Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Openings: Yubu on 7th Street, Evil Katsu on 9th Street
Sushi by M debuts in new space on 2nd Avenue
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Tuesday's parting shot
A smoky late-afternoon view of Midtown
After a smoky sunset Monday evening, heavy smoke continued to hang over the Northeast on Tuesday, as a result of more than 100 wildfires burning in the western U.S. and more in Canada. Air quality advisories were in effect for much of Canada and had been issued for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York City as the smoke descended from the upper levels of the atmosphere.
The AQI reading in New York City Tuesday afternoon was an unhealthy 122, the highest this year so far. At this elevated number, health effects can be immediately felt by sensitive groups. Healthy individuals may experience difficulty breathing and throat irritation with prolonged exposure, and should limit outdoor activity.The smoke will likely clear out overnight as a cold front moves into the area, AccuWeather notes.
NYPD IDs person of interest in 1st Avenue homicide
The @NYPDnews account today released these images of a person of interest wanted for questioning in connection to the homicide of a 37-year-old man found on First Avenue early last Wednesday morning... According to published reports, 37-year-old Marvin Bellamy, who lived in the Frederick Douglass Houses on the Upper West Side, was found with a puncture wound to his chest on First Avenue near the McDonald's between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. He reportedly died later at Mount Sinai Beth Israel.🚨WANTED for QUESTIONING in regard to a HOMICIDE: Do you know this guy? On 7/14/21 at approx 6:00 AM, at 1 Ave and East 6 St in Manhattan, a 37-year-old male was found deceased with a puncture wound to his chest. Any info? DM @NYPDTips, or anonymously call them at 800-577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/JK03h6gAea
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 20, 2021
A week into the ongoing investigation, police did not disclose a possible motive for the stabbing, or the circumstances leading up to the deadly attack.
Police sources also did not known of any possible connection between Bellamy and the person of interest, whose image was captured by a nearby security camera on the day of the incident.
The morning sun
A big ridge in the jet stream is transporting western wildfire smoke our way next couple of days. Most of the smoke is in the upper atmosphere and won't dramatically impact air quality, but the sky may look a little milky and the sunrise and sunset may be enhanced.But why the red/orange?
RIP Joe the tailor
More details on 2 new fast-casual Indian restaurants from the owners of the Masalawala
The first of the team's fast-casual restaurants, the fried chicken-centric Rowdy Rooster, opens in August on First Avenue and Ninth Street. Mr. Pandya is studying the numerous Indian iterations of fried chicken, from pakoras to Chicken 65, a spicy snack that supposedly originated in a hotel in Chennai.
A month later comes Kebabwala, on Second Avenue and Fifth Street, which will focus on classic kebab preparations like chicken tikka and seekh kebabs.
The Anthology Film Archives returns with in-person screenings on Aug. 5
Anthology Film Archives marks its long-awaited post-pandemic reopening with a program that could only take place "in real life," projected theatrically and on film: our brand-new restoration of Paul Sharits's rarely screened early masterpiece, Razor Blades (1965-68).The latest in our ongoing series of restorations of Sharits's films, Razor Blades is a typically mind-bending, consciousness-expanding experiment in perception and a classic among "expanded cinema" works.
By means of color combinations, the strobe-like flickering of the dueling projectors, a high-volume stereo soundscape, and single-frame imagery, it demonstrates the cinema's capacity for exploring the mysterious interaction between light, color, rhythm, eye, and mind. The double projection piece never exhibits precisely the same way, rendering every screening a unique experience.
Find more details about the reopening here.
Former Banco Popular space for rent on Houston and B
Former bubble tea shop space for rent on 3rd Avenue
Monday, July 19, 2021
Monday's parting shot
Coming soon: Cutlets Sandwich Co. opening an outpost on 3rd Avenue
So what makes Cutlets stand out? The deli is committed to serving a better-for-you sandwich, meaning they exclusively serve unprocessed proteins, free from antibiotics, hormones and added sugars. Sandwiches are topped with seasonal vegetables and built between meticulously sourced breads and spreads. For full transparency, a full sourcing list of local producers and farms is listed on Cutlets' website.You can find their menu here.
Italian favorite Via Della Pace announces itself in new 4th Street home
The Lazy Llama Coffee Bar opens cafe in the First Park kiosk
Who's NOT on tonight's CB3-SLA docket: Roberta's Pizza, Spiegel
Chef-owner Carlo Mirarchi told Grub Street in September 2019 that they were going to open what he called Roberta's Wine Bar.
Roberta's got its start in Bushwick in 2008. As Eater noted, Roberta's had been on an expansion kick, with openings in several food halls, and adding two locations in Los Angeles and one in Williamsburg ... not to mention its frozen pizza business ... and burger joint.
Aces Fine Food and Spirits in the works for 197 2nd Ave.
Snack Bowery sets up shop on the Bowery
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Week in Grieview
Thanks for the memories: Mars Bar closed 10 years ago today
However, a DOH visit did them in on July 18, 2011 — 54 violation points and mentions of every known type of fly. (Filth flies! Flesh flies!) And apparently, owner Hank Penza said the hell with it. And closed.
[I]n its prime it was perhaps the epitome of an East Village bar: menacing, dark and covered inside and out by graffiti, stickers and impromptu spray-painted artworks. Its forbidding restroom was an urban legend in and of itself.It wasn't always that way ... per a different feature at the Times:
When the bar opened in 1984 ... the facade was gleaming. "We thought, 'Oh no, another sushi bar; there goes the neighborhood,'" said Jim Sizelove, who was part of the rowdy art scene called the Rivington School.We can relive the bar here for a moment... in 2016, East Village-based filmmaker Jenny Woodward released an entertaining video short titled "Last Days of the Mars Bar," featuring interviews with Penza in the days leading up to the bar's closure.
Penza shares some colorful anecdotes (and perhaps tall tales), such as how the bar got its name and how the first art appeared on the bar's walls.
And Penza doesn't seem all that broken up about the end of days here.
"Fuck the bar. What am I, crazy? There's a beginning and an end. You hear? The Mars Bar will live forever and I'll die... I feel like there's a beginning and an end, and this is the end to another chapter in my life."
Penza died on Oct. 29, 2015. He was 82.
The corner storefronts where Mars Bar stood were eventually demolished in late 2011/early 2012 to make way for the residential building called Jupiter 21. The corner space now houses a TD Bank and Kollectiv, "an urban retreat center" that features an herbal pharmacy and spa.
Anyway, thanks for the memories...Sunday's opening shot
Saturday, July 17, 2021
Saturday's parting shot
Pinc Louds release La Atómica, prepare for tour
EVG Etc.: The future of crafting at Downtown Yarns; the spice world of SOS Chefs
6 pm Gujarat India views. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/728E80kh1t
— WordsbyDhaval (@dpmsocial) July 17, 2021
Saturday's opening shot
Friday, July 16, 2021
About the No_B Fest on Avenue B tomorrow (Saturday!)
From street art to photography the block will be part gallery, part stage and part dance.
A raffle and auction will allow anyone to win the artwork. All proceeds will go directly into the pockets of the participating musicians.
Overall it's a desire to once again light up the foundation these artists built careers on and inspire the power of community collaboration.
It's your 'Fault'
Breaking: Grocery store said to be replacing the Kmart on Astor Place; Wegmans mania ahead?
The transaction was a joint negotiation among Transformco, Vornado and the new tenant, sources said. The regional grocer that will be taking over the NoHo location has not been disclosed.However, those sources said the new tenant will be a "first-class regional grocer."
Prepping for 'And Just Like That' on Avenue A
NYPD seeking duo who have burglarized 9 East Village businesses
There were a lot of feelings about Kmart closing
I hated this place but damn if it wasn’t there exactly when you needed it most. https://t.co/NowUTx0nbz
— Hannah Vanbiber (she/her) (@HannahVanbiber) July 14, 2021
The last time I was in here (ca. 2000), I had just left Other Music when I stepped in a pile of dog shit so massive it rendered my shoes unsalvageable. I left my shoes sitting in the pile, walked barefoot across Astor Place, into this K-Mart & bought a pair of fake Chucks for $15 https://t.co/qufptWM0dI
— Ben Boyer (@sleezsisters) July 14, 2021
RIP Astor Place Kmart, you were literally the worst. https://t.co/6GPcz3oW6M
— Jason Selvig (@jasonselvig) July 13, 2021
I once held the door open for Chloë Sevigny here. A part of my history. https://t.co/veASuznu20
— Angel Lopez (@Ariessoul329) July 13, 2021
This plus the death of the Kmart Penn station for the late aughts FIT girlies … end me https://t.co/l29yY3sNPH
— carina hsieh (@carinahsieh) July 13, 2021
rip to this alternate dimension of a place that inexplicably didn’t carry marshmallows https://t.co/iLKASo4kXh
— aloe fullee (@alliefulls) July 13, 2021
On hot summer days, I would stroll through this K-Mart while waiting for friends, who were running late—to not have to wait in the NYC heat/humidity. Rest In Peace to iconic relic. https://t.co/AqiddjKt1K
— BG (@TheBGates) July 13, 2021
I used to lowkey walk through here to kill time when I went to school in the area from 4th - 8th grade
— Toxic Crew (@ToxicCrewNY) July 13, 2021
RIP TO A FUCKING LEGEND https://t.co/x16XSymSIQ
When this moved into the East Village, it felt like end-times. https://t.co/zYO8UQLB6q
— Charles McNulty (@CharlesMcNulty) July 13, 2021
Don’t usually have sympathy for large chains but am deffo a bit emotional as this is where I repeatedly tried on items from the Adam Levine clothing line and cried about gender in the dressing rooms. I mean truly, THIS is where most of my gender CRISIS happened. https://t.co/YLwWg4sQKl
— Futaba Shioda (@FutabaShioda) July 12, 2021
roaming the aisles of this kmart in 2012 with my girlies texting our rolodexes “whats the address of that st mark’s deli that doesn’t card againnnn (:” https://t.co/ERMlEflDvV
— Vassileia Kazee (@vassileiafoxy) July 12, 2021
RIP I once went in here deeply drunk after doing $2 shots at The Continental thinking it would be the easiest place to find a public bathroom, couldn’t find it until I had substantially pee’d in my pants, and then bought new jeans and changed into them and threw my old ones away. https://t.co/l5omUaoYfr
— Jesse, Alternatively (@shartlito) July 12, 2021
Fun fact, this location was my FIRST job. I am in shock right now! https://t.co/6cEPy91dF0
— who? (@yeahokgurl) July 12, 2021
Wait, I need to return the Martha Stewart sheets I got there in the '90s! https://t.co/IBJl0acTvJ
— Robert David Sullivan (@RobertDSullivan) July 12, 2021
I once had a date and decided to wear a NuBra but couldn’t figure out how to stick it on and started sweating on the 6 train and one of the boobs migrated down to my rib. The Astor Place Kmart bathroom is where I finally tore the thing off and stuffed it into my purse. RIP. https://t.co/Wgd1ewrXW0
— Joyce Wu 吳 元 欣 (@oneandonlyjoyce) July 12, 2021
RIP Astor Place Kmart. You outfitted generations of freshman NYU students in the span of a week and then did seemingly no business the rest of the year. https://t.co/5reqxCNqgT
— Kirby Pate (@KPateNews) July 12, 2021
As a real piece of shit 18 year old, I used to steal 10 packs of Double A batteries from here for my Walkman that I had spray painted white and written "iPod" on in magic marker. https://t.co/Jc2nR6IwXo
— Easy Miyake (@popopopolio) July 12, 2021
Through thick and thin my faith in New York was always underpinned philosophically by the existence of the Astor Place KMart. This one hurts https://t.co/qw9uJNbgi9
— kelly farber (@kelfarbs) July 12, 2021
RIP to this incredible and bizarre place. Saved me so many times. She held out and gave NYC her all❣️ https://t.co/kwLtz9GtZ5
— Marlene Lenthang (@marlenelenthang) July 14, 2021
where my friends and i killed time between school and driver's ed 😢 https://t.co/G5jOTLeYaW
— Hannah Bloch-Wehba (@HBWHBWHBW) July 12, 2021
seeing fran lebowitz doing irritated pre-storm shopping at the astor k mart before hurricane sandy remains my favorite celeb sighting, RIP to this big box legend https://t.co/ajNnWHGPbI
— Virginia K. Smith (@vksmith) July 12, 2021
We're losing all the local businesses that made New York great. If this becomes a bookstore I'll cry. https://t.co/eBVg8KdDPh
— Matt Nedostup (@nedostup) July 12, 2021