Friday, February 14, 2020
A 'Red' letter day
NYC's own Pom Pom Squad dropped a timely new single yesterday for "Red With Love." There's a video too ⬆️
resolve
resolve
we are just a shadow
cast across life
all that does disturb us
heartbreak and strife
all our assumptions
getting in our way
let us become the light
a shadowless day
would it be enough
to love another
is that enrichment or bluff
loving yourself is harder
taking a greater time
self forgiving ardor
becoming the one
that you love
•
peter radley
EVG Etc.: NYC's pink buildings; Fiona Silver's 'Hot Tears'
[Valentine's eve on 3rd and A]
• Study finds that the rate of poverty in NYC remained eight points above the national average (Gothamist ... Fast Company)
• Opposition to the proposed Hotel Special Permit Requirement for the area south of Union Square (CityLand ... Village Preservation)
• Behind the scenes at Veselka (6sqft)
• A feature on residents who live in pink buildings, including at 218 E. Fifth St. (The Post)
• Looking at the architectural cherubs in the East Village (Off the Grid)
• Local singer-songwriter Fiona Silver has a new EP out today (Official site) Watch her new video for "Hot Tears" here.
• Amelia and Christo work on filling the nest (Laura Goggin Photography)
• The ongoing Director's Cup series at the Village East includes "The Big Lebowski," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Do the Right Thing" (Official site)
• And depending on your mood, the Quad is offering up "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" and "Sid and Nancy" tonight for Valentine's (Official site)
• The newish Wegmans in Brooklyn now offering delivery to parts of Manhattan (NBC New York)
• Remembering Punk magazine’s “Patti Smith Graffiti Contest” from 1976 (Dangerous Minds)
... and the newest attraction in Tompkins Square Park — a (at-the-time steaming) compost pile that arrived yesterday...
[Photo by Derek Berg]
[Photo by Steven]
Things that go boom in the night: As Bush Tetras prepare for their 40th anniversary show
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
There’s another band practicing in Rivington Music Rehearsal Studios at 188 Stanton St., Room 3 on Friday night at 6, which is when NYC legends Bush Tetras are supposed to begin their own two-hour rehearsal.
The four members of Bush Tetras are prepping for their upcoming 40th anniversary show at le Poisson Rouge on Feb. 21 with 75 Dollar Bill opening.
The post-punk no-wave band, with roots in the East Village, is Dee Pop, Val Opielski, Cynthia Sley and Pat Place. While waiting for the room to open up they decide to sign a copy of their 2018 album Take the Fall.
I get a sneak peek at the big show’s potential setlist before Dee alerts the current members of Room 3 that they are officially over time.
Once inside, Cynthia sets up some percussion instruments on a shelf and tosses down a pack of cough drops while Pat tries out her new guitar strap and sets up her foot pedals. Val takes off her shoes and pads around the space barefoot setting up her much-loved bass, which she tells me she once left on the subway accidentally (it was returned!). Dee peels some tape off the drum kit to help Cynthia hold up the show flow and they all settle in to start the business of rehearsal.
[Cynthia Sley]
[Dee Pop]
[Pat Place]
[Val Opielski]
The space is tiny, and the time is limited so after snapping some shots (and one quickie video clip of “Snakes Crawl”) I head out. Room 3 isn’t soundproofed, so I get to hear the band as I walk toward the front door, stopping to take a photo of the band’s RMRS portrait, which hangs in the hallway.
You can keep up with the band at this link. And you can hear them live on WFMU's The Evan "Funk" Davies Show next Wednesday night at 9.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Japanese variety store Teso Life coming to the former St. Mark's Market space
[Photo by Steven]
Teso Life, a Japanese variety store, has signed a lease to open an outpost at 19-23 St. Mark's Place. The shop will be located in the former St. Mark's Market, which closed here this past October between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
Per the Teso Life Instagram account, the shop "offers the widest selection of quality accessories, beauty and lifestyle products from Japan."
This will be the fourth NYC location for Teso Life. And they'll have some nearby completion with Kosumosu, which sells Japanese beauty and health-care products at 37 St. Mark's Place. (It took over the space from the like-minded Shibuyala, which left after less than a year.)
As for No. 19-23, St. Mark's Market opened in 2003 in the mall-like building that replaced layers of history at the address that included the Dom, the Exploding Plastic Inevitable (featuring the Velvet Underground as the house band) and the Electric Circus.
Previously on EV Grieve:
St. Mark's Market is dead
Houston House shapes up on East Houston Street
Construction at the Houston House, 298 E. Second St. just west of Avenue D, continues...
There's a lot more information about the 8-story condplex — "inspired by environmentally friendly passive house standards" — at the HH website since our last visit.
For instance:
Interiors were designed to maximize space and natural light, and many of the units have dramatic, unobstructed views of One WTC and Lower Manhattan. Amenities include breathtaking views, part-time doorman, a state-of-the-art Butterfly Mx virtual doorman system, bicycle storage, and a package room.
Each apartment boasts private outdoor space and an array of high-end fixtures and finishes. Specific features include private keyed elevator access, gorgeous wide plank hardwood floors, triple glazed floor-to-ceiling windows with northern and southern exposure, high ceilings, Energy Recovery Ventilator Systems, Miele washers/dryers with heat-pump technology, and stunning kitchens equipped with eat-in peninsulas, statuary quartz countertops, a matching backsplash, custom Italian cabinetry, pantry space by ALTA, and a suite of fully-integrated Miele appliances.
A new East Houston landmark, Houston House is just steps from numerous parks and public gardens and a continually evolving collection of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. It is close to the brand new Essex Crossing development, and is a short walk to the East River Promenade...
Another time we'll note the "evolving collection of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops" that are "just steps" from this building.
HH features several floor-through units with either two or three bedrooms. The one residence listed online starts at $2.8 million. There are interior renderings galore at the site.
As for the outside ...
[Zakrzewski + Hyde Architects]
This property was most recently the Houston Street Beer Distributors. The parcel fetched a little more than $7 million in the fall of 2015, per public records.
Houston House will have a new neighbor one of these days. Construction started in the empty lot next door back in November on a 14-story affordable housing complex. The building will include 45 rental apartments affordable to low and middle-income New Yorkers.
Previously on EV Grieve:
298 E. 2nd St. latest development site up for grabs
East Village now minus 2 beverage distributors
Something brewing (demolition) for former beer distributor on East 2nd Street
[Photo from August 2016]
A new tenant for 157 2nd Ave.?
[Photo by Steven]
There are hints of activity at the rather beleaguered restaurant space at 157 Second Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
The for rent sign has been removed... and paper now covers the front windows. We haven't heard any info on a new tenant just yet.
As noted in previous posts on No. 157, this has been a challenging space to make work for any length of time.
Last August, the Marshal seized Savor Por Favor, the Mexican restaurant-bar that opened in October 2018. The previous tenant, Yuan, which shut down in July 2018, also didn't make it to a 1-year anniversary.
Before Yuan, Biang! — the sit-down Chinese restaurant via Xi'an Famous Foods owner Jason Wang — closed in March 2017 after 15 months in business.
The previous tenant, Wylie Dufresne's bistro Alder, called it quits after two-and-a-half years at the end of August 2015. (There was a rumored rent increase, per Eater.) Other recent restaurants here (before 2013) included Plum and Cafe Brama.
Would be nice if the new venture lasted more than a few months...
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
'David Vega’s East Village'
An EVG reader just shared this with me... The Solas Studio, 117 E. 24th St. (2nd floor) between Lexington and Park, is presenting a 1980s photo exhibit titled "David Vega’s East Village."
The opening is tomorrow (Feb. 13) night from 6-8. Otherwise, the exhibit is open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays until March 13.
The exhibit coincides with a new book of his photography, "Look Back East Village 1984-1987."
And a few of his 1980s photos ...
Fire-damaged Via Della Pace unsure about reopening on 7th Street; Cafe Mocha in bad shape
[Photos yesterday by Steven]
A day after the three-alarm fire tore through 48 E. Seventh St. at Second Avenue, residents and business owners faced the grim task of assessing the damage.
The owners of Via Della Pace on Seventh Street posted this message on Instagram about their very uncertain future:
We are deeply saddened that our restaurant, Via Della Pace, was involved in a fire yesterday. Everything was completely destroyed, and we were unable to salvage our precious items. We are holding onto the good memories of serving our wonderful clients and will always remember the fun times we shared over a good meal.
As of now, we are unsure whether we will continue with our restaurant business. We will keep you updated, and we are so thankful for your support and love.
The rustic Italian cafe opened in 2001.
Meanwhile, on the corner, Cafe Mocha, which opened in 2008, looks to be in bad shape with extensive water damage...
[Updated 5 p.m.] The restaurant, with a sidewalk cafe that draws a crowd in warm-weather months, posted this update to its website:
Due to a fire above Cafe Mocha we will be temporarily closed while we assess the severe damages. For our neighbors and customers, we appreciate your loyalty all these years. We remain hopeful that we will reopen to continue serving our friends and families.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Five firefighters were treated for minor injuries. None of the residents were said to be injured. One tenant of the building said on an EVG Facebook post that "all tenants and animals are safe and sound."
On the CB3-SLA docket tonight: A 10th Kitchen for Avenue A; Coppelia for East Houston
Tonight marks the second of Community Board 3's SLA & DCA Licensing Committee meetings for the month.
Among the applicants vying for new liquor licenses:
• A 10th Kitchen (A 10th Kitchen Inc.), 162 Avenue A
An applicant is on tonight's agenda for the vacant restaurant space (pictured above) between 10th Street and 11th Street. There's already signage up for the venture, called A 10th Kitchen.
There aren't many details on the application (PDF here) other than that A 10th Kitchen will serve a menu featuring "New American" cuisine between the hours of 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday with an 11 a.m. start on the weekend.
The questionnaire shows 13 tables for 26 guests along with a six-seat bar. The applicant, listed as Enkeleda Kelmendi, has not been licensed before, per the paperwork.
Flinders Lane closed here in August 2018 after five-plus years in service. Before the Australian restaurant, this space was previously The Beagle ... and Orologio before that.
---
• Corp to be formed by Beatrice Rodriguez Dearma, 157 E. Houston St.
An outpost of Coppelia, the 24/7 Latin diner on West 14th Street, is vying to open at 157 E. Houston between Allen and Eldridge. The application (PDF here) shows space for 58 diners as well as a bar with 14 stools.
The diner is part of the same family as Yerba Buena, the now-closed restaurant at 23 Avenue A, and Toloache, the Mexican bistro up in Midtown.
157 E. Houston was, until late 2017, the Latin tapas joint Macondo East.
Side note: The paperwork for this applicant previously (and mistakenly?) showed up at 205 Allen St. ...
... the former Domino's pizza space, which looks as if a new tenant is on the way in...
The CB3 committee meeting is tonight at 6:30. Location: the Public Hotel, 17th Floor, Sophia Room, 215 Chrystie St. between Houston and Stanton.
Window watch: 11 Avenue C
Because three months have passed since our last look at the 10-story 11 Avenue C (aka 350 E. Houston St.) ... now with glass windows up to the top floor...
BLDG Management is the developer behind the project, which will feature 46 residential units and ground-floor retail.
Foundation work began in December 2016 here on this triangular lot that housed the neighborhood's last gas station.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Workers officially reach the top at 11 Avenue C, where a 10-floor building sits on the neighborhood's last gas station
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
'Queers of Noise: Love Stinks' set for Valentine's night at the Bowery Electric
Katrina del Mar and Wendigo Productions have teamed up for “Queers of Noise: Love Stinks” Friday evening (Valentine's!) from 7:30 to 11 at the Bowery Electric.
Here are some details about the event via the EVG inbox (and find the Facebook Event Page at this link) ...
... this celebratory concert’s lineup features mostly female-fronted bands with trans, dyke, and straight allies, including Tracy City, Monte, Grace Bergere, DJ MzzzMullett and the Queers of Noise Supergroup fronted by very special guests Eileen Myles, Pamela Sneed, Cristy C Road, Reuben Butchart, Michael Love Michael and more.
Modern love can be complicated. For all the shallow screentime spent glazing your eyes bending your over _personals / Lex / grindr /tindr / her / okCupid it’s time to balance out, give your hard candy life a chance to crack open and gush. Join us for a live music night of punk, riot grrrl, radical queer poets and female-led rock bands!
The Bowery Electric is at 327 Bowery at Second Street (aka Joey Ramone Place). Tickets are $15 and available online here or at the door.
And Tracy City, featuring del Mar on vocals, has a new video out... feel the power retro pop of "Love"...
A Visit to Stanton Street Yoga
Text and Photos by Stacie Joy
The people at Stanton Street Yoga, 196A Stanton St. between Ridge and Attorney, welcome me with hugs to what is billed as a kirtan love feast on a chilly January Friday night.
It’s my first experience with kirtan, which I’m told is a “dynamic form of chanting meditation with sacred mantras in a call-and-response rhythm to unite mind body and soul.” This is to be followed by a house-made Ayurvedic vegan dinner, which features cauliflower pakora, and is open to all levels of yogis and meditators.
I arrive early because I’m not sure what to expect. The yoga studio is kitted out with bolsters and blankets, people are drinking spiced chai made by sanctuary director of operations Mario Cornejo, and there is a candlelit space set up for the facilitators to play instruments (the harmonium, karatalas cymbals and mridanga drums) and chant.
[Mario Cornejo]
Cofounder Dhyana Masla and studio manager and senior teacher Ira Ruiz answer my questions about the studio and its community before Ruiz sits down to lead the event.
What is Stanton Street Yoga’s history, and why choose the Lower East Side for its home?
Masla: In 2011, my sister Syama and I moved to NYC to start Stanton Street Yoga. Invited by the owners of Sanctuary Guest Suites, the accommodations above Stanton Street Yoga, the vision was to create a retreat center for traveling guests — a sanctuary to come home to after a day of touring NYC where you can rest, attend yoga and meditation classes ... a real spiritual oasis.
The foundation of the studio was built upon the desire to offer the culture, lifestyle, and deep teachings of yoga that, if applied, bring about life transformation and actual happiness. We live in a society where most people approach yoga as exercise, though it’s so much more than that.
Syama and I taught every class on the schedule for the first year, before launching yoga teacher training (which happens twice per year in the studio) and gradually built the team of teachers we have now.
[Ira Ruiz]
[Yoga instructors Alexis Zaccone and Naushin Rahman]
How do you describe the community of people at Stanton Street Yoga?
Ruiz (who answered this and the rest of my questions): All-inclusive and deeply rooted in building lasting relationships, something that in NYC is hard to find as everything is always changing and people are always coming and going.
Throughout the years we were gifted with steady seekers that are invested in their own personal journey to health and healing. From their desire and commitment to find connection, we have been able to step forward into our dharma (purpose/duty) of sharing not only the physical practice of yoga, which gives us so many benefits that improve our emotional, mental and physical health, but also the deeper teachings, which offer spiritual growth and transformation.
Do you see an influx of people in search of health and wellness at the start of the new year? Do people usually stick with it, what help can you offer to encourage folks to stay, and what do you tell someone who believes they’re just too busy to try yoga?
Every new year brings a desire to complete what one wasn’t able to the year before. New Year’s resolutions bring a lot of new faces through our doors as people are perhaps reconsidering their patterns and habits that may no longer serve them.
I encourage realistic goals! Setting yourself up for success means that you meet yourself where you are, and our tribe is devoted to meeting you where you are in order to build a sustainable practice that allows you to stay committed. We believe in progress not perfection, therefore I encourage individuals to always set long-term goals, but focus more on the little things we can do each day to move forward toward the best version of ourselves.
Do you find yourself competing for people’s time and attention who could be swayed to try the increasingly popular HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and CrossFit classes as well as the plethora of fitness apps?
While there is a large group of fitness classes and offerings all over NYC, we believe each individual belongs somewhere, and your vibe attracts your tribe. At Stanton we offer more than just physical and alignment-based classes, we offer an opportunity to connect to something deeper and beyond the external.
What’s next for Stanton Street Yoga? Any expansion plans?
We are soon to inaugurate our brand-new healing and treatment space, which will be used for Ayurveda consultations, private healing sessions such as reiki, sound baths, breathwork and bodywork. We also have further teacher trainings including breathwork facilitator trainings in Florida, and 300-hour teacher trainings in India.
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