Noted

The sign for Hairy Balls for sale ($12 a bunch) outside Key Food is apparently causing a few double takes here on Avenue A. (Thanks to Sarah Keyes for sharing the photo!) 

Apparently not the work of a prankster. 

As Wikipedia points out: 

Gomphocarpus physocarpus, commonly known as hairy balls, balloonplant, balloon cotton-bush, bishop's balls, nailhead, or swan plant, is a species of dogbane. The plant is native to southeast Africa, but it has been widely naturalized. It is often used as an ornamental plant. 

And there really isn't enough room on that sign to spell out gomphocarpus physocarpus.

Coming attractions: Beer and wine for the AMC Village 7 on 11th Street and 3rd Avenue

The AMC Village 7 on the corner of Third Avenue and 11th Street is joining the growing number of movie theaters that will serve alcohol.

Reps for parent company American Multi-Cinema Inc. received administrative approval from Community Board 3 this month for a beer-wine license at 66 Third Ave. (Here's the questionnaire on file at the CB3 website.)

Presumably, it will be a similar operation as the AMC on 19th and Broadway, the Regal Union Square or Regal Essex Crossing ... where there's a small bar to either sit before-after a film or to purchase a drink to bring into the auditorium.

Given the paperwork involved with the State Liquor Authority, it will likely be several more months before any bar is up and running at the theater. 

Last November, Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street received approval to sell beer-wine at a lobby cafe. That service hasn't arrived just yet. 

In January, the State Liquor Authority ruled that movie theaters could now apply for beer and wine licenses, with consumption allowed in seats — not just from a lobby bar-cafe... ending a years-long debate about alcohol in theaters.

As Eater pointed out:

Of course, theaters in NYC like Nitehawk and Alamo Drafthouse have already been doing this for years. Under the state's former guidelines, operators could only sell booze if they also had a commercial kitchen for preparing food and an individual table for customers at their seats. Others were able to serve alcohol at bars in their lobbies under a separate license but not in theaters themselves.

We've come a long way from 2012 when CB3 — responding to resident concerns — rejected an application from Landmark Theaters for a full liquor license at the Sunshine Cinema on Houston Street.

Ted Mundorff, president and CEO of Landmark Theaters, told IndieWire at the time: "That was pretty shortsighted of folks… It's not like theaters that have alcohol have people falling down [drunk]." 

The denial of alcohol sales from a lobby cafe (where they served slices from Two Boots) set in motion a series of events that saw the closure of the cinema in January 2018. Without the revenue boost, the theater chain decided against renegotiating the lease, and the building was sold and demolished to make way for a 9-story office complex.   

Another new broker for the long-vacant 20 St. Mark's Place

There's a new for-lease sign outside 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

This is at least the fourth broker to try to lease the long-empty retail spaces.

The dearly beloved Grassroots Tavern was the last business here, closing after service on New Year’s Eve 2017... ending a 42-year run in the lower level. The upstairs tenant, the record store Sounds, shut down in October 2015.

According to the new ARA listing, two storefronts are available — separately or as a combo. 

Here's a look at the former Grassroots via the listing images ... (wonder if the place still smells like burnt popcorn?) ...

As you can see, those incredible old murals that workers uncovered during renovations have been removed/covered.

No mention of the asking rent for the storefronts. 

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of this subterranean space — info via Daytonian in Manhattan — include a theater-saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler.

After the Grassroots closed, Bob Precious tried to open a bar-pub here, but those plans never materialized after 18 months. 

Applicants for Ichibantei had been on the CB3-SLA agenda multiple times, dating to November 2018, for a liquor license for a new restaurant for the address. They've moved on to other places.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New owner lined up for the Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

• 20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold

• Last call at the Grassroots Tavern

• Behold these murals uncovered behind the bar at the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place 

ICYMI: The new athletic fields at Pier 42

On Oct. 8, the city quietly debuted the new sports area at Pier 42 — aka Pier 42 Upland Park and Pier — along the East River. 

Construction on the much-discussed $46-million project started in March 2021. Per the East River Alliance: "It’s the first step in the long-awaited transformation of a former banana warehouse/parking lot into waterfront recreation and green space for the LES community." 

As The Lo-Down previously reported, the local planning process began in 2012 after funding was allocated from the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. 

Delays were reportedly due in part to the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project, which has currently seen the closure and demolition of all East River Park amenities below Houston Street. 

Part two of the Pier 42 project, which will include a playground and comfort station, is expected next summer. (You can find more city background here.) 

The new space includes soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and picnic tables... here's a look...

While the area was pleasant enough on a crisp fall afternoon with Bridges and Brooklyn views, some residents may wonder what the tree-less, shade-less area will be like on a hot summer day (no sign of drink fountains yet either — BYOW). Some comments on an East River Park Action Instagram post compared the space to a prison yard.

For now, the new complex is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can access the amenities at Montgomery Street/South Street at the entrance to Pier 36 (former home of the Immersive Van Gogh!) ... and follow the walkway toward the north, which doesn't seem promising at first...

... and where it is from the East Village (via Google!)...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with an autumnal Key Food scene via Stacie Joy) ...

• Remembering Manny the Peddler (Wednesday) 

• About those fireworks last night on the East River (Thursday)

• A new mural honoring Mahsa Amini (Saturday) 

• Scenes from National Pierogi Day at East Village Meat Market (Monday)

• Lighting up the 7th and A entrance to Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday) 

• Empanada Mama debuts on 14th Street and 1st Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Nomad is closed for now on 2nd Avenue while owner takes a 'much-needed break' (Thursday)

• Dumpling Lab, recipient of a new Bib Gourmand, has closed on 9th Street (Tuesday) 

• Picture this: an art gallery for 5th and B (Thursday) 

• Public art returns to the former CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center (Sunday) 

• Celebrating 60 years of Alex Harsley's photography (Friday) 

• A 14th Street storefront is available to rent for the first time in 63 years (Wednesday) 

• A sidewalk returns to full view and use along St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

• A familiar new rendering for 3 St. Mark's Place (Tuesday) 

• The remains of a charred Acura on Houston (Tuesday) ... City removes charred and tagged Acura from Houston Street (Wednesday) 

• Will we be posting a lot of snow photos this winter? (Tuesday) 

• Openings: Íxta on the Bowery (Wednesday) ... Le Burger on 5th Street (Thursday)

• Glosslab nails down new 4th Avenue storefront (Tuesday) 

... and in recent weeks, workers have removed the sidewalk bridges from Village View — between Second Street and Fourth Street ... the labyrinth remains up on the north side of Fourth to Sixth Street and along the Fifth Street walkway...

-----

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

Scenes from an Avenue B vintage market

Photos by Stacie Joy 

There was a lot happening around the neighborhood yesterday... including a Halloween-flavored vintage-art market on Avenue B on the sidewalks between 10th Street and 11th Street... where EVG contributor Stacie Joy came across some friends and neighbors...

Sunday's opening shots

Photos by Stacie Joy 

As you may have seen (and heard!) yesterday, members of HONK NY!, the activist and community-based street bands, were out and about yesterday in the East Village.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy caught them in Tompkins Square Park...

You can catch them in other neighborhoods in the days ahead.

Saturday's parting shot

A tail of two cities today near Union Square ... photo by Derek Berg...

Otto's Shrunken Head celebrates 20 years today

Congrats to Otto's Shrunken Head on the 20th anniversary... and they'll be celebrating today at the bar/venue, 538 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Info below (and the above illustration is by Kevin Kobasic)...

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Otto's Shrunken Head (@ottosnyc)

Woman, Life, Freedom

New (completed this past Monday) in First Street Green Art Park... a tribute mural of Mahsa Amini by Lexi Bella

The 22-year-old Amini died last month after she was taken into custody by Iran's morality police for reportedly not wearing her hijab properly. 

You can read more about the mural here. 

Iranian security forces killed at least 23 children in the ensuing protests this past month, Amnesty International reports.

Saturday's opening crane shot

Some reader reports of some early-morning crane action on Astor Place... on Eighth Street adjacent to 770 Broadway... perhaps something related to the new Wegmans... or, given the proximity to Facebook's office at No. 770, maybe they are installing the metaverse.

Friday's parting shot

Signs of fall in Tompkins Square Park...

Twist and 'Shout'

 

A new (old) video popped up on the Siouxsie and the Banshees YouTube account the other day ... here's "Playground Twist" from 1979.

Last weekend for the annual Harvest Arts Festival

We're into the final weekend for the 11th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival...  where you can find activities at dozens of East Village/LES community 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.  

The Earth School’s Fall Fair is TOMORROW

The Earth School's (P.S. 364) Fall Fair is happening tomorrow (Saturday!) ... in the Big Yard at the school, Fourth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C from noon to 5 p.m. 

What can you expect? Per the organizers: 

• A bouncy house 
• Music with a DJ 
• Arts & crafts, including slime-making, beading, costume-making and pumpkin decorating 
• Affordable food, homemade and from local restaurants 
• Games — mini-golf, bean bag toss, basketball and more 
• Face painting 
• Rummage sale (child & adult clothing) 
• And more family fun!

Food provided by Gruppo, Caffe Vita and Gemma... 

City to unveil Donald Suggs Jr. Way tomorrow on 6th Street

Starting tomorrow, Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B will have a new co-name — Donald Suggs Jr. Way.

Suggs, a longtime resident of this block, died in October 2012 of a heart attack. He was 51.

Here's more about him via the advisory for the street co-naming ceremony:

Donald lived his life as a tireless activist for justice, a courageous advocate for the lives of people in HIV-affected communities, a critical thinker, a consequential writer, an incisive editor for The Village Voice and an international media activist based in the East Village. 

He was wise, kind, generous, funny, brilliant, creative, honorable, and out of the closet — back when it was risky to be out. Donald was our good neighbor on East 6th Street.

You can read more about his life and work in this EVG post.

His friends and family will gather tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 15) on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue B at 11 a.m. for the unveiling ceremony.

Celebrating 60 years of Alex Harsley's photography

Alex Harsley, the proprietor of the 4th Street Photo Gallery and a neighborhood resident since 1965, is the subject of an ongoing exhibition ... you can check out Harsley's photography Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 5 p.m. in Studio One, 59-61 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

His work will be here through Nov. 18.

And check out our two-part Q&A (here and here) with him from 2014, when James Maher took this photo...

Thursday's parting shots

Photos by Derek Berg 

This discarded toilet on Second Avenue certainly could use some #sprkl ... (courtesy of East Village-based musician-artist Paul Kostabi).

And then, an uncaring world intervenes  ...

About those fireworks last night on the East River

Photo via @Jazibaba 

We received a lot of queries last night about the fireworks display that went off last night after 9 on the East River below the Williamsburg Bridge. 

There wasn't any notification about them (as everyone pointed out, this account has one job) ...

Today is 10/12 and there are no official fireworks scheduled.

— NYC Fireworks (@nyc_fireworks) October 12, 2022

Which prompted plenty of tweets... and concern!

Ok are there fireworks or is NYC under attack?!

— Bright Light Bright Light (@brightlightx2) October 13, 2022

I hope those are fireworks…but why are there fireworks in NYC now?

— Trevor Abenavoli (@trevaben) October 13, 2022

Anyone in NYC know what the fireworks are about rn?

East Village feels like July 4th

— Sriram Ramakrishnan (@Sreezy3000) October 13, 2022

Just a massive fireworks show at 9pm on a Wednesday in October and no one knows why because nyc https://t.co/DjbmxceKzE

— Allison Klein (@televisionwhore) October 13, 2022

Myles Miller of NBC New York got the scoop today from the FDNY: The fireworks marked the end of filming the fifth and final season of "The The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

.@FDNY: “The purpose of the fireworks display was marking the end the filming season for the @MaiselTV” cc: @evgrieve @nyc_fireworks https://t.co/VDT8neLP6a

— myles miller (@MylesMill) October 13, 2022

All good now?

Ha! My husband and I arguing if it was a. Fireworks b. ConEd letting off steam or c. Armageddon

— don't make me come in there (@nervesarackin) October 13, 2022

Nomad is closed for now on 2nd Avenue while owner takes a 'much-needed break'

Photo by Kevin Frech

Nomad, the low-key Mediterranean and North African restaurant at 78 Second Ave., has gone dark in recent days. Someone has removed the sign and paper covers the windows here between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. 

The restaurant's website now notes that it has closed "until further notice." 

Owner Mehenni Zebentout shed some light on the situation in an Instagram post from Monday: 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has raised a glass and joined me for a meal — either at Cucina Di Pesce, Belcourt or Nomad…or all three! You became part of my family, and you helped me realize my dream of bringing the food and culture of my country to live here in NYC. 

After 33 years in this industry, I am taking a much-needed break to visit my family, regroup and plan my next chapter. This is not goodbye; more like stay tuned for what's next. As David Bowie once said, "I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring."

I look forward to sharing my next adventure(s) with you soon.

In June 2020, writer Richard Morgan had this to say about the place: "Nomad radiates a defiant truth: It is the coolest, tastiest, truest restaurant that New York's galloping gourmands have no interest in letting anyone know about (if they themselves even know about it at all)."

Nomad first opened in 2006.