Saturday, May 19, 2018

About the 6BC Botanical Garden orientation day


[Image via Facebook]

In case you had an interest in becoming a member of the 6BC Botanical Garden ... their (possibly) last orientation and workday is now Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (It was originally scheduled today; moved due to the rain.) A garden member shared this...



Find more details here. The garden is on Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Last night's parting shot



A kiss before the L on First Avenue and 14th Street ... photo by Dan Efram

Friday, May 18, 2018

'Eye' opener



Here's Philadelphia's Empath with "The Eye," a track from their recently released cassette "Liberating Guilt and Fear."

Empath opened for Iceage Wedesday night at Bowery Ballroom and will be at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 9 as part of the Northside Festival.

Mikey Likes It back in scooping action this evening

After a three-plus-week closure, Mikey Likes It is back in action ... 199 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street...

Return of the Mack... Daddy

A post shared by Mikey Likes It Ice Cream (@mikeylikesiticecream) on


Updated 5/19

They are open this Saturday afternoon... and there's a crowd... photo by Lola Sáenz...



Updated 5/21

Find more on the situation here.

Dance • Dance • Dance



Dance • Dance • Dance

Drums are drumming
Speakers speaking
Rhythms to the crowd

Costumes costuming
Prism colors
Moving right around

Bodies gyrating
Arms a-waving
Feet a rhythmic blur

This the most fun
That is happening
People will concur

Once a year
Just not enough
Then again not everyday

We need to
Catch our breath
To dance in other ways

When we are lonely
Perhaps sad and blue
Dancing is the thing to do

Find a corner
Put on some sounds
Then dance around and around

Now feeling better
Because we know a way
Of being happy everyday

Who says
We need to wait to dance
Till the next dance day

Dance • Dance • Dance.


peter radley


The 42nd annual Saint George Ukrainian Festival is this weekend



The festival officially begins this evening at 6:30 on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

You can find the full schedule of events here.

High times tomorrow with John Holmstrom's 'Stoned Aged' at Metropolis



East Village resident John Holmstrom, the co-founder, editor and illustrator of Punk Magazine, will be at vintage-clothing outpost Metropolis tomorrow signing copies of his new publication (zine!), Stoned Age.

Stoned Age "intends to bring back the fun of 20th century marijuana culture, when it was the choice of hipsters, beatniks, jazz musicians, hippies, and other misfits," per tomorrow's invite.

Holmstrom, who illustrated the covers of the Ramones albums "Rocket to Russia" and "Road to Ruin," will be in the store from 1-3 p.m., though there are activities happening all day at Metropolis, including DJ Drew Redmond "spinning old-school punk."

Metropolis is at 43 Third Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-and-A with John Holmstrom, founding editor of Punk Magazine

John Holmstrom on the CBGB movie and the East Village of 2013

RIP Mikey Evans



Mikey Evans, who spent his whole life as a resident of 190-192 E. Second St., died on Wednesday night.

I don't have a lot of background information at the moment. Evans had been in declining health in recent months.

Julio Pena and Beatrice Tosti di Valminuta, the husband-wife owners of Il Posto Accanto at 190 Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B since 1995, shared the news in a series of Instagram posts yesterday:

With heavy hearts we are wishing our good friend & brother Michael Evans a loving farewell. The Lifeguard of 2nd Street will now be our Guardian Angel ... Those of us that had the pleasure of watching Mikey from sunup to sundown will forever remember his beautiful energy as he entertained and elevated our small community.

Those of us at Il Posto Accanto and Il Bagatto don't know a 2nd Street without Mikey because Mikey was here first.

He was one of a kind, and lived and died on his own terms. We would like to celebrate his life with everybody.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Get well soon, Mikey

Happening tomorrow (Saturday): The Dance Parade and DanceFest



You may have seen the police barricades in place along St. Mark's Place and parts of Tompkins Square Park... all ahead of the 12th annual Dance Parade and DanceFest.

The Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. at 21st and Broadway, and heads down to Eighth Street/St. Mark's Place ... and eventually into Tompkins Square Park for the DanceFest...



Organizers say that 10,000 (or so) dancers from 150-plus organizations will be taking part in the parade. This year's theme: "The Cabaret of Life," which celebrates the repeal of NYC's 1926 Cabaret Law last fall.

Here's the official website with more info.

And in case you were wondering if the whole thing will be called off because of the rainy forecast... No!

Boutique health studio shaping up on 6th Street



Fit Ritual is a new boutique health studio opening tomorrow evening at 543 E. Sixth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy got a look inside the other day as workers were continuing to build-out the space...



Their Instagram account notes that Fit Ritual will offer fitness trainings, diet and nutrition, and massages. (The Fit Ritual website isn't active just yet.)

The studio's grand opening is tomorrow evening from 5-7 p.m.



The owners have been East Village residents since 1988, and previously operated Team Wellness & Massage Center in North Bergen, N.J.

This storefront was last home Love Shines, the boutique that closed in March 2017 after 20 years. Love Shines still operates as an online-only business.

New for lease sign at the old 7-Eleven space on St. Mark's Place



Just noting that a new for lease sign arrived this week at 37 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... this prime, 2,000-square-foot space has been vacant since the 7-Eleven closed here in late November 2013.

The listing at Winick notes that the rent is available upon request, and that the possession is "immediate."

Winick originally had the listing, before another broker took over at the start of 2017. Anyway, maybe this will be the year for a new tenant here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A few more details about renting the former 7-Eleven space on St. Mark's Place

After nearly 4 years empty, 37 St. Mark's Place may be getting new retail tenants

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Thursday's parting shot



Psychic reactions on Ninth Street by Dan Efram.

So long East Village Cheese



Workers removed the East Village Cheese sign today here on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue... Derek Berg shared these photos...





A clothing boutique will be taking over the space, per a source on the block.

The cheesemonger closed in early December after two-plus years at this address. More background on the Cheese drama here.

Noted

In case you saw some cyclists riding rather erratically on 10th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A this past week... there was a reason...

stay in your lane 🚴‍♂️🌖🌓🌔🐍

A post shared by Peter Sutherland (@petersutherland) on


Anyway! The DOT said that they were aware of the wonky bike path outline ... and, as NBC 4 reports, the DOT fixed painted over the errant line yesterday.

Updated 1 p.m.

EVG reader Daniel sends some photos of 10th Street now... he notes the wavy line has been removed, but not re-repainted ...







Daniel also shares how to make a 311 request to take care of street-line issues, including disappearing bike lanes. You may submit a form with the city here.

CSA sign-up time at the 14th Street Y



Via the EVG inbox...

Now's the time to get your 2018 share! Don't wait, sign up now! New for the 2018 season: Shares will now be delivered on a bi-weekly basis from early June through the end of October, for a total of 11 distributions.

Also new for 2018, shares will include seasonally available fruit, such as, strawberries, blueberries, peaches and apples! Farm share members will pick up a pre-boxed share filled with certified organic produce and fruit (organic when available) every other Tuesday in the lobby of the 14th St Y from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Each box will contain 8-12 different items, including vegetables, herbs and fruit! The cost of the share for 2018 is $415.

Sign up online at our website. (The website also includes contact information for Ben and Liz at Mountain View Farm and Alice, the distribution coordinator at the 14th Street Y.)

The farm was voted Best Local CSA for 2018 in the Valley Advocate Reader's Poll! This makes 10 years in a row that the farm has been voted Best Local Farm or Best Local CSA!

We look forward to another season with everyone! Thank you for choosing Mountain View Farm and supporting local agriculture...

RIP Beverly Bronson


[Image courtesy of House with Heart]

Beverly Bronson, a longtime East Village resident who owned the antiques shop A Repeat Performance, died on Sunday of cancer. She was 70.

The news came via House with Heart, the charity that Bronson founded in 2001 to aid impoverished children and women in Nepal.

Here's part of the message from House with Heart:

It is with heavy hearts we share the sad news that our beloved founder, Beverly Bronson, has died from cancer. She passed peacefully today on Mother's Day in Naples, Florida, at the home of her daughter, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Beverly lived an extraordinary life. From her early life in England to the decades she spent living in New York’s East Village to her work in Nepal, Beverly opened her heart to those in need. She walked and acted in kindness, compassion, selflessness, and most definitely, with determination.

Her bright spirit lives on in the lives of all she touched, including those of us who worked with her closely as directors of the House with Heart board. That spirit will guide us as we continue her work on behalf of the children and women in Nepal.

We send our deepest condolences to Beverly’s daughter, Kyla; her son-in-law, Matt; her grandchildren, Kyle, Hannah, and Ava; her partner, Mike Ogletree; and, of course, to the children and staff of House with Heart.

Bronson, a London native, moved to New York City in the early 1970s and worked in publishing and in the theater before opening A Repeat Performance in 1980. After five years on St. Mark's Place, the shop, offering a range of unique antiques and unusual items, moved to its present location at 156 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

She first came to Nepal in 1999 to volunteer as a social worker. In 2001, she found two young boys whose mother had abandoned them. The boys became the first two members of House with Heart.

In recent years Bronson had spent a good deal of her time in Nepal. Here's A Repeat Performance co-owner Sharon Jane Smith talking about Bronson in an Out and About in the East Village feature from 2015:

Beverly has branched out into a home in Kathmandu, Nepal, where she is on her way to now to do renovations and hunker down for the monsoon season. It’s the place that had the earthquake. The house is still standing and the kids are camped out in the yard, waiting for the house to be retrofitted. She’s there to offer support and she doesn’t even like to camp, but she’s camping out in the monsoon. God bless her.

A memorial service will be held in the coming months to celebrate Bronson's life, according to House with Heart board members.

Target sets July 21 opening date on 14th Street and Avenue A



Target has gotten specific with its "July 2018" opening date. The small-format store on 14th Street and Avenue A will debut on July 21, the company announced yesterday. (H/T Curbed!)

As reported last summer, this Target will take up two levels, selling men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, food (with grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, beverages), health and beauty items, and electronics.

The Target is the retail centerpiece (for now!) at EVGB ("East Village's Greatest Building!!!"), the nickname that Extell Development bestowed upon this retail-residential complex

Officials also said that the EV Target will employ 110 people.

Meanwhile, Target also announced that they're opening a similar small-format store — not too far away — on Second Avenue and 29th Street in Kips Bay Court next year...



By 2019, Target will reportedly have eight outposts in Manhattan.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Target is hiring on 14th Street and Avenue A

Time to rent at EVGB, where studios ('lofts') start at $3,695

Target offers details about its flexible-format store opening summer 2018 on 14th and A

Breaking (pretty much!): Target is coming to 14th Street and Avenue A (55 comments)

More on Target, and a look at its incoming home on 14th Street and Avenue A

Extell's new development at 524 E. 14th St. launches lottery for 50 affordable units

New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

The disappearing storefronts of East 14th Street

Hunan Slurp Shop now in soft-open mode



Signage at Hunan Slurp Shop, 112 First Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, points to a month-long soft-opening phase that started yesterday. (Per Eater, reservations are required for this first week.)

The chef, Chao Wang, reportedly spent the past 25 years as an oil painter.

Here's a little preview via Eater:

Now, he’s opening a restaurant inspired by his hometown of Hengyang in the Hunan province of China.

Wang’s Hunan version of mifen (rice noodles) will not be as “aggressive” in its spicy-sour flavoring compared to Yunnan soup noodles, according to a statement, instead looking to the ingredients such as fish for umami or subtler flavors. Mifen variations on the menu include a bowl with bone marrow and a Tonkotsu-style broth and another stew with pig’s feet. Cold and hot small plates are also on the menu, like braised chicken feet tossed in spicy oil and stir-fried smoked pork and bean curd.

The restaurant's media outreach included Urban Daddy, who called the Slurp Shop "a modern space for modern Chinese made by a highly talented, highly homesick chef-slash-artist."

You can find the menu and photos of the food here.



The storefront was previously a Ricky's, which closed in April 2016.

Previously

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Wednesday's parting shot



A freebie from outside LaMama... in recents days the theater-arts organization has been putting out items (old props, etc.) for people to take here on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Photo today by Derek Berg.

Lush life



Goggla shares these photos from Tompkins Square Park today... where the rain has left the Park looking greener than ever...