Life-sized silhouette of former homeless man arrives in Tompkins Square Park

The life-sized sculpture of Christopher Gamble's silhouette arrived in Tompkins Square Park this past weekend. French artist Fanny Allié created this in honor of Gamble, who was homeless for nearly 28 years.

As Serena Solomon at DNAinfo reported back in May:

The sculpture will consist of a metal outline of Gamble, according to Allié.

"I like it because it has some hope. It's a positive," the artist said, of the silhouette's open stance with arms outstretch to the sky, like “he is about to fly."

Gamble now lives in an apartment run by the Bowery Residents' Committee.

The sculpture will be up through the summer.

Find an update here.

Croxley Ales reopens on Thursday

[April 22]

The FDNY evacuated residents from 28 Avenue B on April 16 after debris started falling from the building's fifth floor ... The six-story building that houses Croxley Ales on the ground floor was evacuated about 3:15 p.m. after a crack was discovered running all the way up the back of the building.

Joe Ferrante, an FDNY battalion chief, told DNAinfo that excavation for a 6-floor apartment building next door "possibly contributed" to the damage at No. 28.

In any event, according to the Croxley Ales Facebook page, the bar will be back open Thursday for the first time since April 16.

Per their giddy message:

We have the best news of the SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our grand re-opening is this Thursday! Thank you for your patience! See you soon ale fans!

No word when residents are moving back into No. 28. According to DOB records, there is still a partial Stop Work Order on 26 Avenue B.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Report: 28 Avenue B has been evacuated

Full-stop work order served at construction site adjacent to evacuated Avenue B building

[Updated] 6-story apartment building ready to rise from the former Croxley Ales beer garden

On East 9th Street, Tacos Morelos taking over Empanadas Bar space

The Empanadas Bar that took over the former Itzocan Café space on East Ninth Street has closed ...

...and the sign on the door notes that the Queens-based Tacos Morelos, which serves delicious food from the cart on Second Street and Avenue A, will be moving in soon...

No word on if this means the end of the cart on Second and A... (hopefully not...)

Thanks to East Ninth Street neighbor Michael Sullivan of WINESHOP for the tip...

Chico creates new mural for Wafels and Dinges on East Houston and Avenue B

We spotted Chico working on a new mural yesterday morning on East Houston and Avenue B... for the incoming Wafels and Dinges, which is likely to open this month on Avenue B and East Second Street...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Is Wafels & Dinges opening a café on Second Street and Avenue B?

First sign of Wafels & Dinges on Avenue B

Everyman Espresso closing for a 'face lift'

Everyman Espresso on East 13th Street will be closing soon for a renovation. Here's the official word via the EE website:

So excited to announce that we’ll be closing down to give our 13th street location a face lift! June 25th through approximately July 25th we will be under construction. We will keep you posted on our progress and hope to re-open swiftly!

Meanwhile, starting today, you can find a pop-up Everyman Espresso at Bikini Bar, the vintage surf shop place in Tribeca, through August.

[H/T Eater]

Hawa Smoothies opening on East 14th Street

Signs are up now on a previously vacant storefront at 422 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A for Hawa Smoothies ...



There was also a Hawa location on East Broadway, though that is now closed ... the shop is reportedly named for owner Michael Wang's native Hawaii...

Sun, Moon

Above via EVG reader David...

-----

...and from last night via Bobby Williams...

Today in photos of bouncy castles

Earlier today out back of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer ... on the East Fourth Street side ... wish I would have known about their festival earlier... good time.

Week in Grieview

[Waiting for the M9 on Avenue C]

Alleged drunken driver causes mayhem on Second Avenue, injures 4 (Wednesday, 62 comments)

Campaign launched to raise money for gravely injured East Village Farm and Grocery worker (Friday)

Demolition continues at Mary Help of Christians (Saturday)

Permits filed to demolish 100 Avenue A (Tuesday)

51 Astor Places opens its public plaza (Friday)

Out and About with Yadi Maria (Wednesday)

LaVie has finally closed; neighbors rejoice (Friday)

Tour the East Village with Iggy Pop in 1993 (Monday)

The Halal Guys are coming to the East Village (Tuesday)

David Lynch doesn't want you to litter (Monday)

Minnie, 10-month-old blind dog, is missing (Wednesday)

Jillery is moving to 7th and B (Friday)

Mars Bar replacement now leasing at Jupiter 21 (Tuesday)

Kembra Pfahler and The Girls of Karen Black perform at Participant Inc. (Monday)

Davey's Ice Cream opening soon on First Avenue (Wednesday)

New chain-link fence outside La Estate de Schwimmer (Friday)

Noted

Seemed inevitable that someone would do something like this... Shawn Chittle spotted this on Avenue A today...

Reminders: Motor City Bar will be burning today (and tonight)

Here's a reminder about Motor City Bar's closing-night party that we first mentioned back on April 30...



From the EV Grieve inbox...

The once vibrantly creative and bohemian Lower East Side is a thing of the past, with the final nail in the coffin coming next month, when Motor City Bar closes its doors for the last time. The bar is open over the next few weeks, so make sure you stop by for a few cocktails in the meantime.

On Sunday, June 23rd, come and celebrate 17 years of sex, drugs and rock n roll with some of the best people you'd ever care to meet. Come and give a long kiss goodbye to the amazing owners, bartenders, dancers, DJs, Detroit memorabilia, and those infamous bathrooms!

A big thank you to all those who have lived, loved, laughed, cried, danced, yelled, fallen down, met future partners, found jobs, been inspired, or just generally had a great time in this wonderful establishment these past two decades. To say it will be sorely missed would be an understatement. RIP.

Note: The bar will remain open until midnight on the 30th of June, when the keys are finally handed over.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader report: Motor City Bar is closing on Ludlow Street

Motor City Bar to remain open through June

Suspicion

Spotted on East Seventh Street and Avenue C this morning... a chunk of rock suspiciously lying in the middle of the street near what appears to be the remains of a car window...