The Tompkins Square Park dog run is now closed

In an effort to combat against potentially overcrowded spaces, the Parks Department yesterday shut down dog runs citywide, including in Tompkins Square Park.

The dog runs will be closed until further notice. Per the Parks Department: "Our parks remain open to dogs and pet owners to get fresh air and exercise; however, dogs must be kept on a leash according to park rules, and dog owners must keep social distance."

EVG contributor Stacie Joy took these photos at 1 p.m., a few hours after the order was put into effect...







The closure of the dog runs comes on the heels last week of playgrounds shutting down.

Reader appreciation: Le Fournil Bakery

Via the EVG inbox:

The wonderful French bakery, Le Fournil, is open for takeout! They are selling delicious French pastries, some savory items and bread. I bought some indulgent items from them Saturday. Le Fournil's pastry lifted my spirits as only pastry can.

Le Fournil is at 115 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street (in the former Moishe's space). Their posted hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Closed Mondays.)

Want to share an appreciation of an East Village business that remains open? Send us an email here. (We'll see how this goes!)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Le Fournil Bakery NYC (@lefournilnyc) on Mar 26, 2020 at 8:40am PDT

A new St. Mark's Place-like business opens on St. Mark's Place

New business alert from 18 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... a smoke shop is now open in the space ... where you can pick up, say, a new ​downstem and bowl​, ash catcher, carb cap or other ​water pipe accessories​...



At the time of these photos on Sunday (thanks Steven!) there wasn't a business sign up... the previous tenant here, Addiction NYC, the tattoo parlor and smoke shop, closed at the beginning of the year.

Monday's parting shot

Stacie Joy spotted Ramon, a longtime employee at the flower stand outside Key Food, back on Avenue A... he had been away the past few years...

Mystery of the Anti-COVID-19 volunteer drone task force

There's some mystery surrounding the drone that was spotted flying over East River Park yesterday telling people to maintain social distance.

CBS News posted a video of the drone, which played the following message over loudspeakers: "This is the Anti-COVID-19 volunteer drone task force. Please maintain a social distance of at least six feet. Again, please maintain social distancing."

Some people thought the voice sounded familiar...

Life immitating "Robocop". https://t.co/RM6ja5SJCI

— Paul Lidicul (@PaulLidicul) April 6, 2020

An NYPD official said that it was not behind the drone. The FAA is reportedly investigating, per The Hill.



H/T Edmund John Dunn!

Edge of Tomorrow

Bayou shares this photo from the front window at Whiskers Holistic Pet Care, 235 E. Ninth St. at Second Avenue... featuring the words to "Tomorrow" from "Annie."

NY PAUSE extended through April 29

New York on PAUSE is extended through April 29.

Schools and non-essential businesses will remain closed.

Public health is our first concern.

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 6, 2020

In case you missed the announcement today — Gov. Cuomo has extended the NY PAUSE order through April 29, meaning that all non-essential businesses will be closed for another month. The restrictions went into effect on March 22.

[Updated] Report of a missing East Village teen last seen on Avenue A and 2nd Street

Updated 12:30: A neighbor reports that Angelie has been found and back home safe with her family.

An East Village family is frantically searching for their 15-year-old daughter, Angelie Robles.

She was last seen last evening (April 5) around 6:30 on Avenue A and Second Street.

Here are details via the EVG inbox...

Name: Angelie Robles
Age: 15
Height: 4’9
Weight: 90 pounds
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Clothing: Grey jeans, red & white shirt, black jacket
Hair was in a ponytail

Last Seen: April 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Avenue A & 2nd Street

Anyone who spots her is asked to call the 9th Precinct (212-477-7812) or 911.

RIP Edgar Artur Cajamarca

Sad news from Miss Lily's 7A on the corner of Seventh Street and Avenue A. Edgar Artur Cajamarca, who worked in the kitchen as a prep cook, died on March 24 due to complications from COVID-19. He was 46.

Here's more via an email from the Miss Lily's team (thank you to the readers who shared this):

We are very sad to announce the passing of our colleague and friend Edgar Artur Cajamarca...

Born in Ecuador on April 23, 1973, Edgar moved to New York in 2000. He joined Miss Lily’s in June 2016 as a delivery man at the Houston St. location before moving over to Miss Lily's 7A where he worked first as a dishwasher and then was promoted to prep chef.

A humble, hard working, much loved member of the kitchen crew, he was always a great team player. Edgar’s first love centered around his family. He was a devoted father and son. He was also an avid Barcelona FC fan and well known for his notable commitment to riding his bicycle to and from work to his home in Brooklyn, no matter what the weather.

Edgar is survived by his children Johanna, Paul and Christian, the children’s mother Maria, and his mother Maria Chunchi.

Edgar was working on building a house for his mother in Ecuador and if we could raise the $10k to fund its completion that would be incredible. Most of our team have already contributed and with only a few thousand dollars to go we are reaching out to our community to see if we can reach the goal. Every dollar donated would go directly to completing his mother's house ...

Please take care and be safe.

To date, they've nearly doubled their $10,000 fundraising goal.

Miss Lily's 7A Cafe closed for service on March 15 for the duration of the health crisis.

Mudspot Café closes for the week

[Photo today by MP]

Mudspot Café has announced that it's closing for the week here on Ninth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Aside from coffee, Mudspot had been selling a variety of pastries, grocery items as well as beer and wine in recent weeks.

Here's part of their message via Instagram:

Dear mudpeople,

we are taking a breath and closing for what is expected to be a pretty tough week in nyc. we aim to re-open monday 4/13.

thank you to our amazing staff for their unmatched endurance and beautiful souls. and thank you to all the health care and essential workers on the frontlines, who don’t have the luxury of staying home this week.

we all owe you a debt of gratitude...

Meanwhile, their online shop will continue to ship coffee.

Sunny & Annie's still holding it down on the corner of 6th and B

While some delis have decided to shut down (here and here, for example), Avenue B favorites Sunny & Annie's remains up and running on the corner at Sixth Street.

Over the weekend, they posted to Instagram ... thanking customers and reminding people about practicing safe social distancing ... (you can call 212-677-3131 to have a sandwich or two delivered)...

View this post on Instagram

Be safe and healthy! We miss you all🙏 #flattenthecurve

A post shared by Sunny & Annie (@sunny_annies) on Apr 4, 2020 at 12:07pm PDT

Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter and Two Boots Pizza have temporarily closed

Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, 94 Avenue C at Sixth Street, shut down last night after service... and will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

Bobwhite is the latest restaurant to close after giving the takeout-delivery route a try the past few weeks. As noted yesterday, Two Boots on Avenue A at Third Street also closed last evening to give its staff a break, with hopes of returning the week of April 20.

Yesterday, we updated our list of what's open for takeout and delivery ... striking 13 restaurants from the list.

Sunday's parting shot

A makeshift playground on an empty Bond Street between Lafayette and the Bowery ... photo by Ben Lebovitz...

The $1 cookies at Subject

Subject, the cocktail bar at 188 Suffolk St. just south of Houston, is selling items (cocktails and bottles of wine) via its front window.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy mentions this draw: Co-owner Leslie Feinberg's house-baked peanut butter cookies. Available for $1, while supplies last.

The takeout window is open Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a 5 p.m. start Tuesday through Friday 5.

And as you may recall, Feinberg previously owned and operated Prohibition Bakery.