A Repeat Performance, until July 31

[EVG photo; all other shots by Daniel Efram]

Photos and text by Daniel Efram

The wonderful East Village bric-a-brac store, A Repeat Performance on First Avenue between Ninth Street and 10th Street, will be closing on July 31 after 39 years in business.

In our ever-changing neighborhood, during an era of constant discussion surrounding the influx of short-lived businesses and the disappearance of some seminal mainstays, it is time for yet another of the latter to make its way into our memories and off of the streets.

A Repeat Performance has been a gem of a shop for quite some time. With its eclectic collections of old-school cigarette lighters, books, film slides, glassware, and recently even an old hand-cranked washing machine, it has provided me with never-ending escapism for my years in the vicinity.





The shop holds more significance than simply a reminder of what the neighborhood used to mean. A Repeat Performance has been perhaps the longest-running museum of the non-essential in my daily walk. Need an accordion, a slide viewer or some opera glasses? You may find them here.

It's a reminder of our family attics and basements, and the stuff we may have had to get rid of for lack of space, but still admire for the quality. This store is a reminder of days gone by, when artists could survive selling a uniquely artful selection of ephemera and maybe even meet a friend.

Beverly Bronson opened the store in 1980. Sharon Jane Smith arrived from the theater world in 1987 and hasn’t left.



“Since May 4 of 1987, I have worked with Beverly Bronson at A Repeat Performance. Now that Beverly has left this world I have to face the fact that I am not the businesswoman she was. It’s time for me to complete my stories of New Yorkers who stopped into the shop," Smith told me earlier this month.

Most recently Sharon showed me some beautifully shaped rocks that were being sold. These rocks were beautiful and looked like they were naturally carved, from a running stream in the Catskills, perhaps. She told me that the Knoephelmachers — Margaret and Joseph, a local couple — were stone collectors. These beauties came from the Sahara desert. Sharon has helped to find new homes for many. Sharon also mentioned her love for making tiling and mosaics, which is exemplified by the work she has done on the front door frame (see photo).



Go in and say hi to Sharon before July 31 and ask about the book she’s writing. You may walk out with a sweet stethoscope or typewriter.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Out and About in the East Village with Sharon Jane Smith

Station on 10th Street along Tompkins Square Park now one of the largest in the Citi Bike system

A work crew arrived yesterday afternoon to install more Citi Bike docks along Tompkins Square Park on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... EVG regular Daniel shared these photos...







Citi Bike announced in January that they are boosting service in the busiest parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn by adding 1,250 new bikes and 2,500 docks.

As noted last week, we've seen expansions at Sixth Street at Avenue B with 27 more bikes, Second Street at Avenue C (plus 25) and Second Street at Avenue B (plus 25).

With the extra 27 bikes added on 10th Street yesterday, this docking station is now one of the largest in the Citi Bike system...

Speaking of infill...

We just added 27 docks to our station at E 10 St & Avenue A increasing its capacity to 79 docks (one of the biggest in our system)!

Hello, beautiful. 😍 pic.twitter.com/VeXHS7rZTm

— Citi Bike (@CitiBikeNYC) March 12, 2019

An outpost of Original Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches arrives on Avenue A and 13th Street

An Original Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches has debuted on Avenue A at 13th Street... EVG reader dwg shared these photos from last night...





The Nicky's logo matches up to the one that's out on Lorimer Street in Williamsburg.

As you may recall, there once (circa 2009) was a Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches on Second Street just off Avenue A. The family that owned the Nicky's then sold the business, and it became Vicky's in 2011.

THEN. Vicky's closed in 2013. THEN! The Vicky's became a Nicky's, but it wasn't the original Nicky's that was here. Then the not-original Nicky's closed in 2015.

ANYWAY. In the process of trying to find out if this outpost is from the folks who ran the FIRST Nicky's on Second Street (as well as the now-closed location on Nassau Street).

The corner space on Avenue A and 13th Street was home to Inkstop Tattoo, which closed last summer after 21 years here. Owner Eric Rignall is now working out of Long Island City.

The building housing the now-closed Sidewalk remains for sale on Avenue A

The Sidewalk Bar and Restaurant closed after service on Feb. 23.

As previously reported, hospitality vets Laura Saniuk-Heinig and Alyssa Sartor are taking over the restaurant space. Work on that has yet to begin here on Avenue A and Sixth Street.

The Sidewalk still looks open — from a distance anyway. The lights are on inside, and I've seen several people try the front door then peer inside. (The gate is down on the bar side.) The sidewalk cafe tables and chairs are stacked on Sixth Street, seemingly ready for warmer weather...


[Photo from Monday]

In an email last night, Saniuk-Heinig said they're still ironing out details for the Sidewalk space.

Meanwhile, the building at 96-98 Avenue A remains on the sales market, per a tipster. The listing at Loopnet was first created in November 2017, and last updated on Monday.

Misrahi Realty has the exclusive listing. The current asking price is $11.9 million.

According to the listing, the floor area ratio (FAR) allows for one more floor to be added to the building. And per the listing: "The legendary location has seen many walks of life and now it can be yours. The building is a goldmine in the waiting."

Another look at that 5th Street ghost signage

Back in January, Derek Berg spotted this ghost signage that workers uncovered while renovating the storefronts at 317 E. Fifth St.

Derek shared these photos from yesterday from here between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... you can now make out the sign a little better — Cort Wines and Lager Beer.



Here's some building history via Village Preservation:

This five-story with basement tenement was built in 1867, together with No. 319 East 5th Street. The two buildings share the same facade design.

The present facade features a molded bracketed cornice, arched window lintels with dentils, bracketed sills, and a segmentally-arched door hood above the entrance that remains at the top of the stoop. The basement level storefronts feature galvanized iron cornices that were added in 1893.

Some EVG Facebook friends believe that Cort Wines and Lager Beer might have been the building's very first retail tenant.

Meanwhile, the under-renovation space is nearly ready for another tenant...



The listing doesn't mention the rent.



Ghost signage fans may want to get over there sooner rather than later to check out Cort Wines and Lager Beer.

EVG Etc.: Bid to protect the White Horse Tavern; ghost bike to remember East Village cyclist

[Early morning from Houston and Essex/Avenue A]

Village Preservation is urging the Landmark Preservation Commission to grant landmark designation to the interior of the White Horse Tavern, housed in a West Village building now owned by Steve Croman (Gothamist ... Curbed ... Eater ... JVNY)

Speaking of Village Preservation ... they are seeking nominations for a person, business, organization or place that makes in difference in Greenwich Village, the East Village or NoHo. The Village Awards is now accepting nominations here.

14th Street busway plan not getting much support, per leaked documents (Streetsblog)

Exploring the growth of the East Village Chinese food scene (WNYC)

East River Alliance forms out of city's stormproofing switcheroo (Patch ... previously on EVG)

The new era of vegan diners — includes an EVG quote (Grub Street)

We've only just begun: "Riders arriving at the Bedford Avenue station for their commute on Monday morning found the platform covered in thick dust, while MTA workers and cops all wore masks" (The Post)

Longtime graffiti artist Al Diaz receives unlikely recognition: "Mayor Bill de Blasio recently awarded him a signed and embossed proclamation thanking him for his street graffiti, in particular for his collaboration with artist Jean-Michel Basquiat." (The Wall Street Journal, subscription required ... listen to the EVG podcast with Diaz from late last summer here)

The Infrastructure on Film series (March 14-28) "gathers together a diverse array of films that explore the infrastructure of the built environment, the various systems and networks that are conceived, designed, and engineered to encourage the functioning of our societies..." Titles include Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi thriller "Snowpiercer" (Anthology Film Archives)

That Agnostic Front documentary, "The Godfathers Of Hardcore," is now available via Showtime On Demand (Blabbermouth)

About a favorite dish at Madame Vo BBQ on Second Avenue and Sixth Street (Eater)

... and cycling advocates installed a ghost bike for Chaim Joseph, the 72-year-old East Village resident who was killed by a hit-and-run oil-truck driver early last month on Eighth Avenue and 45th Street. Via the Families for Safe Streets Facebook page: "We learned of his beautiful acts of kindness, his commitment to social justice, his generous spirit and his deep respect for all living beings."

Art on A Gallery closing this summer after 7 years

The Art on A Gallery at 24 Avenue A at Second Street is closing this summer.

Here's their official announcement via Instagram:

After 7 years of happily serving up some of the finest underground art in the world, the staff at Art on A Gallery have made the decision to let go of our lease and close the gallery at 24 Avenue A.

One of the reasons, of course, is that like everywhere else in NYC the rent is too high, But beyond that we are ready to place more focus on the music end of the business, Wendigo Productions, LLC. To that end we will be moving to a smaller office space in the neighborhood and there will be no more regular art shows, maybe just pop ups here and there if inspiration hits.

But don't despair just yet! The lease isn't up until the end of July 2019, so we still have some awesome shows coming up until then. And we'll undoubtedly throw a killer final party to thank everyone for their love and support. We are eternally grateful to all of our artists and friends for the inspiration and community.

Wendigo, which produces live events, concerts and tours, and represents and promotes local artists, closed its retail-consignment next door last summer.

The news coincides with the sale of 24 Avenue A last month... The Sabet Group bought the building for $15.8 million, according to public records...



The Sabet Group also reportedly bought 236 E. Fifth St. last month for $23.25 million.

Wattle Cafe joins forces with Pure Green at 152 2nd Ave.

[Photos by Steven]

Wattle Cafe had its grand opening over the weekend at 152 Second Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street ... inside the space that also houses Pure Green and the I.V. Doc.

The Australian cafe serves a variety of coffee drinks and brunch items... their signature dish is a cacao waffle with avocado smash.



This is the second NYC outpost for Wattle Cafe, which also has a location on Third Avenue between 33rd Street and 34th Street. (You can read an interview with owner Ana Ivkosic at this link.)

Pure Green has had several roommates — Greecologies and PlantMade — since opening two years ago in the former Sigmund Schwartz Gramercy Park Chapel, which Icon Realty bought, gutted, added three extra floors and opened as luxury rentals.

Coming soon signage spotted for Plado on 2nd Street

Renovations continue over at 192 E. Second St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. Yesterday, EVG regular Salim spotted the signage for the new occupant — Plado, a Mediterranean-themed small-plates restaurant ...



The owners here also operate Vite Vinosteria, an Italian restaurant/wine bar in Astoria.

According to their questionnaire at the CB3 website for a beer-wine license from last summer, Plado will have 19 tables to accommodate 75 diners as well as an eight-seat bar. Their proposed hours of operation are listed as 10 a.m. to midnight daily.

The previous tenant was the gay bar Stairs, which closed as quietly as it arrived. Until December 2013, the space was home for 18 years to Il Bagatto.

Monday's parting shot

Today outside 17 Avenue A...

Spring forward, winter back

Spotted today on Ninth Street and First Avenue by William Klayer...

Grant Shaffer's NY See

Here's the latest installment of NY See, East Village-based illustrator Grant Shaffer's comic series — an observational sketch diary of things that he sees and hears around the neighborhood — and NYC.

Reminders: the Ottendorfer Library is back open

[Photo this morning by Steven]

The NYPL branch at 135 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street reopened this morning at 11.

The branch had been closed since last August so that workers could install a new fire alarm and life-safety system.

Ottendorfer is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Find a list of their free monthly events at this link.

And as a bonus, a 1930s-era photo of the branch via the NYPL Digital Collections...

Good Records NYC is closing, though the shop will continue to sell vinyl as Stranded Records

[Image by Arlene F. via Yelp]

Used and vintage-vinyl dealer Good Records NYC is closing on March 24 after 14 years in business.

However, on April 1, Stranded Records, a like-minded San Francisco-based shop that runs the Superior Viaduct label, will take over the space at 218 E. Fifth St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square.

Good Records owner Jonny Sklute explains in an Instagram post from Saturday:

Lots of things will remain the same. most of the staff is staying. most of the inventory is too. Stranded will honor Good Records gift certificates and trade credit for a period of 3 months — through the end of June. most importantly, there will still be vinyl records to dig and purchase and add to your collections, in the same bins, at the same location.

On a personal note: we had a great run in the greatest city, and it could not have been done without YOU. big up to all our customers, from the daily and weekly regulars to casual stoppers-by; all current and former staff, friends, allies, plugs, and simply great collectors from across the globe; thank you for making us your favorite, year after year, from 3rd Street to 5th Street, from the well-worn classics to the new discoveries to the wtf-unclassifiable; thank you for the laughs, the knowledge, the stories, the good vibes, and of course, your hard-earned purchases.

thank you for making our little shop a special and unique place in a world of rapidly increasing homogeneity. thank you for knowing and proving that vinyl is valid and dope and real and worth millions of dollars, long before big corporations agreed with us or saw reason to exploit those facts.

I am moving on, but the platter keeps spinning. I look forward to releasing more music on my new imprint — @thekeysystem — and working with Superior Viaduct on this transition and other creative endeavors.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Good Records NYC (@goodrecordsnyc) on Mar 9, 2019 at 8:52pm PST

Hanoi House expanding on St. Mark's Place

For starters, the Hanoi Soup Shop signage is now up at 115 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue.

As Eater first reported in late December, the operators of the Vietnamese restaurant Hanoi House at 119 St. Mark's are opening a soup-centric cafe in this spot. (Past tenants at No. 115 include the pop-up shop Mr. Bing, Water Witch Mercantile, Box Kite Coffee and the Tuck Shop.)

Meanwhile, they also plan to expand into the empty storefront next door to their current restaurant ... (this space was previously Five Tacos). The owners are on tonight's CB3-SLA docket for a liquor license for this space... the CB3 notice states the alteration here will include a new entrance, host desk, bar and waiting area...



According to their plan via the online questionnaire at CB3's website, the building's landlord will open the walls between the two spaces so that patrons can enter the restaurant from the waiting area. The landlord will "create a new residential corridor on the west side of the expanded space."

That expanded space will include an eight-seat bar and six-seat dining area.

Hanoi House opened in January 2017. Based on the expansion, business must be pretty good... Eater noted "it soon became packed for its hip vibes and uncompromising flavors" ...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Hanoi Soup Shop's on for 115 St. Mark's Place

The Annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant returns to the neighborhood for its 20th edition

[Fun With Fritz in 2018 by Walter Wlodarczyk]

After several years in exile, the Mr. Lower East Side Pageant is coming back to the neighborhood for the 2019 edition, said to be the 20th annual*.

Reverend Jen, the longtime MC, is hosting again this year. She shared details about this year's event, happening March 23 at Bedlam, 40 Avenue C between Third Street and Fourth Street.

Per her media advisory:

It's time for the annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant whereupon the women and gay men of New York and Parts Unknown choose one lucky man to rule the area South of Houston and East of the Bowery.

The 20th annual Pageant will prove to be an extra glamorous affair, much like the Ms. Universe Pageant, if all the contestants were hairy and liked Budweiser. To compete in this cutthroat Pageant, contestants need not live on the Lower East Side. (Because, no one can afford to anymore.) They simply must possess qualities, which would make them a proper representative of the neighborhood. (What those qualities are, we're not sure ...)

They also must prepare for the following three categories: 1.) One-Minute talent competition. 2.) Swimwear, and 3.) Evening Wear combined with Q&A. Contestants must show up no later than 8 p.m. to compete or, they can email Rev. Jen in advance.

The chosen Monarch will also receive a slice of pizza from Rosario's, a 6-pack of Budweiser and the knowledge that he has been chosen by the people. Runner-up will receive the dubious title of Mr. Tribeca and will get to wear a smaller vagina-shaped crown throughout the year.

Prizes will also be awarded for "Best Male Tits," "Best Nutsack" and congeniality. Appearances by past Mr. Lower East Sides and musical acts will make the evening especially magical.

The 20th Annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant
Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m.
Bedlam, 40 Avenue C near Third Street
$10 (free for competitors)

* One Mr. LES Pageant historian is disputing this claim, noting that this may only be the the 19th-and-a-half installment of the pageant, given that the 17th edition was stopped while still in the first round.

Previously on EV Grieve:
At the annual Mr. Lower East Side Pageant (in Queens)

Perk Espresso and Coffee Bar opens this week on 14th Street

Perk Espresso and Coffee Bar will make its debut tomorrow Friday here at 534 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Thank you Michael Paul for the photo and tip!)

No word yet about who the operators are... and other vital info, such as menu offerings.

This makes the second cafe to open along this block in recent months. Dua Kafe, serving Albanian-American cuisine, debuted in November at 520 E. 14th St.

No. 534 had been Tasty Tasty Chinese Take Out (and previously Tasty King) until August 2017.

Former No Malice Palace for rent on 3rd Street

For rent signs are now in the window of the renovated storefront at 197 E. Third Street west of Avenue B (in the former No Malice Palace space).

According to the listing at the Dartmouth Company:

Size: Ground - 1,212 SF + outdoor area | Basement - 1,145 SF

Asking Rent: Upon Request

Vented restaurant space available on trendy East Village block.

Landlord delivering brand-new glass storefront.

Located in Manhattan’s most exciting dining neighborhood.

The building that housed NMP had been on the sales market for the second time in three years. (Didn't see any sign of a recent sale here via public records.)

No Malice Palace opened in 1999. Owner Phil Sherman died in November 2016 ... various signs on the gate in 2017 noted that they would reopen, but were just "waiting on legal things to happen." NMP remained closed until early December 2017, when it emerged as a pop-up holiday bar called Donner and Blitzen's Reindeer Lounge. No Malice Palace returned then in January 2018 before shutting for good last April.

Plans for a bar called Down and Out never materialized here.

An EVG reader mentioned that a bar had opened in the space last fall... which prompted the arrival of the Laurel & Hardy Urban Etiquette Sign...

1st of the new businesses at 20 Avenue A is now open

As we've been noting, the former Chase branch at 20 Avenue A at Second Street has been divided up into four retail spaces (not three like the 20 Avenue A Watchers originally thought!) ... and the first business debuted last week... here's Halo Spa...



They offer spa-like things such as threading, waxing and facials.

Still waiting for the Grand Opening of Alphabet Pizza, which will serve up 99-cent slices.

And the corner space will be a deli-market —based on the refrigeration unit we saw workers wheel in early January...


[Early January]

Not sure yet what the fourth space here will bring. What pairs well with a deli, spa and 99-cent pizza? (You don't really have to answer that.)

Chase vacated this storefront in November 2015.

Sunday's parting shot

Photo on Seventh Street today by Derek Berg...

Week in Grieview

[This morning's view of Tompkins Square Park]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

Basics Plus is closing on 3rd Avenue (Monday)

The touching story of Terry and Charlie in I Am a Rent-Controlled Tenant (Thursday)

Reincarnations: St. Dymphna's set to return late spring-early summer on Avenue A (Tuesday)

Longtime East Village resident Frederic Tuten's "Young Life" (Wednesday)

Gabriel Stulman vying for former Great Jones Cafe space (Monday)

Fiaschetteria Pistoia returns to service after December fire (Friday)

This week's NY See (Monday)

Introducing Village Preservation (Monday)

Where Citi Bike has expanded on East Village streets (Wednesday)

Open house! MTA officials will explain what's happening during the L-train non-shutdown (Wednesday)

Claim: After 40-plus years, Moishe's Bake Shop has closed on 2nd Avenue (Wednesday)

The Ottendorfer Library branch reopens Monday (Friday)

The current state of 84 2nd Ave. (Tuesday)

The current state of 20 St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

Buffalo Exchange headed to Broadway (Friday)

Renovations taking place in the fire-ravaged former home of Yakiniku West on 9th Street (Thursday)

A visit to Now Yoga on 4th Avenue (Friday)

A Basquiat-at-the-Brant Foundation reader (Wednesday)

C&B Cafe debuts outpost on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

... and in future storefront-rental news, the Domino's outpost on Allen Street just south of Houston relocated to Stanton Street...



---

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Dance dance dance

New wheatpaste art — David Bowie, Madonna and Nile Rogers — spotted next to the mural wall on the Bowery at East Houston yesterday. (What connects the three? Rogers produced Madonna's Like a Virgin and co-produced Let's Dance.)

Here's an up-close look at the art, created by The Postman...





... and here's a sampling of other wheatpaste stickers by the Postman that have been around (spotted on either First Street or Second Street) these past few months...

Altered images: A site-specific installation by artist Kyoko Hamaguchi at mh PROJECT nyc on 2nd Avenue

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kyoko Hamaguchi (@kyoko.hmg) on Mar 7, 2019 at 6:59pm PST

The mh PROJECT nyc is debuting its fourth artist-in-residence this afternoon (from 4-8) in its viewing space at 140 Second Ave. (No. 306) between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street.

Here's more about the artist and what to expect in the mh space:

Kyoko Hamaguchi is a conceptual mixed-media artist who was born in Tokyo and lives and works in New York City. By utilizing her daily experiences and society’s systems in her artwork, familiar images are deconstructed and become anomalous. Her work takes form in many different materials including photography, sculpture and installation.

Hamaguchi will turn the whole space into a site-specific installation. She will investigate the ancient technology of the camera obscura as a system for making sculptural objects. This interactive installation will allow the viewer to engage and play with the images they see in the space. The aim of the project is to propose an alternative way of seeing that emphasizes an active approach to viewing rather than the passive one that has become the norm with the constant flow of images in our environment today.

Her installation will be at mh through April 12. The studio is open Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. and by appointment. (Enter the studio at 140 Second Ave. through the black door and press the #306 buzzer.) Find more details at this link.

Noted

The East Village residents who run Foxface, the sandwich shop at 80 St. Mark's Place, reported the following today...

View this post on Instagram

I hope this lovely couple get to enjoy the ipad they snatched from us today.

A post shared by Foxface (@foxface_nyc) on Mar 9, 2019 at 1:16pm PST

... and the money shot...

At Howl! Happening tonight: 'A Reading from the Old Neighborhood'

[International Bar & Grill, 119 St. Marks Place, 1986 © Ted Barron]

Tonight from 7-9 at Howl! Happening — "A Reading from the Old Neighborhood" ... via the EVG inbox...

Howl! Happening invites you to join us for a reading and fantastic music from the old neighborhood, featuring LES luminaries:

Samoa

Kurt Wolf of Pussy Galore

Poet legends David Huberman & EAK! Angie Glasscock

East of Bowery (which includes the photography of Ted Barron)

Darius James

Annecy TK

Puma Perl

…and many more

Host Drew Hubner is the author of "American by Blood," "We Pierce" and "East of Bowery." Produced by Kristin Mathis.

Find more details at this link. Howl! Happening is at 6 E. First St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

Signs of spring: Books for sale on Avenue A today

Jen Fisher, who has operated the book stand on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place the past five years, will make her 2019 debut this afternoon ... as she announced on Instagram...

View this post on Instagram

Hiiii East Village, missed you sweet book lovers. Fuck winter lol I’m calling spring. I’ll have the tables set up until the sun goes behind the building. (Early afternoon?🤷🏽‍♀️) 💙🦋🍄

A post shared by Jen Fisher (@vortexity_jen_fisher) on Mar 9, 2019 at 8:02am PST