Apple Bank is branching out — and away — from 2nd Avenue

On March 16, the Apple Bank branch at 105 Second Ave. will close and merge with the newish outpost on Fourth Avenue at 12th Street. 

Apple had been here since 2013, taking over from Emigrant Savings Bank.

The address had a long history of various theaters and clubs... most notably the Fillmore East.

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (now Village Preservation) and Two Boots placed the memorial here in the fall of 2014 to honor the venue that helped launch some of the biggest names in music from 1968 to 1971.

Apple is not the only bank making moves on Second Avenue. Bank of America is clearing out of its home on the NE corner of Fourth Street for a new space on the NW corner of Seventh Street.

And Apple's departure will make three consecutive vacant spaces here between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, joining Mighty Quinn's and New Yorkers Foodmarket... 

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo from Tompkins Square Park — snow! — by Christopher Pelham)... 

• Observations on the growing humanitarian crisis with asylum seekers in the East Village (Tuesday) 

• A bench in honor of the 'Birdman' of Tompkins Square Park (Thursday) 

• Celebrating the life and spirit of John Crellin, aka 'Architect John' (Friday)

• ICYMI: After 26 years, Gregg Singer sells the former P.S. 64 for $57.1 million (Tuesday) 

• The Veselka documentary, narrated by David Duchovny, opens at the Village East on Feb. 23 (Friday)

• A look at the under-renovation Ben's Deli on Avenue B (Wednesday) 

• Peter Hujar will get his 'Day' in upcoming film (Sunday) 

• Openings: Tina's Cuban Cuisine on 14th Street (Wednesday) 

• On Astor Place, Raising Cane's is raising funds for Harvey Milk High School (Thursday) 

• St. Marks Pizzeria (the former Funzi's) has not been open lately (Thursday) 

• Another conversation on music and music writing at the Tompkins Square Library branch (Saturday)

• Up early with a giant statue of Kid Cudi on the East River (Monday)

• What's coming to the former Mochinut space on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday) 

• Signage alert: Kaliiva, a cannabis dispensary for Avenue B (Wednesday) 

 ... and we may have found the just-right location for the first-ever EVG ad ... here on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place...

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Openings: Nuovo York Pizza on 9th Street

Nuovo York Pizza debuts today (Jan. 21) at 105 E. Ninth St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

Hours today: Noon to 6 p.m. 

There are some specials, like two cheese slices and a can of soda for $7. Find the menu here.

This space had been vacant since Toasted Deli went dark at the end of 2022 after nearly 18 months in business. 

Sunday's opening shot

EVG reader John M. discovered a visitor on his fire escape the other morning... per Goggla, this is a juvenile Cooper's hawk ... and for John M. a nice start to the day...

EVG Etc. Speaking out against closing Mount Sinai Beth Israel; remembering the Speedball Baby era

• Judge denies request to dismiss subway chokehold case against Daniel Penny (Gothamist) ICYMI: The New York cover story on Jordan Neely (Link)

• The push to save Mount Sinai Beth Israel on First Avenue (CBS 2 ... previously on EVG) 

• Another anti-congestion pricing lawsuit is on the books, this one via a group of East Villager and LES business owners and residents led by former Councilmember Kathryn Freed (The Post ... CBS 2... amNY)

• On Suffolk Street, Bluestockings is under attack for offering basic outreach services, such as Narcan training and a bathroom (The Guardian ... A community divided Gothamist) 

• How Mayor Adams played the city budget numbers (The City)

 • An interview with playwright Max Wolf Friedlich, whose play "Job" started at the Connelly Theater last night (Vulture ... tickets) 

• A birthday for the East 10th Street Historic District (see pic above ... and at Village Preservation)

• A feature on Francis Kite Club, the "bar and cultural forum" at 40 Avenue C (The New York Times)

• Longtime EV resident Ali Smith on her new book, which we can't wait to read — "The Ballad of Speedball Baby" (Shondaland)

   

• A where-to-drink-tea listicle with many East Village choices (Eater) 

• Time FLIES: Christo and Amelia gear up for their 7th nesting season (Laura Goggin Photography) 

• Surf's up for this beach-related film series (Point Break! Thunderball!) (Metrograph) 

... and tomorrow... a book fair fundraiser at My Little Village preschool, 383 Grand St. at Seward Park...

Another conversation on music and music writing at the Tompkins Square Library branch

Photos and text by Daniel Efram

Photo: Jesse Rifkin (left) and Jack Rabid 

The Tompkins Square Library continued its monthly, year-long celebration of East Village/Lower East Side music, performance, and writing with a conversation between author Jesse Rifkin ("This Must Be the Place: Music, Community, and Vanished Spaces in New York City") and music impresario Jack Rabid on Thursday night. 

Rifkin's new book is a revelation. It discusses music venues that had a significant impact and delves into those that genuinely fostered a community. The book explores some of the economic conditions that made these scenes possible. 

"This Must Be The Place" is a must-read for any NYC music aficionado looking to delve deeper into the circumstances behind the mythology. Rifkin, a music historian, established his credentials by operating Walk on the Wild Side Tours NYC, which he described as "walking tours for music nerds" in 2017. During the pandemic, Rifkin unexpectedly received a call from a book publisher who suggested that he author a book based on his popular tours. 

In 1980, Jack Rabid started publishing The Big Takeover, a music magazine filling a void in the scene for independent music coverage. Along with his music journalism, he has DJ'd hundreds of punk and indie rock gigs in Manhattan since 1979. 

Rabid's punk-rock teendom led to memorable interactions at The Mudd Club, CBGB and Max's Kansas City, among others. Some of his most notable stories include having Iggy Pop ride on his back at a show, witnessing the Bad Brains record their first album at the legendary 171A studio on Avenue A, and gaining various insights into the formation of The Beastie Boys. 

The East Village in Music & Words continues on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. with a conversation between Rifkin and East Village singer-songwriter Roger Manning. RSVP here.

The library is at 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Why did someone wait until today to throw away their Christmas tree from 2011?

Third Avenue at 11th Street if you wanna grab it... (and do NOT strike a match near it)...

Saturday's opening shot

The golden glow-y sunrise view today from 14th Street... with special effects courtesy of the Con Ed power plant...

'Heavy' mettle

 

The debut record from the Dublin-based Sprints came out a few weeks back (more info here). 

The video is for "Heavy." 

And you can catch them live out at Zone One at Elsewhere in Brooklyn on March 21-22. (Oh wait — that March 21 date is sold out.)

Celebrating the life and spirit of John Crellin, aka 'Architect John'

Photo by Kyle de Vre 

From the book "See You Next Tuesday."

Republished with permission 

Information via the EVG inbox...

John R. Crellin, 75, died peacefully on Nov. 25, 2023.

John spent his childhood in Spencertown, N.Y., and on Queechy Lake in Canaan, N.Y. He earned a history degree from Colgate University (class of 1970) and an architecture degree from Pratt Institute. 

"Architect John" was a devout resident of the East Village. He was on the board of the Howl Festival and enjoyed the local community and culture. He was a regular at Sophie's and enjoyed socializing at The Grafton and St. Dymphna's. 

In earlier years, he delighted in King Tut's Wah Wah Hut at Seventh and A (now Niagara), and he and his wife Wendy (who met at the Wah Wah Hut) were married at Life Cafe at 10th and B. 

Equal parts architect and artist, John was a lifelong creator and inventor. He loved building homemade double-decker motorized rafts ("Queechy Queens”), photographing "memories of old buildings" and cracked pavers, and creating shrines and 3D photographs. John always participated in The Howl Festival's "Art Around the Park," painting murals yearly. 

In his professional career, he practiced architecture with several firms in New York City, including Kohn Pederson Fox, Hardy Holtzman Pfeiffer Associates, and Agrest & Gandelsonas. 

Among his many projects, he contributed to the design of the Melrose Community Center in the Bronx and the renovations of the Plaza Hotel and the Brooklyn Tabernacle. 

John was the beloved father to Madeleine Hoog-Crellin, Juliette Crellin, and Lilly Crellin, and grandfather to Josephine and Caroline Crawford (Mady's girls) ... and, lastly, his bunny Honey Bunny.

A celebration of John's life is planned for Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Sophie's, 507 E. Fifth St. (just east of Avenue A) at 6 p.m.

Memories of John can be shared here. 

The Veselka documentary, narrated by David Duchovny, opens at the Village East on Feb. 23

"Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World," the documentary on the iconic Ukrainian diner on the corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street, will have a theatrical release on Feb. 23. 

A description: 

New York City's beloved Ukrainian restaurant Veselka is best known for its borscht and varenyky, but it has become a beacon of hope for Ukraine. As the second-generation owner Tom Birchard reluctantly retires after 54 years, his son Jason faces the pressures of stepping into his father's shoes as the war in Ukraine impacts his family and staff. 

And the trailer...

 

The film, directed by Michael Fiore, is narrated by David Duchovny, who grew up nearby. 

Find tickets for the opening on Feb. 23 at the Village East by Angelika, Second Avenue and 12th Street, here.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

Finally made it back from New Year's Eve on Times Square! Wooo! Photo today on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

A bench in honor of the 'Birdman' of Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven

A longtime regular of Tompkins Square Park now has a bench dedicated in his memory.

Dennis Edge, an East Village resident since 1970, passed away on Sept. 1. He was 85. For years, he documented the birds of Tompkins Square Park, where he was a regular and welcome presence.

His family, friends and fellow birders came together to make this happen... you can find it by heading into the park at the entrance on Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

Meanwhile, throughout February, an exhibit of his urban wildlife photography will be on display at the Loisaida Center, 710 E. Ninth St. just east of Avenue C. 

There is also a bench dedication on the afternoon of Feb. 14.

Dennis' friends wish to thank Loyan Beausoleil for spearheading the GoFundMe and Florence Marcisak for arranging to have the plaque made.

On Astor Place, Raising Cane's is raising funds for Harvey Milk High School

The newish Raising Cane's outpost on Astor Place at Lafayette is helping a neighbor with a fundraiser tomorrow (Friday afternoon).

Between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m., if you mention "Harvey Milk High School" at the register, the fast-food restaurant specializing in fried chicken fingers will donate 15% of the sales to the school.

The high school was "founded on the principles of inclusivity inspired by Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in the United States." (Read more about the school here.) 

 

St. Marks Pizzeria (the former Funzi's) has not been open lately

Photos by Stacie Joy

We've fielded several queries in recent weeks about the status of St. Marks Pizzeria, the former Funzi's Pizzeria at 36 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

The shop has been closed during advertised hours (noon to 10 p.m. daily) since before the December holidays. All the items on the online menu are marked "out of stock." The phone is not in service at this time.

This development comes after hospitality vet Kevin Cox left the business in November following a June debut. He took the Funzi's name with him for a new version of the pizzeria in another EV location. (Funzi's was named after the youngest of Cox's three sons.) We haven't heard anything further about a new Funzi's.

Funzi's opened in late June and aspired to be an East Village throwback with a 1970s-80s decor modeled after Cox's grandmother's house.

After Cox departed, the business pivoted to St. Marks Pizzeria... with a message on its website noting, "Same Pizza. Same Chef's. Same Location. New Name." 

While the slices here got solid reviews, the budget 2 Bros., a few storefronts to the west, always looked to be doing a much brisker business... even their customers enjoyed using the Funzi's bench for dining...

H/T Steven!

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

I Know What You Did Last Winter. 

Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

A look at the under-renovation Ben's Deli on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Interior renovations are progressing at Ben's Deli, 32 Avenue B, between Second Street and Third Street.

The market temporarily closed in September for the work... an expected move after longtime owner and Avenue B folk hero Ben Gibran sold the business earlier last year to a cousin, Sammy Ksem. 

Here's a look ... upgrades include new shelving and light fixtures...

Ben's Deli, which played a pivotal role in season one of "Russian Doll" on Netflix, is expected to be back open in another month (or so).

Even with the renovations, Ben's regulars can still be found outside the shop, commiserating on the day's events. And despite his retirement, Ben still pops by a few times a week. We've spotted him watching lions of the Serengeti videos on an iPad from his office, aka his Astro van parked on B.

This past fall, before the renovations really kicked in, the gang used the space in the evening to play dominos ... and to finish drinking the leftover Bud and Coors Light from the cold but denuded store shelves...

Openings: Tina's Cuban Cuisine on 14th Street

Photo by Pinch from August

Tina's Cuban Cuisine is set to open today (Jan. 17!) at 238 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (See the Insta embed below if you're interested in some opening specials.)

As we previously mentioned, this is the fourth NYC location for the quick-serve restaurant offering — as the name suggests! — authentic Cuban cuisine. 

The arrival of Tina's marks the end of two consecutive bagel shops at the address.

Bagel Market opened last February before the gate stayed down three months later. In an Instagram message, the owners of the chainlet said there was a leak from the unit above the kitchen, "and it destroyed our oven." They were looking to reopen here.

The previous tenant didn't have much better luck here. The Bagel Boss chainlet opened a location in July 2021, and they closed several months later in October 2021 for, per management, "gas and electric problems" in the building. Bagel Boss never reopened here.  

 

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A post shared by Tina's Cuban Cuisine (@tinascubannyc)

What's coming to the former Mochinut space on 2nd Avenue

Photos by Steven 

Renovations continue at 124 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, where we're told an udon noodle restaurant is opening soon. 

The operators are also behind Okiboru House of Tsukemen on Orchard Street. 

The new establishment takes over the space from Mochinut, the quickly expanding California-born chain known for its mochi doughnuts and Korean-style hot dogs. The business opened here in August 2021 and closed the following year.

H/T Stacie Joy

Signage alert: Kaliiva, a cannabis dispensary for Avenue B

Photo by Salim 

Signage arrived late last week for Kaliiva at 11 Avenue B between Houston and Second Street, the latest (currently unlicensed) cannabis dispensary for the neighborhood. (We mentioned this pending arrival on Dec. 19.) 

This will be the first NYC shop for the Washington, D.C.-based business offering "premium edibles, flower, vapes and pre-rolls."

Kaliiva takes over the storefront in this Steve Croman-owned building after the departure of Raul's Barber Shop, which held forth for six decades. Raul Velez Sr. decided to retire in 2022 at age 81 (and after a rent hike). His nephews opened a new spot at 256 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.