Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Cooper Union's Urban Umbrella
Monday, April 12, 2021
Reader report: It's 'rats galore' at this long-empty 1st Avenue lot
A bit of a misleading title, but it's rats, rats and rats galore. This "fence" (especially in quotes compared to the former grand one) is an invitation for garbage dumping, and the rat situation in the courtyards behind the building is dire.
This is just the sidewalk; the lot is a mess. Do readers have suggestions or tips for how to get the lot better secured from dumping and trespassing? Or who to call to come to issue a fine? Or how to get this turned into a community garden for the time being? It's only been what, 40-plus years?!
This is the second time in recent years that plans have been filed for a new building for the address. In 2017, the city never approved plans for a similar-sized structure — eight units, six floors.
As previously reported, Florence Toledano was the owner of this lot. In 2013, public records show that the deed for the property was transferred from the Florence Toledano Living Trust to 89 First Avenue LLC. The DOB permit lists Daniel Toledano as the manager of the property. (We do not know the relationship between Daniel Toledano and Florence Toledano. One reader said Daniel is a nephew of Florence.)
Daniel Toledano is still listed as the property owner and developer of the project. (Toledano is also listed as the owner of the lot that housed the 2Bn2C sculpture garden at 231 E. Second St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. More on that space in another post.)
In December 2017, workers dismantled the sculpture fence that had lined the First Avenue lot for years (since the late 1980s, per one estimate). The fence was created at the former Gas Station (aka Art Gallery Space 2B) on Avenue B and Second Street by Claire Kalemkeris and Johnny Swing in collaboration with Linus Coraggio.
[EVG photo from 2017]
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing?
• Drilling and soil testing commence at the long-empty lot at 89 1st Ave.
• Workers remove the sculpture fence and prep lot at 89 1st Ave.
A good sign at Little Poland
La Cabra opening a Scandinavian coffee roastery and sourdough bakery on 2nd Avenue
We are revisiting this city sooner than we expected. Back in February, we signed a contract for a beautiful location in East Village and our first location will be an open and beautiful sourdough bakery combined with a coffee bar.
We recently started the renovations and together with our local partner we look forward to welcoming you this summer with bright coffees, sourdough bread and handmade pastries.
Openings: Burrata Pizza on Avenue A, Sal's Pizza II on 14th Street
Gong Cha debuts on St. Mark's Place
Sunday, April 11, 2021
I say love, it is a flower
Week in Grieview
Vinnie is missing [UPDATED: Vinnie is home safe]
Vinnie, very beloved, very friendly, and very dumb, not sure he knows his name but responds to treat-shaking. Gray and white striped. Wearing collar/nametag, microchipped. Probably got over wall to East 2nd Street cemetery or East 3rd Street backyards. Reward!!! 917-446-8822. Missing since late Saturday night, 4/10/21.
Sunday's opening shot
Saturday, April 10, 2021
A presentation of work by Ed Shostak/Rose Royale
It is unusual to uncover an artist of his pedigree for which so little is publicly known after establishing himself amidst the visual arts most notable institutions. Shostak cloistered himself in his downtown loft relentlessly working and opting for a less mainstream practice. This exhibition is the first look at many of his late works.For those who are interested in reconsidering the parallel arcs of art history, examining and expanding the boundaries of the established canon of Post War art, Shostak's work will be a revelation. His work addressed so many of the known formal and conceptual concerns from that period, but through a queer lens.Eventually, he abandoned convention, favoring a more expansive view of the possibilities that an artist's practice could include by embracing a queer social practice and advocacy for the transgender community.This presentation is not a retrospective of his artwork but is comprised of completed sculptural works, drawings, studies, performance, documentary images and films to illustrate and map two key aspects and threads of continuity throughout Ed Shostak's artistic career and life.While the imagery may have changed over the decades, the exhibition is organized to map these threads regardless of the subject matter, form or media. In fact, it becomes apparent that his personal life and art practice were inextricable — one and the same — and ultimately, the artist became both the subject and the art.Shostak had gone full circle from his childhood performances in the family living room to navigating the art world as a gay man and then to activism and politics to become not only his alter ego, but to be himself— transgender.
How to download this Stop Asian Hate poster
Display it, share it, protest with it.Be the change. Be the voice. Be active.Do more.We can all make a difference because it's time to stop the hate.Awareness, Solidarity, Action.
The Welcome to Chinatown site has more information on ways to help businesses in this neighborhood. Think!Chinatown is another good resource.
Photo by @elliephantdreams via @EastVillageWalls
Nurse Dolly
Friday, April 9, 2021
Details about a day of 'Free Fashion' tomorrow
7th Street freeze-out
Gallery Watch: 'There's the Air' by Clare Grill at Derek Eller Gallery
'Diamonds, Razors & Champagne' debuts today at 3rd & B’Zaar
Member orientations start Sunday at the 6BC Botanical Garden
Orientations start with a workday, so please wear work clothes and leave pets and small children at home (just this once!)
We take membership responsibilities seriously. Please read our rules.
If you feel you cannot fulfill your obligations, please do not join, although you will always be welcome as a guest or volunteer.
Keys will be given out at the end of the workday.
Back to the 1980s (again) for 'Russian Doll'
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Thursday's parting shot
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 and NYC ...
City tries again with release of a Value Engineering Study for East River Park
Five days after East River Park Action (ERPA) filed a lawsuit against Mayor de Blasio and the Office of Management and Budget for the entire Value Engineering Study without redactions ... the city released a (mostly) unredacted version yesterday.
You can find a copy of the 300-plus-page report here. We haven't had a chance to comb through it just yet to learn what it was the city didn't want people to see. Concerned residents are curious why the city denied the existence of the report before releasing a mostly redacted version. We'll see how they did on the third try. (Blacked-out sections now are said to be for security purposes.)
A lawsuit filed April 2 asks for full disclosure of the much-discussed but largely unseen Value Engineering Study. Joining the lawsuit brought by East River Park Action attorney Jack Lester are Manhattan Borough President candidate Lindsey Boylan; and City Council candidates Christopher Marte, Erin Hussein, and Allie Ryan. The political club Grand Street Democrats also joined along with community activists.
They seek transparency, accountability and a re-examination of the massive flood control project to find alternatives that will preserve parkland.
As previously reported, ERPA's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request and an appeal finally unearthed the three-year-old Value Engineering Study. (This after the city denied there was such a report.)City Hall will be releasing more materials from its ESCR value engineering review today thanks to advocacy from my office & the Community Advisory Group.
— Carlina Rivera 利華娜 (@CarlinaRivera) April 6, 2021
We'll review these materials carefully and support the CAG in efforts they make around this needed resiliency project. pic.twitter.com/BkyEqbjmGQ