6 posts from September

A mini month in review (with a photo from 7th and B)... 

• Concern for the squirrels stranded in the East River Park construction zone (Sept. 22) 

• Key Food painting gets scooped up — by a member of the Key Food family (Sept. 19) 

• 'Samo' story: Real-life Al Diaz shut out of new Basquiat biopic (Sept. 16) 

• Rhaenyra the Dragon Kitty stolen from Avenue A shop (Sept. 9)

• Apologizing for 'a dick move' on 7th Street (Sept. 3)

• Deliveristas face new enforcement in the East Village (Sept. 2)

'Bowies Back' history runs through the East Village

Interview and photos by Daniel Efram 

When a high school graduation gift took Ron Gott to England in 1972, few could have predicted that it would eventually lead to the publication of his first photo book, more than 50 years later.

Starting to document rock shows at the age of 13 in 1968, Gott believes his first was either Iron Butterfly, Canned Heat, and The Youngbloods at the Fillmore East on Second Avenue, or Tommy James & the Shondells and Rhinoceros at a Murray the K show in the city.

Many people know Gott from his role at Fabulous Fanny's, the vintage eyewear store on Ninth Street, since 2016. However, few are aware of his history of documenting music from the 1960s to 1981, including two David Bowie concerts: one in Aylesbury, UK, in 1972 (during the Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars era) and later at Madison Square Garden in 1978 (during the Thin White Duke era). 

Gott's first book, "Bowies Back," out now on Blurring Books, showcases his photos from those two important chapters in the performer's chameleon-like career.

Gott and his travel companion had ended up in Aylesbury the week before to see a band called Caravan, with nowhere to stay that night — until a friendly music promoter offered them a place to crash.

"The promoter said, 'Feel free to come over and stay with my wife,'" Gott said. "They had a 400-year-old home down this Dickensian street, and we went and stayed and talked all night about music."

He continued:

"He [the promoter] said, 'You gotta come back next week because David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars are playing at the biggest show in England right now. Come early, hang out, and have lunch with them during sound check. So, I was in the auditorium during soundcheck and Angie [David's first wife] was there doing makeup for everyone."

That's where the photos for half of "Bowies Back" were taken over 53 years ago.

Get your copy of "Bowies Back" locally at Fabulous Fanny's, 335 E. Ninth St., between First Avenue and Second Avenue, or at East Village Books, 99 Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. It's also available online through Blurring Books.

Community meeting on the former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center

Save Our Community Center (SOCCC-64) is hosting a meeting this evening (Sept. 30) to share updates on the restoration of the former CHARAS/El Bohio/P.S. 64 at 605 E. Ninth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

The building, which served the Lower East Side as a community and cultural center for over 20 years, was sold in 1998, went into foreclosure in 2022, and was auctioned in 2023. 

The new owner, a philanthropic entity, is working to revive the long-dormant building, which requires urgent repairs, for community use. However, progress has been slow to date. (See links below.) 

Former tenants and community members are encouraged to attend tonight's meeting, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Middle Collegiate Church, 50 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue, 4th-floor studio

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• The former P.S. 64/Charas/El Bohio Community Center has a new project name 

• Rehabilitation of the former P.S. 64 could take 4 to 6 years, cost over $100 million

Monday's parting shot

DrGecko shared this curbside discard with us today... as seen on Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue... exactly 18 months after its last sidewalk appearance on this block. 

Could someone please deliver this to the American Wing at the Met?

Corner Bistro opens East Village outpost TODAY on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Corner Bistro's East Village location debuts today (Sept. 29) on the corner of Avenue A and Sixth Street.

Owner Elizabeth McGrath confirmed the restaurant will open its doors at 11 a.m., with daily hours from 11 a.m. to midnight to start. She hopes to eventually extend service until 4 a.m.

The all-day menu features burgers, breakfast and brunch items, and several additions not found at the longtime West Village spot — including a meatloaf entrée, chopped steak with onions, onion rings, baked French toast, and scrambled eggs with sausage. Desserts include milkshakes and ice cream sundaes.

McGrath says family recipes are part of the expanded menu, and family members will also be working here: her daughter, Catherine, is the restaurant manager.

The space includes a downstairs dining room and a planned event area. 

McGrath describes today's debut as a soft launch, with a grand opening celebration to follow. 

"Be patient with us — we're new, with new staff," she said. "Bear with us if things go awry."

Corner Bistro opened in 1961 on West Fourth Street in the West Village. Elizabeth, daughter of Corner Bistro's original owners, Bill and Lorraine O'Donnell, took over the business in 2015. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• We talked with the owner of Corner Bistro about what to expect from the East Village outpost

Surprise! 10-story condo planned at the former home of Chris French Cleaners

A 10-story condoplex with 10 residential units is in the works for the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and Ninth Street, the former home of Chris French Cleaners. 

The pending new building permit was added to the public records this past Wednesday.

The dry cleaner closed its doors for good on Sept. 19, marking 65 years in business. 

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

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 the address, 101 E. Ninth St. 

This is the second new luxury property for Ninth Street. Construction continues for an 18-unit condoplex at 220 E. Ninth St., between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, the former Little Man parking garage.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Chris French Cleaners is closing after 65 years; 1-level building slated for demolition

Updated: The Starbucks on 1st Avenue and 13th Street has closed

The Starbucks outpost on the NW corner of First Avenue and 13th Street permanently closed yesterday. (Thanks to Alexander Johnson for the photos!) 

Door signage reads in part: "We've made the incredibly difficult decision to close this Starbucks location by the end of the week ... Thank you for being a part of our story. We look forward to seeing you again soon."

This past Thursday, the company announced that it would close several hundred stores and lay off nearly 900 employees in its latest move under CEO Brian Niccol's continued transformation. Starbucks wasted no time in shutting down the stores on the hit list. (We're told the SB on Third Avenue and 15th Street also shut down.)

With this closure, two Starbucks remain in the East Village — one on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place and another on First Avenue at Third Street. 

The First Avenue and 13th Street location opened in 2012. 

Updated: 

A tipster shared a photo showing the closure at Third Avenue and 15th Street... The tipster told us that Starbucks did not give any warning to the building about the departure.

Hubani, we hardly knew ye

Photo by William Klayer

We've been meaning to note the quick opening and departure of Hubani on the SE corner of First Avenue and 11th Street.

A small for-sale sign has been on the front door of the quick-serve shawarma joint for the past few weeks. 

We first spotted the coming-soon signage last October, but Hubani didn't debut until later in the spring, and then looked dormant by August. 

Happy trails

Photo in Tompkins Square Park from May 2023 by Stacie Joy 

As every media outlet reported earlier today... Mayor Adams announced that he is ending his re-election campaign. (See his 9-minute video below.) 

A historical perspective, per Gothamist: 

Adams, who made history as the first New York City mayor of the modern era to be criminally indicted, now becomes the first sitting mayor to not seek re-election since 1913 without facing a term limit. His exit marks a spectacular downfall for someone who just three years ago declared himself the new face of the Democratic Party. 

The race will now feature Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. 

One EVG Grieve emailed us, writing: "Guess we're really not getting that mobile police unit on 14th Street." (Background here and here.) 

And the announcement...

Only in America. Only in New York.
Thank you for making my story a reality. pic.twitter.com/efHuyBnITJ

— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) September 28, 2025

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a shot of Friday's sunrise by Jeanne Krier) 

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

• Remembering Yuji Umeki, owner of Search & Destroy and Kenka on St. Mark’s Place (Monday, Sept. 22)

• Concern for the squirrels stranded in the East River Park construction zone (Monday, Sept. 22) 

• Most Holy Redeemer parishioners bring their petition to St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Tuesday, Sept. 23) 

• After 26-plus years, Bluestockings says goodbye on the Lower East Side (Tuesday, Sept. 24) 

• A bit of preservation amid the East River Park demolition (Wednesday, Sept. 24)

• City to celebrate opening of East River Park at Corlears Hook (Saturday, Sept. 27)

• Checking out a new video from local band Skorts (Friday, Sept. 26)

• Signage alert: Shifka on the Bowery (Monday, Sept. 22)

• Law enforcement targets Green Line on Avenue B; tickets issued, shop sealed (Wednesday, Sept. 24) 

• PayOMatic checks out of Houston Street — and elsewhere (Wednesday, Sept. 24) 

• A new barber shop for Avenue A (Monday, Sept. 22) 

• Summer’s parting shots (Sunday, Sept. 21)

... and an EVG reader shared this from Friday on Avenue C... save the robot!

The return of Hitchcocktober at the Village East by Angelika

The Village East by Angelika is once again devoting Wednesday nights in October (Hitchcocktober!) to Alfred Hitchcock, bringing a slate of the director's classics back to the big screen. 

Here's this year's rundown: 

• Oct. 1 — "The Birds" 

• Oct. 8 — "Rope" 

• Oct. 15 — "Marnie" 

• Oct. 22 — "Dial M for Murder in 3D" 

• Oct. 29-31 — "Psycho" 

There are three screenings each night ... not to mention three nights of "Psycho." 

Find advance ticket info here. 

The Village East by Angelika is on Second Avenue at 12th Street.

Saturday's parting shot

Onetime East Village resident Iggy Pop headlining the CBGB Festival at Under the K Bridge in Greenpoint...

How to check out the latest episode of the CBGB audio documentary on WBAI

We mentioned this last week... WBAI is airing a documentary on CBGB, with episode 3 set to air tomorrow (Sunday) at 2 p.m. 

Visit this WBAI link for info. 

Jillian Jonas, senior producer of WBAI's public affairs show and a former CBGB employee, is spearheading the project.

The CBGB Festival takes place TODAY in Brooklyn with headliner Iggy Pop. There's a free livestream from the main stage starting around 5. Main stage acts include Lunachicks, Johnny Marr, The Damned and Jack White. (And Iggy.) You can register here.

CBGB closed at 315 Bowery in October 2006. 

City to celebrate opening of East River Park at Corlears Hook

The city and neighborhood organizations are hosting a community celebration tomorrow (Sunday) to mark the opening of refurbished and stormproofed sections of East River Park following years of reconstruction work as part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project. 

Here's info via the EVG inbox... 

At noon, join the parade over the Corlears Hook Bridge (beginning in Corlears Hook Park), followed by remarks at the East River Park Amphitheater around 12:30 p.m. 

Throughout the day, explore the new resilient park, learn about urban ecology from NYC Park Rangers, enjoy live music and performances, and attend free sports clinics. You can also learn more about park stewardship, getting involved in East River Park, information on obtaining permits, and learning the history of the Park and its resilient infrastructure.

On Sept. 5, the city officially reopened the Corlears Hook Pedestrian Bridge, restoring access to the waterfront and the rebuilt East River Park here from the Lower East Side.

For East Village residents interested in the park, this is where you'll need to go through the end of 2026. As previously reported, the three East Village access points to the park, at Houston, Sixth, and 10th streets, are sealed off. 

The "phased work operations" in East River Park began in November 2021. Workers have been covering the park with fill and cutting down hundreds of trees as part of the billion-dollar-plus ESCR. They are raising the land 8 to 10 feet above sea level to safeguard the area from future storm surges

About the Monster Metal Mayhem in Tompkins Square Park

You can check out a slate of bands today (Saturday!) from 2-6 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park during the Monster Metal Mayhem... the free show is presented by The Shadow...

Saturday's opening shot

Houston along First Park this morning. 

This afternoon, the sun will give way to some clouds, and it will be humid with a high of 81. 

The 14th Annual LUNGS Harvest Arts continues today and tomorrow with dozens of activities in neighborhood community gardens. Find a rundown here.

Eyes wide shut

 

Local band Skorts (an EVG Bands we like alum) debuted a new video this week. Check out "Burden."

Skorts is our tour this fall, with a European leg coming up later in the year.

A bit of preservation amid the East River Park demolition

Photo courtesy of Skyline Restoration via LESPI 

Here's a little positive news amid the gutting of East River Park. 

In its recent newsletter, the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative (LESPI) reported that the historic terra cotta ornament from the East River Park Track House is being salvaged. 

The Track House, built in 1939 near the Sixth Street overpass entrance, is part of the northern section of East River Park that closed to the public on Sept. 8 as work on the East Side Coastal Resiliency project continued. 

While the building itself will not be preserved — even after LESPI succeeded in having it designated as eligible for the State/National Register of Historic Places — the City agreed to retain its distinctive ornamentation, which was designed specifically for the park.

To make that possible, LESPI partnered with NYC Parks and Skyline Restoration. This company volunteered to remove, store, and eventually reinstall the terra cotta blocks in the new Track House, expected to open in early 2027.

LESPI says they'll provide updates as the work continues. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• East River Park north of Houston Street now closed until the end of 2026

Law enforcement targets Green Line on Avenue B; tickets issued, shop sealed

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Yesterday afternoon, the Sheriff's Department and NYPD carried out what an officer on the scene called a "smoke shop op" at Green Line at 42 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

I watched as authorities hauled away eight trash bags of tagged and labeled material, plus one oversized milk crate. According to the Sheriff's office, the seizure included flower, prerolls, carts, edibles — along with cigarettes, flavored vapes and other tobacco products.

A stack of tickets was issued during the operation, but no arrests were made. 

The shop's two employees on duty at the time said they were relieved not to be charged, although both worried about their future work prospects here since the authorities had sealed the storefront.

This isn't Green Line's first run-in with enforcement. Back in April, the unlicensed shop was also targeted in a similar sweep.

PayOMatic checks out of Houston Street — and elsewhere

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The PayOMatic outpost at 303 E. Houston St., between Clinton and Attorney, recently shuttered, part of a company-wide closure for the brand. There were also LES outposts on Essex and Pitt. 

The New York Department of Financial Services has suspended the company's licenses, per a notice. 

The company, founded in 1958, was NYC's largest provider of check cashing and alternative financial services.

Per the door signage:

To our valued customers, 

We regret to inform you that, after more than 50 years of service to your communities, all Pay-O-Matic check cashing store locations are closed as of September 12, 2025. Additionally, the Pay-O-Matic Bill Payment Network and Pay-O-Matic bill payment services are no longer available either at our branch locations or participating agent locations in New York and New Jersey. 

Even if you had a bank for check cashing and money transfers, this PayOMatic had a Coinstar coin-counting machine — a nice convenience in the neighborhood. The only other one we can think of is inside the D'Agostino on First Avenue and 20th Street.