Mulching commences in Tompkins Square Park while a picturesque snow falls

The 2017 MulchFest/TreeCycle is officially underway in Tompkins Square Park... Despite a botched opening — workers pulled a Kanye and started the proceedings 15 minutes later than advertised — the Park was soon filled with the gentle purr of a mulcher mulching... as these photos by EVG Senior Mulching Correspondent Steven show...





So far, the crowds are fairly light to watch the proceedings... (guests are able to take home a bag of mulch — great in smoothies and acai bowls)



And there haven't been any takers (yet) for the MulchFest Premium Seats, a VIP package that includes Prime Seat Locations, VIP Express Entry and a MulchFest Poster autographed by the Deputy Commissioners of the NYC Parks Department.

MulchFest allegedly happens until 2 (p.m.) today ... and commences again tomorrow from 10-2.

Friday's parting shot(s)

First flurries of 2017! #woo

When Nature calls

The Toronto-based Tokyo Police Club have a new record coming out this year...and they'll be playing the Bowery Ballroom on Jan. 20.

This is "Nature of the Experiment" from the band's 2006 debut EP.

Reminders: You can watch your holiday tree get mulched right before your eyes this weekend

Juuuuuuuuuust a reminder (how could anyone forget???) that the annual MulchFest/Tree-Cycle is this weekend in Tompkins Square Park ... Saturday (tomorrow!) and Sunday (the day after tomorrow!), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Per the Parks Depo:

Join the NYC Parks, the New York City Department of Sanitation, and GreeNYC to recycle your Christmas trees into wood chips. These wood chips are used to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide. Or, take home your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree. More than 30,000 trees were recycled last year. Help us top this number!

Tompkins Square Park is an official chipping site. Back to the Parks Depo: "Watch your tree get chipped in front of you, and get a free bag of mulch to take home for your plantings!"

Will we actually get to take the remains of our tree home with us? Or will they just give us a random bag of mulch?

If you don't want to watch your tree get mulched, just leave it outside the Park...



Also! The Department of Sanitation "will collect and compost clean Christmas trees left at the curb" through Jan. 14. (The trees left curbside are also allegedly chipped, mixed with leaves, and recycled into compost for NYC's parks, institutions and community gardens.) Don't forget to remove all lights, ornaments, stands, beer cans and plastic bags from the trees left at the curb.

Rumors continue about the future of the empty lot at 89 1st Ave.

As we've noted (here and here, for instance) in the past few years, workers continue to poke around inside the long-empty lot at 89 First Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

Yesterday, EVG reader Michael Hirsch spotted a crew taking more soil samples.

As you may recall, we heard a rumor in the fall of 2014 that there were preliminary plans in place to build a 7-floor residential building here.

There still aren't any permits on file with the DOB noting any new-building construction, though it's hard to imagine that a prime plot of land would stay vacant any longer in this day and age...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing?

Drilling and soil testing commences at the long-empty lot at 89 1st Ave.

The 'Wild Women of Planet Wongo' returns to the Parkside Lounge

After a two-month run in the back room at the Parkside Lounge in November and December, the campy "Wild Women of Planet Wongo" is back for a three-month weekend residency starting tonight.

The sci-fi musical comedy (find the plot here) originally played in Bushwick in 2015. (The Times gave it a decent-enough review, saying "the entire cast ... is unstinting with its energy and enthusiasm.")

EVG correspondent Stacie Joy caught a performance at the Parkside during its first run and shared these photos...











Find ticket info here. The admission price includes a Wongotini (vodka, Midori, tequila and lime juice). And the performance is interactive, meaning audience members may find themselves part of the show.

The Parkside Lounge is at 317 E. Houston St. and Attorney.

East Side Ink moves a storefront away on Avenue B

Just noting that East Side Ink moved one storefront to the south at the end of December here on Avenue B between Seventh Street and Sixth Street... the shop has been around in one form or another since 1992.

The space was previously home to Tu Casa Recording Studio and most recently some pop-up art shows.

Winterizing the B&H

Just in time for the winter weather expected later tonight... workers put in an entryway enclosure this afternoon at B&H Dairy on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place... maybe help keep the soups on the lunch counter from cooling off too quickly...





Photos by Derek Berg

Lanza's is done as contents being auctioned off today

Lanza's closed back in July ... as the state's fluorescent SEIZED sticker (for "nonpayment of taxes") arrived at the restaurant on First Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street.

Since then, the old-world Italian restaurant, which first opened in 1904, sat languishing...

Unfortunately, the restaurant will not be reopening (a sign in the window said "closed until further notice"). The contents of Lanza's are being auctioned off the afternoon at 3. EVG correspondent Steven took a look inside...

Caffe Bene temporarily closes on Avenue A to expand its menu

Several EVG readers noted that brown paper went up in the windows at Caffe Bene on Avenue A at 13th Street.

Signs arrived out front later noted:

We're closed for renovations & will re-open Tuesday, January 10th

Coming soon: Burgers, steaks, quinoa bowls, tacos, quesadillas, etc.

Said one neighbor: "Sounds like they're shifting to a menu that'll cater more to late-night drinkers than the cell phone and laptop crowd."

This Caffe Bene location does have a beer-wine license. It opened here in late 2015... the coffeehouse chain is based in Seoul, South Korea. The previous menu for this Caffe Bene shows items including avocado toast, yogurt bowls, waffles and soups ... as well as a variety of coffee drinks.

H/T @PeterKimFrank

Previously on EV Grieve:
2 Caffe Bene locations coming to the East Village (45 comments)

Reader report: Rent hike washes away longtime Avenue A laundromat

Work starts on the 2 Caffe Bene spaces in the East Village

Brewing Soon signage arrives for Caffe Bene on Avenue A

Elvis Guesthouse space for rent at 85 Avenue A

Elvis Guesthouse reportedly wrapped up its nearly two-year run on New Year's Eve at 85 Avenue A.

The bar, located in a subterranean space between Fifth Street and Sixth Street, had featured an impressive array of DJs and live music during its time (which also annoyed a few neighbors).

According to the listing at Eastern Consolidated, the asking rent for the 1,100-square-foot space below Somtum Der is $11,500. Not to mention $275,000 in key money.

Elvis Guesthouse co-owners Zachary Mexico and Billy Jones, who operate Baby's All Right in Williamsburg, are opening a venue on Lafayette near Astor Place described as an "an indie music hall and restaurant."

A Sweet new mural for 1st Avenue bakery

Sweet Generation, the bakery at 130 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, turns two next week.

Ahead of that, here's a look at the recently completed mural on the shop's front gate...



Here's more about the project, which started in late November, in collaboration with FABNYC:

Facilitated by artist Lexy Ho-Tai, the mural will be designed and painted by seven of Sweet Generation’s Youth Program RISE participants. In line with FABNYC’s 2016-17 programmatic focus on sustainability, this FABLES collaboration celebrates the interconnected thriving of commerce, culture, and politics, as embodied by the hopes and dreams harnessed by the RISE youth for the future of their neighborhoods.

Since its inception, Sweet Generation’s RISE program for at-risk youth has been a steadfast and integral part of their mission-driven business. Amy Chasan, founder of Sweet Generation, brought her youth development work background to the bakery and concurrently launched the RISE internship program, as a commitment to personal and professional growth for young people. The mural process provides another creative and meaningful opportunity for interns to learn real-world, tangible skills while developing their interpersonal skills and building a network.

Thanks to EVG correspondent Steven for the photos!

That new old look at 2A

EVG reader Heather shared these photos from yesterday... showing the work continuing outside 2A on Avenue A and Second Street...



We've actually heard from quite a few curious readers in recent months about the ghost signage. Per Heather: "I hope these vintage glass ads are a beautiful discovered jewel from the past and not a horrible re-branding of the bar."

These are actual signs from a long-ago business here that sold children's clothing and novelties... They were first discovered late last spring when the roll down gates needed to be replaced. (See our post here from May.) And the folks at 2A said that the ghost signage will remain part of the bar's renovated facade.

The building at 25 Avenue A was built in the late 1860s ... and was first the home of the Teutonia Savings Bank. Read more about the history at Daytonian in Manhattan.

2A opened in 1985.

Colors Restaurant leaving Lafayette Street for the Lower East Side

[Via Google Street View]

Colors Restaurant, which specializes in gluten-free meals, is on the move from Lafayette Street to 178 Stanton St. between Clinton and Attorney.

Here's more about the new space via a media advisory issued on Tuesday:

The new location will also be home to expanded programs for restaurant workers. The location at 178 Stanton Street offers upgraded facilities to better support the Colors Hospitality Opportunities for Workers (CHOW) Institute, which provides in-depth and advanced professional training in both front- and back-of-the-house restaurant skills at no cost to either employers or employees. It also will also serve as an anchor for ROC United’s Sanctuary Restaurants movement, which empowers workers, employers and consumers to create discrimination-free restaurants.

The first incarnation of the restaurant opened in 2006 by several workers from Windows on the World, which was destroyed on 9/11. (You can read more background on the original Colors at Grub Street.) It's now operated by ROC-United (Restaurant Opportunities Center).

The more-upscale Lafayette Street location debuted in October 2014... and it was seemingly obscured by a sidewalk bridge around the same time.

Colors is expected to open Feb. 13 on Stanton Street. This address has been home in recent years to several high-profile flops, including Lowlife, Stanton Street Kitchen and the Moldy Fig.