The Tompkins Square Library branch now has a late August reopening date

Photos by Steven 

Renovations at the Tompkins Square Library are taking longer than expected, and the branch on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B will now be closed until the end of the month...

The library has been closed since April 24. They were initially expected to return in early July. 

As previously reported, the closure will "facilitate improvements to the building, including preliminary work on a new Teen Center at the library, as well as replacing the branch's flooring and a fresh coat of paint."

 Patrons can still visit these nearby branches: 

• Ottendorfer Library, 135 Second Ave. 

• Hamilton Fish Park Library, 415 E. Houston St. 

• Jefferson Market Library, 425 Sixth Ave. 

Cooper Union's Foundation Building (almost) returns to full view

Photos by Steven 

Workers continue to remove the elaborate sidewalk bridge (the Urban Umbrella!) from outside the Foundation Building here on Cooper Square between Astor Place and Seventh Street...

The sidewalk structure arrived in April 2021... work permits pointed to a "renovation on the fourth floor."

The Urban Umbrella, made of recycled steel and translucent plastic panel, made its first NYC appearance in the fall of 2017.

The Italianate brownstone building designed by architect Fred A. Petersen was completed in 1859.

Daylight saving time: Why the lights were off 3 nights in a row in Tompkins Square Park

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Let's shed some light on what happened in Tompkins Square Park the past few nights. 

As we reported yesterday, the lights were out overnight in the park from Thursday through Saturday, with a return on Sunday night. 

Meanwhile, some parkgoers noted that the lights were on during the day. 

Here's what happened. According to Parks employees, the timer on the lights was set incorrectly. They were supposed to come on at 7 p.m.; instead, they switched on at 7 a.m. and off at 7 p.m.

And no one apparently noticed.

Parks workers adjusted them to being on 24/7, but hope to have them switched to the correct timer cycle by later today.

Please do not urinate on the former Grassroots Tavern on St. Mark's Place

20 St. Mark's Place remains on the rental market — now in its sixth year! (So many brokers.) And apparently, people have been using the space between Second Avenue and Third Avenue as a toilet.

As the Post reported the other day, ownership here had a megaphone installed alongside a monitored-24/7 surveillance camera "to ward off a growing number of vagrants and drunks attempting to relieve themselves on the vacant building."

Apparently, this setup has been in place for a year. We never really noticed (or heard) it. Then again, we've never urinated on the building — however tempting! 

Anyway, per the Post: 

Whenever a loiterer even steps foot on the stoop of the three-story landmarked building, a booming voice explodes out of the sound system, admonishing the violator to "stop!" or "move on!" 

The "jarring, obnoxious" clarion call can be heard up and down the block at all hours, according to residents. 

The Brooklyn-based security company Live Lion is behind the system.

As noted, No. 20, known as the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. Per the Wikipedia: "LeRoy was an in-law of Peter Stuyvesant, and a South Street merchant, who lived in the house with his wife Elizabeth Fish, of the eminent Fish family."

No 20. 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.

The Grassroots Tavern closed here on New Year's Eve 2017 after 42 years (upstairs tenant Sounds shuttered in 2015)

Speaking of the Grassroots, the other day, EVG contributor Steven went to pee on the building noticed the front door open, and looked at the white-box status of the former great bar...
 

Updated! 

Since this video came up in the comments... An instant request! From 1986, here is Billy Joel's "A Matter of Trust" filmed on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ...

 

The Wren is temporarily closed for renovations on the Bowery

The Wren temporarily closed operations at the end of July for renovations here at 344 Bowery at Great Jones. 

According to the bar's Instagram account: "We’ll be closing for a couple of weeks to give The Wren a little love." (There's a similar message on The Wren website.)

The front windows are currently papered over... and there are new work permits for renovations...
 

The Wren, which opened here in late 2011, is part of the Sleeping Giant family, whose portfolio includes Bua on St. Mark's Place and Wilfie & Nell on West Fourth Street.

Noted

Photo by Stacie Joy 

As seen on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B today...

Beware of Prowler!!! 

You are not welcome in this building! Do not return! 

Otherwise, steps will be taken for all of our safety!

The lights were back on last night in Tompkins Square Park after 3 evenings of darkness

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Updated 8/8: We have an update on the lights here. Spoiler: Timer issue.

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The lights were on in Tompkins Square Park last evening...

... and for the first time since Thursday night, according to multiple residents. 

Here's one reader report about Friday night: 

The entire park was dark last night and the previous one. People were using their phone flashlights to navigate. Oddly, the only lights that were working were in the construction trailer outside the field house. No cops anywhere despite recently seeing patrols earlier in the week, but I'm guessing the Union Square incident likely had their focus elsewhere. Very bizarre, and I've never seen anything like it. 

EVG reader Janie Heath shared this clip from Saturday on Avenue A near the Seventh Street entrance that shows a completely dark Park ... and people entering nonetheless...

   

Also, on Saturday night: Someone called 911 to report a "blackout," per the Citizen app ... (and the blackout was IN the park, and yes, that Thompson error)...

We contacted a parks rep about what may have happened with the lights.

Also of note: The lights were ON during the day yesterday.

Updated: 

The lights remain on during daylight hours... (photo by Steven)...

Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe coming to this prime East Village corner space

Coming-soon signage is up for the next tenant on the NE corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue — Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe.

This will be the second location for the business, which opened in Prospect Heights in 2010. From their website: "Our bagels are hand-rolled, kettle boiled, and baked on premises — made the Olde fashioned way."

No word on an opening date.

The prime space has been empty since Sanshi Noodle House closed last summer after a year-plus in service.

Bar Virage closed here in December 2018 after 20-plus years.

Last week for Huertas

As a reminder... Huertas, the popular Basque restaurant at 107 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, is closing... Saturday is the last night in service. 

There's a new landlord for the building, and chef Jonah Miller could not come to "suitable terms" for a new lease, he previously announced. 

So in case you want to pay a visit... Huertas is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-10 p.m. ... with an 11 p.m. close on Friday and Saturday. 

Find reservation and menu info here.

Huertas opened in April 2014.

Top photo from January

Motel No Tell announces itself on Avenue A

Temp signage is up for Motel No Tell at 210 Avenue A... a new bar-tavern on the NE corner of 13th Street...

A group led by hospitality vet Ronan Downs, whose numerous NYC credits include Becketts Bar & Grill in the Financial District, is behind this Avenue A project. (Here's a PDF of their July 2022 questionnaire on the CB3 website.)

According to the State Liquor Authority, the liquor license is still pending for the address, though the owners did receive a "Conditional Approval Letter" last week.

No word on an opening date. There is an Instagram account here.

There have been several other suitors for this space since Percy's Tavern closed in 2017. An establishment called Relax at Blondie's was in the works dating to late 2021.

And some of you might recall No-Tell Motel, a scene-y bar via Deb Parker at 167 Avenue A (now Mama Fina's) between 10th Street and 11th Street that closed in the early 1990s. 

Raíz Modern Mexican is closed for now on 1st Avenue

Photos by Steven

Raíz Modern Mexican is now in "closed for renovations" mode at 120 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. 

The gates have been down since this past Tuesday, Aug. 1

There isn't any mention of the closure on Raíz's website or Instagram account.

In an Instagram message, the restaurant confirmed they were closed for renovations, with a possible reopening next month.

The retail space has also been listed on LoopNet since April, with the last update on the storefront posted on Aug. 1. 

The plant-based, fast-casual restaurant — featuring burritos, tacos, salads and bowls. — debuted in early 2022.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg)... 

• East Village Loves NYC aids asylum seekers in Midtown during Saturday's heatwave (Tuesday) 

• RIP Miss Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Thursday) 

• The chaotic scene at Union Square (Friday) 

• City Council votes on a permanent outdoor dining program (Thursday)

• Raising awareness of Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s proposed merger with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (Sunday) 

• Baker Falls shapes up (Friday) 

• Report: The historic 137 2nd Ave. — the former Stuyvesant Polyclinic — has a new owner (Wednesday) 

• Theater for the New City ready to take to the streets (Saturday)

• Butter Lane leaves 7th Street for a new home in the American Dream Mall (Wednesday)

• From crabs to wings on 1st Avenue? (Friday) • The Summer Streets days of summer are upon us (Friday) 

• CineKink is back with its 20th-anniversary film festival (Monday) 

• Openings: Dora's Restaurant on Avenue B; Rynn's on 5th Street (Monday)

• Signage alert: Anjelly on St. Mark's Place; Rice Bird NYC on 9th Street (Wednesday)

• Local 92 has closed on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Like a breath of fresh Urban Air on 1st Avenue (Friday)

• Something to frown about at Smileys (Monday) 

... and six years after our last podcaster paparazzi photo of the week ... a return engagement with Marc Maron, here on 2nd Avenue (photo by Derek Berg) ...

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

A moment at the community fridge on Bleecker

A reader shared this photo from Thursday at the community fridge outside Overthrow Boxing Club at 9 Bleecker St. just west of the Bowery. 

Miguel (left) and Power from Artists Athletes Activists were stocking the fridge. 

Per the reader: "Seeing them is a good reminder that the fridge is stocked around 2 p.m. on Thursdays. On Sunday, they offer cooked meals from East Village Love NYC." 

The city's first plant-based community fridge arrived here in February 2021.

Find a map of all the NYC community fridges at this link.

EVG Etc.: Club Cumming honors slain dancer O'Shae Sibley; Anthology Film Archives presents a John Wilson-curated series

Photo from 1st Avenue at 6th Street 

• On Sixth Street, Club Cumming honors O'Shae Sibley, who was murdered while dancing at a gas station in Midwood, Brooklyn (CBS New York ... update on the case here) 

• The body of John Castic, a Goldman Sachs analyst, was found in Newtown Creek three days after being reported missing following a concert at Brooklyn Mirage. Castic, who lived on the Lower East Side, was 27. (PIX11 ... Daily Mail) 

• Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera on her just-passed legislation that creates a "Current Conditions" report for cyclists (Streetsblog)

• An interview with LES post-punk/no-wave vets Bush Tetras (The Guardian ... previously on EVG) 

• To celebrate the return of HBO's "How to With John Wilson," the filmmaker is guest-curating a special two-part series at the Anthology Film Archives on Second Avenue (Official site) 

• Or go "Back to School" with Kirsten Dunst films at Metrograph on Ludlow (Official site) ... or spot the East Village locations in "The Godfather Part II" Tuesday evening (Tickets) 

• Public Access, the gallery that started on St. Mark's Place before relocating to Henry Street, has closed (Instagram... previously on EVG) 

• Claud, the 1-year old restaurant and wine bar at 90 E. 10th St., will not be pivoting to a bakery after all amid liquor license confusion (Eater... Instagram) 

• The International Puppet Fringe Festival coming to the LES next week (Time Out) 

•  A feature on local resident Hila Perry — aka, Hila the Earth — who's hoping to inspire climate action through music (CBS New York) 

• EV's Tompkins Square Bagels isopening an outpost on the Upper East Side (Patch)

... and we mentioned this in last week's links roundup ... the corner of Rivington and Essex was to be co-named "Morris 'Moishe’ Cohen Way" to honor the founder of NYC's oldest candy shop, Economy Candy (and very much still open!)

The East Village Rocks for Ukraine tomorrow at the 6th and B Garden

This is a make-up date for the event.

The 6th Street and Avenue B Garden plays host tomorrow (Sunday, Aug. 6) to two local bands in a program titled "East Village Rocks for Ukraine!" 

From 5-7 p.m., you can enjoy the sounds of the Timbres and Soul Cake ... as well as information on the current situation in Ukraine. 

The community garden is on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue B. 

Theater for the New City ready to take to the streets, starting with 10th Street today

Theater for the New City's Street Theater Company starts its 2023 five-borough tour today with "Life on the Third Rail, or A Subway Delay to the Future." 

Crystal Field, Theater for the New City's artistic director, wrote and directed this musical that "tells a story in which a violent hurricane floods the subways, sending a heroic subway crew into a new world." 

This production will tour parks, playgrounds and closed-off streets throughout the five boroughs through Sept. 17. 

You can catch the free show today (Aug. 5) at 2 p.m. on 10th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... adjacent to Theater for the New City's home at 155 First Ave. 

Other EV dates:

• Aug. 19, 2 p.m. at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery

• Sept. 17, 2 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park 

Find more dates around the city and learn more about the musical at this link.

The 35th annual Tompkins Square Park Riot reunion shows are happening this weekend

The free concerts commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Tompkins Square Police Riot of Aug. 6, 1988, are happening this weekend. 

Tomorrow's show will also serve as a tribute to Al Landess (aka Al Hammerbrain), a longtime local resident and veteran of the NYC hardcore scene who died in February 2022 of cancer.

Bands are set to play Saturday and Sunday from 2-6 p.m.

Saturday's opening shots

For the second time this week, Con Ed had the graffiti power washed from its substation on Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

After the early Monday scrubbing, the tags returned in less than a day...

The chaotic scene at Union Square this afternoon

Photos by Steven 

This was a well-covered story this afternoon... reports of "riots" in and around Union Square after promises of an unsanctioned PlayStation 5 video game consoles giveaway via Twitch streamer Kai Cenat turned chaotic.

 

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There are varying reports about the number of people arrested (including Cenat, who reportedly was taken away for his own safety). We'll update you when more reliable information becomes available.

Meanwhile, from 3 p.m. on, it seemed like everyone in the neighborhood was looking skyward at the six (at one point) helicopters on the scene...

Updated: 

Cenat was issued a desk appearance, per the Post ... who also reported that "65 others were taken into custody throughout the three-hour melee, 30 of whom were juveniles." 

The 21-year-old Bronx resident was charged with riot, inciting to riot and unlawful assembly, Gothamist reported.

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey "said believes the event wouldn’t have flown out of hand if it had been organized through the proper municipal channels, allowing the NYPD the time to set up barriers and deploy an appropriate police presence."

Wet Hot American 'Stunner'

 

Every-Friday-at-5™ faves Osees (Thee Oh Sees!) have a new record, Intercepted Message, out this Aug. 18.

From that record, "Stunner."

See them live (no, really!) this coming Sept. 22-23 at the Warsaw.