Some appetizing ghost signage uncovered on 14th Street

Workers today uncovered ghost signage at 442 E. 14th St. at Avenue A... a sign for "Appetizers" on what was most recently New Herbal World. (Thanks to Bayou for sharing this photo!) 

Some time/day we'll dig into the NYPL Digital Collections to see what this business may have been. 

And the workers are — per some EVG reader reports — combining this space with the former Lower East Side Coffee Shop for a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.

Residents come together to pick up trash around Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Allie Ryan 

More than 30 residents (and one rat and one superhero) turned out late yesterday afternoon to help pick up litter around Tompkins Square Park.

As previously reported, Jonothon Lyons, creator of Buddy the Rat, and NYC entrepreneur Michael Quinn launched a community litter clean initiative called "Buddy's Brigade: Litter Exterminators." 

Quinn reported that they picked up a few volunteers along the way. "Some were inspired to join after watching us parade around the park," he said. "A few children walked over from the playground to pitch in."

He added: "I never thought picking up litter could be so much fun."

EV resident Allie Ryan, who took part and shared these photos, noted in a tweet: "Now we need someone trained in needle pick up to come."

Assemblymember Harvey Epstein's office has a volunteer trash pickup planned for Sunday at 10 a.m. Interested residents can meet at Seventh Street and Avenue A. (We'll post updates when more info is available,)

East Village residents have said that essential maintenance of Tompkins Square Park has declined in recent years.

Thursday's parting shots

Stencil-art legend Blek le Rat (@blekleratoriginal) created this tribute to his favorite artist, the "Shadow Man," Richard Hambleton, outside 50 Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street...

Blek has a new show starting tomorrow at West Chelsea Contemporary on 10th Avenue ... 

TY LISA Project NYC...

Masked garbage bandit spotted on 12th Street (OK, it's just a raccoon)

Caught in the act last night around 9 on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

Thanks to Caroline Guercio for the photos!

Reminders: Volunteer litter cleanup this afternoon around Tompkins Square Park

ICYMI ... OK, just reposting from Monday morning... 

Jonothon Lyons, creator of Buddy the Rat, is launching a community litter clean initiative called "Buddy's Brigade: Litter Exterminators." 

Lyons and NYC entrepreneur Michael Quinn are hosting a series of volunteer community litter cleanups around New York City with material resource support from the Department of Sanitation.

The first cleanup will be around the perimeter of Tompkins Square Park this Thursday (Aug. 18) at 5 p.m. 

Volunteers can meet at the corner of Seventh Street and Avenue A on Thursday. You don't need to bring anything: Quinn said that the Department of Sanitation will be supplying all of the necessary resources and equipment. They will also be coming back to pick up the trash, he said.

Rake Wine debuts on 3rd Street adjacent to Urban Wine & Spirits

Photos by Stacie Joy

Rake Wine Bar is now open on the SW corner of First Avenue and Third Street.

Vinicius Aboin (above) co-owns the space with Jorge Arias, who operates Urban Wines & Spirits on the corner ... which you can keep an eye on from the cafe...

Aside from Aboin, EVG contributor Stacie Joy met managers/bartenders Ian Garcia (left) and Elbert Giron ...

As we mentioned back in December, Urban Wine & Spirits was opening a small wine bar — via a separate entrance on Third Street — in the shop's new corner space.

According to Rake's website, the cafe "is inspired by the many small 'mom and pop' wine bars that are located throughout Europe."

There's a food menu with a variety of bruschetta, fresh bread, olives, and meats and cheeses. The space accommodates about 20 people, with a few sidewalk tables weather permitting. There are plans for events such as wine tastings as well. 

The hours: 5-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 2-11 p.m. on Friday; 1-11 p.m. on Saturday; and 1-10 p.m. on Sunday.

Boot party: Why so many immobilized vehicles in the East Village?

In the past week, we've received multiple reader missives about a high number of vehicle bootings around the East Village. 

Reader Carl Bentsen said he saw three boots on one block... and we counted about a dozen or so on a recent walk...

First, why a vehicle's owner might get the boot. According to the NYC Department of Finance: 

If you do not pay or dispute your ticket within approximately 100 days, it will go into judgment. This means the City takes the legal step of entering a default judgment against you for the entire amount plus penalties and interest. The City can take steps to collect the debt, such as sending your debt to a collection agency or seizing assets. If you have more than $350 of tickets in judgment, your vehicle could be booted or towed.

And there's this rather jaunty video about how to get one removed...

   

The Department of Finance reportedly suspended the booting program on March 16, 2020. As Streetsblog reported in the fall of 2020: 

According to data provided by Republic Immobilization Services, which currently has the contract to boot the cars of drivers with multiple unpaid parking tickets, the city deactivated between 5,000 and 15,000 cars per month before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. 

The Guardian reported yesterday that the city is owed $534.5 million in unpaid parking fines.

Anyway, we don't know at the moment when the boots were returned post-March 2020 ... or why the marshal booted so many in the East Village this past week.

Mayor Koch first introduced the boot... and it went out of favor for some years before making a return in 2013.

Wednesday's parting shot

Early morning view up First Avenue today...

Noted

A reader shared this warning sign posted on a building along St. Mark's Place... 

You fucking thief! I am watching, and when I catch you, I will kill you!

Report of a fire at 313 E. 6th St.

The FDNY battled a two-alarm fire overnight on the top floor of 313 E. Sixth St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Two people, a resident and a firefighter, reportedly (via Citizen), sustained minor injuries 

The FDNY first reported the fire at 2:03 a.m. ... with the "under control" coming nearly 90 minutes later...

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0437, 313 E 6 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING A

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) August 17, 2022

Manhattan 2-Alarm Box 0437, 313 E 6 ST, MULTIPLE DWELLING A, COCKLOFT , Under Control

— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) August 17, 2022

Neighbors reported seeing flames coming from the roof of No. 313 (reader photo below). The FDNY said the fire started in the cockloft.

No word on the cause of the fire. 

This morning, boards covered windows on the third and fourth floor of the circa-1900 building, which has three residential units.