Friday, June 21, 2013

Death Star Public Plaza — now open!



EVG reader John let us know that the public plaza is open at 51 Astor Place... and people are taking advantage ...



Making music tonight on East 8th Street



From the EVG inbox ...

Green Oasis Community Garden is hosting a series of free concerts as a part of the Make Music New York festival. The Garden is on East Eighth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D. Organizers tell us that they'll also be a silent auction with donations from neighborhood merchants and friends of the garden.

Brass action today in Tompkins Square Park



From the EV Grieve inbox... from 4-8 in Tompkins Square Park today...

Submerge yourself in the lush, euphoric sound of brass!

Produced by Sara Valentine for Make Music New York.

Musical Direction and Consultation by Frank London.

This free, four-hour event celebrates and elevates the brass tradition in one of New York's most notable parks.

Featuring:

Shinbone Alley Stilt Band
Human Jukebox Brass Band
Lucky Chops Brass Band
Brooklyn Wind Symphony Double Brass Quintet
A Directed Improvisation by Tom Zlabinger
A Sonic Massage presented by Wollesonic Labs
PitchBlak Brass Band
Extra Action Marching Band

Scaffolding arrives for demolition of Mary Help of Christians





EVG reader Greg Masters notes that crews are putting up the sidewalk shed and scaffolding outside Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church and rectory on East 12th Street this morning.

Developer Douglas Steiner bought the property last fall for an unspecified residential complex.

On May 23, local preservationists called for a complete archaeological evaluation of the grounds below Mary Help of Christians Church on East 12th Street. The site was once home to a cemetery, and the groups are concerned that some burial plots may remain.

Looks as if there won't be any archeological review here.

The church opened in 1917.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Permits filed to demolish Mary Help of Christians church, school and rectory

Preservationists call for archeological review of former cemetery at Mary Help of Christians site

Campaign launched to raise money for gravely injured East Village Farm and Grocery worker


[The flowers outside East Village Farm and Grocery this spring. Photo via Creature]

CB3 member Chad Marlow has organized the following crowdsourcing campaign...

Help raise money to help pay the medical and other costs of flower shop operator Akkas Ali, who was mowed down by a speeding driver on 6/19.

On June 19, 2013, a speeding, intoxicated driver racing down Second Avenue slammed into the flower stand outside East Village Farms & Grocery on 2nd Avenue and 4th Street. The driver struck and greviously injured Akkas Ali, the 62-year-old flower shop operator who had been working at that location for 22 years. Mr. Ali has a wife and three sons, and they all need our support in this time of terrible tragedy.

Whatever money we can raise will help defray Mr. Ali's medical cost and lost income while he attempts to recover from his injuries. Raising money for Mr. Ali will also help give him piece of mind that his family is being taken care of. Please, let our caring East Village community, the City of New York and all others with generous hearts show our love and support for Mr. Ali and his family by rallying around them during this incredibly diffcult time.

Said Marlow in an email announcing the launch: "I went through this same thing with my father when he was just 4 years younger than Mr. Ali, and one of Mr. Ali's sons is the same age as I was when my father was stuck and seriously and permanently injured by a speeding, intoxicated driver. So I know how much this kind of support would help him and his family."

You may find the GiveForward site here.

As for Ali ... Matt at neighborhoodr! spoke with the East Village Farm and Grocery folks yesterday.

Ali’s son stopped in earlier with an update on his father:

He had two broken bones in his leg, femur and shin. He also had internal bleeding inside his skull. He underwent surgery yesterday. He’s still on a respirator and isn’t communicating.

Read the rest of his post here. WABC has a report here.



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Car smashes into East Village Farm & Grocery on Second Avenue; 6 reported injured (60 comments)

How can I really be expected to post today when the first day of summer is here?


[Into the forest of St. Mark's Place yesterday]

Didn't prepare much for class today, being the first day of summer and all. (And something about a "solstice.") Was going to try an Open Thread Friday (so 2006!) kinda thing on summer Fridays. CAPTCHA is off. Talk about anything! See where it goes! But that's probably a really bad idea!

So what will this be the summer of? The Summer of Complaining About/Loving Citi Bikes? The Summer of High-Waited Denim Shorts?

I'm going for The Summer of the Tire Left In Front of Your Door. This will be a thing.


[The New York Times expands its automotive coverage]

See, this is what happens when you take away parking spots. People start spreading their car parts everywhere.

See you after Labor Day.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How can I really be expected to post today when 78 degrees™ is on the way?

How can I really be expected to post today when the Storm of Feb. 8™ is on the way?

How can I really be expected to post today when heavy thunderstorms are likely on the way?

Dog days of summer



We know at least one person dog who is excited for the summer.

La Vie has closed; neighbors rejoice



The long battle between East First Street residents and La Vie has finally come to end. The club has officially closed.

As we first reported on June 11, the 1st Department of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court upheld the revocation of La Vie's liquor license. Although that decision was handed down on June 6, the club remained open.

However, last evening, a tipster on the block told us the following:

"They are moving all of the red velvet seating out to a Budget truck out front right now! The block is rejoicing."

La Vie owners left the following message on the club's Facebook page:

Dear friends, Thank you for all your support during the past couple of years. Unfortunately La Vie will close due to certain circumstances. We hope you all enjoyed La Vie while it was around. We will miss you all!!

Neighbors have long complained that La Vie was operating as a club under the guise of a restaurant. According to residents speaking out at past CB3/SLA meetings, the dance music emanating from the club was loud and disruptive to their quality of life ... and they claim there was often chaos in the streets as patrons entered and exited.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] La Vie closed for now on East First Street

New York Supreme Court upholds revocation of La Vie's liquor license

Jillery is moving to 7th and B



Jillery, the jewelry and home accessories shop, is moving from its current home on East 10th Street to the corner of East Seventh Street and Avenue B, most recently home to Amaran.

Artist Jill Fagin launched her business in 1987. (Read more about that here.)

We originally reported that a yoga studio was taking over the space on Seventh and B, though that business was just one of the possibilities for the corner.

As for Jillery signing a lease here, Anna Pastoressa, president of the board of directors of the co-op at 184 E. Seventh St., told us the following:

Our co-op is very proud to have rejected chain stores, banks, bars and loud food establishments. We are proud to have chosen a local business like Jillery who has been in the neighborhood for many years and we wish Jillery great success in our corner.

After some cosmetic renovation on the space, Jillery is eyeing an end-of-August opening.



Thanks to Bill the libertarian anarchist for the initial tip!

zPizza finally opens on First Avenue

A branch of the zPizza franchise finally opened this week here on First Avenue at East Second Street ... BoweryBoogie noted this impending arrival back on Dec. 23, 2010 ... and we spotted the sign last August.

Here's some info via zPizza:

Our dough is made from certified organic wheat flour prepared fresh every day, hand-thrown and fire-baked until uniquely crisp. We combine select ingredients such as certified organic tomato sauce, part-skim rBGH-free cheese from grass-fed cows, MSG-free pepperoni, and additive-free sausage. Even our fresh produce sets us apart. Exotic delights like Cremini and Shiitaki mushrooms, roasted eggplant, pili pili and truffle oil, pine nuts, artichoke hearts, roasted bell peppers and caramelized onions assure you'll never experience a boring pizza. The same holds true for our gourmet salads and sandwiches. That said we hope you enjoy our unique and authentic recipes as much as we enjoy making them for you.

I tried a slice and liked it. Enough to get it again if I was in that particular area. (Disclosure: I like most all pizza that costs more than .99 cents. Or $1. Or that comes from a microwave.)

This is the Laguna Beach, Calif.-based company's second NYC location... right there with Terminal 4 at JFK...