Late-night fireworks

There were all sorts of tweets around midnight of gunshots, maybe, but more likely fireworks ... we haven't been able to pinpoint the exact location... Shawn Chittle took this photo looking southeast toward Tompkins Square Park...

Anyone have a fix on the location?

Safe ... for now

Many thanks to EVG reader John S. for the photo... back early in the morning with more news... some of it even pertinent ...

Meanwhile in Zone A...

An EVG reader notes some buildings in Zone A, which had a mandatory evacuation today... and it puts to rest the current rumor that the city cut the power to these areas tonight...

You can always count on Ray's

@evgrieve WE'RE OPEN ALL NIGHT!!!

— Ray's Candy Store (@RaysCandyStore) October 29, 2012

At the Punk Rock Storm Evacuation Center

Manitoba's on Avenue B...

Con Ed shutting off some steam service

Several residents have told us that their landlords are turning off the hot water... here's the official release from Con Ed on the matter.... an excerpt...

Con Edison is also in the process of shutting down steam service to some buildings in areas of Manhattan that may be prone to flooding. If the steam pipes were to get inundated with flood water externally, the temperature difference could make the pipes dangerous.”

One reader said that her landlord announced this in an email, and she's in Zone B.

[Updated] Sandbags were going for $4.99 today

At Saifee Hardware on First Avenue...photo via EVG reader AC....

Updated

Got an update... here are the size of the bags...

Pre-Sandy scenes from this afternoon

Tompkins Square Park closed around 2 p.m....

... the Farmer's Market broke down around 4...

... and some scenes of the East River before the storm...

Via Bobby Williams...

Soccer practice in Zone A

Via Steven Matthews...

[Updated] The line to checkout at Key Food at 3 p.m.

Via an EVG reader...

The good news: They have plenty of Bounty left.

Updated

The scene at 6:50 via EVG regular jdx ...

Meanwhile, in things that likely have nothing to do with Hurricane Sandy (I hope...)

Randomly on the Q train this afternoon... spotted this fellow in a loincloth exiting at 23rd Street...

City shuts down Tompkins Square Park

The City said that it was shutting down all Parks at 5 p.m. today in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy's high winds. However, workers locked the gates around Tompkins Square Park just after 2 p.m.

Con Ed amassing the troops in Union Square

Via EVG reader faces ...

And via James and Karla Murray...

Pre-Sandy ops: Village East Cinema removes letters from marquee

Pre-Sandy spot grocery check

C-town on Avenue C via Crazy Eddie...

Key Food on Avenue A via @Vivnsect ... a shot of the check out from the back of the store....

Bloomberg orders mandatory evacuation for Zone A

City info here. (PDF)

More info to follow...

Update:

Another map...

Tompkins Square Park closing at 5 p.m.; plus MTA shutting down the system

Reminder: all @nycparks are closing at 5 PM today. The wind is picking up now. #Sandy

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) October 28, 2012

Last subway trains at 7 PM, last MTA buses at 9 PM tonight. #Sandy

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) October 28, 2012

Mayor: All @nycschools are closed tomorrow. #Sandy

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) October 28, 2012

In case you were expecting that Fresh Direct order this afternoon...

Uh-oh. AN EVG reader and resident passes along this email from Fresh Direct:

“We regret to inform you that your order for Sunday, October 28, has been canceled due to the expected closure of the Mass Transit system by the MTA Sunday evening. With the storm expected, we want to make sure the drivers you have come to trust have an opportunity to get home safely to their families.”

This is for all orders that were scheduled for delivery after 2 p.m.

Per the reader:

So, if you expect all the things that you needed from Fresh Direct to show up today after 2 pm, better run like hell to the stores, like I just did, and pick from whatever is left on the shelves.

Scenes from Sandy Sunday morning

...and from the EVG Twitter account...

Tompkins Square Greenmarket open on A. twitter.com/evgrieve/statu…
— evgrieve (@evgrieve) October 28, 2012

Spot check: no line outside Trader Joe's on E14th, but 50-60 people waiting to check out.
— evgrieve (@evgrieve) October 28, 2012

Spot check: Food Emporium Union Square well-stocked and fairly empty. twitter.com/evgrieve/statu…
— evgrieve (@evgrieve) October 28, 2012

Most overheard observation so far this a.m: "The wind is starting to pick up." (and true)
— evgrieve (@evgrieve) October 28, 2012

Steamed on Avenue A and East 10th Street

Per EVG reader Chris this evening on Avenue A and East 10th Street...

Sounds like a jet engine up close — hear it really loud inside halfway down Ave A. Con Ed's got a truck there. Just seems like a lot of steam.