Today was the 3rd annual NYC Bodypainting Day, as you may have noticed

Maybe NSFW!

About 100 people reportedly took part in today's third annual NYC Bodypainting Day ... two double-decker buses drove the participants around the city... and they made a stop on Avenue B and East Third Street ... where EVG reader David took these photos this afternoon...







And the reaction from the brunch bunch? Per David:

"The sidewalk eaters at Root and Bone just laughed and raised glasses. The B&T crowd at Mama’s Bar, however, screamed, ran out with phones ready, and screamed OMG — a lot. I thought the nude folks handled it well!"

... and a few more photos from Tompkins Square Park and Avenue A via Bobby Williams...







... and a few more photos via Derek Berg...

Noted

A reminder for East Village bar/restaurant owners to continue using industrial-strength trash bags. pic.twitter.com/VZn7i079dA

— evgrieve (@evgrieve) July 9, 2016

An updated facade at Ray's

Chico started work at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A, yesterday... not sure of the status given the late afternoon/early evening rain...

Back in October 2011, Chico created a tribute awning here in memory of the late Bob Arihood.

The previous hand-painted sign was quite weathered ...


[Photo via Forgotten NY]

Car Seat Headrest and the 4Knots Music Festival set times

Car Seat Headrest, shown here with a video for "Vincent," is one of the bands on the bill tomorrow for the sixth annual (free) 4Knots Music Festival at the South Street Seaport hosted by The Village Voice.

The set times are below... head to the 4Knots site for more band info and festival details...

PIER 16 STAGE
1:00pm - Promised Land Sound
1:50pm - Kirk Knight
2:40pm - Mothers
3:40pm - Car Seat Headrest
4:40pm - Protomartyr
5:40pm - The Strumbellas
7:00pm - Guided By Voices

FULTON STAGE
1:30pm - Boulevards
2:30pm - Bayonne
3:30pm - Diane Coffee
4:30pm - Mile High Club
5:30pm - Girlpool

Report: Raphael Toledano selling 6 of his East Village buildings

The Real Deal is reporting that controversial landlord Raphael Toledano is aiming to sell six East Village buildings less than a year after buying them.

Toledano, who has been accused of allegedly harassing his tenants and other predatory practices, bought a 16-building portfolio last September from the Tabak family for $97 million.

Per The Real Deal:

To acquire the portfolio, Toledano took out two mortgages from Madison Realty Capital totaling $124 million for the acquisition as well as planned renovations. The mortgages were an example of multiple financings that led experienced real estate players to describe Toledano as overleveraged.

The six walk-ups – which include 27 St. Mark’s Place and 66 E. Seventh St. – are expected to fetch north of $50 million, sources say. (The article doesn't list the other four buildings.)

No. 27 was home to The Sock Man before a rent hike forced him to close at this location. No. 66 was home to Barbara Feinman Millinery, which also had to relocate.

However, as The Real Deal notes, the landlord isn't giving up on the neighborhood:

Toledano is in the process of buying 11 East Village buildings for a combined $43 million — also from the Tabaks.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Landlord of 444 E. 13th St. threatened 'to drop dynamite on the building'

Report: Residents at 444 E. 13th St. will receive a $1 million settlement over claims of harassment by Raphael Toledano

Report: State investigating East Village landlord Raphael Toledano

Health Department to inspect Raphael Toledano's East Village properties for toxic levels of lead dust

Another look at Village Farm Grocery's watermelon tossing assembly line

On Wednesday, we posted photos from Derek Berg showing the assembly line taking delivery of watermelons outside Village Farm Grocery on Second Avenue and Ninth Street.

Upon seeing that, EVG reader Daniel shared this clip of the crew at work in May...

EV Grieve Etc.: Conviction for Bowery hit-and-run; History of East Village name

[Photo on 1st Avenue by Derek Berg]

Man charged with stealing knife from 5 Napkin Burger and threatening pedestrians on East 14th Street (DNAinfo)

Man convicted of fatal hit-and-run on the Bowery (The Lo-Down)

History of the East Village name (Gothamist ... previously)

A Rivington House roundup (BoweryBoogie)

Short film about life at 70 Hester St. (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Activist sues city after cops arrest him for filming them on Astor Place (Gothamist)

Is gentrification really a problem? (The New Yorker)

Sunday brunch was trendy in 1930s NYC (Ephemeral New York)


[Summer scene from Tompkins Square Park via Bobby Williams]

A red-tailed hawk July 4 (Laura Goggin Photography)

A few weeks left for the Ramones exhibit at the Queens Museum (Thirteen/PBS)

Art world feuding over Basquiat’s death (Page Six)

Recalling Goulash Row on East Houston (Off the Grid)

A small preservation victory at the Hotel Chelsea (Curbed)

Musing about the Peculiar Pub and the Dugout... and GG Allin... (Flaming Pablum)

Civil War drama "Men Go to Battle" makes its NYC theatrical debut this weekend (Anthology Film Archives)

A John Cassavetes/Gena Rowlands retrospective starts next Friday, July 15, at the Metrograph. Rowlands will be doing a Q-and-A (Official website)

... and a few tickets remain for this event next Wednesday at Flinders Lane on Avenue A...

The new Shops on East Fifth Street are ready for retail (and a coffee shop)

[Photo from Monday]

The storefront renovations are (mostly) complete now on Fifth Street just east of Second Avenue.

There are three spaces in what are being presented as the Shops on East Fifth Street. A tipster tells us that the middle space will house an Argentinian coffee shop. The other two storefronts are for rent... the bare-bones listing at Coldwell Banker Commercial notes the asking rent is $125 per square foot...



As previously reported, in July 2014, the owners of the previous three businesses had to vacate their storefronts due to a structural issue in the building at 300 E. Fifth St.

S & P Liquor & Wine eventually moved to Second Avenue … while Jamie the check-cashing guy, whose family owned the business for 68 years, had to shut down at the end of 2014 as repairs dragged on. He had been operating for five months from a secure van outside his shop. The Today's Cut hair salon moved to East Seventh Street just west of Avenue A.

Previously on EV Grieve:
3 small businesses temporarily closed due to structural issues at 300 E. 5th St.

RUMOR: The Dahlia's space will be converted into a salad bar

Multiple tipsters have told us that the closed-for-now Dahlia's on Second Avenue and Fifth Street will return as a quick-serve restaurant specializing in salads.

Here's how one tipster put it: "It's going to be a salad bar! Saw them bringing in the sneeze guards. Per a super on the block it's definitely a salad bar and no liquor license."

The Mexican restaurant temporarily closed in early May while the State Liquor Authority decides their future booze fate. Back in February, the SLA temporarily suspended Dahlia's liquor license after serving a reported 50 minors one night. Dahlia's stayed open without alcohol after this, though business appeared quite slow.

The State Liquor Authority website shows that the license, set to expire Nov. 30, 2017, is currently inactive.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Dahlia's busted after cops find 43 minors drinking inside locked restaurant

More about the underage drinking bust at Dahlia's; plus, reaction from NYU students

7th Street residents angered after developer cuts down the wrong tree

[EVG photo of 79-89 Avenue D from June]

Over at 79-89 Avenue D, L&M Development Partners have been prepping for a 12-story retail-residential building with 110 dwelling units here between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

On Wednesday, residents at 274 E. Seventh St. said they were angered to discover that workers "mistakenly cut down a six-story tree" in the backyard of their co-op building.

A resident with knowledge of the situation said that L&M had a work order to remove one tree — from 278 E. Seventh St. However, the crew cut down that tree as well as the one behind No. 274.


[Behind 274 E. 7th St.]

The residents contacted the Department of Buildings via 311, and were told that it wasn't a DOB matter. The 311 rep suggested calling the police.

As for the loss of the tree, the resident said that an L&M rep confirmed they made a mistake and are prepared to do something for the co-op "within reason."

"What could possibly make whole the loss of the sole grace note of our backyard, shading our apartments in the summer, announcing the arrival of spring when it's buds peeped out, the golden light that filtered through its changing leaves in the fall and the shelter it provided squirrels, blue jays, sparrows and rare hawk visits?"

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Space that houses Rite Aid on Avenue D hits market for $22.5 million

Report: New 12-story, mixed-use building in the works for Avenue D

Permit pre-filed for new 12-floor building at 79-89 Avenue D

Former Avenue D Rite Aid has been demolished to make way for a 12-story building

Prepping for 'Rocky Horror'

The rain held off ... and the first in the Films in Tompkins summer series is a go tonight ... with "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

As you can see in the above photo via Derek Berg... the film will be shown in the central plaza and not the lawn tonight...

Lost and found: This cab on 3rd Avenue

From late this afternoon... EVR reader @tedroden spotted this on Third Avenue at East Ninth Street. Abandoned. All alone.

Per Ted: "Nobody was around it even. No sign of driver. No cops. Nothing."

[Updated] Picturesque New York City Marble Cemetery getting a Citi Bike docking station out front

This is happening outside the historic cemetery founded in 1831, and located at 52-74 E. Second St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Perhaps the Cemetery organizers requested a docking station ... make it easier for people to visit during its Neighborhood Open Days... but nothing like a docking station to ruin a view.

Photo by EVG contributor James Maher

Updated 1:30 p.m.

A few readers believe this is temporary... because construction has temporarily displaced the docking station on Second Avenue and Second Street...

Updated 7/9

Cemetery officials did NOT request the docking station... They did not even receive any notice of the docking station's arrival. I'll do a separate post on this...

Today's weather is unbearable

EVG reader @laurab0401 spotted the above today on Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

As for that weather... there are three alerts from the National Weather Service for NYC... there's a heat advisory, flash flood watch and air quality alert...



The city's cooling centers are open today.

Resident: July 4 collision highlights dangerous East Houston-Avenue B/Clinton Street intersection

An EVG reader, who lives near East Houston and Avenue B/Clinton Street, has again expressed concerned about the intersection following a collision on July 4.

According to the reader, a Zipcar heading north on Clinton Street ran a light ... a westbound cab hit the car, sending the rental up onto the curb, hitting a pedestrian and then crashing into the Banco Popular at 1 Avenue B.



The reader said that the pedestrian, a male in his early 30s, sustained a leg injury. The passengers in the rental — a man, woman and three children — were all taken to the hospital. It wasn't believed that their injuries were serious.

Given the holiday and demands on the NYPD, it took officers 75 minutes to respond. Several witnesses stayed to give statements, though the driver of the cab left the scene.





Per the reader:

"Only a handful of cars can make the right off the Williamsburg Bridge before the light changes ... and many try to run the light at Houston and Avenue B because they've been waiting 15 minutes to get from Delancey to Houston. On top of that, you've got people coming off the FDR westbound onto Houston still doing highway speeds.

This is an incredible dangerous intersection. [The city] should reverse the direction of Clinton Street."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Reports: 73-year-old East Village woman struck and killed by van while crossing East Houston

More accidents on East Houston Street

Reader report: An assessment of the dangerous East Houston-Avenue B/Clinton Street intersection

This may have a chilling effect on the rat population in Tompkins Square Park

You may have noticed the red flags around areas of Tompkins Square Park. At first we thought it might be some kind of golf/scavenger hunt-themed drinking game.

EVG contributor Derek Berg points out that these are in place to note where Park workers have placed dry ice pellets into the burrows where rats live.

The city of Boston started employing this method of rat control back in the spring as a non-toxic alternative to poisons.

Here's more from William Christopher, commissioner of Boston's Inspectional Services Department, with an explanation in an article from the Globe this past April:

Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. As it melts, it turns into carbon dioxide gas, which fills the burrow, suffocating any rats inside.

Christopher said it is a more humane way of killing the rodents — and significantly cheaper than using rat poison.

He said his staff has used more than 400 pounds of dry ice over the past six weeks, and that altogether it cost just $225.

“The simplicity of this process is one of the things that most intrigues me,” he added. “And the success is what has me very excited.”

Using dry ice reduces the risk to other animals and children that poison can pose, he said.

Other cities, including New York, are also now experimenting with dry ice.

As previously reported, our very own Community District 3 ranked No. 1 in 2015, according to the Health Department, as having the worst rat problem in Manhattan. And apparently the city's rat complaint record set last year will fall in 2016.

Report: New owner for 92-94 2nd Ave.

The 6-story building at 92-94 Second Ave. between Fifth Street and Sixth Street has been sold

The Real Deal reported that the Sabet Group bought the 22-unit rental building from investment firm Emmes Group of Companies for $19 million.

In total, there are 20 apartments, including five rent-stabilized units, and two retail spaces — the restaurant Local 92 and the empty space that housed the bar Kabin until March 2015.

The Sabet Group has made headlines for alleged tenant harassment in the past.

Free tonight in Tompkins Square Park: 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'

[EVG file photo of Dr. Frank-N-Furter]

Tonight's free film in Tompkins Square Park is 1975's "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Another chance to see newlyweds Brad and Janet lost with a flat tire. (If only they had smartphones then!)



No word if toast and rice will be allowed into the Park. (And no cussing. And you have to wear a suit in the pool.)

There's pre-movie music from Hawthorne.

As always, this is weather permitting... If it's a Thursday in the summer, then it will rain. Or so it seems. And there's a 50 percent chance of thundershowers tonight, according to our sources at The Weather Channel.

Check the Films in Tompkins Facebook page for updates on tonight's screening.

And as a reminder of what's coming up...

A memorial for Alton Sterling on Avenue A

Spotted at Fifth Street.

Today, the Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, 37, by the Baton Rouge, La., police department. According to published reports, two officers, who are white, had Sterling pinned to the ground when at least one of them shot him. Officials have not said whether Sterling was armed at the time he was killed, CNN reported.

From Farm to Table, sort of

A summertime scene as a five-man assembly line took delivery of watermelons outside Village Farm Grocery on Second Avenue and Ninth Street...





These guys are pretty much a Dream Team and will be tough to beat in any watermelon tossing competition. They'll likely go undefeated this coming season.

Photos by Derek Berg.