The best outdoor spot for free air conditioning in the East Village

It's right here on Sixth Street and Hall Place... there are several spots here outside the new Cooper Union building that provide a welcome blast of cool air... right where this fellow is lounging/passed out.

Despite heatwave, not many people buying ices today — artisanal or otherwise

A quick survey on Seventh Street... by Dave on 7th...

CB3 chair Dominic Pisciotta and his partner are tying the knot tomorrow at the start of the gay-marriage era

As you know, tomorrow is the first day that same-sex couples can be legally married in New York State. According to Bloomberg News, the city received 823 lottery entries from couples for 764 spots available for marriage at clerks’ offices tomorrow.

CB3 chair Dominic Pisciotta and his partner Andrew Berg will be among those tying the knot. The Daily Beast talks to the pair about how they feel on the eve of this historic day.

Pisciotta and Berg graced the cover of Newsweek back in July 2003... with a coverline that asked, "Is gay marriage next?"

For further reading:
The Times They Are A-Changing — Same-Sex Couples and the Village (Off the Grid)

Let's hope that she holds up

Con Ed plant a little bit ago ... Photo by Shawn Chittle.

Today in Tompkins Square Park: The 5th Annual New Village Music Festival

Workers were out early this morning setting out for the show, which starts at noon. Find more info about the Festival here.

Are vigilantes targeting the rats of Tompkins Square Park?

Yesterday, we wrote about The Villager's article about a group of parents who are upset about all the rats in the recently renovated, $1.5 million playground off Ninth Street and Avenue A.

Meanwhile, we've noticed a few gruesome rat crime scenes. Like this one this morning in the Park. Looks as if someone used a shovel...

Or this one ... from a photo by Steven Hirsch on 10th Street near Avenue A ... a gunshot wound to the head?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Parents group upset about number of rats in Tompkins Square Park (30 comments)

East and south

Views from the East Village...

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Singing man on fire pray for rain

Red Box from 1985. Let's hear it for the xylophone.

Workers gutting the former Superdive space

Dave on 7th notes that workers are gutting the retail space at 200 Avenue A (aka, the former Superdive) this afternoon. The pop-up art gallery left the space on July 10. After being rejected three times by the CB3/SLA committee, a group going by Hospitality LLC went to the State Liquor Authority on July 12 for a full liquor license. The group aspires to open a bar/restaurant/art gallery here. A decision on the license is expected in the next week. Or so.

Oh, and the DOB does have permits on file for this work.

Noted

The red-tailed hawk of Tompkins Square Park reacts to the news of Smurf Week

Thanks to EV Grieve reader WK for the Photoshopping.

Cleaning out the Mars Bar

[Thanks to @IrisBlasi for the photo]

A few tipsters have noted that workers are breaking down the interior of the Mars Bar this morning... packing up what's left of the content to take to who knows where...