Over on 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, students and teachers are outside with computers to get people to vote online so that the school can win $500,000 in the Kohl's Cares for Kids contest.
The Villager has a nice feature on this.... As part of the competition, Principal Mark Federman has been sleeping in a tent out front of the school since Aug. 23
If you go to www.eschs.org, then you'll find more details.
At several junctures during the summer, we've had posts updating the developments on the new First Avenue and Second Avenue bike lanes... and each post prompted a spirited debate in the comments: Pedestrians vs. cyclists. Cyclists vs. cyclists. Everybody vs. cyclists. Seemingly.
(You can find some of those posts here ... and here. And here.)
In many cases, all cyclists were dumped into one large "all cyclists are bad" category. While I like nothing more than grotesque stereotypes (woo!), it just seemed too easy to have people list problems that they've had with individual cyclists, which in turn made it seem as if anyone on a bike was a law-breaking cycling commando out for blood.
So! I enlisted the help of someone who knows more about cycling than I do — The Cycling Friend of EV Grieve (CFOEVG), who helped create and write these eight categories. However, CFOEVG is not totally confident that this list is a wholly accurate depiction of cyclists on the streets. So our intention is to illustrate that there is more to the NYC cycling community other than just 100 percent "rogue bikers."
Feel free to add your own categories. Plus, it's probably fair to, at some point, categorize the different types of pedestrians, motorists and bloggers too...
So now, to the list:
• Professionals — Those who work for a business outfit or courier firm. As CFOEVG says, they are "ironically, dangerous riders."
• Restaurant Delivery Workers — Often cooks or dishwashers who are put on a bike. Not to be confused with "all bikers." Some of the worst offenders for sidewalk riding.
• Pro/Amateur Racers — Usually on their way to a race, a park or New Jersey. Members of this group have a tendency to avoid bike lanes because they can't go fast enough in them.
• Triathletes — Typical greenway-variety, some of the most hated riders since they ride so poorly and can be so rude, says CFOEVG. Generally not a problem on surface streets.
• Weekend Warriors — Usually too slow to be of harm, but can end up on sidewalks. Occasionally a problem, but not to be confused with your average cyclists.
• Responsible commuters — Group members here are aware that cyclists are being watched, so they won't block crosswalks or ride on sidewalks. Increasingly, the majority of people you see riding.
• Irresponsible commuters — "Too good/too cool" for bike lanes who like to say that bike lanes are for wusses, but are actually more dangerous to pedestrians.
• Tourists — Uh-oh! Run! Tourists ride the wrong way in the park, too fast on the sidewalk. Just bad all around. Especially when the tourists are riding and unfolding a map at the same time.
P.S. As a bonus for making it this far... From 1986, the "Cocktail" of bike messenger movies...
Skin-tight, distressed boatneck top, with a low enough scoop to show off some of that tasty —- and Manly™ —- burger meat…
Obligatory skinny jeans and Chuck Taylors…
Without a moment’s hesitation, confidently, like he’s done a hundred times before:
“Three PBR’s.”
Bartender:
“We don’t have it.”
Hipster:
[Look of utter disappointment and confusion. Noticeably rattled. You can see the immediate calculation going on in his head…“Dare I be caught drinking something as bourgie as…a Budweiser?” He regroups, poised just enough to mumble…]
“Bud is, fine.”
His order placed, he shrugs off this initial misstep and falls back into the comfort of his group while the drinks are prepared.
The bartender returns.
Our hipster whips out the plastic.
Bartender:
“Cash only.”
Hipster:
“Uh, oh…okay.”
Back to the pack. Hands struggle down deep into tight, practically vacuum-sealed front pockets for some crumpled up greenbacks.
Just enough.
Phew.
Our hipster takes a cool sip from the unfamiliar bottle, his hand shaking a little, a bead of sweat emerging from his forehead. He turns back into the pack and starts to bop his head to what he’s pretty sure is The Stooges playing on the jukebox.
We've been writing about some of the issues stemming from Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge on Fifth Street and Second Avenue... In the aftermath of the deadly shooting on this corner on Aug. 22, neighbors reiterated the ongoing problems that they've had from the club.
East Fifth Street resident Stuart Zamsky has gotten so fed up with the noise and violence stemming from the nearby nightclub Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge that he’s taken to patrolling the sidewalk with a baseball bat to keep the crowds from disturbing his family.
Visitors to the popular nightspot will often gather outside the window of his two young sons’ room, screaming obscenities and even fighting on busy weekend nights, he said.
Zamsky is the East Fifth Street Block Association.
And here's Sin Sin's take on the issues:
“There have been altercations on the street. It’s a very busy intersection,” said Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge owner Philip Quilter, who supplied the police with surveillance footage of the suspects from the night of the shooting.
“It has been mentioned that we’re responsible entirely [for the noise and violence], and that’s not the case,” he added. “We are responsible for some noise, but we’re the only place to police the streets until 5 o’clock in the morning.”
He said that they will have four or five bouncers on duty during busy weekend nights.
One resident has also taken some videos of a few incidents.... (the altercation begins about the 2-minute mark on this one...)
Just last Wednesday we did that post on Allen Ginsberg's former apartment at 437 E. 12th St. hitting the market.... the freshly renovated one bedroom unit was listed at $1,700.
And the new tenant is aware of the apartment's history, he said. (Kramp also said that he received a lot of calls from people who read the post via New York's Daily Intel and Curbed.)
Meanwhile, several of Ginsberg's friends left comments on the post...
I'll share one of them:
Rosebud Pettet said... I had the great joy and privilege of knowing Allen for 33 years. Lived with him and Peter on and off during that time — at 5th st., 10th st., and long time at 12th st. I2th street was always "home" to me. Allen was always kind, generous, patient...he gave me the small (Peter's) apartment next door to live in with my son whenever we were in NYC, but mostly we lived in Allen's. Went back to see the place the day before it was completely gutted, and Peter Hale took some photos. It was so very hard to say goodbye to the place, all the memories...Burroughs, Dylan, the Bad Brains, all the amazing people who spent time there, esp. my "spiritual husband" Harry Smith... Met my former husband Simon at Allen's, then we lived downstairs for years-Allen "best man" at our wedding. Loved Allen like a father, was at his side when he died. Will always miss him and our little home on 12th street. AUGUST 30, 2010 1:25 PM
Via: Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky, Louis Cartwright, Herbert Huncke, William Burroughs, Allen & Peter's new apartment, 437 E. 12th St., New York City, December 1975. Photographer unknown.
Bloodsucks “Twilight” beauty Ashley Greene has signed a lease for a one-bedroom at the new 2 Cooper Square rental building, where one-bedrooms start around $4,000 per month.
Greene, who plans to share the new apartment with her dog, hasn’t moved in yet but has already been seen at the building. While our spies can’t see the future like Greene’s “Twilight” character, they’ve spotted the actress sunbathing by 2 Cooper Square’s rooftop pool with her hunky Jonas Brothers beau, Joe Jonas.
Also, the online version of the story has "bloodsucks" while the paper version has "Bloodsucking." I think I like "bloodsucks" better.
Per Tuesday's post, workers began erecting a sidewalk shed in front of the two-year-old pool-party-palace the A Building on East 13th Street... Shed up! The DOB issued the work permit yesterday for...
We're getting word of a huge blowout last night at Avenue A Sushi (or G2 Kurosawa — little confused on the name these days). The line, which lasted a good portion of the evening, went north to Seventh Street, and then west on Seventh Street. All the while, the crowd blocked most of the sidewalk. Bob Arihood, who took the above photo, talked to some of the line dwellers, and was simply told there was a party.
Mohawk-wearing Isabel Dawson charged back into the East 13th Street squat this week where she raised her daughter, Rosario Dawson, to change the locks on a unit where she lived two years ago. The squatter who now lives in the apartment is livid, and other residents say they want Isabel gone because she bullies for space. A spy says she shouted at the tenants, "I'm not embarrassing my daughter! This is a squat, I can live here."
The victim, Devin Thompson, 37, of Kips Bay, was shot twice at the corner of East Fifth Street about 4 a.m. on Sun., Aug. 22, police said.
The man remained in critical condition at Bellevue hospital until dying from his wounds on Monday, NYPD sources said.
The incident occurred near the popular nightclub Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge, a location that police have been called to three times over the past year following reports of drug use and prostitution, sources said.
The victim and two suspects had been inside the club before the shooting occurred, but it is unknown whether the men knew each another prior to the incident, police added.
The NYPD also released video footage of the two suspects:
Good news for those of you who missed Bob Arihood's photography since he retired Neither More Nor Less back in May.... Bob is now posting photos, like the one of Donna above, at Nadie Se Canoce. (Thanks to Melanie for first bringing us this news.)
As EV Grieve reader Blue Glass details in the photos below.... the new Souvlaki GR truck took up a spot on the west side of Union Square just above 14th Street yesterday...
This did not go over well with the hot dog vendors. They moved their carts to partially block the truck... and the carts were positioned in such a way that the hot dog/pretzel smoke would flow into the truck...
Regardless, people were still ordering food from the Souvlaki truck, which angered the hot dog vendor with the red shirt....
Eventually he exchanged angry words with the Souvlaki truck owner...
...and made faces at our photographer....
...despite the circumstances (like the hot dog guy yelling and making noise so people couldn't hear the orders at the Souvlaki truck), Blue Glass says the Souvlaki workers kept their cool....
As Blue Glass notes, "There is room for everybody."
Several readers sent along some sad news from Milo Printing at 199 Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street...
To All of our Valued Customers
I regret to have to inform you that we will be closing Milo Printing today. After 99 years of great success we can no longer compete in today's business environment. I want to thank all of you for your business and support over the years. We will keep our e-mail active for the next 60 days and if we can be of any assistance to you concerning art work files please let us know. I will try to do whatever is possible to provide any files we may have here for your future printing needs
Again thank you all for the many years of business.
On Seventh Street, the folks who run the popular coffee shop Abraço took a few days off...
On Monday night, I spotted Carl in a beer-induced slumber out front... (You may know Carl as "Santa Claus" from the pages of Neither More Nor Less)
I didn't think much of this, until a reader sent me an e-mail saying that, later on Monday night, Carl and a friend turned this spot into an encampment with papers, blankets and more beer cans. The reader described it as an "old-time East Village scene."
Some new art went up at the Downtown Tire & Auto Center on the Bowery at Great Jones...
...and when the gates are closed, it looks like this...
I asked one of the workers here who the artist was, but he didn't know.... And thanks to the readers who chimed in: This is the work of WK Interact. Check out his site.
As you know, Fab 208 is moving across Seventh Street into its new digs at the former Howdy Do... Per a sign out front, the new Fab 208 will be open Nov. 1....
An EV Grieve reader noted that the gate was up at Superdive yesterday and that workers were inside possibly "cleaning up." So we took a stroll by.... and found the gate open as well!
We didn't see any workers, though the space does seem to be in some state of renovation.... which might explain the presence of the toilets by the front windows ...
Or maybe this is just some new drinking game... or it's the Superdiver's variation of Homer Simpson's toilet chair...
Here, you'll find things that you may or may not be interested in about the East Village and other parts of New York City. Appreciating what's here while it's still here. Remembering what's no longer here. Wishing some things weren't here that are here.
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