Saturday's parting shot

No snow or any precipitation as of 7:30 p.m. 

To paraphrase Special Agency Dale Cooper: "The weatherman said snow. If you could get paid that kind of money for being wrong sixty percent of the time, it'd beat working."

Saturday's opening shot

Good morning from the frozen ponds of Avenue A near Ninth Street.

The NYC metropolitan area is under a Winter Weather Advisory for later this afternoon into the morning. According to the National Weather Service, the snow will start late this afternoon and intensify this evening into early Sunday morning. By morning, we could see 3-5 inches of snow, which could mix with or change to sleet and freezing rain. 

And we will believe it when we post snow pics on our Instagram tomorrow!

Friday's parting shot

Only Rudolph remains from the Clint Mario Christmas display on Second Avenue at Seventh Street...

My 'Bloody' valentine

We continue to highlight indie acts performing at this year's New Colossus Festival, which will take place in East Village and LES venues from March 4 to 9. 

Here's Miami-based surf-punk duo Camp Blu with "Bloody Kisses" and a real creeper of a video 

Find Festival info here.

The return of The Chillmaster!

Photo and text by Stacie Joy

Renovations continue at First Houses, the city's first public housing complex along Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street. 

Many tenants were relocated to other city properties with the option to return. 

One returning resident is none other than The Chillmaster, known for cranking classic R&B from his open window. 

One recent day, I was walking along Third Street when I heard Doug E Fresh's "The Show" in the distance. 

Could it be?

Sure enough, there was The Chillmaster, doing what he does best (chilling). 

He happily agreed to a photo through the window, sharing that he's been home for about a month and couldn’t be happier to be back.

You can read more about The Chillmaster in this 2011 EVG post.

EVG Etc.: Long live St Mark's Place; this is radio Clash

Sky view from 2nd and A 

Local stories of interest from other sources this past week include... 

• 100 immigrants arrested in week 1 of ICE raids (The City) 

• At St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, rallying against the new federal directive that strips longstanding protections from immigrant New Yorkers (amNY)

• AG James says NY hospitals — including NYU Langone Health and the Mount Sinai Hospital System — must continue offering gender-affirming care to minors (The Associated Press ... City & State ... CBS News) 

• Cooper Union wins legal fight over the Chrysler Building (Gothamist) 

• NYCHA residents can apply for grants to fund resident-led community projects that promote a healthy environment (City Limits)

• Mayor Adams does not feel the need, the need for speed for NYC bike lanes (Streetsblog)

• Various folks — Lucy Sante, Tish and Snooky, Danny Orlin, Ada Calhoun, Jason Diamond, Barbara Sibley, (and EVG!) — talk about the past and present of St. Mark's Place (Punch)

• Opening Saturday at the Hole on the Bowery: tinyvices archive 20th-anniversary exhibition (Official site) 

• Thoughts on "Discrimi-NATION: Guerrilla Girls on Bias, Money, and Art," the mini-retrospective of posters by the Guerrilla Girls currently at Hannah Traore Gallery on Orchard Street (Hyperallergic) 

• Tickets remain for the David Lynch series at Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street (Offical site) 

• Checking out the Tex-Mex at Wayne & Sons on Second Avenue (Eater ... previously on EVG) 

• Inside Bar Kabawa, a Caribbean spot in Extra Place via team Momofuku (Robb Report ... previously on EVG)

Today (Feb. 7!) is the annual International Clash Day 2025 on KEXP. Stream it online here.

Wednesday's parting shots

Seems like old times on Seventh Street at First Avenue...

Previously

We're in for a wintry mix (and we don't mean music)

Photo Sunday by Cecil Scheib 

We are under a winter weather advisory ("we" as in NYC and the tri-state area). 

According to the National Weather Service, we could see ("we as in ... forget it!) up to two inches of snow... plus a "glazing" of ice for fun. 

Per the NWS on timing: 

Snow develops from southwest to northeast after midnight, mixing with sleet and freezing rain by mid to late morning, before tapering as plain rain by afternoon. The coast and NYC metro will change to rain by late morning. 

So there's a good chance of an ugly commute wherever you need to commute to.  

The top photo shows the light snowfall in Tompkins Square Park from Sunday night.

Equal time

Photo by Jose Garcia 

After yesterday's photos of the Tompkins Square opossum... here's Christo, the resident male red-tailed hawk in the park, looking as majestic as ever today.

Goggla recently had some updates on Christo and Amelia's nestorations in Tompkins Square Park. Check out the post here.

Checking in on 644 E. 14th St.

Here's our first look in a few months at 644 14th St., the 24-story residential building on the SW corner of Avenue C. 

Workers are putting in the façade of terracotta panels and staggered floor-to-ceiling windows...

The 234-foot-tall building from Madison Realty Capital, called 14+C, will include 197 residential units, "a state-of-the-art fitness room," a yoga studio, and a rooftop deck. Information about the number of "affordable" units included in 14+C, one of the stipulations for being allowed to build a more extensive (by nine floors) building, has not been made public. There will also be ground-floor retail. 

Here's a look at the final rendering via Fischer + Makooi Architects ...

There have also been no updates on the status of the residents of the neighboring 5-story building at 642 E. 14th St., many of whom were in rent-stabilized units. The building was abruptly vacated in November 2023 after foundation work next door reportedly destabilized it. 

The full demoliton order from 642's landlord remains on hold from last summer. (This Times feature has more info from November.)

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Workers reach the top of 644 E. 14th St.; future of building next door still in limbo

Long empty 6th Street storefront finally hits the market

A for-lease sign has arrived at 511 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

The last tenant here was Identity Bar and Lounge, which closed in the fall of 2013. 

Fast-forward a short 11-plus years. The Tri State Commercial Realty listing notes that the 1,200-foot space is "ideal for a bar, restaurant, cocktail bar, comedy club, jazz bar, or omakase." And! "This space has the perfect bones for executing your food & beverage vision." 

 No word on the asking rent.

About the Valentine's Day Zine Fair this Saturday

8-Ball Community, the volunteer-run art collective, is hosting its third-annual Valentine's Day Zine Fair ... taking place this Saturday (Feb. 8!) from noon to 6 p.m. at the Sixth Street Community Center, 638 E. Sixth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

There's also an after-zine-fair party at Beverly's, 297 Grand St., from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Did the Tompkins Square Park opossum see his or her shadow?

Photos today by Steven 

YES! Which means six more weeks of field house reconstruction!

Previous coverage of Opie, aka Nicodemus Punch Sugarpop (including this post), right here.

'Caught Stealing' slides into theaters this August

Pics from 2024 by Stacie Joy 

ICYMI: Sony announced that Darren Aronofsky's crime thriller "Caught Stealing" now has an Aug. 29 (2025!) release date, per the Hollywood trades. 

As we diligently noted, "Caught Stealing" was filmed throughout the neighborhood this past fall. 

There were multiple sightings of lead Austin Butler (below), whose character lived on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue A. Also, on Avenue A, the Double Down Saloon subbed for Paul's Bar, the scene of a lot of action. (It was on Avenue B in the book.)

Charlie Huston adapted the screenplay from his 2004 book "Caught Stealing." The story finds Hank Thompson (Butler), a former baseball prodigy, now a binge-drinking bartender, being chased by a criminal element in the East Village of 2000. 

The cast includes Bad Bunny, Action Bronson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Zoë Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, Griffin Dunne, Matt Smith and Regina King. 

We're looking forward to seeing this because a) we read the book, b) we're curious to see the East Village as depicted in the film, and c) we generally really like Aronofsky's movies (and he also lives in the neighborhood).

Double Zero and Bar Verde combine space on 2nd Avenue

We weren't aware of this move until covering the fatal fire at 65 Second Ave. between Third Street and Fourth Street on Sunday.

Plantmade, the vegan pizzeria in the northern storefront, has merged with Bar Verde in the other retail space at the address. According to Vegan NYC, the business is now known as PlantMade By Bar Verde &  & Double Zero, which debuted on Jan. 21. 

The business website states: "PlantMade will feature Mexican and Italian favorites and inspired new creations." Ownership stated that "occupancy costs have tripled" since opening Double Zero, hence the merger. 

According to Vegan NYC, vegan restaurateur Matthew Kenney is not involved in PlantMade. Kenney previously had three establishments in a row here. The contents of Sestina, a pasta restaurant at 67 Second Ave. at Fourth Street, were auctioned off in the fall of 2022. (This marked the fourth Kenney concept in recent years in the corner space, following Plantmade, Plant Food + Wine, and Arata.)

Hours for PlantMade By Bar Verde & Double Zero: Sunday to Thursday from noon to 11 p.m., with a 1 a.m. close on Friday and Saturday. 

Sunday's fire likely damaged the now-empty storefront...

The longtime tenant who lived upstairs, a 75-year-old Vietnam veteran, died in the fire that broke out around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

A neighbor is caring for his dog, Bella, and is crowdfunding to cover her medical expenses.

Updated 2/10: Bella has passed away from the injuries sustained in the fire. Details here.

At long last, a full reveal at the Five Guys, opening this week on 2nd Avenue

Top photo by Vinny & O 

Yesterday, workers removed the plywood from the SE corner of Second Avenue and 12th Street (188 Second Ave.), completing the full reveal of Five Guys, which has been in the works since November 2023. 

The plywood has been up at least back to last spring.

The burger chain, which started in Washington, D.C., in the 1980s, now has 1,700 outposts worldwide, including more than 30 locations around NYC.

According to the door signage, the 5G opens this week (the photo was from yesterday, so three days!)...

As previously noted, the restaurants at 188 Second Ave. haven't fared well since old-timer Shima was rent-hiked out of here in January 2014. Lumos Kitchen lasted three months in 2018. Later, Hot Pot Central, DumplingGuo, and Dumpling Go also departed quickly. 

Strings Ramen, which closed in April 2022, did OK, with a tough two-year-plus run after opening just before the start of the pandemic.

Signage alert: 'The Jonathan Larson Project' at the Orpheum Theatre

Photos by Steven 

Crews at the Orpheum Theatre on Second Avenue are prepping the venue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place for the next production — "The Jonathan Larson Project." 

Yesterday, the signage arrived...

The musical features a newly discovered collection of songs by the creator and composer of "Rent" and "tick, tick… BOOM!" It includes over twenty previously unheard songs.

Previews start on Feb. 14. Opening night is March 10 for the 16-week run. Find tickets here.

Larson died of an aortic dissection on Jan. 25, 1996, the scheduled day of the first preview performance of "Rent" Off-Broadway. He was 35. 

In the early 1990s, Larson frequented the Life Cafe (which closed in 2011) on the NW corner of Avenue B and 10th Street. There, he worked on treatments for what would become "Rent," which is also set in this neighborhood.

Requiem for a Blue Man Group

Photos by Derek Berg 

Paying tribute today on Fourth Street ... sending off the Blue Man Group after its final NYC performances yesterday at the Astor Place Theatre. This concluded a 34-year run with 17,800 shows and 82,150 gallons of paint.

And a snippet of the parade...

And that’s a wrap for @bluemangroup #whatisnewyork pic.twitter.com/jU12Z5ha0N

— WhatIsNewYork (@whatisny) February 3, 2025

Productions of Blue Man Group will continue in Berlin, Boston, Las Vegas and Orlando.

[Updated] Neighbor steps up to care for dog injured in 2nd Avenue fire that claimed owner’s life

Updated 2/10: Bella has passed away from the injuries sustained in the fire. Details here.

-----

Yesterday, a 75-year-old resident of 65 Second Ave. died from a fire that broke out in his apartment. 

A neighbor across the street saw the FDNY bring out the tenant's dog, Bella. (Updated 2/6: Officials identified the resident as 75-year-old Robert Bartolomey.)

The neighbor, Dean, took in Bella and brought her to the Emergency Veterinary Hospital...

There's now a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for Bella's recovery. Per the GoFundMe appeal: 

While Bella's long-term prognosis is good, after numerous exams and tests, her immediate needs include receiving oxygen, IV hydration, and an overnight stay in the oxygen tank. While the long-term plan for Bella is still being figured out, and no next of kin found yet for the victim, 

Dean, without hesitation, signed off on anything Bella needed at the hospital and has taken on the expense personally. 

You can find the link here.

Now Now NoHo set to debut its micro hotel rooms in April on the Bowery

Top EVG photo from Saturday

Room photos via Dovetail + Co

Now Now NoHo, a micro boutique hotel for solo travelers, is set to open this spring at 340 Bowery. 

According to the Now Now website, rooms will be available starting on April 1. (No April Fool's!) 

Details via Hospitality Net: 

Envisioned as a transformative boutique experience for solo travelers, Now Now NoHo offers 180 small but thoughtfully designed sleeper cabins that combine the nostalgia of European train cars with the ingenuity of Japanese capsule hotels. The hotel is designed for adventurers seeking a unique and affordable way to explore New York City ...

The "Cozy Sleeper Cabin" basic room starts at $118.15 per night. The description: 

27.7ft² • Room Safe • Luxury linen type • Bathrobes Provided • 24hr Security • Wireless Internet • Air conditioned A cozy, sumptuous sleeper cabin with space to recharge on a plush WRIGHT single mattress outfitted with luxurious Garnier-Thiebaut linens. Your shared, but private, bathroom is only steps away, stocked with Grown Alchemist products. All rooms include a curated sleep kit and a luxe Brooklinen bathrobe.

The Sleeper Cabins are also available for women, and there are options for ADA-complaint rooms.

Guests can also choose the Now Now or Never Cabin, which is two times larger and costs $135 a night. This room includes "an up-close and personal look at our rotating in-room gallery walls."

This is the seventh hotel created by Dovetail + Co, "a boutique collective of design-obsessed hotel nerds." They also have properties in Hawaii and Newport, R.I. New York-based Islyn Studio is behind the Now Now NoHo design, "inspired by the vivid world of dreams, with interiors that blur the line between reality and possibility," as Hospitality Net reported. 

The Whitehouse, a four-story building that has been a single-room hotel since 1899, has a long history. A handful of long-term residents remained, and their presence had reportedly hindered any previous new building plans over the years. 

In late 2018, Alex Vadukul profiled the artist Sir Shadow, who was one of the six remaining residents of the Whitehouse, in a feature at The New York Times. As Vadukul noted: "A few residents have died, and buyouts have lured away others. The men who remain in the flophouse have refused these deals. The Whitehouse Hotel's future appears to now hinge on a grim but simple waiting game." (Sources tell us that Sir Shadow no longer lives at this address.) 

Before the renovations, the residents were moved to space at 338 Bowery. (We covered this here.) 

The building was spruced up in 2011 to appeal to backpackers. (For $45, guests could stay in a tiny room with walls that didn't reach the ceiling while the long-term residents remained on another floor.) 

However, the Whitehouse stopped accepting reservations in September 2014. According to DOB records, plans were previously filed via Sam Chang in 2014 to "convert a 4-story lodging house into a 9-story hotel." The Renatus Group now owns the property in the NoHo Historic District. 

At its height in 1950, the Whitehouse had 234 "cubicles" for its occupants. You can tour the space here.