Photo by Derek Berg
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Welcome to New York
Earlier today on Avenue A, Kristen from Norway, spending her second day in NYC, was busking with an electric guitar on Avenue A between East Second Street and East Third Street.
After about, oh, 20 minutes, two police officers, driving in an unmarked vehicle, arrived on the scene. She was singing a song about Saturday, a pleasant alternative-rock (for lack of a better description) sounding number.
The officers waited until the song was over, then told her that she needed to leave.
She protested a little, explaining that she has busked throughout Europe the past 10 years without incident. The officers nodded and said that she was done for the day. She asked if she could play one more song. No. In a firm yet polite tone, they reiterated that she had to pack up and go.
As the officers returned to their car, several passersby explained to Kristen that the amplification was the problem in the estimation of the NYPD.
Did she have an acoustic guitar?
No.
Could she play the electric guitar without the small amp?
No, it will sound weird.
She thought she could just move up to the next block.
Hmm, no — not a good idea. The officers will certainly drive by again … and probably issue a ticket for something.
Her haul this morning: Two single $1 bills, and a handful of coins that looked to amount to $1.50.
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Oh, we happened to be at Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place at the exact time (8:20ish) that a seemingly random person pulled the police barricades across the street to mark the start of a — ding! ding! — STREET FAIR/FESTIVAL … actually, The Cooper Square Committee Street Festival, per the signage.
Anyway!
We were also there in time for an exclusive first look at today's porta-potties … (these will do!)
We also heard swear words from motorists who suddenly made u-turns, nearly driving into fools taking photos of porta-potties…
And for all you complainers out there who think there are street fairs like every 20 minutes around here… there hasn't been one of these since May 17, which is like a month in street fair years.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
This afternoon in Tompkins Square Park
Here are the set times:
2 — Running Thoughts
2:30 — Srotakin IV
3 — J and the 9s
3:30 — SOS NYC
4 — Tragic Anti-Hero
4:30 — Spacebeard
5 — Hail Action
5:30 — The Nuclears
As we understand it, there will be some vendors there too, including Our Lady of Perpetual PMS with her affordable art and punk crafts.
You can head to the Facebook events page for more on each of the bands.
A panoramic view of last night's incoming storm
[Click on image for a better view]
Photo by Dan Celio via Facebook.
Friday, June 13, 2014
A little sky before it rained a lot late this afternoon
A view from East Seventh Street via EVG reader Elle Sturm...
A place in the 'Sun'
Here is "Sun Glass," something new from Fucked Up … who released "Glass Boys" last week on Matador.
Look for them at Irving Plaza on Sept. 6.
EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition
[Photo at The Library on Avenue A by Ricky Knapp]
CB3 problems loom large in chairperson race (The Villager)
Some love for Big Bar on East Seventh Street (The New York Times)
East Village Radio's sendoff (The New Yorker)
3 LES community centers in danger with city budget shortfall (The Lo-Down)
This East Village co-op comes with a home recording studio (Curbed)
Video feature about Donostia on Avenue B (Vimeo)
Not an episode of Portlandia: The long lines at Shake Shake for a truffle-topped burger (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)
Video from 2008: Thurston Moore on the No Wave scene (Dangerous Minds)
Rising real-estate prices force longtime LES fencing school to close (DNAinfo)
Parking garage on Kenmare boarded up to make way for luxury housing (BoweryBoogie)
A look at the legendary BC Studio in Gowanus (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)
Williamsburg is turning into a high-end mall (The Wall Street Journal, sub. may be required)
And … here's another video from East Village resident Stephen Nangeroni … who did the lovely "Snow Day" last year. His latest is "One Day in New York City," and was made for the "One Day on Earth" filmmaking initiative. The aim of the piece was to capture the ebb and flow of activity on a lively, spring day in the city, and it was largely filmed in and around East River Park.
A comment from the Cadillac with the Tiger in it
[Photo from the going-away party this past Saturday]
As you might know, the 1978 Cadillac Sedan Deville — aka, the Cadillac with the Tiger in it — has left its 22-year-home on East Second Street.
Ernest, who works nearby as a custodian, is the proud new owner. This past Saturday, the owner of the Cadillac with the Tiger in it presented the car to Ernest.
Since then, several people have asked how things were going. We don't really know, though the Cadillac with the Tiger in it left this comment on Wednesday night:
I thank all of you who have expressed interest in my stories. I made it safely to my new location and Ernest is taking good care of us. Soon I will update you all with photos and info about the farewell gathering, which was wonderful. But the tiger and I need to rest a little first — we've had a long journey and a lot of excitement the past week!
Previously on EV Grieve:
That Cadillac that we've long admired on East 2nd St. now has a stuffed tiger on the front seat
And now, stories from the Cadillac with the Tiger in it on East 2nd Street
And now, another story from the Cadillac with the Tiger in it on East 2nd Street
Alas, the end is near for the Cadillac with the Tiger in it on East 2nd Street
Everything that you wanted to know about the Cadillac with the Tiger in it
Also! The Cadillac with the Tiger in it now has its on website. Find that here.
Report: Retired detective leaves gun behind after throwing up in The Phoenix
In an "exclusive" today, the Post reports that former NYPD Detective Eric Reynolds left his Colt. 38 behind after drinking for six hours at the Phoenix on East 13th Street.
Specifically:
Reynolds placed his cellphone and pistol on the sink while worshipping the porcelain god, picking the phone back up only when he took off at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, the sources said.
He and a buddy had made it all the way to Union Square when Reynolds patted his gun holster and realized his epic mistake.
The NYPD is checking surveillance video to find who may have taken the misplaced gun.
According to an unnamed owner of The Phoenix:
“We all make mistakes. Maybe he had been drinking. He made a mistake,” said the woman, who would not give her name. “Maybe he shouldn’t have brought a gun with him.”
The Post also sent a reporter to Reynolds' home, and note that he "answered the door with his Chihuahua and declined to comment."
Meanwhile on St. Mark's Place in 1968….
[Click on image to enlarge]
Here's a photo that EVG reader George Cohen took in 1968 "of the hippie scene on St. Mark's Place between Third and Second Avenues, looking east."
Ipswich Watch & Clock Shop has moved to East 11th Street
Ipswich Watch & Clock Shop has a new home at 434 E. 11th St. just west of Avenue A.
The shop had previously been subletting space from Archangel Antiques on East Ninth Street. However, Archangel's owners are retiring after 21 years at the end of June.
Meanwhile, if things work out, then Ipswich will have a new neighbor soon in the form of Royal Tailor Shop. Gino DiGirolamo says that he will be moving here from East 14th Street in the coming weeks…
[At the Royal Tailor Shop on May 31]
With this and the upcoming Gabay's Outlet move to Avenue A, it's nice to have some positive small-shop news for a change.
Desi Shack opens today on 4th Avenue
After a lunch trial run the past two days, the quick-serve Indian-Pakistani restaurant here near East 13th Street opens for good today.
This is the second Manhattan location for Desi Shack.
You can find their menu here.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Desi Shack signage arrives on Fourth Avenue
Hey, Funkiberry is now open on 3rd Avenue
Another FroYo choice as of yesterday here at East 12th Street.
Can you feel the excitement?
This is the third Funkiberry location in NYC. And according to the Funkiberry website, they are — apparently for real — opening locations in Moscow, Rome, Kiev, Paris and Fuzhou.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Stuff that you can't make up: More FroYo for the East Village
Ghost signage uncovered on Third Avenue and East 12th Street
DOUBLE ghost signage discovered at 88 3rd Ave.
Hey, the Funkiberry sign is up on 3rd Avenue
Thursday, June 12, 2014
What it takes to move a Steinway baby grand piano into an East Village townhouse
Today at 410 E. Ninth St., movers were on the scene between Avenue A and First Avenue to get a Steinway baby grand piano off the truck and into the condo duplex ...
This maneuver required a crane ...
... and the removal of the window frame on the third floor...
All told, one of the crew members told EVG reader dbs, who took these photos, that the whole job likely cost some $20,000. A small price for some beautiful music?
Say goodbye to the temporary fire truck garage on East 14th Street
[EVG file photo from August 2013]
Workers today disassembled the temporary structure outside Engine Company 5 on East 14th Street near First Avenue. For the past 10 months, the pen had been housing the truck from Ladder Company 3 on East 13th Street near Fourth Avenue ... while that station house underwent repairs ...
[Photo by EVG reader Pinch]
Previously on EV Grieve:
This open, airy, East Village studio seeks $2,600 a month
Deconstructing Launderette
Workers are gutting Launderette at 97 Second Ave. this morning ... one day after the longtime laundromat near East Sixth Street closed for good.
As we previously reported, the operators of Launderette also owned the building ... and they decided to sell "for a host of personal and business reasons," according to a detailed letter to customers.
Stuart Zamsky, who took these photos, calls this a "huge loss" for those residents who have depended on Launderette through the years.
The new landlords are hoping to attract a restaurant, the last thing this part of Second Avenue needs, into the space.
Previously on EV Grieve:
It will be 'easy to convert' Launderette into a restaurant on 2nd Avenue
Longtime Second Avenue Launderette will close this summer
After 45 years on 1st Avenue, Gabay's Outlet is on the move
[Photo by Jena Cumbo via Time Out]
After 45 years at 225 First Ave., Gabay's Outlet, the designer discount store, is moving July 1 to 195 Avenue A.
There is a familiar reason behind the move.
"We just couldn't hang with the rents," proprietor Joseph Gabay told us on the phone. "We were concerned that we wouldn't even be able to find another space."
The new rent at 195 Avenue A, previously the Spin Hair Salon, is roughly half of what the going rate will be at 225 First Ave. between East 13th Street and East 14th Street.
"We are going to continue for at least another 10 years," said Gabay, the third generation of the family to run the store.
His grandfather Sam, a Turkish immigrant, began selling extras from garment factory floors in a pushcart on the Lower East Side in the 1920s. He eventually opened his own shop at 1 St. Mark's Place in 1940, one of several locations the store would call home in a 10-block radius before settling in at 225 First Ave. in 1970.
"We are thrilled that we are staying in the East Village," Gabay said.
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