Today in bus shelter news

Just noting the arrival of another Cemusa wading pool bus shelter on Second Avenue at East 13th Street …



And bonus photo…

Funky Town now has the brightest awning on St. Mark's Place

The new signage went up this afternoon...

Today in posts about Duane Reade getting a new Duane Reade sign

Exciting times this afternoon over on Avenue B and East Second Street, EVG regular Salim reports ... the recently expanded Duane Reade is getting its new 2014-style wraparound signage ... replacing that 1999-style Duane Reade signage that was synonymous with long lines, indifferent customer service and lost prescriptions the smaller Duane Reade that had been there.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader report: Duane Reade expanding on Avenue B

The Duane Reade expansion is underway on Avenue B

Rather annoying Santa still feels compelled to wave on Avenue C

Breaking: Free cake, sandwiches at Rite Aid's grand reopening

The Rite Aid grand re-opening party is in FULL swing now on First Avenue and East Fifth Street.

Per a reader lured in by the Balloon Arc (trellis?):

Grand opening cake and sandwiches at rite aid! Lots of "new associate" nametags and as reported by earlier commenters, smiles and thank-yous.

Rite Aid's enchanted forest

EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent Goggla checks in with the latest on the mural update on the East Fifth Street side of, uh, Rite Aid... Enchanted?

Indeed, I'm suddenly and strangely compelled to clip a coupon to save 40 percent off my next purchase of Preference by L'Oreal.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

Rite Aid is turning blue on First Avenue

More exciting news to report from the World of Rite Aid on First Avenue and East Fifth Street... first, they cleaned up the inside and ditched the carpet...

Now, workers are painting the exterior, as the headline likely tipped you off... Goggla shared this from yesterday afternoon...



Perhaps they will consider bringing back the armpit tanning banner for the front window...

Zoltar's cozy new arrangement

Well, what do we have here outside Gem Spa...? A New York Lottery "Play Center" is now stationed directly next to Zoltar... picking lottery numbers adjacent to the Great One who tells fortunes and accurately predicts the future? We're guessing Zoltar's daily income is about to go through the box.

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken signage arrives

A sign has arrived to mark the impending arrival of Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken on Second Avenue and East First Street, as this photo via @superterrific shows... this is the latest outpost from chefs/restaurateurs Eric and Bruce Bromberg of the Blue Ribbon empire...

CB3 signed off on a beer-wine license for the place back in November.

This corner of of the Avalon Bowery Mall Place was once home to XOXO, Julius Klein's performance space and gallery ...

How can I really be expected to post today when the first day of summer is here?

[Into the forest of St. Mark's Place yesterday]

Didn't prepare much for class today, being the first day of summer and all. (And something about a "solstice.") Was going to try an Open Thread Friday (so 2006!) kinda thing on summer Fridays. CAPTCHA is off. Talk about anything! See where it goes! But that's probably a really bad idea!

So what will this be the summer of? The Summer of Complaining About/Loving Citi Bikes? The Summer of High-Waited Denim Shorts?

I'm going for The Summer of the Tire Left In Front of Your Door. This will be a thing.


[The New York Times expands its automotive coverage]

See, this is what happens when you take away parking spots. People start spreading their car parts everywhere.

See you after Labor Day.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How can I really be expected to post today when 78 degrees™ is on the way?

How can I really be expected to post today when the Storm of Feb. 8™ is on the way?

How can I really be expected to post today when heavy thunderstorms are likely on the way?

Chairs

There is currently no wait for the Tompkins Square Park ping-pong table

Photo by Bobby Williams

Reader report: Supercuts leaving St. Mark's Place

A tipster passes along word that the Supercuts here on St. Mark's Place is closing down at the end of this month. "No word on why or what would be replacing it," per the tipster. A stylist said folks in the area could go to the location at 66 University Place (between 10th Street and 11th Street) ... and that some of the St. Mark's stylists will relocate to that branch.

Sunny weather on hold

Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place.

And you'll likely see this post again at the end of the year during our gala "Worst EVG Headlines of the Year" fête.

Gentle Wash Laundromat has a new owner, sign, on Avenue A (aka, today in laundromat news)

Gentle Wash Laundromat has new ownership now at 97 Avenue A near East Sixth Street ... the new owner retained the former staff ... workers put up the new sign on Saturday... EVG reader Creature noted that the inside was painted and all the Asian nicknacks were removed... (and expect wi-fi service soon.)

Can't personally speak much about the place. There are several one-star Yelp reviews ("Please don't go here unless you want to be treated like an insect and for your laundry to smell like poop") ... and one person referred to the owner as an (ugh) "evil dragon lady."

Regardless, says longtime patron Creature of the former owner: "All I know is she was always nice to me and will be missed. It feels like another institution leaving, but that may just be me."

While I liked the former sign...



... it's nice to see that another laundromat didn't close down for good around the neighborhood. (Like here ... here ... and some day here.)

Straphangers feeling the effects of the MTA reducing sign and tape budgets

Oh, and no L train service between Lorimer and Eighth Avenue until Tuesday morning at 5. Really.

Things people do in the Starbucks on Astor Place

Hunker down to play some MLB 2K11 ... via a reader who stopped by to use the bathroom.

And now, photos of a 5-inch slug on East 4th Street

Via EVG reader Steven Matthews.