Gloria Chung

Good morning, East Village.

Hatem Farsakh has been charged with beating a man nearly to death on MacDougal Street, but he denies it. “I was eating a falafel sandwich at Mamoun’s — you guys know Mamoun’s? Great sandwich.” [NY Daily News]

“The police released surveillance video of a man who allegedly sexually assaulted and robbed a woman at the Lorimer L train station on Sunday morning.” [Gothamist]

St. Mark’s Church will host a concert in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Sunday. [Off the Grid]

“Tomorrow, the first 200 people who bring a preorder receipt for Eddie Huang’s forthcoming memoir Fresh Off The Boat to his shop BaoHaus will get a free bao.” [Eater]

The Lobster Joint has opened its East Houston Street location. “Unlike the Brooklyn location there is no outdoor option, but Lobster Joint can pack up a righteous picnic—including lobster or crab, rolls, homemade chips, coleslaw and pickles—to enjoy in nearby Tompkins Square Park.” [Gothamist]

Here’s the lineup for La MaMa Kids, “a series of creative workshops for the young and the young at heart” wherein “master artists from La MaMa teach theatre crafts in workshops that encourage imaginative play and hands-on learning.” [East Village Arts]

Cocoran and Soba-Ya are among the five best noodle bars in the East Village. [CBS NY]

And Lucy’s is among the city’s best dive bars. [Gothamist]