[Updated] Reports: 29-year-old woman found dead inside Orchard Street building

[Via The Lo-Down]

There are multiple reports today about a 29-year-old woman who was found "bleeding heavily from a neck wound" at the foot of the stairwell on the first floor of 191 Orchard St. this morning. The woman, identified as Carlisle Brigham, was declared dead at Beth Israel.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the woman was staying at 191 Orchard St. just south of Houston temporarily ... and that she was estranged from her husband, named as Anthony Lindley Champalimaud. (Here is their wedding announcement from the Times.)

The Times is reporting this afternoon that officials are still investigating whether her death "was a murder, a suicide or an accident."

For more updates:

The Lo-Down

BoweryBoogie

The Wall Street Journal

The Daily News

Gothamist

...and a tweet from WABC promises more at 5...

The daughter of prominent investment banker found, throat slashed on Lower East Side. Who killed Carlisle Brigham-Champalimaud? EWN at 5PM.

— NJ Burkett (@njburkett7) August 27, 2012

Updated: Here is the WABC report.

[Bingham in 2007 via]

Updated 6:45 p.m.
WCBS reports that the victim is the daughter of former New York City budget director James Brigham, Jr.

Updated 7:54 p.m.
The Daily News reports that the victim's husband was believed to be working in London. He is reportedly vice president of development for YTL Hotels and Properties.

Updated 9:23 p.m.
Police sources told DNAinfo that "it appeared that Brigham had fallen on the steps, cutting the side of her head and neck, and was bleeding heavily when she was found by a neighbor." Also, police did not find a weapon at the scene. In addition: "Sources said she had been drinking Monday morning and called another male friend to tell him, 'I am not happy with my life.'"

Updated 6:30 a.m.
According to the Post, this happened "possibly after tripping on her high heels following a night of drinking with college pals."

Per the Post:

There was so much blood around Brigham’s neck when her body was found at 10:33 a.m. that investigators initially theorized she’d been slashed.

But they later said it appeared to be just a tragic accident, during which she shattered her chin on a step of the first-floor stairwell in the building.

Willow tree limb nearly crushes van on East Ninth Street

Bobby Williams notes the downed willow tree limb here at the Ninth Street Community Garden Park... we're unsure if the limb was a casualty from the storm that swept through the area around noon...

The van seems to have escaped any extensive damage...

...and here are two photos from Dave on 7th...

Mayor Bloomberg unveils ‘Micro-Unit’ Apartment concept in the East Village

Per Dave on 7th, who sent along the photos and headline: "View of Park, furnished and available."

For further reading:
New York Seeks Design For ‘Micro-Unit’ Apartment Building

Reader report: Duane Reade expanding on Avenue B

"Expansion" is the word coming out of the Duane Reade on Avenue B at East Second Street, per a tipster... Employees say that the drug store will expand next door into the spaces previously occupied by Zaitzeff ... and the long-dead High Chai Tea Room.

In addition, Duane Reade will add a second level, digging into the basement space where the Dolphin Gym was before closing back in February 2010.

Seems fitting to have a gargantuan Duane Reade here. This is the reality of the neighborhood ... Previously, this space was home to a gas station... shooting gallery ... and then, for a 10-year run, The Gas Station, aka Art Gallery Space 2B. Alex at Flaming Pablum wrote about the space here.

Per the Times:

For 10 years, the Gas Station, with its towering sculpture built from discards ranging from a 1970 Plymouth Valiant to department store mannequins to television sets, has been a symbol of the Lower East Side's Bohemian ways and artistic resolve.

The space was cleared out in 1996...

[Via Flaming Pablum]

And now, a lot of photos of St. Brigid's with steps and sidewalks

On Saturday, a crew continued work on the sidewalk and steps in front of the under-renovation St. Brigid's on Avenue B...

...and as the front looked at the end of the work day...

[Bobby Williams]

[BW]

And last week, crews finished up the sidewalk on the church's Eighth Street side...

...and a bonus aerial view courtesy of Dave on 7th...

...and a night shot...

Last we heard, the church was still on target for a fall opening...

Previously.

[Updated] East Third Street lot cleared of pesky trees, garden

Back in January, we reported that a parcel of land at 321 E. Third St., just west of Avenue D, hit the market for $6 million ... the space, long the subject of a tug-of-war between various factions, was officially sold in June to the vague 321 E. Third Street Realty LLC.

[Streeteasy]

EVG reader Steven Matthews noted late last week that workers started clearing out the space, chopping down trees, uprooting bushes, etc.

[Steven Matthews]

And now.

There's nothing on file with the DOB. So, this is a site to keep an eye on for future development.

Meanwhile, directly behind this lot on East Fourth Street... the Orchard Alley community garden remains closed. It shut down in the middle of July... and here is the reason why...

In recent weeks, there has been some activity at No. 27, including new plywood....

But not much else appears to be happening inside the barren lot.

Ah, via the comments, we learned that NY1 has been on the story ... you may watch their report here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another parcel of East Village land ready for development

Foundation set at 84 Third Ave.

Despite the convenient blogging portals at 84 Third Ave., we still can't see exactly what's going on behind the plywood here at East 12th Street. Other than some digging.

However, this aerial shot via @AndrewPettit shows that the foundation is set and ready for nine stories of luxurious housing bliss...

L'Apicio marks its territory at Avalon Bowery Place

Over on East First Street in the Shoppes at Avalon Bowery Place... signage is up for the restaurant that is taking the Bowery Wine Company space...

Back in June, Grub Street reported that the name of this new place will be called L'Apicio. According to Eater: "Chef Gabe Thompson, of L'Artusi and Dell'Anima, will create an 'Italian inspired' menu, and Joe Campanale will be in charge of the wine and cocktails."

As we've noted in our previous posts about the space ... Not familiar with Dell'Anima? (Like us!) Here's a summary via New York magazine:

This is what happens when a former Babbo sommelier and an ex–Del Posto kitchen whiz get together and open an unassuming little trattoria: mobs of salivating foodies and goggle-eyed scenesters clamoring to get in.

Meanwhile, this tree obscures the signage over what appears to be the main entrance...

Let's hope that the tree doesn't meet with any accidents...

Previously on EV Grieve:
August Cardona buying Bowery Wine Company, expanding next door

Bowery Wine Company has closed

At the Bowery Wine Co. protest Friday night — in pictures

Fu Sushi has closed on Avenue B

[Photo via Yelp]

EVG reader Faces brings word that Fu Sushi has closed on Avenue B... Saturday was their last night in business here between East 11th Street and East 12th Street.

In June 2011, the DOH temporarily closed Fu Sushi ... and there were reports that the restaurant stayed open on a weekend despite the closure... (inexplicably) prompting three damning articles by the Post, who, after all that, never bothered to note that Fu Sushi had reopened.

zpizza opening on First Avenue, finally

A branch of the zpizza franchise is opening here on First Avenue at East Second Street ... BoweryBoogie noted this impending arrival back on Dec. 23, 2010... but there was never much more activity in this former Cafe Rama space...

This will be the Laguna Beach, Calif.-based company's second NYC location... right there with Terminal 4 at JFK...

New to zpizza (like us!)? Here's some info via a zpizza blog:

Our dough is made from certified organic wheat flour prepared fresh every day, hand-thrown and fire-baked until uniquely crisp. We combine select ingredients such as certified organic tomato sauce, part-skim rBGH-free cheese from grass-fed cows, MSG-free pepperoni, and additive-free sausage. Even our fresh produce sets us apart. Exotic delights like Cremini and Shiitaki mushrooms, roasted eggplant, pili pili and truffle oil, pine nuts, artichoke hearts, roasted bell peppers and caramelized onions assure you'll never experience a boring pizza. The same holds true for our gourmet salads and sandwiches. That said we hope you enjoy our unique and authentic recipes as much as we enjoy making them for you.

Glaze is now open on Fourth Avenue

Back in March, we reported that a second outpost of the Glaze Teriyaki Grill is opening here on Fourth Avenue near 13th Street... (the flagship location is at Lexington near 54th Street...) The website describes the food as "Seattle-Style Teriyaki."

Anyway, it opened Friday. We hear good things about the food. Gothamist has more on the menu and stuff here.

...and Glaze kept the iconic "walk ins welcome" lettering on the front out of homage to the previous tenant, Ibiza Salon... (OK, OK — it's not iconic... but i thought it was funny...)

Anyway, here's a time-lapse video of the renovation...

At the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

A few photos from the afternoon at Tompkins Square Park from Blue Glass...

... and a few shots via Bobby Williams...

From the EV Grieve lost and found

Shawn Chittle spotted this at East 13th Street at First Avenue. Let me know if this stuff belongs to you. I actually took all the pills and am watching the Shirley Temple films. And I'm wearing the glove. And the lipstick. So. Maybe later.

Lauren Edmond at FringeNYC on Fourth

You still have until 8 p.m. to check out FringeNYC on Fourth today... Pictured is East Village-based painter Lauren Edmond, one of the locals in a group show at Alex Harsley's 4th Street Photo Gallery...

More info here.

Photo by Bobby Williams.

Week in Grieview

[FringeNYC on Fourth yesterday. Photo by Bobby Williams]

Dorm blockbuster for 35 Cooper Square (Tuesday)

Irritating mystery noise on East Ninth Street (Friday)

Josie's opens on East Sixth Street (Friday)

Are the crusties more violent this summer? (Wednesday)

Joe Strummer at 60 (Tuesday)

Why the sandbox has been closed in the Tompkins Square Park Playground (Wednesday)

Bento Burger closed (Monday)

Looking at a charmingly shabby East 10th Street townhouse (Thursday)

Nicoletta unleashes its sidewalk cafe (Monday)

Bar on A closed (Thursday)

We lost another tree in Tompkins Square Park (Tuesday)

Joey Pepperoni now serving $1 slices on First Avenue (Thursday)

Photo of a bridesmaid climbing a fence at First Park (Monday)

Two more floors for 205 Avenue A (Friday)

One year ago today: Waiting for Hurricane Irene

While parts of the South brace for Hurricane Isaac... I'm reminded that it was one year ago today when New York started prepping for the arrival of Hurricane Irene...

And have you noticed how many East Village windows still have tape on them to protect from flying glass and stuff...? (Or maybe this pre-dates Irene... and to ward off UFOs...)

You may relive revisit all of our Irene posts here.

The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Tompkins Square Park today

Here's a reminder that the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival comes to Tompkins Square Park today at 3. The lineup: the Ernestine Anderson Quartet, Gregory Porter, Andy Milne & Dapp Theory, and Sullivan Fortner.

You can read more about the musicians here.

Admission is free. Free jazz. (Heh.)

Updated: Dave on 7th passes along this shot of workers setting up the stage ... it went up around 8:30...