Saturday, June 14, 2014

Welcome to New York



Earlier today on Avenue A, Kristen from Norway, spending her second day in NYC, was busking with an electric guitar on Avenue A between East Second Street and East Third Street.

After about, oh, 20 minutes, two police officers, driving in an unmarked vehicle, arrived on the scene. She was singing a song about Saturday, a pleasant alternative-rock (for lack of a better description) sounding number.

The officers waited until the song was over, then told her that she needed to leave.

She protested a little, explaining that she has busked throughout Europe the past 10 years without incident. The officers nodded and said that she was done for the day. She asked if she could play one more song. No. In a firm yet polite tone, they reiterated that she had to pack up and go.

As the officers returned to their car, several passersby explained to Kristen that the amplification was the problem in the estimation of the NYPD.

Did she have an acoustic guitar?

No.

Could she play the electric guitar without the small amp?

No, it will sound weird.

She thought she could just move up to the next block.

Hmm, no — not a good idea. The officers will certainly drive by again … and probably issue a ticket for something.

Her haul this morning: Two single $1 bills, and a handful of coins that looked to amount to $1.50.

Noted



Spotted on East Houston near the Bowery… in case you are in the market for a bike tire…

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!



Oh, we happened to be at Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place at the exact time (8:20ish) that a seemingly random person pulled the police barricades across the street to mark the start of a — ding! ding! — STREET FAIR/FESTIVAL … actually, The Cooper Square Committee Street Festival, per the signage.



Anyway!





We were also there in time for an exclusive first look at today's porta-potties … (these will do!)



We also heard swear words from motorists who suddenly made u-turns, nearly driving into fools taking photos of porta-potties…



And for all you complainers out there who think there are street fairs like every 20 minutes around here… there hasn't been one of these since May 17, which is like a month in street fair years.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!

This afternoon in Tompkins Square Park



Here are the set times:

2 — Running Thoughts
2:30 — Srotakin IV
3 — J and the 9s
3:30 — SOS NYC
4 — Tragic Anti-Hero
4:30 — Spacebeard
5 — Hail Action
5:30 — The Nuclears

As we understand it, there will be some vendors there too, including Our Lady of Perpetual PMS with her affordable art and punk crafts.

You can head to the Facebook events page for more on each of the bands.

A panoramic view of last night's incoming storm


[Click on image for a better view]

Photo by Dan Celio via Facebook.

Friday, June 13, 2014

A little sky before it rained a lot late this afternoon



A view from East Seventh Street via EVG reader Elle Sturm...





A place in the 'Sun'



Here is "Sun Glass," something new from Fucked Up … who released "Glass Boys" last week on Matador.

Look for them at Irving Plaza on Sept. 6.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition


[Photo at The Library on Avenue A by Ricky Knapp]

CB3 problems loom large in chairperson race (The Villager)

Some love for Big Bar on East Seventh Street (The New York Times)

East Village Radio's sendoff (The New Yorker)

3 LES community centers in danger with city budget shortfall (The Lo-Down)

This East Village co-op comes with a home recording studio (Curbed)

Video feature about Donostia on Avenue B (Vimeo)

Not an episode of Portlandia: The long lines at Shake Shake for a truffle-topped burger (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Video from 2008: Thurston Moore on the No Wave scene (Dangerous Minds)

Rising real-estate prices force longtime LES fencing school to close (DNAinfo)

Parking garage on Kenmare boarded up to make way for luxury housing (BoweryBoogie)

A look at the legendary BC Studio in Gowanus (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Williamsburg is turning into a high-end mall (The Wall Street Journal, sub. may be required)

And … here's another video from East Village resident Stephen Nangeroni … who did the lovely "Snow Day" last year. His latest is "One Day in New York City," and was made for the "One Day on Earth" filmmaking initiative. The aim of the piece was to capture the ebb and flow of activity on a lively, spring day in the city, and it was largely filmed in and around East River Park.

A comment from the Cadillac with the Tiger in it


[Photo from the going-away party this past Saturday]

As you might know, the 1978 Cadillac Sedan Deville — aka, the Cadillac with the Tiger in it — has left its 22-year-home on East Second Street.

Ernest, who works nearby as a custodian, is the proud new owner. This past Saturday, the owner of the Cadillac with the Tiger in it presented the car to Ernest.

Since then, several people have asked how things were going. We don't really know, though the Cadillac with the Tiger in it left this comment on Wednesday night:

I thank all of you who have expressed interest in my stories. I made it safely to my new location and Ernest is taking good care of us. Soon I will update you all with photos and info about the farewell gathering, which was wonderful. But the tiger and I need to rest a little first — we've had a long journey and a lot of excitement the past week!

Previously on EV Grieve:
That Cadillac that we've long admired on East 2nd St. now has a stuffed tiger on the front seat

And now, stories from the Cadillac with the Tiger in it on East 2nd Street

And now, another story from the Cadillac with the Tiger in it on East 2nd Street

Alas, the end is near for the Cadillac with the Tiger in it on East 2nd Street

Everything that you wanted to know about the Cadillac with the Tiger in it

Also! The Cadillac with the Tiger in it now has its on website. Find that here.

Report: Retired detective leaves gun behind after throwing up in The Phoenix

[EVG file photo of the Phoenix]

In an "exclusive" today, the Post reports that former NYPD Detective Eric Reynolds left his Colt. 38 behind after drinking for six hours at the Phoenix on East 13th Street.

Specifically:

Reynolds placed his cellphone and pistol on the sink while worshipping the porcelain god, picking the phone back up only when he took off at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, the sources said.

He and a buddy had made it all the way to Union Square when Reynolds patted his gun holster and realized his epic mistake.

The NYPD is checking surveillance video to find who may have taken the misplaced gun.

According to an unnamed owner of The Phoenix:

“We all make mistakes. Maybe he had been drinking. He made a mistake,” said the woman, who would not give her name. “Maybe he shouldn’t have brought a gun with him.”

The Post also sent a reporter to Reynolds' home, and note that he "answered the door with his Chihuahua and declined to comment."

Meanwhile on St. Mark's Place in 1968….


[Click on image to enlarge]

Here's a photo that EVG reader George Cohen took in 1968 "of the hippie scene on St. Mark's Place between Third and Second Avenues, looking east."

How did these people survive without $1 pizza along that corridor?