Saturday's opening shot

A crew was out early (7 a.m.) to put up the stage for today's HC show in Tompkins Square Park.

The bill features Madball, Murphy's Law, Bloodclot, Wisdom in Chains and the Capturers (plus DJ Franky 2Far). There's a noon start time, per the flyers, though a worker said the show starts at 2.

The devil's advocate

 

NYC-based Pretty Sick released a new song yesterday, "Devil in Me" ... which is the first track from the band's forthcoming EP titled Comedown, out on June 17. Check out the video above...

Open Culture on the Open Streets of Avenue B

Tomorrow (Saturday!), several community groups and artists are coming together for Open Culture, an afternoon "to lounge, listen to music and help draw a giant street mural with tape artist Kuki." 

This is happening from 1-5 p.m. on Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street.

Happy Hatch Day for Amelia and Christo, the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park

It appears that at least one egg belonging to Amelia and Christo, the resident red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park, has hatched. (And thanks to Steven for these photos!)

Goggla has been keeping an eye on the nest and has noticed a change in behavior starting on Tuesday evening... as the two went into parenting mode. 

Per Goggla:

Christo perched on the edge of the nest while Amelia stayed inside. He appeared to be watching and/or waiting, something we've seen him do on hatch days in previous years. The hawks stayed in this position for over two hours, which is also notable. Finally, Amelia got up and the two of them fussed around with some food, Christo watching as Amelia tore it up, then went through the motions of feeding a chick deep in the nest.

What's going on up there?

We have no idea how many eggs or chicks there are in the nest, but can expect 1-3 nestlings. It may be another week or so before we catch a glimpse of any fuzzy white heads peeking over the edge of the nest, so we'll have to wait and be surprised.

Head over to Goggla's site for more details... plus check out her video of Christo riding out the hailstorm on Wednesday from atop St Nicholas of Myra on Avenue A and 10th Street. 

Openings: Looker bringing vegan bar food to Avenue B

Looker, serving vegan bar food, debuts today (1 p.m. until ... ?) at 42 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street.

This is the sister restaurant to Post, the former tenant here...  as previously reported, the four-year-old cafe moved around the corner to a larger space on Third Street. 

Not sure what else to say about Looker at the moment... they do have an Instagram account chock-full of 1980s throwbacks...

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A post shared by LOOKER (@lookerny)

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 ...  

Spring forward with Al Diaz

Acclaimed street artist Al Diaz, whose career spans 50 years in NYC, is the subject of a new (virtual) exhibition via the East Village-based Howl! Happening starting tomorrow.

On Tuesday, Diaz added a seasonal touch to the gate at 246 Bowery (at Stanton Street) ... the message reads: "Spring. Nature's Most Optimistic Gesture."

NY1's Roger Clark caught up with Diaz while on the Bowery.

If the letters on Diaz's work look familiar, it's because they are made up of reclaimed New York City Transit Wet Paint Sign characters, and subway system icons.  

"Being a New Yorker and all, it's a kind of ubiquitous alphabet, constrained alphabet, that as commuters we see every day," said Diaz, who makes messages of all sorts with those letters intended to inspire action.

Diaz grew up in the Jacob Riis Houses on Avenue D. He started writing graffiti at age 12. As a teen in the late 1970s, he and his friend Jean-Michel Basquiat collaborated on a series of cryptic messages seen around the city signed from SAMO©. 

The show at Howl!, titled A Subterraneous Journal, features work that Diaz created during the pandemic. 

Find more info about the exhibit, which is on through May 30, at this link. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• The EVG podcast: Al Diaz on BOMB1, SAMO© and Basquiat

Live music returns to these 2 Avenue A venues

Live events, with limited attendance, have returned to venues on Avenue A.

Drom, 85 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street, is welcoming back an array of acts. (Schedule here, flyer above.) 

The club is also the new home of DJ TM.8's Temptation INXS — 80s Dance Party Saturdays. (The first one on May 1 is already sold out.) This was a long-running dance night at the now-closed Pyramid Club.  

Live music is also back (as of April 16) at Berlin – Under A at 25 Avenue A and Second Street. Check out their Facebook account for upcoming shows. 

Brazen Fox returning to the Brazen Fox space

On Monday, we reported that hospitality veteran Curt Heugel's Host Restaurants, whose portfolio includes concepts such as Bill's Townhouse, Campagnola and Printers Alley, was behind a new unnamed venture for 106 Third Ave. at 13th Street — the former Brazen Fox.

Turns out the venture will be ... the Brazen Fox. The bar-restaurant announced its reopening yesterday on Instagram... stating that they've "reached an agreement" to return...

Brazen Fox closed during the pandemic after nearly seven years in business.

[Updated] 145 2nd Ave. returns to view

From the Department of Miracles, workers yesterday removed the remainder of the construction netting and scaffolding from the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Ninth Street (145 Second Ave.), as Steven reports  ...

The scaffolding has been here since May 31, 2018, as a local merchant noted on a pole of the sidewalk bridge...

We're told that the sidewalk bridge will remain in place for an unspecified period of time ... providing protection above the former Starbucks, which closed in April 2019, and the co-opted outdoor space that the 13th Step next door is putting to use...  

Updated 12 p.m.

THE SIDEWALK BRIDGE IS COMING DOWN...

Report: Mermaid Inn plans to reopen, though the SLA isn't helping

[Photo from Aug. 22]

Co-owners Daniel Abrams and Cindy Smith have plans to reopen the Mermaid Inn, the seafood-centric restaurant that closed late last summer after 17 years on Second Avenue between Fifth Street and Sixth Street.

However, as Abrams tells the Post, a stringent State Liquor Authority law is delaying the reopening.

Why?

Under current law, new or revived restaurants and pubs outside New York City can obtain a temporary liquor permit within 30 days, while the State Liquor Authority reviews an applicant’s request for full license — a process that could take anywhere from four to six months.

And?

... unlike their peers in other parts of the state, Big Apple restaurants that want to open or reopen are barred under the law from obtaining a temporary permit to sell booze pending the SLA’s months-long review on whether to provide a two-year license to sell liquor.

Hmm.

The more restrictive treatment of city restaurants under the state alcohol and beverage control law is a result of complaints from city residents and lawmakers who railed against the proliferation of bars in certain neighborhoods, sources familiar with the law said.

According to Abrams, alcohol sales account for 40 percent of a restaurant's revenues. 

"What's the purpose of opening a restaurant without serving alcohol? If you can't offer a glass of wine with the oysters, diners will go somewhere else," he said.

Abrams decided to reopen the Mermaid Inn after renegotiating a lease with the landlord and seeing "more foot traffic and economic activity."

Wednesday's parting shot

A moment on St. Mark's Place during that hailstorm this afternoon... photo by Derek Berg...