Scone mania: At Mary O's, an Irish blessing and 20,000 pounds of self-raising flour

Photos by Stacie Joy

As you may recall, Humans of New York featured Mary O'Halloran, the proprietor of Mary O's, the 11-year-old Irish pub at 32 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street, in early August. (Here's her story, courtesy of Brandon Stanton, about trying to keep her business alive while also caring for her six children.)

On a Thursday evening in August, Stanton followed up with a special promotion — the limited edition Mary O's "HONY" Irish soda bread scones. Stanton shared the deal with his more than 20 million social media followers worldwide. According to an Instagram post from Stanton, they took in more than $1 million in orders for scones by the end of the night.

Impressive, but there were some immediate logistical concerns. Such as! How to bake roughly 200,000 scones from Mary O's small kitchen.

There is a solution: Over the next two months, O'Halloran and some helpers will use the large ovens in the basement kitchen of St. Francis Xavier Church on West 16th Street to create these orders.

Fast forward to early last week, when 20,000 pounds of self-raising Irish flour was delivered (via Dublin) to Mary O's. To start the project, "the flour was infused with an Irish blessing by Mary herself, in an ancient ceremony featuring electric candles," as Stanton wrote in a Facebook post. (You can watch a video of the ceremony on Facebook.)

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by Mary O's to watch part of the flour-blessing ceremony...

The next steps will include packing up boxes of scones for delivery and preparing the 7,000 pounds of homemade blackberry jam to accompany them...

Airbnb strike: Authorities impound vans used for overnight stays in the East Village

You may have noticed fewer vans parked on East Village streets. 

Late last week, the city Sheriff's office and the NYPD Document Fraud Unit discovered an "operation of alleged fraudulent and illegally registered vehicles being used as Airbnb rentals," Sheriff Joseph Fucito told the New York Post. 

Five of the seven vans, which reportedly had New Jersey plates and expired tags, were parked in the East Village.

Sheriff's Road Patrol Deputies were busy this week impounding seven alleged fraudulent and illegally registered vans being used as Airbnb rentals on various streets in Manhattan. 🛑🚦🚔 pic.twitter.com/rBZ1TBZ2xt

— NYC SHERIFF (@NYCSHERIFF) September 25, 2021

California-based journalist/video creator Uptin Saiidi recently slept in a 1999 Ford Econoline parked on Second Street — for $97 a night. 

Spoiler: He was glad he did this for a night but would never do it again...

   

As for the recently confiscated vans, it wasn't clear if the same person owned all of them. 

Back to the Post:

Sleeping overnight in a van is legal, according to the city's Department of Transportation — provided it’s not parked in the same spot for 24 hours in restricted areas. 

When parking is not otherwise restricted, no person shall park any vehicle in any area, including a residential area, in excess of seven consecutive days, the agency's rules note. 

Fines typically start at $115, the NYPD has said. The Sheriff’s office did not comment further except to say the "investigation in this matter is ongoing."

The van listings have since been removed from Airbnb, per CBS 2. 

A few weeks back, EVG contributor Stacie Joy spoke with this traveler from Toronto who rented a van on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B for $85 a night. (Not sure if the authorities confiscated this van.)

According to Stacie, the guest was excited about this Airbnb adventure. He was not worried about the lack of a bathroom or shower. (The Airbnb host leaves suggestions for nearby businesses to use the restroom and options for showers.)

Stacie climbed in for a moment and noted that it was clean but hot and stuffy. The front seats were empty — and drapes were partitioning them from the bed in the back. The keys also did not work in the ignition.

As ABC-7 noted, authorities dubbed this impounding as — no kidding — "Operation Room Service." 

Thanks to all the readers who shared these links. Top photo via @NYCSHERIFF.

Thinking about Blue & Gold Tavern

Updated 10/1: The bar is now OPEN as of tonight!

Blue & Gold Tavern remains closed here at 79 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

The old-timer (circa 1958) shut down in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic ... and there hasn't been any word about its status. (The bar does not have a website or any social media. Yelp and Google both list it as temporarily closed.) 

EVG regular Paul Gale shared these photos and this observation over the weekend: "After 18 months, finally some signs they're not definitely gone for good. Looks like some work is being done, but the bar and the furniture remain intact."

As we understand it, the family who runs the bar also owns the building and has so for generations. (Some history here.) 

Blue & Gold is also one of the few remaining businesses whose status is unknown... others include Prune on First Street and Crocodile Lounge on 14th Street (that bar looks permanently closed, but there hasn't been any official notice). 

Top photo from the archives via @picturesofdives

Fall at the Tompkins Square Park mini pool

Outdoor city pools, including the mini pool in Tompkins Square Park, closed for the season back on Sept. 12. (Top photo from June by Steven.) 

EVG reader MP shared this photo... as you can see, a large branch recently fell into the now-empty pool in Tompkins Square Park...

Thankfully, the Parks Department has roughly nine months to remove this before the pool reopens for the 2022 season.

Checking in on the sunshiny sinkhole on 1st Avenue

Checking up on the sinkhole here on First Avenue at Fifth Street (last post here)... definitely gaining conversation-starter status...

The Wild Son plans for daytime expansion with a lunch counter next door on 1st Avenue

The Wild Son is taking over its neighboring space at 130 First Ave. here by St. Mark's Place. 

 

Robert Ceraso, the cafe's co-owner and creative director, provided details. 

"We're going to be doing a Wild Son lunch counter in that space — extending the daytime service that we currently only offer on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to all weekdays," he said in an email. "It's going to be breakfast and lunch service only." 

When the new space opens (projected for mid-October now), patrons can expect to find favorites from the current Wild Son menu as well as some throwbacks to when he ran the sandwich shop Animals adjacent to The Wayland on Avenue C. 

"Animals was actually the precursor to The Wild Son concept that we eventually opened on the west side and then moved here," said Ceraso, whose other East Village establishments include The Wayland and Good Night Sonny. "So it feels good. It feels like it's coming full circle." 

Hours for The Wild Son annex are expected to be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Despite opening during the pandemic (May 2020), The Wild Son, which relocated to the East Village from Little West 12th Street, has become a popular destination.

No. 130 was previously the pop-up restaurant called Nudibranch and Nightmarket.

Thanks to Steven for the photo and EVG reader Alyssa for the initial tip.

Good news-bad news for fans of Pouring Ribbons on Avenue B

Pouring Ribbons returned to in-person cocktail service back on Wednesday from the second floor at 225 Avenue B.

In the past 18 months, the bar had only offered to-go cocktail options from time to time. For now, Pouring Ribbons is open starting at 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays here between 13th Street and 14th Street. Walk-ins only; there aren't any reservations at this time. (This Instagram post has details on the vaccination entry process.)

Meanwhile, Joaquín Simó, partner and bartender at Pouring Ribbons, announced in an Instagram post that their lease is up in April, so this marks the last six months at this location.

We've missed our regulars, our industry friends, and our neighbors more than anything. Not being a COVID casualty like so many beloved bars and restaurants is something we are extremely grateful for. We're not taking this opportunity to say a proper goodbye for granted, so please join us sometime soon!

The bar from Alchemy Consulting opened here in September 2012. 

Thank you to Vinny & O for the tip about the reopening and upcoming lease expiration. Pic from the archives.

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