Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Dec. 25's opening shot
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
A Christmas Eve morning dispatch from Veniero's
Us crazies who got there at 7:35 this morning were rewarded with cookies and coffee.
And!
They did have to have a word with the lady who decided to take the huge strawberry cheesecake out of the case clearly marked NO self-service teetering through the masses... Merry Christmas.
Getting chippy: Merry Christmas, now let's mulch your tree
Chipping Weekend takes place Jan. 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. According to NYC Parks: "Bring your tree to a chipping site on Chipping Weekend to take home a tree-mento! We'll chip your tree and give you your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree."
Parks officials say that 46,626 trees were recycled last year.
* While MulchFest begins the day after Christmas, there's no rush to part with your tree. In fact, you could wait to drop it curbside until July or August, hoping it'll make headlines on a local news site.
Fluffy Fluffy bringing the souffle pancakes to 1st Avenue
Photo by William Klayer
The signage arrived yesterday at 153 First Ave. for Fluffy Fluffy, a dessert cafe for the long vacant space between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
Here's more about the brand via a press release from earlier in the year:
Founded in 2018, Fluffy Fluffy began franchising in 2020 with a mission to spread joy worldwide through souffle pancakes. Originating in Canada, the brand offers handcrafted Japanese-style souffle pancakes known for their soft, bouncy, and incredibly light texture.Made with locally sourced milk and free of artificial additives, each souffle pancake is cooked slowly at a low temperature for up to 20 minutes. Topped with a variety of fruits, toppings, and house-made sauces, they aim to bring the celebratory symbol of joy and togetherness traditionally associated with Japanese souffle pancakes into daily life.The brand's diverse menu includes more than just souffle pancakes, featuring innovative delights like croffles, burnt top cheesecake, roll cake, macarons, lattes, and specialty sodas. Fluffy Fluffy demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity by offering meat-free menu options, catering to diverse dietary preferences.
The last tenant at No. 153 was Coyote Ugly, which held forth here with bartop dancing and body shots for 27 years. CU left this address in September 2020 ... for new digs on 14th Street.
No. 153 received a gut renovation, though no takers.
Openings: Tipsy Shanghai on 2nd Avenue
Ownership previously said that the Chinese food here would be a little different and more upscale from the other Tipsy Shanghai outposts.
Google lists the hours as 11 a.m. to midnight daily, with a 9 p.m. close on Mondays.
Monsieur Vo closed here earlier in the fall after a September 2022 debut.
Monday, December 23, 2024
Monday's parting shot (chicken warmer edition)
Photo and text by Stacie Joy
The new signage with a drop-shadow font at Key Food on Avenue A reads:
Please Do Not Rest Basket or Belongings on Here (Chicken Warmer).
So, how many baskets and bags have been melted that they would need to make this chicken-warming station signage?
A fundraiser for ABC No Rio's late director, Steven Englander
Per Bobby: "It's an apt metaphor: ascending. RIP Steve Englander."
Englander, ABC No Rio's longtime director, died on Dec. 12 from complications related to a rare lung disease that he had been battling. He was 63.
Late last week, ABC No Rio announced a memorial fundraiser in Englander's memory:
In honor of Steven, we are starting this funding campaign to help make ABC No Rio, and Steven's legacy, live on for generations to come. Any donation, big or small, will help us open the doors to our permanent home to inspire and nurture the next generations of DIY artists, dreamers, and co-conspirators.
Find the fundraiser at this link.
Ferns announces February closing date
EVG file photo
Ferns, the bistro-bar at 166 First Ave., has announced a closing date after more than seven years in business between 10th Street and 11th Street.
Feb. 26 is the last day.
In an Instagram post from last week, owner Michael Bailey (who also operates The Belfrey on 14th Street) wrote, in part:
We face a number of challenges that are hardly unique: high rents, rising costs, and economic uncertainty, to name a few. We've put up a hell of a fight, but our time has come to turn the page. While this chapter is coming to an end, we look back on it with nothing but gratitude for the support and love this community has shown us.
A warmup (with lines) for Danny & Coop’s Cheesesteaks on Avenue A
Given the celebrity connection with co-owner Bradley Cooper, recipient of 12 Academy Award nominations, there were bound to be some lines... and there were, stretching back around the corner on 10th Street (thanks to Eden for this photo)...
Danny & Coop's (Danny being Danny DiGiampietro, the owner of Angelo's Pizzeria in South Philadelphia) is reportedly opening full-time next month.
151 Avenue A was previously Tacos El Porky and its sibling El Primo Red Tacos, which both flamed out quickly.
There were many positive social media posts about the cheesesteaks (the only item on the menu) from the weekend... including shots of Cooper greeting customers at the door and working in the kitchen...
Coming attractions: Buddies Coffee on 3rd Street
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
A popular Williamsburg coffee shop is opening an East Village outpost. (TradedNY confirmed the new lease.)
Buddies Coffee is coming soon to 226 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.
Taylor Nawrocki, a pro skater, and his partner Rachel Nieves opened the Williamsburg shop in December 2020 and became a hit for signature drinks. One is the coquito latte, a family recipe that swaps out rum for espresso.
We've heard good things about Buddies and are looking forward to trying it.
Gaia Italian Cafe was the last tenant at No. 226.
No Joe for now at Joe's Wine Co.
As reported earlier this month, Trader Joe's is accusing Joe's Wine Co. of violating the grocery chain's intellectual property rights.
Per Supermarket News:
Trader Joe's alleges that Joe's Wine Co. originally used a circular logo, color scheme, and wood paneling similar to the grocer's distinctive trademarks and aesthetic.After receiving notice of an impending lawsuit from Trader Joe's, Joe's Wine Co. removed its name and signage and assured Trader Joe's it would select a new name and branding, according to the lawsuit. However, the lawsuit states that, in mid-November, Joe's Wine Co. continued to use the name "Joe's Wine Co." and wood paneling similar to Trader Joe's.
An EVG reader noticed that the signage was down this past week, and the interior was in disarray. "There are boxes all over the floor, so not really conducive for shopping, although someone did sell me a couple of bottles of wine."
Joe's name and logo were also removed from the wine store's social media accounts ...
Back 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.
We reached out to the business to ask about a name change.
Joe's Wine Co. opened in November. State Liquor Authority paperwork from July 2023 lists the ownership as Taste Wine LLC, a business previously located at 50 Third Ave. between 10th Street and 11th Street... (public records now list the name as Joe's Wine Inc.)
Gary Landsman opened Taste Wine in 2015 before closing in May 2020 to focus on raising awareness and finding a treatment for the fatal genetic disease that his two young sons have. At the time, he said he was hopeful about selling the business.
Taste Wine reopened in the fall of 2020 under new ownership before shutting down in early 2021.
Taverna East Village remains closed while waiting for a Con Ed inspection
According to a patron, the Greek restaurant was closed without any notice to the public... until a sign later arrived noting the closure due to a "required Con Edison" inspection"...
The restaurant's website notes: "We are currently closed due to a Kitchen Renovation project. We are working very hard to reopen as soon as possible."
The outpost of Astoria's favorite Taverna Kyclades opened in the fall of 2013.
However, ownership changed hands, and the name change to Taverna East Village was made public this past June.
Despite the change, readers we talked with said the food remains first-rate.
Ops watch at 176 2nd Ave.
As noted in September, Mike Fadem, the chef and owner behind Bushwick's Ops (and sister pizzeria Leo in Williamsburg), plans to open a Neopolitan-style joint here between 11th Street and 12th Street.
Community Board 3 approved a liquor license for the venture in September. The questionnaire (PDF here) on file at the CB3 website noted that this will be a second Ops location, where the sourdough-leavened pizzas get high marks. (Time Out recently ranked them at No. 5 on a city's best pizza listicle.
No. 176 previously housed Numero 28 Pizzeria Napoletana, which went dark in late 2023 after a 2009 debut.
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Week in Grieview
Posts that past week included (with an EVG photo outside McSorley's the other evening)...
• The wild project is fundraising to purchase its home on 3rd Street (Wednesday)
• Housing lottery is underway for 21 apartments in the East Village (Tuesday)
• A few thoughts on SantaCon 2024 (Monday)
• A sidewalk bridge for the fire-damaged 328 E. 9th St. (Wednesday)
• About Night Club 101, taking over the former Baker Falls and Pyramid space on Avenue A (Monday)
• Book-Off will bring its discounted goods to Astor Place (Wednesday)
• 50-64 3rd Ave. is going, going... (Monday)
• Cookie Puss alert! The Cinnabon/Carvel carb-heaven combo coming to 14th Street
• 'The Jonathan Larson Project' is up next at the Orpheum Theatre (Friday) ... 'The Big Gay Jamboree' packs it in early (Tuesday)
• Signage alert: Compton's Sandwich Shop on 1st Avenue (Monday)
• The retail space — the former Sidewalk Cafe — at 94-96 Avenue A is for lease (Tuesday)
• Danny & Coop's slinging Philly cheesesteaks from 151 Avenue A this weekend (Saturday)
• EVG turns 17 (Friday)
If you're dreaming of a white Christmas (tree)
The box reads, "This tree could be yours! Take it!"
Sunday's opening shot
Photo Friday by Stacie Joy
Joe Strummer (aka John Graham Mellor) died on this day in 2002 at age 50.
As always, a photo of Dr. Revolt's mural — the first iteration created in 2004 — outside Niagara on Seventh Street and Avenue A.
And now, enjoy this "Fantastic" video...
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Saturday's parting shot
Here, a photo taken early this morning behind the building shows St. Francis looking at a Christmas tree.
Thanks to Richard Madigan for sharing!
Danny & Coop’s slinging Philly cheesesteaks from 151 Avenue A this weekend
Actor-filmmaker Bradley Cooper teamed up with Danny DiGiampietro, the owner of Angelo's Pizzeria in South Philadelphia, for the venture... launching from a food truck last December, first from Sixth Street and Third Avenue. All the proceeds from the truck were reportedly donated to charity.
The cheesesteak sales from 151 started last night... and will continue with this schedule:
Saturday, Dec 21 • 3 p.m. til we run outSunday, Dec 22 • 5 p.m. til we run out
There will likely be some lines for the food. Last evening, Cooper's girlfriend, Gigi Hadid, shared an Instagram Story with her 77 million followers.
There's word that Danny & Coop's will become a full-time business at the address.
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