Cat power: Crowdfunding to keep Ollie's Place open on 9th Street

Via the EVG inbox... 

Ollie's Place Cat Adoption Center, part of Mighty Mutts Inc. (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), urgently needs your support to continue its life-saving mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding forever homes for cats in need throughout New York City. A fully volunteer-run group, it can no longer meet the rising expenses of rent, food, and veterinary care. 

Without support, Ollie’s cannot renew the lease and continue to save the cats who desperately need help. A special donor has offered to match 100% of proceeds raised in this GoFundMe! This is an opportunity of epic proportions for our cats! We are looking for large donors to help us reach this goal and to provide on-going funding as well. 

Find the CrowdFunding link here. 

Ollie's Place us at 430 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. You can follow them on Instagram to learn more about our mission and adoptable cats.

Sunday snow scenes

Photos by Daniel Efram 

Here are a few scenes from yesterday. Depending on the location, NYC received two to four inches of snow...

Monday's opening shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

From last night in Tompkins Square Park...

Reports: 20-year-old East Village man dies in stabbing on the Lower East Side

Two men stabbed, one fatally, on Manhattan’s Lower East Side https://t.co/HnEwCOIeoW

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) January 19, 2025

Two young men were stabbed on a Lower East Side street last night, leaving one dead, according to police sources and media accounts. 

A 20-year-old man was reportedly stabbed on Norfolk Street between Delancey and Broome around 8:30 p.m. Another man, 19, was found with multiple stab wounds two blocks away on Delancey and Clinton.

 

EMTs took both men to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.

The 20-year-old, who the Daily News and police sources identified as Amir Smith, died from his wounds. He lived in the East Village, police said. 

The other victim is in stable condition.

Two men "were handcuffed at the scene and taken into police custody for questioning," per amNY and the Post. 

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. All calls are strictly confidential.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a David Lynch tribute on Canal Street via Matt Geo LES) 

 

• Man pleads guilty to Tompkins Square Park shootings, D.A. Bragg announces (Wednesday) 

• This is the date for the next informational session about the former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center (Thursday) 

• Report: The late Gary Indiana’s personal library and collection destroyed in L.A. wildfires (Monday) 

• Side-by-side business closures on Avenue A (Tuesday) 

• First Look: Rendering reveal for new residential building at 1st Avenue and 2nd Street (Monday) 

• At the 1st annual Fuck Fest (Wednesday) 

• 2025 Construction watch: Barrier Free Living on 2nd Street (Tuesday) 

• Paws-itive news: Boris & Horton is returning under new ownership (Friday) 

• Revamps: Íxta turning Japanese-Brazilian at 299 Bowery (Monday) 

• Full reveal at 280 E. Houston St. (Friday) 

• Samascott Orchards expected back at the Tompkins Square Park Greenmarket (Saturday) 

• A look at The March Hare, closing on Jan. 31 (Tuesday) 

• Bad news travels fast! Catch the U.S. premiere of the Fuzztones doc at the Bowery Electric (Thursday)

• A look at 'The Entertainer' (Friday) 

• Signage alert: A diner for 2nd Avenue? (Wednesday) 

• About 'Luna 10 Years' and a unique lineup of planets (Tuesday) 

• Playing Santa, Arnold Schwarzenegger looks for his magic bag outside Veselka (Monday) 

• Activity at the former Raul Candy Store on Avenue B (Thursday) 

• Return of the permanent signage for Ben's Deli (& Grill) on Avenue B (Friday) 

• Signage alert: Sunday Morning on Avenue B (Wednesday) • Yankee doodle Deli demoliton (Thursday) 

• ICYMI: Brick Lane Curry House has closed on 2nd Avenue, though a Brick Lane 2.0 is in the works (Tuesday)

• Amor y Amaro returns to its original 6th Street home (Monday) 

• That time when David Lynch filmed a rather terrifying trash PSA for New York City (Thursday)

Sunday's opening shot

Photo by Steven 

Samascott Orchards were back today at the Tompkins Square Park Greenmarket — 12 days after a barn fire destroyed much of their produce in Columbia County. 

This link has a list of all of today's vendors.

Today in snow forecasts

The metropolitan area is under a winter-weather advisory today through tonight, and three to five inches of snow are expected in NYC. 

According to the National Weather Service, snow will start falling this afternoon around 3 p.m. and last through 10 p.m. 

And after the snow (which is also the name of an underrated Modern English record, even with the inclusion of "I Melt With You")...

After the snow ends Sun night, the main story will be arctic air through much of next week. Temps are likely to be well below freezing from late Sun night until Fri. Wind chills Mon night into early Tue -5 to -15°F and Tue into early Wed 0 to -10°F. See graphic for more. pic.twitter.com/WTmgW9952Y

— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) January 19, 2025

Saturday's parting shot

"Paper View II" is now at the Hole at 312 Bowery between Bleecker and Houston. 

The above work by Katsu Sawada* is one of the many pieces in the exhibit, which will be on display through Feb. 2. 

Hours: 12-7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. 

* Rudolph (CriminalData), 2024, charcoal on paper, 36 x 24 inches, 91 x 61 cm.

Noted

What about Bob: Annoyance with Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan is so December 2024! 

As seen on Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street...

Samascott Orchards expected back at the Tompkins Square Park Greenmarket tomorrow

Photo from last Sunday by Steven 

Despite a devastating barn fire on their Columbia County property on Jan. 7, Samascott Orchards is expected to return to the Tompkins Square Park Greenmarket tomorrow (Jan. 19) after a one-week absence. 

Here's an Instagram post from them: 

We'll be back at markets this week with apples, cider, eggs, and baked goods. Very grateful for the help of our fellow farmers to get back on our feet as much as possible right now. All your messages have been very humbling and appreciated. Looking forward to seeing you soon. 

Good to see, as Samascott Orchards has been a regular and welcome presence at Tompkins. 

And if the year-round Greenmarket is new to you, here's some info (website here)...

Friday's parting shot

Thanks to the EVG reader for sharing this aerial view of the neighborhood (and NYC) from Avenue A and Houston this morning...

Blue highway

 

In memory of filmmaker-musician-artist David Lynch, who died yesterday at age 78. 

The video here is for "I'm Waiting Here," the lead single from Lynch's third studio album The Big Dream (2013) ... with lyrics and vocals by Lykke Li. 

 I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.

A look at 'The Entertainer'

Photo by Stacie Joy

Aaron Michael Skolnick's "The Entertainer" opened last week at the March gallery on Avenue A. 

Several readers have given the exhibit by Aaron Michael Skolnick a shout-out. 

Created between 2023 and 2025, this body of work is composed of paintings, garments, photography, and an installation featuring cardboard cutouts, jockstraps, and the idyllic bleachers and sports field of Hollywood's American high school. 

It's up through Feb. 22. 

The March gallery is at 62-64 Avenue A, between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Paws-itive news: Boris & Horton is returning under new ownership

Photo from February 2024 by Stacie Joy 

A round of app-paws? Boris & Horton has a new owner. 

The city's dog cafe — closed since late November — announced yesterday that a new owner is taking over the business on the NW corner of Avenue A and 12th Street. 

Per the reopening notice: "Same great space and brand" with "a community-focused vibe." 

The new owner is named as Carol ... with her dog Baja listed as the new CEO.

A reopening date is to come...

 

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A post shared by Boris & Horton (@borisandhorton)

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

Mikhly and Holzman left the door open for new ownership upon closing. This EVG post explains more about what transpired here. 

Boris & Horton opened in February 2018... and expanded its footprint on the corner later in 2018.

Full reveal at 280 E. Houston St.

Photo yesterday by Stacie Joy 

Here, then, is 280 E. Houston St., the 12-story mixed-use building on the north side between Avenue A and Avenue B — now with the remaining scaffolding and construction netting removed. 

And a view via a live construction camera...

And we returned to the construction camera archives for this foundation shot from June 2023...

According to the website of developer SMA Equities, the "building promises to redefine city living in one of Manhattan's most dynamic neighborhoods." 

No. 280 encompasses 224,809 square feet of space — for residential, commercial and community use. The residential portion will total 211,028 square feet for 157 apartments, with an average size of 1,300 square feet. The retail section — the listing is here — will feature 12,000 square feet. 

Last July, Gothamist reported that the construction company, which has ties to Mayor Adams, illegally started work on the building before obtaining the essential permits. 

The parcel previously housed a single-level strip of storefronts that several years ago either relocated closer to the residential building at No. 250 E. Houston St. (Kapri Cleaners and the FedEx Office Print & Ship Center) or closed (Dunkin'/Baskin-Robbins, Subway, Mattress Firm and China Town). 

The elongated trapezoidal lot housed a gas station until about 1987. This EVG post includes a photo of it. 

Prep work (plywood, pedestrian barriers, etc.) started in February 2023. 

According to the plywood rendering, the (updated) completion date is February 2025.

Return of the permanent signage for Ben's Deli (& Grill) on Avenue B

Photos yesterday by Stacie Joy 

The new permanent signage for Ben's Deli has arrived. 

The Avenue B stalwart underwent a gut renovation and reopened here between Second Street and Third Street late last year. 

However, the previous new sign didn't pass muster with the city, and they levied a $6,000 fine and ordered the offending sign to come down. 

Anyway, the sign is now in place ... (like the previous new sign, the business is going by Ben's Deli & Grill).

It makes sense, as the revamped deli counter area features the return of legendary grillman Oscar (pictured in the top photo!). Oscar left Ben's several years ago and is back making excellent egg-and-cheese sandwiches. 

Ben Gibran sold the decades-spanning business to his cousin Sammy in early 2023.

Thursday's parting shot

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A post shared by IFC Center (@ifccenter)

That time when David Lynch filmed a rather terrifying trash PSA for New York City

Revisiting this 1991 NYC PSA directed by David Lynch after learning about the death of the filmmaker-artist-musician today at age 78. 

The YouTube description describes this spot as "perhaps the scariest commercial ever made."

Well said here...

David Lynch gave us the language we needed to better articulate the indescribable strangeness of our shared reality. “Lynchian” is so overused because it’s a viscerally understandable word without any known synonyms. I can’t imagine a more beautiful artistic legacy than that.

— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) January 16, 2025

Bad news travels fast! Catch the U.S. premiere of the Fuzztones doc at the Bowery Electric

Attention, fans of the Fuzztones. The new documentary (trailer here) about the band makes its U.S. premiere at the Bowery Electric on Feb. 2. 

Details via the EVG inbox: 

"The Fuzztones vs. The World," directed by Danny Garcia, chronicles the highs and lows of an extraordinary band, The Fuzztones, whose career spans over 40 years of Garage Rock. Formed in New York City in the early 80s, their redefining brand of psychedelic punk spawned an exciting new scene and its unstoppable and charismatic leader, Rudi Protrudi still carries on his unique vision passionately across the world today. 

Rudi is a survivor of the Rock & Roll lifestyle. He is still performing, having been at it since the 1960s. The fact that The Fuzztones are still active today shows that he continues to be unstoppable, a true "Lifer" of Rock & Roll. The documentary shows their history through interviews with current and former bandmates. It includes lots of archival footage and new Fuzztones performances from their 2024 European tour. 

Tickets for the screening and premiere party are available at this link. The Bowery Electric is located at 327 Bowery, between Second Street and Third Street.

 

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A post shared by The Bowery Electric (@theboweryelectric)

Your mid-morning early morning moon shot

Thanks to EVG reader Terry Howell for sharing this photo from earlier this morning...