Saturday, September 11, 2010

Art Around the Park in progress...







John Varvatos crew prepping for John Varvatos 10th anniversary party

Big VIP bash going on tonight here at 315 Bowery.... in preparation, porta-potties have been put into place...




...and the sign is up with all your favorite rock stars... Iggy, David Johanson, etc.




And Extra Place is full of trucks prepping the stage....



The concert will include... Cherie Currie, Ian Hunter, Alejandro Escovedo, Jesse Malin, Jane's Addiction, Wayne Kramer, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, among many others....

If you go, then be sure to wear the John Varvatos 10th anniversary cologne.

Meanwhile, on the Bowery...

At Great Jones, the traffic box is busted open...





...so you could probably have some fun screwing around with the lights for people coming and going hereabouts...

Services today for Markey Hayden Bena




There is family memorial today at 5 p.m. Andrett Funeral home, 353 2nd Avenue (at 21st Street)

Previously on EV Grieve:
Markey Hayden Bena, 1956-2010

In the beginning...

Art Around the Park getting set up... perhaps we'll check back later for a progress report....




Meanwhile, you can check this post for last year's highlights...

A few free things to do today....



All sorts of Howl!-related activities today, including Art Around the Park...Visit the Howl! site... and the East Villager Howler for a list of everything...

Meanwhile, tonight, The Shadow is presenting a free screening of "9-11 Mysteries" at the Bowery Poetry Club...



And... on 10th Street between Third Avenue and Second Avenue.... Block Fair!





Friday, September 10, 2010

Baby it's you



A song that just seems perfect right now.

Something Sweet back; something else is smashed

Blue Glass, our special First Avenue Correspondent, notes that Something Sweet at 11th Street has reopened after a short holiday....



Meanwhile, one block south....

An egg cream eggtravaganza


[Via Vanishing New York]

Edible Manhattan's new issue has an entertaining piece on egg creams.... which delves into the secrecy of making these frothy concoctions ... all the East Village egg cream players are interviewed... and only one will tell you how he or she creates an egg cream: Ray!

Alvarez, to his credit, will show you how he makes his egg creams. His transparency is unusual. Most merchants famous for selling this mythical New York elixir are like Anistratov. They put on the Sphinx face when you bring up the drink, keeping mum on how they make them and sometimes even refusing to tell you their own name.


(Thanks to Melanie for first bringing this to our attention!)

Related reading:
The egg cream lives (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Memorial in place for murder victim outside Sin Sin

Earlier this week, Patrick Hedlund at DNAinfo reported that the Sin Sin management refused to allow the sister of the man slain outside the club to create a temporary memorial in his honor.

However, perhaps Sin Sin had second thoughts about the tribute to 37-year-old Devin Thompson, who was shot twice on Second Avenue at East Fifth Street on Aug. 22.... Last night, a memorial was in place on East Fifth Street....





Patrick Hedlund has an update here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
NYPD hosting meeting between Sin Sin and neighbors tonight

East Village noise wars new battlefront: Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge

Why the president of the East Fifth Street Block Association carries a baseball bat

A case for Allen Ginsberg Way


From the comments on the Allen Ginsberg's former apartment quickly rented post:

As a long time resident of East 12 Street (I am between A & B) a project I looked into but never took on is to have East 12 Street between 1st and A renamed Allen Ginsberg Way. It is a totally doable project requiring signatures and bringing it up the community board #3. Anyone interested in taking on such project?


Anyone?


[Image via]

Three days of Howl!

Speaking of Allen Ginsberg.... the Howl! Festival is under way... with three days of activities in Tompkins Square Park this weekend...


[Blue Glass]

Visit the Howl! site... and the East Villager Howler...

Poetry on Avenue A lacking originality these days



Keep your eyes out for a "Man from Nantucket" series!

What's left of Pizzanini on St. Mark's and Second Avenue




A worker on the scene said that "another restaurant" was coming into this space... Hmm... formerly Pizzanini, which closed Aug. 27 as East Village Feed first reported...

Peels turns into Heels

Heh. The new American-style diner over on Bowery and Second Street....



... was closed to the public last night for a Fashion Week event....

Thursday, September 9, 2010

"Again, we are sorry for now and the next time"

Ha. Here's Eater's comment of the day... they picked up on the Diablo Royale Este 'Boats 'N Hoes' post of mine....

"We're truly sorry but damn we made a fortune that night. We promise not to do this again (unless we can equal or surpass what we made that night. Again, we are sorry for now and the next time." [Diablo Royale Mess]


Anyway! And now a word from our sponsor...

Anderson Cooper's boyfriend opening 19th-century cocktail bar on Avenue C



Last month, we noted that the former 40C and Batista was undergoing renovations on Avenue C between Third Street and Fourth Street... Thanks to Fork in the Road, we have a better idea of the new tenant. It's called Bedlam Bar and Lounge.

According to Chantel Martineau:

It's the latest venture by Benjamin Maisani of Eastern Bloc in collaboration with illustrator Pablo Raimondi. The décor is 19th century parlor chic, with plenty of antique-looking leather-bound books and taxidermy lining the walls. The cocktails will offer subtle twists on classics like Negronis and Side Cars, and will be complemented by a selection of craft beers. Bedlam soft opens September 16, with a grand opening on October 1.



[Photo via the Voice]

The post didn't note, though, that Maisani is reportedly the boyfriend of CNN personality Anderson Cooper.

Previously on EV Grieve:
40 Avenue C getting another renovation

Dead black cat signal more doom for the Bowery?



BoweryBoogie has a rather grisly post today: That of a dead black cat spotted on the Bowery at Kenmare. What evil omen awaits us all now on the Bowery?

Diablo Royale Este apologizes for 'Boats 'N Hoes' bash

As multiple witness reported on Sunday night, Diablo Royale Este — home of the Hopsicle! — at 169 Avenue A hosted what partygoers in line described as a "Boats 'N Hoes" bash for NYU....



Per our report yesterday, hundreds of NYU students lined Avenue A and 10th Street. Police arrived and issued summonses to the bar/restaurant. You can read all that here.

Yesterday, residents received a flyer from Diablo Royale apologizing for the event. (Click to enlarge.)



In part, it reads:

"We were trying to ingratiate ourselves with our NYU neighbors by holding a supposed intimate gathering for a section of the graduate Department as part of a welcome back/orientation.

Unfortunately, our contact duped us, and not only did he invite one specific graduate section from NYU, but other sections as well, hence a supposed party of 75 morphed into something much greater."


And later!

"We pride ourselves on being a restaurant that caters to a mature audience, and by no means has our paradigm shifted."


This was just the second communication that nearby residents said that they ever received from the establishment. The first arrived upon their opening in May, in which Diablo Royale Este is described as a "neighborhood friendly, family establishment."



Meanwhile, after four months, several residents said that they are still waiting to find this "neighborhood friendly, family establishment."






Previously on EV Grieve:
Avenue A transformed into fraternity-sorority party for Diablo Royale Este's 'Boats 'N Hoes' bash

After nearly 4 years, First Street penthouse finally in contract

To be honest, we've always liked this beauty here at 6 E. First St. We pointed out when this penthouse unit was available as a rental for a mere $25,000 a month (only like $833 a day!)... The listing goes something like this:

Enjoy the ultimate indoor/outdoor lifestyle from this spectacular 3700SF triplex penthouse loft perched atop a former steel and concrete warehouse located at the crossroads of Soho, Noho, and the burgeoning Bowery district. Connected by a custom cantilevered steel staircase, each level of this amazing home offers something unique and unforgettable. On the first floor, you'll find a massive Living/Dining area bathed in southern light with 11-foot beamed ceilings, exposed brick walls, a wood-burning fireplace, and light from a 50-foot expanse of oversized windows. ... Ascend the stairs to the dramatic sun-blasted second level -- a grand-scaled entertaining space with 13' ceilings, polished concrete floors, custom walnut wet bar, full bathroom + direct access to an incredible wrap terrace ideal for sunbathing, stargazing and dining al fresco.








Someone will soon be stargazing and navelgazing and what not very soon... the unit entered into contract for $5.95 million. Quick history! Halstead first listed this PH back on Nov. 2, 2006 at $5.35 million... the price went up and down.... and a short 1,351 days later, it's in contract....