[Updating] Santa Clauses (and the Easter Bunny) came to town, as you probably noticed

A few scenes today from SantaCon in the East Village...

















Above photos by Derek Berg...

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Above photos by EVG contributor Steven...

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To be continued...

12/13

Slum Goddess has photos and videos in a post titled I bring you: The annual nightmare that is SANTACON ... "I dealt with being groped, being told I am a "hottie" and being high fived over and over though I kept saying get away from me, and even lifted off the ground by drunk asshole saints."

9:30 a.m.

Here is Casey Neistat's SantaCon video...



1 p.m.

Several people asked what the sidewalks/streets/shrubbery/etc./ were like this morning.

There were some signs of what had occurred...


[Photo on 1st Avenue by William Klayer]


[Photo outside the Copper Still on 2nd Avenue by Mike]


[Photo off of 3rd Avenue by EVG]

Otherwise, it could have maybe been any other Sunday morning ...


[Photo on 1st Avenue & St. Mark's by EVG]


[Photo on Ave. A & 6th Street by EVG]

... and Det. Dave on 7th put this together with the help of his partner, EV Arrow, outside Black Rose on Avenue A near East Seventh Street...







Think that you got this one...



1:22 p.m.

The Post reports that an off-duty EMT dressed in Santa garb was arrested at the Village Pour House on Third Avenue and East 11th Street for throwing a beer mug at a bartender. The EMT reportedly got into a fight over the bill with the bartender. She was charged with second-degree assault.

4:59 p.m.

The sign outside Elsewhere Espresso on East Sixth Street made Reddit...

The 1970s NYC photography of Camilo José Vergara

[Photo on Avenue C by Camilo José Vergara]

Mashable has a photo essay on Camilo José Vergara, who started taking photos in the the South Bronx and Lower East Side in 1970 while a grad student at Columbia.

Read the essay and browse the photo gallery here.

The Santa bike gang has arrived...

It's getting dangerous in the East Village. pic.twitter.com/WREU1HUG3H

— Ainsley B (@AinsleyB) December 12, 2015

Arriving on St. Mark's Place...

Hot Kitchen is back open

[Photo by Steven]

Hot Kitchen is back in action today at 104 Second Ave.

The Sichuan restaurant here at East Sixth Street had been closed for three weeks after the building's landlord had work done on the main gas pipe.

On Thursday, the restaurant posted a sign with emojis to show their frustration at having to wait for Con Ed to turn the gas back on...

And obviously this is good news as well for the building's residents and the other storefront, Lions BeerStore.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Gas work in building temporarily shuts down Hot Kitchen on 2nd Avenue

The wait for the gas to return at Hot Kitchen explained with emojis

The Neighborhood School Holiday Fair is Sunday

The biggest fundraiser of the year is coming up tomorrow (Sunday!) at The Neighborhood School.

The fair includes a few familiar activities (photo studio, maze, car derby, etc.) and some new — Human Hungry Hungry Hippos??!??!??

Festivities last from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday (tomorrow!) at the school, 121 E. Third St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

SantaCon signs of the times

[East 10th Street and 4th Avenue]


[Avenue A and East 11th Street]


[Phebe's, the Bowery and East 4th Street]


[East 10th Street]


[The Bowery and East 4th Street]

SantaCon announces its path through the East Village for 2015

[Photo on 2nd Avenue by @prismpop]

The SantaCon organizers have released the complete schedule/slate for tomorrow's annual charity drive, which does not include anything like a bar crawl.

As previously reported, SantaCon kicks off at McCarren Park at 10 a.m. The do-gooders will then spend several hours in the Williamsburg area taking part in charitable activities ...



...before heading to the East Village and the surrounding area to perform more random acts of kindness...



However, the festivities won't be limited to these above "anchor" establishments... the official SantaCon page includes a list of other bars that will welcome Santas tomorrow. Here is that list for 2 to 8 p.m. via the SantaCon website:

BIG LEE’S SALOON
140 1ST AVE

FINNERTY’S
221 2ND AVE

AMSTERDAM BILLARDS
110 EAST 11TH ST

THE BRAZEN FOX
106 3RD AVE

CAFECITO
185 AVENUE C

ROYALE 157
157 AVENUE C

DURDEN BAR
213 2ND AVE

BAIT & HOOK
231 2ND AVE

THE CONTINENTAL
25 3RD AVE

THE SPOTTED OWL TAVERN
211 AVENUE A

BULL MCCABES
29 SAINT MARKS PL

PROFESSOR THOM’S
219 2ND AVE

CROCODILE LOUNGE
325 E. 14TH ST

DOUBLE DOWN SALOON
14 AVENUE A

PHOENIX BAR
447 E. 13TH ST

LITTLE TOWN NYC
118A EAST 15TH ST

PINK’S BAR & GRILL
242 E. 10TH ST

DOC HOLLIDAY’S
141 AVENUE A

VILLAGE POURHOUSE
64 3RD AVE

VAZAC HORSESHOE BAR
108 AVENUE B

THE BELFRY
222 E. 14TH ST

THIRSTY SCHOLAR
155 2ND AVE

THE CENTRAL BAR
109 E. 9TH ST

COYOTE UGLY
153 1ST AVENUE


[Photo Wednesday by Steven]

Apparently SantaCon will no longer be stopping at any Lower East Side venues.

According to Gothamist, the main organizer of SantaCon lives in the East Village. From an interview published Tuesday with the unnamed person:

I went last year, and I would say people generally got what they wanted. I guess if it’s not your scene, the answer is just avoid it, right?

That’s a great solution. I mean, I don’t go by Madison Square Garden on game nights. I just don’t like that energy. So I know to steer clear of it. I try not to go out in the East Village on a Saturday night. I don’t like that energy. A lot of college students not sure of how to act.

But you could argue that that's sort of the same contingent that—
No but I don’t complain about it! I just don’t go out in that neighborhood during that time. I don’t frequent those venues. I don’t say that they don’t have a right to do it. I don’t like crass commercialism so I don’t go to the Rockefeller tree lighting. I don’t go to Times Square. It’s my choice what I choose to do. I don’t tell anyone they can’t do it.

In a piece on SantaCon the other day, the Times names names here.

Meanwhile, tomorrow, if you want to keep tabs on the action...Fun!

Tomorrow the tweets will be coming hot & heavy (just like Mrs. Claus heh heh). To opt out of the text alerts, reply “STOP” to Santa’s tweet.

— santacon (@santacon) December 12, 2015

Deal with the devil

Some music to help pass the holidays. So Pitted with "Rot in Hell," from the Seattle trio's February release on Sub Pop.

The NYPD found this dog

Anyone recognize this fella, was found wondering the #les #eastvillage He has no microchip or tags #illbehomeforxmas pic.twitter.com/UWASlxkPRd

— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) December 11, 2015

Currently in possession of the 9th Precinct on East Fifth Street...

[Updated] The wait for the gas to return at Hot Kitchen explained with emojis

[Photo last month by Steven]

On Nov. 21, Hot Kitchen, the Sichuan restaurant at 104 Second Ave. near East Sixth Street, closed after the building's landlord had work done on the main gas pipe, per a sign on the door.

Three weeks later, and Hot Kitchen remains closed. And the restaurant has new signs on the door communicating their frustration in a way that we can all understand — via emojis...




[New photos via Steven]

So, per the sign, the building's plumber completed the pressure test and filed a request for turn on with Con Ed on Dec. 3.

And they are still waiting...



Updated 12/12

Hot Kitchen is back open.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Gas work in building temporarily shuts down Hot Kitchen on 2nd Avenue

EV Grieve Etc.: 2nd Ave. explosion selfies named worst of 2015; Teenage Jesus & the Jerks reunited

[Photo by Derek Berg]

CB3 wants more community time to review ideas for the Williamsburg Trolley Terminal (The Lo-Down) ... and is suspicious of the Lowline (BoweryBoogie)

Selfies taken in the aftermath of the deadly Second Avenue explosion named worst of 2015 (Mashable)

How Wells Fargo scored with Stuy Town deal (The Real Deal)

Lydia Lunch on the resurrection of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks (Time Out)

Quality time with Dora in Tompkins Square Park (Gog in NYC)

Jeremiah visits Black Seed bagels on First Avenue (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Checking in on how Jay Walder is faring running Citi Bike (Fast Company)

Some history of the Silk Building — former home to Tower Records — on East Fourth Street and Broadway (Ephemeral New York)

When you could buy a horse at 126-128 E. 13th St. (Off the Grid)

More bikers, drugs and rock-&-roll on-screen (Anthology Film Archives)

Midnight movie this weekend: Spend xmas eve with John McClane at Nakatomi Plaza (Sunshine Cinema)

A sampling of musical presentations this holiday season at churches in NYC (The New York Times)

Thanks to HiFi owner Mike Stuto for asking me to do a podcast ... part of Live at Fi — Transmissions From The Hifi Bar in NYC series (iTunes)

... and last night was the opening reception for Art Basel on 4th Street at 212 Arts...

A photo posted by Marc Leader (@212arts) on Dec 9, 2015 at 10:25am PST

... per the EVG inbox...

If you weren't lucky enough to make it down to Art Basel this year, don't fret. 212 Arts is pleased to present an exhibition highlighting the works of some of our favorite artists many of whom are showing in Miami. This show will feature works by AVone, Bind156, Claw, Emilio Ramos, Eric Inkala, Julia YuBaba, Key Detail, Reso, Russell King, and Sean Sullivan. This exhibit also marks the first gallery showing of the acclaimed artist Mike Mozart who has revealed himself as the ghost artist behind Alec Monopoly. Join us at 212 Arts for ART BASEL on 4th STREET.

The exhibit is up through Dec. 31. Details here. The gallery is at 240 E. Fourth St. near Avenue B.

The 24th annual Tree Lighting at Tompkins Square Park is Sunday

[Photo by Steven]

In case you didn't see the posters that went up — and around — the Park yesterday afternoon... the 24th annual tree lighting ceremony is Sunday from 4-5 p.m. (And be sure to break out your favorite holiday shorts and tank tops for the event: Sunday's high will reach 66. Degrees.)

Anyway, the tree lighting will feature, as always:

Music from Mandel & Lydon Trio
Carolers of Olde New York from Theatre for the New City
Refreshments from Veselka Restaurant
Additional Support from East Village Books, Vazacs/7B (listed on the poster as Vazac Ave B Restaurant) and Apple Savings Bank

... and co-hosted by...
East Village Parks Conservancy
Third Street Music School Settlement
Tompkins Square Park Neighborhood Coalition

The tree was planted in 1992 in memory of Park advocate Glenn Barnett, "and each of our neighbors whom we have lost to AIDS," per the sign that hangs near the tree.

You can revisit last year's tree lighting here.

As a commenter noted last year, the lights and tree were "delightfully askew."

Report: Toledano tenants hanging tough in face of evictions

The Villager checks in with a piece this week about residents now living in buildings owned by new landlord Raphael Toledo (pictured right).

As the paper notes, to date, "Toledano, who purchased more than a dozen properties in the area this year, hasn’t made the best of impressions on his new tenants, who have reported late-night phone calls and ominous visits by his associates that leave them feeling threatened."

And there have been a few eviction notices, which arrived after buyout offers. Lawyer David Frazer currently represents three Toledano tenants in rent-regulated apartments in the neighborhood.

“Two of the cases that I currently represent involve completely made-up allegations by the landlord, one of which they’ve already caved in on and given my client a renewal lease,” Frazer told The Villager.

The attorney said that case involved a tenant who had a pseudonym listed on his mailbox from the beginning of his tenancy, which the landlord used as evidence to claim that the man was illegally subletting the apartment.

Read the whole Villager article here.

In a $97 million deal, Toledano and Brook Hill closed on a 16-building East Village portfolio back in the fall.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Landlord of 444 E. 13th St. threatened 'to drop dynamite on the building'

Reader report: Large portfolio of East Village buildings ready to change hands

Report: State investigating East Village landlord Raphael Toledano

Report: Uncle suing nephew broker Raphael Toledano over $100 million East Village deal

Report: Raphael Toledano completes purchase of 16-building East Village portfolio

More about alleged harassment and landlord visits via Brook Hill Properties

Brook Hill Properties launches chocolate offensive

In op-ed, Raphael Toledano says that he wants 'to make the East Village a better place'

Report: Lawsuit accuses Raphael Toledano of not paying his office rent

[Updated] First retail tenant at 51 Astor Place opens on... Sunday

The anticipation builds at 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star ... as the CVS debuts on Sunday.

The opening marks the first official retail outlet here in the base of the 13-story, 430,000-square-foot office building. (You can't really count the 215 Chrystie sales office on the Third Avenue side for hotelier-developer Ian Schrager because they don't accept the Discover card.)

The familiar glow of the CVS and Pharmacy letters provide contextual harmony* and a strikingly modernistic dramatic streetscape* for the Fumihiko Maki-designed building that reportedly cost $300 million to develop.



If you need any CVS-type items before Sunday, then you could try the Walgreens or Kmart directly across Astor Place or, perhaps, the Walgreens on East 14th Street and Fourth Avenue … or the Duane Reade locations on East 14th Street and Third Avenue and East 14th Street and Broadway ... or the Duane Reade on Third Avenue and East 10th Street. Or the Duane Reade on Broadway near East 10th Street.

CVS will eventually be joined by three more ground-level businesses — Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports.

Updated:
The Grand Opening has been pushed back to Dec. 18!

Previously on EV Grieve:
You can finally shop at 51 Astor Place!

BREAKING: CVS is the 1st retail tenant for the Death Star! (42 comments)

1st sign of the incoming CVS at 51 Astor Place

CVS has teamed up with Watson, IBM’s supercomputer

3 new retail tenants for 51 Astor Place: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports

* cut-n-paste from some random architectural reviews