Today's shot comes courtesy of East Village-based photographer Josh Charow, who took this down on Rivington Street...
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Thursday's parting shot
Today's shot comes courtesy of East Village-based photographer Josh Charow, who took this down on Rivington Street...
RIP Edd Conboy
A memorial is on the corner of 10th Street and Avenue A for Edd Conboy.
According to social media posts, Conboy, a licensed therapist and director of social services at Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia, died last Friday of a stroke. He would have been 70 on Tuesday.
The inscription on the mirror reads in part, "u are not alone, We all reflect your spirit." The mirror is on a block marked COVID-19.
Thanks to Melissa Mennillo for the photo.
A message from Nixon Figueroa and Ana Lanza, Nicholas Figueroa's parents
On March 26, 2015, Nicholas Figueroa was having a late lunch with a friend at Sushi Park, 121 Second Ave., when an explosion rocked the building. The blast killed Figueroa and Sushi Park employee Moises Locón, 27, injured more than 20 others, and leveled 119, 121 and 123 Second Ave.
He was a December 2014 graduate of SUNY Buffalo State with a degree in criminal justice. He was 23.
His parents, Nixon Figueroa and Ana Lanza, shared this message on the fifth anniversary of his death:
Now it has been five years since we lost our son.
We would like to thank everyone who has been so supportive, especially family and friends who help us to cope with our grief.
Our son was so full of life. All he wanted was to help people in all the ways he could, particularly by listening and being there for them. He would go out of his way to help a friend. It didn't matter what time it was. If you needed someone to talk to, he would be there.
His absence leaves an empty space because he was a motivator. He had a big heart for people and for life. He was smart and you could talk to him about anything. He was such a good listener. His soul is irreplaceable because he showed us there is more to life. He saw good in everyone and wanted to help.
If he were alive today, he would tell people to love life to the fullest. Enjoy every moment. Life is too short. He knew that, and that's why he was so full of life. He would tell us to take this time and be very grateful for your family and friends. And for all that you have.
Read more about Nicholas here.
Thank you to EVG reader Daniel.
Updated 8 p.m.
Late today, Mr. Figueroa visited Second Avenue and Seventh Street and placed flowers on the corner ...
Grant Shaffer's NY See
Here's the latest NY See panel, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood.
Today marks the 5th anniversary of the deadly 2nd Avenue gas explosion
[Google Streetview from 2013]
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the gas explosion that killed two men, injured more than 20 others, and leveled 119, 121 and 123 Second Ave.
The links below have more about what has transpired here in the past five years as well as details about the lives of the two men who died that day — Nicholas Figueroa, 23, and Moises Locón, 27.
In January, landlord Maria Hrynenko, contractor Dilber Kukic and unlicensed plumber Jerry Ioannidis were found guilty of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and related offenses for their role in the blast. They were each sentenced to four to 12 years in prison. Hrynenko is out on bail as she awaits an appeal of the case. The other two remain in prison.
Hrynenko, who took over ownership of the buildings after her husband Michael died in 2004, and her cohorts rigged an illegal system to funnel gas from 119 Second Ave. to 121 Second Ave. to cut corners, according to prosecutors.
In the spring of 2017, Shaky Cohen's Nexus Building Development Group paid $9.15 million for the empty lots at No. 119 and No. 121 that Hrynenko owned.
A Morris Adjmi-designed building, which will include 21 condo units as well as ground-floor retail, has quickly gone up on two of the three lots that were 119-123 Second Ave.
[Photo yesterday by Steven]
The property will include a commemorative plaque that honors Figueroa and Locón. In October 2017, city officials unveiled new street blades that co-name the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street after the two men.
Previously on EV Grieve:
• [Updating] Explosion on 2nd Avenue and East 7th Street
• How displaced residents are faring after the 2nd Avenue gas explosion
• Moving on — and feeling lucky — after the 2nd Avenue explosion
• Updated: 2nd Ave. explosion — landlord, 3 others charged with 2nd degree manslaughter; showed 'a blatant and callous disregard for human life'
• RIP Nicholas Figueroa
• RIP Moises Locón
• A family continues to feel the loss on 2nd Avenue
• Exclusive: 2nd Avenue explosion sites have a new owner
• LPC OKs condoplex for gas explosion site on 2nd Avenue and 7th Street
• Dedicating Moises Locón Way and Nicholas Figueroa Way on 2nd Avenue at 7th Street
• Report: Probation for plumber indicted in deadly 2nd Avenue gas explosion
• Michael Hrynenko, Jr., awaiting trial for his role in the 2nd Avenue gas explosion, dies at 31
• Trio responsible for the deadly 2nd Avenue gas explosion sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison
• Convicted gas explosion landlord Maria Hrynenko out on bail; contractor, plumber remain behind bars
And read our interviews with two longtime residents who lost their homes in the explosion — Mildred Guy and Diane McLean.
[Updated] Checking in at Il Posto Accanto
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
Updated: Bea and Julio decided to close after service last night for the duration of the outbreak.
When I arrive to pick up a to-go lunch order at Il Posto Accanto, 190 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, I am ready to ask owners Bea and Julio (officially Beatrice Tosti Di Valminuta Pena and Julio Pena, or President Petunia and Babycakes as they call one another) how they maintain such optimism in the face of this pandemic.
However, taking one look at their faces, I can see it’s not the right question. Bea tells me they thought they’d have been busier, that they are not receiving many orders at all. Julio tells me he plans to keep the restaurant open at least until Sunday, but he doesn’t know for how long after that.
They both plan to go day by day and hope if they have to shutter that it will be temporary. They worry about their staff, and their comfort level and fears — most have families to support, and admit that they haven’t been paying themselves, that all money is going to their workers. No one is sure how rent will be paid.
After The New Yorker released a story on the restaurant Tuesday, longtime customers have been calling to brainstorm ideas for keeping the place open.
One customer plans on ordering food for 20 of his friends and having everything delivered so they can host an online shelter-in-place virtual Il Posto supper, complete with wine. Another customer encourages delivery via DoorDash, and pushed the restaurant to open an account.
Julio talks about the difficulties he’s faced with delivery services and the fees they want to charge. Right now, the restaurant uses DoorDash and Try Caviar, but if you are local and want a delivery you can call them directly and, as Bea says, “a valiant gentleman will deliver your food to you on bike if you are on the East Side approximately 10 blocks north or south of the restaurant.”
Julio says if you want an order for pickup, you can phone it in and he’ll make sure you get it in whatever way is most comfortable for you. He can leave it outside the door for no-touch pick up, or have it just inside the door waiting. He can run your credit card if you prefer not to pay cash.
Bea’s been making homemade hand sanitizer from 190-proof Everclear and spraying it on everything (except the food), even packages arriving from UPS and FedEx. She also sprays my hands, carefully avoiding my camera lens, and offers some to the DoorDash courier who arrives to pick up the veal saltimbocca with prosciutto sage white wine sauce and crab coquettes with pea shoots and spicy aioli order.
She even absently sprays some on her phone as she chats with her childhood friend, still in Rome, trapped in her home since the quarantine started there. Listening to them talk it feels like a preview of what we can expect here.
“I’m very happy Americans have discovered cooking at home, even if this is what it takes,” Bea tells me as she packs up my sciue spaghetti with tomato sauce and basil to go.
You can keep up with the restaurant on Instagram for updates and daily specials, and view our 2018 story on the East Village mainstay here.
Development deal for former Church of the Nativity includes the La Salle space next door
As we reported on Tuesday, Gemini Rosemont, an L.A.-based real-estate investor, bought the former Church of the Nativity property on Second Avenue for $40 million.
According to public records, the deal includes two parcels — 42-44 Second Ave. and 46-48 Second Ave.
As several readers have pointed out, including Upper West Sider, the transaction is for the former church and part of the former La Salle property next door at 44 Second Ave. ...
For now, the corner building at Second Street, 38 Second Ave., is not part of the unspecified new development expected here.
La Salle, which dates to 1856 in this neighborhood, relocated to St. George Academy on Sixth Street in 2008.
The original La Salle Academy on Second Street was leased to a for-profit private school. The Second Avenue properties were apparently used as the school annex, providing additional classrooms and office space.
The Church of the Nativity closed after a service on July 31, 2015, merging with Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street.
As previously reported, the Cooper Square Community Land Trust had explored buying the former Church of the Nativity to use as low-income housing.
As for the future of 42-48 Second Ave., the Gemini Rosemont website notes that they look to rent to "tenants in high growth and tech centric industries."
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Checking in on what's open for takeout and delivery
Updated 4/5: Bobwhite is closing tonight after service.
Recent additions to our list of what's open for takeout and delivery include:
• Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, 94 Avenue C at Sixth Street, is open for takeout and delivery from noon to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. They have an app for ordering either pick-up or delivery.
And right next door...
• Alphabet City Beer Co., 96 Avenue C. They've expanded their grocery items, adding fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy products. Open from noon to 7 p.m.
Despite health crisis, critics persist
[Photo by Steven]
Spotted at the Grafton, 126 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. The Irish pub is temporarily closed during the coronavirus outbreak, as the sign explains in a smaller font size than some would like.
Checking in on Compare Foods
[All photos by Stacie Joy]
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by Compare Foods, 71 Avenue D at Sixth Street, yesterday.
Here's her report:
For those who have been in search of toilet paper, Compare Foods has you covered! A huge supply of all different types of tp. No price gouging either. Also available huge sacks of rice. Store is well stocked with merchandise.
On the downside, the social distancing here was less than ideal... and not on par with what we've seen at other supermarkets.
A message from Russ & Daughters, whose Houston Street shop remains open
[Photo yesterday by Derek Berg]
Russ & Daughters posted this on Instagram yesterday:
Save Small Business & Small Business Workers. This past week, we had to lay off almost half of our staff and close our two restaurants. As terrible as this has been, we are consoled in knowing that Russ & Daughters will survive and we will bring our folks back as soon as we can.
We have 106 years of perseverance behind us. Russ & Daughters has weathered the 1918 influenza pandemic, wars, depressions, recessions, terrorist attacks and hurricanes. We are grateful that we can continue to make and ship our food out all over the country, providing the essential service of, literally and figuratively, nourishing our customers while everyone stays at home.
This crisis affects us all, but it does not affect us all equally. We must recognize this and help those who are truly struggling. For those of us who still have jobs, we don’t need a check. It’s the people suddenly left without a job who need a check — not a one-time thing, but an every-week thing. State unemployment funds, not large corporations, are what need the stimulus.
We call on our government to make unemployment programs more accessible, expansive and generous. Bolster payments so that they approximate people’s wages. The maximum unemployment benefit in New York State in $504/week. You cannot shelter in place if you cannot pay for that shelter or feed your family. As a small business, we have made unemployment contributions week after week, year after year. Now is the time for those contributions to be paid out and pay out well.
We call on our government to recognize small business for what we are: the lifeblood of our country’s economy. Small businesses generate almost half of all the economic activity in the U.S. We are #toosmalltofail because we are too important. Money that goes to a small business stays within the local community. The same cannot be said for large corporations or chains. Give us the ability to keep our communities going, because that’s all we want to do.
We urge you to call Congress too. — Niki Russ Federman & Josh Russ Tupper, 4th Generation Owners of Russ & Daughters
While Russ & Daughters Cafe, Russ & Daughters at the Jewish Museum and Russ & Daughters Brooklyn are closed, the original shop on Houston Street is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. They ask that you please call (212-475-4880 x1) 24 hours in advance for pickup, delivery or shipping. For people dropping by: "To prevent crowding, we’ll allow only a few customers in at a time. Once you take your number, please wait outside until just before your number is called."
They are also shipping nationwide.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
[Updated] Union Square Trader Joe's temporarily closed after employee is suspected of having COVID-19
[File photo]
Updated 3/27: This location, as well as the wine shop, reopened today.
The following information comes directly from the Trader Joe's website:
We would like to notify customers of the following locations that a Crew Member recently present in the store has either tested positive for COVID-19 or is receiving treatment for a suspected case. Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed the store for thorough cleaning and sanitization:
Trader Joe’s (Grocery Store) on 142 E 14th St & (Wine Store) on 138 E 14th St.
The Crew Member was last present in the store on March 22, 2020. We encourage customers who visited the store over the 14-day period ending on March 22, and have health-related concerns, to contact the New York State Department of Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotline: (888) 364-3065.
Stores in Elkridge, Md., and Plainview, N.Y., were also closed.
Back to the TJ's message:
We are working closely with local health officials to take all necessary measures. We are connecting with all Crew Members at the respective locations, encouraging anyone who may have been in contact to follow CDC-recommended self-monitoring guidelines and to call their healthcare providers right away if they develop any symptoms. While the store is closed, Trader Joe’s will be paying all Crew Members for their scheduled shifts. As soon as the store has been fully cleaned and restocked, we plan to reopen.
As we continue to respond to this rapidly evolving situation, our focus remains on doing whatever is necessary to safeguard the health and safety of our Crew Members and customers and best support our communities.
The store is expected to be closed for several days, according to an internal email seen by BuzzFeed News.
H/T Gojira
RIP Nashom Wooden
According to published reports, Nashom Wooden, a legend in the drag community who lived on the Bowery, has died. Friends say that Wooden died from COVID-19. (Update: According to the Times, he was 50.)
A NYC former drag star, Nashom Wooden (who was Mona Foot), has died of covid-19. Nashom was a treasure.
— michael musto (@mikeymusto) March 23, 2020
Here's more via Paper:
Wooden's life looks like a history lesson in fabulous downtown culture. He worked as a salesboy at Charivari, the groundbreaking designer fashion chain of stores where Marc Jacobs folded t-shirts as a teen. He later also worked at Pat Field, the eponymous boutique of "Sex & the City" stylist Patricia Field. He first performed in drag at Boy Bar, a gay bar and drag spot on St. Mark's Place famed for their gorgeous Boy Bar Beauties like Miss Guy, Connie Girl, Princess Diandra and Raven O. He did an off-Broadway show, "My Pet Homo," with RuPaul. He was cast in Joel Schumacher's 1999 film, "Flawless," and co-wrote the title song with his group, The Ones. It was a worldwide dance hit.
Since 1997, he had been working as bartender, doorman and DJ at the Cock on Second Avenue.
You can read about Wooden's drag past in this interview with Michael Musto from 2017.
L.A.-based investor pays $40 million for former Church of the Nativity property on 2nd Avenue
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York has sold the former Church of the Nativity property on Second Avenue for $40 million, according to public records. (H/T Upper West Sider!)
The buyer is Gemini Rosemont, an L.A.-based real-estate investor. The LLCs that purchased 42-46 Second Ave. between Second Street and Third Street are based out of the company’s Santa Fe office, as The Real Deal noted.
According to their website, they look to rent to "tenants in high growth and tech centric industries."
There were rumors dating to January about this deal. Now it's official.
The Church closed after a service on July 31, 2015, merging with Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street.
As previously reported, the Cooper Square Community Land Trust had explored buying the former Church of the Nativity to use as low-income housing.
However, the Archdiocese of New York reportedly didn't seem too keen on that idea, perhaps intent on garnering top dollar for the prime real estate for luxury housing.
[Photo at Nativity from Jan. 10 by Felton Davis]
In April 2019, Catholic Homes New York, the affordable housing unit of Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese of New York, announced plans to redevelop several existing properties to provide 2,000 affordable units in NYC over the next 10 years. Not on the affordable-housing list: Church of the Nativity and the Church of Saint Emeric on 13th Street near Avenue D.
This wouldn't be the first time that a former Catholic church was demolished for upscale housing in this neighborhood. Developer Douglas Steiner bought the former Mary Help of Christians property in 2012 from the Archdiocese of New York for $41 million.
During the summer of 2013, workers demolished the church, school and rectory to make way for Steiner East Village, the block-long condoplex where a penthouse unit is currently renting for $19,000 per month.
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Educator: Turning the former Church of the Nativity into luxury housing would be a 'sordid use' of the property
• The fight to keep Church of the Nativity from becoming luxury housing
• Report: Archdiocese of New York announces affordable-housing projects; fate of 2 East Village churches unknown
Checking in on TabeTome
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
Traditional Japanese ramen and tsukemen restaurant TabeTomo has set up a to-go station here at 131 Avenue A between St. Mark’s Place and Ninth Street that has proven to be a popular spot.
Here, you'll find omusubi (filled rice triangles wrapped in seaweed), donburi rice bowls, croquettes, hot sake and cold beer in addition to its signature ramen and tsukemen.
Manager Roka Kishimoto, owner Tomotsugu Kubo and chef Julio Roche welcome me when I show up to pick up my order — from a safe distance and allow me to watch and photograph as they prep other meals to go.
There is a well-stocked customer cleaning/sanitizing station, and customers can also call in and order ahead of time and grab their order through the open accordion doors. Several people on bicycles did just that while I was there.
Best-selling items include the salmon omusubi for $2.50 and the brewed-for-60-hour pork-broth-based ramen for $13 (a vegan version is also available).
It’s cash only and current hours are noon to 9 p.m. daily. You can follow TabeTomo on Instagram here.
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