Scenes from Sandy Sunday morning

...and from the EVG Twitter account...

Tompkins Square Greenmarket open on A. twitter.com/evgrieve/statu…
— evgrieve (@evgrieve) October 28, 2012

Spot check: no line outside Trader Joe's on E14th, but 50-60 people waiting to check out.
— evgrieve (@evgrieve) October 28, 2012

Spot check: Food Emporium Union Square well-stocked and fairly empty. twitter.com/evgrieve/statu…
— evgrieve (@evgrieve) October 28, 2012

Most overheard observation so far this a.m: "The wind is starting to pick up." (and true)
— evgrieve (@evgrieve) October 28, 2012

Steamed on Avenue A and East 10th Street

Per EVG reader Chris this evening on Avenue A and East 10th Street...

Sounds like a jet engine up close — hear it really loud inside halfway down Ave A. Con Ed's got a truck there. Just seems like a lot of steam.

Accident on 9th Street and Avenue A this afternoon

Does anyone know what happened here...?

The EMTs wouldn't say at the scene...

Photos by Bobby Williams.

If you are looking to buy some candles...

...then let me recommend Santos Variety on Avenue C between East Sixth Street and East Fifth Street...

They have an excellent selection of Jesus spiritual candles between $2 and $9 depending on the size...

Even if you weren't buying to prepare for Sandy, it's a great little shop to appreciate... Oh, and it's a cash-only store. No credit cards.

If you don't like hurricanes, then move to...

As you may have heard, there's a storm on the way, and it looks to be a doozy. Per the Weather Channel:

Hurricane Sandy, moving north from the Caribbean, remained a Category 1 hurricane early Saturday, and was expected to make landfall Monday night near the Delaware coast.

"Do not focus on the intensity of the storm, it is a minimal category 1 hurricane right now, but certainly nothing like any category1 that we have seen," said Hurricane Specialist Carl Parker on The Weather Channel. "It is a very large storm, a hybrid storm, the area of strong winds is going to be absolutely enormous by the time it come into the northeast, and that’s why it is going to be a high-impact system."

Sandy is expected to interact with a pair of winter weather systems as it moves inland, becoming a monster storm bringing nearly a foot of rain, high winds and up to 2 feet of snow. Experts said the storm would be wider and stronger than last year's Irene, which caused more than $15 billion in damage, and could rival the worst East Coast storm on record.

Sounds bad, which is why I'm leaving now for Aspen. You can reach me courtesy of Don Johnson. Good luck! Let me know how it goes!

But seriously, we'll be around to pass along any pertinent storm information...

It has begun...

The pre-Sandy line at Trader Joe's this morning on East 14th Street... via @mattlehrer ...

Meanwhile, plenty of water this morning at Whole Foods Bowery via ‏@superterrific ...

Bomb Pop closing party tonight at Bullet Space

Between Avenue C and Avenue D... Costumes are encouraged for the party too.

There will be bloodwrestling tonight...

Via our friend Our Lady of Perpetual PMS and The Gorgeous Ladies of Bloodwrestling...

A few highlights:

7 pm: freaks & fiends mix & mingle for the last hour of the fantastic, cheap happy hour! Grab your poolside seat in the splatter zone!

8 pm: Showtime! Live bloodwrestling with ridiculous characters and vendettas, set to punk rock!

9 pm: Costume contest! Get creative or get bled on.

*Live half-time entertainment by JESSICA DELFINO, the Lower East Side's Queen of The Obscene & original dirty folk rock queen.

And per the invite:

NO COVER, NO ASSHOLES or DOUCHEBAGS!
This is a mixed event. Anyone interfering with the true spirit of fun and sports satire of our underground-themed events will be removed, possibly dismembered.

[Updated] Stray cat on East Seventh Street needs a home

A message from an EVG reader on East Seventh Street...

I have the sweetest cat hanging around my garden for a few days. Do you know anyone who would be interested in him? A young male... let's you rub his tummy and a real darling.

Serious inquiries only to the EV Grieve email

Updated 10-28

Per Dave on 7th: "The neighbor who was going to take the cat in for the storm took him to a vet ... and the vet found a chip with owner info on it." And the kitty and owner have been reunited...

Today in the El Sol Brillante Jr. Garden

Come to the light and dark side

Love And Rockets with "Yin And Yang The Flowerpot Man" circa 1986

Arcane back open tonight

An EVG reader notes that the French-Caribbean eatery at 111 Avenue C near East Seventh Street has reopened for tonight. On Wednesday morning, the body of co-owner Christine Ebel was discovered in a construction lot on East Seventh Street adjacent to the restaurant. Read more here.

This weekend: Tompkins Square Halloween Punk Concert

From the EV Grieve inbox...

Join us for a two-day Halloween festival on Saturday + Sunday, from 2 pm - 6 pm. Lots of bands, poetry and performers ...

Here's the latest line-up for Saturday, from 2 pm - 6 pm:

• The Purple Hearts (home-grown rockers, fronted by Joff Wilson)
• Gabriel Don (kick ass poetess with her poet posse)
• Rucjus Interruptus (old school LES rockers)
• Blue Berry High Heels (female rockers)
• Crusty P (female punk rapper)
• The Cynz (female punkers)
• And, we've got NICO (formerly of Leftover Crack + Star Fucking Hipsters)

Brought to you by The Shadow...

Last Unicorn tonight at the Pyramid

The third installment of Last Unicorn, an "artisanal dance night." (And maybe it will be the last with Sandy on the way...doom!)

Why yes — you can buy a $600,000 ticket to see the Rolling Stones in New Jersey

As you may have heard, The Rolling Stones — a popular music combo from England — are playing two dates in December at The Prudential Center in New Jersey. Tickets went on sale today at noon.

We talked to one EVG reader who was shut out of the sales.

But! Don't fret! There are plenty of tickets available on StubHub...

...where you can pay $600,000 for one General Admission seat.

Or, you could buy this cute little one-bedroom co-op on East Fifth Street with a private garden for $589,000...

Tough call?

Kitty almost kornered

We've noted the cat who has been living/hanging out in Tompkins Square... (here and here)...

Anyway, yesterday, two women attempted to lure the cat into a have-a-heart trap...

Bobby Williams, who took the photos, notes that the pair was not successful.

Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen facing eviction again on St. Mark's Place

Scoopy brings the troubling news in his column at The Villager this week: Whole Earth Bakery and Kitchen on St. Mark’s Place is facing eviction.

Owner-baker Peter Silvestri told Scoopy that business was down this past summer. And so, he fell behind in rent. The landlord sent him an eviction letter two weeks ago.

Part of the cause?:

It doesn’t help matters that the block is now lined with bars, 14 between Avenue A and First Ave., said Silvestri. “It changed the block. People come here for the bars now,” he said.

EVG favorite Whole Earth Bakery has faced eviction several times before. You can read the back story in this article from The Villager from 2007. Whole Earth has been at 130 St. Mark's Place since 1991. How much longer, unfortunately, seems in doubt.

Memorial grows for Christine Ebel outside Arcane on Avenue C

Here's the scene outside Arcane early this morning outside Arcane at 111 Avenue C. Arcane co-owner Christine Ebel reportedly died Tuesday night after falling from a balcony adjacent to the restaurant that she ran with her brother, Benjamin Alter.

Previous posts here ... and here.

3 views of Tompkins Square Park from a $5,900 apartment in the Christodora

A two-bedroom apartment in the Christodora House hit the market yesterday — $5,900. (Hurry, won't last!)

You can read about the apartment here. I just like the photos of the fall views of the Park/city that accompany the listing...

Rent for one year in this apartment is $70,800. As you may recall, the city sold the entire (bombed-out) building to a developer during a public auction in 1975 for $62,500.

Bonus look: Rooftop addition at 315 E. 10th St.!

Tompkins Square Park playground closed for repair for some reason

The playground on Avenue A and East Ninth Street in Tompkins Square Park has been closed all week for repairs...

[Bobby Williams]

[Steven Matthews]

[SM]

The sandbox has been closed for months here. (As previously noted, the Parks Department had closed the sandbox because of a recurring problem — the sharp lip is exposed when the sand level gets too low ... kids are apparently removing the sand for various reasons...)

We asked Chad Marlow, who helped launch the Tompkins Square Park & Playgrounds Parents' Association (TSP3A) in 2011, if he knew what was happening with the repairs.

"My hope is that, in addition to adding sand to the sandbox, they are trying to correct the structural flaw that regularly allows sand to clog the sprinklers," Marlow said. "When I passed by the other day it appeared the work was focused on major repairs/rennovations under the surface area between the sandbox and sprinklers."

The playground was closed for 11 months, reopening in July 2009, for a $1.5 million renovation.

Art house

Our friend THE NOTORIOUS L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N. sends along this photo noting a few recent art additions at the long-vacant 222 E. 13th St.

Some day, though, this will become the Bea Arthur Residence, providing housing for up to 18 homeless LGBT youth.

Today's sign of the apocalypse

A reader noted this scene earlier in the week:

I was walking on Ave C between 3rd and 4th St, there were two guys standing with a giant Brother Jimmy’s sign, leaning on the storefront about where Bedlam is. I should’ve taken a picture but didn’t think to at the time. Anyone know anything about a Bro J’s opening around here??

Perhaps the fellows were just going to going to work at the Union Square location on East 16th Street? We haven't heard this one. Seems possible, though not probable. Anyone hear anything about a BroJi's Brother Jimmy's opening around here?

Fists of FroYo

After walking by the 16 Handles on Second Avenue the last few weeks and seeing this... "Now handling: Fist Pumpkin" ...

I decided to see just what Fist Pumpkin meant. Seemed like something I'd find at Urban Dictionary... but, according to a 16 Handles news release:

16 Handles™ ... welcomes back seasonal favorite ‘Fist Pumpkin,’ a beloved, limited edition frozen yogurt designed to capture the spirit and flavor of the autumn harvest.

“Fist Pumpkin got its name from the reaction we saw when guests tasted this flavor—lots of excitement and even a little fist pumping,” said Solomon Choi, 16 Handles founder. “We’re excited to welcome Fist Pumpkin back into the mix and to reunite our brand fans with a flavor that they look forward to all year.”

So now you know too...

Fall Friday flashback: In the Associated water aisle

On Fridays this fall, and probably winter and spring and... we'll post one of the 12,000-plus EVG, uh, posts from yesteryear... a fitting one today, as we overly prepare for Hurricane Sandy, who may or may not strike these parts on Tuesday... this Hurricane Irene-related post is from Aug. 26, 2011...

----------

A few minutes ago at the Associated on 14th Street near First Avenue. By Shawn Chittle.

Batman returns

EVG reader Teeny passes along this Batman sighting ... he was driving the old-school, Adam West-era Batmobile here on East 12th Street and First Avenue...

"Glad to be back in Gotham City," he said, though this was before he saw the eviction notice at the batcave.

Perhaps part of the promo for the upcoming "Dark Knight Rises" DVD release?

(And where was he a few minutes ago?)

Reader report: iPhone snatching ends in chase, brawl

Tonight on Ninth Street and First Avenue...

@evgrieve iphone snatching on 9/1 ends in street chase/ brawlrandom guys helping her punched.. Phone recovered. Mugger(s) gone? Cops

— Robby O'Hara (@robbyohara) October 26, 2012

Anyone else witness this?

Reflection of the times

Avenue A and St. Mark's Place this evening. Headline and photo via Shawn Chittle.

Alternate headline:
I'll be your mirrors

Eviction notice for Soho Billiards

[Photo from 2011 via BoweryBoogie]

EVG regular Spike passes along this item (slightly outside our usual coverage zone) ... Spike noticed that Soho Billiard was closed yesterday ... and today, there's an eviction notice on the door... There's at least one tweet noting that they closed after Sunday. There's nothing to indicate this on their website; their phone number is a constant busy signal.

The billiards hall has been here at East Houston and Mulberry since 1990.

BoweryBoogie had this to say about them last year:

Soho Billiards is truly the last of a dying breed, and occupies what is now a substantial swath of valuable corner real estate. Nice to see this adaptation, as their presence is always a welcome counterweight to the massive invasion of haute couture.

A dying breed now dead, apparently.

A scene from the Union Square Citibank today

A man diligently counting and organizing mounds of pennies. Tough times. Per the reader who took the photo: "Poor guy is scraping pennies together and these clowns own half the city."

Today's sign of the TSP Ratstravaganza

A reader noted this scene earlier today... after the meals were served to those in need on Avenue A along Tompkins Square Park... the remains...

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Tompkins Square Park, by Bobby Williams]

The case for neighborhood groups having a larger role in liquor license decision-making (The Lo-Down)

Middle Collegiate Church hosting an "irreverently reverent gospel experience" (NY1)

1930s photo of the Second Avenue El in the East Village (BoweryBoogie)

A quick East 9th Street now and then (Flaming Pablum)

More about L'Apicio on East First Street (The Daily News)

Celebrating the first year at Sauce (Eater)

Cupcake trend coming to an end? (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Late 19th-century life of actors at Union Square (Ephemeral New York)

Vote in the Village Voice's 2012 Web Awards, including Meme of the Year, Best GIF and Best Neighborhood Blog (The Village Voice)

Suitor in line for Lucky Cheng's space

The November agenda is out for the CB3/SLA committee meeting... we'll highlight the docket in full a little later... (You can find it here for now.)

A few quick notes. The folks from the incoming Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken on East First Street are down for a beer-wine license.

Also, there's an unnamed suitor for the Lucky Cheng's space. (The cabaret is now open on Times Square.)

I asked Lucky Cheng's owner Hayne Suthon for an update on the space this morning, and she wasn't quite ready to divulge the To Be Determined. "Not sure. The attorneys are negotiating still — one main tenant with a back up," she said via email.

In an interview with Suthon on Oct. 12, Blackbook's Steve Lewis had this to sale about the evolution of Lucky Cheng's and what is next:

All was good until the neighborhood changed. The East Village/LES's conversion from hipster heaven to dormitories for slaves and students left them without their base. Bachelorette and birthday shindigs filled the Lucky Cheng’s room,and Hayne eyed the new Times Square. A year or two ago, I told everyone in town that her space was available and the best game in town. Now, operators are clamoring for it and deals are done... almost. Someone will make it nice for those who are now around. Money will be spent to pay for the rent, the renovation, and other things. The neighborhood can now support that. Whatever fabulous that comes in will set a bar... a tone for the area.

Noted

Spotted on East Seventh Street and Avenue B this morning by EVG reader Steven Matthews...