The inside scoop on the East Village outpost of Whiskey Dick's

A note from EV Grieve: Starting today, you'll notice a slight change in the editorial. Previously, I enjoyed chronicling every day life in the neighborhood and elsewhere...lamenting the changes that were occurring in the process. However, to be honest, there's no money in that. So we'll be doing a little more publicist-friendly posts that, I hope, will make this site more attractive for a corporate purchase a la Daily Candy. Anyway, I hope that you do give my new direction a chance. After all, I'm just a guy who lives in the neighborhood.

I have the scoop on a new bar opening "very soon" in the East Village. Can't say much for now, though I will provide some tantilizing clues to its whereabouts in this post!

As I pass my favorite strip of shops, Blockbuster, Subway and Dunkin' Donuts, I come face to face with the glorious plywood, the likes of which has served as a welcome sign of our (long overdue) revitalization of the East Village. Anywho, after shooing aside someone with a digital camera trying to sneak a peak behind the wood, I step inside and come face-to-face with a neon Sam Adams sign. Hello, beautiful! I knew that I had found my new home away from home!

Then I met "Ingrid," the proprietor of this soon-to-be glorious space. She is a longtime EV resident, having moved here in 2005 from her native South Florida where she was slinging drinks at the always popular Whiskey Dick's. She plans on bringing some of the madcap mayhem that marked so many Spring Breaks in SoFa to the East Village. Holla, bitches!

While telling me more about her plans (including a contest to find who can make the most noise on the sidewalk at closing time), she poured me a new Sam Adams Spring Fling Amber Bock. I reached in my pocket for a sawbuck, but she said it was on the house. (Then she gave me a knowing wink!) Dang, had I known this, I would not have had to use that icky-looking graffiti-filled ATM down the street!

Ingrid regaled me with stories from back in the day when NYC was really gritty -- 2000. Oh, what a glorious time that must have been here! Though I'm glad I wasn't here. Where would I have lived? Wait! I know what you're thinking: I said that she moved here in 2003. Guilty! Her cousin lived on Long Island and she paid her a visit a few times in 2000. She got a good feel of the place from Valley Stream.

In any event, she gave me the dish on what to expect: beer pong, hookah, frisbeer, keg stands, flip cup, drink-and-drown nights, college-kids-get-in-free nights. Not to mention her special nosh -- small plates of ramen. Delish! She's even arranging a deal with the city in which Mayor Bloomberg (pray that he's reelected!) renames the East River the East Ramen for her grand opening. (Other ideas for naming rights are Central Dick's or the Financial Dick-strict.)

Well, it's nice to finally find a bar that promises to be full of people who look as if they may actually have a job! (Or soon will have a job on Wall Street!) And, more important, people who don't smell and look old or artsy.

One word of caution: As I said, this place is near Houston. (Oopsy I slipped!) Whatever you do, don't walk east on Houston by Katz's to get here. Smelly! Like pickles! My North Face jacket had to be dry cleaned several times after I walked by just once. Gross.

More TK!

One more delicious reason to eat foie gras and not feel guilty at all!

Man, will Momofuku think of next! Hope they can open another shop soon! Anyway! See you in line!

Meet the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

In addition to exciting new bar openings, this site will feature the work of off-the-radar, up-and-coming indie bands that don't receive much attention in the mainstream media. To that end, here's the new single for the buzz-worthy New York trio called The Yeah Yeah Yeahs... led by the fashionable Karen Oh, whose father is Sadaharu Oh -- “The Japanese Babe Ruth.”

I expect big things from these kids!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - New Music - More Music Videos

A Delancey update (with special appearances by Jesus and Bloomy, or at least someone named Mike)

Back in August, BoweryBoogie broke the news that hotelier Sam Chang bought the parcel of buildings at 148-154 Delancey for $15.75 million. (Finally, the hotel this area so desperately needs!)

Haven't been down this stretch for a few months...So I was expecting the worst...though...it looks exactly like it did last summer...Which isn't great, but....







For how long, though...Meanwhile! Bloomy, we assume....?



And directly across the street...

Has Vinyl Market closed?

Vinyl Market appears to be closed. Perhaps just temporarily? The electronic/DJ specialty shop on East 10th Street just west of First Avenue is under construction. The space is split in two now. No sign of any records inside. DJ/owner Kaz Okura has closed before while he travels to various gigs. But he usually leaves a note on the door.

Another new convenience store for First Avenue

The former location of Wilfred's Tailors at 149 First Avenue near Ninth Street will soon be a convenient store.



This spot was vacant for some time since Wilfred's moved to 23rd Street. Well, uh, at least it's not another Momofuku?

Previously on EV Grieve:
A new convenience store for First Avenue

Hea thyself*

The folks behind Hea, which opened last September, must have spent a fortune renotvating the former bodega/nail salon housed next to the Toll Bros. tower on Third Avenue at 13th Street. Now, Hea is closed for "renovation."



* Man, that's one bad headline.

My own worst enemy

LES native Rosario Dawson, age 15 when she was asked to star in "Kids."

In 2006, you moved to L.A. Do you ever miss the Lower East Side?
Sometimes, but my old neighborhood has changed. When I visit, they probably think of me as yuppie scum. I think, Young urban professional — yes, that’s me. When did I become the enemy? (The New York Times Style Magazine)

Ideas for the next Unemployment Olympics

SportsByBrooks weighs in on yesterday's Unemployment Olympics:

While events like Bashing a Pinata are nice, they are hardly in the spirit of actual Olympic events. With that in mind, I’ve come up with a few suggestions for new events to add if the Unemployment Olympics come back in 2010:

--The 100-Meter Dashed Career Expectations
--The Long Jump From Being A Senior Vice President To Working At Kinko’s
--Synchronized Drowning In A Sea Of Unpaid Bills
--Bad-News-Minton
--The 110-Meter First Interview Hurdle
--Waiting Tables Tennis
--The Try-Supporting-A-Family-On-Unemployment-Athlon

The Unemployment Olympics: The Press Coverage

I'll sure they'll be more coverage to come...

Beware of the collapsing chair gag today

Be safe -- and smart -- this April 1.

Just a little bit after the Unemployment Olympics

The sign remains.

Previously.

At the 2009 Unemployment Olympics

The Unemployment Olympics are under way now in Tompkins Square Park. Hard to say whether there are more contestants (athletes?) or reporters on the scene.





After waiting in line to sign up, you waited in line to take part in the first activity of the day, Pin the Blame on the Boss.





Organizer Nick Goddard had to ask the assembled reporters to move back several times...the media kept inching closer to the Pin the Tail sign, and there wasn't enough room for the participants to spin and pin.



There are other activities planned, including the Fax Machine Toss (which looks suspiciously like a phone), the You're Fired Race and a stress-relieving piñata.



All of this got old pretty quickly. The reporters got their cutesy, "aw, we're-having-fun-in the-recession!" soft news bit and started to leave. Curiosity seekers had time to gawk.



Some Pin the Blame on the Boss video:

Will the Colonel's legacy be remembered in NYC potholes?

To the press release:

KFC COLONEL AND ROAD REPAIR CREW TAKE ADVERTISING TO THE STREETS TO RE-“FRESH” AMERICA’S POTHOLE-STRICKEN ROADWAYS

In Honor of its Freshly Delivered and Prepared Fried Chicken on the Bone, KFC Becomes First-Ever Corporate Sponsor of “Fresh”ly Repaired Potholes in U.S. Cities

Kentucky Fried Chicken Asks Mayors to Nominate U.S. Cities for KFC-Branded Pothole Repair

LOUISVILLE, KY – For more than half a century, KFC has “filled up” its fans with the Colonel’s world famous, freshly prepared fried chicken. Today, in a marketing first, KFC is celebrating its continued dedication to freshness by launching a pilot infrastructure renewal program, becoming the first-ever corporate sponsor of “fresh”ly “filled up” potholes in up to five major cities across the U.S.

The KFC Colonel and his professional road repair crew got started in their hometown of Louisville by filling up potholes and re-freshing roads around the city. KFC also issued an open offer to mayors of cities nationwide, asking them to describe their city streets’ state of disrepair. Four of these lucky cities, chosen at random, will receive KFC’s road re-“fresh”ment, promising citizens a smooth drive that is fit for a Colonel.

In today’s troubled economy, cities across the nation are left with potholes in desperate need of repair. It is estimated that U.S. roads are riddled with more than 350 million potholes nationwide -- that’s one mini canyon for every man, woman and child in America.

“This program is a perfect example of that rare and optimal occurrence when a company can creatively market itself and help local governments and everyday Americans across the country,” said Javier Benito, executive vice president of marketing and food innovation for KFC.

“Everyone could use a little help during these tough economic times and this initiative -– like our commitment to provide affordable, freshly prepared chicken -– is our way of carrying on Colonel Sanders’ legacy.”