We'll always have the L train

Via Craigslist:

To the guy who spit on me last night - w4m - 21 (East Village)
Date: 2010-10-05, 2:40PM EDT

Me: standing on the platform of the L train at Union Square, harmlessly kissing my companion.

You: Absolutely fucking batshit.

I have no idea what prompted this, but thanks for coming up and spitting in our faces. I really appreciated your saliva in my eye. It really made the mood all the more special.

Cowboy hats, balloons and film crew at AlphaBet Cafe

"Generation Um" continues filming around the Lower East Side... there's a noontime scene being shot now at the AlphaBet Cafe on 14th Street and Avenue B... no sign of lead Keanu Reeves... but there are several people in straw cowboy hates (er, HATS!) and balloons...




According to IMDB, the film is set in Los Angeles... which means the LES is more LA than LA?

Claim: Webster Hall's DayGlow paint party oversold by 1,900 tickets

[Via]

On Sunday, we told you that Webster Hall hosted DayGlow, billed as "the largest paint party in the world.... and the party was eventually shut down by the NYPD and FDNY... According to a Webster Hall source, there were 2,100 pre-sold tickets -- and 4,000 in attendance. Regardless, as Eater noted, "It's nice to know that the building's management, event promoters and authorities could help bring the party to a peaceful end with no one getting hurt." Very true...

"I see a walk by Coyote Ugly in your future..."

In recent weeks, a psychic has set up shop on First Avenue next to Coyote Ugly.... as these photos by First Avenue correspondent Blue Glass show, the psychic continues to make improvements to the space....




...looking pretty good now...




...and now rather handily right next to the bike lane...

Headless body spotted outside Mars Bar

St. Brigid's at night

The renovations continue... workers removed the north wall and are replacing it... when I look at it a certain way, I think I see the side of a cruise ship...





And here's a day shot for a different perspective...

Dumb questions: What is a French hot dog?

At Jule's on St. Mark's Place. And is it served with French fries? [The crowd belts him with bottles]

In case John Legend locks himself out

There's always a locksmith around when you need one.... On the gated driveway at 52E4, the 15 stories of condo on Fourth Street... where the Legend, Moby and others may or may not live...

An East Village map from 1966

Here's a map of New York City’s East Village in 1966 from John Gruen’s book “The New Bohemia.” Click to enlarge and check out all the long-lost spots... (Via.)

Ephemeral New York has more on the book, including a short excerpt.

Chase branch robbed on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place

We're getting word that the Chase branch here was robbed first thing this morning. No other information as of right now. And no word if any of the 37 other bank branches in the next few blocks were knocked off either.

Photo via Nasry.

On Oct. 10, the machines will rise

We've been discussing the coming changes to the M15 route along First Avenue and Second Avenue... The M15 Select Bus Service starts on Sunday.... and I finally got my hands on the MTA's newsletter that explains all this...



And — oops! — I missed the open houses.....



As someone who depends on the M15 for this and that, this may or may not be helpful....



And for your cyclists!



And pedestrians!



Wow. The MTA calls these Refuge Islands?! Escape from Refuge Island!



Meanwhile...




Well, I'm all for keeping an open mind to see how all this will work....

Previously on EV Grieve:
On First Avenue, the machines are taking over!

Ninth Street update; and graffiti artist Crash makes a return

There are several empty (and soon to be empty) storefronts along Ninth Street between Second Avenue and Avenue A...

Previously we've mentioned closures such as Atomic Passion and Sintir Cafe...





Giant Robot closed on Sept. 23... But a crew turned the space around quickly....



...it's now home to the Dorian Grey Gallery....




And they're opening with a great event on Friday.... per the release:

Pioneering Street Artist Crash Returns With Solo Show “Works of Paper 1980–2010” @ Debut Show of Dorian Grey Gallery in NYC’s East Village October 7 Artist’s Reception Will Include “Live Action” Art Event

WHAT: A solo show of works on paper spanning 1980 to today by CRASH, a legendary fixture on New York’s graffiti/street art scene for three decades. The 30 drawings and watercolors presented served as a virtual diary and workbook for the artist, a way of venturing into artforms not covered in his best-known large-scale murals and tags. The show will also be highlighted with a “live action” art performance during the opening reception, October 7, from 6 – 9 pm, when CRASH and TAT’S CRU will be spray painting on a silhouette image of an old IRT “redbird” subway car, the canvas for some of his most powerful early work.

WHERE: CRASH “Works On Paper 1980 – 2010” will be the debut of the East Village’s new art attraction, the Dorian Grey Gallery (DGG). Dorian Grey Gallery is a dynamic “pop up” retail venue geared at showcasing both established and emerging artists, presenting a diverse selection of exemplary art in an intimate and informative environment. DGG is a joint venture between veteran art dealers Christopher Pusey and Luis Accorsi.

Chico freshens up Doc Holliday's

To be honest, Chico's Doc Holliday's mural on Ninth Street at Avenue A was a little nicked up...



And so, as NYCETC captured on Saturday, Chico was back on hand to update his work...




And here's what it looked like yesterday...




PS
I really like the photos at NYCETC....

Watching football at DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe

I remember walking in East Village institution DeRobertis here on First Avenue a few years ago... it was a Sunday afternoon... and it was the first time that I noticed the 100-year-old-plus bakery-cafe had a few flat-screen TVs installed.... One of the women working there was really into the Jets game.



...nothing wrong with that, I suppose ... just seemed like a funny place to watch an NFL game... But, every so often during a big sporting event, I'll walk in here to catch a glimpse of the game....



...and maybe use the restroom...



I love this place.