Report: Injured East Village Farm and Grocery florist has lost his memory, use of his voice

Akkas Ali, the florist at East Village Farm and Grocery who was critically injured in June after an out-of-control driver jumped the curb, is currently a patient at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, N.J.

Last week, CB3 member Chad Marlow presented Ali's son, Rukanul Islam, 22, with a check for $18,047.32 — all money raised through the crowdsourcing campaign.

The Villager has an update on Mr. Ali's condition this week via his son:

[He] said his father is conscious, and will open his eyes if someone is in the room and talking to him. He can turn his head and point to people with his right arm, and can raise his right leg. But his left leg and ankle are injured, and he’s not moving that leg or his left arm, either.

He is also intubated — periodically put on a ventilator to help him breathe — and because the tube crosses over his vocal chords, he cannot currently talk.

In addition, as a result of brain injury suffered from the force of the impact, he has completely lost his memory, and currently doesn’t even recognize his own family members.

However dire, Ali's son said that "his condition is getting better."

Shaun Martin, who prosecutors say was drunk "and high on PCP" when he drove his car onto a Second Avenue sidewalk on June 19, pleaded not guilty during his arrangement in Manhattan Supreme Court last month.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Car smashes into East Village Farm & Grocery on Second Avenue; 6 reported injured (62 comments)

Campaign launched to raise money for gravely injured East Village Farm and Grocery worker

1st week of crowdsourcing campaign for injured East Village Farm and Grocery worker raises $11k

Memories from Avenue B

Bloom 62 is a new luxury building on Avenue B at East Fifth Street that features a landscaped roof deck with showers, Weber grills and a "teak sundeck" for apartment dwellers paying upwards of $7,600... the building was formerly the Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation ... and the American Nursing Home.

This development brought back some memories for artist Julius Klein, who lived next door for 11 years.

-----

For many years, (’82 –’93) living at 60 Ave. B, Apt 2B, between 4th & 5th St., late at night, while laying in bed, I would hear wailings coming from the then named American Nursing Home, across the loading dock. It was a regular, nightly utterance — “arolegemmyt yato me air”, like hearing a cubistic coyote in the distant desert.



Again, another night lying in bed, say, 3:45 am, “aerol, aerol, osh oshh –mtwon”.

One night, when well oiled on mushrooms, it became clear to me.

“HAiRrrrOLDD, ET E OT O ERE”!!!
“HAROLD, GET ME OUT OF HERE”!

In the 80ies and into the 90ies, a grand yearly 4th of July party was held in the back seating area behind the loading dock. It was mainly a party for the staff, as the band hired yearly, was a sort of funk jazz R&B ensemble.



The old folks would be wheeled out and afflicted by the way too loud, amplified sound. You could see them pushing their arms forward, as if to push the offending sound away, as they then covered their ears, the staff trying to sell them on the musical offerings such as “Grooving, on a sunny afternoon, La La La.”

At some point, the lead singer, the MC, without any sense of irony, posed the question. “Does anyone here know who Old Blue Eyes is?” the one song in their set approaching era appropriateness for the audience.

After a few moments the band jumped into Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” — “And now the end is hear, and so I face the final curtain”.

It just felt, from my 2nd story window, a bit cruel ... and a bit funny too.

And so it went, and so it goes ...

A 6-story condo grows at former East 7th Street parking lot

We've been checking in on the the progress of several new luxury buildings going up ... at 227 E. Seventh St. near Avenue C ... and 401 E. Eighth St. at Avenue D ... work is also underway at the former parking lot at 277 E. Seventh St. near Avenue D, home one day to a six-floor, six-unit apartment building. Work is currently in the annoy-the-neighbors excavation phase.

Curbed got the scoop this week with a look at the building's rendering from Eisner Design.



And some building details per Curbed:

There are five 1,200-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom homes — two of which have private rooftop decks— and the sixth unit is a 900-square-foot ground level apartment, which has a private garden.

The interiors will feature wide plank floors, white lacquered kitchen cabinetry, Caesarstone counters, etc. Construction is set to wrap by Spring 2014.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The next sliver of space for development: The parking lot at 277 Seventh St.

Seventh Street parking lot destined to become 6-floor apartment building

A look at the dwindling number of East Village lots

City OK's 6-floor, 6-unit condo for former East Seventh Street parking lot

Former Butter Lane Cupcakes classroom on the market

Earlier in the summer, Butter Lane Cupcakes closed for a few days on East Seventh Street to revamp their space... mostly to combine their classroom annex with their retail operation.

Said Butter Lane co-owner Maria Baugh: "It's more authentic (and convenient) to have classes in the shop and people get a feel for what it's like to be in a real, working bakery."

Anyway, that annex space is now on the market... no word on asking rent. But it's a great block.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Butter Lane combines spaces on East Seventh Street

This story might make you feel better about life in general

The Villager has a feature this week that will restore your faith in... well, whatever needs to be restored.

Meet Mel and Sheryl London, who have been married for 67 years and have lived in the same East Village apartment since 1958.

Sheryl is from Brooklyn; Mel from the Bronx.

"A mixed marriage," Mel quipped.

Through the changes of the Eighties, Nineties and the recent years, they still feel the same about their home.

"What a remarkable city!" Mel said passionately. "When I walk through the streets, however slowly, it keeps me alive."

There is no reason to pine for the good old days. They are still living them.

Read the whole article here.

Tim Hortons has apparently closed for good on East Houston

Back on July 26 we noted that the Tim Hortons-Cold Stone Creamery combo on East Houston near Ludlow had temporarily closed ... signs pointed to "utility line maintenance," something that didn't seem to impact any of the other businesses along here...

A reader sends along word that they are done for good. The location is no longer listed on the Tim Hortons website. The phone just rings and rings. And the temporarily closed sign is gone.

The former NHL star, who spent some 20-plus years in the league, launched the business in Canada in 1964 ... he died in a car crash in 1974.

Previously on EV Grieve:
How do we feel about a Tim Hortons opening on East Houston?

Tonight

Wow. What a night. (There's even a free movie in the Park!) A view from the East Village this evening by Sally Davies.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Rickshaw Spidey preps the yarn cart. Photo by Bobby Williams]

Bill de Blasio for mayor (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

15 classic cars of the East Village (Liberation Iannillo)

A mystery behind Henington Hall on East Second Street (Off the Grid)

RIP to these NYC record stores (Flaming Pablum)

[Video] Summer rain in Tompkins Square Park (Gog in NYC)

A visit to Oda House on Avenue B (The New York Times)

Sexton to leave NYU in 2016 (Gothamist)

New owners for Kossar’s Bialys on Grand (The Lo-Down)

The turtles of M’Finda Kalunga Garden (BoweryBoogie)

Ghost signage on Delancey (Ephemeral New York)

... and starting tonight at CICNN151, 151 Avenue C...

This morning

Some morning streetscenes via EVG reader Sam Teichman ... not sure what had happened in that top photo on St. Mark's Place. Remnants of a wacky bridal shower or bachelorette party? Hard to say!

Long-stalled East 8th Street lot coming back as 9-story residential building — with penthouse

Work has resumed on East Eighth Street at Avenue D... site of a long-stalled parcel. Various plans came and went, and the lot hit the market for $5.2 million in July 2011.



The DOB has partially approved plans for the following: NEW NINE STORY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING WITH PENTHOUSE.



Akeeb Shekoni of Queens-based Akson Architect is listed as the architect... and the building's owners are the vague 399 E8 Development LLC.

Meanwhile, there have been four complaints filed about the site since work began in recent weeks... including calls about a worker not wearing a safety helmet and a pile driver causing a crack in the adjacent building's wall. Inspectors didn't find any violations at the time of inspection.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Meanwhile, before we christen Avenue D the next Greenpoint...

Stalled development site on Eighth Street and Avenue D asking $5.2 million

Your chance to live in the coolest building that you will find with a McDonald's on the ground floor

Since the 1960s, 405 E. 13th St. (aka 404 E. 14th St.) has hosted and housed a dynamic community of artists, poets and filmmakers, a long list that includes Claes and Patty Oldenburg, John Chamberlain and Yayoi Kusama. (Wes Anderson is a current tenant here in the nondescript building near First Avenue.) The works of the building's past and current residents were on display this summer at the Tibor de Nagy Gallery. (Read our piece on this here.)

And now there's a listing for a unit here (something that doesn't seem to happen all that often). Per Halstead:

This sprawling East Village loft offers it all. It features great light from 3 different exposures, High ceilings, a brand new chef's kitchen, beautiful refinished hard wood floors, and an excellent location. Enter your spacious new home via keyed elevator and be blown away by the airy open feel. Perfect for entertaining and quiet evenings at home this Live/Work loft provides both flexibility and comfort. It is complete with a washer/dryer, 1.5 baths, a very large master bedroom, walk-in closet and a dining room ... you will be hard pressed to find a more convenient or inspiring location.

The price: $6,200 a month... take a look...







Previously on EV Grieve:
404 E. 14th St.: The coolest building that you will find with a McDonald's on the ground floor

A Films in Tompkins shocker: No rain expected tonight; also, Romeo and Juliet

Waaaay back on June 6, "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet" was to be the first of the free music-movie nights in Tompkins Square Park. It turned out to be the first of six films that got KO'd by foul weather (or the threat of foul weather).

The Films in Tompkins people rescheduled this one for tonight... and, amazingly enough, the forecast doesn't call for any showers. Or rain.

As for the movie, this is the 1996 version directed by Baz Luhrmann ... with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.

Speaking of Leonardo, the trailer for Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street" looks pretty good, don't you think?



As for tonight, there's also free pre-movie music from Sweet Street Symphony.

And upcoming in the Park:

Aug. 22 — O Brother Where Art Thou

The Odessa Cafe and Bar remains open — for a few more weeks

Just repeating this from Friday morning... the Odessa Cafe and Bar at 117 Avenue A was set to close after service on Tuesday night... However, the Cafe will now remain open until Sept. 6... when it will give way to new owners who will open some kind of American Brasserie...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Odessa Cafe and Bar for sale on Avenue A

Is the end nearing for Odessa Cafe and Bar on Avenue A?

Former GM from Tribeca's Tiny's & the Bar Upstairs part of team to buy the Odessa Cafe

Reader report: Odessa Cafe closes for good after Aug. 15

Reader report: Odessa Cafe and Bar will remain open through Sept. 6

Lyric Diner replacement closed for now on Third Avenue

EVG reader Patti passes along word that Taverna, the Greek restaurant that took over the Lyric Diner space on Third Avenue at 22nd Street, has apparently closed after six months.

There's paper over the windows ... and no note on the front door ... and no word of a closure on the restaurant's Facebook page or website. The Lyric closed last August without a note... though one appeared a few days later... Taverna was opened by the same ownership in February.

pcvstBee first reported on Taverna's closure on Tuesday.

Skateponging in Tompkins Square Park

Or is it Pingboarding? Regardless, photos by Bobby Williams today...

[Updated] Report: Man arrested for street sign bike theft

The Post had a follow-up today on our item about the man who stole a bicycle on 13th and A by climbing up on a table and removing a no parking sign from its metal post ... Anyway! According to the Post, the NYPD arrested 51-year-old Haram Guzman ... and charged him with petit larceny and possession of burglary tools. Witnesses picked him out of a lineup.

According to the headline, the East Village was "stunned by brazen do-badder."

Were you stunned?

Updated:

WABC 7 had a report on this as well tonight...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Man removes alternate side parking sign to steal bike on East 13th Street

'Dirty Old New York' on film

In case you haven't seen any of these... Jonathan Hertzberg has mashed-up movie clips from the 1960s and 1970s for a three-part series titled "Dirty Old New York, aka Fun City." (The videos made the rounds earlier this summer.)

Here's a look at video No. 3.



Jeremiah talked with Hertzberg yesterday. You can read that here.

Find video No. 2 here. And No. 1 is here.

And there will be a Part 4 soon...

The Mary Help of Christians bell towers are coming down

The western tower is down ... and the demolition continues.

Photo by an East Village resident.

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: Richard “Handsome Dick” Manitoba and son Jake, 10
Occupation: Lead Singer, The Dictators NYC, Owner of Manitoba’s bar, DJ, Sirius XM Radio Inc.
Location: Felix Millan Little League, East River Park
Time: 1 pm on Saturday, Aug. 10

I grew up in the Bronx. I’m an Eastern European Jew and my grandparents came over and settled around here, but they moved up to the Bronx when the Bronx was like Westchester. They wanted to get out of here because this was all tenements back in the old days. I started hanging out down here when I was 15 years old, around 1969. I’ve been living here since the mid-80s. I was always drawn to this neighborhood. Me and my friends went down to the Fillmore East to see concerts; I came down to comic book stores to buy Robert Crumb comics, the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers.

I saw The Stooges — I saw Iggy when he got booed off the stage cutting his chest open at the Electric Circus ... I saw The Who, The Kinks for $5. We went to the Schaefer Music Festival at Central Park, I saw Ike and Tina Turner and the Ikettes and the Beach Boys, all for $3. That was what it was like growing up in New York. Everybody came to New York, so every weekend me and my friends would be like, where do you want to go? Who do you want to see?

This was the living theater, it was bohemia, it was the edge and we were all very attracted to the culture and the history and the history comes from the the Beat Generation, into the Hippies. I was sort of stuck between. For example, I’d go see The New York Dolls at The Mercer Arts Center and then I’d go see the Grateful Dead a few days later. I didn’t care — I liked both of them. Then a point came where CBGB opened up and we started playing this place called the Coventry in Queens, which was a famous club on Queens Boulevard. We used to see Joey Ramone before there was a band called the Ramones.

The Dictators were in that little space where The Dolls were breaking up. MC5 and the Stooges were kind of burning themselves out. And then along comes this band The Dictators. We weren’t there before Television or Patti Smith, but we were the first band from that little scene to get a record out in 1975 — Go Girl Crazy! So what happened was we made three albums, we broke up, we made reunion shows.

In the 90s, it was like we became sort of bigger stars than we ever were. You see, the generation right after your generation has to sort of distance themselves from you to be cool. You can’t say, “Oh yeah, this is cool.” It’s natural for a generation to distance themselves, but then the next generation comes in and now books have been written and mystiques have been developed. I’ve got a week of shows in the Midwest coming up, three weeks of shows in Spain and maybe a week in the West Coast in the spring. If I can do 30 to 40 shows a year, I’m able to scratch the rock-and- roll itch. I’ve got that in me.

I opened the bar 15 years ago. I was working at 2A on the corner of 2nd and A, and after five years of bartending I wanted more, so I got investors together and opened up Manitoba’s. And I’m a sober guy for almost 30 years. To me I look at the bar as a clubhouse. It’s Richie’s rock and roll clubhouse, that I get to do as long as I can be a good enough businessman to pay my bills and get everybody paid. I get to keep this great culture alive that seems to be dying all around me, replaced by hookah bars and hip hop.

Jake just pitched a complete game — a 10-3 win. It’s the best two out of three, so if they win one more they win the championship. The whole team jumped on him. I picked him up in the air. Three little Spanish girls, like 9,10,11 came over to him and said, “Come here, you’re cute.” He came running over and said, “Dad, those girls said I’m cute!” He was excited. Then they came by the game today to watch him play. When you can throw a baseball, chicks dig it.

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

The Portal of Movement is on the move!

You've been reading about 13 Portals, the interactive street art project that is being unveiled around the East Village this summer. Co-creator Nicolina (along with Pérola Bonfanti) passed along word to us that someone removed (stole?) Portal 3 from outside the former P.S. 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center on East 10th Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Any idea what happened?

"We have no definitive clues. However, some guy asked if he could buy it while we were installing it," Nicolina told us. "We told him that it was for the street and that it wasn't for sale. I imagine it could be him if he wanted it badly enough, but it could be anyone. Whoever did it was very deliberate because they had to stand up on the ledge and forcefully peel off the canvas, which we glued there with liberal amounts of contact cement."


[Manny Inoa]

Portal 3, called, oddly enough, the Portal of Movement, will be back. Nicolina says that Patrick Nash at Boxcutter design has agreed to help them by printing out a replacement for Portal 3. The new portal should be up soon.

In February, someone vandalized Portal 1 on Avenue C and East Seventh Street.

Check out the 13 Portals website for more info.