Photos by Steven
This area was blocked off several times during the past two summers. During that time, there were reader reports about drug use, stolen property and fights.
Sunday, August 7, 2022
The barricades return to block off the chess tables in Tompkins Square Park
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Saturday's parting shot
Came for 'Bullet Train,' stayed for Tara and Richie
Thanks to Goldie for the clip!
Search for bakeries near me
SMØR Bakery photo by Vinny & O
As reported earlier this week, SMØR cafe owners Sebastian Perez and Sebastian Bangsgaard have opened SMØR Bakery ... offering a variety of bread and pastries at 437 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.
And this is the latest bakery to open in the East Village. Earlier this summer, Nikita Richardson checked in with a piece for The New York Times titled A Three-Stop Bakery Crawl in the East Village.
She paid visits to 2022 newcomers Librae Bakery on Cooper Square and Lady Wong on Ninth Street ... and La Cabra on Second Avenue (which opened this past Oct. 1).
You can read the piece here for more on what these businesses have to offer.
Other newish (as of May) bakeries include Bake Culture, the Taiwan-based bakery chain that sells Asian and European pastries at 22 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
And you can always count on the sourdough and other items at C&B on Seventh Street... the baguettes and croissants at Le Fournil on Second Avenue... the croissants at Elisa's Love Bites on Ninth Street ... and wherever else you like.
Saturday's opening shot
Still Life with Rotting Fruit on 14th Street
Courtesy of the EVG Masters Series
Friday, August 5, 2022
Theater for the New City ready to take it to the streets with a new production
Photo by Lola Sáenz
At the Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave. at 10th St., where their Street Theater Summer Tour begins tomorrow with a production of "Teacher! Teacher! or PS I Love You."
Free performances will be outdoors citywide on weekends through Sept. 18 ... including locally:
- Saturday, Aug. 6 @ 2 p.m. outside Theater for the New City on 10th Street
- Saturday, Aug. 20 @ 2 p.m. at Abe Lebwohl Park outside St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery, 10th Street at Second Avenue.
- Saturday, Aug. 27 @ 2 p.m. in Washington Square Park
- Sunday, Sept. 18 @ 2 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park
Read more about the play here.
Off to the races
Flasher, the D.C.-based band, returned as a duo for its second album out earlier this summer ... the video here is for "Sideways."
The 34th annual Tompkins Square Park Riot reunion shows are happening this weekend
The free concerts commemorating the 34th anniversary of the Tompkins Square Police Riot of Aug. 6, 1988, are happening this weekend.
Bands are set to play Saturday and Sunday from 2-6 p.m.
On Saturday, they'll be vegan and non-vegan tacos of all sorts by Rachel Jean, who's also in Bitch Switch (making their NYC debut).
A visit with Hemingway, the sleepy kitty in the window on 3rd Street
Text and interview by Stacie Joy
We’d long-admired Hemingway’s insouciance as he catnapped in a north-facing window on Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...
Hemingway’s human companion, Alex Smith, recently granted us an audience with the playful feline and answered some questions as Hemingway allowed himself to be admired.
How did Hemingway come to be a window mainstay on Third Street? When did the two of you arrive here and how did his lounging antics start?
We arrived in NYC in April 2021, and the lounger was one of the first things I set up. We moved here from New Orleans, where he used the lounger on our front door in a quiet neighborhood. I honestly didn’t think much about putting the lounger up on the window when we moved in.
Not long after setting it up, he took right to it again, and very soon after, the passersby started, and the phones came out. My mom had come to help us settle in, and we would laugh at everyone’s reactions to Hemingway in the lounger.
What has been the reaction of passersby?
The reactions range from surprise and amazement over the lounger and cuteness of Hemingway — for those who haven’t noticed it/him before — to people slowing down right as they check if he’s in the window. Some people pick up their dogs and bring them up to the window, which I always find hilarious, and Hemi doesn’t mind. I can hear people talking to friends saying, “Oh, wait, come see this cat,” some even call his name after reading it on his collar.
If someone is walking by and on FaceTime, they will flip the phone view to show the person on the phone. The most consistent reaction is smiles. It’s hard not to look at a kitty in a window and not smile.
How does Hemingway react to all the attention?
He loves it. He’s never been a shy cat and seeing the number of people he’s come into contact with over the last year has been so fun. The same children will come to the window every day, and if he’s not at the window, they call for him, and he runs to them. It’s so cute to watch. I also like that it keeps him stimulated. He also loves to sunbathe and nap, which also makes people stop to ooh and ahh.
What does he do during his “down time” when he is not lounging in the window?
If he’s not in the window, there’s a good chance he’s either sleeping in his heated bed — I know, I know — playing with his toys or trying to get my attention for treats, pets and playtime.
Best viewing times to see him? Is there anything special he likes or doesn’t like?
You can usually find him in the window from midmorning to around 3 p.m. daily. Sometimes a little later. It also depends on the weather and temperature. He loves when people talk to him through the window. He also enjoys it when people bring their dog up to the window — as long as the dog doesn’t bark too much. 
You can follow Hemingway on Instagram at @hemi.inthecity.
Summer Streets returns on the first 3 Saturdays of the month
Starting tomorrow (Saturday!), nearly seven miles of NYC roadways are closed to vehicles for people to run, walk, bike, complain that this takes away prime parking, etc.
As in previous years, this car-free zone includes Lafayette, Astor Place and Fourth Avenue from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You can find more details about Summer Streets at this link, including what kind of corporate-sponsored activities to expect at Astor Place.
Thursday, August 4, 2022
A visit with East Village singer-songwriter Jim Andralis
Photos by Stacie Joy; Q&A by EVG
Jim Andralis is an East Village-based singer-songwriter ... and trauma-focused psychotherapist in private practice — a unique combination for a unique talent.
His body of work, starting with 2016's debut, "Your Dying Wish Came True," shows Andralis as a pop craftsman, a songwriter of rare melodic gifts. Live, he has been joined by Julie Delano, Lesia Graves, Susan Hwang and Jessie Kilguss — not to mention his husband, artist-designer Larry Krone. (They opened for Bikini Kill on July 9 at Irving Plaza.)
Next Thursday (Aug. 11), Andralis plays at Rockwood Music Hall on Allen Street (it's also his birthday). His proceeds will go to the Yellowhammer Fund, which promotes reproductive justice in Alabama and the Deep South
Ahead of the show, we stopped by Andralis' East Village apartment, where we took a lot of photos of Dory, who graces the cover of his forthcoming LP, "I Can't Stop Trying," and the album's promo T-shirts.
What was your earliest career ambition?
I had jobs since I was 15 but nothing resembling career ambition until I was well into my 20s. Until then, I think my sole ambition was trying to pass as heterosexual.
Once I moved here at 24, the dream became performing on some kind of stage — ideally singing. The shows I loved the best were Kiki and Herb, The Talent Family (Amy and David Sedaris) plays, Jeff Weiss and Carlos Martinez’s insane serialized stuff.
The people I looked up to the most were hustling in some kind of service-industry job while attempting to carve out some kind of creative life. Imagining I could do that here felt pretty fucking ambitious.
When did music come into the picture?
I had been in a couple off-off Broadway musicals and stuff, but in the early 2000s, I started taking accordion lessons with Walter Kuhr at Main Squeeze Accordions on Essex Street. I’d always been really drawn to the accordion, particularly in the context of a band. But it’s also completely self-contained. You can play the accordion in your apartment, sing along and you can do just do that right away. Playing chords is really easy.
Anyway, you can draw a direct line from accordion lessons with Walter to everything I love about my life here. I was tending bar at Phoenix on 13th and A. Two of my favorite bar customers, Ben and Clint, found out I was taking accordion lessons and asked me if I wanted to be in their band the Isotoners. I started really writing and singing songs in that band. Bridget Everett would usually sing a couple songs with us whenever we performed, so that’s when Bridget and I got to be friends.
Also, the whole reason I met my husband Larry Krone is that he asked me to play accordion with him at one of Julian Fleisher’s nights at Starlite Lounge on Avenue A. So music coming into the picture also coincided with love and family coming into the picture.
You work as a trauma-focused psychotherapist. Do you consider your music to be more of a side project or perhaps a second career?
It’s definitely a whole second career. But it’s not, to be clear, two actual revenue streams. It’s more like, “You want a vinyl pressing for this release? Take on two more clients, motherfucker.”
You're a longtime East Village resident. What first prompted you to move here? What keeps you here?
Long before I actually lived in this neighborhood, I worked and spent every minute I could here. It wasn’t until I first entered The Bar on 2nd and 4th in, like, 1994 that I felt like I could be myself in any kind of gay context. Soon after that, I
started tending bar there, then Gold Bar, Dick’s and finally Phoenix. But I mostly lived in Queens.
When I started dating Larry in 2004 I put in an application for a place in the HDFC where he was already living. I was able to move here (and actually afford it) in 2007, all thanks to our HDFC!
This neighborhood has felt like home to me for way before I lived here. I just feel lucky to miraculously have an apartment here, friends nearby, tons of live music within a 5-10 minute walk.
In conclusion, I believe I shall remain here as long as possible!
I try to live in the moment as much as I can. But I've always been a nostalgic person. Do you find yourself being more nostalgic about the East Village and NYC, in general, these days, or can you balance the present and past to a healthy degree?
It depends on the moment. Some days I walk around and feel the history of our neighborhood existing in this weird, beautiful harmony right alongside the present. Like I’m part of something complicated and beautiful that extends beyond me in all these different dimensions.
Other days, it’s almost like panic because I can’t remember what used to be where this nail place is. Was Little Rickie on First or A? And if I can’t remember fill-in-the-blank, how the hell will anyone remember I was ever here?
It feels very linked to my feelings about mortality. In other words, yes completely healthy!
Sometimes, though, it’s a really sweet nostalgia, like you could get a goddamn soy patty platter at Dojo for 5 bucks in my day, honey!
Tell us more about the recently released single "New York City Spring" and what was going on when you wrote it.
I got COVID pretty bad in March 2020 when the city was just hit so hard.
I don’t think "Working Girl" is the BEST movie, but I like it. It came on TV when I was really sick. I watched the opening with Carly Simon singing, and a million people taking the Staten Island ferry to go work with, like, the Twin Towers on the horizon and I lost my SHIT. It was like this enormous wave of grief and terror came over me, this awareness of how vulnerable this little island is and how much it’s been through.
I write a lot of songs about New York, and I love art that loves New York and New Yorkers, like my friend Neil Goldberg’s gorgeous work. “New York City Spring” is my experience of New York in 2020, when it felt like a scared, wounded place where all these things used to happen. But it ends up kind of a pep talk for us
both and an attempt to conjure some sort of magic to come save us.
You and the band opened for Bikini Kill on July 9 at Irving Plaza. Most memorable moment of the evening for you?
The entire feeling just felt like this enormous, insanely fun moment. We were just ecstatic to have been invited by Bikini Kill to do it and so overwhelmed by how welcoming the venue and crowd were.
But if I had to pick one particular moment, it was being with my band just ecstatically dancing during Bikini Kill’s incredible set. We’d already done our set, loved every second of it, and just got to celebrate the whole thing together as friends while watching the most amazing Bikini Kill show. Plus Kathleen dedicated “For Tammy Rae” to me and Lar. That also felt like heaven and made me cry.
Your birthday is Aug. 11. (Happy early birthday!) You're playing a show that night at Rockwood Music Hall, and you're donating everything you make to the Yellowhammer Fund. Can you tell people more about them and why you support the organization?
The Yellowhammer Fund is doing amazing reproductive justice work helping people in the places being hit the hardest right now. They help marginalized communities get health care. One way I can help is by supporting organizations like Yellowhammer. I’m just grateful they exist. They are doing beautiful work that is saving lives, and also fucking dangerous.
And thanks for the birthday wishes!
Your LP, "I Can't Stop Trying," is due out in early January. Will there be a tour with it? Any special plans?
I mean, I hope so! I’m proud of this record. My friend, producer and engineer Tom Beaujour set up this insanely safe and quarantined recording experience, and making this record really helped me survive that year.
In terms of plans, we usually do a record release at Joe’s Pub. That’s not locked in, but we have our fingers crossed.
I have never toured. I’m dying to do it but can’t quite afford it. But it’s something I feel like I’ll make happen if not for this record definitely the next one, which we’ll be recording this fall!
Larry and I are doing a show in Andes with Julian Fleisher, Neal Medlyn and Julie DeLano on Aug. 6. Can we call that a tour??
6th Street wine bar Grape and Grain is closing this weekend
However, there's already a new G&G-related suitor for the space at 620 E. Sixth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.
Ownership of the wine bar made the announcement on Instagram yesterday:
We've loved every minute of being part of this community and we've been very fortunate to have met so many amazing people along the way. We're very proud of what we've built here over the years, and it’s hard to say goodbye! But, it is time to move on. ...We’re excited to say that we are keeping the space in the family, and we can't wait to share with you what's next for you on 6th St. Keep an ear out!
The OG G&G closed in the fall of 2017 after 12 years in service... then, in June 2018, new owners took over and kept the name.
Grape and Grain is open from 5-10 p.m.
Photo via @grapeandgrainnyc; H/T BVinny & O!
Reader report: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen slated for the SW corner of 14th Street and Avenue A
EVG photo from early 2022
Renovations are taking inside the former coffee shop at 442 E. 14th St., just west of Avenue A. Two EVG readers/tipsters reported that workers at the scene said the incoming tenant is — Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
Haven't received any other confirmation of this at the moment. (And if this is true, hopefully the restaurant will have a better exhaust system than the Wing Stop several storefronts away.)
This would also make the second EV Popeyes: an outpost opened in October 2020 at 39 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street.
No. 442 was previously the Lower East Side Coffee Shop, which closed here after 13 years in February 2021. Next door, New Herbal World, which offered a variety of herbs, teas and tonics as well as acupuncture, moved to Lafayette Street in September 2019.
It was a tough time for all the businesses on this corner in recent years. For nearly three years, this side of 14th Street was an active construction zone for L-train repairs and Avenue A entrance construction ... with various trucks, drill rigs, pile drivers, compressors and generators.
Several businesses were forced to shut down due to limited access to their storefronts. Outside the now-shuttered Dion and the Coffee Shop, customer access included only 28 inches of sidewalk space — not big enough for a wheelchair in spots.
Takahachi removes its curbside dining structure
As far as we can recall, the space hadn't been used since last fall (though it was pretty festive when it was in service).
And here's how the space looked last evening...
There is a No Standing sign in place here, and parking is not allowed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days a week.
The signs arrived in late June ahead of the new Bus Only lane on the southbound section of Avenue A below Fifth Street. (Not sure why the city placed the signs here, when there isn't a bus lane — unless that's coming soon. Somtum Der next door still uses its curbside dining space.)
Meanwhile, as you likely read, a new lawsuit was filed that seeks to end the city's outdoor dining program. The suit blames the Open Restaurants program, which was implemented during the pandemic in 2020, for excessive noise, traffic and garbage.
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Openings: SMØR Bakery on 12th Street
The Nordic-inspired shop is baking breads and pastries (i.e., sourdough, croissants, danishes, donuts) and serving coffees and sandwiches (try the Salmon & Co., with smoked salmon, dill plus scallion cream cheese, red onion, tomato and capers).
As well as seating for 15, a mini-general store offers housemade provisions (granolas, pickled and curried herrings, chicken salad) as well as local and imported specialty items, like smoked salmon, charcuterie and prepared foods.
The shop is run by the same co-owners, Sebastian Perez and Sebastian Bangsgaard, as the SMØR cafe a few doors east. The partners, who grew up in Denmark, met while working in a Scandinavian restaurant in Tribeca before opening SMØR in 2019.
“We were always planning to open a bakery to complement our restaurant, but the pandemic put a delay on our initial plans,” Perez said in an announcement about the debut. “We have always been inspired by the bakery scene in Copenhagen, and to say we’re excited to finally open our doors is an understatement.”
A mural representing the Ukrainian spirit at the Standard East Village
Kyiv-based artist Waone Interesni Kazki created the work.
Titled "From Legend to Discovery," the mural "represents the resilience, life and spirit of the Ukrainian community."
The hotel on Cooper Square held an opening party for the unveiling, with proceeds said to be going to the Ukrainian Museum nearby on Sixth Street and Palianytsia, a Ukrainian charity initiative based in Lviv, Ukraine, that helps refugees and war victims.
An idea for this 'vacancy hotspot' on Avenue A
Per our lead post from Monday, there's a new report titled "Crisis and Adaptation: Storefront Trends in the East Village, 2019 – 2021."
As noted, there are many takeaways from the 20-page report, including a section titled "vacancy hotspots."
Among those: The retail spaces in the NYCHA-owned First Houses on Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street. Three of the seven Avenue A-facing storefronts remain vacant and have been for years.
The report offers this recommendation:
Urge the NYCHA to make their vacant spaces on Avenue A available for vendor markets, micro-entrepreneurs living in NYCHA developments, and local businesses more generally.
We don't know why the city/NYCHA hasn't made more of an effort to lease these high-profile spaces.
The other two vacancy hotspots are the retail spaces at Steiner East Village on Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street (for lease signs have been posted for the past four years) and the renovated storefronts at 250 E. Houston St.
The report, released by the Cooper Square Committee, Village Preservation and East Village Community Coalition, provides a deep dive into the neighborhood's commercial landscape that builds off of the 2019 "East Village Commercial District Needs Assessment" to give a 2021 snapshot of the EV commercial district.
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Tuesday's parting shot
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