Saturday, March 28, 2020

Saturday's parting shot



A moment on Broadway near 11th Street earlier today... photo by Derek Berg...

A talk with retail food workers during the COVID-19 outbreak



If it's of interest... Vogue has a feature online about grocery store and restaurant employees working during the coronavirus outbreak.

East Village businesses are well-represented: Layne Rawlings of East Village Organic on First Avenue; Viviana Robles and Gabriela Maldonado of Westside Market on Third Avenue and 12th Street; and Liz Quijada, the co-owner of the cafe Abraço on Seventh Street.

And in the photo above, there's Lesya Pshyk, who works at the East Village Meat Market. "I’m responsible to help the people of New York, but I’m also worried about my children and my mother sitting at home. I’m very positive; that’s the main thing. I think everything is going to be alright."

Find the full article here.

Photo via Twitter by Sinna Nasseri

Veniero's is closing after today for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak



Today (March 28) is the last day for walk-in service at Veniero's Pasticceria & Caffe, 342 E. 11th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

And today then, cakes, cookies and pastries at the circa-1894 bakery are 50 percent off (IN STORE ONLY).





Venirero's is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.

Thanks to Lola Saénz for these photos!

Updated 11:54 a.m.

The closure extends to all facets of the business, including deliveries...

The return of the psychic hotline?



In case you were wondering how some neighborhood psychics were adapting to the current business landscape...

Friday, March 27, 2020

This week in East Village street scenes


[By Ben Lebovitz]

Second Avenue (above) ...

St. Mark's Place...


[By Christopher Pelham]

East River Park...


[Photo by Stacie Joy]

C-Town on Avenue C...


[By Dave on 7th]

First Avenue at Seventh Street...


[By Robert Miner]

The Bowery at Fourth Street...


[By Derek Berg]

The In Between Days of our lives



Back to 1985 with "In Between Days" by the Cure...

The Union Square Trader Joe's is back open

The Union Square Trader Joe's location, along with the wine shop next door, reopened this morning on 14th Street.

EVG regular Pinch reports a line to get in as well as a shipment of groceries.

This location, as well as several others in NYC, closed for a "thorough cleaning and sanitization" after an employee "either tested positive for COVID-19 or is receiving treatment for a suspected case," according to a statement on the Trader Joe's website.

The TJ's website reports that an employee of the wine shop who tested positive for COVID-19 was last present in the store on March 22.

No more hoops for now at the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts


[Photo by Daniel]

Workers came in yesterday and removed all the rims from the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts...


[Photos by Steven]



This comes after reports of too many people playing basketball this past weekend — without anyone practicing social distancing. (One reader witnessed someone spraying a ball with Lysol.) The reader also noted the presence on Sunday afternoon of the NYPD midcourt...



EVG correspondent Steven spotted one resident, out for a bit of exercise, not minding the absence of a hoop...



"Now I never miss."

East Village Organic now closed for the next week



The market on First Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place expects to reopen on Friday, April 3, after closing after the business day yesterday.

Here's part of a more detailed message via their Instagram account:

East Village, we love you so much. But this week the best way to serve you each is to close.

We also became aware that two confirmed cases of COVID-19 spent time in our little shop.

We've decided to take a week to air it out, monitor the health of our brave little staff and regroup.

No one is handling this perfectly, but we're hoping that we're handling it well enough.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Thursday's parting shot



Today's shot comes courtesy of East Village-based photographer Josh Charow, who took this down on Rivington Street...

RIP Edd Conboy



A memorial is on the corner of 10th Street and Avenue A for Edd Conboy.

According to social media posts, Conboy, a licensed therapist and director of social services at Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia, died last Friday of a stroke. He would have been 70 on Tuesday.

The inscription on the mirror reads in part, "u are not alone, We all reflect your spirit." The mirror is on a block marked COVID-19.

Thanks to Melissa Mennillo for the photo.

Noted



Spotted on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery. A trap? A kindhearted gesture?

Thanks to Casey for the photo!

A message from Nixon Figueroa and Ana Lanza, Nicholas Figueroa's parents



On March 26, 2015, Nicholas Figueroa was having a late lunch with a friend at Sushi Park, 121 Second Ave., when an explosion rocked the building. The blast killed Figueroa and Sushi Park employee Moises Locón, 27, injured more than 20 others, and leveled 119, 121 and 123 Second Ave.

He was a December 2014 graduate of SUNY Buffalo State with a degree in criminal justice. He was 23.

His parents, Nixon Figueroa and Ana Lanza, shared this message on the fifth anniversary of his death:


Now it has been five years since we lost our son.

We would like to thank everyone who has been so supportive, especially family and friends who help us to cope with our grief.

Our son was so full of life. All he wanted was to help people in all the ways he could, particularly by listening and being there for them. He would go out of his way to help a friend. It didn't matter what time it was. If you needed someone to talk to, he would be there.

His absence leaves an empty space because he was a motivator. He had a big heart for people and for life. He was smart and you could talk to him about anything. He was such a good listener. His soul is irreplaceable because he showed us there is more to life. He saw good in everyone and wanted to help.

If he were alive today, he would tell people to love life to the fullest. Enjoy every moment. Life is too short. He knew that, and that's why he was so full of life. He would tell us to take this time and be very grateful for your family and friends. And for all that you have.

Read more about Nicholas here.

Thank you to EVG reader Daniel.

Updated 8 p.m.

Late today, Mr. Figueroa visited Second Avenue and Seventh Street and placed flowers on the corner ...





Grant Shaffer's NY See



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