Last Sunday mass at the Church of the Nativity on 2nd Avenue

Via the EVG inbox…

Sunday July 26, 2015 marks the last Sunday mass at the Church of the Nativity. Parishioners will broadcast the service live via Periscope (@NativityNYC) from the 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. masses.

The Archdiocese of New York has denied Nativity parishioners the chance to appeal saying parishioners didn't meet the 10-day deadline after the November 2, 2014 announcement. Parishioners say they didn't know of the deadline and weren't allowed to see their decree (official document with information on the closure) until December 22, 2014.

Parishioners are now asking the archdiocese for a shrine or chapel in honor of Dorothy Day, a former parishioner who's on the road to sainthood. Day is also the co-founder of The Catholic Worker. They submitted an official request to the archdiocese two weeks ago.

Read more about the Nativity's request for a shrine for Dorothy Day in the Times here and The Wall Street Journal here.

As part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York's massive reorganization, the Church of the Nativity is merging with Most Holy Redeemer on East Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

The Church of the Nativity is located at 44 Second Ave. between East Second Street and East Third Street. Church supporters think the property will be sold, "since it is in a prime spot at Second Avenue and Second Street that is attracting more affluent neighbors," per the Times.

The final mass will take place on Friday at 7 p.m.

Breakfast special

East Second Street and Avenue C … photo yesterday by ‏@Jason_Chatfield

The spiritual harmony of Katinka on East 9th Street

[Photo from May by James and Karla Murray Photography]

Nice feature in the Times about jazz musician Billy Lyles and his longtime companion, designer Jane Williams, and the shop they have run together since 1979 — Katinka.

As the East Village’s grit and rebel spirit have steadily given way to upscale businesses, one of the mom-and-pop places that have hung on since the 1970s is Katinka.

Mr. Lyles and Ms. Williams, who live in a railroad apartment upstairs, have kept prices low, even as their rent has risen. The shop’s spiritual harmony, they claim, has kept them solvent.

“This store is like a magnet — they all want to come in and get some energy, and Billy is the gatekeeper,” said Ms. Williams, who designs the clothing and travels to India to have it made by hand. “I take care of the colors and he takes care of the music.”

The shop, located at 303 E. Ninth St. just east of Second Avenue, sells Indian clothing, shoes and accessories … they usually open around 4 … with limited hours Tuesday through Saturday.

Read the whole article here. Find more of James and Karla Murray's storefront shots here.

Noted

New street art spotted this morning on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue…

Summer Streets start next Saturday

In case you missed this news from yesterday… Summer Streets start next Saturday, as the headline implied…

Here's the official Summer Streets About:

Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets. On three consecutive Saturdays in August, nearly seven miles of NYC's streets are opened for people to play, run, walk and bike. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation. In 2014, more than 300,000 people took advantage of the open streets.

Summer Streets is modeled on other events from around the world including Ciclovía in Bogotá, Colombia and the Paris Plage in France and has since inspired other such events around the world such as CicloRecreo Via and London’s Regent Street Summer Streets.

Held between 7:00 am to 1:00 pm, Summer Streets extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets, with easy access from all points in New York City, allowing participants to plan a trip as long or short as they wish. All activities at Summer Streets are free of charge, and designed for people of all ages and ability levels to share the streets respectfully.

For us here in Midtown South, the car-free, Street-Festival-Free zone includes Lafayette, Astor Place and Fourth Avenue…



And the pièce de résistance this year? A giant water slide in Foley Square via Slide the City…


[Random Slide the City photo via Slide the City]

Please note that you have to wait 30 minutes after eating before sliding.

Into the west

Photo this evening by Bobby Williams...

Lights on, lights off

Christo taking a break this evening in Astor Place... photo via 8E

East Village Spice back open on 1st Avenue

Spice is back in business at 71 First Ave. between East Fourth Street and East Fifth Street.

The Thai place had only just opened in the former home of sister restaurant Pukk when it had to close to upgrade its gas lines… a fairly rigorous process these days.

The Spice on Second Avenue and East Sixth Street closed on June 1.

Head in the Clouds

The Orb is back with a new record... and they'll be around here at the Bowery Ballroom on Sept. 11.

Here's one of their more well-known tracks... "Little Fluffy Clouds" from 1990.

[Updated] Schoolchildren protesting NYPD patrol tower in Tompkins Square Park

A group of kids with the Middle Project JustArts Kids Camp were in Tompkins Square Park around noon to protest the NYPD patrol tower that arrived on Tuesday...

EVG correspondent Steven said that the campgoers are from the JustArts day camp, a collaboration between the Lower East Side Girls Club and The Middle Project, part of the Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue at East Seventh Street. The campers were chanting "No justice, no peace."





Edited to reflect the name of the day camp and affiliations

Updated 7-26

There are comments here from both Lyn Pentecost at the Lower Eastside Girls Club and the Rev. Jacqueline J. Lewis from Middle Collegiate Church (and executive director of the Middle Project).

Here is what Rev. Lewis had to say:

I want you to know the Church and the Middle Project have not yet made judgment about the tower in the park. It just got there and we have not yet discussed it. When we know, we will say. In the meantime, we will not rush to judgment, we will engage with you and the police about it, and we will do all we can to help make our community safe.

So our little people were not expressing an official opinion from the adults who shaped the camp. What they did in the JustArts Camp was to talk about justice, to talk about what it means to be citizens of the world responsible to use our voices to create a more just society, and to reflect on/do art in service of justice. Some of our children have marched for justice issues. What they did in this case was a concert in the park, and chanted No Justice, No Peace. with their drums. The camp art and conversation was focused on justice--economic, racial, lgbti, environmental...

What is great about art is it creates a space for us to reflect, to project, to imagine. All who gathered likely had different interpretations of what was happening. And each child, each family represented, might feel different about the art, about the tower, about the city, about the events in our nation that call forth voices on police reform, safely, etc. We encourage not only justice work but freedom of thought, speech, etc.

I am fascinated by this conversation, and glad for it. It is the best result of our intent. Our voices, our art, invoke/evoke/provoke conversation, reaction, new ideas, dialog, resistance, encouragement. A good conversation helps us to know each other, to be stretched by each other, to find solutions together that we hope change the world for the good. I am thrilled that EV Grieve told of this event and hosted this conversation. Thank you!

Yes, Middle Church is justice forward, working to heal our souls and our world. The Middle Project is our non-denominational non-religious partner. It works to to teach ethics to children, youth, young adults and clergy that lead to a more just society. I know you share our passion for justice. We believe that when we know justice, we will know peace.

Thank you parents, thank you LES Girls Club, thank you Middle Project Team for helping our little people use their voices. Thank you neighbors for watching the concert, for watching out for all of our community children, encouraging them, being a village for them. And thanks for engaging in this dialog.

Former froyo spot will become body waxing center on 2nd Avenue, just because

EVG Waxing Center Correspondent Steven noticed that the signage is up for the next tenant at 120 Second Ave. — another Manhattan location for the (a?) Uni K Wax Center.



The Uni K folks offer body waxing, bikini waxing and other various waxings for men and women, per their website.

The address here near East Seventh Street is returing to its spa roots. After a short-lived time as the froyo spot Twister, the storefront housed a Spa Belles.

Previously on EV Grieve:
For whom the Spa Belles toll

EV Grieve Etc.: the Polish delights at G.I. Deli; new evening options at Jennifer Cafe

[Photo on 2nd Avenue by Derek Berg]

The Polish delights at G.I. Deli on First Avenue (The Village Voice)

A Fuku-Superiority Burger comparison (The Observer)

A look at Via Della Pace Pizza on St. Mark's Place (Eater)

East Village resident Lilly O’Donnell recalls a summer romance (The Washington Post)

More viewpoints on the Tompkins Square Park police tower (CBS New York)

From 1871 to 1874, the building at East 10th Street and Avenue D served as the Strangers’ Hospital (Ephemeral New York)

More about NYC's first kava bar, Kavasutra, now open on East 10th Street (The Daily News)

Video: A visit to Harry and Ida's Meat & Supply Co. on Avenue A (The Village Voice)

Gigi Li accused of election fraud in campaign for District Leader (BoweryBoogie)

Alex rethinks Patti Smith (Flaming Pablum)

Parents upset over removal of principal from Marta Valle High School on Stanton Street (The Lo-Down)

The global appeal of the Ramones T-shirt (The Independent)

12 hours of discussing "Paul's Boutique" (Dangerous Minds)

Kerouac's "The Vanishing American Hobo" essay (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

... and EVG reader Lauren passes along word that Jennifer Cafe on East Fourth Street and First Avenue is now open in the evenings... the proprietors are now in the third week of selling tacos, quesadillas and tortas after 6 p.m. ...



... and a reader notes that Dieci on East 10th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue has been closed for the last two days... there's a notice from the city saying that restaurant has been operating without some unspecified permit...