Historic La Salle Academy attacked by viral marketing campaign

Ah, yes — the La Salle Academy, at Second Avenue and Second Street, recently celebrated its 160th anniversary.

But can it survive an attack by Sony's big blowupalooza coming this holiday season — "2012"?






A reader, who passed along the last photo in this set, is not impressed by the ad: "It's covering a big portion of the corner and it's really bad. They try to make it look like it was defaced, but it's not."

Dumpster of the day

An EV Grieve reader sent along this combo special on Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Posts that I never got around to posting: Hold your horses

On Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

"Duane Reade has been a sin"

Outside Duane Reade on Second Street and Avenue B.

Big hair and boobs on Avenue B (Trends! Ken and Barbie!)

These were up for grabs at a sidewalk sale on Avenue B and Second Street Saturday afternoon. Later that night, I saw Throw Up Barbie outside a limo down the street. Her friend, Hold My Bangs While I Barf Barbie, was there for the assist. Their boyfriends, Broseph Ken and I Really Like Emo Ken, were flirting with the waitress inside.

Metal plates on Houston and Pitt driving some people crazy

These fliers were spotted on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C -- on the buildings that face Houston. The plates in question do make an awful ka-chunk! when a car/truck drives over them. Which is about every four seconds. It's annoying... On the bright side, you likely won't be able to hear the plates, at least during the day, once the Eastern stretch of Houston gets ripped up...

And what's happening at Pitt and Houston?

"It has started again" — the gates of squeaky hell

This cardboard sign was up on the gate to the Village View parking lot on Second Street near First Avenue. "It has started again. The constant noise drives everyone crazy." I happened to be walking by one day when the gate was closing... And as this exclusive six-second video picks up...

Things to do if you're filming a movie today on Second Street and have some downtime

You know moviemaking! You stand around for 10 hours waiting to film a 45-second scene. Lots of downtime. So for the cast (Angelina!) and crew of "Salt," filming today on Second Street, here are some things that you can do right around the shoot location...

Shop for Christmas and Valentine's Day decorations at the 99-cent store on First Avenue near Fifth Street...



Buy a few beers to go from the Houston Village Farm on First Avenue at Fourth Street...



Window shop at Brickman and Son's on First Avenue...



Take your dry cleaning to the Hollywood-sounding Exquisite Cleaners on First Avenue at Third Street...



See if "Salt" will be a box-office hit at the modest-sounding Gifted Psychic on Third Street...



Sell your Academy Award here... (or at least get your bangs trimmed)



Try a massage at the Waterfront Spa on Second Street...



Do a few loads of laundry at First Avenue at Second Street...



Watch the NYC theatrical debut of "Ice People" at the Anthology Film Archives at Second Avenue and Second Street...



Drink at the Mars Bar...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Why the paparazzi will be in the East Village tomorrow (OMG! Angelina!)

Why the paparazzi will be in the East Village tomorrow (OMG! Angelina!)

"Salt" is expected to be one of the big Hollywood summer movie smasheroos upon its release on July 23, 2010. It's a CIA thriller (a rogue agent!) with Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor. It's being directed by Phillip Noyce.

First, of course, the movie needs to be made. Which is why they're filming in the East Village tomorrow, specifically on Second Street between First and Second Avenues.




It promises to be one humdinger of a production. (Let's hope this scene doesn't call for confetti.) "It's the biggest film shoot in New York City right now," a crew member told me. They've been filming around the city...and in Albany! (It's such a big film, Tom Cruise was once going to play the lead role.) The crew member was sitting on the steps the Russian Orthodox Cathedral keeping an eye on the equipment. This was the easy part, he said. Because tomorrow...





...he'll have to help keep the paparazzi at bay. "You'll know when she's here."

"Salt" substitute

The Divine Liturgy this morning at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection on Second Street was held in the basement this morning...




...as the church is prepped for a scene tomorrow in the Angelina Jolie thriller "Salt." (And now you know why the headline to this post is so corny.)




Wardrobe and hair and makeup will also be taking place tomorrow in the basement hall.

Open, uh, house on Sunday at the New York City Marble Cemetery

The New York City Marble Cemetery will be open on Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The cemetery, on Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue, opened in 1831. This Times piece has more on the history. Or go to the Marble Web site.

It's only usually open to the masses twice a year...so... Here are some photos from previous years...







By the way, do not confuse the New York City Marble Cemetery with the New York Marble Cemetery on Second Avenue. That one now has the lovely view of Avalon Bowery Place:

Goodbye to all that

Or maybe one last (rather pathetic) attempt to enjoy a winter sport? On Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Landmark yes, condos no

The Villager this week reports that: The Community Board 3 Landmarks Committee decided last week to continue efforts to have the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the East Village designated as a city landmark and to help locate funding for the financially troubled church.

The church, built in 1891, is located at 59 E.Second St. And those plans to add eight residential stories to its current 60-foot height have been squashed.

The Marble Cemetery is open today

The Marble Cemetery on Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue will be open to the public today....just one of two days a year that this happens, I'm told...In fact, there's a whole block party going on (a good kind of block party thrown by local residents, not professional sausage-on-a-stick types)...The cemetery opened in 1832...and it's one of the loveliest spots in the East Village...this Times piece has much more on the history...

And here are some shots I took from inside the cemetery when it (cough) may not have been open to the public...