Mars Bar underpass now with security cameras

A few weeks back, we noted the rather desolate walkway set up to navigate the construction site on the southwest corner of East First Street and Second Avenue... where the 12-story apartment building is (quickly) rising ...

EVG reader AC walked through the other day... and noted that someone has now mounted several security cameras throughout the walkway...

So far, the cameras haven't deterred anyone from adding some writing on the walls...

Checking in on the First Avenue bus bulb

Over on First Avenue between First Street and Second Street ... the MTA is building sidewalk extensions (bus bulbs!) for the M15 and the Select Bus Service.

A quick update.

May!

Now!

The sign says something about completion during the fourth quarter of this year...

And what is a bus bulb?

As Streetsblog puts it: "Bus bulbs — sidewalk extensions into the street at bus stops — keep bus shelters and ticket machines out of the way of pedestrian traffic. And by allowing buses to load passengers without having to pull to the curb and back into traffic, they also make for faster rides."

A tree grows on East Second Street (on a building)

Via Dave on 7th...

Bowery and East First Street in 1938, 1942

You may have seen this over at Gothamist yesterday... a feature titled "21 Photos Of The Bowery From Before You Were Born."

Anyway, here's one of the photos... the Bowery and East First Street circa 1938...

[Courtesy of the MCNY via Gothamist]

Reminded us that we posted a now-and-then of this corner back in May... Here's that post again:

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Our new friends over at NYC Corners launched their site last month... Per their description:

Whenever possible, we will show side-by-side photos of a particular street corner taken years or decades apart... and that's when the real magic happens.

And here's one of particular interest: the southeast corner of East First Street and the Bowery circa 1942 and today...

Cat on a hot polished concrete ping pong table

Today in Tompkins Square Park. Photo by Bobby Williams.

And it's OK to boo-hiss the headline.

'Desperately seeking a dog'

Spotted these flyers around this past weekend...

Bobby Williams took a photo of this one today on Avenue B at Ninth Street.

Breaking: Construction starts in the Mystery Lot

[In dramatic voiceover, maybe a little James Earl Jones like]: It has begun.

Photo via EVG reader Jodi.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Mystery Lot likely facing a luxurious end

The last days of the Mystery Lot

'Many opportunities' for new-to-market Sixth Street building

407 E. Sixth St. is now back on the market for $3.5 million. And the listing (via Corcoran) has a familiar tone to it... single-family conversion... available air rights...

On a prime East Village block between Avenues 1st and A, this historic, Italianate style, 5 story townhouse is located around the corner from Tompkins Square Park. Boasting a generous 21 feet of building width, 5000sf of interior space and lot depth of 91 feet with a beautiful rear garden, this home affords many opportunities for use including single family conversion, condominium conversion, live/work use or multi unit rentals.

Currently configured as 5 full floor apartments, the ground floor allows for commercial use. The property is NOT in a landmark zone and has additional available air rights of over 3500 buildable square feet. This house has been lovingly owned and occupied by the same family for over 50 years and will be delivered vacant. Bring your architect.

Anyway, this property briefly hit the market before ... and was promptly delisted several times, in November 2009 and April 2011, per Streeteasy.

And this is one of many buildings that have been for sale with both air rights and single-family aspirations.... such as this one on Avenue D ... this one on Avenue B ... or this one on Seventh Street ...

First sign of 51 Astor Place above ground

Just a few photos of the Death Star 51 Astor Place from Friday and Saturday... the steel beams are rising!

Previously on EV Grieve:
51 Astor Place demolition begins July 1; 17 months to build new black-glass tower

East Village — the new Alderaan? Midtown?

Lucy (and Lucy's) will be back on Aug. 9

On Avenue A, Lucy's, an EVG favorite, is on her usual late summer break...

... and back on Aug. 9.

Meanwhile, speaking of Lucy, Shawn Chittle ran into her on Avenue A late Saturday afternoon...

[Top two photos by Bobby Williams]

And how was your weekend?

Hey, haven't done this in a few weeks... a few observations via Twitter...

Cute chick 5AM leaning out of yellow taxi puking - yup I'm back in the #eastvillage.

— Derrick Gardrvits (@d_gardrvits) July 21, 2012

Just now, 2 drunk girls to the latino guy in the bodega: "donde estas st marks?" (with bad white girl Spanish accent)

— P&C (@pugsandcoffee) July 22, 2012

Man on E. 13th told me that this is a 'copulating area.'

— evgrieve (@evgrieve) July 21, 2012

Meanwhile, at the East Village IHOP...

4:15 a.m. Sunday. Per Tenacious C, who took the photo: "I wish it was staged."