NYPD asking for your help in the Gavin DeGraw beating; plus, other important questions!

As every media outlet in the media outlet world reported, some people jumped pop singer Gavin DeGraw early Monday morning on First Avenue near Sixth Street... According to his website, he suffers from a concussion, broken nose, black eyes, cuts and bruises.

Now, the NYPD has papered the First Avenue corridor with these flyers...

Meanwhile, several important questions remain. Such as:

1) Who, exactly, is Gavin DeGraw anyway?

Good question! One that several readers asked after reading about all this. I don't know much about him either. So, according to Wikipedia: Gavin Shane DeGraw (born February 4, 1977) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is known for his songs "Chariot", "Follow Through", "I Don't Want to Be" (which is featured as the theme song for the television drama series One Tree Hill (since 2003), and "In Love with a Girl."

2) Was he drunk at the time of the attack?

Some reports suggest that he had left a "group of drinking buddies" and was walking alone at the time of the attack. However! His brother told the Post that Gavin was not drunk when the incident occurred and that he "had nothing but cranberry juice to drink" that night.

3) What does he remember about the attack?

Not much, apparently! "Honestly, I don't remember much. I only know I can recover from here," he tweeted on Aug. 9.

4) How many people jumped him?

News sources have mentioned two and three assailants.

5) Did the people know that he was some famous singer-songwriter?

Apparently not, according to anonymous sources at the Daily News.

6) Why did the assailants jump him?

Well, you can likely insert a joke here about people not liking his music. But! According to this report — "These guys jumped him out of nowhere," a source close to the singer told Us Weekly. "It's weird because they didn't take anything, I think they did it for sport."

7) Are there witnesses?

Apparently not, per the Daily News again. Which is why the NYPD is posting the flyers along First Avenue hoping to catch a break.

8) Why are you writing about this?

Because it happened in the neighborhood. Plus! SEO!

Rain delay

Third Avenue near 11th Street.

[EVG Flashback] The Lower East Side: There goes the neighborhood

On occasion we'll revisit an old EVG blog post ... like this one from June 6, 2008 ...

That's the headline for the May 28, 1984, New York magazine cover story that I recently came across. The piece begins in the early 1980s with the rotting hulk of the Christodora and the young man eager to own it, Harry Skydell.

Skydell's enthusiasm was indeed mysterious. The sixteen-story building he wanted to buy, on Avenue B facing Tompkins Square Park, was surrounded by burned-out buildings that crawled with pushers and junkies. It was boarded up, ripped out, and flooded...Early in the seventies, the city had put up the Christodora up for auction and nobody bid.

The building was eventually sold in 1975 for $62,500. (Last I saw, two-bedroom units there -- roughly 1,100 square feet -- average $1.6 million or so. Of course, they're rarely available.)

The article talks about the influx of chain stores, art galleries and chic cafes. "And real-estate values are exploding" as a result. Said one longtime resident on the changes: "I've lived in my rent-controlled apartment for years and pay $115 a month. I live on the Lower East Side. The young kids who just moved in upstairs and pay $700 a month for the same space -- they live in the East Village."

There are so many interesting passages in the article by Craig Unger that I'd end up excerpting the whole thing. So it's below. You can click on each image to read it. Meanwhile, what do you think would be the headline for this story today?

This afternoon along East River Park

Photos by Bobby Williams.

[EVG Flashback] Subway mascot gets snappy new costume, cape, mouth — and name!

On occasion we'll revisit an old EVG blog post ... like this one from July 21, 2009 (the comments were good)...


At Second Avenue and St.Mark's. Whoa! Look at all the changes. The Subway Dude is now Subman! And he has teeth! And more veggies! And he no longer wears the old-man shoes. Look at the yellow boots! And those arms!




Previously on EV Grieve:
It's Feb. 18, and we've already exceeded our quota for stories on Subway for 2009

February Subway dude photo via Slum Goddess.

The New York City Marble Cemetery is open to visitors today

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ... A serene setting free of loudmouths... Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

[Bobby Williams]

And... upcoming dates...

Summer Neighborhood Open Days
Sunday, September 11th

11 a.m. to p.m.

~~~~~~

Fall Open Weekend
Saturday and Sunday
October 15th and 16th, 2011

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information please visit the cemetery website.

And now, photos of a squirrel trying to steal a bike on East Sixth Street

Caught the bastard red, um, handed last evening...

Noted

This morning on Avenue A at 10th Street... Who do you suppose did this? The rats? The bridesmaid party last night? The usual weekend idiots (a pretty broad group)?

A brake in the action

A reader notes this Alfa Romeo on Stanton Street with a curious sign on its windshield...

"Be careful. Brakes Failing."

The reader asks good questions: Why would someone put this sign on their car? Do they expect someone to steal it, and they just want to warn them about the failing brakes? Or maybe someone put the sign on the car as a joke? Or...

What happens when there are 'Wet Paint' signs at the Second Avenue F stop

Many thanks to BaHa for these photos...

One of those nights....

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Wire service

Wire circa 1987.

Planning meeting to occupy Wall Street in Tompkins Square Park tomorrow

The planning to occupy Wall Street continues tomorrow at 5 p.m. with a meeting in Tompkins Square Park...

More details here.

A look at the new-look Sidewalk, now with 'boozy $10 milkshakes'

[Photo yesterday by Bobby Williams]

As we first reported, Sidewalk closed its doors on Avenue A and Sixth Street for renovations on March 1. The bar and music venue is open now; and the whole place will be ready Monday.

Gothamist got a look inside the renovated space, and notes that the new management is focusing on more quality food and drinks, including "boozy $10 milkshakes."

Per Jamie Feldmar at Gothamist:

The newly renovated space is making food a top priority, with all day-and-night breakfast platters like crème brûlée French toast with bacon, plus dinners like Israeli-style chicken schnitzel and the aforementioned line of spiked milkshakes, with options like the Monkey Business (bourbon, banana, peanut butter, chocolate, ice cream) and Grasshopper (whipped cream vodka, crème de minthe, coffee liquor, ice cream).

Previously.