TV series shoot looking for break dancers, 1980s 'punk types'

Updated: Ah! This is apparently for season 2 of "Russian Doll."

A new scripted TV series called "Black Gumball" will be filming around the East Village over the next three days... we've seen film notices on Third Avenue for Monday (thanks Steven!) ... parts of Avenue A and side streets on Tuesday...

... and along East Houston on Wednesday...

Some of the extras casting notices have been making the rounds for scenes set in the 1980s (not sure at the moment the premise of the series) ... there's a call for break dancers:

Waldron Casting is seeking Men who can breakdance and portraying 1982 East Village types breakdancing outside of the subway. Think Michael Jackson style break dancers.

There's also a call for "80s punk types" ... and "gutter punk and grunge" ...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Waldron Casting (@waldroncasting)

Saturday's parting shot

A moment during this afternoon's "interactive data-art performance" on Avenue B between Seventh Street and Eighth Street ... featuring Jen Ray and data designer Jason Forrest ... read more about Open Date Week activities in the East Village here. 

Thanks to Stacie Joy for the photo!

Ruh-roh! Scooby-Doo looks extremely angry here on St. Mark's Place

Looks like we've got another mystery on our hands. Here's the new-ish Scooby-Doo mural on the rolldown gate at Min Sushi at 32 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

And why is Scooby looking supremely — and uncharacteristically — pissed?  

The challenges of dining out on a windy day in Tompkins Square Park!

CARDBOARD INSTALLATION DOWN!

Uh-oh! The detailed new work made from upcycled cardboard — titled "Eat Out" — that East Village-based artist Tom Manco of Manco Studios debuted yesterday in Tompkins Square Park was upended by a gust of wind.

EVG contributor Derek Berg, who snapped these photos roughly two minutes apart this morning, helped reset the table with the help of a passerby...

Saturday's opening shot

No indoor dining yet at the lunch counter for B&H Dairy, 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place ... though there are three small tables outside and plenty of options to go or for delivery. 

Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Monday, when they are closed. (212) 505-8065

Friday's parting shots

East Village-based artist Tom Manco of Manco Studios debuted a detailed new work made from upcycled cardboard and tape in Tompkins Square Park today... EVG reader Karen shared these photos...

'Lux' living

 

Local band Pom Pom Squad released "Lux" this week... which features a "Virgin Suicides" tribute video of singer-songwriter Mia Berrin's dreams.

Also, today is Bandcamp Friday, in which the platform foregoes its revenue and gives the bands all the $$$ from the day's sales. You can download "Lux" here. 

About Open Data Week in the East Village

Via the EVG inbox... from the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC)...

Join EVCC for this week-long festival of FREE community events in celebration of New York City's Open Data Law. From family-friendly live events on the Ave B Open Street, to fun and informative virtual events, there's something for everyone here!

Highlights coming up tomorrow (Saturday!) on Avenue B between Seventh Street and Eighth Street ...

1 p.m. and 4 p.m. 
Join artist Jen Ray and data designer Jason Forrest for an engaging and not-entirely-serious interactive data-art performance on the Ave B Open Street. You've never seen data presented like this!

1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Join artist Cindy Stockton Moore in Shadow Tag for Open Streets, a creative family-friendly experiment in chalk. Come play with data!

And on Sunday on Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street...

Engaging with the WhatsOpenEV.com Map

Built by BetaNYC & maintained by volunteers, the WhatsOpenEV.com map has everything you need to safely Shop Local. We created the map to assist our community and support local merchants during the COVID-19 shutdown. What started as a band-aid grew into a labor of love. 

Discover East Village businesses, help support your favorites, and add your contributions to the map. Find the latest hours, specials, fundraisers and more!

Visit the EVCC website for more details.

ICYMI: Arts and entertainment venues can reopen starting on April 2

ICYMI: On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that arts and entertainment venues can reopen at 33 percent capacity, with a maximum of up to 100 people indoors and 200 outdoors starting on April 2. 

And those numbers can go higher — up to 150 people indoors — if the venue offers a rapid COVID-19 test on entry. 

Either way, all attendees must wear masks and be socially distanced.

Despite the positive step forward after a year-long closure, some venues said they would not be reopening just yet.  

From Gothamist:

"Obviously any news about a path forward, even a limited capacity one, is great considering where we were just over a month ago," said Dennis Dennehy, spokesperson for AEG Presents and Bowery Presents, which manages bookings at Forest Hills Stadium, Terminal 5, Webster Hall, Brooklyn Steel, Music Hall of Williamsburg and more. "That said, we remain focused as of right now on fully reopening when we can do shows at 100% capacity. It just doesn’t make sense for us to do anything with limited capacity."

While he left open the possibility that some individual artists might decide to eat their losses to do a couple of one-off shows at big venues, he said it ultimately wasn't efficient for them to be back until they can play to full houses.

From the Times:

Michael Swier, the owner of the Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge, two of New York's best-known rock clubs, said that the state's order that venues require social distancing and mask-wearing means that the true capacity at many spaces may be much lower. 

"Given that social distancing is still part of the metric, it brings us back down to an approximate 20 percent capacity, which is untenable," Mr. Swier said.

Report of a fatal fire on 5th Street

Updated 3/7: the fire was at 335 E, Fifth St. The resident was identified as Wendy Schonfeld. Read about her here. 

An early-morning fire on Fifth Street reportedly killed an 80-year-old resident in the building. 

According to @FDNYalerts, the fire broke out on the fourth floor of 335 E. Fifth St., a five-story building between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The report came in at 12:55 a.m., according to @FDNYalerts ... and was deemed under control by 1:24 a.m.

Manhattan All Hands Box 0430, 337 E 5 ST, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire, 4TH FLR, Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) March 5, 2021

At 3:36 a.m., the Citizen app reported the following: "An official update from the FDNY has confirmed that an 80-year-old woman found inside the apartment was declared deceased after EMS transported her to a local hospital."

Three other injuries were reported.

No other information is available at the moment regarding the conditions of the victims or the cause of the fire.

Updated 5 p.m. 

Steven shared this photo... as you can see windows on the fourth and fifth floors have been board up...

Top photo via Citizen  

Meeting Chef Wayne from the Bowery Mission

Interview by Mackenna Caughron 

Wayne is a chef at the Bowery Mission, currently working across their Bowery and Tribeca campuses to serve New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. 

I met Wayne while he was in the throes of dinner preparation. His meals look outstanding — no surprises there, as his food fuels thousands of hungry New Yorkers and counting. It’s apparent why he’s so effective at his job — not only is he an expert in the creation of hot meals, but also his presence emits warmth. Spending an hour with Wayne (without even tasting his food, mind you), I felt lifted.

I asked Wayne several questions to learn more about his journey to the Bowery Mission and the recent impact of the pandemic.

What is your first memory of The Bowery Mission?

In 2012, I experienced temporary homelessness. I was staying at a nearby shelter, not far from the Bowery Mission’s flagship campus at 227 Bowery. At the time, I’d go to The Bowery Mission to get food, get clothing, but I didn’t know much about the organization overall. For two years, I held occasional jobs but was having a hard time finding steadier work and housing.

In 2014, I signed up for the Bowery Mission’s men’s residential program. By October of that same year, I had graduated from the program and secured a job at the organization’s Avenue D Campus.

How did you transition from program participant to staff member?

When I first got into the program, we had daily tasks. It gave us something to do, but it also taught us skills. I spent my time in the kitchen, working with the chefs and volunteers.

It wasn’t easy at first. We serve a wide variety of people dealing with extreme circumstances. To be on the front line of serving food while monitoring interactions could be tough. Some folks direct the challenges of their day toward you. Over the years, I’ve better understood where they’re coming from and why they act this way. 

In my time working at the Bowery Mission, I’ve also worked at their Mont Lawn Camp and Retreat Center in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, which was an incredible experience. It is beautiful, 200-plus acres with a retreat center, a gym, basketball court, rock climbing wall — the works. Compared to the city, there are no sirens, no city noises. Seeing the organization’s full-circle impact makes me feel more strongly about working at the Bowery Mission.

How have you grown throughout your transitions from program participant to graduate to staff member across campuses?

On a personal level, I’ve learned that serving a person a great meal does a lot. Initially, I cooked to keep busy and develop my skills. Now, I look for the relief on a client’s face. I see in their demeanor when I’ve removed the worry of having to feed themselves. 

I also learned to communicate thoughtfully. If I’m met with aggression, I temper the conversation to encourage different behavior.

All our locations operate differently, some campuses are more focused on emergency shelter, some are focused on residential programming, but my focus is always to make a good meal.

Do you notice changes in donations during recent times?

Being in the food industry myself, I’ve seen how hard it is for restaurants right now. They’re not receiving the same customer base. But it’s amazing how our donation partners have pulled together and said, “even though we’ve been affected by this negatively, that shouldn’t put a damper on what the Bowery Mission is trying to do.” 

People are still trying to gather as many resources as they can to help. We’re now getting packaged food. Companies and organizations are preparing meals and putting them in containers and bringing them to us, hundreds at a time every day.

Not only does it make our job a little bit easier, knowing that we have people supporting us, but it allows us to go full force in serving people who really need it. We are able to execute a battle plan so that we can best serve guests, who, unfortunately, can’t shelter in place like many New Yorkers can.

How do you get a feeling of appreciation in this work?

When I go home from work, I see many of the people we serve on my commute. When they see me, they give me a shout-out, “Hey Chef!” That feels good.

Also, if I do see a person asking for food, I get to tell them about the Bowery Mission. All they have to do is be on time to receive a meal.

I was very appreciative that all staff and volunteers were offered resources through the Bowery Mission to isolate and safely navigate COVID-19.

What is the lesson learned from COVID-19?
Among New Yorkers, the issue of homelessness can be divisive. Some folks want to help, while others think people should be “on their own.” The pandemic has proved anyone can fall on tough circumstances. You get behind on bills, you can lose your job, and you can lose your housing.

We all need help sometimes, and whatever events happen in this country, we can all try to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

New Yorkers can catch flak for being “rude” or “brash,” but when things go down, we know how to come together.

About Nudibranch, bringing a pop-up tasting menu to 130 1st Ave. this month

Nightmarket closed earlier this year at 130 First Ave. near St. Mark's Place. But there has been activity inside the space of late. 

Eater had the scoop yesterday on what's been happening here.

Two Momofuku Ssäm Bar alums have teamed up on an exciting, new tasting menu pop-up that's running in ... through the end of this month. Nudibranch ... is a collaboration between chefs Victor Xia and Jeff Kim, and the first solo project for the duo. 

Kim and Xia met working at Ssäm Bar several years ago, and teamed up on Nudibranch last year to create a menu that paid homage to all the kitchens they've cooked in around the city as well as the food they love eating everyday.  

While the menu incorporates several Asian ingredients in various dishes, the chefs don't want that to be the defining factor of the project. "We hate the term Asian fusion or pan-Asian," says Xia. "That is how a lot of people just want to describe food like this. But if you look at the menu you won't really be able to tie it down to any particular cuisine. Not having to label it is something we really enjoy."

Visit the Nudibranch website here for more details.

Nightmarket, a quick-serve Taiwanese restaurant specializing in braised beef noodle soup, opened in July 2019, taking over from NuNoodle.

Photo from January by Steven

Thursday's parting shot

[Sand zombies?] along Second Avenue today... photo by Derek Berg...

Noted

This sleeper sofa has been (abandoned) on the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street the past few days... ample time for someone to leave some mattressffiti and pillowffiti ... noted!

... and noted...

Photos by Steven...

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 ...  

The Union Square Food Emporium looks to be closing at the end of May

The Food Emporium at 10 Union Square East will close on May 30, according to a WARN notice filed on Feb. 25 with the New York State Department of Labor. 

While the closure of the supermarket isn't a complete surprise, its timing is. In February 2020, Lois Weiss at the Post reported that Target has signed a lease for the 32,579 square feet here on 14th Street. However, the Food Emporium was said to stay here through the end of April 2023.

Sources told Weiss that, despite the wait, Target wanted to lock in the location along 14th Street. The nearly 16-year lease had an asking rent of $183 per square foot, she reported.

The WARN filing says that the Food Emporium lease is expiring. The closure will impact 50 employees, per the notice. 

In December 2015, Key Food acquired the Food Emporium banner name and related intellectual property assets, per published reports.

This will mark the departure of yet another traditional grocery store in the area. Associated closed on 14th Street in Stuy Town in December 2019.

H/T Bayou! EVG file photo.

It's nearly show time as NYC theaters prep for reopening

After being dark for nearly a year, movie theaters in NYC are permitted to reopen tomorrow at 25-percent capacity. 

However, don't expect to see all of the local movie houses up and running right away. 

Here's what to expect, starting with the Village East Cinema on Second Avenue at 12th Street (marquee photo above by Doug) ... which will have a new name...

We’re reopening Friday March 5, and we are excited to welcome @CityCinemasNYC to the Angelika Film Center family, as Village East by Angelika and Cinema 123 by Angelika!
For more information, visit us at https://t.co/K3mu1MJiw8.
See you at the movies! pic.twitter.com/T1W311Xu6p

— Angelika Film Center (@AngelikaFilmNY) February 26, 2021

Before the pandemic, the Village East Cinema showed movies that originally opened at the Angelika Film Center. Plus, the Village East Cinema is owned by City Cinemas, a branch of Reading International. The Angelika is also under the Reading International umbrella. So they're keeping it all in the Reading family.

Find the cinema's website here. 

Elsewhere in the downtown film community... (and masks are required to be theaters)...

• Angelika Film Center., Houston Street. Opening on March 5. Website here. 

• Anthology Film Archives, Second Avenue at Second Street. No reopening date. Will continue with virtual cinema. 

• Cinema Village, 12th Street. The small theater is hoping to reopen around April 1, per the Post. 

• Film Forum, East Houston. Opening on April 2.

• IFC Center. Opening on March 5. And per IndieWire: "Mandatory mask-wearing at all times, no concession sales, and no eating and drinking allowed in theaters." 

• Loews Village 7, Third Avenue at 11th Street. Opening March 5. Website here. 

• Metrograph, Ludlow Street. No reopening date yet. Will continue with virtual programming. 

• Regal Cinemas, Union Square and Essex Crossing. No return date just yet. 

• Quad Cinema, 13th Street. Opening on March 5. (Updated)

Hub Thai debuts new Avenue A space

Hub Thai is now open in its new Avenue A home... EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by yesterday at 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street as the owners were putting the final touches on the exterior...

... as well as the interior.

The new space is larger, with more room for dining (just 35 percent inside for now)... look for a few sidewalk seats as well.

Hub Thai is open daily from noon to 11 p.m. The menu is here. And the phone: (212) 228-8221.

Until this past weekend, Hub Thai was at 105 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

As for its new space: No. 50 had been hosting a variety of pop-ups this past year... this after Villa Cemita held forth here for five years until June 2020.

A Downtown State of Mind Saturday courtesy of the Tompkins Square Library branch

The Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B continues to offer free virtual programming... here are two events of possible interest this coming weekend (descriptions via the NYPL) ... 

• Saturday, March 6 at 2 p.m.: A Downtown State of Mind celebrating the launch of LiVE MAG! #17  The CoViVid Issue. Zoom Afternoon of Art, Poetry and Inspired Palavar. Jeffrey Cyphers Wright has been publishing art and poetry for decades. His vision has a decidedly downtown slant and the new issue of Live Mag! is true to its East Village roots. 

(Related program: Saturday, March 20 at 2 p.m. — A Downtown State of Mind part II.)

Register here.

• Sunday, March 7 at 2 p.m.: Lower East Side Art + Activism Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon. Help the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS), Interference Archive, Tompkins Square Library and Wikimedia NYC expand Wikipedia's coverage of the Lower East Side at the Museum's second virtual Wikipedia edit-a-thon! 

In keeping with the MoRUS mission to preserve the history of grassroots activism and promote community-based urban ecologies, we will expand Wikipedia's coverage of the community gardens, community centers, grassroots movements, galleries, clubs, squats and homesteads that have contributed to our neighborhood's oversized cultural impact. No experience needed; we'll help you create a Wikipedia account and teach you how to edit content. The edit-a-thon runs from 2-4 p.m., but you can stay for as long (or as short) as you like.

Register here. 

Like other NYPL branches, the Tompkins Square Library is currently only open for grab-and-go service from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 

New York residents ages 13 and older can get a digital library card through the NYPL's online card application and gain access to an array of digital resources.

Catch a wave at this incoming Asian restaurant on 6th Street

Signage went up last evening for a new restaurant coming soon to 328 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... here's Asian Wave...

While we don't not anything about the new venture (the sign mentions pho) ... we can say what this replaced: Lovenburg, an outpost of a restaurant based in Turkey serving burgers and a variety of Mediterranean cuisine. 

They opened in February 2020 and had about six weeks in business before the PAUSE went into effect, and the Lovenburg feeling was lost.