Previously.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Confirmed: LES overrun by idiots at night
Matt Harvey delves into the horror show also known as the LES nightlife scene in this week's NYPress cover story. God help us.
In what was once the center of the gentrification goldrush — the section between the Bowery and Essex Streets north of Delancey — most of the businesses left from the boom are nightspots catering to less-sophisticated outer-borough and beyond patrons. Fat Baby, Mason-Dixon and R Bar, along with restaurants that serve over-priced drinks, like Stanton Social or Spitzer’s Corner, dominate. Residents recently suffered the final affront when Zagat ranked the Lower East Side the city’s “hottest nightlife neighborhood,” replacing its more upmarket rival, the Meatpacking District, already renowned for its annoying nightlife clientele.
Susan Stetzer, the district manager for Community Board 3 and a long-term resident of the Lower East Side, says that the area is now an “entertainment center” for the bridge-and tunnel set. “Residents have given up if they still live there,” says Stetzer. She and other residents complain that the streets, shorn of businesses, are empty during the day because the tenants couldn’t pay rents inflated by the influx of nightlife money. Then, at night, it’s wall-to-wall yokels from the suburbs, which, according to Stetzer, “is really depressing.” She’s an advocate of vanishing mom-and-pop shops and dive bars, and says no one who lives in the LES goes to the clubs and lounges. “If they do, they don’t tell me,” she says. Others claim it’s impossible to find a quiet place to have a conversation and a drink.
EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition
A piece of Michael Jackson at Coney Island (Kinetic Carnival)
Developing story: Fire on the Manhattan Bridge (BoweryBoogie)
Markey Bena beaten in his sleep (Neither More Nor Less)
Join the Joe Jr. Facebook group (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)
More love for Joe Junior on Third Avenue (Lost City; previously on EV Grieve)
Butcher Bay suing CB3 (Eater)
Squash Wall Streeters with your iPhone (BoingBoing)
Shockers: Some people don't like the new Duane Reade logo (New York Post)
And our old LES friend is featured in the German edition of FHM:
RTL II hat ein neues Gesicht: "it’s fun.“ Und da darf der aktuell heißeste US-Import, der internationale Superstar Lady GaGa natürlich nicht fehlen! Sie ist die frisch ernannte Fun-Botschafterin und ihr neuer Song "Love Game“ ist zugleich der offizielle Sound des Senders.
Black market Clash: "This is Radio Clash" mural painted over on Third Street
Been meaning to do a post on graffiti legend Ezo's Clash-inspired mural on Third Street between Avenue B and Avenue C. It's on the wall outside the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
Because of its more remote location in the East Village, this work didn't receive the same love as Joe Strummer on Seventh Street and Avenue A. I liked it just the same, of course.
Anyway, I'm sad to say, it's gone. Painted over. Black.
Well, Ezo's Clash mural had been tagged. And it was starting to chip away in spots... Couldn't it have been touched up like the Strummer mural earlier this year? In any event, we're hopeful something equally inspired goes up in its place.
Because of its more remote location in the East Village, this work didn't receive the same love as Joe Strummer on Seventh Street and Avenue A. I liked it just the same, of course.
Anyway, I'm sad to say, it's gone. Painted over. Black.
Well, Ezo's Clash mural had been tagged. And it was starting to chip away in spots... Couldn't it have been touched up like the Strummer mural earlier this year? In any event, we're hopeful something equally inspired goes up in its place.
Marc Jacobs keeps the "East Village spirit" alive at Bergdorf Goodman
From The Purse Page:
Unless you’re in the market for a nose piercing, a pleather bustier, or a pair of $5 sunglasses, New York’s St. Marks area isn’t exactly a fashion hotspot for most people. Yet Marc Jacobs has been able to effectively channel some of that punky East Village spirit in his new St. Marks Hobo, a quilted black satin handbag that’s been studded (like most St. Marks denizens) for extra edge; the chunky black chain strap also oozes downtown street style. I love the combo of high and low fashion - something Marc is always so great at! Available for pre-order at Bergdorf Goodman for $1,850.
Should go nicely with your $90 Bowery T-shirts.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Admiring the fashion sense of "the girls that live in the East Village"
Things that I didn't notice before: The beer garden at Croxley Ales has closed
These lovely photos by Yun Cee Ng for New York magazine show the beer garden at Croxley Ales on Avenue B near Second Street ... (and was it ever really this serene?)
What I didn't notice until the other day. The patio is gone.
The beer garden sign is still up, though.
Updated:
A reader sent along an e-mail.... The reader's belief is the patio closed in the spring of 2007. More from the reader:
What I didn't notice until the other day. The patio is gone.
The beer garden sign is still up, though.
Updated:
A reader sent along an e-mail.... The reader's belief is the patio closed in the spring of 2007. More from the reader:
I had asked several of the bartenders if they knew when it would re-open. They shrugged; one said that the bar had a permit issue (noise, perhaps?). Now the door connecting the bar to the garden is bricked over, and I expect the garden will be sold or leased as a separate parcel.
Croxley is pleasant on weekend mornings, when the only people at the bar are well-preserved and the cool quiet breeze blows in. Any other time it is unbearable -- even walking past can be irritating.
"Date Night" finally comes to East Village (and beware of light raking the buildings!)
Hey! Finally! Was starting to feel a little left out! After filming everywhere (seemingly!), "Date Night," starring Michael Scott and Liz Lemon, will be coming to our little neck of the city! Tomorrow night!
According to the posted signs... the crew will be parking their "vehicles and campers" (woo! cookout!) on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Avenue B, St. Mark's between First Avenue and Avenue A, and Ninth Street between First Avenue and Avenue A.
And check out the fine print!
"Please be aware we are filming at night. We will have black duvetyne on site in case our lighting set-ups rake the sides of buildings."
Super! I'll sleep better knowing there's black duvetyne at the ready!
For further reading:
Last night, Date Night (BoweryBoogie)
According to the posted signs... the crew will be parking their "vehicles and campers" (woo! cookout!) on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Avenue B, St. Mark's between First Avenue and Avenue A, and Ninth Street between First Avenue and Avenue A.
And check out the fine print!
"Please be aware we are filming at night. We will have black duvetyne on site in case our lighting set-ups rake the sides of buildings."
Super! I'll sleep better knowing there's black duvetyne at the ready!
For further reading:
Last night, Date Night (BoweryBoogie)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
An Os Gêmeos progress report
At Bowery and Houston a little bit ago. BoweryBoogie reports that the mural should take 10 days to complete. Previously.
EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition
Cardboard Tube Fighting League coming to McCarren Park (BoingBoing)
How have I gone this long without knowing about Doll in New York City?
Enjoying Tom's at breakfast (half Valium not included on weekends) (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)
What if a convicted felon goes to Superdive? (Eater)
D&D gone for reals on University (Flaming Pablum)
16 Delancey ready to get stacked (BoweryBoogie)
Jill looks at First Street (Blah Blog Blah)
Time for the 18th annual Hot! Festival (Colonnade Row)
Midnight at TSP (Neithter More Nor Less)
And thanks to Rend Smith at Runnin' Scared for picking up our fireball story. Smith also suggests that you can fill out a Fireball Reporting Form.
The Superdive Diaries, Part Two
Another EV Grieve reader bravely entered Superdive over the weekend and filed this rather random list of bulleted points via e-mail:
• First makout sessions by 8:30. A guy hard-core kissing a girl's neck like it was 1984 at 1:00 AM.
• Beer pong
• The manager(?) saying to me they were all reserved for the
next two weeks.
• You can get a Stella keg for $450.
• Seems to be a bar to relive college. Beer pong (except I never played this) and a lot of shots
• All drinks are in plastic cups
• Can i reserve a place for 10-15 people? with a keg?
• Hipster wannabee bartenders. friendly but there's arrogance like they're on the red carpet
• Beer pong. Again, beer pong. Do I need to say more?
• I feared for my life when I walked out. I deserved to be beat up. I felt shame. Superdive has nothing to do with the east village.
Previously on EV Grieve:
The Superdive Diaries
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