Are you in the market for bulletproof plastic?

If so, then read on... Spotted this ad on Craigslist:

I have 4 pieces. 2 pieces 39"x48" and 2 pieces 34"x48" , 1 inch thick,$75 each

Not sure if you will be able to test it before buying.

Looks legit...

When the U.S. Air Force tried to turn the wrong way on a 1-way street

On Second Avenue at East Sixth Street this morning… photo by Derek Berg

Avenue A, now with fewer trees

Multiple EVG readers came across this scene this morning just before 9 on Avenue A between East Second Street and East Third Street… where workers were mulching up a fallen tree…



Unfortunately, no one (yet!) has passed along what happened to the tree on the west side of the street… How did it fall? Did it crack? Was it struck? Pushed? Bitten? Karate chopped?



Thanks to the EVG reader for the photos!

Updated:
Per the comments, three trees on this block had to be removed...

Q-and-A with filmmaker Tom DiCillo

[Tom DiCillo, left, and Steve Buscemi from 2006 by Jeff Vespa, © WireImage.com]

Tom DiCillo came to New York City to study film at NYU in 1976.

Like other new residents, he was taken by the NYC subway system. "From the moment I arrived in the city, particularly when I'd get on the train, I noticed these tiny daily dramas," said DiCillo in a phone conversation last week. It provided potential dramatic fodder for a filmmaker, "but it wasn't feasible to carry a big camera and canisters of film" to attempt a subway shoot. It wasn't until some 30 years later when DiCillo bought a digital camera did he decide to make a movie capturing a slice-of-life look at the subway experience.

The results of his nearly six years of work can be seen tonight in the 69-minute "Down in Shadowland," his latest work, which is playing at the Anthology Film Archives as part of a two-night Tom DiCillo retrospective.

The other featured works are the 20-year-anniversary of his best-known film, the darkly satirical "Living in Oblivion," and the 2006 offbeat dramedy "Delirious," in which Steve Buscemi — also the star of "Living in Oblivion" — plays a small-time paparazzo. DiCillo and Buscemi will both be on-hand tomorrow night for a Q-and-A following the screening of each film.

After serving as cinematographer to classmate Jim Jarmusch's "Permanent Vacation" in 1980 and "Stranger Than Paradise" in 1984, DiCillo dabbled as an actor before striking out on his own as a director.

His first film was the absurdist fable "Johnny Suede" from 1991 and featuring Brad Pitt in his first leading role. (The Johnny Suede character's punk-rockabilly look and style came from some of the musicians DiCillo saw around the East Village in the 1980s.)

DiCillo's subsequent films included casts with Buscemi, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage and Denis Leary, among others. The films found a limited but devoted audience. His subsequent challenges, from failed financing to lackluster distribution, have been well-documented (here and here, for example).

I spoke with an upbeat and talkative DiCillo on the phone from his Upper West Side apartment for nearly 40 minutes. What follows are some highlights from the conversation edited for length and clarity.

On making "Down in the Shadowland" over a six-year period:

In late 2007, I got my first small digital movie camera that I could carry around with me. I found taking this little camera and shooting whenever I wanted was so liberating that it actually took me back to the most basic impulses that I ever had wanting to be a filmmaker. Seeing something on the street and going Oh my God if I can only put that in a movie.

I thought the idea of capturing these ephemeral moments that exist underground would make for a great project. I started carrying the camera with me every day. After shooting for about four years, I said it was time to come up with a structure for it. [Laughs]

I think it's done. You could probably keep shooting this for 20 years. The whole purpose of it was to see if I could translate what my eyes were seeing to something other people would appreciate. It's kind of an individual journey. It's not a mass thing. The film works the best when you start to feel like it's a surreal and mysterious journey that's going on inside each of these individuals' minds.

I don't feel as if the film is strictly a documentary. There are many different kinds of films that are vérité. Every frame in it is real. But it's not a film that explains or illustrates the experience of the subway. It's less about the subway than it is about us as human beings. Twenty years from now this film is going to seem like a really bizarre time capsule.



On the filmmaking scene in the Lower East Side upon his arrival in 1976:

In that period, the late 1970s through the late 1980s, the city was really falling to pieces. There was a desperate element that fueled a great artistic movement… the punk scene, the independent film scene all were generated by the fact that things were falling apart.

None of my classmates I found interesting ever thought about going to Hollywood. The idea was to take this opportunity to make a film and do something that was completely different than Hollywood. Steve Buscemi was writing and performing plays with Mark Boone Junior. The only thing they really wanted to do was write and perform. They weren't worried about where they did it.

The film scene was that way too. Eric Mitchell, Amos Poe… these guys were making films on Super 8 and screening them in bars. Anybody could make a movie. You didn't have to have this enormous financial machine. New York was that way. It was a fantastic time. There was a feeling that something fresh and new was happening.

On making "Living in Oblivion":

When I got the idea for "Living in Oblivion," the first person to put up money was Dermot Mulroney. He was married to Catherine Keener at the time. She was the first person who I had shown the script to. She sent it to Dermot. He immediately put up $5,000. He said that he wanted to play the director. I said "I'll take your $5,000, but I think you'd be better suited to playing the cameraman." He said, "OK great. How about Steve as the director?" That was the beginning of my relationship with Steve. He said yes without even reading the script.

Steve is one of the most warmhearted and genuine people I've ever met. He is a fascinating actor. I'm thrilled that he is going to be [at the Anthology] with me.

When "Oblivion" was released here, it got a very nice notice from The New York Times, which helped it. A lot of critics panned the film, saying that it was just a movie for filmmakers. It crippled the film in some other markets. It always bothered me because it's like saying, "You can't make a film about astronauts, because only astronauts will want to see it." It's crazy.



On New York City today:

I'm definitely not the kind of person who's going to say that Times Square used to be better before it was cleaned up. I was a visitor there during that period when there were hookers and drugs. You wouldn't really want to go there. But to say that was a better time for the city is bullshit. There is a certain corporate bullshit that has happened to New York. I despise the fact that every single gritty, realistic aspect of the city has been bought by merchandising. A place that used to be a real meat market [has been turned] into something to make you feel like you are in a hip part of Manhattan.

The thing I love about the city … on the street level, it's a very democratic city. You engage with people of every level, shoulder to shoulder every day. New York still has this feeling that it is unique in America. There are people here from all over the world. I'm all for the quiet, small-town idea. But small-town thoughts are what is destroying this country. At least in New York there is a willingness to have different points of view.

On never giving up as a filmmaker:

Part of me believes that this is what I do best, that I have a skill at it. I've never had anything just given to me in life. Everything has been a struggle. Certainly the filmmaking part of my career has been a struggle as well.

There's nothing worse than being two years into raising money for a film, and you think it's going to be a go — everyone says that it's going to be a go — and you get the phone call: "We don't know why, but they just pulled out." It has happened so many times. And you go Ahhhhh! And you start again. I guess it was a belief that what I had written and what I knew what I could do was worth fighting for. The main thing that keeps me going is the thought that I will be making another film one day.

-----

Here's the schedule at the Anthology Film Archives on Second Avenue at East Second Street:

DOWN IN SHADOWLAND
Nov. 10 at 8 PM

LIVING IN OBLIVION — Tom DiCillo & Steve Buscemi in person
Nov. 11 at 6:45 PM

DELIRIOUS — Tom DiCillo & Steve Buscemi in person
Nov. 11 at 9:15 PM

Petition drive underway to help save the Stuy Town Associated on East 14th Street

As previously noted, owners of the Associated on East 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue in Stuy Town would like to have their supermarket's lease renewed.

However, the current Stuy Town management has refused to commit to a renewal and then tried to buy out the lease. (Find more background at the Town & Village blog, who was the first to report on this.)

And no one knows what the new owners, Blackstone, intend to do. While the lease isn't up for two years, Joseph Falzon, the principal owner of the Associated, has been asking because he wants to renovate the store, per Town & Village.

Now members of the Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association have launched a campaign at Change.org to help save the Associated.

Per the petition:

Tell Blackstone we need to save our Associated Supermarket

Stuyvesant Town needs to keep its local supermarket. It is especially important for our seniors who can't walk five or six long blocks to get to the next nearest food market. Since 2005, 4 local supermarkets have closed because of rising rents or because chain drug stores could pay much more. NYC is losing too many of its small stores because of rising rents and because landlords have no real connection or concern for the needs of working class New Yorkers.

Associated is willing to pay more rent if the landlord Blackstone is reasonable. The city is bending over backwards to give all kinds of lucrative incentives away so Blackstone can be reasonable. Having an affordable supermarket is just as essential in maintaining the middle class lifestyle in this unique neighborhood.

You can access the petition here.

As a rep of the tenants association told us, "This all-purpose supermarket is essential not only to many Stuyvesant Town residents but also to those who live south of 14th Street."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Associated owners not having any luck shopping for a lease renewal on East 14th Street (34 comments)

[Updated] Lion Beerstore opens today

[Photo by Vinny & O]

The sign on the door here at 104 Second Ave. at East Sixth Street announces that the Lion Beerstore will be opening today.

Per their Facebook page, "Lions Beerstore is a beautiful bar, a restaurant, beer consultancy, and retail store under one roof."

A father-son team, who hail from Greece, are behind the operation, and they will reportedly offer more than 300 types of beer in the retail section as well as a food menu offering American and European pub food at the bar.

According to their CB3 application (PDF!), the store hours are 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The space was previously home to Spice, which closed in June, consolidating its operations with a move to First Avenue between East Fourth Street and East Fifth Street.

Updated 6:59 p.m.

Despite the Opening Tuesday signage, the Lion folks needed one more day to have the place ready for company… EVG contributor Derek Berg says that the store will be open tomorrow…



Previously on EV Grieve:
A new mural and beer store on 2nd Avenue and East 6th Street

Construction watch: 327 E. 9th St.

[Photo from March 2013 by Jeff Day]

Work started on the new residential building at 327 E. Ninth St., a former parking lot between First Avenue and Second Avenue, back in February 2013.

As we first reported in August 2012, a six-story, two-unit residential building via Icon Realty will eventually rise here.

Here's a look at the progress a few months short of its three-year construction anniversary...





Eventually, No. 327 will look like ...

[Via Curbed]

Construction workers told an EVG reader who lives nearby that construction wouldn't be complete for another year. The reader found that hard to believe ("how long does it take to build a six-story residence?"), but that's what he was told.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The big dig begins for 6-story, 2-unit condo on East 9th Street

East Ninth Street parking lot will yield to 6-floor residential building

Noted

[Photo today by Bobby Williams]

Part of the fence along East Seventh Street near Avenue A is missing from Tompkins Square Park. Unfortunately, there wasn't anyone around to ask what's going on... so. Maybe to make it easier to move the Samuel S. Cox statue to the top of 100 Avenue A as a way to compete with Red Square? Other less-stupid theories are welcome, probably.

Let's take a look at 347 Bowery, now and in the future

At last look in early September, the first floor was just visible at 347 Bowery, where a view-blocking (if you live right next door at 52E4), 13-story, 30,000 square-foot mixed-use residential development is rising.

Now it looks to be past the halfway mark at 7 (or 8?) floors here at East Third Street ...



Developer Urban Muse has designs on five 3-bedroom homes ranging from 2,100 to 4,000 square feet, two 2,000-square-foot commercial units and one 6,800-square-foot retail unit.

Annabelle Selldorf, who designed the swanko 10 Bond Street, is listed as the architect of record. Here's a rendering for the building that we spotted on her firm's website (when you click on the image for more info there, you get a "page not found" message)...



Oh, balconies! Anyway, thoughts on the new building?

Expect something else new right here some day. As previously noted, the lot adjacent to 347 Bowery at 1-3 E. Third St. is also for sale as a development site.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Salvation Army's former East Village Residence will be demolished on the Bowery

Looks like 347 Bowery will be home to a 13-floor mixed-use residential development

The future of 347 Bowery (sorta!) revealed

Reader report: The northeast corner of Avenue A and 12th Street changes hands

An EVG reader writes in:

Just received a tenant notice letter that 194-196 Avenue A and 503-505 East 12th Street have been sold to Avenue A Corner Owner LLC c/o Dalan Management Associates. Marolda Properties was pretty terrible to deal with these last few years, wonder if Dalan Management will be better or worse.

I have a feeling that chances of us getting priced out next year are high. Womp.

Terms of the deal haven't apparently made public record just yet. (The LLC has an address in Nassau County.) And we don't know much about Dalan. Here's their bio:

"We are a real estate owner and manager focused on improving and adding value to multifamily and commercial properties. Our portfolio includes residential properties in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Washington DC, and Phoenix, Arizona. We also have commercial holdings in Manhattan."

As some of you may recall, a fire tore through the building in March 2006. The corner retail space housed the Raven from July 1998 through the time of the fire.

The building was, of course, rebuilt, though not without causing some suspicion among neighbors.

The storefront at No. 196 is currently for lease with an asking rent of $10,500 a month. Avenue A Wine & Liquor closed here back in August.

Now at Ray's Candy Store — popcorn shrimp

EVG regular Peter Brownscombe notes that Ray has introduced the latest menu item here at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A near East Seventh Street...

Popcorn shrimp...



Served without — or with! — fries...

34 1/2 St. Mark's Place is for sale

The 6-floor building between Second Avenue and Third Avenue recently arrived on the market.

Here's the listing via LoopNet:

Fully occupied 6 floor apartment building with 11 residential units and 1 retail store. There is an additional courtyard unit which is not registered and currently vacant.

St. Marks Place is the cultural hub of the East Village and close to New York University and Cooper Union.

• 6, three-bedroom apartments with Fair Market Rent
• 5, two-bedroom Rent-Stabilized apartments
• 1 Retail Store and basement with Fair Market Rent
• 1 studio courtyard apartment, unregistered and vacant

Price: $9.35 million