Monday's parting shots

Photos by Steven

Here are two of Amelia and Christo's 2022 red-hawk fledglings in Tompkins Square Park... looking for something...

EVG Etc.: Ridership surge swamps Citi Bike; Velazquez endorses Rivera

Photo on 1st Avenue by Derek Berg

• The latest on the Open Restaurants Program, with comments from East Village restaurant owners (The City) 

• Labor shortage keeps Veselka from being open 24/7 (Insider) 

• At Zaragoza Deli & Grocery on Avenue A: "An East Village home for Mexican family recipes" (CBS New York) 

• Police look for hit-and-run scooter rider who struck 2 year old on Suffolk and East Houston (1010 WINS) 

• Ada Calhoun reflects on her East Village childhood (The Post ... previously on EVG) 

• Ridership surge swamps Citi Bike (Streetsblog) 

• Early voting underway (Gothamist) 

• Rep. Nydia Velazquez endorses Carlina Rivera in crowded NY-10 primary battle (Daily News via AOL) 

• Hanging with the red-tailed hawk fledglings in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography) 

• Lawsuit: Russian oligarch throws NYC developments into disarray, including 238-240 E. Third St. (The Post) 

• A profile of Mia Yoo, artistic director of La MaMa Experimental Theater Club (The New York Times) 

• Suspect in LES subway attack arrested in Baltimore on rape charge (The Post)

• Man starts fire inside Eldridge Street spa, injuring two people (CBS New York) 

• More about Loisida, the new LES-based clothing brand via Carson Lovett and cumgirl8's Veronika Vilim (Paper ... previously on EVG) 

• A Chinatown dining guide (Eater) 

• The Egg Rolls, Egg Creams & Empanadas Festival is coming back for its 21st edition (Thrillist)

First red-tailed chick takes maiden voyage

Photos by Steven 

The first of Amelia and Christo's three 2022 red-hawk offspring has fledged... leaving the nest yesterday for a sturdy-looking branch in a tree away from the nest. 

Looking good!

Steven reports that a second hawklet made it out of the nest, landing in another part of the tree "and kind of got stuck for a bit in the thin branches."

The three chicks have grown so quickly (the first hatch was April 17, per Goggla).

Expect a lot of young hawk activity (flying at low altitudes, for instance) in the weeks ahead.

Given some potentially unsteady flying, please check out this post via Goggla about what to do if you need to reach someone regarding an injured hawk, falcon or other NYC wildlife. 

Red-tailed chicks continue to dine-in

Photos by Steven 

While the three Tompkins Square Park red-tailed hawk chicks are getting closer and closer to branching out and leaving the nest, they're not ready to hunt and prepare their own meals. 

In this sequence, Amelia makes an in-nest delivery (no third-party apps here!) ... before taking for Park parts unknown...

The three chicks have grown so quickly (the first hatch was April 17, per Goggla) and appear to be in their mischievous plotting phase...

EVG Etc.: the new 10th Congressional District candidates; the pop-up version of Angel's Share

• Meet the new 10th Congressional District candidates, including former Mayor de Blasio and current City Councilmember Carlina Rivera (Gothamist ... City & State)

• City streets near schools are uniquely dangerous (Streetsblog) 

• Albany lawmakers are poised to approve a long-sought Preservation Trust for the NYCHA. Good news for residents or..? (The City)

• The city's eight beaches are officially open (NY1)

• A Q&A between novelist Ottessa Moshfegh and Iggy Pop (Document Journal) 

• Great pix of the three Tompkins Square red-tailed hawk chicks (Laura Goggin Photography)

• Former East Village bar Angel's Share will be a pop up at Hotel Eventi on Sixth Avenue near 30th Street this summer (The New York Times... previously on EVG) 

• Lady Wong offering an Indonesian rainbow cake for Pride Month (TONY ... previously on EVG) 

• About Loisida — "a new brand with a baroque take on Lower East Side style" (Vogue ... previously on EVG) 

• A UK look at "New York's hipster wars" (The New Statesman) 

 

• Couple tries to walk out of a Chelsea gallery with a Basquiat (Hyperallergic)

Once again, 3's company for Amelia and Christo, the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven

As you may have heard/seen, Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, have three chicks in the nest this spring.

Local red-tailed hawk documentarian Goggla first noted their arrival last week. Per her timeline:

The first hatch was April 17, but we were not able to see any of the nestlings until April 25. A second chick was seen April 27, and the third on April 30. 

Check out her site for more on the hawks — and other NYC wildlife.

The chicks are, as always, growing quickly... and coming into view for the hawkarazzi ...

This is the third consecutive year Amelia and Christo have hatched three chicks. Last year, just one of Amelia and Christo's three offspring survived. However, all three survived to fledge in 2020. 

Longtime hawk regulars may recall when Christo and his then hawk-pal Dora set up the nest in more precarious quarters, like an AC on the Christodora House (2014) or the Ageloff Towers (2015). 🙀

'Eye' contact

 

Surfbort released a new video today for "Open Your Eyes," from the band's Keep on Truckin' release ... and recruited skate legend Tony Hawk to take part... see what goes down. Or up.

EVG Etc.: Nor'easter updates; red-tailed hawk archives

Photo yesterday by Derek Berg

• Nor'easter updates (Gothamist)

• Marking the 50th anniverisary of the murders of rookie officers Gregory Foster and Rocco Laurie, who were gunned down on Avenue B and 11th Street while on foot patrol (Daily News) 

• NY mask mandate extended to Feb. 10 (NBC 4)

• NYCHA's shift to private management may drive evictions (City Limits) 

• Chef Jae Lee of Nowon on Sixth Street talks about the decision to give up drinking (Eater) 

• Goggla has an archive page dedicated to the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park dating to 2013 (Laura Goggin Photography) 

• Check out some Essential Cinema at Anthology Film Archives on Second Avenue and Second Street (Official site)

• More about Empire Cannabis Clubs, which recently expanded to the LES (NY1 ... previously on EVG) 

• More about the Kim's Video series at Metrograph (WNYC ... previously on EVG) 

• Hannah Traore Gallery debuts on Orchard Street (Hypebeast) 

• Reviews/thoughs on the "Meet Me in the Bathroom" documentary (Pitchfork ... Variety ... Brooklyn Vegan)

A young hawk hangs out on 5th Street

Photos by Steven

On Wednesday morning, a juvenile red-tailed hawk — likely migrating through the area — came to rest on a fire escape on this Fifth Street building.

There was a lot of curiosity, then concern, as the young hawk hunkered down here between Avenue C and Avenue D for nearly 20 hours. 

Eventually, some members of the local bird-watching community called Ranger Rob (aka Rob Mastrianni, a Manhattan Ranger supervisor), to come take a look.

It all ended yesterday without any further drama, however. Before Rob had the chance to leave for Fifth Street, the hawk, who did not appear to be injured, flew off to unknown parts.

EVG Etc.: Appreciating the photography of Alex Harsley; visiting a new Chinatown bookstore

Photo of a visiting Cooper's hawk in Tompkins Square Park by Steven 

• Staffing shortages temporarily shutter multiple CityMD sites, including the one on East 14th Street (The Associated Press)

• The latest on the rising number of positive COVID cases in NYC (NBC 4) 

• Teen who survived last Thursday's deadly fire in the Riis Houses recounts his journey to safety down the side of the building (Daily News ... previously on EVG) 

• Restaurant workers rally for better pay and benefits. It took place outside someplace that has done it right: La Palapa on St. Mark's Place, where owner Barbara Sibley pays a base salary of $15 an hour plus tips. "You can't put a value on morale," she told PIX 11. "Having a good morale and taking care of people is priceless." (PIX11 ... amNY) 

• An interview with Alex Harsley, the 83-year-old proprietor of 4th Street Photo Gallery (The Indypendent ... previously on EVG) 

• RIP Ed Higgins III, a longtime Ludlow Street resident and a founding member of the Rivington School collective (BoweryBoogie) 

• Remembering artist and curator Jenni Crain of the Gordon Robichaux gallery on Union Square West. She died from sudden complications related to COVID-19. She was 30. (Hyperallergic) 

• Yu and Me Books, a new bookstore in Chinatown at 44 Mulberry St., highlights works by immigrant authors (NPR) 

• An Amazon outage took out the Citi Bike system this morning (Gothamist) 

• Amelia and Christo keep busy in Tompkins Square Park (Laura Goggin Photography) 

• MANY people have asked if EVG knows what EV pizzeria is talking about in this Ryan Reynolds interview anecdote: "There's a pizza place in the East Village in New York that I've been going to for years. They believe I'm Ben Affleck and I've never corrected them." I have no idea! (NBC News)

Week in Grieview

Posts from this last week included (with a photo of Claudi in Tompkins Square Park Thursday via Steven)

• The East Village Neighbors Community Fridge is up and running again after vandal strikes (Tuesday)  

• Quick-serve veteran China Town closing on East Houston after 32 years in business (Friday) Retail shuffle continues at 250 E. Houston St.; Subway and Dunkin' next to leave (Wednesday) 

• Ray gets his day on Humans of New York (Monday) 

• March gallery expanding on Avenue A (Tuesday) 

• The 13th Street Blick is moving to a familiar art-supply spot on 4th Avenue (Wednesday) 

• Activity at the former Jules Bistro on St. Mark's Place (Friday)

• Wrapping up the summer hawk season (Thursday) 

• More details on the East 7th Street fire victims seeking help from their former landlord (Monday) 

• Appreciation post: The tree pit garden on 1st Avenue at 7th Street (Wednesday) 

• Neighborhood Loading Zones, bike lane outlines arrive along Avenue C (Tuesday) 

• Henri flooding in Tompkins Square Park (Sunday) 

• Construction watch: 650 E. 6th St. (Thursday) 

• A place to store your Stuf on 3rd Street (Thursday) 

• Move-in weekend for NYU (Friday) 

• A striped awning for the Tile Bar (Tuesday) 

• Lotto love for the East Village in this TV spot (Wednesday)

... and several readers have asked about the status of 86 E. 10th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue... the lower-level space was Black & White until last fall (and Wiz Kid Management was upstairs a time ago) ... haven't heard what's coming next...

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Wrapping up the summer hawk season

Photo of the fledgling atop St Nicholas of Myra on Avenue A by Goggla 

Seems like it's officially time to say happy trails to Amelia and Christo's 2021 fledging... the young one was last seen around the Tompkins Square Park home base eight days ago.

Goggla has a nice summer hawk recap, with photos and observations, right here. As previously reported, two of Amelia and Christo's three offspring did not make it this year.

And you can find some EVG hawklet coverage here ... here and here. 

Watching the neighborhood like a hawk

From near the top of Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... Christo and Amelia take a moment to spend some sunset time together away from their Tompkins Square Park home.

Goggla spotted the Park's resident red-tailed hawks here on Thursday evening ... watching over the land like hawks...

As Goggla documented, it was a challenging summer for the pair.

Two of their three offspring did not make it this year. Thankfully the surviving juvenile is doing well, hunting rats and trying to beat the heat. 

Per Goggla in an email: "They seem like a couple who has sent their kid off to college, and they're now kicking back, waiting for whatever is next."

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo of the Springs on Avenue A...) 

• E-cyclist killed by speeding hit-and-run driver on East Houston at Avenue B (Friday) 

• RIP Thomas McIntyre (Thursday) 

• The Ottendorfer Library branch reopens (Tuesday) 

• City offering free grab-and-go meals to New Yorkers in need this summer (Tuesday) 

• One of Amelia and Christo's red-tailed hawk offspring has died (Monday) 

• Classic University Place steakhouse Knickerbocker Bar & Grill is open once again (Tuesday) 

• 5th Street tenants speak out against construction as harassment and lead exposure (Thursday) 

• Evil Katsu bringing the sandos and sets to 9th Street (Thursday)

• Chinatown mainstay Dim Sum Go Go opening an East Village outpost (Thursday) 

• Reader report: Falling tree branch strikes man sitting in Tompkins Square Park (Sunday)

• Retail space on the market at 20 St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• Storm damage: reports of trees and limbs down; Ace Bar's curbside structure collapses (Tuesday) 

• Sale of 109 E. 9th St. made official (Wednesday) 

• Fun City Tattoo expands on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) 

• Stuyvesant Gourmet Deli announces itself on the corner of Avenue A and 14th Street (Tuesday) 

• The Village Voice said to be restarting a print edition (Monday) 

... and noting...

I think someone was looking for Huggy Bear on Stanton Street. CC: @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/rEHSVnLXMu

— Chris F. (@fnytv) July 10, 2021

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Damage to the Love Tree in Tompkins Square Park

One of the storms this past week caused damage to a honey locust tree in Tompkins Square Park.

Dubbed the Love Tree by some Tompkins Square Park regulars/birdwatchers, the honey locust located in the Cherry Grove along Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street is a favorite hang for Christo, the resident red-tailed hawk ... who through the years has been seen on the branches here with the various hawks in his life (Dora and Nora aka Not Dora) ... including current companion Amelia...

It has also proven to be a romantic spot for the hawks...

Hopefully, the Parks Department's assessment of the storm-damaged Love Tree won't leave Christo heartbroken.

Thanks to Kim Grover for the top photo and to Steven for the other pics and background

One of Amelia and Christo's red-tailed hawk offspring has died

One of Amelia and Christo's red-tailed hawk fledglings died last night. 

On Friday afternoon, the young hawk was spotted in a dazed state on a fire escape behind a building on Seventh Street. (Thank you to Lauren of 7th Street for sharing these photos.)

According to residents, the hawk "flapped clumsily out of a tree onto our fire escape. Clearly not well, damaged wing or leg?"

Rob Mastrianni of the NYC Urban Park Rangers transported the chick to the Wild Bird Fund on the Upper West Side for observation. There was blood in the hawk's mouth. However, as Goggla noted in her post today, an official cause of death has not been determined. The young hawk was said to have a spinal injury.

Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, had three chicks this spring. One died from unknown causes in May.

The surviving two fledglings had been quite active in recent weeks, learning to fly and hunt.

And this is not the first time that the resident red-tailed hawks have suffered the loss of their fledglings. In 2018 and 2019, at least one of the chicks died from rodenticide poisoning.

Signing off with part of Goggla's post:

[W]e've noticed several dead rats in Tompkins Square Park and in the surrounding neighborhood over the last couple of weeks. This is NOT normal and anyone finding a dead rat should report it to 311. If one is found within the park, please notify a park employee so they can dispose of it. We have concerns that with all the trash in and around the park the last several weeks, people could be using rodenticide. We currently have an outstanding inquiry with the Parks Department to confirm whether or not they are still employing nontoxic dry ice for rat control.

Sunday's parting shot

A red-tailed hawk on the cross atop Most Holy Redeemer on Third Street today ... thanks to Steven for the photo...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo by Derek Berg) ... 

• How you can help The Bowery Mission protect New Yorkers from summer heat (Monday) 

• A conversation with Lilly Dancyger, author of the East Village memoir 'Negative Space' (Thursday) 

• Help wanted: East Village restaurants look for staff, find few options (Tuesday) 

• At the 27th annual Drag March (Sunday) 

• A plant-based community fridge arrives outside Essex Market (Tuesday) 

• C&B debuts expanded space on 7th Street (Wedensday) 

• Days and Nights of Pride (Monday) 

• A red-tailed hawk rescue outside Whole Foods on East Houston (Wednesday)

• Report: Diner reviver Louis Skibar eyeing Odessa (Thursday) 

• The ridiculously narrow pedestrian passage at the NE corner of St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue (Tuesday) 

• A case of mistaken rat identity on the lawn in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday)

• Doc Holliday's serves again on Avenue A (Monday)

• Community Board 3 returns to in-person meetings starting in July (Monday) 

• Openings: Toasted Deli on 9th Street (Monday) 

• Former Paper Daisy space for rent on St. Marks Place (Thursday)

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6 posts from June

A mini month in review... with a photo of a juvenile red-tailed hawk by Derek Berg...

• Mount Sinai Beth Israel decides against plans to relocate and downsize (June 21)

• At fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church, it's moving day for the historic New York Liberty Bell (June 17) 

• RIP Hash Halper, aka New York Romantic (June 15) 

• Portraits from the Park Prom (June 9)

• RIP Penny Rand (June 2) 

• Tenants: Pigeons have made empty apartment a health hazard in this Steve Croman-owned building on 7th Street (June 1)

[Updated] A red-tailed hawk rescue outside Whole Foods on East Houston

This past Thursday, East Village resident Helen Stratford, a.k.a. Helen the Accordion Lady, was walking on Houston Street near Whole Foods when she noticed a group of bystanders trying to help a bird in distress on the sidewalk.

Several people tried to assist what turned out to be a female juvenile red-tailed hawk. Whenever anyone got too close, the agitated young hawk tried to fly off, landing in the street where a car clipped her.

As EVG correspondent Steven reports, Stratford took charge of the situation, first going into Whole Foods at the Bowery and commandeering two shopping baskets to help corral the hawk. She also asked Whole Foods staffers to find a large cardboard box and punch holes in it. 

Stratford and a bystander successfully got the hawk into the makeshift basket cage, where she covered it with her shawl. Stratford and a tourist from Austin, Texas, then called a Lyft and transported their passenger to the Wild Bird Fund on the Upper West Side. 

In a follow-up on Twitter, the Wild Bird Fund reported that the young hawk, estimated to be about a year old, "got into a fight with another raptor," which led to the collision on the sidewalk and street. 

Fortunately, the Wild Bird Fund also reported that the hawk "is stunned but not badly injured." A volunteer said that they would eventually release the hawk back into the wild.

For now, the Wild Bird Fund has given the hawk the nickname "Helen." 

Updated 6 p.m. 

The Wild Bird Fund released the hawk this afternoon in Central Park... Stratford can be heard in the background calling out "we love you" as the hawk flies off...

 

Photo by Phyllis Tseng via Twitter