Photo by Derek Berg
Sean Ono Lennon was at the Strand (12th and Broadway) this evening for the launch of his new kids' book, "War is Over!"
Friday, November 7, 2025
Another unlicensed smoke shop shuttered after multiagency raid on Avenue B
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
An unlicensed smoke shop at 166 Avenue B, between 10th Street and 11th Street, didn't last long before landing on law enforcement's radar.
This afternoon, a joint operation between the NYC Sheriff's Department and the NYPD — part of the Sheriff's Joint Compliance Task Force — raided the recently opened storefront, seizing edibles, prerolls, flower, carts, flavored vapes, cigarettes and "other tobacco products." Cash was also recovered.
The space had sat empty since June 2024, when the previous tenant — also a smoke shop — was shuttered by law enforcement.
What stood out at this raid: the volume. Officers hauled out at least 13 large trash bags of labeled items, far more than what we usually see at these busts.
The shop also drew the ire of neighbors for its very bright signage. Two business owners on the block told EVG they had complained about the storefront.
Meanwhile, the shop is now closed...
Blade runners
We've been enjoying Die Spitz's debut album Something to Consume, now out on Third Man Records.
The video here is for "Throw Yourself to the Sword."
The Austin, Texas-based quartet plays Bowery Ballroom on Nov. 18.
2 films to see with East Village connections — 'Bunny' and 'Peter Hujar's Day'
You can check out screenings starting today at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street. Crew members will conduct a Q&A session after the 7 p.m. screenings.
The film received some positive notices following its SXSW premiere. Per The Hollywood Reporter:
"Bunny" successfully channels a downtown vibe that seems to be on the verge of extinction — one where neighbors of all types, shapes and sizes live on top of one another in cluttered apartments, forging a camaraderie that could only exist in that part of New York.
Meanwhile! "Peter Hujar's Day," which we mentioned several times previously, opens today at the Film Forum.
Friday's opening shot
On this Friday, expect some sun before the clouds arrive. High of 60.
AccuWeather says tomorrow will be the "best day of the weekend" with a drizzle-rain combo expected Sunday, making that the best time slot not to tell anyone you're going to see "Predator: Badlands."
Thursday, November 6, 2025
'Loose Change' opens Friday at C-Squat
The show focuses on the work that exists outside the city's traditional art spaces — the pieces made in tunnels and squats, on downtown walls and in the margins. It's a tribute to the flyers made for punk shows, the late-night graffiti writers, the zinesters, and the artists who create without expecting substantial profit.
The opening for "Loose Change" is tomorrow (Friday) at C-Squat. The event starts at 8 p.m. Enter through the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) at 155 Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
MoRUS hours are Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
[Updated] Another collision on Avenue A: Car slams into 2A
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Four people were injured early this morning when a car slammed into 2A on the southwest corner of Second Street and Avenue A just after midnight.
According to police sources, the male driver fled the scene but was arrested after a brief foot chase. The NYPD said the driver was not intoxicated.
A search of the plate via the How's My Driving NY site shows 50 violations on record for the car, including 18 for speeding and five for red-light infractions.
The vehicle struck the front of the building, causing visible damage to the exterior.
[Updated] An EVG reader shared this photo from the collision. The car slammed into a parked vehicle on Second Street, pushing it up onto the sidewalk and striking two people. Witnesses said the initial impact with the parked car may have prevented an even worse outcome.
An employee told EVG that no one inside the building was hurt, and there was no interior damage.
The conditions of the injured people outside were not immediately known.
This was the second collision along Avenue A in the past week. On Oct. 30, an SUV collided with a cab at Avenue A and Fourth Street before jumping the curb and traveling down the sidewalk. The driver was injured, but no pedestrians were struck in that earlier incident.
Updated:
2A is back open tonight...
Election Day 2025
Zohran Mamdani photo from Oct. 24 at the Parkside Lounge by Stacie Joy
As you likely know, Zohran Mamdani will be NYC's 111th mayor. He also becomes the first Muslim and person of South Asian descent — as well as the youngest in over a century — to hold the position, per NPR and other published reports.
With nearly 90% of the expected vote counted, the Associated Press reports that Mamdani has 50.4% of the vote ... while former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has 41.6% and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has 7.1%.
Mamdani had the highest margin of victories in these Manhattan neighborhoods: Morningside Heights (+49), Hamilton Heights (+47), Harlem (+45) and the East Village (+42).
An extraordinary number of voters turned out for both Mamdani and Cuomo. All told, more than two million New Yorkers cast their ballots, close to double the turnout of recent races and the most since 1969. Mamdani was propelled to victory by the votes of more than one million New Yorkers — more than any winning candidate in at least the past 20 years.
In the race for City Council District 2, Harvey Epstein won by a wide margin, garnering more than 78% of the vote, followed by Republican Jason Murillo and independents Allie Ryan and Gail Schargel.
In District 1, Christopher Marte was re-elected with 72% of the vote over Republican Helen Qui.
The other major races played out as expected:
• Comptroller — Mark Levine
• District Attorney – Alvin Bragg
• Manhattan Borough President — Brad Hoylman-Sigal
More results from NY1 here.
Planned Parenthood closes its Manhattan Health Center on Bleecker Street
EVG photo from March
According to a release from Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY), the site saw its last patients this past Friday, with sexual and reproductive health services now being redirected to PPGNY centers in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, as well as through its Virtual Health Center.
Per the release:
Like many health care providers, PPGNY is fighting against the Trump administration's anti-reproductive health policies, which worsen ongoing systemic challenges within our health care system. In September, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the Trump administration to "defund" Planned Parenthood by blocking more than 1.1 million patients from using their Medicaid insurance at Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide.While Governor Hochul announced that New York State will cover the federal portion of Medicaid reimbursement for Planned Parenthood, the federal government continues to threaten to reduce funding for sexual and reproductive health services.
PPGNY previously announced that it is selling the property as part of a broader effort to strengthen long-term access to care for underserved communities across New York State. The official closure remains pending approval from the New York State Department of Health.
In a statement from March, Wendy Stark, PPGNY's president and CEO, said the organization made the difficult but necessary decision to market the Bleecker Street building due to rising costs and the facility's aging infrastructure.
"This is an emotional decision for us," Stark said. "26 Bleecker Street has always been a special place — from serving all who turn to us, to training providers who positively impact the sexual and reproductive health care landscape in Manhattan and beyond. Its legacy is cemented in history. Now, it's time for us to look ahead and continue investing in access to care and services for underserved communities."
PPGNY said funds from the sale will help sustain services for patients who need them most, and the organization hopes to build a new state-of-the-art health center in Manhattan in the future.
Washington Square News was the first outlet to report on the pending closure here.
Cauz for Pawz has opened in its new home on Avenue B
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
Good news for local thrifters and animal lovers: Cauz for Pawz has moved to a new storefront, and now calls the East Village home at 199 Avenue B between 12th and 13th Streets.
We stopped by on opening day this past Saturday, and the store was buzzing.
Shoppers browsed the $5 racks and flipped through the curated section of clothing while chatting with manager Cathryn Duhigg (below, right), who has a background in fashion and was busy helping customers style looks. Assistant manager Rebecca Carroll (below, left) kept things flowing at the counter, ringing up purchases and swapping stories between transactions.
The move from their previous First Avenue space across from Stuy Town marks a new chapter for the nonprofit thrift store. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, Cauz for Pawz continues its mission as a 501(c)(3) organization supporting animals and their companions.
Proceeds benefit the group's five-borough feeding program, which provides food — including specialty options like kidney- or urinary-care formulas — for pets whose owners are struggling financially.
"People will oftentimes feed their pets before they feed themselves," Carroll said, noting how meaningful the support can be for participants.
Cauz for Pawz also assists volunteers who care for feral cat colonies through the city's TNR (trap, neuter, return) program.
The shop accepts community donations — clothes, shoes, handbags, jewelry and pet food — which help sustain both the boutique and its outreach work.
As Duhigg accepted two large bags of donated goods, she smiled and said, "We will grow this shop here, for the community."
Store hours:
Monday–Wednesday, noon–6 p.m.; Thursday–Saturday, noon–7 p.m.; Sunday, noon–5 p.m.
You can follow the shop on Instagram: @cauzforpawzthriftboutique.
After years of dormancy, activity stirs again at 89 1st Ave.
Photo Monday by Stacie Joy
The long-empty lot at 89 First Ave., between Fifth Street and Sixth Street, has once again been cleared of weeds and assorted crap — a familiar sight for longtime observers of this address.
The cleanup coincides with a new (as of last month) Department of Buildings filing for a residential project. According to at least one real estate site we found, the proposed development appears to be condos — eight in total.
The property has been a beehive of inactivity in recent years. In late 2022, the DOB granted partial approval for permits to construct a six-story building with eight residential units and ground-floor retail space, totaling approximately 8,183 square feet. Those permits had been pending since May 2020.
A similar six-story, eight-unit plan surfaced in 2017 but was never approved by the city.
As of now, there’s still no visible timeline for when construction might finally begin.
For more background, read the EVG post below...
Previously on EV Grieve:
• It took a court order to clean out the long-neglected 89 First Ave. lot (September 2021)
Ramen by Ra returning with a reservation-only space on 1st Street
According to a recent feature by Resy, Ramen by Ra, from chef-owner Rasheeda Purdie, will open here on Nov. 15.
The new location will feature Purdie's asa-style ramen and reservation-only seatings, which are limited to a 45-minute seating time. (She is starting to accept reservations now.)
Per Resy, the shop will also offer a breakfast option (broth or bao buns) from a to-go window.
Purdie previously operated from a five-seat space from December 2023 to March 2025 in the now-shuttered Bowery Market.
No. 70 was mostly recently the short-lived Pizza Pazzo.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Pecking order on St. Mark's Place
Photo by Karen Hatch
Text by Donald Davis
A hairy woodpecker perched above the suet cake in the tree at 97 Saint Mark's between Avenue A and First Avenue. About 10 feet off the ground. Seems focused on the tree — maybe more interested in finding insects rather than the suet which the songbirds like.
Reminders: It's Election Day
There are major races on the ballot:
- Comptroller
- Manhattan Borough President
- Manhattan District Attorney
- Mayor
- Public Advocate
Additionally, local residents will vote for the City Council District 2 seat vacated by the term-limited Carlina Rivera.
On the ballot:
• Democrat: Harvey Epstein
• Republican: Jason C Murillo
• Independent: Allie Ryan
• Independent: Gail Schargel
Given that Rivera left Council early, the winner of this race will take office immediately after the official certification.
There are also ballot proposals, which you can find here.
Find all the info you need at NYC Votes.
Access the video for Arcadia's 1985 hit "Election Day" from the underrated So Red the Rose album here.
And leading up to today, there was a solid turnout in early voting... well done...
Monday, November 3, 2025
A bold Merlot theft on Halloween night with notes of mischief
Turns out there is more to the story.
The two residents who wore the wine-bottle costumes told EVG's Stacie Joy that they were at a bar on First Avenue and Third Street. They removed the costumes and left them outside. (It is so difficult to sit in a full-body cardboard wine costume.)
From outside, unknown thieves took off with the cardboard creations.
The owners really didn't mind, as they were done for the night. However, they did find it amusing to see that the Merlot made it to that block of 10th Street before being discarded.
To date, there has been no sign of the Rosé costume.
Top pic by Dianne Lake; Halloween night photo by Stacie Joy
Guilty plea announced in 2023 assault spree that included attack outside Ray’s Candy Store
Photo last week by Stacie Joy
"Gerald Barth now stands convicted of felony charges for his role in the violent and brutal attacks of three victims in separate incidents across the East Village," Bragg said in a statement to EVG. "The conduct displayed by Barth and Luis Peroza — who is currently serving a 10-year sentence — is completely unacceptable and resulted in significant injuries for each victim involved. Every Manhattanite deserves to be safe, and I thank our prosecutors for ensuring accountability in this case."
Barth's plea follows the sentencing of co-defendant Luis Peroza, who in 2024 received a 10-year prison term for his part in the same series of assaults.
As EVG previously reported, Alvarez and his employee Gabe Thorne were attacked outside Ray's Candy Store around 3 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2023, when they stepped outside for some air.
Prosecutors said Peroza struck Alvarez with a belt weighted by a rock, leaving him with a black eye and a gash on his temple, while Thorne was hit across the chest. The assault reportedly followed an argument after the pair declined to buy seltzer water from the suspects.
A little later, Peroza and Barth attacked two other victims in separate incidents — one outside a deli on Avenue C, and another on Avenue B — each sustaining serious facial injuries.
Barth's guilty plea brings closure to a case that rattled the neighborhood and drew widespread support for Alvarez, whose Avenue A shop has been a neighborhood fixture for more than 50 years.
Previously on EV Grieve:
ABC No Rio's new building reaches the top on the Lower East Side
With the construction netting and scaffolding, it's hard to tell from the street, but work has been progressing inside. A few residents had the chance to see the progress firsthand during Open House New York Weekend on Oct. 18 — all three tour sessions filled up quickly.
The eco-friendly new structure, designed by architect Paul Castrucci, will feature a computer lab, print shop, and a zine library, among other amenities. The building will also include expanded spaces for art, music, performance, educational, and community programs — along with meeting and office areas for ABC No Rio and other organizations.
The city is contributing $21 million to the project through the Department of Cultural Affairs.
ABC No Rio's previous four-story building on the lot, which was reportedly in disrepair, was demolished in the spring of 2017, forcing the organization to move its programming to other arts organizations around the city.
According to the ABC No Rio website, they hope to complete our new home in July 2026 and begin programming at 156 Rivington again in the fall.
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