Scenes from National Pierogi Day at East Village Meat Market

Photos by Stacie Joy 

On Saturday, East Village Meat Market celebrated National Pierogi Day... with all sales from the pierogi going to Ukrainian relief efforts. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the longtime shop, 139 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and East Ninth Street, toward the end of a very busy business day... where there were just a few customers left before closing up... 

... she was greeted by longtime manager Andrew Ilnicki ...

Miracle on St. Mark's: Sidewalk bridge coming down outside No. 19-23

Photo by Steven 

Workers from the Department of Miracles are out this morning... removing the long-standing sidewalk bridge from 19-23 St. Mark's Place. 

The structure outside the 8-story retail-residential complex between Second Avenue and Third Avenue has been up for nearly six years. Google Street View shows that it arrived sometime between September 2016 and September 2017. (Thanks to the reader who checked that!)

Monday's opening shot

Thanks to EVG reader Jeanne Krier for today's sunrise pic... and today is Indigenous Peoples' Day... NYC public schools are closed, and many offices are closed too for the day.

Public art returns to the former CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center

Photos by Kenny Toglia 

Public art has returned to the former CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center on Ninth Street/10th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

There's a new installation on the property titled "Pumpkin Dome" via the Buckyteers, a radical art/engineering collective. The group is reclaiming the space for the community "and tells big real estate to back off," per a statement.

... group member Mark Chaos...

The five-floor building became the CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center after P.S. 64 left in the mid-1970s. New landlord Gregg Singer reportedly evicted the group in December 2001. He bought the property from the city during an auction in 1998 for $3.15 million, and it has remained vacant for 20-plus years.

There is a continued call to return the building for community use. 

Meanwhile, Madison Realty Capital has moved forward with a foreclosure against Singer ... and, as we first reported, the building is now being pitched for use as a medical facility or for educational purposes. 

H/T John Penley

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included... (with a photo by Derek Berg from one of the 9 days it rained last week... )

• Exclusive: This is the new tenant for the former Gem Spa space (Monday) 

• Long-vacant P.S. 64 now being pitched for medical use, educational purposes (Wednesday) 

• Police: Delivery man slashed in face at 7th Street and Avenue A entrance to Tompkins Square Park (Thursday) ... The Parks Department looks to be lighting up the 7th and A entrance to Tompkins Square Park (Friday) 

• Remembering off-Broadway theater legend Jeff Weiss (Tuesday) 

• The Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade, with a new name, returns to Tompkins Square Park (Monday) 

• Building issues temporarily KOs HAGS on 1st Avenue (Monday) 

• The annual Harvest Arts Festival is underway in East Village community gardens (Thursday) 

• A new art installation on Astor Place honors playwright-activist Lorraine Hansberry (Tuesday) 

• Openings: Irving Farm New York on 10th Street (Tuesday) 

•  A 1982 view of St. Mark's Place at 3rd Avenue (Friday) 

• Coming soon: the 'Meet Me in the Bathroom' documentary (Tuesday) 

• Jean-Luc Godard screenings this month at the Quad Cinema (Tuesday) 

• At the Blessing of the Animals at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish (Sunday)

• Construction watch: 351 E. 10th St. (Tuesday) 

• These 3 East Village restaurants make list of new Bib Gourmands (Wednesday) 

• Zee Convenience & Smoke debuts on Avenue A (Thursday) 

• New plaque honors Ginsberg and Burroughs on 7th Street (Friday) 

... and here's Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs and Gregory Corso at the Beat Poet Reunion. Photo by John Penley via the Tamiment Library at NYU...

-----

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

A plant exchange at the Tompkins Square Library branch this Tuesday

On Tuesday evening, the Tompkins Square Library branch is hosting a plant exchange.

Per the invite: 

Meet your neighbors while exchanging cuttings, seedlings and plant care tips! Bringing plants to the exchange is encouraged, but not required.

The exchange starts at 5:30 p.m. at the branch, 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Vehicle catches fire after striking pole at Houston and Allen

Police are investigating an early morning crash on Houston at Allen after a vehicle reportedly struck a pole and caught fire...

There's not much information at the moment. The Citizen app put the crash at 4:55 a.m. No word on injuries. 

As of 9 a.m., the NYPD had the westbound lanes of Houston closed from Ludlow-First Street across to Allen. 

And user video from the Citizen app...

Vehicle Ablaze After Striking Pole @CitizenApp

E Houston St & Allen St 4:55:24 AM EDT

Sunday's opening shot

Looks like the city is getting a little winter-weather-advisory practice in this morning. 

Otherwise, sunny and 63 today with light winds from the west/southwest...

EVG Etc. Remembering Chef Colin Alevras; assessing the mayor's street sweeps

• RIP Colin Alevras, who ran the the Tasting Room with his wife Renee on East First Street from 1999-2006 before moving to Elizabeth Street. He died of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. (The New York Times) 

• Assessing Mayor Adams' street sweeps six months later: "Property destroyed, people separated from services, no reduction in street homelessness" (1010 WINS) 

• Dysfunction in the Adams administration fuels housing crisis (The Post) ... And the mayor parties until late at Little Sister at the Moxy East Village (Page Six)

• State court keeps possibility of permanent outdoor dining program alive (Gothamist) 

• New program will convert unused newsstands to rest stops for delivery workers (The City) 

• Primary Wave Music has acquired a major stake in Joey Ramone's music-publishing assets for around $10 million (Variety) 

• Interesting behavior from Christo and Amelia in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggon Photography) 

• Fake heiress Anna Sorokin (aka Anna Delvey) is living in the East Village upon her release from prison yesterday (The New York Times... the Post) 

• The story of Angel Ortiz, Keith Haring's overlooked collaborator (i-D) 

• Some history of the recently opened Nine Orchard hotel on the LES ... aka, the old Jarmulowsky Bank building (The Forward) 

• Double Chicken Please on Allen Street named one of the world's best bars (6sgft) 

• The evolution of the egg cream (Eater) 

• Iggy Pop Covers Leonard Cohen's "You Want It Darker" (Pitchfork) 

• THIS WEEKEND: A few screenings left of Kathryn Bigelow & Monty Montgomery's "The Loveless" and Abel Ferrara's "The Addiction" (Anthology Film Archives)

Here's the 'Meet Me in the Bathroom' trailer

The first trailer for the "Meet Me in the Bathroom" documentary, which offers an archival journey through the music scene of early 2000s NYC, dropped the other day.

Let's get to it...

 

Based on Lizzy Goodman's 2017 book, "Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001-2011," the documentary reportedly focuses on 1999-2004 and bands that include the Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Interpol, LCD Soundsystem, Liars and the Moldy Peaches. 

The East Village and Lower East Side played a supporting role with venues such as the Mercury Lounge and now-shuttered spaces like the Luna Lounge, Plant Bar (where Post is now on Third Street) and Sidewalk Cafe. 

The film, directed by Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern, premieres on Oct. 30 at Webster Hall (tickets here) before a limited theatrical release (at the IFC Center on Nov. 4) and streaming debut on Showtime.

Saturday's opening shot

Who's your favorite moose? Sixth and A...

The annual JAPAN Fes New York is TODAY on 4th Avenue

Day 1 of the two-day JAPAN Fes New York takes place today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fourth Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street. (Day 2 tomorrow is on the Upper West Side.) 

Festivities include a noodle contest, which you can read more about here.

Oh, and the usual street fair stuff is happening on Fourth Avenue up to 14th Street.

The Parks Department looks to be lighting up the 7th and A entrance to Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy

Earlier today, the Parks Department placed solar-powered lights on Seventh Street and Avenue A at the entrance to Tompkins Square Park... this comes a day after a delivery man was slashed in the face during an attack yesterday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. 

As of around 8 p.m., the lights weren't on...

Also today, the Parks Enforcement Patrol and the Department of Sanitation cleaned up the area around the chess tables ... though it still seemed to be business as usual later in the afternoon.

Miss you

 

Makes Me Sick Makes Me Smile, the debut album from Pretty Sick, is out now ... the new video here is for the track "Self Fulfilling Prophecy." 

The band, with local roots, will be at Bowery Ballroom on Nov. 21. 

Read our Q&A with vocalist-bassist Sabrina Fuentes from last December right here.

P.S.

Today is Bandcamp Friday, where the platform waives its revenue share, and all earnings go to the artists.

Thursday to Friday on 5th and A

Workers spent a good part of the day yesterday powerwashing the graffiti off of the Con Ed substation on Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street...

And by this morning... (pic by Stacie Joy) ...

Before yesterday's big scrub...

Noted

Photo by Garrett Rosso 

Following a slashing at the entrance to Tompkins Square Park on Seventh Street and Avenue A yesterday afternoon... someone has created a crime scene with an outline of a victim and fake blood... an artist's rendering of what took place.

According to police, an Uber delivery man on a bicycle was slashed. It's not known what led to the attack around 3:30 p.m.   

The beat goes on with new plaque honoring Ginsberg and Burroughs on 7th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Last evening, Village Preservation unveiled a plaque outside the former residence of Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs at 206 E. Seventh St. between Avenue B and Avenue C, where the two lived in a third-floor apartment in the early 1950s. 

According to NYU's Grey Art Gallery, "Ginsberg took some of his best-known photographs of the Beats in this apartment, on the building's roof, and on the fire escape."

Speakers included downtown poet Bob Holman, Ginsberg memoirist and playwright Bob Rosenthal, and filmmaker and culture critic Regina Weinreich.

Here's Village Preservation Executive Director Andrew Berman... 

... and the new plaque... 

A 1982 view of St. Mark's Place at 3rd Avenue

Looking east on St Mark's Place at Third Avenue circa 1982... with a view of Tompkins Square Park in the distance ... photo by Peter Bennett. 

Check out more of Peter's work here. We previously posted some of Peter's EV photos from the 1980s at this link.

Thursday's parting shot

Moon pic from Seventh Street at (almost) Avenue A...

Police: Delivery man slashed in face at 7th Street and Avenue A entrance to Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Stacie Joy

An Uber Eats bicycle delivery man was slashed in the face this afternoon around 3:30 on Seventh Street and Avenue A, police sources said. 

The injured man was taken to hospital, but his condition is not life-threatening, sources confirmed.

It's not immediately clear what led to the slashing, which an EVG reader said occurred right inside the park entrance. 

Police have once again closed off the area around the chess tables steps away from this entrance to Tompkins, something which has happened multiple times in recent years. There have been numerous reader reports about drug use, stolen property and fights in this space.

The annual Harvest Arts Festival starts tomorrow in East Village community gardens

The 11th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival gets underway tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 7). 

This year's 9-day festival includes activities at dozens of East Village/LES community gardens, each featuring various performances, concerts, workshops and other related events. Check the LUNGS website here for the day-by-day, garden-by-garden schedule. 

The opening-night festivities are at La Plaza Cultural on the SW corner of Ninth Street and Avenue C... featuring "LGBTQ performers highlighting famed artists from the legendary Apollo Theater, with guest MC Lee Soldier Simmons." The show starts at 6:30 p.m.

These 'Friends' are looking to care for Tompkins Square Park

A group of East Village residents have come together to form Friends of Tompkins Square Park ... "neighbors working to build a new group to advocate for TSP." 

The group's first event is this Saturday (Oct. 8). Volunteers can meet at the Park office/fieldhouse at 9 a.m. to pick up trash and rake leaves.

On Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friends of Tompkins Square Park will gather in the main lawn/central plaza to plant flower bulbs and spruce up the garden areas.

Gloves and tools will be provided ... though you are welcome to bring your own favorite trash grabber or rake. 

City parks have faced maintenance staff shortages in recent months... which has been noticeable to East Village residents who frequent Tompkins Square Park. 

The Partnerships for Parks is mentoring Friends of Tompkins Square Park. 

Background: "Partnerships for Parks is a unique public-private partnership between City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks that supports and champions neighborhood volunteers by giving them the tools they need to advocate and care for their neighborhood parks and green spaces."

Zee Convenience & Smoke debuts on Avenue A

Zee Convenience & Smoke is up and running now on the SE corner of Avenue A and 13th Street. (Thanks to Steven for the top photo.)

The signage notes that available goods here include CBD/hemp, beverages, e-cigarettes, snacks and hookah.... and, per this interior photo by Lola Sáenz, paper towels and cigars...

We understand that ownership here operates other shops, perhaps Zee Smoke & Convenience (not to be confused with Zee Convenience & Smoke) on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Caffè Bene closed here in December after nearly six years in business.

And as previously noted ... back in May, the owners of Keybar on 13th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue were looking to relocate here, but the application didn't make it past Community Board 3. 

Wednesday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Enjoying the challah from C&B Cafe in Tompkins Square Park...

Noted

If you're looking for the Mo' Eats truck, it has set up shop in the bus-only lane on Avenue A just below Second Street. 

The truck, selling shawarma and kebab plates, was previously stationed on Sixth Street at Avenue A for most of August and September.

Long-vacant P.S. 64 now being pitched for medical use, educational purposes

Photo from July by Stacie Joy

The former P.S. 64 at 605 E. Ninth St., a point of contention in the neighborhood for the past 20-plus years, is now being offered for use as medical space or educational-related purposes. 

An EVG tipster points us to a new listing from late last week at LoopNet. According to the listing, 156,000 square feet of space is available for sale or lease here between Avenue B and Avenue C via Wexler Healthcare Properties at the Corcoran Group.

The listing states: 

The redevelopment and historic restoration of this century-old landmark, a former New York City elementary school, can be transformed into a variety of modern, amenity-rich opportunities, including:  

• Student Dormitories

• Education Center College

• Satellite Campus 

• Medical Center 

• Nursing Home 

• Assisted Living

The listing also notes that the property "can be made Article 28 compliant" and "leasehold condo structure considered."

The building became the CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center after the school left in 1977. New landlord Gregg Singer reportedly evicted the group in December 2001. He bought the property from the city during an auction in 1998 for $3.15 million.

As previously reported, ownership of the property had been in transition. In January, Supreme Court Justice Melissa Crane ruled that Madison Realty Capital could move forward with a foreclosure against Singer after years of delay. 

Madison Realty Capital reportedly provided Singer with a $44 million loan on the property in 2016. Court records show that he failed to repay the balance by its maturity date in April 2016, and by that September, the lender filed to foreclose, as reported by The Real Deal.

Now we're back to some familiar proposed uses for the space. Singer wanted to turn the building into a dorm (more here), though those plans never materialized. (In past years, the Joffrey Ballet and Cooper Union were attached to the project.) 

There was also a moment when the building could have been used for medical purposes: In March 2020, Singer reportedly offered the building to the city for use in treating patients with COVID. The city declined.

The address has multiple open fines and violations with the Department of Buildings, which still has a Stop Work Order (dating to August 2015) and a Full Vacate Order (from February 2019).

Meanwhile, there is a continued call to return the building for community use. 

The five-story building has been vacant for 20-plus years.

Beat happening: A plaque unveiling at the former residence of Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs

Tomorrow evening, Village Preservation is unveiling a plaque outside the former residence of Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs on Seventh Street. 

The event takes place outside 204-206 E. Seventh St. between Avenue B and Avenue C, where the two lived in a third-floor apartment in the early 1950s. According to NYU's Grey Art Gallery, "Ginsberg took some of his best-known photographs of the Beats in this apartment, on the building's roof, and on the fire escape."

Per the Village Preservation invite: 

We will install a plaque to commemorate the Beat Generation at a building where Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs lived early in their careers. The two and occasional visitor Jack Kerouac formed the nucleus of this influential post-war countercultural movement. We will hear excerpts from their work and a discussion of the importance of the Beat Generation and of these authors' early work. 

The festivities begin at 5:30. Village Preservation asks attendees to register here in advance. 

Ginsberg lived in multiple apartments in the neighborhood from the 1950s to his death in 1997, including 170 E. Second St., 704 E. Fifth St., 408 E. 10th St., 437 E. 12th St. and 404 E. 14th St.