Can someone lend me a $1 so that I can become a gypsy?

Noticed a listing on Craigslist for the psychic's space about the Dunkin' Donuts on First Avenue and East Sixth Street…



Sounds like a good deal for $1! Here's more from the ad:

For sale
Great location nyc
Well established 17 yrs
2 yr lease renew it with no problem
1 bed room living room. Reading room
2nd flr corner plc neons move in condition
No back bills

Who's in?

Just your normal, everyday listing for 2/six story walk-up buildings for $15 million on Craigslist

Whoa. Where's this then?

$15750000 Prime E.Vill 2/Six Story Walk-Up Buldgs w/48 Units Amazing Inves Oppor (East Village)

Date: 2009-10-07, 3:01AM EDT

PRIME EAST VILLAGE 2/SIX STORY WALK-UP BUILDINGS WITH 48 UNITS
AMAZING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

Description: 2/Six story walk-up buildings with a total of 48 units.

Lot: Bldg 1:25 x 96.17 Bldg 2: 25 x 95.17
Built: Bldg 1:25 x 80 Bldg 2: 25 x 81
Zoning: R7-2
F.A.R.: 3.44 (both)

Price: $15,750,000

Auction Sunday at the closing Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen on St. Mark's Place

As we've been reporting, the Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen at 130 St. Mark's Place is closing for good after 34 years in business... tomorrow is the last day. Be sure to stop by and say goodbye to owner Peter Silvestri. Neighbors are planning a farewell party at 6 p.m.

And on Sunday, the auctioneer arrives to sell off the remaining equipment...

Per the Craigslist ad, the auction starts at the shop at 2 p.m.

And another little piece of the community dies...

Previously.

Citi Bikes, work day 1

After yesterday's more leisurely Citi Bikes debut for riders with annual memberships... I decided to take a very unscientific look at the first working weekday for the bikes... I checked out the Docking Station at Astor Place (above) ... it was nearly empty the few times that I walked by ... (At the same time, docking stations near City Hall and Wall Street were reported full...)

An afternoon look at the docking station on East Seventh Street at Avenue A found a lot of bikes available ...


[Bobby Williams]

Crain's reported today that there were a few snafus in the system on Day 2, including that riders complained of problems docking their bikes.

Meanwhile today, WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show explored the question: Is the new bike share a practical – and fast — transportation option for congested NYC?

To find out, three WNYC employees left the same spot on Clinton Street and East Boradway, each taking different modes of transportation to get back to the station: bike share, cab and subway.

(Spoiler: the bike share won.)

You can listen to the segment here.

In other developments, there is already a Craigslist Missed Connection Post, per the Observer.

To date, more than 16,400 people have paid $95 for an annual membership, according to Crain's. BusinessWeek explores Citi's sponsorship angle in all this ("$41 million over five years is a rounding error for the company") ... while Motherboard explores who might be making money in all this.

"You're Indian"

Per Craigslist today:

sat night L train, you're indian - w4m (East Village)
you got on the L train at bedford, and I got off at 1st avenue. I was with a guy who seemed like my boyfriend, but he was just a friend. And you and I kept making eye contact, and I didn't know what to do. If you read this, let's chat! I thought you were hot!

That Missed Connections headline could be a band name: Saturday night L train, you're indian

Hi, we're Saturday night L train, you're indian and we have T-shirts for sale in the back...

Now what for the Odessa Cafe and Bar?

The Odessa Cafe and Bar closed after service last Aug. 31.

Since then, there have been several suitors for this space at 117 Avenue A between East Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

In February, the plan called for a bar-restaurant serving Nashville Hot Chicken from a Ravi DeRossi-backed operator. However, as we understand it, the group backed out after failing to receive a 4 a.m. liquor license. More recently, an applicant, believed to have been someone affiliated with Webster Hall, withdrew from the May CB3/SLA committee meeting.

And CB3 released its June meetings agenda yesterday — no takers this time around for 117 Avenue A.

According to the listing on the Tower Brokerage & Picken Hospitality website, the asking rent is $22,500, plus a $50,000 fixtures fee. (A tipster also pointed us to a Craigslist ad for the space from a different broker where the asking rent is $19,500.)

Meanwhile, if you've looked inside in recent months, you can see that it is eerily preserved …



Previously on EV Grieve:
Building that houses Odessa Cafe and Bar for sale on Avenue A

Former GM from Tribeca's Tiny's & the Bar Upstairs part of team to buy the Odessa Cafe

Reader report: Odessa Cafe and Bar will remain open through Sept. 6

Former Odessa Cafe and Bar will serve comfort food specializing in Nashville Hot Chicken

SFW: This East Village apartment is 'sexy,' though we don't know why

Here's is a Craigslist ad for a pretty-average looking one-bedroom apartment. The headline describes the place as "sexy." Perhaps it is, though you wouldn't know it from the description:

New renovation

Perfect location near Whole Foods Trader [sic] and all transportation

Sun drenched with windows a [sic] plenty and Skylight

Queen sized Bedroom

Ample closets with Overhead stotage [sic]

Exposed Brick

And the unit is an unsexy $2,150. Any ideas why this is sexy? Or what, in general, makes an apartment sexy, aside from maybe the residents?

H/T @SerenaSpeaks

Take these old MTA benches off of LaMaMa's hands — or they'll be chainsawed!

An EVG reader passed along this Craigslist post…

We payed full price, $650 each — you can have them for free, you just have to pick them up. We will even help load them into your truck. They weigh ~500# each. We used them in a show and the show will be done. You MUST pick them up Sunday night or early Monday morning at LaMama theater. Otherwise they will be chainsawed...

FYI: they are 10' plus long, so you would need a box truck, not a cargo van.

Seriously, haven't you always wanted one of these in your back yard? Or you artist loft?

No sympathy for Sammy?

Speaking of Sammy... As far as I know, Sammy is still missing. (I recently saw a Craigslist ad offering the cash reward.) I continue to see new flyers too.

Meanwhile, I was always curious why so many of the flyers were defaced... (Aside from the fact that, there were just more of them...) What was it about these missing pet signs that prompted someone to write, say, "Moved to LA" on them?

Noted

I came across this headline in the Free Stuff section at Craigslist — 3 cans of Campbell's Soup (East Village)

Per the listing:

"Two tomato, one chicken noodle. No, it's not much, but if you're in the nabe, you're welcome to swing by and grab 'em. Near 14th St & Ave A."

How Hollywood recreates a 'Lower East Side club scene'

You can always count on Craigslist for some comic relief...

Here's the listing:

We're seeking extras (21-35 or look youngish) to help emulate the feel of a cool, hip, sexy, dark Lower East Side club scene [Think 'Last Nights Party-meets-Cobra Snake' photos.] We want people to have fun [but not look like they are having too much fun] and be able to act cool and sexy. We also are looking for people who are comfortable expressing themselves when dancing with a partner. If you have any skillz in movement, we want you to express them, even if it's sort of weird! This will be an artistic version of a night club scene. Feel free to bring a prop, bring all your best, cool, mostly black but even slightly outrageous colorful gear if it works.

1 day of shooting for a couple of hours next Wednesday, July 13 (call times will be given to those locked in, but around 10-11A or after.) Non-union. Will provide food and drinks and lots of fun!

Film crew is super cool, professional and efficient and you will be shot by one of the best DPs in the business. Please submit head shots and/or any photo where we can get an idea of how you look.

Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me

Looking at a Missed Connection on Craigslist today...

dude who looks like Robert Smith - w4m (East Village)
I used to see you all over the East Village. The first time I saw you was at a Karen Finley reading at Barnes and Noble 3 or 4 summers ago. Then you were everywhere. On the L train. At some other feminist performance event I can't remember the name of now. Once I was at the Bean on 2nd ave and you came in to put up your event poster. It seemed like you were a regular. I went away for the summer and haven't seen you since. Are you still alive?

Not sure what era of Robert Smith this Robert Smith looks like (80s? 90s? 2000s?) Regardless! Hope that it works out for you kids!

EVG Etc.: David Wojnarowicz at the Whitney; James and Karla Murray at Seward Park

[At FishCheeks on Bond Street via Walter Wlodarczyk for NYC & Co.]

Can the neighborhood's affordable housing co-ops survive the next big storm? (Next City)

NYCHA took six months to comply with federal lead rules (The Post)

Preview of David Wojnarowicz’s Whitney retrospective (Vulture) In conjunction with the Whitney program, NYU's Mamdouha Bobst Gallery presents "The Unflinching Eye: The Symbols of David Wojnarowicz" tonight through Sept. 30 (Official site)

Shocker: Many New York City neighborhoods are unaffordable for renters (The Post)

30 restaurants that make up the East Village’s "booming Chinatown North" (Grub Street)

"The New York Woman" film series continues at The Quad (Official site)

James and Karla Murray's "Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S" opens Saturday in Seward Park (NYC Parks)


[Huetek's Patti Smith mural on 2nd Street at 1st Avenue]

Jeremiah Moss discusses Extell's One Manhattan Square on the Lower East Side, "the latest luxury monstrosity to vandalize our skyline and bully its way into our low-rise neighborhoods." (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Bicycle Habitat closing Lafayette Street location after 40 years in business (BoweryBoogie)

A few screenings of Lynne Ramsey's great "Morvern Callar" at the Metrograph (Official site)

Three decades later Jean-Luc Godard's "The Rise and Fall of a Small Film Company" makes its U.S. debut (Film Anthology Archives)

Marc H. Miller discusses his new exhibit, "Downtown Art Ephemera, 1970s-1990s," which runs through July 25 at the James Fuentes Gallery, 55 Delancey St. (Vice)

A preview of 886 on St. Mark's Place (Eater)

A feature on the LES-based jazz group Onyx Collective (New York)

Catch a free screening of "The Wizard of Oz" in Seward Park on July 21 (The Lo-Down)

South Florida-based Kavasutra Kava Bar, with a location on East 10th Street, slammed for Instagram post seen as transphobic and sexist (NBC Miami ... Sun Sentinel)

When Yul Brynner didn't want you to litter in NYC (Flaming Pablum)

The former Tammany Hall morphing into the luxurious 44 Union Square (Commercial Observer)

.... and in case you haven't seen the mural behind P.S. 751 on Fourth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue... the mural was unveiled in May. However, the gates were always locked when I went by, so I never had a chance for a decent photo.

So thanks to AFineLyne for sharing these via GothamToGo...



The nonprofit group, Artolution and the students at P.S. 751 and Harvey Milk High School came together to create this 160x25 mural to capture their diversity and individuality...



...and a resident misplaced a backpack with two laptops and other work-related items back on June 28... he's hopeful that the bag, which went missing between Seventh and Ninth Street/First and Second Avenue, turns up... the Craigslist post is here ...


[Photo by Steven]

Have you seen these banana roller skates?

A new item in the Lost & Found section of Craigslist (thanks for letting us know, Gwynne!) ...

Dearest neighbors, I’m an idiot and left my roller skates outside in a Citibike basket at the intersection of East 7th and Ave C. They are banana yellow with mermaid scale tips, purple stoppers and pinky gummy wheels. PERFECT in every way. 

Did you find them? If I found them I’d probably take them as my own or sell them, but maybe you’re one of the rare goodies that took them to try to find their forgetful owner. If so, please advise! I miss them so much! 

I won’t pay you a million dollars for them, come on they’re mine, but I’ll give you something for your trouble.

Life Cafe owner Kathy Kirkpatrick on why the Life trademark is for sale

[At the former Life Cafe Sunday]

Don't be surprised one day if you come across a Life Cafe — here or elsewhere in the country. In an email, Kathy Kirkpatrick (aka Kathy Life), president of Life Cafe Inc., said that she is retiring and selling the trademark to her 30-year-old Cafe.

As you'll recall, Life Cafe abruptly closed "until further notice" last Sept. 11, as we first reported. Kirkpatrick said that she'd stay closed until the landlords completed long overdue repairs. That closure became permanent after the two landlords decided to cut the cafe in two, with 9th Street Espresso moving next door into one of the spaces, as The Villager first reported.

"It's been a full life and it's now time to move on and retire. It's been my dream to have someone else take the legacy of the Cafe on to the next level, but that opportunity to do so at that location was suffocated," said Kirkpatrick, who's working on a book titled "FIGHTING FOR LIFE: the Life and Death of Life Cafe." "Since 2008 I struggled to make the renaissance happen but the two landlords obstructed my every move."

She continued.

"Life Cafe was to me and to most others more than just a cafe. That is why I put the brand out there in the expectation that someone would carry on the Cafe in the tradition of the original. It's a brand that will work throughout the U.S. and the world (in fact it's known worldwide). I have always had international patrons coming, making special trips to the East Village just to eat and drink at Life and connect with a piece of New York history."

Here's part of the ad that she has placed on Craigslist:

The Trademark for Life Café, the East Village, New York restaurant/bar immortalized in the Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway musical RENT is for sale.

Included with the trademark is:

-- Trademark:
International Class 042, Restaurant Services
International Class 021, Tableware, namely, cups
International Class 025, T-Shirts
-- Domain name, website, code
-- Copyright of marketing collateral
-- Story/history/NYC origins/RENT connection

Owner willing to build into a deal an offer to have John Sunderland, creative designer and graphic designer of the current designs/logos/art, etc. on retainer to continue to produce visual marks in the style of the IP ...

She said that because fans of "Rent" no longer have a place to visit in the East Village, she is soon launching a website — RENTheadRegisters.com. She described it as "a virtual place of pilgrimage like the Cafe was." The site will be based on the original eight physical RENThead Registers that Life began in 2008 for fans to share messages.

"We're recreating each volume virtually on the site for people to read," said Kirkpatrick, who reported brisk business at the Life outpost in Bushwick. "And we're inviting people to submit more messages, which will be entered into new virtual volumes. We've estimated there are about 10,000 messages in the first eight volumes, and expect that number to grow."

"In that sense, in the connection to 'Rent,' Life Cafe will go on."

Help wanted: "Pretty, sexy, must love go go dance"

Unfortunately, this ad on Craigslist has been removed...but not before I did a cut-n-paste...:

Hey ! We are a Friday night party of the Lower East Side. We are looking for GO GO girls. Pretty, sexy, must love go go dance !!! Check out [Web sites redacted] to get the idea / feel of the party type.

We are expecting you to go go and walk around the place and keep up the vibe of the party approximately 11pm-3am. There is a hot body contest at 2am. Also, Open Vodka Bar 10-11.

The party is every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. We are looking for someone who wants to Go Go more than once. We will be using you again, starting April 17th.

Please reply for all the info :)

Taqueria Diana coming soon to Second Avenue

[Photo by Riian McCormick]

Cheep's Pita Creations closed at the beginning of the month on Second Avenue near St. Mark's Place.

And on Saturday, workers arrived to start work on the next venture here — Taqueria Diana.

They are currently hiring. According to the Craigslist add:

Come be a part of the new team at Taqueria Diana, a Mexico and California inspired restaurant in the heart of the East Village.

At Taqueria Diana, you will find a commitment to excellence among our staff; a dedication to making delicious Mexican food; and an emphasis on respect of how we treat each other and our customers.

And here's the info on their coming soon page...

3-story swingers club now open on the Bowery

Well, we missed the Grand Opening of Bowery Bliss last Friday. From what we understand, it's a three-story, 4,000-square-foot, "European-style" swingers club near Delancey. It's only open Friday and Saturday nights, 10 p.m. - 4 a.m.

Here are some details via a notice on Craigslist:

New York City's newest and largest on premise swinger club

4000 sq ft on 3 floors with something for everyone
-First floor: The Renaissance Lounge (1,400 sq. ft.) offering guests a place to mingle and get to know each other:
-Second Floor: Group Play Area (900 sq. ft.) curtained and open play areas...open to all
-Third Floor: Couples ONLY Playroom (700 sq ft) ...the club within the club

-Locker room (use one of our locks or bring your own) and secure Coat Check
-Complimentary sodas and mixers served all night, located in the Renaissance Lounge
Please note we do NOT sell alcohol however we do have a BYOB policy.
-Complimentary snacks and desserts, served all night. Located in the Renaissance Lounge
-Complimentary condoms
-Complementary self serve lockers (bring a lock or use one of ours)

There is an official Bowery Bliss website with all the rules, like, you need to be a member of the club. There's also a page with fee information (single females, $20; single males, $120; couples, $100) ... and FAQs. For example: "Are 2 men and a woman allowed to attend as a threesome on couples ONLY nights?" NO. "On couples only nights each male must be accompanied with a female guest."

There was also a write-up in this at UrbanDaddy last week, who pointed out that, "There’s no liquor license as of yet. And let’s face it — probably not one forthcoming."

That would be one Community Board 3 meeting that we'd never miss.

What East Village coffee bar/cafe is for sale?

This Craigslist ad popped up yesterday morning:

East Village Coffee Bar/Cafe for Sale << - $159,000 (Manhattan) Attractive and cozy cafe located in East Village for sale. Approx. 750 sq. ft. of attractive space plus a full basement. Newly built out in 2008, including all new electrical, plumbing. custom windows, A/C, security and audio systems. Lots of fridge/freezer/display units, electric stovetop, dual espresso machine, panini grill and much more.

There's a number to call for a business consultant... but no mention of what space is for sale. Any thoughts?

Exclusive: Q-and-A with the bike that became an iconic symbol of the 2010 Holiday Blizzard

This photo by Mario Tama for Getty Images became one of the iconic shots of the Blizzard of Dec. 26, 2010.... Around the globe the shot — now known as The Shot — became associated with the devastating wallop that Mother Nature cruelly delivered the East Coast after Dec. 25...



The bike currently resides on Avenue C at Eighth Street...



We caught up with the rather ornery bike for a wide-ranging interview on everything from new-found celebrity to Forever 21.

There are thousands of bikes buried in the East Village right now. How did the photographer pick you?

I don't know, but I'm thankful for the exposure.

What does your owner have to say about the photo?

I haven't talked with her about it yet. I think she's stuck upstate with her sister. To be honest, I haven't seen her much lately.

I notice that you don't have a seat. What happened?

It went missing right after Germany beat Argentina in the World Cup this past summer. Some drunk guy with a German flag yanked it off and threw it across the street. He laughed and yelled "Deutschland! Deutschland! Deutschland! Deutschland!" [Pauses] I was in a bit of shock. A few minutes later, an ambulance went by and ran it over. I saw the manager from the laundromat clean it off the street and throw it away. I haven't been taken for a ride — so to speak — since then.

Where did you grow up?

The West Village. I liked it there, but my owner got married, and she turned to yoga instead. I ended up on Craigslist. It didn't help that her new husband is a neurologist. He is really over-protective. He even makes her wear a helmet while taking a shower. [Laughs] I heard her talking about it on the phone on the way to Gourmet Garage one day.

I didn't know that people still went to Gourmet Garage.

Tell me about it. She liked their instant meals. Not to mention their scallion egg salad.

So what do you think of this neighborhood?

Specifically Avenue C and Eighth Street? Or the East Village in general?

Avenue C and Eighth Street.

I think it represents the best of the neighborhood's rich history and diversity. You have all sorts of people living here — families who have been here for generations, newcomers, singles, newlyweds. And everyone seems to get along.

What's the worse part of living here?

Probably the weekend drink-and-drown brunch crowd at the Sunburnt Cow. These people from God-knows-where show up and get really smashed. They stagger away. When I had a seat, someone was always pausing here, putting cell phones or purses or iced skim lattes on me. And they all dress alike. You can only pull off Forever 21 for so long.

The Times declared Avenue C the next big thing back in 2005. From your vantage, what do you think?

There is a bit of carpetbaggery going on with some of the new upscale bars and restaurants, but I still haven't seen an influx in, say, Trek Speed Concept time trial bikes chained up along here.

I find it hard to believe anyone would chain up a bike like that outside.

You'd be amazed at what I've seen chained up.

What do you think of the city's new bike lanes?

Obviously I'm supportive of anything pro-bicycle. My owner likes them. I do take issue with the segregation. You have your bus lane, your bike lane. When will Bloomberg start calling the sidewalks the People Lane? Do you really want to walk on something so seemingly condescending? So it's no wonder that so many cyclists prefer to use the other parts of the streets.

What is your impression of NYC motorists?

That's an awfully broad question. In general, I dislike cars, especially rentals — the weekend warriors who get the Zip Car like once or twice a year. They're not [used to driving] on a regular basis, and they do stupid stuff, such as turn left from the far right-hand lane.

Favorite movie about cycling?

[Sighs] "Breaking Away." It's an unerringly accurate coming-of-age story about four discontented blue-collar young men spending their last summer of freedom in Bloomington, Indiana. They are unemployed and patronized by snobbish students....

I've seen it.

[Rudely] Please let me finish. "Breaking Away" is funny, deeply moving, painfully honest: at the end you feel good in a rather special way. Plus, I've always had a Dennis Quaid thing. He can sit on me any day.

Weird how the film's star, Dennis Christopher, just sort of disappeared.

True. I'm told that he gets steady work on TV, though. I don't see much TV. Which is likely a good thing considering there are so few good parts for bikes these days. I did see some of "American Chopper." Not bad.

Best thing about your new-found celebrity?

Some tourists looking for McSorley's have done some FlipCam stuff with me...

McSorley's? A little off the beaten path?

[Chuckles] Yeah, they said this guy in front of Ray's said that the bar is on Seventh Street and Avenue D. Anyway, the boys at the deli at Associated have brought me some egg-and-cheese sandwiches and rotisserie chickens. That's sweet, though I'd prefer some air and oil. And a seat.