Looking at the new mosaics inside the 1st Avenue L stop

Back on Thursday, the MTA unveiled a mosaic series by local artist Katherine Bradford throughout the First Avenue (and Avenue A!) L stop. 

Per the MTA: "Reflecting the community of people who use the 1 Av-14 St station, vibrant compositions totaling about 400 sq ft of glass mosaic ... are installed throughout the station."

Here's more via @mtaartsdesign:

The intriguing, ethereal figures seen in the mosaic panels represent the riders of the L train, which transports creative folk pursuing their dreams and the real-life heroes who provide essential services. 

In New York, these riders are dressed most often in black, which the artist believes is "merely a cloak over an inner life that is wildly colorful and unconventional." This group of figures expresses the energy of camaraderie when people are gathered together and inspires viewers to consider the outward expression of one’s own interior vivacity.

Artist Marcel Dzama created a series for the Bedford stop. This post at 6sqft has more photos of the mosaics at the First Avenue and Bedford stations.

Art pics via @mtaartsdesign

MSCHF on the Bowery

We fielded a few queries about the faux 7-Eleven storefront that arrived Friday at 306 Bowery between Bleecker and Houston (thanks, Robert Miner, for these pics!)...

Today and tomorrow, the storefront is serving as a pop-up space for MSCHF (primer article here), the Brooklyn-based art collective, and sales of their Boosted Packs V2 (aka drop 56). 

What might be inside these collectible packs?

   

Anyway, the pop-up status of the space apparently signals the end of the New Stand's upscale and tech-driven take on the convenience store.

Sunday's parting shot

😱😱😱😱 

Snowplow practice today on Avenue A and Ninth Street... thanks (maybe!) to Derek Berg for the photo...

RIP Faith Laugier

Faith Laugier, a prominent presence in the East Village and NYC activist community, died unexpectedly this past week. She was 42. A cause of death was not revealed. 

Here's more on Laugier from the Daily News, which first reported on her passing.

“She was a sensational woman who had an enormous amount of potential and it’s a huge loss for the activist movement and a huge loss for the city,” said Aton Edwards, a friend. 

Laugier became a prominent activist when Occupy Wall Street formed in September 2011 and protesters set up an encampment in Zuccotti Park in the Financial District. 

Laugier slept in the park the first night of Occupy Wall Street protests, said John Penley, a friend. "There weren't that many people who stayed there the first night," Penley recalled. 

The number of protesters in the park grew, and Laugier emerged as one of the movement's leading organizers.

Laugier's friends and family created a website to commemorate her accomplishments. News about a memorial will also be posted on this site. Her family also initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for funeral expenses. 

Photo courtesy of John Penley

Week in Grieview

Posts this last week included (with a pic from Drag Bingo the other night at 3rd & B’zaar by Stacie Joy) ...

• Help East Village Loves NYC feed 10,000 people in 3 days (Friday) 

• The 10th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival is underway (Wednesday) 

• A visit to Ergot Records (Wednesday)

• Jiang Diner owners taking over the former Jule's Bistro space on St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• A makeover for the East Village Neighbors Community Fridge and Pantry (Tuesday) 

• A clue about future development courtesy of the former Subway at 250 E. Houston St. (Tuesday) 

• At the sidewalk runway show on Ludlow Street for cumgirl8's latest collection (Wednesday) 

• Memories of Homecoming 2021 (Friday) 

• One last seasonal fling for Halloween Adventure and Gothic Renaissance? (Monday) 

• A new NY See panel (Thursday) 

• Sri Lankan specialists Sigiri back open on 1st Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Pillow-Cat Books is open now on 9th Street (Tuesday) 

• SLCT Stock brings vintage t-shirts and sneakers to 12th Street (Tuesday) 

• After a few days away, barricades return to the Tompkins Square Park chess tables (Wednesday) 

• Neighbors curious about what might be next for the NE corner of Avenue A and 13th Street (Monday) 

• Salma brings Lebanese cuisine to 12th Street (Monday) 

• Sweetie debuts on Avenue A (Thursday) 

• Wingstop joining Gorillas and European Wax Center in this retail space on 14th Street (Monday) 

• Taqueria St. Mark's back in taco action (Thursday) 

 ... and we're continuing to monitor the Seinfeld wheatpaste transformation on Second Street at First Avenue...

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Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

Checking in on what's left at Lancelotti Housewares

As we first reported on Sept. 17, Lancelotti Housewares is closing its doors this fall after a 25-year presence on Avenue A.

Co-owners Michael Isaacs (below) 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. 

And since the news of the pending closure hit, the well-curated shop between Fourth Street and Fifth Street was quickly picked over. EVG correspondent Stacie Joy stopped by yesterday to see what was left... as you can see in the last photo, the second room in the store is empty... everything is currently 30-percent off... 

Lancelotti was originally expected to close in mid-to-late October. Not sure about that now! You can find updates on the shop's Instagram account. 

Lancelotti is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Check out these NYC taxi views from 1977-1987 along East Houston Street

In case you haven't been over on East Houston at Second Avenue in the past week ... there's a new exhibit up along First Street Green featuring the work of photographer Joseph Rodriguez.

He drove a cab in NYC from 1977 to 1985 ... and later published a book of his work: "Taxi: Journey Through my Windows 1977–1987." 

Some of those photos, including scenes from the East Village, are featured along this corridor ...

The work, part of the Photoville Festival, will be up here until Dec. 1.

The 10th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival is underway

In case you missed our post from Wednesday... the 10th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival is underway.

This year's festival includes activities at dozens of gardens, each featuring various performances, concerts, workshops and other related events.

Check the LUNGS website here for the day-by-day, garden-by-garden schedule. There's a lot of free live music on the calendar for today (Sunday!).

Saturday's parting shot

Felice Rosser today in Tompkins Square Park with her band, Faith NYC. 

She'll be performing next on Friday night in the Green Oasis Garden, 368 E. Eighth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D as part of the LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival.

Photo by Derek Berg.

Mobile unit offering COVID-19 vaccines today on Avenue A

One of the city's mobile units is offering free COVID-19 vaccines today on Avenue A outside Blink between Sixth Street and Seventh Street ... no appointments are needed for the Pfizer vaccine (ages 12+)...

According to the city's COVID-19 Vaccine Finder, the $100 incentive is available at this pop-up site. The mobile unit will be here today until 5:30 p.m. 

UPDATED

The van is back today (Sept. 26)... same block but on the west side of Avenue A...

Details on Autumn Rocks in Tompkins Square Park

Autumn Rocks in Tompkins Square Park takes place this afternoon, which brings together several events. There's the second annual Tompkins Square Book and Arts Fair, which starts at noon, and a lineup of bands from 2-6 p.m.

Here's a list of the bands, per the Shows in Tompkins Square Park page on Facebook: 

• Midnight Jerks 

• No Police State Girl 

• Dub Corps 

• Simon + JJ 

• The Uplifters 

• Faith 

• Bachslider 

And at 1 p.m., there will be a memorial for Jerry Foust, a familiar figure in Tompkins Square Park in recent years. He died on Sept. 13. We'll have more on his passing in an upcoming post.

Days of your youth

 

Going back to 1981 for this live clip of Delta 5 performing "Anticipation." 

Julz Sale, the lead singer of the UK-based post-punk band, died this week. Details about her death were not disclosed. 

Some background, cutting-and-pasting from Pitchfork: "Although the Delta 5 only released one full-length album —1981's See the Whirl — they released several other singles, which Kill Rock Stars collected in the 2006 set Singles & Sessions: 1979-1981."

Looking at the estate sale of Tony Rosenthal, the sculptor who created the Alamo on Astor Place

Fans of the Cube — aka Alamo — on Astor Place may have an interest in gawking at this. (Thanks, Lori!)

There's an estate sale tomorrow featuring the work of Bernard "Tony" Rosenthal, the American abstract sculptor who created the Alamo. He died in 2009 at age 94. 

Per the sale notice: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own pieces from his private collection amassed in his Southampton, N.Y., home and studio over several decades."

The sale includes some prototypes of the Cube, which are expected to fetch $4,000 to $6,000. 

And some cube history via Village Preservation:

On November 1, 1967, an 8′ x 8′ x 8′ 1,800-pound giant black cube was installed in Astor Place as one of 25 temporary public artworks by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. However, it was so popular that local residents petitioned the City to keep it, and except for its absences for restorations over the past few years, it has stood there ever since.

Bernard "Tony" Rosenthal's sculpture was originally named "Sculpture and the Environment," but was eventually renamed The Alamo by his wife, Cynthia Rosenthal, because its size and mass reminded her of the famous Alamo Mission in San Antonio

  Pic from the archives by Peter Brownscombe

Memories of Homecoming 2021

For the premiere of the latest episode of her freewheeling reality series, "Story of My Fucking Life," local photographer and filmmaker Manon Macasaet (pictured below) put together an action-packed event in Sara D. Roosevelt Park this past summery Saturday, dubbed Homecoming 2021.

There was a very competitive basketball game for starters, which went into double overtime (not sure who won — please check the EVG sports section for a follow-up).

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was on hand and shared some highlights from Homecoming 2021... on the court and off... 

There were also short sets by two local bands — Clovis and Hello Mary (seen below)...

The evening concluded with the screening of episode 4, titled "Tales of Love Downtown." (Ray at Ray's Candy Store is among those featured in the episode.) You can check out the other episodes on YouTube right here.  

Help East Village Loves NYC feed 10,000 people in 3 days

East Village Loves NYC — the local volunteer group formed in the spring of 2020 to feed people in need during the pandemic — has laid out ambitious plans for a pre-Thanksgiving event: to prepare meals for 10,000 New Yorkers over three days.

Details via Instagram...

We are holding our biggest and boldest event ever! For our EARLY THANKSGIVING COOKATHON, we’re planning to feed 10k people! Our Love Kitchen will be running full steam three days in a row: October 23, 24 and 25! 

Want to get involved in the most ambitious event of the year? Visit evloves.nyc/thanksgiving and help us raise enough to make this happen!

Volunteer slots will open on October 1, stay tuned!

In its first year, East Village Loves NYC — which has attracted some 400 volunteers — cooked more than 100,000 meals for New Yorkers during the pandemic ... not to mention donated 325,000-plus pounds of groceries and 7,000-plus pantry bags.

The group's home base is at the Sixth Street Community Center between Avenue B and Avenue C.  

Photo from May by Stacie Joy

Previously on EV Grieve:
• These East Village residents are helping feed families in Queens during the COVID-19 crisis

• East Village volunteers expand their outreach to feed more neighbors in need

• East Village Loves Queens expands: Meet East Village Loves NYC

• Volunteers at East Village Loves NYC prepare meals for Ramadan; celebrate 1st anniversary

Police seeking suspect who robbed the Chase branch at 255 1st Ave.

Several readers have noted this ... police say a man robbed the Chase branch on First Avenue at 15th Street yesterday afternoon (thanks to Steven for the photo). 

Here are a few details...

🚨WANTED for a BANK ROBBERY: On 9/23/21 at 3:03 PM, the suspect entered a Chase Bank, located at 255 1st Ave in Manhattan & displayed a note to the teller demanding cash. The teller complied & the individual fled with $1000. Any Info? Call or DM @NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/vXSEmr8htL

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) September 24, 2021

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's a new 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... 

Jiang Diner owners taking over the former Jule's Bistro space on St. Mark's Place

The owner of Jiang Diner and Hot Kitchen is opening a new restaurant at 65 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue — the former Jule's Bistro space.

Tao An was on CB3's SLA docket last night for a wine-beer license for the space, going by Jiang Kitchen. (This item had received administrative approval, and An did not appear before the committee.)

According to the applicant's questionnaire posted on the CB3 website, Jiang Kitchen will feature 15 tables to accommodate 60 guests. Although the restaurant will serve beer and wine with meals, there is no bar for guests inside the space.

The hours: Sunday-Thursday from noon to 10 p.m. with an 11 p.m. close on Fridays and Saturdays. 

This pending arrival means the end of Jiang Diner on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The restaurant, which served Xinjiang-styled Northwestern Chinese food, closed for a summer break in late July. That space has since been cleared out. 

Jiang Diner opened in the spring of 2019 and drew praise for its big-plate chicken and other dishes.

An also operated Hot Kitchen, a Sichuan restaurant, at 104 Second Ave. at Sixth Street. After a solid start in 2011, some regulars felt as if the quality began to diminish. In 2018, Hot Kitchen transformed its menu and added traditional Sichuan Skewer Hotpot and BBQ. (Jiang Diner also briefly moved into this space, which is now for rent.)

Jules Bistro never reopened after the March 2020 PAUSE. Workers cleaned out the space last September.
 

The casual French spot, which opened in 1993, offered free live jazz every night... and with its French film posters on the walls and red leather booths, it provided a throwback getaway on St. Mark's Place.

Restaurateur Georges (Café Noir, Bar Tabac, Cercle Rouge) Forgeois said that there wasn't really much room for outdoor dining here and running the place with 25-percent indoor capacity at the time last fall wasn't going to cut it. 

H/T Steven