Planet Taco exits East Village orbit

Photos by Steven 

Planet Taco shut down its East Village operations on Sunday, bringing an end to the shop's three-plus-year run at 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

In a note to patrons, ownership blamed "rising costs" for the closure...

The Planet Taco on Ninth Avenue remains open.

Planet Taco opened in March 2021 and received generally positive reviews from readers and critics. 

The address previously housed Otto's Tacos for seven years. Before that, many things came and went here, such as Good Guys, a Subway (sandwich shop), part of a Max Brenner outpost and Burritoville (!!!).

Noted (sidewalk bridge edition)

Photo by Stacie Joy 

As previously reported, G's Cheesesteaks is the new tenant for 6 Avenue B at Houston Street — the first in 15 years. 

The gut renovations of the long-vacant residential portion are also complete. The building — now going as The B (!) — is currently leasing.

G's owner, Giacomo Pisano, apparently tried to get the sidewalk bridge hauled away. Good luck! 

So there's now a G' s-branded sign on the bridge with the message, "We tried to get this scaffolding removed ... But this is NYC."

Pisano, whose family has been in the restaurant business for several generations, founded G's in Staten Island in 2015 at age 20. 

The opening date for the EV outpost is expected soon.

Some Cool pizza street art

As seen along St. Mark's Place.

Revisit our Cool archives here. 

Thanks to Eden for the photo!

Don Juan's Barber Shop closing after 25 Years following rent hike

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

After 25 years at 303 E. Fourth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D, Juan Rosado is closing his Don Juan's Barber Shop. 

You've heard this story before: The lease is up, and Rosado said the new rent is too much for him. 

"We had a good run, I can't complain," he said. "I raised my son here."

Rosado, an East Village native who grew up around the corner, started cutting hair by setting up in the empty lot next to the post office branch on Third Street and ran an extension cord to give $5 haircuts to the neighborhood. (An aside: He's also an excellent photographer.)

Since opening Don Juan's, the shop has become a thriving family-friendly business and a local hangout that provides a much-welcomed community spirit.

Thankfully, Rosado isn't going too far: He'll have a chair at Jay Joe's Classic Cuts at 256 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

And this, he hopes, is an interim situation. Rosado plans to open a mobile barber shop in the future. 

"My power move," he said.

June 23 is the shop's last date...

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• A Visit to Don Juan’s Barber Shop on 4th Street

Xi’an Famous Foods opens an outpost on 4th Avenue

Xi’an Famous Foods has opened an outpost at 139 Fourth Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street...(Thanks to Jeannie Krier for the photos!)

The chainlet of quick-serve hand-pulled noodle shops has expansion plans after closing several locations during the pandemic. (The St. Mark's Place spot closed in early March 2020 when the lease came up for renewal.)

Company CEO Jason Wang's father David Shi got his start in a small food stall in Flushing, a business popularized after an Anthony Bourdain endorsement. 

No. 139 on Fourth Avenue was most recently PLNT Burger.

After 17 years of not being open on Mondays, Abraço is now open on Mondays

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Starting today (Monday—hi!), Abraço will be open on Mondays, a first in the cafe's 17-year history.

The summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (By the way, Abraço serves cocktails in the evening.) 

And FYI: No laptops are allowed here (and no outside food or drinks, in case you need to be reminded of this here or anywhere else). And no barking dogs!

Abraço is at 81 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Former Walgreens space on Union Square to be home to a Times Square-friendly business

The SE corner of 14th Street and Fourth Avenue will soon be home to a Times Square-friendly biz called NYC Convenience Gifts. 

The signage promises items ranging from souvenirs (FDNY and NYPD branded) to luggage, watches and ice cream. 

The EVG reader who shared these photos called the new business an "eyesore." Sure, but it's handy if you need a suitcase and an ice cream cone in a hurry... 

The oddly configured Walgreens closed here in February 2022. 

It's a huge space, and we wondered what might eventually move in... the Walgreens was renovated and expanded into the space above the quick-serve restaurants on Fourth Avenue back in 2010... (this far-flung layout is what we meant by "oddly configured.") 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Union Square Walgreens not being intimidated by world's largest Duane Reade

May 12

As seen today on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place. Happy Mother's Day! 

Thanks to Shannon for this photo... and to Bayou and Derek Berg for sending pics as well...

Coming together in Tompkins Square Park to remember Al 'Hammerbrain' Landess

Photos by Stacie Joy

Friends and loved ones of Al "Hammerbrain" Landess came together yesterday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park for a memorial concert in honor of the local resident and veteran of the NYC hardcore who died in February 2022 of cancer. 

EVG's Stacie Joy stopped by as the show was getting underway (that's Skum City in the top pic). 

Among those in attendance were Al's longtime partner, Joanie Koveleskie, with their Siberian Husky Augustus Gloop...

Previously on EV Grieve:

• RIP Al Landess

Week in Grieview

Photos this past week included ... with a porta-potty update from Tompkins Square Park via Steven (the chains are now there overnight)... 

• Remembering Frank Stella (Wednesday) 

• Paying tribute to legendary photographer Saul Leiter on 10th Street (Monday) 

• New applicants for Lucy's withdraw for this month (Tuesday) 

• Bella McFadden's iGirl storefront opens Saturday on 3rd Street (Friday) 

• A look at Christo and Amelia's 2024 offspring in Tompkins Square Park (Monday)

• Family sells eight East Village buildings for $38 million after decades of ownership (Thursday) 

• A moment on Eighth Street in 1983 (Wednesday) 

• Lui & Lui takes center stage at the next incarnation of 3rd & B'zaar (Wednesday) 

• Fabano Florals returns to Avenue B, this time as a full-time shop (Tuesday) 

• Reader report: Why were our new trees canceled? (Tuesday) 

• An East Village tribute to Flaco (Tuesday)

• 'Stayin' True' with Toofly at CLLCTV NYC (Saturday)

• Joe's Wine Co. (NOT Trader Joe's) coming to 3rd Avenue (Monday) 

• On 3rd Avenue, Cutlets and the world's narrowest weed shop have closed (Tuesday) 

• A look inside the former Dallas BBQ on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)

• What's next for the Roost space on Avenue B (Monday) 

• Closings: Viva Cucina on 2nd Avenue; Da Radda on 7th Street (Thursday) 

• GrowNYC's Greenmarket returns to Stuy Town on Sundays (Saturday) 

... and a moment with some of the cast and crew of C&B Cafe on Seventh Street... (photo by Stacie Joy)...

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Sunday's opening shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

On Avenue A, Exit9 co-owners Charles Branstool and Christy Davis with their daughter Stella Wave (who's also the drummer of EVG fave Hello Mary). 

And a Happy Mother's Day to moms everywhere!

'Stayin' True' with Toofly at CLLCTV NYC

Photo Thursday by Stacie Joy 

Multidisciplinary artist Toofly is showing new and existing work titled "Stayin' True" at CLLCTV NYC. 

The exhibit of paintings, photos and video is up through May 23 at the gallery and event space at 209 E. Third St. just east of Avenue B. Hours: Noon to TBD. 

You can learn more about Toofly, aka Maria Castillo, and her roots in graffiti art in this WNYC interview from last summer.

Pinc Louds headlines a Mother's Day show in Tompkins Square Park

For an alternative Mother's Day celebration, consider the free show in Tompkins Square Park tomorrow afternoon (music scheduled for 1:45-6 p.m.). 

The lineup features headliners Pinc Louds as well as Shred Flintstone, Desert Sharks, Rat Motel, Big Girl and Dog Park (acoustic). 

Presented by Show Brain.

GrowNYC's Greenmarket returns to Stuy Town on Sundays

GrowNYC's Sunday Greenmarket in Stuyvesant Town returns tomorrow and will be open every Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Dec. 15. 

A GrowNYC says to expect the following producers: 

• Jersey Farm Produce vegetables, herbs, orchard and small fruit from Hunterdon County, N.J. 

• Liberty Farms certified organic vegetables, chicken, eggs, etc. from Columbia County, N.Y.

• Luna Family Farm cut flowers from Burlington County, N.J. 

• Ox Hollow Farm beef, pork, chicken, eggs and seasonal vegetables from Litchfield County, Conn.

• Seatuck Fish Company wild ocean fish and shellfish from Suffolk County, N.Y. 

• Toigo Orchards II from Cumberland County, Pa. 

• Valley Shepherd sheep, goat and cow's milk cheeses from Morris County, N.J. 

• Wave Hlll Breads baked goods from Fairfield County, Conn.

The farmer's market is located at the north end of the Stuyvesant Town Oval near the 20th Street Loop.

Saturday's opening crime report

From the Friday night crime report on Citizen... from the NE corner of Avenue A and 14th Street with several flashing NYPD vehicles. Perhaps the Citizen administrator let his/her true feelings be known about the incident — "Shouty Nonsense."

Who's crying now?

 

Cults, an EVG fave, are back with a new single — "Crybaby," their first new music in two years. 

See the duo of Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion live at the Warsaw this Aug. 28. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Cults classic: East Village-based duo on the release of their fourth record Host 

Headline H/T

A memorial gig in Tompkins Square Park for Al 'Hammerbrain' Landess

There's a memorial show tomorrow (Saturday) in Tompkins Square Park for Al "Hammerbrain" Landess. 

The longtime local resident and veteran of the NYC hardcore scene died in February 2022 of cancer. 

The slate of bands scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. includes Jennifer Blowdryer, Art Gray Trio does Crunt, Spike Polite & Sewage, RBNX, and Skum City.

Landess was the frontman, guitarist and songwriter of Hammerbrain (later Damn Kids). He also worked for years at Benny's Burritos on Avenue A and Sixth Street until it closed. He later managed Kelly's Sports Bar on Avenue A. 

Time for the annual plant and bake sale at the 6 & B Garden this weekend

The annual 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden plant and bake sale is happening this weekend. 

The fundraiser "allows us to offer hundreds of events throughout the year FREE to our community! Lots of plants for both indoor and outdoor spaces, along with a delicious selection of baked goods. Come celebrate the beginning of the gardening season with us!" 

It will be held on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The community garden is on the southwest corner of Avenue B and Sixth Street.

About the auction and gala to benefit the P.S. 19 East Village Community School

The P.S. 19 East Village Community School is holding an online auction with donors from an impressive group of local and citywide businesses. 

The auction ends on May 18 at 10 p.m. Find out how you can bid and support the school here. 

On May 18, the PS19EVCS Parent Association will also host a masquerade-themed gala at the Ukrainian National Home in conjunction with the online auction.

All proceeds benefit the school at 185 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.

Thursday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

A mirror moment on Second Avenue...