Bye Bye Blondie; hello Bad Brains?

After five-plus years on Bleecker at the Bowery, the Blondie mural is no more... a worker painted over the space yesterday (by the newish J Crew). 

Our friend Alex took this photo (be sure to check out his site Flaming Pablum) ...

Shepard Fairy — in connection with The L.I.S.A. Project NYC — created this mural in August 2017, replacing the two-year-old Joey Ramone/CBGB mural.

Word is the space will give way to another CBGB favorite — Bad Brains. 

By the way, CBGB debuted on Dec. 10, 1973, across the way at 315 Bowery.

And now to 1982 with Bad Brains live at CBGB ...

 

Checkpoint Santa

Photos by Stacie Joy 

During SantaCon today in the East Village, the 9th Precinct had two checkpoints set up for several hours ... one on Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street ... and on Avenue A between 11th Street and 12th Street...

Officers at the scene said they were there to monitor quality-of-life issues, with tickets for open containers (and at least one minor with alcohol).

SantaCon started this morning at 10 on 40th and Broadway, with 60-plus bars throughout Midtown East and West and elsewhere participating ... as well as eight East Village bars officially taking part ... with others following suit. 

There were also more than a dozen (by our unofficial count) bars and restaurants with a Santa ban.

At the movies

Two of EVG's favorite 2022 films — "Decision to Leave" and "Aftersun" — are now both playing at Village East by Angelika on Second Avenue at 12th Street. (With an assist by EV Arrow.) 

Meanwhile, on the fence about "Bones & All." 

Find theater info here.

Workers remove Somtum Der's curbside dining structure

From the EVG tipline... workers from a private hauler were out early this morning removing Somtum Der's curbside dining structure outside 85 Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street. 

The streetery didn't appear to be in use any longer. Plus, as of June, this lane south of Sixth Street is a No Standing zone, and parking is not allowed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days a week. 

The signs arrived ahead of the new Bus Only lane on the southbound section of Avenue A.

The nearby Takahachi removed its curbside structure back in August. 

Updated:

Saturday's opening shot

The anarchy Christmas wreath is now in place over the door outside Search & Destroy, 25 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue ...

Friday's parting shot

As seen on Second Avenue this evening... photo by Derek Berg...

Do it Clean

 

Hamish Kilgour, a founding member of New Zealand's The Clean, died this past week at age 65. 

Here's more about the influential (and underappreciated IMO) band via NPR:

The Clean's open, do-it-yourself approach certainly stood the test of time, crystallized in a lyric Kilgour wrote: "Anything could happen and it could be right now / And the choice is yours, so make it worthwhile." That aesthetic heavily impacted later indie rockers such as Pavement, Yo La Tengo and Superchunk. The band's influence extended into numerous scenes around the world, from the Elephant 6 collective in America, to current bands like The Courtneys in Canada and The Beths back in New Zealand. They've all found inspiration in The Clean's impulsive creativity and lack of pretense.

The above video for "Dunes" from 1989 was filmed in NYC... and you'll spot some familiar and long-gone music venues on the Bowery and East Houston and elsewhere.

Headline H/T  

One shining moment (hopefully)

Photos by Steven

We've noted that the lights need to be fixed on the holiday tree in Tompkins Square Park. 

But! 

Full illumination is on the way ahead of Sunday's lighting ceremony. Parks employees were on hand this morning working on the lights...

And as a reminder, the holiday tree lighting is this Sunday (Dec. 11) from 4-5 p.m. The 31st edition features familiar names: the Carolers of Olde New York from Theater for the New City and music from the Mandel & Lydon Trio ... with refreshments via Veselka and C&B.

As you may recall, the Parks Department forgot to wire the tree last year.

A walk among the trees on 2nd Avenue and 10th Street

Photos by Stacie Joy 

The Tree Riders have the most picturesque seasonal workspace in the neighborhood ... on Second Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street outside the historic St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery.

The vendors recently started their 12th year here... EVG contributor Stacie Joy recently walked through the 24/7 tree stand for a little holiday spirit ...

The list of other local tree sellers includes vendors on Astor Place (at Lafayette), Essex and Houston, and 14th Street at First Avenue.

Details about the Risograph Holiday Market on Cooper Square

Printed Matter/St. Mark's is teaming up with dieFirma for a one-day Risograph Holiday Market in connection with dieFirma's current exhibition, "Printing the Future: the Risograph Revolution." 

Printed Matter will be offering a wide range of risograph publications (from new titles to some deep cuts from the archives)... as well as some baked goods. 

The market is taking place tomorrow (Dec. 10!) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at dieFirma's space on the ground floor of 32 Cooper Square (between Fifth Street and Sixth Street).

Thursday's parting shot

As seen on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place tonight... John Lennon was murdered on this date in 1980...

1 month left of 'Stomp'

As reported this week, Stomp is ending its run at the Orpheum Theatre at 126 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place on Jan. 8 — after 29 years and 11,400-plus performances.

The closing is "due to declining ticket sales," a spokesperson for the production told The Hollywood Reporter. 

Ticket sales weren't an issue for today's noon matinee ... as there were long lines for entry. (Thanks to Steven for the photo!)

Noted

A reader-submitted photo of a headless Santa on Avenue D this morning... some kind of SantaCon warning?

Details on the 6th annual East Village Arts Festival at the Tompkins Square Library branch

The sixth annual East Village Arts Festival is taking place this Saturday (Dec. 10) at the Tompkins Square Library branch. 

This year's theme is "All About the Neighborhood," and features an array of local artists, musicians and writers. You can head to the library's website here for a full list of participants. 

The free in-person events, including readings and musical performances, take place from 3-7 p.m. 

The library is at 331 E. 10th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B.