Wednesday's parting shot

A fall-like view along Seventh Street during this morning's showers...

New interactive map helps tenants check for lead risks in their buildings

The Lead Dust Free NYC (LDFNYC) coalition and the Cooper Square Committee, along with BetaNYC, have launched a new digital lead map that helps tenants quickly check if their homes may be at risk for lead exposure. 

By entering an address, tenants can quickly determine if their building is likely to have lead paint based on its age — information that was previously difficult for most renters to access. Before this tool, tenants had to look up their building's construction year and cross-reference data about lead use to gauge their potential risk. 

Despite stricter regulations since the passage of Local Law 1 of 2004, lead exposure remains a serious public health problem. In 2023, 5,078 children under age six in New York City were still found to be lead-poisoned, according to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Many others, including adults, are exposed through chipping paint or unsafe construction work that releases clouds of lead dust. 

According to LDFNYC's 2024 report on construction dust in residential buildings, adults also face health effects from lead exposure, but have limited legal protections. Federal regulations are in place but are rarely enforced in New York City, and penalties for violations are often not collected. 

Find the map and other resources at this link.

Tenants who discover that their building likely has lead paint can contact the Cooper Square Committee or a local tenants' rights group for guidance at LDFNYC@coopersquare.org. 

Meet Rhaenys, the new kitty at MJay Convenience

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

There's a new feline greeting customers at MJay Convenience at 44 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

This past week, management adopted a kitten named Rhaenys, after a character from the HBO series "House of the Dragon." 

"She's a firecracker," store manager Noel Silen (below) told us. "She's 4 months old, and is chipped, fixed, and has all her vaccines."

Rhaenyra the Dragon Kitty, also named after a character from "House of the Dragon," was stolen from the store on Sept. 6. Missing posters for the 4-month-old kitten are still up around the neighborhood, and Silen hasn't given up hope. 

"She may not return, but I hope she does," he said. "I miss her. I miss the company. I'm still searching for her, but if she does come home, she'll have a sister here at the store."

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Rhaenyra the Dragon Kitty stolen from Avenue A shop

Harvey Epstein seeks feedback on the future of the large dog run in Tompkins Square Park

Assembly Member Harvey Epstein has allocated capital funding to the Parks Department to improve the large dog run at Tompkins Square Park. 

Dog run users are invited to share feedback as plans take shape by filling out a brief survey by Friday to weigh in. 

One key question: What surface would you prefer for the large dog run?

Find the survey here.

Signage alert: Jungle Bowls on 6th Street

Signage is up for Jungle Bowls at 206 E. Sixth St. near Cooper Square. 

This will be the second outpost for the health-focused cafe that serves various açaí bowls, juices and smoothies. The first location is in Bay Ridge. 

The previous business here was the vintage boutique Starlin.

Here's Jimmy Carter Way

Yesterday (first reported here), city officials, Habitat for Humanity representatives, and neighborhood residents gathered on Sixth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D to unveil a new street blade paying tribute to the 39th president — Jimmy Carter Way. 

The co-naming honors Carter's legacy of service and his active efforts to rebuild communities. In 1984, former President and First Lady Rosalynn Carter launched their first week-long Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity and a group of volunteers who arrived at 742 E. Sixth St. — the six-story Mascot Flats building that had been a burned-out shell — by bus from Georgia.

"That was when the world found out about Habitat for Humanity," Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford said in a statement. "The world had never seen a former President and First Lady swinging hammers alongside volunteers and future homeowners. Their example of servant leadership not only helped families achieve the dream of affordable homeownership, but it inspired thousands of volunteers around the world to do the same."

The co-naming ceremony included several longtime Mascot Flats residents, such as Don Kao, a Habitat homeowner and original shareholder who hosted the Carters in his apartment, which they worked on, during a 30-year retrospective reception. 

"President Carter was a role model to me — someone who did the work that needed to be done because it was necessary," Kao said. "He understood that injustices and inequities exist, and that we must act. He believed housing is a human right, that food insecurity has no place in a country like ours, and that the basic needs we consider human rights should be guaranteed for all."

Here's a look at the street blade on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue D...

Bottom three photos by Anthony Collins

Fundraiser launched for man seriously injured in 9th Street fall

On the morning of Sept. 26, we received multiple reports from readers about a man who fell from a fire escape outside a building on the north side of Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

A person familiar with the situation said that the man had been visiting his daughter, who lives in the building. The father remains in the hospital with serious injuries and is expected to be in recovery and rehab for an extended period.

We just learned that there is a fundraiser for him. From GoFundMe: 

My dad, Jim, was involved in a horrible freak accident on the morning of September 26, 2025. He fell a high three-stories off of a fire escape while on a trip visiting my sister in NYC. He is currently in the ICU in critical condition with extensive injuries ... None of his family, except for my sister, lives in New York, so not only are we going to have to worry about medical expenses, but also traveling expenses for his family to come help him during his difficult recovery. 

We appreciate any help and good energy towards my dad's healing. 

For more information, please visit the following link.

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)

Never miss an EVG post with the weekly EVG newsletter. Free right here.

• 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...