Earlier today on the Bowery when it rained really hard for a few minutes

...and a few moments later...

Photos by Bobby Williams, who noted that he stayed dry by ducking into a doorway.

Lucky Luciano, 'Boardwalk Empire,' dining at John's of 12th Street today

Earlier, we mentioned that crews for "Boardwalk Empire" would be filming in the East Village today, possibly bringing an old-timey feel to the neighborhood.

Well! Turns out they are filming at John's of 12th Street... already an old-timey-feeling restaurant. (And we mean that in a positive way!) Han Shan just sent us this photo of who we think is Lucky Luciano.

Report: Ex-cops accused of rape had another ugly exchange with a drunken East Village woman

At the Voice this week, Graham Rayman reports on another case involving Kenneth Moreno, Franklin Mata and a young, intoxicated woman. Per the preview of the article at Runnin' Scared: "Just a few months before the alleged rape for which they were acquitted, the two were accused of being verbally abusive to a woman, refusing to take her report of theft, and pushing her around outside an East Village nightclub. Although the Manhattan District Attorney's Office was aware of these charges, they did not include it as evidence in the trial."

The incident reportedly took place on Aug. 21, 2008 outside the former Cheap Shots on First Avenue near Ninth Street. Read Rayman's article here.

The best passage from The Observer's article on the Mars Bar

“Oh, no, Hank won’t talk to you,” Tawnya said to The Observer, emptying a bottle’s dregs into the bar’s only wine glass. “That’s just his style.”

Many patrons, we found, had adopted that same reticent style. “Go fuck yourself and get the fuck away from me,” George growled after we bade him hello.

“They’re gonna tear the whole place down so what the fuck are you asking me about shit for?” said a rock-faced gentleman named Ray, who lounged dozily at one end of the saloon. “Just go away.”

Others were more talkative. One demanded we share our cocaine and, when we informed him we had none, then asked for meth — though he took that request back, at once, after remembering that “meth makes you gay.”

Meanwhile, according to the article, the Mars Bar will remain open another four to six weeks.

Via Eater.

B Bar's take-out window and sidewalk seating moving forward

We haven't heard much about B Bar's plan for sidewalk seating and a to-go window in months. Last we heard in February, the B Bar's plans called for a 28-seat sidewalk cafe and a take-out window on the Bowery... this needed to be approved by Community Board 2, who has jurisdiction over the western side of the Bowery.

Meanwhile, we've noticed the work progressing on the to-go window...

Is that artisanal caulk on the counter?

Post reports that Fu Sushi employee chases Post photographer down the street

The Post picked up on reports from Neighborhoodr and here that Fu Sushi on Avenue B has been staying open even after the DOH closed it down for various violations. (And no credit from the Post — thanks!)

Here's one passage from the article:

Workers raised the gate at the restaurant yesterday afternoon — but quickly closed when approached by The Post. One employee even chased a photographer down the street.

East Village now home to more shaved ice

Eater reports that the team behind Brooklyn Flea and Chelsea Market regular People's Pops are opening a new pop-up location at 5 p.m. today. The stall is officially at 118 First Ave., which is actually between Caracas Arepa Bar and the corner deli. Per Eater, they'll serve "fresh, locally sourced fruit pops and shaved ice. They get their fruit straight from Greenmarket, so expect the seasonal flavors to change constantly."

Late yesterday afternoon, a worker was on the scene preparing the space, which promises to be the latest Seventh Street venture to attract people to wait in line...

Looks to be a busy icy season... you have Ray's on Avenue A ... NYC ICY at 171 Avenue A ... not to mention the numerous men selling shaved ice on the corners, such as on Seventh Street at Avenue B.

Y Cafe turns previous tenant's sign into a planter

Y Cafe (formerly Wai? Cafe on First Avenue) is now open on Avenue B near 11th Street... This addressed previously belonged to the Little Bird, a vegan cafe.

In a cost-effective move, instead of replacing the old sign...

...the folks at Y Cafe simply turned it into a planter of sorts...

Perhaps this is only temporary. But it's always a better alternative than leaving the previous restaurant's sign/name in full view...

The Film Academy Cafe leaves us with a mystery

The Film Academy Cafe closed last week ... ahead of the demolition of 51 Astor Place.

But the closing leaves us without, uh, closure... At the time of the Cafe's departure, they were waiting for their letter grade from the DOH...

Developer says 51 Astor Place will be 'very, very cool looking'

Speaking of 51 Astor Place ... I missed this report on NY1 from last Friday. Jill Urban spoke to developer Edward J. Minskoff about the plans for the new office building.

To the quotes!

"All four sides are different,” says Minskoff. "Each side has its own character. Each side has its own aesthetic quality and is different. It's very, very cool looking."

And!

"This building technologically will be the most advanced building built in New York City since the Bank of America Headquarters on 42nd street," says Minskoff. "It has all of the bells and whistles that big companies need: communication, electrical load requirements, transportation, floor-to-ceiling heights. It has all of that built into the building — does not have to be added after the fact."

Previously on EV Grieve:
East Village — the new Midtown?

51 Astor Place demolition begins July 1; 17 months to build new black-glass tower

'Boardwalk Empire' will likely make the East Village look old-timey today

Crews for HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" have been filming around the Lower East Side lately... EV Grieve reader Han Shan notes the signs along 11th Street between Third Avenue and First Avenue... where crews will be filming today...

Keep an eye out for old-timey cars and, maybe!, Steve Buscemi in some rather warm-looking 1920s clothing...

Easy Painter

This afternoon on Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street. Photos by Bobby Williams.

Important questions arise after someone tosses blue paint on First Avenue plywood

A few readers were curious about the blue paint tossed against the plywood next to PS122 on First Avenue...

Art project? Random vandalism? Misguided anger about PS122 closing for renovations? Blue Man Group guerrilla marketing? "The Smurf Movie" guerrilla marketing?

Vigil tonight for Paul and Monica Shay on East 10th Street

Paul and Monica Shay were each shot in the head Saturday night in their Pennsylvania weekend home. Their nephew, Joseph Shay, 43, was killed in the shooting. His girlfriend, Kathryn Erdmann, 37, of Fall River, Mass., was also critically wounded. Her 2-year-old son, Gregory, was shot and killed while he slept.

Yesterday, a SWAT team killed Mark Richard Geisenheyner, who police say was responsible for the murders.

Find more information on Facebook.

123 Third Ave. retail space sells for $11 million

From the EV Grieve inbox ...

[An EV Grieve file photo]

RKF Investment Sales & Advisory Services (RKF) recently completed the sale of the 2,928-sf retail condominium at the base of 123 Third Ave., the 19-story new residential condominium building situated at the southeast corner of East 14th Street in Union Square. The 123 Third Ave. retail condominium, which features 126 feet of wraparound frontage, is fully occupied by Capital One Bank and was sold for $11,050,000.

RKF Executive Vice Presidents Jeff Fishman and Ariel Schuster, along with Director Brian Segall and Analyst Jonathan Butwin, served as the exclusive agents for the seller, 123 Third Avenue Partners, LLC, and also represented the buyer, a private investment group. RKF Investment Sales & Advisory Services is the investment sales division of industry leader RKF.

“This is a rare opportunity to purchase a new-construction retail condominium fully leased on a prime corner with consistently high pedestrian foot traffic and proximity to a nearby public transportation hub in Union Square,” said Fishman.

Previously... and previously.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Photo in front of Urban Outfitters by blue glass]

More details about the shootings of Paul and Monica Shay (Gothamist)

RIP Robert Sklar (Runnin' Scared)

A "subtle" renovation for the Hotel Chelsea? (Curbed)

Looking at "Gods of Times Square" (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

The second floors of Second Avenue (Lost City)

The Mosaic Man has a social media presence now (BoweryBoogie)

And the Times featured Chloë Sevigny on Sunday... where we got to see the closet of her East Village apartment...

And for those of you keeping track at home, the Mars Bar received a beer delivery today...

[Updated] On East Sixth Street, an impressive July 4 fireworks display

EV Grieve reader Scott Dwyer notes that last night around 11, residents of a building on East Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B set off a pretty impressive fireworks display. Best of all — no Nick Lachey as host.

Updated:

EV Grieve reader Gregory Patrick sent along this photo from last night... looking north from East Third Street ... perhaps from the same display?

Cars on East First Street tagged with neon-pink spray paint

A reader sends along these photos, noting that someone took a can of neon-pink spray paint to what looks like almost every car along the south side of First Street between First and Second Avenues.

Reader: Fu Sushi remains open despite DOH closure

On June 27, we noted that the DOH had temporarily closed Fu Sushi on Avenue B near 11th Street. The restaurant was closed after receiving 99 violation points in its last inspection, which took place June 23.

Meanwhile, a reader over the weekend noted that "Fu Sushi on Avenue B was open for business and pretty busy. The bright yellow DOH sign is posted on their door, but at night they are keeping door propped open so no one reads it as they walk into the restaurant. I called 311 about it already, but they said it could take up to a month until this is addressed."

Neighborhoodr has also been covering this story. You can read their report here.

Facebook discovers LES Jewels' penis

East Village photographer Steven Hirsch has been adding photos to his Facebook Crustypunks page ... he posted the above shot of LES Jewels (in a more suitable-for-work shot above) doing a pants-down pose on St. Mark's Place at Avenue A ... afterwards, he received a notice from Facebook that they're deleting the page. Then! Facebook deleted Hirsch's personal account and the whole Crustypunks project, which had about 100 photos from the past year.

And here's the email from Facebook...

Hello,

You uploaded a photo that violates our Terms of Use, and this photo has been removed. Facebook does not allow photos that attack an individual or group, or that contain nudity, drug use, violence, or other violations of the Terms of Use. These policies are designed to ensure Facebook remains a safe, secure and trusted environment for all users, including the many children who use the site.

The Facebook Team

Bakery opening on St. Mark's Place

Last September, a thrift store-boutique called Junk took over the former De La Vega Museum on St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue. In March, Junk closed.

Now! Workers have been renovating the space. One worker on the scene said that a bakery would open here in the next two weeks. A quick look inside confirms like a bakery-looking business is in the works.

New Subway gets a welcome on Avenue B

And we expect the Grand Opening very soon.

Checking in on Extra Place's progress

We continue to monitor the progress of the sidewalking of Extra Place...

Yankee Pizza coming soon to Avenue C

Here near 11th Street, at the site of the short-lived Bread N Butta ...

...part of the burgeoning Yankee Deli empire...

3 views of an East Village sunset tonight

The Christodora House above... and in the distance...

Photos by Bobby Williams...

Report: Suspect who shot East Village couple killed by SWAT team in rural Pennsylvania

The Associated Press has this story:

A career criminal suspected of shooting five people, two of them fatally, inside a suburban home over an insurance fraud scheme was killed by SWAT team members after a six-hour standoff Monday, authorities said.

Since leaving prison last year, Mark Richard Geisenheyner, 51, had been vowing revenge on Paul Shay, one of the victims of a weekend shooting in rural Montgomery County, authorities said.

Geisenheyner broke into Shay’s vacation home late Saturday and said, "Guess you never thought you’d see me again," Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman said, citing the accounts of two survivors. He then shot five people in the head, killing Shay’s nephew and a toddler. Shay, his wife and the toddler’s mother remained in critical condition Monday.

Shay and Geisenheyner knew each other from a 2006 insurance fraud scheme that involved Shay’s home, Ferman said. She could not immediately provide details.

Paul Shay, who owns a plumbing company, and his wife Monica live on East 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. Paul Shay and the toddler's mother are reportedly expected to survive. According to the Daily News, Monica Shay is in "grave condition and may not survive."

Previously.

Saying goodbye to Ray Deter

East Village resident Ray Deter died last night from the injuries he suffered in a bicycling accident on June 27. Deter, the owner of d.b.a. on First Avenue as well as the locations in Williamsburg and New Orleans, is survived by his wife Catherine, and sons Jake and Maxwell.

Per the d.b.a. East Village Facebook page:

This evening we say goodbye to our dear friend Ray & wish him peace in his place of rest. We remember him as a pioneer, a community-maker, a father, partner, & friend. He touched countless people & his loss is felt far and wide. ... Details of his memorial ~ the celebration of his life will be posted soon. Thank you for all your love and kind words.

[Photo via Brew York, New York]

Spirit of America

'Daily News' covers East River cat rescue story

Here's the link if you're interested. One note... East Village resident Clotilde Testa and her boyfriend Robert Walker first spotted the cat Friday. Clotilde said that the cat's name will be Leo — he was found on a barge called "Uncle Leo." He was nicknamed Skipper, though she thinks Leo is more fitting. She plans on officially adopting Leo tomorrow.

[In the Daily News photo — Christine Berk who helped rescue Leo and Codi from the Animal Care & Control.]

Previously on EV Grieve:
This cat is stranded off East River Park

Here is Leo, the cat saved from the East River barge

Previously on EV Grieve:
This cat is stranded off East River Park

East Village residents victims in Pennsylvania shooting

[Candlelight this evening on East 10th Street, where Paul and Monica Shay live]

News is coming in this evening about a horrific shooting in Pennsylvania involving East Village residents.

According to the Daily News in an article posted at 9 p.m.:

A Manhattan man and a 2-year-old boy were shot to death in a Pennsylvania bloodbath that left two other New Yorkers and the tot's mother clinging to life.

All five victims were shot in the head Saturday night, and cops have mounted a manhunt for the gunman.

The murders happened at the country home of plumber Paul Shay, 64, and his professor wife, Monica Shay, 58, longtime residents of E. 10th St. in Manhattan.

Their nephew, Joseph Shay, 43, was killed in the shooting in rural Bechtelsville, about 100 miles from New York City.

His girlfriend, Kathryn Erdmann, 37, of Fall River, Mass., was also critically wounded - and her young son, Gregory, was killed.

More on this as details become available...

PS
Thanks to EV Grieve reader Vash for alerting us to the story in the first place...

Stranded East River cat now has a Facebook page

Yesterday, we passed along word of a cat stuck on a barge in the East River just off the shore ... Since then, someone has created a Facebook page for the stranded kitty ...

Per the Facebook page, it appears that some volunteers are at the scene to try to rescue the cat.

Sunday afternoon demolition inside the former Superdive space

EV Grieve reader dwg notes the work going on now at 200 Avenue A. There aren't any permits on file for work here via the DOB.

Meanwhile, we understand that the people behind the "art gallery with a full-service restaurant" concept — who have twice appeared before and been rejected by the CB3/SLA committee — are now going directly to the State Liquor Authority for its license. Their hearing with the SLA is on July 12 at 11 a.m. We'll have more on this later.