RIP Hanshi Wilfredo Roldan

 An EVG reader shared the following in memoriam ...

 
Longtime Lower East Side resident and martial arts legend Wilfredo Roldan, or Hanshi, passed away on Christmas Day. He was 69.

Some readers may have seen a small shrine pop up outside the former University of the Streets building at 130 E. Seventh St. near Avenue A, where he taught and ran the Nisei Goju-Ryu system for many years.

Roldan was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York at a young age. His martial arts career began in the mid-1960s, when he trained under local greats including Sensei Owen Watson and Grand Master Frank Ruiz. Martial arts were a valuable asset in the streets of the Lower East Side.
 
As Roldan progressed Nisei Goju-Ryu, mentoring countless students along the way, he was a regular at Odessa and other neighborhood hotspots. Watch him tell the story of the dojo and more local lore here and you can notice a characteristic twinkle in his eyes.
 
Having starred in a number of martial arts movies in the 1970s ("Black Force," "Velvet Smooth" and "Dragon Express"), he also taught physical education in NYC Public Schools for over two decades. With the "University of the Streets, the Prequel" (shot at Seventh Street and Avenue A), he continued to add to his list of endeavors and accomplishments.
 
He will be missed, but his spirit carries on. Osu.

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 NYC ... as well as political observations on current events...

Gallery Watch: Home Alone Group Show at ATM Gallery

 Text and photos by Clare Gemima 

Home Alone Group Show

ATM Gallery, 54 Henry St.

Going rogue and off-map seeking out ATM Gallery, I was highly appreciative of taking a friend's advice on visiting. The exhibit was a fresh send off to the weirdest and saddest year possible, lining the walls with young artist's work that mixed painterly, graphic and illustrative practices under one young roof. 

Having only opened this past September, ATM Gallery is a space that oozes vivacity as soon as you walk in; from the artwork, the attitude and the engagement from its founders. Not only is a congratulations in order, but also a watchful eye needs to be kept on this space. 

The excitement in the face of the gallerists as they spoke about their curation process, exhibiting artists and general views on artistic sustainability blew my mind — it was clearly way beyond a passion project for William and Madeline who I spoke to on my visit to HOME ALONE. 

It was also extremely encouraging knowing that there were spaces run by passionate and proactive people, focused in their pursuit to showcase young artists popping up on the Lower East Side. The exhibition highlights work from 15 artists living in different places locally and globally, celebrating the gallery's community of respected artists and friends who were dedicated in their support throughout such an unprecedented (but also arguably incredible) year for art-making and makers alike. 

Be warned, it is a hard show to want to leave. This is perhaps because of the shared and dire experiences depicted by these artists that most viewers can relate to right now, but, I assure you it also offers much-needed ease. The work's materials, visual connections and formative expressions in HOME ALONE are as diversified as the experiences that each artist had while preparing for the show during the onslaught of COVID-19. 

Together, Anna Park, Mike Lee, Eliot Greenwald, Roby Dwi Antono, Koichi Sato, Mark Ryan Chariker, Caleb Hahne, Michael Kagan, Alexis Ralaivao, Luisiana Mera, Thomas Radin, Matt Leines, Sun Woo, Ji Woo Kim and Juilo Anaya Cabanding share documentations of their time living globally, separately, isolated and alone.

HOME ALONE will be running until Jan. 17 at ATM Gallery, 54 Henry St.

 

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Clare Gemima is a visual artist from New Zealand. New-ish to the East Village, she spends her time as an artist assistant and gallery go-er, hungry to explore what's happening in her local art world. You can find her work here: claregemima.com 

Cafe Himalaya reopens, thanks community for support after family member dies from COVID-19

After nearly two months, Cafe Himalaya reopened yesterday on First Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

Originally Con Ed work forced the temporary closing of the 19-year-old family restaurant in late October, which stretched into November. 

Sadly, it turns out they also lost a family member to COVID-19. They addressed the loss in an Instagram post yesterday:

On a personal note, thank you to everyone who reached out to us in the last few weeks. We deeply appreciate your kind words during what has been an unimaginably difficult time. In early Dec, we found ourselves as part of the now 353,000+ American families who have lost an immediate family member to covid. The pain and suffering on our personal front has been immense and we pray that no individual or family has to undergo a similar situation.

As we try to reopen our space in the midst of our loss, we thank you for being part of our community. Let’s all do our part in exercising responsibility and taking care of each other.

Cafe Himalaya is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon-9 p.m. Find their website here. Or call: 212.358.0160

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Checking in on Cafe Himalaya

Concern again for the historic Merchant's House Museum on 4th Street

The landmarked Merchant's House Museum is sounding the alarm again — this time over yet another new proposed development for the lot next door on Fourth Street between the Bowery and Lafayette.

Here are more details via the Merchant’s House website:

As if 2020 wasn't difficult enough for our dear Merchant's House, the developer filed an application in early December for a new building next door at 27 East 4th Street, one that is taller and more massive than the original proposed hotel!

Irreversible damage from the construction is guaranteed and the risk of collapse of our fragile 189-year-old landmark building is even higher.

For the third time, on December 17, Community Board 2 voted unanimously to REJECT the developer's latest application. 

The application now goes before the Landmarks Preservation Commission next Tuesday. (The website has details on how you can take part in the LPC meeting.)

Here is some background about this ongoing project: The development firm Kalodop II Park Corp. has been trying to build a hotel adjacent to the Merchant’s House Museum for nearly 10 years. 

In January 2019, the developers sued New York City, the City Council and Councilmember Carlina Rivera over the rejection of their Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) application for the project.

The Real Deal first reported on the suit:

Kalodop's lawsuit ... asks the court to reverse the City Council's disapproval and enter a judgement approving its ULURP application. It argues that the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the City Planning Commission had already approved their project and attributes community anxiety to "a grass roots campaign of fear and misinformation" from the Merchant's House Museum that "spurred local community members and representatives into action with a false narrative that any construction at the property would cause the Merchant's House to be catastrophically damaged."

The lawsuit is still pending, which, as the Merchant's House points out, means that the developer currently has two open applications for construction on the same lot. 

The developers were seeking a spot rezoning to build an 8-story hotel on the site — higher than the current zoning allowed. The full City Council ultimately voted down the rezoning in September 2019.

Preservationists, not to mention the leadership of Merchant's House, the circa-1832 building, were concerned that the construction could permanently damage the structure, one of only six residences in NYC that is both an exterior and an interior landmark. Aside from Rivera, Sen. Brad Hoylman, Borough President Gale Brewer, Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Community Board 2 were also opposed to the current application for the 8-story hotel. 

The developers have promised to take extensive measures to ensure that the neighboring structure would not be harmed during the hotel construction. 

This project dates to 2011. After several hearings through the years (here and here, as examples), the Landmarks Preservation Commission eventually signed off on the project (in 2014) as did the City Planning Commission (August 2018).

The developers can still build a six-story building on the site even without the rezoning. (They also own the lot around the corner at 403 Lafayette St., which the Merchant's House has suggested would make a better spot for the hotel.)

The proposed site of the hotel, 27 E. Fourth St., currently houses Al-Amin Food Inc., which houses carts for street vendors. 

More history of the Merchant's House: "Built in 1832 and home to a prosperous merchant family, the Tredwells, and their Irish servants for almost 100 years, it remains complete with the family’s original furnishings, household objects, clothing, and personal memorabilia."

The Museum is currently open by appointment.

A bar called Spike's is coming to 218 Avenue A

You may have noticed a new name on the front door at 218 Avenue A ... a bar called Spike's is in the works for this space between 13th Street and 14th Street...

We're told that the owner of the Spotted Owl (and other ventures) on Avenue A at 13th Street is behind this pending establishment. No word on an opening date.

This space was previously the Horsebox, the sports bar that opened in the spring of 2010 ... they never reopened after the PAUSE in March 2020. A for-lease sign arrived here in August. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Gino Sorbillo now closed for renovations on the Bowery

A "temporarily closed for renovation" sign now greets patrons at the Gino Sorbillo outpost at 334 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond...

There isn't any message about a closure on the pizzeria's social media. Their website is now offline, and the phone goes to a random voice mailbox. They had previously been open for takeout and delivery ... as well as some outdoor seating.

The first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" Gino Sorbillo arrived here in November 2017. In 2019, the controversial pizzaioli, who has reportedly spoken out against the mob, closed his flagship pizzeria in Naples after a bomb exploded outside his restaurant. 

Meanwhile, right next door, Burkelman, the high-end home-design shop, has closed for the winter...

... with online sales continuing. All signs point to a spring return.

Tuesday's parting shot

Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, spotted taking a break atop the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street today... thanks to Steven for the photo!

Hope for Little Poland in 2021?

With so many familiar favorites and old standbys closing these past nine-plus months... we can only presume the worse about any bar-restaurant that has yet to reopen in any capacity since the PAUSE of March 2020.

     

On that list: Little Poland.

The diner, which opened in 1985 at 200 Second Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street, remains dark.

However, in a hopeful sign, the diner's Instagram account posted a New Year's wish... with a note saying: "We ... hope we get to see all your beautiful faces soon!"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Little Poland Restaurant (@littlepoland_nyc)

In a previous Instagram post from this past November, Little Poland left a comment saying they would likely reopen that month when there was talk that indoor dining capacity would increase to 50 percent. That obviously never happened.

2021 development watch: 124 E. 14th St.

Here's a start of January 2021 look at 124 E. 14th St., aka Zero Irving (and formerly the Union Square Tech Training Center and 14 @ Irving ... and tech hub) ...

It's a development to watch in 2021 as the building moves closer to occupancy. 

Work has moved quickly here (in the grand scheme of things). Workers topped out here back in the fall... roughly when the leasing began.

The latest Zero Irving e-newsletter states the rooftop scaffolding has been removed. Also!

Bathroom tile installation has begun on the 14th floor and will continue moving up the building as available. The painter will be priming walls on the 11th and 12th floors. Lobby framing and rough-in work has commenced and will continue throughout this period.

The 21-story building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces and state-of-the-art event space ... on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October. Food-hall specialists Urban­Space officially signed the lease for 10,000 square feet on the ground level late last summer.

And if you want to hear more, reps from RAL will be providing an overview tomorrow evening to CB3's Economic Development Committee. The item provides this: "status update on construction and upcoming leasing opportunities." (Zoom meeting info is at the CB3 website.)

The new building — long contested by local preservationists and community groups (see links below) — sits on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son on city-owned property.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC

• Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood

• City Council unanimously approves tech hub; some disappointment in lack of zoning protections 

• The conversation continues on the now-approved tech hub for 14th Street

• P.C. Richard is gone on 14th Street; preservationists want answers about tech-hub commitments

Bibi Wine Bar takes a winter break

Bibi Wine Bar is the latest local establishment to go on hibernation with the indoor dining ban and colder weather setting in ... the cafe on Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B closed after service on Saturday... when Stacie Joy took these photos...

Bibi Wine Bar was able to reopen in June with outdoor seating... then with limited indoor service at the end of September. Despite that little bit of normalcy, they launched a crowdfunding campaign to help them get through this. (They have reached nearly $4,700 of their $6,000 goal as of this morning.)

According to their fundraiser: "We plan on reopening ASAP, but certain things need to align to make that happen, and there is a good chance it won't be until the weather warms up enough to get outdoor dining going again (March?!?)."

In other hibernation news.... multiple readers shared photos from the southwest corner of 11th Street and Third Avenue, where high-end sports bar chain the Ainsworth went dark at the start of the year... the corner bar has been boarded up, as this photo by Steven shows...

And EVG reader Doug shared these pics...

The Ainsworth's ample curbside dining setup remains in place...

There's no word about any kind of closure on the Ainsworth website or social media properties. They did not respond to requests for comment about their plans.

Van Leeuwen reopens post-fire on 7th Street

The Van Leeuwen scoop shop has reopened at 48 1/2 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The storefront had been shuttered since the fire wiped out the neighboring building and severely damaged Middle Collegiate Church on Dec. 5.

Van Leeuwen, along with the residents upstairs, had to vacate the address during the demolition work next door. 

It appears that the residents here are back as well. A mobile boiler is now connected to the building. 

Tio Pio debuts on 14th Street with quick-serve Latin cuisine

Tio Pio debuted on Sunday here at 250 E. 14th St. just west of Second Avenue... we first spotted this signage back in February 2020. The pandemic put the brakes on the opening plans for last year. 

The quick-serve Latin-American restaurant offers inexpensive comfort foods like roasted pork and rotisserie chicken with sides of rice, beans and plantains. You can find their menu here. 

Tio Pio, which also has a location in downtown Brooklyn, took over the space from Mi Casa Latina, which closed in the fall of 2019 after 10 months in business.

Thanks to Steven for the photo yesterday! 

Local artists give kids something to smile about at new dental outpost on Avenue A

Kids Dental is now open in the large storefront on the southwest corner of Avenue A and Fourth Street.Locval 

A few weeks back, EVG contributor Stacie Joy spotted local artists Leah Tinari and Ori Carino painting murals inside the space...

As previously noted, the dental practice for children also has outposts in Washington Heights and Bensonhurst.

A Santander branch was here until April 2018. Between full-time tenants, ChaShaMa — a nonprofit that partners with property owners for pop-up galleries — was using the space.

Juvenile attention

There have been reports of an immature (juvenile!) red-tailed hawk in the area... especially along Sixth Street, where Kevin R. Frech got a good upclose look. 

Steven shared this photo below ... taken at the Sixth Street and Avenue B Community Garden ... (click on the image for a better view) ...

I asked Goggla if this might be one of the 2020 offspring of Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park ... not sure! 

As always, check out Goggla's site here for all your hawk needs and news!

A new era for Via Della Pace on 4th Street

Via Della Pace, the 17-year-old Italian restaurant that lost its home during the devastating fire on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street last month, has designs on a new East Village home.

According to public documents posted on the Community Board website, the owners are on this month's CB3-SLA docket for a new liquor license for 87 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery. (The item was a scratch from the November agenda.)

A notice about the virtual meeting next Monday is also on the door for neighbors...

Via Della Pace had been closed since the previous fire on Feb. 10, 2020. At the time, the owners were unsure if they would reopen on Seventh Street. The fire on Dec. 5 took care of that, as workers had to demolish the five-floor building. (Giovanni Bartocci, the restaurant's co-owner and chef, was able to salvage the Via Della Pace sign, per an Instagram post.)

The CB3 questionnaire shows that the new Via Della Pace, if approved, will have 20 tables with 45 seats. Once hours are back to normal... Via Della Pace will be open for lunch starting at 11 a.m. with proposed closing times of 12:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday. 

87 E. Fourth St. has been vacant since Cucina di Pesce closed in September 2018.  

The gas is back on at Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A

On New Year's Eve day, ConEd arrived to restore the gas service at Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A between 10th Street and 11th Street... ending a nearly two-month odyssey. 

A quick recap: On Nov. 11, a carbon monoxide sensor went off related to the storefront's hot water heater. Workers discovered a hole in the flue that brings in replacement air. Because of the hole, replacement air wasn't getting into the basement, thus the high carbon monoxide reading, owner Christopher Pugliese said. Regardless of the find and fix, ConEd still turned off the gas to the storefront. 

To keep the popular shop running, Pugliese, who helped feed the homeless and essential front-line workers during the pandemic's worst days in the spring, spent $7,000 to buy three electric grills and have three 220-volt power lines installed so his team could cook. 

While Pugliese was annoyed that he had to close the shop from 10 a.m. to noon on one his busiest days of the year ("Yes, I'm complaining") when ConEd showed up, he's extremely happy to be back up at full cooking power.

He's also thankful to the encouraging comments and insights that EVG readers left on the previous posts about the situation (links below). 

"I'm really grateful to all the people who wrote letters and gave advice through those comments," Pugliese said. 

He also said he received helpful assistance in navigating the bureaucracy from local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera and her staff member Pedro Carrillo. "They pushed hard for me and Pedro really seemed to genuinely care," Pugliese said. "He called me three times a week and gave lots of help."

"This whole ordeal stunk and it cost me more money than I want to think about but it could've been so much worse," Pugliese said. "Thank you and happy New Year."

 Previously on EV Grieve: 

 • Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A continues on without gas — or help from the city 

• With gas shut off, Tompkins Square Bagels owner wonders why the city isn't helping small businesses during pandemic

Citing 'restrictions, bans and curfews for the restaurant industry,' the Dumpling Shop closes

The Dumpling Shop has wrapped up its two-plus-year run at 124 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

The quick-serve restaurant announced its closure on New Year's Eve via an Instagram post, citing the constraints of a small business trying to stay afloat during the pandemic. 

"As weeks turn to months and months turn to almost a year, the challenges of operating a small family-owned business became ever more difficult, especially with new restrictions, bans and curfews for the restaurant industry."  

EVG reader 2ndAvenueSilverPanther was a regular.

"This place felt like family. Jace, the owner, was a gem. Before opening, he installed an expensive, efficient and quiet exhaust system that spared building residents the heat and odor — pleasant as it was — of the cooking. The food was exceptional, and I will really miss this place."

The east side of this block is pretty quiet for businesses these days. The only other food operation, Nolita Pizza, left back in June.  They also had to contend with a storefront-obscuring sidewalk bridge here for too long and the encampment a few doors away outside the currently closed Orpheum Theatre. 

The Boilery has closed on 3rd Avenue

 The Boilery Seafood & Grill has closed at 58 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

A homemade for rent sign (call George!) is in the front window...

The Boilery, part of a chainlet with multiple outposts in the city, opened here in September 2019, offering communal seafood boils and a variety of grilled seafood. Despite this closure, the other locations remain open, including in Las Vegas and suburban Nashville. 

As previously noted, this address has been a tough one to make work, with Jin Kitchen and Bar, Shu Han Ju II and Mulan East also giving it a try these past five years.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg...