Great Backdrop

After the formerly-beloved Maryann's Mexican Restaurant, on Second Avenue and East 5th Street, closed, another restaurant opened, the beloved Dahlia's.

In time, they closed too, paving the way for the beloved 100% Healthy Blend Juice and Salad Bar… which also closed.

Recently, I passed by this accursed location — this is what it looks like now:

Accursed.

With its scenes of blurry people, it makes a great backdrop for the beloved Southern Cross Coffee sign!

#eastvillage #forrent #southerncrosscoffee #signs #secondavenue #5thstreet

Alas…

As you may recall, back in September, the beloved Guaco Taco on East 2nd Street pretended to be open.

Sadly for all East Villagers, they never really did, before closing:

Formerly-beloved Guaco Taco space for rent.

Here is a close-up of the For Rent sign:

Close-up.

In the old days, that would have read: "Call Moe".

It just goes to show you, the more things change, the more they stay the same!

#eastvillage #2ndstreet #forrent #guacotaco #signs 

Tut Tut

I was walking across East 3rd Street this past Saturday, when I saw this "Store For Rent" sign hanging on the front of the formerly-beloved Tut:

Store For Rent.

It even comes with an A rating — East Villagers love A ratings!

#eastvillage #3rdstreet #forrent #signs #tut #sanitationinspectiongrade

TV Eye

I was riding my Citibike across East 6th Street recently, when I saw a news reporter from none other than Eyewitness News!

What had they witnessed, I wondered? I got off my Citibike to find out.

They were on the sidewalk in front of The Creative Little Garden, but the camera was facing away from it:

Camera facing away.

What was it aimed at?

The building across the street?

It was the building across the street — I was sure of it! I walked over to see what was so newsworthy.

I was not prepared for what I saw:

Apartments for rent.

East Villagers love apartments for rent!

#eastvillage #6thstreet #eyewitnessnews #forrent #creativelittlegarden

Store For Rent

I don't remember if I already posted a picture of this store for rent on East 7th Street. It's possible that I did. Just as it's difficult to remember what occupied a space once it's empty, it's also difficult to remember which empty spaces I've posted pictures of!

In any case, I'm sure I didn't post a picture of this empty store with a guy taking out his trash!

Store for rent, with guy taking out trash.

One thing is for certain: if I did post a picture of this store, I posted a picture of the inside as well:

Inside as well.

Look — a window in the back! Not the little square window all the way back, but the one on the left side, that opens into a pit.

Those pit windows help make the East Village what it is… Today!

#eastvillage #inside #windows #forrent #7thstreet