Going for a ride with Fran Lebowitz

Over at the Times this evening, there's an interview with Fran Lebowitz, who owns (and drives!) a 1979 Checker Marathon, "which she keeps in an expensive garage in the East Village." Reporter Michael M. Grynbaum tagged along for a ride. An excerpt from the Q-and-A:

What about those pedestrian plazas that the mayor installed in Times Square?

Closing down the streets the way he did — you know, the lawn chairs in Times Square and that kind of stuff? It’s grotesquely suburban. O.K.? It makes New York seem like a failed Rust Belt city, where they are trying to, you know, bring people downtown to a mall where no one shops because the factory closed. It is the opposite of an urban environment.

Thanks to EV Grieve reader Mykola (Mick) Dementiuk for the link ...

Along for a ride

Bobby Williams took this shot earlier today in Tompkins Square Park...

What do you think of the new outdoor toilet in Tompkins Square Park?

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Behold the Economakis Dream Mansion

Workers have removed the construction netting from 47 E. Third St., soon to be the single-family Economakis Dream Mansion.

Here's a shot of the building, once a 15-unit tenement, from September 2009... So long pesky fire escapes!



Around that time, Scoopy at The Villager got a tour of the building. You can read that here.

An epic Plant Thief sign

EV Grieve reader John Iz spotted this instant classic Urban Etiquette Sign at the 6th & B Garden ...

Big Gay Ice Cream signage spotted on Seventh Street

EV Grieve reader Elizabeth Frayer of New York Natives spotted signage of the coming-soon Big Gay Ice Cream shop on Seventh Street in the former Xoom space...

Still no official opening date, though...

Meanwhile, a look inside the shop via the Big Gay Ice Cream Facebook page... which includes a mural (in progress here) by Sam Simon...

Olivia has closed on East Ninth Street

When we last checked in on the Mediterranean-themed Olivia on East Ninth Street, the restaurant had closed because of a problem with the air conditioner...

A few weeks later, the space is now for lease.

Olivia had taken over the the short-lived Sintir, the Moroccan eatery/lounge that opened in May 2009. Too early to say that this is a jinxed/doomed location for a restaurant?

Wai? Cafe ready to open as Y Cafe on Avenue B

As we pointed out back in April, Wai? Cafe had left its First Avenue home... and was relocating to Avenue B near 11th Street... There is now a sign... as well as menus ... looks as if they're going by Y Cafe these days.

The menu looks similar too...

No exact opening date just yet.

DOH closes Fu Sushi on Avenue B

The DOH temporarily closed Fu Sushi on Avenue B near 11th Street last Thursday... 99 violations points, including for "evidence" of live mice and roaches.

A July 4 reminder from EV Grieve

Difficult to believe, but next Monday is July 4. And please, for the children, remember that...

So far, people seem to be taking well to the reminders...

High Teen Boogie at Puke Island in Tompkins Square Park

Find out more about the band here. Excellent set. Photos by Bobby Williams.

Earlier this evening on Avenue A

Photo by Bobby Williams.

3 scenes from Tompkins Square Park today

Photos by Bobby Williams.

FDNY responds to stove fire on East 10th Street

EV Grieve reader David notes that the FDNY responded to a stove fire on East 10th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue earlier this evening... there wasn't any immediate word about injuries or damages...