Reminders: The 33rd annual tree lighting is TODAY in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven 

This afternoon marks the 33rd edition of the tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park from 4-5.

And the weather looks quite pleasant for the event, sponsored by C&B Cafe, which features the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and refreshments via Veselka. 

Yesterday, workers were spotted with the lighting in the tree. Hopefully, all the lights will work this year. (And here.)

EVG Etc.: Modified 'City of Yes' receives Council approval; a grateful Jesse Malin takes the stage again

Morning view of Tompkins Square Park from along Avenue A

• Manslaughter charge against Daniel Penny dismissed; jury will continue deliberating lesser charge on Monday (Gothamist) 

• City Council approves the Mayor's "City of Yes" housing plan by 3a 1-20 vote (NY1) ... "City of Yes" sets the stage for "bigger, taller luxury condos in our neighborhoods" (Village Preservation) ... How each NYC councilmember voted on City of Yes (City Limits) ... Christopher Marte, who represents the Lower East Side and downtown, was the only Manhattan City Council member to vote no. "He's argued for months that the 'City of Yes' will end up being a developer boondoggle that won't adequately mandate affordable construction. After the bill passed, he said that it would 'cast a long shadow over the city.'" (The Spirit) 

• Report: Unsheltered homeless youth population doubled in NYC (The City) 

• Jesse Malin makes "smash comeback" at Beacon Theatre (NY1 ... Variety) ... His comeback shows were a "testament to the human spirit" (Rolling Stone) ... previously on EVG 

• Heat issues at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery (PIX11) 

• City Council seeks universal parking ban at intersections (Streetsblog) 

• CNN names "Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World" as one of the year's "unmissable" documentaries (CNN ... previously on EVG)

• "Citizen Kane" in 35mm at the Village East by Angelika on Monday (Official site) 

• A touristy Christmas bar listicle if you're not feeling too hum-buggy (Delish) 

... and the latest in look-alike contests... this one today for Frank Iero in Tompkins...

Check out 'ABC No Rio in Photos' at Umbrella House on Avenue C

As you likely know, ABC No Rio's new building is under construction at the site of its previous home on Rivington Street between Suffolk and Clinton on the Lower East Side. 

Meanwhile, the collectively run arts organization continues programming "in exile." 

Here's info about an exhibit, "156: ABC No Rio in Photos," on weekends at Umbrella House at 21 Avenue C between Second Street and Third Street...

 

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Saturday's opening shot

The 2024 Christmas tree along First Street Green...

Friday's parting shot

Window shopping along St. Mark's Place (at the Sock Man!)...

Built to 'Spells'

 

Freak Slug — aka Manchester-based performer Xenya Genovese — saw the release of her debut full-length release, I Blow Out Big Candles, earlier this month. 

The video here is for "Spells." 

She plays two shows in Brooklyn this weekend (Baby's All Right and Union Pool), though both are sold out. 

Freak Slug will be back around in April, headlining the Bowery Ballroom.

Hester Street Fair pops up this holiday season at the Essex Market

The Hester Street Fair is back on the Lower East Side. 

This holiday season, the Fair, with various vendors, hosts a pop-up at the Essex Market. 

And this marks the first time they've done a pop-up since leaving their home base in 2020 after getting the boot from the Seward Park Co-Op board. 

You can find them here on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22. There are new vendors every weekend on the Market's mezzanine level. More details here. 

Hours: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

The Essex Market is at Essex and Delancey.

Openings: Dark Matter Coffee's ¡Adios Amigos! on the Bowery

As we've been reporting (here and here), the Chicago-based Dark Matter Coffee is opening its first NYC outpost on the SE corner of the Bowery at First Street.

And today (Friday!) is the debut of the space, which is going as ¡Adios Amigos! (the name from the 14th and final studio record by the Ramones).

This outpost will serve Dark Matter coffee and other cafe fare and include a Sleep Walk Chocolateria.

Here's more via an Instagram post by founder Jessie Diaz:

The amount of work put into this store was heavy, physically demanding, emotional, and fulfilling in ways that we haven’t felt as a team in years! My eternal gratitude for the whole crew of mighty Chicagoans who have put this work of art together! 

We will be showcasing them and their contributions throughout the next week and beyond! 

New York City, we are elated to be here, and humbled to make coffee for you on the Bowery! This shop will be also showcasing our sister brand @sleepwalkchocolateria making chocolate in our first open kitchen concept along with a gradual rollout of some savory and sweet food program! 

Hours: Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a 7 a.m. start on Saturdays and Sundays.

Former SW corner occupants Blue & Cream relocated its flagship outpost to 409 Bleecker St. in early 2023 after 15 years on the Bowery.

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Checking out the newish new home of Upright Citizens Brigade on 14th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

After several months of previews, the new home of the Upright Citizens Brigade New York officially opened in September at 242 E. 14th St., between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

We checked out the space earlier in the fall...

Here are a few thoughts on this iteration of UCB (see end of the post for background on what has transpired to date).

The Good 

Affordability. Depending on the show, tickets run between $10 and $20. (There is also Whiplash, a FREE stand-up showcase hosted by Shalewa Sharpe.)

We decided to check out ASSSSCAT, UCB's signature improv show and enjoyed it more than we expected. (We're not much on comedy clubs, TBH!) Watching the troupe play off each other and off random themes or words from the audience in real time was fascinating. They really had fun with it, and that was giggle-inducing. 

The Neutral 

The space, down a couple of stairs, is set up so you are on three sides of the stage. It's a different perspective from the side where we sat. Hearing or understanding the actors was sometimes difficult because you couldn't see their faces. Seeing other people react to the performance was fascinating — their laughter was contagious. 

There is a mezzanine, and those seats looked great, but we couldn't access them. It was also quite chilly in the venue (to keep the comedy fresh?), so bring an extra layer. 

The Meh 

UCB is currently not serving alcohol. They were administratively approved for a beer-wine license, though it has yet to arrive by our visit.

Also, be warned: It's a cash-free venue. We enjoyed ourselves and would consider another visit — especially when beer or wine is an option. 

And here's a look around ...

Some history, as we've previously noted. 

UCB's East Village outpost, UCBeast, wrapped up its eight-plus-year run on Avenue A and Third Street in February 2019. At the time, UCB officials blamed the "extreme costs" of operating in the space for its closing. 

UCB then presented three nights of programming at SubCulture, a 130-seat venue on Bleecker Street. Eventually, the whole empire — where Kate McKinnon, Donald Glover, Aubrey Plaza, and Broad City's Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, among many others — got their start, shut down. Amid ongoing financial difficulties made worse by the beginning of the pandemic, UCB closed all its remaining NYC locations in April 2020... and then in Los Angeles in December 2020. 

A comeback started in March 2022 when longtime talent manager Jimmy Miller and former CEO/owner of The Onion Mike McAvoy reportedly bought the brand. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• The Upright Citizens Brigade is returning to NYC — and the East Village — with a new theater

Thursday's parting shot

As seen outside NYU's Tisch on Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...

Tompkins Square Park loses an elm tree

A Parks Department crew was seen this morning tending to an elm tree inside the entrance of Tompkins Square Park at Seventh Street and Avenue B. 

While it initially appeared they were pruning branches, it became clear the workers were tasked with removing the entire tree.

Thanks to EVG reader Natalie for these photos...

Why this East Village restaurant is refusing to remove its curbside dining structure

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Updated 12/10: The restaurant is removing its curbside dining space.

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Despite the city mandate to remove all curbside dining structures by this past Friday as part of the permanent Dining Out NYC program, the owners of Il Posto Accanto are standing defiant and keeping their structures intact at 190 E. Second St. 

"We're doing civil disobedience," said Julio Pena, who has owned the well-liked restaurant with his wife Beatrice Tosti di Valminuta since the 1990s between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Pena said that not having the outdoor dining space — a heated event tent with side walls and a weatherproof vinyl top — would impact their business, forcing them to lay off staffers.

"There are places like ours that use the outdoors year-round, that are heated and comfortable," he said of his space that can accommodate 20-plus diners. "We do not want to cut the hours of our staff or lay off staff. Give us until after the holidays." 

He continued, "Why do I want to do this to my staff? We're still using it even in the cold weather. People were eating here [Tuesday] night — even in the cold. Sometimes, we even have to turn the heaters down."

Pena says neighbors have called 311 to report him. On Tuesday, the police stopped by the restaurant based on one of the complaints. He said he understands that the DOT, which oversees the outdoor dining program, will visit next, but they need to give a 30-day notice before removing the structure. And that he may face a fine — of $500 on the first offense and $1,000 for each violation until the structures are removed. 

Pena quickly noted that he has had no problems with the NYPD or the DOT and that he respects them and knows they have a job to do. 

Still, Pena said that if the DOT comes to tear down his outdoor dining structure, he will "call a full-court press." 

"I will fight that fine. I plan to fight until the very end. If I have to go before a tribunal judge, I will," he said. "Not just for me but for our staff."

As previously noted, the significant change with the new guidelines is that enclosed, year-round roadway dining structures will no longer be permitted. The revised regulations stipulate that roadway cafes must now be open-air, easily portable, and simple to assemble and dismantle. 

Additionally, these establishments are restricted to operating only from April through November. Sidewalk cafes are permitted year-round.

ICYMI: Trader Joe's sues the recently opened Joe's Wine Co. for infringing on its intellectual property rights

Top photo from last month; 2nd photo from May

The recently opened Joe's Wine Co. at 113 Third Ave. is being sued by a bigger Joe. 

As Gothamist (and other outlets) reported the other day, Trader Joe's has filed a lawsuit against the shop between 13th Street and 14th Street in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

Per Gothamist: 

The grocery chain says Joe's Wines Co. is infringing on its intellectual property rights, confusing customers by opening a "knock-off wine store" ... just blocks away from its former Trader Joe's Wine Shop that abruptly closed in 2022 after workers there tried to unionize. 

Trader Joe's wants the store to change its name and pay damages, according to the 31-page suit filed this month But Joe's Wine Co. claims Joseph is a family name that goes back hundreds of years, and the store "celebrates a family heritage of winemaking that dates back to 12th-century Spain" ... And their lawyer points out that plenty of New York businesses, including Joe's Pizza next door to Trader Joe's, use the name "Joe" in their title. 

The suit is about more than just the name. In it, Trader Joe's attorneys claim the wine store stole the chain's entire aesthetic, including its initial use of a red circular logo, color scheme and wood paneling to "ape the look of a Trader Joe's store."

According to Supermarket News, "Trader Joe's is seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages for trademark infringement, false designation of origin, false advertising, unfair competition, and trademark dilution under the Lanham Act and New York state law. The Lanham Act is a federal law that addresses trademark infringement." 

Read more background about the new Joe's from our May post below... 

 Previously on EV Grieve: 

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

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Steven 

The Mudspot Family Christmas Wreath is now outside the cafe at 307 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

The Tide theft is still high

EVG reader Tom shares these photos. First, the Associated on Avenue C at Eighth Street posted photos of an alleged "detergent thief" at the grocery entrance. 

Meanwhile, at the Target on 14th Street and Avenue A, the detergent remains under lock and key ...

For years now, Tide has been a hot commodity among thieves at supermarkets and drugstores. This Associated Press article (via the Daily News) from 2012 documents the ongoing theft of Tide.

Ben's Deli has GRANDLY reopened

Photos by Stacie Joy 

A renovated Ben's Deli has reopened at 32 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street. (Perhaps you noticed the variety of grand opening signs?) 

The renovations, dating to September 2023, took longer than newish owner Sammy Ksem wanted... in any event, the place looks spiffy... (Yes, there's still temp signage out front.) 

The all-new deli counter area features the return of legendary grill man Oscar... who left Ben's several years back and is behind the counter again... a welcome sight for anyone missing those egg-and-cheese sandwiches...

Ben Gibran sold the decades-spaning business to his cousin Sammy in early 2023. You can still expect to see Ben around the new-look space, too. 

Comings and goings on 9th Street: Love Only and Salvage Cloth

Photos by Steven 

After nearly 10 years on Ninth Street, Love Only recently closed up on the block between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

Founder Carmen Ruiz-Davila, who also had an outpost in Williamsburg, moved to Spain several years ago before relocating to Amsterdam. 

As Ruiz-Davila, a Barcelona native, wrote in an Instagram post: "We have met so many wonderful people along the way, and we just want to say thank you for all of your support. I moved to Spain two years ago and now Amsterdam, which has made it really tough to manage the stores. I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life and hoping to see most of you in the future." 

The shop first debuted as Love Gang. (Read more about that here.) 

The space wasn't vacant long. Designer Carie Evans, who has done pop-ups from a storefront right next door, is now operating Salvage Cloth here...

Per the Salvage Cloth website: "We work with recovered fabrics along with 'up-cycled' vintage cloth to create a unique brand of ethics and style. Our passion is the appreciation of design with a mission of low-waste."

That's a wrap for now at Boris & Horton

Photos by Steven 

ICYMI... Boris & Horton has wrapped up its nearly seven-year-run on the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street, shutting down as expected this past weekend. 

For now, paper covers the double storefront here, which was the city's first dog cafe.

Earlier last month, ownership (daughter-father Logan Mikhly and Coppy Holzman) posted notices that they would close at the end of November. This development happened 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. 

Mikhly and Holzman said they've previously met with potential suitors but have yet to close a deal. Last week, they wrote: "we're hopeful that one of our customers will be taking over and reopening in 2025." 

However, the retail space remains on the rental market.

Signage alert: Krave It on 2nd Avenue

Photo by Steven 

An outpost of Krave It is coming soon to 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. 

The quickly expanding business, founded in 2015 by husband and wife Vishee and Jenna Mandahar (high school sweethearts born and raised in Queens), specializes in "creative, out-of-the-box sandwich and pizza options." Like the seasonal Thanksgiving slice — "all three courses on one perfect bite." 

Krave It also has several locations in the metropolitan area, including Bayside, Huntington and Astoria, with more on the way next year. 

The space was, until March, Planet Taco. Recent past lives include 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 (sob).

Signage alert: Burgerhead on 2nd Avenue

Photo by Steven

Signage for Burgerhead went up Monday on the NW corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street. 

This will be the second Manhattan spot for the brand that sells burgers, chili dogs, fried chicken sandwiches, burgers, etc. (Menu here.)

A fast-casual restaurant, Balkan StrEAT, was in the works for the corner space. However, the owners closed their Sixth Avenue outpost and pivoted to the burger biz. (Burgerhead took over the former Balkan StrEAT space at 353 Sixth Ave.

This Second Avenue address was also home to a Starbucks until April 2019.