokesperson said that a group of travelers/crusties were congregating earlier under the scaffolding outside the building. (The landlord is putting in new storefront windows.)
Here's an account from CHKA:
At around 6 p.m., as our children were attempting to leave the building with their parents after class, a group of 10 or so people with off-leash dogs and open containers were camped out at the entrance under the construction scaffolding. When asked politely to move, they became hostile and violent, screaming and threatening our instructors who asked them to move. The children and families were forced to wait in the building until it was safe to leave.
At one point, one of the dogs lunged at people passing by. We called 911 and the officers who came told the group that they were violating regulations regarding leaning on or being under the construction scaffolding. They finally moved along at about 7:30 p.m. and then the vandalism occurred about an hour later.
[Photo from this morning]
This past summer, a group of travelers/crusties reportedly vandalized the First Ukrainian Assembly of God on Cooper Square at Seventh Street after church officials sprinkled bleach powder on the sidewalk to prevent camp outs.
CHKA, a 20-plus-year-old martial arts school offering classes in Kenpo karate and kickboxing for children and adults, moved here from Avenue A in June.
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