Jimmy Carbone is on the mend

[Photo via Instagram by @jtaggfoto]

This has been an extremely challenging summer for Jimmy Carbone, the East Village resident and restaurateur.

Carbone, the proprietor of the currently closed Jimmy's No. 43 (and Mugsy's Chow Chow previously), shared the above photo on Instagram this past week of his "new look," featuring a spine brace and wheel chair.

His brother Christopher provide background in this update on Wednesday:

As you know, Jimmy had been in the hospital since June, where they found spinal infection and he had two emergency surgeries.

Since then he had been in and out of ICU and the Acute Rehabilitation wing of the hospital for recovery and rehab. Jimmy was recently shifted to a less intensive facility: NYU Gouverneur Medical Rehab on the Lower East Side.

1. Infection: generally stable, but there is still bacteria lingering in the spine where the rods were installed that can't be cleared out due to the sensitive area in the spine. He will be taking antibiotics for at least another year with the hope there is no relapse.

2. Legs & Spine: Doctors report that Jimmy is very lucky that he was finally diagnosed in June. He was very close to being permanently paralyzed in his legs. Now with ongoing rehab work, he is getting stronger with sitting up with back brace for longer periods of time – and LEGS are BEGINNING to MOVE and get STRONGER!!!

Now Jimmy is STANDING with support for brief periods and Taking SUPPORTED STEPS as well — with Walker/Crutch-support to walk in the future: seeing a chance to cross a finish line, even if it takes a long time… One day, One week at a time.

Financial difficulties forced Carbone to close Jimmy’s No. 43, the restaurant he owned and operated on Seventh Street near Second Avenue for 12 years, in August 2017. (Read more about that here.)

Carbone fell sick last fall and wound up in a hospital. "That was from my 20 years of running a restaurant," Carbone told me on the phone in February. "I let my health go. I had diabetes."

He had lost weight (40 pounds) and was trying to get healthy when doctors at NYU Langone made the spinal diagnosis — stemming from a knee infection last fall. (You can find more information at the Jimmy's Wellness Fund here.)

Meanwhile, the 9th annual Pig Island NYC takes place tomorrow on the Red Hook waterfront. Carbone, who founded the food-and-beer fest, sounded confident of attending via this Instagram post earlier this week:

Hell yeah, I'll be there! I'll take a hospital day pass, practice occupational therapy tasks like: taking a wheelchair in a taxi, using crutches in public, and getting some sun! I've been cooped up in hospitals since June 19, I will not miss this 9th annual event...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Jimmy Carbone and Paloma Rocket collaborating on new venture for the Jimmy's No. 43 space

On 6th Street, the Brant Foundation's inaugural exhibit will feature the work of Basquiat

The Brant Foundation will make its debut on Sixth Street in March 2019 with an exhibition of works by Jean-Michel Basquiat.



ARTnews, whose parent company is owned by Peter Brant, made the announcement yesterday.

The inaugural show will be curated by the Brant Foundation’s founder, Peter Brant ... and art historian Dieter Buchhart. The exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Foundation Louis Vuitton, will include loans from Brant collections as well as international museums and other private collections.

Brant said in a press release, “Basquiat has been a cornerstone of the East Village art scene for decades, and to bring his work back to the neighborhood that inspired it is a great privilege. Our family is thrilled to launch the Brant Foundation’s New York space with an artist who is central to the collection, and above all to share his legacy with the community that was fundamental in shaping it.”

Basquiat lived and worked at 57 Great Jones St. near the Bowery at the time of his death in 1988 at age 27. (He also lived for a year in 1979 in this East Village apartment, as you may recall.)

Brant reportedly began acquiring Basquiat's work shortly after being introduced to him by Andy Warhol in 1984. "Jean-Michel Basquiat is the quintessential Van Gogh figure of our time," Brant said in a 2013 interview. "He left with us a genius body of work."

The show opens on March 1 and will be on display through May 15. No word at the moment about about hours or admission. (The Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich is open to the public by appointment and free of charge.)

As for the building, the Brant Foundation at 421 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue features 7,000 square feet of exhibition space over four floors.





Here's a recap from recent years:

Brant bought the building for $27 million in August 2014.

The gut renovations started in April 2016 at the former Con Edison substation and Walter de Maria studio.

Brant's daughter Allison Brant oversees her father's contemporary art collection. This feature on her in the April 2017 issue of Town & Country reported:

Allison will also run this second space, which is in the East Village and will primarily be used to showcase the foundation's permanent collection. "So many artists my father collects have a connection to that neighborhood," she says.

And here are a few more photos from earlier this summer...









... and on the Seventh Street side...



Previously on EV Grieve:
About that "giant-robot laboratory" on East Sixth Street

RIP Walter De Maria

What is your East Village dream home?

Walter De Maria's 'giant-robot laboratory' going for $25 million; inside is amazing as you'd expect

Here's what Peter Brant wants to do with his new exhibition space on East 6th Street

When the world's top collectors of Dom Pérignon rosé came to the East Village for dinner

Reader report: 421 E. 6th St. will house Peter M. Brant's personal art collection

Peter Brant's East 6th Street Outreach Tour 2015 continues

Peter Brant meets the neighbors

Hardware store replacing hardware store on 4th Avenue

The Ace Hardware outpost at 130 Fourth Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street closed back in April.

After being on the rental market for several months, the storefront has a new tenant — Union Square Supply, as this photo via EVG reader Doug shows...



This will be a sister store for Fulton Supply Hardware, which opened down on Fulton and Gold in 1970.

TBT: Breaker, breaker: The Bandit spotted on Second Avenue

First posted on Sept. 5, 2011... RIP Burt Reynolds...





Perhaps dining at a nearby "choke and puke"? (And if you really want to watch the trailer for this cinematic milestone ... go here.)

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Report of a suspicious package outside Cooper Union

EVG reader Chris Rowland shares this photo from outside Cooper Union... where the NYPD has blocked off the area due to a report of a "suspicious package."

Cooper Union's Great Hall also happens to be playing host tonight to the Democratic primary debate for New York State Attorney General ... however, they have not been told to leave, per a reporter on the scene...

There is a suspicious package outside Cooper Union where NY AG debate is being held. Debate hall not being evacuated. I was ushered off block right before a live shot at 7:15. Will apprise. ⁦@NY1⁩ pic.twitter.com/WZuHoK4nAG

— Josh Robin (@joshrobin) September 6, 2018

Updated

The suspicious package turned out to be a "harmless suitcase."

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's this week's NY See, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's comic series — an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

This morning in inflatables

First, on Astor Place, EVG reader Liz S. shares this photo (subject line: "can't bear it") of the Thomas Burberry Bear ... the bear has been making the rounds showing off the brand's new logo, having been spotted at Xintiandi Taiping Lake, Shanghai.

Meanwhile, on Seventh Street and Avenue B, the Philosophical Zombie notes the always mesmerizing lime green inflatable tube man welcoming back students to the St. Brigid School...

3rd Annual Alphabet City Short Film Festival is Saturday at the 6BC Botanical Garden

The 6BC Botanical Garden, located on Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C, is playing host to the 3rd Annual Alphabet City Short Film Festival Saturday evening.

Here's info via Facebook:

Join us for a rare screening of diverse shorts by local filmmakers. Curated by 6BC member and filmmaker Kris Enos.

• “I Aint Lazy, I'm Just Dreamin” 2015, 7 minutes
A concept music video that harkens back (...or forward?) to a time of hobo prophets, mulligan stew, orange ladies, bowery boys, bawdy vaudeville acts, and the fuzz. A burlesque club musician en route to work imagines magical dreams ... or is he living them? Featuring cameos by several Downtown NYC filmmakers and performers.
Director: Bill Poznanski

• "SunnySide Up" 2003, 26 minutes
A comedy from NYC... Where do babies come from? Marie doesn't want to know, but she's going to find out.
Director: Charles Krezell

• “Downfall” 1989, 6 minutes
An experimental documentary, shot between 1988-1989. The East Village May Day protests, interspersed with New York City Marathon footage. The demolition and beginnings of gentrification in Alphabet City — a neighborhood under siege.
Director: Kris Enos

• “Willow Weep For Me” 2017, 8 minutes
After 41 years of Cher, a willow tree beloved by her community and strongly identified with La Plaza, she's dismantled for the neighborhood safety. Her life is celebrated with a wake in the garden, officiated by community members.
Director: Alvah Holmes

• Mahagonny Songspiel Animation Reel” 2018, 5 minutes
Hand-painted animation inspired by Kurt Weill and Berthold Brecht's early operatic work. The city of Mahagonny offers prosperity, but its citizens prove to be its undoing.
Director: Klay-James Enos

• “Penelope & Kennedy” 2017, 19 minutes
Two women face the challenges of their unique relationship.
Director: Anthony Laura

The films start at 8 p.m.

Emmy Squared's owners are bringing grilled pizza to the former GG's space on 5th Street

[EVG file photo]

Matt and Emily Hyland, who run Emily and Emmy Squared, have announced their intentions for the former GG's space on Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

In a fall preview at New York magazine, the Hylands say they'll be bringing the under-represented grilled ­pizza to the address.

The Hylands reportedly went to "grilled-pizza mecca" Al Forno in Providence, R.I., on their first date while attending Roger Williams University.

Per New York:

Hyland plans to cook his pizzas over a hybrid gas-and-charcoal grill. The key, he says, is achieving a crust that’s crisp, but not cracker-crisp, and also soft. He’ll use a nifty combo of Fontina, Pecorino, and a fancy, eminently meltable Jasper Hill Farm shredded-cheese blend on some of the pies. And that’s not all. More so than at their other restaurants, the kitchen will delve into non-pizza dishes including housemade pastas like spaghetti chitarra with clams and bonito butter; grilled whole fish and head-on shrimp; and johnnycakes treated like polenta and topped with, say, roasted mushrooms and bitter greens.

Emmy Squared was originally thought to be taking over GG's. However, that space has been dormant since GG's closed on Dec. 23.

Emmy Squared, with its Detroit-style pizza and double burgers, opened on First Avenue at Fifth Street in July.

The still-unnamed grilled pizzeria is expected to open in November, per New York.

Gotham Pizza looks closed

Several readers in recent days have noted that Gotham Pizza has not been open during its usual business hours ... with the space cleaned out here on 12th Street at Third Avenue, as these photos by EVG reader Laura K. show (and H/T @JCooper911!) ...



Gotham's phone is still in service, though there isn't any answer. The various online delivery services note that this Gotham location isn't currently taking any orders.

The pizzeria, part of a mini chain, opened here in August 2016.

Their slices were serviceable though nothing spectacular... and why bother with the excellent slices at Joe's beckoning around the corner on 14th Street. And telling — despite the proximity to five dorms (four NYU and one New School), Gotham Pizza never seemed all that busy.

The corner space last served up the FroYo via Funkiberry. There were more slices before this with AAA (New) Amici Pizza.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Funkiberry-replacing pizzeria revealed on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry closed on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry space is for lease on 3rd Avenue

Hey, Funkiberry is now open on 3rd Avenue

Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue

The Detox Market now open on East Houston

More than two years after the new-building reveal, 76 E. Houston St. at Elizabeth has a new tenant... the Detox Market recently opened for business.

This is the first NYC outpost for the shop, with multiple locations in Los Angeles and Toronto, that offers "green beauty brands to detoxify your life" ...



The two-story structure, which is adjacent to the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall (also owned by Goldman Properties), was a long time coming. Construction took several years. (BoweryBoogie reported in October 2014 that work slowed down here due to Certificate of Occupancy issues and a dispute over the property line.)

No. 76 was previously home to the big top of Billy's Antiques.


[EVG photo from 2011]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Deal off to bring Crif Dogs to the former Billy's Antiques space

The Houston/Bowery Mural Wall has been boarded up

Full stop work order for 76 E. Houston St., and the return of Billy's Antiques (sort of)

Checking in on the incoming building at 'the four corners of Downtown'

The painting Billy Leroy left behind

Banksy's grim reaper and the old Bowery ghosts

Wednesday's parting shot

The fledgling ponders a sign in Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Steven.

Report: Developer Gregg Singer says Mayor de Blasio lied about city's P.S. 64 outreach

During a recent media roundtable at Brooklyn Borough Hall, Mayor de Blasio said that Gregg Singer, who owns the former P.S. 64 on Ninth Street, "has been exceedingly uncooperative" about selling the building back to the city, as The Villager reported.

However, Singer told Patch that he hasn't heard from anyone at the mayor's office about the property he bought in a city auction in 1998.

Some background: During a town hall forum at P.S. 188 last October, de Blasio said that the Giuliani administration should not have auctioned off the property, and that he would work to "right the wrongs of the past," as DNAifno reported.

"For the administration to put that building into private hands failed miserably, and we’ve seen the negative affect that that has had on the community. So I'm announcing tonight the city's interest in re-acquiring that building," de Blasio said, eliciting cheers from the audience.

And during the media roundtable on Aug. 23, de Blasio said the following, as reported by The Villager:

“We’ve tried to have a productive conversation about purchase,” he said. “We’ve gotten nowhere so far. We’re not giving up. We’re working very closely with the councilmember, Carlina Rivera. I’m very frustrated with that owner.”

Eminent domain, though it may not be an immediate option, is “certainly something I want to know more about, but I had hoped the best solution here would be a direct purchase,” de Blasio explained. “That’s not off the table. It’s just we’re just not getting any cooperation so far.”

And as Patch reported last Friday afternoon:

"When I read the report that Mayor de Blasio told the media that I had been 'exceedingly uncooperative,' I was astonished at the brazenness of the mayor's lie," Singer told Patch.

"I know that politicians are not known for their strict adherence to the truth, but when someone like the mayor can claim to be frustrated because I have been uncooperative when I have not received a single email or phone call from him or anyone in his office is simply unbelievable."

Singer challenged the mayor's office to produce email and phone logs that the city has reached out to him.

Singer has said that he has no intention of selling the building, which he bought for $3.15 million. He wants to turn the landmarked property into a dorm called University Square, which continues in a holding pattern while the DOB maintains a Stop Work Order on the building.

In years past several local elected officials, community activists and residents have asked for the return of the building at 605 E. Ninth St. Avenue B and Avenue C for community use. The building became a community center after the school left in 1977. The group was evicted when Singer took over as the landlord.

Previously on Ev Grieve:
The Times explores the past, present and future of the former P.S. 64

Openings: Pizza Rollio on 9th Street; Afandi Grill on 1st Avenue

[Photo by Steven]

Pizza Rollio has opened their outpost at 437 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The pizzeria, which sells its super-thin, arugula-topped pies served in long strips, is owned by Miyuki Talwar and her family, who run similar establishments in the Philippines.

This will be the third Pizza Rollio in the city, joining the Plaza Hotel Food Hall and on West 18th Street.

Here's more about their pizza from the Daily News in 2016:

In a city with pizzerias on almost every corner, Pizza Rollio serves the seemingly impossible: a totally unique pie. Its rectangular creations are light and delicate — built on paper-thin sheets of dough that are baked and sliced into wide ribbons perfect for wrapping around peppery bites of alfalfa sprouts and arugula, the salad-y condiment served with every order.

A post shared by Pizza Rollio (@pizzarollio) on Aug 30, 2018 at 2:14pm PDT

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Meanwhile, at 149 First Ave. near Ninth Street, Afandi Grill has made its debut. The restaurant offers cuisine from Central Asia. Per the website:

Afandi has Xinjiang style hand-pulled noodles, dumplings, world famous Uzbek pilaf and home made pastries. There is a veggie option for each dishes.

You can find their menu and hours here.

This storefront has been vacant since This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef closed in March 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Pizza Rollio bringing its skinny slices to 9th Street

Afandi Grill bringing food from Central Asia to 1st Avenue

A free buffet for voters at 99 Favor Taste on St. Mark's Place

[Photo by Steven]

The owners of 99 Favor Taste at 37 St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue want you to vote.

As the banner above the entryway declares: "You vote, buffet on me!" The deal is good during the primary election on Sept. 13 as well as the general election on Nov. 6.

The restaurant, which offers traditional Korean-style barbecue and Chinese hot pot meals at multiple NYC locations, opened here in July 2017.

Aside from a free meal for voting, 99 Favor Taste also comps your meal on your birthday.

Time for the new clock faces at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery

[Photo by EVG reader George Towne]

The steeplejacks are working today at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, where a new (or refurbished?) clock is being installed...

EVG Steeplejack Correspondent Steven shared these photos of the workers installing the clock faces...















Workers removed the clock back on June 29 at the landmarked church on 10th Street and Second Avenue.

And the folks at the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation shared this photo...



EVG reader Brian Philip Katz sent these pics...





The clocks had been stuck at 6:20 for some time.

Tuesdays at Sophie's redux

[Montage via Kyle de Vre]

Last Tuesday I wrote about a new photo book by Kyle de Vre, an East Village resident who has worked at Sophie's for the past four-and-a-half years.

The book, "See You Next Tuesday," features portraits of patrons seated in the bar. The launch is tonight at 9 at Sophie's, 507 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. Read my interview with Kyle here.

Sadly, Freddy Corea, pictured in middle of the top row, died back in July. He was a longtime regular at the bar and a familiar presence in the neighborhood. I never did hear anything further about his passing. In recent years he had been splitting time between his East Village apartment and his family's place in Puerto Rico.

Porto Rico Importing Co. reopens after 2-week rehab on St. Mark's Place

Porto Rico Importing Co. on St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue reopened today as expected after what the owners, the Longo family, described as a "much-needed facelift" these past two-plus weeks.

They were planning on putting in new shelves, fixing the floor, moving the ice machine and "adding a better drip brewer."

Steven shared these photos from this morning...





The Longo family has owned the business, with four locations now, since 1958. Peter Longo took over the business in 1976 after the death of his father, Angelo.

[Updated] RIP Kenny Shopsin

Kenny Shopsin, described as the "legendary (and legendarily eccentric, ill-tempered, and lovable" chef who owned Shopsin's in the Essex Street Market, died on Sunday. (Jason Kottke was first to report on Shopsin's passing. Updated: Here are tributes via Grub Street and Eater.)

According to the Times, Shopsin was 76. The Times noted that Shopsin had a variety of health issues in recent years.

Before relocating to Essex Street in 2007, Shopsin’s General Store anchored the corner of Bedford and Morton streets starting in 1971.

Per a feature by Calvin Trillin in The New Yorker from 2002:

Normally, mentions of Shopsin's in print are complimentary, in a sort of left-handed way — as in Time Out New York's most recent guide to the city's restaurants, which raved about the soups and described Kenny ("the foul-mouthed middle-aged chef and owner") as "a culinary genius, if for no other reason than he figured out how to fit all his ingredients into such a tiny restaurant." To Kenny's way of thinking, a complimentary mention is worse than a knock. It brings review-trotters — the sort of people who go to a restaurant because somebody told them to. Kenny finds that review-trotters are often "petulant and demanding." Failing to understand that they are not in a completely conventional restaurant, they may be taken aback at having the person next to them contribute a sentence or two to their conversation or at hearing Kenny make a general remark in language not customarily heard in company unless the company is in a locker room or at being faced with deciding among nine hundred items and then, if they have selected certain dishes, having to indicate the degree of spiciness on a scale of one to ten.

There were many Shopsin tributes on Twitter yesterday...

Kenny Shopsin, raconteur and chef, died today. Someone who made New York City an amazing funky place, a spark of personal humanity in the big city. He will be missed.

— Tim Dierks (@tdierks) September 3, 2018

Kenny Shopsin died this morning. I can’t explain how important his restaurant was to me and my idea of what New York is. He was one of the kindest people I ever met and I never saw that more clearly than when he was throwing someone out for not following the rules.

— Art M-T (@atebbel) September 3, 2018

In memory of Kenny Shopsin, the Calvin Trillin piece on him and his old restaurant on Carmine. I remember when I first met him, he had a flip phone hanging around his neck on a piece of twine, in case his wife had to call and yell at him. https://t.co/VFgCGQeVUv

— Thirsty Pete (@thirstypete) September 3, 2018

Sad to hear that Kenny Shopsin has died. Can’t think of anything uncliched to say about his cooking, his candor or what he symbolized when it comes to NYC. In his honor, I vow to spend more time spouting impassioned expletives in mixed company then unapologetically dozing off.💔

— Dor Dotson (@dordotson) September 3, 2018

Kenny Shopsin was your favorite New York character’s favorite New York character. A client of my CPA father for more than 40 years, they communicated more or less exclusively through insults. Rest in Pancakes.

— Mark Weinstein (@mwweinstein) September 3, 2018

Kenny Shopsin wouldn’t have survived the move to the new Essex Market, but then again, the market may not have survived him. rest in pancakes, sir.

— urban fagrarian (@_terroirism_) September 3, 2018

Kenny Shopsin has died. The man knew how to make a menu pic.twitter.com/9KASA772Dq

— Rhett Jones (@rhettjonez) September 3, 2018

There's nothing I can say about Kenny Shopsin's passing that he wouldn't find insufferable, except: this city is a boring shithole made for tourists, and your kid is beautiful.

— David Yee (@tangentialism) September 3, 2018

Horrible horrible news today: NYC’s impossibly great Kenny Shopsin has left the planet. For those who don’t know Shopsins, his daughter Tamara made a great book in 2017 about the restaurant and the world Kenny embodied: https://t.co/c8ar5F2x19

— matt sweeney (@theheavyjamz) September 3, 2018

I loved Kenny Shopsin. He/Eve fed me for free when I was broke. Like everyone, our friendship was based on profane barbs flung back & forth at each other. The magic of Bedford St has so many memories. I’ve more to say, but for now- #AllOurCooksWearCondoms #RIPkennyShopsin #EatMe

— Lizz “Pecker Watcher " Winstead (@lizzwinstead) September 3, 2018

As Brooklyn Vegan pointed out, the 2004 documentary on Shopsin's, titled "I Like Killing Flies," is not available on any streaming services and the DVD is out of print.

There are, however, assorted clips from it on YouTube...

Brick Lane Curry House closes ahead of move down the block

Brick Lane Curry House closed after service last Thursday here at 99 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street... and workers quickly cleaned out the space...



The restaurant confirmed on Facebook that they are moving one block to the south — 79 Second Ave., the former Heart of India space. No word on a reopening date just yet.

This marks Brick Lane's third East Village location. They moved from Sixth Street to 99 Second Ave. in August 2014.

As for No. 99, the owners of Calexico, the Cal-Mex burrito-beer chainlet, were on last month's CB3-SLA agenda for a liquor license for this address.

Calexico currently has a handful of NYC locations (Upper East Side, Greenpoint, Park Slope, Red Hook, among them) as well as in Detroit — and Bahrain.

Previously on EV Grieve:
On 2nd Avenue, Calexico in the works with Brick Lane Curry House on the move