How now brown, uh, wall?

And now Verizon has repainted the wall along 13th Street at Second Avenue for the umpteenth time in the last few months....




Any bets how long before it's tagged again?

Previously on EV Grieve:
First tag reappears on the Verizon building

Brownout: Verizon building graffiti painted over

Former De La Vega Museum becoming a vintage clothing store

We first reported that the De La Vega Museum had closed on St. Mark's Place last month...

A reader sends along this photo... noting work is going on inside. Per the reader: "kinda looks like the makings of a vintage/thrift shop."

Indeed it does...



The proprietor confirmed that a vintage clothing store — featuring new and used clothing — will be open here by early October...

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated, sort of] The dream is apparently over: De La Vega Museum closes on St. Mark's

Keeping the awning record alive

Work on the Queen Vic, an English-style pub/eatery, continues here at Second Avenue and Fourth Street ...



Looks like we're in for another awning after 2x4, Ambiance, Evolution...

Giant Robot closing on East Ninth Street

On Ninth Street, Giant Robot is closing on Sept. 23 after six years.....




Per the store's website:

It sounds corny and cliched to say, but NYC is a tough town. In recent years I've seen absolute institutions that I thought would be here forever shut their doors (CBGB comes to mind). The city changes more and more, and sometimes the only choice is to move on.

East Village Eatery etc.: Sapporo East reopens; Venieros missing the VEN

Sapporo East on First Avenue and 10th Street has reopened...



...though with a more limited menu...



This cafe on Ninth Street near Avenue A closed as nearly quickly as it opened...



Hey, the VEN is missing!



Something called Hotel Tortuga is opening on 14th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...



Noted at Pinkberry on St. Mark's Place...



...and when did Forbidden City on Avenue A become Fat Buddha?

What would you do?

Just noting the addition on the development sign here on Cooper Square... Another well-placed "You Would."



And no info yet on pricing, etc., on the Massey Knakal site.

Stop Work Oder for 147 First Ave.

Here at 147 First Avenue at Ninth Street...



...a new Stop Work Order was stuck on the front gate... so new, there's no record of it just yet on the DOB website....



The most recent complaint was posted on Friday:

CLR STS THAT ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER THE ARE SLEDGEHAMMERING BEARING WALLS AND THE BUILDING STRUCTURE IS BEING AFFECTED. CONTRARY TO APPROVED PLANS. THEY ARE ALSO REMOVING BRICK FROM BEARING WALL

The space will likely eventually be home to new fancy apartments and restaurants....

Previously on EV Grieve:
Ninth Street and First Avenue shocker: Motel ... Hello?

Blockbuster: 147 First Ave. set for demolition

Tearing down the Howl! stage

Just after 8 tonight, crews had finally finished tearing down the Howl! stage in Tompkins Square Park... So much work setting it up for two days and tearing it down.... Wouldn't a permanent bandshell make sense here again?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tompkins Square Park is way past due for a new bandshell

Sunday at Howl!

Before the drizzle today... EV Grieve correspondent Blue Glass was in Tompkins Square Park....










Plenty more going on with Howl! this month... Visit the Howl! site... and the East Villager Howler for a list of everything...

Meanwhile, there are plenty of other Howl! photos... Check out Melanie... Slum Goddess.... Bob Arihood....

Girlzilla!

You may have seen this towering robot yesterday in Tompkins Square Park during the Howl! Festival... It's Girlzilla, created this summer by the Lower East Side Girls Club. The Times has the story on how she came to be. Very cool story.