MulchFest 2021 is officially underway (as of Dec. 26). Through Jan. 9, you may drop off your Christmas tree in Tompkins Square Park (see the photo above by Steven).
Then!
On Saturday, Jan. 2 and Jan. 9, the Parks Department will be mulching up the trees In Tompkins from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ... where you may take away a bag of weapons-grade mulch for your own garden, tree bed, potted plant, nightstand, green smoothie, etc.
Weather permitting, the Sanitation Department will also collect and compost (non-decorated) trees left curbside from Jan. 4 through Jan. 15.
The Center for an Urban Future's 13th annual survey of NYC's national retailers finds the largest overall decline in the number of chain stores, and the third consecutive year-over-year drop in national retailer locations.
Given the pandemic and forced closures for months, news of the decrease may not be a huge surprise.
More than 1,000 chain stores across New York City — or a little less than one out of every seven chains that were open this time last year — have closed their doors over the past 12months, underscoring the immense difficulties facing retail businesses large and small during the pandemic.
Overall, the number of chain stores in New York City declined by 13.3 percent — with 2 percent closing temporarily and 11.3 percent not indicating whether the closures are permanent or temporary. This is by far the largest yearover-year decline in chain stores since the Center for an Urban Future began our annual analysis of the city’s national retailers 13 years ago, eclipsing last year's 3.7 percent drop and the 0.3 percent decline in 2018.
While every borough experienced notable declines in chain stores, Manhattan had the biggest losses, with the number of chain store locations in the borough shrinking by 17.4 percent (of which 2.8 percent were closed temporarily). In fact, Manhattan accounted for nearly half of all chain store closures (520 out of 1,057) citywide.
Other details closer to home: The 10003 zip code, which includes parts of the East Village as well as Union Square and Fifth Avenue, has the third-highest number of chain store locations at 140 (down from 171 last year) in NYC.
Meanwhile, the 10009 zip saw a 29-percent decrease from 2019, shrinking to 22 from 31. And in 10002 on the Lower East Side and Chinatown, there was a 16-percent drop, from 51 to 43.
It wasn't all closures for chains. Popeyes added 11 locations in the past year, including the one on First Avenue between Second Street and Third Street.
Tonight, the East Village-based TWEED TheaterWorks is hosting a remote holiday variety show, which will serve as a benefit for Pangea, the restaurant-performance venue at 178 Second Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.
Here's more about what to expect ... info via the EVG inbox:
One of our producing partners the past six years has been TWEED TheaterWorks ... with TWEED's artistic director Kevin Malony who produced a remote holiday variety show called 'TAINT ... an alt-holiday show featuring performances by many of their favorite artists who have graced the intimate Pangea stage.
The streaming premiere of 'TAINT will be tonight at 8 and will run for an hour. For those who can’t attend the premiere, a video on demand link will be sent on Dec. 29 and be available through Jan. 10.
Pangea has had its share of challenges this fall — aside from the loss of revenue with the pandemic-related closure of its supper club. On the morning of Oct. 30, Pangea management walked into the restaurant to discover that Con Ed had shut off their gas in the middle of the night. (A nearby resident was said to smell gas on the block. Although Con Ed didn't detect a leak, they shut down the gas service anyway.)
So in the past two months, Pangea's ownership has been entangled in the time-consuming bureaucratic process that includes scheduling inspections by the DOB and Con Ed. This also led to a loss of business, including the seasonably warm Halloween weekend.
However, Pangea owners Stephen Shanaghan and Arnoldo Caballero took action, and bought electric cooking equipment and, with the help of a new chef, created a menu to fit their circumstances. In addition, they recently introduced a takeout dinner menu.
Here's more from a recent email to Pangea patrons from Shanaghan and Caballero:
Our biggest obstacle now is the weather turning colder and the new mandate closing indoor dining ... Since our heat is gas powered, we are concerned that electric space heaters may not be sufficient if we get a real dose of winter.
On a positive note, we have implemented a new takeout dinner service (for pick up only). In the past, takeout was not a viable option for Pangea. We have a two-person line in the kitchen. Pre-pandemic we were not able to offer takeout while hosting a busy 50-seat cabaret room and a 40-seat front dining room. Now it will be our only source of revenue.
During December, takeout orders are discounted 20 percent. Pangea also has several tables for outdoor dining.
They're also continuing to crowdfund to ensure a post-pandemic future here on Second Avenue.
Pangea has a long history in the neighborhood. Read our interview with Pangea owners Stephen Shanaghan and Arnoldo Caballero here.
ICYMI from Dec. 24: After nearly six years at 130 First Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place, Sweet Generation is closing its bakery ahead of a move to a larger location in Brooklyn.
And today is their last day, when they'll be open for curbside preorder pickup only ... taking orders by phone: (646) 964-5777. (And they have flash sales via their Instagram Stories.)
Sweet Generation partners with several nonprofit organizations and local high schools to create an internship program that teaches baking, food safety, customer service, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to teens and young adults from low-income communities.
Owner Amy Chasan posted a photo of their spacious new facility in Bushwick...
A rather sad state here on Seventh Street just east of First Avenue ... where for rent signs (now all via the same broker) hang in three consecutive storefronts that previously housed bustling quick-serve restaurants.
Most recently, Caracas Arepa Bar closed in early November at 91 E. Seventh St. The original location at at 93 1/2 E. Seventh St. suffered extensive fire damage in September 2016, and the owners were never able to reopen in the space, which has remained vacant.
In the middle, the first outpost for Luke's Lobster'sclosed in October 2019.
Both Caracas Arepa Bar and Luke's carry on at other locations. These small spaces on Seventh Street seem ideal for other new businesses just starting out.
As Luke's founders Luke Holden and Ben Conniff wrote in October 2019: "It's time for 93 E. 7th Street to help launch someone else's dream, and we can't wait to visit and support it."
Another ICYMI recap from Dec. 24: Medan Pasar is now serving Malaysian cuisine from 102 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.
They are currently open for takeout or delivery starting at 11:30 a.m. Find their menu here. Or call them at (646) 756-4006.
The Instagram account @eastvillagefoodfinds highlighted their Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang in a post last week: "Full of flavor, some nice kick and a stick-to-your ribs meal overall — perfect for keeping you warm in these cold months."
A for-rent sign now hangs outside the western storefront at 58 St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... officially marking the end of the Dip's tenure here. (Thanks to Steven for the photo.)
The quick-serve restaurant that served a variety of sandwiches went dark in the fall ... and they didn't respond to requests about their reopening status.
The Dip opened in November 2019, and barely had four months in business before it had to shut down for the PAUSE in March. Still, they made an impression in their short time here... people seemed to like their specialty dish — the French Dip sandwich.
The other retail space at the address is also vacant. The Clay Pot closed next door at the end of the summer.
Meanwhile, on 14th Street, Williamsburg Pizza looks as if it won't be reopening here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...
Construction is past the four-year marknow at 11 Avenue C (aka 350 E. Houston St.) where work continues at this new 10-story residential building ... one notable milestone — the sidewalk bridge has been removed from around the triangular-shaped property...
And it turns out the building has a name — Stella ... as seen now above the main entrance on Second Street...
Stella joins the other newer residential buildings nearby bearing a single name — The Adele and The Robyn.
And here are a few more views of Stella, where some renters will have a balcony and floor-to-ceiling window views of East Houston and Avenue C ...
BLDG Management is the developer behind the project, which will feature 46 residential units and ground-floor retail. Still no word on pricing or availability just yet.
Foundation work began in December 2016 here on this lot that housed the neighborhood's last gas station. The well-worn plywood rendering lists a March 2018 completion date. Why the delay? Architect of record Rotwein+Blake previously stated that "the narrow triangular site presented numerous challenges from its odd shape to zoning constraints."
Perhaps you received a book or two as a Christmas gift... and need to make some room on your shelf... then consider dropping by the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B where today marks another Book Swap Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
As the organizers said: "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!"
As Gothamist points out today, we're now in Exploding Manhole Season, when, as they put it: "The city's creaky tangle of underground utilities is once again under siege from salty water."
As a result, there have been numerous manhole explosions reported around the city.
Around here, we've had some smokers, as you can see in the top photo on Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.
And this morning, there was a report of a "smoking maintenance hole" on Second Avenue at 13th Street ...
Fortunately, nothing exploded in these two instances.
The Gothamist post included this helpful infographic via Con Ed ...
A view along Avenue A between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street this morning... after yesterday's reported high of 60, temperatures dropped to the 20s overnight with wind chills in the teens... causing the Avenue A reflective pool to freeze over ...