Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Wednesday's parting shot
Gallery Watch: Total Running Time by Jibade-Khalil Huffman at Magenta Plains
Total Running Time by Jibade-Khalil Huffman
Magenta Plains, 94 Allen St.
Having stumbled across Magenta Plains awaiting the results of the election, my mood was tense and suspended. I was cynical and in urgent need of a distraction, but entering this gallery gave me so much more than that. I was elated by what I saw the second I walked into the almost disguised gallery space on Allen Street (refer to the top photo to avoid missing it entirely).
The atmosphere was moody and engrossing. Neons, vocal soundscapes and jolted light flashings from unconventionally hung projectors filled the two-storied gallery space.
Total Running Time presents a multifaceted insight into the practice of inter-disciplinary artist Jibade-Khalil Huffman, a successful writer and poet working with text and imagery to re-imagine and challenge semiotic hierarchies. His object making involves the re-contextualization of text presented through densely layered video pieces, light work, moving imagery and digital stills.
The exhibition includes photographic lightboxes and digital photo-collages printed onto transparencies that are manipulated and scrutinized by looped video projections. Layering visuals for Huffman intentionally speaks to conversations and language pertinent to race and visibility.
Upon looking at a projected transparency work, you’ll find yourself becoming confused about what is printed and what is projected while being completely mesmerized by the piece and its much larger light leak onto the back wall. The prints are saturated with color and cartoon graphics, making for an almost psychedelic and explosive experience.
Huffman’s work confronts serious subject matter while colliding loose and dated graphics together such as paint-by-number motifs, classic television stills, advertisements from the 1960s and iconography from various American comic books.
His work embraces contemporary interests such as the degradation of digital media while also saluting recognizable imagery to draw his viewers in. Because of the ephemeral nature of Huffman’s work, I suggest Total Running Time be a show you visit more than once.
Whether his pieces juxtapose illustrations with video or projections with digital prints, his work looks and feels different with every photographic iteration, video capture and sensory interaction.
Total Running Time by Jibade-Khalil Huffman is showing at Magenta Plains until Dec. 16.
Total Running Time by Jibade-Khalil Huffman is showing at Magenta Plains until Dec. 16.
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Clare Gemima is a visual artist from New Zealand. New-ish to the East Village, she spends her time as an artist assistant and gallery go-er, hungry to explore what's happening in her local art world. You can find her work here: claregemima.com
Last Avenue B Flea for 2020 is this Saturday
The Avenue B Flea this past Saturday turned into a celebration ... as news broke that morning that Joe Biden had become the president-elect. EVG contributor Stacie Joy was on the scene...
... and organizer Lisa Marie with her husband Suke...
Previously on EV Grieve:
'Say Their Names' at the Public Theater
Starting this evening, the Public Theater will convert their facade at 425 Lafayette St. into a blank canvas for a new installation.
Via the EVG inbox:
Say Their Names will honor, remember, and include over 2,000 names and accompanying sentences of Black lives murdered at the hands of the police.
Curated by Garlia Cornelia Jones and designed by Lucy Mackinnon, this installation will cover the entire front of the landmark building and feature work by 10 visual artists from varying mediums ... responding to one single prompt:
For centuries, the murders of Black Americans have been overlooked, covered up and disregarded.
We invite you to remember.
We invite you to honor.
We invite you to Say Their Names.
The installation will take place from 5 p.m. to midnight daily through Dec. 5. You can read more about Say Their Names at the Public Theater's website.
Image via the Public Theater
J-Spec, specializing in waygu beef, opening this evening on 5th Street
Well, today is J-Spec's opening day.... and a rep shared more info about the owners and what to expect here:
We will be offering A5 rank wagyu at a more-affordable price point. J-Spec is the abbreviation for "Japan-Specification," a unique phrase created by the team.
This marks the first restaurant venture for Tomoe Food Services a New York-based wholesale Japanese meat distributor that has been in business since 2014.
When the pandemic hit and many of their clients were forced to suspend services, the team decided to open their own restaurant so they could offer guests different varieties and cuts of Japanese beef at affordable prices, served and cooked by specialists who have studied the art and intricacies of these meats...
For now, the restaurant will be open for dinner only with indoor dining (at 25 percent) and curbside seating available; take-out for lunch and dinner will be offered soon.
A few other things: the beer-wine license is pending. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5-10 p.m. You can find the menus here ... and the website here.
This space was previously Jewel Bako, the sushi restaurant that maintained a Michelin star for the last 15 years. The Jewel Bako closure was made official in May.
Taste Wine returns as Taste Wine on 3rd Avenue
As we reported back in the spring, owner Gary Landsman was hoping to sell the 5-year-old business as he continued to help raise awareness of Canavan, the fatal genetic disease that his two young sons have.
He and his family were expected to travel to Dayton Children's Hospital in Ohio later this spring.
Meanwhile, it appears that he was successful in finding a buyer for Taste Wine. After renovations in the past month, the shop reopened last week.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Eyes on 5th Street
ICYMI: This mural, depicting the eyes of Eric Garner, was created by the French artist JR, debuting on Election Day here outside the Standard East Village on Fifth Street at Cooper Square.
Per the hotel's Instagram account, the piece was originally presented at the Millions March in December 2014, and again for the Wide Awakes day global march on Oct. 3.
"The piece is a reminder to keep our eyes open, and continue to fight for racial justice and against police brutality. "
Garner died after being put in a chokehold by now-former NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo during an arrest on suspicion of selling untaxed cigarettes. The investigation continues into how the NYPD handled the aftermath of Garner's death in July 2014 on Staten Island.
Date movie: A documentary offer for people who live or work on 10th Street
No idea if these are legit... or why they didn't start on First Street for a more orderly sequel possibility.
RBG for 1st and 11th
Earlier this month, workers removed Shepard Fairey's "Rise Above" mural that had been on this space for the past four years.
And as several people have already noted, this will be quite the contrast to the Michael Jackson mural on the southeast corner of First Avenue and 11th Street...
Thanks to William Klayer for the photo... and to Lola Sáenz for the initial tip!
A visit to Fit Ritual on 6th Street
I’m eyeing the fancy new treadmill at Fit Ritual fitness studio, 543 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, with a mixture of awe and dread.
Before I can even investigate further, owner and personal trainer Helena Radulovic initiates COVID-safe protocols and checks my temperature and offers hand sanitizer.
She then shows me all the bells and whistles on the machine, complete with fans, music, video and a precarious 15-percent incline.
Clutching my heavy camera, I remind myself that I am here to interview, observe and document, not sweat it out on the equipment.
In that light, I am relieved when Helena’s client, health-care marketing exec Ana Zivanovic arrives for her training session. Helena agrees to answer my questions after the hourlong session is over and Ana consents to being photographed as Helena puts her through the paces...
How has the pandemic and New York State’s PAUSE order affected your business?
On March 16, I was working up a sweat with my clients one last time at the fitness studio. COVID-19 lockdown orders were about to take effect on March 20 when Gov. Cuomo issued the executive order directing all nonessential businesses to close, and Fit Ritual— along with all other local gyms — would have to close its doors too.
I never expected it to be for good and that night I made a decision to fight for its survival.
Every piece of me went into that place. It was my dream come true. Fast-forward to a few months back, and I continued to actually pay the full rent through June, and with donations [for virtual classes] my clients were being very generous. I decided not to pay myself to keep things going.
When I finally approached the landlord and was like, “Hey, I’ve been paying full rent this whole time, I’m really kind of out of money, can you help me out a little bit?” I got the answer, “Yes!”
By July 20, all regions of New York, including New York City, had reached the Phase IV of the state’s reopening. But once they started announcing the phases and gyms weren’t ever mentioned, my heart sank.
It’s as if the boutique fitness industry was completely overlooked in all of this. I’m choosing to believe this was all done in our best interest, because New York City and New York State did such a great job at mitigating the virus. But an entire sector of the industry to be completely ignored — it’s a huge industry in New York City and in every major city.
So finally, on Monday, Aug. 24, interim guidance for gyms and fitness centers during the COVID-19 public health emergency was announced. However, the mayor of New York City decided to postpone the effective date until a later date, Sept. 2 — our official reopening day! And we intend to keep on going!
What precautions and procedures are currently in place for those wishing to work out or train at Fit Ritual?
We strictly follow CDC and local guidelines. Temperature checks, screening for COVID-19 symptoms prior to session, social distancing, and masks are required. We always offer a spare one. There are multiple hand-sanitizing stations at the studio.
In addition, we keep track of all appointments and contact details through Square, for contact tracing. Appointments are spread out with 30 minutes in between to allow us enough time for thorough sanitizing of all equipment and high-touch areas.
We also keep the door open whenever possible to allow for circulation of fresh air.
All our clients are encouraged to get tested on a regular basis and to cancel the session in case of any symptoms.
How can people stay physically fit during a global pandemic? What does COVID fitness look like?
We are not offering massage services and in-home training at the moment due to COVID. When it comes to nutrition counseling, it is offered as part of the personal training package. Zoom functions incredibly well; however, I must mention that since we reopened, clients prefer to come to the studio and train in-person. Weather permitting, outdoor training also gained in popularity.
We are in contact with our clients via online platforms. We conducted a study recently and discovered that some people continued training hard despite the COVID setbacks. They consider fitness a mental challenge and we call them “Warriors.” Another group includes clients who either got sick or had other financial and emotional challenges during the pandemic. We pay special attention to this group, communicate more often, motivate them and encourage them with more frequent training sessions and offer a discounted plan.
Exercise is more important now than ever and we try to help out as much as we can.
Are there any particular challenges to living and working in the East Village?
I think that my answer to this question is of an essence to my small business as well as any other small business in this beautiful, inspiring neighborhood.
Being an EV resident since 2007, I thought I knew this neighborhood’s heartbeat but I definitely got the real taste during pandemic. I volunteered at a Sixth Street Community Center soup kitchen for almost four months.
As a volunteer, you learn to embrace people as they are and understand where they are coming from. Being a volunteer means that you are offering something — something that is not required nor an obligation. This connects you to other human beings as you are working toward a common goal. I also have to say that my clients and I remained very close during the time of pandemic.
As soon as they heard about the project I got involved with, they all stepped up to help, either financially or by offering to volunteer. That brought us even closer. It is very simple: if you want to conquer EV, you gotta be a tough worker with honest approach and a big big heart for your community.
With gyms capped at 33-percent capacity and no group fitness classes allowed, many gyms and fitness studios (dance/barre, Pilates, yoga) have closed permanently or are about to fold. How do you see the future of boutique fitness studios and gyms?
COVID-19 has changed how people exercise, but that doesn’t mean gyms are going away. To reassure uncertain people and ensure continued membership, fitness clubs at all points need to have firm plans for what a reopened gym will look like in terms of social distancing and continue to reinforce those measures as they reopen, which means decreased capacity and increased sanitation measures, among other things.
Members will need to feel assured that all measures available are being taken to keep them safe.
On the other side, studios/gyms have experienced a demand shock for online fitness that might not have happened in a non-COVID world.
Gyms and fitness studios that have a lot of group fitness offerings have tried to give their clients access to some of that knowledge by doing things like live-streaming workouts, posting videos for on-demand consumption, providing motivational coaching online, and even in some cases renting out equipment, as we did during pandemic.
Online options should be an important back-up plan, and consumers will also look for flexible membership terms. I personally think that a lot of people are likely to return to their gym simply because gyms still offer a lot of things that people are struggling to achieve at home.
One of the gym’s big appeals — besides easy access to equipment and workout space is access to the expert knowledge of trainers and the community knowledge, and support of other people working out.
The bottom line is that, like everything else, the fitness industry has been changed by the pandemic. But that doesn’t mean people are going to stop working out together. Everybody, right now, is just craving that sense of community, and sports really does bring that.
What’s next for Fit Ritual?
The pandemic has thrown many of us into a panicked frenzy. While specifics can be tough to establish, simply planning ahead and thinking about the future does add a sense of much-needed normalcy and optimism to our lives.
Also, reaching out to other personal trainers, nutrition coaches, as well as studio and gym owners has just been so lovely, and I’ve made connections with all of these other healthy lifestyle activists that I never had.
The main project I would like to focus on will be kids’ fitness program, I think the studio can provide a safe environment for kids to start their fitness journey. Kids who enjoy sports and exercise tend to stay active throughout their lives.
And staying fit can improve how kids do at school, build self-esteem, prevent obesity, and decrease the risk of serious illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease later in life.
Dion Cleaners is closing after 35 years in business on 14th and A
After 35 years in business, Dion Cleaners is shutting down on the southwest corner of 14th Street and Avenue A.
While Saturday is their last official day, EVG regular Christine Champagne shared these photos of workers cleaning out the space... (apparently you have until Saturday to pick up any outstanding items)...
Dry cleaners have been hard hit during the pandemic... as more people are working from home, and fewer people are going to events where they need to dress up ... We've already seen several closures in this neighborhood, including Amy's aka C & C on Seventh Street, LT Baron's on 11th Street and Sun's Laundry on 14th Street. Pandemic aside, it has been a tough slog for Dion. For nearly three years this side of 14th Street was an active construction zone for L-train repairs with a variety of trucks, drill rigs, pile drivers, compressors and generators.
Several businesses were forced to shut down due to severely limited access to their storefronts. Outside Dion, customer access included only 28 inches of sidewalk space — not big enough for a wheelchair in spots.
Here's a photo from September 2018...
Here's your new dry clean-laundromat signage on Avenue A
The space, owned by the NYCHA, had been vacant since Venus Body Arts moved out toward the end of 2017.
Previously on EV Grieve:
MIN Sushi coming to St. Mark's Place
Coming soon signs are up for MIN Sushi at 32 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
This is a new venture from Kelly Cho, who runs the (recently relocated) well-liked Suki Japanese curry shop at 111 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.
No word on a menu yet. You can keep tabs via their Instagram account.
Thanks to Steven for the photo!
Monday, November 9, 2020
Packing up the plywood
A reader shared this top photo from Target on 14th Street and Avenue A (where there was debate whether looting was hot or not).
And there's this from Second Avenue at Fourth Street... via @ColemansBandG...
Reminders: CB3 to hear plan for protected bike lanes on Avenue C-East Houston Street
As noted last week, the DOT is proposing permanent protected bike lanes on Avenue C and East Houston Street to offset the closure of the East River Park greenway once construction starts in the spring.
As Streetsblog first reported: "The lanes will run on Houston from Second Avenue to the waterfront and on Avenue C from Houston north to 20th Street, enabling cyclists traveling from below Houston on the existing bike lanes on Pike and Allen streets to connect with the bike network further north."
So here's a reminder: CB3's Transportation, Public Safety, & Environment Committee will hear the proposal tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. The Zoom info is here.
There are two other items on the agenda that might be of interest:
- DOT Freight & Mobility Unit: Houston St. Cargo Bike Corral Proposal and delivery strategy updates
- Open Restaurant street on Avenue B at 2nd Street: safety issues including emergency lane
Book Club turns the page on 1st anniversary
The bookstore-cafe, operated by East Village couple Erin Neary and Nat Esten, enjoyed five-plus months in business before having to close for the COVID-19 PAUSE in March. However, they were able to fullfill orders online, and Nat logged hundreds of miles making deliveries via his bicycle. (They reopened for to-go service on May 1, and in-store shopping in June.)
There was also an additional five-month wait for their beer-wine license. Anyway, starting today, they will have limited indoor cafe seating (in addition to their outdoor space) for coffee and other drinks.
Here's part of an email to customers via email:
We're so grateful for the community of the East Village and beyond for supporting us through every clunky step of shutting down and reopening. We wouldn't still be here if not for you! THANK YOU.
Photo from November 2019 by Stacie Joy
Concerns over COVID-19 prompt cancellation of the annual Cookie Walk
According to an Instagram post from Saturday:
It is with heavy hearts that we have officially cancelled this year’s St. Nicholas Cookie Walk. The safety of our guests, bakers and workers is our top priority. We hope to see you all in December 2021.
The always-festive event, held in early December, offers about 75 varieties of homemade cookies and pastries each year. As the name implies, you take a walk around cookie-filled tables and pick your favorites to eat on the way home instead of gifting.
On 3rd Avenue, Feast exits, Yellow Rose arrives
Ownership announced the news early last week on Instagram:
She wrote about the incident on Google +. Shortly afterwards, 13 one-star reviews of Feast appeared on Google from people who commented on the diner's post. The negative reviews were not based on the restaurant's food, but rather the no-Glass policy. (You can relive the memories here!)
Updated 11/10 It's with bittersweet news that we're officially announcing the closing of our doors here at Feast. We've shared incredible memories and irreplaceable friendships with staff and guests alike. And for those reasons alone, we are eternally grateful.
In the spring of 2014, the restaurant made international news ... when a patron at Feast was asked to remove her Google Glass headset before dining. The diner, the organizer of a Google Glass user group, refused to do so, and left the restaurant.
Moving forward, the space already has a tenant. In recent weeks Feast has hosted a pop-up collaboration with Yellow Rose, a Tex-Mex-style eatery. Starting on Wednesday, Yellow Rose will be here full-time.
Per the Infatuation: "Expect a menu of a bunch of delicious tacos, spicy hominy soup with long fideo noodles, micheladas, and desserts."
Grub Street has a feature on Yellow Rose here. Excerpt!
Four years ago, Dave and Krystiana Rizo moved to New York by way of San Antonio. Soon, Dave was cooking at Superiority Burger, while Krystiana managed and bartended at the East Village location of Emmy Squared just a few blocks away. But even as the couple was diving into the New York food scene, they craved the cooking from back home.
The former Otto's Tacos space is for rent on 2nd Avenue
The tasty quick-serve tacqueria closed at the start of the PAUSE in March, and never reopened. (The other OT locations are also out of business.)
Otto Cedeno opened his first restaurant here in November 2013.
There wasn't any closure announcement on the OT social media properties or website, which is now offline.
Meanwhile, the asking rent for No. 141 is available "upon request." A lot of things have come and gone here through the years, such as Good Guys, a Subway (sandwich shop), part of a Max Brenner outpost and Burritoville (sob).
The Whiskey Ward reopens today on Essex
For now the Whiskey Ward will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Business partners Sandee and Joe celebrated the bar's 20th anniversary back in January ... quite a feat considering the LES churn. Helps that this space has remained low-key and affordable. Welcome back!
Photo via the Whiskey Ward website
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Sunday's parting shot
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