Five women have now accused the governor of inappropriate sexual conduct. Attorney General Letitia James is now investigating the sexual harassment allegations.
Monday, March 8, 2021
Noted
Bing celebrates International Women's Day with photo of RBG mural on 1st Avenue
Artist @ellestreetart finished the mural of the late associate justice of the Supreme Court back in November.
PSA 4 providing increased security at Mariana Bracetti Plaza
This year, EVG contributor Stacie Joy has been reporting on the dangerous living conditions at Mariana Bracetti Plaza, the public housing complex on Third Street and Fourth Street along Avenue C.
In early February, local elected officials and NYCHA deputies met with tenant activists Kanielle Hernandez and Yvette Maria for a firsthand look at the issues here, a list that includes flooding, leaks, sewage and infrastructure issues, broken door locks, trespassing, nonfunctioning elevators, police response and drug use and sales.
Stacie now reports that officers from Police Service Area 4 (PSA 4), the Avenue C-based station that serves 25 NYCHA developments in the 5th, 7th, 9th and 10th precincts in Manhattan, are working to provide increased security at Mariana Bracetti Plaza.
Stacie took the top photo on Saturday when PSA 4 officers were joined by members of the NYPD's Law Enforcement Explorers program, which is for young men and women ages 14 to 20, at Mariana Bracetti Plaza.
Security aside, there's also an emphasis now on providing educational materials related to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for the residents... these materials were spotted in the lobby...
More hot dogs for Avenue A
What can you expect? Hot dogs!
The work permit in the window points to a "hot dog store" ...
We're tracking down more details about the business... which will offer up more hot dogs for Avenue A... the 99-Cent Fresh Pizza & Hot Dog shop opened back in September. And Ray's Candy Store has been peddling franks for decades at 113 Avenue A.
Arepa Factory, the quick-serve Venezuelan restaurant, closed at 147 Avenue A in January 2020 after nearly five years in business.
Photos by Steven
Full reveal for Spike's on Avenue A
The new awning/signage for Spike's arrived late last week at 218 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street.
Spike's Instagram account describes the establishment as an "East Village dive bar."No word on an opening date.
As previously noted, Spike's is from the same ownership as the family of bars that includes Iggy's Keltic Lounge on Ludlow, Local 138 on Orchard and the Spotted Owl on Avenue A.
This space was previously the Horsebox, the sports bar that opened in the spring of 2010 ... they never reopened after the PAUSE in March 2020. A for-lease sign arrived here in August.
O Ramen Dim Sum M has closed on 9th Street
A for-rent sign now hangs on the storefront at 350 E. Ninth St. just west of First Avenue.
The previous tenant, O Ramen Dim Sum M, never really had a chance. They opened this past July for two weeks then closed when there wasn't any business during the pandemic ... sources on the block said that they reopened in the fall, but their hours were sporadic... open for a day or two, then closed for several days.
And previously: beQu Juice closed here in November 2019 after nearly six years in business. Until 2012, a bakery had been in this storefront for 87 years.
Thanks to Steven for the photo... and to William Klayer for also noting the closure.
Incoming pizzeria check, 14th Street/Avenue A edition
As we reported this week, this pizzeria is taking the place of Muzzarella Pizza (1991-2020).
And Burrata isn't the only new pizzeria in the works right here at 14th Street... a 99-cent sliceria is taking the former Rainbow Nails & Spa space at 424 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue...
... and New York Sal's Pizza is set for 536 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B...
This is a sibling to the New York Sal's Pizza up on 10th Avenue in Hell's Kitchen.
Sunday, March 7, 2021
At the Black History Bowl
Residents and community groups came together yesterday afternoon for Black History Bowl, an event at the Baruch Playground on the Lower East Side to help celebrate both Black History Month and Women's History Month (this was originally scheduled for last Saturday, but was rained out) ...
The Black History Bowl was created by Ty Lemons — aka For the Love of the City, a neighborhood resident and coach, mentor and event planner.
East Village native Frank Gonzalez, founder and principal broker at Loisaida Realty, helped organize yesterday's activities.
"I was happy to partner with him as I see his potential to make a difference with our youth, who are one of the underserved groups in our community," said Gonzalez, who's also a youth pastor. "[Ty] is focused on working with youth, particularly from NYCHA housing. He created For the Love of the City to put on events and organize activities for kids and teenagers."
Here's (from the left) Coss Marte of ConBody, one of the sponsors, with Lemons and Gonzalez yesterday...
Yesterday's activities included youth workouts via ConBody and games of flag football as well as free food and music courtesy of the Brooklyn United Marching Band.
Here are a few photos from the afternoon...
Week in Grieview
• East River community group gets action on the release of (heavily redacted) value engineering study (Tuesday)
• Report of a fatal fire on 5th Street (Friday)
• Meeting Chef Wayne from the Bowery Mission (Friday)
• The Union Square Food Emporium looks to be closing at the end of May (Thursday)
• Police make arrest in fatal punch on 1st Avenue and 11th Street (Tuesday)
• Checking on in Meat + Bread on Allen Street (Wednesday)
• Movies theaters prep for reopening (Thursday)
• Hub Thai debuts new Avenue A space (Thursday)
• A stroll by a Goya display in this week's NY See (Thursday)
• Gallery Watch: 'Last Supper' at LatchKey Gallery (Wednesday)
• This is the new tenant for the NW corner of 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place (Wednesday)
• 787 Coffee opens an outpost on 14th Street (Monday)
• Catch a wave at this incoming Asian restaurant on 6th Street (Thursday)
• Report: The Knickerbocker Bar & Grill will be reopening soon on University Place (Wednesday)
• Mike's Cleaners is closing on Avenue A (Monday)
• A much-needed beach day for Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street (Wednesday)
• A new pizzeria for the former Muzzarella Pizza space on Avenue A (Monday)
• Openings: Mi Salsa Kitchen on Allen and Houston; Davidovich Bagels on Avenue A (Monday)
• When Charles the dog blasted Daft Punk on 2nd Avenue in a video directed by Spike Jonze (Sunday)
• 347 E. 4th St. sells; conversion to residential use is in the works (Tuesday)
• The first opossum sighting of 2021 in Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday)
• About Nudibranch, bringing a pop-up tasting menu to 130 1st Ave. this month (Friday)
• Leasing underway at Stella LES on Avenue C and Houston (Wednesday)
• Construction watch: 799 Broadway (Tuesday)
• New signage for the incoming Greenwich Marketplace on 4th Avenue (Monday)
... and I Know! I Know! This used to be such a nice, safe neighborhood... via the Citizen app...
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Remembering Wendy Schonfeld
The Daily News has more about Schonfeld and her life:
Even at 80, Schonfeld was a vibrant fixture in her East 5th St. building and a priceless mentor to former colleagues at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
"She lived and breathed the arts," said Robert La Force, a neighbor for 29 years. "Even though she didn’t really go out the last couple of years, she was still a part of everything," said La Force. "She would stick her head out the window and talk to people."And...
Her home was crammed with artifacts from Mexico and elsewhere collected during a lifetime of devotion to the arts.
At the Met, Schonfeld was recalled for guiding younger colleagues to get their noses out of books and helping them communicate the grandeur of art to the general public.
"She had that wonderful New York way of setting things straight, with kindness," said Joanne Pillsbury, a curator at the Met. "She was a fountain of information about objects and ideas."According to the News (and as several readers pointed out), there was another fire in Schonfeld's apartment more than 10 years ago. She reportedly suffered permanent health problems from smoke inhalation.
As for this fire, FDNY officials told the News that "the blaze may have been caused by faulty wiring in an air conditioner."
Photo by Steven
Reopenings: Ladybird, Lucy's, Phebe's — and more
The recent reopenings include:
• The Ainsworth, 64 Third Ave.
• Avant Garden, 130 E. Seventh St.
• Cherry Tavern, 441 E. Sixth St.
• Empellón Al Pastor, 132 St. Mark's Place at Avenue A
• Huertas, 107 First Ave.
• KGB Bar, 85 E. Fourth St.
• Ladybird, 111 E. Seventh St.
• Lucy's, 135 Avenue A (photo of Lucy below by Lola Saénz)
... and upcoming:
• The Penny Farthing, 103 Third Ave.
• Phebe's, 361 Bowery at Fourth Street
• Tile Bar, 115 First Ave.
• Proletariat, 102 St. Mark's Place — March 17
• Saramsam, 111 E. Seventh St. — March 17
• Superiority Burger, 430 E. Ninth St. — March 12
TV series shoot looking for break dancers, 1980s 'punk types'
Updated: Ah! This is apparently for season 2 of "Russian Doll."
Waldron Casting is seeking Men who can breakdance and portraying 1982 East Village types breakdancing outside of the subway. Think Michael Jackson style break dancers.There's also a call for "80s punk types" ... and "gutter punk and grunge" ...
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Saturday's parting shot
Thanks to Stacie Joy for the photo!
Ruh-roh! Scooby-Doo looks extremely angry here on St. Mark's Place
And why is Scooby looking supremely — and uncharacteristically — pissed?
The challenges of dining out on a windy day in Tompkins Square Park!
Uh-oh! The detailed new work made from upcycled cardboard — titled "Eat Out" — that East Village-based artist Tom Manco of Manco Studios debuted yesterday in Tompkins Square Park was upended by a gust of wind.
EVG contributor Derek Berg, who snapped these photos roughly two minutes apart this morning, helped reset the table with the help of a passerby...
Saturday's opening shot
Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Monday, when they are closed. (212) 505-8065
Friday, March 5, 2021
Friday's parting shots
'Lux' living
Local band Pom Pom Squad released "Lux" this week... which features a "Virgin Suicides" tribute video of singer-songwriter Mia Berrin's dreams.
Also, today is Bandcamp Friday, in which the platform foregoes its revenue and gives the bands all the $$$ from the day's sales. You can download "Lux" here.
About Open Data Week in the East Village
Join EVCC for this week-long festival of FREE community events in celebration of New York City's Open Data Law. From family-friendly live events on the Ave B Open Street, to fun and informative virtual events, there's something for everyone here!
Highlights coming up tomorrow (Saturday!) on Avenue B between Seventh Street and Eighth Street ...
1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Join artist Jen Ray and data designer Jason Forrest for an engaging and not-entirely-serious interactive data-art performance on the Ave B Open Street. You've never seen data presented like this!
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Join artist Cindy Stockton Moore in Shadow Tag for Open Streets, a creative family-friendly experiment in chalk. Come play with data!
Engaging with the WhatsOpenEV.com MapBuilt by BetaNYC & maintained by volunteers, the WhatsOpenEV.com map has everything you need to safely Shop Local. We created the map to assist our community and support local merchants during the COVID-19 shutdown. What started as a band-aid grew into a labor of love.Discover East Village businesses, help support your favorites, and add your contributions to the map. Find the latest hours, specials, fundraisers and more!
Visit the EVCC website for more details.
ICYMI: Arts and entertainment venues can reopen starting on April 2
And those numbers can go higher — up to 150 people indoors — if the venue offers a rapid COVID-19 test on entry.
Either way, all attendees must wear masks and be socially distanced.
Despite the positive step forward after a year-long closure, some venues said they would not be reopening just yet.
From Gothamist:
"Obviously any news about a path forward, even a limited capacity one, is great considering where we were just over a month ago," said Dennis Dennehy, spokesperson for AEG Presents and Bowery Presents, which manages bookings at Forest Hills Stadium, Terminal 5, Webster Hall, Brooklyn Steel, Music Hall of Williamsburg and more. "That said, we remain focused as of right now on fully reopening when we can do shows at 100% capacity. It just doesn’t make sense for us to do anything with limited capacity."While he left open the possibility that some individual artists might decide to eat their losses to do a couple of one-off shows at big venues, he said it ultimately wasn't efficient for them to be back until they can play to full houses.
From the Times:
Michael Swier, the owner of the Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge, two of New York's best-known rock clubs, said that the state's order that venues require social distancing and mask-wearing means that the true capacity at many spaces may be much lower.
"Given that social distancing is still part of the metric, it brings us back down to an approximate 20 percent capacity, which is untenable," Mr. Swier said.
Report of a fatal fire on 5th Street
Updated 3/7: the fire was at 335 E, Fifth St. The resident was identified as Wendy Schonfeld. Read about her here.
An early-morning fire on Fifth Street reportedly killed an 80-year-old resident in the building.
According to @FDNYalerts, the fire broke out on the fourth floor of 335 E. Fifth St., a five-story building between First Avenue and Second Avenue. The report came in at 12:55 a.m., according to @FDNYalerts ... and was deemed under control by 1:24 a.m.
At 3:36 a.m., the Citizen app reported the following: "An official update from the FDNY has confirmed that an 80-year-old woman found inside the apartment was declared deceased after EMS transported her to a local hospital."Manhattan All Hands Box 0430, 337 E 5 ST, Multiple Dwelling 'A' Fire, 4TH FLR, Under Control
— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) March 5, 2021
Three other injuries were reported.
No other information is available at the moment regarding the conditions of the victims or the cause of the fire.
Updated 5 p.m.
Steven shared this photo... as you can see windows on the fourth and fifth floors have been board up...
Top photo via Citizen
Meeting Chef Wayne from the Bowery Mission
Interview by Mackenna Caughron
Wayne is a chef at the Bowery Mission, currently working across their Bowery and Tribeca campuses to serve New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.
I met Wayne while he was in the throes of dinner preparation. His meals look outstanding — no surprises there, as his food fuels thousands of hungry New Yorkers and counting. It’s apparent why he’s so effective at his job — not only is he an expert in the creation of hot meals, but also his presence emits warmth. Spending an hour with Wayne (without even tasting his food, mind you), I felt lifted.
I asked Wayne several questions to learn more about his journey to the Bowery Mission and the recent impact of the pandemic.
What is your first memory of The Bowery Mission?
In 2012, I experienced temporary homelessness. I was staying at a nearby shelter, not far from the Bowery Mission’s flagship campus at 227 Bowery. At the time, I’d go to The Bowery Mission to get food, get clothing, but I didn’t know much about the organization overall. For two years, I held occasional jobs but was having a hard time finding steadier work and housing.
In 2014, I signed up for the Bowery Mission’s men’s residential program. By October of that same year, I had graduated from the program and secured a job at the organization’s Avenue D Campus.
How did you transition from program participant to staff member?
When I first got into the program, we had daily tasks. It gave us something to do, but it also taught us skills. I spent my time in the kitchen, working with the chefs and volunteers.
It wasn’t easy at first. We serve a wide variety of people dealing with extreme circumstances. To be on the front line of serving food while monitoring interactions could be tough. Some folks direct the challenges of their day toward you. Over the years, I’ve better understood where they’re coming from and why they act this way.
In my time working at the Bowery Mission, I’ve also worked at their Mont Lawn Camp and Retreat Center in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, which was an incredible experience. It is beautiful, 200-plus acres with a retreat center, a gym, basketball court, rock climbing wall — the works. Compared to the city, there are no sirens, no city noises. Seeing the organization’s full-circle impact makes me feel more strongly about working at the Bowery Mission.
On a personal level, I’ve learned that serving a person a great meal does a lot. Initially, I cooked to keep busy and develop my skills. Now, I look for the relief on a client’s face. I see in their demeanor when I’ve removed the worry of having to feed themselves.
I also learned to communicate thoughtfully. If I’m met with aggression, I temper the conversation to encourage different behavior.
All our locations operate differently, some campuses are more focused on emergency shelter, some are focused on residential programming, but my focus is always to make a good meal.
Do you notice changes in donations during recent times?
Being in the food industry myself, I’ve seen how hard it is for restaurants right now. They’re not receiving the same customer base. But it’s amazing how our donation partners have pulled together and said, “even though we’ve been affected by this negatively, that shouldn’t put a damper on what the Bowery Mission is trying to do.”
People are still trying to gather as many resources as they can to help. We’re now getting packaged food. Companies and organizations are preparing meals and putting them in containers and bringing them to us, hundreds at a time every day.
Not only does it make our job a little bit easier, knowing that we have people supporting us, but it allows us to go full force in serving people who really need it. We are able to execute a battle plan so that we can best serve guests, who, unfortunately, can’t shelter in place like many New Yorkers can.
How do you get a feeling of appreciation in this work?
When I go home from work, I see many of the people we serve on my commute. When they see me, they give me a shout-out, “Hey Chef!” That feels good.
Also, if I do see a person asking for food, I get to tell them about the Bowery Mission. All they have to do is be on time to receive a meal.
I was very appreciative that all staff and volunteers were offered resources through the Bowery Mission to isolate and safely navigate COVID-19.
What is the lesson learned from COVID-19?
Among New Yorkers, the issue of homelessness can be divisive. Some folks want to help, while others think people should be “on their own.” The pandemic has proved anyone can fall on tough circumstances. You get behind on bills, you can lose your job, and you can lose your housing.
We all need help sometimes, and whatever events happen in this country, we can all try to be part of the solution rather than the problem.
New Yorkers can catch flak for being “rude” or “brash,” but when things go down, we know how to come together.
About Nudibranch, bringing a pop-up tasting menu to 130 1st Ave. this month
Eater had the scoop yesterday on what's been happening here.
Two Momofuku Ssäm Bar alums have teamed up on an exciting, new tasting menu pop-up that's running in ... through the end of this month. Nudibranch ... is a collaboration between chefs Victor Xia and Jeff Kim, and the first solo project for the duo.
Kim and Xia met working at Ssäm Bar several years ago, and teamed up on Nudibranch last year to create a menu that paid homage to all the kitchens they've cooked in around the city as well as the food they love eating everyday.
While the menu incorporates several Asian ingredients in various dishes, the chefs don't want that to be the defining factor of the project. "We hate the term Asian fusion or pan-Asian," says Xia. "That is how a lot of people just want to describe food like this. But if you look at the menu you won't really be able to tie it down to any particular cuisine. Not having to label it is something we really enjoy."
Visit the Nudibranch website here for more details.
Nightmarket, a quick-serve Taiwanese restaurant specializing in braised beef noodle soup, opened in July 2019, taking over from NuNoodle.
Photo from January by Steven
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Noted
Grant Shaffer's NY See
The Union Square Food Emporium looks to be closing at the end of May
While the closure of the supermarket isn't a complete surprise, its timing is. In February 2020, Lois Weiss at the Post reported that Target has signed a lease for the 32,579 square feet here on 14th Street. However, the Food Emporium was said to stay here through the end of April 2023.
Sources told Weiss that, despite the wait, Target wanted to lock in the location along 14th Street. The nearly 16-year lease had an asking rent of $183 per square foot, she reported.
The WARN filing says that the Food Emporium lease is expiring. The closure will impact 50 employees, per the notice.
In December 2015, Key Food acquired the Food Emporium banner name and related intellectual property assets, per published reports.
This will mark the departure of yet another traditional grocery store in the area. Associated closed on 14th Street in Stuy Town in December 2019.
H/T Bayou! EVG file photo.
It's nearly show time as NYC theaters prep for reopening
However, don't expect to see all of the local movie houses up and running right away.
Here's what to expect, starting with the Village East Cinema on Second Avenue at 12th Street (marquee photo above by Doug) ... which will have a new name...
Before the pandemic, the Village East Cinema showed movies that originally opened at the Angelika Film Center. Plus, the Village East Cinema is owned by City Cinemas, a branch of Reading International. The Angelika is also under the Reading International umbrella. So they're keeping it all in the Reading family.We’re reopening Friday March 5, and we are excited to welcome @CityCinemasNYC to the Angelika Film Center family, as Village East by Angelika and Cinema 123 by Angelika!
— Angelika Film Center (@AngelikaFilmNY) February 26, 2021
For more information, visit us at https://t.co/K3mu1MJiw8.
See you at the movies! pic.twitter.com/T1W311Xu6p
Find the cinema's website here.
Elsewhere in the downtown film community... (and masks are required to be theaters)...
• Angelika Film Center., Houston Street. Opening on March 5. Website here.
• Anthology Film Archives, Second Avenue at Second Street. No reopening date. Will continue with virtual cinema.
• Cinema Village, 12th Street. The small theater is hoping to reopen around April 1, per the Post.
• Film Forum, East Houston. Opening on April 2.
• IFC Center. Opening on March 5. And per IndieWire: "Mandatory mask-wearing at all times, no concession sales, and no eating and drinking allowed in theaters."
• Loews Village 7, Third Avenue at 11th Street. Opening March 5. Website here.
• Metrograph, Ludlow Street. No reopening date yet. Will continue with virtual programming.
• Regal Cinemas, Union Square and Essex Crossing. No return date just yet.
• Quad Cinema, 13th Street. Opening on March 5. (Updated)
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