New storefront and interior reveal at the fire-damaged Essex Card Shop on Avenue A

Photos yesterday by Stacie Joy 

Workers have taken down the construction plywood from outside Essex Card Shop at 47 Avenue A ... revealing a new front door and windows...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy got an interior update as well... as the renovations are shaping up here at the shop destroyed by a fire in early January...

Supporters of the business have helped it raise more than $90,000 in a GoFundMe campaign. 

You can check out our previous posts on Essex Card Shop, located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers between Third Street and Fourth Street, for more background on what has transpired to date.  

The Alamo is free on Astor Place (though it's not ready to spin)

ICYMI: Workers removed the barricades surrounding the Alamo on Astor Place late last week. (Noted here and here on Saturday.) 

As previously reported, barricades had surrounded the Cube — aka the Alamo — since late last fall.

We were told that the spinning mechanism for the 1,800-pound cube, which manually rotates around a pole hidden in its center, was not working.

The Department of Transportation installed the temporary in-house fabrication and support for the cube on April 27. After some painting, workers then took away the barricades. A DOT spokesperson previously told us that they didn't have a timeline for repairing the spinning component.

Tony Rosenthal's sculpture first arrived here in November 1967. 

A terrible way to try to kill rats

Updated 5/23: Several residents report that, via 311 calls, the city has removed the cement from the tree pit.

To combat rats burrowing in the tree pit outside 185 E. Third St., building management decided to cover the space in concrete.

As an unhappy resident here between Avenue A and Avenue B noted, the concrete will inhibit the tree's ability to take in water and oxygen and could likely result in its death.

There are better options ... which the city discusses via its online Rat Academy courses for property managers, business owners, etc.  Find other rat resources via the city here.

Thanks to Suzy Kunz for the photo. 

Monday's parting shot

Between downpours early this evening on First Avenue at St. Mark's Place...

Report: Man shot dead on 3rd Street and Avenue D last night

A man was shot and killed last night on Avenue D and Third Street around 11:15, according to media accounts and police sources.

CBS 2 reports that the victim is 39-year-old Bronx resident Brandon Atkinson. He was found with a gunshot wound to the head and pronounced dead at Bellevue. 

No other details are currently available. 

This was one of four shootings last night or early this morning in the southern half of Manhattan. 

Per NBC New York: 

The shootings will compound the problem already plaguing Manhattan this year, as the city confronts a massive spike in violent crime. Year-to-date through May 8, shooting incidents in the NYPD"s Patrol Borough Manhattan South are up 31% over last year. 

According to the NYPD's CompStat system, for the period from Jan. 1 to May 8, shooting incidents in Manhattan South are now at their highest since 1997.

On April 29 at 9 a.m., a 42-year-old man was shot and killed outside the Mariana Bracetti Plaza public housing development on Fourth Street at Avenue C. Police arrested a suspect in that shooting. 

The St. George Ukrainian Festival returns to 7th Street this weekend

After a two-year pandemic-related hiatus, the St. George Ukrainian Festival returns to Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square this coming weekend. (The 2019 Festival was the 43rd edition.) 

The three-day festival celebrates Ukrainian culture, music, and food with various performances and vendors selling traditional arts and crafts...

This has long been the neighborhood's best annual event. With Ukraine in the hearts and minds of so many people worldwide, this promises to be an especially emotional festival. 

Stuy Town ownership nixes plans for 2 heat and power plants

Beam Living and Blackstone have agreed not to move forward with the two proposed Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants in Stuyvesant Town. 

This news came via the Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association late last week. 

Over the past 18 months, the TA had been working with local elected officials in speaking out about the proposed plans. (Here and here.) 

In 2018, Beam Living announced plans to build a fossil-fuel-burning CHP plant between 245 and 271 Avenue C. Two years later, they announced their intention to create a larger CHP plant under a garage floor on 20th Street. 

Via the EVG inbox:

"This is a highly satisfactory resolution to an issue that concerned many residents. I am grateful to all who signed petitions and postcards and came to our rallies, and to the cadre of hard-working tenants who formed our CHP strategy committee," said Susan Steinberg, president of the Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association. "I also want to acknowledge the effective support of our elected representatives. In particular I want to call out our Council Member Keith Powers, whose nonstop negotiations with Blackstone resulted in their pulling the project. Finally, I want to acknowledge Blackstone for its willingness to recognize how critical this issue was for us and for doing the right thing."

After years of working tirelessly with the Tenants Association, my colleagues, and residents, this is a great outcome.

Big thanks to @ST_PCV_Tenants, @RepMaloney, @bradhoylman, @HarveyforNY, @MarkLevineNYC, & every single person who helped organize. https://t.co/REpJ0p0qy2

— Keith Powers (@KeithPowersNYC) May 12, 2022

A spokesperson for Beam Living, which manages Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, released this statement to the media: 

"We always take our community’s feedback seriously and are pleased with the dialogue we have had about our collective commitment to making StuyTown and Peter Cooper Village more sustainable and resilient. We are proud of the progress we have made to date and remain committed to bringing resilient and green infrastructure to our community." 

No word at the moment what might happen to the already-built CHP structure (top pic) on Avenue C.

Davey's Ice Cream will reopen on 9th Street

Photos by Steven 

Davey's Ice Cream will reopen this summer in a new home — 309 E. Ninth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Owner and local resident David Yoo made the announcement Friday on social media.

After eight-plus years, Davey's closed its original outpost at 137 First Ave. in March. At the time, Yoo promised that the shop would be opening elsewhere in the neighborhood.

Hopefully, there will be space here for the Davey's Ice Cream lettering from the previous shop... 

Calexico team trying Asian-Latin fusion with Big Cat on 2nd Avenue; a move for Keybar

Calexico is changing up concepts at 99 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

The Cal-Mex chainlet will its East Village outpost for Big Cat, "serving Asian-Latin fusion cuisine and a mix of classic cocktails, regional draft beers and a modest wine list." 

Reps for the company (founded as a food truck in 2006 by brothers Dave, Jesse and Brian Vendley) will appear before CB3's SLA committee tonight for this change in operation. 

The questionnaire on file on CB3's website has more info about the new concept, including this sample menu...

Calexico arrived in the EV in July 2019. The restaurant has been closed since late 2020. 

In other items on tonight's agenda...

The owners of Keybar on 13th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue are looking to relocate to the more high-profile SE corner of Avenue A and 13th Street (the former Caffè Bene). You can read the Keybar questionnaire here. 

And what about the soon-to-be-former Keybar space at 432 E. 13th St.? 

The team behind the Spotted Owl on Avenue A and Iggy's Keltic Lounge on Ludlow Street have designs on a yet-to-be-named bar. Questionnaire here. 

The committee meeting starts tonight at 6:30. Find the Zoom link here.

Noted

Smart Smokers has (quickly) opened at 143 First Ave. between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street... another smoke-related shop — one of many that have popped up around this neighborhood and others in recent months. 

The signage also changes colors...

The space was last Flamingos Vintage Pound, which closed for good during the pandemic. 

Thanks to Steven for the photos

Sunday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Moments after the Pinc Louds show ended this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... and happy trails to longtime drummer Raimundo (right), who's moving on to new "musical and creative adventures."

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a foggy early morning pic on Avenue A) ... 

• A campaign to co-name this block of Avenue C after Casa Adela founder Adela Fargas (Tuesday)

• Tompkins Square Bagels is opening an outpost on Union Square West (Monday) 

• Councilmember Carlina Rivera calls for an immediate end to the city's encampment sweeps (Monday)

• The March Hare returns with new daily hours (Tuesday) 

• Once again, 3's company for Amelia and Christo, the red-tailed hawks of Tompkins Square Park (Wednesday) 

• The Gallery Watch Q&A: Ellen Siebers on 'A Divinity That Shapes Our Ends' (Thursday) 

• New outdoor space shapes on 4th Street (Monday) 

• Work underway on 8-story residential building with affordable housing for 10th Street lot (Wednesday) 

• Films on the Green is bringing literary adaptations to downtown city parks this summer (Tuesday)

• Should we be concerned about the wisteria on Stuyvesant Street? (Wednesday) 

• The 2 store cats at Houston Village Farm need a new home (Saturday) 

• Take a look at the 'Rotten to the Apple' NYC punk photo show at C-Squat (Saturday) 

• Librae Bakery is now open (Thursday) 

• At the Metro Gala 2022 (Friday) 

• Openings: Luz Market + Restaurant on St. Mark's Place (Thursday) ... Bake Culture on St. Mark's Place (Wednesday) ... Lil' Frankies Grocery on 1st Avenue (Monday) 

• Checking in on those 'MotherF**king Girl Scouts' at the Wild Project (Tuesday) 

• Gym NYC opens on 3rd Street (Friday) 

• A look at the long-vacant storefront on the NW corner of 3rd Avenue and 12th Street (Thursday) 

• Hell's bells! Taco Bell signage arrives on 3rd Avenue (Monday) 

• Drexler's space yielding to Wiggle Room on Avenue A (Friday) 

... and in posts we didn't get around to posting this week... someone kicked in the front door to the incoming Panda Express on the SW corner of 14th Street and First Avenue Friday night/Saturday morning...

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Pinc Louds headlines afternoon of bands today in Tompkins Square Park

There's a free slate of bands today (Sunday!) in Tompkins Square Park from 2-6. 

Local faves Pinc Louds headline (set time for the band's quirky cheerfulness: 4 more like 4:50 p.m.) ... it also marks the last full-band show with Raimundo, the oringal drummer for Pinc Louds. (He is moving on to "new musical and creative adventures.") 

It's a good bill that features the high-energy rock of InCircles ... the gloom punk of Desert Sharks ... and singer-songwriter Marley.

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy 

Friends and loved ones gathered this afternoon for the memorial for Al Landess in Tompkins Square Park.

RIP Al! 

The 2 store cats at Houston Village Farm need a new home

Photos by Stacie Joy

Updated 5/15: Via the comments, a reader says someone is adopting the two cats.

As previously reported, Houston Village Farm is closing on the SW corner of First Avenue and Fourth Street. 

And as several readers have shared, the store's two cats need a new home in the days ahead. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by last night... and confirmed the cats are up for adoption. The store closes for good on Wednesday. 

The two cats tend to stay in the basement and are camera-shy ... here's one...

... and the other, as seen in a photo at checkout...

The cats are said to be on the indifferent side (😼). And it sounds as if anyone who adopts them will have naming rights. When asked for their names, store staff said "the cats." 

Interested parties may contact Mr. Patel at (914) 433-5394. Or stop by Houston Village Farm.

Meanwhile, the clearance continues here...

Ownership here blamed slow business and high rent for the closure.

Take a look at the 'Rotten to the Apple' NYC punk photo show at C-Squat

Today (Saturday!) is the opening of "Rotten to the Apple," an NYC punk photo show at the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space/C-Squat on Avenue C.

Here's some info via the EVG inbox: "It's an all-NYC punk photo show with 30-plus photographers, many of which are from an up-and-coming generation of talented punx who are taking photos at shows all across the city." 

The hours today: noon to 4 p.m. (They are closing early so people can go to the memorial show for Al Landess in Tompkins Square Park. Photos of Al are included in this exhibit.) 

The exhibit, curated by Destiny Mata and David Siffert, runs through May 28. You can access the free show via MoRUS, 155 Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

Time for some plants and baked good at the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden

The crap weather KO'd the annual plant and bake sale at the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden last weekend ... so garden members are trying again this weekend from noon to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday!). 

This weekend, you can find the plants and baked goods here on the southwest corner of Avenue B and Sixth Street. Funds help fund the various events — music, workshops, poetry, screenings and more — during the year.

Saturday's opening shot

Good morning from 141 E. Houston St., where a worker is power-washing the graffiti off the new 9-floor boutique office building here between Eldridge and Forsyth.

Big plans

 

Moving through 2022... SoulGlo's Diaspora Problems remains one of the year's critically acclaimed new records. 

The video here is for the first single — "Jump!! (Or Get Jumped!!!)((by the future)). 

Read more about the band from Philadelphia here.

A memorial show in Tompkins Square Park for Al Landess

Today is the birthday of Al "Hammerbrain" Landess. He would have been 55 years old. 

The longtime local resident and veteran of the NYC hardcore scene died on Feb. 15 of cancer. 

There's a memorial show in his honor tomorrow (Saturday, May 14) starting at 2. Here's info via the EVG inbox... 

A veteran of Riot Days in and around Tompkins Square Park from 1988 to 1991, Al energetically played countless punk shows in the park with Hammerbrain and with Damned Kids, his stage presence always coming through. 

Join us as we present a memorial event in Tompkins Square Park to honor him, featuring friends and bands that knew and played with Al over the years. 

There will also be an open mic between acts, during which anyone who would like to say something about Al can share with us. 

Performers include: 

• HAMMERBRAIN 

• COFFIN DAGGERS 

• NOOGIE 

• DIYING BREED 

• SEWAGE NYC 

• SKITZOPOLIS 

There will also be a special appearance by the Lower East Side's own Fighting Radical Irish priest, Father Pat Maloney. 

This memorial is being brought to you by Ned (Hammerbrain + Damn Kids), Johnny Vee (Public Nuisance), the Coffin Daggers, Chris Flash (The SHADOW) and Al's longtime life partner Joannie.