Graffiti space giving way to Greek restaurant on 10th Street

Graffiti, the acclaimed small-plates (and small) restaurant from chef Jehangir Mehta, has not been open lately on 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

At first glance, it appeared that some kind of renovation was going on inside the space. In any event there hasn't been any mention of a closure — temporary or permanent — on the restaurant's website or social media properties.

Now there's a Community Board notice stating that an applicant is seeking a new liquor license (beer and wine) for the address...



The applicant is for the Athenian NYC Inc. The applicant's name is Kamal Kouiri, the wine director and general manager of Molyvos, a Greek restaurant on Seventh Avenue in Midtown. The questionnaire isn't online just yet with more details about what to expect here.

And no word on the status of Me and You, Mehta's space for private dining next door...



Mehta's Graffiti Earth remains open in Tribeca.

Graffiti opened in 2007, and drew praise for Mehta's inventive food pairings.

Mama Fina's signage arrives on Avenue A

As noted earlier this month, Mama Fina's House of Filipino Sisig, an Elmwood Park, N.J.-based restaurant, is opening an outpost at 167 Avenue A.

The coming-soon signage arrived this past week here between 10th Street and 11th Street...



Don't know too much yet about what to expect here. The family-owned Filipino restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Elmwood Park, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. (According to Yelp, they are cash only at their N.J. location.)

The Avenue A Mama Fina will have a beer-wine license. They are on CB3's SLA docket in November, though they will not be appearing before the committee.

Moonstruck Eatery closed at No. 167 in July 2016 after one year of business.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chelsea Thai coming to former Neptune space on 1st Avenue; Filipino fare for Avenue A

Week in Grieview

[Photo from Tompkins Square Park this a.m.]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

SLA says East Village resident's drunk brunch suit doesn't belong in court (Wednesday)

RIP Flatbush (Thursday)

More details on Ben Shaoul's condo conversion Liberty Toye, where you can buy with bitcoins (Monday)

9th Precinct looking for information on the recent Avenue C shooting (Tuesday)

A former intern revisits the summer of 1977 on 7th Street (Friday)

The latest I Am a Rent-Stabilized Tenant (Friday)

Construction watch: 79 Avenue D (Tuesday)

Additions to the RIP Memorial on Avenue A (Tuesday)

Le Sia signage arrives on 7th Street (Monday)

You only have about 5 more years to use and enjoy the MetroCard (Thursday)

A look at some of the Night Mayor candidates (Wednesday)

Bar Verde conversion underway on 2nd Avenue (Tuesday)

Deadline approaching for the 14th Street Y CSA Winter Season (Thursday)

Human Hunan Slurp Shop coming to former Ricky's space on 1st Avenue (Friday)

Out and About with Siobhan Meow (Wednesday)

534 E. 14th St. is for sale again (Thursday)

These are the 13 East Village restaurants on the 2018 Michelin Bib Gourmand list (Tuesday)

Lowering Joey Ramone Place (Monday)

Selling Eighty East Tenth (Thursday)

A bike rack bike theft? (Monday)

Eastside Market now looks permanently closed (Monday)

Gramercy Kitchen shaping up on 3rd Avenue (Friday)

... new ad campaign for the Moxy hotel chain, one of which is opening in a few years on East 11th Street... spotted at Brother's Candy & Grocery on 14th Street and Avenue B...



... and Key Food on A has unleashed the Thanksgiving bags...



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The real cost of subway delays through the years

Happy Halloween from the L train!

Photo by Grant Shaffer

Large horse head on the loose

[Photo from Oct. 21 by Derek Berg]

The large horse head that arrived outside Bonefade Barbers on Avenue A near Seventh Street back on Oct. 21 is now roaming around the neighborhood...

Some people (this thing is too heavy for a one-person job) apparently tried to steal it ... or maybe it was some kind of act of Halloween tomfoolery.

Anyway, they got as far as Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, as EVG reader Nancy Blum points out...

5 years of portable boilers on 6th Street

[Photo from yesterday]

The temporary boilers that arrived shortly after Superstorm Sandy remain rather permanently on Sixth Street at Avenue C outside the NYCHA-owned building.

In September 2014, Sen. Schumer and Mayor de Blasio announced that $108 million in federal funding would be used to replace temporary boilers in NYCHA buildings damaged by Sandy. Apparently they haven't been able to get over here these past three years. (The Daily News once reported that a temporary boiler costs $5,000 a month to rent.)

Anyway, a look back at the boilers that have roughly cost the NYCHA $600,000 to rent these past five years.

October 2014...



October 2013...



April 2013...



Early 2013...

I have a bad feeling about this

[Photo yesterday by Bobby Williams]

For the past two days, Casey Neistat, Jesse Wellens and crew have been filming around the East Village (and elsewhere?) for a "Return of the Jedi"-Speeder Bike Chase video for Halloween.

In the past two days, they've been spotted on Third Street, Avenue A and First Avenue.


[Photo via @vedantdragon]

Rebel scum!


[Photo yesterday by Bobby Williams]

I'll post the video once it's released...

I think we might win Halloween @CaseyNeistat pic.twitter.com/zyx9Gs4kgL

— Jesse (@Jessewelle) October 29, 2017

Updated 10/30

Here's the final product...

EV Grieve Etc.: Little storm-proofing progress since Sandy; more Select Bus Service routes

[Photo outside the Cure Thrift Shop on 12th Street by Derek Berg]

Five years after Sandy, city lags on storm-proofing, rebuilding projects (Daily News) ... and inside the failure of the Build It Back program (Curbed)

A visit to Streecha on Seventh Street (The New Yorker ... previously)

Kenny Scharf revisits his old East Village stomping grounds (The New York Times) ... and "Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art in the East Village, 1978–1983" opens Tuesday at MoMa (Info here)

A a "knock out game" assault on Essex Street (DNAinfo)

More about the new community garden next to Project Renewal (Patch)

City adding 21 new Select Bus Service routes, including on 14th Street (Town & Village)

Jean-Georges "delivers the city's worst new restaurant with Public Kitchen" at the Public Hotel on Chrystie Street ... "where a round of pre-dinner drinks for four, including a margarita whose aggressive sugars recall Kool-Aid demi-glace, costs $83." (Eater)

The Ron English pop-up at Toy Tokyo, 91 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street, debuted on Oct. 20 (coverage here) ... it will remain open through Nov. 20...


[Photo via @EdenBrower]

Noted

Microwave photo in Tompkins Square Park this morning by Steven.

Also, as a courtesy and reminder: When it comes to microwaving soups or stews, there's great potential for food to splash everywhere. Ideally, the best way to avoid issues is to first cover up your bowl with either a plate or a napkin.

But if it’s too late for that approach, and you see that your food has erupted or that you’ve left a mess in your wake, the responsible thing to do is to clean up after yourself. Now enjoy this new Park amenity!

Love and loss at the 'Halloween Parade'

Here's Lou Reed with a live performance of "Halloween Parade" (off the New York album) from 1989.

This Halloween is something to be sure
Especially to be here without you

There's the Born Again Losers and the Lavender Boozers
and some crack team from Washington Heights
The boys from Avenue B and the girls from Avenue D
a Tinkerbell in tights

This celebration somehow get me down
Especially when I see you're not around

Tomorrow in Tompkins Square Park

A free show in Tompkins Square Park ... details via the EVG inbox...

The lineup includes:
• Skitzopolis
• Sewage
• Bowery Boys
• Straight To Hell (Clash tribute band)
• Avante Duel starring VON LMO (he was the house band at Max's Kansas City and CBGB)
• Slide show by Seth Tobocman featuring materials from the upcoming Fight Fascism issue of WW3 Illustrated

Also: political speakers, literature tables, and the latest issue of The SHADOW and Time Warp

The fun begins at 2 pm sharp!

A few things to do for Halloween around here

[The makings of extra special Pumpkin Spice Lattes on 3rd Avenue]

Here are just a few of the Halloween-related activities happening in the neighborhood in the next few days... will continue to add to the list as submissions arrive ...

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Via the EVG inbox...

The parents and teachers of Little Missionary's Day Nursery and Sara Curry Day School (on St. Mark's Place) will host a Haunted Halloween Party at La Plaza Cultural Garden on Saturday (tomorrow!) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to the public.

Activities will include a haunted house, creepy maze, games, arts & crafts, face painting, tattoos, fortune telling, music by Willie Vargas, a beloved music teacher at Little Mish & Sara Curry, a photo booth — photos to be taken by Sara Curry parent and professional child photographer Greg Marinaccio. Plus cotton candy, food, drinks, and a bake sale of savory and sweets.

Everyone is welcome. Children and their parents are encouraged to come dressed in costume.

La Plaza Cultural Garden is at the southwest corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street.

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Happening tonight at Scumbags And Superstars, the clothing and gift boutique on Clinton Street between Rivington and Delancey ...



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John Carpenter's "Halloween" is the midnight movie this weekend at the Sunshine on East Houston. Details here.



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The Chinese Hawaiian Kenpo Academy, 122 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, is hosting a Halloween party tomorrow afternoon from 1-4. There will be food, games, prizes, etc., and it will provide a chance to see what they offer in the Academy's new location.



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Per Facebook: Carve your own pumpkin at the 6th Street and Avenue B Garden. This is a FREE Event that begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday (tomorrow!) and continues while supplies (the pumpkins) last.



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Mephiskapheles, the ska punk group formed in the East Village in 1991, is hosting the sixth installment of their annual Devil's Night Danse Saturday evening at the Bowery Electric. Find details here.



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Tuesday starting at 5 p.m., La Plaza Cultural is hosting Haunted Adventure Garden and Rat Race Maze. There is live music from the Rude Mechanical Orchestra at 6 p.m.

Per the EVG inbox:

The theme at this year's spooky Halloween adventure garden is Rats, because whether they rule or horrify, they're part of living in NYC. At this costume party, bring your whole family, as there'll be mystic fortune telling, face painting and thrilling coffin rides.

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Halloween night at the Theatre for the New City on First Avenue near 10th Street...

Join us for NONSTOP theater, cabaret, costume contest, ballroom dancing, scary room and MUCH MORE will bewitch the East Village at Theater for the New City's 40th Annual Village Halloween Costume Ball on OCT. 31! Tickets are $20. Details here.

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And A-1 Record Shop on Sixth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue has a lot of Halloween on display ... press play to see (and hear)...

👂🏼🎃🎃🎃👂🏼 #halloweenrecords

A post shared by A-1 Record Shop (@a1recordshop) on Oct 26, 2017 at 11:51am PDT