In this season of the listicle... a top-20 record contender — Excess, the second release from the Los Angeles-based trio Automatic. The video here is for "Teen Beat."
Friday, December 16, 2022
Cautionary tales: A song inspired by an East Village move
He explains the story behind the track:
This song was written while I lived on 13th Street between A and B, and tells the story of moving from Ninth street to 13th Street. Foolishly, I thought I didn't need to rent a U-Haul, but could instead carry all of my stuff over the course of a week from 9th to 13th.As the distance added up and I started to lose my mind, I fell for a scam buyer on Craigslist while trying to sell my bed frame.The song is a cautionary tale, but also an embrace of the naivety that comes from letting yourself trust someone else.
Check Out "Craigslist Scammer" below...
The Gallery Watch Q&A: Harvey L. Silver's 'Changin' Times'
Interview by Clare Gemima
Top photo by Daryl-Ann Saunders; the rest courtesy of Harvey L. Silver
EV Gallery presents Harvey L. Silver's first solo show in New York City, "Changin' Times."
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.
A photographic time-capsule of America, which Silver started back in the late 1960s, "Changin' Times" showcases the photographer's kind, observational, and often voyeuristic image-building through photographs of musicians, hippies, artists, activists,
strangers, and protesters, all photographed during a time of unprecedented historical change and civil unrest.
Through his subject’s expressions, and the macabre candidness captured in other arbitrary moments, like in some of his street photography, it is clear that Silver is a documenter, or maybe some sort of archivist, but most focally — an authentic and curious photographer.
I talked with Silver about his exhibition, which runs until Jan. 14, 2023.
Congratulations on your first photo exhibit in New York City, "Changin’ Times." What does it feel like to see your images in the gallery?
I grew up in New York City, so having a solo show in the East Village at the EV Gallery is thrilling. Even though my family lived in Queens — my father managed a professional camera store in Manhattan at 245 Seventh Ave., and I spent many teenage years wandering around the Village — it’s a homecoming.
Your work was shot in the 1960s and 70s. Why is it important to you as an artist to show it today?
In 1967, I started taking photographs seriously — working primarily in 35mm black and white, as well as color slides. I was able to chronicle a very historical period — music, counterculture, the anti-war and civil rights movements. I built my early portfolio in the late 1960s and 70s, and it was those photos of that unique period that Getty Images was interested in
taking into their collection.
Why is the show hung in salon fashion?
It's a modified salon — especially if you view floor-to-ceiling salons from the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. For me, it was the best way to showcase a good number of framed prints in a relatively small space.
What is the most successful photograph in the show?
People are very interested in the images of period folk and rock icons (Gram Parsons, Buddy Guy, Pete Seeger, Bonnie Raitt). Still, most are drawn to the street
photography — for example, the 1968 photo of the young child looking at a framed photograph of Robert Kennedy in a Fifth Avenue department store window as his funeral is going on nearby at St. Patrick's.
Which image holds the most sentimental value to you, and why?
Among the photographs are several of my family taken in the 1970s, such as portraits of my wife, Cindy, or several of my older son, Eric. These images are artful but also very personal.
Who is your idol portrait photographer?
I have always admired Edward S. Curtis and his photographs of North American Native Americans taken in the early 20th Century.
What are your plans after "Changin’ Times"?
I will be part of a group show at Gallery 40 in Poughkeepsie in February (near where I live in Rhinebeck) — and I am always mining my archives of negatives and slides for inclusion in Getty Images.
"Changin’ Times" runs through Jan. 14 at EV Gallery, 621 E, 11th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. The space is open Saturday from 1-5 p.m. and by appointment (info@evgallery.art, 978-799-9014).
You can find Harvey's portfolio here.
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Holiday wishes for the former Charas/El Bohio Community Center
Tomorrow (Saturday) at noon, local elected officials, residents and supporters are coming together for a rally to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the eviction of the Charas/El Bohio Community & Cultural Center here.
The assembled speakers will be asking "the mayor to make our holiday wish come true and return our community center."
This evening starting at 5:30, the activist group Loisaida Guardians is hosting a holiday dinner on the Ninth Street side of the property "to share gifts and food in the spirit of the holidays and work together to reopen Charas for the community of the people of New York City."
We're told that Two Boots will be providing some pizzas. Find more details on the Facebook event page.
The long-vacant 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. Singer evicted the group on Dec. 27, 2001.
Thursday, December 15, 2022
Before Dallas BBQ, part 3 (the end, maybe)
A reader shared this 1940s-era photo from the Municipal Archives... when it was still the decades-spanning Estroff Pharmacy...
Bad Brains on the Bowery with Shepard Fairey and Glen E. Friedman
Photos and reporting by Daniel Efram
Bad Brains also helped pay tribute to the club that championed its unique sounds by performing a trio of goodbye shows in 2006. Additionally, the location is special to Fairey as his first NYC solo art shows took place at the CBGB 313 Gallery, then curated by Jonathan Levine.
Friedman, the acclaimed East Village-based photographer known for his work with cultural icons, skaters and musicians, including some of Fairey's favorite artists, such as Public Enemy and Run-DMC, provided the photographs that Fairey compiled for the large-format piece.
"All of the photos in the collage were made at CBGB during the holidays in 1981 or 1982," Friedman says. "The Bad Brains annual Xmas matinees became a great thing for all us punks who didn't care or didn't have a place to be during the holidays. We'd all go and congregate there and see some of the best shows of our lives."
The mural's location was secured by the Lisa Project, a program dedicated to beautifying the community via mural art. Several members of the public had grown attached to the Blondie mural and wondered why it was being replaced. According to sources on the scene, the wall is supposed to be refreshed every three years but was delayed due to the COVID pandemic.
"After the Bad Brains left Washington, D.C., they moved to New York and were living here on the Lower East Side. They played CBGB a lot. In fact, their music came into its ultimate highest power when they were living and playing here," Fairey tells me about the project's roots in the East Village and Lower East Side community.
"[They were] a defining band in terms of the sound of hardcore but a unique band in that they were all Black in a white genre," Fairey continues. "It's incredible to have Bad Brains get some love here because they have such a strong connection to NYC and CBGB. They recorded their first album at 171-A in Alphabet City."
The four-person crew — (from the left) Fairey, Rob Zagula, Praxis and Osk — installed the mural on Monday and Tuesday ...
Here's a look at the elaborate work that took place this past week...
Daniel Efram is an East Village-based photographer-curator. He is the producer of "The Steve Keene Art Book."
Gen Korean BBQ House drops the plywood for a full reveal on 14th Street and 3rd Avenue
As we've been reporting... the brand — known for its all-you-can-eat specials — has 18 locations in California, Hawaii, Arizona, Nevada and Texas ... with a handful more in the works.
Community Board 3 OK'd a beer-wine license for the address back in July. (The previous tenant, 5 Napkin Burger, had a full liquor license.) Alcohol is only part of table service — there won't be any bar seating, per CB3 minutes.
The restaurant is taking the former 5 Napkin Burger space as well as the storefront next door that served as the 5 Napkin Express, then Taman Falafel. Those businesses closed at the start of the year.
Pizza for the former Subway (sandwich shop) on Avenue B
A worker helping renovate the storefront told EVG correspondent Stacie Joy that a pizzeria is coming soon here...
Not sure at the moment what kind of pizza we're talking about... more upscale pies and slices or the ubiquitous 
The Subway outpost was here for nearly nine years before going dark in 2020.
The Zero Irving food hall is now OPEN
Photo courtesy of @GramercyLocal
Everyone's favorite new food hall debuted yesterday on the ground floor of Zero Irving, the recently erected 21-floor building at 124 E. 14th St. between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.
Most of the 13 vendors were up and running (a few weren't ready just yet, such as the bottle shop Top Hops Beer).
You can go to the UrbanSpace website for a list of the vendors, six of whom are reportedly first-time entrepreneurs or start-up companies... not to mention EV vets Wafles & Dinges and Bobwhite Counter. (Bobwhite doesn't appear on the website, though their name is on the entrance and they have arguably the most high-profile space inside.)
The Zero Irving food hall is open Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., with Saturday hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The space has WiFi and outdoor seating in the rear of the complex. (So you're not sitting on 14th Street.)
This link has more background on Zero Irving.
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Candlelight carols this Sunday at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer
The event, free and open to the public, starts at 4 p.m. at the church, 173 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Noted
They remain off this evening for unknown reasons...
Before Dallas BBQ, part 2 (and yes — there will be a part 3)
Top photo by Stacie Joy
The interest in the pre-Dallas BBQ status of the NE corner of St. Mark's Place and Second Avenue shows no sign of abating!
Yesterday, we posted the photo via Godlis showing the early 1980s corner and its occupant, Estroff Pharmacy.
Steve Butcher shares this shot of the corner, including Estroff's next-door neighbor — East Village Stationery circa 1982.
Oh, and never mind that random dumpster fire!
The 'Daze' of our lives: Adam Zhu's new photo book chronicles today's downtown youth culture
Photos by Stacie Joy
East Village native Adam Zhu started shooting on film nearly 10 years ago at age 16.
As he recently wrote: "Even then, I knew I'd like to see the work physically rather than rush to share it online."
Since his teen years, Zhu, who now lives in Chinatown, has been documenting his downtown experiences and friends, a multi-generational group of skaters, musicians and artists, through his camera.
You can now see the results of his photography in his first book, a seemingly timeless collection of youth culture titled "Nice Daze." The book "is an homage to Zhu’s formative years populated by friends, lovers, contemporaries and mentors." (You may recognize Zhu's name. In 2019, he successfully launched a petition and raised awareness of the city's plan to cover the ballparks/skate area in Tompkins Square Park with artificial turf.)
This past Saturday, Zhu celebrated the book's release, which coincides with a solo exhibition of his work at CCProjects, a gallery space and cultural center on the second floor at 17 Allen St. (at Canal).
EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the opening to meet up with Zhu ...
The exhibit is curated in collaboration between Zhu and Daisy Sanchez. Copies of the 176-page book, co-published by CCProjects and Paradigm Publishing, are available at the venue as well as online here.
Memphis Seoul announces itself on 1st Avenue
This will be the second location for the restaurant, which describes itself as "Southern cookin' with a Korean kick!" (You can check out the menu here.) Founder Bart Hubbuch opened his first Memphis Seoul in Crown Heights.
Our previous post has more about the restaurant and ownership.
This address became available after Organic Grill relocated to West Third Street this past spring.
Crab Du Jour sleeps with the fishes on 1st Avenue
After nearly a year in business, this outpost of the chainlet has closed at 225 First Ave. between 13th Street and 14th Street. Google lists them as permanently closed. Workers have been breaking down the interior...
The restaurant, described as a Cajun Seafood Boil & Bar, never got the chance to serve beer and wine... which a sign on the door points out is coming soon... 
This address was previously a Checkers, which closed in late 2020 after six years in business.
Thanks to Steven for the photos!
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