Getting a ticket for parking in a crosswalk when there isn't actually a crosswalk

A reader notes the following on the north side of East Houston across from Ridge Street... where workers recently paved the roadway as part of the ongoing plans to widen sidewalks, enlarge medians, etc.

The reader says that the NYPD has been ticketing vehicles parked in the "crosswalk."

However! Per the reader:

Problem is there's no crosswalk lines and never has been, so these guys are getting tickets for parking in a seemingly legal and random spot. I called 311 and left a complaint ... The tickets seem like a clear cash grab and are totally bogus.

At the Occupy Town Square in Tompkins Square Park today

#OWS took to Tompkins Square Park today... here's the official statement on what is happening with the the Occupy Town Square concept:

We don't live in a park anymore, but we're still here, and we're still fighting for economic, social, and environmental justice. Now, OWS is coming to a neighborhood near you. Over the next few months, mobile, daytime occupations, called Occupy Town Squares, will be held in parks and other public spaces, indoor and outdoor, around New York City. For a few hours a week, these events will recreate the essence of the Zuccotti Park Occupation. There will be info tables, teach-ins, trainings, and political discussions.

Here are a few photos from the day by Bobby Williams...

... and later in the day... at dusk...

We understand that a group of about 20 people marched across Avenue A and west on St. Mark's Place...

Week in Grieview

[Along Avenue D]

RIP Markand Thakar (Thursday)

Cleaning out the Holiday (Wednesday)

Famous Original Rays's Pizza closes (Tuesday)

Life Cafe space now for rent (Wednesday)

That A Building condo with the slide is for sale (Friday)

The cross at St. Brigid's (Tuesday)

Q-and-A with former Luna Lounge owner Rob Sacher (Friday)

Looking at the new street signs (Thursday)

A release date for "East Fifth Bliss" (Monday)

Existence of IHOP on East 14th Street explained (Wednesday)

David Schwimmer's unfinished mansion represents East Village on NYC star map (Wednesday)

Occupy Town Square in Tompkins Square Park today

The flyer below has more on the various activities taking place...

[Click on image to enlarge]

80-plus years of Best Pictures at Kim's

In case you haven't OD'd on Oscar-related what not ... Kim's on First Avenue has all the previous Best Picture recipients for sale ... (or at least they did...)

Also, as The Lo-Down noted, you can watch the ceremonies for free at the Sunshine on East Houston. Per the Sunshine Facebook page: "We're going to host that famous awards show (that we're not allowed to mention by name for legal reasons, no joke) live on our biggest screen. It's totally free and it's first come first served. The theater seats quite a few people so bring your friends!"

Meanwhile, we'll be busy watching the Best Picture from 1992: "Universal Soldier."

Casting call for Kim Cattrall's replacement

On the Bowery... photo by Bobby Williams... and a really stupid headline because of this...

An all-city collision on Avenue B

Oh, this happened this morning around 10ish ... as far as a sorta eyewitness could tell... a city sanitation car traveling east on Fourth Street may have hit a police car driving north on Avenue B. This is on the speculative side. However, photographic evidence suggests such a scenario.

Not sure who may be at fault here. The fellows on the scene weren't real chitty-chatty about what happened. Doesn't appear that anyone was seriously injured. An ambulance was on the scene.

Everyone loves Lucy's

[Photo from 2010 by Bob Arihood via Neither More Nor Less]

Ludwika Mickevicius is the subject of the "Character Study" feature in the Times. You know her better, of course as the Lucy of Lucy's on Avenue A.

A quick excerpt then you can go read the whole thing...

As the East Village cleaned up around it, Lucy’s remained the prototypical dive bar: a comfortable cave bathed in low red light, with a dingy dropped ceiling and worn linoleum on the floor. One arcade game, one jukebox, two pool tables, two small drinking tables, a dozen stools and a heavy oak bar. All are steeped in the character of Ms. Mickevicius: straightforward and practical. No frills, no nonsense, no whining.

“Many people hear about me and they come in and say, ‘Lucy, don’t change anything; we like it like this,’ ” she said. “Plus, change costs a lot of money.”

Also, Lucy was the subject of a feature at the NYU Local a few weeks back... From that piece:

As for the future of Lucy’s, the hard work keeps her from thinking about the longterm. The song “Death is Not the End,” a Bob Dylan cover by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, eerily drones in the background. “I don’t have a plan exactly, I have no time to think about this!” She laughs. “I think some day is coming and I must think of what to do, but for now, I just work like regular, working, caring. Yeah, that’s enough, especially for me, just one woman.”

Report: Police looking for 2 men who robbed woman on East Third Street

From the NYPD Daily Blotter in the Post today... Cops are looking for two men (photo above) who reportedly robbed a 19-year-old woman walking past 185 E. Third St. about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. One man allegedly grabbed the victim's purse. "His accomplice, wearing a surgical mask, brandished a black handgun and snatched her iPhone, cops said."

Per the Post:

Police say the unarmed robber is between 20 and 25 years old, has a thin build and is about 6 feet tall. He wore a green hooded jacket, blue jeans, and tan sneakers during the attack.

The armed thug is about the same age, 5-foot-5, with a medium build, cops said.

Another casualty of wind

Another casualty from The Wind of the Century® ... via EV Grieve regular abrod ... awning down at Euzkadi's on East Fourth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Previously.

Fire on Orchard Street

You've probably heard the sirens this morning... or seen the FDNY race down the Avenues... A fire broke out at 101 Orchard St. this morning. We're sending you over to BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down who have updated reports...

The casualties of wind

As we first reported, it is windy today. How windy?

It blew some sort of animal pelt or, perhaps, an Ewok, into this tree on Avenue A...

...it ravaged the 7-Eleven signage on the Bowery...

...and whipped the pants off this guest outside the Standard East Village...

Careful out there.