Week in Grieview

Posts from this past week include (with a photo from Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg) ... 

• First sign of the B Bar & Grill-replacing 21-story office building on the Bowery (Monday)

• Construction hell is consuming the intersection of 1st Avenue at 7th Street (Tuesday) 

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

• La Plaza Cultural debuts two free lending libraries (Tuesday) 

• The two-story dining structure that almost was on 4th Street (Monday)

• Indoor masking recommend for vaccinated New Yorkers; local businesses change entry policies (Tuesday) 

• I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Thursday) 

• Ravi DeRossi is doubling down on Ladybird and Cadence on 7th Street (Thursday) 

• A stop by the newly reopened Pyramid Club on Avenue A (Friday) 

• A farewell, for now, as Pinc Louds hit the road (Tuesday) 

• Late night with Hello Mary (Thursday)

• Remembering Biz Markie (Monday) • Space jam: Planet Taco remains temporarily closed (Thursday) 

• Gutting the former Food Emporium on Union Square (Wednesday) 

• Wegmans makes it sign official on Astor Place, plus other thoughts on the grocer's arrival (Monday) 

• Here's what's coming to the former Brindle Room space on 10th Street (Wednesday) 

• Mug & Cup bringing coffee and juice to Avenue C (Wednesday) 

• Report of a fire at 94 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) ... and a trash can fire at Nublu (Wednesday)

• Art+Ray debuts salon and gallery space on 9th Street (Friday) 

• Bagel Boss opens on 14th Street (Monday) 

• Gorillas will be in the mix at this 14th Street retail space (Monday) 

• Lucky Star signage arrives on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• New signage day for the NW corner of 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Tuesday) 

And thanks to Lola Sáenz (and a few other folks!) who pointed out this towering sunflower on the SW corner of 11th Street and First Avenue...

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Drawing lines ahead of the new Avenue C bike lanes

From this past week... workers from the Department of Transportation started marking Avenue C for the new bike lanes. 

Dave on 7th shared the top photo from between Ninth Street and 10th Street. He notes that on this stretch, there are also new "No Standing" signs installed. 

The new bike lanes will eliminate some free, non-metered street parking, which was the focus of a story this morning on NY1. Local Uber driver Myen Uddin told the station that he is concerned about being able to find a place to park.

"I already earn so less," Uddin said. "How can I afford a garage? $400 a month. No one can afford that!"

And...

... with outdoor dining structures and Citi Bike stations already replacing what used to be non-metered parking spaces near Avenue C and East 9th Streets, concerned residents like Uddin believe if the free parking spaces go away, he'll soon have to move outside the city.

"It's too much challenge for me for me right now," said Uddin. "I gotta leave the city. Go somewhere else."

NY1 also spoke with a local resident, Thomas Grenier, who welcomed the changes.

"The city is historically centered and organized around cars, so anything that will make the city more friendly to renewable energy and bicyclists is a good thing," Grenier said.

Meanwhile, other markings along the avenue show the buffer zones that will protect cyclists from cars and trucks.

As previously reported, DOT flyers along Avenue C provide details of the coming changes...

Improvements along C include: 

• Curbside bike lanes between Houston and Fourth Street 

• Parking-protected, bollard-protected and curbside bike lanes between Fourth Street and 18th Street 

• Updated parking regulations to provide truck loading zones 

• Neighborhood loading zones on select side streets 

• Painted pedestrian islands between 11th Street and 15th Street 

• New left-turn bays at 10th Street and 14th Street 

You can find many more details in the presentation that DOT officials made to CB3 back in April. (PDF here)

As reported last fall, the DOT is adding the protected north/south bike lanes on Avenue C and East Houston Street to help offset the upcoming closure of the East River Park greenway.

Saturday's parting shot

A scene from Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Steven...

The 33rd annual Tompkins Square Riot reunion shows are happening this weekend

The free concerts commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the Tompkins Square Police Riot of Aug. 6, 1988 are happening this weekend.

Here are the lineups for the afternoon shows (set to start at 2 and end at 6):

Saturday:

• Johnny KT

• Val Kinzler

• Les Bicyclettes Blanches

• Skitzopolis

• Jezo Black + The Element

• Sea Monster

• SEWAGE

Sunday:

• Dutch Gutz

• Ruckus Interruptus

• The Idolizers

• The NIHILISTICS

• Hot Knives

• Drogato

There will also be a number of guest speakers on both days.

The organizers – The Shadow — had their previously approved permits revoked by the Parks Department after the April 24 show. A lawyer for the organizers had been negotiating the return of the permits. 

Updated 8/9:

Find some pics from the shows here.

A 'Night' like this

 

"End Of The Night" is the first single off the recently released EP by Brooklyn veterans A Place to Bury Strangers... which is also the first release on their own newly formed label, Dedstrange. 

And, FYI, today is Bandcamp Friday — where the music platform waives its revenue share for the day.

Summer Streets returns to the streets this summer

The annual Summer Streets celebration returns on the first two Saturdays of the month (August! Tomorrow!) in which nearly seven miles of NYC roadways are closed to vehicles for people to run, walk, bike, etc.

As in previous years, this car-free zone includes Lafayette, Astor Place and Fourth Avenue.

This is the 13th edition of the event, which was on hiatus last August amid the pandemic.

You can find more details about Summer Streets at this link, including what kind of activities to expect along the route. There are several things planned for Astor Place, including fitness classes.  

Nexus Flea returns to flea-market action tomorrow on 1st and 1st

The Nexus Flea will be on First Avenue and First Street tomorrow (Saturday!) from noon to 6 p.m. ... where you'll find vendors selling vinyl, vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, concert t-shirts and more...

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!) ...