EVG Etc. A dabba lunch service at Khiladi; an update on Amelia and Christo's 2021 nest

With a random photo on the Bowery above... 

 • Khiladi on Avenue B at 11th Street has launched a dabba lunch service (Eater) 

• The NYC Health Department is recommending that New Yorkers wear two masks — a paper one covered by a cloth one — to better stem the spread of the coronavirus (Westside Rag) 

• Reviving the performing arts with the NY PopsUp initiative. The article includes details on the Saturday afternoon pop-up entertainment taking place at Theater for the New City on 10th Street (PIX11) 

• A feature on the 32-year-old Anthony Aiden Opticians at 42 St Mark's Place (Off the Grid) 

• An interview with Julia Copeland, who opened the boutique Here nor There on Ninth Street last fall (B+B ... previously on EVG) 

• Two Boots joined forces with Slice Out Hunger on an emergency initiative that supports shelters, soup kitchens and community centers impacted by the power outages in Texas (Instagram) 

• An update on Amelia and Christo's nest construction in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography ... previously on EVG) 

• Nearly 40-year-old dim sum destination Jing Fong will close its Chinatown banquet hall and indoor dining in early March (Gothamist) 

• Diversions: In our weekly Friday at 5 video on Dec. 11, we hyped an OSEES livestream event. The full-length concert video has been posted, and the setlist includes three Black Flag covers (Brooklyn Vegan) 

 ... and false alarm on Eighth Street (previously) ...

How package thefts helped unify this East Village building

The above photo is from the EVG archives and isn't related to this story in the Times. 

Over at The New York Times today, Julie Besonen writes about the East Village building that she has lived in since the 1990s... touching on some relatable themes — changing demographics and package thefts. 

Some excerpts:

Package theft wasn’t an issue when I first moved in during the Grunge years, although crack vials routinely littered our stoop. Sleepy addicts sometimes blocked the door. But these entryway inconveniences were minor compared with the constant robberies, which rapidly escalated last year.

And...

But back to 30 years ago: Aside from the stoop problem, our building was a neighborly haven, owned by the same family for generations and monitored by live-in supers, a couple from Malta named Agnes and Tony. Our ensemble of residents (Bill, Bob, John, Pat, Tom) worked unflashy jobs — mailroom clerk, museum guide and so on — and stayed for decades, giving me the chance to grow fond of them, including nuisances like Edith and Victor (secretary, janitor), who banged on my ceiling when my music blared. It only took them 14 years to trust me enough to water their plants when they traveled. 

The poignant exodus of these characters, through death, eviction, buyouts and, most recently, the pandemic, made way for my current neighbors, variously named Summer, Kennedy, Madison, Kayleigh, Mackenzie, Hannah and Charity. They pay rents that seem exorbitant, upward of $4,000 in some cases, reflecting the East Village’s own hypergentrification.

However, as Besonen writes, the spate of pandemic-era package thefts helped her forge a bond with her new, younger neighbors.

Ralitsa Kalfas, 23 ... found an empty cardboard box instead of winter coats and sweaters sent to her from her family. A vintage jacket that once belonged to her grandmother was stolen too. My empathy for these young women grew, realizing they weren’t that different from me when I first moved to New York, my shyness sometimes interpreted as unfriendliness.

You can read the full piece here.

Today's photos of a squirrel eating an apple in Tompkins Square Park

As part of the periodic Squirrels Being Adorable series, we present this squirrel's healthy choice today in Tompkins Square Park... photos by Steven...

Previously on EV Grieve:
• What other photos of squirrels eating things can we post?

• Meanwhile, a squirrel with a coconut drink this morning in Tompkins Square Park

• Today in photos of squirrels carb loading in Tompkins Square Park

Free COVID-19 testing coming to Haven Plaza next week

Local elected officials are helping bring free COVID-19 testing to Haven Plaza on 13th Street this coming week. 

No appointments are necessary on Wednesday (Feb. 24) or Thursday (Feb. 25) from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Find Haven Plaza at 726 E. 13th St. at Avenue C. The testing will take place in the Community Room.

Another smoking manhole on 12th Street

There were reports of another smoking manhole on 12th Street... the first reports came in before midnight here between First Avenue and Second Avenue (looks to be outside the Sirovich Center at No. 331) ... 

Per the resident who shared the top photo: "Went on for hours, was super loud." 

Citing Gothamist again about these winter-time incidents:

The phenomenon typically happens after a major winter storm, as de-icing salt seeps into the ground, corroding subterranean wires and unleashing gas, which in some cases sparks fires and blows the several-hundred-pound manholes straight into the sky.

Saturday's opening shot

Today's sunrise as seen along Avenue A at Tompkins Square Park...

Friday's parting shot

New temp signage at Veselka on Ninth Street at Second Avenue ... thanks to Steven for the photo...

The big 'Hurt'

 

It's just Feb. 19, yet some folks have said that the new record (Collapsed in Sunbeams) by UK-based singer-songwriter Arlo Parks will be one of the year's best. It's that good.

The video here is for a previously released single called "Hurt."

Indoor dining to expand to 35-percent capacity next week

Gov. Cuomo today announced that indoor dining will expand from 25 to 35 percent starting next Friday (Feb. 26!). The news comes one week after the return of indoor dining in NYC.

During today's press briefing, Cuomo said that COVID-19 data continue to improve, allowing New York to continue on a path toward reopening.

The rest of the New York state's restaurants, including on Long Island and in Westchester, are operating at 50 percent capacity. As the governor noted, the 35-percent capacity will be the same as New Jersey's current mandate. 

Cuomo originally ended indoor dining in the city in December after two-plus months ahead of an expected holiday-related spike in COVID-19 positivity rates. 

You can read more reaction/analysis via Gothamist and Eater.

Photo of Lavagna on Fifth Street last weekend by Stacie Joy.

Manhole watch on 12th Street

There was a report earlier this afternoon — via the Citizen app — of an exploding manhole on 12th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

Nothing appears to have actually exploded here outside No. 222... though we have a smoker... the FDNY is on the scene and keeping watch...

This kind of thing is to be expected these days TBH. As Gothamist has reported:

The phenomenon typically happens after a major winter storm, as de-icing salt seeps into the ground, corroding subterranean wires and unleashing gas, which in some cases sparks fires and blows the several-hundred-pound manholes straight into the sky.

Mid-morning snow photo break

As seen on 14th Street and First Avenue this morning exiting the L train... not sure what's going on ... and why members of the NYPD counterterrorism unit are here... 

Pic via William Klayer...

Planet Taco entering 2nd Avenue's orbit

Temp delivery signage is up for the new quick-serve taco concept coming to 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street ... say hello to Planet Taco... (thanks to Steven for the photos!)

We don't know anything about this operation at the moment. Hopefully, the tacos will be out of this world. (Sorry!)

As we noted last month, another taco shop was prepping to take over this space last leased by Otto's Tacos. 

Unfortunately, Otto's never reopend after the PAUSE in March 2020 ... and the space hit the market back in the fall. 

Meanwhile, Otto's has become a virtual brand ... now being sold via Mighty Quinn's Barbeque — just on the Upper East Side for now.

Reader report: Someone broke into our apartment while we were at home

An EVG reader shares the following...

We had a break-in at around 3 a.m. [Wednesday] night; guy stole two laptops ... But the worst thing was I heard him, and ran into the living room and saw him scrambling out the window, then ran into the bedroom shrieking like Jeannie Bueller and wound up face to face with him on our balcony. (I was inside and he was outside, fortunately.) We stared at each other, frozen for a moment, like cartoon characters, and then he climbed back down while I banged on the glass. 

Cops said there have been a ton of break-ins lately. Moral: Everybody make sure to lock all your doors and windows at night — even in this weather.

The reader added the following: "Back up your data every night if you can, and if you have a Mac, have 'Find My' enabled so you can de-authorize it immediately and erase it." 

The above photo is of a random EV building, and not the one that was broken into between First Avenue and Second Avenue on Wednesday night.

Noted

An EVG reader shares this Urban Etiquette Sign from a building on Ninth Street... which asks the occupant to please be considerate of other tenants (tennants!)... Why?

All of us can hear everything that happens in your apartment... 

Yes.... 

Everything ..... 

      (Literally ... everything)

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 and NYC ... 

Let's talk about the weather

A winter storm advisory is in effect this morning through tomorrow evening... here are a few details via the National Weather Service...

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY... WHAT...Snow expected. Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are expected Thursday, with total snowfall accumulations of 5 to 9 inches by the end of the event on Friday. A light glaze of ice accumulation is possible Thursday Night as well. WHERE...Portions of northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut and southeast New York. WHEN...From 4 AM Thursday to 7 PM EST Friday. IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will be a long duration winter weather event. Light to moderate snowfall is likely early Thursday morning into afternoon. A light wintry mix of sleet and/or freezing rain is possible for a period Thursday evening into Thursday Night, before turning back to light snow on Friday morning and ending in the afternoon or evening.

Ahead of this, the city suspended Open Streets and Open Restaurants roadway dining today. However, sidewalk dining remains open. In addition, Alternate Side Parking Regulations will be suspended through Saturday.

Photo from Tompkins Square Park by Vinny & O

No more desire for this deli, apparently

EVG regular Salim shares this photo from the southeast corner of Avenue B and Fourth Street, where Your Desire For Food quietly closed in recent weeks. 

We hear the deli owners, who run several in the area, just weren't able to make it work here.

Your Desire in Food opened this past June (and we found them to be very welcoming), and offered a variety of fresh-made sandwiches and salads. 

There is ample competition here with more-established delis, including the East Village Finest Deli right across the street ... and Ben's a block to the south... and Sunny & Annie's and their topnotch sandwiches two blocks to the north.

The previous tenant here, East Side Gourmet Deli, closed in April 2019. Their sign remained on the storefront, as Your Desire simply hung a banner over part of it.

Winter weather in the U.S. leaves some shelves empty at Whole Foods Market® Bowery

The winter stormns that have wreaked havoc on Texas and other states are having an imnpact here.

EVG reader Robert Miner shares these photos from the Whole Foods Market® Bowery on Houston ... where shoppers are warned of "temporary shortages due to the weather events across the country" ... indeed... the produce was wiped out...

Robert said other parts of the store remained stocked. Last month, shortages were reported at East Coast Whole Foods outposts as a result of a supplier closing unexpectedly. "The retailer also said weather-related issues have affected the availability of California lettuce," per Grocery Dive.

Medical procedures: A few moments filming for 'New Amsterdam' today along Avenue A

Crews for the third-year NBC medical drama "New Amsterdam" were out along Avenue A and several adjacent side streets today... EVG contributor Stacie Joy saw some of the filming action unfold on Avenue A at Fifth Street... (the ambulance was part of the shoot...)

... the graffiti on the Fifth Street side of the Con Ed substation was covered with a black screen for this scene...

... and a view on Avenue A outside Mast, Cafe Social 68 (try the croissants!) and Lancelotti...

No word on when Fifth and A's supporting role will make it into the episode...

Gallery Watch: Time Dilation at Perrotin Gallery

Text and photos by Clare Gemima 

Time Dilation by Daniel Arsham

Perrotin Gallery, 130 Orchard St.

Walking into this show will leave you star-struck by the (literal) crystallization of time and memory through Daniel Arsham’s grandiose and hyper-realistic sculptures.

The array of resin sculptures lining this beautiful gallery expand on the idea of what has been, or is actively sacred, and how the definition has been shaped by cultural, social and digital life. The screen in which we all know far too well has allowed ancient treasures an elongated life-span, a ploy Arsham somewhat inverts with his use of analog and digital in the making of his Pokémon series. Classical statue meets pop-cultural Japanese mythology. Two sources that inhabit an infinite amount of online heritage explode as resurrected time stamps in Time Dilation, a showcasing of neo-sacrality at Perrotin Gallery. 

This show is joyously playful and delusionally dream-like. Time Dilation makes you ponder on what cultural signifiers will exist well beyond the 20s, and what of them will be glorified or worshipped. Will Charmanders one day be Gods? Will Ancient Grecian sculpture be deduced to existing only as kitsch online graphics? Is this what we’ve come to rely on when we see art depicted with rock, crystals, ceramics or marble? Time, labor and love regardless of its historic gravitas? 

An extremely popular show, I would suggest visiting the gallery early before it becomes over-powered with keen visitors. Time Dilation is extremely Instagrammable, making it a slightly harder show to navigate but it is definitely worth the effort. 

Time Dilation will be showing at Perrotin until Feb. 20.

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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