Monday, February 28, 2011

See what happens when the Mulberry Street Bar puts in an Internet jukebox

We've been reading plenty of late about what's happening in Little Italy... such as the dwindling numbers of Italian-Americans living there ... and the fight to cut back the annual San Gennaro Feast ...

So anyone mourning the continued erosion of Little Italy may not care for this one...

The great old Mulberry Street Bar (aka Tony's) in Little Italy is admittedly pretty touristy at times ... all the Soprano's stuff inside and outside of the bar doesn't help. Still. Despite some modern touches (flat-screen TVs!) since Tony sold the place and moved to Florida, the bar retains much of its charm... like a working phone booth ...


And now the bar just added another modern amenity: an Internet jukebox ...


The old one was well-stocked with Frank Sinatra and Mario Lanza, etc. The other evening, some fun-loving tourists made their presence felt during the otherwise sleepy early evening hour by loading up the jukebox with Michael Jackson and the Bee Gees. And they danced...


... and danced...


A few old-timers standing at the bar looked blankly into their beers.

After failing to land a club restaurant, landlord lobbies for a nail salon

Wow.

So, we've written plenty about 14-16 Avenue B at East Second Street ... where plans for a big club restaurant were shot down by CB3 (and, perhaps, for good reasons — one venture called for a 3,000 square foot Italian restaurant, catering company and lounge "with an occasional D.J.") ... first last February ... and later in September.

Anyway! Perhaps the landlord has given up the nightclub restaurant dream... check out the new listing for 16 Avenue B....


Look at what it's "perfect" for now... a nail salon!


Of course, it could also be a bar disguised as a nail shop... works nicely with barber shops...

Orologio says goodbye on Avenue A

After yesterday's Sunday brunch, Orologio said goodbye to the neighborhood....

[Courtesy of Shawn Chittle]

[Courtesy of @StarkOnline]

Previously.

P.S.
Melanie also has a nice shot of the sign on East Village Corner.

Page 7


Page 7 of a novel that seems to be plastered around the neighborhood....

[Courtesy @Ewingweber]

'Sex and the City 2' continues to shame New York


The Razzies were held last night... honoring the worst movies of the past year (this wasn't the thing on ABC?)... and some old friends received accolades, per The Daily Mail ... "Sex and the City 2" received Worst Sequel and and all four of its stars — Jessica Cattrall, Sarah Kim Parker, Kristin Cynthia and Davis Nixon — collectively took the worst actress category. No word yet if this means that the SATC bus tours will be discounted.

[Via Runnin' Scared]

Sunday, February 27, 2011

The CoopLambo gets around


Spotted today on Seventh Street near Avenue B. Previously.

[Courtesy of Bobby Williams]

Signs of spring on Avenue A


Via Shawn Chittle.

And are they carrying a white coffin? If so, then that's tacky before Memorial Day!

Week in Grieview


We learned more about Grace Farrell (Tuesday)

CB3 passed new liquor license legislation (Thursday)

Coyote Ugly reopened (Wednesday)

We talked about "Hot Chicks" (Monday)

We learned that the recession is over! (Wednesday)

We continued to worry about the Mars Bar (Friday)

There was a candlelight vigil at 35 Cooper Square (Tuesday) where the developer now apparently has all the necessary permits to destroy (Friday)

We saw the new Material Girl ads shot at Lit Lounge and Mars Bar (Thursday)

We looked at the March CB3/SLA docket, which includes a music venue for the former Aces and Eights(?) (Wednesday)

We watched the EV(ie) Hawk eat a rat (Thursday)

We mourned for Orologio, or at least some people did (Friday)

[Updated] East Village passenger reportedly steals and wrecks cab

Quite a story making the rounds from around 4 a.m. Here's Gothamist:

According to police, a cab driver got into an argument with the passenger in the East Village. Somehow, the passenger managed to get out of the car, kicked the driver out and start driving. The passenger then crashed into a light pole on Union Square West, and suffered minor injuries. He has since been arrested.


Theories?

[Updated 3:29 p.m. The Daily News has more. Per the paper:

Michael Findley, 31, of Pasadena, was treated at Bellevue Hospital for minor injuries - and then booked on six criminal counts.

Police said a cabbie picked up Findley at Delancey St. and the Bowery on the Lower East Side about 3 a.m. At one point, the cab stopped, and Findley got out.

Findley then yanked the driver from the taxi, punched him and drove away with the vehicle, police said.

Findley was charged with robbery, grand larceny auto, and driving while intoxicated, among other counts, police said. He was due to be arraigned later Sunday.

A cab ride up First Avenue in 1971

This video is marked "NYC Taxi Ride up 2nd Ave circa 1971" though it's actually First Avenue... a nice stroll through the East Village... see what you can recognize....

'The Fabulous Personalities of 1980s New York'

Earlier in the month we posted some short videos by downtown filmmaker Nelson Sullivan... Here's another one titled "The Fabulous Personalities of 1980s New York."

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Breaking: New taco cart set up on Avenue A and Second Street


I don't recall seeing this before...? Or have I just missed it...? (Thanks to the Late Adopter for the shot)

The red-tailed hawk's meals are becoming more popular

EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams notes the latest meal ... last time out, a rat... today, a pigeon...








Other things being photographed today in Tompkins Square Park




Courtesy of Bobby Williams

This afternoon in topless male model photo shoots


Somewhere on West Houston ... Photo via EV Grieve reader Samo, who noted this scene gave the tourists something to talk about...

'Quality-of-Lifer' issues

Just went to see the latest exhibit at La Mama Galleria on East First Street near the Bowery ... It's a collection from Day Gleeson titled "Quality-of-Lifer." Per the LaMama website, the exhibit "directly adresses the formal and conceptual metamorphoses of the Lower East Side and East Village neighborhoods over the decades, where the artist lives and continues to work." They're some great pieces here...



“Quality-of-Lifer” will be up until March 20. Gallery hours are: Thursday- Sunday, 1-6 pm. Stop by on your way to the Mars Bar...

How the local TV news stations have been scaring the hell out of you

Courtesy of a YouTube clip titled "Terrifying 1980s Local NYC News Teasers."

Indeed!



And beware of the Dangerous Chicken!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Money for nothing



The Flying Lizards from 1979.

Today in worrying about the Mars Bar

Well, it's that end-of-the-month time... and I'm hearing the same rumors as last month regarding the Mars Bar's future. One rumor: No one has placed a beer order for the weekend... Another rumor has the bar on a month-to-month lease...

Adding to some hysteria... several readers spotted workers alongside the bar yesterday...

In the morning, Georgia Lillie took this shot...


...And later in the day...





EV Grieve contributor Bobby Williams was on the scene. A worker said that they were testing soil samples to monitor the water level.

We've been trying to figure this out ourselves ... if we can remember the formula ... the volume of water and VT = Vs + Vv = Vs + Vw + Va is the total volume (that is soil volume + water volume + air space)...

Will get back to you on that... Meanwhile, go have a drink while you can.

City issues new work permit for 35 Cooper Square

Back on Feb. 15, Runnin' Scared reported that the city issued Stop-Work Orders on 35 Cooper Square... The notices cited the site's failure to "safeguard public and property affected by construction operations." They needed a fence.

So it was really just a matter of getting the correct permits... and yesterday, the DOB issued the necessary permit...



Previously on EV Grieve:
35 Cooper Square, 'this much-beloved little building,' dies at age 186