Another tree lost in Tompkins Square Park

As you probably know, bendy tree, the leaning elm in the middle of Tompkins Square Park, has been declared "structurally unsound" and will need to be removed.

Meanwhile, workers took down another tree today — a red oak adjacent to the Samuel S. Cox statue by the entrance at East Seventh Street and Avenue A…



We only saw the aftermath … so we didn't get to ask what was wrong with the tree…


[Image view Google Street View]

Get your new city maps!

The New York City Department of City Planning has released a revised neighborhood map updated with new neighborhoods, statistics and topographical features, according to a sentence that I just lifted straight from The Wall Street Journal today.

Head over to the Department of City Planning website to download a map for free.

Also, please note the disclaimer on the bottom of the map page:

"Neighborhood names are not officially designated. Due to space constraints, this map product does not include an exhaustive list of known neighborhood names."

Which explains why the map doesn't include such locales here as Astor Place, WeAs (West of Astor), LeLa (left of Lafayette Street), SoFaBo (South of Facebook) and Stuyversy (The merger beween Stuytown and Gramercy Park).

Thanks to Giovanni for some of those fine names.

Your chance to lease the retail space in the new Cooper Square dorm

Signs are up now for the retail space in the ground-floor of the 13-floor building that will one day house students from Marymount Manhattan College.

Let's take a look at the RKF listing here at Cooper Square and East Sixth Street…



There isn't any mention of rent… though the listing does mention the "tremendous wraparound frontage" and "strong retail adjacencies including fashion, design and restaurant tenants."

The rendering shows — ding! ding! — a bank.

Not to mention a gorilla sticker (on the rendering at the site) …



Previously on EV Grieve:
City OKs 13-floor dorm for Cooper Square

Updated: Here's what the newest East Village dorm will look like

Dig bottoms out on Cooper Square; here comes the dorm, here comes the dorm!

When it is time to discuss the 'fucking drugs' in the building

A reader shared this Urban Etiquette Sign from a building on East Third Street.

The top part is direct enough: "Get your fucking drugs out of the building. We're calling the cops."

OK!

And the handwritten part, presumably from the accused, reads:

"To the idiot/s that left this under my door let this be the last thing I receive from your dumbass/es!

At the very least leave your Name + # so I can help you get to the bottom of your accusations. Otherwise, I implore you to call the police!"

Updated 9/16 ... added this link...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Reader mailbag: What do I do about my new neighbors who smoke pot all the time? (66 comments)

Former 2nd Avenue BP station making for a fine tapestry

The BP station on Second Avenue and East First Street closed in early July.

So until whatever new development comes along here (the rumor is boutique hotel), the property is providing a fine canvas for, well, all this...









Anyway, nothing yet on file with the DOB for the address.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RUMOR: Gas station going, boutique hotel coming on Second Avenue? (31 comments)

BP station on 2nd Avenue closes this month

The 2nd Avenue BP station has closed

Here is the new entry step for Empellón al Pastor

Lots of activity at the former Sushi Lounge space, where Alex (Empellón Cocina, Empellón Taqueria) Stupak is opening Empellón al Pastor (bar meets tortilleria!) this fall here on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place.

Given that it is apparently the most anticipated restaurant opening on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place this fall, here's a progress report on the entrance. Specifically the entry step...

June!



Now!



Tomorrow, we hope to have an exclusive look at the door handle.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Chef Alex Stupak vying for former Sushi Lounge space on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place

As the for rent signs turn on Avenue A

Here are a few scant details about chef Alex Stupak's new venture on St. Mark's Place

CB3 OKs liquor license for Alex Stupak's new restaurant on St. Mark's Place

More about Empellón al Pastor, opening this fall on Avenue A and St. Mark's Place

Bendy-lujah

Earlier tonight, Reverend Billy And The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir stopped by Tompkins Square Park to say a prayer ("Bendy-lujah!"), offer commentary and sing for the doomed Bendy Tree, the leaning elm that an arborist hired by the Parks Department found to be "structurally unsound." It will need to be removed soon.

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Updated 9/15

Here's video of Rev. Billy and the Choir via Gammablog's Tompkins Trees site ...

Tonight's sunset

Via Bobby Williams

Week in Grieview

[Photo Wednesday morning by EVG reader Steven]

Will this long-empty lot on 1st Avenue yield to affordable housing? (Tuesday)

Slow Zone signage arrives (Monday)

Remembering 9/11 (Thursday)

Yaffa Cafe remains closed for now (Friday)

Urging the Mayor to say no to dorm conversion at PS 64 (Friday)

Korilla BBQ announces its arrival on Third Avenue (Thursday, 34 comments)

CityMD Urgent Care center coming to The Jefferson's retail space on East 14th Street (Monday)

Shampoo Avenue B making the move down the block (Wednesday)

Someone defaced the Joe Strummer mural (Friday)

Checking in on the new luxury residents coming to Eighth and D (Tuesday) and Seventh and D (Thursday)

149 First Ave. landlord told to make building 'safe immediately' (Monday)

With the help of Rosie Mendez, La Sirena gets a new lease on East Third Street (Thursday)

Is this the end of the $1 pizza war on First Avenue? (Friday)

Out and About with Satie Saurel (Wednesday)

Primary Day with Miss Kita (Tuesday)

Someone stole the bench from Hearth (Thursday)

More BigBellies for Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

Prayers and songs tonight for the doomed bendy tree in Tompkins Square Park

Tonight at 8:30, Reverend Billy And The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir will perform ("pray and sing") at the bendy tree in the center of Tompkins Square Park.



As noted yesterday, a professional arborist hired by the Parks Department found the leaning elm to be "structurally unsound" … and it "poses a danger to the public." The tree will likely be removed this coming week.

[Updated] West Village restaurant now selling 'Big STRAIGHT ice cream'

[Photo via @DemandaDahling]

Now available at Gallo Nero, an Italian restaurant at 95 Seventh Ave. South. … right near the West Village location of Big Gay Ice Cream…

Head to Twitter for some reaction to this.

@biggayicecream @GalloNeroNYC Vanilla with some homophobia on the side?

— Melissa Marks-Shih (@mmscooks) September 14, 2014

Big Gay Ice Cream celebrated its third anniversary in the East Village on Sept. 3.

Updated to note that the sign is at the West Village location, not the Midtown address.

Updated 9-17

Gothamist talks to the restaurant owner.

"The chef was making his own ice cream, straight ice cream right from his kitchen, like, he didn't buy the ice cream, he was making his own," Besim Kukaj said, explaining why Gallo Nero posted a sign that advertised "Big STRAIGHT Ice Cream" across the street from Big Gay Ice Cream's second location on Grove Street. "I love gay people, I have nothing against gay people."

Choco Moo's heartfelt mural at Ideal Glass

The Japanese-based Choco Moo (aka Yuka) is the latest artist to grace the façade at Ideal Glass on East Second Street…



We're sorry that we missed her live painting event last night at Ideal Glass… did anyone go?

Remembering LES Jewels on the anniversary of his death

[Photo via EVG reader Lilly]

LES Jewels died one year ago today.

And there are at least two makeshift memorials dedicated to him — one at the entrance to Tompkins Square Park on East Seventh Street and Avenue A … and one in front of the former 7-Eleven on St. Mark's Place…





On the morning of Sept. 14, 2013, Jewels was found unconscious on Avenue A at East Ninth Street. He reportedly died a short time later at Beth Israel.

The medical examiner's office said his cause of death was "blunt injuries of head" … however, "the manner of death is undetermined."

Jewels, aka Joel Pakela, was 43.

Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP LES Jewels (84 comments)

Memorials for LES Jewels in the East Village

Did you lose your keys yesterday during the East 9th Street Block Party?

If so, then you may be in luck. The folks from the 9th Street A-1 Block Association found a set near PS 122 at First Avenue. You can email this address with a description (there are several identifiable objects on the carabiner).