"I fucking hate the changes that have happened. I’d prefer drug dealers and criminals to the yuppie shit that goes on here now"

This week's Time Out features "Great Walks," the best outdoor treks in the city. They select a stroll through the East Village, dubbing it the "Public Eye Watch." Good people watching, you know.

Here's one of their stops:

If there isn’t a swarm of roaring motorcycles outside the cute little brick facade of the Hells Angels’ HQ (77 E 3rd St between First and Second Aves) — rumored site of drug deals and racketeering since 1969 — there’s probably at least a pair of grizzled bikers watching the leggy denizens of nouveau East Village go by. “I lived here 25 years,” croaks one yellow-toothed Angel who declined to give his name before almost literally throwing us off his turf. “What do you mean people-watching? I fucking hate the changes that have happened. I’d prefer drug dealers and criminals to the yuppie shit that goes on here now.” Hurry on to Second Avenue and don’t look back.

P.S.
You may also do the "Sweet Tooth Walk" on the LES.

[Photo via Forgotten NY]

What becomes of Pork Village during the swine flu pandemic?

Back in December, the Times noted the following:

In the East Village, local cuisine is quickly whittling down to a single food: pig. With new pork-bun outlets and ramen shops, porchetta and hot dog specialists, plus bacon peanut brittle as a local bar snack (at The Redhead), the area is all bellied up.

On Tuesday, the Times had the following article titled "Pork Industry Fights Concerns Over Swine Flu." The lead: "The swine flu is producing global hesitation over eating pork."

The same article goes on the say:

Medical authorities say that people cannot contract the swine flu from eating properly cooked pork. There is no evidence so far that the people who are becoming sick were in contact with pigs. In fact, authorities are not even sure how susceptible pigs are to infection with the new flu.

Still, does pork sound good right now? One writer had this on his mind. At BlackBook.com, Ben Barna wrote a piece titled "Will Swine Flu Fears Affect New York’s Banh Mi Boom?"

He wrote:

Yesterday, amid fears of a global pandemic, I checked out the new East Village rendition of Baoguette — yet another entry in New York’s out-of-nowhere (but understandable) banh mi hysteria. But while normally I’d order their signature sandwich — a baguette stuffed with pork terrine, pate, and pulled pork, among other things — fears of sore throat, fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and possibly death overcame me. So I ordered the BBQ chicken. If swine flu paranoia is already stopping one New Yorker from porking out on a traditional banh mi, how long before the entire Saigon Sub industry feels the side effects of a possible pandemic?

Although he did go back the next day for the signature sandwich, he admitted.

Donning a mask, this intrepid reporter walked by Porchetta on Seventh Street (pictured, above, in a shot taken on another night) to see what was what. Three people were digging on swine inside. Another person was walking out with some pork to go.

To be continued....possibly.

For further reading:
Will Swine Flu Finally Kill the Pork-Belly Trend? (Grub Street)

P.S.
You no doubt already tested yourself to see whether you have swine flu.

P.S.S.
I'm wondering whether the business at Porky's may suffer too.

Keith Hernandez is back

Second day now that I've seen the Keith Hernandez street art...this one is new on the plywood on St. Brigid's along Avenue B...



Part of a renewed "I'm Keith Hernandez" marketing campaign?

If you haven't seen the 19-minute film by Rob Perri, here's your chance... As the synopsis goes, "Part baseball documentary, part anti drug film, part socio-political satire, I’M KEITH HERNANDEZ utilizes a version of Hernandez life as a vehicle to discuss how male identity is shaped by TV/film, sports, advertising, and pornography."


I'm Keith Hernandez from water&power on Vimeo.

This is bagel heaven?

Looks as if yet another bagel place is ready to give 283 Houston a whirl. This spot near Clinton Street has already been home to Jean's Bagels & Deli and Houston Bagel & Grill in recent years.

Noted: Bouncy rides

Thanks to Jill at Blah Blog Blah for pointing out something that needs to be pointed out: Bouncy rides. I admit that I was unaware of this...though in my defense I don't take the L train all that often...





According to the Club Animals Web site, home of the Bouncy Rides and other things related to this:

Q: What makes Club Animals relevant today?
A: Club Animals (Est. 2008) is a regression from adulthood. Obama said that now is the time to put off childish things, but we could not disagree more. In these times of job loss, government bailouts, and even a potential Depression, Club Animals has turned from adult concerns of money and finances and concentrated our minds on to those of children. Can you think back to a time when you didn't care how much money you had in your pocket? Can you remember a time when you just wanted to play? Club Animals has embraced childhood, and the time when what was valued most was fun, horseplay, and experimentation without worrying about "reality."

Saturday, May 2nd:
Free Bouncy Rides
Union Square subway
L Platform
10p-11p

Jill has a video link too.


Free Bouncy Ride L train from Club Animals on Vimeo.

Horrified? Amused?

Stiles on your dials

As a follow-up to yesterday's radio post... I mentioned this in the comments: I do enjoy listening to Danny Stiles on occasion. He has been on the radio since 1946, and will remind you of this many times over. "No one else is doing what I'm doing on the radio. This is your last man standing -- Danny Stiles."

Here's his schedule in NYC:

WNYC AM 820
8PM - 10PM Saturday Nights

WNYC.ORG STREAMING
8PM - 10PM Saturday Nights

WNSW AM 1430
10PM - 12midnight MONDAY - FRIDAY

WJDM 1530 AM
1PM - 5PM Monday - Sunday

WPAT AM 930
7PM - 9PM / Weekday Mornings 3AM - 5AM

Or you can tune in anytime via his Web site.

If you're unfamiliar with him, Stiles plays American popular standards...Sinatra, Count Basie, Peggy Lee, Cab Calloway, Jack Jones, the Glenn Miller Band, Woody Herman, Al Hibbler, Morris Albert -- you get the idea. He doesn't care for much music made after, oh, 1960. (Except for maybe Herman's Hermits...)



Sure, his jokes are bad and he's long-winded...but... I enjoy his stories. Talking about how no one stops to pick up a penny anymore. He sees people throwing them away sometimes! Then he'll say how he shared a bed with his brothers growing up. And wait till he starts on the kids with their CDs -- and worse! "Now, they download music right onto their eyeeee-pods. It's very technical." He plugs his sponsors -- John's Pizzeria, say -- often and with many details. "Hmm, and the marinara sauce!... It's the best pizza in the world!" He's also prone to calling himself a variety of nicknames: the Archangel of Archives, Ballaboos of Beautiful Ballads, Didactic Doctor of Dreamy Discology, Dean of Deja Vu, Great Guru of Golden Gramophones, Passionate Pasha of Peripatetic Platters...

With Count Basie...



He is apparently still spinning records Friday nights at Zeppi's on West 56th Street.

Finally, here's what he says about his favorite place in NYC, the Red Blazer: "A stunning, posh place. It's the former home of John Drew Barrymore, and an excellent spot for the Lindy Hop or slow drag with a pretty girl."

Like a deadbolt in your Cheerios

Well. While on the topic of NYC radio... a moment of silence for the recent anniversary of one of the worst things to ever air...



The David Lee Roth Show on 92.3. (Jan. 3, 2006 - April 21, 2006). The patsy picked to replace Howard Stern.



So how did it go? (Via Wikipedia)

"Roth's show is ... skin-crawlingly awful. ... In these days of bland Clear Channel/Infinity corporate radio, it's bracing to hear a guy who has no idea what he's doing. ... Listening to Roth, you feel actual physical pain." -- Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone

And here's some rare audio preserved from what of his shows... Panama, baby!

Tumor exposed on Seventh Street

Last spring, we started watching the tumor grow from the front of 83 Seventh Street near First Avenue.



Now, after nearly a year, the plywood is down... and...



So what's going in here? According to a construction worker at the scene: "It's either gonna be a restaurant or another bar."

Hmmmm... Things may just get a lot more noisy and annoying on this stretch of Seventh Street.... Across the street, Jeremiah reported that the former Addukkan space is getting prepped: "The windows are papered, and the permit says a kitchen is coming. Also, um, it's in the name of the same architects who designed Jamba Juice."

For further reading:
7th Street Tumor (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Poopah's and other EV stores that are coming and going

Poopah's Pet Boutique on Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is closing on Sunday.



I've never been inside their store. According to their site, they feature "a stunning collection of Designer handmade products that are locally made and only found in New York City's East Village. We’ve stocked our store with all the essentials a pampered pup needs, from clothing, to stunning dog collars, to soft and warm comfy dog beds." Can't be an easy time for a shop like this, especially with people giving up their pets during the recession.

On the topic of stores... in recent months, I thought I'd try to keep tabs on what's coming and going... not so much to report that a new nail salon is opening, but more as a sign of the times... and as a way to monitor how the neighborhood might be changing, for better or worse.

Anyway, to be honest, so many shops/restaurants have closed, it's impossible to keep track. (And, despite the title, I actually don't have an intern...) Here are just a few of the empty storefronts...(There are many more, I know...) Many of them appear to be getting new tenants...

On East 10th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A...



On East 10th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A...



Avenue A near Third Street...



East Ninth Street near Avenue A...



This is now the new convenient store on First Avenue near Ninth Street...



East Ninth Street near First Avenue...



They were making a lot of noise in here the other day on Second Avenue near Fourth Street...Eater reports this is becoming an upscale coffee shop...



...Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

Three photos taken on the Bowery yesterday around 6 p.m. (not that the time element is all that important)

Belmont Park opens today

Oh, and now that the MTA has discontinued its train service to Belmont... here's one solution...

According to the New York Racing Association:

Beginning on Wednesday, April 29, The New York Racing Association, Inc. will provide free shuttle bus service between Belmont Park and the Queens Village station of the Long Island Rail Road for its patrons affected by the suspension of the “Belmont Special” by the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Bus service to Belmont Park remains unaffected by the cuts and fans may take either the Q2 or the Q110 from Jamaica directly into the track. Those using a Metrocard can get a free transfer from the subway to the bus or between buses.

The shuttles will depart the corner of Springfield Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue at 12:30 p.m., while return service will be provided 15 minutes after the last live race. There will be drop-off and pick-up points at both the clubhouse and grandstand entrances at Belmont Park.

Old Zips space reveals....

Well, now. Finally some action at the former Zips location on Avenue B and Fifth Street... Work was going on inside for months... The neighborhood rumor was the space would become an upscale diner-type place....




Not so fast. As this photo from reader Empire shows...



As Empire notes, "Check out what has now been revealed from under the awning.. where it says 'Medical Office'?! Is that from BEFORE Zips? Hmmmmmm...."

Indeed! I double the Hmmmmmm...