Words for an accused dog killer

Speaking of Scoopy's column this week.... he also has a follow-up item about the puppy who was stomped to death outside Tompkins Square Park. He spoke with Patrick Miller, a.k.a. P. Miller, a.k.a. P. Mills. According to Scoopy:

"He's 86'ed," P. Mills said of the puppy murderer, if he ever returns to Tompkins. "I'm gonna kill him. We don't like trampling dogs. We don't like violence against animals. Yeah — word live."

Jellyfish invasion on 13th Street

A store called Jellyfish New York is opening on 13th Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...



...based on the sign, I'd say (duh!) that it's some kind of clothing shop for kids... another sign said that the store was opening in August

Paul Revere ride under way

Organized by Times Up!, a group of 20-30 cyclists have just left Tompkins Square Park for a peaceful ride to help bring awareness to the city's endangered community gardens...




Before things got started, though, the 9th Precienct paid a visit and spoke with organizer Benjamin Shepard ... who said that his wife would kill him if he ended up in central booking tonight...



The cops left them go, but stuck around...

Here's a story on the ride from the Daily News today.


[Photo via the Daily News]

And here's what's at stake.

Bedbug artist strikes again with a tribute to bedbug-riddled stores

A mysterious e-mail just arrived with another bedbugs creation by Samuel Mark... On St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue last evening... And the e-mailer confirmed his identity as the elusive street artist Samuel Mark, who previously left a bedbug-ridden couch for Shepard Fairey.

Now with some video...




Previously on EV Grieve:
Bedbugs inspire local artists

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

Info on two block parties this Saturday (East Village Feed)

The swirly door on East Fifth Street returns (The Gog Log)

Patrick Hedlund interviews The Grumbler (DNAinfo)

The Grumbler on the perils of public sidewalks in our reality-show world (The Grumbler)

Price chopping on East 10th Street (Curbed)

The guy from Crowded House was ready to move into 240 Houston right before it caught fire (HuffPo)

115 Norfolk reveals itself (BoweryBoogie)

A hotel room on Bleecker Street for $2.75 a night (Ephemeral New York)

Underground rock scribe Jack Rabid leaves the East Village for Park Slope (Brooklyn Paper) Why? "I got married, and we bought a house. The other half of it was, I started to really hate the East Village. I used to say you’d never get me out of there with a crowbar, but it’s not the East Village I grew up loving in the late 1970s. There’s not a trace of the underground culture anymore."

And EV Grieve reader Blue Glass reports that Kathy's has completed the move a few doors down on First Avenue between 14th Street and 13th Street...




Good news... but what will become of the Tats Cru-painted gate?

13th Step owner discusses frat rap, telephone booths and bar names

On Tuesday, Billy Gray had a piece at Guest of a Guest titled, 13th Step Vs. Billy Hurricanes: Which Will Be The East Village's Most Hated Bar?

As Billy wrote, "The 13th Step is part of a massive evil empire whose leaders, unlike Billy Hurricanes', haven't even feigned interest in preserving neighborhood character. But the locals have already taken the all-important first step and admitted they have a problem with (decreasingly) out of place new arrivals."

I've been pretty tough on the 13th Step too... so, in fairness, I asked Michael Asch, one of the two senior co-owners of the 13th Step, and its sibling bars Down the Hatch, The Stumble Inn, Off the Wagon, et al, for his reaction to Billy's article...and other topics... we exchanged messages via Facebook (Michael previously invited me to the 13th Step's opening on July 6, which I did not attend) ... here's, in part, what he had to say ...

"[I found the piece] completely obnoxious ... and immature. The fact that we are being labeled frat bars and bad for a neighborhood's character is totally uncalled for and, for that matter, just plain ignorant."

On the Telephone's legacy:

"How many times are people going to say how upset they are about the removal of telephone booths and for that matter, the Telephone Bar? Has it not occurred to them that the Telephone Bar, as well as many other places that people hold onto in their memories, are going out of business for a reason?"


[Telephone photo via]

On their business model:

"My partner and I spend months and big bucks doing everything that we possibly can to build new spaces with tons of character and old-world charm. In fact, that is what we pride ourselves on.

"We end up with a classic, well-thought-out, safe environment ... a great and inexpensive venue where locals can come and eat, drink, watch sports (yes on 28 TVs -- is that so bad?) ... for just a few bucks.

"We always stay within the letter of the law, and have always run our establishments with the community in mind on many levels. We have had virtually no violations of any kind over a combined 50-plus years in New York. We get involved with many charities, both local and national, sponsor local groups and teams, and attend police precinct meetings regularly and proactively.

"We, too, are saddened by Duane Reade, Starbucks and the other big-chain-store takeovers of these neighborhoods. We are the exact opposite. We try and move with the times, by opening venues that will give value, and most important, create jobs for the city and these areas."

On coming up with the name the 13th Step:

"We do use names that make you stop and laugh, smile or, maybe in some few instances, grimace, but that is solely a marketing tool that has been successful for our formula.

"We never knew of the unofficial meaning regarding a new AA member being flirted with by current members when we chose the name. We always do a naming contest with friends, family and regulars. We get thousands of creative and comical names, and then a committee votes. [The 13th Step] was meant to be nothing more than the fictitious step that a person would take after having completed the 12-step program. They jokingly would naturally go have a beer and a burger in their local pub. Nothing more, nothing less. We polled dozens of New Yorkers who have been to, or are currently attending, AA meetings, and found 100 percent of them, young and old, to not only find the name funny, but many think it is fantastic, genius, creative, etc.

"Mind you, while we are very inexpensive compared to most other venues in NYC, we DO NOT promote binge drinking, or excessive drinking at all. We strive for great times to be had by all, in a safe and relaxed atmosphere."

At the Mars Bar: "Nothing in here 'works' properly"

Heh. Slum Goddess captured and posted this photo from the Mars Bar...

77 Ludlow papers the East Village

While walking on East Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B last evening, I noticed that nearly every car on the block had a flyer under the wipers...




...upon closer inspection... it turns out to be an ad for commercial and residential space at 77 Ludlow St... Might be a reason for a big street marketing push... as far as I can tell, a few of these spaces have been on the market for more than a year...



So I visited the website listed on the flyer... (hey, this street advertising works!)



...and found some videos... the renovated storefront with the bags of trash and buckets of paint and stuff look so much more classy accompanied by Yo-Yo Ma and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra...



Meanwhile, I eventually spotted the fellows distributing the flyers...

Ads on First and First still want us to feel badly about our bodies

EV Grieve reader K. Knipfing points out the new ad on the northeast corner of First Street and First Avenue...



"You can never be too thin." As K put it: "A timeless message from Pretzel Crisps lightly reminding you that you will never reach any 'goal' when it comes to your body."

Previously at this spot, H&M advertised its $4.95 "bikini tops" ...

The Summer of Bedbugs continues...

What does the sign say...? I can't make it out from this distance...




Seventh Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...

Meanwhile, CNN had a piece last night on the city's new battle against bedbugs...

Last days for Pet World

Last week I noted that Pet World on East Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B is closing...

Signs out front say that tomorrow is the store's last day...



Per a commenter yesterday:

PLEASE WRITE ABOUT THE E 3RD ST PET STORE ABOUT TO CLOSE! HUGE DISCOUNTS, SUCH A NICE GUY THE OWNER I FEEL SO BAD, THESE GREEDY LANDLORDS ARE OUT OF CONTROL!

NYPD raises Shepard Fairey threat level to 'high'

Heh. No! Just the NYPD protecting the Houston corridor for the Obama motorcade this evening...



Many thanks to EV Grieve reader Anna for the photos...

Thankfully the Penistrator didn't deface Shep's work for the President to see...

Reminders tonight: Harvest party on First Street

From the inbox...

With the successful run last month of “First Growth,” a benefit exhibition of donated art works, First Street Green — the community organization working in cooperation with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to create a community cultural park—will hold a follow-up party and sale of new and remaining works to complete its summer initiative to raise local support for the project.
Many of the works on sale will be offered at the bargain price of $100 to help raise funds and mobilize community support to convert the rat-infested vacant lot at 33 East 1st Street into a cultural center and park with a sculpture garden and temporary installations.

Local groups working with First Street Green include the First Street Block Association, The Lower East Side Girls’ Club, and the Citizen’s Committee of New York City, which awarded First Street Green two New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods Grants to help launch its campaign.

The closing or “harvest” party will be held in the temporary gallery space next door to the vacant lot where the rubble of a building demolished in the 1930s continues to be a serious health hazard to the neighborhood due to a persistent rat infestation.

The bargain sale of contemporary works of art by well-known local artists will garner increased support for the project by providing visitors with an opportunity to view and buy fine works of art and to read FSG brochures and posters illustrating the projected plans for the park while enjoying free food and drink provided by Joe Doe, Prune, Arlo & Esme, the Lower East Side Girls Club Bakery, and other local venders.

The Harvest Party will provide a one-night-only opportunity to purchase works of contemporary art at excellent rates (works selling for $100 or less will be identified with green labels at the party). The event is free and open to the public.
Help green the city by enjoying its local culture!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Residents pitching in to help refurbish First Street garden

The gentleman kindly requests that you please refrain from touching his motorcycle

Spotted by a reader last evening on St. Mark's Place...




Thankfully there's no penalty for taking photos...

Police relocating vehicles to "no parking" zones; exploding bicycles next?

In preparation for President Obama's NYC visit today, police this morning are relocating vehicles from the motorcade route...



...and depositing them in "no parking" zones such as here on Avenue B ... as seen in the photo... When someone pointed out that the cab was being placed in a "no parking" zone and now in line for a ticket, the police tow-truck driver said that he didn't care.

Meanwhile!

Our tipster asked the NYPD if they would also be removing all the exploding bicycles off the route. He or she did not get a response.

The Greenpointing of East Fifth Street continues

So, here's a quarterly update on the construction at 532 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B ...

Before!



Now!




Someday! ... Six floors and 10 units of glass and shine...



As a Curbed tipster noted back in February: "Six stories & ten units sounds reasonable, but that building is stylistically out of sync with the rest of the block. Reminds me more of the condos going up in Greenpoint."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Beaming up on Fifth Street

Demolition on East Fifth Street

On the way: A five-story apartment building for Fifth Street

Wrapping up 'East Fifth Bliss'

Entertainment Weekly featured a shot from the upcoming "East Fifth Bliss" in its current issue...

The movie stars Michael C. Hall ... not to mention our very own Slum Goddess ... I asked Douglas Light, the former EV resident who adpated the screenplay from his novel, for an update...

"The movie is coming along very well. They're doing all the technical stuff now like color correction, sound, scoring. It looks really good. Everyone is pleased. Shooting to have it completely done by Sept 1."

Previously.

The developers are coming! The developers are coming!

There are are several upcoming events to help publicize the threat facing community gardens in the East Village and other areas of NYC ... the agreement protecting various gardens from developers expires in September...

So! If you want to get involved, here are some activities planned by Time's Up Save Our Gardens Action Group:

1. Paul Revere Ride "Get Your Horse Head On" Prop-Making Session, tonight at 6, Generation X Garden (Fourth Street between Avenues B and C)

2. Paul Revere Ride -- The Developers Are Coming, Thursday at 7 p.m. -- meet at Tompkins Square Park

3. Save Our Garden Celebration/BBQ -- Saturday, 4 p.m., Generation X Garden (Fourth Street between Avenues B and C)

4. Harvest Day Rally at City Hall (in conjunction with other garden groups' press conference), Monday at 10 or 11 a.m. (exact time and location TBA)

5. Proposed Rules Public Hearing/rally, Aug. 10, 10:30 a.m. rally before 11 public hearing (Tuesday), Chelsea Rec center, 430 W. 25th St.

If you want to speak at this public hearing, then e-mail Laura Velle at Laura.LaVelle@parks.nyc.gov and write, "I intend to make a statement at the August 10Public Hearing on the Parks and HPD Rules for Community Gardens. Please add my name to the list of speakers." Deadline is Aug. 9.

Also! The Daily News is doing a story on the gardens and Paul Revere ride. They will do a photo shoot for the story this morning at 11 at the Generation X Garden. Per the organizers: "If you can dress as Paul Revere (like have a three-corn hat) that's great, but not necessary. Please arrive by 10:45."

Beauty Crisis closing Friday

Beauty Crisis on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue is closing on Friday...



Looks as if the store will live online in the short term...

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village vintage stores doomed?

More vintage doom: Beauty Crisis is closing

Other closings:

Atomic Passion has closed

Monk Thrift Shop on Avenue B

Atomic Passion on Ninth Street

O Mistress Mine on 11th Street

Andy's Chee-Pees on St. Mark's Place

Fab 208 is moving into a smaller space on Seventh Street

Dumpster pool for Avenue C?

No! Sure looked like one, though... Kind of...