Photo by Stacie Joy
A moment with Baz today outside his (Mariah-Carey-free) Clash City Tattoo shop, 273 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.
Read our 2015 piece with Baz here.
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Moroccan specialty shop Timbuktu being forced out after 20 years on 2nd Avenue
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
According to Del, the new landlords, who took over in the spring of 2021, decided to terminate the shop's lease effective at the end of the month. He learned about the decision via a certified letter.
He said he hopes to have a few more months to liquidate the merchandise. Del has been in the wholesale business for four decades and has been in this location for 20 years.
For now, shoppers can find items with sale prices between 50 and 70%.
Here's a look inside the cozy store...
Timbuktu is open daily from 1-8 p.m. Phone: (212) 473-4955.
A celebration of Joe Strummer's life this Thursday outside Niagara on 7th and A
The iconic musician and co-founder of the Clash was only 50. He died from a heart attack caused by an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.
On this occasion, local singer-songwriter and bar owner Jesse Malin is hosting a free busking show outside the Strummer mural at Niagara on the SE corner of Seventh Street and Avenue A. Starting at 6 p.m., up to 20 acts are expected to perform an acoustic cover or two. There's an after-party at 9 p.m. at 96 Tears next door to Niagara. (Malin is an owner of both venues.)
Dr. Revolt and Zephyr created the first iteration of the Strummer mural here in 2003.
And in case you've never seen this... here's the video of "Redemption Song" by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros that shows the mural's creation ... and a bonus clip below that...
Signage alert: Caleta on Avenue A, with a Jan. 7 debut
As noted in September, real-life couple Jesse Merchant Zuñiga and Javier Zuñiga are opening their first restaurant ... this comes after they launched the pandemic-era business Bad Habit ice cream from their apartment.
During the day, they will serve cartons of their ice cream. And by night, as Eater reported, Caleta "will offer a New American small plates menu to pair with wine, cartons of their ice cream, as well as desserts that use Bad Habit product like baked Alaska."
The space was previously Thai Direct, which closed following a COVID-related rent dispute with the landlord, per the restaurant's ownership.
H/T Steven!
Monday, December 19, 2022
Monday's parting shot
Celebrating the first night of Hanukkah in StuyTown
[Updating] Man found dead with a slash wound to his neck on Avenue A
Updated 12/26
Police have arrested Roland Codrington. He is accused of two murders — on Avenue A and a doctor Friday in Marcus Garvey Park. In both deadly assaults, the victims were killed with a knife. And in both deaths, the suspect did not previously have any interaction with the victims.
Updated 12/22: Police released a photo of the suspect here.
--
According to ABC 7, the man, whose identity has not been released, was discovered around 1 a.m. outside 214 Avenue A on the east side of the avenue with "a laceration to the neck." Authorities pronounced him dead at Bellevue.
The Daily News reports that the man "lived nearby where he was killed."
Police have confirmed that this was a homicide. We'll update this story when more information becomes available.
Updated 1:30 p.m.
The Post identified the victim as James Cunningham. He reportedly had a glass of seltzer at Spike's and was attacked by an unknown assailant after leaving.
Sources told the paper that "Cunningham himself was just arrested 10 days ago and charged with menacing with a knife."
Police have not yet revealed a motive or suspect in the deadly attack.
The Daily News reported that Cunningham was a regular at Spike's, 218 Avenue A.
Per the News:
NYPD tips posters are now up on the block...He walked outside and was sliced in the neck after getting into a confrontation in front of a neighboring vacant storefront, according to cops."He was a super nice guy," said an employee, who asked not to be named.
Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. All calls are strictly confidential.
Hamilton Fish Park Library reopens for limited service starting today
Photos last month by Stacie Joy
Patrons can pick up and return books and materials, use computers, and receive reference support from staff.
The branch on East Houston at Columbia Street closed on March 14, 2020, due to an aging HVAC system that, according to NYPL officials, was "no longer capable of heating and cooling the building."
Updated. 
Hamilton Fish Park Library will remain open until the fall of 2023, according to an email from Yolanda Gleason, borough director, Staten Island & Manhattan Neighborhood Library Networks for the New York Public Library.
At that time next year:
...the branch will close for renovation to replace the HVAC system and provide other significant improvements to the building, such as accessible entry and bathrooms, a larger community room, dedicated spaces for children and teens, interior upgrades, rehabilitation of the windows, and increased data and power to support high-tech needs in the community.
Gleason said that to further support the community, the library will continue to partner with community organizations such as the Henry Street Settlement, which currently hosts in-person services like storytime programs.
Staff will also regularly visit the neighborhood’s local schools — such as NEST+M, P.S. 15, and P.S. 140 — to share information about print and digital collections, facilitate school workshops, and conduct programs for younger patrons.
The branch's new hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.
Stacie Joy shared these photos from re-opening day... not everyone seemed to get the memo about the branch returning to service...
Storefront renovations and reveals on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place
And on Friday, owner Parviz Mukhamadkulov sent us this photo of some local music ephemera that was uncovered on one of the storefront pillars... a band flyer for a show on May 7, 1974, at the long-defunct Brandy's II on the Upper East Side. (Brandy's Piano Bar is still there.)
Not sure who these lads are at the moment... the band's name is MIA here...
The retail space was the longtime home of Gem Spa, the iconic newsstand-candy shop. Gem Spa officially closed in May 2020 amid ongoing financial challenges worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mukhamadkulov previously told us that he would honor the memory of the decades-spanning former occupant in this renovated space.
The East Village Sauce outpost shutters for now on 12th Street
A sign for patrons, dated Dec. 16, states that they "have made the tough decision to close our doors for the next few months."
And:
We are planning to relaunch this location with great enthusiasm, and we look forward to serving you again soon!We have a great passion for our community and neighborhood and aren't going anywhere. Brookfield
Sauce arrived here in 2018.
The pizzeria also has outposts on the Lower East Side (Allen at Rivington) ... plus Brookfield Place and Moynihan Train Hall.
FULL reveal at 14 2nd Ave.
This property had been vacant for years, last housing Irreplaceable Artifacts until its demolition by the city in July 2000.
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Noted
Week in Grieview
Posts this past week included (with a reader-submitted photo from the Ninth Street Community Garden & Park) ...
• The 'Daze' of our lives: Adam Zhu's new photo book chronicles today's downtown youth culture (Wednesday)
• Renovations underway at the former Whitehouse Hotel on the Bowery (Tuesday)
• At the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree lighting (Monday) ... Seeing the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree in a whole new light (Saturday)
• The Gallery Watch Q&A: Harvey L. Silver's 'Changin' Times' (Friday)
• Bad Brains on the Bowery with Shepard Fairey and Glen E. Friedman (Thursday)
• The New Museum is collecting coats for the Bowery Mission (Tuesday)
• Cautionary tales: A song inspired by an East Village move (Friday)
• On the CB3-SLA docket: The Commodore aims for Avenue C; an all-day Italian cafe for 12th Street (Monday)
• The Zero Irving food hall is now OPEN (Thursday)
• Memphis Seoul announces itself on 1st Avenue (Wednesday)
• Crab Du Jour sleeps with the fishes on 1st Avenue (Wednesday)
• Gen Korean BBQ House drops the plywood for a full reveal on 14th Street and 3rd Avenue (Thursday)
• Pizza for the former Subway (sandwich shop) on Avenue B (Thursday)
Sunday's opening shot
Saturday, December 17, 2022
At the 9th Precinct today
Photos by Derek Berg
The 9th Precinct's annual holiday party took place this morning on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
Seeing the Tompkins Square Park holiday tree in a whole new light
The Tompkins Square Park holiday tree is officially lit for the season. Again!
After last Sunday's festive ceremony, the tree was dark on Monday night, and it stayed that way until last night.
So all good for now. "We are pleased the lights are on," per the official.
Details about an art show to benefit Ukraine this weekend at C-Squat
Here's more about it via Facebook:
This is a traveling exhibit, which was first shown in New York at the First Presbyterian Church on 12th Street and then again at the Unitarian Church of Staten Island. The show is now making its way to the Lower East Side.
This art show includes artists holding many different political and philosophical beliefs, working in different styles, from graphic novels to photojournalism, from Fusionism to fashion design, and more abstract pieces. The artists come from many different countries including Ukraine, Russia, Italy, France, the UK, the USA, Israel, and Palestine.All are united on one point: The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a catastrophe with repercussions felt far outside of Ukraine. The only resolution is for the Russian military to leave Ukraine completely, to return illegally occupied territories, answer for crimes they continue to commit, and pay reparations for the damage they continue to cause. This — and only this — will end the violence and suffering.The purpose of the show is to demonstrate that all over the world, people of good conscience condemn this invasion.
Attendees can find a variety of items for sale, including zines, cassettes (Band Together donated a collection) and some rare World/Inferno Friendship Society vinyl records. All proceeds are going to benefit Razom for Ukraine.
The space is open from 2-8 p.m. this weekend. You can access the free show via MoRUS, 155 Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
Friday, December 16, 2022
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)