A visit to East Side Ink

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

To learn more about businesses in the personal-services category that reopened under Phase 3 of Gov. Cuomo’s PAUSE order last month, I decided to visit East Side Ink, the tattoo, laser and microblading shop at 95 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

Jen Terban-Hertell, one of the three co-owners (joined by Yadira Mendez-Firvida, the manager and “Shop Mom” and tattoo artist Josh Lord, well-known for celebrity inking) welcomes me to the low-key, no-attitude body art location.


[Jen Terban-Hertell]

She shows me around the open-concept salon, with two floors of space, a good mix of light and dark material, and a plethora of cleaning and sanitizing supplies.


[Ground floor]


[Lower level]


[Yadira Mendez-Firvida and Gianna, East Side manager]

The longtime shop (in existence since 1992, before tattooing became legal in NYC in 1997) is operating as per mandate at 50-percent capacity, and has plenty of space between clients as well a strict(er) regimen for visitors, which Jen explains in our interview below.





Jen’s specialty is microblading. During our conversation, we discuss tattooing during the COVID-19 crisis, what it’s been like since the shop reopened, and about how people use ink to pamper themselves and as a reflection of current events.

What COVID-19 safety precautions do you have in place?

We have numerous safety precautions in place. We’ve been tattooing for more than 20 years so taking safety precautions is not new to us. However, we now require all of our clients to wait outside until their appointment, come to their appointment alone, wear a face mask at all times, have their temperature taken when they come in, fill out our COVID-19 waiver, sterilize their phone, and sanitize their hands.

Also, we no longer allow eating and drinking in the shop. All of our artists are also following the same protocols. They have face masks on at all times and have longer breaks in between appointments to sterilize their stations. And, of course everyone is washing their hands constantly. We’re all a bit OCD when it comes to cleanliness and not cross-contaminating, so this is easy for us!

Were there any ownership or staff worries about being able to reopen?

We are all excited to get back to work and have the opportunity to rebuild. We have been on the block for more than 13 years and just want to get back to normal. Unfortunately, not all of our staff returned, and some relocated during the shutdown. They are missed. Everyone else is happy to be back!


[Gunny]


[Charles Arizmendy]


[Caesar Bacchvs]


[Jonathan Ellis]


[Cheo Park]

What has the reaction been from regulars — and potential new clients — about the reopening?

Our clients, artists, and neighbors are all excited to see us back and reopened! Even the local dogs are thrilled! (We give out treats.) Everyone who has come back, or made an appointment is eager and excited to be coming in and doing something nice for themselves. It feels good to pamper yourself.

Were there any long-term business effects from the PAUSE order?

It’s too soon to tell what the long-term effects will be from the financial impact. However, in short term we are just trying to rebuild. As a small business we did not qualify for any loans and are still responsible for a huge overhead. It will be nice to just survive all this as a business and move on. Only time will tell and we are still in the process of figuring it all out.

Have current events influenced anyone’s choice for a tattoo? For example, have you had any COVID-19-related tattoo requests? Or any from the BLM movement after George Floyd’s death?

Yes. We have always done tattoos as a reflection of the times. We did a lot of tattoos during 9/11 as well. People use tattoos as a way of healing and claiming and taking control of their bodies. It’s very rewarding for us to provide that.

How have things been since you reopened the shop? And what are your plans moving forward?

Things have been good but different. A large percentage of our clients were people from out of town — tourists and walk-ins. We no longer have them. We are just focusing on our locals and regulars and continuing the work we started before the shutdown. We are hopeful for the future.

We’ve been in the neighborhood through 9/11, Sandy, the blackout and now COVID-19 lockdown, and the protests/riots. Our plans moving forward are to keep working, doing our best and providing joy to people when times get tough. We’re not going anywhere so come in and get tattooed, microbladed, or laser off something you never liked! You can’t tell but we’re smiling under our masks.

You can keep up with East Side Ink on Instagram.

'Public Art as Protest' debuts at Howl! Happening

Howl! Happening reopens today with a special exhibit titled "Bringing Back Bowery: Public Art as Protest."

The group show is an outgrowth of an effort organized by Bowery artist Sono Kuwayama in June. (Read more about it here.)

She received permission from store owners to paint on the plywood of the boarded-up businesses along the Bowery. She then reached out to some local artists to have them create murals, such as Love Power between Great Jones and Fourth Street...



... created by East Village-based artist Scooter LaForge along with Hitomi Nakamura and James Rubio.

The murals, which were started to feel the effects of the summer heat, will now find a second life at Howl! Here's more about the show:

After the tragic death of George Floyd, impassioned citizens in cities around the world rose up together in a call for justice. The streets became the backdrop for our collective mourning, our outrage, and our plea for change. Opportunistic agitators took advantage of peaceful demonstrations and forced many businesses to board up storefronts all over New York. On the Bowery ... the plywood barriers became windows into the hearts of the neighborhood’s artists.

"Bringing Back Bowery: Public Art as Protest" is a re-presentation of public artworks made in solidarity with the protest movement fighting for racial equality and police reform.

Howl! Happening, 6 E. First St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery, is open Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The show ends on Aug. 23.

The gallery is limiting the number of visitors at any one time, and will require masks for everyone. Guests must also register upon entering and have their temperature taken. Find more details at this link.

SLA suspends the liquor licenses at the Hairy Lemon, Cloister Cafe and the Wayland

[Cloister photos by Steven]

On Tuesday evening, Gov. Cuomo announced that the state had suspended liquor licenses for 38 bars in New York City and on Long Island "after finding egregious violations of pandemic-related Executive Orders."

Of those 38, four of the establishments are in the East Village. (We already covered Maiden Lane here.)

Here are the other three:

• Cloister Cafe, 238 E. Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Per the SLA:

On August 7th, the New York City Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the state's multi-agency task force at this establishment approximately 12:30 a.m. — well past the 11 p.m. NYC curfew. Investigators found the restaurant operating as a nightclub and hookah lounge with a live DJ, documenting numerous patrons ignoring social distancing with lines of customers congregating in front of the premises without facial coverings, at least twenty patrons consuming alcohol indoors under a fixed roof, and no receipts for food purchases. The inspection identified thirty-three significant fire and life safety violations, with the NYC Sheriff's Office issuing seven criminal court summonses.

The exclusive pandemic parties reportedly hosted here by Provocateur, a former Meatpacking District club, were a poorly kept secret in recent weeks at Cloister Cafe — now going as Café Tucano.

One recent attendee told Gothamist, in a story published on Aug. 4, that he saw "hundreds of people, nobody is social distancing, nobody is wearing masks. It’s like the normal club scene. There’s a lot of spenders there. If they do social distancing, they can’t make money. They need to have a packed room full of people to make money."

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• The Hairy Lemon, 28-30 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street.

Per the SLA:

On August 8th, investigators with the state's multi-agency task force observed patrons standing and drinking without facial coverings outside the premises and confirmed that the location was operating a bar-type service, selling drinks to multiple patrons without substantial food.

The Hairy Lemon had drawn neighbor complaints in recent weeks with crowds congregating to watch sports from the bar's front windows... photos here from Aug. 1 (via Stacie Joy)...





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[Photo from Sunday after the closure]

• The Wayland, 700 E. Ninth St. at Avenue C.

Per the SLA:

On August 7th, investigators with the state's multi-agency task force observed at least 13 patrons without facial coverings standing outside the bar, congregating and mingling. Investigators also noted patrons served drinks at an outdoor table without food.

Wednesday's parting shot

Tompkins Square Park this afternoon via Derek Berg...

Man randomly damages front window at Azaleas on 2nd Avenue; 'Might be the last straw for me'

An unidentified man smashed the front window at Azaleas on Second Avenue with a bike lock yesterday morning.

"This was just a senseless random act," said Cindy Hahn, who owns the 18-year-old boutique selling lingerie and swimwear between Ninth Street and St. Mark's Place. "I think he was in some heated argument in front of Veselka and just threw a big old bike lock into my window out of anger."

Hahn commended her neighbors, who quickly came to her aid. The folks at Fresco Cafe a few storefronts away stopped by to make sure that she was OK and used some spare plywood to cover the broken glass. The staff at Veselka flagged down the NYPD.

The vandalism is another example of the uptick in crime and quality-of-life issues in recent months, especially along parts of Second Avenue, that residents and business owners have previously noted.

"The police were helpful but it was too hard to look for the guy as he could have gone anywhere," Hahn said. "I’m still a little shook as it was such a loud bang I thought it was a [gun shot]. Doesn’t sound so out of question from all I’ve been seeing in news. This was 10:54 a.m. on Second Avenue. What is happening?"

Azaleas, which moved to this storefront in 2012 after 10 years on 10th Street, had only just reopened for in-store shopping following the COVID-19 PAUSE. The broken door just adds to the stress Hahn has felt as a small business owner these past few months.

"Might be the last straw for me," she said.

Masking the East Village

[La Sirena owner Dina Leor]

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

If you're in the market for a well-made, reusable, nonmedical face mask, then you're in luck. Several East Village shops and artists have a variety of homemade creations available for sale. Here's a look at some of them in honor of World Mask Week:



La Sirena Mexican folk art store, 27 E. Third St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery, is selling handmade masks by Mexican artists, including sugar skull masks designs from the Chiapas region and Lucha Libre wrestling-style masks. You can also shop online for them here.



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Kadette from Pretty Decorating & Upholstering Company sells her handmade masks at a table on Sixth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. You may also email her at skaydette@yahoo.com or call 212.674.1310 to place an order.

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Jane’s Exchange, the secondhand and consignment shop for kids at 191 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, has homemade kids’ masks by Frank New in stock.

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Spark Pretty at 333 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenues carries Laura Texter’s homemade masks, including a popular rainbow design and some colorful and pastel prints.



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Modeling a couple of his designs, East Village-based artist Scooter LaForge offers his decorative, painted custom and bespoke masks via Patricia Field.



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East Village-based costume designer Laura Texter can sometimes be found selling her homemade masks outside Tompkins Square Park or by contacting the artist directly for pickup on St. Mark’s Place.

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East Village Vintage Collective at 545 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B features handmade masks by Frank New and Sara Ann Rutherford available in a range of sizes and patterns, including some NSFW...



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New barricade placement along the Open Streets of Avenue B

[Photo last weekend by Vinny & O]

In an effort to improve access for the FDNY along Avenue B, the
Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition announced new placements of the wooden and metal barricades that help keep the Open Street free for pedestrians and cyclists.



Per their social media posts from yesterday: "Please don’t move them out of these positions. We want #Loisaida Open Streets to continue & we need your help to ensure that!"

Reps for Engine 28/Ladder 11 at 222 E. Second St. between Avenue B and Avenue C had previously expressed concern about accessing Avenue B with barriers placed in certain positions. (Not sure how they navigate Avenue B between Second Street and Fourth Street when it is closed for outdoor dining on weekends.)

The local volunteers came together last month to form the coalition, painting and repairing the barriers that are up along the Avenue from Sixth Street to 14th Street daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The city announced the Open Street plan in late May to help residents safely get some fresh air while social distancing.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New community coalition helping keep Avenue B safe for cyclists and pedestrians

Renovations at the former Provident Loan Society building

Workers recently covered parts of the former Provident Loan Society building with sheets of plywood on the southwest corner of Houston and Essex... as interior renovations picked up ...



This marks a new era for the old (circa 1912) building that has been on redevelopment/demolition watch these past five-plus years.

As you may recall, longtime owners Elsa and Dunnie Lai unveiled plans several years ago — amid neighborhood opposition — to enlarge and convert the property into a 38-unit residential building with a 12-story addition atop the existing bank structure ... remember?



Anyway, those plans never materialized (the DOB did approve the building permits) ... and by July 2018, the building went on the market for $20 million as a "prime development opportunity," as BoweryBoogie reported at the time.

No. 225 never sold, and, according to approved DOB permits from this past January, workers are here for a "general renovation of existing cabaret" with "no change to use, egress or occupancy."

It's not known at the moment what the owners have in store for the under-renovation space. They have not responded to an email asking for details on the building's future.

In the past 25 years, a string of clubs and concepts have come and gone here. The space served as a studio for Jasper Johns in the 1970s.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New renderings for the luxury building that will hang out over the Mercury Lounge

• Then and now: The Provident Loan Society of New York

Good news if you're done with summer

EVG Fall Holiday Decoration Correspondent Goggla spotted Halloween items out at the Kmart on Astor Place... not to be outdone, the Rite Aid on First Avenue at Fifth Street trotted out the Thanksgiving decor...



Look for the Christmas trees by Labor Day.

Report: Psychics seeing an uptick in business

[EVG photo from March]

While all types of businesses have been struggling in recent months, there's apparently one medium that's booming: psychics.

Per the Post:

While storefronts are going bust across the Big Apple due to the coronavirus pandemic, New York’s psychics and fortune-tellers say they are seeing more clients — and making more money — than ever before.

And locally...

New Yorkers who’ve never turned to the occult before are now seeking out some spiritual guidance. East Village psychic Kathleen Lee used to largely serve tourists — but with visitors gone, her newly reopened business has seen more locals desperate to find their way in this "new normal" than ever before.

"In my 30 years I've never had so many clients from the same block or the same neighborhood," she said.

GrowNYC opens a new greenmarket at Astor Place on Tuesdays through November

[Random Astor Place photo]

GrowNYC is teaming up with the Village Alliance for a new Astor Place Greenmarket on Tuesdays — starting today. (Last week's debut was washed out due to Tropical Storm Isaias.)

The market, located on the south plaza at Astor Place (Eighth Street-Lafayette), will continue through Nov. 24. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Some info via the EVG inbox:

With a selection of locally-grown vegetables and orchard fruits, baked goods, cider, jams, maple syrup and honey from regional farmers, this Greenmarket is sure to be a community favorite, especially for those residents who were devoted to GrowNYC's previous greenmarket at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery.

GrowNYC's Greenmarkets work to preserve local farmland, while ensuring that New Yorkers across all five boroughs have access to fresh, healthy food grown right here in our region. A central component of Greenmarket’s mission and operations is product integrity: everything sold at market is 100% farmer grown, produced, caught or foraged.

The vendors include:

• Kernan Farms Vegetables from Cumberland County, N.J.
• Remsburger Honey & Maple Honey & maple syrup from Dutchess County, N.Y.
• Wilklow Orchards Orchard and small fruits, vegetables, cider, baked goods and jams from Ulster County, N.Y.

You can find GrowNYC's COVID-19 safety protocols here.

Updated 9 a.m.

EVG correspondent Steven shared these photos from this morning...

The Athenian will not be reopening on 10th Street

The Athenian NYC, the well-liked Greek tapas bar on 10th Street from the team behind the Immigrant, will not be reopening. It had been shut since the COVID-19 PAUSE went into effect this past March.

"There wasn't enough clarity from the state/federal governments on re-opening plans to give us confidence moving forward," owner Jason Corey told me via email. "Although we loved our space and poured our blood and sweat into it (no tears), our lease was coming due and we decided not to renew."

The Athenian debuted in February 2018 at 224 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Before Corey opened the Immigrant Wine Bar on Ninth Street in 2009, he tended bar at Molyvos, a Greek restaurant near Carnegie Hall, and spent time there getting to know and appreciate Greek wines.

Meanwhile, the Immigrant continues on with outdoor dining (and takeout and delivery) on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. And Athenian fans will recognize Chef Max, who's now helping out behind the scenes at the Immigrant.

Monday's parting shot

Photo in Tompkins Square Park today by Derek Berg...