Monday, November 1, 2021
Oh-K Dog now officially coming soon on St. Mark's Place
Sunday, October 31, 2021
Week in Grieview
Sunday, October 24, 2021
Week in Grieview
• Barnyard Cheese Shop has closed (Thursday)
• Rue-B closes on Avenue B (Thursday)
• Office building for 3 St. Mark's Place appears stalled for now (Tuesday)
• Cheap-eats fave Papaya Dog is done on 14th Street (Thursday)
• Report: Police shoot at man threatening people with a knife on Houston and the Bowery (Friday)
• Via Della Pace owners opening an Italian deli on 4th Street (Monday)
• Signs of new development along the retail strip of 250 E. Houston St. (Monday)
• FA debuts on 9th Street; the green bench arrives in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday)
• Stromboli Pizza reopens (Friday)
• Blank Street coffee looks to be opening an outpost on 3rd Avenue (Wednesday)
• A campaign to landmark the building that housed A Gathering of Tribes on 3rd Street (Monday)
• Openings: Chichen Itzá on 10th Street (Tuesday)
• Sun meets the sidewalk again along this stretch of 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)
• Omakase sushi bar coming to former upholstery shop on 7th Street (Tuesday)
• A wrap at the Bowery Mural Wall (Tuesday)
• When life gives you a bulky sidewalk bridge, play tetherball (Tuesday)
• Reader report: new laundromat washed up before it opens? (Wednesday)
• A speakeasy and restaurant concept slated for 221 2nd Ave. (Monday)
Sunday, October 10, 2021
Week in Grieview
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Oh-K! Another Korean-style hot-dog chain to give the East Village a go
Sunday, August 1, 2021
Week in Grieview
Friday, July 16, 2021
There were a lot of feelings about Kmart closing
I hated this place but damn if it wasn’t there exactly when you needed it most. https://t.co/NowUTx0nbz
— Hannah Vanbiber (she/her) (@HannahVanbiber) July 14, 2021
The last time I was in here (ca. 2000), I had just left Other Music when I stepped in a pile of dog shit so massive it rendered my shoes unsalvageable. I left my shoes sitting in the pile, walked barefoot across Astor Place, into this K-Mart & bought a pair of fake Chucks for $15 https://t.co/qufptWM0dI
— Ben Boyer (@sleezsisters) July 14, 2021
RIP Astor Place Kmart, you were literally the worst. https://t.co/6GPcz3oW6M
— Jason Selvig (@jasonselvig) July 13, 2021
I once held the door open for Chloë Sevigny here. A part of my history. https://t.co/veASuznu20
— Angel Lopez (@Ariessoul329) July 13, 2021
This plus the death of the Kmart Penn station for the late aughts FIT girlies … end me https://t.co/l29yY3sNPH
— carina hsieh (@carinahsieh) July 13, 2021
rip to this alternate dimension of a place that inexplicably didn’t carry marshmallows https://t.co/iLKASo4kXh
— aloe fullee (@alliefulls) July 13, 2021
On hot summer days, I would stroll through this K-Mart while waiting for friends, who were running late—to not have to wait in the NYC heat/humidity. Rest In Peace to iconic relic. https://t.co/AqiddjKt1K
— BG (@TheBGates) July 13, 2021
I used to lowkey walk through here to kill time when I went to school in the area from 4th - 8th grade
— Toxic Crew (@ToxicCrewNY) July 13, 2021
RIP TO A FUCKING LEGEND https://t.co/x16XSymSIQ
When this moved into the East Village, it felt like end-times. https://t.co/zYO8UQLB6q
— Charles McNulty (@CharlesMcNulty) July 13, 2021
Don’t usually have sympathy for large chains but am deffo a bit emotional as this is where I repeatedly tried on items from the Adam Levine clothing line and cried about gender in the dressing rooms. I mean truly, THIS is where most of my gender CRISIS happened. https://t.co/YLwWg4sQKl
— Futaba Shioda (@FutabaShioda) July 12, 2021
roaming the aisles of this kmart in 2012 with my girlies texting our rolodexes “whats the address of that st mark’s deli that doesn’t card againnnn (:” https://t.co/ERMlEflDvV
— Vassileia Kazee (@vassileiafoxy) July 12, 2021
RIP I once went in here deeply drunk after doing $2 shots at The Continental thinking it would be the easiest place to find a public bathroom, couldn’t find it until I had substantially pee’d in my pants, and then bought new jeans and changed into them and threw my old ones away. https://t.co/l5omUaoYfr
— Jesse, Alternatively (@shartlito) July 12, 2021
Fun fact, this location was my FIRST job. I am in shock right now! https://t.co/6cEPy91dF0
— who? (@yeahokgurl) July 12, 2021
Wait, I need to return the Martha Stewart sheets I got there in the '90s! https://t.co/IBJl0acTvJ
— Robert David Sullivan (@RobertDSullivan) July 12, 2021
I once had a date and decided to wear a NuBra but couldn’t figure out how to stick it on and started sweating on the 6 train and one of the boobs migrated down to my rib. The Astor Place Kmart bathroom is where I finally tore the thing off and stuffed it into my purse. RIP. https://t.co/Wgd1ewrXW0
— Joyce Wu 吳 元 欣 (@oneandonlyjoyce) July 12, 2021
RIP Astor Place Kmart. You outfitted generations of freshman NYU students in the span of a week and then did seemingly no business the rest of the year. https://t.co/5reqxCNqgT
— Kirby Pate (@KPateNews) July 12, 2021
As a real piece of shit 18 year old, I used to steal 10 packs of Double A batteries from here for my Walkman that I had spray painted white and written "iPod" on in magic marker. https://t.co/Jc2nR6IwXo
— Easy Miyake (@popopopolio) July 12, 2021
Through thick and thin my faith in New York was always underpinned philosophically by the existence of the Astor Place KMart. This one hurts https://t.co/qw9uJNbgi9
— kelly farber (@kelfarbs) July 12, 2021
RIP to this incredible and bizarre place. Saved me so many times. She held out and gave NYC her all❣️ https://t.co/kwLtz9GtZ5
— Marlene Lenthang (@marlenelenthang) July 14, 2021
where my friends and i killed time between school and driver's ed 😢 https://t.co/G5jOTLeYaW
— Hannah Bloch-Wehba (@HBWHBWHBW) July 12, 2021
seeing fran lebowitz doing irritated pre-storm shopping at the astor k mart before hurricane sandy remains my favorite celeb sighting, RIP to this big box legend https://t.co/ajNnWHGPbI
— Virginia K. Smith (@vksmith) July 12, 2021
We're losing all the local businesses that made New York great. If this becomes a bookstore I'll cry. https://t.co/eBVg8KdDPh
— Matt Nedostup (@nedostup) July 12, 2021
Sunday, May 9, 2021
Week in Grieview
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Hot dog!? Crif Dogs reopens on St. Mark's Place
Friday, March 12, 2021
Concern for the barking dogs at 58 St. Mark's Place
I posted on Next Door, where I was able to find a man across the courtyard who had already posted about the dogs, and could identify the building and posted a video of the dogs barking and scratching at the back entrance, as well as someone who had seen the dogs moved into the same building at the time when the barking started.
Unfortunately, what we learned is that the dogs are being kept in the abandoned unit that formerly was home to Clay Pot at 58 St. Mark's Place. It's empty. So every time I report it to 311, they send a police officer who knocks on the door, no one answers, and they shut the animal neglect ticket.The Office of Health and Mental Hygiene isn't answering their phones or returning messages. The barking is near-constant day and night, and obviously very distressed and suffering. I have been posting flyers outside the door, which get ripped off, and I found a ConEd notice this week saying that there was no tenant in the unit but it was still receiving gas, which would be shut off.I (and the others on NextDoor) am now worried that if it gets cold again, or if electricity is cut off, those dogs will freeze to death, or die of sheer neglect in the dark.Is there anything else EV Grieve readers can think of? I have tried 311 and the 92nd St ASPCA (both of which send the complaint to the local NYPD precinct, which knocks and leaves), flyers, Next Door. I'm at wit's end and feel as though I am just waiting for the dogs to die tragically.
Sunday, March 7, 2021
Week in Grieview
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Another pizzeria slinging 99-cent slices coming to 14th Street
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Reader mailbag: What to do about the dog that barks all day long
Via the EVG inbox...
In the past few weeks there has been a dog (possibly dogs) that has been barking loudly, early, and all day from the shared courtyard toward the west side of the block between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place ... and First Avenue and Second Avenue.
It's a courtyard that is highly audible to everyone in the surrounding buildings, and people yelling outside the window haven't stopped whatever person is leaving their dog outside all day.
Has anyone else had this problem, or know what can be done to help? Without a specific address or knowing which building is providing the courtyard access, there's no real way to report to the city through 311. Any neighborhood help is appreciated.
Image via Emojipedia!
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Week in Grieview
Saturday, September 5, 2020
Now open on A: 99-Cent Fresh Pizza & Hot Dog and nearly open: Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices
In 99-cent pizza news, the 99-Cent Fresh Pizza & Hot Dog shop is now open at 131 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. Let us know if you try it. (For real.)
Meanwhile, that Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices on the next block at Ninth Street is looking very close to opening... with new signage up on the front windows (H/T Steven!) ...
and a Doughnado warning...
Monday, July 27, 2020
Here's the 99-Cent Pizza & Hot Dog signage on Avenue A
[Photos by Steven]
The signage arrived back on Friday here at 131 Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street...
Aside from pizza and hot dog, the small to-go shop will serve — per the sign — "sandwich, cheese bread and chicken wings."
And as previously noted, this will be the third 99-cent pizza shop on Avenue A between Houston and Ninth Street, joining Alphabet 99-Cent Fresh Pizza and 99¢ Pizza. (There's also FDR 99¢ Slice Pizza just off of A on Second Street.)
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Week in Grieview
[Photo on Avenue A by Vinny & O]
Posts from this past week included...
• How Henry Street Settlement is helping neighbors in need during the COVID-19 crisis (Tuesday)
• East Village Postal's raffle raised more than $20,000 for BLM-related charities (Monday)
• A letter about racial profiling and harassment in a residential building on 14th Street (Tuesday)
• A masked ball: At the start of the 2020 Drag March in Tompkins Square Park (Saturday)
• A second look at Phase II dining in the East Village (Thursday) Also: Now entering Phase II (Monday)
• Checking in on Blanche’s Lucy’s Tavern (Friday)
• St. Mark's Place at 3rd Avenue promises to be a hot construction mess for the next few years (Monday)
• This week's NY See panel (Thursday)
• Fireworks-related roof fires (Sunday... Friday)
• Activity at the former Eleven Consignment Boutique (Thursday)
• Checking in on Anwar Grocery (Wednesday)
• Primary Day with Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Tuesday)
• Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen is open this summer (Thursday)
• Nomad, the great restaurant on 2nd Avenue that has everything but the interest of food writers (Friday) Also: Cucina Di Pesce returns as a pop up at Nomad on 2nd Avenue (Monday)
• Today is the last day for the Essex Card Shop before a move up the block (Wednesday)
• First Lamb Shabu has closed on 14th Street (Monday)
• For those who survived remote learning (Friday)
... and it was a tough night for SUVs. Aside from the parked SUV that went into the sinkhole on Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue last night... two parked along Avenue A had their back windows smashed in...
[SUV pics by Vinny & O]
... and The Long-Lost Intern of EV Grieve points out that someone probably nabbed the last of the Cellino & Barnes ads...
[14th Street at 3rd Avenue]
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Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.
Monday, June 8, 2020
Perspectives on feeding the homeless in the neighborhood
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
This spring, I had the opportunity to document an East Village-restaurateur family's efforts (here and here) to feed the neighborhood's homeless.
The married couple, who own a restaurant that's currently closed during the COVID-19 crisis, have made two deliveries to date of boxed meals that they've prepared — a number that has increased thanks to donations from EVG readers.
On a recent day in May, I met up with them again for what will be the third delivery. We’ve learned a bit from our previous two runs and we have music on hand to make the rhythm of the work flow easier. (I’m partial to The Cramps and the three of us find a lot of in-common musicians to keep us company.)
We soon establish a plan, and map out how we hope the day might go. We’ve done all the shopping and the couple has done some of the meal prep the day before. We have contact info from a local resident in need whom we’d hoped to meet up with on the prior trip, and a special request or two, including dog food, which we didn’t have last time as well as extra sanitary supplies.
The delivery goes well, and after days of shopping and planning and hours of prep, handing out all the meals and kits is over in less than 90 minutes. We manage to meet up with the friend of a reader who made a donation in his honor, got the dog food to the couple and their puppy, and spent only a bit over what we had allotted.
This time, when we’re out making deliveries, I ask if the husband can answer a few of my questions. I’m curious about how he feels about the project and if his thoughts vary from his partner’s.
How has this experience been for you?
We came up with the idea for this project at the very beginning of the statewide PAUSE order. There have always been homeless people in the East Village and Lower East Side, but there has been a level of support for them in people who they can panhandle from.
When the city shut down, that interaction disappeared, and the homeless and their plight became much more visible. As business owners, we tried to help individuals by giving them food from the restaurant, but then they started coming back looking for more, and that was difficult for our staff to navigate.
Whatever efforts the city or other organizations implemented wasn’t noticed by us, so we felt we had to come up with a plan to address the problem on our own.
Having grown up in the EV/LES area in the 1970s and 1980s, hanging out in Tompkins Square Park and on St. Mark’s Place, I have seen homeless people all my life. Throughout the years I have thought of ways to help but I always just end up giving someone the change in my pocket or my leftover dinner from the restaurant where I just ate.
As we live our busy lives, balancing work and raising a family, rushing from one place to the other, sometimes it’s easy to let the homeless blend into the background. If we don’t think about them, they can become fuzzy shadows existing only in our peripheral.
But when we carried out our project, we got a glimpse of who they are. We found people from many different countries, many different ages, many different races, and genders. Putting them in the forefront, we discovered they were all people, who, for whatever reason found themselves in a difficult situation living rough on the streets.
Overall, my experience has been mixed. I am shocked there are so many homeless out there — just in our neighborhood. I am heartbroken to see that some are so young. Most people are receptive, some are hostile, some won’t look at me, some talk to themselves, some are in withdrawal, some ask for drugs, some ask for money, one woman asked for underwear, one man was distressed because he needed to use a bathroom, some are panhandling, some are sitting on the sidewalk in a tent or a cardboard box.
At the end of each day, I am physically and emotionally drained. Sometimes it’s hard to deal with reality, but I guarantee that whatever I’m feeling pales in comparison to how these people live every day. And it always leaves me feeling like there is much more work to do.
The community response from the initial story was overwhelming, with lots of people reaching out to privately donate funds and/or goods for this project. How did that inform your decisions about what to buy, how to shop, what to serve, and how best to deliver food and goods to those in need?
I will be eternally grateful to the folks who had the faith to donate, without an idea of who we were, or what we would do with the money. That we included feminine hygiene products and socks seemed to resonate with your readers, so we expanded in that direction.
Due to the virus, we asked for masks, which we included in each package. We included toothpaste and a toothbrush. So many people asked for a second meal, for a friend or relative or themselves, so we rethought the menu and created packages that could easily be two or three meals and easy to eat. We put everything into one paper shopping bag for efficiency. We were able to really stretch each dollar we received.
Being in the restaurant business, we bought unprepared food in bulk as well as containers at a restaurant supply market, and the rest of the items we bought at Costco and a dollar store.
We filled a paper shopping bag with all of these items, at a cost of about 10 bucks per bag.
In personally delivering these grab-n-go bags to people, you received feedback from the recipients. Anything that you’d care to share?
I discovered that people are much less wary if I approach them wearing an apron. Otherwise, I’m just some random tattooed guy walking up, and people can be understandably defensive. But when we get through that initial wariness and the guard drops, most everyone is receptive, happy that someone would give them something without question.
What stays in your mind from this experience? What might you tell other people who may be interested in helping?
What has really stuck in my mind was the last stop. We found a large community of homeless, 20 or more, and were able to give bags to all of them — except one. We were packing up and closing the car door when a young man walked up and asked for a bag. But we had already given out the last one.
My heart dropped — we searched the car and were able to give him a fruit salad, which was meant for someone else, and the rest of the sandwich I was eating for dinner, but I could tell he was disappointed, looking at everyone else smiling, taking things out of their bags. I was devastated and felt I failed him as I couldn’t look him in his eye to tell him we had no more to give.
So, my takeaway is this: whatever it is that we are able do, there is much more work to do. What we did — two full days of shopping and preparing 72 bags, which filled our car — was handed out in one and a half hours. It was over so quickly! What we did was a drop in the ocean. There is a serious problem out there, which has been exacerbated by this pandemic, and I hope that any new relief package includes help for all these people in need.
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Anonymous East Village restaurant owners continue to feed those in need of a meal
• Anonymous East Village restaurant owners distribute meals to neighbors in need