Big Red

Today in Tompkins Square Park. By Bobby Williams

Where old ping-pong balls go to die in Tompkins Square Park

By Bobby Williams.

We got Sax appeal

Fear with "New York's Alright If You Like Saxaphones" from 1982. Via New Wave Theater.

Not even a film shoot can move this motorcycle

This motorcycle on East Fourth Street near First Avenue has been stationary and chained to the signpost for at least a year, EV Grieve reader @bndo figures.

Meanwhile, today, all the cars on this block (and others) were moved or towed to make way for the "Smash" film crews. For some unknown reason, as @bndo points out, the tow people spared the motorcycle.

Also: Earlier today on St. Mark's Place: Someone who didn't pay attention to the No Parking signs that "Smash" crews posted earlier in the week...

Oh, on second thought, André Balazs only paid $67.5 million for the Cooper Square Hotel

And not the $91 million that was previously reported. This news comes via Roland Li at the International Business Times. Read it here.

Meanwhile, Goggla notes the end of the mural (Balazsification) on the side of the former Cooper Square Hotel... now called The Dradnats Standard East Village

The Shepard Fairey mural went up in April 2010.

Meanwhile, some fallout...

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Photo by blue glass]

Celebration at St. Mark's Bookshop (DNAinfo)

The latest post at the EV Grieve animated GIF tribute site will scare the hell out of you (EVGIF)

History of an old East Village butcher shop (Off the Grid)

New use for an old metalworking shop (Jeremiah's Vanishing NY)

Opening night party for “Out Harvey Wang’s Window” (BoweryBoogie)

Why you may want to avoid the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges this weekend (The Lo-Down)

New owner for Stuy Town? (Stuy Town Living)

A Flipper flap (Flaming Pablum)

And several readers have sent me this photo... I have no idea what train this is... or when it happened. I'm also disappointed that some people think I would actually post something like this. Because I wouldn't.

Original source seems to be I Love NYC AfterHours on Facebook.

RIP Joe

Our friends at East Village Eats have confirmed what we heard from several regulars... Joe, the owner of Joe's Bar on East Sixth Street, has died. One regular told us that Joe passed away on Thanksgiving...

No word just yet on what will happen to the bar. It remains closed for the time being. Our best to his wife Dot and the Joe's family...

Previously.

Come let us dance in Tompkins Square Park in August 1981

Via the YouTube description:

Outdoor concert crowd cavorts at New York's Tompkins Square Park (East Village) on August 9, 1981 during the "Avenue B is the Place to B" concert. Bands performing at the park band shell (since torn down) that day included Pierce Turner, Essential Bop, Liquid Liquid, Science, and Certain General. The event was produced by Una Johnston and Phelan.

This video footage originally aired in late 1981 on the Manhattan Cable public access television show "New York Entertainment Scene"

Via the PreFab Int'l Videos Archive.

Lux Living punches the clock at the Meatball Factory

Our blogging friend Lux Living has written a few reviews hereabouts. The new Phoenix. And IHOP. We suggested that he review Papa John's or the new Cheesy Bacon Bowl at KFC on the corner of Second Avenue and 14th Street. He mentioned something about angioplasty or stents or something. Whatever. Despite our directive, he instead walked across the street and tried something else. So I wouldn't dig in if I was you. Next one might be at your head. I don't know where it's gonna go. Swear to God.

By Lux Living

I had originally planned on writing a review of the atrocious pizza coming out of the Papa John's on First Avenue, but really, how much can one say about pizza too heavily seasoned with oregano and a sauce made with more sugar than a Cadbury Egg?

Instead, the other night I went to The Meatball Factory, which recently opened on the corner of Second Avenue and 14th Street. The Meatball Factory should not be confused with their rivals, The Meatball Shop, located on the Lower East Side. Ask and they’ll let you know!

The menu breaks down like this: Choose your meatballs and choose your sauce for $8 or $9. There are eight choices of meatballs made from ingredients that will please everyone from the tree- hugging vegans to the blood-sucking, red-meat lovers and everyone in between. Once you choose your flesh - or vegan option – you can match it with a choice of eight sauces including a Fire Roasted Marinara, Shroom Central and Hells Bells Vodka Sauce. Pizzas, salads, fries and other side dishes are also on the menu.

Knowing I’d be ravenous in 20 minutes if I didn’t include a carb with my dinner, I ordered the fettuccini with two Meatzza, Meatzza meatballs (braised certified Angus beef brand short ribs, hanger steak and filet, buffalo, potato & parmesan) and the Hells Bells Vodka Sauce – of course – (Absolut Peppar, spicy cappicola, red bells, San Marzano tomatoes, oregano and cream) and a Chardonnay. They only serve beer and wine which is why I did not order a Jack and Coke.

The service was a bit scattered — my food came well before my wine — but once I had everything I ordered there was no speaking at the table because I was too busy enjoying my mini Italian feast. The Fettuccini was a little over cooked, the meatballs were great and I want the recipe for the sauce. I’d have preferred a basket of sliced bread rather than the two mini slices that come with the dish and the tablespoon of grated cheese delightfully sprinkled on top. Yeah, that didn’t cut it. I’m American. I need a small bucket of grated cheese on my table at all times. I need control of the cheese. And a little pepper maybe? Got it?

Let me be up front and say I am not a fan of eating in cavernous-sounding spaces with multiple TVs. When I go out to eat I want to hear what my friends are saying and enjoy my dinner without listening to a bunch of assholes screaming at a Jets game on the TV. Though nobody was screaming that night — other than the blitzed chick at the bar who drank too much red wine — there are several TVs and nothing on the walls to absorb sound, so even with the room a quarter of the way full it was a bit loud.

I enjoyed my dinner and for the price – two fettuccini dishes with meatballs, a Diet Coke and a stupid Chardonnay coming in at $41 - I’d recommend it. It was nothing fancy but for a quick, decent Italian dish in the neighborhood, go for it. Much better than that damn IHOP!

Inside the new Bean on Second Avenue

Over at the former Crazy Landlord building on Second Avenue at Third Street, work continues at the new home of The Bean, which is expected to open later this month.

EV Grieve regular jdx stopped inside for a progress report...

Previously.

Timi's Gelateria Classica™ facing eviction on St. Mark's Place

We can't recall seeing Timi's Gelateria Classica™ — "a gelato franchise for the 21st century, with true Italian artisanal gelato made fresh daily" — open of late on St. Mark's Place near Second Avenue.

The place took over the Andy's Chee-Pee's space about this time last year.

Now, there are some legal-ly, eviction-y looking papers on the front door...

Per the website, "Timi's Gelateria Classica™ Italiana NYC is the flagship location for the Italian mini- chain, which has successfully launched stores around the world." Unfortunately, the website is on the fritz.

Try some pudding then instead?

Previously.

Kebab Garden becoming Mediterranean Grill, pretty much serving exactly the same stuff, probably

A few Fridays ago, we pointed out that the Kebab Garden on First Avenue near St. Mark's Place had closed... though in the days that passed, we could hear workers inside, uh, working and hammering and stuff.

Anyway, if you saw the new sign yesterday, then you probably know that something very similar (or the same thing) is reopening here ...