Thursday, November 24, 2022
Thursday's parting shot
Distributing free turkeys to local residents ahead of Thanksgiving
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
On Tuesday, community members came together to distribute 120 turkeys to area residents who might need a little help this holiday season during these financially challenging times.
The giveaway occurred at the CLLCTV.NYC art space on Third Street just east of Avenue B. As in previous years, the sponsors included Joey Aponte and Dennis Aponte, owners of the Cabin NYC on Fourth Street, the NYPD Hispanic Society, Johnny Marines and local entrepreneur Freaky Frige.
It was a way for these residents to give back to their LES community...
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by to take in some of the Thanksgiving cheer...
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Wednesday's parting shot
Some of the very best of Donald Sutherland at Metrograph
Per the Metrograph:
Sutherland brought a contemporary counterculture sensibility to two period war films of 1970— Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H and Brian G. Hutton’s Kelly’s Heroes — and he hasn’t been long out of work since, racking up a list of credits that’s rich with classic films and unforgettable performances.
Find more info on the retrospective here.
P.S.
Not included in this series... his fine supporting role as Professor Jennings in "Animal House" ...
An Instagram account to follow
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Middle Collegiate Church seeks permission to demolish the remaining façade of its fire-damaged structure on 2nd Avenue
This morning, reps for Middle Collegiate Church will appear before the Landmarks Preservation Commission to seek approval to demolish what's left of the fire-damaged façade at 122 Second Ave. between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. (Find meeting details here. There is a livestream via the LPC's YouTube channel.)
On Dec. 6, 2020, a six-alarm fire, which started in the residential building next door, destroyed the church that dates to the 1890s.
In a 46-page report (PDF here), presented jointly by several architectural and engineering firms, church leaders say they must remove what remains on the property that lies within the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. According to the report, the culmination of a review over 18 months, there is too much damage to the existing structure to integrate it into Middle Collegiate's new home, that it wouldn't withstand a full-scale rebuild on the property.
"This makes me feel heartbroken"
During a phone call last week with EVG, Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister at the Middle Collegiate Church, said they spent $4 million to reinforce, stabilize and weatherproof the façade in the months after the fire.
"The six-alarm fire was devastating, and the façade was badly damaged. But when something like that survives, you think, 'Well, OK — it's telling us that the structure is good and strong,'" Lewis said. "We love our church."
She said that despite these efforts, the façade has deteriorated over time. And then, their engineering report showed that it would be best to remove what was left before building a new church.
"It felt like something died," Lewis said of hearing this news. "The building burning felt like a death — a big death. This makes me feel heartbroken. It feels like a second loss. But if we let it go, we could get back on site, get back in the space and build something."
She now wants to focus on working with the Landmarks Preservation Commission to build something appropriate that honors their history and gives Middle Church a ministry for the 22nd Century in the East Village — and not in a new location in another neighborhood.
We've talked with several residents who expressed disappointment that the remains — with approval — would need to come down. Residents said that the bell tower was a sign of resilience for the neighborhood.
"We're disappointed too. And [the remaining façade] is a sign of resilience," she said. "It is a symbol that this fire couldn't conquer the building."
Disappointment aside, there is also opposition to the request for demolition.
The Village Preservation is urging the Landmarks Preservation Commission not to grant permission for demolition — at least for now.
According to Village Preservation:
We don’t believe there is sufficient documentation that alternatives to preserve the historic façade have been fully explored, nor that there is sufficient evidence at this time to justify the permanent and irreversible removal.We are calling for further examination and documentation before such a decision would be appropriate to render. We want to see the church rebuild and flourish at this location, and know that they have been through incredible hardship. But we also believe that this process must be extremely carefully considered, to ensure unchangeable decisions that could have been avoided are not made, and harmful precedents are not set for allowing demolition of historically significant structures without reasonable and achievable proof of the necessity of doing so.
In addition, Richard Moses, president of the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative, released this statement: "We're sympathetic to the very real challenges the congregation faces here. But this building has been a beacon for the neighborhood for over 100 years. It's one of the most important sites in the historic district. We just want to make sure that the Landmarks Commissioners have the best information and all the options spelled out before deciding on the building’s fate."
Lewis said that she understands the opposition. She has also seen a report from an engineer hired by the Landmarks Preservation Commission who paid two recent visits to the site. That report states that the structure is stable.
"We relive the fire daily and try to think about what to do with it. It's that kind of grief that just keeps coming in waves," Lewis said. "At some point, two years in, I want to be able to say to my community: We did the very best we could with this. This is not a willy-nilly, hurry-up decision. The engineer says we can't keep it, and we're heartbroken."
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You can read more about the Middle Church Rising campaign here.
Previously on EV Grieve:
A quick visit to Butterdose, now open on 13th Street
Photos by Stacie Joy
We've heard good things about Butterdose, a family-owned bakery-cafe that opened earlier this fall at 236 E. 13th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the space the other day... and checked out the variety of cream puffs, egg tarts and muffins... not to mention various coffee drinks and teas...
The shop is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can follow them on Instagram here.
Shake Shack signage appears outside new Lower East Side outpost
The Shack takes over the space — vacant for five years — from Schiller’s Liquor Bar, which closed after 14 years in 2017.
No word yet on an opening date — this outpost has yet to appear on the Shaker's website.
Thanks to EVG reader Mitch Lerner for the photo!
Monday, November 21, 2022
The 2022 Cookie Walk has been canceled
Photo from 2019 by Stacie Joy
Organizers have decided not to host a Cookie Walk again this year at St. Nicholas of Myra Orthodox Church on Avenue A and 10th Street.
The Cookie Walk website shows that this year's event, expected to occur early next month, has been canceled.
"Our hearts are broken to make this announcement," per the site...
There wasn't an official reason given for the cancellation of what would have been the 12th Cookie Walk.
We will wait until 2023 when we can all enjoy the excitement and fun of "walking The Walk" together once again.Be well. Stay safe. Eat Cookies!
The always-festive event, held in early December in the church basement, offers about 75 varieties of homemade cookies and pastries. As the name implies, you take a walk around cookie-filled tables and pick your favorites.
The last Cookie Walk took place in 2019.
96 Tears debuts on Avenue A as a tribute to Howie Pyro
Owners Jesse Malin and Johnny T (whose other local ventures include 2A and Bowery Electric) as well as well as Jonathan Toubin have dedicated the space to the late Howie Pyro.
Pyro, the prolific musician, producer and DJ, died in May from complications from COVID-19-related pneumonia following a liver transplant. He was 61.
Here's more about the venue via the 96 Tears site:
"96 Tears" is of course the ? and The Mysterians distinctive #1 hit that was covered by everybody from Big Maybelle, Jimmy Ruffin, and Aretha Franklin to The Modern Lovers, Suicide, and The Stranglers. The DNA of so many revolutionary minimalist sounds that evolved across generations since its release, the original classic recording is also the first song ever referred to in print as "punk music" (by Dave Marsh in a 1971 issue of CREEM).
While these dimensions of the song's journey are at the heart of what 96 Tears is all about, the bar took its name from a tattoo across the neck of Howie Pyro... Howie's tragic death in May, and his friends' subsequent focus on his remarkable life and how he lived it, was the inspiration for 96 Tears.Pyro was also well-known for his extensive collection of music-related memorabilia, which will be featured at 96 Tears...
The walls and shelves of the 96 Tears bar realize Howie's dream as they're adorned with his original posters, tchotchkes, and other extraordinary artifacts like the original promotional fruit company ashtray he discovered Andy Warhol lifted for The Velvet Underground & Nico LP cover ... the "Free Sid Vicious" shirt that punk's original poster child left at Howie's apartment before his legendary demise ... a gold record the Ramones presented to Howie for their debut LP, a Dead Boys bass case that became his own, and an unimaginable array of other authentic subcultural wonders from across the edges of the 20th Century sub terrain that found their way into Howie's orbit.The bar is open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., with a 4 a.m. close on weekends. You can check out their food menu (similar to the one at Tompkins Square Bar) here.
A Snack Stop for St. Mark's Place
The signage (with a typo — GROICERIES) promises exotic soda and snacks... as well as an ATM.
The space has been vacant since Clay Pot didn't reopen after the PAUSE of March 2020.
Can't believe it has been 10 years since Natori, a longtime favorite, closed here.
Report: City's first NFT restaurant slated for the former Sunshine Cinema location on Houston
According to the Post, the Flyfish Club is leasing three levels, 11,000 square feet total, for the members-only club that will feature a "bustling" cocktail lounge, an upstairs restaurant and outdoor space.
Details!
Flyfish was founded by the VCR Group’s restaurateur David Rodolitz, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, celebrity chef Josh Capon and chef Conor Hanlon — with membership through non-fungible tokens that were purchased on the blockchain and are now being resold on Opensea.io.
And!
An "intimate" omakase room will additionally have a menu being created by Masa Ito, a partner with VCR Group in the Ito restaurant, and entered through a separate token. Here, members are allowed just one guest, which is the same for regular members in the cocktail lounge. But diners can bring a number of guests depending on their table size and reservation.
Annnnd!
... so far they have sold 1,294 regular memberships with the club reserving 1,423 and 318 omakase memberships with 67 reserved by the club. Tokens started at 2.5 Ethereum ($8,400 in January) and are now being listed for 3.5 Ethereum, or $5,390, to as much as 150 Ethereum, or $190,170 — and provide entry to the restaurant and cocktail lounge.The Omakase token was first offered for 4.25 Ethereum ($14,300 in January) and now is offered for as much as 22.8571 Ethereum, nearly $29,000 — and provides access to that exclusive space.
Here's the Flyfish opening announcement...
This is all happening on the site of the former Sunshine Cinema (RIP January 2018).
Previously on EV Grieve:
• Sunshine Cinema-replacing office building moving forward; demolition watch back on
• Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema
• The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space
• A celebratory ad on the purchase of 139 E. Houston St., current home of the Sunshine Cinema
• The boutique office building replacing the Sunshine Cinema will be 'unbounded by walls' with an outdoor space called Houston Alley
• Sunshine Cinema-replacing office building moving forward; demolition watch back on
• Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema
• The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space
• A celebratory ad on the purchase of 139 E. Houston St., current home of the Sunshine Cinema
• The boutique office building replacing the Sunshine Cinema will be 'unbounded by walls' with an outdoor space called Houston Alley
Where you'll be able to find the Goodies on the Bowery
The Goodies Shop is the latest entry ... coming soon to 324 Bowery near Bleecker... signage arrived last week...
The Goodies Shop takes over the space from Snack Bowery, which closed late last year.
This piece from Fortune on Friday has more about the city's unlicensed shops popping up all over the place.
Sunday, November 20, 2022
An early Thanksgiving today courtesy of East Village Loves NYC
Photos by Stacie Joy
Today, East Village Loves NYC — the local volunteer group formed in the spring of 2020 to feed people in need during the pandemic — prepared and distributed its third-annual Thanksgiving meal citywide. (More background here.)
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the group's home base at the Sixth Street Community Center ...
Thanksgiving meals were on the menu today...
Week in Grieview
• A visit with Moxie, a nearly 8-year-old East Village photographer with an eye for nature (Wednesday)
• A visit to Azaleas, celebrating 20 years in the East Village (Tuesday)
• EV Loves NYC preparing for its 3rd annual Thanksgiving event for New Yorkers in need (Friday)
• The tree lighting ceremony in Tompkins Square Park takes place on Dec. 11 (Monday)
• This morning's community meeting in Tompkins Square Park (Thursday) ... Why is this area of Tompkins Square Park now closed to the public? (Thursday)
• About 'Bomb Pop 2,' an 'ongoing conversation' at Bullet Space (Friday)
• The Gallery Watch Q&A: Sneha S. on 'Portraits of the Revolution' (Saturday)
• Bowery building once owned by Andy Warhol is up for auction (Tuesday)
• City removes curbside dining structure at Amor Y Amargo on 6th and A (Saturday)
• While we're waiting for the full reveal at 14 2nd Ave. (Monday)
• Let there be sidewalk here on Avenue C! (Wednesday)
• Gratin, a new gallery, debuts on 5th Street and Avenue B (Thursday)
• That's all for the short-lived Luna Cafe Lounge on 2nd Avenue (Thursday)
• The Union Square Holiday Market is now open on Union Square this holiday season (Friday)
• Heathily Deli has not been open lately (Monday)
• Noted, good-God-not-another-one edition (Wednesday) ... Hey, what might be opening in this empty 1st Avenue storefront? (Monday)
Toss your e-waste today!
Location: Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
New murals depict LES history outside the long-empty CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center
Photos by Stacie Joy
New murals are in progress on the 10th Street side of the former P.S. 64/CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center between Avenue B and Avenue C.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by yesterday for a work-in-progress look at the murals that aim to beautify the sidewalk and celebrate the legacy of the founders of CHARAS. It's a PIRAGUA art space initiative in partnership with by the Thrive Collective, Loisaida Inc., LES Community Concerns, MoRUS and La Plaza Cultural.
The murals, which include one honoring longtime neighborhood activist Carlos "Chino" Garcia (below), are expected to be completed later this week...
The building, owned by Gregg Singer since 1998, fell into foreclosure earlier this year and is reportedly in the hands of lender Madison Realty Capital.
The five-floor building is being offered for use as medical space or educational-related purposes. Meanwhile, some residents want to see the space used as a community center, as it was during its time as CHARAS/El Bohio Community Center.
This past Monday, a group of activists marched on the Midtown offices of Madison Realty Capital to demand the return of the former P.S. 64 to the community. You can read news coverage of the action at The Village Sun.
Saturday, November 19, 2022
City removes curbside dining structure at Amor Y Amargo on 6th and A
In August, the city started removing dining sheds from outside closed establishments ... or restaurant and bars that were no longer using the street spaces. (To be clear, Amor Y Amargo remains open.)
The city said this about curbside structures that are still in use:
The task force will also review sheds that, while potentially active, are particularly egregious violators of Open Restaurants program guidelines. In these cases, sheds will be inspected three separate times before action is taken. After each of the first two failed inspections, DOT will issue notices instructing the restaurant owner to correct the outstanding issues; after the third visit, DOT will issue a termination letter and allow 48 hours before issuing a removal notice. DOT will then remove the structure and store it for 90 days — if the owner does not reclaim it in that period, DOT will dispose of the structure.
City officials are currently finalizing legislation for the open restaurants program.
The Gallery Watch Q&A: Sneha S. on 'Portraits of the Revolution'
Interview by Clare Gemima
Photos courtesy of EVGallery
Sneha S. is an artist and activist based in Queens.
Sneha explored art from a young age due to her rough childhood upbringing. Born in Silchar, Assam of India, Sneha's family shifted to the United States in hopes of "achieving the American dream." In turn, the harshness of capitalism destroyed her family and caused a strain on both of her parents' mental health.
To cope with child abuse, Sneha turned to art for solace. Art took a pause when working as an adult in New York City took over. But after getting out of a tumultuous relationship, old wounds opened up again, and Sneha had to address her childhood trauma with the help of therapy, and of course, art came back into her life. Since then, Sneha has continued exploring her artistic capabilities using acrylic, ink, watercolor, and colored pencil.
"Portraits of the Revolution," Sneha's first art show now on display through Nov. 30 at EVGallery on 11th Street, is a syndicate of portraits that symbolize social and political injustices to bring attention to the policy changes we need in this country.
What can an audience member prepare to see in this exhibition?
Six portraits out of the eleven had already been made. Portraits of Loujain al Hathloul and Greta Thunberg were created for a prior showing, Fearless Teardrops, representing the oppression and resilience of women and children. Bernie Sanders was painted as my homage to the presidential nominee when he withdrew from the 2020 elections for the second time.
Dannelly Rodriguez was painted to honor the housing rights activist and movement lawyer. I met him at one of my co-organized events and witnessed him leading the NYC Black Lives Matter Movement protests in response to the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. "Pelehonuamea" (below) — a painting created after my trip to Hawaii in 2021 and my self-portrait called "Ego Death" — was made as a therapeutic piece in response to my trip to Miami during the year the pandemic hit.
After connecting with Kerri, the director of EV Gallery in March of this year, I formulated the remaining five pieces inspired by what I had already compiled within my tiny studio apartment that I work out of in Queens.
After getting arrested for civil disobedience at the 2016 presidential debate, I dealt with a lot of anxiety and frustration through art. So, it was about time I decided to forge both of these worlds together to visualize what lies in my heart as an activist.
Of the 11 portraits hung in EV Gallery, what work resonates with you the most, and why?
The portrait that resonates with me the most is definitely "Pelehonuamea." (Seen below.) When I went to Hawaii using my stimulus check, thinking I would never get an opportunity like this again, it was important for me to learn and understand the way of the land. Pele is the Goddess of Volcano and Fire, a deity, an integral part of Hawaiian culture.
The more I read about her as I explored parts of the island that weren’t accessible to tourists, the more I felt connected to her. I feel like I have a raging fire within me as I witness the suffering and oppression of the people caused by the oligarchy in place. I think it also makes sense because I am a Sagittarius, one of the three fire signs of the zodiac.
Is this the first time you have visualized your activism? Are you interested in the history of agitprop?
Actually, it’s not. I had my initial exposure to agitprop when my portrait of Karl Marx was published in a socialist magazine called Reform & Revolution, in which my talk as a guest at the Brooklyn Museum of Art for "Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving" was also highlighted.
Ruth Ann Oskolkoff, an activist with Extinction Rebellion and DSA, also used the same portrait of Karl Marx on the cover of her book of political quotes, "Capitalism Must Be Composted."
I understand that you were born in Silchar, India. How has coming as an immigrant to the United States propelled your strong interest in political activism?
I remember the joy I felt on the last day of school in India when I told my friends I was going to the U.S. From my father to my teachers, they all reflected on the idea of the American Dream. Still, it was tarnished when I experienced racism and discrimination upon entering the United States. I observed both my parents struggle to make ends meet, affecting their marriage and mental health. I was on the receiving end of both their anger and frustration.
Because my parents couldn’t afford childcare, I spent the majority of my childhood in solitude, drawing and sketching. I knew at the age of 8 that what I was going through was a lot bigger than me, and I knew there was something wrong with the system we were and are still living in.
What political crisis takes up most of your attention, and why do you feel so strongly about it?
The climate crisis takes up most of my attention because it is the biggest threat to humanity, our natural environment and the world’s species. The response in the past few years after scientists came out in 2019 saying we have 12 years to act on climate change has been abysmal. The United States is one of the three biggest contributors to climate change, and continues to participate in acts of war, which has been the most damaging to our environment.
What sort of message do you hope to send with your portraits?
All these movements — Black Lives Matter, Indigenous Lives Matter, Climate Crisis, atrocious foreign policies in Yemen and Palestine, New York City Housing Crisis, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the sovereignty movement — point to the singular perpetrator, the United States government – local and federal, needs to be held accountable and put forth policy changes. Citizens United, which allows wealthy donors and special interests to use dark money to influence elections, needs to be repealed.
Occupy Wall Street was a big movement that showcased how incredibly imbalanced we were as a society. At the same time, the poor and the working class struggle continued to be watered underneath a crumbling bridge. This means access to universal healthcare, abolishing student loan debt, prioritizing the climate crisis as an emergency issue, providing living wages against theorized inflation, and decreasing the cost of living. It's absurd that billionaires’ wealth has risen further since the pandemic hit the world. Power needs to be brought back to the people.
What is next for your political and artistic career in New York?
I am working on a couple of potential projects, but I am really excited by the idea of formulating a mood board that represents my culture and where I come from. It has been 27 years since I returned to India. A trip back to my homeland is definitely in order to inspire this project further because I plan to highlight the story of my aunt, Sharda, who was burned alive by her husband and in-laws for not meeting their dowry standards. Her horrific story needs to be painted.
Clare Gemima is a visual artist and arts writer from New Zealand, now based in the East Village of New York. You can find her work here: claregemima.com.
EVGallery, 621 E, 11th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C, is open Thursday to Saturday from 1-6 p.m. and by appointment. Find contact info here.
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