Mosaic Trail Update

I was walking up Avenue A yesterday, when I noticed a recent addition to the mosaic on the lamppost on the park side of St. Mark's Place — East Village celebrities!

Many East Village celebrities are very obscure, so even I don't know all of them!

This first group has Ray Alvarez, famous for being the owner of the beloved Ray's Candy Store (top right, under the dog):

The only one I know here is Shawn Chittle, famous for being a commenter on a local blog (bottom right):

What's this?! Noooo!

Once again, I am honored — honored! — to be honored on the Mosaic Trail:

If you know who some of the other celebrities are, leave a comment!

#eastvillage #avenuea #mosaics #mosaictrail #rayalvarez #rayscandystore #shawnchittle #stmarksplace #tompkinssquarepark #lampposts

Premises Monitored

I was walking down Avenue B yesterday afternoon, when I passed by the former space of the once-beloved Tu Casa, now an empty space preparing for new occupants, and saw this sign:

Notice sign.

"Oh my," I thought. "Am I on candid camera?"

But no, I wasn't:

No camera here.

Or here.

Once the cameras are installed, the sign will probably come down — you can't very well announce that you're secretly videotaping someone… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #avenueb #videocameras #signs #surveillance

Photographing & Filmmaking

Yesterday was such a nice day in the East Village that it seems every photographer and filmmaker was out photographing and film-making!

This group of filmmakers was making a film on East 4th Street, in front of the Secret Garden at Avenue C:

Making a film on East 4th Street.

Further up Avenue C, at East 6th Street, this group of photographers and models was photographing and modelling clothes:

Photographing and modelling.

Here they are from a different angle:

A different angle.

An edgy background for edgy clothes!

East Villagers love to take advantage of unseasonably-warm weather to squeeze out the last drop of creative juice, before hibernating all Winter!

#eastvillage #4thstreet #6thstreet #avenuec #filmmakers #models #photographers #secretgarden

East Village Dilemma

For East Villagers standing at the corner of Second Avenue and East 9th Street, who need to go to a local Chase ATM, there is a real dilemma: which branch to use?!

To the left, there is the beloved branch at East 10th Street:

Beloved Chase branch at Second Avenue and East 10th Street.

To the right, there is the beloved branch at St. Mark's Place:

Beloved Chase branch at Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place.

It's like the Rebecca Black song: Which one do I choose?!

However, this dilemma won't exist for much longer — the beloved branch at St. Mark's Place is closing soon:

ATM screen inside beloved St. Mark's Place Chase branch.

The East Village is in danger of becoming an under-served neighborhood!

#eastvillage #10thstreet #9thstreet #atms #chase #secondavenue #stmarksplace #underserved

#Gas

Ever since the explosion on Second Avenue (March 26), gas has become a trending topic!

Surviving building, last April.

The beloved Stage Restaurant, across the street from the explosion, is closed and being sued by the building owner for tampering with the gas lines:

Closed and being sued.

The beloved Nino's Pizza, on the corner of Avenue A and St. Mark's Place, is closed due to a gas leak:

We are close.

Even the recently-opened, beloved Black Seed Bagels, on First Avenue, was having gas problems last Sunday:

It gives a whole new meaning to the expression "Now you're cooking with gas!"… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #blackseedbagels #eastvillageexplosion #firstavenue #gas #gasline #ninospizza #secondavenue #signs #stagerestaurant

No Dumping

East Villagers love their community gardens — no one would ever think of dumping in one!

So it seems unnecessary to post a No Dumping sign on the fence of El Jardin del Paraiso, on East 4th Street, yet here it is:

No Dumping sign.

Besides, why would someone haul their refuse further than they need to? Curbside is much closer:

Curbside dumping.

Some freegan will scoop up these valuables in no time, garbage bags and all.

Waste not, want not… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #4thstreet #communitygardens #dumping #eljardindelparaiso #litter #signs

The Sculptor of St. Mark's Place

Back in June, I posted a picture of a tiny ceramic head on a rail that I saw on St. Mark's Place.

Today, I passed by this location again and per chance saw what I'd say has never been seen before — the door was open:

Door open.

Naturally, I had to have a picture of that! But what happened next almost stopped my in my tracks — inside this open door was a sculpture studio, with the sculptor himself busy at work:

The sculptor himself.

Another first… in the East Village Today!

#eastvillage #ceramics #sculptor #stmarksplace

100 Avenue A Elevator

East Villagers are excited about the new building being built at 100 Avenue A!

Here is a video of the construction elevator going up, carrying supplies to the construction workers above:



Going up!

#eastvillage #avenuea #constructionsites #constructionworkers #elevators

Tree Leaning

East Villagers are accustomed to leaning trees in this neighborhood — it's not as common to see someone leaning against a tree!

I took this picture while walking through Tompkins Square Park, back in the middle of August:

Leaning against a tree.

My first though was that she was trying to absorb tree energy!

According to whacked-out-loony.com:

Trees [...] have excellent grounding energy. Their vibrations are slower, deeper and more concentrated compared to some other living things. [...] By coming into contact with a tree you will pick up these vibrations whether you are consciously aware of it or not. You begin to resonate with the tree’s energy and you become more centered and grounded.

Then again, maybe she was just scratching her back!

#eastvillage #tompkinssquarepark #trees

Motorcycle Down

I was walking up lower Avenue A earlier this week, when I saw this overturned motorcycle, at the intersection of East 5th Street:

Overturned motorcycle.

It's a good thing it was covered — at least the paint won't be scratched!

#eastvillage #avenuea #5thstreet #motorcycles