Monday's parting shot

Pro skateboarder Brian Anderson has finished his mural outside 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street... this Pride Month work coincides with his first board release (via Clown Skateboards) ... with proceeds going to the LISA Project.

Our previous post has more details. 

Photo today by Stacie Joy! 

Where to find some free live music today

Make Music NYC, the free, outdoor music festival that takes place annually on June 21, returns today with shows at sites around the city. 

From 2-6, several bands will be performing during the Girls Rock & Girls Rule show in Tompkins Square Park. This link has more details. 

Elsewhere, you can find a handful of local bands, including Beechwood and the Trash Bags, playing outside The Cast, the rock-n-roll boutique at 72 Orchard St. between Broome and Grand...

The music starts at 3:30.

H/T Steven

Report: Mount Sinai Beth Israel decides against plans to relocate and downsize

ICYMI: Mount Sinai Beth Israel officials have decided against their "$1 billion downtown transformation" that would have seen the creation of a new 7-story hospital on 13th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Instead, officials said they will renovate its existing facilities along First Avenue between 16th Street and 17th Streets. 

According to published reports (Crain's first reported on this last week), officials cited the need for additional hospital beds following the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the fall of 2016, the Mount Sinai Health System announced a years-long project to rebuild Mount Sinai Beth Israel, transitioning to a network of smaller facilities throughout lower Manhattan.

The plans included an expanded facility on 14th Street and Second Avenue as well as a 7-story hospital on 13th Street on the lot where a now-demolished 14-floor building that housed training physicians and staff once stood. They also planned to close its current location — with nearly 700 beds — on First Avenue and 16th Street. The new 13th Street hospital would have featured 70 beds.

In a statement last week, the health system shared the following (H/T Becker's Hospital Review):

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to our city, regional health care providers and the Mount Sinai Health System. These changes forced us to assess and rethink many aspects of how we can provide and improve care, including re-envisioning the future of Mount Sinai Beth Israel. 

Under our new plan we will be able to surge to the same bed capacity as we did during the height of COVID, which is also more than twice the surge bed capacity as the old 14th Street plan.

Officials said they'd announce more details on the modernization of their current campus at a later date.

It's not immediately clear what they plan to do with the empty lot on 13th Street that was slated for the new facility...

Local elected officials responded to the news in a series of statements...

"We are heartened by Mount Sinai's decision to renovate Beth Israel and look forward to a robust community engagement process in determining the scope of services needed there." — Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer

"Mount Sinai's announcement to stay at the current location and modernize their facilities is a win for the community, which had expressed significant concerns about losing so many hospital beds in lower Manhattan. They voiced these concerns before we even knew what COVID-19 was, and this pandemic showed us — in the most painful and devastating way — how right they were. But there is still much we don't know about this plan. While Mount Sinai has committed to keeping the existing building, we don't know what the future hospital will look like." — State Sen. Brad Hoylman

"Mount Sinai Beth Israel's decision not to relocate and instead focus efforts on bringing the existing campus into the modern era has the potential to improve health care services for Lower Manhattan residents. But we will only be able to truly address the systemic health care inequities exposed by COVID-19 at Mount Sinai and beyond if the full breadth of community demands are met. This includes the return of previously removed inpatient beds and medical services, as well as a commitment to improved community engagement." — Council Member Carlina Rivera, chair of the City Council Committee on Hospitals.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• An empty lot awaits the future home of the new Mt. Sinai Beth Israel Hospital on 13th Street

• Permits filed to demolish Mount Sinai's 13th Street residential building

• Mount Sinai Beth Israel files plan for 7-story hospital on 13th Street

Who is Savannah Guthrie? This Jeopardy! guest host helped raise $105K for the Bowery Mission

Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of the "Today" show on NBC, is the current guest host on "Jeopardy!"

Honoring the late Alex Trebek, the show matches contestant winnings with a donation to the charity of the guest host's choice.

And Guthrie's pick: The Bowery Mission. One week in, she has raised more than $105,000...

$105,801 raised so far for The @BoweryMission during @SavannahGuthrie’s first week on Jeopardy! pic.twitter.com/OqLWuWDnCI

— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) June 18, 2021

And she'll be back on "Jeopardy!" this week. The show airs at 7 p.m. on ABC 7. 

Thank you to EVG reader Allen Semanco for letting me know about this!

Avenues is a real-estate office-espresso bar opening on 10th Street

Yes, I'd like a one-bedroom apartment in a building with laundry facilities and a latte with unsweetened almond milk.

Avenues, a real-estate company, is opening an office — complete with an espresso bar — at 84 E. 10th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue... 

Not sure exactly how this will work at the moment (espresso bar upfront for customers and the office in the back?).

This upper-level storefront was the home of Turntable Lab, which closed its brick-and-mortar business last summer during the pandemic. (They still have a robust online service.)

Al Horno Lean Mexican Kitchen looks to have closed on 1st Avenue

It appears that Al Horno Lean Mexican Kitchen has closed here on First Avenue between Third Street and Fourth Street... their phone number is out of service... and the interior has been emptied out...  (And we left a message about the status of this outpost.)

Al Horno, which has four other NYC locations, arrived on First Avenue back in November 2016. 

The address at No. 57 is now on an awning watch. It will be difficult for any new business to top the Pudgie's-Nathan's-Arthur Treacher's action-packed combo during a few glorious months in 2012.

Reopenings on Avenue A: the Library, Sing Sing

Two Avenue A establishments are back open for the first time since the PAUSE of March 2020. 

The Library, 7 Avenue A between Houston and Second Street, reopens today at noon... and moving forward, the bar will be serving during their usual hours (noon-4 a.m.). 

The ownership team is also behind other recently reopened bars: Milano's and d.b.a. Doc Holliday's (141 Avenue A) is expected to return soon. 

Meanwhile, Sing Sing returned to karaoke service this past Wednesday at 81 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street...

Their listed hours: Monday-Wednesday 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., with a 4 p.m. start Thursday through Sunday. 

Planet Rose, the longtime (20-plus years) karaoke bar at 219 Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street, reopened on June 1.

Sunday's parting shot

The sunset from Fourth Street and Avenue A... 

#EndlessSummer

Week in Grieview

Posts this last week included (with a photo in Union Square by Derek Berg) ... 

• RIP Hash Halper, aka New York Romantic (Tuesday) 

• At fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church, it's moving day for the historic New York Liberty Bell (Thursday) 

• Behold the new Loisaida CommUnity Fridge (Wednesday)

• Gov. Cuomo lifts COVID restrictions; local vaccination rates top 65% (Wednesday) 

• Addressing the "out of control" rooftop parties in the East Village (Thursday) 

• Details on the additional funding for the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (Monday)

• At the Spring Zine Fair on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

• Saturday out and about (Wednesday) 

• Beware of low-flying juvenile red-tailed hawks! (Thursday) 

• Check out the latest NY See panel (Thursday) 

• Cinema Village reopens (Wednesday) 

• Coyote Ugly ready to work it at new East Village home (Monday) 

• "June Bug" in Tompkins Square Park (Friday)

• Zum Schneider popping up in Williamsburg for the UEFA European Championship (Tuesday) 

• Chef Hans Asian Kitchen closes after a few weeks at 120 1st Ave. (Tuesday) 

• Renovation reveal at the former Provident Loan Society building (Wednesday)

• d.b.a. reopens on 1st Avenue (Monday) 

• A smoke shop for 9th Street at Avenue A (Monday)

---

Follow EVG on Instagram or Twitter for more frequent updates and pics.

A father-fledgling moment in Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Steven

Here is Christo, one of the resident red-tailed hawks in Tompkins Square Park, after a successful food run.

Christo is later seen feeding one of the 2021 fledglings that he is raising this summer with Amelia...

Then, well, the food transfer broke down, and the morsel of (pigeon? rat?) fell to the ground...

Keith Haring was here: New exhibit captures work on Puerto Rican beach in 1986

Photos of Keith Haring's art in San Juan circa 1986 is the subject of a new exhibit this evening at Village Works, the gallery space at 90 E. Third St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. 

Per the listing:

The collection of photographs was taken in December 1986 of Keith Haring's public art. Haring executed this beach wall mural in early Summer 1986 on the Condado Beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico. D.C. Larue photographed details of the work over the December 1986 holiday season. The mural had been weathered over the months by the sand, wind and rain and the effect beautifully resonated with Larue. 

In February 1987, a hurricane washed the entire retaining wall the mural was on into the sea. The photographs were authenticated by the Keith Haring Foundation for D.C. Larue in 1993.

The opening reception is tonight from 7-10 ... with the closing taking place July 1 from 7-10 p.m. 

Thanks to Clare for the tip!

In progress: Skate Pride on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Pro skateboarder Brian Anderson is working on his very first mural outside 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street...

This is a collaboration between Clown Skateboards and the LISA Project... here's more about it via Anderson's Instagram account...

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brian Anderson (@bthurstonanderson)

Updated (not done yet):

Celebrate Juneteenth today with Joe's Pub on Astor Place

Joe's Pub is presenting "A Juneteenth Celebration" this afternoon on Astor Place. 

The free event features live performances by Celisse, Ché Buford and mal sounds, and the Juneteenth Legacy Project. 

The show starts at 4:30. Visit the Joe's Pub website here for more details.

Saturday's opening shot

Pride at Webster Hall on 11th Street. 

And the venue recently announced ticket sales for upcoming shows, the first of which is taking place on Aug. 11. Read the announcement here.

Friday's parting shot

Here's a look at Tom Manco's completed upcycled cardboard installation today in Tompkins Square Park... the East Village artist named this "June Bug," and it will be up through Sunday at Temperance Fountain. 

This photo is from Tom's Instagram account.

The fast and the curious

Bachelor is a collaboration between Melina Duterte of Jay Som and Ellen Kempner of Palehound ... the summer blockbuster-y video here is for "Stay in the Car" from the duo's recently released debut record, Doomin' Sun.

In progress: A 'June Bug' for Tompkins Square Park

East Village-based artist Tom Manco of Manco Studio is installing his latest upcycled cardboard creation today at Temperance Fountain in Tompkins Square Park...   

The work, titled "June Bug," is expected to be up through Father's Day on Sunday. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

Updated:

The finished version...

Photo from Tom's Instagram account.

Noted

Dave on 7th shares this urban etiquette note from 7th Street... 

It's not right to leave your dog poop in the backyard for Raymond to clean up. Please develop better manners.

EVG Etc.: an NYC Primary guide; a curious decision on relocating vehicles

Thank you to the staff at Most Holy Redeemer for sharing this photo from Fourth Street at Avenue A... 

• A tipsheet for the NYC primaries (The City) ... and a recap of the last mayoral debate (The Associated Press) 

• A call for a permanent curfew in Washington Square Park (Gothamist) ... Here's another recap via Streetsblog. ... and what the hell is going on there? (Curbed)

• SUV kills pedestrian on Delancey and the Bowery (The Daily News) 

• Accidental Bar — specializing in sake — debuts on Avenue C (Resy ... previously on EVG)

• The DOT towed vehicles to the dedicated 14th Street bus lane between Avenue B and Avenue C (Streetsblog)

• Rainbow lights next week for the Stonewall Inn (TONY)

• Early history of Black theater downtown (Off the Grid) 

• ICYMI: The Tenement Museum reopened on June 12 (The New York Times) 

• About "The Kids," a new documentary explores "the lives that were upended" by the overnight success of "Kids" (Variety ... Jezebel) 

• And the acclaimed documentary on Sparks — "The Sparks Brothers" — is out today, playing at the AMC Village 7, Regal Essex Crossing and Regal Union Square 

... and this evening, a live comedy show with Dr. Honeybrew to benefit the Sixth Street Community Center... ticket info here.

Beware of low-flying juvenile red-tailed hawks!

Amelia and Christo's 2021 offspring are in the flier education phase of their young life in Tompkins Square Park... so their flight patterns, for now, can be at the park-bench level...

Derek Berg took these photos this morning... the juvenile red-tailed hawks usually seem to be frolicking in the early morning hours...

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... (click on the image for a bigger view)

At fire-damaged Middle Collegiate Church, it's moving day for the historic New York Liberty Bell

On Dec. 5, a fire destroyed the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Seventh Street, including the neighboring Middle Collegiate Church.

As previously reported, the fire spared the steeple and its historic contents — the New York Liberty Bell, which dates to the early 1700s. 

And yesterday morning, workers removed the bell from the belfry to transport it to the New York Historical Society, where it will be part of an exhibit on the resiliency of NYC for the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was there to capture the delicate operation to move the bell to its temporary new home on Central Park West...

Before the bell left Second Avenue, the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis from Middle Collegiate Church rang it 19 times in honor of Juneteenth ... and for a celebration of liberty...

Today, we saved the New Liberty Bell from our belfry, and I rang it 19 times for freedom.

Make no mistake: We aren’t liberated yet. But damn it, we’ll be free ✊🏾❤️ pic.twitter.com/oYLusCllDZ

— Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis (@RevJacquiLewis) June 16, 2021

Those involved also wanted to give a shout-out to the crews from the DOB, Triton Construction and Gramercy for their professionalism in ensuring a safe transfer of the bell ...

And some history of the bell via the Times:

It is about 25 years older than the cracked Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, according to a 1959 New York Times article.

Cast in Amsterdam in 1729, the bell was rung in 1735 to celebrate freedom of the press after John Peter Zenger, a German journalist, was acquitted of charges of seditious libel. He had published criticism of British tax collectors, according to the Times article.

It also was rung on the day that Representative John Lewis died in July and a week after the presidential election to celebrate "that love and justice" prevailed... 

The bell will be housed in the New York Historical Society lobby until the church is rebuilt. Find out how you can help support the rebuild at this link.

The FDNY previously said that faulty wiring at 48 E. Seventh St. was to blame for the six-alarm fire. An FDNY spokesperson told 1010 WINS that the fire has been deemed "non-suspicious."