Openings: Pizza Pazzo on 1st Street

There's a new pizza option on First Street.

Pizza Pazzo is now open at 70 E. First St. here between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

The shop, with a few seats for dining in, offers a variety of slices, starting at $3, whole pies and pasta dishes. Find the pizzeria's website here.

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., with an 11 p.m. close on Fridays and Saturdays.

Let us know if you try it!

The small storefront was previously part of Pinky's Space. Cafe La Fe is also at the address next door. 

So long to the longtime sidewalk bridge on 12th Street, and hello to SMØR Bakery

Back on Friday, workers removed the sidewalk bridge from outside 437 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

Per an EVG reader who shared these photos: "The infamous pre-pandemic scaffolding, (whew) finally came down. Thanks to all the residents who endured and requested removal via 'the city inspectors' given the job had been finished last fall. Happy Spring!" 

With this, SMØR Bakery now enjoys an unobstructed façade for the first time in its lifespan since opening in August 2022...

A retail reset at 20 St. Mark's Place

The retail reset is complete at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ...

The MG Artistic Hair Salon opened in the upper space at the beginning of April. The brand has several NYC outlets as well as one in Boston and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 

As previously reported, Manhattan Pawffice, a sibling to Brooklyn Pawffice out in Williamsburg, opened in the lower level last fall. 

We spent a lot of time in both retail spaces in years past. Sounds closed upstairs in October 2015 after 36 years in business. This was the last record shop on St. Mark's Place. 

And downstairs, the Grassroots Tavern closed following New Year's Eve 2017 after 42 years in service. 

In January 2016, Klosed Properties bought the landmarked 20 St. Mark's Place from Jim Stratton, who was also the majority owner of the Grassroots. At that time, a source said that the bar had a lease for the next five years, with an option after that for renewal. According to public records, Klosed Properties paid about $5.6 million for the building.

Stratton told Bedford + Bowery that the rent had just become too high. "We were not forced out by any means, it would just have required a radical change for the business and the way we operate. We basically decided we had to throw in the towel." (Several GR regulars wondered why Stratton, as the seller of the building, didn't negotiate a favorable lease for his bar.)

In the past six years, at least two potential tenants were going to take space here, including this pub concept that signed a lease, but nothing materialized until last fall.

No. 20, the Daniel LeRoy House, was built in 1832. It received landmark status in 1971 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Past lives of the subterranean space that the Grassroots had included a theater saloon called Paul Falk's Tivoli Garden in the 1870s... in the 1930s, the Hungarian Cafe and Restaurant resided here before becoming a temperance saloon called the Growler, per Daytonian in Manhattan.

Top photo by Steven

A changing of the bar at 16 1st Ave.

The Grayson, the sports bar at 16 First Ave. between First Street and Second Street, has closed. 

Michael Brennan, who's behind the sports bars Triona's (with locations in Gramercy and the West Village) and the Hairy Lemon on Avenue B, is opening Lydia's in this space. (Lydia's has a spaceholder Instagram account here.)

Community Board 3 approved the liquor license for the new establishment despite extensive issues with the 16 First Ave. space, including "175 311 complaints in the past two years, with 71 non-crime corrected (on 34 separate dates)," according to the minutes of the December 2023 meeting. 

Per the minutes: "Although this location has a serious history of problems for over 15 years, including noise, open doors and windows, wait lines, participating in pub crawls, etc, we are approving it based on the current applicant's history at the locations on 3rd Avenue and Sullivan Street."

The Grayson opened at No. 16 in June 2015, taking over for the short-lived Bar Akuda (not a Heart song).

Today in mannequins on 2nd Avenue

Photos by Derek Berg 

A few scenes (mannequins edition) from along the Second Avenue EV Festival today...

Week in Grieview

Posts this past week included (with a rainy Wednesday evening photo from Second Avenue)...

• D.A. Bragg announces indictment of suspect in 2 March shootings In Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday) 

• NYPD searching for hockey-stick-wielding suspect who whacked woman in the leg on 6th Street (Friday) 

• Honoring the late downtown legend Patti Astor at Astor Place (Wednesday)

• At the march to Save Beth Israel (Monday) 

• Openings: Pimbeche Vintage on 3rd Street (Wedensday) 

• Ray's Candy Store in miniature (Thursday) 

 • Openings: Gnocchi on 9th (on 9th) (Monday) 

• News to dry for: La La Laundry is back with gas on Avenue B and 11th Street (Saturday) 

• Remembering Joey Ramone on the anniversary of his death (Monday) 

• Blossom bonanza: Cherry trees paint TSP pink (Tuesday) 

• The Marshal has seized Atomic Wings on 1st Avenue (Monday) 

• Cakes by Klein takes 102 St. Mark's Place (Monday) 

• Construction watch: 280 E. Houston St. (Wednesday)

• Signage alert: The Onion Tree Pizza Co. on 1st Avenue (Wednesday) 

• PARTIAL brick reveal at 1 St. Mark's Place (Thursday) 

• Reader report: Alphabet Grocery hasn't been open lately (Thursday) 

• Today in awkwardly phrased crime alerts on the Citizen app (Sunday) 

 ... and we caught up with Alex Garland's incendiary "Civil War" (still talking about Jesse Plemons!) at the Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue and 12th Street...

... the film includes two perfectly placed songs by Suicide (one half of the duo, Martin Rev, still lives in the EV).

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

Today in street festivals

Photo by Steven 

Today in street fairs: the Second Avenue EV Festival is getting underway along — Second Avenue, from 14th Street to... St. Mark's Place? (The online listing says Fourth Street, but...)

Anyway, this one held in April is usually pretty solid as far as street festivals go...

Saturday's parting shot

A view along St. Mark's Place late this afternoon between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

This block is again part of the Open Streets program for the following days/hours: 

• Fridays: 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

• Saturdays: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

• Sundays: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

News to dry for: La La Laundry is back with gas on Avenue B and 11th Street

After a three-week saga, Con Ed has restored the gas service to La La Laundry (and presumably the entire building) on the NW corner of Avenue B and 11th Street. 

While the business, which includes a plant shop and cleaning service, remained open, La La's patrons could not use its dryers without the gas hookup.

For now, La La has extended its closing to 10 p.m.

As the laundromat ownership previously explained: 

On March 26, a routine maintenance task took a harrowing turn. An elderly mechanic, entrusted with welding duties in our boiler room, suddenly felt unwell, prompting a call to 911. Responders, fearing a gas leak, urged the shutdown of the boiler's gas supply. However, a fateful misstep by a Con Ed worker resulted in the cessation of gas to the entire building, despite NO leak being found within our premises. 

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• La La Laundry looking for some help after 3 weeks without gas 

A crowdfunding campaign is here.

Saturday's opening shot

A view of Tompkins Square Park this morning. 

And as previously mentioned, there are many Earth Day-related activities today (yes, Earth Day is officially Monday) ... such as!

• Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) is hosting its annual Spring Awakening to celebrate the neighborhood's community gardens. (Details) 

• The volunteers at Loisaida Open Streets are hosting events throughout the day on Avenue B between Eighth Street and 10th Street (details) ... part of NYC's Car-Free Earth Day.

4/20's opening shot

As seen on Avenue A at 11th Street yesterday... thanks to EVG reader PM for the shot. 

And happy 4/20 to those who celebrate this high holiday.

Friday's parting shot

Tits Dick Ass tonight at the Knitting Factory at Baker Falls on Avenue A... headlining a bill that featured Gargoyle ... Suburban Speed ... and Femcel ...

Ways to be 'Wicked'

 

The fifth record from Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds is out today on In the Red Records. 

The above video, which features L.A. punk icon Alice Bag, is for the track "Wicked World."

Headline H/T.

NYPD searching for hockey-stick-wielding suspect who whacked woman in the leg on 6th Street

Police are looking for a man they say struck a woman in the leg with a hockey stick in an unprovoked attack on an East Village street.

According to the NYPD, a 26-year-old woman was walking on Sixth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue around 10:30 p.m. on April 9 when the suspect hit her in the back of her thigh.

WANTED-ASSAULT: On 4/9/24 @NYPD9PCT a female victim was walking in front of 433 East 6 Street when she was approached by an unknown individual who struck her in the leg with a hockey stick.
Any info call us at 800-577-TIPS Reward up to $3,500 pic.twitter.com/hsOleIF5cu

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) April 18, 2024

The Post interviewed the victim, Amber Nguyen, who said she was walking with a group of friends when the assault occurred. The man did not say anything before the attack. 

After the hit, she and her friends reportedly followed the man, who was still carrying the hockey stick, for several blocks before he stopped and turned to the group saying, "I’m going to fuck you up!" 

The group retreated into a restaurant and the suspect fled. 

EMTs treated Nguyen, who was left with a bruise, at the scene. 

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. 

Thursday's parting shots

Photos by Peter Brownscombe

Danny Cortes presented Ray with a miniature Ray's Candy Store today outside the shop at 113 Avenue A...

The miniature/diorama artist has also created versions of the Mars Bar and 57 Great Jones St.

Waiting for a sunnier day? (And some mold and mildew remover)

The beach beckons here on Seventh Street and Second Avenue... photo today by Steven...

Earth Day extravaganza: A celebration of East Village community gardens this Saturday

On Earth Day this coming Saturday, Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) is hosting its annual Spring Awakening to celebrate the neighborhood's community gardens. 

Details!

Our parade begins at noon from El Sol Brillante, 522 E.12th St., between Avenue A and Avenue B. It will feature our Tree Goddess, Batalá, Stiltwalkers, and more. The parade will travel east on 12th Street, south on Avenue C, west on Sixth Street, north on Avenue A, enter Tompkins Square Park at Seventh Street, and end on Avenue B and Ninth Street. 

Several EV community gardens will host events throughout the afternoon, from workshops to live performances. Check this link for a schedule to date.

The Spring Awakening coincides with the 2024 debut of activities on the Loisaida Open Streets, where a slate of events is held throughout the day on Avenue B between Eighth Street and 10th Street. This is part of the citywide Car-Free Earth Day. 
 

PARTIAL brick reveal at 1 St. Mark's Place

Yesterday marked a partial reveal day on the NW corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place... where workers peeled off away some of the all-weather wrap on the 9-story office building...

Noted EVG reader Jacob Ford, who shared these pics: "It was a surprise (to me at least) the brick is slate instead of red."

True! The rendering shows a different color for the building with 50,000-plus square feet of office space and some 8,000 square feet for retail.

The rendering lists a July 2024 completion date.

Reader report: Alphabet Grocery hasn't been open lately

The gates have been down at Alphabet Grocery on the NW corner of Avenue C and Sixth Street for the past week. 

An EVG reader noted that the corner market changed a few weeks back and "looked more like a grocery store." They also stopped selling lottery tickets. 

There isn't any signage about a kind of closure, temporary or otherwise.

The shop is in a building owned by the NYCHA.

Honoring the late downtown legend Patti Astor at Astor Place

The downtown 6 stop at Astor Place is now full of tributes to the late Patti Astor, as these photos via an EVG readers show ...

The tribute is courtesy the East Village-based The Lisa Project. 

Astor died on April 9 at her home in Hermosa Beach, Calif. She was 74.

Per The New York Times:

Patti Astor, the downtown Manhattan "It" girl, indie film star and co-founder of Fun Gallery, the scruffy East Village storefront space that in the early 1980s nurtured young graffiti artists like Futura2000, Zephyr, Lee Quinones, Lady Pink and Fab 5 Freddy, as well as showcasing artists like Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf and Jean-Michel Basquiat...