Skateboarder

Even though I'm shooting videos now, I still have the still photographer's eye. I'm not drawn to motion, but to color (and bad kerning!).

So it was not the movement of this skateboarder, nor the fact that he was carrying something, that caught my eye, but the fact that what he was carrying was the same color as his pants, shirt, and shoes!

This is outside the beloved DF Mavens, on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place:


Ramming speed!

#eastvillage #stmarksplace #secondavenue #skateboarder #dfmavens

Caged Flowers

I'm not sure why someone would put their flowers behind wire, but here they are, right on St. Mark's Place:


Maybe it's to stop those pesky bees from alighting on them!

In any case, now you can experience both the flowers and St. Mark's Place, through the modern wonders of video!

#eastvillage #flowers #stmarksplace

Lost Dog Vivian

There seems to be a rash of lost cats and dogs recently in the East Village, or at least a rash of lost cat and lost dog signs!

This is a lost dog sign I saw last night, when walking across St. Mark's Place:



I always wanted to get a long little doggy! (Note: I did not take Vivian.)

#eastvillage #signs #stmarksplace #lostdog

The Breaks

I was walking down Avenue B this evening, and street after street was blocked off with orange cones!

Just my luck, I thought. They're shooting A.K.A. Jessica Jones again, and this time I have a video camera!

But no, it was something called The Breaks, by Robert Smith, formerly of The Cure.

Here is what a scene from this TV show or movie might look like:


East Villagers love a good car chase!

#eastvillage #6thstreet #avenueb #thebreaks

Very Large Array of Citibikes

I was walking down East 7th Street this past Wednesday evening (literally, as you'll see!), when I saw this very large array of Citibikes outside the beloved Yuca Bar:



If only parking a car were this easy!

A chicken in every pot, and a Citibike in every station… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #citibike #avenuea #7thstreet #yucabar

Dog Trainers

East Village dog-owners are probably the most conscientious dog owners in the city. Not only do they clean up the dog's poop, but they train the dog to fetch, to roll over, all sorts of things!

What's more, they do it in public, so anyone who wants to can walk up to them and give them their opinions, on anything at all!

Here are some public dog-trainers, in Tompkins Square Park, this past Wednesday:



Good boy, Rover! Here's a biscuit!

#eastvillage #tompkinssquarepark #dogs

Type O'Writer

When I first announced that I was going to post videos until I have a new camera, I posted a picture of some type of shed in Tompkins Square Park.

It turns out that it's not just some type of shed, it's some Typing Shed!

Witness:



The entire area was filled with the clackety-clack of the keys striking the platen!

So if you have a short story idea that you've been itching to get onto paper, run! don't walk! to the typing shed in Tompkins Square Park in, as always… the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #tompkinssquarepark #typingshed

Pirate Wind Chimes

It seems that every time I pass the pirate's cove on Second Avenue and East 7th Street, there's a new addition to the arrangement.

This past Wednesday, it was wind chimes:




It's reasonable to expect the wind chimes to chime in the wind, when watching them on video, but there was no wind!

Yo ho ho — East Villagers love wind chimes!

#eastvillage #secondavenue #7thstreet #windchimes #jollyroger #pirates

Noisy Machine

Not every moment in the East Village is a Charles Kuralt moment. Oh no — some are quite the opposite!

Like this noisy machine on East 9th Street and First Avenue, yesterday:



The East Village Charles Kuralt… that could be my new calling!

#eastvillage #firstavenue #9thstreet

Taxis and Trucks Turning

While I'm transitioning from a still camera to video, I am seeing what works and what doesn't. This video should have been a few seconds longer!

Still, everything is genuinely East Village, like… taxis and trucks:



It's one thing to look at a picture of a taxi, even when not abstracted from its environment — it's quite another to watch the same taxi turn the corner… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #stmarksplace #avenuea #taxis #trucks

East Village Wildlife

Sometimes when I walk around the East Village, I think of CBS News Sunday Morning, with Charles Kuralt, that I used to watch. Sometimes, it's birds chirping in a garden, other times, animals scurrying around inside the park. Naturey stuff!

This was one of those Charles Kuralt moments, yesterday, in Tompkins Square Park:



East Villagers love reminiscences!

#eastvillage #tompkinssquarepark #pigeons #rats

The Long Hallway

As you know, East Villagers love to leave their doors open. Now that I'm shooting videos, you get to see what some of these the way I see them!

Here's one, on First Avenue:



It's such a long, narrow hallway — it's almost like the one in The Wizard of Oz!

#eastvillage #opendoors #firstavenue

First Flight Music Propeller

If you have ever seen a picture of the beloved First Flight Music, on First Avenue, you may have wondered if the propeller in the window is just a prop, or if it's just a prop and moves!

Now that I'm shooting videos instead of taking pictures, you no longer have to wonder:



You're welcome!

#eastvillage #firstflightmusic #firstavenue

A Stump and Some Sticks

You might wonder why so many of my pictures are inside Tompkins Square Park. Well, it's because there's always so much to see there! How's that for an answer?!

Like this:

A stump and some sticks.

Around about twenty days ago is when this tree massacration took place. To my knowledge, there were no ceremonies held to honor this beloved tree: no clowns, no kneeling and kissing the dirt, nothing.

Strange, no? All trees are equal, but some are more equal than others… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #tompkinssquarepark #trees #dendrolatry

The Lone Citibike

Sometimes people say to me, they say: Hey East Village Today, does the East Village ever remind you of the wild, wild west?

And I tell them: Yes siree, bucko!

Here is an example: a Citibike at the curb, just as a horse would be hitched up to a hitching post outside a cantina:

Lone Citibike.

This Citibike is parked outside either the beloved Asian Body Work or the beloved Physical Graffitea, on St. Mark's Place, on a Sunday morning in early June.

The East Village is like a ghost-town on Sunday mornings in early June — all that's missing are the tumbling tumbleweeds!

#eastvillage #citibike #stmarksplace #asianbodywork #physicalgraffitea

The Odd Couple

Before I move on to posting videos, I have a few somewhat-recent pictures I haven't posted yet!

I was walking through Tompkins Square Park about, oh, ten days ago, when I passed by this scene:

The odd couple.

You see these things (guy in all-black, slouched over; guy in Ralph Lauren outfit, texting) by themselves all the time, but I don't think I've seen them together… in the East Village… ever!

#eastvillage #tompkinssquarepark #allblack

Now With More Video!

It's possible that at one time or another, I mentioned that the camera I used for East Village Today did not belong to me. Well, the time finally came when the owner requested the camera back.

I have another, that's not as good, but will certainly suffice, and another still that's much better, but is missing the battery charger.

So until I buy a new battery charger, I'm thinking that I will switch to — hold onto your hats!… video!

Won't that be cool?! Instead of static images of the East Village, you can view animated images!

So stay tuned!

In the meantime, here's a picture of a shed in Tompkins Square Park:

Shed, in Tompkins Square Park. 

#eastvillage #tompkinssquarepark #video #eastvillagetoday

Polished Rock Bike

East Villagers love to decorate — they'll decorate anything!

One clever East Villager even decorated this bike, that I saw on Avenue C:

Decorated bike.

Here is a close-up:

Close-up.

It just goes to show you what a little imagination, polished rocks, and glue can do… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #avenuec #bicycles #art

Pirate Humor

Second Avenue is becoming a virtual pirate's cove! First the Jolly Roger flying from no. 125, now this:

Pirate cartoon.

I don't get it.

East Village pirates are not known for their sense of humor!

#eastvillage #secondavenue #pirates

Guitar Sales Expert

The East Village is home to many important people. One of them is the guitar sales expert:

Guitar sales expert.

And what does the guitar sales expert want?:

"I just want to be wonderful."

The guitar sales expert, leading the way to wonderfulness… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #3rdstreet

The Stump Patch

Not every tree in Tompkins Square park is a rescue tree. Some are stumps:

Stump patch.

If you would like to visit the stump patch, enter the park at Avenue A and East 7th Street. The stump patch is on your left at the first sidewalk intersection.

Make sure to bring old crusts of bread with you, to feed the pigeons!

#tompkinssquarepark #pigeons #avenuea #7thstreet

Virtually Hands-Free

East Villagers are busy people — they do not like to waste time.

And fires are such a nuisance! That's why this East 3rd Street fire escape ladder was lowered:

Ladder lowered, in case of fire.

Since many of the buildings in the East Village are virtual tinderboxes, you can never be too careful! With all the things you have to take with you in case of a fire: your electric guitar, your leather jacket, your smart phone, your drugs… who has time, or the free hands, to lower the ladder?

The East Villager's motto is: Be Prepared!

#3rdstreet #fireescapes

The Branch

As I've mentioned before, East Villagers love trees, to the point of worshiping them! They are against any tree being removed or even trimmed — everything must be allowed to fall as nature intended it.

Fortunately, no one was near this enormous branch when it fell, this past Sunday, as nature intended it:

Enormous fallen branch.

Here is a close-up of where it separated:

Point of separation.

I don't know if a ceremony is being planned for the fallen branch, but I'm sure it will be something special to behold… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #trees #dendrolatry #tompkinssquarepark

Wacky Car

East Villagers love unusual things, like this car I saw on East 4th Street:

Unusual car.

You can't really tell at this distance what all of those things are decorating the fender and (what do you call that thing?) gas-cap cover.

Here is a close-up:

Close-up.

Eventually, when the owner buys enough Wacky Package stickers, he'll be able to cover another section of the car!

Keeping the East Village wacky, one step at a time!

#eastvillage #coolcars #4thstreet #wackypackages

Kunta

Kunta!

Kunta.

That is all.

#eastvillage #kunta #graffiti #3rdstreet 

Fore!

I was riding my Citibike down Second Avenue the other day, when what should I see but a water hazard by the curb with… a golf ball:

Golf ball.

You might not think so, but East Villagers are avid golfers — there's almost nothing an East Villager loves more than to spend the day at the beloved golf course!

So be careful when crossing the street, that you don't step on a golf ball and twist your ankle… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #secondavenue #golf

No Smoking in the Hookah Bar

If there's anything East Villagers love, it's hookahs, drinks, food, DJs, and belly dancers, in that order!

To satisfy their cravings, they go to the beloved Horus Cafe, on Avenue B and East 6th Street:

The beloved Horus.

There's just one catch:

No smoking.

Puzzling times, indeed… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #horuscafe #avenueb #6thstreet #hookahs

a / backwards-a

As you probably already know, the East Village is full of artists. They're everywhere — you can't walk down the street without bumping into one!

So it should come as no surprise, walking down St. Mark's Place, to see a mural where there was no mural before:

Mural.

There doesn't seem to be a message to it — it's one of those art-for-art's-sake pieces that are very popular… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #stmarksplace #art #murals

Bus Shelter Ad

I've passed by this advertisement, on the outside of a bus shelter on First Avenue, a few times now. When I first saw it, I thought to myself: Only a crazy person would ever read all of this:

First Avenue bus-shelter advertisement.

It was probably one of those cases where the advertiser is contractually bound to produce a certain number of ads in a certain period of time, and the East Village had space available.

But still, whose idea was this, to slap a picture of a Leonard Cohen look-alike onto the drug-facts insert?

I wonder how this works in a magazine?!

#eastvillage #firstavenue #advertising #busshelters

Special-Needs Bench

You may have seen tattoo people before. Some of them get tattoos over their whole body — even their backs!

So when they come out of the beloved Fine Line Tattoo on First Avenue, for example, they can't very well sit down and lean back like you or me. For those people, there is the backless bench:

Backless bench.

Everyone is accommodated… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #finelinetattoo #firstavenue

No More Graffiti

Back in October, I took a picture of all of the graffiti on the beloved Oda House restaurant, on Avenue B and East 5th Street. It was a scribbly mess!

About a week ago, I passed by there again, only to find that the graffiti is gone!

Graffiti gone.

They painted the column black, too — the way East Villagers love!

It's the best of both worlds… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #avenueb #odahouse #5thstreet #graffiti

East-Village-Today-Colored Creme Wafers

This past Saturday, I was at the beloved New York Village Deli, on First Avenue, where I first discovered the Minion Twinkies East Villagers are so crazy about.

While milling about, waiting for my bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll to be finished, I spotted this:

East-Village-Today-colored creme wafers.

East-Village-Today-colored creme wafers!

The coolest creme wafers, for the coolest neighborhood!

#eastvillage #newyorkvillagedeli #firstavenue #ladylinda

Down Town Bakery II

The beloved Down Town Bakery II is a Mexican food place on First Avenue, specializing in burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and tamales. They're not as good as the beloved Puebla Mexican Food, a couple of blocks south, but since Puebla closed, Down Town has the advantage!

Unfortunately, they also have a messed-up awning:

Messed-up awning.

Here's the view from across the street:

Across the street.

It's the look that makes the East Village famous!

You may have noticed that in the first picture (taken in March), the awning to the left of Down Town is red, and in the second picture (taken this past weekend) it's white. Fancy Juice has replaced whatever it was that was there before.

Another day, another beloved store…

#eastvillage #downtownbakeryii, #firstavenue, #fancyjuice, #pueblamexicanfood

Bites

One of the booths at the Second Avenue Festival yesterday was a food vendor called Bites. I'm giving them their own mention because their wares were so tasty!

This woman, with a shark hat on her head, was offering samples of… shark!

Turning the tables.

"Do you have any dolphin?" I asked her. 

"No, just shark," she said. I took a sample. It was good!

"I can tell that the last thing this shark ate before he was caught was… a dolphin."

"Really?" she said.

"No, just kidding," I said.

It's a family and friends operation. They don't have a restaurant, but they'll be at the street fairs this Summer. So check them out! Free samples to all East Village Today readers, while supplies last!

Second Avenue Festival

Yesterday was the annual Second Avenue Festival, on Second Avenue. There was something to purchase for everyone!

Instead of describing it, I'm going to let the pictures do the talking!

The view up Second Avenue.

Smoky chicken vendor:

"Would you like some smoke with that?"

Schmatas:

East Villagers love schmatas!

Have you ever seen so many cellphone covers?! Only in the East Village!

A cellphone cover for every occasion.

Pickle Me Elmo?

"But are they $4.00 for 80 ounces?"

Panama hats, from Ecuador:

For the spiffy East Villager!

Old things! Get your old things!

Vendor not for sale.

Finger puppets!

Oh, look: didn't you say you wanted to buy some finger puppets?

LPs:

Didn't I see these on East 7th Street last week?

All the way from Brooklyn:

Mmmm! Dough!

Rockstars are revolting!

"I have to get a picture of this for my blog."

Lemonade:

If life gives you lemonade, drink it!

Belts:

So many choices!

More finger puppets!

You can never have too many finger puppets.

Nail polish:

For after your finger puppets!

That's it, a stroll down Second Avenue.

Saving New York… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #secondavenue #streetfairs #savenewyork

My My, Hey Hey

It's hard to walk through Tompkins Square Park in the Summertime and not find some type of seriously-cool event taking place.

As I passed through yesterday, I saw this band playing:

Brought to you by Budget: Make The Better Move.

I told a friend of mine that they reminded me of early Hawkwind, but I'm going to revise that now to 801's live version of Third Uncle.

All of this is to say they were really good — I wish I could remember their name!

Naturally, the East Village crowd didn't dance. The guy at the bottom left, who you may remember from the Memorial Day Punk Rock Extravaganza, took not-dancing to a new level:

A new level.

A good time was had by all… in the East Village Today (yesterday)!

#eastvillage #tompkinssquarepark #musicians

Record Sale

Every picture tells a story, doughnut.

What do you think the story behind this sign is? Think about it before you scroll down.

Record Sale sign.

Here's the story: The resident of 202 East 7th Street is a guy who still has a lot of the accumulated remains of his younger days, pre-girlfriend! (Do you see where this is going?)

Guess who's moving in?! Congratulations, you two!

East Villagers are clever (this was probably her idea!): since they have to carry this stuff down to the curb anyway, why not make a few bucks? Sit outside on a nice day, have some sandwiches and lemonade, talk about what color you're going to paint the living room… Whatever doesn't sell just gets picked up by the garbage man in the morning!

East Villagers love a happy ending!

#eastvillage #7thstreet #avenuea #stoopsale #signs

Cheepy Cheep

I was walking across East 3rd Street the other morning, on my way to the subway, when I saw this new addition to the graffiti wall in front of Los Amigos Garden (that's Spanish for The Amigos Garden!):

Colorful worm.

It has a name, or something:

Cheepy Cheep.

The early bird gets the cheepy cheep… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #3rdstreet #theamigosgarden #communitygardens #graffiti

Found Money

You've heard of gaydar? Well, I have moneydar! I can spot a bill of any denomination in any direction under any conditions! If Waldo was a banknote, in the "Where's Waldo" books, I would spot him instantly!

"There he is." (Turn the page.) "There he is." (Turn the page.) "There he is."

I was walking down Avenue C the other day, approaching the East 5th stop of the M9 bus, when… ZOOP! I saw it:

Moneymoneymoney.

It turned out to be $10, so I bought a box of Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, vanilla/chocolate combo, and had change left over!

East Villagers love free low-fat ice cream!

#eastvillage #avenuec #foundobjects #money

Lost Collar-Stay

Every now and then, for reasons too numerous to enumerate, instead of walking or riding a Citibike, I must take the subway to work. It seems onerous at the time, but this time it worked in my favor!

I was on the uptown platform of the Second Avenue F train a couple of mornings ago, when I saw this:

A collar stay.

For those who don't know, collar stays are smooth, rigid strips of metal, horn, baleen, mother of pearl, or plastic, rounded at one end and pointed at the other, inserted into specially made pockets on the underside of a shirt collar to stabilize the collar's points. The stays ensure that the collar lies flat against the collarbone, looking crisp and remaining in the correct place. It is an essential accessory!

East Villagers love their collars to look crisp and remain in place!

#eastvillage #ftrain

Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

I was walking down East 7th Street yesterday, when my heart suddenly froze.

The beloved Tink's was closed:

The beloved Tink's, closed.

I don't mean not open, I mean closed for good!

It seems like only… seven weeks and two days ago, that I was photographing their outdoor seating!

But then I remembered: You can bring Tink's back, if you only believe!

As the sign on the door says: Stay Tune!

Sign on the door.

#eastvillage #tinks #7thstreet