All of us can hear everything that happens in your apartment...
Yes....
Everything .....(Literally ... everything)
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Noted
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 ...
Let's talk about the weather
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY... WHAT...Snow expected. Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are expected Thursday, with total snowfall accumulations of 5 to 9 inches by the end of the event on Friday. A light glaze of ice accumulation is possible Thursday Night as well. WHERE...Portions of northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut and southeast New York. WHEN...From 4 AM Thursday to 7 PM EST Friday. IMPACTS...Travel could be difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This will be a long duration winter weather event. Light to moderate snowfall is likely early Thursday morning into afternoon. A light wintry mix of sleet and/or freezing rain is possible for a period Thursday evening into Thursday Night, before turning back to light snow on Friday morning and ending in the afternoon or evening.
Ahead of this, the city suspended Open Streets and Open Restaurants roadway dining today. However, sidewalk dining remains open. In addition, Alternate Side Parking Regulations will be suspended through Saturday.
Photo from Tompkins Square Park by Vinny & O
No more desire for this deli, apparently
We hear the deli owners, who run several in the area, just weren't able to make it work here.
Your Desire in Food opened this past June (and we found them to be very welcoming), and offered a variety of fresh-made sandwiches and salads.
There is ample competition here with more-established delis, including the East Village Finest Deli right across the street ... and Ben's a block to the south... and Sunny & Annie's and their topnotch sandwiches two blocks to the north.
The previous tenant here, East Side Gourmet Deli, closed in April 2019. Their sign remained on the storefront, as Your Desire simply hung a banner over part of it.
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Winter weather in the U.S. leaves some shelves empty at Whole Foods Market® Bowery
EVG reader Robert Miner shares these photos from the Whole Foods Market® Bowery on Houston ... where shoppers are warned of "temporary shortages due to the weather events across the country" ... indeed... the produce was wiped out...
Robert said other parts of the store remained stocked.
Last month, shortages were reported at East Coast Whole Foods outposts as a result of a supplier closing unexpectedly. "The retailer also said weather-related issues have affected the availability of California lettuce," per Grocery Dive.
Medical procedures: A few moments filming for 'New Amsterdam' today along Avenue A
Gallery Watch: Time Dilation at Perrotin Gallery
Text and photos by Clare Gemima
Time Dilation by Daniel Arsham
Perrotin Gallery, 130 Orchard St.
Walking into this show will leave you star-struck by the (literal) crystallization of time and memory through Daniel Arsham’s grandiose and hyper-realistic sculptures.
The array of resin sculptures lining this beautiful gallery expand on the idea of what has been, or is actively sacred, and how the definition has been shaped by cultural, social and digital life. The screen in which we all know far too well has allowed ancient treasures an elongated life-span, a ploy Arsham somewhat inverts with his use of analog and digital in the making of his Pokémon series. Classical statue meets pop-cultural Japanese mythology. Two sources that inhabit an infinite amount of online heritage explode as resurrected time stamps in Time Dilation, a showcasing of neo-sacrality at Perrotin Gallery.
This show is joyously playful and delusionally dream-like. Time Dilation makes you ponder on what cultural signifiers will exist well beyond the 20s, and what of them will be glorified or worshipped. Will Charmanders one day be Gods? Will Ancient Grecian sculpture be deduced to existing only as kitsch online graphics? Is this what we’ve come to rely on when we see art depicted with rock, crystals, ceramics or marble? Time, labor and love regardless of its historic gravitas?
An extremely popular show, I would suggest visiting the gallery early before it becomes over-powered with keen visitors. Time Dilation is extremely Instagrammable, making it a slightly harder show to navigate but it is definitely worth the effort.
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
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
City releases COVID-19 vaccine data by ZIP code; where do local neighborhoods rank?
For the first time, the city has released data broken down by ZIP code to show who is receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
The stats released yesterday by the Health Department show that 10464 (City Island in the Bronx) has the highest vaccination rate, with 25 percent of residents having received both shots ... followed by 11004, which covers the Bellerose, Douglaston and Little Neck neighborhoods in Queens, with 20 percent of the population having been vaccinated.
At the other end: 11208, 11212 and 11368, covering Cypress Hills, East New York, Ocean Hill, Brownsville and Corona, where only about 2 percent of people in those areas have received both shots.
(A note: The data does not include information on how many adults in each ZIP code are eligible for the vaccine under current New York state guidelines.)
Per the Times:
Officials in New York City released new data by ZIP codes ... that they said underscored troubling disparities in the city's vaccination effort, with the share of residents who are fully vaccinated in some wealthier Upper West and East Side ZIP codes, which have high proportions of white residents, reaching up to eight times the rate in parts of predominantly Black neighborhoods like East New York.Said the DOH's First Deputy Commissioner Torian Easterling during a press conference: "The figures published ... show the scale of the challenge in front of us. Just as we've seen, there's a much smaller proportion of vaccines going to Black and Brown New Yorkers. We see these geographic disparities bearing out as well."
As Gothamist noted, Mayor De Blasio "insisted the vaccine program was designed with NYC's historic health disparities in mind, and with enough vaccine doses — he says about a half-million a week — the disparities would be alleviated. But he also faulted vaccine hesitancy and distrust for exacerbating the gaps in who is getting vaccinated."
Meanwhile, how do East Village and Lower East Side ZIP codes stack up?
Here's a look at the data... 4 percent of adults in 10002 have been fully vaccinated... followed by 5 percent in 10003 ... and 5 percent in 10009...
You can find the full city map here...
Mikey Likes It and Tompkins Square Bagels join forces for first collaboration
The two just debuted a new cream cheese flavor and specialty sandwich.
For this creation, the two reinterpreted Mikey's popular Southern Hospitality scoop... combining TSB's cream cheese with chopped, candied praline pecans, chunks of mini pecan pies from Abu’s bakery in Bed-Stuy and pecan pie filling.
Thrill-seekers may also order the Southern Hospitality cream cheese on an everything bagel with strips of bacon (you have to ask for Mikey's Southern Hospitality sandwich). 
For the rest of February, 10 percent of the sales from these items will go to the Loveland Foundation, a therapy fund for Black women and girls.
The two shops plan to collaborate more in the future.
"Mike and I have been talking about doing something together for years. Running a small business alone can totally consume you, and no matter how many times Mike and I bumped into each other on my walks home from work, we could never find the time to pull it off," TSB owner Christopher Pugliese told me about Mikey's founder, Michael "Mikey" Cole.
Pugliese called Cole about this idea last Wednesday, and by Friday, Cole was in the TSB kitchen on Avenue A.
"We had a blast and plan to do more collaborations together as well as some other charities feeding the homeless and hungry on the Lower East Side and in Harlem. Mike does a lot of charity work and when I asked him if I could join in he was very welcoming to the idea," Pugliese said. "I have to tell you, at one point he was working with my guys and I was looking over at him and I was just so happy he was there and that his place is around. COVID has taken so many small businesses. I really hope people in the East Village will show their support for Mike's place. I can't stress enough what a great, kind, big-hearted guy he is."
Novum EV comes into full view
The sidewalk bridge and scaffolding recently came down at the new 7-floor residential complex with 20 units — known as Novum EV — at 238 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. (Thanks to Stacie Joy for the photo!)
Sales are still pending for the 1- and 2-bedroom units (and penthouse). Noted amenities on the plywood signage include a fitness studio and wet bar, outdoor recreation area, cold storage and triple glass exterior windows.
Workers demolished the previous building on the lot, a two-level structure once owned by the Blue Man Group, in the summer of 2019.
Novum EV is situated between the historic Nuyorican Poets Cafe and the great Rossy's Bakery & Café ... and across the street from the trouble-plagued Mariana Bracetti Plaza.
Previously on EV Grieve:
7-story residential building planned for former Blue Man Group facilities on 3rd Street
Previously on EV Grieve:
7-story residential building planned for former Blue Man Group facilities on 3rd Street
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Tuesday's parting shot (aka Prince is home safely)
Derek Berg took this photo around 5 ... after a search volunteer spotted Prince on the block. He is now home safely.
Blue Christmas
More than one can bear
Village Cafe & Grill debuts on 4th Street
As previously noted, the cafe (no indoor seating — takeout and delivery only) has an extensive menu featuring everything from bagels to burritos to burgers... not to mention a variety of wraps, sandwiches, salads and desserts.... breakfast, lunch and dinner... looks reasonably priced — you could get out with two eggs on a roll and a small coffee for less than $5...
Village Cafe & Grill takes over the space from Bali Kitchen, which closed this past Aug. 1 after business dropped during the pandemic. The Indonesian restaurant opened in September 2017. Owners Jazz Pasay and David Prettyman were looking to continue a catering business as well as other pop-up ventures.
Lilly's Shakes & Crepes is now open on Avenue C
EVG contributor Stacie Joy took these photos... and watched a Lilly's staffer whip up a strawberry-banana Nutella crepe for a customer...
Lilly's, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., also sells sodas, water and other deli-type items...
Lights on! Panna II expands into the former Milon space on 1st Avenue
As we first reported, Panna II was expected to take over the former Milon space at 93 First Ave. at Sixth Street.
That transition happened fairly quickly for the longtime Indian restaurant ... as Panna II reopened in both upstairs spaces this past Friday with the return of indoor dining at 25 percent. (Top photo from last night.)
Here's a look early Saturday evening inside Panna II via EVG contributor Stacie Joy ...
Milon, the Indian-Bangladeshi restaurant that first opened here in 1982 never reopened after the PAUSE of March 2020.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Development site on 14th Street and Avenue C remains dormant
The story is behind a paywall, and so without a subscription ... there was speculation that the piece was in reference to the long-dormant southwest corner of Avenue C and 14th Street... right across from Stuy Town.
No, turns out the new development — a 10-story, 50-unit residential building — is slated for the empty parcels at 305-311 First Ave. between 17th Street and 18th Street.
As for 14th and C — 644 E. 14th St. to be specific... that site remains in stalled-development mode...
A quick review of some history here: Last spring, Shulamit Prager’s Opal Holdings sold the property to Madison Realty Capital for $31.3 million.
Opal had plans for a 50-unit mixed-use building on the site.
There hasn't been any construction activity at this site since the end of 2017. However, there has been some behind-the-scenes wrangling. In May 2019, PincusCo examined city records to find that several developers have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby the city for NYCHA air rights. (The latest listing noted that "additional FAR" is available.)
According to the PincusCo investigation, Madison Realty Capital hired one of the city's most active lobbying firms, Capalino+Company, to approach the NYCHA about the air rights at Campos Plaza II adjacent to this property.
In November 2019, a new listing for the property positioned the corner as a "unique build-to-suit opportunity." According to the listing at Lee & Associates, the site "can be developed as a residential/commercial mixed use building" that's "ideal for schools, health care/medical, not-for-profits, retail." There wasn't a mention of price.
Opal had plans for a 50-unit mixed-use building on the site.
There hasn't been any construction activity at this site since the end of 2017. However, there has been some behind-the-scenes wrangling. In May 2019, PincusCo examined city records to find that several developers have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby the city for NYCHA air rights. (The latest listing noted that "additional FAR" is available.)
According to the PincusCo investigation, Madison Realty Capital hired one of the city's most active lobbying firms, Capalino+Company, to approach the NYCHA about the air rights at Campos Plaza II adjacent to this property.
In November 2019, a new listing for the property positioned the corner as a "unique build-to-suit opportunity." According to the listing at Lee & Associates, the site "can be developed as a residential/commercial mixed use building" that's "ideal for schools, health care/medical, not-for-profits, retail." There wasn't a mention of price.
And that's where we are. This corner property last housed the single-level R&S Strauss auto parts store, which closed in April 2009.
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Development back in play for East 14th Street and Avenue C
• More details on the sale of 644 E. 14th St.
• Here comes a 15-story retail-residential complex for East 14th Street and Avenue C
• Prepping the former R&S Strauss auto parts store for demolition on East 14th Street and Avenue C
• City OKs 15-story mixed-use retail-residential building on 14th and C
• 14th and C now waiting for the Karl Fischer-designed 15-story retail-residential complex
• 14th and C still waiting for its Karl Fischer-designed retail-residential complex
• Report: New owners for the empty lot at 14th Street and Avenue C
• Development back in play for East 14th Street and Avenue C
• More details on the sale of 644 E. 14th St.
• Here comes a 15-story retail-residential complex for East 14th Street and Avenue C
• Prepping the former R&S Strauss auto parts store for demolition on East 14th Street and Avenue C
• City OKs 15-story mixed-use retail-residential building on 14th and C
• 14th and C now waiting for the Karl Fischer-designed 15-story retail-residential complex
• 14th and C still waiting for its Karl Fischer-designed retail-residential complex
• Report: New owners for the empty lot at 14th Street and Avenue C
Monday, February 15, 2021
Mid-afternoon squab break
The return (again) of indoor dining
Gov. Cuomo originally ended indoor dining in the city in December after two-plus months ahead of an expected holiday-related spike in COVID-19 positivity rates.
Now, with a decline in the positivity rate and with hospitalizations, Cuomo eased restrictions, including pushing back the curfew by one hour from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
A take on all this via Eater:
... Subject on Suffolk Street near Houston...
... Remedy Diner on East Houston...
... Bin 141 on Avenue A at Third Street...
... Takahachi on Avenue A...
... Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar on First Avenue ...
... Panna II on First Avenue (which is also open in the former Milon space) ...
... Royal Bangladesh on First Avenue...
... Nón Lá Vietnamese Kitchen on Fourth Street...
... Popeyes on First Avenue ...
... Divya’s Kitchen on First Avenue ...
... Bibi Wine Bar on Fourth Street...
... 5C Cultural Center & Cafe on Avenue C at Fifth Street ...
... San Loco on Avenue C...
... and Lavagna on Fifth Street near Avenue B...
Not surprisingly, differing opinions abound on how to handle the latest return to indoor dining. Some owners are grateful for any loosening of operating restrictions and look forward to offering a handful of seats for customers, others are opting to take a wait-and-see approach before reopening their own establishments, and still others are planning not to reopen until COVID-19 vaccinations have been more widely distributed.
This past holiday weekend, EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by a handful of East Village establishments that were welcoming back diners inside ... starting with Il Posto Accanto on Second Street (above).
What follows are some snapshots of the first weekend of indoor dining in 2021 ...
... Book Club on Third Street...
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