Coronavirus Urban Etiquette Sign of the day

Spotted on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue by William Klayer.

Signs telling people not to discard their disposable gloves (or masks) are needed. EVG correspondent Steven spotted these late yesterday afternoon on one block — the west side of First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...

A visit to High Vibe on 3rd Street

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Editor's note: The interview and visit took place on March 4.

When I arrive to interview Dagger (officially Robert “Bobby” Dagger), owner of the health/natural foods and goods store High Vibe, he and his son Jude are inside creating and playing music together.



After learning more about the guitar Dagger made (it’s a beauty), we take a tour of the shop, where he points out some immunity-boosting supplements, favorite crystals (which he calls rocks), ethically sourced foods and products as well as essential oils.

He tells me the store, located at 138 E. Third St. Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, is not only for raw foodies, vegans and vegetarians, it’s also for everyone.



Can you speak a bit about the history of High Vibe?

High Vibe started in 1993 not as a plan — we saw a need for pure information about raw foods and dietary fasting and cleansing to help heal our bodies from the inside, and to take control of our own health.

You started in a basement space on Third Street next to the Hell’s Angels, and eventually relocated to this storefront in 2003. Did you ever consider moving into a different neighborhood?

I started in a basement space that was my photo, music, jewelry and creative space. I used to make belt buckles, and one of the Angels when he was still alive made the leather belts. I eventually relocated to this storefront.

I have thought of opening in other neighborhoods but I am a Lower East Side/East Village lover. So I will, as long as I can, be part of my community here! It is the best spot in NYC.







You are a musician and a musical-instrument creator, as well as a jewelry-maker. When did you envision becoming a business owner?

As a freelance artist/photographer/musician/jeweler/luthier I’ve always been a part businessperson. As for having an actual retail business I never thought about it and it took over naturally and I am so blessed I let it take me to where we are now.





Why does High Vibe often look like a plant shop from the outside?

I love plants! I actually have had way too many and as I am not a great businessperson per se and treat High Vibe as if it’s my home. I have the plants, objects, crystals, and guitars around so I can enjoy the days we have here and hopefully it transcends to our friends and clients.

As a kid, I was also obsessed with plants and think they are needed to help heal the world. So it’s been a life-long obsession. My retirement job will probably be creating and designing indoor and outdoor plant spaces that can feed and beautify. Plants and music are my joy and comfort and healing. Long live the sound and beauty of the Earth, especially in these changing times.

What items have remained perennially popular through the years? What’s your favorite?

Our popular items have always been our own amazing products, which I designed. “Shine” for one, as it is for hair, skin, nails and overall immunity. Our dried fruits, nuts, and seeds are so great. My personal favorites are our dates, nut butters and all our algae products.



How were you personally able to stick with a raw-food lifestyle through the years? What do you recommend for those interested in a plant-based diet?

I was totally raw in the 1990s and early 2000s and then went to a more balanced diet. We encourage people to go toward simple diets, not just plant-based diets.

How have you seen the neighborhood change during your time here — for better or worse?

I have been in the ’hood on Ludlow Street and on Third Street since 1980, so it has changed a lot. Some for the better — Tompkins Square Park is now great; and some for the worse, as storefronts are just too expensive for local shops to be here.

What’s next for High Vibe?

We will be continuing the work we do here and maybe open a whole new concept that will incorporate less plastic and waste and a spot where I can have a stage where we can have more music played all the time. We shall see.


[High Vibe employee Erika Barrett]


[Jude and Dagger]

High Vibe is considered an essential service during the COVID-19 outbreak and plans to remain open. Hours are every day from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. You can keep up with the shop on Instagram here.

Tompkins Square Library launches online programming this week

The Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street, currently closed during the COVID-19 crisis, is launching some online programming starting today.

In the weeks ahead, the library will be offering sessions for kids and adults, from book discussions to guitar lessons to yoga sessions via the video conferencing Zoom platform. (You can set up a free account on your computer or smartphone.)

Upcoming programs include:

Thursday, April 2, 6-6:40 p.m.: Book Discussion Group. This is our regularly scheduled monthly discussion, and we will be talking about "In West Mills" by De'Shawn Charles Winslow.
Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/329408695.
Meeting ID: 329 408 695.

Monday, April 6, 1-1:40 p.m.: Short Story Discussion Group. We will be reading Edith Wharton's short story, "The Other Two." You can read it for free online by clicking the link.
Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/261814141.
Meeting ID: 261 814 141.

Tuesday, April 7, 6-6:40 p.m.: Vinyasa Warrior Yoga. Out longtime yoga teacher, Maggie Frey, has kindly volunteered to lead a class from home! Open to all levels. No experience required.
Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/193598517.
Meeting ID: 193 598 517.

Keep this in mind, per branch manager Corinne Neary: "This is very new to us, so we might experience some growing pains as we learn."

Visit the branch's website here for more programs.

Meanwhile, the NYPL's main website has a lot of resources to explore, such as their historical NYC postcards collection and maps.

On Avenue B, Ben's Deli is closing for now; first time in 45 years

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Ben (Ben Gibran, owner of Ben’s Deli at 32 Avenue B near Third Street) greets me at the door of the shop telling me the bad news.

"For 45 years we’ve been on Avenue B and we’ve never closed the store. Ever. Not after 9/11, not after Superstorm Sandy," he says. "But this, this virus is a new thing. Nobody knows what will happen. Every day more places close. My wife, my kids, all worried. I have grandbabies at the house. No one can get sick."

It’s a matter of days, Ben says, before he’ll shutter the store.

For how long? "I don’t know," he says, "maybe a month, maybe two? We will look at it day-to-day."



Ben’s son Haas tells me there’s still a good supply of bleach, which a lot of people have been looking for, and notes that beer has been selling well since the start of the pandemic shutdown.

They both hope people will come get some supplies (they’d like to sell all their perishable dairy supplies ASAP) before the upcoming closure and that everyone remains safe and healthy, so they can see their customers again when the reopen.

Wednesday's parting shot

A thank you to the mail carriers... as seen on Seventh Street by Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C...

Noted

An EVG reader shared this "visitation paradox" from the lobby of a residential building on 12th Street... likely from the Department of the Landlord Department.

This is a list of laundromats and dry cleaners still open in the East Village

Several laundromats/dry cleaners have temporarily closed in recent days in the neighborhood, prompting this inventory of places that remain open.

Some places didn't have their hours posted. Some places had their hours listed, but then closed earlier than stated. Some places were open one day, then not the next. So all hours are subject to change. It's best to CALL AHEAD before lugging your laundry to any place on the list.

Here's the in-progress list in alphabetical order (with thanks to Stacie Joy and Steven for scouting help) ...

OPEN

• Alice Dry Cleaners, 74 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. (212) 673-7434. Posted hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Best Cleaners on A, 99 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. (929) 364-9093.

• Bubbles N Go Laundromat, 173 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (212) 677-8777. Posted hours: 8 a.m to 8 p.m.; last wash at 6 p.m.

• Choice Cleaners, 24 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street. Google lists them as open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• Cosmo's Launderama, 142 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. (646) 602-2557. Self-serve laundry only for now. And they are closed Thursdays and Fridays, open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (The Cosmo's at 121 First Ave. closed for several days. The gate was still down on Monday.)



• First Avenue Laundry Center, 33 First Ave. at Second Street.

• Gentle Wash Laundromat, 97 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. (212) 673-6886. Posted hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drop-off service and self-wash for now.

• J J Cleaners & Laundromat, 339 E. Fifth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (212) 475-9081. Posted hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drop-off service and self-wash for now.

• K & W Best Dry Cleaner & Laundry, 229 E. 11th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (646) 918-7135.

• Kapri Cleaners, 250 E. Houston St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (212) 420-8853.

• Laundry to You, 34 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. (212) 979-6595. Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for drop-off service.

• Lavanderia, 108 Stanton St. near Ludlow Street. (212) 228-2423. Posted hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last wash 3 p.m.

• Load Laundromat, 602 E. 14th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. (917) 265-8226.

• Lois Cleaners, 45 Third Ave. at 10th Street. (212) 995-1684.

• Mango Dry Cleaners, 514 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (917) 535-5137.

• Mike's Dry Cleaners & Tailors, 62 Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. (212) 674-1957. Posted hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drop-off service plus dry cleaning and tailoring.

• New Phoenix Laundromat, 199 First Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street (212) 677-1690. [They were closed on March 31, but back open now.]



• Quality Plus Dry Cleaners, 200 Second Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. (212) 358-8838. Posted hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday for dry cleaning and drop-off laundry service.

• Sew Good Cleaners, 337 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (212) 777-8441. Open for drop off on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Sunrise Cleaners, 66 E. Third St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Only open two days a week — Monday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for dry cleaning and drop-off laundry service.

• Up Cleaners & Drop Off Laundry, 185 Avenue C near 12th Street. (212) 677-7982.



• [Updated April 9: Closed until April 18] Wash 'N Clean On 14, 540 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (646) 654-6774. Posted hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last wash at 3 p.m. (They are also closed on Thursdays.)

• Wash Rite Laundromat, 112 E. Fourth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (212) 598-1800. Posted hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for drop-off service only.

CLOSED

• AAA Cleaners, 216 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street

• C & C Dry Cleaning & Alteration (aka Amy's), 178 E. Seventh St. near Avenue B

• Chris French Cleaners, 57 Fourth Ave. at Ninth Street

• G & M Laundromat, 336 E. 13th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue

• Here to Clean, 124 Avenue C at Eighth Street. Open from 7 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday.


[La La Laundry photo by Steven]

• La La Laundry, 180 Avenue B at 11th Street. They closed yesterday until April 13.

• Lin's Laundromat, 194 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street

• Lucky 999 Laundromat, 55 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street. Closed as of April 1.

• Michelle Cleaner, 169 Avenue C between 10th Street and 11th Street.

• Pinnacle Cleaners, 299 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue

• Quick Coin Ave B Laundromat, 46 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street

• Quick Coin One Laundromat, 175 First Ave. at 11th Street

• 69 Avenue C Laundromat at Fifth Street

• Supreme Laundromat, 96 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street

• Tenth Street Laundromat, 286 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. Undated sign says they'll be closed for another week.

• Up & Up Laundromat, 13 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street

• Zip Laundry Center, 164 Stanton St. between Clinton and Suffolk

NOT VERIFIED YET

• Yang Tze River Laundromat, 324 E. Third St. between Avenue C and Avenue D

Construction next door causes Rossy's Bakery & Café to temporarily close on 3rd Street

As if the current health crisis hasn't bludgeoned the restaurant business enough already, Rossy's Bakery & Café, which had been open for take-out service, was forced to close yesterday due to the ongoing construction next door.

A 7-floor, 20-unit residential building is slated for 238 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C — directly next door to neighborhood favorite Rossy's.

Although Gov. Cuomo halted all non-essential construction back on Friday, the damage to Rossy's kitchen from the site next door had apparently been done.

Rossy shared the news yesterday via Instagram...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Norma Rossy (@rossysbakery) on Mar 31, 2020 at 8:09am PDT

Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery temporarily closes

[Photo from August by Stacie Joy]

In case a knish was in your near future. Neighborhood institution Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery, 137 E. Houston St. at Forsyth, is now closed for at least the next week amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Here's part of their message via Instagram yesterday:

Due to concern of possible exposure for our wonderful employees, Yonah Schimmel will be closed from now through Passover, which starts next Wednesday evening. We'll post again when we know our exact reopening date.

In addition, we will not be filling any Goldbelly orders until we reopen. We're very sorry but we have to put the health and well being of everyone first.

Please be safe, follow social spacing suggestions and together we'll get through this unbelievable time as best we can.

6 posts from March

[Socially distant wedding photos in Tompkins Square Park]

A mini month in review...

• A message from Nixon Figueroa and Ana Lanza, Nicholas Figueroa's parents, on the fifth anniversary of the deadly Second Avenue gas explosion (March 26)

• Local business resources via EVIMA (March 23)

• East Village Neighbors here to help during the coronavirus outbreak (March 21)

• A visit to Russo’s Mozzarella & Pasta (March 11)

• Ray celebrates his 87th birthday (March 10)

• Carlina Rivera states her opposition over plan to transfer air rights for new St. Mark's Place office building (March 5)

Noted

As seen on Second Avenue and 12th Street. The flyers have been spotted on many streets.

Multiple residents have said that they've already filed a price-gouging complaint with the Attorney General’s office. (Form here.)

B-Side has closed for good on Avenue B

[Image via @bsidenyc]

After a few weeks of rumors, B-Side officially announced on March 11 that the 17-year-old neighborhood bar on Avenue B was closing at the end the month.

They had planned for a few closing festivities leading up to this past weekend.

However, B-side's end came sooner than expected after Mayor de Blasio announced that, starting on March 17, NYC's bars and restaurants would need to close — save for food delivery and takeout — during the coronavirus crisis.

A tipster tells us that new owners will be eventually be taking over the space, though they don't plan on keeping the pool table.

B-Side opened in 2003 here between 12th Street and 13th Street.

Stop work order: Non-emergency construction has halted in NYC

[The incoming tech hub on 14th Street from Saturday]

ICYMI: New York State has implemented a ban on non-essential construction during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Moving forward, only emergency construction — a project necessary to protect health and safety of the occupants, or to continue a project if it would be unsafe to allow it to remain undone until it is safe to shut the site — is exempted from the ban.

Other essential construction includes work on roads, bridges, transit facilities, utilities, hospitals or health care facilities, affordable housing, and homeless shelters.

In addition, someone who is the sole employee/worker on a job site is also exempt from the ban that Gov. Cuomo announced late last week.

This Department of Buildings link has more details on the ban and how to file paperwork for projects in the interim.

Commodities is now temporarily closed on 1st Avenue

Updated 4/13 — Commodities is back open now with hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Several EVG readers reported that Commodities was planning to close up shop on Sunday.

Walked by yesterday for a confirmation — the market is currently closed for an unspecified amount of time...



Meanwhile, two blocks to the south, East Village Organic is expected to reopen for business on Friday after a short break.

[Updated] The Chippery, now with signage on 1st Avenue

From the coming-one-of-these-days department... signage for The Chippery arrived late last week at 85 First Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. (Thanks to Goggla for the photo!)

As noted back in January, this will be the first Manhattan outpost for the New Jersey-based chainlet, which currently has four locations in the Garden State.

The quick-serve establishment offers a variety of fried seafood platters and sandwiches. You can find their menu here.

Updated 8 p.m.

Eden reports that they will be open next week for takeout and delivery!

Exercise options and at-home workouts from East Village-based fitness providers

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Interested in isolation yoga or some quarantine pilates? Dancing wildly while sheltering in place? Maybe some HIIT while adhering to the mandate to stay at home and observe social distancing?

Here are some ways you can do just that, and support the hard-hit fitness industry. Included are links to some free, low-cost or donation-based local services as well as more formal price structures for private virtual classes.


[Image via the Flying Squirrel website]

• Flying Squirrel Studios, the cozy pilates space on Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B, is offering virtual mat classes (and virtual private sessions) via Zoom. Mat classes are $15. Find more details at this link.

• The Pilates Local in Union Square has some Vimeo-based free beginner and intermediate mat workouts here. There is also a 15-minute spinal stretch class.

• East Village resident, personal trainer and Avea Pilates instructor Sabrina Castro is offering livestream classes via Zoom, including a 50-minute “Pilates and Chill” class on Fridays at 11 a.m. for $15. You can learn more about her classes here. She also offers 30-minute free coffee-break classes from time to time to get you off the couch.

Meanwhile, Avea Pilates on Avenue A at Seventh Street (second level) is offering virtual classes. Details at this link.

• If you like a bit of dance mixed in with your Pilates, then check out Bianca Falco’s private and semi-private online classes at this link while her Rivington Street space is closed.



• Chinese Hawaiian Kenpo Academy has online group classes or private lesson trial class for $19 (available via Zoom, Facebook Messenger and other apps) for first timers, or a two-month special for $199. More here.

• Now Yoga has hourlong online yoga offerings, including yin and mindfulness/mediation and discussion classes, and well as traditional vinyasa and stretch and restore.

The studio also offers always-free Yoga 4 Cancer (for survivors or those currently in-treatment). All classes are by donation if you so choose, and are done via Zoom. You can see the schedule here. Studio owner Renata Dibiase says she hopes to offer downloadable classes for rent via Vimeo platform soon.



• Stanton Street Yoga is offering $5 at-home drop-in classes for both beginners and more seasoned yogis, with additional yoga nidra, breathwork and meditation classes available. Classes are conducted via Zoom, and you can register and see the current schedule here. You will need to have a (free) Mind Body account to participate.

• Body Evolutions Studio East Village has at-home chair and mat exercises via Zoom, FaceTime or Facebook Messenger with a suggested rate of $40/private session. Gyrotonics master teacher and studio owner Billy Macagnone says, “Motion creates emotion, so the way we move can very much dictate the way we feel.” You can email info@bodyevolutions.com (attention Gloria) to set up a session.

• Blink Fitness, which has a location on Avenue A and Fourth Street at Lafayette, is doing free live and on-demand Facebook videos for at-home workouts, like this one that uses Tide bottles and a suitcase!

• Planet Fitness is offering free live via Facebook at-home 20-minute workouts to relive stress and keep mobile daily at 7 p.m. here.

• Union Square’s 305 Fitness has free twice-daily (at noon and 6 p.m.) YouTube-based live dance digital events, including classes like Hump Day Hot Mess with Ana and Country Hoedown. There’s also a 30-minute kid-friendly dance class on Sunday evenings at 6.

• If Qi Gong is your thing, then you can move energy and promote balance and adaptability at home with LES resident and Abrons Arts Center instructor Ilona Bito, who has sliding scale classes available. More info here.

• Sky Ting Yoga, which has a studio down on Allen Street, is offering online yoga classes daily. Find more info at this link.



Some other options include solo running, biking or walking, an especially nice path is along the East River Park. There are a few outdoor gyms and tracks but the city has closed them to group fitness activities and encourages you to observe strict social distancing of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.

NYC Parks Department has these strengthen and tone handouts for legs/glutes, back/core and arms/shoulders, most of which you can do at home. If you do not have lightweight dumbbells at home, then you can use milk jugs, water bottles or detergent containers instead.


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