Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

As we've been reporting, East Village Farms is closing on Avenue A on Jan. 31. One worker said the building's owner will be demolishing the structure for lord knows what...

Anyway, as you know, the space was originally a theater in operation from 1926-1959.

[Via Cinema Treasures]

We've seen a few tantalizing bits and pieces of the theater's remains... as far as we know, the auditorium is still intact.

EV Grieve reader Lambert Jack was one of the many curious about what's behind and above the grocery... He took a look the other night...

Per Lambert Jack: "We went into the main theater room, and poked around the offices and other abandoned rooms. There were some amazing painted tin roof parts. I hope someone strips the cool stuff ... before the place is razed."

His opinion on the space? "I'm not sure the building is worth saving — the cool parts of it seem really run down and unusable — but the ornate period works need to be preserved as best as they can. I would love to have a theater there, but I suspect it's headed for new housing."

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village Farms is closing; renovations coming to 100 Avenue A

A little bit of Hollywood on Avenue A

Reader finds lost P.S. 63 student transcripts from the 1920s

A reader tells us that she found two student transcripts (pupil's record) on the ground near P.S. 63 on East Third Street between Avenue A and First Avenue ... they likely fell out of a box the school was either discarding or moving...

Let's take a look. As you can see, one is dated 1926... (student birth date: July 22, 1920)

...the other is from 1924... (student birth date Sept. 17, 1917)

And here is the "physical examination record."

As the reader notes on the one student: "She is apparently not proficient in anything."

This is what 437 E. Sixth St. looked like on Jan. 9, 2012

This year, we'll post photos like this of various buildings, streetscenes, etc., to capture them as they looked at this time and place... The photos may not be the most telling now, but they likely will be one day...

[EV Grieve repost] A cab ride up First Avenue in 1971

First posted this last Feb. 27 ... given yesterday's item on the First Avenue of 1997... thought it might be nice to repost this now...

Marriage mural on East Second Street rankles neighborhood activist

The Lo-Down reported on a controversy surrounding the newest mural by Tats Cru on Second Street at Avenue A. Turns out a longtime neighborhood activist is demanding that the property owners remove the mural that she finds "racially offensive." She contacted CB3 and other local organizations for help. CB3 District Manager Susan Stetzer forwarded the complaint to the New York City Commission on Human Rights, the Lo-Down noted.

Turns out that this is a marriage proposal mural (like the one that was in this space before...). The groom-to-be (Marisha said yes!) wrote in to the Lo-Down with an explanation. "[I]t is a shame that something bred of love is getting sprinkled with negativity because one individual misconstrued it – a piece of art, no less. Regardless, I just want to make it clear that I was the sole creative director of this mural and Tats Cru only executed my design as requested."

[Photo of the happy couple via the Lo-Down]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Going to the mural and we're gonna get married

A marriage proposal by mural on Second Street (and she said yes)

NYPD briefly closes part of Avenue C due to 'suspicious package'

Several readers told us that around 5:15 this evening, the NYPD shut down Avenue C between Seventh Street and Ninth Street after receiving a call about a "suspicious package." Bobby Williams was on the scene...

We stopped by a little later to retrieve that suitcase we left behind and found the scene to be all clear. All clear of the NYPD.

'I'll have the Chittle to go please'

This afternoon out a window. Photo by Shawn Chittle.

Let's take a walk along First Avenue in the East Village in 1997

In 1997, EV Grieve reader Dave Buchwald worked on the cover art for 2600 Magazine, the publication that sponsored the Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE) conference at the Puck Building. As a favor, Buchwald walked around the neighborhood, taking pictures of the restaurants, bars and stores that a computer hacker might want to visit while in New York.

He was kind enough to pass along some 100 of these photos, from Houston to 14th Street, Second Avenue to Avenue A. We thought we'd start today looking at First Avenue and East First Street heading north...

These photos are only 15 years old, but when looking at them, it suddenly seems like a long time ago...

To be continued...

Demolition OK'd for former Nevada Smith's home

It was only a matter of time before someone filed the paperwork for the demolition of 74 Third Ave., the former home of Nevada Smith's. (The soccer/football bar will eventually reopen at 100 Third Ave. For now, Webster Hall is showing the games/matches.)

As of this week, the plans are on file and approved, according to the DOB.

The city had already OK'd the demolition of 76 Third Ave. So the pair of buildings and the temporary parking lot ...

...will make way for something that looks like ...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Those persistent rumors about 74-76 Third Avenue and the future of Nevada Smith's

The East Village will lose a parking lot and gain an apartment building

So just how many Subways are there in the East Village?

Last Thursday, we broke the news that another Subway sandwich shop was opening here, this time on First Avenue between Sixth Street and Seventh Street...

There was some debate among readers about just how many Subways there are in the East Village. Being investigative hyperlocal journalists, we investigated...

1) Avenue B near 14th Street...

2) First Avenue near 13th Street

3) Second Avenue near Ninth Street

4) 14th Street near Second Avenue

5) Fourth Avenue near 12th Street

6) The Bowery near Great Jones

7) Houston between Avenue A and Avenue B

Christ, we're probably missing one... but between Houston and 14th, and Fourth Avenue to Avenue D, we think this is it. Seven. With one coming soon.

And the one at 108 First Ave. is already on the Subway website...

How many more Subways will arrive here become the apocalypse?