At the Tompkins Square Park dog run today

Via the EVG inbox...

Today around noon, this guy came into the Tompkins Square Park dog run without a dog. Rather oddly dressed for the neighborhood. He went around talking loudly to dogs and owners alike with a dubious sounding speech impediment. “HEY, WHAT KINDA DOG IS THAT?!?!?” “HEY BUDDY, WHERE’S YOUR BALL!?!?!? WHERE’S YOUR BA-A-A-ALL!?!?!?” blah blah blah.

Harmless enough for sure, until we noticed 2 men with video cameras hidden behind bushes and trees on opposite sides of the run, both shooting him and the people he was interacting with. A few regulars informed him that he wasn’t allowed in the run without a dog and when the cameras were pointed out, they quietly stopped filming and turned away.

I asked one of them why they were filming and he replied "just for some YouTube stuff."

Creepy and annoying.

Where's the ball?

At the Tompkins Square Park dog run this afternoon... photo by Bobby Williams

Doggone it: Someone stole the annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade posters

[Photo from 2013 by Derek Berg]

That's the word from organizer Garrett Rosso, who reports that someone stole the FedEx delivery boxes from outside his apartment door yesterday.

It will be another week before more posters will arrive.

Meanwhile, he shared the information with us... the date is Saturday, Oct. 25 ... the rain date is Oct. 26...



Per Garrett: "Runway competition will be from Noon to 2:30 p.m. Then all pawticipants will follow this year’s BEST IN SHOW for a pawsitively posh, costumed canine parade around the entire park. All donations go to City Park Foundation for the maintenance and upkeep of the Tompkins Square dog run."

This is how hot it was today

Photo from the Tompkins Square Park dog run via Bobby Williams.

Today in photos at the Tompkins Square dog run

Photo via Bobby Williams …

'My Dead Boyfriend' filming in Tompkins Square Park

Crews arrived today for a two-day shoot in Tompkins Square Park for "My Dead Boyfriend." There's promise here ... because the film is based on Arthur Nersesian's novel "Dogrun," which is set in the East Village in 1999.

Here's a description of the book:

Mary Bellanova came home to her east village apartment, cooked dinner, and fought with her boyfriend, Primo. But soon Mary realized that Primo's silence in front of the tv set was more than just one of his bad moods: Primo was actually dead.

Suddenly Mary's life — defined so far by a string of temp jobs and unfinished short stories — takes off on a tantalizing adventure as she follows a trail of Primo's ex-lovers ... in this powerful new novel edged with black humor and poignancy.

Heather Graham (below) plays the lead... "ER" star Anthony Edwards makes his directorial debut.

And now, 18 photos of dogs in Halloween costumes

The 23rd annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade took place this afternoon... and EVG contributor Stacie Joy was there to take a lot of photos... A sampling of this year's costumes...



































Updated:
Slum Goddess has a lot of photos and video here.

'I see an Ace of Hearts coming your way'

An EVG favorite at the 23rd annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade today.

Photo by Derek Berg

New sand for the Tompkins Square Park dog run

EVG regular Derek Berg passes along an update from the Tompkins Square Park dog run, which will be closed today and tomorrow so that workers can spread new sand around the place...



... per the sign up top, the large dog run will be open in the evenings ... and the small run will re-open once volunteers can spread the sand...

Reader report: Beggin' Strips to sponsor Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade the next 5 years

Word out of the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run is that Beggin' Strips — manufactured and sold in North America by Nestlé Purina PetCare division — will sponsor the Halloween Dog Parade for the next five years (starting this fall). According to a tipster, the deal is worth $20,000 a year. (Beggin' Strips "are mouthwatering dog treats with an aroma that bacon-craving dogs love.")

We heard a mixed reaction from dog owners. One disappointed dog runner claims that Nestlé will be calling all the shots about what transpires during the event, now in its 23rd year. The dog run/First Run is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that "relies entirely on community donations for its upkeep and financial support," per its website. So another regular figures that the money will help maintain the dog run.

Meanwhile, no word if the new corporate sponsorship will put an end to any risqué costumes ...


[From last year, via Stacie Joy]

Updated 11:36 a.m.

Via the comments from Garrett Rosso, volunteer manager, Tompkins Square dog run

This year's Halloween dog parade in Tompkins Square park will focus on rescue groups and pet adoptions from Rescuzilla, Grateful Greyhounds, The Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals and Friends of Animal Rescue. Beggin' Strips will help underwrite the cost of the parade & adoption event as all public events require large amounts of money that our group can not afford.

Let's dance

At the Tompkins Square Park dog run this afternoon... Do they have a cabaret license?

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Flooding at the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run

EVG correspondent Derek Berg notes this scene at the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run today... The area around the doggy pool is taped up like this ...

He recently spoke with a city engineer who was inspecting the area outside the dog run because of complaints of "flooding." He said that there was probably more water flow than the drains can handle.

Branch down near the Tompkins Square Park dog run

@timjulien shared this photo this morning... a large branch came down south of the dog run in Tompkins Square Park... hopefully the rest of the tree is OK...
‏

It was a little early for the moon to be out

What is it then? UFO? Drone?



Photos from the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run today via Bobby Williams

Noted

Good Urban Etiquette Sign at the Tompkins Square Park dog run via @delcecato ...

Reminders: CUTE DOG ALERT in Tompkins Square Park today

[Photo by ~ Joan]

Still dog life in Tompkins Square Park

From the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run via EVG regular peter radley...

Hello Kitty not allowed in dog run

Tompkins Square Park today.

By Bobby Williams.

Picnic table caught trying to escape from Tompkins Square Park dog run

Amateur hour! You need to wait until nightfall. Duh!

Uh, actually have no idea what was really happening here. Still.

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Rainy dog

Photo by Bobby Williams.