Nicole Guzzardi

It may be a couple of weeks before the cause of Christine Ebel’s death is known. A spokesperson at the city medical examiner’s office said further testing and investigation was necessary after an initial autopsy this morning.

In the meantime, a memorial has been set up in front of Arcane, the bistro Ms. Ebel owned with her brother, and neighbors continue to express shock and sadness over yesterday morning’s discovery of her lifeless body in a lot behind the restaurant.

Nicole Guzzardi

Juan Gordian, 75, has worked at Summit Bar (and Baraza before it) for the past 15 years. He remembered Ms. Ebel, who lived and worked a block away, riding her bike around the neighborhood and frequenting the weekend flea market on Eighth Street that he and his wife run. “She was beautiful and always smiling,” he said.

Employees of Esperanto restaurant, also down the block from Arcane on Avenue C, remembered Ms. Ebel as a bright presence in the neighborhood who traveled around the city taking photographs. “She would ride her bike and take pictures all over the East Village,” said an employee who did not want to be named, “and then at night she would dance. She never drank; she was just always happy.”

Nicole Guzzardi

The bike is now part of a memorial that includes candles, photos, and chalk messages in Spanish and English.

Zach Mack, 27, owner of Alphabet City Beer Co. on Avenue C, described Ms. Ebel as “extremely hardworking,” and said that neighbors had been in and out of the shop all day, talking about the loss.

“She is in the forefront of the neighborhood’s thoughts right now,” he said, “especially those who lived in these blocks, because she was ever-present.”

On Twitter, nightlife photographer Kenny Rodriguez wrote, “You are now amongst the angels and bathed in the sweet light of the creator.”

DNA Info also spoke to neighbors and colleagues. A handyman who performed work at Ms. Ebel’s apartment, located directly above Arcane, told the site, “She always had a smile on her face.”