An afternoon with Ray

Photos by Stacie Joy 

This month, Ray Alvarez turns 92, and 2025 marks the 51st year in business for his NYC institution — Ray's Candy Store.

I stopped by the shop on Avenue A and spent a recent afternoon with Ray as he diligently worked on orders of deep-fried Oreos (sorry, we can't share the recipe!), beignets, and other specialties of the house...

... and chatted with customers...

Ray's Candy Store is at 113 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Reminders: The next informational session about the former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center is TONIGHT

Photo by Stacie Joy

In case you missed our post about this last week:

The next community informational session about the former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center will be held tonight (Jan. 23) at 6:30 at Grand Street Settlement, 80 Pitt St., between Stanton and Rivington on the Lower East Side. 

"We're hoping to see a diverse group of community members join us," Q Impact Solutions founder Quamid Francis, who led the first discussion on Oct. 25, told EVG. "We anticipate that a plurality of the same information will be covered, as there are no new significant updates to share at this time. Still, we thought of having another session to accommodate community members who missed the last session during the day." (See our recap post here.) 

Speakers include representatives from Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Denham Wolf Real Estate, who will speak on behalf of the property's buyer. 

Per the invite: 

Whether you're a longtime supporter or new to the cause and neighborhood, this informational session will provide valuable updates. Don't miss the opportunity to connect with your fellow community members and engage in meaningful and collaborative discussions! 

The building has sat in disrepair for decades. A new owner bought the property last January. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

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

A tribute to David Lynch at Village East by Angelika

Updated: The screenings are all sold out.

Village East by Angelika is paying tribute to the late David Lynch this month. 

Just-announced screenings: 

• Blue Velvet Friday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets 

• Mulholland Drive Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets 

• Eraserhead Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. Tickets

Village East by Angelika is on Second Avenue at 12th Street.

A look at East Village boutique Pink Lion, a recent arrival on 9th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Pink Lion is one of the newer businesses to open along the eclectic block of small specialty shops on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

I recently stopped by to talk with Debbie Mangual, the owner, and Alex William, the shop's marketing and strategy director.

Mangual, originally from New Jersey, always dreamed of owning a shop in NYC... and it all came to fruition with the clothing boutique's opening at 318 E. Ninth St. this past fall...

Why did she choose the East Village? 

"I love the vibe ... the mix of cultures, young people with their own style. The East Village gives 1980s-1990s vibes," Mangual said.

Daily hours: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

You can follow the shop on Instagram here.

Wednesday's parting shot

Thanks to EVG reader Sammy Silverstein for this wintertime scene in Tompkins Square Park...

Noted

ICYMI — Nike is releasing the Dunk Low "CBGB" model this year in tribute to the NYC institute on the Bowery, which closed in 2006. 

We first saw the item at Sneaker News the other day: 

The "NIKE" on the heel is modified to replicate the original CBGB font that stood on the awning. Behind the tongue are "Bleecker" (Nike spelled it incorrectly) and "Bowery," the cross-streets in which this venue stood for decades. The insoles are a messy mosaic of Nike stickers set to mimic the walls of the claustrophobic restrooms. 

No word on a release date. 

This isn't the brand's first shoe collaboration. You may recall the limited-edition 1460 Dr. Martens-CBGB boots.

A visit with Anne DeVita

Photos and story by Stacie Joy

For over 40 years, Anne DeVita served as manager of the First Avenue Laundry Center.

She presided over the day-to-day activities into her late 80s until the business closed for good in late 2022. (The owners first billed this as a renovation, but the three-building assemblage on the NW corner of First Avenue at Second Street was later predictably demolished to make way for luxury housing.) 

DeVita has been recovering from some recent health issues. 

Last week, her longtime friend and neighbor, Scooter LaForge, and I visited DeVita at her current home.

Unable to score the demanded requested McDonald's filet-o-fish and strawberry shake, LaForge instead brought DeVita a well-received pizza and chocolates as an early b-day treat. (She turns 92 this year.)

DeVita hopes to be able to return to her East Village apartment one of these days. She also thanked everyone for all the good wishes.

As we've noted, DeVita grew up in the neighborhood. Before entering the laundry business, she worked as a barmaid at the long-gone Club 17 on Avenue D and Third Street and a bar on 14th Street that she described as having an upstairs neighbor featuring "girls for sale for a dollar."

Taking a look at the all-new Baker Falls, now in soft-open mode on the Lower East Side

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Baker Falls (pop. 192) is now in soft-open mode in its new home at 192 Allen St. between Houston and Stanton (the former Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2). 

The performance venue debuted on Jan. 13 with its weekly Anti-Hoot open mic night (carrying on a tradition from the late Sidewalk Cafe). 

We stopped by this past Thursday for what owner and East Village resident Nick Bodor (below) called the first proper rock show of Baker Falls 2.0.

Like the previous BF iteration, which had a year-long run anchoring the Knitting Factory at 101 Avenue A, Bodor recreated his "decrepit manor in the woods fever-dream alt-rock concept" with the assistance of Deb Parker, a thrift aficionado who is/was behind creating EV spaces like Beauty Bar, Barmacy, and No-Tell Motel.

There are several nooks and crannies where you can sit and enjoy a beverage like you're at The Great Northern Hotel. Several chandeliers help illuminate the stage area.

On this night, the music was improvised, with bands eschewing their usual set lists for, well, whatever they felt like playing. 

We arrived just after the first act, OpenExit, and walked into the post-post-punk universe of Prints...

Headlining were EVG faves Genre Is Death ...

The set included Ty giving up his guitar and playing drums, which he did with equal velocity (the band is usually accompanied by a drum machine). Clementine Iris of Prints joined later Genre Is Death on lead vocals...

Bodor has promised to showcase "old-school EV/LES performance art" and be "an indie space, a social club for weirdos." 

So far, aside from the Anti-Hoot open mic night, there's a weekly "Avant Clown Variety Show"...

Visit the Baker Falls website for a list of upcoming shows and entertainment. Follow BF on Instagram for updates on other expected developments. 

The full liquor license is on its way, so the menu includes beer, wine, and coffee for now. 

The now-former Korean Street Foods space is for rent on Avenue A

Photo by Steven

Yesterday, workers placed a for-lease sign at 147 Avenue A's retail space between Ninth Street and 10th Street, marking the official end of Korean Street Foods.

The quick-serve business offering Korean street foods opened in the spring of 2023, taking over the space from corn dog specialists Two Hands.

The asking rent for the 800-square-foot space (plus basement): $9,995.

Tuesday's parting shot

Thanks to EVG reader Joe for this stunning photo this frigid morning from 14th Street at Second Avenue looking east toward the Con Ed power plant...

Openings: Salad Don at Essex Market

Photos and story by Stacie Joy 

Lenin Costa (above) recently launched a healthy new quick-serve option inside the Essex Market.

Salad Don serves a variety of build-your-own salads and bowls. (Billed as "delicious healthy bowls with a Peruvian touch.") You can find the menu here. 

The best sellers to date are the salmon tahini bowl and the rotisserie chicken bowl.

I got the vegan Buddha bowl and the roasted squash soup, and they were both delicious, especially the soup. 

Costa now has three local businesses: the well-regarded Don Ceviche at 57 First Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street and the Don Ceviche stall at Essex Market.

Salad Don is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

If you're on Instagram, they have an account here. 

Tacombi is not reopening on 12th Street

After 14 months in business, Tacombi "closed for renovations" on the NW corner of Third Avenue and 12th Street in September. 

Subsequent months saw no work in the space, and in the past week, the "closed for renovations" signs came down. The address is no longer on the Tacombi website, and the space is now mostly empty.

This hasn't been the easiest spot to make work for any length of time. Other recent casualties include iSouvlaki and Greekito. The Wayside lasted six years. 

This seems like a decent location, with its proximity to NYU and New School dorms, not to mention people-drawing venues like the Loews Village 7 and Webster Hall.

Signage alert: Smashed on 3rd Avenue

An outpost of Smashed is coming soon to 94 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. 

This will be the third location for the brand specializing in smash burgers and fries. (The other two stores are in the West Village and Dumbo.) 

You can check out the menu here. (Smashed has vegan options too.) 

As far as we can recall, this space has been vacant since the Joint (fka 99 Miles to Philly) shuttered in 2018.

Openings: Tiki Tiki on First Avenue

Tiki Tiki, described by the business as "a sweet tooth's paradise featuring churros, skillet cookies, waffle sticks and more," is now open at 14 First Ave. between First Street and Second Street. 

This is the third Tiki Tiki in the metropolitan area, a spin-off business from chocolate specialist Sticky Tiki. The EV outpost is open daily from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and closes at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. 

No website, but they have an Instagram account here. 

No. 14 was previously home to successive illegal smoke shops that were shuttered.

Monday's parting shots

Photos by Derek Berg 

Post-snow day snow creatures...