Sunday, March 4, 2012

Obscura Antiques and Oddities now open on Avenue A


RyanAvenueA passes along word that, as of yesterday, Obscura Antiques and Oddities is now open at 207 Avenue A. The reality TV favorites moved out of their East 10th Street store at the end of January ... arriving here at the onetime Sparacio & DeMarco Funeral Home, which closed in 1995.

When we stopped by, the place was full... nice to see a lively storefront along an otherwise quiet retail block.... and funny how lively it is considering they sell so many dead things. Or something.

Previously.

Update: Transit worker didn't fall though subway grate in front of the IHOP

On Friday, we quoted news sources that reported "A worker fell through a subway grate on E. 14th Street ... said FDNY officials."

We later linked to a Times City Room article, but obviously didn't read it too closely. According to that piece:

The worker, in his 60s, was on a ladder beneath the grate in front of the IHOP restaurant at 237 East 14th Street, near the Third Avenue stop on the L, about 10:35 a.m., the authorities said.

He was inspecting the grate when he fell from the ladder, said Charles Seaton, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The Times noted that the worker was not seriously injured.

Several people said that falling through a subway grate was one of their worst city fears... wanted to put your mind at ease.

[Outside IHOP this morning ... solid grates!]

Anyway, you should be more worried about falling air conditioners.

Week in Grieview

[Along Avenue A]

About Joe Strummer's moustache (Friday)

Another look at the old theater on Avenue B (Wednesday)

Vancouver now has an East Village (Thursday)

Looking at the March CB3/SLA docket (Thursday)

A Linsanity mural on East Second Street (Tuesday)

Life Cafe will be split in two (Thursday)

Key Food renovates (Monday)

Union Market opening next month, probably (Monday)

People waiting in line for free IHOP pancakes (Tuesday)

And it was Big Reveal week... at 100 Third Ave. ... and 219 First Ave. ...

Another feature on one of those really nice Flowerbox Building homes

[Elizabeth Felicella for Trendland]

We've seen several features on this 2,400-square-foot duplex home in the Flowerbox Building on Seventh Street between Avenue C and Avenue D... (For example, the Times featured the home in 2009.)

The young couple's home popped up yesterday in a spread at Trendland. Lots of Pinterest in this.

Among other features, the condo has a wall of ivy along the interior balcony that overlooks a 12-foot-long reflecting pool stocked with goldfish.

A sneak preview of Sunday morning, March 18

Spotted on the Bowery...


...and nearby... one doesn't necessarily have to do with the other. But.


And we've alerted our friends at EV Heave. (Warning: Graphic photos of you know what)

[Broadway at 11th Street]

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Retna at the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall

Yesterday, workers finished prepping the Houston/Bowery Mural Wall...


Tonight, the work begins on a new mural...

Thanks to @JeanaCosta for the photo...

Per Weldon Arts (via ANIMAL) ... Los Angeles-based graffiti writer Retna is creating the new mural...

BoweryBoogie has more here.

Summer, winter in 1940s New York

We spotted this yesterday over at our friends at ANIMAL ... as they describe it " some silent amateur footage of Manhattan during World War II. Just a stroll through summery Greenwich Village, springtime Coney Island, and fun in a snowstorm."

Today in Jimmy McMillan sightings

The folks at Luke's Lobster on Seventh Street noted the presence of The Rent Is Too Damn High Party leader Jimmy McMillan this afternoon...



The car is often a giveaway...

[Updated] Cops close Anwar Grocery on Avenue B


Happened last night here near the corner of Seventh Street...


As you can see, cops cited them for "illegal sale of alcoholic beverages."

East Village Eats noted that the NYPD busted the grocery on New Year's Eve as well.

Also. During a three-day sweep last November, the State Liquor Authority charged 118 licensed groceries and liquor stores throughout New York City with underage alcohol sales ... including these five in the East Village:

• St. Marks Convenience Inc., 31 St. Marks Place
• Ave A Deli & Grocery, 123 Avenue A
• Anwar Grocery (Pending license), 106 Avenue B
• Yoo's Convenience, 50 2nd Avenue
• C & B Grocery, 248 E 14th Street

Noted


Avenue A at 10th Street ... a fairly recent addition...

Saturday morning trends: Brown furry things stuck in trees

Last Saturday ...


Today on 13th Street near First Avenue...


What brown furry thing will we find stuck — or placed! — in a tree next Saturday morning?

Friday, March 2, 2012

My life as a dog


Earlier in Tompkins Square Park ... photo by Bobby Williams...