Sunday, September 23, 2012

When the Circus (Amok) came to town


Circus Amok is, according to their website, "a New York City based circus-theater company whose mission is to provide free public art addressing contemporary issues of social justice to the people of New York City."

And they brought their show to Tompkins Square Park this afternoon...




Photos by Bobby Williams. Lady Gaga jokes will not be accepted for the last two photos.

Cracked tree limb closes part of Tompkins Square Park


Ugh. As a precaution. Let's hope that the whole tree doesn't need to come down...


Photos by Bobby Williams.

Week in Grieview


An East Village artist is trying to keep the East River waterfront free of garbage and debris (Tuesday)

East Village down to its last gas station (Thursday)

7-Eleven opening at former Bar on A and Angels & Kings space (Wednesday)

Orchard Alley reopens (Monday)

City OKs plan for Mystery Lot development (Wednesday)

More and more progress at St. Brigid's (Monday)

Rainboots thief (Tuesday)

Union Market update (Monday)

A memorial at 236 E. 13th St. (Tuesday)

2 pizzerias down (Thursday)

Klean & Kleaner "ideal for a bar/restaurant" (Wednesday)

Dangling rat (Monday)

Looking at David Schwimmer's bricks (Tuesday)

The city really wants to evict Jerry Delakas (Monday)

Maybe I'm a star


East 10th Street between Avenue B and C this afternoon. Photo by Shawn Chittle.

[Updated] A nice day for skywriting

Can't quite tell what it says ... an EVG reader took these this afternoon...





Updated:

It was an anti-Romney message ... per Jersey Joe:

Earlier today, SABER took his messages against presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s position on cutting government subsidy programs supporting the arts to the skies over lower Manhattan.

h/t Fresh Paint NYC

The Obamas on East Sixth Street


Outside Eastern Bloc... these have been up for a few weeks since the Obama fundraiser... (you can read about it in The Washington Post ... and The Villager).



Just wanted the photos for the archives. Let me know if you spot any Romney posters up...

Heartless acts: Down-on-its-luck stuffed animal unstuffed, stuffed in trash

We noted this rather sad scene yesterday at Cooper Union... along the East Sixth Street side...

Flashback!


Well, prepare yourself for this. Spotted in the trash outside Sunny & Annie's on Avenue B and East Sixth Street this morning...


Village View flea market is today


10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the playground at East Fifth Street between Avenue A and First Avenue. Always good for a few finds.

Look back in angora


THE NOTORIOUS L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N. favorite Lana Del Rey Cemusa-ed on Second Avenue.

Oh, and on Avenue C...



Headline hat tip here.

Have you seen this dog that was stolen Friday night?

An EVG reader shared this photo ... She spoke to the woman who had the dog stolen Friday night on Seventh Avenue and West 19th Street...


"She tied him briefly and turned to tie her shoelace when some guy ran by, grabbed the dog, and took off. Distinguishing features are that he has an umbilical hernia (can be felt on his belly) and is missing a tooth in the front of his lower jaw. Needless to say, she's miserable about losing him."

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Days of wine and rain


At 10th Street and Avenue C this evening. Photo by Bobby Williams.

FAB on 4th

The Fourth Arts Block (FAB) held forth today on East Fourth Street during its annual arts extravaganza ... Here are three photos via Bobby Williams...




This likely makes sense to some city administrator

This past summer, workers tore up First Avenue between First Street and Second Street to put in sidewalk extensions (bus bulbs!) for the M15 and the Select Bus Service.

Flashback!


In August, the MTA added the M15 Select Bus ticket machines on First and First. All good, right?

Apparently not. Today, workers were back ripping up the freshly repaved Avenue...




A few vendors return to the Mary Help of Christians flea market

As you may recall, signs went up on Labor Day weekend announcing that the flea market in the Mary Help of Christians lot was ending its run ... and moving to the Immaculate Conception Church on East 14th Street and First Avenue in October.

However, as you may have noticed here on Avenue A at East 11th Street, a few vendors were around last weekend... and some more are back today...

[Photo by Shawn Chittle]

This bike got stripped this morning on East Seventh Street

Dave on 7th notes this .... At 8:40 a.m., this bike was intact on East Seventh Street. By 11 a.m., it wasn't ...



Reader report: Witnesses claim excessive police force following car accident on East 11th Street


Just before 6 this morning, witnesses say that the car photographed above slammed into two parked vehicles on East 11th Street after making the turn from Avenue C.

The man who crashed the car was allegedly drunk, according to witnesses.

Witnesses described the incident, in which NYPD officers allegedly slammed the driver's head into the ground multiple times. The 6-8 officers who responded to the scene also allegedly used pepper spray on the man who was already in handcuffs and on the ground, according to eyewitnesses. One person who watched this scene unfold described it as "particularly excessive" and "disturbing and unnecessary."



[Top photos by C. Ryan]

And here is the scene this morning... you can see the damage to two parked vehicles...

Tough times at Cooper Union

Friday, September 21, 2012

Wish fulfillment



Lee Ranaldo, here with "Off The Wall," is one of the many performers taking part in All Tomorrow’s Parties/I'll Be Your Mirror this weekend at Pier 36 on the East River. Ranaldo's band plays Sunday evening. (He had to cancel his set tonight with Leah Singer.)

The Lo-Down has a Q-and-A with festival founder Barry Hogan here. More festival info here.

Tomorrow in First Park: 'James Day,' benefit for 2 year old with cancer


From the EV Grieve inbox...

East Village Community to Hold Benefit for 2-Year Old Neighbor

A fundraiser, “James Day,” will take place tomorrow in First Park, located on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Houston Street, from 11 am to 4 pm to support James Panitz.

Shortly before his 2nd birthday this past spring, James was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer often found in children. He has been undergoing intensive chemo and radiation therapy, and while the results are encouraging, a long course of treatment remains ahead of him. The related medical expenses have been overwhelming for his family. In the hope of assisting with this family’s burden, a group of friends and neighbors from their East 1st St block, and beyond, are coming together to help.

James Day (which will take place on the same date as the Annual 1st St Block Fair) will be a “Family Fun Day.” There will be games & prizes for kids, “Hula Hoop” and dance performances, t-shirt decorating, face-painting, live music and a Silent Auction. The Brooklyn-based artist, Bishop203, has designed a special t-shirt for this event. Also, the Centre-fuge Public Art Project will be installing a new cycle of artwork and the artists will be on-hand to lend inspiration to t-shirt embellishment.

There will be no fees associated with participating in this event, rather donations will be gratefully accepted from those who wish to contribute. We welcome everyone to take part in a very special event and to support the tremendous courage of young James and his parents, as they battle his cancer.

Memorial for a fallen pigeon on First Avenue, perhaps

[Photo by Judy Murchison Bodor via Facebook]

Here we are at First Avenue at East Sixth Street. Spotted yesterday morning by Judy and her son on the way to school... which led to a discussion: Art project or Crazy Pigeon Lady (and I mean that in a nice way).

I'm going with art project. Anyone else?

Brother of Bendy Thing

[Via EVG reader Anna]

This morning on Seventh Street and Avenue A, where renovations continue at 130 East Seventh St. Per the DOB: "Convert portion of existing commercial building to general residential use on floors 4 thru 7 ... reconstruct portion of existing penthouse."

20 East Village bars and cafes to enjoy a football-free Sunday


As I first reported, the NFL season has started. OK, first things — the following isn't any kind of an anti-football post... I personally like football, and am rooting for the A's and Orioles to take the American League Wild Card spots. Anyone but the Patriots.

So, two-plus weeks into the NFL season, I've heard a few grumbles from people who don't care for being overrun by the jersey-clad set on Sunday afternoons/early evenings while out having a drink. (Or just trying to walk on the sidewalk.) Perhaps it's the barking. Or the matching his-hers NFL jerseys. Or the pre-Jäger shot Bro call. Or...

I've updated this post from January 2011... here is a list of a few bars/cafes (some may have TVs, but you likely won't find any sporting events on them...) where you should be able to enjoy a football-free existence for a few hours... (and what's with all the italics?)

• 2A, Avenue A
Boxcar Lounge, Avenue B
• B-Side, Avenue B
• Blackbird, Avenue B
Bua, St. Mark's Place
Burp Castle, East Seventh St.
• Coal Yard, First Avenue
• Fish Bar, East Fifth Street
HiFi, Avenue A
The International Bar, First Avenue
Jules Bistro, St. Mark's Place
KGB Bar, East Fourth St.
Lucien, First Avenue
• Max Fish, Ludlow
• Niagara, Avenue A
Otto's Shrunken Head, East 14th St.
• Scratcher, East Fifth St.
Swift Hibernian Lounge, East Fourth St.
Vbar, St. Mark's Place
• William Barnacle Tavern, St. Mark's Place

Please name other football-free bars-cafes in the comments. (Like The Library? Are they still only showing movies on the big screen in the back Sundays?) The above list isn't 100 percent comprehensive by any means... (and Hookah bars don't count...)

[P.S. Thanks to esquared for help with the list]

How hipsters can get paid for being hipsters


Spotted on First Avenue and East 13th Street. The Open Call is tomorrow from 2-4. (p.m.) And I have no idea what the overused term "Hipster" really means these days... and neither does the person who made these flyers.

Rent this Avenue D townhouse for $5,200 a month

[Via Google]

Here at 15 Avenue D, above Mom's Pizzeria, is a new listing for a 1,500-square-foot, three-floor townhouse that's renting for $5,200 a month. Per CitiHabitats:

MAGNIFICENT TOWNHOUSE STEPS FROM THE EAST RIVER! Enjoy COMPLETE PRIVACY, 3 floors of your own private space, a fully equipped windowed kitchen with a dishwasher, your private laundry room with a washer & dryer, exposed brick, hardwood floors, strolls along the river, and so much more!

And a few photos...






Kinda seems like a deal considering the dormy new units around the corner at 326-328 E. Fourth St. are going for as high as $8,000. And those units are apparently renting quickly.

And this is the rental world that we live in today. Where $5,200 on Avenue D seems like a deal.