NYC blizzards...in 1948 and 1888

Here are two of my favorite blizzard-related photos from the Corbis archives...

Times Square in 1948...



...and Union Square in 1888... Per the original caption:

"The Perils of Union Square in the midst of the Blizzard". Scene of people struggling to walk in Union Square during the blizzard of 1888. Wood engraving.



Think of a possible caption from yesterday...

"The Perils of Union Square in the midst of the Blizzard". Scene of people struggling to walk in Union Square during the so-called blizzard of 2010 while carrying those Earth-friendly Whole Foods paper bags that shred at the first drop of moisture because you didn't bring your own recyclable bag*. Digital photo.

* Not written from experience.

Burger joint fad continues: Select Burger coming to First Avenue (aka Burger Alley)

Minutes after reading The Real Deal's piece on the number of burger joints on the rise in NYC... I spotted this new sign for a coming-soon burger joint on First Avenue near 14th Street...



Meanwhile, on the other side of the street, Tallgrass Burger is coming to the former Elvie's Turo-Turo... and, further south, who can forget Permanent Brunch & Burger?

A Hamburger Today asks a good question:

Is First Avenue in the East Village About to Become the New Hamburger Alley?

Zum Schneider's disco fever

Oh, just in case you see any drunken partygoers in polyester out and about near Seventh Street and Avenue C starting tonight...

Zum Schneider Disco Total

Studio 7C - Where you Booze and Boogie

Costume Party
Thursday, February 11
through Tuesday, February 16

Like every year, Zum Schneider will produce an
extravagant and unique show and party for the Karneval season.

Dress to match the cast!
70's disco glamour style, but anything goes

The Zum Schneider Web site has photos from previous extravaganzas, like this one...

High-end-looking furniture shop for Avenue A and Third Street

Just last night we noticed that a new high-end-looking furniture shop had opened in the last few days on Avenue A at Third Street, the site of Sarah Jessica Parker's old favorite, MoMo FaLana ... don't know much else about this just yet...



A reader noted: "Looks like a home furnishing shop with lamps and tables -- and thrift store deer paintings?"

In case you really need some more pictures of snow

Still... I did get an e-mail from an EV Grieve reader, an EV transplant, who somehow got stuck living in Arizona... and he misses this...

There's always that one guy in gym shorts in this kind of weather

Third Street.

Previously.

The perils of falling in love with a Mars Bar regular

Great piece by Jennifer Blowdryer in this week's issue of NYPress:

Here's how it starts:

SEE THAT GUY at the end of the bar, telling the same story about auditioning for The Ramones for the umpteenth tourist? Meticulously counting out the drinks until his Sky and Seven buyback, glued to his stool, pupils black with the drink? That’s my man!

Read the rest here.

Standing in line at Duane Reade on such a snowy day

And yes -- I went into a Duane Reade...

Finest Pizza and Deli not closing because Le Souk went away

In recent months we've noticed that Finest Pizza & Deli on Avenue B at Fourth Street was no longer open 24 hours... A Curbed commenter wrote on this post yesterday:

"Because of La Souk being shut down, the bodega on Avenue B/4th street (next door) will not be renewing his lease. His profits are down $2000.00 a month since their closing. I liked it so much more when someone complained about the noise they were told to 'Shut Up'."




That's just not true. There has been a minor movement to show what a loss Le Souk's closing has been on the neighborhood... those comments like, "Le Souk made the LES upscale."

At the CB3/SLA meeting in October, a Le Souk proponent stood up and said: "the community was in shambles while Le Souk was closed." The argument focused on economics and the idea that this is not the time to shutter a club that brings much business to the neighborhood.

In any event, the Finest Pizza & Deli is NOT closing because Le Souk closed. Straight from an umimpeachable source:

Abdul reports that there just isn't the business necessary for them to stay open late. They will stay open until around midnight or so on normal nights and possibly a bit later on weekends or if it gets crowded. He stated that it has nothing to do with Le Souk's closing, that the business had been dying for a while.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

Blue Iron Burger crew taking over Village Bistro East (previously Le Gamin) on East Fifth Street (Eater)

Village Paper burns down (Runnin' Scared)

5 Essex is gone (BoweryBoogie)

Fraunces Tavern lives (City Room)

More pain expected for NYC retailers in 2010 (The Real Deal)

The calm before the storm (Gog Log)

Dressing for a blizzard in 1899 (The Bowery Boys)

Karate Boogaloo went to the Virgin Islands and didn't invite us (Stupefaction)

Wondering about the Jackson Triplex (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

And not many people getting haircuts so far today on St. Mark's...

Tompkins Square Park, 10:23 a.m., Feb. 10

Melanie has been taking photos in the Park, too.

Free daily thinks city is cowering

Second Avenue at 10th Street. I've been out for two hours and didn't see one person cowering...

The East Village in photos from 1978-1985

An EV Grieve reader passed along a link to the Flickr page of Michael Sean Edwards, who has a treasure trove of East Village photos from the late 1970s and early 1980s... which include the following shots...

Like this one of Ray's...



...the Gem Spa...



the East Village Fruit Exchange, Seventh Street and First Avenue circa 1979 ...



Avenue A and St. Mark's Place, circa 1979...



On St. Mark's Place...



On Avenue A near Fifth Street, 1979..



...and Leshko's on Avenue A at Seventh Street, from 1979.



And this one may be my favorite, simply marked "Lion, 5th Avenue 1985." Does the woman in the photo look familiar to you?

Historic James Renwick house on East 10th Street now 17.5 percent less expensive

According to Trulia.com, this beauty on 124 E. 10th St. was reduced in price by 17.5 percent last Friday, from $4,599 million to $3,795 million. Here's the listing at Corcoran:

Historically known as the "Renwick Triangle" This Anglo-Italianate row house is attributed to James Renwick, Jr., who is best known now as the architect of the Smithsonian Institute's "castle" on the Mall in Washington D.C. These row of houses were some of the last single-family homes built in this neighborhood, and "they have always been among the most sought-after properties in the East Village". This is a rare opportunity to own a private townhouse designed by the architect Renwick, (Grace Church, St Patrick Cathedral} and built circa 1859 /1860. It's a 6 story home with lots of original detail, charm and unlimited potential to design it to your own taste. It features 3 original marble fireplace mantels, original wood floors, doors, mouldings and shutters that exist throughout. Roof deck is allowable. Also features a garden apartment on lower 1 1/2 floors(duplex). Remainder of the house is 4 1/2 floors, easily re-united as full one family home.

By my count, there are four homes (here and here) for sale on East 10th Street betweeen Third Avenue and Second Avenue. Seems like a lot for a short stretch of homes along this corrider... Why are so many people fleeing the Renwick Triangle...? (Perhaps it's the rats?)

My blue heaven

The blue construction netting is now up at St. Brigid's on Avenue B and Eighth Street.




Previously.

As deadly blizzard bears down on NYC, people bravely go about their business tonight as if it was just any other Tuesday night

Our Team Coverage Starts Now.

Despite the calm surface, there are troubling signs of challenging days ahead. For instance, tonight, Key Food on Avenue A is dangerously low on several items...

Like duck leg confit...



..and Ithaca Apricot Wheat beer...



... and Wonka Tinglerz...



...and fat-free hazelnut Coffee-mate...



On a serious note, though...while walking by Whole Foods Bowery a little later, I noticed that the bananas are going quickly...



...as are the plastic carrying things to, uh, carry them around the store in...

Despite the most-hyped blizzard NYC has experienced since last Friday, EV Grieve will be posting tomorrow

We're doomed! Again!

Tomorrow evening's Vanishing City event postponed

From the Vanishing City folks:

Due to the coming blizzard tomorrow (February 10), we are postponing The Vanishing City: Losing The Fun until a later date. If you purchased advance tickets, we are refunding them in total. Please check our website and Facebook page for details regarding the re-scheduling of this event. The new date will most likely take place in mid April.

The 13th Step sure to be big with the AA crowd

OK, we're all over the arrival of The 13th Step today... Several folks who have been to AA have mentioned how totally inappropriate it is to name a bar The 13th Step.

From the AA glossary of terms:

Thirteenth Step (a.k.a. Thirteenth Stepping):
There is no thirteenth step in the AA program. This term is used as a euphemism for inappropriate sexual advances by a member to a newcomer in AA (such as sponsors toward sponsees). Sponsors ought never be sexually involved with those whom they sponsor. This is why it is usually suggested that (heterosexual) newcomers choose sponsors of the same sex, thereby avoiding the temptation. Also, it is sometimes suggested that newcomers not enter into new relationships for at least a year after getting sober. The reason being that sexual relationships are prone to elicit emotional extremes, making relapse more likely. The term 'thirteenth stepping' is always used in a negative sense.

Was just a matter of time before EV got The 13th Step

Thanks to Jeremiah for remembering this one... So, now that the Jake's Dilemma-Down-the Hatch team and their Celebrating xxx years of Debauchery slogan folks have finally established an EV beachhead with the 13th Step.... We recall that Team Hatch unsuccessfully tried to open a bar at the former Grace & Hope Mission at 114-116 Third Ave. Our old friends at East Village podcasts covered the CB3/SLA meeting back in July 2008.

And, of course, the former Mission is now home to Robin Raj ...and the psychic!