East Village Loves NYC prepares 1st holiday feast; tops more than 70,000 meals made for hungry New Yorkers in 2020

This past Sunday, East Village Loves NYC — the local volunteer group that formed in the spring to feed people in need during the pandemic — prepared its first holiday meal. 

At the Sixth Street Community Center between Avenue B and Avenue C, the East Village residents cooked and delivered 3,000 high-quality Mexican Halal meals to 17 organizations around the city.

The group is currently working with the crowdfunding platform ioby (an acronym for In Our Backyard) to raise money to feed low-income Black communities in Harlem and Queens that have been hit hard by the pandemic. (This project is eligible for up to $8,000 in match funding through ioby's NYC COVID-19 Just Recovery Match Fund. Find the crowdfunding page here.)

On Sunday, EVG contributor Stacie Joy documented the group's holiday food preparation ... as East Village Loves NYC has assembled more than 70,000 meals on the year...

This team of East Village volunteers formed in April (as Stacie documented in the links below). Early on, Ali Sahin, the owner of C&B Cafe on Seventh Street near Avenue B, donated his space on Mondays for the group to cook its meals ... while there, they were able to prepare up to 800 meals and 100 family-size pantry packs.

By June, they had outgrown the space, and started assembling deliveries at the Sixth Street Community Center. By the end of the summer, East Village Loves Queens expanded its operations and announced its new name — East Village Loves NYC. 

Find out more about the group and how to donate at this link. Follow them on Instagram here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• These East Village residents are helping feed families in Queens during the COVID-19 crisis

• East Village volunteers expand their outreach to feed more neighbors in need

• East Village Loves Queens expands: Meet East Village Loves NYC

Tuesday's parting shot

Today marks the 18th anniversary of Joe Strummer's death at the age of 50 ... the image here is a screengrab from the video of "Redemption Song" by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros ... which features Dr. Revolt  in November 2003 creating the mural of the Clash frontman that remains to this date (after a few iterations) outside Niagara on Seventh Street and Avenue A...

 

Road repairs continue on 1st Avenue at 7th Street

City crews continue making repairs on First Avenue at Seventh Street this morning... following the early-morning water-main break here yesterday...

... an event that sent mucky water across Seventh Street toward Avenue A... you can see the remnants of this on Seventh Street...

Thank you to EVG reader James Rogala for the photos. 

For now, northbound traffic on First Avenue is being rerouted across Sixth Street to Avenue A.... causing some backups along the way. As a reader noted in the comments: "The drivers start honking around 3rd or 4th St. As if we haven't been tortured enough." 

Water service was also shut off in the area, causing several businesses to temporarily close.

A Visit with Frank 'Frankie Christmas' Bianco

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

It’s hard not to get excited about Christmas when visiting Frank “Frankie Christmas” Bianco. 

The 52-year-old longtime East Village resident, who moved here from Brooklyn in 1980, welcomes me at the door of his fully decked out apartment on Avenue D, where he lives and works as the boutique building’s manager.

He’s painstakingly laid out more than 9,300 lights and six Christmas trees, ranging in height from 2 to more than 7 feet tall, and has a winter wonderland inside the one-bedroom space, complete with music, lights, pine scent, decals, garlands and ornaments.

Drinking a (perhaps) nontraditional beer, Frankie shows me around his space, pointing out special ornaments and his Christmas stockings, and his 30 snowflake tattoos, and custom Santa backpiece, which is truly amazing, in addition to flash pieces dedicated to the holiday elsewhere on his body.

We have a seat at his holiday-themed table to chat about Santa and Christmas and how his obsession with the holiday came to be.

 
When and how did your fascination with Christmas start?

My fascination with Christmas started with my mom who always made Christmas special. As a teenager I started helping my mom with decorations and then I always wanted to go bigger and better. 

Can you walk us through the process of decorating your apartment? When do you start/finish?

I start decorating in September, as it takes close to 100 hours to decorate. It’s more about laying things out and ordering what I need.

What’s Christmas Eve and Christmas Day like for you and your family?

My family is so spread out these days that I won’t know what I’m doing until a couple of days before Christmas. 

What do you friends, family and neighbors think of your decorations? 

Everyone loves it. My family and friends love it and they all know where to go to get into the Christmas spirit. Most of my neighbors stop by and bring their friends to see my apartment. 

Any other holidays pique your interest the way Christmas does?

I enjoy all the holidays throughout the year, but nothing even comes close to Christmas!

Have you ever decorated other locations — commercial, residential, or religious spaces?

I’ve never decorated anywhere else. 
 
Do you have any special plans for next Christmas?

I’m already thinking about how I’m gonna decorate next year…I want to do a tree with Swarovski crystal snowflakes.

This East Village resident is holding a one-man protest against landlord Steve Croman

Updated 12/28:

The management company has replaced the toilet with a working one, and did some cosmetic paint cover up in the bathroom. However, the tenants say there are still 16 outstanding HPD violations to address.

Thomas Hasler lives at 127 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

Hasler, a public high school teacher who has been working remotely, and his roommate, Brian Kenner, have not had a properly working toilet since Nov. 12 ... the latest indignity on behalf of the building's landlord, Steve Croman ... which prompted Hasler to launch a one-man protest outside No. 127 on Sunday.

"I will go out every day after I finish my remote teaching to let the neighborhood and folks in our building know," Hasler told me via email.

Aside from the toilet, Croman's management company also removed the lock from the building's front door at the height of the looting this past summer, Hasler said. (The reason given: "There were complaints that packages can not get delivered inside.")

Croman was released from jail in June 2018 after serving eight months for mortgage and tax fraud. In a separate civil case with the AG's office, Croman agreed to pay $8 million to the tenants he was accused of bullying out of their rent-regulated apartments. 

As part of a settlement agreement, Croman agreed to relinquish direct control of his 100-plus rental buildings — including 47 with 617 units in the East Village — for the next five years. ... with NYC Management — a division of the Besen Group — serving as the property manager. 

According to a published report at The Real Deal in October 2019, "The notorious landlord is back in action and hasn't changed his ways" since his release from behind bars.

"Harassing rent-controlled tenants in our building has a long history," Hasler said. "The goal is to get us out and to convert the last remaining units into market-rate units. That's it in a nutshell."

Kenner, the leaseholder on the apartment, has lived in the building for 36 years. During the holidays, he has been working seven days a week. 

"So Thomas was bold and fearless enough to organize himself," Kenner said. "I will gladly participate in anything that takes place after my work is done for the day."

According to the two tenants, NYC Management reps have stated there is a "process" to go through to replace the toilet, now scheduled for Christmas Eve. (After seeing our tweet yesterday about this, local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera's office contacted Hasler as well as the AG's office.)

However, the roommates aren't expecting much. "The date seems pretty meaningless," Kenner said. "Who is there to enforce this date? I believe [their] style would be to promise 'relief' on the day before Christmas, and then not show up."

And how have they been making do these past seven weeks?

"So we use buckets to flush the toilet with hardly any water pressure ... while the market-rent tenant below us who was flooded by our broken toilet on Nov. 11 or Nov. 12 got his damage repaired immediately," Hasler said. "So you end up feeling powerless and harassed. And they think they can get away with it."

No. 13

The very first post arrived on this site on this date in 2007. (At 5:48 p.m. on a Friday, no less! 😂) 

So a little site history. The post was a cut-n-paste from Page Six noting the possible upcoming sale of Sophie's, the neighborhood bar on Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. The Page Six item fueled concerns that the bar, along with Mona's on Avenue B, would be closing following a sale... bringing an end to two low-key bars and ushering in something potentially awful. 

That was enough to spur some action — a blog! 

At the time, the site was called — no kidding — Sophie's Bar Blog. It was intended to serve as a time capsule for Sophie's, a place where I had spent some quality time. 

Anyway, as we quickly learned, the bars stayed in the family and are pretty much exactly as they were 13 years ago. (Both Sophie's and Mona's, along with Josie's, are temporarily closed during the Cuomotine.) 

After about a month of Sophie's Bar Blog, the site would be retired. But! Stupid Jeremiah Moss, who somehow found Sophie's Bar Blog, suggested that I keep the site going, concentrating on other closures in the neighborhood. 

So 30,000-plus posts later, here we are in year No. 13. It's a good time to thank you for reading the site and sharing the journey ... I'm grateful to everyone who has shared a story, provided an idea, sent in a photo, commiserated over the loss of a favorite place, and so on. 

I'm especially thankful to the EVG contributors, such as Derek Berg and Steven, who pass along photos, tips and observations on a near-daily basis. And then there is Stacie Joy, who continues to actively document the businesses and residents of the East Village, bringing to life a special group of people and places through her camera.

At this point, I'm not looking too far into the future, focusing on the here and now. So here's to a happy and healthy holiday season!

A look at the water main repairs on 1st Avenue and 7th Street

Workers continue to make repairs on First Avenue and Seventh Street after the early-morning water-main break here (it was reported to occur outside 99 E. Seventh St.) ... water has been shut off around the intersection, forcing several businesses to close. 

EVG readers Pete Dettmann shares the above photo...

Updated 9 p.m. 

And a night-time shot courtesy of Lola Sáenz ...

Updating: Water main break shuts down part of 1st Avenue

An early morning water main break on First Avenue at Seventh Street has made a mess of the immediate area. 

The first report of the break came just before 6 a.m. as witnesses reported water flowing along Seventh Street and the sidewalks. 

For now, the 9th Precinct reports that there isn't any northbound traffic on First Avenue from Fourth Street to 10th Street ... Seventh Street is closed from Avenue A to First Avenue (Seventh Street west of First Avenue was already closed for ongoing demoliton work after the fire on the southeast corner of Second Avenue on Dec. 5)

Updated 10:30 a.m. 

Ugh. What a mess. William Kalyer took these photos looking south on First Avenue from St. Mark's Place...

Updated 10:45 a.m. 

The repair and cleanup continues...

The break sent a rush of brown mucky water along Seventh Street toward Avenue A...

Several businesses are closed for now, including McDonald's and International Bar on First Avenue.

About Evil Katsu, a pop-up ghost kitchen now open on the Lower East Side

East Village resident Asher Sendyk recently opened his very first restaurant — Evil Katsu, a pop-up ghost kitchen offering picks ups and deliveries at 101 Rivington St. between Essex and Ludlow.

"After I was laid off earlier in the year I figured I would take a stab at my own business," said Sendyk, whose experience includes stints at Casa Mono, Blue Hill and in an administrative role at Dig Inn. 

Sendyk's restaurant partner is another East Village resident, Chris Wagenlander, a former sous chef from Casa Mono. And Wagenlander's wife, Hai Oliveira, is the sous chef at Evil Katsu. 

"We live a few blocks apart on First Avenue, thus 'Evil' as a portmanteau of East Village," Sendyk said.

Evil Katsu offers a variety of katsu sets, sandos (aka Japanese sandwiches) and sides. (The menu is here.)

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by EVIL KATSU (@evilkatsu)

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by EVIL KATSU (@evilkatsu)

 

Sendyk answered a few other questions about the venture, which debuted on Dec. 9...

Is this just for the winter or will you consider expanding into the spring?

We hope to have a proper brick and mortar eventually. Our lease is month to month. We are using this as a test. Hopefully people like it and we get the traction we need.

Is it delivery only or can people stop by to pick up an order?

It is both delivery and pick up. We welcome take out. Although conceived as a ghost concept we have surprisingly had a decent amount of walk-in interest.

What are some of the challenges of launching a virtual brand — especially during a pandemic?

It has been a heck of a struggle. 1) We are short on funds. Branding has been organic. We are competing against well-heeled brands and chains who can dominate the airwaves. 2) A storefront is phenomenal marketing. Without the physical asset we've been reliant on Instagram, press, word-of-mouth, etc. 3) The delivery platforms' commissions are insane! (We are very appreciative that the city has temporarily capped them.) And their service ain't always great. Plus, we don't have control over our product once it leaves our doors — thankfully the drivers have been patient and understanding.

All that being said, this environment has permitted us to develop and launch a concept within two and a half months. While our rent is by no means cheap now — we're gonna have to sell a lotta katsu! — we couldn't have done this in normal times. We hope our offering has resonance in a time when indoor dining is prohibited and we can bring the brand with us, whatever's next.

What are your thoughts on the future of delivery-only restaurants?

They've unsurprisingly exploded this year. Consumers are now accustomed to paying more for the service. We see them as being a significant part of the culinary landscape moving ahead, although perhaps not as prominent as they are at this moment. 

We are excited to offer a chef-driven product that was developed from the get-go for delivery versus restaurants that pivoted their normal menus for delivery.

MiGarba shuts down on 4th Avenue: 'We close due to New York restrictions and unsustainable rent'

After five-plus years in business, MiGarba has closed at 127 Fourth Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. (Thanks to Doug for the tip!)

A note on the door for patrons provides the reasons: "We close due to New York restrictions and unsustainable rent."

The pleasant wine bar/cafe, the first U.S. outpost of a Tuscany-based outfit, was a nice departure from the more fratty choices in the immediate area. 

Speaking of which, right in the same building... while there hasn't been any official confirmation, BarBacon remains shuttered... we haven't seen any activity here in months... and the interior looks to have been cleaned out...

The swine-dining bar opened in September 2018.

Ravi DeRossi temporarily closing his East Village restaurants; offering free meals on Christmas Eve

Ravi DeRossi has decided to temporarily close his East Village restaurants until January, a pause that started this past Friday.

An Instagram post notes: "It wasn't easy, but we believe a better way to spend these next few weeks is by reassessing, reflecting and recharging. We hope to start the new year with clear minds and prepared for whatever it throws at us!"

His Overthrow Hospitality group includes the vegan-based Ladybird, Amor Y Amargo and Saramsam. 

However, while the restaurants may be closed for dining now, there's activity behind the scenes. On Christmas Eve Thursday, Overthrow Hospitality will be serving free, plant-based three-course meals to anyone in the community who would like one. 

The meals will be available from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday at Amor Y Amargo, located at 443 E. Sixth St. at Avenue A.  

"It really just comes down to us wishing for everyone in our community to have a hot meal for the holidays," DeRossi said in a statement. "It's not much, but we hope it will bring a little bit of joy to everyone who will partake. I'm excited to spend this day with my team, cooking and serving those who would like a free meal on Christmas Eve."

The notice states that social distancing will be practiced, and masks will be available for those who need them.

Overthrow Hospitality said it has served more than 40,000 free meals to those in need since the beginning of the pandemic.

H/T Vinny & O

The now-closed Bleecker Street Bar looks to relocate to Broadway

Bleecker Street Bar is hoping for an encore presentation. 

The neighborhood bar's 30-year tenure on the corner of Bleecker and Crosby came to an end back in August. Per the owners at the time: "All of our efforts to negotiate a reasonable lease extension with our landlord have failed." 

However, they have a new spot lined up just around the corner at 648 Broadway between Bleecker and Bond (see top photo) ... and in recent weeks they've been collecting signatures via iPetitions. You can find that link here. 

Meanwhile, their former home remains empty... and right next door to the Noho Star — still vacant after three years.

Teso Life is open on St. Mark's Place

Teso Life, a Japanese variety store, is now open in the lower space at 19-23 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (First reported on Feb. 13.)

Per the Teso Life Instagram account, the shop "offers the widest selection of quality accessories, beauty and lifestyle products from Japan.

They are open daily from noon to 9 p.m. ... and this marks their fourth NYC location.

This is just one of the two new tenants in the space that was previously home for 16 years (RIP October 2019) to St. Mark's Market. 

T-swirl Crêpe opened here back in the fall... they previously had an EV outpost on 14th Street...

H/T Steven!

Sauced Up! spreads its wings on 2nd Avenue

Sauced Up! is now open for business at 77 Second Ave. between Fourth Street and Fifth Street. 

It was more than a year ago since we first saw signage for the quick-serve establishment, which, aside from wings, offers sandwiches, fries, tater tots, etc. You can find their menu and ordering info here. 

An EVG reader who shared news of the opening stopped by for takeout and reports: "the chicken was delicious." 

Several other readers have said they are pleased by seeing a new business open along this stretch where there were four consecutive empty storefronts ... the encampment in front of the now-closed Nostro seems to have scaled back. Closed storefronts are now limited to Atlas, Nostro and the psychic.

Photo from Dec. 14

Sunday's parting shot

Creative recycling in Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Derek Berg...

Week in Grieview

Posts from this past week include... (and thanks to Derek Berg for the photo from Tompkins Square Park)

• The latest from the fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church: the New York Liberty Bell survives (Monday)

• It snowed! (Thursday ... and Thursday) 

• Lovewild Design debuts on Avenue C (Friday) 

• Report of a small fire inside the empty P.S. 64 building on 9th Street (Thursday)

• NY AG: Madison Realty Capital to pay more than $1 million for victims of fraud and tenant harassment (Wednesday) 

• Celebrating 41 years of the Pyramid Club (Tuesday)

• Gallery Watch: In the Woods by Sally Saul at Rachel Uffner Gallery (Wednesday) 

• Theater in Quarantine presents a world premiere from an East Village closet (Monday) 

• East Village bars and restaurants temporarily close down again (Tuesday) 

• Restoring the Blondie mural on Bleecker and the Bowery (Monday) 

• A new look (and name!) for the East Village Neighbors Fridge (Friday) 

• Workers clear lot ahead of new-building construction on 6th Street and Avenue C (Wednesday) 

• A visit to Stoned Gourmet Cannabis Pizza (Friday) 

• New York Sal's Pizza bringing slices to 14th Street (Monday) 

• This week's NY See panel (Thursday) 

• Break ins at A break in at Kolkata Chai Cafe (Tuesday) and East Village Finest Deli (Wednesday)

• Rapid COVID-19 testing center opening on the Bowery (Monday)

• Steel structure for new Houston Street office building continues ascent (Monday) 

• Here then, the renovated 84 2nd Ave. (Tuesday) 

• Sanitation worker spares snowman's life on 7th Street! (Thursday) 

• Former Finnerty's space for rent on 2nd Avenue (Monday)

And remember...

... and this too! (Thanks Delphine for the photo!) ...

---

Follow EVG on Instragram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

O Christmas trees!

The Tree Riders wrapped up their 10th season of selling Christmas trees outside St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery on Second Avenue yesterday afternoon. 

As noted yesterday morning, they only had 16 trees left... and they went quickly. 

One Tree Rider said that they sold more trees in 2020 than in previous years... citing fewer tree stands this year and a demand for live trees from homebound residents who were celebrating the holiday sooner in such an awful year.  

As Fortune reported earlier this month:

Christmas trees — along with wreaths, lights and other decor — are in high demand this year as many Americans embrace holiday festivity in the face of rising coronavirus cases and bleak predictions for the winter months.

Key Food on Avenue A at Fourth Street also sold out yesterday... ditto for the Bueno East Mart down the block at Third Street...

The stand on 14th Street at First Avenue allegedly sold out last weekend ... while Greg's on East Houston at Essex has two rather spindly trees left as of 8:30 a.m. today ...

Yuletide procrastinators may still be able to nab a free tree that has already been discarded... Vinny & O spotted this one yesterday on First Avenue at Second Street... perhaps left behind by someone who is traveling for the holidays...

EVG Etc.: Crowdfunding for B&H Dairy; Selling off Gem Spa

Photo by Derek Berg

 

• Two East Village businesses detail their retail struggles (ABC 7) 

• Jacqueline Lewis, senior minister at Middle Collegiate Church, which was destroyed by fire on Dec. 5, talks about celebrating Christmas in 2020 (WNYC ... previously on EVG)

• B&H Dairy on Second Avenue is in danger of closing again (GoFundMe) 

• The great Cozy Soup 'n' Burger on Broadway at Astor Place could use some business too (Official site)

• Gem Spa is auctioning off its sign, rolldown gate, etc. (Official site ... previously on EVG) 

• Investigation: NYPD used excessive force during George Floyd protests (Gothamist) 

• New York State doing its best to permanently shutter restaurants (NBC 4)

• Second-generation Chinese New Yorkers are trying to help businesses in Chinatown establish an online presence and adapt to the pandemic (Gothamist) 

• The future of independent theater (B&B)

• A food vendor on 14th Street — in 1904 (Ephemeral New York) 

• 10 punk Christmas songs (Alternative Press)

• Diversions: The Stooges and the legend of "Metallic KO" (Dangerous Minds)

• And I appreciate Alex keeping the blogging spirit alive in this era of Substack, etc. He always has interesting posts. Give him a visit. (Flaming Pablum)