At the dawn of a New Year, Key Master departs Gem Spa; finger-pointing and fortune-telling ensue

On Wednesday afternoon, we happily watched workers cart away that crappy Key Master — a so-called "prize merchandising game" — from outside Gem Spa on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place…





Since arriving 15 months ago, Key Master has stolen taken business away from NYC favorite Zoltar … sparking an ugly turf war in the process.

So few people were upset, in the opinion of this blogger, when Key Master got wrapped up in Home Depot-branded plastic in recent weeks.

As of our press time, there wasn't any word from Gem Spa officials on what might be next here … or if a Zoltar associate purposefully broke Key Master.

Anyway, a BIG story to watch here in 2015…



Previously on EV Grieve:
Gem Spa stunner: Zoltar now has Key Master competition; doomsday predicted

Cause for rethinking last-minute gift ideas as Key Master remains wrapped outside Gem Spa

Sorry guys — this turtle is NOT for you

Spotted on an Avenue C building … via photo by Andrew Adam Newman on Ave C.

Happy New Year from Christo

Hello Christo... thanks to Goggla for the photo today... check her site here for more hawk action today...

A WINNING way to start 2015!

Ah, always nice when the so-called "most stereotypical Lamborghini owner in the world" graces us (here and here, for instance) with his car presence… like this fine New Year's Day on St. Mark's Place at Second Avenue…



To your New Year's Resolutions!



Thanks to evg contributor jdx for the photos…

New Year's Eve on Avenue A featuring Lucy and Ray

First a stop at Lucy's …





… and later to Ray's …





Thank you to Peter Brownscombe for these photos!

East Village in images, 2014 (Part 1)

January

Hawk shenanigans


[Photo by Goggla]

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Saving Jerry's Newsstand


[Photo by Jeremiah Moss]

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Rabbit season at the Death Star



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So long 7A



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At Hanksy's 'Surplus Candy' art show in an abandoned East Village tenement



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Polar vortex!


[Photo by Rob & Mike]

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In the fog


[Photo by Grant Shaffer]

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February

A makeshift memorial on 2nd Avenue for those who died during the uprising in Ukraine


[Photo by Dan Efram]

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So long Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

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Slushathon!


[Photo by Gudrun Georges]

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RIP



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Hey, it's winter


[Photo by Derek Berg]

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March

The Blarney Cove sign is down! The Blarney Cove sign is down!



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Steamed


[Second Avenue and East 13th Street by Grant Shaffer]

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April

Car slams into Saifee Hardware


[Photo by @wlodarczyk]

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The "Heroines of the Lower East Side"



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Sunset now


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

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Ugh


[Photo by William Klayer]

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Citi Bike bath


[Photo by Derek Berg]

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Noted


[Photo by Dave from 2nd Ave.]


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May

Manhattanhenge


[East 14th Street photo by Pinch]

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In the rain


[Photo by Michael Sean Edwards]

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East Houston pipe break action


[Photo by @maraaltman]

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When lightning strikes


[Photo by James and Karla Murray]

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Giuseppi Logan, now with a flute



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Murder suspect arrested


[Photo by Frank Franca]

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Mother's Day on Avenue A


[Photo by Jeremiah Moss]

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An evening with Alan Cumming at Theatre 80


[Photo by Stacie Joy]

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Another 'riot' in Tompkins Square Park, this time for the cameras


[Photo by Michael Donovan]

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June

Rainbows...


[Photo by Rob and Mike]

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Hello and goodbye to the Cadillac with the Tiger in it



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Those baby hawks


[Photo by Francois Portmann]

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And subsequent baby hawk rescue


[Photo by Bobby Williams]

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At the annual NYC Drag March


[Photo by editrrix]

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An East Seventh Street street scene


[Photo Derek Berg]

New Yorkies Eve

Derek Berg spotted those Yorkies (mother, son and friend) outside Porto Rico Importing Co. on St. Mark's Place today …

Police searching for man now suspected of 2 sexual attacks

[Image from the Dec. 28 attack]

The man accused of sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman inside an East Sixth Street apartment building early Sunday morning is also wanted for forcibly touching another woman on Dec. 16, police said.

According to published reports, the previous attack occurred in a building along FDR Drive. Gothamist reports from the NYPD report: "a 19-year-old woman walked into the elevator 'when the suspect entered behind her and grabbed her buttocks and breasts and attempted to forcibly kiss her. A struggle ensued and the victim fled the elevator and the building where again, the suspect grabbed her buttocks before fleeing the location.'"

The police released this video from the East Sixth Street incident … from a building between Avenue D and the FDR…



The Daily News describes the suspect this way: "dark skinned, around 25 years old, approximately 180 pounds, and wearing a dark baseball cap during both attacks."

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online.

Today is the last day in business on East 5th Street for Jamie the check-cashing guy

[Photo from August by James Maher]

Back in July, the owners of three business had to vacate their storefronts due to a structural issue in an apartment above in 300 E. Fifth St. just east of Second Avenue.

Since then, Jamie the check-cashing guy, whose family has owned the business for 68 years, had been operating from a secure van outside his shop.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make it work as repairs dragged on in the building.

Today is his last day.

The check-cashing business has been at the current address for 58 years … and on East 10th Street for 10 years before that. Jamie's grandparents opened the shop in 1946.

We interviewed him for our Out and About in the East Village feature back in September.

My grandparents used to take me into the store when I was 8 years old. They had four stores. All the brothers and my grandfather had a store. There was another store on Broadway and Bleecker. I was always taken to that store. That was where my grandmother would take me, away from my grandfather and uncle. I was always the guy running up the bills, when everything was pen and paper. On the weekends if I didn’t run out fast enough it was, ‘You’re helping grandma today.’ That was how I got started.

Previously on EV Grieve:
3 small businesses temporarily closed due to structural issues at 300 E. 5th St.