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.

Grant tells me that this week's frame is from early March, when he overheard a couple talking about COVID-19. "It really caught my attention, as I hadn't heard of anyone personally at that point talking about someone who had the virus. I decided to change the name — just thought it was better to..."

This East Village resident discusses getting an antibody test

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

It’s just after the 7 p.m. Clap Because We Care for essential workers when I am able to meet with East Village resident Alex Cobus, NYU adjunct faculty and administrator (associate director of career services), to talk about her experience getting tested for the COVID-19 antibodies.

Walk us through the process of getting the antibody test. How did you schedule it? How were you selected for testing? Where did you go?

I received two separate emails both offering the test. One was from my primary physician, and the second was from NYU Langone. My doctor is affiliated with NYU Langone, so I have an account with their online platform, LabFinder. I clicked on them both, and the one via NYU Langone was just easier and it allowed me to choose the exam with my primary physician.

Before I could schedule the appointment, they asked a brief series of questions. Each question was about if I had experienced a COVID-19 symptom in recent history — fever above 102 degrees, aches and chills, etc.

I answered no to all, except the final screening question, which was if I had been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. A coworker of mine at NYU Wagner had tested positive shortly after we started working remotely, and we had been in contact, so I answered yes. I suspect, but don’t know that my positive answer to this last screening question qualified me for the exam.

My primary physician is in Midtown, so I decided to take a Lyft just to ensure that I got there safely and on time. I haven’t gone anywhere, except the occasional walk for my health, so it was a bit strange to go so far and see other neighborhoods. The route along Second Avenue was pretty quiet despite the great weather, so I decided that I would walk home after the exam.

What does the antibody testing entail? What was the process like from beginning to end?

Upon arrival, the front desk was staffed with three people, when there are normally five or six. They all wore proper masks and gloves and checked me in right away. They took my temperature right there with an ear probe. Then I sat in the waiting area. There were a handful of other patients waiting and all wearing masks themselves, and it appeared they too were there for the antibody test.

I don’t recall any explicit social-distancing guidance in the waiting room, but we all kept at least six feet apart around the room, and they clearly didn’t schedule many people to come in at once. There were four of us at most in a room that could hold about 20.

Then, just like any other visit, I was called back to an examination room where they explained the first part of the exam, which was a series of blood pressure tests taken on my arm, just like I usually have. But they also took a reading at both ankles, also with a cuff, and they attached electrodes to the soles of my feet.

Then they took my blood pressure in all areas in three different positions: lying down on the examination table, sitting up on the table, and then standing for which they removed the electrodes on the soles of my feet.

And for some of the blood pressure readings, they had me perform different breathing tests. I was asked to inhale and exhale deeply several times and these were timed. I had never done these breathing exams before, other than when the doctor asks one to breathe while listening to your lungs with a stethoscope.

To be honest, I started to wonder at this point if they had made a mistake and were giving me the wrong exam. I confirmed this was part of the antibody test and we continued.

Then I waited for the doctor to arrive when he explained next steps and asked if I had any questions.

Will you need to repeat this testing again if you are negative? When will you get your test results?

I will get the results via the LabFinder portal. The doctor explained to me that there is an approximately 10 percent chance of a false-positive or false-negative. So, regardless of the result, it's not 100 percent. But since I don’t think I contracted COVID-19, that will influence any decision to retake at some point.

Were you also tested for COVID-19? Did you think you may have had the virus or been in contact with someone who was ill?

They didn’t test me for the virus, and I don’t think I have had it. Like many others, I did have a terrible cold right before Christmas and that went through our entire office. While it was a terrible cold/mild flu, I didn’t experience the typical COVID-19 symptoms.

But since I was in contact with someone who did test positive, it’s possible I was exposed. We work in the same office and she tested positive mere days after we were all instructed to start working from home, so she potentially exposed many of us before becoming symptomatic.

What’s the experience been like? What prompted you to get the testing?

Now that it’s done, the experience was fine, save for the gruff lab technicians who didn’t bandage me well, and my bandage leaked — highly unusual and the least of my concerns.

I decided to get it for a number of reasons. First, I was simply curious. I had potentially been exposed by a positive-testing coworker, and potentially from just living in New York, one of the epicenters of the virus. If I did have the antibodies and could support research and/or a vaccine, then I have an obligation.

Moreover, I have the privilege of health insurance and access to the test. Those were powerful reasons to get the test. And I know the tests aren’t 100 percent conclusive, but I assume I’ll take it again at some point, and together it may be conclusive down the road. Finally, after feeling a bit helpless for so long, it felt good to do something!

Postscript:

Since this interview, Alex received the results, and they were negative. This is some language that accompanied the results that may provide some helpful context:

Negative results do not rule out SARS-COV-2 infection, particularly in those who have been in contact with the virus. Follow-up testing with a molecular diagnostic should be considered to rule out infection in these individuals. Results from antibody testing should not be used as the sole basis to diagnose or exclude SARS-COV-2 infection or to inform infection status. Positive results may be due to past or present infection with non-SARS-COV-2 coronavirus strains such as coronavirus hku1, nl63, oc43, or 229e.

I asked Alex how she felt about the results.

I feel unsurprised, and maybe a little disappointed, but not really.

I tried imagining my response for each outcome and realized that since there was a chance the results were incorrect, that it would require a follow-up exam to confirm.

If I had ever experienced symptoms, AND tested positive, then it would be more likely that I had had it. But I still have some indication that I most likely haven't contracted it before, and I hope that my exam contributes to a larger body of knowledge about the virus in NYC. I'll discuss with my doctor about any next steps.

Opinion: COVID-19 + Storm Surge = Catastrophe for the Lower East Side and East Village

[Photo by East Village resident Amy Berkov]

Op-Ed by Pat Arnow

An especially dangerous hurricane season starts this June. “With top hurricane forecasters predicting 16 named storms and warning of potentially up to four major Category 3, 4, or 5 storms this year, a hurricane hit in the midst of a pandemic is likely,” writes Craig Hooper in Forbes.

A storm flooding the Lower East Side and East Village would be even worse than Superstorm Sandy that devastated our neighborhood in 2012. Besides facing damage to our homes, we could be forced into shelters, exposed to the potential spread of coronavirus. “There is no plan in place to support virus-safe social distancing for hurricane evacuees,” says Hooper.

Seeking protection now

Months ago, the Mayor and City Council promised to study interim protection for our Lower East Side and East Village neighborhood. We have nothing. Our lives are at stake. We need flood barriers now.

This is not a new demand by neighborhood residents. It has been one of the reasons for widespread community opposition to the $1.45 billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) plan. The project will take at least three years (and likely much longer) to build flood protection.

This badly conceived flood control project would be a disaster for our neighborhood under normal circumstances. During this pandemic, the flaws in the plan are even more stark.

Demolishing a park during a pandemic

Sixty percent of the 1.2-mile park will be closed and bulldozed this fall. That’s a problem. It’s the only place in the neighborhood to go for fresh air and exercise with room enough for social distancing. We should keep 100 percent of the park open for the duration of the pandemic.

That’s especially true now that so many of the NYCHA campuses in our area have been torn up and surrounded by chain-link fences. Hundreds of large trees have already been felled. Twelve playgrounds have been closed. This is construction for a flood control project.

However, protection is for the buildings and utilities only. Residents will still have to evacuate during a storm surge. How can those who are displaced be protected from COVID-19?

Demolishing more than half of the park will cause even more damage during this pandemic. “The majority of conditions that increase risk of death from COVID-19 are also affected by long-term exposure to air pollution,” reports The New York Times. The park eases the effects of our city’s pollution. If dust-raising construction begins during the pandemic, we can anticipate additional fatalities, because “even a small increase in exposure to fine particulate matter leads to a significant increase in the Covid-19 death rate.”

This is a neighborhood that already suffers higher rates of asthma and other upper respiratory diseases, due to emissions from traffic on the adjacent FDR Drive.

The pandemic just adds to the arguments the community has been making all along about the mental and physical health effects on our community from the ESCR, and why it is important to redirect the plan.

“I was so pleased to see how the entire path from 34th Street all the way south was so frequented the last few days in particular. Bikers, runners, walkers, dogs, baby strollers — just how it should be. I couldn’t help thinking if the pandemic came one year later [when the park is torn up], we would have no refuge,” says Lauren Pohl, a local resident.

“Perhaps the city can reallocate the funds from destroying our green space to trying to provide food to so many in need and help with rent and the like,” Pohl suggests.

The densely populated neighborhood along the park could use it. This is the unwealthy side of the Lower East Side and East Village. Residents are suffering now from the economic impact of New York’s shutdown — and from high rates of infection from Covid-19.

Seeking a green recovery

Now New York City is facing a potential shortfall of $9.7 billion in tax revenue in 2020 and 2021. The economy is free falling into a depression era-disaster. Does it make sense for the government to invest $1.45 billion in a flood control project that does not provide flood protection for years and that will destroy a park that is vital to the health of the community?

Legislators must revisit the poorly conceived ESCR project and come up with a better plan that provides immediate flood protection, saves the open green space of East River Park and does not endanger the health of our community and that includes community input and oversight. We need a truly green recovery.

-----

Pat Arnow is the founder of the grassroots community group, East River Park ACTION, which advocates for flood protection with minimal destruction of the park.

The opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily represent the the editorial position of this website.

An appreciation: Kanoyama

Via the EVG inbox...

I wanted to give a shout out to Kanoyama on 11th Street and Second Avenue. The restaurant looks low-key at first glance, but it has one Michelin star and consistently serves fresh and creative Japanese food.

I was excited to see them re-open this past week, and even more excited to see that they were selling to-go items at their front door (meatballs, corn tempura and even oysters!). Really hope they make it through this.

Kanoyama is at 175 Second Ave. at 11th Street. They are open for delivery from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Want to share an appreciation of an essential East Village business that remains open during the COVID-19 crisis? Send us an email here. (Thank you for the suggestions!)

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Reader appreciation: Le Fournil Bakery

• Reader appreciation: Abraço

• Reader appreciation: Post

• Reader appreciation: Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery

• Reader appreciation: Barnyard Cheese Shop

• Reader appreciation: Good Beer

• Reader appreciation: Mamoum's Falafel

• Reader appreciation: Feast

Construction watch: 94-96 Avenue A

Workers were spotted starting last Thursday at 94-96 Avenue A, the building on the northeast corner of Avenue A and Sixth Street.

As we reported in May 2019, the new owner of No. 94-96 filed plans with the city for a one-floor extension at the building that previously housed Sidewalk Bar and Restaurant.



That work is underway, as you can hear the sound of jackhammers coming from the roof. And this work is apparently considered essential in the eyes of the city... the Essential Active Construction Site lists this address under the sub-category of "essential facility" and "affordable housing." To date, there hasn't been any public announcements about an affordable housing component here...



According to the approved work permit, there'll be an interior renovation of the fourth-floor apartments, and an addition of a fifth floor. The three buildings in this assemblage/zoning lot — 94 Avenue A, 96 Avenue A and 501 E. Sixth St. — will be combined into one, per the permit.

The building's current square footage will increase from 8,304 to 10,151. Despite the expansion, the taller No. 94-96 will have 10 residential units instead of the current 11. The filing also shows that there are plans for a roof deck.

This corner was home for 32-plus years to the Sidewalk, which closed in February 2019.

Penn South Capital paid $9.6 million for the property in March 2019, per public records. Pini Milstein, who retired, was the principal owner of the building as well as the operator of the Sidewalk.

A bar-restaurant called August Laura opened in the building's retail space last October. They are currently closed during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• 1-floor expansion planned for Avenue A building that housed the Sidewalk

• The building housing the former Sidewalk sells on Avenue A

Wednesday's parting shots

The east side of Tompkins Square Park — kinda toward the Eighth Street exit at Avenue B — is looking like a watercolor painting in recent days... as these photos via Goggla show...

Noted

First ice cream truck sighting of 2020... Avenue A at Seventh Street today... and I did not see any takers while the truck was parked there...

Avant Garden continuing to offer free meals to those in need

[Image via @avantgardennyc]

As a reminder... Avant Garden is offering free plant-based meals to anyone in need ... this happens Wednesdays through Sundays, 4 to 9 p.m., here at 130 E. Seventh St. just west of Avenue A...



In March, Ravi DeRossi's East Village restaurants were giving out free lunches to NYC school kids.

Another new building permit filed for the long-empty lot at 89 1st Ave.

Another set of new building permits are now on file with the city for a development at 89 First Ave., the long-empty lot between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

According to the DOB filings, the proposed building is six floors with eight residential units and ground-floor retail. In total, the structure is 8,183 square feet.

This is the second time in recent years that plans have been filed for a new building here. In 2017, the city never approved plans for a similar-sized structure — eight units, six floors.

As previously reported, Florence Toledano was the owner of this lot. In 2013, public records show that the deed for the property was transferred from the Florence Toledano Living Trust to 89 First Avenue LLC. The DOB permit lists Daniel Toledano as the manager of the property. (We do not know the relationship between Daniel Toledano and Florence Toledano. One reader said Daniel is a nephew of Florence.)

Daniel Toledano is still listed as the property owner and developer of the project.

In December 2017, workers dismantled the sculpture fence that had lined the lot for years (since the late 1980s, per one estimate). The fence was created at the former Gas Station (aka Art Gallery Space 2B) on Avenue B and Second Street by Claire Kalemkeris and Johnny Swing in collaboration with Linus Coraggio.


[EVG photo from 2017]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing?

Drilling and soil testing commences at the long-empty lot at 89 1st Ave.

Workers remove the sculpture fence and prep lot at 89 1st Ave.

Vegan mainstay Caravan of Dreams is back open on 6th Street

Caravan of Dreams, the vegan-raw food mainstay (since 1991) at 405 E. Sixth St., has reopened here between Avenue A and First Avenue.

For now, this EVG favorite is open daily from 1-8 p.m. for takeout and delivery. You can visit their Facebook page here to check out their current menu options.

Checking in on Anyway Cafe

Anyway Cafe, the wholly unique Russian restaurant-vodka-bar-live music venue at 34 E. Second St. near Second Avenue, is currently closed ... and management recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to help make it through the COVID-19 crisis.

I asked Natasha Stolichnaya, a bar manager who's also one of Anyway's performers, how things were going.

Well, I wish I could give you some uplifting quote ... but the reality is that just like most people nowadays we have a lot of anxiety going on. And of course, there are more questions than answers. Even though we have a lot of regulars, would they come back? And if some of them do, would it be enough for us to stay afloat until better times?

And what about our musicians, the soul of our place? Will it be OK for them to perform, maybe not the full bands but maybe duos or trios? We absolutely have to and will support them to the best of our ability!

It's certainly an emotional rollercoaster. One day it's all doom and gloom, and the next day we say — no worries, we'll be fine, just gotta get creative. After all, we are New Yorkers damn it — we've been through so much already.

For the dogs: Shake and Tail now open on 11th Street

From the inbox: Longtime EVG regular Liberation Iannillo brings us word of a new dog-grooming (and walking!) business that opened recently at 330 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. They were originally set to open in March, but that didn't happen.

You can find the website for Shake and Tail right here.

A sunny spring day disrupted by SantaCon flashbacks

As seen on First Avenue and 10th Street today by Mary Jane Glaser...

Faces of 2nd Avenue

A moment today on Second Avenue near St. Mark's Place via Derek Berg...

These East Village residents are helping feed families in Queens during the COVID-19 crisis

A group of longtime residents have come together to form East Village Loves Queens.

Here's more about their volunteer mission via the EVG inbox:

Although the East Village has taken a significant hit from COVID-19, our neighbors in Queens have been completely devastated. Our friends at Hungry Monks in Ridgewood, Queens, are one of the only pantry and food services still standing, and they have fed more than 10,000 families since COVID-19 hit, using up a year's worth of their budget in a month.

As long time East Villagers, we wanted to find a way to support our friends there. We’ve been volunteering to create and run a number of local campaigns and the response and generosity from East Villagers has been amazing. When it came to getting support for the Hungry Monks, we wanted to create something that felt more local for people, so that they felt more connected and inclined to support.

Thanks to our building manager, we were able to turn our basement into an East Village outpost where local residents can drop off pantry items or mail them to us, and we deliver them directly to Hungry Monks in Queens twice per week. So far the response has been great and our network has been extremely generous.

On two recent Mondays, Ali Sahin, the owner of C&B Cafe on Seventh Street near Avenue B, has donated his space to the group. On May 4, EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by C&B to document the volunteers, who were aiming on this day to cook 700 meals and prepare 100 family-size pantry packs.















If you're interested in helping, the group is collecting pantry items and other donations. Visit their website here for more details and contact information.

Cafe Mogador is open now in the evenings for takeout and delivery

Cafe Mogador, a mainstay of St. Mark's Place these past 37 years, reopened last evening here between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Moving forward, they'll be open nightly from 5-10 for takeout and delivery.

Meanwhile, more and more East Village restaurants-bars-cafes are back in action of late, a fairly lengthy list that includes Kanoyama, Davey's Ice Cream (now with sandwiches for lunch!), El Camion, Takahachi, China Town Chinese Restaurant, East Village Social and Mighty Quinn's Barbecue, among others.

To help you sort out all these reopenings, the volunteers are continuing to update the map created in collaboration with the East Village Community Coalition. You can access the map at this link.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Updating: Here's a map of what's open in the East Village

Jewel Bako is permanently closing

Jewel Bako, the celebrated sushi restaurant on Fifth Street, will not be reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

Multiple neighbors and Jewel Bako fans have pointed out the sign on the restaurant's front window between Second Avenue and Cooper Square that notes an open house sale.

Up for grabs: Kitchen accessories and appliances — as well as some bottles of wine...



An employee at the restaurant confirmed the closure, but didn't have any other information.

New York magazine called Jewel Bako, which has maintained a Michelin star for the last 15 years, "one of the most enjoyable places to enjoy sushi in the city."

Jack and Grace Lamb also operate the well-regarded Restaurant Ukiyo next door on Fifth Street. No word on the status of Ukiyo, which opened in the spring of 2018.

After the rain

The resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, Christo (on top in the first pic) and Amelia, grab some of the fading sunlight early this evening after the showers passed through ...

Owner of Taste Wine leaving the business to help save his young sons Benny and Josh

You've likely noticed the for rent sign hanging at Taste Wine on Third Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street.

It went up in early March ... followed shortly by another sign — a heartfelt letter from owner Gary Landsman that details his family's fundraising efforts to help find a treatment for the fatal genetic disease that his two young sons have.



The letter reads:

I launched Taste Wine Co back in 2015 with much excitement.

Earlier that year I married Jennie, the woman of my dreams & with her support we built a beautiful store, hired a great staff and loaded up the store with great wine and spirits. The future was bright!

The store experienced growing pains, but we were committed to making it work.

Then, about two years after we opened we learned that our first born son, 1 year old Benny, and his two-week old brother Josh both had a fatal genetic disease called Canavan. I was in denial & wouldn’t allow myself to think about what the doctor told us; that our sons will never walk, never talk and live a short and challenged life.

While still attempting to make Taste Wine Co successful, my wife and I launched a public campaign to raise money to #SaveBennyAndJosh. We found a researcher with 20+ years of experience who’d been working on a cure who believed she could treat my boys. The problem? We needed to raise LOTS of money.

My family is now working tirelessly to raise the final $1.8M needed (above the nearly $4M raised so far), to pay the remaining costs (due over the next 90 days) and treat our boys. If all goes well, the experimental gene therapy to treat their Disease will take place at Dayton Children’s Hospital this May/June.

This ordeal has reinforced a belief that much as I cherish the business and my customers (many of whom have become good friends), family must come first.

And so I’ve made the decision to give up the business.
We hope someone will want to take it over, but we realize that might not happen. As such, you may notice fewer products in store and special sales we’ll run to help sell as much of our inventory as possible.

We hope you’ll continue to buy your wine and spirits at Taste Wine Co. as we go through this transition and figure out what comes next.

To my loyal customers and friends, I thank you with all my heart for your years of support. It is time to be with my family. Wishing you peace, health and happiness.

Yours, most sincerely and appreciatively,
Gary Landsman

Landsman's time with the shop is winding down this week, and there are sales: 20-percent off all bottles of wine (minimum three-bottle purchase) and 10-percent off spirits. Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. today through Friday.

Landsman told me that he remains hopeful that he can sell the business before taking the family to Dayton Children's Hospital in Ohio later this spring. (If he can't find a buyer, then he'll be forced to closed.)

"There are three parties that seem serious about purchasing the store, and keeping things going, which our customers have let us know they would love to see happen," he said. "After [this] week, I'll likely come in a bit to try and close things out, but my goals at this point are to sell everything we have left in stock and consummate a deal with one of the prospective buyers."

You can read more about the campaign to save Benny and Josh — as well as others with Canavan — at this link.

The best carnitas in Los Angeles are coming to the East Village

Signage is up now for Amigo at 29 Second Ave. between First Street and Second Street...

There's only a hint of what's to come to the space. This is a collaboration between Chef Ruben Rodriguez of Nai Tapas at 85 Second Ave. and Juan “Billy” Acosta, whose family runs the much-ballyhooed Carnitas El Momo in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.

First, a little about Carnitas El Momo via a recent Los Angeles Times review:

Romulo “Momo” Acosta learned the art of exceptional carnitas from his father, a farmer and carnitero from Salamanca, a town about 200 miles northwest of Mexico City in the state of Guanajuato. Acosta moved to Southern California and began selling carnitas on weekends in the mid-1970s as a side gig from his job as a welder. His porcine mastery didn’t become a citywide phenomenon until his children, including his daughter, Adriana Acosta, and son, Juan “Billy” Acosta, mobilized the family business with a food truck, and occasionally street stands, beginning in 2013.

Anyway, Rodriguez and Billy met and decided to team up for what L.A. Taco says will be "arguably the best carnitas you will ever find in the U.S."

And what to expect here? Back to L.A. Taco:

An elevated taqueria without “the stereotypes” with a nice bar is the idea. The menu is going to be composed of what Carnitas El Momo is known for “because what he does is beautiful,” according to Rodriguez. He’ll be adding an oxtail taco and a smoked trout taco to the menu and they will both be collaborating on some menu items together, but that’s still to be determined.

It’s no secret that El Momo’s recipe and technique are a highly sought after treasure and when asked about it, Rodriguez answers: “It’s a very emotional thing, especially when we are talking about our food. This is how we relate to emotions, our family, our past. So I wanted to make sure he felt comfortable. [Billy] as well did his part for me to feel comfortable.”

“I will be going out there for the beginning and get it rolling” Billy explains. “I’ll be bringing a few of my crew mates to ensure the same quality and eventually I’ll be leaving a full staff running it.” The plan is to have the family’s trusted nephew, Ricardo Sandov, who has worked his way up over the years, to man the taqueria.

Amigo is hoping for a July opening date in the space that was previously home to Neapolitan Express.

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A post shared by Carnitas El Momo (@carnitaselmomo) on Apr 28, 2020 at 9:42pm PDT