Behold the new Loisaida CommUnity Fridge

Photos by Stacie Joy

Organizers unveiled the Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry yesterday morning at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish on Avenue B at Ninth Street.

A group of community local residents and officials were on hand for the ceremonies... including Pastor Will from Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish and the Rev. Anne Sawyer from St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery ...

As previously reported, the nonprofit L.E.S. CommUnity Concerns is behind the launch of this 24/7 fridge and pantry. (Eleventh Street Workshop donated the refrigerator.) Per the organizers:

It will be guided by the philosophy of "take what you need, leave what you can," with the goal of providing relief to community members experiencing food insecurity, reducing food waste from local restaurants/groceries, and supplementing the non-24/7 food pantries in the area.

Organizers are also looking for local residents to help maintain the fridge and provide other types of administrative support. Find the volunteer form right here.

They are also accepting donations of fresh, healthy food, including canned goods. (Please label fresh food with date and ingredients.) Here is the form (link) for businesses/organizations to fill out if they'd like to donate any goods — either on a recurring basis or a one-time gift.

This will be the third local community fridge launched since the start of the pandemic ... joining the East Village Neighbors' Fridge and Pantry outside S'Mac on First Avenue and 12th Street and the one outside Overthrow on Bleecker Street near the Bowery. 

Gov. Cuomo lifts COVID restrictions; local vaccination rates top 65%

As you likely saw/read yesterday (pretty much everywhere), Gov. Cuomo announced that COVID-19 restrictions were immediately being lifted as 70 percent of New Yorkers age 18 or older have received the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccination series. (Read the fine print here.)

How is the vaccination progress faring in the East Village and adjacent neighborhoods? The NYC Department of Health provides a map of vaccinations by zip code. 

Here's a look at zip codes in this area for adults age 18 and over:

10009 

Partially vaccinated: 72.4 percent 

Fully vaccinated: 66 percent 

10003 

Partially vaccinated: 71.4 percent 

Fully vaccinated: 65 percent 

10002 

Partially vaccinated: 81.2 percent 

Fully vaccinated: 73 percent

And moving forward here's what the lifting of restrictions means, per the State:

The State's health guidance and New York Forward industry-specific guidelines — including social gathering limits, capacity restrictions, social distancing, cleaning and disinfection, health screening and contact information for tracing — are now optional for retail, food services, offices, gyms and fitness centers, amusement and family entertainment, hair salons, barber shops and personal care services, among other commercial settings. 

Unvaccinated individuals continue to be responsible for wearing masks, in accordance with federal CDC guidance. Consistent with the State's implementation of the recent CDC guidance, masks are still required for unvaccinated individuals. Further, the State's health guidelines continue to be in effect for large-scale indoor event venues, pre-K to grade 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and health care settings per CDC guidelines.

Everyone 12 years of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination. You can find appointments at this site.

The venerable Cinema Village reopens on Friday

Cinema Village, the historic theater at 22 E. 12th St. between University Place and Fifth Avenue, reopens Friday for the first time since March 2020.

And there were concerns that the theater, which has been here since 1963, would ever return... fueled in part by the sign in the front window in recent months — "we are closed for business." 

Back in March, owner Nick Nicolaou said that pipes broke in the lobby during the winter, prompting a major cleanup. (He reportedly called the lobby "a disaster.")

Cinema Village will fire up the neon signage and marquee with the 15th Annual Manhattan Film Festival.

With this, most local movie theaters have reopened... with the exception of the Metrograph, which is back with in-person screenings in September, and the Anthology Film Archives, which will continue with online programming for now.

Renovation reveal at the former Provident Loan Society building

Workers have removed the plywood that covered the windows and other sections of the former Provident Loan Society building on the southwest corner of Houston and Essex ... which has been undergoing a gut renovation this past year. (Thanks to the EVG reader for the tip!)

A worker at the scene said that this was going to be a broadcast production facility, but had no other information. And we don't know if this is accurate. Update: It's not. A place of assembly permit was recently created for an "eating and drinking establishment." (H/T Upper West Sider!)

According to approved DOB permits from January 2020, workers are here for a "general renovation of existing cabaret" with "no change to use, egress or occupancy."

Anyway, cutting-and-pasting from previous posts...  this marks a new era for the old (circa 1912) building that has been on redevelopment/demolition watch these past six-plus years.

As you may recall, longtime owners Elsa and Dunnie Lai unveiled plans several years ago — amid neighborhood opposition — to enlarge and convert the property into a 38-unit residential building with a 12-story addition atop the existing bank structure.

Those plans never materialized (the DOB did approve the building permits) ... and by July 2018, the building went on the market for $20 million as a "prime development opportunity," as BoweryBoogie reported at the time. No. 225 never sold, however.

In the past 25 years, a string of clubs and concepts have come and gone here. The space served as a studio for Jasper Johns in the 1970s.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• New renderings for the luxury building that will hang out over the Mercury Lounge

• Then and now: The Provident Loan Society of New York 

Tuesday's parting shots

There were several reports of chalk hearts around the neighborhood... tributes to Hash Halper, the artist known for drawing chalk hearts on sidewalks in the East Village and other parts of the city in the past few years. 

Halper — aka @newyorkromantic — died this week at age 41. (You can read our post here.) 

Halper told The New York Times in February 2018 that he draws the hearts "because he feels New York is losing its romance, with people holding phones instead of looking at each other." 

Steven took these photos in Tompkins Square Park...

The March Hare also left a hearts tribute outside the shop on Ninth Street...

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A post shared by The March Hare (@themarchharenyc)

Young red-tailed hawk branches out in Tompkins Square Park

One of the red-tailed hawk chicks got pretty far from the nest today ... exploring the branches and getting more comfortable with the whole idea-of-flying thing. 

Steven took these photos. This is roughly what 2 months old looks like. (The first hatch took place the third week of April.)

... and Mark H. shared this photo... the youngster is already making new — and, admittedly annoying — friends in the Park...

Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, had three chicks this spring. (Unfortunately, one didn't make it.)

RIP Hash Halper, aka New York Romantic

Hash Halper, the artist who helped beautify streets by drawing chalk hearts on the sidewalks around the East Village and other parts of the city, has died. 

According to the Art of Our Century Gallery, Halper took his own life. He was 41. 

The Gallery, where Halper had a solo show back in February, shared the following on Instagram: "He was a thoughtful, kind, peaceful and talented man." 

He just opened his second solo show last Thursday at the gallery Bento on Hudson.

Halper, aka @newyorkromantic, was often spotted chalking hearts on streets and sidewalks, showing struggling businesses some love along the way as well.

He told The New York Times in February 2018 that he draws the hearts "because he feels New York is losing its romance, with people holding phones instead of looking at each other." 

Halper drew his first hearts in 2014 while working at Kossar's Bagels & Bialys on Grand Street. "The reason I started drawing hearts all over the city is because I fell in love with a woman."

After he met the woman, he would pay homage to her by writing her initials, "MSB," along with hearts, on the sidewalks and buildings that lay along his route to work. "I wanted to infuse that romance into the city," he said.

The two eventually stopped seeing each other, but he continued on leaving the hearts — as many as 100 a day. 

According to the Times, Halper was raised in modern Orthodox communities in Philadelphia and Washington Heights and attended Yeshiva University "before becoming less religious in his 20s." 

Sold Magazine had this to say about Halper in May 2020:

Even in these turbulent times, Hash continues to give NYC the love it needs. He starts his day dedicatedly chalking out hearts on the streets, providing the denizens of the city with hope for a conclusive solution to Covid 19 and a restoration that things will resume back to normal. The city needs love right now, and Hash's hearts continue to fortify the flow of healing energy that is much needed, bringing light and positivity everywhere he goes.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, then please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources. 

Top photos from 2020 by Steven; bottom two photos via @NewYorkRomantic

Gas leak sidelines Hub Thai on Avenue A [Updated: Back open!]

Updated 5 p.m. Good news! Multiple readers report that Hub Thai is back in action!

Bad news for Hub Thai. The restaurant at 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street has been closed since last Wednesday. (Thanks to the reader who shared this tip!) 

There's a Con Ed notice on the storefront about a gas leak in the retail space. As such, the gas supply has been shut off for now.

As we've seen (here and here, for example), Con Ed-related gas issues can drag on. Hopefully, there can be a quick resolution here. 

Hub Thai just moved to the space from 105 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street in early March.

Chef Hans Asian Kitchen closes after a few weeks at 120 1st Ave.

Chef Hans Asian Kitchen has apparently closed after just a few weeks in business at 120 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

The quick-serve restaurant, offering a variety of noodle dishes and appetizers, had its soft opening on May 4. By May 26, they had updated the menu.

And now, someone has removed the Chef Hans signage and emptied out the interior ... and the space is for rent once again... (thanks to Steven for the photos)...  

Anyone out there try Chef Hans? The restaurant's Instagram account and Yelp page were awfully lonely. 

In April, signage for Chef Hans arrived here  ... this was after a March report @TradedNY account noting that Jian Bing Man, which specializes in Chinese crêpes, signed a lease for the storefront.

The previous tenant here, Doma Food and Drinks, a Korean bistro, didn't have much of a chance, opening in February 2020 — about six weeks before the PAUSE ... this was a new concept from the owners of the Tang, which opened in this space in July 2016. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• On second thought, Chef Hans looks to be the new tenant for 120 1st Ave.

Zum Schneider popping up in Williamsburg for the UEFA European Championship

Anyone who misses Zum Schneider, which held forth on Avenue C and Seventh Street for 20 years, can head over to Williamsburg, where the Biergarten and restaurant is popping up to show Germany's matches during the UEFA European Championship.

The Zum resurrection, as they put it, is taking place starting today at the former BIBA space at 110 Kent Ave. at North Eighth St. (And perhaps a test run for a full-time location?)

The schedule for now: 

• Tuesday, June 15 

2-11 p.m. 

Germany v. France, 3 p.m. 

• Saturday, June 19 

11 a.m.-11 p.m. 

Germany v. Portugal, noon 

• Wednesday, June 23 

2-11 p.m. 

Germany v. Hungary, 3 p.m. 

Visit this link for details about the food, drink and music.

Zum Schneider closed at 107 Avenue C in late February 2020 after 20 years in business. According to Zum Schneider owner Sylvester Schneider at the time, the co-op's lawyer stated that the building had no intention to renew the lease.

No. 107's storefront remains vacant, though there was that McDonald's gag.

Reminders: The Astor Place Greenmarket is back on Tuesdays now through Nov. 23

ICYMI! The Astor Place Greenmarket returned for the season last week.

From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can find the following vendors: 

• Kernan Farms Vegetables from Cumberland County, N.J. 
• Remsburger Honey & Maple Honey & maple syrup from Dutchess County, N.Y. 
• Wilklow Orchards Orchard and small fruits, vegetables, cider, baked goods and jams from Ulster County, N.Y.
• Runner & Stone Baked goods from Kings County, N.Y. 

This marks the second year for the market, located on the south plaza at Astor Place (Eighth Street-Lafayette). It will be here through Nov. 23. More details at this link.

Photos from last Tuesday by Steven!

At the Spring Zine Fair on St. Mark's Place

On Saturday afternoon, Printed Matter/St. Mark's and 8-Ball Community teamed up for a Spring Zine Fair along St Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

More than 40 local independent publishers and zine makers lined the block, which was closed to traffic. (There were also several collaborative events at community gardens throughout the neighborhood.)

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by to browse the array of creative and experimental publications... 

... and the organizers (from left to right) ... Mia Greenberg, Emmett Pinsky, Johanna Reitveld, Em Brill and Hayley Earnest. (Not pictured: Ryan Vasta.)

The Loisaida CommUnity Fridge opens tomorrow on 9th Street and Avenue B

The Loisaida CommUnity Fridge and Pantry will debut tomorrow morning at 11 at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish on Avenue B at Ninth Street.

As previously reported, the nonprofit L.E.S. CommUnity Concerns is behind the launch of this 24/7 fridge and pantry. Per the organizers:

It will be guided by the philosophy of "take what you need, leave what you can," with the goal of providing relief to community members experiencing food insecurity, reducing food waste from local restaurants/groceries, and supplementing the non-24/7 food pantries in the area.

The organizers are also looking for local residents to help maintain the fridge and provide other types of administrative support. Find the volunteer form right here. They are also accepting donations of fresh, healthy food, including canned goods. (Please label fresh food with date and ingredients.)

Trinity's Services and Food for the Homeless (SAFH) has served meals to those in need for more than 30 years. Last September, they launched College Food Pantry, which aims to help "address food insecurity among college students of all ages and backgrounds."  

This will be the third local community fridge launched since the start of the pandemic ... joining the East Village Neighbors' Fridge and Pantry outside S'Mac on First Avenue and 12th Street and the one outside Overthrow on Bleecker Street near the Bowery.

Details on the additional funding for the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project

The city has announced new details about plans for East River Park after the years-long gutting commences later this year. 

According to an announcement by Mayor de Blasio and published reports, additional funding — totaling $145 million — will allow for a new amphitheater (with roof), more amenities at Murphy Brothers Playground and a flyover bridge for the narrow bikeway at 14th Street.

In addition, Deputy Mayor Vicki Been confirmed in a letter that the Lower East Side Ecology Center's compost yard would be able to return to its longtime home upon completion of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project.

NY1 had more details on the amphitheater: 

The reconstruction project ... was set to demolish the current amphitheater and replace it with a smaller stage, albeit one without a roof... 

Now, an infusion of $4.83 million that was announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio will allow the city to create a roof structure for the amphitheater, said Ian Michaels, the executive director of public information for the city’s Department of Design and Construction, which is overseeing much of the park's overhaul. 

City Hall did not respond to a question about where the funding is coming from.

Michael Marino, the founder of Friends of Corlears Hook Park, which is across the FDR from the amphitheater, told this to NY1: "I don't think it should have taken this long for this to happen. I feel like every once in a while, after years of the community complaining about something, we get a little crumb, and that's supposed to appease us."

Marino said he is pleased that the amphitheater will have a cover of some kind, but is still concerned that the current plan does not include bathrooms or sufficient seating for performances. 

 A covered amphitheater would offer "that grandiose vision" for people entering the park, he said. 

Renderings of the new amphitheater show that it is considerably smaller than the current version, which can seat an estimated 2,500. Instead, the new space looks to hold 400.

Here is the list of other "improvements" that the city announced back on Thursday:

• $5.8 million to build a comfort station at Murphy Brothers Playground, a 1.27-acre park at Avenue C and East 17th Street. The playground was already scheduled to receive updated recreation facilities and flood protection. Other improvements to the playground will include a new basketball court, new synthetic turf ballfields, a new dog run, a new power source for the existing Little League scoreboard, and enhanced landscaping.

• $129 million, in a separate capital project, to the Department of Transportation to fully fund a future flyover bridge that will improve bike and pedestrian access through this critical part of the Greenway. The bridge will span the "pinch point" area of the Manhattan Greenway as it passes 14th Street along the East River, where the Greenway narrows to just a few feet wide to fit between the river, the FDR Drive and adjacent Con Edison facilities. The bridge construction will be coordinated with ESCR.

The announcements aren't likely to appease opponents of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project, who have demanded a "real environmental review" of the $1.45 billion plan to protect the Lower East Side and surrounding neighborhoods from a 100-year-flood event and sea-level rise. 

Opponents of the city's current plan — where workers will raze the 57.5-acre plot of land, bulldozing 1,000 mature trees and rebuilding the park atop eight feet of landfill — say there are better ways to preserve the park and provide flood protection, such as the one mapped out in the years after Sandy.

In late 2018, the city surprised community stakeholders by announcing a complete overhaul of a plan discussed over four years of local meetings.

In October 2019, the city announced that they would phase in the construction, so only portions of the park are closed to the public at any given time. According to various reports, the city has committed to leaving a minimum of 42 percent of East River Park open to the public. It is projected to be completed in 2025, a timetable opponents say will never be met.

As previously reported, the lowest bids have come in, and they've already exceeded the budget by $73 million, which doesn't cover the entire project. To date, the city has yet to select a contractor, a process mired in a lawsuit at the moment.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• City tries again with the release of a Value Engineering Study for East River Park

• Report: Lowest bids for East River Park construction are $73 million over budget 

• East River community group gets action on the release of (heavily redacted) Value Engineering Study

• Advocacy group: The city's Value Engineering Study for East River Park does not exist

Coyote Ugly ready to work it at new East Village home

The all-new Coyote Ugly is set to make its grand opening Wednesday at 233 E. 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

As we first reported this past September, Coyote Ugly permanently closed its home of 27 years at 153 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street. In announcing the closure, CEO and founder Lil Lovell had this to say in a video clip: "After sitting closed for six months due to COVID restrictions, we simply can't afford to pay the rent." 

This First Avenue location was the original Coyote Ugly — featuring bartop dancing, body shots and guilt for ordering water. There are now more than two dozen global outposts.

Lovell previously said that the new EV outpost would be "a little bit nicer" with "better bathrooms."

No. 233 was previously home to the Blind Pig, the sports bar/pub, which closed in June 2019. 

d.b.a. reopens today on 1st Avenue

d.b.a. is back in action today starting at noon here at 41 First Ave. between Second Street and Third Street.

This is the first day back for the 27-year-old bar since March 2020.

The same ownership team is also behind Milano's, which recently reopened on East Houston, as well as two other bars expected to be back soon — the Library (7 Avenue A)  and Doc Holliday's (141 Avenue A). 

EVG photo from April 

A smoke shop for 9th Street at Avenue A

Signage is up now for Villager Smoke Shop at one of the storefronts along 441-445 E. Ninth St. (aka 145 Avenue A). 

With this arrival, all six retail spaces here on Ninth Street are occupied... (Anine, which offers eyelash extensions, is the other most recent leaseholder) ... Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices and Ice Cream is in the Avenue A-facing storefront...

The previous newish retail tenants mostly vacated in 2019 in this Icon Realty-owned building.

H/T Steven!

Sunday's parting shots

A new era for table tennis with the frying-pan paddles... photos today by Steven...