RIP Ron Edgecombe

[Photo via Facebook]

Ron Edgecombe, a longtime local resident dating back to the early 1980s, died this past week. He was 61. A friend said that he had contracted pneumonia.

He worked as a stagehand at venues around the city, most recently at the PlayStation Theater in Times Square. He was also a familiar presence at the free concerts in Tompkins Square Park.

Friends are leaving remembrances on this tribute page on Facebook.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Stump town: More on the tree art of Ian Dave Knife

[Photo by Steven]

In recent weeks we've posted about local artist Ian Dave Knife making art from dead tree stumps around the neighborhood (here and here).


[Photo by Steven]

He is featured today in the Post in an piece titled "East Village man Ian Dave Knife turns NYC eyesores into street art."

An excerpt:

Knife’s mission is to brighten every locale where a once-magnificent tree has been reduced to a lonely stump due to fungus or decay.

“There’s a void when the tree is missing. You see the gap,” the Zimbabwe-born activist artist told The Post. “It’s human nature that we want to grieve or sympathize with the tree. You feel the loss. I want to replace that gap.”

His latest is work in progress in on Avenue A at Sixth Street...



Read more about his work and influences here.

Updated 12/23

EVG reader Kerri Savage shared this photo... as he continues work on Avenue A and Sixth Street...



...and the final product, via Kerri...

Early Happy Easter wishes on this Dec. 22

Spotted on Seventh Street at Avenue B by Dave on 7th... not creepy at all!

Saturday's parting shot

BMX Christmas on Second Avenue today via Derek Berg...

It happened on 5th Street

Always the best Christmas lights in the neighborhood... Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

A Winter Solstice celebration today at the Campos Community Garden

Volunteers at the Campos Community Garden are hosting their Winter Solstice celebration today from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Among other things, you can burn your grievances "to open space for new goals in the coming year" and enjoy candied lemons made from the garden's very own lemon tree.

Campos Community Garden is at 640 E. 12th St. between Avenue B and Avenue C.

Friday's parting shot

[From the top left] Jax, Atticus and Alistair dressed up in Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Derek Berg...

Merry ChristmASS from Rite Aid on 1st Avenue

Something to entertain you while waiting in line at the Rite Aid on First Avenue and Fifth Street.

Holiday hijinks or this is just how the monogrammed stockings happened to end up here high on the shelf? Anyway, 50-percent off!

Thanks to Stacie Joy for this photo ...

Not for 'Nothing'

A reconfigured Rocketship returned with its first record in 13 years with Thanks to You, an under-the-radar release from this fall. The dream-pop track here is for "Nothing Deep Inside."

Local to express: The Trash Bags rock Union Square station

Last night, the LES-based Trash Bags held their record release party in a rather unusual venue — the band brought their thrash 'n' roll to the 14th Street/Union Square station (the L-train mezzanine) ... sadly we missed it ... here are two clips...

View this post on Instagram

@THETRASHBAGS record release subway party 12/19/19

A post shared by 🐜🐜🐜 (@muddgutsrecords) on Dec 19, 2019 at 9:29pm PST

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A post shared by Raishma (@raishmaram) on Dec 20, 2019 at 2:19am PST

The band's debut record, produced by Billie Joe Armstrong, is available now via Muddguts ... you can likely find the vinyl down at the Cast, the boutique at 72 Orchard St. run by band members Moan Elisa and Chuck Bones.

The Trash Bags are on a bill tomorrow (Saturday!) night out at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn with local singer-songwriter Fiona Silver.

Day and night on the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts

A look this morning and last night courtesy of Vinny & O...

Tenants call out Madison Realty Capital: Stop warehousing rent-regulated apartments

More than 50 residents, community activists and local elected officials gathered on Tuesday afternoon in the rain outside 325 E. 12th St., a building owned by Madison Realty Capital (MRC) that serves as a de-facto office for MRC’s property management arm, Silverstone Properties.

The group, led by Tenants Taking Control (formerly known as the Toledano Tenants Coalition), called on MRC to sell their 15 buildings to a nonprofit preservation buyer.

They also wanted to bring attention to the practice of property owners letting rent-regulated apartments sit vacant in the aftermath of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019.

According to the tenants, there are 136 vacant apartments across the 15-building portfolio, which has a total of 279 units. (MRC took control of the portfolio from disgraced landlord Raphael Toledano in the spring of 2017.)



"It is unconscionable to keep these apartments empty, when affordable housing is so rare," said TTC member Beth Carey.

"We have persevered for four long years — enduring an onslaught of insincere buyout badgering, construction as harassment, elevated lead dust, vermin infestations, and unfair lawsuits," said Sandra Mayer, a TTC tenant. "We have watched our friends and neighbors be picked off one by one until these once vibrant buildings stood dark and quiet. This community of working-class families and artists should not lose its spirit. It is our goal to bring back a solid base of rent-stabilized housing in the East Village."

Joining the tenants were several community groups and elected officials, including members of the INK Tenants Coalition, Cooper Square Committee, Lead Dust Free NYC coalition, St. Nicks Alliance, Good Old Lower East Side, United Neighborhood Organization (UNO), Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Sen. Brad Hoylman and City Councilmember Carlina Rivera.


[Sen. Hoylman]


[Assemblymember Glick]



Photos courtesy of the Cooper Square Committee.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Health Department to inspect Raphael Toledano's East Village properties for toxic levels of lead dust

• Ongoing concerns about demolition work and elevated lead levels in Toledano-owned buildings

• Tenant activists praise lead reform, urge for more protections from city against predatory landlords

• Petition asks Madison Realty Capital to waive legal fees for evicted East Village family

• Report: Raphael Toledano files for Chapter 11; $145 million deal for EV portfolio is off the table

• Raphael Toledano tenants take to Midtown streets to speak out against their landlord and his lenders

• Santa delivers sacks of coal to Madison Realty Capital, Rafael Toledano's lenders

These were the top reads from East Village libraries in 2019

The New York Public Library has shared its top checkouts for 2019. These are the books that were checked out the most at our neighborhood branches:

• Tompkins Square, 331 E. 10th St.: "Circe" by Madeline Miller

• Ottendorfer, 135 Second Ave.: "Educated: A Memoir" by Tara Westover

• Hamilton Fish Park, 415 E. Houston St.: "Becoming" by Michelle Obama


"Becoming" and "Educated: A Memoir" were 1-2 systemwide for the NYPL. ("Circe" was No. 7 overall.)





Previously on EV Grieve:
Say hi to Sam, your new Ottendorfer librarian

A visit to the Tompkins Square Library branch on 10th Street

Thursday's parting shot

An EVG reader spotted this pre-Christmas discard on 10th Street near Avenue B... (an analysis on the scene confirmed that this tree was purchased this season, and not leftover from last year...)

Deal on wheels

Air BnB snowffiti spotted on Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... thanks to @ChrisReese1 for sharing the photo...

EVG Etc.: City pledges to end street homelessness; MTA board approves plan for more subway cops

[At the great Russo's on 11th Street]

• Remembering the cyclists who were killed on city streets this year, including Chaim Joseph of the East Village (Gothamist... previously on EVG)

• The city's pledge to end street homelessness (Curbed)

• The NYCHA is the city's worst landlord (ABC-7)

• MTA board approves hiring 500 additional cops (The Post)

• What to eat at the new Essex Market and the Market Line (Eater)

• More stats and praise for the 14th Street busway (Newsday)

• City Councilmember Carlina Rivera wants to see pols gives up their SUVs for bikes (Daily News)

• Local blogger spots the "In the Air Tonight" car in action (Gothamist)

• Catch a screening of "My Mars Bar Movie" by the late Jonas Mekas this Saturday night (Anthology Film Archives... previously on EVG)

• The "Holidays at Metrograph" series continues with screenings of "The Thin Man," "Carol" and "The Apartment," among others (Official site)

• Diversions: Slayer fans lose their shit outside of Studio 54 in 1985 (CVLT Nation)

... and following the snow squall yesterday... the arrival of an R2-D2 on this windshield — obviously a promo for "The Rise of Skywalker" ...



... thanks to EVG reader Melissa for this photo from 3rd and A...

Red Gate Bakery opens its gates today on 1st Street

[Image via @redgatebakery]

Red Gate Bakery debuts today at 68 E. First St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

The shop is run by Greg Rales (formerly of Flour Shop on Lafayette) and business partner Patricia Howard (formerly of The Beatrice Inn).

Rales previously worked in international development and co-production at AMC Networks... apparently his baked goods were a hit with co-workers, and he eventually decided to get into the bakery business.

The Times had a preview on what to expect:

Red accents enliven the white subway-tiled shop that has a kitchen on view through a window. The treats on offer include rich brown-butter blondies, banana bread swirled with chocolate and a caramelized white chocolate cake infused with stout. Oreo-style cookies with eggnog filling, a thin oatmeal cookie with a snowflake pattern, and peppermint hot chocolate are available for the holidays.

Red Gate is open Wednesday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and until 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The bakery is closed Monday and Tuesday. (During the holiday, Red Gate Bakery will be closed Monday 12/23 - Thursday 12/26 and Monday 12/30 - Wednesday 1/1.)

Find the shop's website at this link.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Red Gate Bakery setting up shop at 68 E. 1st St.

Deck the halls with the Third Street Music School Settlement today

The Third Street Music School Settlement is hosting its annual Neighborhood Caroling this afternoon.

Per the school's website:

Please arrive between 3:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Con Edison Building, 4 Irving Place (Irving Place and East 14th Street). The merrymaking will commence at 4 p.m. and make its way through Union Square and the East Village, ending at Third Street Music School. RSVPs (do that here) will receive our route map and timing so you can join in the fun along the way!

The caroling action takes place between 4-6 p.m. today (Dec. 19!).

Details on the 9th Precinct's last 2 Build the Block public meetings for 2019

The 9th Precinct is hosting the last two Build the Block Sector meetings for the year tonight and tomorrow night for East Village residents and business owners.

The Sector D meeting is tonight (Thursday) at 6 at the 14th Street Y, 344 E. 14th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Sector D encompasses the north side of Seventh Street to 14th Street, from the west side of First Avenue to Broadway...)



The Sector C meeting is tomorrow (Friday!) evening at 5:30 at Middle Collegiate Church, 50 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue. (Sector C encompasses the south side of Seventh Street to East Houston, from the west side of First Avenue to Broadway...)



Use this link to find out what Sector you're in for sure, and what meeting you should attend. Find the sectors and the responsible officers here.

The Sector meetings are an opportunity for residents and business owners to voice grievances or concerns with issues in and around the neighborhood. This is part of the NYPD's initiative called the Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO) program. The 9th Precinct is split up into four sectors, with two officers assigned to each sector.

Santa fires up Christmas on 2nd Street

On Sunday, the firefighters assigned to Engine Company 28, Ladder 11 held their annual Christmas celebration at the firehouse on Second Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was there for the festivities...