East Seventh Street. Photo by Bobby Williams.
[Yes, I know that headline makes no sense...]
Friday, June 14, 2013
The NSA needs your support!
At least according to these flyers on St. Mark's Place. After pledging support, will people need to see "After Earth"?
[Photo by Chloe Sweeney McGlade via Facebook]
Essex Street sinkhole now threatening to swallow this 'Village Voice' box
Back on Monday, BoweryBoogie reported on the sinkhole that formed at the southwest corner of Essex and Stanton Streets following Tropical Storm Andrea...
There's progress to report. Not so much in favor of pedestrians, cyclists or motorists (or newspaper boxes) though...
[Photo by EVG reader Riad]
Lunch at Katz's today
EVG reader Riad asks, "I'm not usually around these parts during the day on a weekday, but is this common for Katz's on a Friday?"
Good question! I'm never around these times either. And don't know if there's usually a line now...
Summer Friday Tourist Season?
Ray gets a new lease, an A rating (and a new shirt) on the same day
As we first noted yesterday, Ray has a new one-year lease for Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A. There had been some speculation that he might face a stiff rent hike, though, as it turns out, that wasn't the case.
As if that wasn't enough... the DOH paid a visit the other day... and Ray is now proudly showing off his new A rating...
Because you know, it hasn't always gone so well here... whether with the DOH ... or the lease...
Shawn Chittle, who took these photos, talked with Ray last night... Turns out there are other new things in Ray's life aside from a lease and an A rating...
The Birdman of the East Village
[Photo by Jessie Auritt]
Thanks to a pile of crappy CDs, we now have a documentary short about one of the neighborhood's more intriguing shops — and shopkeepers.
A few years ago, Jessie Auritt lived on on St. Mark's Place. She had some used CDs to sell. She first tried the nearest CD store near her apartment — Rainbow Music at 130 First Ave., where the stacks of CDs, videos, cassettes and records are precariously stacked to the ceiling. The trip didn't go so well. The store's curmudgeonly owner thought her CDs weren't worth a thing.
However, that visit inspired Auritt, a filmmaker who now lives in Brooklyn, to make a short about the store's 70-year-old owner nicknamed The Birdman. She answered a few questions via email about her award-winning short, "The Birdman."
Tell us about the first time you went into the store.
Well actually, the first time I set foot in Rainbow Music was a few years back before I was even interested in making a documentary. I was attempting to sell some used CDs and Birdman told me he wasn’t interesting in buying any of them. He turned me away!
What compelled you to document the shop?
I was initially interested in making a documentary film about the changing nature of the music industry. I was curious about how all of the small independent music stores in the East Village were able to stay in business with illegal music downloading and people buying songs on the Internet. Rainbow Music was naturally the first place came to mind because it's so unique. After talking to Birdman, I instantly knew that I wanted to make a documentary about him and his store. He’s such a quirky and interesting character, I felt he deserved his own film.
What was his initial reaction to your request?
When I first asked Birdman if I could film him for my documentary, he told me that it was okay for me to film in the store but that he didn’t want his face shown on camera because he is a very private person. I shot and edited the film with the hopes that we would like it and change his mind. Luckily he did.
How do you think this store has been able to survive, not only with what's happening in the music biz, but also the local economy?
To be honest, I don’t think the store would survive if Birdman wasn’t so passionate about what he does. As he says in the film, "I don't need the money, but I like the work." Judging by the massive amounts of CDs that are crammed floor to ceiling in the store, I believe him.
What's your favorite thing about Rainbow Music?
Just the fact that it simply exists. I used to live in the East Village. Now every time I am in the neighborhood, I am astonished by how much it’s changed in only the last few years with new businesses cropping up everyday. I really appreciate unique mom-and-pop shops, which sadly are becoming few and far between. Hopefully Rainbow Music will be able to stick around for a long time to come.
"The Birdman" is just one of the documentary shorts that will screen tonight as part of Rooftop Films Summer Series. The films are shown at the New Design High School (formerly Open Road) at 350 Grand St. Find tickets and more details here.
Oh, and the Birdman's real name? Bill. He never divulged his last name.
Sad Guys: Burger joint closes on Second Avenue
Good Guys, the burger-fries-salad-wraps-waffles-smoothie eatery that replaced a Subway on Second Avenue, has closed. Paper went up on the windows this week. The place opened in late December.
We honestly never saw anyone in the place (though we know that Blue Glass tried a burger once). The menu was about the length of the block. Seemed to try to do too much. (And those sidewalk flags. And that unfortunate typo.)
We spotted an add on Craigslist noting a sale of the equipment here. The add says "we have a list of used restaurant equipment that we are looking to sell in a timely manner. All equipment was purchased aprox 6 months ago. we have acquired this space and do not have use for these pieces of equipment."
So it sounds as if a new tenant has something else planned here that doesn't include:
-Soda machine with custom cabinet and drain system with Ice machine attached.
-food service counter with soda cup dispenser.
-waring Belgium waffle machine
Meanwhile, about 500 Good Guys business cards are in the gutter on Second Avenue.
-----
Previously on EV Grieve:
Second Avenue Subway now a Good Guys Burger
Another East Village Subway closes
Puts the 'Ass' in Classic Burger
East Village at night
We featured the photography of East Village resident Sally Davies here earlier this year... wanted to share a few more of her recent photos from around the neighborhood...
Find more of her photos and info on her website.
Getting to know — Tompkins Square Park
These "Did You Know?" signs just arrived in Tompkins Square Park... passing some trivia related to the Park's history... At the moment we're not sure who is responsible for these (where's the branding?!)
Any trivia to add to the collection?
Photos by Bobby Williams.
A few more details on Mee Noodle Shop's return to the East Village
[From May]
Mee Noodle Shop is returning to First Avenue after a seven-year absence, as Eater first reported last month.
This week's issue of The Villager has a few more details, including:
• The broker "struck a favorable deal with the landlord that allowed the restaurant to set up the space without having to pay rent for the duration of construction."
• According to Mee's Joyce Chi, the restaurant will be reopening in about five months.
The new address is 223 First Ave., two storefronts to the north of the previous Mee location. That building apparently had a cracked infrastructure ... the building on the corner of East 13th Street is now home to a Starbucks and that new stack of apartments.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Today in rumors of another Starbucks opening in the East Village
Starbucks confirmed for 219 First Ave., former home to Allen Ginsberg's favorite Chinese restaurant
Mee Noodle Shop returning to First Avenue (28 comments)
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Storm brings down tree on St. Mark's Place
Uh-oh. @gaminette reports that tonight's stormy-ish weather uprooted this tree outside Natori on St. Mark's Place between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... amazingly, it doesn't appear that the tree caused any damage... missing a mini-van ... and any passersby...
Ray's Candy Store gets a new 1-year lease
From the "Finally There's Some Good Fucking News Department":
Ray has secured a new one-year lease for his beloved shop on Avenue A. There had been some worries about a huge rent hike and all that usual stuff. However, as we understand it, the increase is quite modest.
And, as you can see from that photo via Ray's Facebook page, he is very happy. And so are we.
Boardwalk Empire magically turns John's of 12th Street into Whitings Pharmacy for the day
HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" is back in the neighborhood filming scenes for its upcoming season... and the crew returned to a favorite spot — the great John's of 12th Street ... making things all 1920s-ish...
The restaurant is closed tonight for filming... back with the red sauce tomorrow...
Photos via the John's of 12th Street Facebook page.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)