EV Grieve

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Fire scare on St. Mark's Place at iconic Physical Graffiti building

A reader notes a fire scare this evening on St. Mark's Place at 96-98 St. Mark's Place — (the Physical Graffiti buildings) ... Per the reader on the extent of the damage: "Not sure — [firefighters] ran two hoses up, had two truck ladders up to the roof and a few guys climbed up the fire escape to break windows and climb in. We smelled smoke but didn't see any flames. The building was totally soaked — water running down the staircase/hallway."

And a few photos (a few more are here):

Fifth Street and Avenue A, 8:31 p.m., Nov. 13

Bus stop

Yesterday morning on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.... another one of those Americana moments that gives the neighborhood a small-town vibe...

Noted

That was fast: Cafe Hanover on the market after five months in business

Back in the heady days of June, Cafe Hanover owners celebrated their grand opening on St. Mark's Place in the former Mondo Kim's space.

In a ceremony worthy of a funeral...

A few seizures here and there... and today, the space is now for rent...

Friday, November 12, 2010

Third Street, 9:47 p.m., Nov. 12

Some German Propaganda

A little German synthpop from 1985 courtesy of Propaganda.

EVLambo gets around

Opportunity bites

A reader notes that this flyer has been on his building's front door all week ... and they do seem to be everywhere. The ads. And probably the bedbugs.

Infant rescued in Ageloff Towers fire

The Post has the story of firefighters saving a baby in yesterday morning's blaze at the Ageloff Towers. The paper reports that seven people suffered minor injuries during the fire.

[Post photo by William Farrington]

11th Street condo owners want to chop down this willow tree

A group of condo owners at 613-617 E. 11th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C are discussing removing a 60-foot tall willow tree in their backyard because, according to residents, they don't want to pay for pruning it. It has been claimed that the underlying reason may be simply that they don't want to clean up the tree's leaves.

Older neighbors want to preserve it. There are also a lot of community gardeners on the block.

This tree has an interesting history. It belongs to a willow tree seeding effort throughout Loisaida in the early gardening movement. You can see many of the remaining willows in gardens along Avenue C ... and on the streets between Avenue B and Avenue C. (For example, there is a nice one on Eighth Street near Avenue C ... and several in the La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez garden on Avenue C and Ninth Street.)

This particular tree was cared for by a long-time Ukrainian woman who lived for about 50 years as the sole occupant of an abandoned five-story tenement — long before the squatter movement — without electricity, water or heat.

Maria agreed to vacate her building and move to another nearby apartment in the late 1990s. She left on the condition that her two willows not be destroyed. In the process of construction around 2000, workers sawed down one of the trees. A local gardener prevented the remaining willow with his body. That tree is now being threatened again.

It's a story of newcomers with little history destroying local history for their convenience and comfort. And for their backyard amenities, which, of course, are a staple of urban living, as distinct from suburban style.

One concerned resident said that the condo board president will re-evaluate the decision to have the tree removed. According to the resident, the condo owners want to prevent any possible risk of the tree falling. The playground for P.S. 61 is in the space adjacent to 613-617.

More on the history of 222 E. 13th St.

Last Friday, we posted about 222 E. 13th St. — a reader had asked whether the long-abandoned home was haunted. And we received an incredible response from several readers ... You can read some of the history of the address here.

Clues about EV Lambo owner: 'always accompanied by beautiful blonde' (duh!)

Scoopy has an awesome scoop in this week's issue of The Villager.... In part:

As reported by the blog EV Grieve [editor's note: Woo!], a mysterious burnt-orange Lamborghini has been turning heads in the East Village, where it seems to live. We’ve seen it slinking its way down Avenue A, like a sleek cat, emitting a sexy, powerful rumble from its engine — while hopelessly stuck in slow-moving traffic. We were surprised then last Thursday to see that the “orange Lambo” had commuted crosstown and parked right outside our office at Soho Square. .... Monday morning, and lo and behold, there it was again, parked by Soho Square .... This particular luxury sports vehicle does have one small flaw, however: Its right side-view mirror was broken off and is being held on with tape. Oh well, like they say — nobody’s perfect, not even the awesome East Village Lambo. Nelson, our building super at 145 Sixth Ave., tells us he’s noticed the car parking around the area for the past two weeks. The Lambo’s driver is a man, about age 35, who is always accompanied by a “beautiful” blonde female passenger, Nelson said. The man works nearby, he said.

[Photo by Scoopy!]

Previous EV Lambo coverage right this way.

Meanwhile, outside the Mars Bar...

Didn't want to the EV Lambo to be lonely.

Flashback to one of my all-time favorite photos right here.

Mary Ann's still closed; 3 of 4 eateries currently shuttered on Second Avenue and Fifth Street

Signs out front still say they'll reopen on Nov. 4. We have spotted several people inside working around the eatery's bar area here at Second Avenue and Fifth Street.

Although this closure is certainly temporary, seems weird to have three of the four restaurants on this corner shuttered. (And the fourth, the Moonstruck, has been temporarily shuttered in the past too.)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

This afternoon at Ageloff Towers

After this morning's fire on Avenue A at Fourth Street. Via @philmichaelson

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning edition

Man hit by falling AC on Second Avenue suing for $21 million (Daily News)

"Parrot aids girl in burglar chase" (EV Transitions)

A new EV Scribbler? (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Another hotel for the LES? (BoweryBoogie)

Last drink for Goggla (and everyone else) at Ruby's? (The Gog Log)

Who needs extras on the set of "2 Days in New York?" (Nadie Se Conoce — full-frontal peepee alert)

Year-round outdoor dining (Eater)

Ageloff Towers update

Dramatic shot of the Ageloff Towers fire by Cluglife.

Per DNAinfo:

Fire officials on the scene said they arrived to see flames blowing out three windows of the corner apartment. Firefighters battled the blaze from inside the building — water was seen shooting out windows and onto the street. It took firefighters roughly an hour to get the fire under control, officials said.
FDNY officials said a couple lived in the apartment. No one was injured, but the apartment was completely destroyed, fire officials said.

Assessing the Ageloff Towers fire damage

A shot taken from EV Grieve reader Samo around 9:30 at the Ageloff Towers on Fourth Street and Avenue A.

And as we were first to report (thanks to jdx): "Fire on the 6th floor, east 4th side, caused by a burning towel left on the radiator. no fatalities."

Updated: Gothamist has more details.

Previously.