As Mars Bar disappears, an artist who lived across the street from the dive and was regularly featured on its walls is honoring its memory by selling t-shirts. Last year, Sergey Aniskov marked Christmas at Mars Bar by painting a mural of a booze-swilling anarchist Santa Claus (see it below). This year, he has printed the image on limited-edition t-shirts that are going for $22.99 on eBay and will also be sold, said the artist, at Reason Clothing at 436 East Ninth Street.

“I was a regular at Mars Bar for ten years,” said Mr. Aniskov, 41, who came to New York from Moscow in the 1990s and now works at Animation Collective. “It was the place where you went when you were really having problems. You knew you’d find good company and get good feedback from the real people and the real East Village. I felt like I had to do this as a memory.”

Anji Shirai

Mr. Aniskov said that at the recommendation of ABC No Rio, he had the shirts made at Eisner Brothers on the Lower East Side, where he now lives. He said he was planning to donate all profits to Inkwell Foundation, where he volunteers providing therapeutic drawing sessions for hospitalized children.

“I didn’t really understand how difficult it was going to be when Mars Bar was gone,” said Mr. Aniskov. These days, he seeks good company at Lucy’s and Sophie’s.