Saturday, June 5, 2021
Saturday's parting shot
[Updated] Parks Department clears out the encampment from the Tompkins Square Park chess tables
Felton Davis shared these photos from just inside the entrance on Seventh Street and Avenue A...
Per Felton: "How much time did they give to people to grab their stuff and go? I'm not sure."
Meanwhile, the Parks Enforcement Patrol tossed the young adults from XR Youth who were getting ready to hold a flea market with art, clothing and zines... (thanks to Steven for the photo)
Apparently, you need a permit. And if you apply for one, they won't sign off on it anyway.
People moved back into the area around the chess tables this morning ...
Photo by Steven...
EVG Etc.: Resident sues NYPD after 2020 deli shooting; Metrograph plots in-person return
• Cops in riot gear shut down Washington Square Park and Union Square last night at 10 to enforce new weekend curfew rules (@vanishingny ... Gothamist)
• Kjun — a well-reviewed Korean-Cajun takeout and delivery operation — is moving in with Hi-Collar on Ninth Street (Eater)
• Metrograph launches new TV app, announces September return to in-person screenings (Deadline)
• Rivera vs. Hussein in District 2 Council race (City Limits)
• Kate Goldwater, owner of the Seventh Street thrift boutique AuH20, details how she was able to maintain her business during the pandemic (CNBC ... previously on EVG)
• The future of Governors Island (Gothamist)
• An ode to Porchetta, the former specialty sandwich shop on Seventh Street (Salon)
• When hippies took over Tompkins Square Park in June 1967 (Off the Grid)
• A look back at East Village Other, which chronicled the counterculture movement (JSTOR Daily)
• Because several people sent me this link: Former One Direction member Zayn Malik involved in a dispute outside Amsterdam Billiards Club on Fourth Avenue and 11th Street (TMZ)
Photo last night from Tompkins Square Park
Speaking out against another power plant for Stuy Town-Peter Cooper Village
Per the invite: "We’re not the only ones affected: so will be anyone within at least half a mile of the plants. According to the city, we have some of the worst air, and environmental justice is a concern."
The rally is on Avenue C between 15th Street and 16th Street. Several local elected officials are expected to attend.
Details and background here via the Tenants Association:
In 2018, Beam Living announced they would be constructing a power plant fueled by natural gas purchased from Con Ed on the Main level between 245 and 271 Avenue C. The plant would produce steam for 24 buildings, and the electricity would go back to Con Ed to offset management’s costs. Renderings of the plant shown to the Tenants Association and to tenants depicted a smaller, less intrusive structure than the final version. The plant was almost complete in 2020 when Beam Living announced a second plant, this one to be constructed under the floor of Garage #1 on 20th Street. Any electricity produced would be sold back to Con Ed.
Friday, June 4, 2021
Dazed and confused
Getting ready to go out on the town with New Order from 1983... the video for "Confusion" was filmed in part at the Fun House on West 26th Street.
(Thought of this in part because I saw that tix for New Order and the Pet Shop Boys went on sale today for the Garden in September 2022 — rescheduled from this past September.)
Details on Open Garden Day NYC and Art Around the Hood tomorrow
You can visit the NYC Parks website here for details. In addition, 20 local community gardens are participating in Art around the Hood. Details at the LUNGS website.
Highlighting one event over at the First Street Garden between First Avenue and Second Avenue... where there'll be a zine and plant swap ...
Top photo from the 6th & B Garden
Today in corned beef hash news
Photo and hashtag by @plannedalism
Uprooted tree in Tompkins Square Park
You can own the shuttered Avenue A diner Odessa, now for sale on Craigslist
Last July, longtime manager Dennis Vassilatos said that Odessa, which dates to the 1960s, was shutting down after a prolonged slump in business due to the pandemic.
However, closer to the last day, co-owner Steve Helios told Gothamist that Odessa was only closing temporarily, that the space would be renovated. (The building's landlord is Odessa partner Mike Skulikidis.) Few people bought this story, though.
And for these last 11 months, Odessa has sat frozen in disco-fries time, without any noticeable activity inside.
However, an EVG reader (thanks, Bobby!) noticed that the diner was recently put up for sale on Craigslist...
Odessa Diner for Sale — Large Diner/Restaurant is a neighborhood staple for 44 years. Bustling business is located on a very busy street across from Tompkins Square Park and draws crowds with 24/7 service. It comprises over 2,000 SF on the ground level and 2,000 SF in the basement. Most of the business is walk-in with a significant possibility for growth by creating a large take-out business. Great casual and quick dining options for a densely populated area. Significant growth & expansion opportunities.Alternatively, it can easily be converted to other dining concepts with full bar. The location is ideal. Seats 100 in the restaurant and 9 at the counter. Kitchen is fully equipped and in excellent condition. Full basement with walk-in boxes and freezers. Full liquor license. Full breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night menu. New lease will be given to buyer. The owner requires that buyers provide Proof of funds. First time offered. Great opportunity.
Asking price: $400,000.
Who's in?
Nexus Flea returns tomorrow in a new (nearby) location
The next East Village Flea (aka Nexus Flea) happens tomorrow (Saturday!) — in a new location! Actually, two locations: The more than 20 local artists and merchants will be selling their wares from the northwest and southeast corners of First Avenue at Second Street.
Organizers said that the Parks Department will no longer let them hold the event on First Street and First Avenue at Peretz Square ... and their request for a permit was denied.
The flea market started on April 3 this year (relive that one here!) ... and they're running every other Saturday for now from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Thursday's parting shot
At the Lil' Park Drag Show
Over the Memorial Day weekend, EVG contributor Stacie Joy went to meet these self-described "friendly local drag artists" ... for the show featuring lip-synching and dancing that took place behind the Park office...
And to the show... there was a technical glitch at the onset as the original small speaker system failed. However, an audience member came through... and with a smartphone and speaker hooked up via Bluetooth, the show went on with weather-appropriate songs such as "Rain on Me" by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande.
Here's Bad News Bear ...
Anastasia ...
... and Jasper the Gem ...
There's another show coming up this Saturday afternoon at 4. [Updated: now in Washington Square Park]
Cinema Paradiso trying again with CB3 for Avenue A theater-cafe concept
Last month, we told you that Marcello Assante has plans to open a cafe-cinema at 44 Avenue A, the former home of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's East Village outpost, UCBeast, as well as the Pioneer Theater.
The space on Avenue A, equipped with a movie screen, stage and theater seats for 100 people, seems suited to Assante's vision of creating a "big cinema culture" — a center for cinephiles to enjoy foreign and independent features.
Aside from new indie and foreign releases, Cinema Paradiso would also include a cafe for people to have a pre-or post-film meal and drink. He aspires to have the food and beverage service open during non-movie times too. (Assante, a Naples native, has owned and operated a handful of restaurants through the years, including Bella Ciao, Capri Ristorante and Marcellino in Little Italy as well as Local 92 on Second Avenue.)
He appeared before CB3's SLA committee on May 10 for a new liquor license for the venue at Third Street. Things did not go in his favor, as the four committee members and District Manager Susan Stetzer pushed back on the application, asking for more specifics about his plans. (Assante had said he wasn't sure if he'd serve drinks during the screenings, for example.)
In addition, the last tenant, UCBeast, only sold beer and wine, and the address was never fully licensed. They were also apparently a bad neighbor — at least the bar portion of the business. Stetzer, who resides nearby, said that the bar had a "horrible impact" on tenants living across the street. "The history of it was horrendous," she said during the virtual meeting. "I had constant complaints."
Given that, Stetzer, speaking as a resident and not the district manager, collected six signatures in opposition to Assante's application. (She said she only started gathering them the evening before the May 10 meeting.)
In the end, the CB3 committee wasn't opposed to the theater portion of the business. The space never being fully licensed, the UCBeast bar's poor reputation and the unanswered questions on the business plan moved the members to draft stipulations stating they'd approve a full liquor license for drinks before and during a movie or event. Alcohol sales would not be allowed during other times — thus nixing a bar-cafe service when a film isn't playing. (You can watch the meeting on YouTube. This application starts at the 20-minute mark.)
For his part, Assante didn't agree to the stipulations, opting instead to return before the group next Wednesday evening. (Zoom info is here.)
Ahead of that meeting, he wanted to share a letter with residents and the Community Board (it has been lightly edited for length and clarity):
My name is Marcello Assante. I am the applicant for Cinema Paradiso, attempting to obtain a full liquor license for our proposed location at 44 Avenue A.First off, please allow me to apologize for a misunderstanding with our presentation at the May 14 Community Board 3 meeting. It was not my intention to argue with the Board members about the misconceptions in their dialogue. Unfortunately, I am not the most practiced at presenting to community boards, and I hoped to clear up the questions.... we are a restaurant, café and bar that displays, creates, fosters discussion about and celebrates arts — not just a theater. Tragically, a theater cannot survive or thrive in this age of short attention spans and competing media.I am 65 years old, and I spent the last 30 years working my way up, from busboy to owner and operator of restaurants in New York City. These are small, family businesses, which I would not have had the ability to carry without the love and support of my wonderful wife, who is my partner.For the last 20 years, I have been involved in cinema, which is my passion... For the last 10 years, I have been working from creation to execution of Italian and French film productions and as a partner to a film festival in Italy.In the recent past, I have been involved in a cinema production with my friend and colleague Karl Bardoush, who is a professor of the arts at New York University, as well as with another friend, film director Abel Ferrara, who is known for "Bad Lieutenant," "King of New York" and many more.These, among other friends and colleagues of mine, directly lead to our conception and expectation to operate profitably, a European arts venue for fans of cinema, theater and jazz, in the face of so many theaters, who have had to close their doors.The Cinema Paradiso experience will bring together people socially around the film, theater and music arts, with food and wine, along with merchandise and cocktails. This is a unique concept ... and we are taking a risk.It is our hope that we will establish a base of serious fans of the arts for formal and informal presentations of these arts, along with lectures, discussions and community social meetings/debates about everything from the material presented to technical aspects of the making of these arts.There will be various formats for events, which we will find out about the financial viability of each as we go, and we hope to foster a sense that if you are not here, you might miss something a once-in-a-lifetime happening. At times, there will be special cuisine, which may be showcased with one of our other chefs or a guest chef. The main menu will be the cuisine of a lighter fare with an international but Mediterranean focus...Obviously, this neighborhood has culture and establishments on the agenda of many different locals and visitors. Still, we are not a place for the majority who come to this area looking to hit the bars. This is a restaurant and cultural establishment…we are not a comedy or rock club, we are not just a restaurant, and we are certainly not just a bar.Another example, so the board better understands the broad spectrum and breadth of our focus, is that one of our first planned programs will be a theater piece [that] involves one of the hottest up-and-coming writer-directors, Dustin Wills, doing a modern take on the Ancient Greek tragedy "Prometeo Incatenato" aka "Prometheus Bound." His recent endeavors include "Frontieres Sans Frontieres."To make Cinema Paradiso commercially viable, we need to have a full liquor license, until 1 a.m., as we requested, with no limitation of serving during events only, because this is a restaurant and café with a bar, serving brunch, lunch and dinner, that is creating and showing art pieces, and expecting to generate a loyal following of those in the film, theater and music art communities.To further prove that we are not a bar, we will be cutting down the bar from 20 feet to 10 feet to increase the number of tables.We look forward to your favorable response.
Think Coffee's brand-new curbside dining space catches fire on 4th Avenue
Stickett Inn bringing its cider to 1st Avenue
Per its website, real-life husbands Johnny Pizzolato and Roswell Hamrick opened the Stickett Inn on Route 92 in Barryville, N.Y. (Sullivan County!) back in 2012.
As Out previously reported: "In 2017 the brand expanded with Stickett Inn Cider, the dry and mildly tart signature beverage of the property's Bang Bang Bar." (An aside: the Bang Bang Bar serves Pinks Tacos, whose flagship location is right around the corner from the new cider spot on 10th Street.)
The opening of the Stickett Inn Cider EV outpost looks imminent ... as there has been a lot of activity in the space of late.
Thanks to Steven for the photo!
Tony's Pizza debuts on 2nd Avenue
This is the first of two Tony's for the East Village. Signage is up now for a Tony's Pizza at 231 First Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street — the former Vinny Vincenz, which closed in April.
H/T Steven and Upper West Sider!
Rockwood Music Hall returns with live music starting tonight
Per their announcement on Instagram: "For the time being, all upcoming shows will be 100% COVID-19 vaccinated crowds (including artists and staff)."
For more details and guidelines, check out their link here. You can find a list of shows at this link.
This is the first time that Rockwood Music Hall has been open since the PAUSE of March 2020. The venue was to celebrate its 15th-anniversary last year.
Nearby on Stanton Street, Arlene's Grocery has been hosting some in-person events (calendar here). Also nearby: Live music returns to the Mercury Lounge starting on June 26.
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
'It's ok to cry'
HUGO GYRL created this in honor of Sophie Xeon, the Grammy-nominated experimental pop artist, producer and trans-rights activist who died in a fall at age 34 in January.
Per @hugogyrl's post on Instagram:
Happy pride Sophie; wish you were here to make your futuristic, post-Queer, post-body, post-music, music for us. Your work really touched me and it fucked me up when you died — I was always so excited to hear whatever you put out in the world.And...
While I was painting this, so many people stopped and expressed how much you meant to them. I'm not so great at portraits, but tons of people recognized you. Anyway, thanks for helping us envision a future, if that makes sense? You were/are a true creative icon, and a Queer and Trans Legend.Photo by @hugogyrl
RIP Penny Rand
Her friends recall her as a talented photographer and clothing designer as well as a loyal community member and housing activist.
With city budget cuts preventing the usual maintenance of Tompkins Square Park this past year, Rand helped organized volunteer days to pick up trash and weed and rake parts of the gardens.
In March 2015, she started the Sidewalks of New York Facebook group, which attracted nearly 4,600 members who shared "memories of New York, past and present."
Her decades-long residency dating to the early 1970s here included a friendship with Allen Ginsberg ... and allowed her to document the early days of punk. (Her photo of Harley Flanagan graces the cover of the Stimulators' first single from 1980, "Loud Fast Rules!")
Rand was an animal lover and adored her dog Leeluu and cat Annie.
She will be interred at a private graveside service this afternoon at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn. Rand's friends are planning a celebration of her life in the Tompkins Square Park dog run on June 10 from 4-7 p.m.
Thank you to Steven for the reporting on this post.
787 Coffee is opening a new location (and office) on 10th Street at 2nd Avenue
A tipster told us about this pending arrival, and 787 Coffee confirmed the news.
The space that was previously Third Rail Coffee (on the right in the above photo) will serve as 787's retail space, while the former dry cleaners next door will be an office for the company.
With this opening, 787 will have four East Village locations, joining 131 E. Seventh St., 101 Second Ave. and 319. E. 14th St. (The company currently has eight coffee shops citywide.)
The Seventh Street store, which opened in October 2018, was the first for co-owners Brandon Pena and Sam Sepulveda, who wanted to bring Puerto Rican coffee to NYC. Their coffee is grown and roasted from a mountain-top farm in Maricao. (And 787 takes its names from Puerto Rico's area code.)
Third Rail Coffee did not reopen here following the PAUSE of March 2020. Next door, Danny's Cleaners merged their business with Lois Cleaners on the southeast corner of 10th Street and Third Avenue.
Thanks to Steven for the photo!
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