Rave like it's 1999 in Tompkins Square Park

Dunno much about this undated video from 1999 … a reader came across it the other day.



Worth noting: The boy's reaction at the 51-second mark … and the introduction of who is presumably the "Rave Santa" in the title at the 1:26 point.

Here's another longer video … this one is dated from April 1999…

$10 specials proving popular

Second Avenue between East Fourth Street and East Fifth Street today.

Photo by EVG contributor Derek Berg

6th and B Garden Harvest Fest is still on today

Via the EVG inbox...from the Sixth Street & Avenue B Community Garden...

Our Harvest Fest is still going on today despite the rain (it's forecast to clear up around 2 pm, the start of our event). From 2-7 pm, there's food, live music and tons of raffle prizes donated by businesses in the community. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and helps keep our garden open and able to serve the community with workshops, events and activities.

On the southwest corner of Avenue B and East Sixth Street.

And from earlier in the summer via the EVG Vine account... a quick history of the garden...

A call for a Bendy Tree Memorial Bench in Tompkins Square Park

[EVG photo from February]

There is a petition in circulation that states:

We, the residents and friends of East Village's Tompkins Park, would like the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to permit the installation of a six-sided wooden memorial bench enclosing a decorative potted tree in the place where "Bendy Tree" stood for decades until being removed on September 20th. A creatively designed bench by a local artist and a potted tree over "Bendy Tree's" stump would best honor the unique character of the beloved "Bendy Tree."

Here's a photo illustration of how it could look...



You may find the petition here.

Last weekend to visit the New York City Marble Cemetery this year

You can visit the historic New York City Marble Cemetery on East Second Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue today and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Historical displays will be available for visitors to learn more of the history of the Cemetery and those interred (interned?) here.

You won't have this chance again until 2015.

And this is all part of Open House New York.

Read more about the cemetery here.

Wish you were here

As we understand it, these were two groups of visitors — one from Boston, the other from Tokyo — who converged in Tompkins Square Park this afternoon ...

Photo by peter radley

Catch the breeze

Thud is a Hong Kong-based quartet who just released their first single... a shoegazer called "Lime."

Report: New Clinton Street condos start at $1 million

[File photo of 50-62 Clinton St. via BoweryBoogie]

Back in March we first caught the renderings for the new luxury residences headed to the single-floor row of storefronts at 50-62 Clinton St. between Stanton and Rivington.

Today, the Daily News and Real Estate Weekly have more details about just how luxurious: The condos will start around $1 million for a one bedroom, $2 million for a two bedroom and $3 million for a three bedroom.

Via Real Estate Weekly:

“The project’s defining elements are its smaller-sized units and moderate price points, all without compromising on design or quality,” said Dan Hollander, managing principal of DHA Capital.

Here's the updated rendering...



H/T Curbed

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] The future of 50-62 Clinton St will look something like this

1 of the 2 prize pumpkins has been sold at Sheen Brothers

10th and B.

Yesterday!



Today!



Also. Easier now to access the row of clam juice…

Reader report: Someone dumped motor oil in 2 Steve Croman-owned buildings

On Wednesday night between 8-8:30, someone entered 521 E. Fifth St. and made an awful mess with a canister of motor oil.

"They spashed the oil on doors, walls and mailboxes on the ground and first floors," according to an EVG reader in the building between Avenue A and Avenue B. "It was frightening actually, not to mention that the smell is horrible."

The NYPD did interview tenants.







Apparently there was a similar incident around the same time at another building on East First Street. Both buildings are owned by Steve Croman, aka 9300 Realty, who is not the most popular landlord in the neighborhood. One theory is that this was the work of a disgruntled contractor.

According to public documents, 9300 Realty bought the building last November.

Updated 1:46 p.m.

Sorry, we were wrong. The Cromans took over the building in 2005. At that time there were 20 rent-stabilized tenants; now there are only three remaining.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Steve Croman facing another lawsuit from East 8th Street residents

Report: East 8th Street residents sue landlord Steve Croman, allege intimidation, harassment

Watch a lot of people speak out against Steve Croman and 9300 Realty

Report: State Attorney General launches Steve Croman investigation

25 Great Jones St. returns to the land of undead developments

Expect some activity soon on that concrete and cinderblock tower on Great Jones and Lafayette. Once conceived as a hotel back in the heady years of 2007-2009, the building has sat dormant for years … while changing ownership and what not.

Back in April, The Commercial Observer got the first look at the new rendering for 22 Bond Street aka 25 Great Jones Street. The developers are transitioning the unfinished building into six condo units.

And yesterday, Goggla noticed that the official rendering is now up on the plywood outside the hulking slab of broken dreams the unfinished building...



As for the look of the building, the Observer noted that BKSK Architects designed the exterior and TKA Studio is designing the interiors. "The façade will be made of glass and Corten steel, or weathering steel, the same material that was used for the exterior of Barclays Center."

Developers Second Development Services (SDS) and the Richport Group had some messy DOB paperwork to manage (stop work orders from previous owners). A look at DOB records shows that most of the necessary permits have now been approved.

For more background, you can check out Curbed's coverage here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Your chance to buy a boutique hotel on Great Jones

The Post discovers graffiti around the city

[East Houston and B]

Meant to note this article in the Post the other day titled "Graffiti rearing its ugly head again in NYC."

Let's get to it!

Graffiti, a “broken windows” indicator about the quality of life in any city, is starting a slow, ugly creep around the Big Apple — with new tags appearing nightly.

The Post goes on to list several places where they've seen graffiti, such as along the FDR, Summit Avenue in the Bronx, the Amtrak tracks visible from the West Side Highway, under bridges on the East River.

Let's get to some stats!

Graffiti arrests in the city rose 4 percent in the first eight months of the year, to 1,080, city statistics show. But despite law enforcement’s best effort, graffiti continues to leave its mark.

The NYPD arrested 3,598 people for graffiti and related crimes in 2013, up slightly from 2012 but down 13 percent from the 4,000-plus levels of 2009 and 2008, city statistics show.

So, the NYPD is making arrests. How about the city cleaning up the graffiti?

The Sanitation Department is about a year behind on clean-ups. Since August 2013, the agency had closed 7,166 graffiti reports, but as of last Aug. 31, had another 7,739 still open.

And the service does not clean up the city’s own roadways, bridges or parks.

More stats!

According to open data Web information, since 2003, 81,525 graffiti reports were made to 311 and the police responded to 1,161 of those.

And then the article just sort of ends.


[Avenue A]

So… anyone think there's more graffiti in this neighborhood in recent years? It doesn't seem that way to me, though I don't work for the Post.

Open house Sunday at the all-new Matcha Cafe Wabi

Matcha Cafe Wabi looks to be nearly ready for green tea action at 233 E. Fourth St. near Avenue B.

As the sign shows, the small cafe will serve matcha lattes, green tea shots and other coffee drinks… as well as showcase local artwork and offer insights into Japanese cooking…



You can check it out for yourself during the cafe's open house Sunday from 3-6 p.m.

At MoRUS and LaPlaza, an installation about blocking public access in public spaces

Via the EVG inbox...

The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) will present “Shadows: Wall Disease” by Ryan Legassicke Saturday and Sunday at La Plaza Cultural Community Garden on the southwest corner of Avenue C and East Ninth Street. A public opening reception will be held in the garden tomorrow from 4-7 p.m.

After this weekend, the installation will move a block away to MoRUS at 155 Avenue C and will be available for public viewing from Oct. 16-26. A second reception will be held in the museum on Thursday from 6-10 p.m. Both MoRUS and La Plaza were abandoned spaces later reclaimed by the community.

The exhibit consists of five sculptures — life-sized embodiments of sections of walls used to block public access in public spaces. The walls, from different places and times, come together to embody the idea of how barriers can be used in public space to restrict access and movement.

Reader report: Former Yaffa Cafe backyard garden will be turned over to residential use

[Photo via William Klayer]

According to workers at the scene, Yaffa Cafe's now-defunct backyard garden will be redone for use by the building tenants at 97 St. Mark's Place.

Perhaps they will be more quiet than some Yaffa patrons…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Yaffa Cafe is officially gone; back garden dismantled

More about Yaffa Cafe closing

Giuseppi Logan in the afternoon sun

Tompkins Square Park today.

Photo of Giuseppi Logan by Bobby Williams

Iconic East Village storefronts up on the roof

James and Karla Murray are recreating life-sized versions of three iconic East Village storefronts tonight atop the Housing Works Rooftop, 743-749 E. Ninth St. at Avenue D.

It's for the East Village Community Coalition 10-year-anniversary celebration this evening. (You can buy tickets at the door. It starts at 6:30.)

Their storefront photos represented tonight are CBGB, Love Saves the Day (Both RIP, of course) and Stage.



Their books include "Store Front — The Disappearing Face of New York."

Imagining the possibilities

Heh. Via @evpinhead

Previously on EV Grieve:
About the guy looking for a girlfriend

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Avenue A and East 4th Street by jdx]

Coyote Ugly agrees to stipulations to renew liquor license (Gothamist)

The city's worst landlords (The Observer)

Is a Duane Reade taking over the EMM Group's club complex at 199 Bowery? (BoweryBoogie)

Two local streets that are no longer on the map (Ephemeral New York)

The sounds of Surgery (Flaming Pablum)

What if the Statue of Liberty was a condo? (Animal New York)

Tennessee Thomas and The Deep End Club on First Avenue (The Hollywood Reporter)

The history of 710 E. Ninth St. (Off the Grid)

New owner for the Rivington House Nursing Home? (The Lo-Down)

"The Standard East Village is so centered around a cluster of smartly contrived public spaces that it feels much less like a hotel than a hangout for certain clued-in locals." (Conde Nast Traveler)

What's left of 5Pointz (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

About Google's ad campaign around the city (Adweek)

For the birds: RAPTORFEST! (Gog in NYC)

And tonight the East Village Community Coalition is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Via the EVG inbox: "Help us reflect on past accomplishments, current and ongoing work to protect the architectural and cultural heritage of our historic neighborhood."
The event — music, food, etc. — is on the Housing Works Rooftop, 743-749 E. Ninth St. Tickets are $35 in advance; $40 at the door. Find all the details here.

And pothole/sinkhole watch on Second Avenue between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street…





Via EVG Pothole Correspondent Derek Berg

East 11th Street in photos at the 11th Street Bar

Longtime East Village resident Jack Smead has been taking and collecting photos of the neighborhood since 1969.

Neighbor Ruth tells us that he has gathered his favorites, focusing on East 11th Street, "into a terrific collection" showing at the 11th Street Bar, 510 E. 11th St., between Avenue A and Avenue B.



The photos are up as of tonight. We're looking forward to stopping by to check them out...