Monday, January 18, 2016

After shooting Thursday night, patrol tower arrives on Avenue C and 12th Street


[Reader-submitted photo]

As previously noted, an EVG reader told us that there were three shots fired in front of 193 Avenue C at East 12th Street late Thursday night.

According to a report in the Post, a 23-year-old man had been shot in the left leg. Police said that the victim, who was trying to leave the scene in a cab, "was uncooperative and refused to give them a description of the suspect."

Yesterday, a reader as well as EVG contributor Bobby Williams pointed out the arrival of an NYPD patrol tower (SkyWatch) on Avenue C at East 12th Street.


[Photo by Peter Brownscombe]

Sunday, January 17, 2016

[Updated] Man's face cut in random slashing on East 6th Street



A 30-year-old man was the victim of a random slashing around 4:30 yesterday afternoon on East Sixth Street near Taras Shevchenko Place (between Cooper Square and Second Avenue), according to published reports.

Per the Post:

The victim, who is from Newark, NJ, told cops he was walking in front of 208 E. 6th St. around 4:30 p.m. — heading to a cafe to meet a friend while wearing headphones and looking at his phone — when an unknown Asian man came up behind him and pushed him against a wall.

The attacker cut his face and back with a knife while screaming, ‘F— you! F— you!” the man told police.

The victim, who was taken to Bellevue, was reportedly slashed from his ear to mouth.

Dried blood remains at the scene of the attack on East Sixth Street...



Updated 1/18

The ABC 7 report provides a general description of the suspect, via the NYPD: An "Asian male between 20-30 years old, 5'3', and 150 pounds. He was said to be wearing a dark-colored coat and a dark-colored skull cap."

Updated 11:19 a.m.

DNAinfo reports that the victim needed 150 stitches.

Updated 4:40 p.m.

The victim, Anthony Christopher-Smith, a social worker who lives in Newark, N.J, talked briefly to ABC 7.

"I was just walking up the street. I was heading to go meet a friend for lunch and someone just came up and randomly slashed me in the face and back. I never saw this person before. I have no idea who they are. I have no idea what their motivation was. They just came up an attacked me," Christopher-Smith said. "I couldn't call 911 because I bled so much on my phone that I couldn't press the buttons."

Christopher-Smith now has partial paralysis on the right side of his face. But with physical therapy and time to heal, doctors expect a full recovery. He just hopes the suspect is arrested long before then.

"I didn't realize that I have been slashed because I was shoved against the wall, fell to the ground," Christopher-Smith said.

Updated 5:53 p.m.

CBS 2 also spoke with Anthony Christopher-Smith. You can read that here. There's another detail about the extent of the slashing on his face: "Smith underwent eight hours of plastic surgery, and his doctors said he may regain the ability to smile by this summer."

Updated 8:54 p.m.

The Daily News story includes several rather grainy images of the suspect, according to the NYPD...



Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online.

Updated 1/21

The police have made an arrest in the case.

Week in Grieview


[Zoltar's fortunes; and the Bruins lost to the Flyers this night. Photo by Derek Berg]

Stories posted on EVG this past week included...

So long to the Sock Man on St. Mark's Place (Friday)

20 St. Mark's Place, home of the Grassroots Tavern, has been sold (Thursday)

Empire Biscuit reduces business hours for the month of January (Thursday)

Out and About with Spike Polite (Wednesday)

Guayoyo has been closed now for one year on First Avenue (Wednesday)

The former New York Macaroni Co. space is for rent on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Fontana's closing this spring on Eldridge Street (Thursday)

More about the Mamoun's Falafel move on St. Mark's Place (Monday)

Ruffian is now open on East Seventh Street (Tuesday)

This block of Avenue A is awfully quiet, and why is Lucy's closed? (Tuesday)

Rite Aid relocates ahead of new development on Avenue D (Monday) ... and the demo permits are now on file (Thursday)

The L train was fun while it lasted (Thursday)

Empellón al Pastor divides the bar and tacos on Avenue A (Tuesday)

Boutique office building on East Houston and Lafayette at BP site a go (Monday)

The Sweet Generation storefront turns 1 (Monday)

At the opening-night celebration for Punk Magazine (Friday)

Former Gothic Cabinet Craft space for rent (Wednesday)

Would you be surprised to learn that the East Houston Reconstruction Project is further delayed? (Friday)

Rainbows! DOUBLE rainbows! (Sunday)

... and RIP David Bowie (Monday)


[Mural in First Park by @hektad._official & @pictoform]


[Mural outside the 2nd Avenue F by @hektad._official]

What other photos of squirrels eating things can we post?

From the Post today:

Thanks to unseasonably warm winter weather, squirrels are fatter than normal this year, says evolutionary ecologist Dr. Andrew G. ­McAdam. Lack of snow makes it easier for them to sniff out food, and they have to expend less energy to keep warm. While they normally might be hunkered in a den this time of year, instead they just keep eating.

Other media outlets noted this trend earlier (here and here).

Anyway, this is a flimsy excuse to repost these photos from Jan. 5, 2014...







These photos in Tompkins Square Park came courtesy of EVG official Squirrel-Pizza Correspondent Goggla.

Your move, Pizza Rat (who may be a fake).

Updated 1:44 p.m.

EVG correspondent Steven is questioning the "squirrels-gaining-weight-this-winter" story... as evidenced by this photo from Tompkins Square Park from the fall showing a husky-size squirrel ...



Updated 1/18

EVG reader Mr. Baggs shared these photos from Thursday... unsure if the squirrel is simply carving the pumpkin...



... or eating it...



Morning from Tompkins Square Park



Photo by John Greally

...and a close-up via Derek Berg...



Rejected headlines:
Searching for Bear-y Fischer

Reader report: What happened to the Pak Punjab Deli and Grocery?



An EVG reader says that the 24/7 store hasn't been open lately... the place does look a little lifeless at the moment. And the phone is not in service. There's also nothing on file with the DOB to note a storefront renovation here on Second Avenue at East Third Street.

The place sells homemade Pakistani-Punjabi food at the counter that the Voice has said is "not the best Punjabi in the city, but the friendly vibe and low prices are hard to beat."

Updated: Per the comments, this appears to just be a temporary closure for some renovations.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Report: Avenue C gunshot victim tries to leave in cab, refuses to cooperate with police


[Photo from Friday morning]

Just after midnight on Thursday, an EVG reader told us that there were three shots fired in front of 193 Avenue C at East 12th Street. The NYPD, the reader said, had taped off the scene... and recovered spent 9mm shell casings.

The Post today has more information in its Daily Blotter. According to police officials, a 23-year-old man had been shot in the left leg. He was spotted trying to leave the scene in a cab. "Cops said the man was uncooperative and refused to give them a description of the suspect."

The man was treated at Bellevue for non-life-threatening injuries.

Another Wi-Fi hub arrives on 3rd Avenue



Another Wi-Fi hub was unveiled this past week on Third Avenue... right at East 14th Street (and a block from the Wi-Fi hub that debuted on Dec. 28).

Soon, you will be able to send and receive faxes, charge your pager or hop on the Information Superhighway from right here.



Actually, these payphone-replacing Wi-Fi kiosks will offer free gigabit Internet ... and a charging station for tablets and smartphones, among other things.

This one is also offering free pizza for a limited time only...



You can read more background about the LinkNYC project here.

Friday, January 15, 2016

The David Bowie memorial on East 4th Street, now with Little Debbie Peanut Butter Crunch bars



Outside the New York Theatre Workshop on East Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery... where the David Bowie-created "Lazarus" is ending its already-extended (and sold out) run on Wednesday... (though $1,000 and $2,500 seats remain for the closing-night benefit)...


[Photo by Derek Berg]

Meantime, the Post speculates whether "Lazarus" might be headed to Broadway...

Hunger games



Maybe London's Yak will be back around these parts in the New Year (the trio was here for CMJ shows back in the fall)... they have a newish EP out... though this single, "Hungry Heart," is from early last year.

The Sock Man extends his last day to tomorrow (Saturday!)


[Image via Twitter]

In case you wanted to make one last stop at the Sock Man on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue... he extended his last day to tomorrow afternoon...


We first reported on Jan. 7 that the nearly 33-year-old shop would be closing. Owner Marty Rosen is apparently facing an unmanageable rent hike from new landlord Raphael Toledano.

At the opening-night celebration for Punk Magazine



The 40th anniversary of the Punk Magazine exhibit opened last night at the Howl! Happening gallery space on East First Street ... The exhibition showcases work by founding editor John Holmstrom, who created cover No. 1 featuring Lou Reed, as well as some of the artists and illustrators who contributed to the magazine during its three-plus year run, including Robert Romagnoli and Ken Weiner.



EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by early for a few photos...


[John Holmstrom]






[Ramones contact sheet via Roberta Bayley]


[The Sex Pistols puppets from the cover of Punk No. 14]


[Artist Robert Romagnoli and wife Patrice Donnell]


["Ugly Portraits" artist Ken Weiner]


[Raven, sax player for Murphy's Law, Bobby Zou, creative director of the exhibit, and artist Alexander Pernhorst]

The exhibit continues through Jan. 30 at the Howl! Happening gallery space. Visit Howlarts.org for updates and a full schedule of events.

Details:
Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
All events are free
Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project, 6 E. First St. between the Bowery and Second Avenue

I interviewed Holmstrom this morning on East Village Radio. EVR will re-stream the show tomorrow (Saturday) at noon ET. You may listen in via dashradio.com/EVR or the Dash Radio app.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Q-and-A with John Holmstrom, founding editor of Punk Magazine

John Holmstrom on the CBGB movie and the East Village of 2013