Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.

By James Maher

Name: Joey McGibbon
Occupation: Doorman, Retired
Location: 6th Street between Avenue A and B
Time: 1:52 on Sunday, Aug. 27

"I’ve lived in the neighborhood for 30 years. I was a doorman on the Upper East Side. The difference between the Upper East Side and here was like night and day. I worked for gazillionaires. What they paid for shoes and clothes, I could pay my rent for 3 months.

It was a different neighborhood 30 years ago. It was dangerous but I never felt really threatened. You just had to know your way about, where you were going, and what you were doing. Half this neighborhood was burnt out; every block had burnt out buildings. It was really empty. If you weren’t from around here people knew it because it was so depopulated.

I moved down here by accident. I was in love with this girl and we were in the throws of breaking up. I grew up in Queens. I had no intentions of moving down here, especially back then when this neighborhood was the way it was. But she moved here and I followed her. I thought maybe we’d get back together but it never happened and I ended up staying.

It was quite an accident and it changed my life. I met some wonderful people: artists, writers, and creative people. It’s always been a young neighborhood, but it wasn’t college students, it was young people on the fringe. It was quite some fun. You had the Robots; you had EPCs; you had the Limbo Lounge; Pizza a Go-Go; the Pyramid Club was in full swing. I got exposed to a lot of things I wouldn’t have been exposed to in Queens. There were some heartbreaking things too; I lost a lot of people to drugs and to the AIDS crisis.

They filmed 'The Godfather Part 2' on this block. All these buildings here still had the old fashioned storefronts. They were sealed up, but they all had the old-fashioned storefronts, so they fixed them up and created a barbershop and a candy store and put canopies on them. It’s the scene where that guy in the white suit [Don Fanucci] is going down the street, where he gets blown away by Robert DeNiro in the hallway. That’s where a lot of these trees came from, because the block association said, 'if you’re going to disrupt our lives we want some compensation', so they agreed to give them money for these trees."

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

64 Second Ave. on the block for $7.3 million

The building between East Third Street and East Fourth Street arrived on the market yesterday. Nothing immediately alarming in the Streeteasy listing, such as air rights or single-family mansion:

64 Second Avenue represents an excellent opportunity to purchase a unique mixed-use asset on the Avenue in an up and coming East Village neighborhood. This building has significant potential as a cash flow investment, Live plus income opportunity, or a retail user opportunity. The 5 story property contains one ground floor retail unit along with 3 apartments above, including an Owner’s Duplex with a rooftop garden.

... This must be the owner's duplex...Or at least the rooftop gadren portion.

This is what the Village Voice offices looked like on Aug. 25, 2012

This year, we'll post photos like this of various buildings, streetscenes, etc., to capture them as they looked at this time and place... The photos may not be the most telling now, but they likely will be one day...

For further reading:
The Voice is leaving Cooper Square (DNAinfo)

[Updated] Report: Medical Examiner rules Carlisle Brigham's death an accident

Yesterday morning, the body of 29-year-old Carlisle Brigham was discovered on the first floor landing at 191 Orchard St. Early reports indicated that foul play may have been involved.

However, DNAinfo reports that an autopsy today found that Brigham suffered "blunt impact injuries of the head and neck," per the Medical Examiner's Office.

According to the Post, this happened "possibly after tripping on her high heels following a night of drinking with college pals."

Updated 8-29:

As you can see, the Post reported today that Bingham's father "was scheduled to take his daughter to a rehab facility for alcohol and possible drug addiction, the sources said."

The Daily News reported today that Bingham had been living on Avenue B since the separation from her husband. Unnamed sources told the News that Bingham returned home late Sunday after she had attended a friend's wedding in Virginia ...and that Bingham "had partied so hard she had to be carried into the building" on Orchard Street where she spent the night Sunday.

However:

[A] longtime friend and neighbor of Brigham’s, who did not want to be named, did not believe she was drunk and said she only spent the night away from her sublet because she forgot her keys at the Virginia wedding. “She wasn’t a drinker,” said the friend. “She was building a career after a bad marriage. ... She was happy.”

Updated 8-29:
The New York Times has more on her life and death here. The paper notes that she was supposed to meet her father for lunch on Monday.

Per the article:

As he drove into the city from La Guardia Airport they talked by phone, first at 9:25 and then at 9:30, he said. Shortly afterward, her body was found by a 19-year-old neighbor, at the foot of the stairway. She was dressed entirely in white, with the contents of a large, clothing-stuffed weekend bag around her, according to interviews he gave NBC News and other outlets. Her father arrived just after the ambulance left the building.

“It’s just devastating, it’s so unspeakably difficult,” he said. “I’ve received 100 e-mails, and almost to a person everyone says I don’t know what to say. And I don’t either, in a way. It’s just devastating to lose such a beautiful creature.”

Trends: East Village is the leader in carts attached to things

Spotted along Second Avenue this afternoon...

Woot. That makes three. Officially a trend. Get me the Style section!

Flashback...

Thursday.

Friday.

All photos by Bobby Williams.

Earlier today in Tompkins Square Park

[Photo by @KiraSaltzman]

About the 'Robokid V. East Village' video

You may have seen this video yesterday of 7-year-old East Village resident Jakob Kraus making the rounds (viral, woot!) ... I first spotted it on AnimalNY.

Today, the Daily News talks to boy's father ...

"He's a completely self-taught kid who loves to dance," said Matthew Kraus, who pointed out that he and his wife never pushed their son to dance. The idea behind the videos — there are five — is all Jakob's, according to the News.

The further (often truly) amazing adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Back in March, we introduced you to Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street, whose owners recently brought her home from a shelter.

We haven't heard from Kita since May. How has Kita's summer been?

Kita's owner provided an update.

She's spent most of her summer in Tompkins Square Park chasing pigeons, avoiding aggressive terrier mix types (she's learned the hard way) and generally becoming part of the local cafe society. The photos here are of her favorite local haunts. (She'd rather not say precisely which establishments she frequents as she doesn't want the health department cracking down on her favorite places simply for having the temerity to serve a dog.)

She can report that she's not terribly fond of Mexican food (too spicy!) and loves, loves, loves, sautéed mushrooms. She's also exploring a run for a Community Board seat but isn't really prepared to talk about that just yet.

On the next episode: While searching for apartments, Kita learns that "two bedrooms" often just means two rooms.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The further adventures of Kita the Wonder Dog of East 10th Street

Reader requests: Looking for an East Village caterer

An EVG reader asked if we had any recommendations for an East Village-based caterer to provide appetizers-hors d'oeuvres for an event... Well, we have no idea. Any readers with a recommendation?

The event is for 50-75 people later this fall... "Normal finger food. Party food kind of stuff," said the reader. So, nothing artisanal-farm-to-tablish featuring bone marrow stuffed with crushed, dehydrated black beans drizzled with sweet and tangy passionfruit sauce.

Uh, anyway. Any catering help?

Rooftop garden

This van arrived on East Seventh Street and Avenue A yesterday afternoon...

There is likely a logical explanation. Likely.

Headline and photo courtesy of Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C.

Noted

EVG reader MP shares this note hanging in the entrance to a building on East 10th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B ...

In case you've been wondering about the fireworks too...

Update on the former Life Cafe space in Bushwick

News release from the EV Grieve inbox...

Darin Rubell, co-owner of downtown Manhattan watering holes GalleryBar and Ella, and partners Mark Trzupek (former manager of Life Café 983) and chef David Rotter (Norwood), have taken over the cafe from Kathy Kirkpatrick.

Although Rubell and company plan on changing the name to just 983 (a play on the café’s address which is 983 Flushing Avenue) refreshing the food and bar menus and some cosmetic changes, they plan to retain the overall character of the space which is affectionately known as “Bushwick’s Living Room.”

The closing of Life Café 983 is the end of an era, as the influential Life brand will no longer have a presence in New York City. The original East Village location at East 10th Street and Avenue B, where playwright Jonathan Larson wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning “Rent,” closed in 2011. Rubell, who hoped to also take over the East Village space and is opening new restaurant with Rotter this fall, sees the Bushwick location as an opportunity to continue to serve the needs of this exciting neighborhood.

[Updated] Reports: 29-year-old woman found dead inside Orchard Street building

[Via The Lo-Down]

There are multiple reports today about a 29-year-old woman who was found "bleeding heavily from a neck wound" at the foot of the stairwell on the first floor of 191 Orchard St. this morning. The woman, identified as Carlisle Brigham, was declared dead at Beth Israel.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the woman was staying at 191 Orchard St. just south of Houston temporarily ... and that she was estranged from her husband, named as Anthony Lindley Champalimaud. (Here is their wedding announcement from the Times.)

The Times is reporting this afternoon that officials are still investigating whether her death "was a murder, a suicide or an accident."

For more updates:

The Lo-Down

BoweryBoogie

The Wall Street Journal

The Daily News

Gothamist

...and a tweet from WABC promises more at 5...

The daughter of prominent investment banker found, throat slashed on Lower East Side. Who killed Carlisle Brigham-Champalimaud? EWN at 5PM.

— NJ Burkett (@njburkett7) August 27, 2012

Updated: Here is the WABC report.

[Bingham in 2007 via]

Updated 6:45 p.m.
WCBS reports that the victim is the daughter of former New York City budget director James Brigham, Jr.

Updated 7:54 p.m.
The Daily News reports that the victim's husband was believed to be working in London. He is reportedly vice president of development for YTL Hotels and Properties.

Updated 9:23 p.m.
Police sources told DNAinfo that "it appeared that Brigham had fallen on the steps, cutting the side of her head and neck, and was bleeding heavily when she was found by a neighbor." Also, police did not find a weapon at the scene. In addition: "Sources said she had been drinking Monday morning and called another male friend to tell him, 'I am not happy with my life.'"

Updated 6:30 a.m.
According to the Post, this happened "possibly after tripping on her high heels following a night of drinking with college pals."

Per the Post:

There was so much blood around Brigham’s neck when her body was found at 10:33 a.m. that investigators initially theorized she’d been slashed.

But they later said it appeared to be just a tragic accident, during which she shattered her chin on a step of the first-floor stairwell in the building.

Willow tree limb nearly crushes van on East Ninth Street

Bobby Williams notes the downed willow tree limb here at the Ninth Street Community Garden Park... we're unsure if the limb was a casualty from the storm that swept through the area around noon...

The van seems to have escaped any extensive damage...

...and here are two photos from Dave on 7th...

Mayor Bloomberg unveils ‘Micro-Unit’ Apartment concept in the East Village

Per Dave on 7th, who sent along the photos and headline: "View of Park, furnished and available."

For further reading:
New York Seeks Design For ‘Micro-Unit’ Apartment Building

Reader report: Duane Reade expanding on Avenue B

"Expansion" is the word coming out of the Duane Reade on Avenue B at East Second Street, per a tipster... Employees say that the drug store will expand next door into the spaces previously occupied by Zaitzeff ... and the long-dead High Chai Tea Room.

In addition, Duane Reade will add a second level, digging into the basement space where the Dolphin Gym was before closing back in February 2010.

Seems fitting to have a gargantuan Duane Reade here. This is the reality of the neighborhood ... Previously, this space was home to a gas station... shooting gallery ... and then, for a 10-year run, The Gas Station, aka Art Gallery Space 2B. Alex at Flaming Pablum wrote about the space here.

Per the Times:

For 10 years, the Gas Station, with its towering sculpture built from discards ranging from a 1970 Plymouth Valiant to department store mannequins to television sets, has been a symbol of the Lower East Side's Bohemian ways and artistic resolve.

The space was cleared out in 1996...

[Via Flaming Pablum]

And now, a lot of photos of St. Brigid's with steps and sidewalks

On Saturday, a crew continued work on the sidewalk and steps in front of the under-renovation St. Brigid's on Avenue B...

...and as the front looked at the end of the work day...

[Bobby Williams]

[BW]

And last week, crews finished up the sidewalk on the church's Eighth Street side...

...and a bonus aerial view courtesy of Dave on 7th...

...and a night shot...

Last we heard, the church was still on target for a fall opening...

Previously.

[Updated] East Third Street lot cleared of pesky trees, garden

Back in January, we reported that a parcel of land at 321 E. Third St., just west of Avenue D, hit the market for $6 million ... the space, long the subject of a tug-of-war between various factions, was officially sold in June to the vague 321 E. Third Street Realty LLC.

[Streeteasy]

EVG reader Steven Matthews noted late last week that workers started clearing out the space, chopping down trees, uprooting bushes, etc.

[Steven Matthews]

And now.

There's nothing on file with the DOB. So, this is a site to keep an eye on for future development.

Meanwhile, directly behind this lot on East Fourth Street... the Orchard Alley community garden remains closed. It shut down in the middle of July... and here is the reason why...

In recent weeks, there has been some activity at No. 27, including new plywood....

But not much else appears to be happening inside the barren lot.

Ah, via the comments, we learned that NY1 has been on the story ... you may watch their report here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another parcel of East Village land ready for development

Foundation set at 84 Third Ave.

Despite the convenient blogging portals at 84 Third Ave., we still can't see exactly what's going on behind the plywood here at East 12th Street. Other than some digging.

However, this aerial shot via @AndrewPettit shows that the foundation is set and ready for nine stories of luxurious housing bliss...

L'Apicio marks its territory at Avalon Bowery Place

Over on East First Street in the Shoppes at Avalon Bowery Place... signage is up for the restaurant that is taking the Bowery Wine Company space...

Back in June, Grub Street reported that the name of this new place will be called L'Apicio. According to Eater: "Chef Gabe Thompson, of L'Artusi and Dell'Anima, will create an 'Italian inspired' menu, and Joe Campanale will be in charge of the wine and cocktails."

As we've noted in our previous posts about the space ... Not familiar with Dell'Anima? (Like us!) Here's a summary via New York magazine:

This is what happens when a former Babbo sommelier and an ex–Del Posto kitchen whiz get together and open an unassuming little trattoria: mobs of salivating foodies and goggle-eyed scenesters clamoring to get in.

Meanwhile, this tree obscures the signage over what appears to be the main entrance...

Let's hope that the tree doesn't meet with any accidents...

Previously on EV Grieve:
August Cardona buying Bowery Wine Company, expanding next door

Bowery Wine Company has closed

At the Bowery Wine Co. protest Friday night — in pictures

Fu Sushi has closed on Avenue B

[Photo via Yelp]

EVG reader Faces brings word that Fu Sushi has closed on Avenue B... Saturday was their last night in business here between East 11th Street and East 12th Street.

In June 2011, the DOH temporarily closed Fu Sushi ... and there were reports that the restaurant stayed open on a weekend despite the closure... (inexplicably) prompting three damning articles by the Post, who, after all that, never bothered to note that Fu Sushi had reopened.

zpizza opening on First Avenue, finally

A branch of the zpizza franchise is opening here on First Avenue at East Second Street ... BoweryBoogie noted this impending arrival back on Dec. 23, 2010... but there was never much more activity in this former Cafe Rama space...

This will be the Laguna Beach, Calif.-based company's second NYC location... right there with Terminal 4 at JFK...

New to zpizza (like us!)? Here's some info via a zpizza blog:

Our dough is made from certified organic wheat flour prepared fresh every day, hand-thrown and fire-baked until uniquely crisp. We combine select ingredients such as certified organic tomato sauce, part-skim rBGH-free cheese from grass-fed cows, MSG-free pepperoni, and additive-free sausage. Even our fresh produce sets us apart. Exotic delights like Cremini and Shiitaki mushrooms, roasted eggplant, pili pili and truffle oil, pine nuts, artichoke hearts, roasted bell peppers and caramelized onions assure you'll never experience a boring pizza. The same holds true for our gourmet salads and sandwiches. That said we hope you enjoy our unique and authentic recipes as much as we enjoy making them for you.

Glaze is now open on Fourth Avenue

Back in March, we reported that a second outpost of the Glaze Teriyaki Grill is opening here on Fourth Avenue near 13th Street... (the flagship location is at Lexington near 54th Street...) The website describes the food as "Seattle-Style Teriyaki."

Anyway, it opened Friday. We hear good things about the food. Gothamist has more on the menu and stuff here.

...and Glaze kept the iconic "walk ins welcome" lettering on the front out of homage to the previous tenant, Ibiza Salon... (OK, OK — it's not iconic... but i thought it was funny...)

Anyway, here's a time-lapse video of the renovation...