Without 150 undergrads huddled around trying to get free shit. Spotted on East 13th Street near Third Avenue. And why the grabby-grabby frenzy? What is this, 2006?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Topshop truck as you've never seen it!
Without 150 undergrads huddled around trying to get free shit. Spotted on East 13th Street near Third Avenue. And why the grabby-grabby frenzy? What is this, 2006?
Former Downtown Music location now available
They moved earlier this year from the Bowery to Chinatown.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Downtown Music Gallery is leaving the Bowery
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
At age 98, Bob Sheppard announces his retirement
Whether or not you hate the Yankees, you have to appreciate the iconic Bob Sheppard, who has been the team's PA announcer since 1951. Now, at age 98, he's retiring. Yankee games will never be the same. (Via Gothamist)
EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition
Signs of life at Ruby's (Kinetic Carnival)
East Houston to be a nightmare for the next, oh, three years or so (BoweryBoogie)
What's left of Etherea (Flaming Pablum)
Ghosts (East of Bowery)
Part two of the Panorama (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)
On the campaign trail with Reverend Billy (Slum Goddess)
Stone Street ready for warmer weather (Esquared)
The early days of the Williamsburg Bridge (Ephemeral New York)
The inside scoop on the East Village outpost of Whiskey Dick's
A note from EV Grieve: Starting today, you'll notice a slight change in the editorial. Previously, I enjoyed chronicling every day life in the neighborhood and elsewhere...lamenting the changes that were occurring in the process. However, to be honest, there's no money in that. So we'll be doing a little more publicist-friendly posts that, I hope, will make this site more attractive for a corporate purchase a la Daily Candy. Anyway, I hope that you do give my new direction a chance. After all, I'm just a guy who lives in the neighborhood.
I have the scoop on a new bar opening "very soon" in the East Village. Can't say much for now, though I will provide some tantilizing clues to its whereabouts in this post!
As I pass my favorite strip of shops, Blockbuster, Subway and Dunkin' Donuts, I come face to face with the glorious plywood, the likes of which has served as a welcome sign of our (long overdue) revitalization of the East Village. Anywho, after shooing aside someone with a digital camera trying to sneak a peak behind the wood, I step inside and come face-to-face with a neon Sam Adams sign. Hello, beautiful! I knew that I had found my new home away from home!
Then I met "Ingrid," the proprietor of this soon-to-be glorious space. She is a longtime EV resident, having moved here in 2005 from her native South Florida where she was slinging drinks at the always popular Whiskey Dick's. She plans on bringing some of the madcap mayhem that marked so many Spring Breaks in SoFa to the East Village. Holla, bitches!
While telling me more about her plans (including a contest to find who can make the most noise on the sidewalk at closing time), she poured me a new Sam Adams Spring Fling Amber Bock. I reached in my pocket for a sawbuck, but she said it was on the house. (Then she gave me a knowing wink!) Dang, had I known this, I would not have had to use that icky-looking graffiti-filled ATM down the street!
Ingrid regaled me with stories from back in the day when NYC was really gritty -- 2000. Oh, what a glorious time that must have been here! Though I'm glad I wasn't here. Where would I have lived? Wait! I know what you're thinking: I said that she moved here in 2003. Guilty! Her cousin lived on Long Island and she paid her a visit a few times in 2000. She got a good feel of the place from Valley Stream.
In any event, she gave me the dish on what to expect: beer pong, hookah, frisbeer, keg stands, flip cup, drink-and-drown nights, college-kids-get-in-free nights. Not to mention her special nosh -- small plates of ramen. Delish! She's even arranging a deal with the city in which Mayor Bloomberg (pray that he's reelected!) renames the East River the East Ramen for her grand opening. (Other ideas for naming rights are Central Dick's or the Financial Dick-strict.)
Well, it's nice to finally find a bar that promises to be full of people who look as if they may actually have a job! (Or soon will have a job on Wall Street!) And, more important, people who don't smell and look old or artsy.
One word of caution: As I said, this place is near Houston. (Oopsy I slipped!) Whatever you do, don't walk east on Houston by Katz's to get here. Smelly! Like pickles! My North Face jacket had to be dry cleaned several times after I walked by just once. Gross.
More TK!
One more delicious reason to eat foie gras and not feel guilty at all!
Man, will Momofuku think of next! Hope they can open another shop soon! Anyway! See you in line!
Meet the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
In addition to exciting new bar openings, this site will feature the work of off-the-radar, up-and-coming indie bands that don't receive much attention in the mainstream media. To that end, here's the new single for the buzz-worthy New York trio called The Yeah Yeah Yeahs... led by the fashionable Karen Oh, whose father is Sadaharu Oh -- “The Japanese Babe Ruth.”
I expect big things from these kids!
I expect big things from these kids!
A Delancey update (with special appearances by Jesus and Bloomy, or at least someone named Mike)
Back in August, BoweryBoogie broke the news that hotelier Sam Chang bought the parcel of buildings at 148-154 Delancey for $15.75 million. (Finally, the hotel this area so desperately needs!)
Haven't been down this stretch for a few months...So I was expecting the worst...though...it looks exactly like it did last summer...Which isn't great, but....
For how long, though...Meanwhile! Bloomy, we assume....?
And directly across the street...
Haven't been down this stretch for a few months...So I was expecting the worst...though...it looks exactly like it did last summer...Which isn't great, but....
For how long, though...Meanwhile! Bloomy, we assume....?
And directly across the street...
Has Vinyl Market closed?
Vinyl Market appears to be closed. Perhaps just temporarily? The electronic/DJ specialty shop on East 10th Street just west of First Avenue is under construction. The space is split in two now. No sign of any records inside. DJ/owner Kaz Okura has closed before while he travels to various gigs. But he usually leaves a note on the door.
Another new convenience store for First Avenue
The former location of Wilfred's Tailors at 149 First Avenue near Ninth Street will soon be a convenient store.
This spot was vacant for some time since Wilfred's moved to 23rd Street. Well, uh, at least it's not another Momofuku?
Previously on EV Grieve:
A new convenience store for First Avenue
This spot was vacant for some time since Wilfred's moved to 23rd Street. Well, uh, at least it's not another Momofuku?
Previously on EV Grieve:
A new convenience store for First Avenue
Hea thyself*
The folks behind Hea, which opened last September, must have spent a fortune renotvating the former bodega/nail salon housed next to the Toll Bros. tower on Third Avenue at 13th Street. Now, Hea is closed for "renovation."
* Man, that's one bad headline.
* Man, that's one bad headline.
My own worst enemy
LES native Rosario Dawson, age 15 when she was asked to star in "Kids."
In 2006, you moved to L.A. Do you ever miss the Lower East Side?
Sometimes, but my old neighborhood has changed. When I visit, they probably think of me as yuppie scum. I think, Young urban professional — yes, that’s me. When did I become the enemy? (The New York Times Style Magazine)
Ideas for the next Unemployment Olympics
SportsByBrooks weighs in on yesterday's Unemployment Olympics:
While events like Bashing a Pinata are nice, they are hardly in the spirit of actual Olympic events. With that in mind, I’ve come up with a few suggestions for new events to add if the Unemployment Olympics come back in 2010:
--The 100-Meter Dashed Career Expectations
--The Long Jump From Being A Senior Vice President To Working At Kinko’s
--Synchronized Drowning In A Sea Of Unpaid Bills
--Bad-News-Minton
--The 110-Meter First Interview Hurdle
--Waiting Tables Tennis
--The Try-Supporting-A-Family-On-Unemployment-Athlon
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
At the 2009 Unemployment Olympics
The Unemployment Olympics are under way now in Tompkins Square Park. Hard to say whether there are more contestants (athletes?) or reporters on the scene.
After waiting in line to sign up, you waited in line to take part in the first activity of the day, Pin the Blame on the Boss.
Organizer Nick Goddard had to ask the assembled reporters to move back several times...the media kept inching closer to the Pin the Tail sign, and there wasn't enough room for the participants to spin and pin.
There are other activities planned, including the Fax Machine Toss (which looks suspiciously like a phone), the You're Fired Race and a stress-relieving piñata.
All of this got old pretty quickly. The reporters got their cutesy, "aw, we're-having-fun-in the-recession!" soft news bit and started to leave. Curiosity seekers had time to gawk.
Some Pin the Blame on the Boss video:
Will the Colonel's legacy be remembered in NYC potholes?
To the press release:
KFC COLONEL AND ROAD REPAIR CREW TAKE ADVERTISING TO THE STREETS TO RE-“FRESH” AMERICA’S POTHOLE-STRICKEN ROADWAYS
In Honor of its Freshly Delivered and Prepared Fried Chicken on the Bone, KFC Becomes First-Ever Corporate Sponsor of “Fresh”ly Repaired Potholes in U.S. Cities
Kentucky Fried Chicken Asks Mayors to Nominate U.S. Cities for KFC-Branded Pothole Repair
LOUISVILLE, KY – For more than half a century, KFC has “filled up” its fans with the Colonel’s world famous, freshly prepared fried chicken. Today, in a marketing first, KFC is celebrating its continued dedication to freshness by launching a pilot infrastructure renewal program, becoming the first-ever corporate sponsor of “fresh”ly “filled up” potholes in up to five major cities across the U.S.
The KFC Colonel and his professional road repair crew got started in their hometown of Louisville by filling up potholes and re-freshing roads around the city. KFC also issued an open offer to mayors of cities nationwide, asking them to describe their city streets’ state of disrepair. Four of these lucky cities, chosen at random, will receive KFC’s road re-“fresh”ment, promising citizens a smooth drive that is fit for a Colonel.
In today’s troubled economy, cities across the nation are left with potholes in desperate need of repair. It is estimated that U.S. roads are riddled with more than 350 million potholes nationwide -- that’s one mini canyon for every man, woman and child in America.
“This program is a perfect example of that rare and optimal occurrence when a company can creatively market itself and help local governments and everyday Americans across the country,” said Javier Benito, executive vice president of marketing and food innovation for KFC.
“Everyone could use a little help during these tough economic times and this initiative -– like our commitment to provide affordable, freshly prepared chicken -– is our way of carrying on Colonel Sanders’ legacy.”
Our entrepreneurial spirit
"In the biggest jump in a single month on record, New York City’s unemployment rate leapt to 8.1 percent from 6.9 percent in February, the State Labor Department reported on Thursday.(The New York Times, March 26)
That rate matched the national unemployment rate for the month and reflected an unprecedented one-year rise from 4.4 percent a year earlier. The rapid deterioration of the city’s job market has erased the notion that the region could be insulated from the wave of job losses sweeping across America.
All told, there were about 335,000 unemployed people in the city, a number reached only once — briefly — in more than a decade. It is almost double the 175,000 city residents who were unemployed a year ago. Over the same period, the number of private-sector jobs in the city has dropped by almost 77,000, to 3.13 million, the report showed."
Today at 1:30 Tompkins Square Park hosts the Unemployment Olympics, which includes events such as Pin the Blame on the Bosses and the Fax Machine Toss.
Hmm, OK. The organizers seem to have good intentions here. Still, I'm not a big fan of "hey, it's a recession, let's have some fun"-type events and stories. And the Olympics seem a little -- this will get me in trouble with the EV Grieve HR Department -- youthful. And collegiate. And! It seems to weigh heavily toward the white collar, 9-to-5 crowd.
I know too many people -- particularly in the food-service industry and construction (the off-the-books types) -- who are reeling from the economy. I don't think they'll be in the mood to throw a fax machine.
Actually, everyone I know is suffering in some way. If these people I know didn't get laid off (such as someone in the EV Grieve household), their salary was cut. Or their hours/shifts/benefits were cut. You've all heard the horror stories.
In any event, throughout all this, I continue to see more and more fliers go up around the neighborhood in which people -- looking to supplement their incomes -- are offering their professional services. I appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit. At one point, I started noting all the different services that I saw being offered. But it just got to be too many. Yoga and pilates instruction. Personal trainer. Dog walker. Carpenter. Tax preparation. Photography. Break dancing(!). Magic. Apartment cleaning. Language lessons. Guitar lessons. (Mrs. Grieve swears that she saw an ad for Guitar Hero instructions.) Drum lessons. Piano lessons. Moving men with vans. Flier distribution. Home theater installation. Bicycle messenger. Personal safety. Gardening. Personal attendant. Etc., etc.
I could use some shelves in the apartment. And I'd like to improve my Spanish. And maybe learn to play the guitar. Of course, I can't afford it now.
Meanwhile, just a few of the fliers...(the chocolate and roses facial doesn't really count...I left it in for the hell of it...)
"Question about the East Village"
[click to enlarge]
From the Forum NYC:
Topic may have been beaten to death (god knows I've spoken too often for too long about the subject with long-time residents and visitors), but....
As a non-native New Yorker, who has visited often, I must ask.....
If the old days (as little as 15-20 years ago when I first visited) of a real, cultural, diverse, dangerous, cautious, and exciting place to visit (live?) in the Lower East Side/Village are indeed gone forever (as it seems from my last several visits since the y2k), where has all the art/culture/heritage gone?! Think there will be a rebound since we seem to be going through an economically depressing time? (I don't think so--- high rents forever as I see it....)
I always stay in the LES, or south of Houston in a favorite dirty little hotel (recently cleaned up), and it just seems like all the "fun" of visiting/living in the LES is gone.
Not trying to spark a discussion of why/how this energy is gone (forever?) but rather asking where it can be found in greater NYC area.... or even anywhere in the US?! LA, Chicago, NYC, even Baltimore's old dirty grimey neighborhoods seem to be lost to the yuppies for good.
Where are the new diverse cultural neighborhoods (is there such a thing as neighborhoods anymore?) in NYC, or even elsewhere in the US?!
Just a rant I suppose, but comment as you will.
Thank you.
Meanwhile, two photos that I took in the last few days...
Moving $20 per man, per hour, per truck — the gas costs extra
On East Seventh Street and Second Avenue.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Brazen entry in the per-man, per-hour moving wars
Everyone seems to be shitting on the financial-services sector these days
The pigeons like to roost on the fire escape above the Franklin Check Cashing Store on Avenue B near 14th Street.
Dead Lobster
I noticed the "Store For Rent" signs hanging on Urban Lobster on Houston near Avenue A last week...I called and asked the counter person what was up. I was told the signs were for another property the landlord had. Hmm-mmm.
Yesterday afternoon, Gothamist confirmed that the location is closing today.
Yesterday afternoon, Gothamist confirmed that the location is closing today.
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