Morning views outside St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery on 10th Street and Second Avenue in Abe Lebewohl Park...
... and staying safe...
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Saturday at St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery
Morning views outside St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery on 10th Street and Second Avenue in Abe Lebewohl Park...
... and staying safe...
City locks up basketball courts, exercise bars in Tompkins Square Park
[Photo yesterday by Steven]
The city locked up the basketball courts yesterday in Tompkins Square Park in a move to prevent people from using the pull-up bars, parallel bars and other equipment in the fitness area.
This comes after the city removed the hoops from the backboards, closed the playgrounds, shut down the dog run and sealed up the handball courts.
With each day, some residents wonder when the entire Park will be locked up for use during the CONVID-19 crisis.
Friday, April 10, 2020
Friday's parting shot
[Click to go big]
A flashback to last night... a look to the east... thanks to Michael Kramer for sharing this!
'Grinding' it out
Been listening to healthy doses of the Cure these days. (More than usual.) Here's "Grinding Halt" from the soundtrack to the 1980 NYC classic "Times Square." (Not sure when this video was recorded in the 1980s...)
Checking in on Bin 141
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
The bistro on the northwest corner of Avenue A and Third Street has a variety of grab-n-go meals available for $10 plus tax.
Owner Rafik Bouzgarrou has also turned part of the dining room into a makeshift market...
... where you'll find toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, water, among a few other items...
East Village Neighbors lend helping hands to Vision Urbana to assist local residents in need
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, newly formed mutual aid group East Village Neighbors, in conjunction with Invisible Hands, teamed up to help deliver food to East Village and Lower East Side seniors and low-income residents through Vision Urbana’s food pantry initiative.
I tagged along recently as a dozen volunteers arrived at the makeshift command center in Seward Park to help Vision Urbana’s director, Eric Diaz, get food to 150 families and individuals.
This is only one of ways that East Village Neighbors has been helping out in recent weeks, a list that includes assistance with shopping, deliveries, and/or matching those in need with services and goods available via other resources.
"This effort is as much about our volunteers as it is about who we are helping," longtime resident and East Village Neighbors founder Diane Hatz told me. "We’re in uncharted times right now, and no one knows what the aftereffects of the daily anxiety and isolation gripping so many of us will be, so I thought bringing the community together might help in more ways than one."
Interested in helping out? Volunteers can sign up via this form.
If you need assistance, you can fill out this help-request form, email EastVillageNeighbors@gmail.com or call 917-994-1074.
You can learn more about — and support — Vision Urbana at this link.
Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village Neighbors here to help during the coronavirus outbreak
East Village Organic reopens today
[Photo yesterday by Steven]
East Village Organic took a break back on March 27 here on First Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.
According to an Instagram message, they were going to "take a week to air it out, monitor the health of our brave little staff and regroup." One week turned into two.
However, they are back in action today — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. moving forward... and here's their reopening notice from yesterday...
City Harvest opening distribution center in the former Associated on 14th Street
From the EVG tip line yesterday... workers from City Harvest were spotted unloading supplies into the former Associated Supermarket space on 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...
City Harvest is setting up a distribution center (Repacks or Mobile Markets?) in the space. Will update the post when more information is available.
The Associated closed here back in December.
Thanks to Michelle and Gamelan, who took these photos...
Reader appreciation: Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery
Via @PatKessock...
Showing some love for the Martinez family over at Zaragoza on 13th and A — still open and making sure to keep everyone safe by wearing protective equipment and taking orders at the door. Support one of the best local businesses and the best burrito in NYC!
Zaragoza Mexican Deli & Grocery is at 215 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. For now, the shop is open from 9 a.m. to late evening.
Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes!)
A takeout collaboration this weekend at Van Da on 4th Street
Van Da, the well-regarded Vietnamese restaurant on Fourth Street, is teaming up with chef Hannah Wong (of the incoming Brooklyn restaurant Haema), for a takeout service this weekend (today through Sunday).
The menu is available from noon to 6 p.m. You can find the menu and order in advance via this form.
You pick up the food at Van Da, 234 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Plywood report
[Photo by Steven]
The currently closed 99 Favor Taste on St. Mark’s Place at Second Avenue replaced the newspaper in the front windows with sheets of plywood.
Will check back at the end of the weekend to see how the plywood looks.
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.
14th Street residents enduring construction hell while under stay-at-home orders
For the past two and a half years, residents along 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B have endured the ongoing L-train reconstruction. (Read about that here and here.)
Now more construction arrived at the end of March as the NYC Department of Environmental Protection decided to start a (non-emergency) old sewer line repair in the middle of 14th Street between A and B.
Residents of 542 E. 14th St. described the scenario:
The project involves jackhammers, chainsaws, a pipe cutter, several generators/pumps, as well as cranes. The sound is unbearably loud, at times shakes the building, goes on all day, including weekends, and is expected to continue for several weeks.
The result is that, while we are stuck inside our homes upon the order of the governor because of the pandemic, we are being forced to endure incredibly loud and disruptive non-emergency work on the part of the DEP. This is cruel and is completely outside the spirit of solidarity we need right now. Everyone is trying to do their part in staying sane and calm during this ongoing crisis, and yet we are being tortured by unnecessary repair work.
According to the residents, the "worst" of the work takes place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., though it commences at 7 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m.
Below is a three-second sampling of what goes on for hours...
Back to the residents: "This is a real 'screw you' to the community, especially after we've endured two and a half years of the ongoing MTA construction."
Previously on EV Grieve:
Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction
The frequency of the M14A
An EVG reader, working from home like many other residents, noted just how often the M14A is running in recent days — especially in the morning. The reader's desk is against a window overlooking Avenue A, where she has a prime view of the buses on its northbound and southbound routes.
Yesterday morning between 10 and 11, she noted the bus going in each direction 14 to 16 times — so, doing the math, roughly less than four minutes apart. In several instances, the buses were 1 minute from each other during the hour.
With the aerial view, however, the reader could not ascertain how many passengers might be on each bus. (As Curbed reported Monday, bus ridership is down more than 70 percent compared to the same time last year.)
According to the MTA, "buses are operating on a reduced schedule because of decreased crew availability [and are] strategically supplementing some bus service to help prevent overcrowding."
Given the frequency along Avenue A, overcrowding won't be an issue.
The MTA previously initiated a new rear-door boarding policy to keep riders and operators at a safe distance during the COVID-19 crisis.
Reader appreciation: Post
A reader shares this via the EVG inbox...
The owners of Post — brothers Myki (left in the above photo) and Bobby Stackleather — are remaining open for takeout, including serving the best biscuits, to feed the neighborhood.
In addition, in a time when they themselves are under every challenge, they’re also turning over their kitchen to help feed health-care workers. They’re generous people and really jumping into action right now.
Post is at 42 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street. They are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can read more about their fundraiser to feed hospital workers here.
Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes!)
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Handball courts now locked up in Tompkins Square Park
Following the closure of the playgrounds and dog runs as well as the removal of the hoops on the basketball courts ... officials have now locked up the handball courts in Tompkins Square Park in an effort to curb possible overcrowding.
Several residents have wondered if (or when) the entire Park will be locked up for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.
Thanks to Eden for the photo!
Whistling in Tompkins Square Park with Michael Lydon
You may have seen — or at least heard — longtime East Village resident Michael Lydon in the ballfields in Tompkins Square Park. He's the guy whistling.
He has recently been practicing his whistling — from a safe and social distance from others.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy caught up him on Monday in the Park...
For a sampling...
Lydon and his wife, composer Ellen Mandel, are active in the local community, performing at Middle Collegiate Church, St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, Third Street Music School Settlement as well as the Tompkins Square Park Christmas tree lighting, among other venues.
Here's more about New York Theatre Workshop's virtual programming
Yesterday we mentioned that La Mama was streaming select productions and events.
New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW), their Fourth Street neighbors, also has a slate of virtual programming, from Master Classes to live-streamed readings to Fireside Chats.
The next Fireside Chat is late this afternoon (April 8!) at 5 ... featuring NYTW Artistic Director James C. Nicola in conversation with performance artist Penny Arcade. (RSVP here.)
Visit this link to see more of their upcoming programming. Their programming is free and open to the public — you just need to register in advance. (They are also accepting donations.)
They are also launching a Virtually Neighbors program:
We recognize that this can be a lonely and isolating time for people (or just a moment where we all have some extra time on our hands) and we would like to bring our community together and make some new introductions! Since we may not be able to see our actual neighbors, we would like to create a community of new, virtual neighbors.
Are you looking for an email pal, phone call or video call once or twice a week? If so, please fill out this short Google form or email us at nytwvirtuallyneighbors@gmail.com and we will be in touch to get you started with a virtual neighbor from the NYTW community!
Reader appreciation: Abraço
Trevor J. shares this via the EVG inbox...
The last quality coffee shop standing in the East Village? As if their signature espresso and olive oil cake slices weren't enough to maintain a little of the good life at this time, they're bottling cocktails to go and have added breakfast and lunch kits — and an occasional surprise (keep an eye on Instagram).
All available for pickup on East Seventh Street, with an option to order on their website in advance. They went takeout-only before PAUSE, have six-foot markers on the ground, and now accept credit cards.
Abraço is at 81 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. They are open Wednesday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a 9 a.m. start on Sunday.
Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes!)
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Tuesday's parting Instagram clip
A serene East Village rooftop scene late this afternoon featuring a boy, his bike and a dog... thanks to Steven Fabian for this!
Noted
Someone spraypainted this message overnight on the Con Ed substation along Avenue A.
There were reactions to it on Twitter...
If Joker was in a pandemic https://t.co/G2eExCsMua
— John-Michael Jalonen (@John_Mike_) April 7, 2020
Everybody wants to be FDR https://t.co/ahkxqqoXrL
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) April 7, 2020
this is sort of what Cuomo was saying for a while early on, then he stopped https://t.co/J5R4o7gCoe
— Ben Max (@TweetBenMax) April 7, 2020
I don’t know, i don’t think No Fear’s rebrand is going to work https://t.co/UPgXwP6o9H
— Chris (@ThunderPittRoad) April 7, 2020
Livestreams from La Mama
During the COVID-19 shutdown, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club on Fourth Street has teamed up with CultureHub to provide online streaming of select productions and events in recent weeks.
Here's what's happening tonight (April 7) at 7:
Café La MaMa Live: Take 1
Weekly live performances that experiment with form. Responding to calls for social isolation, Café La MaMa Live brings La MaMa's 1960s café aesthetic to a virtual platform that links performers and audiences in real time across distance. Guest curators each week give artists a digital platform to share their work with the world.
This Week:
Curator Theo Cote creates an evening of music, dance, poetry and short stories!
Artists include Amy Lawless, Rebecca Layton, Evan Gill Smith, Office Culture, Annie Rigney, Jeremy Wiles-Young and Ariel Yelen.
You can find details on upcoming online events at LaMama at this link. The events are free, though there is an option to donate.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Tompkins Square Library launches online programming this week
The Tompkins Square Park dog run is now closed
In an effort to combat against potentially overcrowded spaces, the Parks Department yesterday shut down dog runs citywide, including in Tompkins Square Park.
The dog runs will be closed until further notice. Per the Parks Department: "Our parks remain open to dogs and pet owners to get fresh air and exercise; however, dogs must be kept on a leash according to park rules, and dog owners must keep social distance."
EVG contributor Stacie Joy took these photos at 1 p.m., a few hours after the order was put into effect...
The closure of the dog runs comes on the heels last week of playgrounds shutting down.
Reader appreciation: Le Fournil Bakery
Via the EVG inbox:
The wonderful French bakery, Le Fournil, is open for takeout! They are selling delicious French pastries, some savory items and bread. I bought some indulgent items from them Saturday. Le Fournil's pastry lifted my spirits as only pastry can.
Le Fournil is at 115 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street (in the former Moishe's space). Their posted hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closed Mondays.)
Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes!)
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