The other side of the story: the Alistair Economakis Web site

Alistair Economakis, owner of 47 E. 3rd St, has his own Web site called the other side of the story.

Here's what he has to say about his building and his family's plans for it.

In April 2007 my family and I moved into the space available to us and have made 47 East 3rd Street our home. Unfortunately, however, due to tenants remaining in apartments, our living space is not contiguous and we are required to go through the public hallway to get from one part of our home to the other. Despite the awkward set up of our living space, we are thrilled to finally be living in our building and we love our neighborhood.

For the rest of the other side of the story, go to his site.

[Photo via Flickr by trickydame]

Green...with envy

No, you're not just extra hungover this morning. The New York Post is green today...As the cover line says, the Post "is greener with less paper and fewer ads. Enjoy." It's part of a promo for planet green, the first all green tv network that debuts tonight at 6. (Reminder to self: be sure to turn on my huge, electricity-sucking plasma-screen TV at 6 to watch!)

Uh, meanwhile, the environmentalists at the Post included in this issue a 50-plus page glitzy Home & Design ad supplement touting "Living at its Best!" The lavish supplement includes all the luxury developments that you will never be able to afford...there's Ariel...The Brompton...The Harrison...Sky House...and on Pages 28 and 29 -- something called AZURE. Hmm, haven't I read about that place recently?

"We'll just stitch together a few shower curtains from the 99-cent store and no one will be able to tell the street is missing!"

As I've mentioned before, there's not much -- if any -- street left on Fulton Street. So somebody recently had the idea to brighten up the pedestrian crossings on Fulton Street with these cheap-looking, flowery screens. As if these will make us not notice this:

If you must know...

Along Nassau Street. There's probably a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why the shopkeeper decided to let his or her valued customers know that it was a cousin who passed and not an aunt or uncle or someone else. (And does this inclusion feel like an afterthought?)

"For them to want to kick us out so they can have a luxury mansion -- it's ethically and morally unconscionable"

From today's Post:

Rent-stabilized tenants can't stop a wealthy couple from turning their East Village apartment building into their dream mansion, the state's highest court ruled yesterday.
The Court of Appeals found that Alistair and Catherine Economakis can go ahead with eviction proceedings against their low-income tenants at 47 E. 3rd St., as long as they plan to use their apartments for themselves.
The Economakis' lawyer, Jeffrey Turkel, said that's exactly what his clients are trying to do - and said they've already converted 40 percent of the five-story building into a super-apartment for themselves and their two kids.
"They want to expand the home they already have in the building," Turkel said.
That also means evicting the rent-stabilized residents living in the rest of the building's six apartments, a move the tenants are vowing to fight.

"We're all working people, your typical, moderate-income working people. For them to want to kick us out so they can have a luxury mansion - it's ethically and morally unconscionable. I don't know what other word to use," said David Pultz, 56, who's lived in the building for the past 30 years.

The backstory.

Looking at the new New Yorker cover

Got my copy of The New Yorker in the office today. I was curious to see Adrian Tomine's cover after reading about it last night at Flaming Pablum. As Alex says in his post: Look well, for it's this very scenario that's forcing independent mom'n'pops out of business.

Fishing by the Con Ed plant

A friend of mine likes to take his young sons fishing near the Con Ed plant off the eastern end of 14th Street. (They toss back what they catch, though he claims the fish are just fine to eat.) It's a simple pleasure, away from the TV, video games, computer, etc. So I went to check out this not-so-secret spot along the East River Sunday. (Not to fish, just to watch. Maybe another day.) There were just a few men in their late 50s/early 60s fishing this day. Not much action in the water. It didn't matter, though -- it was a relaxing way to spend some time. And before the area possibly becomes someplace that we'd rather not be.

[Updated: Told my above-mentioned friend about this post. He basically said that I'm a jackass. Uh, yes! First, he told me that I would need to obtain a "sporting license" from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to legally fish here -- or anywhere in the state that is a public body of water. Or something. OK, Mr. By the Book! Also, he said that I need a geography lesson. The area in which I was sitting isn't exactly behind the Con Ed plant. (Well, it's near it.) I was in Stuyvesant Cove, a very popular spot. Something about piling bases. Whatever! And "toss back" sounds horrible. It's catch and release, man. Landlubbers, jeez.]

Reminders: We're living around the people these advertisers hope to attract

Walking the plank at the Mermaid Inn

Shoot! Someone was on guard last evening to watch and protect the fresh patch of sidewalk against initial-engraving vandals. I was hoping to engrave "free the lobsters" and "lobster killers" into the sidewalk! (By the way, I have no idea whether they even serve lobster.) Or, at the very least, "EV Grieve11!!!11"

An old friend returns

Jeremiah gave us an inside look at the new International Bar. Excellent news for a neighborhood losing its character. The bar (re)opens June 18.

Meanwhile, a salute to the International circa 1981, when it was still on St. Mark's. Watch Keith saunter by it at about the 13-second spot.



(And yes, I know I've posted this video before...at least now I have a reason...)