Thursday, June 19, 2025
[Updated] Wrong-way chase ends in crash, arrest on 3rd Street
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
A high-speed police pursuit ended in a dramatic crash and arrest on Third Street late yesterday afternoon, after a vehicle turned the wrong way off of Avenue C and was rammed by pursuing officers.
Multiple witnesses described seeing law enforcement, including state police serving as backup, quickly apprehend at least one suspect. Two men were believed to be in the vehicle.
According to law enforcement officials, the NYPD's Narcotics Unit made the arrest. The suspect, a 39-year-old male, was said to be well-known to the Narco Unit and had several prior arrests for possession of drugs. Police sources said the suspect had a loaded firearm and unspecified drugs at the time of the arrest. (Updated: Police identified the suspect as Solne Martinez, an East Village resident.)
The suspect's vehicle collided with another car belonging to a physician from the RYAN/NENA health center between Avenue C and Avenue D.
The doctor was not inside at the time.
"I spoke to the police, I was not in the car when it happened," he said.
The incident occurred outside Loisaida Drugs and Surgical at 273 E. Third St., just east of Avenue C.
A pharmacist, who declined to give his name, said he came outside after hearing the crash.
"I saw the police and the driver putting his hands up. They cuffed him," he said. "The passenger had a gun — I could see the gun. I did not see them arrest the passenger, only the driver." 
Another local worker witnessed the scene as well.
"It was a brownish-tan gun. Law enforcement arrested the driver and put the gun on the hood of the car. I took a picture of the guy, and he flipped me off."
One bystander described seeing officers "T-bone the guy" after a chase down Third Street, noting that police removed a duffle bag from the vehicle's trunk after the arrest.
At least one other vehicle at the scene sustained a broken window, though it's unclear how it happened. Photos show law enforcement conducting a fingerprinting procedure using Cyanoacrylate (superglue) solution.
A pedestrian sustained minor injuries during the chase and was taken to the hospital. She is expected to recover.
It was not immediately clear where the chase started.
This is a developing story, and authorities are expected to release more details soon. Some elements of the account may be updated as new information becomes available.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Wednesday's parting shot
Photo by Stacie Joy
Today in Tompkins Square Park, these artists were raising funds
via art and zines for families affected by ICE raids.
About that 'White Plains' shoot in the East Village
This is code for Ryan Murphy's 2026 series "American Love Story," which will chronicle the lives of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. (H/T Gracie!)
For the second time in less than a week, Panna II on First Avenue is serving as a location ("Daredevil" was here this past Friday)...
She reportedly lived in the East Village when she first moved to NYC in 1989.
As for the fake production name, Bessette Kennedy was born in White Plains.
Meanwhile, early promotional photos have reportedly left fans unimpressed with the dull styling and wardrobe of the leads.
A look at the all-new 356 E. 8th St.
Work permits show a horizontal enlargement featuring seven residential units (plus a penthouse) and one retail space here between Avenue C and Avenue D.
The building arrived on the market two years earlier with a $3 million ask, with a listing: "Property is a teardown. Existing structure is unsafe."
DOB records indicate a partial demolition, and permits were issued to address existing on-site safety concerns.
No. 356 previously sat vacant for nearly nine years. On Dec. 24, 2015, a worker — 33-year-old Luis Alberto Pomboza — fell three floors to his death inside the building undergoing renovations for a previous owner.
The death of Pomboza, a father of five, prompted then-Mayor de Blasio and Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler to announce in February 2016 that they were going to quadruple the penalties for serious construction safety lapses, conduct a wave of more than 1,500 enforcement sweeps, and require new supervision at construction sites citywide to protect workers and the public amid the building boom.
No. 356 had been on and off the market for years (here and here). The listings pitched the space for "high-end apartments or a luxury home."
After Pomboza's death, the DOB issued a stop work order and a full vacate order on the site. Ten different violations were reportedly uncovered at the worksite, including "failure to safeguard all persons and property affected by construction operations." A construction superintendent was to be present at 356 E. Eighth St. at the time of Pomboza's fall, but there wasn't one on site.
We have not spotted any listings for the new units here just yet.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Construction watch: Pumping out the concrete at 88 E. 2nd St.
Photos by Stacie Joy
The concrete pump truck (bendy thing!) continues, um, pumping concrete into the foundation on the NW corner of First Avenue and Second Street... where the structure is nearly to the sidewalk level...
The incoming residential building — officially 88 E. Second St. — will include ground-floor retail and 22 rentals.
Refresh your memory of the new place via this rendering reveal. The completion date is scheduled for the fall of 2026.
Read our previous posts for more about the project and prior businesses at 33-37 First Ave.
Carnitas Ramírez celebrating 1 year in the East Village on Sunday
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Carnitas Ramírez is celebrating its 1st EV anniversary on Sunday.
The sibling to Taqueria Ramírez, the celebrated Greenpoint establishment, has built an enthusiastic fan base here at 210 E. Third St., just east of Avenue B.
The restaurant received "Critic's Pick" status with a two-star review last fall in The New York Times ... and the paper later named it one of the city's best 100 restaurants.
I recently checked in with co-owners (from left) Yvon de Tassigny, Giovanni Cervantes and Tania Apolinar...
This past year has been a joyful experience; we have created a new family from the people we work with and a new home in the East Village, which has welcomed us with open arms since the beginning. ... With gratitude, we can say that we have done some of the work to bring the best Mexican food to NYC, but there's still a lot to do! And we feel excited about that. It's been a wonderful year, and we are looking forward to many more!
The anniversary afternoon begins at 2 p.m. with a special menu and music...
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Meeting brings East Village and LES bar owners together to talk noise, nightlife issues
Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
A recent (June 11) meeting billed as a forum for addressing noise complaints drew a full house of bar, restaurant, and club owners from the East Village, Lower East Side and Chinatown.
Held at the rooftop lounge at Mr. Purple in the Hotel Indigo on Orchard Street, the session offered local business operators the chance to hear directly from city agencies about best practices, regulations and resources related to nightlife noise management.
Representatives from the 7th and 9th Precincts, Community Board 3, the Department of Environmental Protection's Economic Development and Environmental Compliance team, the State Liquor Authority, and the NYC Office of Nightlife participated in the event. (The 5th Precinct was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.)
The bulk of the discussion focused on noise concerns — from loud music and bass vibrations to lines and street noise outside establishments. A slideshow presented during the session cited 2,500 bar and restaurant-related noise complaints filed in the area last year after duplicate and anonymous 311 complaints were filtered out.
Topics covered included enforcement protocols, current fine structures for noise violations ($2,000 for a first offense, $4,000 for a second, and $6,000 for a third), and available mitigation programs such as MEND NYC, which offers free mediation between businesses and residents, and CURE, which supports coordinated conflict resolution among establishments.
Officials shared several updates and reminders, including a ban on speakers in outdoor dining spaces and insurance coverage requirements for roadside dining. The State Liquor Authority also discussed its enforcement and disciplinary approach, which it described as aimed at fostering "temperance."
A brief Q&A followed, with business owners from spots including Pianos, JoyFace, the Wiggle Room and Donnybrook weighing in on line management, use of stanchions and barricades, OATH hearings, and police support in handling disorderly patrons.
Some attendees expressed frustration with bureaucratic hurdles and conflicting guidance from various city agencies. One recurring question — whether bar owners could find out who was reporting them to 311 — was quickly answered: No.
Pedestrian bottlenecks caused by ID checks and patron screening outside busy venues were also raised, though no clear solutions emerged.
Extra time was given to questions about mitigating noise and managing lines. "We don't say 'no lines' to be mean," said CB3 District Manager Susan Stetzer. "This is a residential community — you have to respect your neighbors."
Attendees were encouraged to contact 911 when necessary and to make a visible effort to resolve issues. "Try to be a good neighbor," said one rep. "Residents will be more forgiving if you make an attempt."
After the session, reactions were mixed. Some business owners said they found the meeting useful, while others said it offered little in the way of new information or practical solutions.
Previously on EV Grieve:
RIP John Garbarini
Photo via @internationalbarnyc
The crew at the International Bar on First Avenue have paid tribute to a longtime regular and friend to many people there (and elsewhere in the neighborhood) in a recent Instagram post...
RIP John Garbarini,A regular heroA master engineerA talented photographer,Jack of all trades and mastered them all.Our beloved friend, family, and regular. An irreplaceable hole in our hearts.
The longtime resident of the East Village and Little Italy "appreciated New York City's quirks and color."
Monday, June 16, 2025
Monday's parting 10-day weather forecast
Live from Tompkins Square Park with Um, Jennifer? and Vial
Photos by Stacie Joy
We caught two of the bands on Saturday afternoon during the Show Brain-sponsored free concert in Tompkins Square Park.
Despite the intermittent showers, Show Brain founder Ozzie and his volunteers had tents and tarps for the bands, and the show went on to an appreciative crowd.
We saw another playful set from endearing locals Um, Jennifer? ... (below) Eli, Fig, Carmen and Grayson...
And afterward (with Show Brain's Ozzie on the left)...
Then there was the headliner Vial, an indie punk trio from Minneapolis making a Tompkins tour stop...
You can sign up for a Show Brain mailing list here for news on upcoming shows in Tompkins and elsewhere.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Former 9th Street garage demolished to make way for luxury residences
Photos by Steven
After more than two months, workers have completed the demolition of the former Little Man Parking garage (aka LaSalle Parking) on Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
The DOB permits list a "partial demolition" of the existing 5-story structure. We don't see much left of anything.
Per previous reports, the new 6-floor building will include 31,231 square feet of residential space, including 18 units and likely condos. Amenities include a rear yard and parking for 10 vehicles. Colberg Architecture is the architect of record. The plywood rendering lists a completion date of Winter 2026.
According to public records and the TradedNY account, Arcus Development, operating through Astor Nine LLC, is the new owner of the vacant property.
The garage closed in April 2023 after the Department of Buildings issued a vacate order on the property following the deadly collapse at the Little Man garage on Ann Street in the Financial District.
Curbside comeback: Tree beds revived along this section of 2nd Avenue
Photos by Stacie Joy
The rather barren stretch along the east side of Second Avenue between Third Street and First Street is looking a little better these days. (H/T csw!)
Last week, The Sidewalk Gardeners, who specialize in sidewalk tree bed revitalization, did just that along this corridor...
Here's more via an Instagram post about the project:
Sponsored by a nearby condo resident, we are on a mission to rehabbing forgotten tree beds between 1st and 3rd St. Full of trash, waste and even a dead bird, if not properly cared for, many of these spaces can carry diseases and attract rodents and pests.
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