Sky’s the limit: Watch the Moon hang out with Jupiter and Mars

Steven took this photo early last evening from Tompkins Square Park. Jupiter is to the right of the moon. 

OK, because someone will ask...

Tonight will bring "one of the final celestial alignments of 2024 as the moon shines directly between Jupiter and Mars in the eastern sky — an event that is easy to see for stargazers of all ages," per AccuWeather. (As long as it's not cloudy — and it is not.) 

Back to AccuWeather: 

Jupiter and the moon will become visible shortly after nightfall, but the entire show won't be observable until after 10 p.m. local time, once Mars rises above the horizon. After that, the trio will be visible for the rest of the night, provided the sky remains cloud-free.

This holiday season, C&B Café serves up its first-ever pies

Photos and story by Stacie Joy 

When I heard that neighborhood fave baker Ali Sahin of C&B Café was testing holiday pie recipes, I immediately ran over to the space on Seventh Street between Avenue A and Avenue B to get a sneak peek. I love pie! 

Ali is working with baker Daniel Villalobos (below left), who created the pumpkin pie that is now available for purchase.

These whole 9-inch pies are for sale up until the weekend before Thanksgiving. (This coming weekend!)

Ali says they "generously feed eight people." The pies are $30 each, available with torched meringue or not — your call.

The best way to order is through Instagram DM, but you can also do so in person at the shop or by emailing Ali@candbnyc.com.

So... why pies, and why now? 

"We needed a little change, I felt a bit stagnant," Ali said of his C&B offerings. "I wanted a change in our pace." 

I noted that the crust appeared puffier than you'd see on a traditional pie. Daniel explained it was "not a laminated dough like puff pastry, but a flakier crust, made with all (high butterfat) butter, no lard."

He added that the pumpkin filling "had a bit of mascarpone cheese, plus spices like ginger."
 

The taste-testing went well...

After Thanksgiving, you can expect to see more pie options. Ali and Daniel are looking at an apple pie with oat crumble topping, a pecan pie, and a chocolate French silk pie with heavy cream. 

Also available soon (after the holiday rush): mini-pies with new flavor profiles, and pies by the slice.

The retail space housing NYC's first dog cafe, Boris & Horton, is for rent on Avenue A

Top photo by Stacie Joy

The retail space at 197 Avenue A on the NW corner of 12th Street is now on the rental market. 

This has been the home for the past six-plus years to Boris & Horton, the city's first dog cafe. 

Early last week, ownership (daughter-father Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman) posted notices that they would close at the month's end. This development comes even after a successful crowdfunding campaign and a newly enacted subscription plan earlier this year. 

From an Instagram post on Nov. 11: 

Despite these efforts, we've experienced a significant drop in our monthly subscriptions, with almost 90% churn, and our sales are slightly down compared to last year when we initially made the difficult decision to close. 

Last Wednesday, the retail listing arrived on Loopnet. (REQCE is the broker.) The asking rent for the 3,000-square-foot space (as you may recall, B&H expanded and combined storefronts in 2018) is available upon request...

In the initial Instagram post, Mikhly and Holzman said they've met with potential suitors but have yet to close a deal. 

Unless a new suitor arrives ASAP, Boris & Horton will shut down at the end of next week.

Coming attractions: House of Pasta on 12th Street

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy 

House of Pasta is set to debut at 511 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Owner Andres Dominguez is also active at several establishments, including Sofia's on Mulberry Street in Little Italy, Sofia's Bagels & Kitchen and Sofia's Gelateria in the West Village.

Dominguez will appear before CB3's SLA committee tonight for a liquor license for the address. (You can find the questionnaire and a sample menu online here.)

He plans to open and offer his variety of pasta dishes without a liquor license at first. (Plans only call for a 3-seat bar.)

The previous tenant here, the well-liked Caffe Corretto, had little chance after a gas leak in the building ultimately forced them to close.  

On tonight's CB3 docket: New homes for B Cup Café and B-Side

Here are a few items on tonight's CB3-SLA committee meeting (there are more applicants for places below Houston). 

New Liquor License Applications 

• Corp to be formed by Drew Popkin, 29 2nd Ave (op)

For starters, this makes the Bad Hombre closure official (photo above). 

The owners of Cask on East 33rd Street and Bar Bonobo on Eighth Avenue are looking to open an Italian restaurant bar called Bambino between Second Street and Third Street. 

Find the Bambino application (PDF!) here, which includes a sample menu showing their brunch and dinner offerings. 

• B Side (Flam Able LLC), 131 Ave C (op/removal from 204 Ave B) 

After a fire at 204 Avenue B in June 2023, B-Side and the building's landlord parted ways later that fall. 

B-Side's owners want to open a new bar at 131 Avenue C between Eighth Street and Ninth Street.

No. 131 has been vacant for some time. As far as we can recall, Babel Lounge & Hookah Bar was the last tenant, closing in 2017. (Babel had the storefronts at 129 and 131.) 

You can find the B-Side questionnaire at this link. B-Side debuted on B in 2003 ... with the new owners taking over in January 2021.

Items not heard at Committee

• Alison St Marks (Disfruting Two LLC), 110 St Marks Pl (wb) 

Alison St. Marks is the name of a full-service restaurant that will serve lunch, dinner, and brunch at this spot between Avenue A and First Avenue. This link has the questionnaire. 

Ownership also runs Alison on Lexington Avenue in East Harlem. 

At No. 110, David's Cafe closed without any notice to patrons over the summer after nearly nine years in service. 

Photo of No. 110 by Stacie Joy 

• G&I Food Hospitality LLC, 204 Ave B (wb) 

As previously reported, B Cup Café is moving to a renovated 204 Avenue B, located just several storefronts south of its longtime home on the SW corner of 13th Street. 

B Cup owner Guy Weizmann told us they will be expanding the café's menu and have later hours with the addition of a beer-wine license here at the former home of B-Side. 

Tonight's meeting is at 6:30. Find the Zoom link here. This is a hybrid meeting, and there is limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Signage alert: Bar Snack on 2nd Avenue

The first signs of the next tenant have arrived at 92 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

Bar Snack, a cocktail lounge with the slogan "Dressed-up classics for dressed-down people," is coming in the space that last housed Local 92.

Hospitality vets Ollie Cleary and Iain Griffiths are behind Bar Snack. Cleary operated Lucky Jack's on Orchard Street before launching Honore Club (Bushwick), Minnows (Greenpoint) and Common Mollies (Williamsburg).

You can check out a drinks menu here. For more details, check out the Bar Snack questionnaire on file at the CB3 website for their appearance before the SLA committee this past summer.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

As seen along Seventh Street near Second Avenue...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a message on Second Avenue) ... 

• After over 50 years, Ludlow Garage on the Lower East Side to close its doors (Thursday) 

• Lower East Side indie mainstay Rockwood Music Hall abruptly closes, musicians say (Monday) 

• When is the 2024 Cookie Walk? (Wednesday) 

• On Monday, the Ukrainian Museum will open with free entry to mark 1,000 days of resilience (Saturday)

 

• The Avenue A 7-Eleven is now closed. The reason why may not surprise you. (Tuesday) ... And then there 0 — the last of the 4 East Village 7-Elevens is closing this week (Wednesday) ... The 7-Eleven on the Bowery has closed (Saturday) 

• Boris & Horton seeks new owner to save East Village cafe despite crowdfunding success (Monday) ... Boris & Horton preparing to close East Village cafe at the end of the month (Tuesday) 

• Knock Out Café bringing coffee, art and yoga to 13th Street (Wednesday) 

• Budget Mart is OPEN on Avenue A (Friday)

• Ben's Deli is really truly ready to reopen SOON (Thursday) 

• Awning alert on the Bowery as Dark Matter Coffee's new cafe comes into view (Monday) 

• Openings: Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop (Saturday) 

• A Veteran's Day tribute in StuyTown (Monday) 

• Tipsy Shanghai eyes former Monsieur Vo space on 2nd Avenue (Thursday) 

• Coming attractions: Fomo Momo on 1st Ave. (Monday) 

• Licensed cannabis shop The Flowery blooms on 3rd Avenue (Tuesday) 

• On 13th and A, corner markets come and go (Monday) 

• The Union Square Holiday Market returns (gulp) tomorrow (Wednesday) 

 • Opening alert: Joe's Wine Co. on 3rd Avenue (Tuesday) 

... and if you're a Bluesky person, we set up on that platform this past week...

One week later: Still no word from Rockwood Music Hall after closure

As we first reported, Rockwood Music Hall abruptly closed its doors last Sunday, sending messages to scheduled bands stating that the venue on Allen Street had permanently closed. 

Since then, Rockwood has not made any public statements about the closure, whether on social media or its website. (They did disable the calendar.) There also aren't any messages on the door for patrons. 

The sudden shutter sent the bands set to take the Rockwood stage Sunday and beyond scrambling. For instance, California-based singer and songwriter Arielle Silver found another gig in the neighborhood, as she wrote in the EVG comments. 

We heard from some Rockwood faithful who were disappointed at the club's radio silence, especially after its crowdfunding appeal in June 2023 in a bid to remain open. 

Still facing financial challenges, Rockwood announced last November that the venue was "getting back to basics" and closing its Stage 2 space, which debuted in 2010 with a 175-person capacity. Nick Boder of Baker Falls is opening at the old Stage 2 address, as we first reported. 

Rockwood's Boston outpost also abruptly closed in May, which "came as a surprise to ticket holders as well as artists who were booked to play the venue in the coming days and months." 

Owner Ken Rockwood opened the NYC venue in 2005.

Sunday's opening shots

Photos by Stacie Joy

Yesterday, we stopped by and checked out the curated selection of used, vintage, and designer items for sale inside the gallery space at 629 E. Sixth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

As mentioned on Friday, a few local artists and curators came together for this pop-up sale...

The sale continues today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Monday, the Ukrainian Museum will open with free entry to mark 1,000 days of resilience

Photo by Oleksandr Glyadelov 

Courtesy of the Ukrainian Museum 

On Monday, the Ukrainian Museum will be open to the public with free admission to mark the 1,000th day since the Russian invasion. 

Here's more:

In honor of 1,000 days since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian Museum will open its doors for a day of reflection, resilience, and remembrance. 

Join us on Monday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., with free entry for all visitors, as we stand united in support of Ukraine. Experience the power of Ukrainian art, history, and culture firsthand, and connect with a community committed to preserving and uplifting Ukraine’s story. 

On this day only, in addition to the exhibitions on view now, "Alexandra Exter: The Stage Is A World," "Volia: Ukrainian Modernism," and "UKR|RUS," we will be displaying photographs from the frontlines of Ukraine taken by Oleksandr Glyadyelov, which were on view during our "Oleksandr Glyadyelov Fragments" exhibition this past summer. 

Let's come together to honor this important day, amplifying Ukraine's voice through art and solidarity. 

The museum is at 222 E. Sixth St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

The 7-Eleven on the Bowery has closed

As expected, the 7-Eleven at 351 Bowery between Third Street and Fourth Street has closed. Workers started dismantling the 13-year-old outpost yesterday, removing and/or covering the signage.

This was the second 7-Eleven to close in the East Village this week. The owner of the Avenue A 7-Eleven blamed the rampant thefts for his store's closure. An employee at the Bowery outpost said: "People — they're breaking things, stealing, scaring away customers at the door." 

The Bowery store opened in December 2011... and it was the first of four to open in the East Village, ushering in a wave of storefront suburbanization that repelled some residents.

The St. Mark's Place outpost closed in 2013, with 14th Street going in 2021.

Also, the outpost that opened at 813 Broadway between 11th Street and 12th Street closed a while ago. 

Saturday's opening shot (aka, Merry Christmas!)

The Christmas trees arrived this week at Whole Foods Market® Bowery... which might be a good reminder to go ahead and toss your tree from last year.

Friday's parting shot

The last of the 2024 supermoons as seen through the trees from Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Read more about November's Full Beaver Moon (no snickering!) here.

The 'Pleasure' principle

 

The Vermont-based Thus Love is back with album No. 2, titled All Pleasure, a euphoric post-punk collection of tracks such as the self-titled single in the video above. (And we'd put "Birthday Song" as one of the best of 2024.) 

We really enjoyed seeing them live this past summer in Tompkins Square Park. They'll be back around on Jan. 17, opening for the Vaccines at Brooklyn Steel.

This weekend, 'A curated selection of used, vintage and designer things'

This just in to the EVG inbox! 

"A good old-fashioned stoop sale (but in an art gallery). Local artists and curators selling their wares."

Taking place today through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 629 E. Sixth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Reminders: Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop opens tomorrow (Saturday)

Photos by Stacie Joy

As noted (here and here), Mary O's proprietor, Mary O'Halloran, is opening a new cafe at 93 1/2 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The grand debut (after Sunday's sneak preview, seen above) for Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop is tomorrow, Saturday, starting at 7 a.m.

The 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 via Superlost in Brooklyn. 

And lots of folks have been stopping by to wish Mary well...

 

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EVG Etc.: The end of mandatory broker fees; the return of congestion pricing

An evening stroll on 2nd Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue 

• City Council passes bill that shifts broker fees to landlords (ABC 7 ... The Associated Press) 

• Congestion pricing plan returns with new reduced tolls for Manhattan (ABC News ... Politico) 

• RIP Cowboy Ray Kelly, sculptor, leader of the Rivington School, and co-founder of the performance space NoSeNo (Legacy.com) 

• The latest from the Daniel Penny trial (Gothamist) 

• City announces 'Drone as First Responder' program (NYC.gov ... Daily News) 

• Brush fires reach historic levels across NYC (The City) 

• Recently arrived immigrants from Africa are turning to Instacart outside places like Wegmans on Astor Place with few other options for work (Streetsblog) 

• Knickerbocker Village on the LES was the only district in Manhattan where Trump received the majority of votes (The Post) 

• Post-election therapy in the form of Post-it notes in an underpass at the 14th Street subway complex (Hyperallergic)

• A look at four co-named streets in the neighborhood (Village Preservation) 

• At the Swiss Institute Benefit Gala (Cultured) 

• What to eat at YongChuan, a 2-month-old restaurant that opened at 90 Clinton St., above Delancey, that is the lone restaurant in Manhattan focusing on the cuisine of Ningbo, a port city in the Zhejiang province, south of Shanghai (Eater) 

• Almost time for "A Christmas Carol at the Merchant's House: Charles Dickens in New York, 1867" (Merchant's House Museum)

• Two chances to see "Downtown 81" on a big screen (Metrograph)

• About a local resident's AI wingman (Observer) 

... and if you're a Bluesky person, we set up on that platform this week...

Budget Mart is OPEN on Avenue A

This is a quick post to say that the Budget Mart opened Wednesday at 33 Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street. 

The windows feature a variety of throw pillows and Christmas decorations... a quick scan inside showed ample amounts of kitchen appliances and gadgets, storage containers, household cleaning supplies, socks, undershirts, slippers (a lot of slippers), suitcase, etc. 

We'll do a deeper dive on it later.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday's parting shot

The skate park at Coleman Playgroud under the Manhattan Bridge tonight...