Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo by Stacie Joy of ATM hijinks on 2nd Avenue)... 

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 • East Village tenants call for nonprofit ownership amid years of housing instability (Monday, June 9)

• RIP Billy Jones (Tuesday, June 10) 

• About the East Village Music Festival, taking place on June 22 at La Plaza Cultural (Wednesday, June 11) 

• A belated farewell to a familiar fixture of St. Mark’s Place (Monday, June 9) 

 • Early voting is underway (Saturday, June 14) • A band to know: Um, Jennifer? (Friday, June 13) 

• Titi’s Empanadas opens today (Friday the 13th!) on 7th Street (Friday, June 13) 

• The Merchant's House Museum remains open during exterior restoration work (Tuesday, June 11)

• East Village artist reimagines where and how we see art, starting with exhibit at corner market (Friday, June 13) 

• 'Placeholders' highlights businesses located in HDFC storefronts (Thursday, June 12)

• Keys to the city: The Sing for Hope piano has arrived in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday, June 10) 

• The 4th annual LUNGS Theater Festival takes place this weekend (Thursday, June 12) 

• Changes brewing at Associated on Avenue C and 8th Street (Thursday, June 12) 

• Sip + Co. closing on 9th Street (Wednesday, June 11) 

• What happened to the blue mail collection box outside the Tompkins Square Post Office? (Friday, June 13) 

• On the clock: Lower East Side Lidl Watch (Thursday, June 12)

• 'Daredevil' season 2 at Panna II (Saturday, June 14) 

• Duane Reade is not sleeping on this Rite Aid closing-soon situation (Wednesday, June 11) 

• Signage alert: Crêpes le Bon on Avenue A (Tuesday, June 11) 

• New chapter in healing: Spear PT to open in former dispensary space on 14th Street (Monday, June 9) 

• From around the blogosphere: The history of 106 Avenue C (Wednesday, June 11)

Art meets aisles at Village Gourmet Grocery

Photos by Stacie Joy 

On Friday night, local artist Maria De Victoria launched her series of gallery shows at unexpected spaces in the East Village, starting with the Village Gourmet Grocery on the SE corner of Second Avenue and Sixth Street.

The inaugural exhibit is "EN EL KIOSKO," a presentation of new paintings by Juan Jose Heredia (below with De Victoria).

On view through June 29, the work is displayed alongside the everyday corner market items sold at Village Gourmet Grocery.

Aside from gallery-goers, the usual Friday evening stopped by to pick up a few items. 

De Victoria shared more about her new vision for her Desnivel Gallery: 

I moved Desnivel from the basement of my home to the storefronts of the East Village — the neighborhood I’ve lived in for the past 15 years — to highlight the financial challenges of establishing and running an art space, and to make art more accessible to viewers who may not have the opportunity to engage with it otherwise. 

Desnivel aims to increase visibility and accessibility, allowing the artwork to be seen and experienced at various times of the day, in a way that is convenient for visitors and hopefully leaves a lasting impact.

The EVG newsletter returns for a 2nd week!

As we mentioned last week, a few EVG readers have inquired over the years about the availability of a subscription or newsletter to receive our stories directly in their inbox. 

We listened, and five-plus years later, we delivered.

For now, it's a weekly with all the links and headlines from the past week. (Basically, it's the same thing as the Week in Grieview feature, but emailed straight to you.) 

You can sign up for a free subscription here. 

Whether it's on the site or through a newsletter, thank you for reading EVG.

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Unable to attend today's No Kings day-of-action rally starting in Bryant Park, Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw of Split Britches held their own on the Bowery and Fourth Street today.

Early voting is underway

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Early voting for the Primary Election starts today (June 14!) and continues until Sunday, June 22. Primary Election Day is on Tuesday, June 24. 

Click here to see your poll site locator and sample ballot. Find info on all the candidates here. 

Today (June 14!) is also the final day you can register to vote in person, online or by mail.

'Daredevil' season 2 at Panna II

Photos by Stacie Joy

Over the past two days, crews for a large production called "Out of the Kitchen 2" (as indicated by posted notices) have been filming in the neighborhood. That is code for the Disney+ series "Daredevil: Born Again" from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Last evening, crews were filming inside Panna II on First Avenue at Sixth Street.

We'll likely see more filming for season 2 in the weeks ahead... in which Krysten Ritter reprises her role as Jessica Jones. (Flashback to the first "Daredevil" series filming at Sophie's...and when they blew off the front doors at Vazac's/Horseshoe Bar/7B.) 

The cast includes one-time EV resident Vincent D'Onofrio.

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Village View today...and especially enamored by the three-headed skull clutching a pumpkin but also a gold cup on the front of the riding lawn mower...

A band to know: Um, Jennifer?

Photos by Stacie Joy

The playful punk-tinged local duo Um, Jennifer? — Fig on the left, Eli on the right — is on tomorrow's free Show Brain bill in Tompkins Square Park. 

We've had a chance to see Um, Jennifer? a few times, including a record-release show at Night Club 101 on Avenue A this past April 25 (with PMFD)... and we really like them.

Stereogum named them a Band to Watch this spring. Indeed.

Check out their brand new video for "Car Wash" here...

 

What happened to the blue mail collection box outside the Tompkins Square Post Office?

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

If you've noticed the blue USPS mailbox missing from outside the Tompkins Square Post Office on Third Street between Avenues B and C, you're not alone. 

According to postal employees, the box was removed last week "due to vandalism." 

"This is a rough neighborhood," one employee said, explaining that people kept gluing the box shut. There were also instances of "fraudulent mail removal events," they noted. 

As for whether the mailbox will return: "I don't know, but I don’t think so," the employee added.

East Village artist reimagines where and how we see art, starting with exhibit at corner market

Local artist Maria De Victoria is beginning a series of gallery shows at unexpected spaces in the East Village, starting with the Village Gourmet Grocery on the SE corner of Second Avenue and Sixth Street tonight from 6-8.

She shares more about the project here: 

I moved Desnivel from the basement of my home to the storefronts of the East Village — the neighborhood I’ve lived in for the past 15 years — to highlight the financial challenges of establishing and running an art space, and to make art more accessible to viewers who may not have the opportunity to engage with it otherwise. 

Desnivel aims to increase visibility and accessibility, allowing the artwork to be seen and experienced at various times of the day, in a way that is convenient for visitors and hopefully leaves a lasting impact. 

The inaugural exhibit is "EN EL KIOSKO," a presentation of new paintings by Juan Jose Heredia. It will be on display through June 29. Find more information here... and if you're on Instagram.

Titi’s Empanadas opens today (Friday the 13th!) on 7th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Titi's NYC Inspired Empanadas is expanding from Williamsburg to the East Village (first reported here), opening its new outpost today (yes, Friday the 13th) at 130 E. Seventh St., just west of Avenue A. 

"People asked me, are you really opening on Friday the 13th? Why? 'Hey, I gotta pay the rent,'" joked co-owner Jesus Villalobos (below right with co-owner Nate Ramm).

Villalobos and Ramm are bringing their popular lineup of Latin-inspired empanadas to the new outpost, which will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday until 4 a.m. There was a friends-and-family test run last night...

The new shop will feature a rotating "empanada of the week" — a limited-run of 100 special-edition empanadas with creative fillings, such as fish-cheek crab curry and a fried eggplant, broccoli rabe, and beef combo.

"We want to be part of the community," said Ramm. Villalobos added that they aim to "pay homage and represent the Latino flavors that are the New York we grew up in."

A walk-up window will offer grab-and-go coffee and snacks. Beer and wine are coming soon. 

And while patacones fans may be out of luck for now — they're only available at sister restaurant Cachapas Y Mas. Villalobos and Ramm offered to have a patacones empanada as a special of the week if I showed up to help. (Will keep EVG readers apprised if that comes to fruition!)

About tomorrow's Show Brain-sponsored concert in Tompkins Square Park

The second Show Brain-sponsored concert of the season takes place tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... featuring headliners Vial, an excellent indie punk trio from Minneapolis.

The lineup (times are tentative):

•  2-2:35 — Crush Fund 

• 2:50—3:25 — Um, Jennifer? 

• 3:40-4:15 — Desert Sharks 

• 4:30-5:05 — Shilpa Ray 

• 5:20-6:05 — Vial

This is a rain-or-shine event ...

The Sagittarius Moon

A dispatch from Felton Davis, the now-retired founder of the Second Avenue Star Watchers... 

Telescope gathering dust in the office, but the sidewalk astronomer still wakes up in the middle of the night to chase the waning moon across the sky.

The 4th annual LUNGS Theater Festival takes place this weekend

The fourth annual LUNGS (Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens) Theater Festival is this weekend — weather permitting — at the 6th Street and Avenue B Garden. 

The free performances start at noon on both Saturday and Sunday. (Note: The program is the same each day.) For a detailed preview, visit the LUNGS website here. 

Joseph Papp began the outdoor theater tradition on the Lower East Side in 1956 when he introduced "Shakespeare in the Park" in the (now-demolished but being rebuilt) East River Park Amphitheater.

In 2022, LUNGS continued this part of his legacy with the free Summer Theater Festival.

Changes brewing at Associated on Avenue C and 8th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Associated Supermarket at Avenue C and Eighth Street is undergoing a rebrand and refresh.

According to store employees, the neighborhood grocery is merging with Monza, a Brazilian brand. Renovations are underway, with plans to introduce a barista bar with pastries, a cheese station and a new sandwich bar.

Despite the changes, the store will remain part of the Associated marketplace and continue sourcing products from Associated suppliers, including Met Food and Compare.

The current staff has been retained and is now sporting Monza-branded shirts, aprons, and caps. Store employees say all the products locals rely on will still be available.

The owner reportedly operated several other Associated stores in the area (like 14th Street), but this is the last one remaining. 

H/T Dave on 7th!

'Placeholders' highlights businesses located in HDFC storefronts

In case you have been wondering about the window displays in the currently vacant storefronts at 165 and 167 Avenue C between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

Per the Cooper Square Committee:

Due to decades of grassroots organizing, the Lower East Side is home to many Housing Development Fund Corporation cooperatives (HDFCs), a unique type of affordable housing collectively owned and operated by residents. 

Offering a glimpse into this vibrant community, "Placeholders" showcases items from local businesses located in HDFCs in a site-specific installation created by local artist Delphine Le Goff. Items include a camera from Fourth Street Photo Gallery, the city's oldest Black-owned photography studio; a hand-painted mortar and pestle from Puerto Rican restaurant Casa Adela; and handmade Mexican folk art from La Sirena. 

Cooper Square Committee co-created "Placeholders" with Scott Kelly and Le Goff as part of "Design Sprints: Building Creative Capacity," an initiative of Van Alen Institute and the NYC Department of Small Business Services. 

The displays will be up through June. There's a closing reception on June 27. Visit the Cooper Square website here for details... plus contact info for local artists, nonprofits and entrepreneurs seeking commercial space in the neighborhood. 

And here are HDFC storefronts on the Lower East Side...

 

On the clock: Lower East Side Lidl Watch

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The Lidl outpost is looking closer to opening at 408 Grand St. (at Clinton) on the Lower East Side.

Larger COMING SOON signage is up for this "Super-est Market" with a big fan following...

News arrived last August that the German supermarket chain with 12,000 stores worldwide was opening a branch here. For now, the company hasn't announced an opening date — only that it will be in Summer 2025.

Lidl US signed the lease for the 23,000-square-foot space — previously a Rite Aid — on property owned by the affordable housing nonprofit Grand Street Guild. 

There are several Lidl outposts around NYC, including in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island ... with a location also slated for Chelsea. 

This article tells you what you can expect from a Lidl.

Wednesday's parting Instagram post

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Noted

From around the blogosphere: The history of 106 Avenue C

Through the years, we've received some queries about the bank-ish-looking building on the NE corner of Avenue C and Seventh Street. (We even lived for a time across the street and never quite figured out what was going on at 106 Avenue C.)

A few days ago, Daytonian in Manhattan posted about the landmarked building, which has served as a library, bank, nursing home, and private residences in its over 120-year history. Read the post here. (We did a post on it here in 2012.)

H/T Daniel Root!