Otto's Shrunken Head celebrates 10th anniversary tonight

At 538 E. 14th St. near Avenue B...

Last weekend for Gimme Gimme Records

As we reported Tuesday, this gem of a record store on East Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue got hit with an enormous rent hike ... and is closing up after tomorrow...

Open 1-10 today ... and 1-7 tomorrow... stop by and say goodbye... and buy some vinyl.

East Village dipping alert

The Post has a piece today about "[o]rganized bands of thieves ... targeting East Village partiers."

Pickpockets using a three-man system called "dipping" have been plaguing clubs, authorities and club employees said.

The NYPD made an arrest in connection with a dipping incident at Bowery Electric. The article also quotes Kevin Lynch, the owner of Solas, who said "he and his employees twice have helped nab thieves they spotted."

Lynch has beefed up his security team on weekends to combat the scourge.

Meanwhile, we have also seen an increase in dipping around here...

Well, an increase in dippin' ...

A busy Saturday in Tompkins Square Park today

A quick recap!

• The Earth School Fall Fair from 11-5.

• The Halloween Dog Parade from noon-3.

• The massive Mad Hatter Tea Party from 3-6.

• Public viewings of mysterious, rolled-up thing.

Missing anything?

A Tea Party that we like

This afternoon via the Free Art Society. Be hatted.

Previously.

Reminders: CUTE DOG ALERT in Tompkins Square Park today

[Photo by ~ Joan]

Everyone enjoys take out in Tompkins Square Park

Photos yesterday by Bobby Williams.

Fall Fair for people 1 to 100 today

It was the night he came home...

Avenue A near East Fifth Street...

H/T John Carpenter

Gusher

Tompkins Square Park tonight. We called 311 to report this...

The season of the Witch?

The Fuzztones cover the Sonics with "The Witch" ...

Report: Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken frying soon on East First Street

Diner's Journal at the Times is reporting this afternoon that the chefs/restaurateurs Eric and Bruce Bromberg of Blue Ribbon fame are opening Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken on East First Street in the spring.

Per FloFab:

And for the first time, they will be making their own small-batch ice cream. The new place, in an increasingly foodcentric slice of the East Village, will have 65 seats and will be designed for quick service, takeout and delivery.

The address: 28 E. First St. If my address memory is any good, this puts the Fried Chickeners right here in the long empty Avalon Bowery retail space...

And a few years earlier on this corner ... via EVG reader Steve Carter circa 1997 ...

XOXO at 19 Second Ave. was Julius Klein's performance space and gallery ...

Arrest made in connection with burglary at Tompkins Square Bagels

Yesterday we reported that a man had robbed Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A. Owner Christopher Pugliese shared details with us here. Pugliese just passed along word that the NYPD made an arrest:

The police spotted him on First Avenue and 14th Street. They recognized him from the pictures and arrested him. Some officers stopped by the shop and let me know. They were pretty happy — I think they were looking for this guy for a long time.

Pugliese said earlier that the NYPD believed the same man had allegedly been responsible for a string of robberies in the neighborhood.

A welcome for Wylie?

A reader sent along this photo from last night ... just some random urban art (or, if you prefer, vandalism) outside the former Plum Pizzeria on Second Avenue ... where Grub Street reported yesterday that noted chef Wylie Dufresne will open a pub concept early next year. Reaction to this news has been mixed.