The work is by French artist Cyril Valade, who has a new show at Krause Gallery, 149 Orchard St. between Stanton and Rivington.
Here is a nighttime view (via Stacie Joy)...
The wall here is curated by the Lisa Project.
Monday, October 27, 2025
Spider-Man takes a wall on Avenue A
A look at the new housing for Barrier Free Living on 2nd Street
Barrier Free Living works with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities. The new complex will include 74 affordable and supportive apartments for homeless adults in need of services and for seniors transitioning out of nursing homes.
Per the architects behind the project (JCJ Architecture): "Seeking to change the perception and mindset of what a supportive living facility ought to look and feel like, the design reaches beyond the typical typology associated with 'shelters' by redefining the aesthetics."
Gov. Hochul's office funded $6.9 million for the project in July 2022. Funding for related services and rent support will come from the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative.
Foundation work for the 65,000-square-foot facility started on the site in the summer of 2023.
Workers demolished BFL's previous structure — a four-story timber-frame former schoolhouse — here in 2020.
The building is anticipated to open later this year.
H/T EVG reader Patty Rat!
Closings: Paradis To Go on 4th Avenue
A message on the door for patrons noted in part: "Unfortunately, our lease renewal was ultimately unsuccessful — it appears that our neighbor is expanding their operation and taking over the space."
Presumably, that neighbor is Sugared + Bronzed, a chain that provides sugaring hair removal and sunless airbrush spray tanning services.
Kim Paradis opened the business here in 2006. Before moving to New York, the culinary school-trained chef led "a program in Seattle that invited local chefs to meet grade schoolers at the underprivileged public school where she worked," per a Village Preservation feature.
Paradis To Go's outpost in Hudson Yards remains open, as does its catering business.
Man indicted for random slashing last October on Astor Place
EVG file photo
Last Thursday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the indictment of 24-year-old Tylek McPherson for allegedly slashing a 68-year-old man with a butcher's knife near Astor Place.
According to court documents, the attack occurred around 2:40 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2024, near Astor Place and Eighth Street. McPherson is accused of approaching the victim at random and slashing him in the face and hand before fleeing. The two reportedly did not know each other.
Police responded to multiple 911 calls about a man with a weapon and later spotted McPherson, who matched the description, entering the Union Square subway station. Officers took the suspect into custody there.
The victim, who had collapsed near 20th Street and Fifth Avenue, was found bleeding heavily and transported to the hospital, where he received stitches, according to the DA's office.
McPherson has been charged with two counts of attempted assault in the first degree, one count of assault in the second degree, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
Bragg said his office remains focused on "preventing and addressing stranger assaults" and encouraged victims of violence to seek support from the DA's trained counselors.
This was the second of two high-profile random slashings on Union Square last year.
On June 6, 2024, a 30-year-old man was slashed with an unknown object in the back of the neck at 5:30 p.m. on the busy plaza that houses the Cube and the food and beverage kiosk. Police later arrested the suspect, said to be a 35-year-old homeless man.
Top Secret signage alert on Avenue A
As previously reported, the UK-based comedy and improv club is opening a venue here between Third Street and Fourth Street.
Community Board 3 signed off on a liquor license for the former Upright Citizens Brigade Theater's UCBeast space last month.
Owner Mark Rothman, who started the business 13 years ago, talked with EVG's Stacie Joy about what to expect. You can find that post here.
Rothman said that he'd like to be open later this fall.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theater operated UCBeast here from September 2011 to February 2019. At the time, UCB officials blamed the "extreme costs" of operating here for its closing. Upright Citizens Brigade opened in a new space on 14th Street last fall.
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Sunday's parting shot
Photo by Stacie Joy
Ceremonial burning of some DJT toilet paper in Tompkins Square Park late this afternoon...
The horror! The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black in Tompkins Square Park
Photo by Stacie Joy
Two afternoons of bands this weekend in Tompkins Square Park... with a highlight being yesterday's performance by the Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, the glam-punk performance legends led by East Village-based artist Kembra Pfahler.
We caught up with band members backstage before their headlining set ...
Also with the band, longtime members Gyda Gash and Samoa (below on stage)...
Week in Grieview
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• Giving thanks: A final word on the stranded East River Park squirrels (Wednesday, Oct. 22)
• Great Jones Street co-named in honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat (Wednesday, Oct. 22) … ‘Samo Lives’ in Tompkins today (Monday, Oct. 20)
• Photos along 14th Street from the ‘No Kings’ protest (Sunday, Oct. 19)
• Meow Mix returns (for a few nights) to the Lower East Side (Wednesday, Oct. 22) … Cynthia Nixon and Zohran Mamdani dropped by the Meow Mix reunion last night (Saturday, Oct. 25)
• All the vendors have left The Bowery Market; future new development in the works? (Thursday, Oct. 23)
• Marufuku Ramen closes on 2nd Avenue (Monday, Oct. 20) … Japan’s Taishoken Ramen opening 1st NYC location at 92 2nd Ave. (Tuesday, Oct 21)
Having a Halloween ball in the schoolyard
Photos by Stacie Joy
There were a lot of Halloween-related activities yesterday at neighborhood schools and community gardens.
We stopped by PS 19 on First Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street for their "Under the Sea"- themed Fall Ball in the schoolyard ...
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Cynthia Nixon and Zohran Mamdani dropped by the Meow Mix reunion last night
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
The 30th anniversary reunion and celebration of Meow Mix continued last night at the Parkside Lounge, drawing another packed crowd to honor the legacy of the iconic lesbian bar that once thrived on the Lower East Side.
There were some surprise guests at the outset.
Justin Vivian Bond kicked off the evening, introducing Cynthia Nixon, who in turn welcomed Zohran Mamdani, the mayoral hopeful running against Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat running as an independent.
Bond joked about being called a socialist, saying they'd once confused it with being a socialite.
Nixon drew big laughs with the line, "Andrew Cuomo is not in a dyke bar tonight."
Mamdani spoke about early voting, affordable housing and the future of the city, calling on New Yorkers to keep fighting and organizing. He name-checked ACT UP and said leadership means saying goodbye to Mayor Adams and Cuomo — and showing President Trump "a city that's ready to fight him."
Though he'd never been to Meow Mix, he said he was thrilled to be part of the reunion, calling it a "vision of what New York should be." He added that queer and trans New Yorkers should not only be protected, but also cherished and celebrated.
Mamdani accepted a Meow Mix reunion T-shirt (and joked about the ethics rules on gift values) before heading out to more applause.
Here are more scenes from last night...
The Meow Mix reunion continues tonight and tomorrow at the Parkside Lounge, 317 Houston at Attorney. Visit this link for event info.
Meow Mix opened on the corner of Houston and Suffolk in 1996 and closed in 2004 — but its spirit clearly lives on.
East Village artist hmac at Orchard Paint Supply
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
You have a few days left to check out the collab between East Village-based artist hmac and Orchard Paint Supply.
A variety of colorful art — including prints, shirts, and hats — is available from the artist at the shop located at 148 Orchard St., between Stanton and Rivington.
Below is hmac with store/gallery manager Zach Denerstein...
The show ends Monday... with daily hours noon to 10 p.m.
Previously
This weekend in free Halloween shows in Tompkins Square Park
Here's the rundown:
Saturday, Oct. 25
The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black
Tear Drop
Memphis Morticians
Robby Bloodshed
Jess-O-Lantern
Sunday, Oct. 26
Non Residents
Precious Blood
Oedipus
Triple Rex
Brain Candy
Skitzopolous
Kyler Sane
Expect some ghoulish fun in the heart of the East Village...
Saturday's opening shot
And the pre-Halloween weekend weather: 60 and mostly sunny today AND tomorrow for the many seasonal activities going on around here...
Friday, October 24, 2025
Night moves
The above video for "Ascension" is from the recently released debut album by the Manchester, UK, duo Nightbus — an eclectic mix of moody nocturnal pop and post-punk.
Where to carve and paint pumpkins tomorrow
It's BYOP. All art supplies are provided by the garden.
Meanwhile...
... between 3-5 p.m., there's pumpkin carving at the 6&B Garden on the SW corner of Avenue B and Sixth Street.
Per organizers: "Children will be first on pumpkin distribution. Carving tools supplied!"
Saturday brings fall fairs to 3 East Village schools
FYI — The Fall Ball at PS 19 on First Avenue between 11th Street and 12th Street includes an under-the-sea haunted house. (Beware the krakens 🦑.)
Thursday, October 23, 2025
All the vendors have left The Bowery Market; future new development in the works?
Twig'm, which served Korean street food, was the final vendor to shutter, closing on Oct. 12.
Sept. 30 was the last day for the other vendors, including The 88 Coffee Company, which said in an Instagram post that "the Bowery Market is also closing to evolve and change for the better."
In announcing its closure, Kettl Tea owner Zach Mangan wrote on Substack on Sept. 29: "This week marks the end of a chapter for Kettl as we serve our final guests at our Bowery outpost. The owner of the market has decided to sell the space to a developer and pursue a new direction."
The small garage on the property also appears to be closed now.
In April, PincusCo reported that Lonicera Partners was assembling a potential development site at this northwest corner. Lonicera signed a contract to purchase 348 Bowery and took a minority stake in 350 and 352 Bowery, the adjacent properties to the north.
As of now, there are no new work permits on file for the addresses.
Development along this corridor is nothing new — just look across the street (below).
Most recently, a few storefronts to the north, the former single-level B Bar & Grill space is now home to a 22-story office building for Chobani.
Real estate developer Scott Marano opened the year-round outdoor food market in July 2016, with spaces for up to five new or established food businesses.
In an email to EVG in May 2019, Marano shared his vision for the space, a former auto-body shop:
Creating The Bowery Market was a very important, long-held goal of mine. I have been part of the neighborhood since I was a child and I have seen how it has changed. There are a lot of great restaurants in our neighborhood, but there are not many places that serve really good food in a very casual environment or on the go.I wanted to create a place that people could come to several times a week at different times of the day to satisfy them and their guests. I also know the real estate market and how expensive and risky it is for a food producer and operator to open a brick-and-mortar.
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