Updating: Demolition of 48 E. 7th St. is imminent

Sources at the scene on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street say that the demolition of what's left of the fire-damamged 48 E. Seventh St. is imminent ... workers were waiting for a meeting to take place betweem various DOB and FDNY officials this morning ...

There was no word about the fate of the Middle Collegiate Church, the historic structure that was erected here in 1892. 

FDNY officials have not revealed the source of the fire that started at No. 48 early yesterday morning and spread to the church next door. Four firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

Updated 11:45 a.m. 

The demolition is underway...

Happening now! Demolition of East Village building after massive fire. @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/8xdGK8OG8a

— Gili Getz 🔥 (@giligetz) December 6, 2020

Updated 12:45 p.m. 

Steven took these photos...

An EV Pop Up Flea today

Some of the vendors from the Avenue B Flea will once again be selling their wares on East Houston and First Avenue (on the garden corner — Peretz Square) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The Facebook invite has the full list of vendors ... everything from vintage clothing, handmade jewelry and vinyl rock and soul records.

And here's a photo via Stacie Joy from the last sale here on Nov. 21...

It's Book Swap Sunday

Today marks another Book Swap Sunday outside the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Per the organizers:

Let's share our used books to help us get through this pandemic together. Leave your donations, and take home some others. Reading is a safe survival tactic!

By the way, this is not an officially sanctioned NYPL event — the location just happens to be outside the Tompkins Library branch.

Photo from last Sunday by Stacie Joy

Saturday's parting shot

A look at the SE corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street this evening after the fire...

A heartbreaking look at what's left of Middle Collegiate Church

Thank you to Billy the Artist for sharing these photos of the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...

The displaced residents of the Hopper House on 2nd Avenue need help with donations

See update at the end of the post about clothing donations!

The early morning fire on Seventh Street and Second Avenue also displaced the residents of the Women's Prison Association at the landmarked Hopper House at 110 Second Ave. 

An estimated 22 residents were forced to flee the building early this morning without any of their possessions. Local Assemblymember Harvey Epstein is spearheading donations for the residents, who are temporarily staying at 347 E. 10th St. at Avenue B. New or gently used women's clothing and toiletries will be appreciated — as well as gift cards (CVS and Target were cited). 

Olga Rodriguez, who works for the advocacy organization dating here to 1845 devoted to women with criminal backgrounds, told CBS New York that the fire took over the shelter "in minutes." 

"It was very scary, and the ladies were running in their slippers, in their bathrobes, in their pajamas. They were sleeping," she said, adding that she's not sure what will happen if the building is deemed unsafe. "These ladies have gone through a lot," she said. "They don't need to go through this, too." 

Diana McHugh, director of communications for the association, told CBS News that everyone is OK, but women had to leave behind personal belongings, including phones and clothes. 

And... 

The women, who were soaking wet from standing in the rain this morning after being evacuated, have been temporarily relocated to a nearby family shelter in Alphabet City. 

Residents at the family shelter provided the women with food, blankets and dryers for their clothes. McHugh said, however, that the association is expecting high costs because of the fire. 

"We'll be OK, but it will certainly have an impact on us, especially mid-pandemic. This has already been a very difficult time for our residents, just from a safety perspective and a mental health perspective."

We await news on the structural integrity and the extent of smoke damage to our beloved Hopper Home. pic.twitter.com/FUZX1iryau

— Women's Prison Association (WPA) (@WPA_NYC) December 5, 2020

Updated 12/6

They've received plenty of clothing donations... donations and gift cards are welcome now...

We are also in awe of the neighbors who poured in with clothing. We thankfully and respectfully decline any more – as you can see, you have taken great care of us in this way! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/xKvzP3Hf7C

— Women's Prison Association (WPA) (@WPA_NYC) December 5, 2020

Statement from City Councilmember Carlina Rivera on this morning's fire on 2nd Avenue

Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera released this statement about this morning's fire on Seventh Street and Second Avenue ... which provides more details on damage to surrounding buildings:

Today, the East Village community is devastated and heartbroken at learning of the six-alarm fire that damaged or destroyed at least three buildings along 2nd Avenue between East 7th and East 6th Streets. 

Two of the buildings — Middle Collegiate Church, which appears to have been devastated, and the Women's Prison Association (WPA)'s Hopper House, which received smoke damage and other possible effects — are pillars of our community. We do not know the cause of the fire, which remains under active investigation. 

We hold the firefighters who were injured in the blaze in our thoughts, and I want to thank all the first responders who risked their lives to extinguish this fire. While I am thankful that no deaths have been reported, my heart is so very broken for the victims of this tragedy, who have been generational leaders in our community for social justice and equality.

My office is working closely with the FDNY, OEM, NYPD, DOB, and all other relevant agencies as they continue to assess the damage to 47 E. 7th St. (which was vacated earlier this year), Middle Collegiate Church, and the Hopper House. I promise that we will ensure this incident is investigated thoroughly.

We are also working to ensure that the 22 women who were residing at the Hopper House, and had to evacuate to WPA’s nearby family shelter, are provided with stable housing options and support. Donations to Middle Collegiate Church and WPA can be made at www.middlechurch.org/donate and www.wpaonline.org/donate, respectively.  

Middle Collegiate Church is one of the great, landmark institutions of our community, having served the New York City for almost 400 years and for over a century providing the East Village with spiritual and physical resources. They've taken care of so many during our City's darkest moments, from 9/11, to Superstorm Sandy, to the 2nd Avenue Explosion. 

And the Women’s Prison Association has provided housing, employment, and assistance for justice involved women for generations. The damage this fire has caused goes far beyond the structural effects alone.

But we know that our East Village community is strong and we will be there beside them every step of this recovery, however we can. As we begin this difficult work, I am inspired by the words of Middle Collegiate Church's Rev. Jacqui Lewis — someone who I’ve considered a close friend and adviser for many years — when she said this morning that "no fire can stop Revolutionary Love." I will take that spirit into my heart in the coming days and weeks as we continue our response and recovery.

Photo credit: FDNY Response Videos

FDNY update on this morning's fire

Here's a statement from FDNY Assistant Chief John Hodgens on this morning's fire on the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street:

"Our units arrived in three minutes, very fast response time. Upon arrival we had heavy fire showing from the corner building on East 7th Street. We quickly transmitted additional alarms to get more help here. We knew this was going to be a big operation. Fire had extended into the church on 2nd Avenue and also into another building on 7th Street. We had all of our units in position and we were quickly able to contain it to that area. We have four minor injuries to Firefighters at this time. We are going to be operating here for a while. The fire is under investigation by our marshals."

As for a cause... the fire in the same building on Feb. 10 was electrical. And this? Unrelated...

Per FDNY Fire Marshals: Cause of the 3-alarm fire on 2/10 at 48 East 7th Street in Manhattan was accidental, electrical, building wiring. The current 6-alarm fire at the same location is unrelated. FDNY operations continue and Fire Marshals are on the scene. pic.twitter.com/0FI5KwGPBr

— FDNY (@FDNY) December 5, 2020

Top photo by Steven

'No fire can stop Revolutionary Love'

The Rev. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister at the Middle Collegiate Church, responded on Twitter to the devastating fire that badly damaged the historic church this morning.

We are devastated and crushed that our beloved physical sanctuary at Middle Collegiate Church has burned.

And yet no fire can stop Revolutionary Love. pic.twitter.com/R8D3NVjAiY

— Rev. Jacqui Lewis, PhD (@RevJacquiLewis) December 5, 2020

And from the Church's account...

Thanks to everyone for your support. It means so very much in our overwhelming grief.

The Church is not a building, but buildings matter. This is home.

We’ll have more to say in the days to come, but here’s the link for anyone looking to donate.https://t.co/Rtb3odKP9d

— Middle Church (@middlechurch) December 5, 2020

For anyone interested in making a donation, here's a link. 

The fire started next door in the currently vacant building on the corner. The cause is under investigation. 

Published reports say that the church, built in 1891, has been destroyed. A commanding officer for the FDNY told Sen. Brad Hoylman that the "structure may not stand."   

Photo by 7th Street Neighbor

Updating: Fire engulfs southeast corner of 7th Street and 2nd Avenue; Middle Collegiate Church destroyed

Updated 11 a.m and 2 p.m. The FDNY is investigating the cause of the fire. There are published reports that four firefighters suffered minor injuries. This link has reaction from Middle Collegiate Church officials. Here's a statement from local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera... and an update from the FDNY.

-----

The FDNY is responding to a four-alarm (now five) fire at the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue ... early reports (the first came in at 4:30 a.m.) is that the fire has destroyed the currently vacant 48 E. Seventh St. — the site of another blaze back in February. 

Early reports indicate that the fire has spread to the neighboring Middle Collegiate Church... no injuries have been reported...

4-alarm fire in 2nd Ave and 7 Street #EastVillage inside a vacant building and spreads to Middle Collegiate Church. FD reports no injuries and operations ongoing—live report at 6a. @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/qiK5c3H3OI

— 𝐌𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐍. 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 (@MylesMill) December 5, 2020

... other videos show the church engulfed in flames...

Woken by smoke and embers - Middle Collegiate Church burns in East Village - devastating. Was fire next door last Feb that gutted building on E7th St. pic.twitter.com/H4XUgnsC4R

— Revolting Lesbians (@RevoltingDykes) December 5, 2020

From my roof:@middlechurch fire, 5:30am #eastvillagenyc pic.twitter.com/4kTqraiiAU

— Duke Todd (@DukeToddIsAlive) December 5, 2020

Check back for more updates... 

Top photo by EVG reader 2ndAvenueSilverPanther

Updated 9 a.m. 

Back from the scene... the fire is under control... and now you can begin to see the extent of the damage...

Updated 10 a.m. A 7th Street neighbor shared these photos...

... and from Alexander Romanovich...

Updated 10:15 a.m. There are now concerns that the church, erected in 1891, may not stand...

On scene at devastating fire at Middle Collegiate Church, which is completely gutted.

Can’t help but think of comparisons to Notre Dame fire.

Tiffany stained glass windows destroyed.

Commanding officer told me structure may not stand.

Investigators on scene. pic.twitter.com/8uyC7YPU52

— Senator Brad Hoylman (@bradhoylman) December 5, 2020

News break

 

Local duo the Acute (you may have seen them play this year in Tompkins Square Park) recently released an EP titled Infinidy ... the above video is for "Newsical," the first track from the record. 

BTW this is the final Bandcamp Friday of the year, in which the platform foregoes its revenue and gives the bands all the $$$ from the day's sales.

Christmas is 3 weeks from today: Time to buy St. Patrick's Day gear at the Kmart on Astor Place!

Looks like there might be some Easter baskets up on the shelves too here at the Kmart on Astor Place... thanks to Lola Saénz for the photo...

The annual Holiday Tree Lighting in Tompkins Square Park is canceled due to COVID-19

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Albert Fabozzi first planted the much-loved Christmas tree in Tompkins Square Park in 1992 to honor and memorialize his partner, Glenn Barnett, as well as others who died of AIDS. 

The tree was 8 feet tall when he planted it. Today, the tree is well over 50 feet.

This year would have been the 29th anniversary of the lighting ceremony and holiday event, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event has been canceled. 

Albert says, “we will not be meeting as a group, but I have an arrangement with the Parks Department and the tree will be lighted as per usual. We will respect the tradition.” 

The highly anticipated gathering had grown larger every year, and in 2020, due to the pandemic, the Parks Department had required signing off on a three-page stipulation package for the event, which included mandatory physical distancing, masks, plus an on-site security and medical team, and Albert felt it wouldn’t be possible.  

People will still be able to enjoy the “delightfully askew” tree, which will be decorated by the Parks Department and illuminated on Thursday, Dec. 10, at dusk. 

“Due to COVID-19 restrictions and to be respectful of social distancing guidelines, the tree will be lit as per tradition, just with no party,” Albert says. “The neighborhood appreciates and looks forward to seeing the tree and I want to honor that.”

Albert tells me that he’s grateful to the coalition that sponsors the event every year, including Tom Birchard at Veselka, Crystal Field and her Carolers of Olde New York choral group, Third Street Music School Settlement and the Mandel & Lydon Trio, who provide musical accompaniment to the choir. 

He also tells me that this coming year will be his last as leader of the event, that he is looking to turn it over to the coalition, as he’s turned 80 and is ready to just be there to celebrate and participate. 

Additionally, the tree dedication and memorial plaque, which Albert says had been in place for almost 20 years, was stolen earlier this year at the beginning of the quarantine. 

Albert had been cleaning and maintaining the dedication (it had been vandalized from time to time) and now he’s planning on having it replaced, perhaps in bronze. He’s looking forward to next year’s event, and also to passing the baton to the next generation.

You can revisit the previous few years’ coverage here, here, here and here.

A visit to Paradise Alley at Duane Park

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Since mid-October, 308 Bowery at First Street has been home to Paradise Alley, Duane Park’s elegant outdoor dinner theater.

This twice-nightly COVID-safe outdoor sophisticated supper show includes a reservations-only set-price three-course meal (adult beverages not included), while roving performers and live band ALMALUNA entertain the diners, semi-ensconced behind partitions that block the wind.

Since the event is outdoors, onlookers and passersby get in on the experience as well, and I watch several truckers pause from unloading goods nearby to enjoy ariel artist Marcy Richardson and peignoir-clad glamour burlesque star Tansy as well as contortionist Ellie Steingraeber on the hula-hoops. Knife-tossing Paris the Juggler, magician Albert Cadabra and stripteuse artist Lilin Lace are also on hand keeping the crowd entertained.

Marisa Ferrarin, owner of Duane Park, stops by to chat with my tablemates, Chi Chi Valenti and husband Johnny Dynell. I take a few minutes between performances to ask her some questions about the show, the space, and what live entertainment looks like during the time of coronavirus. 

How did the idea of Paradise Alley at Duane Park come about?
 
After seven months of closure, we felt we had to do something to get everyone back to work and thanks to 310 Bowery Bar next door allowing us to use their sidewalk frontage, we realized we could make it work. The entertainment is a very edited version of what we have been doing for the past 12 years and we are complying with the rules set out by the state so the performances are incidental and all staff, performers, and customers are safe.
 
Were you surprised by the customer reaction and the subsequent need to extend the experience through November? 

No, people are starved for entertainment and what we do is unique in this climate!
 
The performers, including a magician, juggler, aerial and burlesque artists, and musicians have modified their art for an outdoor audience. What factors came into play when creating and producing this experience? How have East Village passersby reacted to the production?
 
Everyone has modified their act slightly to suit the outdoors, but basically, they are still doing what they do best, just without the stage and lights. Passersby are enthralled by what’s going on and often stop to watch. 
 
How does the new-ish 10 p.m. curfew affect the dining and performance experience?
 
We had to act fast to modify our timing to fit in with curfew, but we have done it. Although, people want to stay later to enjoy the vibe.  
 
You are not, at the time of my visit, using space heaters or a tent, and you tell patrons to dress warmly and bring a blanket, how do you plan to extend this al fresco experience when the temperature drops even further?
 
We have tents and heaters ready to go as the weather drops. The tents will modify what we are able to do for the performances, and we are trying to keep those artists engaged as long as possible.

Thoughts on the future of Duane Park as we head into winter? What’s next for the space?
 
We’re hoping to be able to get back inside to do what we do best. We will keep going outside as long as we have to. Everyone is happy to be performing and making customers smile. The Winter Wonderland version of the show is going on now. Tents and a blizzardlike experience for outside for all!
 

This month, Duane Park is now presenting Winter Wonderland on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. (There’s a 5:45-6 and 8 p.m. seating for up to 20 guests.) You can keep up with Duane Park on social media here.