ICYMI: Quartino Bottega Organica has closed on Bleecker Street

I missed this one. Quartino Bottega Organica closed back in August at 11 Bleecker St. just west of the Bowery...

According to Quartino's website, the owners are opening a new restaurant in Genoa, Italy — "60 miles from our farm in Pieve di Teco." 

This was a lovely low-key spot with housemade pasta and bread and whose customers through the years included David Bowie, Lou Reed and Willem Dafoe.

The restaurant got its start at the South Street Seaport in 2000 before moving to Bleecker in 2004.

Xing Fu Tang is now open on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

The Taiwan-based Xing Fu Tang, a bubble tea chain specializing in brown sugar boba, debuted on Saturday on the northwest corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue. 

There was a line (and crowd!) when we walked by around 8 p.m. This is the second NYC location for Xing Fu Tang, joining the one in Flushing.

Our previous post has more about this corner space (133 Second Ave./37 St. Mark's Place) in recent retail years. 

P.S. 

And we don't know if a foot rub is $32 or $36 upstairs. (Someone asked last time about the dueling signs.)

[Updated] Vandal on skateboard defaces new George Floyd bust in Union Square

Photos by Lola Sáenz 

Updated 10/26: Police reportedly arrested 37-year-old Micah Beals on the LES in connection with this vandalism.

Someone defaced a bust of George Floyd this morning on Union Square. 

According to police and published reports, a man on a skateboard tossed paint on the memorial before taking off around 10 a.m. The NYPD released this surveillance video...

On 10/3/21, at approx. 10:15 AM, in Union Square Park, a person on a skateboard threw gray paint on the face and base of a statue of George Floyd. Info? DM @NYPDTips or ☎️ 1-800-577-TIPS. @NYPDShea @NYPDDetectives @NYPDPBMS @NYPD13Pct @NYCParks @mayorsCAU pic.twitter.com/PxNQs1u6mw

— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) October 4, 2021

Volunteers and producers of the public art installation called SEEINJUSTICE later cleaned the paint off the bust.

Somoene vandalized the same statue of Floyd in June while it was on display in Flatbush, Gothamist reported.

The 10-foot statue of Floyd and one of John Lewis and Breonna Taylor were just unveiled on Thursday. They were created by artist Chris Carnabuci and will be on display here until Oct. 30. 

The statues of Lewis and Taylor were not vandalized...

Week in Grieview

Posts this week included (with a photo on Second Avenue by Derek Berg)... 

• Airbnb strike: Authorities impound vans used for overnight stays in the East Village (Tuesday) 

• To get Corey Johnson's attention, East River Park activists chain themselves to a tree at City Hall (Wednesday) 

• RIP Faith Laugier (Sunday) 

• MAJOR changes coming to the aisles of Key Food (Wednesday) 

• An early morning visit with NY1's Roger Clark (Thursday) 

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

• Volunteers needed for the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry (Friday) 

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

• Police looking for suspect who assaulted an Uber driver on 14th and 3rd (Friday) 

• Gallery Watch: Sei Smith — Portraits of You at Ki Smith Gallery (Wednesday) 

• Openings: Beloved Cafe debuts on Allen Street (Friday) 

• Eastanbul Gyro Kebab and Smyrna Bakery appear to have closed at 200 Allen St. (Friday)

• Metrograph and its Commissary reopen on Ludlow Street (Friday) 

• The Mayfly debuts on East Houston (Wednesday) 

• Danish coffee shop La Cabra debuts on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Looking at the new mosaics inside the 1st Avenue L stop (Monday) 

• Hellbound: Café de L'Enfer popping up on Avenue A this fall (Thursday) 

• Afternoon bringing Korean hot dogs, mochi doughnuts and croffles to St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

• Good news-bad news for fans of Pouring Ribbons on Avenue B (Sunday) 

• Desi Stop Deli signage arrives on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday) 

• MSCHF on the Bowery (Monday)

• The new-look SW corner of 1st Avenue and 3rd Street (Wednesday)

Earlier this past week, the landlord painted over part of the mural wall (taking out three murals) on Second Street at First Avenue...

East Village Walls had been curating this spot (at no cost to the landlord) for the past six years. The landlord is apparently using the space now for an advertiser.

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A moment or two at the Anarchist Bookfair

The 15th Anarchist Bookfair took place yesterday at La Plaza Cultural on the southwest corner of Ninth Street and Avenue C. 

There was a nice turnout, as this pic by EVG contributor Stacie Joy shows (click on the image to go big)...

... and two other scenes...

... with an appearance by Monty Cantsin...

Sunday's opening shots

Tompkins Square Park ⬆️ ... and Avenue A near Ninth Street ⬇️

Saturday's parting shot

A view along East Houston near Second Avenue...featuring the work of photographer Joseph Rodriguez on the fence of First Street Green ... with the condo called Treetops rising in the background.

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

Someone called the police about the 6th Street sinkhole

The heavy rains that Tropical Storm Ida brought on Sept. 1 caused a large sinkhole to form in the tree pit and sidewalk outside 338 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Previously: de Blasio Spider Hole.)

Yesterday, one month to the date that the sinkhole formed, someone called the police about the situation. The report showed up on the Citizen app...

We did receive confirmation that a squad car arrived on the scene... and apparently, the officers called this in to whatever city agency would need to get here to fix this. 

Top photo by Steven yesterday

Fall classic: Nexus Flea returns to 1st Avenue

The Nexus Flea returns today to First Avenue and Second Street... expect to find vendors selling vinyl records, vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, concert t-shirts and more from 2-6 p.m.

Post updated to note move from First Street to Second Street.

Blue & Gold Tavern IS BACK OPEN

Well! As at least commenter and several EVG readers said... Blue & Gold Tavern reopened tonight at 79 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue for the first time in 18 months. 

We were just speculating about their status the other day. Anyway, enjoy! 

Thanks to Steven for the photo...

P.S.

Also reopening tonight: Tom & Jerry's at 288 Elizabeth St. near Houston. (H/T Garth and Ryan!)

Adult swim

 

Local singer-songwriter Vlad Holiday has a new EP out on Nov. 5 titled Write Me Off the Show. The video here is for the single titled "Skinny Dipping."

Also, today is another Bandcamp Friday, in which the platform foregoes its revenue and gives the bands all the $$$ from the day's sales.

About the 15th Anarchist Bookfair tomorrow at La Plaza Cultural

The 15th Anarchist Bookfair takes place tomorrow (Oct. 2) at La Plaza Cultural on the southwest corner of Ninth Street and Avenue C. 

Per the organizers: "The theme of this year's book fair is Mutual Aid and Zero-Money Living. Come browse through a wide selection of zines and books..." 

The Bookfair is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find more details here. 

Afterward, there's the Emma Goldman Film Festival in Tompkins Square Park... read about the program of short films (expected to screen at 7:30 p.m.) at this link.

Volunteers needed for the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry

The organizers of the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry are looking for volunteers to help with the effort here at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish on Avenue B at Ninth Street. 

Via an Instagram post yesterday: 

The Loisaida CommUnity Fridge is in need of volunteers for weekly fridge maintenance and cleaning shifts, food donation pick ups, and outreach. We would love your help! 

And THANK YOU to all those who have volunteered at the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge already! We can’t succeed without you.

You can find details about volunteering at this link. 

The fridge debuted here in June.

Police looking for suspect who assaulted an Uber driver on 14th and 3rd

The NYPD is looking for a suspect they say struck an Uber driver in the face with a cellphone. 

The attack reportedly happened at 3 a.m. on Aug. 28. Video that the NYPD released this week shows the suspect running east on 14th Street just past Third Avenue. 

Police say that the man was trying to hail the Uber. When Gui Ping Han tried to explain that his car was not for hire, the suspect allegedly hit the driver in the face. 

According to CBS 2 yesterday, the 45-year-old driver may have permanent blindness in his left eye. 

Police did not release a description of the suspect...

🚨WANTED for ASSAULT: On 8/28/21 at 3:05 AM, in front of 203 E 14 St in Manhattan, this individual struck a 45-year-old Uber driver in the face with a cellphone causing a seriously physical injury to his left eye. Have any info? DM @NYPDTips or call them at 800-577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/Wt4RIDqlve

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) September 30, 2021

Openings: Beloved Cafe debuts on Allen Street

Beloved Cafe is now open at 198 Allen St. just south of Houston Street. (Previously reported here and here.)

Here's more from the San Francisco-based, health-focused cafe's website:

With an expanded menu, Beloved NYC will be baking fresh organic 100% sourdough bread, made with a 150-year-old San Franciscan and German culture. We will be offering a full espresso bar, an expanded brunch menu, and our most delicious new offering—warm melt-in-your-mouth orgasmic sourdough donuts.

​You can still expect to find our signature plant-based recipes, fresh juices, and superfood smoothies.

Beloved NYC will host musicians, dances, tea ceremonies, and other events that will bring the community together. If you are a musician or have an offering that's aligned with our mission, please reach out! We love to collaborate.

You can find a menu here. For starters, the hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will expand serving times in the weeks ahead.

The original Beloved Cafe opened in San Francisco's Mission District in 2017. 

Via email, a rep for owners Amy Vito and her husband, Kambiz Fahim, told us why they decided to expand to this neighborhood:

"Ever since opening Beloved Cafe in San Francisco, we had so many requests from New Yorkers to open a cafe here. That planted the seed. Over the years we visited New York as often as possible and we fell in love with the vibrancy and community. The thought of living in New York and opening a restaurant here excited us and we decided to follow that excitement. We feel at home in the Lower East Side, the neighborhood, the vibrancy, the art, and the diversity all really speaks to us and we want to be a part of it."

Eastanbul Gyro Kebab and Smyrna Bakery appear to have closed at 200 Allen St.

With the arrival of Beloved Cafe this week ... it looks as if its neighbor on the southeast corner of Houston and Allen has departed.

Eastanbul Gyro Kebab has been emptied out (we had reader reports in the past two weeks about a possible shutter here)... workers were spotted removing equipment from the sliver of a space yesterday...

In addition, Smyrna Bakery that served out of the south end of 200 Allen St., is also closed. 

Empire Gyro, with a 24/7 schedule, opened here in February 2019 ... with the conversion to Eastanbul (and Smyrna) in the summer of 2020.

Metrograph and its Commissary reopen TODAY on Ludlow Street

Metrograph, the two-screen cinema down on Ludlow Street, reopens today for in-person screenings for the first time since March 2020. (Previously reported here.)

The Metrograph-y first slate includes a new 4K restoration of Andrzej Żuławski's horror cult classic "Possession" ... an Eastwood x 4 series and "We Won't Grow Old Together," a divorce-themed collection including "Journey to Italy" and "The Awful Truth."

They are also offering Metrograph at Home subscriptions that include live streaming events, special premieres and exclusive films ... with $10 tickets at the box office.

In addition, Metrograph's Commissary upstairs reopens this evening. The bar-dining area will be in service Thursday through Sunday, returning to daily service on Oct. 14.

Find the theater down at 7 Ludlow St. between Hester and Canal.

Thursday's parting shot

An EVG reader shared this photo from early this morning ... 4:50 a.m. to be exact when Con Ed had two workers spend two hours or so power washing the graffiti-filled substation along Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street... 

Updated 10/1 

About 12 tags arrived less than 24 hours later... a sampling...

6 posts from September

A mini month in review... 

• MAJOR changes coming to the aisles of Key Food (Sept. 29)

• Memories of Homecoming 2021 (Sept. 24) 

• A visit to Ergot Records (Sept. 22)

• A clue about future development courtesy of the former Subway at 250 E. Houston St. (Sept. 21)

• Lancelotti Housewares is closing on Avenue A (Sept. 17) 

• City clears and closes the area around the chess tables in Tompkins Square Park (Sept. 1)

A night at the opera via the LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival

The 10th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival continues through Sunday in neighborhood community gardens. 

Here's one of the more unique events taking place... tomorrow (Friday!) night, dell'Arte Opera Ensemble and LUNGS present "The Great Aria Throwdown" in the Campos Community Garden on East 12th Street just west of Avenue C.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., you'll find "an hour of music at operatic proportions featuring Bahati Barton, Perri di Christina, Diana Charlop and Jeffrey Mandelbaum with Pablo Zinger at the piano."

Find the full LUNGS schedule here.