[Updated] Reader report: Cab crashes into Optyx on Second Avenue and East 14th Street

An EVG reader sends along the above photo from a little earlier this afternoon (roughly around 4:45), noting "Multiple fire trucks, cops, etc. Fortunately it appeared that no one was injured."

And via @amybraun7 …



At this point, we don't know any other particulars… such as the cause of the accident…

Updated 6:19

Plate on cab that crashed store today at 14th/2nd has 18 violations on record, 4 for running red: https://t.co/4Z2tpKitJs h/t @alter_spaces

— newyorkist (@Newyorkist) March 2, 2014

Updated 6:23

Here's a photo by ddartley via Flickr, where you can find a few more shots…



And several people have pointed out the fact that the driver crashed into a storefront with an awning reading "eyes examined."

Updated March 3

A witness told 1010 WINS reporter Gary Baumgarten that the vehicle was driving fast when it crashed through the front window. "He was driving extremely, extremely fast," Richard Ciero said.

The impact was so loud that a nearby store owner came outside thinking that a bomb had gone off.

And an EVG reader left this comment:

It was my daughter in the back of the cab. She was on her way to the airport. She has severe whiplash. Very grateful her injuries were not worse.

Hey, have you guys seen Sabrina's bear coat?

Spotted on Third Avenue at East 13th Street… Dang.







Well, it does sounds rediculous, Sabrina, but we hope you get your bear coat back. As you said, it brought joy to the people, as does this sign.

The Houston/Bowery Mural Wall gets 1st celebrity endorsement

As long as you consider Lindsey Lohan a celebrity. Via her Instagram account this past week.

Maya Hayuk's criss-crossy mural is currently on the wall.

[H/T Marjorie Ingall]

Week in Grieview

[At the Ukraine memorial on 2nd Avenue via Derek Berg]

A look at the all-new USPS retail outlet (Monday)

40 years of Ray! (Friday)

Here's that TD Bank taking over the former Mars Bar space (Tuesday)

Japadog has closed (Friday)

Out and About with Dina Leor (Wednesday)

35 years later, East Village resident auctioning off the work of her former lover, Basquiat (Wednesday)

A "Physical Graffiti" anniversary on St. Mark's Place (Tuesday)

Introducing the Chocolate Egg Cream Candle from Katz's (Monday)

Another Chipotle for the Union Square area (Wednesday)

Former San Loco space for rent on Avenue A (Monday)

Company Bar & Grill is for sale (Thursday)

Nesting on the Christodora (Wednesday)

Tree removal on Avenue D (Thursday)

Is this cause for a rent abatement? (Wednesday)

A special Lou Reed delivery (Monday)

Building that houses Brickman & Sons on First Avenue is for sale (Friday)

Facebook arrives in Midtown South/Astor Place/East Village/BroDo (Tuesday)

Vivi Bubble Tea coming to East 14th Street (Monday)

Rotating art program at Louis 649 continues tonight

[Photo by Michael DeBruyn]

From the EVG inbox… from the folks at Louis 649, the 10-year-old bar/lounge on East Ninth Street at Avenue C...

Launched in late 2013, Louis 649 is now proud to be featuring a unique Rotating Art Program that showcases the work of talented local artists from across the five boroughs. Artists display their work on the walls at Louis for a duration of six weeks; all displayed artwork is available for purchase, with a price list available at the bar.

We're celebrating the gallery opening of our second artist, photographer Michael DeBruyn aka 'insky', tonight at 7. DeBruyn will be in attendance.

His gallery is themed around F Scott Fitzgerald's "The Crack-Up" — a selection of his pieces on display may be found here.

The ice water is ready

Oh… @occupy12thst pointed out this partially frozen wooden water tank over on East 13th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B …

You have a few days left to see the work of East Village photographer Sally Davies

East Village-based photographer Sally Davies has been showing her work from around the neighborhood at the Bernarducci Meisel Gallery (37 W. 57th St. at 5th Avenue) this month. Here's your last chance to see it… The exhibit has been extended an extra day… today and on Tuesday…

You can see her work like this…



The gallery hours are 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Closed Sunday and Monday)

Ad changer on the loose!

In recent days someone has taken a Sharpie (or whatever) to various ads around the neighborhood… providing some social commentary…


[Photo via ‏@MeredithJM]

… and pop-cultural observations…

Breaking: Japadog is closing for good after tonight on St. Mark's Place

[January 2012 photo by Bobby Williams]

The Japanese-inspired hot dog restaurant by way of Vancouver opened the first U.S. outlet at 30 St. Mark's Place to great fanfare in January 2012.

And now, word is circulating that Japadog will be closing after business tonight. No reason given at the moment for the closure.

A quick reaction via Twitter…

No more Japadog after today. Sad face. 😢 (at @Japadog w/ 2 others) http://t.co/IkuyBR9Jrn

— Calvin Williams (@ccwii) February 28, 2014

We spotted the listing for the Japadog space yesterday on Craigslist, though we didn't realize the place was closing this quickly:

***Exclusive Listing by Exit Realty Landmark***
Newly renovated restaurant with full basement. Vented both on the grand floor and basement. 9 ft ceiling.
No Key Money.
W & B in place
New 10 Yr Lease available.
1500 sqft, same basement
Wide Front approx 20 ft
3 seasons of outdoor seating

St. Marks Place, located at heart of East Village. Amazing foot traffic.

We'll have more on this later… but if you want one one last umami dog with those bonito flakes, better hurry…

[H/T EVG Facebook friend Leslie Feffer]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cue the long lines: Japadog opening first New York City location on St. Mark's Place

Blast from the 'Past'

Glasgow natives The Wake with "Talk About The Past" from 1984.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[The Stage, Second Avenue]

A tour of the East Village's 'Borscht belt restaurants and lunch counters' (Serious Eats)

Go 'soak up the atmosphere' of the Subway Inn (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

New La MaMa musical taking inspiration from this month's revolution in Ukraine (DNAinfo)

Check out the 1980s NYC photography of Amy Arbus (The New York Times)

Robert Plant stands outside Physical GraffiTea on St. Mark's Place (Gothamist)

EVG contributor James Maher guests on the "ReW & WhO?" show at Otto's (YouTube)

Wrapping up the Streit’s Matzo documentary (BoweryBoogie)

Do you remember this Dinosaur at the Continental? (Flaming Pablum)

Revisiting NYC's Newspaper Row' (Ephemeral Row)

It will never stop snowing in NYC this season (Gothamist)

40 years of Ray

Ray's Candy Store is entering its 40th year now on Avenue A ... on the occasion, NY1 stopped by this morning for a quick segment.

Per Ray:

"I'm here, and paying top price but I love it. I want to be here forever."

Watch the segment here. [Updated: Ugh, sorry — didn't realize that Time Warner made you sign in to view. We'll see if we can get a copy another way...]

OK, here's the segment via YouTube (thanks Shawn Chittle)



[H/T @RTSNYC]