Saturday's opening shot

City crews were out this morning salting roadways for the anticipated winter weather expected this afternoon... to the National Weather Service for some ALL-CAPS forecasting...

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 AM EST SUNDAY... 

WHAT...Mixed precipitation including freezing rain expected. Total snow accumulations of up to one inch and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch. 

WHERE...Portions of northeast New Jersey and southeast New York. 

WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 10 AM EST Sunday. 

IMPACTS...Difficult travel conditions are possible due to icy roadways, especially this afternoon through tonight

Friday's parting shot

Fetch! A scene in Tompkins Square Park today by Derek Berg...

Removing a curbside living space on 9th Street and Avenue C

An EVG reader shared the following photos... someone had moved into the curbside dining structure on Ninth Street at Avenue C outside the temporarly closed Esperanto... 

The man, and the various items that he has collected, had been in the Ninth Street space since this past Saturday. We're told that nearby residents had called 311 and other city agencies about the encampment... 

By this afternoon, some workers — unsure who sent them — arrived to remove the roof from the curbside space...

... and eventually the man's items had been moved to the sidewalk...

In recent weeks, several curbside spaces at currently closed bars-restaurants have temporarily been turned into encampments... including outside Lucy's on Avenue A...

Come out to 'Play'

 

Missed this single when it came out back in the fall — the UK-based duo Nova Twins with "Play Fair."

The band recently announced "Nova Twins Presents Voices For The Unheard," a new compilation album they'vee curated to spotlight underrepresented POC artists from the rock and alternative scene. 

Police searching for suspect in 1st Avenue assault on Wednesday afternoon

Police are searching for a suspect they say critically injured a 59-year-old man after punching him Wednesday afternoon on First Avenue near 12th Street. (Update: Readers say it was actually 11th Street near the Islamic Council of America.)

CBS 2 has a few more details:

Police say the suspect got into a dispute with the 59-year-old victim. Things escalated, and the suspect punched the victim in his left eye. 

The victim fell to the street and knocked his head on the concrete. That left the victim semi-conscious, police said. He suffered a fractured skull and swelling of the brain, according to authorities. 

The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition.

Accounts of the assault did not include a description of the suspect (he appears to be wearing checkerboard slip-ons by Vans) ... the NYPD did release this footage last evening...

🚨WANTED for an ASSAULT: On 2/10/21 at approx. 2:51 PM, at 1st Avenue and East 12 Street. The suspect punched a 59 year old male victim in his left eye, knocking him down causing him to be semi-conscious. Any info call or DM NYPDTips at 800-577-TIPS. Reward up to $2,500. pic.twitter.com/4GTu3d9w5r

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) February 12, 2021

Essex Market regulars Davidovich Bakery opening an outpost on Avenue A

Signage has arrived for the new tenant at 36 Avenue A — Davidovich Bakery. 

The Essex Market regular looks to be opening another standalone shop offering bagels, pastries, sandwiches and coffee. 

The 23-year-old business opened its first non-Market space at 77 Clinton St. late last fall. 

No word on an opening date or hours at this time for Avenue A.

Until this past September, this storefront was home to Native Bean. The cafe was here since January 2015, having moved the one block from 50 Avenue A. 

We had heard that another coffee-bagel shop was opening here, but didn't know the brand. 

A Valentine’s Day pop-up: Never Ending Taste coming to Yellow Rose on Sunday

Text by Kate Woodruff

Acclaimed pastry chef Natasha Pickowicz is popping up at Yellow Rose this Valentine's Day.

And it's a case of paying it forward, pop-up style.

Described as "genuine cosmic Texas cookin'," Yellow Rose opened this past fall at 102 Third Ave. between 12th Street and 13th Street. Owners Dave and Krystiana Rizo were on the pop-up circuit before opening their own place, and are now hosting Pickowicz's highly regarded Never Ending Taste bake sale, which helps raise money for local nonprofits working with issues of food insecurity and in food justice.

"I'm really excited to be in the kitchen with them," says Pickowicz, whose Valentine's menu (serving from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) will feature sticky buns, layer cakes and cookies alongside Yellow Rose's homestyle tacos and heralded vegan queso.

Pickowicz, a James Beard nominee, is best known for her work at Café Altro Paradiso in Soho, where she worked as the head pastry chef until March 2020 when she found herself out of work at the start of the PAUSE. 

It was after this that Superiority Burger's Brooks Headley reached out to see if she would be interested in using his space on Ninth Street for a residency on Sunday nights, and the Never Ending Taste was born.

As for this Sunday, Pickowicz instructs: "No indoor dining. Wear a mask. Bring your Sweetie."

 ----

Kate Woodruff is a food writer and chef. Both working and residing in the East Village, she spends her time cooking, eating and writing about the two. For inquiries: katejeanwoodruff@gmail.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 ... 

Construction watch: 298 E. Houston St.

Yesterday, we looked at the incoming 14-story affordable housing complex at 302 E. Second St. between Avenue C and Avenue D.

One building to the west is a very different type of new residence — the luxury Houston House, now fully revealed.

Here's a refresh on the 8-story condplex — "inspired by environmentally friendly passive house standards" — via the HH website:

Interiors were designed to maximize space and natural light, and many of the units have dramatic, unobstructed views of One WTC and Lower Manhattan. Amenities include breathtaking views, part-time doorman, a state-of-the-art Butterfly Mx virtual doorman system, bicycle storage, and a package room.

Each apartment boasts private outdoor space and an array of high-end fixtures and finishes. Specific features include private keyed elevator access, gorgeous wide plank hardwood floors, triple glazed floor-to-ceiling windows with northern and southern exposure, high ceilings, Energy Recovery Ventilator Systems, Miele washers/dryers with heat-pump technology, and stunning kitchens equipped with eat-in peninsulas, statuary quartz countertops, a matching backsplash, custom Italian cabinetry, pantry space by ALTA, and a suite of fully-integrated Miele appliances.

A new East Houston landmark, Houston House is just steps from numerous parks and public gardens and a continually evolving collection of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. It is close to the brand new Essex Crossing development, and is a short walk to the East River Promenade...

HH features several floor-through units with either two or three bedrooms. There are four available units, per the HH website, ranging in price from $2.8 to $3 million. There's also a unit for rent at $11,000 a month.

This property was previously the Houston Street Beer Distributors (see below!). The parcel fetched a little more than $7 million in the fall of 2015, per public records.

Previously on EV Grieve:
298 E. 2nd St. latest development site up for grabs

East Village now minus 2 beverage distributors

Something brewing (demolition) for former beer distributor on East 2nd Street


[Photo from August 2016]

Black Seed Bagels and chef Bobby Hellen launch Black Seed Pizza

The Black Seed Bagels team today launches a new venture — Black Seed Pizza, a collaboration with Bobby Hellen, who ran GG's on Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B for three years until December 2017.

Hellen will be working from Black Seed's East Village location on First Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

The opening menu features five pizzas, including standards such as Cheese, Tomato and White as well as several specialties like Bob's Pizza (seen below), which features sopressata, mozzarella blend, grana padano, pecorino, tomato sauce, castelvetrano olive, banana pepper, oregano and homemade chimichurri ...

The pizzas are available in two sizes — square (12" x 12", feeds 2-3 people) and round (9" diameter, feeds 1 person). Find the menu here.

Some details via the opening announcement:

Black Seed Pizza's dough is fermented for 36 hours and made from certified organic, stone ground flour from Wild Hive Farm in the Hudson Valley, non-GMO all-purpose flour from King Arthur Flour in Vermont, and a 100-year old sourdough starter. 

The sauce is made using certified organic Bianco DiNapoli San Marzano-style tomatoes from California. All pies are baked in Sicilian-style pans, in a wood-fired oven. Gluten-free dough options are available for the square pizzas, and a plant-based cheese (Numu) is available to substitute for mozzarella

The pizza will be available for pickup at 176 First Ave. and delivery through Black Seed Pizza's own site and also via the usual third-party delivery platforms. 

Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 4-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.
 
The Black Seed founding partners (Noah Bernamoff, Matt Kliegman and Dianna Daoheung) have been friends with Hellen for years and say that this is more than a pop-up concept, but rather "a full-fledged, standalone business alongside the bagel operation, poised to grow and potentially operate out of more Black Seed locations with wood-fired ovens."

Storefront photo by Steven; pizza pic by Shay Harrington

How about some more bubble tea for St. Mark's Place

Gong Cha, which describes itself as "one of the most recognized bubble tea brands around the world," is opening an outpost at 27 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

This location is now on the Gong Cha website (H/T Upper West Sider!) ... marking the ninth outpost in Manhattan for the global franchise founded in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

This block of St. Mark's has seen a variety of bubble tea come and go through the recent years... some still in business (Kung Fu Tea right across the street).... and some not (Mi Tea). 

This storefront (the one on the left) has been vacant since Lab -320° closed in late 2016 after six months of selling ice cream. The previous longtime tenant here, The Sock Man, closed in January 2016 after a reported rent hike via (now former) landlord Raphael Toledano. Sock Man owner Marty Rosen later opened a new location at 99 1/2 St. Mark's Place ... where he remains today.

Photo by Steven

Mi Salsa Kitchen, serving Cuban cuisine, announces itself on Houston and Allen

A worker yesterday unveiled signage for the new restaurant coming to the southwest corner of Houston at Allen... welcome Mi Salsa Kitchen...

The restaurant, which will serve Cuban cuisine, looks to have a modestly priced menu... with meat and chicken dishes, served with two sides and a salad, starting at $11. 

This venture takes the place of the 8-year-old Mezetto, which never reopened after the PAUSE last March, per BoweryBoogie, who also first reported on Mi Salsa Kitchen's pending arrival.

New photos of suspects wanted for brazen attack last month on 3rd Street and 1st Avenue

WANTED for ROBBERY On 1/13/21 @ 12:42 AM, in the vicinity of 1st Ave. & E.3rd St., in the confines of the @NYPD9Pct subjects approached victim and punched him multiple times and forcibly removed property. Any info call us @ 800-577-TIPS or DM NYPDTips Reward up to $2500 pic.twitter.com/ADEeEY1Sb3

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) February 10, 2021

Police have released new photos of the suspects who brazenly attacked a man at 12:40 p.m. on Jan. 13 on Third Street just west of First Avenue. 

According to published reports, the 29-year-old victim, who suffered a broken jaw, was a delivery man. 

Per CBS2: "Police sources [said] he was riding his bike when he stopped to take a picture of a car that apparently hit him. That’s when several men got out, started punching him and stole his phone." 

Aside from distributing new photos of the suspects, the NYPD upped the reward money to $2,500...

The victim's wife set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover medical expenses. There isn't any word where he works making deliveries. 

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. All calls are strictly confidential.

The remains of Milon

If you're looking for a souvenir from the now-closed Milon, then you're in luck! 

Someone emptied contents from the Indian-Bangladeshi restaurant a little south of the space on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Fifth Street...

Goggla, who alerted us to this stash, nabbed a Milon menu...

As first reported, Milon, which opened here in 1982, quietly went out of business during the pandemic. Upstairs neighbor Panna II is expected to take over the space at 93 First Ave. in the months ahead.

Gallery Watch: 'Friend Zone' at Half Gallery

 Text and photos by Clare Gemima 

Friend Zone

Half Gallery, 235 E. Fourth St. at Avenue B

Friend Zone, curated by Vaughn Spann, consists mostly of contemplative figurative paintings. Some carry a sense of unease and vagueness through their figure’s expressions and body language (Elliot by Sarah Ball), others celebrate passion more directly (Lovers by Taylor Simmons) and some are just downright quirky (One liner — Lambullghini...produce/reuse by Jan Gatewood). 

The age-old conventions of friend-zoning suggest that one person is in love and willing to engage with someone who does not reciprocate these feelings at all. Upon extrapolating the push and pull of this awkward and somewhat painful notion, the 44 artworks in the show appear to embrace reminiscent ideas like uncertainty, longing, and in some cases, torment. 

Seeing works through this lens serves as an enjoyable experience immediately, allowing for creative narratives to form around visualized characters and situations. 

My favorite work in the show was Brianna Rose Brook’s oil and airbrush on canvas called God bless this kitchen. Two figures play against a crazed kitchen scene where items have been chopped up and strewn across a table, a stovetop has been left on and maybe hair is being dyed at home? Is the dynamic between the two strained or suggestive? Sexy or struggling? 

The uncertainty of the relationship is such a seductive tool in this work, something that is consistent throughout the young artists practice. For more of her incredible paintings, you can visit her website.

All American Girl, aka: Cowboy of Ohio was another work I could not stop thinking about from Friend Zone and I am grateful, as it has lead me to discover more of Oscar yi Hou’s works, which is honestly just to die for. If I could use swear words to exaggerate, trust me there would be a long list of them here.

The artist’s seemingly deliberate and frisky exuberance can be seen through multiple layering and building of form through strong strokes of oil paint. 

Themes of diaspora and the slippage between Western and Eastern culture seen in this painting could be evocative of America’s friend-zoning of everything that is other or sadly not white, but for the artist’s intention, I cannot of course be certain. 

Their exemplary use of contrasting and complementary colors creates a character that is sexy and charismatic, a palette that has been adopted throughout an extremely impressive body of work that you can find here.

Friend Zone is packed to the brim with works that force us to examine the importance of human bonds and relationships we have with each other. The consternation that shadows over relationships that can’t be defined or in some cases do not want to be has exacerbated over the course of our global crisis. Is the world in fact friend-zoning us? Instead of thinking about this too hard, go and see the show instead. 

Friend Zone at Half Gallery will be up until Feb. 24. 

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ 

Clare Gemima is a visual artist from New Zealand. New-ish to the East Village, she spends her time as an artist assistant and gallery go-er, hungry to explore what's happening in her local art world. You can find her work here: claregemima.com 

Construction watch: 302 E. 2nd St.

The 14-story affordable housing complex recently topped off at 302 E. Second St. between Avenue C and Avenue D.

As previously reported, the project — called East Village Homes — will feature 45 affordable apartments and a ground-floor community facility on this long-vacant, city-owned parcel.

Some particulars via a Patch report from the fall of 2019:

Eight apartments will be for formerly homeless people under Section 8 for incomes up to 20 percent of area median income, seven apartments at 47 percent of AMI, 14 apartments at 77 percent of AMI and 15 apartments at 120 percent of AMI — which ranges from annual incomes less than $15,000 to about $90,000 for a single person.

A second phase of the East Village Homes project is expected to create 10 additional affordable rental apartments on a separate site at 276 E. Third St. Construction has yet to commence there between Avenue C and Avenue D.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Here are more details on East Village Homes, the affordable housing set for 2nd Street 

A labor of love: 3rd and B'zaar's latest seasonal pop up open through February on 3rd Street

ICYMI: Sex, Love & Vintage, featuring the work of 30 local vendors and artists, is open through the end of the month at 191 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.

This is the latest seasonal pop-up shop at the 3rd and B'zaar space, which debuted this past November with a holiday market.  

Local art aside, the space is also hosting special events this month, such as a burlesque workshop with Pandora, "NYC's Greek goddess of burlesque." She was onsite this past Saturday when EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by for a moment...

She returns this Friday evening (very limited reservations are available — details via Instagram here).

B'zaar co-founder Maegan Hayward and company have the space through April, though they would like to extend the lease to host a spring market in May. They also hope to host more art shows, such as the one the weekend of Jan. 22.

"The plan for the 3rd & B’zaar, in general, is to have more art shows and events in between markets," she said. "And the hope is that we can keep the space and keep with that method of markets every few months that are specialized and small events in-between. But even if we don't stay in that space we hope to be able to travel and do the same thing in other spaces as a pop up."

Sex, Love & Vintage is open Wednesday-Sunday from 1-6 p.m. You can follow the 3rd and B'zaar Instagram account or Facebook page for details on vendors and updated hours. 

A new tenant for the former JAM Paper & Envelope space on 3rd Avenue

After staying vacant for three years, a new tenant is in the works for 135 Third Ave. between 14th Street and 15th Street.

According to the @TradedNY account, a business called Third Avenue Discount signed a lease for the large space. No word on the moment what kind of discounted items that the shop will sell. Stay tuned. (H/T Upper West Sider!)

Longtime tenant JAM Paper & Envelope closed here in January 2018 after 25 years in business. The company closed its storefronts in a shift to e-commerce.

Meanwhile, next door at 133 Third Ave., the carcass of an in-progress 16-story residential building remains ... way back in December 2012, a construction mishap "sent wet concrete oozing through a wall and into an NYU dorm next door," as DNAinfo reported at the time. The owner of the building that NYU leases the dorm from subsequently sued to halt the project.

And here it sits...

Superiority Burger reopens on March 12

More restaurants are working on reopening plans after a winter break.

Last evening, Superiority Burger on Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue announced that it will reopen for to-go service again on March 12. 

The popular quick-serve vegetarian restaurant went on hiatus after service on Jan. 9.

Superiority Burger has plans for some time later this year to put the former Westville Bakery space to use across the street.  

Doctor's orders: 'New Amsterdam' film notices arrive along Avenue A

Here's advance notice of a TV shoot happening in and around the Key Food region on Avenue at Fourth Street... cast and crew for the NBC medical drama "New Amserdam" will be filming around here next Wednesday, Feb. 17. 

This is the second production to set up here in recent months... crews for the Disney+ series "Hawkeye" — via Marvel Studios — were filming on Fourth Street at Avenue A in early December.

Local elected officials, NYCHA reps get firsthand look at the problems at Mariana Bracetti Plaza

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

In a follow up to our initial story on the living conditions at Mariana Bracetti Plaza housing, local elected officials, a representative from Community Board 3 and NYCHA deputies met with tenant activists Kanielle Hernandez and Yvette Maria this past Thursday to view the buildings and grounds and map a plan for change here on at the complex on Third Street and Fourth Street along Avenue C. 

Present were District 2 City Councilmember Carlina Rivera and her assistant Irak Cehonski, NYCHA Deputy Director for Security Safety Strategies Andre Cirilo, NYCHA Regional Asset Manager Brenda Allen, State Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and his Chief of Staff John Blasco (who has been particularly active in assisting people living in public housing) and Community Board 3’s District Manager Susan Stetzer. 

The group did a walkthrough to inspect the conditions of the buildings, making note of what needed to be done on both city and state levels to effect change. 

During the tour, the group witnessed and discussed flooding, leaks, sewage and infrastructure issues, broken door locks, cracked pavements, sidewalk shed safety concerns, trespassing, nonfunctioning elevators, biohazards, and PSA4 (housing police) response, drug use and busted locks.

The tenant activists are hoping to start a tenant patrol and resident association, as well as partner with NYCHA and elected officials to bring about change in the quality-of-life conditions. 

After the tour, I talked with Kanielle to see what has happened after our story was published this past Jan. 14, what is currently occurring, and what she sees in the future.

How did you feel when your tenant activism brought together city, state, and NYCHA representatives to help fix the conditions you detailed in your interview?

I felt great. I walked away feeling hopeful and thankful. I know everyone is busy but having them all come and hear us was amazing. The energy was one of unity. We took turns talking and listening. It felt nice to meet them in person and actually interact with one another. 

A divided community doesn’t get heard. It gets abandoned and taken over. The more we come together and unite our skills and resources we can identify, understand, and resolve the issues more effectively. 

Can you speak a bit about what happened after the story was published?

 

Since the story has published it seems like a lot has happened. Sadly, though a man was shot and killed on the corner of Third Street and Avenue C. There has been a lot more police presence in the building and the community since the shooting. Our front door was also fixed. And there seems to be fewer drug addicts waiting around in front of our building.

 

The walkthrough was put together by Assemblyman Harvey Epstein’s team. They reached out to me after the story was published and set up a conference call. Harvey, Aura [Olavarria] and John [Blasco] have been great. I also met Carlina Rivera and her team and two NYCHA representatives. I have connected with a lot of new people from the neighborhood. Most of them also dealing with a lot of the same issues.

 

What do you see going forward? What are some of the resolutions proposed at today's meeting?

 
Moving forward I see a lot of positive results. I see more unity in agencies, NYPD and the community. 
 
NYCHA has a resident watch division. It’s a part of the tenant patrol program. Tenant patrol is currently inactive due to COVID. The resident watch has created a tip-line number, which can be reached anonymously. It’s for the tenants so they can now report things like homeless addicts sleeping in our hallway, or getting high in the staircases.
 
And for neighbors that allow their guests to disrespect our building with illegal activity or inconsiderate behavior. For example, groups of people smoking, drinking and playing loud music in the hallways. Or neighbors that let their dogs piss and shit in the hallways and don’t clean it up. 

For the tenants who refuse to stop smoking cigarettes in the elevators. Your apartment will be given a warning. The security cameras work and the resident watch department has access to them. 
 
I would hate to see anyone lose their apartment over things that can be adjusted. Wait until you go outside to light your cigarette. Play your music but if the walls are vibrating then it’s just a li’l too loud. I’m not saying stop playing the music, I’m asking to simply lower it to a reasonable and considerate volume. Remind your guests when they visit to act accordingly. 

And if they are visiting you and are caught soliciting in the hallway or staircase then your apartment will receive a warning. A second warning will be an official complaint to management. Hopefully, tenants and their guests will get on board with the new boundaries set in place with the intention to restore peace and safety in our building. 
 
Another NYCHA representative took pictures and noted the building conditions and said she would work on NYCHA’s part. And the elected officials are doing their part by staying on top of the issues and working toward getting outreach programs for the homeless. Everyone seems on board with working together to rectify the issues at hand. 

And I have been busy with research, emails, meetings, and tons of phone calls. Gaining knowledge is imperative to pursuing this the right way. Along with a lot of patience and gratitude. 
 
What are some of the reactions (positive or negative) you received from neighbors?

The story received such positive feedback! And a lot of support, which I’m extremely grateful for. It’s been super encouraging. To the people who left such nice comments, thank you! You’re awesome and appreciated. It showed me that I wasn’t the only one with the same feelings and concerns for the conditions of our building and neighborhood. 
 
There actually hasn’t been much in terms of negative reactions. At least none that I’m aware of. Hopefully, I’m not jinxing it [laughs]. But my intention is not to cause any more negativity. I don’t know what the future holds for our building and our community as a whole, but I do intend to continue speaking up until we see the changes we want and deserve.
 
Anyone — all inquiries will remain anonymous — interested in hearing more or has any questions and/or concerns can email us at ourcommunityisyourcommunityles@gmail.com and/or sign the petition here.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Residents say dangerous safety conditions at Mariana Bracetti Plaza lead to illegal and hazardous activities

• Another look at conditions in and around the Mariana Bracetti Plaza public housing complex  

Reader report: A mini return of the former Stuyvesant Market on 14th Street and Avenue A?

Last month, we told you that a "deli & grocery" is in the works for the southwest corner of 14th Street and Avenue A. 

Turns out that you may spot some familiar faces here one day: A tipster tells us that employees from the former Stuyvesant Market that was on the southeast corner of 14th Street and Avenue A are behind this new venture. (They've been working at another deli these recent years, per the tipster.)

As you may recall, Stuyvesant Market, as well as several other businesses, burned down in May 2010. According to published reports, the fire started at Pete's-a-Pizza, where a welder was working on a fire-access door.

The shell of the storefronts remained empty... and eventually Extell's EVGB development arrived, where the Target sits in the corner space where the market once stood.

As for the under-renovation storefront (currently paused due to a Stop Work Order), Dion Cleaners held down this corner for 35 years ... until this past November.

H/T Michael Paul!

Village Dream Tattoo & Piercing shop has apparently closed

A tipster shared that the Village Dream Tattoo & Piercing shop has closed at 128 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place. Workers were seen removing the fixtures this past Thursday.

No word on if the business moved... or simply closed.

Village Dream was a holdover from the previous landlord, and lasted a surprisingly long time after Icon Realty bought the building in the fall of 2013. (As we've seen, existing businesses don't always stick around too long after Icon takes over.)

The other longtime previous tenant at the address, The Stage, the 35-year-old lunch counter, closed in March 2016. Stage owner Roman Diakun had been involved in an ongoing legal/eviction battle with Icon Realty. More recently. Nolita Pizza closed here last June.

Photo by Steven

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Tenants rally for better living conditions at 128 2nd Ave.; file contempt of court motion vs. landlord Icon Realty

Succession to the throne on 2nd Avenue

In a battle for the crown, Vic has apparently lost out... an EVG reader shared this photo from Second Avenue and Fourth Street, where the queer-friendly English-style pub Queen Vic is now simply going as Queen.

Queen, from the owners of Boiler Room next door, has not been open since the PAUSE went into effect last March.

Queen Vic opened in September 2010, putting an end to the carousel of bars here, including 2x4, Ambiance and Evolution.

Monday's parting shot

Photo on Second Avenue today by Derek Berg...