Sunday, July 31, 2011

Today in odd discarded items...

Both the Long Lost Intern of EV Grieve (LLIOEVG) and Dave on 7th note a rather unusual item in the trash pile... here on Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B ... a harp case (is there a harp inside?)

[the Long Lost Intern of EV Grieve (LLIOEVG)]

[Dave on 7th]

At the 3rd annual Massive Mad Hatter Tea Party, now in its 2nd year

Late afternoon... and this evening in Tompkins Square Park...







Photos by Bobby Williams.


Second Annual Massive Mad Hatter Tea Party from Monica Račić on Vimeo.

More info here.

Looking at the BMW Guggenheim Lab

So the BMW Guggenheim Lab had its first sneak preview for residents last evening leading up to its Grand Opening on Wednesday... We didn't go. But! You now have a good idea of what the place will look like...


Can't quite tell all that the Brooklyn-based Roberta's has on the menu... roasted eggplant sandwich... tomato cucumber salad ... and best cheese something ever ...


[Updated] Thanks to @thePeterHa for a better shot of the menu...




The gala opening-night party is Tuesday.

Tying one on at Astor Place

Yesterday, Bobby Williams spotted workers placing neon zip ties on light poles on Astor Place...




And V.H. McKenzie notes some of the final product today....



[Update] Thanks to Eric G. for letting us know that this is part of an art project from the Animus Art Collective for this year's Summer Streets program.

[Update] Two shots from EV Grieve reader Joe...


Because we haven't talked about rats in Tompkins Square Park in about, oh, 48 hours

This photo taken by Bobby Williams yesterday shows some of the measures workers are taking to help curb the rat population in Tompkins Square Park...


While these lids are a fine idea in the Park ... the rats don't have too far to go to find other food sources...



Of course, crossing Avenue A can be a little dicey.

Meanwhile, the repercussions from the TSP Ratstravaganza are being felt far and wide — even keeping Florida residents up at night! After reading the account of the rats in Tompkins Square Park, blogger Julie Ryan Evans wrote on The Stir: "I'm not sure I'll be able to go to any park in the near future without being on the lookout for rats, and I don't live anywhere near New York. I'm not sure I'll even be able to sleep."

For further reading:
Bob Arihood has written about the use of rat poisons in the Park.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

At the Day of 1,000 Cranes in Tompkins Square Park




Read more about it here. Photos by Bobby Williams.

Please welcome 'Walk Man' to Tompkins Square Park

Yesterday, Park officials and various other people unveiled a new sculpture in Tompkins Square Park... Meet "Walk Man," which is the work of artist Scott Taylor.



Per DNAinfo, the "seven-foot-tall sculpture represent[s] the walking man, a version of which is seen at street crossings around the world."



As he said to DNAinfo: "Will it get graffitied? Probably," Taylor acknowledged, saying he’d simply paint over any scrawls that appear. "My graffiti is my white paint."

And "Walk Man" is set to be up for the next four months.

The BMW Guggenheim Lab is ready for its close-up tonight


There's a sneak preview tonight at the BMW Guggenheim Lab project ... which officially opens on Wednesday on Houston Street at Second Avenue or so. (I was invited, for the record.) It's only for residents of First Street and, rather vaguely, "community members." So don't get any funny ideas!

Why there were 9 police cars on 14th and Third this morning

Earlier this morning, a lot of police cars responded to the corner of 14th Street and Third Avenue. There were nine police cars total. And swarms of uniforms. 15? 18?


Given the police presence, it must have been something really important. So, the guy here was something about having his wallet and cellphone taken by these two people...


...over here. Police kept them separated. Asked questions.


And the traffic backed up while the officers worked to resolve the issue.

Avenue A, 9:31 a.m., July 30


See the first comment: "Bro infestation."

Pop-up shop at the Lower Eastside Girls Club today


If you're brave enough to battle the brunch line at Prune, then! Today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Lower Eastside Girls Club... there's the Ahkun pop-up shop featuring fair trade organizations, independent designers and sustainable brands. More info here.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Joe's Bar is alive and well!


So, yeah — Joe's is open on Sixth Street tonight... we decided not to go in... Still, we did have a start yesterday when the place was closed... and their phone number was "not in service at this time."

Breaking: Workers remove the plywood and sidewalk shed at 35 Cooper Square

The boards and sidewalk shed are are down at 35 Cooper Square. Thanks to Goggla for the photo and intel. Per Goggla: "Behold the beautiful whitewashed vacant lot at 35 Cooper Square."


She notes that a friendly worker told her that new construction is not set to happen until next year.

Meanwhile, a shot that I took two nights ago... see how that historic building has just faded into the ugly hotel now...


Previously.

Awning switch imminent at BaoHaus on 14th Street


Jennifer at Xoom sends along this shot of her new neighbor on East 14th Street — BaoHaus, the new eatery from Eddie Huang. His shop replaces Thai Me Up.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition


How you can help save the classic Jade Mountain neon sign on Second Avenue (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Hard to find anything on Avenue A without a smartphone! (Nadie Se Conoce)

The history of the All Saints Ukrainian Church on East 11th Street (Off the Grid)

More on the East Village landmarking (The Villager)

The photography of Ai Weiwei (The New York Times)

Bike ridership jumps at downtown bridge crossings (The Lo-Down)

Blue Stockings reopens on Allen Street (BoweryBoogie)

The classic Randazzo's Clam Bar in Brooklyn (Lost City)

Thanks to the Daily News for mentioning me in their article on Redrum's rescue ...


And it's never to late to watch footage from last Sunday's World Naked Bike Ride ...

Bar on A is for sale

Multiple tipsters have passed along word that some possible changes are coming to several longtime Avenue A nightspots.

One that we can talk about now: Bar on A (or BOA or Barona) on the corner of 11th Street is apparently on the market...


According to the listing, rent is $13,500 a month with $265,000 key money.

Bar on A owner Bob Scarrano passed away last March.