Curtain falls on Connelly Theater: Archdiocese takes center stage in script scrutiny drama

EVG photo from January 

Under increased scrutiny of its productions by the building landlord, the Archdiocese of New York, the Connelly Theater has gone dark on Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

As The New York Times first reported: 

Josh Luxenberg, who has been the theater’s general manager for the past decade, submitted his resignation late Friday. And early Tuesday, the Catholic school that is the intermediary between the theater and the archdiocese said it was "suspending all operations of its theater." 

Producers who have rented from the Connelly say they were aware that it was owned by the archdiocese, and that there was always a clause in their contract allowing the Roman Catholic Church to bar anything it deemed obscene, pornographic or detrimental to the church's reputation.

But only recently, they said, did the archdiocese seek to rigorously scrutinize scripts before approving rentals. New York Theater Workshop said it was told by a bishop this month that it could not stage "Becoming Eve," which is adapted from a memoir about a rabbi who comes out as a transgender woman, at the Connelly early next year. It is now looking for another venue.

SheNYC Arts, which has been producing theater by women, trans, and nonbinary writers at the Connelly Theater for eight years, is now looking for a new home for its underrepresented work. 

In a statement, SheNYC said that new leadership at the Archdiocese of New York "has directed the theater to deny the space to any shows or companies that would be seen as inappropriate by the Catholic Church." 

This includes shows about reproductive rights, trans characters, and gender issues, SheNYC Arts has been told. The priest in charge of the jurisdiction is personally screening scripts to ensure they fit within strictly Catholic doctrines. 

"The Archdiocese has specifically called out our past shows at the Connelly Theater, calling them 'inappropriate' for discussing issues like reproductive rights and gender and making it clear to us that shows like that will not be allowed in the future," said Danielle DeMatteo, Artistic Director of SheNYC Arts. "Especially just a few weeks before our election that could determine the future of our rights, this is a truly shocking development." 

The vital Off-Broadway venue, which recently staged the future Broadway production "Job," is housed within the Cornelia Connelly Center, a Catholic school for girls from fourth to eighth grade.

The producers of "Job" released a statement on Instagram that read: 

We are shocked and disappointed that the Catholic Church has shuttered one of downtown’s most beloved theatres. Simply put, "Job" would not be on Broadway without the Connelly Theater. 

Great theatre is an exchange of ideas — an opportunity for audiences to develop empathy and understanding. The Church undermines that quest for shared humanity with its decision. 

We call on the Archdiocese to reopen the Connelly so artists and audiences can once again gather and experience the transcendence of live theatre. And in the meantime, we invite Cardinal Dolan to come to the Hayes Theater to see Job on Broadway. He can experience first-hand the powerful theatre he is now turning his back on.

New York Archdiocese spokesperson Joseph Zwilling told the National Catholic Register: "It is the standard practice of the archdiocese that nothing should take place on Church-owned property that is contrary to the teaching of the Church." 

When asked if the Archdiocese mandated the theater's closure, Zwilling said, "We did not order it to be closed." 

"We had seen a range of really provocative, amazing, inspiriting, artistically rigorous shows there, so I was surprised this would be rejected," Patricia McGregor, the artistic director of New York Theater Workshop on Fourth Street, told the Times. "And if in the East Village of New York City we are meeting this kind of resistance, where else might this be happening?" 

The signage was removed outside the Connelly Theater yesterday, and the doors were freshly painted.

Meanwhile, Google lists the theater as "permanently closed."

And now, your Budget Mart signage on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy 

On Tuesday, we noted that the under-renovation (and long-empty) retail space at 33 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street will be a "Family Dollar-style store," per the workers on the job. 

Yesterday, the Budget Mart signage arrived... the awning shows items such as linen, home goods, toys, furniture and appliance (just one?)...

We lost Kmart but have gained a Budget Mart.

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Rainer Turim 

Hanging around at Saifee Hardware on Seventh Street and First Avenue...

Fall classic

Late afternoon in Tompkins Square Park...

About Sofaclub, a licensed cannabis shop opening this fall on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Sofaclub Cannabis is set to open this fall at 229 Avenue B near 14th Street. 

Ownership has secured a CAURD adult recreational use license from the state for the retail establishment. This marks the furthest east into the East Village for a licensed operation. (Downtown spots include Gotham at 3 E. Third St. near the Bowery and Housing Works on Broadway at Eighth Street.) 

Co-owner Max Tsiring previously founded Artifact New York, an exclusive designer archive. (He also plays in the band Kitten.)

This new cannabis shop will be "design-oriented, classy, minimalist and stylish," Tsiring said. "I'm so excited to be part of a neighborhood I've hung out in and loved my whole life."

Tsiring and his business partner are hoping for a Nov. 1 debut. 

The storefront was previously Everytable.

A look at Walter Salas-Humara's 'Guardians and Realms' at 14BC Gallery

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Paintings by longtime East Village resident Walter Salas-Humara are on view through Saturday at 14BC Gallery. 

Here's more about the show, "Guardians and Realms" ... 

Horses have long been seen as mystical creatures, embodying a deep connection to the spirit world. In many cultures, they are regarded as guides between realms, their power and grace representing freedom, intuition, and strength. Horses are believed to carry messages from ancestors and spirits, acting as symbols of transformation and healing. Their wild, untamed energy mirrors the vast mysteries of the unseen world, making them both guardians and companions on spiritual journeys, helping souls traverse the boundaries of the physical and ethereal planes.

You can read more about the art and music of Salas-Humara, perhaps best known for his work in the rock band The Silos, here. 

"Guardians and Realms" is open for viewing tomorrow through Saturday from 3-7 p.m. at the gallery, 626 E. 14th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Openings: DupBopBro on Houston

Photos by Stacie Joy

DupBopBro debuted last Thursday at 309 E. Houston St. between Clinton and Attorney. 

The business, owned by life partners Gene (seen below) and Veronica Choe, specializes in Korean rice bowls.

The quick-serve bowls start with rice and cabbage, and you can select tofu, chicken (including a choice of really spicy chicken), and bulgogi. Then, you can select two toppings, ranging from sweet potato noodles to Korean pickled peppers, and two sauces. (Find the menu here.)

 

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Daily hours: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with an 11:30 p.m. close on Fridays and Saturdays.

Tuesday's parting shot

Paving action tonight on Third Avenue... as crews are working between Ninth Street and 12th Street... thanks to EVG reader Doug for the shot.

A moment in Tompkins Square Park with Robert Leslie

From last evening, traveling troubadour Robert Leslie played a set in Tompkins Square Park. 

Per Allan Yashin, who shared these photos, "he played Dylan, Neil Young and his excellent originals."

At the Ottendorfer Library, a 16mm film night with 3 works featuring the Bowery

Leading up to its 140th anniversary this Dec. 6, the Ottendorfer Library is hosting a variety of events celebrating the neighborhood's history. 

Noteworthy this Thursday (Oct. 24) from 5:30-7 p.m.: Three films from the Library for the Performing Arts Reserve Film and Video collection that feature the Bowery:

• "The Bowery Men's Shelter" (1972): A portrait of the Men's Shelter on East 3rd Street. 10 min. 

• "How do you like the Bowery?" (1972): Men from the Bowery in New York are interviewed and speak candidly about how they think and feel. Directed by Dan Halas and Alan Raymond.14 min. 

• "On the Bowery" (1956): A dramatization of life on New York's Skid Row. Directed by Lionel Rogosin. 65 min.

The library is at 135 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Noted

Photos by Steven 

The chess tables inside the Seventh and A entrance to Tompkins Square Park remain behind barricades since the fatal double shooting on July 12. 

And we couldn't help but notice a new barricade on the scene...

And likely not where Gov. Hochul is planning the new pool project for Tompkins.

Openings: Gizmo on 14th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

ICYMI: Gizmo is now open in its new storefront at 626 E. 14th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Rosa Malmed and Hossein Amid, the husband-and-wife owners (far right below), debuted the space last Tuesday. They hosted a small gathering for neighbors ...

The sewing supply and repair business is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The phone number is (212) 477-2773. (A new website is in the works.)

Until the end of February, Gizmo lived at 160 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street for 32 years. Their landlord did not offer them a lease renewal.

Breaking the blockchain: Crypto drama hits East Village stage

Veteran crypto journalist Benjamin Schiller is bringing "the drama and intrigue of the Bitcoin world to life" in a new play opening tomorrow (Wednesday!).

Here are details via the EVG inbox...

Set in the East Village, "Happenstance" follows the story of a man facing prison time for his role in the early development of Bitcoin. As he grapples with his fate, his family and girlfriend pull him in different legal, financial and spiritual directions, exploring themes of freedom, morality and the human impact of cryptocurrency. 

Schiller runs the features and opinion desks at CoinDesk, the crypto-journo outlet that broke the FTX scandal. He drew inspiration from real-life figures like the disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried to craft a human story within the often technical world of Bitcoin. 

"Happenstance" breaks new ground as one of the first plays to make Bitcoin a central theme, boldly bringing cryptocurrency to the stage in New York City. 

The play is scheduled for five performances tomorrow through Saturday at the Red Room/KGB Bar, 85 E. Fourth St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery. Find times and tickets here.

A $1 store for Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Incoming new store alert! 

The under-renovation (and long-empty) retail space at 33 Avenue A will be a "Family Dollar-style store," per the workers on the job.

So maybe like the 99-cent store at 73 First Ave. next to Rite Aid? Dunno!

We're trying to remember what was last here between Second Street and Third Street — Venus Body Arts, which closed in 2017? 

Anyway, keep an eye on the storefront between Joyful Nails and 31A Laundromat in the retail spaces of First Houses.

Closings: A-Roll Bar and Grill on St. Mark's Place

After less than a year in business, A-Roll Bar and Grill has closed at 5 St. Mark's Place just east of Third Avenue. (H/T Jacob Ford for the tip!)

A for-rent sign is now in the front window.

The sit-down skewer shop, operated by Nobu vet Kacey Yeh and part of a Chinese chain, seemed to have a lot of potential. (Eater gave it high marks.)

Unfortunately, until very recently, the storefront was mostly obscured by the sidewalk bridge and scaffolding of the neighboring 9-story office building, which has seen a long slog toward completion. Plus, there are many casual food options on this block of St. Mark's Place. 

Monday's parting shot

A Halloween lobby scene at 170 Second Ave. at 11th Street...

Noted

Photos by William Klayer 

Someone has placed a screen over these LinkNYC kiosks along First Avenue... with one noting: "And so the most powerful country in the world has handed over all of its affairs to a carnival barker" ... while another reads: "See Your Country Clearly."

Updated 10/22 

William Klayer provides an update, noting that workers have removed the screens over the two LinkNYC kiosks, which caused no damage, and are returning us to our usual programming of trivia and ads.

Canines, crowds, cops and chaos: At the annual Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Given the many unknowns and last-minute approvals (we documented this here), the 34th edition of the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade on Saturday was as chaotic as expected — at least behind the scenes. 

This year, the event was reduced to a parade processional only — there were no contests, judges, emcees, stage, or prizes. Anyone interested in walking in the parade with their dressed-up pooch had to register at 13th Street and Avenue B. The parade started on Avenue A and 13th Street and ended at Seventh Street. 

The city placed barricades along Avenue A for parade watchers — and they turned out in droves. The city seemed to underestimate how many people might be interested in watching a well-known and publicized event featuring adorable dogs in costumes on a picture-perfect fall day. 

First, let's look at the participants... there were many clever and creative costumes (nicely done, given the last-minute scramble to announce how to participate)...

The beginning of the parade got underway OK at 12:30 p.m. (30 minutes earlier than advertised), though it was slow going. The NYPD's Community Affairs unit led the march on Avenue A. (In hindsight, letting the participants go one at a time instead of in a mob may have been better.)

While there was a heavy police presence, sources told us that the NYPD called in law-enforcement reinforcements who were previously working the National Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Parade on 26th Street and Madison Avenue.

The NYPD stopped the parade at 1:19 p.m., and after all the wristbands were dispersed, no more attendees were permitted. Regardless, several people either created fake wristbands or snuck into the parade. 

The police formed a human chain to move everyone back and set up barricades to prevent people from entering Tompkins Square Park from Avenue A. 

People eventually streamed into the Park anyway, which isn't set up to handle large crowds without more than three porta-potties. 

The Park field house remains under renovation. The city will supply additional porta-potties for events like the Dance Parade and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, though no one thought to do this for the Dog Parade. (Last year's edition was initially canceled, then revived and included a parade on Avenue B and a costume contest in the center of Tompkins.) 

There were other issues, such as the fact that no volunteers from the New York City Community Emergency Response Team (NYC CERT) showed up to assist as promised. 

Joseph Borduin, the volunteer parade producer, was left frustrated and angry over the city's ongoing lack of cooperation and the long wait with bureaucratic stumbling blocks to get the event up and running in the hours before. 

Officials dragged their feet on scheduling a walkthrough with city agencies to approve the parade route, which meant Bourduin and his organizers couldn't release any details for participants until the last minute.

It's possible that we saw our last Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade. The event and the crowds it attracts have simply outgrown the Park — even when large swaths aren't closed for construction. 

The Dog Parade/Festival occurred in East River Park in 2018, 2019 and 2021. A mostly tree-less East River Park, currently gutted with few available amenities, is several years away from being usable. 

Ultimately, finding volunteers willing to endure the thankless chore and stress of navigating the maze of city bureaucracy may be difficult.

About a new home for Baker Falls on the Lower East Side

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy

After a year at 101 Avenue A, Baker Falls is heading south.

East Village resident Nick Bodor has signed a lease to take over 192 Allen St. between Houston and Stanton — the former Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 — where he'll create his "decrepit-manor in the woods fever-dream alt-rock concept."

Bodor received his approval for a liquor license at a recent CB3 SLA committee meeting and expects to have the new license in hand in about three months. He may open a cafe in the interim, but plans are in flux. 

He told us he wants to showcase performance art in the venue, which will have a 150-person capacity, affordable tickets, and a focus on "old-school EV/LES performance art." 

"I'd like to book acts like an absurdist clown or a Victorian shadow-puppet theater" with "two to three acts per night of curated content and experimental programming. An indie space, a social club for weirdos," he said. 

Baker Falls, which featured a bar, cafe and some live performances, anchored the latest iteration of the Knitting Factory at the longtime former home of the Pyramid Club between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

That space is currently closed (as of late July) for extra soundproofing. 

While Bodor will still be involved with the Knitting Factory (he has a percentage), a known operator is taking over and rebranding the space, hoping for a legacy name. We will have more on that story soon.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Generation next: Baker Falls will bring together a cafe, bar and the Knitting Factory at the former Pyramid Club on Avenue A (Nov. 28, 2022)