Mysterious, rolled-up thing delivered to Tompkins Square Park

What do you think it is? Photo by Bobby Williams yesterday.

Before Zoltar, there was Treasure Chest

Sure, Zoltar (now repaired!) is getting all the publicity these days, but for my money, nothing beats the Treasure Chest on East 14th Street near First Avenue. I've long admired this game of chance outside the Community Grocery & Candy store.

For starters, I like its battered, I-Survived-the-Apocalypse look. You could ram it with an M14A (or M14D) bus and the thing would still gamely make you work for that pink teddy bear.

It seems like every time that I see it, there's another chain or tag on it. And more tape. Lots of tape. Perhaps holding it together, preventing its treasures from spilling out on the sidewalk...

And, recently, I finally saw another admirer admiring it... and playing! But he was gone by the time I got up to it... I was hoping that we could start a Facebook group or something.

Awnings and storefronts come and go around here. But not the Treasure Chest. Long live the Treasure Chest!

Fall Friday flashback: Commenter comedy gold

On Fridays this fall, and probably winter and spring and... we'll post one of the 12,000-plus EVG, uh, posts from yesteryear... like this self-serving one from Oct. 31, 2011...

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Unfortunately, our busy social schedule prevented us from attending the Official Grande Opening of the new Upright Citizens Brigade theater/theatre on Avenue A and Third Street on Saturday night. On Saturday night, we drank alone again at the Blarney Cove.

Dave Itzkoff at The New York Times has an article on the opening, including details on the challenges of getting the space ready. (You know — Hot Chicks Room sign drama.) As for some of the entertainment Saturday night, Itzkoff noted:

A second show at 9:30 offered a grab bag of acts that were, in theory, supposed to keep their sets to five to seven minutes. Sue Galloway, who plays an ambiguously accented comedy writer on “30 Rock,” performed a character piece about a drunken office worker singing an aggressive version of “I Will Follow Him” at a karaoke night; David Cross, the “Arrested Development” star, read remarks posted on the East Village blog EV Grieve that complained about the Upright Citizens Brigade’s arrival. (“Go back to campus, you new jack cornballs,” one outraged commenter demanded.)

As a thank you, all the commenters who chimed in on the Upright posts will receive replica fruit plates that the guests enjoyed there Saturday night.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Your 'Hot Chicks Room' sign update

[Updated] Resident starting a petition to have the 'Hot Chicks Room' sign removed at the Upright Citizens Brigade (47 comments)

Breaking: UCB will remove the 'Hot Chicks Room' sign!

'Hot Chicks Room' sign will now bring ruin to compost

Dreams never end

Several readers told us that they were seeing New Order tonight (now over) or tomorrow at the Roseland Ballroom ... which is the perfect excuse once again to post all this ... New Order played the Ukrainian National Home on Second Avenue (between Ninth and St. Mark's) on Nov. 19 1981.

And here is a video of the entire show via our friend Karate Boogaloo at Stupefaction.

Wylie Dufresne bringing fancy cocktails for foodies to former Plum Pizzeria on Second Avenue

Here's some foodie action for this stretch of Avenue Woo. Grub Street is reporting that noted LES chef Wylie Dufresne (of wd~50 on Clinton Street) is opening a place at the former Plum Pizzeria at 157 Second Avenue.

Per Grub Street:

Alder will be a 50-seat pub. It will open in the former Plum Pizzeria space ... The kitchen will serve "modern casual food and well-crafted cocktails," according to a rep for the restaurant. The name Alder is the Old English analog for Ellery, the name of Dufresne's second daughter.

Reader report: Mysterious late-night activity at the former Cabrini Center

[Bobby Williams]

As you know, work continues on converting the former Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation into residential apartments on Avenue B and East Street via developer Ben Shaoul.

Meanwhile, a tipster notes some late-night activity behind the building, where the construction staging is taking place. The tipster notes that construction usually takes place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. (and with permit, on Saturdays). Recently though, a few workers returned at 8-9 p.m. Now, a few more developments have made our tipster curious.

To the tipster:

To begin, they've covered the gate with plastic sheets (perhaps to keep out the wind) but also obscuring the site from any onlookers from outside on the street.

Of more interest though, there have also been several unmarked white vans after hours. Most suspicious was [Tuesday night], because this was the latest and largest vehicle I've seen yet. I heard the bang of the truck gate opening at 2:30 am.
There was a large unmarked white truck with a few non-uniformed men in dark clothes.
There was also a red truck and a beige minivan — one of the vehicles belonging to a man in a white shirt.

They were in and out in less than half an hour quickly moving garbage bags. This is odd because there is a large dumpster right beside the truck that could have been used or a garbage disposal service could have been hired. Perhaps it's just my imagination and there is nothing to hide and its merely waste materials that need to be specially delivered to the dump. Yet its still suspicious that they would do this after hours — especially after midnight.

Any theories...?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Cabrini Center patients out by the end of today; closes for good June 30

Tompkins Square Bagels robbed; suspect captured on surveillance cameras

This was the scene outside Tompkins Square Bagels late yesterday afternoon on Avenue A...

Later, on the phone, owner Christopher Pugliese explained what happened. On Tuesday, TSB received a delivery around 12:40 p.m. During a lunch rush, the staff didn't notice that the vendor didn't close the basement doors on the sidewalk. That's when a man apparently walked down into the cellar.

A TSP employee entered the basement and spotted the man, who claimed that he was a city inspector. The employee went upstairs to find Pugliese. During that time, the man quickly left.

Upon closer inspection yesterday, Pugliese noticed that several small items were missing, most notably a laptop. The police who responded to the call said that they have been on the hunt for a man who has allegedly robbed a handful of other local restaurants.

The NYPD told Pugliese that the man captured in TSP's basement surveillance cameras is the person they are seeking to question in connection with the other robberies.

Said Pugliese: "Police say this guy is fearless."

Isn't there an app for that?

EVG reader Paul Kostabi sent along this photo from Lafayette and Great Jones yesterday... resourceful smartphone owner tapping into a lamp post for a charge... We'll probably really marvel at this one in about, oh, 50 years.

Like The Virgins, practicing for the very first time...

So, as you may have heard, some residents have been annoyed about The Virgins practicing in the lead singer's apartment on Second Avenue between St. Mark's Place and East Seventh Street. (DNAinfo had the story yesterday; the Post followed-up later.)

Per DNA's Serena Solomon:

"I think they are so full of themselves they keep their window open," said the resident, who declined to provide her name, at a meeting of the Ninth Precinct Community Council Tuesday night.

Though she admitted that the band's sound is polished, the 25-year resident of the block said the regular racket has been going for three weeks straight.

Perhaps it was all prep work for their CMJ show last night at Brooklyn Bowl. (And they have a new record coming out early next year.)

But some people like that this happens!

Kirk Villalobos, 33, who works at the popular French fry eatery Pommes Frites, said he can also hear the band playing from the restaurant and that patrons often step out of the spot to start dancing on the sidewalk.

"I like their music," Villalobos said, adding that he's heard the band rehearsing in the space for months. "Especially the guitarist when he plays a good solo."

(Will the city fine Pommes Frites for not having a cabaret license?)

Funny, though, that any bands actually still live around here.

To the Post!

"It's an odd choice for them to be right there," said the neighbor who admitted that she actually owns some of their albums. "Most bands are in a garage in Brooklyn."

(By the way, The Virgins have only released one EP and one album.)

And, finally, back to DNA for the classic "If you don't like/want" quote:

Andrew Mitchell, 34, who said he lives next door to The Virgins' practice space, has heard the band playing on numerous occasions, but always during "reasonable hours" of the day.

"A lot of people would say, if you don't want a band rehearsal near you," he said, "don't live in the East Village."

[H/t Madonna for that dreadful headline inspiration]

A plan to replace those floor-to-ceiling windows at 117 Second Ave.

EVG regular peter radley sent me this photo yesterday showing workers erecting a sidewalk shed on Second Avenue at East Seventh Street where that Song 7.2 place is now...

There are plans on file dated Aug. 29 with the DOB for the following here:

EXTERIOR RENOVATION AT 2ND STORY ONLY. REMOVAL OF EXT. ALUMINIUM & GLASS CURTAIN WALL/ STOREFRONT . INSTALL NEW INSULATED BRICK AND METAL STUD AT EXTERIOR WALLS WITH NEW WINDOW OPENINGS. PROVIDE AT THE LEVEL OF FLOORING & CEILING OF 2ND FL NEW WATERPROOFING COOPER FLASHING.

Hmm. "Removal of ext. aluminum & glass curtain wall/storefront" on the second floor.

That would be the distinctive characteristic of the corner building... and part of an old favorite — the Kiev, which closed in 2000. (Jeremiah has a history of the Kiev here.)

[2007, via Curbed]

[1979, By Michael Sean Edwards]

I'm not very good at DOB-speak, but it sounds as if the landlord wants to brick up the floor-to-ceiling windows... Sounds a little generic. The city disapproved the plan on Monday. And as of last week, this building is now in the new East Village/Lower East Side Historic District.

So what I don't know at this point: Because plans were filed before the Historic District designation, are the potential renovations OK to move forward? (If the city approves the plans.) Or will the building be protected from such a renovation that would change the character of a building because it is now in a Historic District?

Also, Song 7.2 was closed Monday and Tuesday ... they were back open last night with this sign...

Wash day at St. Brigid's yesterday

... where workers were hosing down the church on the East Eighth Street side. Photo by Bobby Williams.

EV Grieve Eatery Etc.: New awning for HiFi; 'training event' for L'Apicio

Just a few random items from the last few days/nights...

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We like HiFi on Avenue A. We also like restaurants/bars with awnings (mostly). That said. HiFi now has a new-look front with an awning...

[Bobby Williams]

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Over on East First Street in the Shoppes at Avalon Bowery Place, L'Apicio is closer to opening... there was a soft opening of sorts last night...

Sign called it a "training event." The New York Times noted that "some entrees, like roast pig, will be available family-style, for sharing." And apparently they have good meatballs.

And here is the kitchen entrance.... adorned with new art...

Did you get to say goodbye to those GIANT SUSHI ROLL PHOTOS along here?

[Last summer]

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And another sign of fall: People's Pops recently closed for the season on East Seventh Street...

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And a reader noted the chalkboard outside outside Fresco Gelateria on Second Avenue...

Neighborhood Pumpkin Watch group reports first casualty of season

Members of a newly created Neighborhood Pumpkin Watch group send along what they believe is the first smashed pumpkin of the young Halloween season ... here on Second Avenue near East Third Street ...

A group rep we spoke with said that they have a suspect a short distance away ... we don't want to name names, but the business rhymes with DareDurger.

Group reps also said that they will be holding protests at any establishment selling seasonal pumpkin craft ale, pumpkin-shaped hand soap and pumpkin-flavored bacon.

That's one small step for Beauty Bar...

From last night on East 14th Street via EVG reader stuytownBarb ...

Leftover from Art in Odd Places or new for Halloween...? Some kind of secret government thing we're not supposed to know about? Or is this what nearby residents of IHOP need to wear to combat the smell and noise?

So many possibilities.

16 photos from the EV Grieve archives for no reason whatsoever

A time-consuming project. I have thousands and thousands of photos from the time with this website (as well as many more spanning the years). They're all safely backed up and what not (in the cloud, man!).

However, the photos aren't organized. So I've been indexing the photos by subjects ("Abandoned toilets in the trash" or, say, "Woo.")

During all this, I found a few photos from the EVG archives that I like for one reason or another. I've posted a few of these. Others are new to the site.

[Second Avenue near 11th Street]

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[3rd Street between Avenue A and First Avenue]

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[Avenue B near 13th Street]

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[Avenue A near East 10th Street]

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[The Bowery near East Houston]

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[First Avenue near East Fifth Street]

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[East Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue]

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[East 14th Street looking east]

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[The former Cooper Square Hotel]

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[East Houston and the Bowery]

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[Avenue B at East Houston]

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[East Eighth Street near Avenue C]

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[Mars Bar]
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[Second Avenue near East 13th Street]
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[Avenue A at East Fourth Street]

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[East Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue]

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: Jesus Picayo (and daughter Alina)
Occupation: Landlord (Miami)
Location: 5th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues
Time: 1:30 pm on Saturday, Oct. 13

We moved here in 1996. I was born in Cuba, but we were living in St. Thomas and we got hit by two hurricanes, so in ‘95 I just left for good. My mother was here; my brothers were here. I moved to Second and B. The price brought me here and the neighborhood was starting to change already.

I own some property in Miami, some row houses that I rent out. But I don’t like Miami. I just came from there and they stole my tailgate off my truck. I’ve had people break in and cause $100,000 in damage to the building for $500 in copper wire and pipes.

This was an area where at one point you couldn’t live. On the corner of B and 2nd they would sell like a million dollars in drugs a day. You’d find bodies in bags in the gardens. It was rough. By the time I got here you could still see some drug addicts and there was a lot of window breaking in cars. Around, Avenues A, B, C and D, all the way up to Tompkins Square Park it was mainly Puerto Ricans who lived there. Unfortunately, people have been driven out now.

Yesterday I had to kick the local drunk out of my building because he peed all over the entrance. He won’t move unless you hose him with cold water. And he hates water; he won’t take a shower, so you gotta hose him. And he says ‘ah, I’m gonna kill you,’ and so I sprayed him and he got up, but he can’t even really walk. This guy’s been here for over 40 years, between C and D, on the street. He will go to the check cashing place on Houston and open the door for people and he’ll make $50 in a few hours. So I deal with him. He has some interesting stories when he’s not drunk.

Almost everything is gone. The old Sidewalk used to be really good. It’s still there but it’s changed. There was a record store where Dunkin' Donuts is on Delancey, by the bridge, and it was really good because all they sold was Puerto Rican music, salsa. There was a lady that worked there and I used to go a lot and talk to her and she knew every song I was looking for. She was great; that was a good place. I also remember all of the little places that sold fried food on Clinton Street; they’re all gone. There were a lot of bakeries there. I mean, a lot of them were drug fronts, but they’re all gone now.

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

St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery to install first female Rector

From the EV Grieve inbox Monday...

St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, one of New York’s most historic Episcopal churches, will install The Rev. Winnie Varghese as Rector at a special service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. The Rt. Rev. Barbara C, Harris, the first woman ordained bishop in the world-wide Anglican Communion, will preach and The Rt. Rev. Andrew M.L. Dietsche, Bishop Coadjutor of New York will preside.

Varghese will be the church’s first Rector in 23 years — and the church’s first female rector in its history. The church, which has design contributions from a long line of notable architects, has been the site of continuous Christian worship for more than 350 years and is New York's oldest site of continuous religious practice.

Varghese joined St. Mark’s in 2009 as the pastor and priest-in-charge. Under her leadership, the church has experienced rapid growth, even as studies show that religious affiliation is falling.

Recently, Varghese was chosen to visit Derby, England, and Mumbai, India as part of an 8-member team from the New York Diocese. As part of the team, Varghese was tasked with understanding how specific cultural, political and social issues affect each diocese to help steer future church leadership. In recent years, Varghese was also asked to present at a conference for Christians working with people living with HIV/AIDS in Chennai, which explored a Christian perspective on sexual minorities.