Halloween in the East Village (Saturday edition)

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was out and about on Saturday... and shared a selection of Halloween costumes spotted on the streets ...

... and here are a few scenes from Defcon, the monthly industrial dance party now happening at the Parkside Lounge...

[Updated] The first sections of East River Park set to close today as resiliency work begins; activists arrested

Photo from yesterday's march to East River Park by Jeremiah Moss

As we reported last Monday, "phased work operations" begin today in Project Area 1 between Montgomery Street and 15th St., including East River Park as part of the $1.45-billion East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project.

So starting today, the Brian Watkins Tennis Center will start to shut down. According to the construction notice, four tennis courts on the north side and the tennis center will remain open through the end of the 2021 permit season on Nov. 21. All tennis courts and the tennis center including restrooms will be closed until 2024 — subject to change, per the city.  

According to the latest timeline from the city, leagues will be able to use the ballfields through Nov. 30. Permits for the BBQ areas and amphitheater will no longer be available after Nov. 30.

Starting last week, the former compost area was to be converted into "a passive lawn space." Per the city: "The new passive lawn area will provide public recreation space during ESCR construction. Construction will take place from mid-October through mid-November."

Our previous post has more details on what has been happening to date here ... as well as the opposition to this current plan.

Work continues in Project Area 2 between East 15 Street and 25th Street, including Asser Levy Playground, Stuyvesant Cove Park and Murphy Brothers Playground.

Construction on the East Side is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026.

Updated 10 a.m.

East River Park Action reports that a group of residents are currently at the tennis courts protesting the start of the construction here...

Updated 11:56 a.m.

We're told that the group is blocking construction workers from accessing the site ... and that the NYPD is on hand "threatening arrest."

Updated 2 p.m.

Allie Ryan, an East Village resident who's running for District 2 City Council against Carline Rivera, was among those arrested today...  (photo by @EmilyJCatalyst) 

According to one estimate, 50 officers from the NYPD and Parks Enforcement Patrol are on the scene... (photo by @EmilyJCatalyst) ... two activists were said to be arrested in the end... 

This is what's next for the former Benny's Burritos space on Avenue A

After nearly seven years, there's a new retail tenant on the way for the southwest corner of Avenue A and Sixth Street — the former Benny Burrito's. (Top photo by Salim!)

As mentioned last week, work has commenced inside the space... EVG correspondent Stacie Joy got a look inside the under-gut-renovation storefront the other day... 

According to workers, a deli will be taking over the space. (Not sure what kind of deli — we're guessing the usual corner variety with snacks, sodas, beers and Boar's Head.)

And some Benny's memorabilia remained...

Benny's closed here on Nov. 29, 2014, after 27 years in business.

The prime corner space has sat empty since then. At least one prospective tenant kicked the tires on the space in 2017. (The Benny's to-go spot next door, which closed in February 2015, is now the 99¢ pizza place called 99¢ Pizza.)

BTW, there is a Benny's still in existence in the West Village. 

Essex Squeeze bringing coffee, juices and smoothies to 5th Street

Updated March 9, 2022: The shop is now open!

Essex Squeeze, which started at the Essex Market last year, is opening a shop on Fifth Street just steps east off Second Avenue...

The cafe, run by LES natives and childhood friends Cedric Hernandez and Charles DeLaCruz (previously an operations manager at Katz's), specializes in a variety of fresh-made juices, smoothies and bowls ... not to mention coffee. You can check out their menu here. 

This space was previously Idlewild Coffee Co., which closed after just two months in business during the summer of 2020. The owner blamed the presence of the 9th Precinct's police barricades at the time for greatly reducing his foot traffic.

Blank Street is now open at 36 3rd Ave.

Blank Street made a quick debut at 36 Third Ave. ... the coffee shop opened on Saturday between Ninth Street and 10th Street. 

The fast-growing company only made it official here a few weeks ago. Blank Street also just unveiled an outpost in the Bowery Market several blocks to the south. 

Like other locations, the Third Avenue shop offers products from local brands, including King Street Baking Co. and King David Tacos. 

Our previous post (here) has more background about Blank Street.

Oh-K Dog now officially coming soon on St. Mark's Place

The coming soon signage for Oh-K Dog is now up at 36 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. (Thanks to Steven for the photo!)

Their arrival was first reported in August. 

The chain specializing in Korean-style snacks such as stuffed hot dogs and egg toast will have some competition a few storefronts away... where Afternoon is opening soon at No. 34. Brands under this roof will include Jongro Rice Hotdog, Machi Machi (bubble teas, etc.), Mochi Mochi Donut, Brooklyn Roasting Company and Croffle Haus (croissant dough baked in a waffle iron)...

There's also Mochinut, which offers mochi doughnuts and Korean-style hot dogs, open on Second Avenue between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Oh-K Dog also has outposts on Ludlow Street and Seventh Avenue South, with several more planned for the city.

And perhaps Oh-K Dog can break the spell of quickly disappearing quick-serve food spots at 36 St. Mark's Place. Joe's Steam Rice Roll was the most recent tenant, quietly closing in March. Other concepts included Cheers Cut, the Taiwanese mini-chain of fried foods ... Friterie Belgian Fries ... Fasta ("Pasta Your Way") ... and the $1.50 branch of 2 Bros. Pizza.

Noho Food Market hangs the signage on the Bowery

Signage is now up for Noho Food Market at 352 Bowery between Fourth Street and Great Jones. (We first spotted the coming-soon notice in May.)

The sign promises an assortment of "produce, beer, breakfast, lunch, convenience, fresh juice, milkshakes, smoothies."

There is no word on an opening date or why the for lease sign is still on the front window.

The Sage Kitchen restaurant space closed here last year. Their catering business is still in operation from another location.

Sunday's parting shot

A sunset view on First Avenue by William Klayer...

6 posts from October

A mini month in review... (with an October-y photo on Fifth Street) ...

• Southern section of East River Park to mostly close on Nov. 21 as resiliency work begins (Oct. 25)

• Reader report: Cheap-eats fave Papaya Dog looks done on 14th Street (Oct. 21) 

• Barnyard Cheese Shop is closing for good (Oct. 21) 

• A visit to Lovewild Design (Oct. 12) 

• Remembering William John Lopez (Oct. 12)

• The latest on the great aisle changeover at Key Food on Avenue A (Oct. 8)

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a photo on St. Mark's Place by Derek Berg) ...

• Southern section of East River Park to mostly close on Nov. 21 as resiliency work begins (Monday) 

• A ghost bike for Borkot Ullah on Avenue B (Wednesday) 

• A campaign to co-name St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue 'Club 57 Way' (Wednesday) 

• At the 31st Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade (Tuesday) 

• Could drink and draws be the new neighborhood draw? (Thursday) 

• The latest future development clue from along 250 E. Houston St. (Monday)

• Gallery Watch: 'The Marble Mouth Oracle' at Below Grand (Wednesday)

• Caravan of Dreams turns 30 (Thursday) 

• A look at the menu for the incoming Sweet Village Marketplace, opening soon on 1st Avenue (Thursday) 

 • Vegan Grill coming soon to 58 St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• The all-new 21-23 Avenue B comes into view with 2 extra floors (Tuesday) 

• Signs of life (again) at the former Benny's Burritos on Avenue A (Tuesday) 

• Blank Street debuts on the Bowery (Monday) 

• 14th Street outpost of Bagel Boss likely closed through the end of the year (Wednesday)

• Taking a look at the NW corner of 14th Street and 1st Avenue (Tuesday) 

• Joey Bats Café offering a sneak preview outside new Avenue B home (Monday) 

• Openings: Beard Papa's on St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• La Colombe taking over the Allegro Coffee Roasters space at Whole Foods Market® Bowery (Thursday) 

• Report: Mermaid Inn to return to 2nd Avenue in 2022 (Wednesday) 

... and there was a report of a car fire on Fourth Street west of Avenue D early this morning (4-5) ... EVG reader Jonathan Calvenna shared this photo... no word on how it started... the FDNY was on the scene for close to an hour, we're told...

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

Meanwhile, it's Halloween morning at the 2nd Avenue F stop

Via the Citizen app...

A march to save East River Park today

Opponents of the city's current plan to demolish East River Park are gathering today at noon in Tompkins Square Park ... where they will march to the East River Amphitheater. 

Via an email from the organizers @1000people1000trees:

Starting the week of Nov. 1, phased work operations are scheduled to begin at East River Park. The City plans to clear-cut 1,000 mature trees, destroy this 50 acre biodiverse park, and remove Lower Manhattan's only large public green space right in plain sight. 

We protest big media’s refusal to state the actual facts. ESCR, (East Side Coastal Resiliency Plan) is dangerous. It's not a flood plan. It's a land grab. By tearing down our only park and its 80-year-old trees that mitigate the effects of climate change Lower Manhattan will be LESS SAFE and have LESS RESILIENCY in the future than we do now.

As previously reported, starting tomorrow below Houston Street, all but four tennis courts will close, with the remainder to shutter on Nov. 21 along with most of the southern end of East River Park. 

According to the latest timeline from the city, leagues will be able to use the ballfields through Nov. 30. Permits for the BBQ areas and amphitheater will no longer be available after Nov. 30.

Our previous post (link here) has more details and background.

Also today, The Guardian takes a deep dive into the city's plan for East River Park in a story titled "The battle over a vast New York park: is this climate resilience or capitalism?"

Halloween in community gardens

There's a lot of Halloween happening today at La Plaza Cultural, the community garden on the SW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street.

Events scheduled yesterday were postponed until today to make for one action-packed Sunday.

Via the EVG inbox...

• All day: Haunted Adventure Garden and Rat Race Maze, featuring mystic fortune telling, face painting, the world-famous Rat Race of Capitalism Maze, and thrilling coffin rides — bring the kids
• 1:30 p.m.: Spooky sounds with the brass-tastical Dead Ghoultastical Eek-chestra
• 4 p.m.: Spine-tingling tunes from Pinc Louds
• 6 p.m.: Macabre dance performance with Masse dancers
• 7:30 p.m.: "Ill Angels Only" horror film fest

 An EVG reader also shared this... happening today in the Garden of the Humanitarians at 270 E. Fourth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C...

Sunday's opening shot

Happy Halloween!* 

Photo on Eighth Street near Avenue B by Dave on 7th. 

*We were unable to verify if this was Halloween related.

Saturday's parting shot

Aka today in photos of ruthless cyborgs serving the Galactic Empire. 

Photo on Seventh Street by Derek Berg.

EVG Etc.: Van Leeuwen's cashless ban fine; Halloween Adventure's last Halloween?

Photo on 3rd Street by Stacie Joy 

• Police looking for a suspect who robbed an 80-year-old man with a box cutter in an elevator on 12th and C (ABC-7) 

• Van Leeuwen fined for violating NYC's cashless ban (Eater) 

• About the five potential amendments to the State Constitution that are on the ballot this election (The New York Times) 

• NY Laundry service workers looking for the industry to clean up its act (The Indypendent) 

• A new report from the Department of Transportation reveals that a new bike lane — whether protected or simply painted — decreases the risk of cyclist injury by 32 to 34 percent (Streetsblog) 

• Bike parking shortage has remained a persistent problem in NYC; city adding 10,000 bike racks to the streets (The City) 

• A last holiday look (possibly!) at Halloween Adventure on Fourth Avenue (Gothamist ... previously on EVG) 

• Halloween at the Merchant’s House Museum on Fourth Street (PIX11) 

• More about Café de L’Enfer on Avenue A (Time Out ... first on EVG here) 

• A look inside Susan Alexandra's new bead emporium on Orchard Street (Vogue) 

• Verizon moving workers to space in Essex Crossing (The Real Deal) 

... and the coming-soon signage is up for the Le Colombe outpost at Whole Foods Market® Bowery ...