[Updated] A grassroots movement to access the main lawn in Tompkins Square Park

Workers reseeded the barren-in-spots main lawn in Tompkins Square Park in late April. Parks employees locked the main gate and put up a sign (later followed by a few more) asking parkgoers to stay off the lawn during this time. 

Well, if you've been in the Park on any pleasant day since then, you've seen how well people are minding the signage and locked gates... (thanks to Joe for this photo from May 14)...

Now, someone has taken it a step further — literally... there's a step on the western side of the lawn to make it easier to navigate the fence...

The Park is currently short on open space with the start of the field house reconstruction. For the next 18 months, the space behind the field house — dubbed the Slocum area as it includes the Slocum Memorial Fountain — is also closed to the public, taking some picnic tables and the spray showers out of commission. 

Updated 6:30 p.m.

There's now an extra step to make navigating the fence even easier...

Top and bottom photos by Steven

This East Village outpost of Blank Street coffee will be a barista training lab

Photos by Steven 

The Blank Street outpost on the NE corner of First Avenue at 13th Street is now closed to the public. (Thanks to the EVG commenter who pointed this out yesterday.)

According to the door signage, this space will become a "training + innovation lab" for the fast-growing brand. 

And the small print: "Over the coming months we will also open the door to anyone who wants to come try some of the fun things we are working on. See you soon!"

Blank Streeters can still hit up the other two EV locations on Avenue A and Third Avenue. 

The First Avenue Blank Street opened last summer. 

As previously noted, not everyone is a fan of the company. Per the Times last year: "When word got out that Blank Street is not an independent chain like Variety or Bean & Bean, but an enterprise with global ambitions backed by private equity financing, many became curious — and sometimes suspicious."

Report of a fire in an abandoned curbside dining structure on St. Mark's Place

According to multiple residents this morning (after 8), a man allegedly set fire to the abandoned curbside dining structure outside 102 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

Firefighters immediately extinguished the blaze. It was not immediately known if the man had been living inside the structure ... his whereabouts were also not known after the fire...

Last Wednesday, the Department of Transportation issued a "Termination" notice for this dining structure outside Compilation Coffee, which closed one week after the streetery arrived last November.

Meanwhile, city officials are still debating the future of outdoor dining. Part of a proposed bill "would allow 'streeteries' — aka the dining sheds on the streets — to stay up from April through November each year," NBC New York reported on Friday. 

Reader-submitted photos

Today in Citi Bike docking station news

After a week-plus absence, the Citi Bike docking station has returned to the SW corner of 14th Street at First Avenue. Workers removed it for planned utility work. 

Thanks to Vinny & O for the photo!

The Wild Son will not be reopening

Photo by Steven

The Wild Son has been closed for the past few months at 130 First Ave. just south of St. Mark's Place ... and more recently, the sign outside the lunch counter had been removed. 

We were unsure if this might be a revamp or a rebrand. However, ownership has confirmed that this is a permanent closure.

Robert Ceraso, owner and creative director of the Endless Hospitality Group, said they made the decision to focus on the company's four EV establishments — Bar Lulu, Good Night Sonny, the Wayland, and the latest, Madeline's Martini (not to mention the newish High Hope Tavern in Westerly, R.I.).

"It was occurring to us that that little location was just taking way too much of our bandwidth," he said.

The Wild Son relocated to the East Village from Little West 12th Street in May 2020. They moved to a smaller space next door in November 2021, offering a daytime service and turning the corner space into Bar Lulu.

"The unfortunate truth is it's just really hard to run a small food-focused business in New York City right now. Especially if your product is supposed to be approachable and cost-conscious," Ceraso said. "Cost of goods are still through the roof. It's not impossible, but it's definitely not easy. 

"It was a tough decision because we really loved that little lunch counter and thought we made that space really nice."

On 10th Street, infused bake shop Sweetooth closed for now after raid

Photos yesterday by Steven

All three outposts of Sweetooth, which takes claim as the city's first "infused" bake shops, are currently closed after a multi-agency raid last week.

Several readers noted that the brand's first location, on 10th Street just west of First Avenue, was busted this past Thursday.

While the physical storefronts are temporarily shuttered, special orders and deliveries are still available...

 

View this post on Instagram.

A post shared by SWEETOOTH (@sweetoothonly)

The action comes roughly 12 days after the Post reported that the shop was "unlicensed and illegal," according to the state Office of Cannabis Management. The paper also quoted a Sweetooth co-owner saying, "“Right now, we’re taking advantage of the loose laws in the liberal New York Democratic city." 

In a follow-up article on Saturday, the Post reported that Thursday's raid yielded 1,052 edibles, 303 THC vapes, and 97 pre-rolls (good for a $13,500 fine) from the West Fourth Street Sweetooth. 

There wasn't any mention of what may have been seized from the EV storefront, which opened last fall. There's a closed notice on the space via the Department of Health...

In February, Mayor Adams and Manhattan DA Bragg announced that they have joined forces to combat the proliferation of illegal, unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in the city.

Following that, the NYPD filed complaints against four unlicensed establishments selling cannabis in the jurisdiction of the 9th Precinct, which covers the East Village. 

Power aid: Transformer work wraps up at the Con Ed substation

After 5-plus months of activity, work is wrapping up at the Con Ed substation along Avenue A and on Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

On Friday, workers packed up the sidewalk office units and (most of the) porta-potties... the 24/7 security personnel hired to watch the adjacent parking spaces were also gone. 

The security booth remains on Fifth Street, awkwardly near where Sophie's patrons take cigarette breaks...

Con Ed has been replacing a transformer here, blocking Avenue A for several weekends for some intricate crane theatrics. 

Meanwhile, there's word this process will happen again with another transformer delivery this fall. (How many transformers does one substation house?)

 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Con Ed ready to transform your weekend along Avenue A! 

• Revisiting a transformative Sunday on Avenue A

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

A walk in Tompkins today with Bobby (on the right!)....

Another look at yesterday's Dance Parade

Sharing a few more photos from yesterday's rain-soaked Dance Parade along St. Mark's Place... thanks to EVG reader Robin McMillan for these shots ...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a construction shot of 1 St. Mark's Place at Third Avenue)... 

• With Community Board approval, Sammy's Roumanian Steak House takes another step to returning to the Lower East Side (Tuesday) 

• This East Village resident is bringing a classic 82-year-old radio back to broadcasting life (Thursday) 

• Mayor Adams visits Tompkins Square Park (Monday) 

• RIP Andy Rourke (Friday) 

 • Report: 8 months after fire, residents want their landlord to repair their Avenue D building (Monday)

• Workers demolish the south ramp to East River Park at Houston Street (Wednesday)

• Parkgoer escapes injury after a branch falls in the Tompkins Square Park dog run (Wednesday)

• The Cube will return to Astor Place this summer — but not before a spin to the Hamptons (Thursday) 

• A winning bid for Theatre 80; a vow to keep fighting for the building (Friday) 

• Openings: Saint Pizza on Avenue B (Wednesday) 

• Checking in at Jazba, a new Indian restaurant opening this summer on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• A necessary 'eVil' (Tuesday) 

• Packing up the Urban Umbrella scaffolding around Cooper Union (Tuesday) 

• 8 new trees on a truck in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

• Out and about with Rhett the Rhino (Friday)

• The all-new Bleecker Street Bar debuts (Monday) 

• City issues curbside dining structure removal to the shuttered Compilation Coffee (Thursday)

• Scenes from a rain-soaked Dance Parade (Sunday) 

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

The Village View Tag Sale is today (Sunday!)

There's a tag sale at Village View today (Sunday!) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ... it's on the Fifth Street basketball court between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

All proceeds go to the VV Garden Committee!

Making a splash at the 2023 Dance Parade

Photos by Derek Berg 

The steady rain yesterday afternoon didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants in the 17th annual Dance Parade. 

This year's edition, with the theme "Beyond the Zone," was to feature 10,000 dancers from 160-plus dance organizations. 

Derek Berg shared a selection of photos from along the parade route on St. Mark's Place... and from inside Tompkins Square Park, where the post-parade DanceFest kicked off...

The incredibly true adventures of papier-mâché man continue

Photo by Derek Berg 

As seen on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street today... and flashback to yesterday.

A celebration of Tim Lomas' life today at the 6th and B Garden

Just received word that there is a celebration of Tim Lomas' life today from 3-6 p.m. 

The afternoon starts with a procession outside where he lived at 60 Avenue B at 3, with a memorial taking place a short distance away at the 6th and B Garden at roughly 3:30. 

Lomas, an artist, musician, teacher, photographer and longtime East Village resident, died on Feb. 17. 

Read more about him here.

The Ukrainian Festival continues this weekend on 7th Street

The St. George Ukrainian Festival continues today and tomorrow on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square. 

Our previous post has more info... or check out the festival's Facebook page.

Reminders: The Dance Parade and DanceParty are today — even in the rain!

The 17th annual Dance Parade is taking place today (you may have seen — or knocked over? — the barricades). 

And this is a go even in the rain, so bring those dance slickers. 

This year's grand marshals, Ronald K. Brown, Natasha Diggs and Elizbeth Streb, will kick off the event at 11:45 a.m. from a new starting location — 17th Street and Sixth Avenue (it was on Broadway and 20th last year). 

And more details via the EVG inbox:

At this year's parade and festival, Dance Parade will celebrate its 17th year under the theme "Beyond the Zone" with 10,000 dancers from 160+ dance organizations who will present over 100 unique styles of dance down Avenue of Americas, parade across West 8th Street, perform before the Grand Stand at St. Mark's Place before reaching Tompkins Square Park [for DanceFest]. 

The DanceFest is from 3-7 p.m. in Tompkins.

RIP Andy Rourke

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Andy Rourke after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time. pic.twitter.com/uqunPzgFdy

— Andy Rourke (@AndyRourkeMusic) May 19, 2023

Andy Rourke, the bass player for the Smiths in the 1980s who later relocated to the East Village, died today of pancreatic cancer. He was 59. 

His Smiths bandmate Johnny Marr (the two met at age 11) had this to say about his longtime friend via Instagram: 

"Throughout our teens, we played in various bands around south Manchester before making our reputations with The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, and it was on those Smiths records that Andy reinvented what it is to be a bass guitar player." 

There were many other tributes on social media...

Godspeed Andy Rourke, and thank you for the music. pic.twitter.com/MToC9zjHUp

— Rough Trade Records (@RoughTradeRecs) May 19, 2023

Devastated to hear of the death of Andy Rourke of The Smiths. Don’t know what to say. Here he is playing my favourite bassline:pic.twitter.com/KEh4ygobtx

— Florence of Northumbria (@FlorenceHRScott) May 19, 2023

Very sorry to hear that Smiths bassist Andy Rourke has passed away. I have great memories of him playing with Johnny Marr and myself on the Red Wedge tour. He was a lovely guy and an amazing bass player. My condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/r9moJTxgiG

— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) May 19, 2023

Such sad sad news about Andy Rourke - He was an inspirational musician with a style that made so many of us pick up a bass guitar; and the driving force for Manchester Versus Cancer. Our thoughts are with everyone who knew him. Travel well x pic.twitter.com/6hrrfl9bhx

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) May 19, 2023

Sad to wake up+learn the news about the passing of legendary Andy Rourke from pancreatic cancer. I saw him with the Smiths live 4 times-also with Blitz Vega. He recently sent me a message and I was completely unaware that he had been sick.A great bass player, DJ, and a kind man. pic.twitter.com/xZPeknGSPj

— Matt Pinfield (@mattpinfield) May 19, 2023

Rourke relocated from Manchester to the East Village in 2009, settling in an apartment on 13th Street. He later hosted a popular show on East Village Radio. 

Smiths singer Morrissey paid tribute to Rourke: "He will never die as long as his music is heard. He didn't ever know his own power and nothing that he played had been played by someone else." 

To the glory days...

The 'Gilded' age

 

There's new music out via Cults... watch the video here for "Gilded Lily." 

And check out our Q&A with one half of the duo, longtime EV resident Madeline Follin, from 2020 right here.

Noted

Update here! Papier-mâché man lives!

On the topic of random papier-mâché sculptures around the neighborhood... we first came across the above last evening outside East Village Organic on First Avenue between Seventh and St. Mark's Place (photo by Derek Berg)... 

And how it was going this morning... (EVG reader pic)...

... and now around the corner on Seventh Street (photo by Daniel Efram)...

Out and about with Rhett the Rhino

While we don't always know why papier-mâché sculptures are randomly placed around the neighborhood... we have answers about those one — aka Rhett the Rhino. 

Rhett was making the rounds in support of East Village resident Jenny Toth's show — "Birds of a Feather" — which runs through tomorrow at Blue Mountain Gallery, 547 W. 27th St. (suite 200). Read more about the exhibit here.

And say hey to Rhett...