A scene from the Union Square Citibank today

A man diligently counting and organizing mounds of pennies. Tough times. Per the reader who took the photo: "Poor guy is scraping pennies together and these clowns own half the city."

Today's sign of the TSP Ratstravaganza

A reader noted this scene earlier today... after the meals were served to those in need on Avenue A along Tompkins Square Park... the remains...

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Tompkins Square Park, by Bobby Williams]

The case for neighborhood groups having a larger role in liquor license decision-making (The Lo-Down)

Middle Collegiate Church hosting an "irreverently reverent gospel experience" (NY1)

1930s photo of the Second Avenue El in the East Village (BoweryBoogie)

A quick East 9th Street now and then (Flaming Pablum)

More about L'Apicio on East First Street (The Daily News)

Celebrating the first year at Sauce (Eater)

Cupcake trend coming to an end? (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Late 19th-century life of actors at Union Square (Ephemeral New York)

Vote in the Village Voice's 2012 Web Awards, including Meme of the Year, Best GIF and Best Neighborhood Blog (The Village Voice)

Suitor in line for Lucky Cheng's space

The November agenda is out for the CB3/SLA committee meeting... we'll highlight the docket in full a little later... (You can find it here for now.)

A few quick notes. The folks from the incoming Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken on East First Street are down for a beer-wine license.

Also, there's an unnamed suitor for the Lucky Cheng's space. (The cabaret is now open on Times Square.)

I asked Lucky Cheng's owner Hayne Suthon for an update on the space this morning, and she wasn't quite ready to divulge the To Be Determined. "Not sure. The attorneys are negotiating still — one main tenant with a back up," she said via email.

In an interview with Suthon on Oct. 12, Blackbook's Steve Lewis had this to sale about the evolution of Lucky Cheng's and what is next:

All was good until the neighborhood changed. The East Village/LES's conversion from hipster heaven to dormitories for slaves and students left them without their base. Bachelorette and birthday shindigs filled the Lucky Cheng’s room,and Hayne eyed the new Times Square. A year or two ago, I told everyone in town that her space was available and the best game in town. Now, operators are clamoring for it and deals are done... almost. Someone will make it nice for those who are now around. Money will be spent to pay for the rent, the renovation, and other things. The neighborhood can now support that. Whatever fabulous that comes in will set a bar... a tone for the area.

Noted

Spotted on East Seventh Street and Avenue B this morning by EVG reader Steven Matthews...

Fire at 518 E. Sixth St. last night

We heard reports of a fire last night around 10 on East Sixth Street... A few more details have come it... the fire occurred in a second-floor apartment in the back of No. 518 between Avenue A and Avenue B.

According to EVG reader Emily, who witnessed the FDNY on the scene:

"We saw bright lights and heard glass shattering ... there were firefighters running up and down the fire escapes, through the building, shattering all the windows with crow bars. There was smoke flowing from the building."

And here are two photos of the rear of the building from this morning...

Anyone else have more details?

[Updated] RIP Christine Ebel, co-owner of Arcane at 111 Avenue C

[Via the Arcane website]

Word began circulating yesterday that the body discovered yesterday morning in a lot at 227 E. Seventh St. was Christine Ebel, the co-owner of Arcane, which is adjacent to the property on Avenue C. Ebel ran the French-Caribbean eatery with her brother, Benjamin Alter.

We'll update the post today when more information becomes available. Several people told us that the death was accidental. Meanwhile, a memorial is growing outside the restaurant at 111 Avenue C, where this was the scene early this morning...

Updated 1:56 p.m.

DNAinfo's Serena Solomon reports that Ebel, 52, apparently died after falling from a balcony. She reportedly lived in an apartment above the bistro. Other restaurateurs in the area are mourning her death.

"She was always there [at Arcane], always working," said [Edi] Frauneder, who is also the chef at Edi and the Wolf, "humming along to the pace of Avenue C."

A strange encounter on an East 11th Street elevator

A reader told me about this incident shortly after it happened ... and asked if I had heard about any other such encounters with the man who will be described below. The reader waited until he had video from the building security before sharing this:

On Sunday, October 14 at approximately 8 pm, I was followed from between 11th and 12th Streets on Avenue A and into my building on E. 11th St between Ave A and B and ultimately into my elevator.

He didn't press a button once we entered the elevator, so I asked where he was going, and he said [totally deadpan] "Your apartment."

I asked him what he meant, but, before he could answer, I quickly exited the elevator ... and entered my apartment. I then called the police, who checked the stairwells, floors and roof.

The guy was white, late 20s/early 30's, about 6-3, skinny build, long black hair slightly past his shoulders, beard/goatee, red/black checkered flannel shirt, dark jeans, chain wallet and heavy black shoes (maybe boots). He didn't look too scary or disheveled. Just appeared like a normal, hungover hipster.

The video shows the man stepping out of the elevator on the reader's floor, and then back inside. His intentions unknown. He left the building.

And what did the police say in response to this report?

"They just said, 'Yeah, this neighborhood is getting sketchy again.'"

Eric Drooker at MoRUS tonight

From the EV Grieve inbox...

The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) presents:
Eric Drooker Slide Lecture
Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 8 pm
free
MoRUS's Storefront in C-Squat
155 Avenue C

Avenue B native Eric Drooker will give a slide lecture exploring his early years as a street artist in NYC and will trace the evolution of his graphic novels into animated films — and from his cover paintings of "The New Yorker," to his slow infiltration of the mainstream. The artist will talk about growing up on the Lower East Side and how the changing landscape has shaped his vision.

He'll screen animation he designed for the movie, "Howl," reminisce about his friendship with Allen Ginsberg and discuss the process of adapting the Beat poem into the recent "Howl: A Graphic Novel." He will accompany his lecture on various musical instruments.

The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) is a living archive of urban activism opening in C-Squat's storefront on November 17th. The museum chronicles the East Village community's history and grassroots activism. It celebrates local activists who transformed abandoned buildings and vacant lots into vibrant community spaces and community gardens.

Looking at David Schwimmer's bricks

Oh, well, on a few of those recent sunny days (Saturday-Monday) ... the light was hitting the construction netting just right at 331 E. Sixth St., providing a glimpse of the new home that David Schwimmer — or someone he sells it too, if you want to go that way — will live in here between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

By the way, the saga story here is now entering its 14th month, starting with the demolition in the August 2011 of the circa 1852 townhouse that once stood here, a home described as an "Oasis in the East Village" ... 14 months of demolition and subsequent construction. Neighbors, how has that been going for you?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Is David Schwimmer the 'Friends' star who now owns the demolished 331 E. Sixth St. townhouse?

Outrage over total demolition of historic East Sixth Street townhouse

From the inbox: Developer says Arabella 101 85% leased on Avenue D

From the EV Grieve inbox...

The Dermot Company, developer and manager of the 12-story residential building, Arabella 101 [at 101 Avenue D], is pleased to announce that the building is now 85% leased. This marks another milestone for the Alphabet City residence, which just launched less than two months ago, and recently unveiled its landscaped roof deck.

Arabella 101 includes a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments on the building’s upper nine floors, containing expansive windows, designer bathrooms, bamboo flooring, tenant-controlled air conditioning and heat, video intercoms and generous closet space.

A virtual doorman, game room, fully-equipped gym, laundry facilities, and bike storage are part of the amenity package offered to all residents. Residents also have access to the landscaped roof deck which offers picturesque views of lower Manhattan and the East River, and contains a grill, plentiful seating and a plethora of year-round plantings.

Remaining rents start at $2,400 per month for studios and $2,950 per month for one-bedrooms.

Previously.

FDNY responds to Tompkins Square Park trash can fire

Earlier this afternoon...

All clear.

Photos by Bobby Williams.

Updated] Report: Body found in East Seventh Street lot

Manhattan: 227 East 7 St Crime scene being established in regards to a Dead body found in a parking lot.
— NY Scanner (@NYScanner) October 24, 2012

The address is actually an empty lot where a 6-story apartment building is in the works...

[Photo from September via Bobby Williams]

Will post an update when there is more information...

Updated 10:49

Per Gothamist News Map:
"PD does not have any perp info but the death does look suspicious in nature."

11:10

Dave on 7th sends along these two photos... NYPD on the scene and news crews arriving...

According to people on the scene, the victim is female. Police aren't saying if it's a homicide, but are trying to determine if the woman may have jumped.

11:25

Per the Post ... the woman is believed to be in her 30s.

"Cops said there were no obvious signs of trauma to the body. It was not immediately clear how the woman died, police said."

2:44

Via Dave on 7th...

5:09
A source told us that at least one news outlet has the name of the victim, and is interviewing people on Avenue C. A reader also notes that Arcane at 111 Avenue C is closed this evening. Nearly a dozen people are standing in front of the restaurant. The lot where the body was found is adjacent to the restaurant.

An officer by the CSI truck told passersby that the incident is not being treated as a homicide.

7:26

There's a memorial outside Arcane this evening. Multiple sources have identified the victim as Christine Ebel, who co-owned the restaurant with her brother Benjamin Alter.

10/25 6 a.m.

We'll update the post today when more information becomes available.

7:30 a.m.

Updated here.

Looking at some old favorites along Second Avenue

On Monday, we posted a 2001-2012 comparison photo of Gem Spa by James and Karla Murray ... turns out that was just a warm-up for a new post — A Walk Down Second Avenue, from 14th Street to Houston circa 2001.

The photographers, who published "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York," don't capture every business ... but they do highlight the old-timers and current favorites, such as East Village Meat Market and Block Drug Store, and now-closed businesses such as Jade Mountain and 2nd Ave Deli.

You can find the photos and text with some history here.

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.

By James Maher

Name: John Cannatella (and Paesano)
Occupation: Actor
Location: 1st Avenue, Between 3rd and 4th
Time: 2:45 pm on Monday, Oct. 22

I’m an actor. I’m still acting. It’s steady work. I do comedy, drama, and I write and I make movies. 'The Third Testament' was one movie I’ve been in; 'When God Left His Shoes' is another, with John Leguizamo, but I’ve done mostly stage acting. I make my own movies too. I’ve acted all around this neighborhood.

I moved to the West Village way back in the 1960s to study acting and I lived there for awhile. Then I moved to the East Village when I got married and raised two children here. My daughter was born in 1976 and my son in 1981, so I’ve pretty much lived in the same apartment for 36 years — on 4th Street and 2nd Avenue.

Most of my favorite places are gone now. One was called La Focacceria on First Avenue, which was my favorite. It had genuine home cooked Sicilian food. The owner was there for ages and he had a really wide reputation — people would come from all over.

One time, I was with an improv group, headed by Jeremy Stevens, who is now a producer – he produced 'Coach' and 'Everybody Loves Raymond.' We were all pretty good. And one day he brings a couple of friends in, a man and a woman, and asks us if it’s okay if they join us for our show. We said sure. At the time I had been running dry. I wasn’t very happy; I was kind of forcing it. I was young and feeling a lot of self-pity. The venue was a restaurant called Hilly’s on 9th street and 6th Avenue. So I did a thing during the first half of the show and then I saw the man get up and he was funny and then the woman got up and she was funny.

Then there was an intermission. I went up to the balcony, where nobody was, and I sat there and I sulked. They started the second half of the show and everyone goes on and the man and the woman are still funny. Everybody leaves and I hear the director calling for me. I’m pouting. Jeremy comes up to the balcony and he sees me and he says, “What are you doing sitting here alone?” And I say, “Jeremy, get rid of me, I stink.” He says, “No you don’t, you’re still funny, you’re just going through a bit of a dry spot.” And I said, “I really stink. Those two kids you pulled off the street; they’re funnier than I am!” And he says, “You idiot! That’s Stiller and Meara — Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara!”

He tells me that everyone’s going to Trudy Heller's, the bar on the corner, but I was too embarrassed. And so he leaves and five minutes later I walk out and standing in front, leaning on a car, is Jerry Stiller. And he goes “John, yes? I really liked what you did and I was looking forward to seeing more of you. C’mon, come with us.” He put his arm around with me and guided me to Trudy Heller's. What a beautiful guy!

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

Explanation for this splop on St. Mark's Place this morning

What have we here?

Probably a perfectly reasonable explanation... and just up ahead... incriminating evidence.

Ah, thought there was a scent of hickory smoke in the morning air.

We'll always have Craigslist: 'Seeking third roommate that doesn't suck'

There is a listing on Craigslist with the heading "$1750 Seeking third roommate that doesn't suck (East Village)"

What constitutes a roommate who sucks? In this case, the people who placed the ad — "two cool guys from Michigan who went to school at the University of Michigan" — explain what went wrong with the third roommate, a woman who has agreed to move out.

And to the ad:

Here are some of the things we experienced in our first three months with her. Stop reading if you seriously might do one of the things listed below. Otherwise, take humor in our past suffering.

1) You own a non-spaded dog that gets dog period juice (that's right, I called it that) all over the apartment, and then you decide not to tell us about it until we find it is an epidemic of disgustingnesss. It was cleaned up by a maid.

2) You pull stuff out of the garbage and attempt to reuse it. In this case, the prior roommate removed a water bottle container that had been used to store urine during an emergency situation. Yes, our roommate drank from a plastic water-bottle filled with piss for seven days that she pulled out of the garbage. Fireworks followed. More can be told in person.

3) You attempt to fix a freezer frozen completely shut with a hammer. I can't make this shit up.

4) You let us know the day before rent is due that rent+utilities exceeds your budget during your first month living with us.

5) You regularly and randomly start crying during any serious conversation.

Oddly enough, we started regularly and randomly crying while reading this ad...

Wylie Dufresne's rent on Second Avenue

As you may recall, chef Wylie Dufresne will open a pub concept early next year on Second Avenue, as Grub Street first reported last Thursday. Given all the interest in the new project, we thought we'd pass along the listing that we found for the space...

As you can see, the asking rent was $15,450/month ... with a term of 11 years. Plus an undisclosed amount for key money.

Previously.

New life for old deli on First Avenue

The deli over on First Avenue near St. Mark's Place was closed on Monday...

...and yesterday, the plywood and workers arrived. These days, you can't help but think it will become a 7-Eleven or something. However, workers on the scene told EVG regular William Klayer, who took the photo below, that the same owners were renovating the space...

Our friends at East Village Wines next door confirmed this as well...

Will be curious to see how the spruce up the place...

Busted

East Fourth Street between Lafayette and the Bowery.