Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo by Louise & Danny)...

• Election Night 2024 (Wednesday) 

• Mixed messages about the future of 7-Eleven on Avenue A (Monday) 

• The return of O'Flaherty's, now on Allen Street for the next month with Matthew Barney & Alex Katz (Thursday) ... At the opening of 'The Bitch' at O'Flaherty's (Saturday) 

• On Sunday, a sneak preview of Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop ahead of its Nov. 16 grand opening (Friday) 

• A new East Village vintage clothing store opens, and a cat is the curator (Tuesday) 

• Halloween night with Pretty Sick at Bowery Ballroom (Monday) 

• B Cup Café is on the move on Avenue B (Tuesday) 

• About the Community Boutique & Café, an inclusive gathering place on 12th Street (Thursday) 

• It's not just you — the whole area smells like smoke. Here's why. (Saturday) 

• More stabilization work at the former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center (Thursday) 

• 325 E. 14th St., sells and farewell to the Crocodile Lounge sidewalk awning (Monday) 

• Owner of 2 Brooklyn restaurants taking over the Lollo space on Avenue B (Thursday)

• Coming attractions: Mrs. Green on 14th Street (Tuesday) 

• Renovations underway at the former Boulton & Watt (Thursday)

• The former Houston Village Farm is for rent (Tuesday) 

• A bad sign at the Sunflower East Village on 2nd Street (Monday) 

• Stuffed closes and the owners promise 'a brand new, never seen before' ice cream concept (Monday)

Also, this past week, workers removed the sidewalk bridge from Third Street and Avenue A (part of the ongoing work at the First Houses).

Also! The Budget Mart on A between Second and Third is expected to open SOON (photo below by Stacie Joy).

Fabano Florals departs Avenue B for a new home base in Minneapolis

Photos by Stacie Joy

ICYMI: Fabano Florals has left its retail space at 106 Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street and is relocating its home base to Minneapolis.

The door signage for patrons states the business will be "focusing on larger-scale events in the NYC area."

Also: "We have loved being part of this neighborhood and will miss it dearly, and truly appreciate all the love and support the community has given us."

Owner Andrea Fabano, who lived in the East Village, originally started the business as a pop-up shop (and online).

You can keep tabs on Fabano Florals on its website and Instagram.

Sunday's opening shot

A morning view of Temperance Fountain in Tompkins Square Park. 

Read some history of the fountain, which dates to 1888, here.

You'd be out of your gourd to miss this pumpkin smashing event

Photo by Stacie Joy 

A. Sorry for that headline. 

B. La Plaza Cultural is hosting a Pumpkin Smash tomorrow (Sunday) from noon to 3 p.m. Bring your pumpkins, Jack-o-lanterns and gourds to the SW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street. 

Afterward, the LES Ecology Center will turn the smashed remains into compost for city parks and green spaces. 

C. It is a rain-or-shine event, though no worries since it doesn't rain anymore.

At the opening of 'The Bitch' at O'Flaherty's

Photos by Stacie Joy

Thursday night saw the opening of "The Bitch," a new show featuring work by Matthew Barney and Alex Katz at a temporary home for O'Flaherty's at 165 Allen St. between Stanton and Rivington...

Artist, curator and owner Jamian Juliano-Villani and gallerist Billy Grant will be here through Dec. 15.

Here's a look at the bi-level space... and some of the gallery-goers who packed the place...

Afterward, there was a post-opening party at the former O'Flaherty's space at 44 Avenue A and Third Street...

... where neighbor Two Boots Pizza came in handy...

"The Bitch" will be on view at 165 Allen St. Wednesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 2-7 p.m.

It's not just you — the whole area smells like smoke. Here's why.

Due to NJ wildfires, NYC residents may see or smell smoke. Guidance: https://t.co/EOStLz9R6e. A Red Flag Warning is in effect citywide until 6PM today, 11/9. Exercise caution w/ outdoor flames. Immediately report fires to 911. Multilingual & ASL Link: https://t.co/fCMmaLTzmK pic.twitter.com/eqSvrNhY5m

— NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) November 9, 2024

People were asking if there was a fire overnight in the East Village... No, the smoke you smell is due to wildfires in New Jersey... and probably Prospect Park...

It’s 70 degrees in November, and Prospect Park is burning.

I was on the ground tonight in Brooklyn as @FDNY crews battled a brush fire with support from @NYCEmergencyMgt, @NYPDnews, and @NYCParks.

After the driest October on record, NYC is under a DROUGHT WATCH, which highly… pic.twitter.com/xD6rpL7MV7

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 9, 2024

Saturday's opening shot

Early morning walk through Tompkins Square Park on this 11/9/24...

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

On St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

Saturday on the Open Streets of Avenue B: LES Sustainability Fair

Info via the EVG inbox... the event is tomorrow (Saturday!) from noon to 3 p.m. on Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street: 

Join EVCC and LOSCC for an afternoon of planet-friendly activities and acoustic entertainment on Avenue B Open Street! There will be tours, live music, and workshops by and for our community! 

12-3 p.m. 

• GOLES +UrVoice Environmental Justice Survey 

• FABnyc Paper bead-making workshop 

• Kadidja Handmade herbal footbath workshop 

• 12 p.m. tour 

Leisurely walk highlighting neighborhood green infrastructure led by Green Map's Wendy Brawer. Meet at Avenue B and Ninth Street. 

• 1 p.m. tour 

Visit the Tompkins Square Park pollinator garden's diverse flora & fauna, led by Amy Berkov. Meet at Avenue B and Ninth Street. 

And the music lineup: 

12 p.m. Tine Kindemann Musical Saw

1 p.m. Ethan Silverman Jazz Trio

2 p.m. Kiki and the Fellas Loisaida Latin Groove

Art of noise

 

Going back to 1990 for the first iteration of the Breeders (Kim Deal, Tanya Donelly and Josephine Wiggs).

"When I Was a Painter" is on the band's first record, Pod. 

Meanwhile! Kim's debut album, Nobody Loves You More, will be released on Nov. 22.

On Sunday, a sneak preview of Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop ahead of its Nov. 16 grand opening

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

On Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mary O'Halloran will serve neighbors and friends Irish soda bread scones and coffee or tea at her new shop at 93 1/2 E. Seventh St., a warm gesture from her and her family ahead of the grand opening.

The signage states, "It will be a very special gathering as I really look forward to opening here on 7th Street!"

Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop will officially open at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

Also, painter Pablo O. Garcia was making Mary's signage at the shop yesterday.

As we first reported in July, O'Halloran, proprietor of Mary O's on Avenue A, was opening a shop dedicated to the scones she started making and selling by the box during the pandemic. The scones became a big hit, helped by Roger Clark's visibility at NY1 and a hugely successful fundraising effort via Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York. 

The new shop's main attraction is soda bread scones, which she makes from her mother's recipe in Ireland and serves with jam. She's also offering coffee and tea. 

Mary O's will continue as it has for the past 14 years at 32 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Mary O is bringing her scones to 7th Street

The return of O'Flaherty's, now on Allen Street for the next month with Matthew Barney & Alex Katz

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

O'Flaherty's is returning for a month-long exhibit at 165 Allen St. between Stanton and Rivington.

This comes after the gallery-performance space spent a memorable 18 months at 44 Avenue A before an August departure. 

The new exhibit featuring work by Matthew Barney and Alex Katz is titled "The Bitch." The opening reception is tonight between 6-8.

Artist, curator and owner Jamian Juliano-Villani invited us to check out the bi-level space the other night as they prepped for the opening...

"165 Allen Street is the coolest — come see it," said gallerist Billy Grant (below), who mentioned that the space was previously a brothel.

"The show is really fucking awesome, you'd better see it," said Juliano-Villani of "The Bitch," on view at 165 Allen St. through Dec. 15. 

O'Flaherty's previously had a year-long run at 55 Avenue C at Fourth Street, culminating with a packed show in July 2022. 

"We're here for a fucking month," said Juliano-Villani, "after that, no clue."

About the Community Boutique & Café, an inclusive gathering place on 12th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Tomorrow marks the soft opening of The Community Boutique & Café, a community-driven market at 515 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

The founders are Soudavone Khamvongsa (above left) and Settareh Barakhshan.

Here's their mission via a recent Instagram post: 

The Community Boutique is a unique retail and cafe space designed to uplift our community, local makers, and small businesses. Every visit offers a warm, personal shopping experience where you can connect with the stories behind your favorite handcrafted items. We're founded by two women of color, a Lao Refugee and an Iranian Immigrant. 

Our goal is to create an inclusive and vibrant gathering place for our community to connect, shop local, and enjoy a cup of tea and coffee in our cafe like you're meeting old friends. 

The market will carry handmade goods including soaps, candles, and jewelry.

Here's more about the soft launch opening tomorrow (Friday) evening...

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Community Boutique & Café (@thecommunityboutique_)

Owner of 2 Brooklyn restaurants taking over the Lollo space on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

There are new operators for the restaurant space at 27 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street.

Nico Dona (below on the right) and two partners, William Garfield and Amanda Bender, are preparing to open an Italian restaurant called Maretta.

Dona, who is friends with the owners of the last tenant, Lollo Ristorante Pizzeria & Bar, plans a soft opening this weekend. 

Maretta will be an all-day cafe open daily. (They do have a liquor license, with a cocktail menu plus beer and wine.) There will be no Resy apps, as Dona prefers old-school walk-ins (or a phone reservation). There's a placeholder Instagram account here. 

Dona also owns Anything in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Bacàn in Williamsburg.

More stabilization work today at the former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Stabilization efforts will be taking place today at the former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center ... which means Ninth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C will be closed to through traffic. 

Reps for Q Impact Solutions, which led a presentation about the future of P.S. 64 last month, shared this info:

Contractors plan to be on-site to make immediate repairs at the southeast façade along the Ninth Street frontage of the building. This stabilization/make-safe work will include the infill of an open gap in the terracotta coping and performing repairs to a step-crack where the sloped coping units meet the brick party wall adjacent to the neighboring property. 

We expect the duration of this repair work to last one day. The work will require the use of a boom lift positioned on the street, similar to what was used during the recent façade investigation work in September. Street closure will be necessary for a portion of the day. 

Posted notices state the crane work will occur from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

According to public records, 605 East 9th Community Holdings LLC bought the property from longtime owner Gregg Singer for $57 million in a transaction filed on Jan. 9. 

Discussions are underway to determine the building's future use and the extent to which it will serve the community.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Rehabilitation of the former P.S. 64 could take 4 to 6 years, cost over $100 million

Renovations underway at the former Boulton & Watt

Plywood arrived this week outside the former Boulton & Watt space on the NW corner of Houston and Avenue A, marking the start of renovations here. 

The bar-restaurant closed in July after 11-plus years, and this is the first activity that we recall at the space (aside from someone living in the now-removed side patio). 

Owners Paradise Hospitality (Mister Paradise, Wiggle Room, Pretty Ricky's) announced "some exciting news about a new project in this space" at the time of the closing. They haven't disclosed anything further. 

If you miss B&W, you can always plan for a meal while arriving or departing from JFK's Terminal 4 (Gate A3).

EVG Etc.: Election Day the day after

Sunrise from 3rd and A today

• Where Donald Trump's policies are likely to affect New Yorkers (Gothamist)

• How Trump's mass deportations and tariffs would impact NYC's economy (The City) 

• Mayor Adams vows to fight for rights of New Yorkers after Trump election victory (ABC 7) 

• Adams was way off the political radar last night (Politico) 

• How your NYC neighbors voted in the election (The City) 

• NYC voters approve most local ballot measures (CBS News) ... Voters approved four of the mayor's five ballot proposals in a blow to City Council (Politico) 

• NYCHA tenants, including at the Riis Houses on Avenue D, sue the city, saying the agency does not disclose hazards such as lead and rats (Gothamist) 

• Village Preservation study finds high housing growth policies like "City of Yes" tend to make neighborhoods more white (PDF here)

• ICYMI: SNL spoofs EV resident and Assembly Member Harvey Epstein (City & State ... NBC)

• A curbside dining farewell tour (The New Yorker) 

• Book Club Bar turns 5 on Saturday (Official site... previously on EVG) 

• How Frank Kabatas, the owner of East Village Pizza, spends his Sundays (The New York Times)

• East Village well-represented in the best-coffee-in-NYC listicle (Eater) 

• A listicle of the East Village's best restaurants (The Infatuation) 

• Elbow Bread now open on Canal and Division (The Infatuation)

• The Berlin-founded Cabin Gallery debuts on Henry Street (artnet) 

• An Insomnia film series includes "Taxi Driver" and "Fight Club" (Metrograph)