The Union Square Holiday Market is now open on Union Square this, uh, holiday season

The Union Square Holiday Market is back in action as of yesterday on the southern portion of Union Square at 14th Street. 

This winter season, the market, via Urbanspace, has 160 local and national vendors. Here's a link with the list of merchants. 

The kiosks will be up through Dec. 24. Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving day. Rain or shine, etc.

Photo via @urbanspacenyc

[Updated] This morning's community meeting in Tompkins Square Park

Reps from the 9th Precinct and Parks Department met with East Village residents this morning in Tompkins Square Park to discuss ongoing issues with the park, including drug use and sales. 

Given the time (10 a.m.), not many people could attend (including me). The 9th Precinct's commanding officer, deputy Ralph A. Clement, was a featured speaker.

One resident had this to say about the meeting: "It turned into a total shit show. Lots of yelling. Biggest argument was closing the park versus foot patrol." 

Another resident said that it was not at all productive.

   

Per CBS New York: "Residents want NYPD, the Department of Transportation and Parks Department to work together more effectively to enforce curfew, make arrests and keep the park clean and safe."

Here's the coverage from CBS New York...

   

Fox 5 has a report here. Updated Dec. 3: The Village Sun has a recap here.

Thanks to Steven for the photo and video clip

Why is this area of Tompkins Square Park now closed to the public?

This morning at 10, reps from the 9th Precinct along with other elected officials are expected to be in Tompkins Square Park for a meeting to discuss "community concerns" about the Park. 

One question that may come up: Why is the area of the Park behind the fieldhouse/office locked up? The locks arrived on Nov. 8, and since then, park-goers no longer have access to the space that includes the Slocum Memorial Fountain as well as picnic tables, sprinklers (during the summer) and other less-traveled spaces. 

There isn't any signage to explain why this part of Tompkins is no longer accessible to the public.

One Park worker said this happened after Sue Donoghue, commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, paid a visit and saw used needles in this area. (There was also a reader report about an OD back here in late October.) Another TSP worker had no idea why the gates were locked. The Parks Department did not respond to a request for comment. 

Over the weekend, someone placed a sign (since removed) noting that "staffers are allowed to frolic there" ... and to call the Manhattan Borough Commissioner for Parks ...

Today's meeting is scheduled at 10 a.m. inside Tompkins at Ninth Street and Avenue A. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos.

Gratin, a new gallery, debuts on 5th Street and Avenue B

Gratin debuted on Nov. 9 on the NW corner of Fifth Street and Avenue B. (First reported here.) 

The gallery's inaugural exhibition, titled "The Sniffer," features paintings by Amitesh Shrivastava, an artist originally from Khairagarh in Central India, in his first NYC solo show. 

His work will be up through Jan. 10. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

That's all for the short-lived Luna Cafe Lounge on 2nd Avenue

A for rent sign now hangs on the front window of the Luna Cafe Lounge, marking the official end of the bar-restaurant (cafe-lounge) at 166 Second Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street...

We first spotted the signage for the establishment, related to the Luna Cafe in the Bronx, last March. And we're honestly not sure when they opened (or closed). All nine of their Instagram posts arrived on the same day: Nov. 13, 2021. And we never heard from them again. 

This is such prime EV space, and nothing has worked since Dunkin' closed here in 2010.

In the past 12 years, we've seen these places come and go: Meyhane, Medina's Turkish Kitchen, Entrez Bar & Grill, Farfasha, Dinah, Pomodora and now Luna Cafe Lounge.

Thanks to Steven for the photos! 

Wednesday's parting shot

A moment with nature this afternoon along 10th Street and Tompkins Square Park... photo by Jose Garcia...

Let there be sidewalk here on Avenue C!

We've received several messages from readers noting that workers have been removing the longstanding sidewalk bridge on the west side of Avenue C between Sixth Street and Seventh Street ...

The sidewalk bridge and construction equipment has been up along these NYCHA-owned buildings since at least 2015. The sidewalk was freed in October 2017, but it was short-lived as a heavier-duty bridge arrived a short time later. Hopefully, that doesn't happen again.

A visit with Moxie, a nearly 8-year-old East Village photographer with an eye for nature

Text and photos by Stacie Joy 

I recently walked around the neighborhood with East Village artist and fellow photographer Moxie.

She carefully loads her pink Instax mini instant camera and cheerfully informs me she’s in second grade and is 7-and-a-half years old. She said that she likes to photograph nature. So our walk included a visit to La Plaza Cultural community garden on Ninth Street and Avenue C, where Moxie was inspired by some koi fish, birds and squirrels.

We then walked over to Tompkins Square Park for some candid dog photos and posed (people) portraits.

When we run out of time (and are getting low on film), Moxie shows me the images she’s shot.

We wrapped up by talking about her history with the craft and her photo plans for the future.

“Well, I’ve been doing photography for about 2 years. I really wanted to try photography because I’ve been doing art my whole life. I love painting, making jewelry and crafting, so I thought it would be great to try photography. I like taking pictures of people and animals around the East Village. 

Sometimes I take pictures of flowers too. Taking pictures of people is interesting because people are interesting. I like to capture a moment of me and my friends together. I keep every photo that I take in my albums, even if they’re weird or silly. And I plan to keep taking photos. I want to try changing the colors on the lens, and someday I want to try other kinds of cameras.”

9th Precinct to address community concerns about Tompkins Square Park

We are also using this medium to invite all concerned residents to Tompkins Square Park this Thursday, November 17th at 10AM to discuss community concerns in regard to the park. Come voice your concerns to us, your community board and local politicians and other City Agencies!! pic.twitter.com/kWQcJ7EdUw

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) November 15, 2022

The 9th Precinct is hosting a community meeting in Tompkins Square Park tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 17) at 10 a.m. "to discuss community concerns" about... Tompkins Square Park. 

Based on the 9th Precinct's tweet, it sounds as if other local elected officials and Community Board 3 members will be in attendance. 

There has been an uptick in resident complaints about drug use and sales in the Park. 

Meeting spot: Inside the Park near Ninth Street and Avenue A.

Noted, good-God-not-another-one edition

Coming soon, midblock to the north side of 10th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue — Galactic Smokers. 

Thanks to Steven for the photo

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

ICYMI: A 4-story building on the Bowery that Andy Warhol once owned is on the auction block. 

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.

In case you give a hoot!

As a follow-up to our post the other day about the artificial saw-whet owl sitting on the walk sign outside Saifee Hardware on First Avenue and Seventh Street... a reader points out a variety of faux owls available at the hardware store... 

The tree lighting ceremony in Tompkins Square Park takes place on Dec. 11

In case you are calendaring your upcoming holiday events... the holiday tree lighting is on tap for Tompkins Square Park on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 4-5 p.m. 

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...

As we've been reporting, preliminary work on the luxury building started in January 2019... with availability starting in spring 2023, per the 14 Second Ave. site.

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

It appears that we have the first victim from the Great EV Delification of 2021-22.

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?

Coming soon signage is up for a SMOKE SHOP at 213 First Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. (Thanks to Pinch for the pic!) 

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's parting shot

An EVG reader shared this from around 11th Street and Avenue C... "I took this from the rooftop and thought it was pretty."

Noted

Photos by Steven 

A moment by the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run today...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a Midtown view the other day) ... 

• 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)

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