Seinfeld's terrifying new look on 2nd Street

The Seinfeld wheatpaste — created by @Sacsix — has been on the wall here on Second Street at First Avenue for five-plus years (outside Spiegel, the cafe which is reopening one of these days).

So you might expect some wear and tear... but the resulting eye lift is giving off (friendlier) Michael Myers vibes...

... though it is getting close(r) to Halloween.

Saturday's parting shot

A "Hamlet"-esque moment on Avenue A today via Derek Berg...

An unhappy return on 1st Avenue and 7th Street

From the inbox... workers are digging up the west side of First Avenue at Seventh Street this afternoon... this is about six weeks after crews finished extensive water main work here.

Not sure at the moment why the city needed to tear up this stretch once again. (OK — so why wouldn't they need to?)

As previously reported, there were back-to-back breaks here in late December. The multiple ruptures sent water rushing into businesses and residences along Seventh Street between First Avenue and Avenue A. 

Neighbors talked about an all-consuming noise, both during the day when the work crew was on the scene and after-hours when cars and trucks would pass over the multiple metal plates on the roadway. 

Green days: A paint job for the iconic Astor Place subway entrance

On Thursday night, MTA workers were spotted painting the northbound 6 entrance on Astor Place. (Thanks to @adammash for the pic & tip!) 

Here's a look at the finished exterior (it appears workers are doing the inside portion next)...

The landmarked station opened here in 1904 (EVG was first to report on this, though the New York World claimed an exclusive). 

Here's a little more history via Wikipedia, which basically picked this up from the National Register of Historic Places: 

The structure is an imitation of the IRT's original entrance and exit kiosks, extremely ornate structures made of cast iron and glass. The IRT kiosks were inspired by those on the Budapest Metro, which themselves were inspired by ornate summer houses called "kushks." 

The Astor Place entrance is a reproduction installed in the 1980s and was made at the same factory as the originals. The replica was largely based on photographs by renovating architect Rolf Ohlhausen. Like the original entrance kiosks, it has a domed roof with cast-iron shingles."

New deli alert: Sweet Village Marketplace shapes up on 1st Avenue

Workers yesterday were installing kitchen venting on the side of 147 First Ave. at Ninth Street. 

EVG correspondent Steven just missed the money shot of the workers hoisting up the parts. When asked, the workers did not want to take everything down and start over for the photo, for some reason. 

ICMYI... as we buried in a post on July 27, this space will become a deli going by the name Sweet Village Marketplace. (That info via Upper West Sider!) 

We don't know anything else about the business at the moment. (Other than that they will need a vent for cooking.) Given the size of the space, it may offer more quick-serve food items like the former St. Mark's Market.

This space has been empty since the Bean left here in November 2019. 

H/T to Lola Sáenz for sharing some vent pics too!

A very special homecoming tomorrow in Sara D. Roosevelt Park

Local photographer and filmmaker Manon Macasaet premieres episode No. 4 of her freewheeling reality series, "Story of My Fucking Life," tomorrow in a late-afternoon event dubbed Homecoming 2021 in Sara D. Roosevelt Park (specifically the Grand Street basketball courts). 

From 4-8 p.m., you can take in an array of entertainment ... with the main even being a basketball game. 

And catch up on the first three 15-minute episodes of the series here on YouTube. (Recommended: Episode 2 — "Promkins and the Clock of Doom.")

Details on the annual fundraiser tomorrow for El Sol Brillante

If you're looking for something to do tomorrow between noon and moon, consider the annual fundraising day at El Sol Brillante, the community garden on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

This is the first garden party here since 2019. Attendees can expect to find live music, food, art, plants and more... and all proceeds go toward the maintenance of this much-welcomed green space. 

Like a 'Rollin Stone'

 

Little Simz, the UK-based rapper, released her fourth record, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, at the beginning of the month. 

The video (flash warning!) is for "Rollin Stone."

The happy little sinkhole on 1st Avenue

It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny sinkhole day ...

Goggla points out this sunshiny sinkhole that is under development here on First Avenue at Fifth Street ... will likely stay this way unless it tries to swallow an NYPD vehicle making the turn here to the 9th Precinct midblock on Fifth Street.

H/T Johnny Nash

Lancelotti Housewares is closing on Avenue A

After a 25-year presence on Avenue A, Lancelotti Housewares is closing its doors this fall. 

EVG correspondent Stacie Joy reports that co-owners Michael Isaacs (below left) and Jeff Chatterton are moving to Dallas to be closer to family, and plans are in the works to open a similar concept/new home-goods store there. 

The couple just closed on their dream home, but they will miss NYC, they said...

The two bought the store from Linda Heidinger, who launched the business in 1996, five years ago. (Isaacs had worked several years at Lancelotti and at Alphabets, Heidinger's other store.) 

Isaacs and Chatterton expanded their retail space with a carefully curated selection of home goods here at 66 Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street in 2018.

The closing sales begin today when Lancelotti opens at noon ...

Lancelotti's last day is expected to be mid-to-late October...

You can find updates on the shop's Instagram account. Lancelotti is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Lancelotti, always a reliable spot to pick up a gift, will be missed.

Updated 2:30 p.m. 

Closing signage is up... and everything is 30 percent off in the store...

Ergot Records opens TODAY on 2nd Street

Ergot Records debuts today at 32 E. Second St. (next to Anyway Cafe) between Second Avenue and the Bowery. 

Founder Adrian Rew is expanding his experimental imprint Ergot Records from a label to a store.

"By opening in a neighborhood that once overflowed with vinyl delights and keeping the shop spacious enough for performances, mixing sessions, and other events, I hope to help keep the energies of these vital cultures flowing," said Rew, who has also worked at A-1 Records on Sixth Street. "New York has been a unique hotbed of spirited multicultural musical innovation ... so the shop will reflect that diversity with selections that range from jazz, salsa, punk, disco, hip-hop, and house to the avant-garde, minimalism, experimental music, and records by visual artists." 

For now, Ergot's inventory will predominantly feature used vinyl and cassettes. However, Rew plans to broaden the stock in the months ahead with choice titles in new music and related books and print materials. 

During this grand-opening weekend, the shop hosts several DJs inside the space (find a listing here).

Shop hours:

Wednesday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: Noon-8 p.m. 

Sunday: noon-6 p.m.

You can find the Ergot Records Instagram account here. 

Stromboli and Dan & John's remain closed

One month ago today, we posted about the temporary closures at neighboring businesses Stromboli and Dan & John's on First Avenue at St. Mark's Place. (Both quick-serve spots were closed a week before our post.)

In the past month, a lot of people have asked about or pointed out these closures. We don't have any updates, unfortunately. 

As previously noted, we were told that there's a gas-line issue with the building at 83 St. Mark's Place/135 First Ave. The gas issue impacts the building's residents as well, sources said.

Dan & John's left a hopeful message for its patrons... stating that this location "will be back open soon."

With the recent start of the college football and NFL seasons, it's High Wing Season. The Dan & John's outpost in Murray Hill is open...

Photos yesterday by Steven

Thursday's parting shot

BYOD (Bring Your Own Dinner) outside your favorite empty lot at 89 First Ave. this evening... 

(Back story: The tables were from one of the Indian restaurants, where it looked like some students were filming something or another... thanks Goggla!)

Branding the tree pit sinkhole on 6th Street

As noted earlier this month, the heavy rains that Tropical Storm Ida produced caused a tree pit sinkhole on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... there's a partial sidewalk collapse as well outside Awash at No. 338.

The sidewalk is awaiting repairs... in the meantime, someone recently decided to brand this spot — welcome to the di [sic] Blasio Spider Hole!

Midday break from Tompkins Square Park

Thanks to Robert Miner for the photo today... 

Updated: 

Derek Berg shared this moment from the piano...

 

Ruffian set for expansion on 7th Street

Ruffian is expanding on Seventh Street.

The wine bar and cafe that serves a mostly vegetarian-focused menu is taking over the storefront next door here at 125 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

Ruffian's name appears on this month's CB3-SLA docket for a wine-beer license for the new space. (The item received administrative approval based on their method of operation.) 

Moshe Schulman, a managing partner at Ruffian (and Kindred on Sixth Street), told us that with the expansion, they will have 10-12 more indoor seats for patrons and room for about four at a drink rail where they can also serve food.

Patrons aside, the addition provides more room for food preparation. (While the storefronts share an address, they do not actually connect.)

"The extra space allows us to prep appropriately for the demand that we meet on a weekly basis," he said. "This will allow us more refrigeration space and a bigger oven. In addition, it will allow us to expand the menu a bit. We will add oysters and Crudo-type dishes when the kitchen buildout is complete — hopefully by early October."

Schulman said that the expanded Ruffian, a Bib Gourmand selection the past two years, will allow them to offer special events or wine classes that they couldn't host in their current 400-foot space.

The east storefront here at No. 125 was previously home to Big Gay Ice Cream, whose founders, Doug Quint and Bryan Petroff, said goodbye to the space in January after 10 years in business. 

Schulman said they received permission to extend Ruffian's outdoor seating upon learning that the shop would not be returning. 

"So it made sense for us to take over the interior space as well," he said.

Image via @ruffian_nyc

Green Garden Buffet closes on 9th Street

Green Garden Buffet has closed here at 332 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue (thanks to Steven for the photos) ... 

A note on the door from owner Tamika Gabaroum cites a "decrease in business" for the closure... 

Gabaroum opened the buffet-style spot in July 2020... serving what she billed as healthy French food. (An EVG reader described it as Chadian, as Gabaroum is originally from Chad.)

Gabaroum is a former public health advocate with the Peace Corps who served in UN Peacekeeping Missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was an early recipient of a loan in the summer of 2019 as part of the East Village Revitalization Loan Fund for small business owners. (You can read more about the partnership with City Councilmember Carlina Rivera and community advocates here and here.)

Unfortunately, opening a buffet-style restaurant without seating during a pandemic proved to be too much.

Gabaroum had said opening a restaurant in NYC was a dream of hers. She will continue with catering work. 

Renovations appear complete at McKinley Playground

The $3-million renovation of the McKinley Playground on Fourth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue looks to be complete. 

Work started last September here adjacent to The Neighborhood School (PS 363) and Star Academy (PS 63). 

The reconstruction yielded a new playground, "comfort station" and spray shower as well as safety surfacing, benches, lighting, play equipment, etc.

Funding for the project came via the Manhattan Borough President's Office and City Council. The idea-gathering phase for the playground's improvements dated to June 2017.

Feeling the need to reduce the speed on 4th Street

As a follow-up to yesterday's post from Second Street... the DOT Bump Team was out today on Fourth Street, where the city is putting in speed reducers — two per block — between Avenue A and Avenue D. 

It looks like they only got to put down the bumps between A and B... and one between B and C. 

And as EVG regular Salim noted, these bumps look less pronounced than the ones on Second Street...

Also, here are some DOT trucks on the job today courtesy of Salim...

EVG Etc.: Remembering the 'country doctor' of Avenue D; Scoping out the Feast of San Gennaro

Photo on 7th Street by Derek Berg 

• Remembering the "country doctor" of Avenue D (The New York Times)

• RIP Phil Schaap, Grammy-winning jazz DJ and host of the Charlie Parker Festival in Tompkin's Square Park (The New York Times ... thanks to Allen Semanco for the link)

• So far in 2021, 189 people have been killed by vehicles in NYC compared to 150 at the same time last year — the latest victim was a 3 month old in Clinton Hill (Gothamist) 

• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in the neighborhood (Off the Grid) 

• "New York will no longer be anti-business" — Eric Adams (City Limits) 

• The simple and delicious burgers at 7th Street Burgers (Grub Street ... previously on EVG)

• Pete Wells likes the far-ranging menu choices at Soothr on 13th Street (The New York Times) 

• Film series celebrates the publication of composer, musician and writer Alan Licht's new book "Common Tones." Screenings include "Two-Lane Blacktop" and "The King of Marvin Gardens" (Anthology Film Archives) 

• The 95th annual Feast of San Gennaro starts tomorrow (6sqft) 

• A look back at the band 3 Teens Kill 4 (Dazed) 

• Checking out summertime cicadas (Laura Goggin Photography) 

• An end-of-summer party at the East River Amphitheater on Saturday (East River Park Action)