Memorial Day cloud action

Photo looking downtown this afternoon by Bobby Williams

The Strokes now popping up on the Bowery

The Strokes have a new EP out on Friday, when they also headline the Governors Ball on Randall's Island.



Ahead of all this, the band (and Cult Records, the label run by frontman Julian Casablancas) opened a pop-up shop today at 350 Bowery between Great Jones and East Fourth Street.

The shop, open noon to 9 p.m. (except Thursday night, when there's a listening party for the new EP) through Sunday, is selling the band's previous records and other merchandise... there are also some DJ sets planned... not to mention an espresso bar by Everyman Espresso.

A photo posted by The Strokes (@thestrokes) on May 30, 2016 at 10:21am PDT

You can listen to a new track from the EP here...



And this is from 2013...

Noted

Some residents are really ready to have this VW removed from Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Anyone know how long the car, with the handmade "tow me" messages, has been here?

The city tagged the car for "investigation and removal by N.Y.P.D. rotation tow" on May 13...



Photos by Derek Berg

So long to the Yaffa Cafe mural

Earlier today, a worker painted over the Yaffa Cafe mural on St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue, as this photo by Allen Semanco shows.

Not really a surprise. The cafe closed for good after 31 years in September 2014, as we first reported.

The mural went up in 1993. It was a portrait of Lika Ramati, the former co-owner of Yaffa Cafe. The New York Times has more about the history of the mural in this article from 1999.

Here are two more photos via EVG reader Nick Monteleone ...





The owners of St. Dymphna's down the block are reportedly opening a Portuguese restaurant called Taberna in this space.

Updated 5-30

At the 29th annual Loisaida Festival

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the festival earlier today on Avenue C... and shared a few photos of the vendors, patrons and performers taking part in the annual Memorial Day weekend gathering...

Stupid clouds ruin Manhattanhenge

Not much of a Manhattanhenge this evening... and tomorrow night looks to be a washout...so there's always July 11-12.

Photos on 14th Street at Avenue C outside the Con Ed plant by Peter Brownscombe...

Time again for Manhattanhenge

[Photo from 2009]

As the Times notes:

This beloved event, known as Manhattanhenge, occurs when the setting sun aligns perfectly with the numbered streets that run east and west on Manhattan’s city grid, bathing traffic and skyscrapers in its warm red light.

Manhattanhenge is a two-day event that happens twice a year on opposite sides of the summer solstice. You can catch this year’s displays about 8:12 p.m. this Sunday [tonight!] and Monday [Memorial Day!], and again on July 11 and 12.

Not sure about the prospects for Manhattanhenging tomorrow with the rainy forecast.

The ghost of the Lil Crazy Legs mural arrives on 7th Street

[Photo from November by Derek Berg]

Back in November, artist Ernest Zacharevic created this tribute to Lil Crazy Legs on East Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue (next to Porchetta).

Then, in April, someone buried it under a tag...


[Photo from April]

Now!

Someone did a pretty good job of outlining Lil Crazy Legs ...



As for what this was originally all about ... Zacharevic recreated photojournalist Martha Cooper's shots from the 1970s-80s around the city. Lil Crazy Legs — aka Richard Colón of the Bronx-based Rock Steady Crew from the early 1980s — is on the cover of her photo book "Hip Hop Files: Photographs 1979-1984."

Bella's Beauty Supply is closing on Avenue B

The shop with the colorful wigs in the windows closes for good tomorrow here on Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street ... Hair products and wigs are 50 percent off now until closing time.

Bella's opened in October 2011.

There has been some turnover in the businesses along here. The pet shop and deli closed late last year... and Choice Cleaners moved two storefronts to the north at the start of 2016.

Thank you Salim for the photo and tip!

Short films program tonight at the 6th and B Garden

Tonight at 8 at the 6th and B Garden (Avenue B at 6th Street) ... re-scheduled from last Saturday night's rain out ...

Head to the 6 & B website for more details.

Included in the program is a feature on Eddie Boros, the neighborhood character/artist who created the Tower of Toys at the Garden. Boros died in 2007 at age 74. The Tower was removed the next year.

Jennifer Esposito responds to reports that she fled East 10th Street for Denmark

[EVG file photo from 2015]

Page Six reported yesterday that Jennifer Esposito "plans to leave town after her legal drama with her gluten-free Jennifer’s Way baking empire." The destination: Denmark!

The actress, who was diagnosed with celiac disease five years ago, opened Jennifer's Way Bakery on East 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue in 2013. She responded to the report (also picked up by Fox News) on Facebook...


She also posted photos and a video of herself at the bakery yesterday.

As for the lawsuit, here's what Esposito had to say about it via Twitter...

What's even better? case has been DISMISSED entirely! No fleeing & the case dismissed? guess u got my name correct tho @FoxNews @PageSix

— Jennifer Esposito (@JennifersWayJE) May 27, 2016

Sunday in Tompkins Square Park: Memorial Day Punk Show

Via the EVG inbox...

There'll be political speakers, art work by Peter Missing and Jerry Foust and literature tables where folks can get the latest issue of The Shadow and Time Warp Zine.

Performers include:
> 1:00: Carla (No Police State Girl)
> 1:20: Ike's Wasted World
> 1:40: Nico (formerly of Star Fucking Hipsters)
> 2:05 Universal Truth Machine
> 2:35: Skitzopolis
> 3:00: The Wurst
> 3:35: Transgendered Jesus
> 4:05: Sewage
> 4:40: The Omega Men
> 5:20: The UNDEAD

East 3rd Street zen spirit

An EVG reader passes along these photos of a small zen garden that has arrived in this tree pit (along with a new tree several weeks ago) here on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...





Hopefully it can survive the Avenue B weekend brunch crowd...

Claim: This truck hit a bike this morning on the Lower East Side

Via the EVG inbox...

On my commute this morning I watched this truck crush a bicycle going north on Allen at Houston. The young woman riding it jumped clear & looked ok. The truck didn't stop. I chased it down & got the plate. I think the truck said EAN Holdings. Surely someone on here knows the lady who was riding that bike.

‪

The greatest Escape of them all

Director John Carpenter, who also composed the scores for most of his movies ("Halloween" and "They Live," etc.), is revisiting some of his theme songs for a release next month.

Among the themes — "Escape From New York" from 1981. In the above video, Carpenter is joined by his son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies.

Now we want to watch the movie. Again...

Lonely cone will work OT this holiday weekend protecting St. Mark's Place from growing sinkhole

Hopefully the M8 drivers will see this...



Photos by Steven

Updated 5-30

The cone has company for Memorial Day...

EV Grieve Etc.: Love for Casa Adela; protected bike lane for Chrystie Street

[Photo in Tompkins Square Park by Derek Berg]

Love for Casa Adela on Avenue C (Off the Grid)

The three candidates vying to lead CB3 (The Lo-Down)

Chrystie Street protected bike lane scheduled for Fall (Streetsblog)

Councilwoman Margaret Chin introduces new legislation that would reform the city's practices concerning deed restrictions (BoweryBoogie)

Survey: Majority of NYC voters think de Blasio does favors for his donors (Politico)

Ben Shaoul applies for a special permit via the Board of Standards and Appeals to build an Equinox at 196 Orchard St. (DNAinfo ... previously)

A look at interior designer Rhea Breck's for-sale 12th-floor co-op at 170 Second Ave. (New York Post)

Keeping cool with Christo (Laura Goggin Photography)

NYC area beach guide (Gothamist)

Remembering the Bleecker Street Cinema, now a Duane Reade (Ephemeral New York)

"The Godfather" plays this weekend at the IFC Center (Official website)

Revisiting Richard Kern's "The Right Side of My Brain," featuring Lydia Lunch and Henry Rollins (Dangerous Minds)

... and remember — the fleet's in town...


[Photo on Astor Place by Derek Berg]

[Updated] Air Shaft Rabbit — saved!

[The other day]

As mentioned the other day, some residents spotted a rabbit loose in the air shaft behind some buildings on East First Street and East Second Street.

Anyway! Good news: Some residents were able to rescue the rabbit ...



... but the rabbit needs a permanent home...



Any takers? Suggestions? Let us know via the EV Grieve email... Naming rights are also available.

Thank you to everyone who offered to take in the bunny, who now has a new home and friend...

The annual Loisaida Festival happens this Sunday on Avenue C

[Poster by Adrian Viajero Roman]

Via the EVG inbox...

This year, the Loisaida Festival returns with a lineup that pays homage to the organization’s original Puerto Rican roots.

The mainstage lineup reflects those roots, bringing together a mix of legendary and rising Puerto Rican stars. These include hip-hop singer DayLuv, songstress Maxine Ashley, Lower East Salsa, and Johnny Colón. Macha Colón y Los Okapi will be joining the stage courtesy of La Marqueta Retoña. The carnival procession and Theater Lab return, providing entertainment for children and their families. Puerto Rican icon and international entertainment phenomenon, Iris Chacon, will host the festivities alongside Marine-combat-vet-turned actor, singer/activist J.W. Cortes (from FOX's "Gotham”).

The Loisaida Festival 2016’s expanded offerings preview a new stage in Loisaida, Inc.’s plans to combine STEAM programming with social services that meet the needs of the local community. Some of the new offerings include a Grassroots Innovation Fair, discussions on how art and digital technologies intersect, an expanded Healthy Living Zone, with free dental screenings for children, and a new Sustainable Innovation Zone, which will include a Bio Bus.

You can find the main stage schedule here.

The Festival hours on Sunday are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Avenue C, from Sixth Street to 12th Street.

There are more events on Saturday, including an exhibition of original artwork from Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez's best-selling debut comic book "Guardians of the Lower East Side." Find more details here.

This marks the festival's 29th year.