When we last checked in on the forthcoming Upper East Side location of the 2nd Avenue Deli, problems with the Department of Building were holding up the matzoh mecca from opening its doors. But that was then. Just now the home of the Instant Heart Attack has sent us a release announcing an opening date for its second outpost (the East Village original closed in 2006 and is now a Chase). Kugel, anyone? more ›

In this charming little video from Saveur, 2nd Avenue Deli manager Steve Cohen and counter man David Gonzalez—who's been working there off and on since 1978—reveal what goes into the construction of the deli's famous pastrami sandwich. Did you know that at least a half a pound of pastrami gets piled onto that bad boy? And that customers who want to soil it with mayo tend to place their orders "very quietly because they don't really want to be seen by the others"? Also, according to Cohen, this sandwich is the key to peace in the Middle East: more ›

Last night, as part of a fund-raiser for the Church of Stop Shopping, Reverend Billy visited the Chase branch that is where the Second Avenue Deli used to be. dogseat has a great series of photographs (you can seem them on his Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Flickr set) of Reverend Billy and the gospel singers outside the branch. And they're on top of the Yiddish Walk of Fame. Sigh, progress is rough. more ›

First, Rectangles closed and becomes a North Fork Branch, now this. The Post gets the props for being the first to break that the former Second Avenue Deli is going to be filled by another Chase bank branch. Earlier in the month the Villager ran with the story that the Deli was going to be filled by dental-chain Vital Dent and a food space. But that contract wasn't signed then, and we guess it fell through. This deal sounds better for the landlord at least. Now instead of splitting into two spaces, it looks like Chase is going to fill up the entire Deli space the newsstand next door. Though the Post reports the contract was signed on Wednesday, they don't mention if the bank will be paying the $33,000 monthly rent that "forced" the Deli out. We suspect they will. more ›

It's our favorite weekend of the year, Halloween weekend! Ghosts are always roaming our streets and sitting on our ancient pub stools in this city, and this is the best weekend to go out and see them face to invisible face in some good 'ol fashioned walking tours. Yeah, we ain't afraid of no ghosts! more ›

The site for the Second Avenue Deli. And Mike from Satan's Laundromat was also arrested on August 27, but he was part of the protest. more ›

New York Restaurant Cookbook: Recipes from the Dining Capital of the World, by Florence Fabricant (Rizzoli 2003). more ›

The event was also a tribute to Lebewohl (the Second Avenue Deli is run by his family), who was robbed and murdered in 1996 outside an East Village bank. In spite of the East Village's sketchy reputation during much of the deli's existence, a manager said Lebewohl "always felt this neighborhood was a good girl with a bad reputation." Well, only because of shopowners and residents who try to persevere and make the neighborhood a better place, like Lebewohl. A Ukrainian Weekly article gives a nice overview of Lebewohl's life. more ›