Michael Jackson mural defaced on 11th Street

The mural showing two images of Michael Jackson was recently defaced on 11th Street at First Avenue.

Someone wrote "King Pedo" on the King of Pop mural ...





Earlier this year, HBO's two-part documentary, "Leaving Neverland," featured two former child performers describing how Michael Jackson allegedly sexually abused them while they were children.

Back in March, Eduardo Kobra, the prolific Brazilian artist who created the two Michaels mural in July 2018, said that he had no plans to remove the work in light of the new allegations of pedophilia.

Before and even after his death in 2009, Jackson was the subject of multiple sexual abuse accusations and police investigations as well as civil and criminal lawsuits. His estate continues to deny all allegations.

An EVG reader who spotted the "King Pedo" message was surprised that the mural hadn't been defaced before.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: No plans to remove the Michael Jackson mural from the wall on 11th Street

On the wall: Mural of Michael Jackson, as a child and an adult, in progress on 11th Street

Ama Raw Bar debuts tonight on Avenue B

Ama Raw Bar opens this evening at 190 Avenue B between 11th Street and 12th Street.

Ama's website describes the place as "an affordable seafood restaurant with a unique asian raw bar."

CB3 OK'd a liquor license for the space back in July.

According to Ama's Instagram account, they will have a lounge area called the Kiki Room...

View this post on Instagram

Our Kiki Room 🔥 who’s ready to Lounge, drink, and have a Kiki? #eastvillage #restaurant #newyork #eater #cocktails

A post shared by Amarawbar (@amarawbar) on Nov 25, 2019 at 2:31pm PST

The previous tenant here, Kingsley, closed in late summer 2018 without any notice to patrons after three-plus years in business. Back 40 was also here for seven years.

Red Gate Bakery shapes up on 1st Street

Awning alert over at 68 E. First St., where Red Gate Bakery is expected to open soon here between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (As you can see, Red Gate also has a red roll down gate.)

The Red Gate website notes that they sell "small-batch, high-quality, no-frills baked goods." Their menu features a variety of cookies, brownies, cakes and a midnight banana bread. You can see some of these items on the Red Gate Instagram account.

This is the first storefront for the proprietors, who have been taking online orders for a variety of events and special occasions.

No. 68 was previously home to the Tuck Shop, which closed in September 2018 after 13 years of selling Australian meat and vegetable pies.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Red Gate Bakery setting up shop at 68 E. 1st St.

Sunday's parting shots

The grand finale at today's 28th annual Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lighting ceremony... Steven shared these photos...



We'll have more later tomorrow via EVG contributor Stacie Joy...

The Anti-Monkey Christ

Christopher J. Ryan shared these photos from yesterday... showing local artist Ian Dave Knife transforming a tree stump into "a beautiful work of street art" here on 11th Street just east of First Avenue.

The stump is titled "The Anti-Monkey Christ" ...

Week in Grieview

[Art walk on 2nd Avenue via Derek Berg]

Posts this past week included...

Debi the Gardener retires (Friday)

Closing time for the Associated on 14th Street (Wednesday)

Prepping for the 28th edition of the Tompkins Square Park tree lighting (Saturday)

In the kitchen with Chef Jae Lee at Nowon (Friday)

Three Seat Espresso down to weekend service on Avenue A (Saturday)

Former Bean space for rent on 2nd Avenue (Thursday)

Huminska closes on 9th Street after 27 years in business (Monday)

Long lost photos of the Dead Boys live on at 72 Gallery (Saturday)

Garbage trucks will still park on 10th Street so drivers can have lunch breaks (Tuesday)

Tramonti Pizza closes on St. Mark's Place ahead of move to NoMad (Tuesday)

Report: 2 homeless men stabbed in fight at the 2nd Avenue F stop (Thursday)

All about the housing lottery at EVE on 13th Street (Monday)


[Friday morning in Tompkins via Vinny & O]

Happy holidays from NY See! (Thursday)

What's going on at Black Iron Burger on 5th Street? (Monday)

Cereal killer: Kellogg's NYC Café shutters on Union Square` (Friday)

Hot Kitchen pivots to Sushi & Sake on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday)

Signage and storefront reveal for Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen at 92 2nd Ave. (Thursday)

The San Loco is opening SOON on Avenue C (Monday)

169 and 171 1st Ave. fetch $14 million (Wednesday)

United Copy & Print has apparently closed (Wednesday)

Williamsburg Pizza debuts on 14th Street (Thursday)

... not sure what this film shoot was for this past week, but we knew where they kept the bodies...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

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Reader question: What is that black smoke coming from Village View?

Via the EVG inbox...

What is the black smoke pouring out of the chimney on the Village View apartment complex on First Avenue? No other building in the neighborhood (with many oil burners) is sending out as much. Hmmm — burning trash on a Sunday morning?

The reader thought that burning trash in buildings was a thing of the past. Unless this is something else entirely.

Video: The origins of the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lighting

As a warmup to today's 28th annual tree lighting in Tompkins Square Park (4-5 p.m.!) ... here's a video short from 2018 with Albert Fabozzi, founder of the lighting ceremony...





Fabozzi planted the evergreen in 1992 in memory of Glenn Barnett, his partner, who died of AIDS ...

Saturday's parting shot

Aerial view from Avenue A and Sixth Street this morning...

Prepping for the 28th edition of the Tompkins Square Park tree lighting

Workers are prepping the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's lighting ceremony (thanks to Steven for the photos!) ...



As a reminder...



The 28th edition of the Tompkins Square Park tree lighting happens tomorrow (Dec. 8) from 4-5 p.m. The Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City will be, uh, caroling... music comes via the Mandel & Lydon Trio ... and refreshments are courtesy of Veselka and C&B Cafe.

Long lost photos of the Dead Boys live on at 72 Gallery

A new exhibit titled "Dead Boys 1977: The Lost Photographs of Dave Treat" debuts tonight (Saturday!) at the The Great Frog, 72 Orchard St. between Broome and Grand.

The opening reception is from 6-9. After tonight, you can check out the exhibit from noon to 8 p.m Tuesday-Sunday through Jan. 30.

Here's the background on the exhibit via the 72 Gallery Instagram account...

72 Gallery is delighted to announce "Dead Boys 1977: The Lost Photographs of Dave Treat." This solo exhibition by Cleveland native Dave Treat chronicles the early days of the Dead Boys who were to become one of punks most nihilistic and furious bands.

Treat was asked to shoot the fledgling Dead Boys’ first ever promo shot, which yielded a now-legendary alley photo taken in the ruins of ‘70s Downtown Cleveland, which was re-created by Glenn Brown in the same location for the cover of the band’s classic Sire Records debut “Young Loud and Snotty.”

While documenting the band, Treat accidentally crafted a stunning series of portraits of the then-bankrupted city, at a time when nobody — except the advance guard of punk — saw Downtown Cleveland’s decay as a fit subject for photography.

Treat eventually entered the construction trades and raised a family in Solon, Ohio, and discovered his long-lost negatives of the Bators portraits and the band photos almost 40 years later, while cleaning out a closet.

The folks behind The Great Frog created the gallery space in their rock 'n' roll ring shop and boutique. The Dead Boys exhibit is being held in association with the Cast across the street.

And to get you in the mood...

Details on Day 2 of the East Village Arts Festival at the Tompkins Square Library branch

Today (Saturday, Dec. 7!) marks day 2 of the annual East Village Arts Festival at the Tompkins Square Library branch.

Highlights today include:

• Drag Queen Story Hour with Harmonica Sunbeam
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

DQSH captures the imagination and play of gender fluidity in childhood, and gives kids glamorous and unapologetically LGBTQ role models. A drag queen will read inclusive books as well as storytime favorites, and lead participants in a simple craft. Sponsored by the Office of City Council Member Carlina Rivera. This program will be held in the basement community room.

• Walking Tour: Artists, Writers, Musicians of Tompkins Square
11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Tompkins Square Park has long been a center of the arts. Please join us for a fun, free one-hour walking tour, hosted by library manager Corinne Neary and local street photographer Michael Paul.

• 16mm Short Film Screenings: Artists in New York
1-1:45 p.m.

We will screen three short 16mm films, from the reserve collection of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts:

"Jackson Pollock" (1951; 10 mins.) Dir: Hans Namuth, Paul Falkenberg
From the straightforward documentation of the artist at work, and his personal explanation of what he is doing, to the original music score, everything in this film is marked with the intense quality of the late Pollock's personality.

"Artist in Manhattan" (1968; 9 mins.) Dir: Barry H. Downes, Linda Marmelstein
A portrait of Jerome Myers, a key figure in the famous Ashcan school of American art and one of the founders of the historic Armory Show of 1913. His paintings and drawings depict New York City at the beginning of the 20th century.

"Andy Warhol" (1965; 22 mins.) Dir: Marie Menken
Warhol is seen in his studio and at gallery showings surrounded by his signature pieces: Brillo and Campbell soup cartons, and his silkscreens of flowers and well-known personalities.

• Mike Edison: I Have Fun Everywhere I Go
3 p.m.

Author, raconteur and musician Mike Edison will bring a program of storytelling and music, featuring performances from across his career as a literary wild man, focusing on selections from his books "Dirty! Dirty! Dirty!" and "I Have Fun Everywhere I Go."

Find the full rundown at this link.

The branch is located at 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A visit to the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street

Three Seat Espresso down to weekend service on Avenue A

As we reported back in October, Three Seat Espresso is planning to close its doors in the months ahead here at 137 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Starting today, the cafe will just be open on weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through January.

Meanwhile, there's a sign on the door for interested parties in taking over the lease...



The founder blamed declining sales — due to the Starbucks that opened on the block in August 2017 — as the reason behind the pending closure.

Three Seats first arrived as a cafe-barber concept in the fall of 2016. Ownership expanded the cafe in place of the barber in November 2018.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Three Seat Espresso will close by the end of 2019 on Avenue A; founder blames Starbucks

Friday's parting shot

An EVG reader shared this photo from late this afternoon... spotted on First Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place...

'Radio' cure

The Shivas (via Portland, Ore.) released their latest album Dark Thoughts earlier this fall... the video here is for the single "Playing on the Radio."

Debi the Gardener retires

[Photo from Nov. 13 by Steven]

Deborah Hulse, better known as Debi the Gardener to regulars of Tompkins Square Park, retired yesterday after nearly 15 years with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Born and raised in Greenwich Village, Hulse was a musician before entering the world of gardening. She received a Certificate of Horticulture from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens while working at Union Square Park. Hulse started at Tompkins Square Park in March 2009.

In 2012, the East Village Community Coalition recognized her tireless dedication to beautifying the grounds at Tompkins Square Park with its Outstanding Pigeon Award.

EVG correspondent Steven spoke with her yesterday. Hulse said she will miss the flowers and plants that she tended to through the years. "They are my children."

She also discussed the many residents that she has become friends with at the Park. Hulse won't be a stranger though: She has plans to stop by from time to time. Other retirement endeavors include revisiting her music career.


[Photo yesterday by Steven]

The Parks Department has not made plans to replace Hulse just yet.

In the kitchen with Chef Jae Lee at Nowon

Nowon debuted last week at 507 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. This is the first restaurant for Chef Jae Lee, who is serving non-traditional Korean fare here in the 34-seat space.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by before the grand opening, and watched Lee create, plate, taste and share his royal kimchi rice dish (dry aged ground beef, egg, bean sprout and seaweed) ...

















Lee previously helmed the kitchen — a pop up called Him — at Black Emperor on Second Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street, where he was responsible for the popular guest menu. His dry aged double cheeseburger with kimchi mayo and dill pickles, which Gothamist called "one of NYC's greatest burgers" when served at Black Emperor, is available here too, though only from 5-7 p.m.

He also served as the executive chef of Rice & Gold at Hotel 50 Bowery.



Nowon, named for the residential district of Seoul where Lee is from, pays tribute to the culture of Korea as well as his family.



Nowon is currently serving dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and until 11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. A weekend brunch service is in the works in the months ahead. (Also coming soon: the liquor license, with beer, wine and soju cocktails.) Find more details at the Nowon website ... and Instagram account. And here's a copy of the menu.

Cereal killer: Kellogg's NYC Café shutters on Union Square`

[TT Tiger pic via Instagram]

The Kellogg's NYC Café opened on the northern section of Union Square in December 2017, an event that inspired far too many posts on some local blogs.

Now an EVG reader alerts us that the space on the second level of 31 E. 17th St. (above the AT&T store) — which offered a DIY cereal-creation station as well as Pop Tarts — closed last week.

The announcement came via Instagram...

View this post on Instagram

Today we share that KNYC Union Square is permanently closed. We are sincerely thankful for the support of all our great guests of this unique cereal experience. While Kellogg is busy creating the next adventure, the Union Square space will be open as The White Box through our partner Co.create NYC for special events. Contact info@cocreatenyc.com for more information.

A post shared by Kellogg's NYC (@kelloggsnyc) on Nov 25, 2019 at 9:10am PST

Previously on EV Grieve:
Crunch time at the Kellogg's NYC Café on Union Square

Oh Gr-r-reat! Kellogg's cafe opening slightly delayed on Union Square

Kellogg's Union Square cafe closer to snapping, crackling and popping

Kellogg’s NYC, will be slinging cereal at an all-day breakfast café on Union Square next month

Please do not sit on this thing that looks exactly like a chair

Spotted outside East Village Postal today on First Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street ... a new place to rest for a moment?



... or ...



... a writing easel getting some air. (Complete with a warning not to sit!)

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

A memorial for longtime East Village resident Susan Leelike

Susan Leelike, a longtime East Village resident and activist, died on Oct. 26. She was 81.

This Saturday afternoon, there's a memorial for her friends and family ... and any resident who wants to stop by to pay his or her respects and share a memory.

Details:

Peter Jarema Funeral Home
129 E. Seventh St. west of Avenue A
Saturday, Dec. 7
1-3 p.m.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Susan Leelike

Happy holidays from NY See!

East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer will return with more NY See panels in March...

Former Bean space for rent on 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Steven]

The Bean's sudden departures from their spaces on First Avenue and Ninth Street and Second Avenue and Third Street on Nov. 24 took a lot of people by surprise. For starters, the coffee shops always looked crowded, and they have a loyal neighborhood following.

Owner Ike Escava told us the following: "Due to rising costs the decision to close was unfortunately the only one we could make."

Now the Second Avenue space is on the retail market. (There isn't a listing yet for the First Avenue storefront.) Here's more about 54 Second Ave. via the listing:

Amazing corner retail in the heart of the East Village. High ceilings and a no cooking infrastructure in place. Landlord will consider venting for a qualified operator. Great storage basement with walk-in, storage, etc. Very strong corner in great neighborhood. Potential for a sidewalk café and all uses are considered. Ideal for non-vented or vented food, fitness, bank, retail, salon/spa and many other types.

The asking rent is between $135 to $155 a square foot for the space, listed at 1,355 square feet.

The Bean opened here in December 2011.

The prime corner space was vacant for years, and home to the infamous "crazy landlord" who "must rent this store."


[Circa 2010]

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP Crazy Landlord sign

'Crazy Landlord' back to being crazy!

54 2nd Ave. has been sold

The 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue locations of the Bean closed for good yesterday

Williamsburg Pizza debuts on 14th Street

[Photo yesterday by Steven]

Williamsburg Pizza is serving slices now at 226 E. 14th St. between Second and Third Avenue.

The restaurant has a dine-in option with tables and counter space ... not to mention a liquor license.

This will make the fourth Williamsburg Pizza location... joining the original out on Union Avenue in Brooklyn, on the Upper East Side and on Broome Street on the LES. (Their pies are also served at 310 Bowery.)

As previously noted, the pizzeria has plenty of fans (one example). And a few years back New York magazine gave them the Best Slice Joint nod.

This pizzeria combined two storefronts, including the former Krust pizza.

Report: 2 homeless men stabbed in fight at the 2nd Avenue F stop

Two men were stabbed in a wild subway brawl in the East Village. https://t.co/skXafDaE6y

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) December 5, 2019

Two men were reportedly stabbed last night around 8:40 during a two-on-three fight on the uptown F-train platform at Second Avenue and Houston Street.

The Daily News reports that police are searching for three men — one black, one Hispanic, one white, all in their 40s, who escaped in the train tunnel. The five men involved in the fight were all said to be homeless.

From the News:

One witness, a homeless man who only gave his first name, Eric, described the wild melee.

“They beat him and cut him bad and dragged him up the stairs,” he said of the 27-year-old victim. “He was leaking heavy. The other guy got cut in the head and he ran like a little b----."

Both of the victims (the other is 24) were taken to Bellevue Hospital for non-life threatening injuries, according to the Post.

Signage and storefront reveal for Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen at 92 2nd Ave.

[Photos by Steven]

We have a combo reveal — storefront and signage — at 92 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street ... where Sanpoutei Gyoza & Ramen is expected to open by the end of the year...



This has been a long time in the making. In the fall of 2018, CB3 OK'd a beer-wine license (they were originally seeking full liquor) for the Sanpou Group, which operates 30 restaurants worldwide, including Sanpoutei Ramen, which started in Niigata, Japan, in 1967.

Reviews of the restaurant note that "Sanpoutei is defined by its authentic Niigata-style ramen, a shoyu-ramen in a clear fish stock-based broth."

As previously noted, Sanpoutei will join a crowded ramen market in the East Village... other recent-ish arrivals include Tatsu Ramen on First Avenue ... and TabeTomo on Avenue A.

Kabin Bar & Lounge closed in March 2015 at this address. While there were a few potential suitors, the storefront sat empty for nearly four years.

Also of note (maybe?): A sign for Black Star Bar, which closed here in 2004, still remains on the building...



Previously on EV Grieve:
The first sign of Japanese ramen shop Sanpoutei arrives at former Kabin space on 2nd Avenue

A high mass in honor of St. Nicholas

Here's an invitation via the staff at the Most Holy Redeemer & Nativity Church:

Historic Most Holy Redeemer and Nativity Church will celebrate its origins in the German immigrant community with a special mass in honor of St. Nicholas.

It will be a traditional Latin Solemn High Mass including Gregorian Chant propers and featuring Hayden’s Nikolaimesse (St. Nicholas Mass), under the direction of James Wetzel, director of music at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer. The mass starts 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5.

The church, which was completed and consecrated in 1852, is located on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. The mass will be followed by a reception with "seasonal refreshments" (egg nog?).


[Church interior via Stacie Joy]