Arthur’s Barber Shop has closed

Several readers (h/t simcitymayor) have let us know that Arthur’s Barber Shop has closed at 34 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. 

Readers reported showing up at Arthur's in recent days only to find the gate down, with the inside of the shop emptied out... there also isn't any information about a new location. 

Thanks to Steven for the photo

The Community Holiday Feast fed more than 600 people in Tompkins Square Park yesterday

Photos by Stacie Joy

Here's a quick recap of the Community Holiday Feast in Tompkins Square Park yesterday afternoon. 

For starters, given the weather on Saturday, organizers, including Jeremiah Moss and EVG contributor Stacie Joy, had to move the event to the rain date of yesterday.

From 2-4 p.m., volunteers served 600-plus free hot meals in the Park... providing some good food and vibes in the process... 

The following businesses and residents donated to the event:

Scooter LaForge, Stacie Joy, C&B Cafe, S'MAC, Food for Life, Marjorie Ingall and Jonathan Steuer, Chris Flash, Mary O's, San Loco, Rossy's Bakery, Molly Crabapple, EVLovesNYC, Gavin Downie, Jon Thornton, Tiffeani James, Jeremiah Moss and Rebecca Levi, Derrick the Abolitionist, Leslie Feinberg, Hank Chmielinski and Holli Porreca, Rosie Kahn and Dan Grimes.

Stacie and Jeremiah also thank all the community members who donated their time yesterday volunteering for the Community Feast. And to all a happy and healthy holiday season... 

Letter perfect: City makes the MPH right on 2nd attempt

As noted, back on Thursday, city workers put down the roadside markings on the recently repaved Avenue B.

Unfortunately, as the top pic showed, workers transposed MHP-MPH along the Avenue's school zones.

However, as of this morning, the MHP-MPH has been corrected, as Vinny & O point out... 

Now, if the city will do something about the idling delivery trucks here... 

Thanks to Vinny & O for the top photo!

These East Village businesses are temporarily closing as COVID cases continue to climb

--Updated12/22: In a good sign, several of the businesses that decided to close this past weekend have reopened. Updating the list below--

The rise in COVID-19 cases across NYC alongside the spread of the new omicron variant made its presence known to local businesses and residents over the weekend. 

In recent days, several establishments either closed because of infection among their staff or due to possible exposure to someone who had tested positive. For instance, Mister Paradise, the cocktail bar at 105 First Ave., closed for the weekend after positive test results for some employees...

Yellow Rose on Third Avenue and Academy Records on 12th Street were among other businesses to announce a temporary closure due to positive test results. 

The Brant Foundation, showing a solo exhibition of new works by Julian Schnabel, abruptly closed "out of precaution" on Saturday here at 421 E. Sixth St. ...

Others taking a cautionary approach included Hearth at 403 E. 12th St. ...

Here is a partial list of other East Village businesses that either decided to amend their operating method or close...

• All The Kings Horses at 521 E. 12th St. has closed until further notice. UPDATED: They reopen on 12/21 with limited hours and no indoor dining. 

• AuH2O Shop, 84 E. Seventh St., closed yesterday and will not reopen until after Christmas. "We're very sorry to people looking to pick up online orders or last-minute gifts, but we thank you for understanding the need to keep our staff and everyone safe." 

• Azaleas, the women's boutique, limited their hours and the number of patrons allowed inside the shop at 140 Second Ave. 

• Beauty Bar, 231 E. 14th St., will be closed until at least Dec. 31.

• Bluestockings, the activist bookstore and café at 116 Suffolk St., is now only open for pickup orders and coffee and pastries to go. 

• Boris & Horton, the dog-friendly cafe on Avenue A at 12th Street, closed for the weekend, stating on Instagram: "The health of our employees, guests, and community is our number one priority." UPDATED 12/22: They are back open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• The Copper Still, 151 Second Ave., plans to reopen on Dec. 26.

• The Film Anthology Archives, 32 Second Ave., canceled yesterday's screenings and those scheduled for tonight and tomorrow. Per a statement: "Having already planned to close for the holidays from Dec. 22-Jan. 6, we hope to return as scheduled on Jan. 7."

• Josie's, 520 E. Sixth St., like its sister bars Mona's and Sophie's, will be closed at least until after Dec. 25.

• Kindred, 342 E. Sixth St., is closed to at least Dec. 28.

• The Hard Swallow, 140 First Ave., will reopen on Dec. 27.

• The Immigrant, 341 E. Ninth St., has closed until Dec. 26.

• Metrograph, the cinema at 7 Ludlow St., is closing its theaters and commissary until Dec. 25.

• Mona's, 224 Avenue B, has shut down through Dec. 27.

• Now Yoga at 61 E. Fourth St. has suspended in-person classes, pivoting back to online sessions for the remainder of the year. 

• O'Hanlon's, 349 E. 14th St., is shutting down until Dec. 26 to give its staff time off to get tested and to deep clean the bar.

• Otto's Shrunken Head, 538 E. 14th St., closed after service last night. The bar plans to reopen on Jan. 5.

• Phebe's, 361 Bowery, announced it will be closed for the next week. 

• Ruffian, 125 E. Seventh St., plans to reopen on Dec. 27.

• SMØR, the Nordic cafe at 441 E. 12th St., suspended indoor dining, serving food and drinks outdoors and for takeaway and delivery. 

• Sophie's, 507 E. Fifth St., is closed now with hopes of reopening after this holiday week.

For fatigued owners, employees and residents, the closures have prompted unpleasant flashbacks to March 2020, when businesses announced short-term closures due to the rising cases of coronavirus... only to be shuttered for months after then-Gov. Cuomo ordered all nonessential businesses to close during the PAUSE. 

In recent days, both Mayor de Blasio, who has less than two weeks left in office, and Gov. Hochul have reportedly said another NYC lockdown won't be necessary. "Getting vaccinated, getting the booster and wearing a mask are critical to avoiding getting seriously ill from COVID-19, so don't take a chance," Hochul said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the scramble for testing continues. Long lines await people anxious for peace of mind before traveling in the days ahead or attending holiday get-togethers with friends or family. The Mayor has promised more testing sites early this week. 

Starting today, the NYC Test & Trace Corps, in partnership with the NYC Health Department and NYC Care, will distribute 500,000 rapid antigen self-testing kits and 1 million KN95 masks through community-based organizations across the city. It's not clear where these might be available in the East Village. 

Hearth photo by Lola Sáenz

Signage arrives for the new Urban Wine & Spirits

Workers yesterday installed the awning/signage at the new home of Urban Wine & Spirits at the SW corner of First Avenue at Third Street. (Thanks to the reader for the shot!) 

The wine store is 30 steps away from Urban's current First Avenue storefront. No word on an opening here just yet. (Updated 12/26: The new shop is open!) There will be a wine bar-cafe opening here in the spring... and it will have a separate entrance on Third Street.

Old-timer Exquisite Cleaners vacated this space in the summer of 2020 as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the dry-cleaner business.

7-Eleven shutters on 14th Street

The 7-Eleven on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue shut down last week. (Thanks to Pinch for the tip!)

No closing notice, no explanation behind the closing.

As you can sorta see in this shot above the papered storefront... the space is mostly empty...

This outpost arrived in 2012 (bring back Exquisite DVD Video!). And this is the second 7-Eleven to close in the East Village, joining the one on St. Mark's Place in 2013.

Still, there are still plenty of 7-Elevens around (the Bowery, Avenue A, etc.) to get your Fiery Hot Taquitos and Mountain Dew Major Melon Slurpee...

Bar None returns to service on 3rd Avenue

Bar None is back open at 98 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. 

As previously noted by mutliple readers, two yellow SEIZED stickers were affixed to the sports bar's storefront. According to the legal documents dated from Nov. 18, "The property was seized for nonpayment of New York State taxes." 

However, the owners cleared up the issue ...

East Village Social has not been open in awhile

East Village Social remained dark for another weekend here at 126 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

By most estimates, the bar-restaurant has been closed since early November... with no notice of a temporary or permanent closure on the EVS website or social media properties.

Multiple EVG readers have inquired about the bar's status in recent weeks. Two readers who frequent EVS have said the bar is closed for renovations and that management hasn't made that fact too well known.

EVS opened in June 2012. 

Sunday's parting shot

Thanks to Goggla for this pic tonight from Tompkins Square Park...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo by Stacie Joy of the Tree Riders heading into their final few days on Second Avenue)... 

• RIP Molly Fitch (Monday)

• One man dead, several people injured in a fire at 118 Avenue D (Thursday) 

• The Community Holiday Feast in Tompkins Square Park is now taking place on Sunday (Friday) 

• At the rally for Casa Adela (Monday) 

• At the annual Tompkins Square Park tree lighting (Monday) 

• A rally in support of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project; activists lose appeal (Friday) ... Activists: Even with a new court order, the city continues demolition of East River Park (Tuesday) 

• Making a connection with the history of this 13th Street apartment (Thursday) 

• Gallery Watch checks out Bockhaus's Anti Christmas Special by Ryan Bock at Ki Smith Gallery (Friday) 

• This is the closing date for Dress Shoppe II (Thursday) 

• Gia Trattoria has closed on the Bowery (Wednesday)

• The SE corner of Avenue C and 3rd Street is now sidewalk-bridge free after 8-plus years (Thursday)

• Dry cleaners and laundromats make a return (Monday) 

• Noho Market debuts on the Bowery (Monday) 

• Construction watch: 699 E. 6th St. (Thursday) 

• Snack Bowery has closed (Monday) 

• Dumpling N' Dips coming soon to St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• Summing up feelings about SantaCon (Sunday) 

• August Laura has closed on Avenue A and 6th Street (Thursday).

And after August Laura closed, several readers noted that up to 8-10 people moved into the restaurant's seldom-used Sixth Street streetside structure...

Since then, someone has removed most of the barriers...

... and boarded up the Avenue A streetside structure. The residents (and one business owner) who emailed us about these want the street eateries removed, as the retail space will likely sit empty for months...

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

A Sustainable Christmas

Now for a little holiday cheer... earlier this month, A Sustainable Village, the new eco-friendly shop at 318 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, held its first tree trimming party.

The owners, Em Hynes (left) and Jaclyn Roster, invited EVG contributor Stacie Joy to stop by for the festivities... which include making ornaments...

A Sustainable Village is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. You can follow them on Instagram here. 

EVG Etc.: The 'pointless demolition' of East River Park; the city's worst landlords

Morning shadow on Avenue A 

• Mayor insists there won't be a new round of business or school closures amid COVID surge (ABC 7)

• An update on the teens who climbed out their fourth-floor window during the fire at the Jacob Riis Houses Thursday morning (CBS 2 ... previously on EVG) ... There's a GoFundMe for the family at this link. 

• Tompkins Square Middle School students speak out against sexual harassment and assault (CBS 2) 

• What we'd lose if Casa Adela closes (Grub Street ... previously on EVG)

• Eileen Myles on "the pointless demolition" of East River Park (artforum) 

• City Council votes in favor of the SoHo/NoHo rezoning plan (Gothamist) 

• The 2021 list of the city's worst landlords (Patch) 

• Sweet Pickle Books celebrates its first year on the LES (Publishers Weekly) 

• Diversions: Pleasant Gehman and Coyote Shivers lead a group of ducks, swans and geese to Dee Dee Ramones' grave at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (NBC Los Angeles)

Saturday's parting shot

A moment from the 9th Precinct's annual holiday party today on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... photo by Derek Berg...

HBD Marty Rev

 

Martin Rev, the keyboardist and one-half of the influential duo Suicide, turned 74 today. Enjoy the clip of "Ghost Rider" from 1980.

Also HBD to Keith Richard (No. 78), who has several ties to this neighborhood as well (here and here and here, for instance).

Testing, testing

As you are likely well aware, the rise of COVID cases in the city has spurred lines for testing as people prepare to travel for the holidays... or simply just want to get tested.

There have been social media reports (#CityMD) of 2-3 hour waits at CityMD. (The above photo is from this morning around 8 as the line outside the 14th Street CityMD outpost stretched halfway down the block between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.)

Some knowledgeable/trustworthy sources online have reminded people about free city-run test sites. Find that list here. And this site has the wait times for NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 testing locations. And here's a list of free mobile testing units. You'll have to travel a little bit for this — none of the locations are in the East Village.

The city is reportedly expanding testing sites, distributing masks and giving away at-home test kits... though, as many people have pointed out in news articles on this winter surge: 20 months in, it shouldn't be so difficult to get a test. (And this article at The City reports: "De Blasio Shut Down 20 City-Run COVID Testing Facilities Ahead of Omicron Surge.")

Also: The city's Vaccine Command Center is here.... the COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Finder is here.  

A holiday concert at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer

Photo this month by Stacie Joy 

The Church of the Most Holy Redeemer celebrates the season with a candlelit carol concert tomorrow (Sunday!) afternoon at 4. The event is free (you can register here). 

Proof of vaccination is required, and attendees must wear a mask. Organizers say that there will be enough room in the church for people to remain socially distant.

Westville East on Avenue A is closed for renovations until Jan. 3

In case Westville East on Avenue A at 11th Street was in your dining plans for the remainder of the year... Per the notices on site, the restaurant is now closed for renovations until 5 p.m. on Jan. 3.

On Avenue B, we're seeing firsthand what happens when the city disbands the DOT proofreaders

Updated 12/20: The city has fixed the MHP-MPH errors!

On Thursday, city workers put down the roadside markings on the recently repaved Avenue B.

EVG reader Krikor Daglian first pointed out the transposed letters in MPH < MHP.

Vinny & O (and several others!) then pointed out that the MHP is on the entire length of the Avenue, from Houston to 14th ...

Perhaps the DTO DOT intends this to mean Minimum Horse Power. (H/T John G. for that one!)

First! (aka Saturday's opening shot)

We have an early participant here on Avenue A at Ninth Street for MulchFest in Tompkins Square Park ... the two-day event is set for Jan.8-9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

And not to be scoldylocks, but you're supposed to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and stands before dropping off your tree.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (finally) in Tompkins Square Park

After a few attempts... the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree is now LIT! ALL OF IT. Not just the top part.

Still, we had a nice time at the tree (half) lighting this past Sunday. xo

Photo by Steven