ConEd back in transformer action on Avenue A today

They ConEddies are back in action today on Avenue A. Yesterday, workers gingerly removed a (100 ton?) transformer from the substation on Avenue A between Sixth Street and Fifth Street ... today, the workers will be putting the new transformer(s) in place.

And all together now...

Something evil's watching over you
Comin' from the sky above
there's nothing you can do

Prepare to strike
There'll be no place to run
When your caught within the grip
Of the evil Megatron

Transformers
More than meets the eye
Transformers
Robots in Disguise

Reminders today: Day 2 of MulchFest in Tompkins Square Park

So, at least while we were around, it was a fairly low-key — but productive! — day of mulching yesterday... we didn't spot any politicos in protective eyewear... there wasn't a radio station sponsor like last year (the now-defunct WRXP, who seriously played "Laid" by James at the start of the festivities). Read our report from last year here.

Anyway, so — wait...sir? Sir! Watch out for the mulcher while walking and texting...

As we were saying, all the action was on Avenue A yesterday. Apparently transformers are cooler than mulchers.

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Today in photos of ConEd putting in a new transformer on Avenue A

If you walked along Avenue A today, then you likely noticed the cranes, flatbeds, ConEd workers, etc., hanging around... the crew was on the scene to put in a new transformer in the ConEd substation between Fifth Street and Sixth Street... today, ConEd removed the old transformer; tomorrow, they'll put in the new replacement (which will actually be four smaller transformers, according to one of the 300 workers on the scene...) Photos here by Bobby Williams...

Transformers in the night...

Invasion of the Transformer People!

This is the old transformer (100 tons!) that ConEd removed this afternoon from its substation on Avenue A between Fifth Street and Sixth Street... it was quite the Social Event...

Previously.

Birds of summer, er — winter

Along Avenue A near Tompkins Square Park. These are Anton van Dalen's pigeons...

And 60 degrees at 2:02 p.m.

Photo by Shawn Chittle.

A ConEd Day today on Avenue A

They're putting up something or another atop the substation here on Avenue A between Sixth Street and Fifth Street... And nearly every ConEd employee is on hand to watch. Avenue A is screwy from Fourth Street to Seventh Street. Down to one lane.

[Updated] Reader report: Small fire Smoke spotted above La Palapa

Via @pablo_escolar comes word that passersby spotted smoke on the ledge/balcony above La Palapa on St. Mark's Place, just west of First Avenue. The FDNY were quickly on the scene and seemed to have the situation under control, he reported. More to come, if necessary...

All is well. Restaurant is open as usual... the smoke/flames/raging inferno had nothing to do with La Palapa, we're told...

Updated:
DNAinfo has a report too...Apparently some garbage on the balcony somehow caught fire... "It was no big deal," Judy Maeda, the restaurant's maître d’, told DNA. "It was just smoke, no flames."

Updated:
A few more photos from the morning via @pablo_escolar

Chipping away at 9 Second Ave. this morning

Previously.

Boob job

11th Street and Third Avenue this morning.

Another stump for Tompkins Square Park

Yesterday, workers were on hand to remove the rest of the tree that came down last week near Seventh Street and Avenue A ...

I've lost track of the number of trees we've lost in the Park last year... 6? 7?

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Rat-a-pooey

A few people gathered this afternoon in Tompkins Square Park...

...to watch a red-tailed hawk dine on today's special ...

Your weekend MTA planner!

Posted this factoid via Gothamist a little bit ago on the EVG Twitter feed...

Only the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, C, D, E, F, G, J, N, Q, R, and S lines will have service disruptions this weekend.

Amazingly enough, as @andytabb pointed out, the L will be running...

[Image via QuarterSnacks]

Sunset evening continues

As we first reported, there is a beautiful sunset out there tonight... This shot comes courtesy of EV Grieve reader John S.

And from our own Bobby Williams...

Sunset serenade

Hey, the sky looks like a Cocteau Twins album cover tonight. Anyway...

Photo by Shawn Chittle.

There's no antidote for her

The Pop Group with "She's Beyond Good and Evil" from 1979 or so.

A sidewalk shed for the First Avenue Starbucks

Going up right now at East Third Street, reports @robbyohara

Perhaps there will be space then for more of these?

Previously.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning edition

[The other day on Avenue A and 11th Street by Shawn Chittle]

More than 500 people turned out for anti-NYU 2031 meeting (The Villager)

There's video of that art theft outside the Woodward Gallery that we wrote about the other day (NY1)

Eating at Umi No Ie on East Third Street (Eater)

Making East Village construction sites look less ugly (DNAinfo)

Retrial set for East 14th Street parking spot punch (New York Post)

A lot of photos of "Smash" being filmed in the East Village the other day (The Daily Mail)

More people are robbing banks now (Runnin' Scared)

Video of NYC kids in the early 1970s (Flaming Pablum)

Thoughts on The Commuters statues in Port Authority (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

It's Mayor Boozberg (BoweryBoogie)

New espresso bar for Broome Street (The Lo-Down)

Little Giant closes on Orchard (Grub Street)

Dolly Parton's life story coming to Broadway (Gothamist)

Little puffy clouds

This morning. Ninth Street and Avenue B.

Turkish vegetarian fast-food chain opening on East Ninth Street

A tipster points us to East Ninth Street... just west of Avenue A, where Cigkoftem is opening... it's a Turkish vegetarian fast-food chain founded in 1993 ... their website doesn't translate all that well ... As far as I can tell this is the chain's first New York outpost.

By the way, this is the space to the left of Itzocan Café. Wasn't it some sort of short-lived coffee shop/falafel place or something previously?

Marshal seizes Furry Land Pet Supplies on Avenue A

EV Grieve reader FlatFoot passes along word that the marshal has seized Furry Land Pet Supplies on Avenue A between 12th Street and 13th Street...

Per FlatFoot: "Mustafa (Mike) the owner had been a really great neighbor and I bought all of my pet supplies from him. He also took in unwanted kittens and found homes for them. A loss to the neighborhood."

Neighborhood kids always seemed to like the birds out front...

[Photo by Bobby Williams]