Midday pizza break

Andy Warhol and Keith Haring reimagined as Ninja Turtles. 

Art on First Avenue at Third Street by DeGrupo. 

Speaking of Keith Haring, his sculpture outside 51 Astor Place has been MIA now for a little more than a year. It was to undergo "minor conservation work."

Hamilton Fish Recreation Center returns with free annual membership offer

The Hamilton Fish Recreation Center officially reopens tomorrow (Sept. 14) for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

As EVG contributor Stacie Joy reports, you can sign up for a one-year free membership here at 128 Pitt St. just below East Houston. (Adult memberships are $100 to $150 annually depending on the facility. And the free membership is happening at all city rec centers.) 

You can bring proof of COVID vaccination and a photo ID for the membership (you can sign up through December). You can download a registration form here.

The facilities here are open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Masks are mandatory. 

Anyway, if you've never been here... they do have a fitness center with cardio machines, weights, etc. So in case you have a limited budget for a gym right now... 

This link has more about the available amenities.

East Side Coastal Resiliency work closes part of Stuyvesant Cove Park until 2023

Stuyvesant Cove Park north of 20th Street is now closed as floodwall work related to the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project continues along this corridor. 

This three-block section is expected to be closed until some time in 2023 (subject to change), per the flyers...

This part of this ESCR construction started at the end of 2020. This is considered Project Area 2, which encompasses work between 15th Street and 25th Street, including Asser Levy Playground, Stuyvesant Cove Park, Murphy Brothers Playground, as well as local streets around the Con Edison facility. (You can find more updates about work in this section at this link.)

As Curbed previously reported: "Stuyvesant Cove will be dismantled and replaced with an elevated berm near the FDR Drive, with a sea wall built along its bike path on the waterfront. Solar One plans to move into a newly constructed building within a much different landscape."

The work on Stuyvesant Cove Park will happen in two phases... We're apparently in Phase 2... 
 

So this is Project Area 2. The part of the ESCR getting more attention here is Project Area 1 between Montgomery Street and 15th Street, including East River Park. That work is expected to begin this fall. Trees that the city will cut down have apparently already been identified. (Updated noon: Word is circulating that workers have started removing several trees.)

 

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Kitchen Sink goes Greek, emerges as Eros

In recent months, paper has covered the windows at Kitchen Sink, the diner on Second Avenue at Fifth Street. 

The dining room appeared to be closed and under renovation, but they were serving in the curbside seats as well as offering takeout and deliveries. 

On Friday, new signage arrived (thanks to Steven for the photos!) ... and the place is now going as Eros, a Greek restaurant. (Same owners, we're told.) And the signage is identical to the Eros on Third Avenue in Murray Hill.

Not sure at the moment what the menu will be here — hopefully, some of the reliable diner fare will remain. The mostly renovated dining room is not yet open. The bar remains, though the TV sets have been removed.

The owners previously changed names from Moonstruck to the Kitchen Sink in the fall of 2015. 

Dig Inn apparently still has plans to reopen on 4th Avenue

Dig Inn has been sitting vacant since the NY State on PAUSE of March 2020 here on Fourth Avenue and 13th Street. 

While other locations of the health-conscious fast-casual chain reopened around the city, this one looked all but abandoned. 

However, new signage on the door promises that they'll "be right back" ...

Dig Inn debuted in this outpost in November 2019.

This has been a challenging corner for businesses since the longtime deli was rent-hiked out of here in November 2012. In recent years, the space has been home to Fresh & Co. ... Pie Face and, right before Dig, Sandwicherie. 

Reports: Police arrest suspect in string of groping attacks, including 3 in the East Village

Early Friday afternoon, police reportedly arrested a 37-year-old suspect wanted in connection in a series of groping attacks around the city, including three in the East Village. 

Reward posters had been posted on Avenue A and Sixth Street, where police say the suspect, named as James White, groped an 11-year-old girl on Aug. 26 at 5:40 p.m. 

According to the NYPD and published reports, White allegedly grabbed his victims while riding a red and black Fly-3 moped. The most recent attack took place last Monday in the East Village. 

White is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, endangering the welfare of a minor and six counts of forcible touching, according to court records and media accounts.

Week in Grieview

Posts from the past week included (with a photo of resident red-tailed hawks Amelia and Christo atop Most Holy Redeemer on 3rd Street by Steven) ...

• Esperanto has apparently closed on Avenue C (Tuesday) 

• Hidden 7th Street treasure Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen reopens for the fall (Wednesday) 

• The first retail space for Tom's Juice will be on 4th Street (Tuesday) 

• Albert's Garden celebrating 50 years on 2nd Street (Friday) 

• Metrograph sets Oct. 1 reopening date (Friday) 

• At the debut of O’Flaherty’s on Avenue C (Thursday) 

• Another end-of-summer appreciation: The grocery cart garden (Monday) 

• New awning alert at Via Della Pace's new 4th Street home (Thursday) 

• First sign of the Mayfly on East Houston Street (Tuesday) 

• Ladybird No. 2 debuts on 7th Street; Cadence expansion continues (Wednesday) 

• Jackhammers in tow, city workers investigate the Mystery Puddle of Avenue A (Wednesday) ... The mystery puddle in the middle of Avenue A (Monday) 

• Beloved Cafe shapes up on the LES (Thursday) 

• Treetops now visible above the plywood on lower 2nd Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Km1 returns to 58 E. 1st St. (Tuesday) • Beard Papa's still bringing the cream puffs to St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• The Brant Foundation debuts its next show, Julian Schnabel's 'Self-Portraits of Others' (Wednesday)

• Chichen Itzá for 277 E. 10th St. (Wednesday) 

• Plywood comes down to reveal Xing Fu Tang on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Friday)

... and a few scenes from the free show (via Mike SOS and F-Bomb) in Tompkins Square Park yesterday ... photos by Stacie Joy...

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Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

At the 10th Street Block Party

The 10th Street Block Party took place yesterday. 

As always, the long-running event (50 years!) took place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... with St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, a sponsor this year, providing the backdrop. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy checked out the local vendors selling vintage clothing, records, art, books, etc. ... not to mention pierogi from Veselka... and live music... 

EVG contributor Derek Berg also stopped by... he shared these photos...

Sadly, we hear that one of the neighborhood's other great block parties, the annual 9th Street A-1 Block Association Block Party, is not happening this year. Haven't heard anything official, but apparently, the city isn't making it easy to host one of these events.

An apparel-making workshop for kids this afternoon at the 6BC Botanical Garden

The 6BC Botanical Garden is hosting another event today for kids (under 16, per the flyer!).

From noon to 4 p.m., participants can pick one item — a tote bag, T-shirt or canvas — and create their own design to take home. The garden is supplying the paint and art supplies.

The 6BC Botanical Garden is at 630 E. Sixth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Saturday's parting shot

The Tribute in Light tonight as seen from St. Mark's Place and First Avenue ... thanks to @madisonulczak for sharing the photo ...

Sept. 11, 2021

Preparing for 9/11 ceremonies outside Engine Company 5 on 14th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue this morning.

Twenty years ago today,  the Company lost Manny DelValle Jr., a 7-year FDNY veteran who grew up in the Bronx. He was 32. (Here's more about him from his obituary in The New York Times.)

According to previous reports, 26 firefighters from the neighborhood's four stations died on 9/11.  

9/11 and beyond on the Bowery

Adrian Wilson (@planndalism) created this mural earlier in the week on the gate at 262 Bowery near Stanton Street. 

He invited members of FDNY Ladder 20/Division 1 on Lafayette Street to add finishing touches to the mural. This Instagram post has more background. 

Mural space curated by the East Village-based Lisa Project.

Friday's parting shot

Thak you to Deb Kadetsky for this photo tonight...

'Hertz' so good

 

The video for "Hertz," the latest single by Amyl and the Sniffers, dropped a few days back... the Australian band just released their latest record, Comfort to Me.

Tompkins Square Library screening Luigi Cazzaniga's '9/11: What I Saw'

The Tompkins Square Library is screening Luigi Cazzaniga's documentary "9/11: What I Saw" tomorrow afternoon at the branch on 10th Street. 

Here's more about the premiere of this film via the library's invite: 

A documentary masterpiece featuring rare footage shot on the morning of 9/11 by Italian artist Luigi Cazzaniga... While some of Cazzaniga’s now-historic footage of 9/11 has been shown on CNN, HBO, RAI, and other television networks around the world as well as the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in Lower Manhattan, Cazzaniga had never edited it into a film of his own. Until now. 

It was during the pandemic when Cazzaniga, a longtime correspondent for Italian television, was able to sit down with this heartbreaking footage and reckon with what he saw that day. With editorial help from Hernan Valle and producers Ilka Scobie and Exquisite Pandemic editor Rick Whitaker, Cazzaniga was able to actualize his vision for this nearly hour-long film in time for the 20th anniversary of that tragic event with so many global consequences. 

The in-person screening takes place tomorrow afternoon at 3. You can register to attend at this link. Masks are required at the branch, 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The 10th Street block party is happening tomorrow (on 10th Street)

The 10th Street block party returns tomorrow (Saturday!) to that lovely tree-lined stretch between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., you can find antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing (no tube socks or tube steaks!) and music, featuring Michael Lydon and Ellen Mandel. Veselka will also be offering up some pierogi. And we're told that St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery is serving as the sponsor. 

Last year's event was cancelled due to the pandemic. And if our math is accurate this would be No. 50 for the block party!

Thanks to Doug for the pic!

Albert's Garden celebrating 50 years on 2nd Street this Sunday

Albert's Garden is celebrating its 50th year coming up on Sunday... when you can stop by the space at 16-18 E. Second St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery between noon and 5 p.m. for some music and refreshments...

And it's a chance to check out the variety of plants, flowers and ferns... not to mention a redbud tree and a small pond with several goldfish (no fishing please) and the bird mural by Belgian artist ROA.

Per the garden's website:

Help us celebrate fifty years of serving the community and welcoming strangers to our small miracle: a picturesque garden that grew from rubble. Sit on welcoming benches, stroll on meandering paths, enjoy the tall trees, rustic walls, and shrubbery, and delight, as many birds do, in this small spot of nature we all need and love.

And as Ramones fans likely know... East Village-based photographer Roberta Bayley shot the Ramones here for PUNK magazine... an iconic image used for their debut record in 1976.

Find more garden history here.

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Metrograph sets Oct. 1 reopening date

The Metrograph returns to in-person screenings on Oct. 1, management of the independent two-screen movie theater on the Lower East Side announced yesterday. 

This marks the last theater in the area to reopen its auditoriums to moviegoers since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Like other theaters, proof of vaccination and masks are required for entry. 

The Metrograph, which has been streaming an array of interesting films (not to mention the Metrograph TV App), will reopen with a new 4K restoration of Andrzej Żuławski's horror cult classic "Possession." (But Sam Neill was so nice in the "Jurassic Park" films!) 

The Commissary at Metrograph will reopen this fall too. The restaurant is currently hiring. 

Find the theater down at 7 Ludlow St. between Hester and Canal.

Image via @MetrographNYC