After battling two blazes this morning, Ladder 11 back in service

Members of FDNY’s Engine 28 and Ladder 11 — the two fire companies quartered at 222 E. Second St. — helped battle the two two-alarm fires early this morning. The companies were briefly Out Of Service from these fires to clean tools and gear, as well as to wait for firefighters to replace the members of E-28 and L-11 who were injured at the Sixth Street fire.

As of 10:30 a.m., Ladder 11 is back in service.

Moving forward, we'll have information on local fire company activities, including when they are closed for periods of time.

After the fire on Second Avenue and East Fourth Street

Here's a shot via Organizing the Soup from outside East Village Farms this morning around 9:15.

As reported earlier, a major fire struck the corner building here on Second Avenue and East Fourth Street.

Here are reports via NY1 ... and Gothamist.

Sixth Street fire update: 6th Street Kitchen destroyed

EV Grieve reader Jamie shares this photo from this morning's fire on East Sixth Street just east of Avenue A. Several readers say that 6th Street Kitchen, pictured here, has been destroyed.

Developing: Second major fire hits the East Village this morning

We're now getting word of a second major fire this morning... Some 20 trucks are on the scene... early reports put the fire at 505 507 E. Sixth St. just east of Avenue A. One witness says it's the building that houses Eastern Bloc, where there's speculation the fire stared. No word on any injuries. [Updated 8:15 a.m.: Another reader says the fire started at 6th Street Kitchen at 507 E. Sixth St.]

The first photo is from reader Steve...



The following photos are from reader Creature...

[Updated] Major early-morning fire on Second Avenue and Fourth Street

According to several readers, a fire broke out on the northwest corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street early this morning around 4:30. We're still waiting for more details. Slum Goddess has photos and a narrative here. She writes: "everyone was climbing down the fire escapes in the back of the building to get out of there. I think everyone got out safely from what I can tell."

In an e-mail to me, she writes, "It was/is nuts. No one could breathe out there."

Witnesses say the East Village Village Farm on the corner sustained extensive damage. Adrianna Grezak has more photos and information here.

DNAinfo reports that seven residents were treated for minor injuries and six were taken to Beth Israel Hospital after the fire broke out. A cockapoo named Rugby reportedly saved the lives of his owner and roommate.

The first photo is from reader Jeremy...



The rest of the photos here are from reader Special Monkey










Here's a video of firefighters entering entering the building on the upper floors... shot by Kevin Rose.



Here's another video via YouTube ...

Why they'll be dancing now at 55 Avenue C

Olivio's, a homey and unusual little shop (part gaming, part yarn!), closed at 55 Avenue C in July 2009 after 36 years in business. While there was a slight rent increase here near East Fourth Street, the proprietors of this father-son operation said that they simply couldn't make a go of it anymore...




Given that Avenue C of late has attracted fancy drink emporiums such as Summit and Bedlam, we figured a more-upscale business would likely take over the space.

Well, turns out something that we never quite expected is opening here this week...



The East Village Dance Project, in partnership with GOH Productions, is opening the Avenue C Studio ...





The space will offer ballet classes for kids and adults... Check out their website for more information. There are free classes being offered this week... and an open house on Sunday afternoon...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Olivo's on Avenue C.

Eleven now open on First and 11th

The former Village Fabrics Store is now a new/used vintage clothing shop, as we previously mentioned...





We hope that they will be able to make the rent here... We'll check back in a few weeks once they get a chance to get up and running a bit...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Closing sale at Village Fabrics

Village Fabrics to close next month

A canopy fit for a (gyro) King

I always like a good sidewalk canopy... (No really — I do... just look here.)



Anyway, as the newish awning shows, work continues to creep along here at the incoming King Gyro on First Avenue between Third Street and Fourth Street ... first noted the incoming eatery back in September.



Previously on EV Grieve:
The canopies of NYC

An Avenue A now and then... from last Monday

Dec. 27...



Jan. 3...



Not exactly lined up... but you get the idea...

Rent rally tonight

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Tonight at 6, tenants and advocates from across the five boroughs will be rallying on the steps of City Hall to show their support for renewing and strengthening New York's rent-stabilization and rent-control laws.

Approximately 2.5 million New Yorkers depend on these laws, which are set to expire on June 15.

What: Candlelight Vigil to Save Our Rent Protection Laws

When: Tonight, Monday, January 3, 2011

Time: 6 p.m.

Where: City Hall Steps

Roger's closing for renovations

Roger's Garden on First Avenue between First Street and Second Street is a handy stop for people waiting for the M15... Unfortunately, the market is closing for an unspecified amount of time for renovations....

Westville East reopens today at 5

As Fork in the Road reported back on Dec. 21, Westville East on Avenue A and 11th Street was closing for renovations... As promised, the restaurant reopens today — at 5, to be exact...

A rare double-double for tabloid cover headlines today

Admiring a new resident on East Third Street

East Third Street resident Frank Franca passes along word of a lovely creature that has taken up residency in his building... A red-tailed hawk moved into the airshaft of his building right after the blizzard. "It makes a tremendous whoosh when it flies from one floor to the other," he says. Frank shared these photos...




Frank notes that his building had a horrible pigeon infestation for years that was out of control. "They were noisy and filthy, and kept everyone awake at night," he says. "Since this creature arrived, not a single pigeon has been seen on our entire block."