A memorial on Avenue B: 'I hope you will have a good time in heaven'

Several weeks ago, we spotted a notice about the passing of Elisa Martinez, a longtime resident at 28 Avenue B ...

Amazingly, given the weather, film shoots and hordes of nightlifers along this corridor, a memorial remains today outside the door to her building ... and her friends and loved ones have left several cards and letters in her honor ...

We did not know her. She obviously meant a lot to many people... Here's one from Chris and his family that starts "I hope you will have a good time in heaven ... ."

Remembering Eddie Graham

On this day in 2008, Eddie Graham passed away.

[Photo by Bob Arihood]

You probably saw Eddie. He lived under a Linden tree — year-round — in front of 195 E. Fourth St., just a little east of Avenue A. He seemed to be there for years. I have no idea how many. Then one day he was gone. Another character in our daily lives who had suddenly vanished. Bob Arihood wrote about Eddie's life and death at Neither More Nor Less. You can read that here. You can read about one of his dreams here.

Today, Eddie's garden that he tended under the Linden tree is gone. There's just soil there now. But if you look at the tree in front of 195 E. Fourth St., a little above eye level, there's a rusted metal plaque screwed into the tree that reads "Eddie's Garden."