Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Wednesday's parting shot
3rd Street piano update
Anyway, as you can see, someone shoved the piano over. Or else it slipped.
P.S.
And who is going to comment, "This never would have happened if the Hells Angels still lived here!"
You could even say it glows
The lighting was said to be done for staging purposes to help rent the space...
Former Snowdays space will yield a sushi counter on 10th Street
The application posted on the CB3 website (PDF here, which includes a sample menu) shows that the sushi counter will (eventually) be open daily from noon to midnight.
David Chen is listed as the proprietor. While he has not been licensed before within the confines of CB3, he does have experience running this type of business. (The questionnaire does not provide the names of previous restaurants.)
The virtual CB3-SLA meeting is Monday night at 6:30.
Snowdays, the dessert shop specializing in Asian-inspired shaved frozen cream (aka snow cream), closed late last summer, unable to continue in business during the pandemic. The shop, originally called Snowdays Shavery, opened here in August 2014. The space was previously a Kung Fu Tea location.
Before this it was Vinyl Market, the electronic/DJ specialty shop. Anyway, don't recall that this space was ever licensed for alcohol before.
Pre-snow photos by Steven
Thanks to Mighty Quinn's, Otto's Tacos is making a (virtual) return
However, the quick-serve tacqueria has made a comeback thanks to Mighty Quinn's Barbeque.
In an article this week on ghost kitchens and delivery-only restaurants, CNBC reports that Otto's has become a virtual brand, an increasingly popular concept thanks to COVID-19.
After their closure, Otto's founder Otto Cedeno reportedly contacted Mighty Quinn's.
Per CNBC:
The two companies opened their flagship locations in the East Village neighborhood two blocks away from each other less than a decade ago, and their founders were friendly, swapping industry updates and tips, particularly as the coronavirus pandemic hammered New York City.
But rather buying Otto's Tacos outright, Mighty Quinn's struck a deal instead to license the brand and bring it back to life as a virtual brand. The barbeque chain also sells chicken wings under the virtual brand Sugar Wing.
"We decided, rather than bringing on additional kitchen capacity, to utilize what we already had at Mighty Quinn's to execute their menus," said Mighty Quinn's co-founder Micha Magid.
For now, the digital, delivery only location for Otto's is on the Upper East Side (as of last month). Otto's will be expanding to other neighborhoods in 2021. Service will likely one day include the East Village, given that both Otto's and Mighty Quinn's started in the neighborhood ... and because Otto's has a built-in audience here.
The former Otto's storefront on Second Avenue is said to become another taco shop.
Deli in the works for the SE corner of Avenue C and 10th Street
According to the @TradedNY site, the new tenant is Green Land Gourmet Deli. No word at the moment when they plan to open or what they might have to offer (aside from the usual deli-type fare!).
From July 2018 to the end of 2019, the space was a reincarnated East Village Tavern (in name only) and, briefly, Daytripper (same owners).
Prior to this, a different set of owners ran East Village Tavern, which closed in November 2016 after eight years following a reported rent dispute with landlord Steve Croman.
Photo via the EVG archives
Another pizzeria slinging 99-cent slices coming to 14th Street
EVG regular Gojira, who shared the above photo, notes that the interior "is still littered with the salon furnishings, so no idea when this is all going to happen."
This is the latest no-frills pizza shop to open around here ... a 99-cent joint opened last fall at 246 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ... joining the September debut of 99-Cent Fresh Pizza & Hot Dog at 131 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.
Meanwhile, a New York Sal's Pizza is opening soon at 536 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Mystery pianist playing some snow tunes on 3rd Street
EVG reader Max shared the photo and video clip below... and noted that the man returned this evening around 5. "He's taking some requests from neighbors out the window, and had some admirers stop to watch."
A post-blizzard look at curbside dining structures
This was the second major snow test for restaurants, forced to come up with alternate ways to serve patrons after the state shuttered indoor dining in March 2020.
The city banned curbside dining last night during the winter storm. (Plus, many restaurants aren't open on Mondays.) Most of the streeteateries looked to have weathered the blizzard.
Several of the less-sturdy-looking structures were damaged, such as outside Sushi Dojo on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street (h/t to our friends at the DeColores Community Yard!) ... this space was not in use right now, as the restaurant is just offering delivery and takeout...
Thai Hub's tent space, still in use at times, on Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street was also KO'd ...
And Ramen Setagaya on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue didn't have much of a space anymore... this is a photo of it from Saturday...
And now...
Indoor dining at 25 percent is set to return on Feb. 14. Back in September, Mayor de Blasio announced that the city’s outdoor dining program would be made permanent.
Updated 6 p.m.
The folks at the DeColores Community Yard also spotted damage to the curbside space at Ama Raw Bar on Avenue B near 12th Street...
Not an outdoor structure... but EVG reader Joe points out that the awning of the currently closed Nowhere came down on 14th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...
Snowstorm photo recap
Goggla took the top shot in Tompkins Square Park... and here are others along Avenue A...
And here's a selection from Alan Good in Tompkins Square Park...
... and as you may know, Alan is the owner of HENGE Outdoor Ping Pong Tables, and responsible for donating the two in Tompkins Square Park...
They cleared the table yesterday, and plan to return today to move out the more recent snowfall. (They also leave free balls and paddles under the table.)
RIP Ricky Powell
From Pitchfork:
In his heyday in the in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Powell was a mainstay in the downtown Manhattan art and music scene. His portraits and candids of musicians like Eric B and Rakim, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, and Madonna, as well as downtown NYC denizens like Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sofia Coppola, and Laurence Fishburne, have been shown in art galleries and published in several photo books.
In 1986, he quit his day job (selling lemon ices) to go on tour with the Beasties Boys as they opened for Run-DMC.
He would become a regular with the band, from cameos in videos and lyrics, such as in "Car Thief" on Paul's Boutique.
Powell later hosted the cable access show "Rappin’ With The Rickster," which chronicled the oddities of daily NYC life as well as up-and-coming actors, musicians and scenesters.
You can read more about his life and the outpouring of tributes to him at these sites:
• Complex
And here's a January 2020 interview with him on OG Talk at the Organic Grill on First Avenue...
Image via Wikipedia
Monday, February 1, 2021
Monday's parting shots
Noted
Happy No. 22 to Lavagna
Taking a break from posts about snow to wish Lavagna, the low-key Italian restaurant at 545 E. Fifth St., a happy 22nd anniversary.
In a time when far too many restaurants are closing, I'm happy to see that Lavagna has been able to continue to make it work during the pandemic.
Will quote this review from over at The Infatuation from a few years back:
The place has been in business since 1999, and it’s still busy every night. Chalk it up to an excellent and consistent menu of pastas and entrees that keep the regulars coming back, exceptional daily specials, and a really good wine list. It’s everything that you want a cozy Italian restaurant to be, and it’s not even all that expensive.
Lavagna, which is just west off of Avenue B, is open for some sidewalk and curbside seating and takeout and delivery from 5-10 p.m. daily. (Ordering from their website is simple.)
Congratulations to Yorgos and the entire Lavagna family.
Afternoon view
Mid-morning snow break (Still Snowing Edition)
Nor'easter news
The nor'easter that people have been taking/tweeting about is apparently upon us. Here's the latest from the National Weather Service (with a photo above from Seventh and A this morning around 7)...
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST
TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Heavy snow. Snow may change to a light wintry mix
tonight. Additional snow accumulations of 14 to 18 inches and
ice accumulations of a light glaze. Winds gusting as high as 45
mph.
* WHERE...Portions of northeast New Jersey and southeast New
York.
* WHEN...Until 6 AM EST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult to impossible. The
hazardous conditions will impact the morning and evening
commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Blizzard like conditions possible this
morning into this evening.
ABC7 meteorologist Jeff Smith called this "a rare snowstorm — the likes of which we see every five to 10 years."
The city is restricting non-essential travel...
... and the CitiBike network is offline...TRAVEL UPDATE: Starting at 6 AM Monday morning, non-essential travel is restricted in New York City. We’re expecting heavy snowfall and high winds, so stay off the roads if you can. It will keep them clear for emergency vehicles. pic.twitter.com/MxmKb2j6zl
— City of New York (@nycgov) February 1, 2021
... and there's no line at Key Food this morning...🚨 Service Alert🚨We will temporarily close the Citi Bike system starting tomorrow morning at 7am. Bikes that are in use can be returned to any station with an available dock. Please plan accordingly and stay tuned for updates.
— Citi Bike (@CitiBikeNYC) February 1, 2021
Get your Sex, Love & Vintage this month at 3rd and B'zaar on 3rd Street
February kicks off with a new seasonal pop-up shop at the 3rd and B'zaar space at 191 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Sex, Love & Vintage, featuring the work of 30 local vendors and artists, is on tap for this Valentine's Day season.
"At Sex, Love & Vintage, shoppers can expect everything from fancy jock straps to beautiful floral bouquets to art," said 3rd and B'zaar co-founder Maegan Hayward, who also owns East Village Vintage Collective on 12th Street. "There will be gifts for your Valentine, Galentine or for yourself because February should be all about celebrating you."
This mixed vendor market and event space debuted this past November with a holiday market with more than 30 artists and merchants.
For now, Hayward and company have the space through April, though they would like to extend the lease to host a spring market in May. They also hope to host more art shows, such as the one the weekend of Jan. 22.
"The plan for the 3rd & B’zaar, in general, is to have more art shows and events in between markets," she said. "And the hope is that we can keep the space and keep with that method of markets every few months that are specialized and small events in-between. But even if we don't stay in that space we hope to be able to travel and do the same thing in other spaces as a pop up."
Sex, Love & Vintage will be open all this week from 1-6 p.m. For the rest of the month, their hours are Wednesday-Sunday 1-6 p.m. You can follow the 3rd and B'zaar Instagram account or Facebook page for details on vendors and updated hours.
With Gino Sorbillo bowing out, there's another pizzeria slated for 334 Bowery
It didn't seem likely that the first U.S. pizzeria from "the Neapolitan celebrity super-chef" Gino Sorbillo was going to reopen amid the pandemic. At the time, there wasn't any message about a closure on the pizzeria's social media... and their website was offline ... and the phone went to a random voice mailbox.
Turns out applicants, named as William Fung and Steve Fung, appeared before Community Board 2 last fall for a new liquor license for the space and sidewalk cafe.
There's now an SLA notice on the front window...
The application, found here, notes that this will be a "artisanal neighborhood pizzeria" with hours of noon to midnight.
This hyped Gino Sorbillo outpost arrived here in November 2017.
The address was previously a carousel of pizza-tapas concepts between November 2014 and June 2015 ... this is when the address was divided into two spaces, where we had Forcella, Espoleta, Gia Trattoria, Slice of Naples, SRO and Bowery Pizza over the six-month period.
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