A stop by the newly reopened Pyramid Club on Avenue A

The next iteration of the Pyramid Club reopened last Saturday evening at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

There were rumors of a return early last week... before the arrival of a flyer for a "House of Dance" party with DJ Force 1.

   

A quick recap of what has happened here. The iconic East Village venue shuttered its doors this past spring after 41 years in business. The club had been closed since March 7, 2020, at the onset of the pandemic.

Manager Maria Narciso and her fiancé, longtime general manager and house DJ TM.8 (aka Quirino Perez), learned of the permanent closure and subsequent layoff via a text message from ownership in late March.

Apparently, there was a change in plans. (Earlier this year, 101 Avenue A was listed on Loopnet for rent as a retail space. That listing, first posted on March 6, was subsequently removed.)

This past Saturday evening, EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the Pyramid. Given the short notice about a reopening, the space — currently confined to the main level — was fairly empty at 11:15 p.m. 

As we understand it, the daughter of the longtime club owners, who are also the building's landlord, will be running the show. She's joined by a few familiar faces who previously worked at the venue. For now, the Pyramid will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. as they look to build up a following.

Here's a look around reopening night ...

... Beary White, a former longtime Pyramid regular who travels with his own disco ball, stopped by ... (he would later turn up at Drom for Temptation Saturday)...

Stacie then stopped by Drom down the block where Narciso and DJ TM.8 have been hosting their 80s dance party, Temptation Saturday, one of the former theme nights at the Pyramid... 

Upon hearing the news of the Pyramid's reopening, Narciso and DJ TM.8 released a statement on Instagram last week that read in part:

We cherish the times spent managing the venue ... We wish everyone who is involved with reopening well, much success. We want to remind everyone that they have every right to do as they wish with their business, and ask that their wishes be respected.

Another former theme night at the Pyramid, DJ TM.8's Dark 80s Dance Party (dark wave, synthpop and post-punk!) starts at the Parkside Lounge next Thursday night after a stint at Eris in Williamsburg. And on Aug. 28, Defcon NYC Industrial returns for a one-night stand at Parkside Lounge.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Packing up the last of The Pyramid Club  

Art+Ray debuts salon and gallery space on 9th Street

East Village resident Ang-Ray recently opened Art+Ray, a hair salon and art gallery combo at 305 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (He previously ran a similar business in Chelsea.) 

Moving forward, he plans to host small events here and show his own art along with other locals. (The current exhibit includes several pieces by Jason McGroarty, co-owner of The March Hare on the block.)

There's an open house with an art show and live music on the first Friday evening of every month. So you can check out Art+Ray tonight from 7-10 (and on Instagram here).

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Thursday's parting shot

Me parking via Clint Mario and @me_newyork on Avenue A and Seventh Street ... photo by Stacie Joy...

Late night with Hello Mary

Local band Hello Mary played a late-night set back on Saturday at Nublu, 151 Avenue C. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was at the show and shared these photos of the trio —guitarist Helena Straight, bassist Mikaela Oppenheimer and drummer Stella Branstool ...

With a new single ready to drop, Hello Mary is playing at Elsewhere in Brooklyn next Wednesday night (info here). In early September, they're making their first West Coast trip, with a multiple-city swing that includes Los Angeles (Sept. 9) and San Diego (Sept. 11).

Look for them this fall back here on a bill with Pretty Sick, and also opening for Luna at Brooklyn Made on Nov. 13.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• An afternoon out with Hello Mary 

I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant

East Village resident Susan Schiffman has been photographing the apartments of rent-stabilized tenants living in the East Village for her Instagram account, I Am a Rent Stabilized Tenant. She shares some photos here for this ongoing EVG feature, which has been on hiatus of late.

Photos and text by Susan Schiffman

Tenant: Fares aka Sultana, since 1990 

Why did you move to the East Village?

There is an art movement in the East Village. Especially in the late 1980s and early 1990s. And I’m gay and a drag queen. I can be myself here. No one really cares. 

I went to Parsons. The East Village has a vibe. There was always a vibe, even today. Philip Glass lives here. And Quentin Crisp lived here. He didn’t let anyone see his apartment. I heard it was all papers and magazines. You could always call him and take him out to lunch. He was listed in the phonebook. You could call him and tell him I would like to take you out to the diner. Quentin Crisp with the scarf and the makeup. This is the core of the East Village. 

How did you find your apartment? 

It was always impossible to find an apartment in New York City. After I saw the apartment, a friend said, the most important thing is for you to have a bathtub. That is why I rented the apartment. I saw some other apartments. They were like a walk-in closet. The rent was $600 a month. 

I worked at a hair salon, the Gemayel Salon. I became friends with the owner, we became like family. I met a woman at the hair salon. Her name is Elaine and her husband’s name is Arthur. She said her husband is a dentist and he owns some apartments in the East Village. There is an apartment available to rent. When Arthur’s mother came to America from Eastern Europe, she bought apartments. 

I like her, she is a very nice woman. Everyone is saying get ready, they will be offering a buyout, get a lawyer. Nothing yet. Now there is a fight in the family between the two brothers. 

This apartment has been renovated twice. The floor was a disaster. The problem is I’m a painter. I paint in oil and acrylic and I’m a drag queen. There isn’t enough room for paints, canvases, dresses and wigs. I’m organized in the mess. I get dressed every morning. 

What do you love about your apartment? 

I think the apartment is good luck. In this apartment, I paint these masterpieces that I will ship to Jordan. I am very scared of moving out of this apartment into something more organized. I won’t have the lovers that I had in this apartment. If the walls could talk! 

And I won’t have the paintings that I have painted here. And they sell. They sell internationally. In the Middle East and in America, in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. I sold the swimming pool paintings. I am not going to tell you how many swimming pool paintings I have sold. I am not even aware. Thirty-nine. I cannot paint swimming pools anymore. Khalas! The trend is over. 

I had a teacher who said, “anything you don’t like in a painting, you take it off.” I’m going to do a night scene. This might be called “The Bicycle Thief,” like the movie. 

If you're interested in inviting Susan in to photograph your apartment for an upcoming post, then you may contact her via this email. And read about her in The New Yorker!

Ravi DeRossi is doubling down on Ladybird and Cadence on 7th Street

You're not seeing double at 111 E. Seventh St. — there are now two outposts of Ladybird, the vegan tapas and wine bar, at this address.

And this won't be the only restaurant from Ravi DeRossi’s plant-based Overthrow Hospitality to open a second space on this block between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

DeRossi is also opening another space for Cadence, his hit vegan soul food restaurant that debuted this spring, next door to the current sliver of a location at 122 E. Seventh St. 

He is known for dabbling in various vegan concepts with his chefs. "I really love opening new restaurants and working with young chefs to create these new concepts," he told EVG via email.

However, here, he decided to stick with formulas that are working. 

"Both restaurants are at capacity almost every night of the week. It just made sense to expand them, either that or relocate them to larger venues," DeRossi said. "We have opened three new restaurant concepts [Soda Club, Etérea and Cadence] in the past five months — I didn't have the energy for a fourth right now."

Ladybird II, which DeRossi expects to open (with a new brunch service) in about three weeks, takes over for Saramsam, a Filipino restaurant that debuted last September and quietly closed in May. 

This was the third restaurant that DeRossi tried in the space, following Fire & Water and Night Music. Tony Mongeluzzi, the first chef for Fire & Water, unexpectedly passed away in September 2018. The chef for Night Music left NYC at the start of the pandemic.

"We had a string of bad luck," DeRossi said. "With the success of Ladybird next door, it just made sense to expand. Definitely not the most fun decision but hopefully the smartest decision."

As for Cadence, the new space next door will be ready in about two to three months (they recently applied for a new liquor license). 

Chef Shenarri Freeman has been praised for her creative cooking. This week, Pete Wells at the Times gave the place high marks, noting: "In the increasingly crowded world of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, Cadence occupies a niche of its own."

Space jam: Planet Taco remains temporarily closed

Planet Taco remains closed at 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street... the notice for patrons first arrived on the door on June 18.

Door signage points to a utility issue in the building. (DOB records show an open violation related to a fire-alarm system in an upstairs unit, which may or may not have a thing to do with Planet Taco)...

The quick-serve taco shop just debuted in March ... hopefully, they can reopen soon. People seemed to like their offerings, though the extensive menu can be overwhelming. 

Photos by Steven

[Updated] Report of a fire at 94 St. Mark's Place

From the EVG inbox at 2:23 p.m. ... a report of a fire in a fourth-floor apartment at 94 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

The FDNY quickly brought it under control. No word at the moment on the extent of the damage or if there were any injuries. There isn't any official word on the cause. 

Thanks to Allen Semanco for the photo. 

Updated: 

EVG contributor Steven shared these photos from this afternoon...

There weren't any injuries. It's not immediately known how much water damage there is in the building. 

Updated:

Fun City, the recently expanded retail tenant here, suffered some water damage. Both sides of the shop will need renovations, per the Fun CIty Instagram account.

Report of a fire last night at Nublu

The FDNY responded to a report of a fire last night around 11:30 at Nublu, 151 Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street... (thanks to Louise & Danny for the pics!)

The @FDNYalerts account first reported the fire at 11:23 p.m., with an "under control" several minutes later at 11:32. We're told that the music venue filled with smoke, though there was minimal damage to equipment... and everyone safely exited the two-story building. 

[Updated: The folks at Nublu said everything is OK and they will be open tonight. Someone tossed a cigarette butt in a trash can in the entryway, we're told.]

During the time of the fire scare, there was a sold-out party hosted by The Drunken Canal (your favorite newspaper).

Do not come! Do not come! (literally a fire) pic.twitter.com/VxdjgpUUJs

— the drunken canal (@thedrunkencanal) August 4, 2021

This morning, you can find the issue — usually found only down in the box off Canal and Essex — on the southeast corner of 10th Street and Avenue C... (thanks to the reader for the pics!) ...

About Hi Noona, serving up unique Korean-influenced juices and smoothies on 12th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy

Hi Noona, a Korean-American juice bar, debuted earlier this summer at 515 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Owner Stella Pak serves juices and smoothies with unique ingredients such as chamoe (Korean melon), a family favorite while growing up in Queens. 

Pak, who comes from a family of restaurateurs, answered a few questions about her new business...

What were you doing before opening Hi Noona?

I grew up in a Korean BBQ restaurant in Queens, but most of my career has been in the beauty industry. When COVID-19 came around, I found myself helping my mom rebuild her noodle shop in K-Town. I ended up falling in love with it. I reconnected with my family, food and my Korean-American identity deeply this past year. Hi Noona is another lens for me to further explore that.

Tell us about Noona Noodles. 

Noona Noodles is home. The kitchen and all its ingredients inspire Hi Noona. It's my mother's heart in the middle of K-Town. Our cooks have been with our family since we had a Korean BBQ restaurant in Queens for over 20 years. It's a space for my mother and brother to connect, share and learn from each other through food.

What is the origin of the Hi Noona name? 

"Hi" is the opening of a new chapter and a casual introduction to who I am. "Noona" means older sister for a younger brother in Korean. My brother, Steve, is the true chef in the family, so it was a wink to him. "Noona" is the vibe of how I'd like to take care of my customers.

Why did you decide on the East Village for the shop?

The East Village is free-thinking and has always been open to new ideas and tastes. Daikon and red cabbage are staples in the Korean diet dense in nutrients and haven't been fully explored with juicing. It felt safe to share ideas here.

How has your experience been so far in the neighborhood?

I'm in awe. Minnie, a ballet dancer, copywriter and chalkboard artist, came in and just offered to spruce up my sign. Erika and Tim hooked me up with a couple of chairs and a table for an outdoor seating moment. Kuki from the community garden is helping me with flowers. Eddy and her kids Annelynn and Phoenix are my biggest fans and critics of new menu items. Mary Kate, Ben, Lily and Bella are my regulars/unofficial board members. Jules and Gabby from Bassia Bassia touch up my hair, so I feel like a Goddess. Marissa is my marathon athlete ambassador. Randall from upstairs just knows how to reel them in. I mean… It takes a village to keep this going!

Here's Stella with her shop assistant Willow...

Hi Noona is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a 9 a.m. start on Saturday and Sunday.

Here's what's coming to the former Brindle Room space on 10th Street

Chic-hen, which specializes in fried chicken over in Clinton Hill, is the new tenant for 277 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

The quick-serve restaurant offers a variety of salads, fries, wings, sandwiches, burgers and rice dishes. Find a menu here.

This address was home for 11 years to the Brindle Room, whose closure was made official in June. Owner Jeremy Spector told us that he is looking for a new location for his restaurant that served "eclectic comfort food."

Photo from June by Steven. H/T Upper West Sider!

Gutting the former Food Emporium on Union Square

While waiting for the second half of 2023 for the Wegmans to open on Astor Place... here's a quick look inside the former Food Emporium on 14th Street in the base of the Zeckendorf Towers. 

Workers have gutted the interior ...

... and someone punched out the front door...

As you likely know, a Target is slated for this space. Lois Weiss at the Post first reported on the deal in February 2020. At the time, Food Emporium was expected to be here until April 2023, with Target arriving by the end of the year, per the article. 

While this location is listed on Target's future store locations, there isn't any update about an amended opening timetable. 

Food Emporium closed on May 29.

Mug & Cup bringing coffee and juice to Avenue C

Signage arrived this week for Mug & Cup, a coffee and juice shop coming soon to 115 Avenue C between Seventh Street and Eighth Street. 

This will be the second outpost for Mug & Cup, which got its start in East Flatbush. 

No. 115 has been vacant for the past few years as the building was sold and gut-renovated. The retail space has been empty since Le Jardin Bistro closed in June 2015. Previous ventures here include Apartment 13 and The Porch.

Thanks to Dave on 7th for the photo!

Lucky Star signage arrives on St. Mark's Place

The signage went up yesterday at 34 St. Mark's Place for Lucky Star, one of three downtown outposts for the 1950s-style ice cream shop.

As reported in early June, Trigger, the longtime owner of the live music venue/bar the Continental (1991-2018) on Third Avenue at St. Mark's Place, is behind this new venture serving Italian Ices, milkshakes and sundaes.

There's a shop on Delancey and Clinton, with another coming soon to the Two Bridges neighborhood.

Here, Lucky Star is opening in part of the former Kyber Pass space between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Thanks to Steven for the photo

Tuesday's parting shot

Tonight's no-filter sunset courtesy of @cecilscheib ...