Thanks to Steven for the photo
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Noted, good-God-not-another-one edition
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
A visit to Azaleas, celebrating 20 years in the East Village
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
As I walk over to meet Azaleas NYC Lingerie & Swimwear shop owner Cindy Kahng, I remember the last time I saw the woman-owned and -operated boutique lingerie shop during a tense period in NYC’s pandemic history.
It was June 2020 when stores were just reopening during Phase 1 of the PAUSE restrictions.
I’m eager to see how Cindy is doing, how the shop at 140 Second Ave. is holding up, and to hear about the 20th-anniversary plans.
Congrats on the 20th anniversary! What are your plans to celebrate this milestone?
Lingerie boutiques may be a destination store, but we try to cultivate the idea of Azaleas being your neighborhood boutique. Reflecting on the past 20 years, I know that I couldn’t have done it without the support of the community and the neighborhood. I’ve seen customers come in with baby strollers; their babies have grown and are shopping with us!
We wanted to celebrate by celebrating the neighborhood and the community. We will be having an event [on Nov. 17] for this momentous occasion with a party at our neighboring Ukrainian East Village Restaurant. We hope to do more events with other neighborhood businesses or organizations in the upcoming months.
How has it been keeping the shop going in recent pandemic years?
COVID was a huge test for my small business. Unfortunately, I had to shut down my second location in the West Village after four years. It was a difficult decision to make, and whilst that store was dear to me, I knew that the East Village was our home and where we wanted to remain.
It was so nice to see our regulars come in post-vaccine and want to support us. In general, our dressing room serves almost like a therapy session, and it did even more so during the last two-and-a-half years. People needed connection and had lots of changes in their lives during those first two years and would occasionally have their hand held.
There was a shift in customers’ needs during the pandemic; physical changes (covid weight), different work environments (WFH), and a desire for more comfort (loungewear). But this fall, it feels like people are finally returning to their daily lives and need basics for work and school.
What would you tell people who may be intimidated by visiting a boutique lingerie store?
Lingerie boutiques don’t have to be intimidating at all! Sure, we carry your special date-night items, but we also have your everyday cotton bra and undies. We try to make it feel like you’re shopping with your friends because shopping for innerwear is an intimate experience.
Looking good also means feeling good so trust us to help you! If price is ever an issue, just tell your salesperson what your price range is — there’s never any shame in that! The salespeople know the product and can best steer you in the right direction.
Any plans for the next 20 years?
Not sure yet, but we are planning on sticking around the neighborhood.
You can keep up with the shop on Instagram. Azaleas is at 140 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.
Bowery building once owned by Andy Warhol is up for auction
According to materials from Paramount Realty USA, the minimum bid for 342 Bowery between Bond and Great Jones is $5.699 million. The auction takes place on Dec. 8.
Per the listing, Warhol bought this 5-unit property along with 57 Great Jones St., which is now available to rent, in 1970. According to the Post, which first reported on the auction, "the Warhol estate subsequently separated the two buildings. The seller of 342 Bowery has owned it since 1992."
The history of 342 is said to include that "Basquiat created works of art in the backyard and The Cramps performed in the basement."
The high-end sushi restaurant Yoshino New York is currently in the retail space.
The recent retail history here includes a Subway (sandwich shop). The Subway opened here in late 2009, taking over after Downtown Music Gallery moved to Monroe Street.
Revisit this EVG post from 2015 to look at an early tenant here.
Monday, November 14, 2022
In case you give a hoot!
The tree lighting ceremony in Tompkins Square Park takes place on Dec. 11
The 31st edition features familiar names: the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and music from the Mandel & Lydon Trio ... with refreshments via Veselka and C&B.
You can revisit photos from last year's event right here.
While we're waiting for the full reveal at 14 2nd Ave.
Workers have dropped some of the construction netting from atop the new 10-story condoplex nearing completion on Second Avenue at Houston (adjacent to First Street Green Art Park).
There's now a teaser site for the building (which had been going by Treetops). Depending on your budget, there are two- and three-bedroom full-floor residences here at 14 Second Ave.
And the pitch:
14 Second Avenue is in the energetic heart of lower Manhattan and is moments to NYC’s best restaurants, shops and entertainment. Full-floor residences feature abundant light, rising above the surrounding green space and parks with unobstructed views of the city.
The site also has the first rendering that we've seen out in the wild...
This site had been vacant for years, last housing Irreplaceable Artifacts until its demolition by the city in July 2000. There's a lot of backstory, which the links below cover...
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Workers remove artifacts from the vacant 14 2nd Ave., fueling speculation of new development
• Development watch: 14 2nd Ave.
• Vacant lot at 14 2nd Ave. sells for $7 million; will yield to 10-floor condoplex
• More about Treetops, the name of the condoplex coming to 14 2nd Ave.
Heathily Deli has not been open lately
Heathily Deli, which debuted in the spring. has not been open for 3-4 weeks here at 158 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
The rather generic spot offered similar items to other like-minded businesses that have arrived recently in the neighborhood, such as the delis that have opened along Avenue A and at First Avenue and Ninth Street. And First Avenue and Seventh Street.
Thanks to Steven for the photo!
Hey, what might be opening in this empty 1st Avenue storefront?
OK, what else is there to say?
The smoke shop is taking over the storefront from Coddiwomple, the sandwich shop that opened and closed after a few weeks in business earlier this year.
Sunday, November 13, 2022
Sunday's parting shot
Week in Grieview
• Report: Police arrest suspect in the murder of Jaden Stokes at Campos Plaza (Monday)
• Basquiat's former loft space on Great Jones is available for lease (Monday)
• A GoFundMe campaign launched ahead of Ray's 90th birthday at Ray's Candy Store (Wednesday)
• Olde Good Things is closing its Bowery outpost (Tuesday)
• A march to 'give us back our community center' (Thursday)
• Wegmans watch on Astor Place (Monday)
• Sidewalk bridge removal on 3rd Avenue and 9th Street reveals some EV archaeological history (Tuesday)
• Motorino closed for renovations; return set for Nov. 18 (Monday)
• Pinky's Space is closed for now 2 weeks after the city removes its curbside structure on 1st Street (Wednesday)
• Down & Out NYC looking closer to opening on 6th Street (Thursday)
• Compilation Coffee has closed for now on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)
• Reader report: No motor vehicles in the bike lane (Friday)
• Openings: Wild Mirrors on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)
• Eros remains closed on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)
• Bagels for Broadway (Thursday)
Saturday, November 12, 2022
Good days for Ray's!
And there was a big outpouring for Ray, who turns 90 in January... the fund just past $40,000 this morning...
Top photo by Stacie JoyWOW!!! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT!!! JUST UNBELIEVABLE. SO HUMBLED. ON CLOUD NINE! PLEASE COME VISIT AND SAY HI ANYTIME. AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD.
— Ray's Candy Store (@RaysCandyStore) November 11, 2022
SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO @EVGRIEVE AND @NEWYORKNICO! 🙏https://t.co/94vhtfXXtA#fundrayscandystore pic.twitter.com/GzsMpljgkp
Taking in this newly freed sidewalk along 3rd Avenue
A lot of businesses came and went in these storefronts during that time, including Duane Reade and East Village Cheese.
And we welcomed new businesses such as USA Super Stores (just one!) on the NW corner at 10th Street...
... with an endless supply of McKenzie & Lloyds Danish Style Butter Cookie tins...
... and a bonus nighttime shot... with that iconic ghost Organic Avenue signage...
A 'Decision' to go see this movie
The film arrived yesterday for a run at Metrograph down on Ludlow. (All the screenings look to be sold out.) It's also playing at Essex Crossing on Delancey and the Alamo Drafthouse in the Financial District.
Chan-wook, whose work includes "Oldboy" and "The Handmaiden," was the winner of best director at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival
Highly recommended, if this looks like your thing...
Friday, November 11, 2022
'Teen' beat
The Haunted Youth are a Belgian-based band putting out some damn good dream pop, at least based on their debut release Dawn of the Freak.
The video is for "Teen Rebel"
The (fake) saw-whet owl of 1st Avenue
Photos by Steven
If you're passing the SE corner of First Avenue and Seventh Street near Saifee Hardware, you may notice something perched above the walk sign. It's a saw-whet owl...
... and it's not real. (It fooled at least one reader who shared photos asking what kind of bird it is.)
As you know, artificial saw-whet owls are perfect for commercial displays, fall decor ... and provide a symbolic meaning of being protective and insightful.
Reader report: No motor vehicles in the bike lane
Per Garrett: "Citizenry resort to posting their own signs since electeds leave transportation alternatives largely lawless & unregulated."
We spotted another sign on First Avenue just past First Street. There are likely more. (Let us know if you spot any elsewhere.)
There is confusion between legal e-bikes (electrified devices with pedals) and mopeds, many of which are illegal and need to be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles and issued license plates.
The NYPD also doesn't seem to know the difference, seemingly demonizing, as Streetsblog put it, all electric, two-wheeled devices (save for Citi Bikes). The NYPD later started cracking down on illegal sales before the actual sale.
Streetsblog put out a handy field guide last year (which you can find here).
As they put it:
"Certainly, New Yorkers are confused about all the new motorized devices that are filling our roadways (and, infuriatingly, our bike lanes), which have become a Wild West of chaotic interactions."
And...
All the two-wheeled motorized devices on the market today are potentially far safer to vulnerable road users than the four-wheeled, 3,000- to 5,000-pound conveyances they seek to supplant. But it doesn't feel that way right now because users of illegal mopeds are often speeding through bike lanes, surprising pedestrians with their speed. Of course moped riders are choosing the bike lane — it’s the only place where they feel safe from the true behemoth on the roads: cars and trucks.
• You must not operate an e-scooter in excess of 15 MPH.
• E-scooters may be ridden in bike lanes and on streets with speed limits no greater than 30 MPH.
• Do not ride e-scooters on sidewalks.
Back to the signage... yes — the mopeds and various motorcycles need to get out of the bike lanes.
Noted
If you haven't been following Elon Musk's chaotic takeover of Twitter, this Associated Press article provides some background.twitter currently feeling like the delancey street mcdonalds
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) November 10, 2022
H/T taylorlorenz3.0
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Thursday's parting shot
I believe the children are our future — oh, forget it ...
Photo by Derek Berg
Inspirational signage — "The Future of the World Is in This School" — was spotted by the dumpster this morning on Second Avenue ...
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