Like a Virgin Megastore going-out-of-business sale (groan)

As you may have heard, the Virgin Megastore is closing on Union Square. I was finally lured in Saturday like a sucker with the "up to 40 percent" off signs... Also, I wanted to make a bid on the Lady GaGa banner in the window. (Unfortunately, my offer of "You pay for the can of gas and I'll rip it down and set it on fire on 14th Street" wasn't accepted.)



Well, as for the rest of the store. The new CDs that are usually marked for sale with a $13.99 sticker over the $18.99 sticker...were all $18.99 again. And they were 25 percent off. Ditto for the DVDs. Most new DVDs were $24.99. So with the 25 percent off -- you're pretty much paying what you were paying before the store was going out of business. I'm sure there were bargains elsewhere. Or not. I didn't stick along long enough to dig. Oh, one thing I saw for 40% off? Stationery! Which was all sold out. And the Blondie pocketbooks were also 40% off.

Another cupcake choice in the East Village

There's a new cafe/bakery called Pinisi on First Avenue between First Street and Second Street. Located where the Edwin Travel Agency II used to be. (The agency moved to Allen Street.)




We're sort of assuming this is an outpost of the Pinisi around the corner of Fourth Street.

Not everyone thrilled about new ramen place coming to the former Loves Saves the Day spot

Seventh Street at Second Avenue, at the site of the shuttered Love Saves the Day. Which is becoming a ramen place.

CB3's SLA Licensing Committee meets tonight; new Mexican restaurant slated for Fourth Avenue

The Community Board 3's SLA Licensing Committee meets tonight...



Among the new restaurants looking for a license... This coming-soon Mexican joint on Fourth Avenue near 13th Street....at this spot of a former Tasti D-Lite.

Part of the "Angels and Demons" campaign?

Second Avenue near Seventh Street.

Working sort of zipping along at the old Zips space

And as of Friday evening, a new paint job for what is expected to be an upscale diner-type place at Avenue B and Fifth Street...



And is black and blue the best color scheme for a new restaurant in this economy?

Previous Zips coverage here.

Fourth Street, 7:57 p.m., May 8

From "The Real Housewives of New York City" collection perhaps?

Because nothing says "Happy Mother's Day" like an AbRocket, BenderBall or some running gear.



Anyway, I got my mom the five push-up bras for $20 yesterday at the street fair.

In case you missed yesterday's street fair on Second Avenue, the exact same vendors are on Broadway today

From 14th Street on down....



With the winds today, the vendors were having problems setting up their stuff...






Previously on EV Grieve:
Pass the Tums: First of 458 spring/summer street fairs kicks off today on Second Avenue

The Times explores the culinary tastes of Seventh Street

A look at the different cuisines of Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. “Even though you cannot deny that the East Village is a little more upscale,” said Suzanne Wasserman, director of the Gotham Center for New York City History, who specializes in the history of local food vendors, “these are businesses that are not chains. They’re small businesses, and small businesses are what make neighborhoods unique.” (The New York Times)

[Photo: Rob Bennett for The New York Times]

Sign of the Times

The guy in line said he will not pay $5 for the Sunday Times starting in June...nor will he pay $2 for the daily paper. He said he will simply just read the paper on his iPhone.

Pass the Tums: First of 458 spring/summer street fairs kicks off today on Second Avenue

Runs from 14th Street all the way down to, oh, Georgia.









There's at least one new addition to the usual array of sausages, bags of socks, four T-shirts for $10 kookiness...a local merchant... Chocolate Bald Men have a stand/booth