Friday, November 20, 2020
A sidewalk sale on Houston and 1st Avenue
"Pressure' drop
In case you already haven't heard this 500,000 times since it was released late last month... here's Karen O and Willie Nelson ("the Duet We Didn’t Know We Needed in 2020") with their soothing acoustic cover of "Under Pressure."
Here's a look at the final RBG mural on 1st Avenue and 11th Street
Vinny & O shared the top photo... and Elle posed for a few photos afterwards (thanks Lola Saénz for these photos) ...
The artist wrote a statement on Instagram explaining all the elements of the mural of the late associate justice of the Supreme Court.
Earlier this month, workers removed Shepard Fairey's "Rise Above" mural that had been on this space for the past four years.
open prison
open prison
an open prison barred in by infection
some mask to avoid some run toward
same ol’ being the answer to you ok?
a voice on the radio says to stay home
don’t leave town as people head for their
summer cottage probably return when
the cold bites to the radiators rattle
gutter fair come eat where you
parked your car step inside
for infection free eating deny deny
parks are full at weekends picnics
ball thrown some caught masks few
why bother young outside death only
a skull on a halloween black t-shirt
how many more will be taken our
jailer is doing very well never better
•
peter radley
The East Village Holiday Crawl is underway
The East Village Independent Merchant Association (EVIMA) and Cooper Square Committee have teamed up for an East Village Holiday Crawl for five weeks this November and December.
There's a theme to each week highlighting different types of specialty businesses — now currently in the "books + music" week.
The organizations are encouraging residents to shop locally to support independent businesses that have had a very challenging year during the pandemic.
You can check out this link to see participating merchants and the deals they're offering through Dec. 13.
And the EVIMA Intagram account will provide daily updates.
San Loco's liquor license has arrived on Avenue C
However, the pandemic apparently slowed down the paperwork, and the quick-serve Tex-Mex restaurant only just received their liquor license yesterday.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy was there for the occasion as owners Jill and Kimo Hing and son Dietrich (top right) assembled the area where they'll be making drinks... including a variety of margaritas...
And the first drink ordered: a cactus-pear margarita on the rocks ...
San Loco is open daily here from 4 to 10 p.m. Follow them at Instagram via this link.
San Loco's East Village presence dates to 1986. Our previous post has more background.
Previously on EV Grieve:
• It's official: San Loco is returning to the East Village
• It's official: San Loco is returning to the East Village
Is a McDonald's opening in the former Zum Schneider space on Avenue C?
Updated 1:30 p.m.
Several readers who got a closer look at the sign say it's a fake — it looks Photoshopped and it's taped to the outside of the door, which is suspicious.
Updated 11/22
The sign has been removed.
At this very moment, we're not sure it this is legit or not — possibly someone trying to be funny. (Still thinking of the Hooters hoax at the former 2nd Ave Deli site way back in 2006.) We'll look to get verification on this.
Zum Schneider, the popular biergarten and restaurant, closed here after 20 years in late February. According to Zum Schneider owner Sylvester Schneider at the time, the co-op's lawyer here on Seventh Street stated that the building had no intention to renew the lease.
If this is true, then it will mark the third McDonald's in the neighborhood, joining the one on First Avenue at 14th Street and on First Avenue near Sixth Street. (The outpost on Third Avenue closed in June 2017.)
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Thursday's parting shot
Flyer alert: More about Love and Sex on 10th Street
While there were those among us who thought this might be in the "guy-looking-for-a-girlfriend" guy orbit, we are assured that this is quite legitimate.
So far, there has been a lot of interested participants contact the number after seeing the flyers (and our post!), according to a rep for the production.
"The flyer was intentionally a little vague to not reveal too much about the project — it's in early stages of development with Imagine and Talos Films," the rep said.
They're now actively casting for the documentary series that seeks to "authentically capture love and sex across 10th Street."
"We’re looking for folks from all walks of life, in all kinds of stages of partnership," the rep said.
And why this street?
"We picked 10th Street because it’s such a culturally and socioeconomically diverse cross section of the city, the battleground of the gay rights movement, and — anecdotally — a place where a lot of hookups/breakups/makeups take place!"
The email: tenthstreet@talosfilms.com
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 and NYC...
A visit to Van Da on 4th Street
Text and photos by Stacie Joy
There is something magical watching a close-knit team work together to create something.
In that light, I was pleased to arrive early enough at the elegant and modern Vietnamese restaurant Van Da, 234 E. Fourth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, to watch the chefs prepare, taste, and perfect the day’s special, tôm rim shrimp. It’s a seafood dish cooked over high heat with caramelized fish sauce, peppers and toasted cashews, all served over broken rice, which executive chef Mary Celine Bui calls “tortured rice” due to the process that it undergoes to become “broken.”
The dish is tasted by all staff members and discussed (chef Jay Bui, Mary’s husband and partner in the kitchen, offers to add some green onions), and notes are jotted down to inform diners about the special, before the chefs make a new batch with modifications under the watchful eye of owner Yen Ngo.
Yen, Mary and Jay go through several iterations of the plate before Yen is satisfied that it is ready for her customers.
Away from the kitchen, bartender Andrew Pisano gets his station in order and begins to prep the cocktail specialty ingredients (Thai basil, bird-chili–infused mezcal, passionfruit) necessary to complement the food menu.
Your restaurant opened last year to critical acclaim (per the Times and Eater), yet you consider the space an approachable neighborhood local. What has the neighborhood’s response been?
We feel so fortunate to have such amazing writeups and to be recognized by the Michelin. It’s such an honor. Restaurant businesses are so hard, we love this kind of recognition plus the reviews of our guests.
I live in the East Village so I understand both what the neighborhood offers and lacks in term of restaurants. There is definitely a lack of Vietnamese restaurants that offer an interesting and authentic menu, but which also offer beautiful aesthetic atmosphere and great service.
With that said, we keep our prices very competitive with other neighborhood restaurants. Our appetizers start at $7 and noodle entree at $15. Our neighbors love us and have been back regularly. Many have told us that we are their hidden gem.
What has been the biggest challenge for you since the city approved outdoor dining back in the summer?
There are so many challenges…including creating and spending money on a completely new type of setting. It’s hard to spend the money, not knowing if you can get it back. We are at the mercy of the weather. When it rains, you’ve suddenly lost 50 percent of your reservations.
It’s extremely hard to break even on the small numbers of tables that we have for outdoor seating. Our food is so complicated that we still need the same number of kitchen staff if we do 90 guests or if we do 20 guests. There is no way to cut them, so therefore out labor cost is 50 percent of sale.
What is your biggest concern as we head into winter? Is 25 percent indoor dining along with some outdoor space sustainable?
This is definitely the biggest challenge. It’s hard for people to eat outside in the cold. However, I agree that we need to keep everyone safe.
As a business owner, I want to be able to survive but I also want what best for everyone, so it’s tough to navigate the steps on indoor dinning.
Your dining hours are limited, with the restaurant closed on Sundays and Mondays, and not open for lunch. What prompted these decisions?
We are located on a charming but very quiet street. It’s impossible for us to open for lunch and break even with the food and staff cost. If we were on Avenue B, that might work, but I am not sure if that is true either. We have tried to open Sundays but it was not successful. People love to eat Sunday brunch and comfort food, rather than exotic food. The truth is labor cost is so high that you can lose much more if you open on quiet days.
You always have a good soundtrack playing in the background. What do you think is the key to a pleasing restaurant ambiance?
We are in a dense neighborhood, it’s so important for us to make sure the people who live nearby are not constantly bother by loud music and worse — bad music. As a diner, I also am completely turned off by terrible and loud music so that you have to scream to be heard.
We are in a dense neighborhood, it’s so important for us to make sure the people who live nearby are not constantly bother by loud music and worse — bad music. As a diner, I also am completely turned off by terrible and loud music so that you have to scream to be heard.
Normally, I ask business owners about what’s next for them, what their plans are going forward. Knowing that we don’t know a lot about how the pandemic and its surrounding issues will play out, what are your thoughts on the restaurant industry as we look toward next year?
Wow, this is a tough one to answer. I am very worried about the restaurant industry altogether. There are already so many closures and will be many more the next few months. In January and February of 2020, we were doing extremely well and thought that we are going to make it and become a neighborhood destination.
But, of course, with the pandemic and now winter coming, it’s very scary. Our landlord is really nice, though, and has reached out to see how he can help us hang in there for the next four or five months. So, if we can keep the losses to a minimum and make it until April 2021, we might be OK.
In the meantime, we can work on increasing our carry-out business, as that will be the only safe way for guest to enjoy our food without worrying too much about eating inside.
Two-plus years after devastating fire, Yakiniku West reopens next week on 9th Street
The restaurant, which offers Japanese barbecue, will reopen next Wednesday (Nov. 25), according to its Instagram account.
And here's a quick look inside the door...
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