EV Grieve

Sunday, January 3, 2021

Sunday's parting shot

Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg...

Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse has closed for now on the Lower East Side

Word circulated this weekend that LES staple Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse had closed for good on Chrystie Street after 47 years of serving up ice-encased vodka, smeared pitchers of schmaltz and enormous platters of meat to the backdrop of Yiddish sing-alongs.

This afternoon, Sammy's ownership (David Zimmerman) responded to the rumors in an Instagram post. (East Village-based storefront photographers James and Karla Murray initially observed what appeared to be a closure.)

It is with great sadness that we announce that the rumors are true and we have had to shut the doors to the infamous basement.

Sammy’s Roumanian is more than just a restaurant. It's a community. A celebration of tradition. An experience difficult to put into words. It's where families come to dine weekly, where partygoers begin their night (if they survive the frozen vodka), and where Simchas are celebrated. It's a place where you can be yourself, make friends, discover what a Shiksa is, and maybe even get called out as one too. Above all, it's a place where everyone feels at home, welcome, and part of a larger family.

However, it sounds as if Sammy's is leaving the door open for a return some day in a new location.

So chins up fellow schmaltzers. All the years of devouring chopped liver with our special schmaltz, schmered on rye bread with a side of pickles and a shot (or glass) of frozen vodka to wash it down will be remembered fondly. We may be closed now, but when all this is over and we feel safe enough to hold hands during the hora, we will be back stronger, louder, and tastier than ever before. We are New York. We will survive this. We will always cherish the memories we shared with all of you.

He confirmed as much in a text message to Gothamist.

Sammy's had closed when the PAUSE went effect last March, and was never able to reopen. And this is not the kind of food that works for delivery.

Week in Grieview

Posts from the past week included ... (photo from Third Street at First Avenue)...

• Remembering a few of our friends and neighbors who died in 2020 (Friday)

• On 2nd Avenue, B&H Dairy wraps up a trying year, ponders its future (Thursday)

• A holiday variety show — and benefit — for Pangea (Monday)

• Morning-after look at the damage caused by the broken water main on 1st Avenue and 7th Street (Thursday)

• So long Milon (Thursday)

• This week's NY See panel (Thursday)

• Have you been pining away for MulchFest 2021? (Tuesday)

• New Year's Eve at Club Cumming (Saturday)

• Report: Chain stores decrease citywide (Tuesday)

• Sweet Generation has left the East Village (Monday)

• New development (Stella!) at Houston and Avenue C finally sheds its sidewalk bridge (Monday)

• E7 Deli & Cafe receives 2020 welcome (Thursday)

• A rent increase is forcing Avenue C Studio to close its doors (Tuesday)

• 3 for-rent signs along a once-popular stretch of 7th Street (Monday)

• Closings: The Dip, Williamsburg Pizza (Monday)

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Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

Saturday night, Avenue A pic.twitter.com/pD55GBi1uN
— evgrieve (@evgrieve) January 3, 2021

Sinkholes forming in the freshly repaired intersection on 1st Avenue and 7th Street

Last Wednesday night and Thursday morning, DEP crews repaired the ruptured water main on First Avenue and Seventh Street — the second such break in a week.

Now just a few days later, a tipster points out two budding sinkholes in the intersection...

Hopefully none of this leads to another disruption for nearby residents or businesses ... the water that gushed for several hours from the broken main last Wednesday night flooded basements along Seventh Street between First Avenue and Avenue A.

Also, as a reminder, this intersection saw several sinkholes (and a broken pipe) in March 2018. Revisit our post on it here.

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Saturday's parting mulch shots

At the chipping fest today in Tompkins Square Park... Steven took these photos...

You can still bring your tree to the Park this week... the city will be mulching it up again next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A visit to Club Cumming on New Year’s Eve

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Despite the threat of rain, Mother Nature decided to play nice on New Year’s Eve, where one of the neighborhood's more festive events took place at Club Cumming, 505 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Tonight’s sold-out outdoor cabaret New Year’s Eve Blowout features, among others, Emma Craig as Dolly Parton, Michael T as David Bowie, boylesque artist Richard JMV, the house band COVID Destroyers, kilted singer Anthony Cherry, and headliner Miss Dirty Martini, plus host Kareem McJagger.

I’m there for the 5:30 curbside seating (there’s also one at 8). I arrive to find co-owner Daniel Nardicio holding his puppy Beau...

Attendees are being seated as drinks and food are served, and I head “backstage” to photograph the performers and talk with Daniel about the event, what outdoor event production and livestreaming entails during the pandemic, and about future plans for Club Cumming.

What prompted the decision to create a live, socially distant outdoor entertainment event for New Year’s Eve?

Well, the decision was simple: Club Cumming is a live venue, known for its performers, and something virtual wouldn’t do. HOW to make that happen was the question.

Have you seen any reluctance on behalf of people to sit outside during the winter? What has reaction been like to outdoor events at Club Cumming?

No, we had people clamoring to come — if we didn’t have to socially distance, it would have been more packed! Adventurous people were there to have a good time, and a good time was had by — I hope — all!

Do plan on you sticking with the outdoor space throughout the winter with more events like Doris Day Drinking and Yappy Hour? How has business been with only limited outdoor seating?

Yappy Hour is a Yappening! I love it so much. Doris Day Drinking is new and I’m sure if its Sammy Jo, it’ll be sparsely attended and mildly annoying…just kidding, it’ll be great! Sammy Jo and Darren (my partner) make a great team and are the Sam and Diane of our Cheers, if Sam and Diane were both bottoms.

You livestreamed this New Year’s Eve event to the general public. How is livestreaming going? Any evidence of livestream fatigue on the behalf of viewers?

It depends, we created a production company and focus more on shooting little films, and creating more of a piece of work, than livestreaming itself. I leave that to the kids. BUT that said, next Friday (January the 8th) RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Nicky Doll is going to be holding virtual drag race viewing parties weekly from Club Cumming and I’m thrilled about that!

Do you think streaming programming might be part of the calendar once rooms reopen to live audiences?

Absolutely! A way to get our performers out to the world, and bring in additional revenue for them —count us in!

This was a tough year for New Yorkers. Any positives to come out of an awful 2020 for Club Cumming? What’s next for the bar?

Trump is out in 20 days, NYC rents are plummeting, I say, “kids, get your asses back and snatch up these cheap apartments, and start a mom-and-pop shop as this is a once in a lifetime chance to ask not what NYC can do for you, but what you can do for NYC. Be a part of the new New York. This city is magic!”

You can keep up with events at Club Cumming via Instagram.

Winter clothing drive at First Street Green Art Park

First Street Green Art Park is starting 2021 with some new murals and a winter clothing drive... they'll be collecting winter clothes (jackets, hoodies, sweaters, etc.) today, Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ... all donations will go to the Catholic Worker St. Joseph's House across from the Park on First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

You may enter the Park on the northeast corner of Houston at Second Avenue.

Reminders: Day 1 of MulchFest starts SOOOON

The city chippery will be onsite in Tompkins Square Park today starting at 10 to commence with the mulching. And fresh mulch will be available for the taking.

The tree collecting will continue here through next Saturday, when they'll be another chipping sesh. As a reminder, please remember to remove all lights, ornaments, netting and unwanted gifts before bringing the tree to this Mulchfest site.

Friday, January 1, 2021

Year in review

This week local singer-songwriter Fiona Silver released a video for her latest single — the aptly named "2020."

Silver wrote the song and also directed the video. As she explained:

"I wanted to make a video that reflected some of the themes of [2020] — protests, police brutality, environmental issues, financial insecurity, and of course the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the incredible perseverance of spirit I found from people coming together, supporting each other, and celebrating life in the face of fear. It's been a wild year..."

Her band features Guy Fiumarelli on guitar, Steve Salerno on bass, Brian Duke on drums and Gregg Foreman on keys.

To 2021!