Weekend wisteria watch

The NYC famous wisteria outside 35 Stuyvesant St. at 10th Street is in bloom ... these photos are from yesterday here just west of Second Avenue ...

If you can't experience it in person this year, then there's always the jigsaw puzzle! 

Remembering the city's biggest opera fan, and what will become of her memorabilia?

Lois Kirschenbaum, a fan fixture at the Metropolitan Opera for more than 50 years, has died at 88. https://t.co/WYkMvITA4e

— NYT Obituaries (@NYTObits) April 10, 2021

Longtime East Village resident Lois Kirschenbaum died earlier month. She was 88. 

The Times covered her passing (see tweet above), and followed up with another story on who they called "the queen of the Metropolitan Opera’s stage door since the 1950s."

Corey Kilgannon has a feature on her extensive collection of autographed photos of opera stars as well as singed programs — a number that exceeds 200,000. And they are all sitting in boxes in her spare bedroom now.

Kirschenbaum was a switchboard operator from Flatbush, Brooklyn, who became perhaps New York's biggest and longest-standing opera buff — and an obsessive autograph collector. For over half a century, she spent about 300 nights a year at the Met and other musical and dance performances. Legally blind since birth, she would usually sit in the uppermost balcony and follow the action with a pair of large binoculars, always hustling back after the curtain call — programs and headshots in hand — to gather signatures.

Her will, drafted in 1992, directed her collection to be left to the "Lincoln Center Research Library," which, as the Times notes, is likely a reference to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.

Its executive director, Jennifer Schantz, said the library was "delighted and honored," adding, "We look forward to reviewing the collection and learning more."

But...

Since the library does not accept all such donations, however, Kirschenbaum’s friends still fear the material might wind up discarded.

Opening day at the new Bluestockings Cooperative on the Lower East Side

The new home for the Bluestockings Cooperative officially opened yesterday at 116 Suffolk St.

The collectively-run activist center, community space and feminist bookstore previously held a successful crowdfunding campaign, which raised more than $100,000 to help Bluestockings build out the space between Rivington and Delancey.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the space yesterday for an opening-day look...

Bluestockings opened at 172 Allen St. between Stanton and Rivington in 1999... before moving on at the end of last July. 

You can follow the Bluestockings Instagram account for updates. The hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Today is the last day for Bluestockings on Allen Street; new LES location in the works

Benny's Burritos still frozen in November 2014 time on Avenue A

Here's your periodic reminder that a) Benny's Burritos closed almost seven years ago and b) the storefront has sat vacant since November 2014. 

Anyway, every so often the gates are up here — like yesterday! — on the southwest corner of Avenue A and Sixth Street... showing the well-preserved Benny's museum (though the menus have come down from the doors since our last look).

Benny's closed here on Nov. 29, 2014, after 27 years in business.

The prime corner space has sat empty since then. At least one prospective tenant kicked the tires on the space in 2017. (The Benny's to-go spot next door, which closed in February 2015, is now the 99¢ pizza place called 99¢ Pizza.)

Anyway, no idea why the gate seems to open every few years. The original rental ask for the spot was $22,000.

Mark Merker, who launched Harry's and Benny's Burritos in 1987, attempted a revival with Benny's Burritos & Empanadas at 86 E. Seventh St. in January 2018, but it didn't last.

Hello, Whiskers!

Workers finished removing the sidewalk bridge from around the northwest corner of Ninth Street and Second Avenue late yesterday afternoon. 

And for the first time in nearly three years, you can see the Whiskers Holistic Petcare storefront...

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Today in sweet deals on 14th Street

As seen at the Immaculate Conception on 14th Street at First Avenue... part of the usual weekend flea market at the church. (One of the regular vendors, and not the folks along the sidewalk selling canned goods and broken answering machines.)

Saturday's opening shot

A crew was out early (7 a.m.) to put up the stage for today's HC show in Tompkins Square Park.

The bill features Madball, Murphy's Law, Bloodclot, Wisdom in Chains and the Capturers (plus DJ Franky 2Far). There's a noon start time, per the flyers, though a worker said the show starts at 2.

The devil's advocate

 

NYC-based Pretty Sick released a new song yesterday, "Devil in Me" ... which is the first track from the band's forthcoming EP titled Comedown, out on June 17. Check out the video above...

Open Culture on the Open Streets of Avenue B

Tomorrow (Saturday!), several community groups and artists are coming together for Open Culture, an afternoon "to lounge, listen to music and help draw a giant street mural with tape artist Kuki." 

This is happening from 1-5 p.m. on Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street.

Happy Hatch Day for Amelia and Christo, the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park

It appears that at least one egg belonging to Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, has hatched. (And thanks to Steven for these photos!)

Goggla has been keeping an eye on the nest and has noticed a change in behavior starting on Tuesday evening... as the two went into parenting mode. 

Per Goggla:

Christo perched on the edge of the nest while Amelia stayed inside. He appeared to be watching and/or waiting, something we've seen him do on hatch days in previous years. The hawks stayed in this position for over two hours, which is also notable. Finally, Amelia got up and the two of them fussed around with some food, Christo watching as Amelia tore it up, then went through the motions of feeding a chick deep in the nest.

What's going on up there?

We have no idea how many eggs or chicks there are in the nest, but can expect 1-3 nestlings. It may be another week or so before we catch a glimpse of any fuzzy white heads peeking over the edge of the nest, so we'll have to wait and be surprised.

Head over to Goggla's site for more details... plus check out her video of Christo riding out the hailstorm on Wednesday from atop St Nicholas of Myra on Avenue A and 10th Street. 

Openings: Looker bringing vegan bar food to Avenue B

Looker, serving vegan bar food, debuts today (1 p.m. until ... ?) at 42 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street.

This is the sister restaurant to Post, the former tenant here...  as previously reported, the four-year-old cafe moved around the corner to a larger space on Third Street. 

Not sure what else to say about Looker at the moment... they do have an Instagram account chock-full of 1980s throwbacks...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LOOKER (@lookerny)

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 ...  

Spring forward with Al Diaz

Acclaimed street artist Al Diaz, whose career spans 50 years in NYC, is the subject of a new (virtual) exhibition via the East Village-based Howl! Happening starting tomorrow.

On Tuesday, Diaz added a seasonal touch to the gate at 246 Bowery (at Stanton Street) ... the message reads: "Spring. Nature's Most Optimistic Gesture."

NY1's Roger Clark caught up with Diaz while on the Bowery.

If the letters on Diaz's work look familiar, it's because they are made up of reclaimed New York City Transit Wet Paint Sign characters, and subway system icons.  

"Being a New Yorker and all, it's a kind of ubiquitous alphabet, constrained alphabet, that as commuters we see every day," said Diaz, who makes messages of all sorts with those letters intended to inspire action.

Diaz grew up in the Jacob Riis Houses on Avenue D. He started writing graffiti at age 12. As a teen in the late 1970s, he and his friend Jean-Michel Basquiat collaborated on a series of cryptic messages seen around the city signed from SAMO©. 

The show at Howl!, titled A Subterraneous Journal, features work that Diaz created during the pandemic. 

Find more info about the exhibit, which is on through May 30, at this link. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• The EVG podcast: Al Diaz on BOMB1, SAMO© and Basquiat

Live music returns to these 2 Avenue A venues

Live events, with limited attendance, have returned to venues on Avenue A.

Drom, 85 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street, is welcoming back an array of acts. (Schedule here, flyer above.) 

The club is also the new home of DJ TM.8's Temptation INXS — 80s Dance Party Saturdays. (The first one on May 1 is already sold out.) This was a long-running dance night at the now-closed Pyramid Club.  

Live music is also back (as of April 16) at Berlin – Under A at 25 Avenue A and Second Street. Check out their Facebook account for upcoming shows. 

Brazen Fox returning to the Brazen Fox space

On Monday, we reported that hospitality veteran Curt Heugel's Host Restaurants, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola and Printers Alley, was behind a new unnamed venture for 106 Third Ave. at 13th Street — the former Brazen Fox.

Turns out the venture will be ... the Brazen Fox. The bar-restaurant announced its reopening yesterday on Instagram... stating that they've "reached an agreement" to return...

Brazen Fox closed during the pandemic after nearly seven years in business.

[Updated] 145 2nd Ave. returns to view

From the Department of Miracles, workers yesterday removed the remainder of the construction netting and scaffolding from the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street (145 Second Ave.), as Steven reports  ...

The scaffolding has been here since May 31, 2018, as a local merchant noted on a pole of the sidewalk bridge...

We're told that the sidewalk bridge will remain in place for an unspecified period of time ... providing protection above the former Starbucks, which closed in April 2019, and the co-opted outdoor space that the 13th Step next door is putting to use...  

Updated 12 p.m.

THE SIDEWALK BRIDGE IS COMING DOWN...

Report: Mermaid Inn plans to reopen, though the SLA isn't helping

[Photo from Aug. 22]

Co-owners Daniel Abrams and Cindy Smith have plans to reopen the Mermaid Inn, the seafood-centric restaurant that closed late last summer after 17 years on Second Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

However, as Abrams tells the Post, a stringent State Liquor Authority law is delaying the reopening.

Why?

Under current law, new or revived restaurants and pubs outside New York City can obtain a temporary liquor permit within 30 days, while the State Liquor Authority reviews an applicant’s request for full license — a process that could take anywhere from four to six months.

And?

... unlike their peers in other parts of the state, Big Apple restaurants that want to open or reopen are barred under the law from obtaining a temporary permit to sell booze pending the SLA’s months-long review on whether to provide a two-year license to sell liquor.

Hmm.

The more restrictive treatment of city restaurants under the state alcohol and beverage control law is a result of complaints from city residents and lawmakers who railed against the proliferation of bars in certain neighborhoods, sources familiar with the law said.

According to Abrams, alcohol sales account for 40 percent of a restaurant's revenues. 

"What's the purpose of opening a restaurant without serving alcohol? If you can't offer a glass of wine with the oysters, diners will go somewhere else," he said.

Abrams decided to reopen the Mermaid Inn after renegotiating a lease with the landlord and seeing "more foot traffic and economic activity."

Wednesday's parting shot

A moment on St. Mark's Place during that hailstorm this afternoon... photo by Derek Berg...

Noted

When a trashbag simply won't do in a pinch (?). 

Photo on Ninth Street by Steven...

The EVAC, an arts venue, replaces FlyeLyfe on 1st Avenue after 1 day in business — why?

Reporting and photos by Stacie Joy

The EVAC is in the works for 215 First Ave. just south of 13th Street. 

According to Steve Hirsch, who's opening the EVAC (East Village Art Collection), the space will be an art gallery with music, spoken word, painting, sculpture, photography and "maybe even a small Calder show." 

"We want to work with the community and showcase East Village artists," said Hirsch, whose LinkedIn profile describes him as having a 25-plus year career in apparel design and merchandising and being "an industry innovator." "There are no galleries on First Avenue in this area."

The EVAC's arrival means that East Village-based artist and entrepreneur P.J. O'Rourke's FlyeLyfe, which moved to this storefront from 11th Street last month, will not be continuing on from this location — after just one day in business. 

According to Hirsch, who was involved with securing the new FlyeLyfe storefront with the goal of expanding the brand: "We had a change in the business plan. We're no longer working with P.J. O'Rourke — we're going in a different direction." 

And this quick turn of events took O'Rourke by surprise. In an interview and subsequent email exchange, O'Rourke described his version of the story. He didn't mention Hirsch by name, referring to him instead as his "so-called business partner," who first bought a print from O'Rourke when he was still hustling his T-shirts, hats and other original designs from the L train.

Hirsch, he said, helped him secure the first FlyeLyfe storefront on 11th Street before Avenue A and First Avenue.

"When it came time to scale up, he offered 215 First Ave. if we signed a partnership. I obliged hesitantly, but obliged nonetheless based on his word of helping it scale 'worldwide.' The new LLC was signed on Jan. 26, and the grand opening was March 19," O'Rourke said. "After hiring a few employees, he decided to make a very authoritarian person in charge of handling and managing employees. The employees were intimidated amongst other things with 'even if you’re not here, you're being filmed.' All this time of preparation, my job was to be the artist and not worry about any of the management and set up at the shop."

O'Rourke said that he "had to put faith and trust into the process." While the grand opening day on March 19 was a success, a "verbal altercation" the night before between a friend of O'Rourke's and Hirsch at the storefront apparently soured relations. Hirsch and the "authoritarian person" allegedly said that the friend wasn't welcome in the space. 

Later on the opening day, according to O'Rourke, his "business partner" then shut down the space.

"I immediately left ... in complete shock. I even came back a couple of hours later and was berated by the authoritarian figure and completely undermined. He said 'you just fucked up, I have been talking to local artists, and we have no problem turning this into an artist space without you,'" per O'Rourke. "I went back to get my stuff ... Not only had they locked me out, but my belongings were also inside and my partner told me it was his. They papered up the entire store, and now a couple of weeks later, they are trying a fly-by-the-seat art gallery, while leaving my livelihood at stake. And that's factually what has happened to me at this point. I really just need to get my stuff back so I can make my living again."

In a follow-up call, Hirsch, whose LinkedIn profile lists him as director of operations for FlyeLyfe, denied this version of the events.

"I have no comment on what Mr. O'Rourke had to say. Mr. O'Rourke's statements are not facts," Hirsch said. "He presented his version of the story, I presented something different." 

He then ended the call by saying "this conversation is over."

For now, O'Rourke is in a holding pattern. You can follow the FlyeLyfe website or Instagram for updates. In the interim, O'Rourke said that he has been working on creating NFTs.