EV Grieve

Monday, September 29, 2014

Urban Etiquette Sign, sidewalk chalk edition

Spotted this message outside an apartment building on East Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C...

Kamakura Coffee Shop has closed on East 5th Street

We were really sorry to see that the little coffee shop here just west of Avenue B closed last week. It was a nice, unpretentious spot with good coffee and (mostly) vegan baked goods.

The shop was named for Tom the owner's hometown in Japan. He opened up here last Sept. 30.

Au Breve Espresso remains closed for renovations

On the topic of closed coffee shops… Au Breve Espresso closed back in early August… the sign on the door pointed to a renovation.

Meanwhile, a look inside reveals an empty space… making it appear that this is more of a "closed for renovation" ...

Au Breve's website is no longer active. Au Breve opened in November 2011.

A Davey Drill and a dream

Last Thursday, we noted the arrival of a Davey Drill outside the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch on East 14th Street.

As the above photo shows, the drill is now across the street … doing a little soil sampling in a new spot.

EVG reader stickmanpk, who took the photo, offered some wishful L train thinking.

"Could they actually be thinking about adding a second entrance for the subway at Avenue A in anticipation of the 2,000 new residents we’ll see with the coming developments? Hey, you’ve gotta have a dream…"

Previously on EV Grieve:
UPDATED: Did you hear the rumor about the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch closing?

Report: Closure of the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office is pretty much a done deal

First sign of more development on East 14th Street?

Asbestos abatement to begin at former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office

New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

Here is the future of East 14th Street and Avenue A: 7 stories of residential and retail

Sunday, September 28, 2014

When the Circus (Amok) came to town...

Circus Amok performed two free shows in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon... ~~had a whale of a good time!~~

Photos via Bobby Williams...

Noted

Spotted outside The Winslow on East 14th Street this afternoon...

Photos via William Klayer

Week in Grieview

[Photo Wednesday of Matthew Silver at Astor Place by Derek Berg]

50,000 square feet of condos coming to the former 2nd Avenue BP station (Wednesday)

Houston Street Beer Distributors on East Second Street primed for development (Friday)

"Misinformation" cited as DOB issues Stop Work Order at the former PS 64 (Wednesday)

Torah ark from East Village synagogue finds new home on Wall Street (Thursday)

Avenue A and East Houston shaping up (Monday)

Davey drill arrives ahead of rumored development at former East 14th Street post office (Thursday)

Out and About with Michael "Mikey" Cole (Wednesday)

23-floor building in the works for the former Bowlmor Lanes (Monday)

About cyclists who run lights (Wednesday, 42 comments)

The Cock moving to the Idle Hands space (Friday)

TREE CAT (Wednesday)

M & J Asian Cuisine coming to 14th and B (Monday)

Take a peek at the latest peephole dioramas on Avenue C (Friday)

Ellen Turrietta, the movie (Tuesday)

Now at Red Square — AMERICA'S LARGEST COSTUME SELECTION (Monday)

Jimmy McMillan plans on running for governor (Tuesday)

Exciting new business opens on University Place (Tuesday)

154 Second Ave. comes into full view (Tuesday)

Gut renovations enter 16th month at 338 E. Sixth St., where 1 tenant remains (Wednesday)

Former St. Mark's Bookshop for lease (Wednesday)

5 years later, Os Gêmeos returning to the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall (Thursday)

Laundromat replaces laundromat on Avenue B (Wednesday)

Explore the history of Tompkins Square Park … in Tompkins Square Park

[A children’s garden opened in Tompkins Square Park in 1934.]

Ugh. Meant to post this much earlier… from the EVG inbox...

Tompkins Square Park on Exhibit: From Bouwerie To Greenmarket
Sept. 28 & Oct. 5, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Market Information tent

Salt marsh, military parade ground, park, site of dissent...Tompkins Square Park and the land on which it stands contributes a rich history to New York City and the East Village. Join GrowNYC, the East Village Parks Conservancy, and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation as they explore the history of Tompkins Square in images from its beginnings as the bouwerie (or farm) of Peter Stuyvesant through today.

There are more details and archival images at Off the Grid.

'At the Crossroads' today with Circus Amok in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo from 2012 by Bobby Williams]

Via the EVG inbox…

Circus Amok Presents "At the Crossroads." This year, we encounter a heroine at a climate change crossroads! After a mystifying and bewildering vision of the earth at two disparate ends, our desperate circus performer and former operatic contralto must act in haste to in order to save the earth from plunging off the tight rope of doom into the pit of big box capitalism ... or will the Raging Goddesses reach their apoplectic hands into the fate of us all?

The performances (free!) are at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. in Tompkins Square Park

Circus Amok "is a New York City based circus-theater company whose mission is to provide free public art addressing contemporary issues of social justice to the people of New York City." Read more about them here.

Crescent moon over 2nd Avenue last evening

Here's a report from local astronomy buff Felton Davis… from last night:

A crystal clear night, and the crescent moon was out and over 2nd Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. Later tonight it will pass directly over the planet Saturn — a rare occultation — but not visible from the streets of Manhattan. How high would a person have to be to see this occultation? About 2,548 miles. Let's be grateful for what we can see at street level!

… and Bobby Williams took this photo at 7:42 p.m. from his observatory…

Today in signs that people don't notice

Outside the 2B n 2C sculpture garden on East Second Street...

You're a good mural, Charlie Brown

This mural/ad started going up on East 12th Street near First Avenue yesterday… (And that is Charlie Brown, right? Looks like the lone shirt that he owns.)

H/T dwg

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Reminders: PS 64 press conference tomorrow

As noted on Wednesday, the Department of Buildings has put a stop to developer Gregg Singer's plans to convert the former PS 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center on East Ninth Street into a dorm.

The DOB had approved Singer's application to have tenant Joffrey Ballet considered a not-for-profit with housing accommodations as opposed to a dormitory. However, Joffrey is not a nonprofit, meaning the lease did not meet the DOB's requirements for educational institutions.

Councilmember Rosie Mendez and other local elected officials will discuss this latest development during the press conference.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rebranded P.S. 64 up for grabs: Please welcome University House at Tompkins Square Park to the neighborhood

Deed for 'community facility use only' at the former P.S. 64 now on the market

Efforts continue to fight the dorm planned for the former PS 64 on East 9th Street

Testimony Of Councilmember Rosie Mendez regarding the former PS 64

[Updated] At the 'Save Our Community Center MARCH AND RALLY'

Landmarks Preservation Commission asks to see modified plans for former PS 64

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approves application for modifications at PS 64

'Misinformation' cited as DOB issues Stop Work Order at the former PS 64; community meeting set for Sunday afternoon

Just wanted to be the first to wish everyone a…

East Second Street near Avenue A this morning.

A memorial for bendy tree in Tompkins Square Park tomorrow

[This morning in Tompkins Square Park]

Rev. Billy and East Village residents are meeting tomorrow afternoon from 2:30-3:30 to hold a memorial for the leaning elm that the city removed last Saturday. From the EVG inbox…

The memorial will involve testimonials from residents of the community, including community garden, environmentalists and artists. The Stop Shopping Choir will sing.

The beloved 130-year-old elm was suddenly chain sawed on Saturday the 20th. Mystery surrounds the action taken by the Parks Dept., as the tree was healthy, not "structurally unsound" — as described in an anonymous sign. Bendy leaned to the east, as she has for more than a century.

The NYPD arrested Rev. Billy last Saturday after he tried to prevent workers from cutting down bendy tree. The NYPD charged him with Obstruction of Government Administration (he pleaded guilty), and sentenced him to time served — about 14 hours.

Previously on EV Grieve:
UGH: Bendy tree in Tompkins Square Park has been condemned

Bendy-lujah

That's it for bendy tree

NYPD arrests Rev. Billy for trying to stop Bendy Tree's removal

NYPD releases Rev. Billy after yesterday's Bendy Tree arrest

This morning at the East River Park Track

Spotted by EVG reader Brad212.

And beware…

@evgrieve angry raccoon-sized east river park (5th st) opossum!! pic.twitter.com/ksYIIO4Iqb
— East Village Kit (@EastVillChris) September 27, 2014

Rejected headlines:
Opossum, where art thou?

Between 5:30 and 8:30, Chipotle St. Mark's (19 St. Mark's Place) will donate 50% of your purchase to Arts For All if you mention us at the register and show them this flyer.

Arts For All is an NYC-based non-profit that provides arts outreach to in-need children.

The looking for a girlfriend guy now looking for funds for a documentary on looking for a girlfriend

But of course! Spotted on First Avenue and East Fourth Street by EVG reader Lauren Baier today.

Previously