A supermoon warmup

From last evening... retired Second Avenue Star Watchers Founder Felton Davis had the telescope out on Second Avenue and Third Street...

... to take advantage of the nearly full Moon in the constellation of Pisces ... and seemingly close to Saturn...

And tonight, the first supermoon of 2025 will be high in the sky, so to speak.

Sixth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D to be co-named Jimmy Carter Way

This afternoon, city officials, Habitat for Humanity, and community members will gather to unveil "Jimmy Carter Way" on Sixth Street, between Avenue C and Avenue D, honoring the 39th president's legacy of service and his hands-on role in rebuilding neighborhoods. 

In 1984, the former President and First Lady Rosalynn Carter conducted their first week-long Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity at the six-story, 19-unit Mascot Flats apartment building, then a burned-out shell located at 742 E. Sixth St. 

Three years later, 19 families moved into their new homes. Carter returned to visit the building in 2013.

The street co-naming ceremony will take place today at 2 p.m. at the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Avenue D. Residents will share memories of working alongside the Carters and discuss the ongoing importance of affordable housing. 

Carter, who died on Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100, and his wife led the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity for more than 30 years, inspiring 100,000-plus volunteers to build, renovate, or repair 4,447 homes in 14 countries. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• When former President Jimmy Carter helped rebuild an East Village tenement building

Workers clear out Chris French Cleaners as demolition looms for corner of 4th Avenue and 9th Street

Photos by William Klayer 

Workers were spotted yesterday hauling out the dry-cleaning equipment from the now-closed Chris French Cleaners on the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and Ninth Street.

In case you missed the news: A 10-story condoplex with 10 residential units is in the works for the site, per public records. The pending new-building permit was added to the DOB's system on Sept. 24. 

The dry cleaner closed for good on Sept. 19, ending a 65-year run in the neighborhood. 

In the spring of 2022, we noted that this corner property — a single-level structure — was being pitched as a development site shortly after the family patriarch, Chris Mitrofanis, passed away. Public records show the family also owned the building. 

According to Crain's, Ilyas Abayev, founder of the real-estate firm Moonshot Development, is behind the new project. BKSK Architects LLP, whose local credits include The Jefferson on 13th Street between Second and Third avenues, is listed as the architect of record. 

There's already a demolition permit on file with the DOB for 101 E. Ninth St.

You’ll hardly recognize the former Crocodile Lounge on 14th Street

Here is a current (as of the other evening) view of 325 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Workers had been renovating the building from late last year and into 2025. If you recall the old Crocodile Lounge, you may need to double-check the address, as the space now features a glassy double entryway that feels more SoHo than East 14th Street. 

The retail space, which is for lease ("retail, food, fitness, and other service concepts"), has been home to restaurants for many years, including Il Faro and, in the 1990s, Manila Garden. Crocodile Lounge never reopened after the COVID shutdown in March 2020. 

As previously reported, in a transaction posted last October, an LLC affiliated with The Sabet Group purchased the four-story building for $3.3 million, down from its initial asking price of $5.5 million. 

For generations, a family has owned the building known as The James McCreery House. Read its history here.

Kobano has not been open lately on the Bowery

We've heard from a few readers about the status of Kobano, a Japanese-Brazilian restaurant at 299 Bowery between First Street and Houston. 

The space has been dark lately, giving it that abandoned feel...

Google now lists the restaurant as "temporarily closed," although there is no mention of this on Kobano's website or Instagram. 

Kobano opened in February after the owners decided to switch up concepts from Íxta, which served southern Mexican and Oaxacan dishes for two years. 

Previously, in this rather large space, Daniel Boulud closed DBGB in August 2017 after an eight-year run.

Sunday's parting shots

Photos by Steven 

As seen in Tompkins Square Park today... and a little later...

Oct. 5

A discard today on Avenue B between Seventh Street and Eighth Street — an artificial Christmas tree complete with lights.

However impressive a fall discard may appear, this specimen is, regrettably, synthetic and therefore not eligible for prizes, trophies or the global renown accorded to authentic holiday tosses before Dec. 25.

Thanks to Maegan Hayward for the tree tip!

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo yesterday from Tompkins Square Park)

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• Corner Bistro debuts on Avenue A (Monday, Sept. 29) 

• The East Village photographer behind a new David Bowie book (Tuesday, Sept. 30) 

• Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade returns for its 35th year on Oct. 19 (Friday, Oct. 3) 

• Surprise! 10-story condo planned at the former home of Chris French Cleaners (Monday, Sept. 29) 

• Pierogi Day returns to East Village Meat Market on Oct. 11 (Friday, Oct. 3) 

• City Fun expands into new 2-story space on 1st Avenue (Friday, Oct. 3) 

• Worker-stewards push back after Bluestockings’ abrupt closure (Thursday, Oct. 2) 

• The return of Hitchcocktober at the Village East by Angelika (Sunday, Sept. 28)

• Diorama season! Miniature magic returns to the corner of 9th Street and Avenue C (Saturday, Oct. 4) 

• Catching up with Bella McFadden of iGirl (Wednesday, Oct. 1) 

• The Starbucks on 1st Avenue and 13th Street has closed (Monday, Sept. 29) 

• Vendors say goodbye to The Bowery Market (Wednesday, Oct. 1) 

• Happy trails, Mayor Adams (Sunday, Sept. 28) 

• Closings: Chakra on 5th Street (Wednesday, Oct. 1) … Hubani on 1st Avenue (Monday, Sept. 29) 

• Openings: Seald Cafe on 9th Street (Wednesday, Oct. 1) 

• 6 posts from September (Tuesday, Sept. 30) 

Save these election 2025 dates

Find more details at NYC Votes.

Saturday's parting shot

We did NOT know that it was International Observe the Moon Night. So! As we see from Avenue A and Fifth Street, we have a Waxing Gibbous phase with 91% of its surface illuminated, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation. 

Good night, fellow nerds!

Diorama season! Miniature magic returns to the corner of 9th Street and Avenue C

Autumn brings a new crop of peephole dioramas to the northeast corner of Avenue C and Sixth Street, courtesy of East Village artist J. Kathleen White. 

In case you haven't seen this year's edition (the 20th!) outside the Ninth Street Community Garden & Park ... the 2025 theme is "The Thing Is..." 

And in order below... 

Assembled

Independent Contractors

Fortune

To Save the Day

Check them out in person if you can.

White started creating and sharing the dioramas in 2005. Revisit the early editions at this link.

Saturday's opening shot

As seen on Seventh Street between Avenue C and Avenue D... yes, yes — this used to be such a nice, safe neighborhood!

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Cecil Scheib 

An early evening moon shot near the Con Ed facility on 14th and C...

'Begin' the begin

 

The LA-based Goon recently released Dream 3, another record full of dreamy psych-rock. 

The video here is for "Begin Here." 

Pretty last minute, but Goon is headlining a show tonight at Trans Pecos in Ridgewood.

Harvest Fest returns to 6&B Garden for its 42nd year

The 6&B Garden will host its 42nd annual Harvest Fest this Saturday, Oct. 4, from 2-7 p.m. 

The afternoon will feature free food and live music for the community, along with an extensive raffle supported by local businesses. Raffle tickets are $1 each and will be on sale starting at 12:30 p.m. outside the garden, with proceeds going toward the upkeep of the space. 

A complete list of prize donors is available at 6bgarden.org.

The garden is located on the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Avenue B.

Pierogi Day returns to East Village Meat Market on Oct. 11

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Pierogi Day returns to the East Village Meat Market.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., pierogies will be 25% off — roughly $1 each. 

Expect steam tables filled with housemade pierogies from Rosa-Ly, Veselka, and East Village Meat Market, along with more than 10 types of blintzes, smoked meats, kielbasa, grilled sausages, and J. Baczynsky's brisket. 

I stopped by the other day while Roman Ilnicki and his father, Andrew Ilnicki, were preparing to hang the Pierogi Day signage. The rest of the staff on duty also gathered for a quick group shot.

East Village Meat Market is at 139 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

City Fun expands into new 2-story space on 1st Avenue

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

City Fun is moving — and growing. 

The indie retailer opens today at noon in a larger space, one storefront to the south in the same building at 45 First Ave., between Second Street and Third Street. 

The new location features two levels: merch on the ground floor and a basement space set aside for events, community collabs and possibly even band performances down the line. 

All your favorites from the original store will be back — officially licensed band tees, patches, socks, and more. However, the lineup is expanding to include accessories, backpacks, a western-inspired fashion line, and eventually self-published books and poetry from local artists. 

We dropped by for a peek while the team was stocking the shelves...

... and talked with store manager Lilly Axe...

And we took a last look at the old shop next door...

Between customers, City Fun clerks Mack McCracken (left) and Aiyana Radcliff were catching up on some reading...

You can keep tabs on store hours and upcoming events via the City Fun Instagram account here.

Thursday's parting shot

Above Avenue A (and elsewhere!) this evening... cue up Ride.

At the Francis Kite Club, an evening of music hosted by Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio

The Francis Kite Club is hosting a special show tomorrow (Friday!) night, featuring a lineup that includes some of Kyp Malone of TV On The Radio's favorite musicians and performers.

The evening will include Garrett Devoe, Erin Durant, Headfooter, Smoota, Jehova's Princess, Anna McCarthy, Miss Philip, Grey Gersten, Local Bliss and Samuel A. Malone. This curated bill spans a broad genre gamut, from delicate piano folk to gothic, gender-bending performance.

It's also a great chance to visit the Francis Kite Club and experience the diverse programming the venue provides. 

They recently launched The Membership, "a program that supports our operations and allows us to continue to provide accessible space for our artists and customers. With your contribution and participation, we can continue to socialize this space in the years to come." 

There's no cover charge for tomorrow night's show, which starts at 8. 

The Francis Kite Club is at 40 Avenue C between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

H/T Daniel Efram

Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade returns for its 35th year on Oct. 19

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is back this fall, marking its 35th year on Sunday, Oct. 19, from 1–4 p.m.

This year's event will feature a parade along Avenue B and a limited-entry costume competition. Advance registration is required to participate in both, and it opens on Oct. 6 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Four dogs from Pup Starz, Social Tees and the ASPCA will serve as Parade Grand Marshals, spotlighting the importance of adoption. The day will also include a festival block for participants on Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C, where sponsor Stella & Chewy's will be handing out treats for four-legged guests. 

The parade is organized by New York Dog Parade, a nonprofit founded by author and canine columnist Fern Watt ("below, and with the dog parade team). 

Organizers say they've been working with local groups and city agencies on safety measures and crowd-control strategies, with expanded programming planned for both dogs and humans.

The event is free to attend. Volunteers are also needed; those interested can email volunteer@nydogparade.org. 

For updates, visit nydogparade.org or follow @nydogparade on Instagram.