Café Social 68 now serving from their all-new to-go door

Café Social 68 reopened yesterday for the first time since mid-March here at 68 Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.

They set up a to-go counter at the front door where you can order coffee ...



... or one of their varieties of croissants and other café fare...



For now they plan to be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Van Da continues its weekend collaboration with Chef Hannah Wong

[Reader-submitted photo]

Van Da, the well-regarded Vietnamese restaurant on Fourth Street, is continuing its collaboration with chef Hannah Wong (of the incoming Brooklyn restaurant Haema), for a weekend takeout service. (Saturday and Sunday, or today and tomorrow.)

You can find the Haema-Van Da menu, which changes each weekend, and order in advance via this form. (If this is of interest, then consider putting in your order early: they've sold out the past two weekends on Sunday.)

You pick up the food at Van Da, 234 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B from noon to 8 p.m.

Friday's parting shot

A moment on 14th Street. Photo by Walter Wlodarczyk.

'Male' call

Here's a video for "Male Bonding," from the Dutch trio the Homesick's album titled The Big Exercise. (February 2020, SubPop). It would be on a top-10 list if we cared about those at the moment.

Anton van Dalen, drawing in isolation

[Photo by Jason van Dalen]

Anton van Dalen, the artist who has lived on Avenue A for decades, recently sent me an email with some new drawings.

Throughout March, he said that he worked to put his learning about COVID-19 on paper by pencil.

Here's more from his letter, which he invited me to share along with his work:

My thinking and drawing are intimately linked — it’s my means of coming to understanding.

I have always worked from the perspective of home, then street, neighborhood, city, world. So we learned that COVID-19 came to envelop every dimension of our private and public life.

Events rudely stirred up my still emotionally scarred childhood memories of World War II Holland. And as more and more military language has come to be used to halt the spread of the pandemic.

I wanted my visuals to center on the East Village, and began the drawings at my Avenue A home. But then family and friends, because of my age of 81, thought I should get out of the city.

Came to understand that I should listen to my children and retreat to the countryside of Long Island. Through their generosity I was able to turn my scribbles into accessible drawings.

Throughout my effort I worried about being appropriately thoughtful about this most serious matter. So I learned from family and friends, also daily news reports about the virus and its implications.

But then I also had to integrate mine and everyone’s frightened inner self into the drawings. Still I was concerned, not to be frivolous or satirical, rather keep the subject big, and myself small.

Downtown Bakery returns

From the EVG comments... inexpensive eats favorite Downtown Bakery reopened here on First Avenue near Fourth Street for takeout and delivery. You can also call ahead for pickup: (212) 254-1757. They created a new pickup window right inside the door and sealed off the space with Plexiglass. For now, they are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, though those hours may change depending on the business.

For more help with what's open, check out the interactive map created by the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) along with residents Perry Leung, Paul Gale and Zhi Keng He ... the EVG link is here ... the EVCC link is here.

Elsewhere Espresso is back in action tomorrow

You'll have another coffee choice again moving forward: Elsewhere Espresso is reopening tomorrow (Saturday!) at 335 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Per the gate signage, they'll be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo via @eastvillagefoodfinds!

Old favorites

EVG contributor Susan Schiffman was cleaning out some drawers at home and came across menus for three old (and long-closed) favorites — La Foccacceria, Jade Mountain and Bamboo House...





Don't remember when they all closed — well, OK Bamboo House in November 2007 ... and Jade Mountain in the summer of 2007.

This would be a good PAUSE cleaning activity. Unfortunately, the EVG menu drawer went in 2011.

Thursday's parting shot

EVG regular Lola Saénz ran into Michael "Mikey" Cole today outside Mikey Likes It on Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street.

He was checking in on his ice cream shop, which has been closed for the duration of the COVID-19 PAUSE.

Mikey has been staying home and staying healthy ... and he's looking forward to reopening again one of these days...

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's the latest NY See panel, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.

This week, HuffPost published a three-panel comic that Grant created about small business owners. You can find that work here.

RIP Shirley Campbell

Shirley Campbell, a longtime activist and East Village resident, died on April 12. According to notices from the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association posted at her former building on Fourth Street, she died from COVID-19 complications.

Campbell, who was born in 1940, had most recently been living at a location of the New Jewish Home.

Per the flyer:

Shirley was a well-known activist on the Lower East Side. She participated in housing and other social justice struggles for more than 30 years. She was an avid tennis enthusiast who loved music, film and art.

Local State Sen. Brad Hoylman offered his condolences...

Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Shirley Campbell, who gave so much to @CooperSq, the Mutual Housing Association, and the people of Manhattan as an activist.

COVID-19 takes more than we can bear each day. May her memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/sJbPGyDMbe

— Senator Brad Hoylman (@bradhoylman) April 17, 2020

Her friends plan to hold a celebration of her life this summer. Will post more details when they become available.

There are now plans for an 8-story residential building on this long-empty 10th Street lot

Plans for an 8-floor residential building were filed last Friday for the long-empty lot at 351 E. 10th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

This past October, an array of city and federal officials came together during a press conference "to celebrate the commencement of the preservation and rehabilitation of project-based Section 8 housing in the East Village." During this event, officials also noted that more affordable housing was set for this 10th Street parcel.

The pending permit lists that the building will have 28 residences with amenities that include a laundry room, bicycle storage and a 40-foot backyard space.

John Scobie of the NYC-based developer Center Development Corp. is listed as the property owner. It's not clear at the moment how many of these units will be designated as affordable.

Plans for housing here date to 2005 when permits were filed for a 6-floor building with 24 units. The work was never approved though, per public records.

In the past year, the city has announced fixed-income housing plans for 204 Avenue A and 535 E. 12th St. as well as 302 E. Second St.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Details on the preservation and rehabilitation of 243 affordable housing units in the East Village

Caracas Arepa Bar returns for takeout and delivery on 7th Street

[Images via @caracasarepabar]

Caracas Arepa Bar reopened yesterday for takeout and delivery here at 91 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

You can order online or via their app or the old-fashioned way (the phone). Find their website here.Hours: Noon to 9 p.m. daily.

They're also selling a variety of meal kits ...

View this post on Instagram

⏭ We're #OPEN back where it all started! ⏮ >>>Get your "Arepas at Home Kit" ready to bake #arepas & the filling of your choice! Want to stock up for later? We got you! >>>NEW "Arepa box" also fillings & appetizers! >>>Plus our regular take-out menu with all the ready to eat food you know & #love >>> Check all we got for you on our website (link in bio) & thank you all for your love & support! Also on #Doordash⬅️ + #palanteBrincaElSapo #thefrogalwaysleapsforward #caracaseastvillage #arepastogo #venezuelanfood #nycstrong #stayhealthy

A post shared by Caracas Arepa Bar (@caracasarepabar) on Apr 21, 2020 at 7:32pm PDT

Caracas Arepa Bar proactively decided to close after service on March 14.

Despite what Google says, Tompkins Square Park is open

In case you were searching on Google to decide whether to visit Tompkins Square Park...



The Park, named after the nearby Tompkins Square Bar Daniel D. Tompkins, who served as Governor of New York from 1807 to 1817 and as Vice President under James Monroe from 1817 to 1825, is open. Mostly. During the COVID-19 outbreak, amenities including the dog run ... playgrounds ... handball courts and basketball courts are locked up for public use.

Still, the trees are looking good...

There's now a Twitter account that will let you know about the lines outside Trader Joe's and Target on 14th Street

With the possibility of rain, the line outside of Trader Joe’s extends maybe 15 people. Shorter than I’ve seen in a while. #EastVillage

— EV TJs and Target Line (@EV_TJsAndTarget) April 21, 2020

The account launched on Monday, for anyone who may want some neighborly info to save time standing in a line. Per the description: "Headed to the Trader Joe’s or Target on 14th St and Ave A? We’ll let you know how the line looks. Not a bot, just two people stuck in self isolation."

2:30pm : No line at Trader Joe’s, and 8 people at Target.

— EV TJs and Target Line (@EV_TJsAndTarget) April 21, 2020

At opening, the Trader Joe’s line is backed up to Dion Cleaners, but they aren’t very spread apart. Target has no line.

— EV TJs and Target Line (@EV_TJsAndTarget) April 22, 2020

The Trader Joe’s line shifted directions and is now at Dion Cleaners at Ave A.

— EV TJs and Target Line (@EV_TJsAndTarget) April 21, 2020

Earth Day's parting shot

View of Tompkins Square Park this afternoon from Seventh Street...

Noted

Someone left this message — Disconnect From Desire — along the fence at the Grace Church School yard on Fourth Avenue and 10th Street ... photo today via Derek Berg...

Where residents can get a free meal during the week

Any hungry East Village resident in need of a free meal during the COVID-19 outbreak can pick one up at one of several local public schools.

The city has been offering free grab-and-go meals for any resident Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. since the beginning of April.

Per the NYC Department of Education website: The Meals Hubs will operate for children and families from 7:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m., and for adults without children from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (There is no need to prove residency or bring any other form of ID.)

Local schools offering free meals include:

• P.S. 19 Asher Levy, 185 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street

• P.S. 64, 600 E. Sixth St. at Avenue B

• P.S. 63/the Star Academy, 121 E. Third St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue





The meal features an assortment of sandwiches or wraps, a vegetable, piece of fruit and milk. (There's a daily menu here.)

At P.S. 64, where Stacie Joy shared these photos, only two people are allowed inside at a time — one at the food baskets and one downstairs waiting.

Two Boots Pizza returns today after a 17-day break

Two Boots announced a two-plus week closure starting on April 6 to regroup and give their employees a much-needed break.

The pizzeria on Avenue A and Third Street returns to service today. Moving forward, their temporary hours are 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

And they weren't completely off-duty these past two weeks: They served pizzas to first responders and other health-care workers via @sliceouthunger.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Two Boots Pizza (@twobootspizza) on Apr 21, 2020 at 7:09am PDT

SMØR returns to service today

[Sebastian Perez, left, and Sebastian Bangsgaard]

SMØR, the Noridc cafe on 12th Street, is returning to service today. Owners Sebastian Perez and Sebastian Bangsgaard are debuting a temporary all-day menu available through delivery, pick up and curbside ordering to ensure safety guidelines.

They'll be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. here at 441 E. 12th St. just west of Avenue A.

SMØR closed on March 15 at the start of the ban on dining at NYC restaurants and cafes.

Thanks to Lola Sáenz for the photo!