Noted

On Avenue B at Fifth Street, the site of the seemingly abandoned Caffe Buon Gusto.

Essex Street, 5:44 p.m., Sept. 1

Historic La Salle Academy attacked by viral marketing campaign

Ah, yes — the La Salle Academy, at Second Avenue and Second Street, recently celebrated its 160th anniversary.

But can it survive an attack by Sony's big blowupalooza coming this holiday season — "2012"?






A reader, who passed along the last photo in this set, is not impressed by the ad: "It's covering a big portion of the corner and it's really bad. They try to make it look like it was defaced, but it's not."

Benefit yesterday for the children of Eric "Taz" Pagan

Last night, nine bars in the neighborhood donated half of their register to establish a college fund for the two children of slain Forbidden City bouncer Eric "Taz" Pagan.

I stopped by a few of the participating bars early in the evening to check on the turnout. And have a few drinks.

Drop Off Service was, quite frankly, packed. Friday night packed, perhaps. (Not that I've ever been there on a Friday night. Heard someone else say that it was like a Friday night to the bartender. And there were two bartenders working.) Next door, Destination was pleasantly full. Across the street, Forbidden City was crowded. Several people stopped in just to make a donation to the college fund.



The next block to the south, Common Ground was also full. At 9 p.m., a quick check of Superdive found four people inside. Habibi Lounge wasn't open when I first walked by...then, around 9, I saw two people at the bar.

One aside: a couple was moving into an apartment on Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. Despite several open spaces along the east side of Avenue A, they decided to park directly in front of Forbidden City. Which is fine, but I was curious if they knew what had happened...or what was happening this evening...



In any event, I have no idea what the final tally will be from the bars. But from what I saw, a lot of people came out to provide support...

Previously on EV Grieve:
EV bars come together to create college fund for Eric "Taz" Pagan's children

Mystery Lot weeds whacked; fresh garbage dumped in its place

Noticeable changes at EV Grieve favorite The Mystery Lot on 13th Street near Third Avenue. First, someone whacked the weeds....



...deposited some garbage and shrubbery...



...and fed the pigeons...



Previously on EV Grieve:
An appreciation: That empty lot of 13th Street

Another view of the Mystery Lot

Bars/restaurants news and notes and what not

The 5C Cultural Center & Cafe on Avenue C and Fifth Street is getting a paint job...



Coming soon to First Avenue between St. Mark's Place and Ninth Street...



And 40C on Avenue C near Third Street is transforming into Batista, a 1950s-style Havana club...




The Redhead on 13th Street near First Avenue apparently doesn't serve food on Sundays...

Noted

Second Avenue near Ninth Street.

Noted

Houston near Avenue B.

And, this is obvious, but the song popped into my head...

Thinking about the future

I took this photo about three weeks ago on Avenue A between 13th Street and 14th Street. I didn't think much of it at the time. It looks like a homemade sign. And it's hanging in front of a former beauty salon.



Now, after the shootings that killed Eric "Taz" Pagan one block away, I can't help but look at the sign differently.

Coming soon to Seventh Street: Luke's Lobster

On Seventh Street near First Avenue between the two Caracas Arepa Bar locations.

UPDATED: Oops, didn't realize that Grub Street reported on this a little earlier this afternoon... they have a lot more information on the owners, two former lobstermen.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Dead Lobster

Reminder: Drinking for a good cause today

Sophie's and Mona's are also taking part today. And I believe Destination... A commenter on Friday's post asked why Destination wasn't included (given the bar's proximity to Forbidden City and friendship with Eric "Taz" Pagan")...to which Destination's Mason Reese later responded, "Truthfully, no one called or mentioned this to me at all, since hearing about this, I've reached out and made the offer."

UPDATE: Destination is taking part. Confirmation in the comments.

Previously on EV Grieve:
EV bars come together to create college fund for Eric "Taz" Pagan's children

Cooper Square Hotel now sporting dead tree benches

Well, as the headline says, the Cooper Square Hotel now sporting dead tree benches...





Perhaps these are the remnants of the trees that were chopped down on Fifth Street next to the hotel back in April.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Why the trees were cut down on Fifth Street next to the Cooper Square Hotel

16 hours on 12th Street

Just taking one last look at yesterday's NYU move in on 12th Street...the site of the former St. Ann's church....



Best moment maybe ever: An SUV pulls up, the man behind the wheel next to his daughter yells to an NYU security guard on the sidewalk, "Excuse me, do you speak English?!"



Anyway, at least the neighbors were prepped...



Previously on EV Grieve:
NYU students are REALLY moving in! NYU students are REALLY moving in!

NYU students are moving in! NYU students are moving in!

Avenue B's Horus Cafe getting a sidewalk cafe

The Horus Cafe on Avenue B at Sixth Street...



is adding on a sidewalk cafe, according to work permits. Looks as if it will be enclosed. Still.



Hmmmmmm...

Meanhwile in Hell's Kitchen!
Shelia McClear has the story of the new Horus Too (the same owners as the three East Village Horus locations) on West 46th Street. It's a dandy, featuring angry neighbors, community board baiting-and-switching...

Excerpt:

While a business owner is not legally obligated to follow the instructions of a community board, Moyer said that the owners willfully misrepresented their intentions. According to Moyer, when someone asked the owner at a meeting, “No hookahs, right?” he replied, “No, no, just good Mediterranean food.”

The restaurant is open until 4 a.m., despite the owners originally telling the board they would close at midnight.

"Hell’s Kitchen neighbors’ fears flamed by hookah bar’s fumes"

Rally for the homeless Friday night

Swung by the Slacktivists rally for the homeless Friday night in front of the Christodora... John Penley was holding court out front talking with a reporter....



Didn't get to stay too long. Bob Arihood noted that no one was arrested. The police seemed to think a lot more people might be showing up...



Slum Goddess has more (entertaining!) details from Friday night...Just looking for the drippiest AC in the EV...

Saan Saan closing on Seventh Street

Saan Saan is the latest shop to close on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue...

Apparently Albert Hammond Jr. has really sold his EV apartment for good this time

I thought they sold the stupid place at 141 E. Third St. last November. Then it was for sale again in May. NOW Page Six reports that the Strokes guitarist has sold the place for a little less than $1 million.

So...

NYU students are REALLY moving in! NYU students are REALLY moving in!

Whoa. EV Grieve reader Eric checks in from the new 12th Street Dorm (that sort of incorporated St. Ann's...)... This is where the action is!





Previously on EV Grieve:
NYU students are moving in! NYU students are moving in!

P.S.
This reminds me that I watched "The Swarm" the other night. Good, unintentional hilarity!

NYU students are moving in! NYU students are moving in!

Welcome Week kicks off tomorrow at NYU. Today, students continue to move into the East Village-area dorms....

I spotted license plates from New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio and Illinois...





The school's "Welcome Ambassadors" were spotted welcoming people on Third Avenue.





Some of the dads seemed understandably stressed out and annoyed. So I've organized a "I'm Helping My Kid Move Into the Dorms" Pub Crawl. See you at the Pourhouse!