At the Tompkins Square Park dog run earlier today. Photo by Bobby Williams.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
2 rent rallies
From the EV Grieve inbox...
Two things to consider doing tomorrow
1. Get on the bus to Albany on Monday
Tenants and our allies in the State Senate and Assembly are hoping to get a deal done on stronger rent laws Sunday or Monday. Buses are going up to Albany on Monday and if you want to let Republican state senators who are holding up stronger rent laws know what you think, here's your chance to get on the bus.
FREE buses to Albany leave Monday morning from Manhattan (95th & B¹way) and Brooklyn (Dekalb & Flatbush). Call 347-541- 3339 to reserve your seat. More buses to be announced!
Sponsored by the Real Rent Reform Campaign.
OR...
2. Join Council Members Dan Garodnick and Rosie Mendez tomorrow for a March and Rally for Fair Rents
When:
June 20 at 4pm.
Where:
Meet on the Northeast corner of E. 14th St. and 1st Ave.; march to The Great Hall at Cooper Union, 7 East 7th St. at 3rd Ave.
Why:
MARCH, RALLY, AND GIVE TESTIMONY at the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) public hearing. The RGB proposed renewal lease guidelines for rent stabilized apartments to increase rents between 3 - 5.75% for a 1 year lease, 6 to 9% for 2 years, and add a 1% surcharge for buildings with oil heat. That is way out of line with inflation and wages.
Co-Sponsors:
NYS Senators Tom Duane, Liz Krueger and Daniel Squadron; NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Members Deborah Glick, and Brian Kavanagh; Community Boards 3 and 6; The Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association, Tenants and Neighbors, CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, the Cooper Square Committee, Good Old Lower East Side, Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing, and University Settlement
Two things to consider doing tomorrow
1. Get on the bus to Albany on Monday
Tenants and our allies in the State Senate and Assembly are hoping to get a deal done on stronger rent laws Sunday or Monday. Buses are going up to Albany on Monday and if you want to let Republican state senators who are holding up stronger rent laws know what you think, here's your chance to get on the bus.
FREE buses to Albany leave Monday morning from Manhattan (95th & B¹way) and Brooklyn (Dekalb & Flatbush). Call 347-541- 3339 to reserve your seat. More buses to be announced!
Sponsored by the Real Rent Reform Campaign.
OR...
2. Join Council Members Dan Garodnick and Rosie Mendez tomorrow for a March and Rally for Fair Rents
When:
June 20 at 4pm.
Where:
Meet on the Northeast corner of E. 14th St. and 1st Ave.; march to The Great Hall at Cooper Union, 7 East 7th St. at 3rd Ave.
Why:
MARCH, RALLY, AND GIVE TESTIMONY at the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) public hearing. The RGB proposed renewal lease guidelines for rent stabilized apartments to increase rents between 3 - 5.75% for a 1 year lease, 6 to 9% for 2 years, and add a 1% surcharge for buildings with oil heat. That is way out of line with inflation and wages.
Co-Sponsors:
NYS Senators Tom Duane, Liz Krueger and Daniel Squadron; NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Members Deborah Glick, and Brian Kavanagh; Community Boards 3 and 6; The Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association, Tenants and Neighbors, CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities, the Cooper Square Committee, Good Old Lower East Side, Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing, and University Settlement
Shopping woes on the Lower East Side
Initially expected to be the next SoHo or West Village, the Lower East Side is getting an F as a shopping destination. Since February ... several other apparel shops, including trendy In God We Trust, have given up on the Lower East Side. Others, such as accessories purveyor Bag and fashion boutique Convent, have announced their imminent closures. Businesses complain that landlords, anticipating completed developments, have been jacking up rents, though several construction projects are still stalled with recession-related woes.
And!
The influx of nightlife has only driven up rents, making the area even less appealing for emerging boutiques. In the past 18 months, asking prices in the neighborhood have jumped, increasing 20% following recession-related drops. Now, asking rents on prime streets range from $100 to $150 a square foot, while secondary areas are closer to $65 a square foot, according to brokers.
And!
“If I was a landlord, I'd want to fill the block with cool local stores so the foot traffic is cool—we don't need another NoLIta or SoHo,” said Julie Noyce, In God We Trust's general manager. “The Lower East Side has always been for artists and rock 'n' rollers — if you get rid of that local flavor, then it's just Steve Madden and a bunch of bars.”
Taggers hit Cooper Square Hotel fence; spare Pimm's Cup sign
A worker was out this morning cleaning off the freshly tagged popsicle fence at the Cooper Square Hotel.
However, the Pimm's Cup sign was spared.
Previously.
However, the Pimm's Cup sign was spared.
Previously.
A bird bath in Tompkins Square Park
EV Grieve resident ornithologist Bobby Williams captures a robin in the wilds of Tompkins Square Park yesterday...
A 'tragic theft'
Several readers pointed out these stolen bike flyers that appeared starting late last week... we spotted this one on Second Avenue near Third Street...
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Today at the Tompkins Square Park pop-up piano
EV Grieve Senior Pop-Up Piano Correspondent Bobby Williams was on the scene...
And, he reported, this couple danced to "New York, New York" ...
And, he reported, this couple danced to "New York, New York" ...
And what Lower East Side bar did the NYPD close last night?
Welcome to the Johnson's. According to reports, the 7th Precinct cited them for allegedly serving minors.
This is the latest bar the 7th Precinct has shuttered. BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down have full reports on this latest closure.
[Photo via BoweryBoogie]
This is the latest bar the 7th Precinct has shuttered. BoweryBoogie and The Lo-Down have full reports on this latest closure.
Ivories on pop-up piano in Tompkins Square Park ready for tickling
Today, the nonprofit organization Sing for Hope officially unveils the piano in Tompkins Square Park, one of 88 that you can find around the city...
This morning, Allen Semanco photographed Jordan Bailey tuning up the piano...
Meanwhile, Bobby Williams noted it last night as it sits near the ping-pong table.
So! What will be the first song that someone plays? This is my guess. Sounds pretty good on a piano...
Uh, anyway. A few other facts. The artist Nicolina did the art for this piano, dubbed "Piano of Magical Merriment."
And go here for the official list of activities at this piano.
This morning, Allen Semanco photographed Jordan Bailey tuning up the piano...
Meanwhile, Bobby Williams noted it last night as it sits near the ping-pong table.
So! What will be the first song that someone plays? This is my guess. Sounds pretty good on a piano...
Uh, anyway. A few other facts. The artist Nicolina did the art for this piano, dubbed "Piano of Magical Merriment."
And go here for the official list of activities at this piano.
Another tree comes down at the Tompkins Square Park dog run
As we pointed out on Monday, workers removed a tree after a storm knocked out a branch near the Tompkins Square Park dog run...
Allen Semanco sends us this photo, noting that workers had to remove another tree after Thursday night's storm took out a branch...
Allen Semanco sends us this photo, noting that workers had to remove another tree after Thursday night's storm took out a branch...
Street fair! Street fair! Street fair!
Setting up this morning... traffic is cut off at Sixth Street... how far north does this goes, I have no idea...
Meanwhile, in Murray Hill
Well, outside our usual coverage area... But, a tipster sent along these photos from 4 a.m. outside Tonic East on Third Avenue at 29th Street, a three-level behemoth that Eater described as "a loudmouth bar."
We have no idea what happened. A fight? A fall?
Anyway, aren't you glad that we don't have bars like this in the East Village? Oh, wait...
[Updated: The tipster said that this was the result of a fistfight... this fellow got the worst of it, obviously]
We have no idea what happened. A fight? A fall?
Anyway, aren't you glad that we don't have bars like this in the East Village? Oh, wait...
[Updated: The tipster said that this was the result of a fistfight... this fellow got the worst of it, obviously]
Friday, June 17, 2011
The Gil Scott-Heron mural on 12th Street
Earlier, we posted some photos of Chico working on a memorial for Gil Scott-Heron on East 12th Street at Avenue C...
Dave on 7th has a photo of the final mural...
Dave on 7th has a photo of the final mural...
NYPD closes deli on Avenue C and Fourth Street
Several readers reported a major police presence last night at the deli on the corner of Fourth Street and Avenue C.
Dave on 7th walked by this morning and found that the NYPD has closed the deli.
The sign says for "the criminal sale or possession of controlledsubstances SA." One reader believes it was for "discounted" cigarettes.
Dave on 7th walked by this morning and found that the NYPD has closed the deli.
The sign says for "the criminal sale or possession of controlled
Today's sign of the apocalypse: Chase-Starbucks combo opening on Second Avenue and 10th Street?
A concerned tipster notes the following signs at the now-shuttered Cafe Centosette on Second Avenue and 10th Street... the tipster notes, "I was utterly heartbroken to find this sign posted on the corner of my block."
Well, first, we wouldn't be shocked by this. Still. Clearly a hoax. The sign is taped to the outside of the window. Plus! You recall the sign that appeared here this past Sunday.
In any event, not bad... but not quite as good as the jokesters who put this up at the former Second Avenue Deli across the way several years back...
Of course, that turned out to be a Chase branch...Joke's on us.
Well, first, we wouldn't be shocked by this. Still. Clearly a hoax. The sign is taped to the outside of the window. Plus! You recall the sign that appeared here this past Sunday.
In any event, not bad... but not quite as good as the jokesters who put this up at the former Second Avenue Deli across the way several years back...
Of course, that turned out to be a Chase branch...Joke's on us.
'Road repairs' continue on Extra Place
Crews arrived Monday for "road repairs" on Extra Place... (Shouldn't it have been "Place repairs"?) EV Grieve Extra Place correspondent Bobby Williams took these photos.
And Goggla had this photo from Extra Place yesterday...
Meanwhile, I'm starting the rumor that they're putting in a canal ... as part of the Bowery's new Canal District.
And Goggla had this photo from Extra Place yesterday...
Meanwhile, I'm starting the rumor that they're putting in a canal ... as part of the Bowery's new Canal District.
Pop-up piano returns to Tompkins Square Park
As you may remember, the nonprofit organization Sing for Hope placed 60 donated pianos around the city for your use last year.
And now they're back with 88 pianos, each of which has been painted by an artist type or someone. Bobby Williams happened by yesterday when this guy was putting the (locking the?) Tompkins Square Park piano in place...
As the sign says, this one will be unveiled tomorrow.
But! Our own Melanie Neichin at East Village Corner got a sneak preview... And we hear that she even played "Für Elise"...
In any event, hope this won't be too distracting for the nearby ping pongers (table tennisers?).
The piano will be here until July 2.
And now they're back with 88 pianos, each of which has been painted by an artist type or someone. Bobby Williams happened by yesterday when this guy was putting the (locking the?) Tompkins Square Park piano in place...
As the sign says, this one will be unveiled tomorrow.
But! Our own Melanie Neichin at East Village Corner got a sneak preview... And we hear that she even played "Für Elise"...
In any event, hope this won't be too distracting for the nearby ping pongers (table tennisers?).
The piano will be here until July 2.
Chico paints a Gil Scott-Heron tribute
Spotted by Dave on 7th at 12th Street and Avenue C.
Meanwhile, Bobby Williams caught up with Chico working on the front of the building...
And Crazy Eddie checks in with what it looked like right before Chico started...
Quintessence reopens today, sign out front says
On Tuesday, the DOH closed Quintessence, the vegan-raw food restaurant on 10th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A for various infractions...
samo passes along the following... the sign out front says the restaurant — where Lou Reed has dined — will reopen today.
samo passes along the following... the sign out front says the restaurant — where Lou Reed has dined — will reopen today.
Tre Scalini opening soon on St. Mark's Place
An Italian restaurant called Tre Scalini is taking over the former Bello's space at 130 St. Mark's Place near Avenue A. There's another Tre Scalini in Melville, N.Y.
A review of the restaurant that appears on Newsday.com sums the place up this way: "Its modus operandi seems ideal for the times: straightforward Italian food, large portions, low prices."
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Free movies and music Thursday nights in Tompkins Square Park
Over at The Villager, Scoopy notes that there will be free music-movie nights in Tompkins Square Park on Thursday evenings this summer. As Scoopy reports: "The movies start at sundown, with live music — by bands of all ages — about an hour before. There will also be poetry, raffle prizes to benefit the Lower Eastside Girls Club, dance, live art, pizza and a mini merry-go-round."
And the list of movies:
June 30 — Raging Bull
July 7 — Coming to America
July 14 — The Warriors
July 21 — Star Trek
July 28 — Arthur
Aug. 4, — Pope of Greenwich Village
Aug. 11 — Kickass
Aug. 18 — Rosemary’s Baby
Aug. 25 — The Godfather
Sept. 1 — Stake Land
You can read Scoopy's column for all the details and sponsors...
EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition
A roundup of articles on the rent regulation discussions (Curbed)
The sad state of the former Gino today (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)
MTA's M15 Select Bus Service becoming more popular, MTA says (DNAinfo)
The latest new ugly hotel on the Lower East Side (BoweryBoogie)
A floating pool for the East River? (Runnin' Scared via Curbed)
Thrill-seekers attempt to climb the Williamsburg Bridge (Gothamist)
A meeting about Orchard Street safety (The Lo-Down)
At Pauline's Cabaret in the Bronx (Lost City)
The East Village Eats tour postponed for Saturday (East Village Eats)
And from Billy Leroy, a quick encounter with Paul Simon outside Webster Hall the other night...
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