Hassan Memorial

I was walking down Avenue C this past Sunday, when I saw this makeshift memorial in front of the beloved Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space:

Makeshift memorial.

I didn't know who it was for, but when I saw this sign on the door leading into the beloved C-Squat, I knew I would soon find out.

C-Squat.

It was for Hassan, aka Jerrold Heiserman:

Don't shoot!

A close-up shows the inside of one of the squat rooms:

Inside a squat room.

It's not at all what I would expect a squat room to look like! Where are the bottle caps? Where are the nodded-out punks? And check out that office-style drop ceiling.

It's like the television commercial; It's not your father's squat room!

#eastvillage #avenuec #csquat #hassan #jerroldheiserman #memorials #museumofreclaimedurbanspace #signs #squatters

East Village Yesterday

Writing a blog about the East Village today sometimes means that you have to write about the East Village — not just yesterday, but — decades ago.

Decades!

Such is the case with last night's gallery opening at the beloved Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, on Avenue C.

The show was titled: "Taking It To The Streets! The Art + Design of Posters and Flyers on the Lower East Side in the 80s + 90s".

I got there just in time to be the first — and for a while, the only — person in the room!

At least I was able to get pictures of the posters:

Posters on the wall.

…stencil paintings on the floor:

Stencils painted on the floor.

…signs on the back wall:

Signs on the back wall.

…and a cardboard tank, which I think is part of the permanent exhibit:

Part of the permanent exhibit.

I stayed for about twenty minutes, thinking more people would show up, but no one did, so I went outside and sat on the bench and read the show's Playbill.

Fortunately I ate at home before attending, because there was no food — not even beer!

How do you reminisce about the bad old days without beer?!

#eastvillage #artgalleries #avenuec #flyers #morus #museumofreclaimedurbanspace #posters #signs

Posters and Flyers

Hot on the heels of last night's gala at the beloved ILevel is tonight's soirée at the beloved Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS), on Avenue C, called "Taking It To The Streets! [exclamation point theirs!] The Art + Design of Posters and Flyers on the Lower East Side in the 80s + 90s".

That's a long title!

Here is information about tonight's event, once again in the form of a screen shot taken from their web site:

I doubt the food will be anywhere near as good as ILevel's!

Other than that, I don't know what to expect — posters and fliers from when your grandparents were kids?

I'll keep you posted!

#eastvillage #avenuec #museumofreclaimedurbanspace #artgalleries #morus

Abandoned Couch

I was walking across East 4th Street yesterday, when I saw this couch, which someone abandoned on the sidewalk outside Orchard Alley community garden:

Abandoned couch.

Last night, Orchard Alley hosted the first film of a festival sponsored by the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space. The name of the film-festival is "I (Heart) NRCHY"!

The arrival of this couch couldn't have been timed better — East Village anarchists love found objects! I bet they took it inside the garden and had a front-row seat for the movie!

Down in front!

#eastvillage #filmfestival #abandoned #couches #orchardalley #communitygarden #museumofreclaimedurbanspace #4thstreet

More Open Doors

As you know, East Villagers love to leave their  doors open! This is the door at Le Jardin, on Avenue C (Rue C — trés French!):

Open door at Le Jardin, on Avenue C.

What's strange about this place is that there is a staircase! I wonder where it goes?

Staircase inside Le Jardin.

Up, no doubt! But to the restaurant? Probably not.

This plywood door was open too, leading into a vacant lot:

Another open door.

Here's a closeup of inside:

Closeup inside the vacant lot on Avenue C.

There so many things to see in the East Village that aren't in the guidebooks!