Saturday, March 12, 2022
A sign of spring!
Oh, and some daffodils too...
Check out the 'Cityscapes' of Tabboo! at Karma
Here's more via Karma:
In these works, Tabboo!’s beloved stomping ground of New York City takes center stage, giving the viewer a chance to see the city through his eyes—a vantage imbued with possibility. The city has anchored Tabboo!’s practice across works on paper and on canvas. Rendered in quick, impressionistic gestures and a vivid palette, gray skies and iconic skyscrapers attest to its stoic beauty.
In describing his turn to the city as muse, Tabboo! has said, "I made art about what was around me, what I knew… I know my plants. I know all my tchotchkes, my puppet collection, and New York City…. So that’s my subject matter."
And!
These sweeping cityscapes are reminiscent of the backdrops Tabboo! painted for his drag performances in the 1980s. Dramatic colorfields render the city in moments of transition, from day into night and back again. Gleaming windows are sprinkled with glitter, scattering the sun’s brilliance as it sets.
An indelible energy soaks these cityscapes, many of which depict the view from Tabboo!’s apartment windows. "I paint from my Alphabet City apartment, which I've lived in for forty years," Tabboo! explains. Here's my big fancy artist statement: I don’t have one! I just do what I do."
The work is on view at both Karma spaces on Second Street between Avenue A and Avenue B — Nos. 188 and 172. Gordon Robichaux is at 141 Union Square West.
The exhibits will be on view through April 16. The two galleries on this block are open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gordon Robichaux is open Friday-Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
An excerpt...
The irony is by no means lost on Mr. Tashjian that, while just seven years ago he was collecting disability food stamps, the art world has suddenly discovered him hidden in plain sight at age 63 ... a cadre of collectors has emerged eager to acquire one of his paintings. "I'm pushing the work harder than ever,' he said. "I'm living," he added, suddenly tearful, "for all the people who couldn't."By that he meant countless members of his generation lost to the AIDS epidemic. "Everything before digital, there's now a push to erase," he said. "And I am insistent on not being erased."
There's a separate preview piece of the exhibits at the Times here.
Top photo via Karma
Have we seen the last of the sinkhole on 1st Avenue at 5th Street?
Updated 3/14: We're back!
Workers recently painted the crosswalk and bike lanes here again — a good sign that they likely won't have to do this again until the summer.
Thank you to everyone who wrote in about this!
Saturday's opening shot (and non-exclusive weather forecast)
We will omit the customary byplay and go right to the Weather Channel for the latest...
Here's more... with the National Weather Service predicting the snow to start in NYC "around lunctime" (I'm eating at 11:30 a.m.)...Description ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.WHERE...Portions of northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut and southeast New York.WHEN...From 9 AM this morning to 7 PM EST this evening.ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Temperatures will fall quickly late this morning into this afternoon resulting in a quick freezing of any standing water.
As is this wasn't fun enough, we also lose an hour of sleep tonight. #DaylightSavingTimeExpect the changeover from rain to snow to begin later this morning in parts of the Lower Hudson Valley, making its way into NYC around lunchtime.
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) March 12, 2022
Strong winds and locally heavy snow may create dangerous travel conditions for a period early this afternoon. #NYwx #CTwx #NJwx pic.twitter.com/Sp05wEl2HJ
Friday, March 11, 2022
Broadcast 'News'
Local band Beechwood headlines Arlene's Grocery tomorrow night (March 12) ... as part of the New Colossus Festival taking place at several nearby venues through Sunday.
The video here is for "Front Page News," from Beechwood's January release Sleep Without Dreaming.
Pre-spring look at the Tompkins Square Park mini pool
Photo today by Steven
Outdoor city pools reopen on June 28 — who's ready for a dip in the Tompkins Square Park mini pool? (And yes — Tompkins Square Park has a mini pool!)
Well! OK, the pool isn't quite in summer mode just yet... the fallen branch has been in the pool since September. The barricade is new(er)!
Anyway, Parks staff say this will be removed (and raked?) ahead of pool season.
Stand With Ukraine
Photo at the Sly Fox on 2nd Avenue by Steven
A recap of some recent Ukraine-related coverage around the neighborhood...
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Thursday's parting shots
Let's take another look at the eerie remains of the long-abandoned 6 Avenue B
Photos by Stacie Joy
Back on Dec. 23, we shared photos from inside the long-abandoned 6 Avenue B, the 6-story building on the NW corner at Houston.
Recapping some of what we know (and have reported) about 6 Avenue B. The liquor store in the retail space closed when the owner passed away in 2009 at age 89. (Chico created the tribute to her in February 2010.)
And as previously noted, this is one of the abandoned buildings owned by the estate of the mysterious team of Arthur and Abraham Blasof, now both deceased.
Otherwise, there's some sporadic activity inside related to the cell towers on the roof. Otherwise, there don't appear to be any plans for this space.
In the previous trip inside the building, EVG contributor Stacie Joy saw only a few units on the lower floors. She returned the other day and got a more complete look ...
A sneak peek at El Colmado, opening soon on East Houston Street
Photos by Stacie Joy
Late last year, we mentioned that El Colmado, a market specializing in Dominican food, was in the works for 309 E. Houston St. between Clinton and Attorney.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the other day ... and met the father-son team behind the market...
Higher Empire announces itself on 1st Avenue
Photo by Steven
Higher Empire signage arrived over at 71 First Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street in recent days.
According to the Higher Empire website, the business is described as a "cannabis club and delivery service."
You can hit the website here for more on the products/services, etc. They have an Instagram account too.
This storefront was previously Alex Shoe & Watch Repair. Alex never reopened after the PAUSE of March 2020.
Today is the day for the new, smaller TD Bank to debut on 3rd Avenue
As previously mentioned, workers have been dividing up the retail space here, with TD Bank downsizing and vacating the corner spot...
No word if this branch will bring back a coin-counting machine to this location. (TD did away with them in 2016!)
A study cited by Banking Dive on Friday reported that "[b]ranch transaction volume has declined an average of 7% over the past seven years, while mobile payments are forecasted to grow 25% per year through 2026." So banks are shedding some real estate.
According to the retail listing, the corner storefront will be available starting in September after its de-TD'd .... and with an ask of $150 per square foot. What type of vape shop would you like to see open here?
Updated:
And then there was one...
H/T Steven!
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
The 'Law & Order' with recently filmed scenes on 7th Street airs tomorrow night
Photo on 7th Street on Feb. 8 by Derek Berg
As you may recall, on Feb. 8, crews for the all-new "Law & Order" filmed scenes on Seventh Street along Tompkins Square Park. (The neighborhood is no stranger to the show and its spinoffs through the years.)
Photos from the shoot (right here) saw Anthony Anderson's Det. Bernard and newcomer Jeffrey Donovan's Det. Frank Cosgrove investigate a murder, complete with a blood-splattered van on Seventh Street and, later, a candlelit memorial in the Park featuring an 8x10 of a young woman.
The episode filmed here airs tomorrow (March 10) on NBC at 8. (H/T Steven!)
Per the description of the episode titled "Filtered Life" ...
Detectives Kevin Bernard and Frank Cosgrove investigate the disappearance of a social media star whose case takes the internet by storm; whilst A.D.A.'s Nolan Price and Samantha Maroun must weigh their decisions regarding the case against the wishes of the missing woman's family.
And the trailer, featuring a few glimpses of Tompkins...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Tompkins Square Library to screen doc on East Village artist Jeffrey Cyphers Wright on Saturday
Per the NYPL description:
From Allen Ginsberg to John Sex. From Cover Mag to Live Mag! From the gardens to the poetry bars. From La Mama to Howl! Romance, lyricism, grafitti, tall tales… please join us for this intimate, informative, and amusing portrait of a quintessential East Village resident.
Filmmaker Luigi Cazzaniga rejoins Wright (Cazzaniga was Cover Mag's art director and fashion editor and photographer) to create a humorous and historic portrayal. Fast paced and cram-packed with EV lore, this is haute entertainment dressed up in rowdy downtown style.A panel discussion will follow the film, which starts at 3 p.m. at the branch, 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.
The screening is free, though the NYPL suggests that you register online ahead of time here.
In an email about the documentary, the library says this is "the first in a series of films highlighting East Village artists and writers."
Image via the NYPL
'It's time' — A question about the Christmas wreath in Tompkins Square Park
Despite today's snowfall 😒 ... not everyone is understandably feeling the Christmas spirit this March.
Here then, a question via the EVG inbox:
Any idea how we can get the dried-out holiday wreath in Tompkins Square Park taken down? It's time.
Why the Fillmore East commemorative plaque is missing on 2nd Avenue
Photo by Derek Berg
Several observant EVG readers noted that the commemorative plaque outside the onetime home of the Fillmore East at 105 Second Ave. near Sixth Street is MIA.
A tipster thought it looked as if the plaque had been ripped off the wall here of current tenant Apple Bank.
However, Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, confirmed that the plaque had been damaged and is out for repairs.
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (now Village Preservation) along with Two Boots placed the memorial here in the fall of 2014 to honor the venue that helped launch some of the biggest names in music from 1968 to 1971.
So while the plaque is at the shop, it's a good time to revisit some Fillmore East history ... in case you don't recall seeing the Grateful Dead, Love and the Allman Brothers on a bill here for $3. (When did shows get so expensive? I remember when they were $1!)
The sibling to Bill Graham's Fillmore West in San Francisco brought performers such as Led Zeppelin, the Doors, B.B. King, Roberta Flack, the Byrds, the Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez and the Who to the East Village starting in March 1968.
No. 105 opened in 1926 as a Yiddish theater, soon becoming the Loew's Commodore movie house, followed by the Village Theater. In the 1980s, it was the nightclub The Saint, becoming Emigrant Bank in 1995 and then Apple Bank in 2013.
You can read about the history of the building and the 2,700-seat venue right here. And find a listing of every band who played the Fillmore East here.
#Baonanas bringing their version of banana pudding to 7th Street
Photo by Steven
The shop had a sneak preview this past weekend... and is expected to be open at the end of the week.
Real-life couple Trisha Villanueva and Lloyd Ortuoste started the business in Jersey City in 2014.
Some background per the #Baonanas website:
[I]n April 2014, a close friend recommended that we sell our banana pudding to help fund a repair for Lloyd's car, Ella, a sonic yellow 2004 Subaru WRX Impreza STI, who was in a fender bender. So we started the hashtag #Baonanas on Instagram. We were amazed by the community's reaction to our silly little hashtag.
Here's more on their desserts via a 2020 feature on ABC 7: "Using Leche flan, the Filipino version of creme caramel, instead of regular boxed jello, Lloyd and ... Trisha ... have been able to develop innovative flavors and a fluffy mousse texture."
Find their menu of 30-plus flavors here.
This spot has been vacant since the original location of Luke's Lobster closed here in 2019 ... after they had outgrown the space. As founders Luke Holden and Ben Conniff wrote back then: "It's time for 93 E. 7th Street to help launch someone else's dream, and we can't wait to visit and support it."
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