EV Grieve

Friday, November 7, 2008

More on the Day of the Dead bike ride

I had a post Monday on the Day of the Dead bike ride in the East Village. The organizers sent me this wrap up of the events that took place Sunday:

Cyclists, zombified with white and black face paint and dressed in bright, festive colors, took downtown Manhattan for a two hour ride on Sunday, November 2. They rose the dead with loud cheers, "viva bicicletas!" (live on bicycles) and "celebramos los muertos!" (celebrate the dead), in addition to visiting sites of cyclists hit and killed by cars and holding mock funerals.

Village environmental group Time's Up! organized the Day of the Dead bike ride in order to promote safer streets and remember and celebrate the cyclists Brandie Bailey, Rasha Shamoon, Brad Will and their community.

A garbage truck hit Bailey on Houston St. at Ave. A in 2005. Cyclists stopped first at her white "ghost" bike memorial, in order to celebrate the lives of all people killed on this dangerous street. After a moving speech that ended with, "let's celebrate the dead and fight like hell for the living," cyclists cheered and danced to Mexican music performed by former Blood, Sweat and Tears trumpet player Lew Soloff.

Next cyclists rode to where Shamoon was struck by an SUV at Delancey and Bowery on August 11, 2008. They held a 'mock" funeral in the divider of the intersection. Then they theatrically "died" and were "buried" under the wheels of a parked taxi in the Allen Street bike lane, demonstrating the danger caused by motorists parked in the bike lanes.

The final celebration for the dead on the bike ride occurred at a community garden, where Will dedicated much of his activist effort when he wasn't promoting bike riding. Cyclists ended their ride at St. Marks Church, filled with renewed energy to continue their fight for safe streets for all present and future cyclists.

They asked Mayor Bloomberg to join them in the quest for safer streets for all the New Yorkers, who are often eager to get on their bikes, but discouraged by unprotected, un-enforced bike lanes. They called for the city to honor its commitment to making the roads bike-friendly and green.

There are more photos like the one above on the Time's Up! Flickr page.

The Oak Room reopens tomorrow

The Oak Room at the Plaza reopens tomorrow after its big, expensive facelift. Which reminds me that I bought this swell set of Plaza coasters a few years ago at an apartment sale.

I also found this clip. When I first moved to New York, I had to stay at the Plaza for a few days until my condo was ready:

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Reliving Tuesday night, when people broke out into song ("We are the Champions," no less) in the streets

Finally getting back to Tuesday night when, as you read exclusively here first, Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States.

I stopped by the usual places in the neighborhood during the evening. I went by Sophie's too -- and the place was full. Good for them. I've never seen the old place so crowded. Lots of longtime regulars were there. Like Caveman and Freddy. Freddy had been in his native Puerto Rico in recent times. He was telling people that he came back just to vote in New York. Anyway, there were balloons and food. Couldn't stay long, though -- nowhere to sit. Or stand, really. And I wanted to be near some of the people that I knew. So I moved on to the next place. Next time.

Meanwhile, there's all sorts of video from the celebration that erupted on St. Mark's...here is just a small sampling that provide a few different views:

From willgmcc:

From jewishnyactor:

From Caity180:

From the Play the Game of Life blog:

Meanwhile, Bob Arihood was there for compelling photos and a narrative. And Jeremiah has photos from his trek from First Avenue and St. Mark's to Union Square. Hunter-Gatherer was there too.

Appreciating a classic

Given the news that the Holland Bar may be closed for good, it's time to tip our hat to some of the like-minded bars in the city. (Dive bars. Lonely old man bars. Whatever you prefer!) Such as the well-traveled Subway Inn.

Related:
Ken Mac has some excellent shots of the Inn here.

Noted

The first clues are emerging that Wall Street pay will plummet this year . . . Bonuses for top executives could plunge by 70 percent. (New York Times)

Walking on Madison

For some reason late yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Grieve and I found ourselves walking on that really faboo stretch of Madison Avenue in the 70s and 60s. And all those designer places -- Armani, Jil Sander, Dolce & Gabbana, et al. And you know we didn't see one person shopping in any of these stores. Seriously. Post-election hangover perhaps? Or maybe the richies just don't shop in a light rain on weekday afternoons? Or maybe the economy is really fucked. Anyway, every store was the same: A handful of well-dressed employees standing around looking expectantly out the store windows.

Rooftop tumor continues to grow on Third Avenue

Near 13th Street.

Money! Get your money!

In the Flatiron District.

Noted

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The night after Election Night

On 11th Street near Avenue B.

How Bloomberg is going to deal with the budget gap

Layoffs. (New York Post)

Here's Lenny Waller's response to the article/cuts:

"Think SoHo"

Gothamist has a Q-and-A today with Robert Prichard, who worked the door at the Pyramid in the 1980s before opening Surf Reality’s House Of Urban Savages in 1993. He's getting ready to unveil Queensbridge Theater in Long Island City.

Having been priced out of Manhattan, where do you see the Lower East Side/East Village area in 5 or 10 years from now? Think SoHo. The community board is already telling bars and lounges that are up for Liquor License renewals that they will only give their support if the bar agrees to closing at 1 a.m. Look for more boutiques, national & international chains like Gucci and expensive restaurants.