Remembering LES Jewels on the anniversary of his death

[Photo via EVG reader Lilly]

LES Jewels died one year ago today.

And there are at least two makeshift memorials dedicated to him — one at the entrance to Tompkins Square Park on East Seventh Street and Avenue A … and one in front of the former 7-Eleven on St. Mark's Place…





On the morning of Sept. 14, 2013, Jewels was found unconscious on Avenue A at East Ninth Street. He reportedly died a short time later at Beth Israel.

The medical examiner's office said his cause of death was "blunt injuries of head" … however, "the manner of death is undetermined."

Jewels, aka Joel Pakela, was 43.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP LES Jewels (84 comments)

Memorials for LES Jewels in the East Village

Did you lose your keys yesterday during the East 9th Street Block Party?

If so, then you may be in luck. The folks from the 9th Street A-1 Block Association found a set near PS 122 at First Avenue. You can email this address with a description (there are several identifiable objects on the carabiner).

UGH: Bendy tree in Tompkins Square Park has been condemned

Terrible news out of the Park this afternoon via Goggla … The leaning elm (aka, bendy tree) in the middle of the Park has been found to be "structurally unsound" … and it "poses a danger to the public."

So it will have to be removed.



RIP, bendy tree.

Previously.

Noted

[East 14th and 3rd Avenue this morning]

Catching up to this report in the Post yesterday:

Citi Bike is raking in millions of dollars in late fees — including from clueless tourists who don’t know the rules and annual members who constantly struggle to find a working dock, the Post has learned.

The bike-share program has collected more than $4 million in late fees since it started, with the bulk of the money coming from riders who get passes for a day or week.

Riders using short-term passes pay $4 if they go over 30 minutes, and $13 if they go over an hour.

Riders with memberships are billed $2.50 after 45 minutes and $9 after 75 minutes.

Craigslist apartment scammer is on the loose again

[From March: NYPD photo of the suspect, aka David Horowitz and Michael Bryant]

You may recall a post back in March, in which police were looking for a man who they say conned 10 women out of more than $20,000 with fake Craigslist ads for East Village apartments.

Apparently he's still up to his old apartment-scamming tricks.

Someone left this comment on the post last week:

I was just scammed by this individual. He did the exact same thing. I was shown the apt with keys and everything. I went to move in yesterday and found two other individuals already living in the studio who said they had rented it from the same guy. He took two payments from me of $2,200. He also showed the studio to the couple that are currently staying there.

This man works with a woman and also took two payments of $2,200. I went online and googled East Village Craigslist rental scams and the picture of this man came up and recognized him immediately as this is who I met that subleased this studio to me and the other renters.

I went to the Police yesterday [Sept. 5] and told them the story and have a meeting with a detective tomorrow. The other renter is coming with me and said she went to the police today and was told that this man was arrested a few months ago and got out and is now doing the same scam again using a different alias. The police officer also mentioned that this was a big case and there are some 36 accounts against this man.

The apartment in question this time is at 178 Ludlow St. CBS New York broadcast the story last night. There's some surveillance video too, though it's not the greatest quality. You can watch the video and report here.

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

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Andy Warhol-owned townhouse used to swindle apartment hunters in the East Village

Join the festivities at the 9th Street Block Party today

[William Klayer]

Happens today on East Ninth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue… From the EVG inbox…

Saturday, Sept. 1​3​, 11 am – 5 pm (no rain date)

Live Music (from noon - 4 pm)

Resident artists, crafts people, and photographers will be showing and selling their work​, as well as​ antiques, bric-a-brac, clothing, accessories, ​books, ​music, jewelry, etc. ​​

Block businesses include:

• Cloak & Dagger ​(​boutique ​)​, Dorian Grey Gallery, Dusty Buttons (vintage boutique), Enchantments, Flower Power (herbs), Grey Era (vintage ​boutique), Mr. Throwback (vintage clothing and accessories), Ollie's Place (cat adoption), Pink Olive (gifts), Polytima (jewelry), Pork Pie Hatterie (hats), Puppy Love Kitty Kat (pet supplies), Reason Outpost (clothing), Tae with Jane (boutique), The Upper Rust (antiques)
• Restaurants/Cafes: Dirt Candy, Good Beer, Tacos Morales, Cagen, Whitman's, Zucker Bakery
• Hair Salons/Barbers: Crops for Girls, Lovemore & Do, Maria Mok Salon, Neighborhood Barber, Tsumiki Salon

At play in the fields of the 'Lord'

Here is Iceage, some nice young men from Copenhagen, with "The Lord's Favorite" from their upcoming release, Plowing Into the Field of Love (Oct. 7 release). The band will play the Bowery Ballroom on Oct. 12.

Sidewalk tattoo

EVG reader Uncle Pete sends this photo along from East 10th Street and First Avenue… where a traveling tattoo artist tapped into the lamp post to run the tattoo gun...

Noted

From the Daily Blotter in the Post:

An East Village man was arrested on Thursday for calling in 103 phony bomb threats to 911 in just 24 hours, sources said.

Justin Davidson was allegedly serial-dialing the 911 system reporting that a bomb would go off in the L-train station at Third Avenue and East 14th Street, sources added.

Hmm, that's 4.29 911 calls an hour...

Yaffa Cafe will be back, though likely without its backyard garden

[Image via Yaffa Cafe on Facebook]

There seems to be a lot going on now with Yaffa Cafe at 97 St. Mark's Place.

For starters, the DOH temporarily closed the 32-year-old restaurant last Friday for a variety of violations, including "Hot food item not held at or above 140F" and "Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations." (There were 100 violation points in total.)

Meanwhile, the familiar Yaffa Cafe mural was covered yesterday by a Google ad.

A tweet for Yaffa offered this...

Hi everyone. Yes, we are officially closed but don't worry, we will be back! And so will our mural. We are starting renovations. #3Months

— Yaffa Cafe (@YaffaCafe) September 11, 2014

So the restaurant (and mural) will return — likely after a 3-month renovation.

However, when Yaffa does reopen, it will likely be without its charming garden dining space.

The city handed down a vacate order on the backyard dining space...


[Photo by Allen Semanco]

Why now for the garden to go? We don't know... what we do know is that there isn't any negotiation on this.

More TK.

Petition urges Mayor DeBlasio to say no to a dorm at the former P.S. 64

As we first reported back on Aug. 18, the city (partially) approved developer Gregg Singer's controversial dorm conversion of the former PS 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center on East Ninth Street.

There's now an effort underway led by the East Village Community Coalition to have the approval overturned by the Mayor.

Via their petition:

East Village community groups, elected officials, community board and residents are united in opposition to the proposed dormitory. We demand the building be returned to a true community use.

The DoB has approved the application despite non-compliance with dorm development regulations and the deed restriction limiting the use of the site. We call on the City to strictly enforce zoning and municipal rules for the future for this historic school building.

You can find a sample letter to send to the Mayor here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood

Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market

Efforts continue to fight the dorm planned for the former PS 64 on East 9th Street

Testimony Of Councilmember Rosie Mendez regarding the former PS 64

[Updated] At the 'Save Our Community Center MARCH AND RALLY'

Landmarks Preservation Commission asks to see modified plans for former PS 64

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approves application for modifications at PS 64

City approves dorm conversion plans for the former PS 64 on East 9th Street (54 comments)

Please do not deface the Joe Strummer mural

Thank you.



On 7th and A.

Previously

Report: East Village apartments are sitting empty because they're too expensive

[Random EVG file photo]

That's one takeaway from a report that Citi Habitats released yesterday.

The East Village had a vacancy rate of 2.08 percent in August — the highest in Manhattan.

As DNAinfo's Lisha Arino reported:

“The reality is these prices are getting to the point where tenants are like, ‘You know what? It’s not worth it,’” said Gary Malin, the company’s president.

Although the East Village does not have the most expensive apartments in the city, tenants may feel they are paying too much and can find better value in other neighborhoods, Malin said.

According to the report, studio apartments rented for an average of $2,191 last month while one-bedroom units went for $2,613.

Find a PDF of the report here.

The $1 pizza war is coming to an end on 1st Avenue

[Photo from July 18 by Michael Hirsch]

The 2 Bros. sliceria closed on First Avenue near East 14th Street back in July.

Now another nearby $1 pizza joint looks to be closing here between East 13th Street and East 14th Street this fall.

A listing appeared this week for 222 First Ave., home to Joey Pepperoni (Or Joey Guacamole per the listing photo!) across the street. (Asking rent: $9,500 plus key money.)



The 2 Bros. branch opened in February 2013, much to the dismay of next-door neighbor Vinny Vincenz, who had been there for 11 years. In response to 2 Bros.'s arrival, Vinny's started offering $1 slices.

We saw it all during the Great $1 Pizza War of First Avenue … multiple sidewalk sandwich boards … the introduction of $1 drafts… dancing pizza menu women.

For now, victory goes to the 11-year-old Vinny Vincenz, who also unveiled a new sign back in the summer.



Previously on EV Grieve:
First Avenue $1 Pizza Wars — now with draft beer

Checking in on the $1 pizza war on First Avenue

Latest weapon in the First Avenue $1 slice wars: Dancing Pizza Menu Woman

[Updated] Reader report: The 2 Bros. Pizza on 1st Avenue has apparently closed

The annual NYC Pizza Run in Tompkins Square Park is tomorrow

[The 2013 starting line via Dave on 7th]

Runners, start your ovens! Via the EVG inbox…

The NYC Pizza Run is an annual challenge in which participants aim to complete a two mile run while stopping to eat three slices of pizza at checkpoints throughout the course. Our 2014 event will take place in the historic Tompkins Square Park on Saturday, September 13th.

In a food obsessed metropolis where people are always on the run, putting together an event which pays tribute to some of the city’s defining characteristics seemed like a no-brainer. So grab your appetite and running shoes & join us for our fifth annual run! It is open to participants of all ages.

Please note that a portion of the proceeds from the race benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Find more details here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Prepping for the NYC Pizza Run in Tompkins Square Park (17 comments)

Salsa-off this Sunday at the Tompkins Square Greenmarket

Via the EVG inbox...

This Sunday Sept. 14, 12:30 p.m.: Salsa-Off!
Think you've got the best salsa recipe in the East Village? Enter the Tompkins Square Greenmarket Salsa-Off. Customers are the judges, winner gets a prize! Email the market manager, Kathleen here to participate.

Sept. 11, 2014

Photo tonight by Grant Shaffer

… and a photo from the East Village tonight by James and Karla Murray…

[Updated] 23 Third Ave. getting its stripes

You will not have any problem finding Korilla BBQ's first brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Colossal Media is currently painting a building-high tiger-striped mural at 23 Third Ave. at St. Mark's Place where the food truckers will be setting up shop this fall.

As previously reported, Korilla BBQ is taking over the space last held by Archie & Sons, the luncheonette that closed in early August after one year in business here.

More TK.

Updated 9/12

Here's a photo from this afternoon via Jordy Trachtenberg...

A Google ad now covers the iconic Yaffa Cafe mural on St. Mark's Place

Several readers have pointed out that this Google App ad is now up outside Yaffa Cafe, the 31-year-old restaurant at 97 St. Mark's Place...


[Photo via John A. Cecil]

A film crew was here last Friday ... and they put up and removed the banner in about 20 minutes...


[Photo from Friday by Allen Semanco]

We reached out to the folks at Yaffa to find out more about this. Unfortunately, the restaurant is currently (and temporarily) closed. The DOH closed them last Friday after failing an inspection. And Yaffa's phone is currently not in service.

Anyway, at this point, we're unsure if the ad is temporary or permanent.

Updated 5:13 p.m.

It looks pretty permanent. The ad is framed and screwed into the building, so to speak…

Updated 9/12

A little history of the mural, which went up in 1993. It is a self-portrait of Lika Ramati, (former?) co-owner with her husband, Amir, of Simone and Yaffa Cafe.

Updated 10:28 a.m.

Yaffa says the mural will be return...

Hi everyone. Yes, we are officially closed but don't worry, we will be back! And so will our mural. We are starting renovations. #3Months

— Yaffa Cafe (@YaffaCafe) September 11, 2014

Enjoy the BEST worst films that you will ever see

Starting tonight, the Anthology Film Archives begins its week-long Edward D. Wood, Jr. retrospective — "likely the most comprehensive ever presented" — titled "The 10th Dimension."

Among the campy, low-budget gems from maybe the worst director of all time: "Glen or Glenda," "Bride of the Monster" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space."

Find all the screening times and more info here. Anthology Film Archives is at 32 Second Ave. at East Second Street.

Now enjoy the splendor...