Reader report: Someone stole USPS key keepers along Avenue B

An EVG reader who lives on Avenue B between Sixth Street and Seventh Street reports that someone stole the USPS key keeper that holds the building's lobby key on Saturday night. 

Per the reader:

As one walks up Avenue B, you can see several buildings had this happen. A kid's scooter was stolen from the lobby of our building, and clearly people are getting desperate to do this kind of break in as it takes some effort. We're going to file a police report but just thought your readers might chime in if they have similar experiences or should be made aware.

The locksmith had to come and change all the locks... and the USPS has to replace the lockbox.

It is annoying more than anything. I think people are just really desperate.

Spring break

The Hare Krishna Tree in Tompkins Square Park is blooming, as this photo by Steven shows. 

Elsewhere, Allen Semanco shares these crocuses on St. Mark's Place...

Hate crime assault of Asian woman reported on Astor Place

WANTED for HATE CRIME ASSAULT : On Sunday March 21, 2021 @ 11:37 A.M. in the vicinity of 51 Astor Pl. @nypd9pct during an Anti-Asian Violence Protest , a protester carrying anti violence sign was approached by a male suspect and assaulted . Any info call us @ 800-577-TIPS pic.twitter.com/FBMxOdvqgd

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) March 22, 2021

Updated 3/23: An arrest was made

The NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force is searching for a suspect they say assaulted an Asian woman yesterday morning on Astor Place while she was walking to a demonstration against anti-Asian violence. 

The NYPD released the above video this morning showing the suspect...

Here is part of Gothamist's report:

The latest incident in a surge of attacks on Asian New Yorkers occurred at Astor Place, after an unidentified man approached the woman, asked for her protest sign, then stomped on it, according to police. When she asked why he did that, the man allegedly punched her in the face twice, then fled into a nearby subway station. 

The 37-year-old victim suffered a cuts and bruising to her lip, and a sprained ankle while trying to chase the assailant. 

Rita Chan, an East Village resident who saw the aftermath of the confrontation, said the attack happened in full view of the woman's young daughter. "You could see she was just numb. At one point, a woman approached her and gave her a cookie," Chan told Gothamist. "As soon she saw her mom being put on the gurney, that’s when she started crying. It was heartbreaking." 

Bagel Boss to preside in storefronts on 14th Street, East Houston

Bagel Boss is opening two new outposts in the neighborhood. 

There's now BB signage up on the gate at 238 E. 14th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...

They take over from old-timer City Gourmet Cafe, which closed during the pandemic.  

Look for another Bagel Boss coming soon to 55 E. Houston St. at Mott Street... in the former Oddfellows space...

Bagel Boss, founded in 1975, will now have 15 locations in NYC (including First Avenue between 15th Street and 16th Street) and on Long Island. 

Planet Taco now orbiting 2nd Avenue

Planet Taco debuted on Saturday at 141 Second Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street. (Thanks to Steven for the photo!)

There are a variety of tacos grouped by geography: local offerings include the Brooklyn Taco with corned beef; Around the World features selections from Cuba, Italy and Japan; and Out of This World sports names with Saturn, Venus and Mars. There are other items, which you can find on the menu here. The Instagram account is at this link.

We're told that David Sirinek, who previously has been involved with Maoz Vegetarian and Rub BBQ, is behind Planet Taco.  

The quick-serve shop is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

H/T Upper West Sider!

Previously

With lease up, Squish Marshmallows will look for a new home

Squish Marshmallows closed yesterday at 120 St. Mark's Place...

Owner Katherine Sprung announced the closure via Instagram back on March 10, explaining that the lease was up at the space here between First Avenue and Second Avenue. However, she plans to reopen in a new storefront.

Meanwhile, the online portion of the business will temporarily halt on Wednesday. Here's more from her Instagram post:

Our online shop will stop taking orders on March 24, and all orders placed in time will still ship out, including Easter orders .... any updates on ... opening back up, location, etc, will be announced once that information is available!

I appreciate your patience and understanding while we take a little time off and away, and look forward to serving you again soon!

Squish, which sells a variety of treats made with marshmallows, opened here in late November 2016. 

Sunday's parting shots

Scenes from a performance piece this morning by East Village resident Kym Bernazky in Tompkins Square Park ... (thanks to Steven for the photos)...

It's Solastalgia ...

Report: Hate crime investigation on Allen Street as 66-year-old Asian man assaulted

The NYPD's Asian Hate Crimes Task Force is reportedly investigating an assault yesterday morning in which a 66-year-old Asian man was punched on Allen Street just south of Houston...

Since this morning, Detectives @NYPDHateCrimes have been investigating the following: On March 20, 2021 at 8:55 AM, at 196 Allen St, a 66-year-old Asian male was approached by a male who yelled at him and then struck him in the face. See pics. Call or DM @NYPDTips with any info. pic.twitter.com/3dXYni2BEq

— NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) March 21, 2021

According to the Post:

The unsuspecting victim parked his car in front of 196 Allen St., near Houston Street, around 9 a.m. and was checking to make sure he was in a legal spot when the attack occurred, an NYPD spokesman said.

The police and witnesses described the suspect as homeless. Witness Kat Lam told the paper:

"The homeless man started charging after the elderly gentleman, saying things like, 'If I ever see you around here again, I'm gonna beat your ass.' And, 'I'm just going to beat your ass right now,'" Lam recalled. "He just socked him right in the face, right above the eye. You could tell that this older man was in complete shock. He was just frozen."

The Post reports that the NYPD has recorded a 1,300 percent increase in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic. 

Gothamist (link here) has more on this story and details on #StopAsianHate rallies today.

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included ... with a random photo from First Street on Thursday night... 

 • Report: Lowest bids for East River Park construction are $73 million over budget (Wednesday) 

• Checking in on Standings (March Madness edition) (Thursday) 

• Sunshine Cinema-replacing office building reaches the top on Houston (Monday) 

• Egg watch is on in Tompkins Square Park (Friday) 

• New Lower East Side creative space debuts "Group Sex" (Thursday) 

• Stanton Street CSA accepting sign-ups for the 2021 summer season (Friday)

• Sisterly Love in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday) 

• The Wafels & Dinges outpost on Avenue B has closed (Monday) 

• This week's NY See might make you think about ZZ Top (Thursday)

• Gallery Watch returns to the Hole (Wednesday) • 

A St. Patrick's Day moment at Mary O's (Wednesday) 

• Dian Kitchen has closed on 9th Street (Tuesday) 

• Jian Bing Man coming to 1st Avenue (Monday) 

• Juice Press founder bringing goodsugar to 1st Street (Thursday)

• 36 St. Mark's Place for rent again as Joe's Steam Rice Roll closes (Tuesday) 

• Owners of Tribeca's Khe-Yo plan to bring Laotian cuisine to 12th Street (Monday)

• 2 new plant-based restaurants arrive for takeout and delivery on 1st Street (Monday) 

• Raising the Two Hands signage on Avenue A (Thursday) 

• Signage arrives for Luna Cafe Lounge on 2nd Avenue (Friday) ...

... and a moment on St. Mark's Place the other day via Derek Berg...

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So long to the Essex Card Shop signage on Avenue A; Pac Lab on 1st Street

Back on Thursday, a reader shared the above photo... showing workers removing the old Essex Card Shop signage from its former storefront on Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street. 

And here's how the storefront at the city-owned No. 39 looks now...

Essex Card Shop moved one block to the north to 47 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street last June. A shop regular says that the owners were keeping the sign, but it wasn't going to fit above the new location. 

In other old signage news... the old Pac Lab signage was removed last week from 37 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Per the Anthology Film Archives: "Pac Lab was a true NYC staple, as well as the last local resource we had for same-day processing of Super-8mm and 16mm film. Over the years Pac Lab proved itself to be a company that possessed as much character and quirkiness as its clients." 

Pac Lab closed at some point in 2014 or 2015.

An eco-friendly fashion show on Avenue B

Local merchants and designers are teaming up today for the Ave B Eco-Friendly Fashion Show... it starts at 12:30 on Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street. 

You can find more info on the participants via Instagram. 

The show is brought to you by Loisaida Open Streets and the East Village Community Coalition.

Petition calls for 1 more year of the Hester Street Fair in current location

As Curbed's Valeria Ricciulli reported on Friday, the Seward Park co-op board decided not to renew the lease for the Hester Street Fair, founded in 2010 and set to start on April 10. 

There's now a petition (link here) in circulation to either give them one more year at the site or help find a new location for the Street Fair. 

Per the petition:

In late February we were finally able to present a general presentation to the board to discuss the renewal of our lease. Again a lot of praise with no feedback or questions from the board. Two days prior to the meeting we decided to accept pre-applications, as a way to show the commitment and interest from our community, and received 110 applications resulting in a total of 850 booths booked in 48 hours. 

Exactly four weeks before our scheduled Season 12 opening on April 10th, we received an email stating the board wants to consider a different operator, and not allow us to proceed with the programming. 

While the board has no legal obligation to the Hester Street Fair, we still urge them to allow us, our vendors, and partners to finish what we started, to continue the fair for this season, and give us the time to transition to a new location.