Guerilla theater in the mist... of Tompkins Square Park

Photos by Derek Berg 

From Friday afternoon in Tompkins Square Park... some entertaining street/park theater... (Eden has a video clip here)...

Documentary on collage artist Michael Anderson to debut at the Anthology Film Archives

Text by Daniel Efram

"No Compromise When It's Time to Die," a documentary about NYC-based collage artist Michael Anderson (1968-2020) "during the unexpected last year of his life," is set to make its North American premiere at Anthology Film Archives on June 27. 

Longtime East Village resident and documentarian Fred Riedel, who produced and directed the film, will be on hand for a Q&A. Afterward, friends and fans of Anderson's can attend an afterparty at the Bowery Electric featuring a set by Rubin Kodheli, who performed the soundtrack to the film. 

"Michael Anderson and I connected creatively when he reached out to me over Instagram asking if he could rip up a poster I'd made for my film about Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo in order to turn it into an original collage portrait of Ranaldo," said Riedel. "I visited Michael during the process of converting the shards of many copies of the poster into an amazing artwork, which we then both agreed should be the basis for a new poster of the film. 

"From that grew an interest in his large, gregarious personality and work," he continued. "It didn't take too long to see a film in that. Though I'm profoundly saddened that he wasn't able to see the edited work, I feel very fortunate to have captured some kind of essence of him and his creative process and to be able to share that with others." 

Riedel has a long history of producing and directing video and TV programs with Jem Cohen, Jeff Preiss, Keith Griffiths, Simon Field, Lee Ranaldo, Ravi Coltrane, Marc Maron and Charles Busch, among others. 

The film plays at 7:30 p.m. on June 27. You can buy tickets here. Anthology Film Archives is at Second Avenue and Second Street.

Plywood report: Ghost signage disappears again on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy

Back in February, workers removed the rolldown gate on a vacant storefront on Avenue A between Fourth Street and Fifth Street (the former lottery place). In the process, the workers uncovered ghost signage for a long-ago shop that sold carriages, strollers and toys.

There was some hope/speculation/wishful thinking among some readers/residents that the signs would remain on the scene, worked into the renovated storefront façade like at 2A down the block. 

Well, as of now, someone has removed the signs ... the workers on the scene said they did not know what happened to them...

A private equity firm bought this block-long residential building last fall for a reported $64 million.  

P.S.

Yes, that fresh plywood was tagged overnight. 

There's a Summer Kick-Off Block Party on 4th Street today

Cooper Square MHA II is hosting a summer kick-off block party today from noon to 6 p.m. on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery. 

Some bullet points of what attendees can expect, via the EVG inbox: 

• DJ Tony Bonilla
• bouncy house 
• resident flea market 
• food 
• raffle 
• vendors 
• kids' activities 
• community organizations

[Updating] 18-year-old cyclist killed in collision on 1st Avenue at 17th Street

Photos by William Klayer 

See below for updates

An 18-year-old cyclist riding a pedal assist Citi Bike was reportedly struck and killed by an Amazon box truck earlier this afternoon on First Avenue at 17th Street. 

First Avenue was closed to traffic at 14th Street around 12:40 p.m. today.

There isn't much information about the collision at the moment (we'll update when authorities release more substantial details).

The name of the cyclist has not yet been released. Media reports say that the driver stayed at the scene "and no crime was suspected." 

From reporter Liam Quigley on Twitter, who was on the scene: "An incredibly upsetting crash this afternoon. A young person came up asking if their friend was dead and started crying. The Amazon driver looked not much older than them. He too was crying, holding his head in his hands."

Updated 6/17 

NBC 4 reports that the cyclist lived nearby.

Another detail from NBC 4: While emergency responders were tending to the victim, someone rode off on the Citi Bike.

Streetsblog has more here, including that the truck, a new all-electric model, did not have any license plates, though there was an expired temp tag on the dashboard.

Updated 3 p.m.

Streetsblog has new information from the police about the collision here. 

Officials identified the cyclist as Malcolm Livesey, who lived in Stuyvesant Town and attended School of the Future of East 22nd Street.

Updated 6/18

There is a makeshift memorial to Malcolm at the site of the collision...

'Voices' carry

From the WEVG request line: Something by the Cure ahead of the band's three-night stand next week at MSG. 

This is "Other Voices" from 1981's Faith, the Cure's third studio album.

Now be sure to listen all weekend for a chance to win a Splish Splash family 4-pack!

Cafe Mogador provides a free meal to asylum seekers staying in the East Village

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Last evening, East Village mainstay Cafe Mogador, 101 St. Mark's Place, provided a free meal to the asylum seekers staying temporarily at the former St. Brigid School on Seventh Street and Avenue B.

Danny Orlin (middle above), son of Cafe Mogador founder Rivka Orlin, was there with some of the restaurant's staff member to distribute the meals — chicken tagine with rice.

The recipients were very appreciative, and everyone loved the food...

At 188 Allen St., a curbside dining demolition like no other

Photos by Steven 

Early yesterday morning (6:40!), city crews from the DOT and DSNY joined forces to remove the curbside structure outside 188 Allen St. between Houston and Stanton.

Earlier this month, the DOT issued a termination notice for the space outside the now-closed Cheese Grille. A group of artists and some art fans had hoped the structure could continue on as 188 Allen Street Gallery, an art space that has showcased a variety of artists since last summer (see here and here). It was an outgrowth of the pandemic-era space that Cheese Grille used.

NYC street artist SacSix, who has curated shows here as well as created murals on the storefront, appealed to the DOT in a recent Instagram post, inviting city officials here "to see how small business entrepreneurs can create incredible communities in unique spaces." 

However, the DOT showed its appreciation of the space with chainsaws and crowbars...  

A few pieces were salvaged by artists, some of whom spent the night here ahead of the demolition... 

The removal was accompanied by pianist Kristopher Hull, who performed "A requiem for 188 Allen Chopin nocturne in c-sharp minor"... 

... and later... the return of three parking spots... 

About the Lower East Side Book Crawl — Pride Edition — tomorrow (Saturday!)

Tomorrow (Saturday!), six downtown businesses "will celebrate the diversity and resilience of the neighborhood's indie bookshops by offering discounts, special giveaways, and curated selections of queer books."

The participating shops:

• Bluestockings Cooperative Bookstore, 116 Suffolk St. 

• Book Club Bar, 197 E 3rd St. 

• P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard St.

• Printed Matter, 38 St. Mark's Place (at Second Avenue)

• Sweet Pickle Books, 47 Orchard St.

• Yu & Me Books, 44 Mulberry St.

Hours for the book crawl: noon to 7 p.m.

Thursday's parting shot (aka June 15)

A reader shared this photo from Cooper Square today... a mere six months from Christmas... or to next the Christmas season.