Monday, July 21, 2014

Birdbath Bakery remains closed, though it may only be temporary



As we noted last Monday, The Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery on Third Avenue at East Ninth Street hasn't been open of late.

Another week passed here without any sign of activity. And the address no longer appears on its parent City Bakery's website.

However, a representative for City Bakery told Eater the shutter is only temporary.

If this is the case (and we like the food here, so …), then why not put up a sign noting a temporary closure? The only recent sign is the one comically announcing new summer hours.

We walked by every day last week. And on each occasion, at least one other person would attempt to enter the business. Why not tell your loyal customers that you'll be back?

Girls! Girls! Girls!



"Girls," the HBO television program entering its fourth season, will be filming in and around the neighborhood this week.

Signs are up along the Bowery and East Third Street for Tuesday … and on St. Mark's Place (and East Ninth Street) between Second Avenue and Third Avenue for Wednesday …



There are likely more filming notices on other streets, but we didn't really look too closely for them.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Sunday sunset



Courtesy of EVG reader Vinny.

Click on the image for the full panoramic sunset action.

More on Punjabi Grocery & Deli and the never-ending East Houston construction


[Photo via Jeremiah's Vanishing New York]

As Jeremiah Moss first reported back on Wednesday, the never-ending construction along East Houston has put a big dent on business at the 20-year-old Punjabi Grocery & Deli on East First Street.

Gothamist has a feature on the situation as well.

A favorite of hungry cab drivers in search of good food and a spot to rest between fares, the span of East 1st in front of Punjabi between 1st and A was once lined with the parked yellow cabs of satisfied customers. Now that span is home to a battered cement median, some orange cones, and not much else.

Given the lack of parking, cab drivers have to go elsewhere … and miss out on Punjabi's inexpensive vegetarian fare. ($5 gets you a very large portion of food.)

So, in case you didn't hear ... Punjabi started an online petition asking the commissioner of the Taxi And Limousine Commission to approve a taxi relief stand at Avenue A and Houston Street.

You can find the petition here. (We posted about this on Thursday.)

Meanwhile, an EVG reader told us the following on Friday about the work along East First Street. "People have basically given up, and assume that this construction will go on forever," the reader wrote in an email. "It's very hard to unload a cab since stopping effectively stops all traffic on the block. This situation is especially hard on residents who cannot park on their own block and load bags, etc."

Yesterday morning, the street was closed for construction.



The reader also noted what looks like a grill amid all the construction materials.



"If the construction site can make room for what looks like a a grill (could it be an actual piece of construction equipment?), then it can make room for some parking."

Week in Grieview


[An East 4th Street moment via Derek Berg]

Citi Bike: A Reluctant Love Affair (Thursday, 49 comments)

How to help Punjabi Grocery & Deli stay in business (Thursday)

A look at Bulb Concepts on East Seventh Street (Tuesday)

Out and About with Alex Shamuelov (Wednesday)

Good Samaritan thwarts bike theft, leaves note (Tuesday)

The BP property on Second Avenue sold for $32 million (Friday)

Where are they now: the Cadillac with the Tiger in it edition (Friday)

New murals for Best Housekeeping at 17 Avenue A (Monday)

The New Amsterdam Market at the Seaport has closed (Monday)

Checking in on Gabay's new Avenue A store (Thursday)

Rent at the Snack Dragon is $4,495 (Thursday)

No ghosts in the office space for rent! (Tuesday)

The Films in Tompkins series returns (Wednesday)

Buy this lovely East 7th Street townhouse, save it from demolition (Wednesday)

Apartment 13 will not reopen (Thursday)

Listen to this interview with Richard Hell (Tuesday)

It rained (Tuesday)

Unidentified Flying Chickens now open on Third Avenue (Monday)

Micro loft! (Wednesday)

A look inside the rebranded Eleventh and Third (Tuesday)

The animals of a Judd Apatow film shoot (Wednesday)

Where to get a flat fixed (Wednesday)

The Bao coming soon to St. Mark's Place (Monday)

…and this looks nice on East Sixth Street at Avenue C …

St. Mark's Bookshop is now open on East 3rd Street



The store made its debut here at 136 E. Third St. just west of Avenue A yesterday.

Hours: Noon to 10 p.m. daily.

Image via @stmarksbookshop H/T @SeanCarlson

Background on the move here.

Reader report: Kids these days



Via the EVG inbox…

At around 11:20 pm, July 19, a group of drunk friends (who obviously were all still in college) were playing truth or dare outside 97 East 7th. They were obnoxious and loud.

Bro #1 dared bro #2 to climb the fire escape.

Bro #2 foolishly did, but he immediately fell from hanging onto the 2nd floor fire escape to the basement staircase.

There was a loud thud.

The girl friends of the bros started to panic and a commotion ensued. Bro #2 was unconscious. Calls to 911 were made.

The ambulance came to the scene 10 minutes later and bro #2 seemed seriously injured. I witnessed the whole thing … from the moment the group of friends started hanging outside the bldg till bro #2 got injured and was brought to ambulance. Everything happened so quick.

I don't know how to feel about this whole situation. I am livid about how these kids think that it's okay to just party like that on the sidewalk. They were bothering several neighbors as they were loudly hanging out on the sidewalk and they bothered even more neighbors the moment bro #2 fell to the basement up until the ambulance came.

I also feel quite sorry for bro #2, but he clearly brought this upon himself and it's sad how NO ONE among his friends tried to stop him from climbing the fire escape..

Oh, by the way, seconds after the ambulance left, his "friends" who were left at the scene started to laugh and giggle about what just happened.

Tompkins Square Park, 8:23 a.m., July 20



Giuseppi said that it is a blessed day.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Beware ATM Skimming these Beware ATM Skimming signs say



Apparently the NYPD wants us to beware aware of ATM skimming. We spotted a dozen or so flyers around the neighborhood.

About five years ago ATM skimming in the East Village made the news.

Anyway, beware! And just one more reason to only carry Krugerrand gold coins like we do. (Admittedly, the exchange rate sucks, especially at bars.)

Thanks to @fnytv for the tip and photo.

[Updated] Feast your eyes on this new mural on East 2nd Street and Avenue C



Anyone happen to know who the artist/artists is/are?

Photo from Thursday night via @evgrieve

Updated 7/19

Oh! Here is the final product…



Alternate headlines:
For Your Eyes Only
Eyes Without a Face on a Mural

Friday, July 18, 2014

Today's hawk vs. squirrel action



The squirrel was in a taunting mood ... and managed to escape... Not everyone was happy.



Photos by Bobby Williams

Let's Dance



Manchester band Dislocation Dance appearing on Dutch TV in 1982. Catchy! But what's up with the cutaway shots to the toaster?

[Updated] Reader report: The 2 Bros. Pizza on 1st Avenue has apparently closed



EVG reader Michael Hirsch spotted workers hauling out the ovens from the dismantled $1 pizzeria between East 13th Street and East 14th Street.

There isn't an official word of a closure just yet.

This 2 Bros. branch opened in February 2013, much to the dismay of next-door neighbor Vinny Vincenz, who has been here for 11 years now. In respond to 2 Bros.'s arrival, Vinny's started offering $1 slices.

For now, it looks as if Vinny's has won this battle…

Updated 7-20

One reader said that a worker on the scene said they were merely remodeling the space.

Previously on EV Grieve:
First Avenue $1 Pizza Wars — now with draft beer

Checking in on the $1 pizza war on First Avenue

Latest weapon in the First Avenue $1 slice wars: Dancing Pizza Menu Woman

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition


[East 12th Street at 2nd Avenue the other day]

Former Dumpling Man employee suing for allegedly abusive work conditions (The Post)

The surprising story of one of the East Village's oldest schools (Off the Grid)

Frontman from the Walkmen recalls the "grimy" East Village of the 1990s (Mashable)

Can pop-ups sustain small businesses in pricey downtown New York? (The Guardian)

Shakespeare and Co. is still open on Broadway (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

History of the Essex Theatre (BoweryBoogie)

All-kids version of "Bye Bye Birdie" starts tonight at the Connelly Theater on East 4th Street (Kidz Theater)

The latest on the Floating +Pool in the East River (Curbed)

The Post's strange fascination with the wardrobe of occupy activist Cecily McMillan (Runnin' Scared)

...and! Via Dangerous Minds: Pizza-themed punk albums are stupid but funny...