Happy New Year, all! Barring breaking news, The Local will return next Tuesday. In the meantime, enjoy community contributor Tim Milk’s tale of a New Year’s Eve we can only hope to match.

Illustration: Tim Milk

“You’ve got to go,” my friend insisted. She thrust the invitation into my hand. New Year’s Eve, 1979: It was touted as the celebration to end all celebrations. The glitterati of the art scene were due to attend, as the hostess had connections to all the dealers, artists and buyers. As for myself, who was still quite new to New York, the specter of beautiful people closing in around me gave me the willies.

“Okay,” I said. “What will we wear?”

“Wear what you want. I’m not going. I’ve got a date. But you’re going,” my friend commanded. “Get out there. Do it! Meet people!” She then gave me that look. “Don’t you dare stay at home.”

I’m shy by nature, and this was especially true in my 24th year. Nonetheless, my courage was bolstered by the thought that there might be something to eat at this place. I may not always succeed in working the room, but eating is always an easy fait accompli.

Like any new-to-town rube, I arrived too early. Alone, I crossed a great empty ballroom, decorated like a sultan’s palace. This was clearly an affair for the fortunate few. Studding the walls were tables swathed with satin: the cocktail bar, the champagne station, and then the oasis where canapés and wine awaited. The hostess, in a glittering gown, was all hither and thither with last minute arrangements, so I was able to pass unobserved to the table of food.

“Felipe” was the name emblazoned on the tag of the fellow who was guarding the sumptuous spread. He looked me up and down and narrowed his eyes. Who let this scruffy punk inside?, they seemed to say. As I shrunk from his malevolence, the hostess called out, “Felipe! Quick! Over here!”

With a snort, Felipe departed, leaving the spread of goodies to tempt me. My hand drew close to snatch a morsel, when something suddenly took hold of my ankle. I jumped. Read more…

Daniel Maurer

Evan McKnight, who discovered on Christmas Day that his $1,100 bicycle had been stolen from his East 10th Street apartment building, has recovered the bike and will end the year on a positive note – though he’s out $50 that he spent printing “Stolen Bike” flyers plus $40 that had to be paid to the man who returned the custom wheels after seeing one of the flyers posted at a local shop.

Mr. McKnight said that yesterday evening, a man came into Continuum Cycles on Avenue B to buy a tire tube for a bike he had purchased on the street the previous night. He told the rest of the story in an e-mail to The Local.

On his way out of the shop he noticed one of my flyers. He gets home to his new bike and after deducing that he’s in fact purchased a stolen bike from the ‘homeless man’ he decides to bring it back to Continuum Cycles. He speaks with my friend Jeff and tells him he doesn’t want the reward money he just wants his $40 back. Jeff hands it over out of pocket, and sends me a text later that night to let me know he had my bike.

Jeff Underwood, the owner of Continuum Cycles, said that at least once a day, someone comes into his shop complaining about a stolen bike, and complaints about stolen parts are even more numerous. (The editor of this blog had his locked bike stolen on the Bowery last month, a couple of months after having to replace a stolen seat.) Read more…

New Year’s Eve is the worst night of the year to catch a cab  – reason enough for East Villagers to keep it local. And if you don’t live in the neighborhood? Well, some of these parties are worth crawling to.

Noah Fecks

Daniel Maurer

7A Café
Tapas menu, including sea scallops with chorizo ragout and herb polenta, and steamed mussels in a scallion, ginger, curry and coconut sauce. Midnight champagne toast. No reservations required. $6.95 and up, 109 Avenue A, (212) 475-9001.

Back Forty
Devour pigs-in-a-blanket, mini muffulettas, oysters and ceviche while a D.J. spins R&B, soul and funk. The party ticket also includes three drinks. 9:30 p.m., 190 Avenue B, (212) 388-1990; $115.

The Beagle
A four-course dinner that includes confit quail leg in sauerkraut mayo, cured scallop grits with dill and pomegranate, and short ribs. 162 Avenue A, (212) 228-6900; $65 or $85, plus tax. Read more…

Now that you’ve crossed the guys, the girls, and the geeks off your holiday shopping list, here’s what to get the wee ones.

Above:
1. Fly vs. Frog mittens, $28 – JellyFish New York (244 East 13th Street)
2. Boite à Outils children’s tool box, $32.99– Dinosaur Hill (306 East Ninth Street)
3. Franklin fat tie tee, $38 – Pink Olive (337 East Ninth Street)
4. Princess and The Pea bed set, $124 – Pink Olive (337 East Ninth Street)
5. Mr. Robot Head, $33 – Dinosaur Hill (306 East Ninth Street)
Read more…

In September, Bikram Choudhury, the founder of Bikram Yoga, filed a $1 million lawsuit against his former student Greg Gumucio, founder of the wildly popular Yoga to the People chain. Mr. Choudhury copyrighted his series of 26 poses and two breathing exercises in 2002, and he’s been known to sue people who infringe on it. The Bikram guru has said the poses were designed in a series for health benefits, and to effectively teach the courses, instructors must become certified, which costs $10,000. The million-dollar question: Can yoga be owned?

You already know what to get the get the guys (and the geeks) in your life. This one’s for the ladies.

Above:
1. Jumbo chocolate Buddha, $50 – Bond Street Chocolate (63 East Fourth Street)
2. Giles and Brother silver necklace, $84 – Oak (28 Bond Street)
3. Great Lake sand terrarium prism, $65 – Duo (337 East Ninth Street)
4. Collina Strada muff bag, $298 – Cloak and Dagger (441 East Ninth Street)
5. Two-tone belt, $38 – Pinky Otto (307 East Ninth Street)
Read more…

I was born in the East Village in the 1940s and lived here for most of my life. I was active in the East Village cultural scene, and tried my hand at acting and stand-up comedy for a time. When I started using photography as a medium of expression, it became second nature for me to document local history through my lens. Today, I host a public access TV show on Manhattan Neighborhood Network (M.N.N.) called “Harvey’s Earth and Beyond,” and many of my ideas for my show come from my performance days in the East Village.

I shot this photo of William Kunstler rallying at Cooper Union. He was one of the most celebrated civil rights attorneys, having headed up the A.C.L.U., defending the Chicago Seven, the Black Panthers, etc. He was a master at public relations, especially with the press. I believe this was one of his last appearances before he passed away.
Read more…

From zombies to yogis and from guitar orchestras to boom-box symphonies, the East Village has plenty to keep you (and the kids) in good cheer this holiday season. We’ll add more events as we hear about them – feel free to tip us off.

Courtesy of Merchants House Museum

SATURDAY, DEC. 17

“Tinsel Tunes by the Tinseltones”
Enjoy a century-worth of Christmas classics from the 1840s to the 1950s performed by members of the Bond Street Euterpean Singing Society. 7:30 p.m. Merchant’s House Museum, 29 East Fourth Street near Bowery, 212-777-1089, http://merchantshouse.org/calendar; $30.

“Christmas in NickyLand 2011”
Nicky Pariso will host a weekend of performances at one of the neighborhood’s only holiday cabarets. Special performances by Poor Baby Bree, David Cale, Ellen Fisher, Jon Kinzel & Vicky Shick, John Heginbotham, and many more. Saturday, 10 p.m.; Sunday, 5:30 p.m. The Club at La MaMa, 74A East Fourth Street between Bowery and Second Avenue, Second Floor, http://lamama.org/the-club/christmas-in-nickyland-2011/; $15.

“KIDS! Holiday Foods from Around the World”
Children ages 2-14 can learn the stories of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa through food at this event at Whole Foods. Young chefs will learn how to make popular dishes like potato latkes, chocolate eggnog floats, and African coconut cake. 12 p.m., different age groups start at different times. Whole Foods Market, 95 East Houston Street at Bowery, http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=224428; $30. Read more…

Yesterday, The Local shared some ideas for cheap gifts around the neighborhood. If you’re up for spending a little bit more for the man of – or men in – your life, today’s your day.

Above:
1. “Walls Notebook,” $16.95 – Exit9 Gift Emporium (51 Avenue A)
2. Bear shoe horn, $32 – Odin (328 East 11th Street)
3. Raw leather belt, $90 – Oliver Spencer (330 East 11th Street)
4. “Hang Over” flask, $50 – Reason Clothing (436 East 9th Street)
5. 100% baby alpaca queen-sized quilt, $525 – Seyrig (305 East 9th Street)

Read more…

Stephen Rex Brown

Seen a scene like this? Add it to The Local’s Flickr pool.

Even if you’re not a member of the “scene,” you may have seen the latex creations of The Baroness: one of her collars was worn in Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” video; Janet Jackson wore her shorts and sleeves in W magazine. And her angel and devil outfits appeared in a Campari ad.

When she first started working out of her East Village studio in 1995, The Baroness sold from her website. Now, she runs a store at 530 East 13th Street, between Avenues A and B, where you can get a miniskirt for $75, an inflatable straight-jacket for $1,200, or a custom outfit for up to $10,000.

“But this is not a sex shop,” said The Baroness (her last name is Varcra but she goes solely by what she said is now her legal first name). “This is a sensual boutique.”

If you’re shopping for a latex Mrs. Claus outfit, visit the store tonight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for her annual “lubricated shopping” holiday cocktail party and sale: light snacks, champaign, and 20% off. But first, watch The Local’s video as we accompany the designer and her latex-outfitted elves on their annual visit to Santa Claus at Macy’s Herald Square.

Haven’t started your holiday shopping yet? No worries. Everything that should be on your list can be found right here in the neighborhood. First up: The Local’s ten favorite gifts below the $50 mark, with more ideas to come.

1. Recycled-chain bottle opener, $9.95 – Sustainable NYC (139 Avenue A)
2. Mini coffee sampler, $24.99 – Porto Rico Importing Co. (40 St. Marks Place)
3. Flirt snap mittens (made local), $48.00 – Apartment 141 (141 East 13th Street)
4. Mobile Foodie Survival Kit, $32.95 –Lancelotti Housewares (66 Avenue A)
5. Brass & leather cuff, $27.00 – Soukou No.11 (320 East 11th Street)
Read more…

Daniel Maurer Seen on the Bowery.

Last month, Amber Tamblyn told The Local that she and her fiancée, comedian David Cross, planned to leave the East Village for Brooklyn at the end of this month. Mr. Cross has griped about changes in the neighborhood before: “A Subway Sandwich just opened up on Avenue B,” he told Bullett in August, “and a large frat/sports bar is coming to the old Café Charbon on Orchard and Stanton, so it’s truly time to go.”

Now he’s back at it, telling Gothamist:

I’ve been fed up with what’s going on for about five years. There are so many examples but let me just sum up. On Houston—I think between Second Avenue and Bowery, or maybe it’s Allen and Chrystie—there’s a big, huge 7-11 with big, beautiful 7-11 signs. [Ed: We think he’s referring to the one on Bowery.] There’s an IHOP on 14th Street, Subway sandwiches all over the place. The thing is, I left Atlanta a long time ago and I’m spending way too much money to live in Atlanta again, you know?
Read more…

Stephen Rex Brown Dina Leor holds a statue of La Virgen de Guadalupe.

As devoted Catholics all over the world celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe, one local has a unique reason to rejoice. Dina Leor, the owner of the Mexican memorabilia store La Sirena, had a religious experience with the icon 19 years ago while traveling in Mexico City.

Stephen Rex Brown One of the many images of La Virgen inside La Sirena.

“I still feel the same connection that I did in Mexico City,” said Ms. Leor. “I’m getting goose bumps now telling it.”

It all began when Ms. Leor decided to drop into a church in the capital city. While sitting in the pews, a light at the end of a nearby hallway caught her eye. She followed it, and at the end of the hallway was a painting of La Virgen de Guadalupe. The rays of light around the figure began to radiate and then emerged from the picture to surround Ms. Leor. The experience happened in a flash, but it has never left her.
Read more…

1st Avenue near 12th Street

These photographs are excerpted from a series called “The Paradox of Identity.” It is a work in progress and it has been for a while (since 1985). It is first referred to in my journal as “The Pigeon Project” and later on became “If You Can Name It…”

I am naturally suspicious of grand names for things, so I need to explain: We don’t have a big sky in New York City, so the intersection of sky and city is a big part of looking up around here. I have for some reason been drawn again and again to the sight of a patch of sky etched out by the buildings enclosing it, and the fleeting glimpse of a pigeon entering or leaving. I always feel a brief pang of want when I see it: “If I could only fly like a bird; if I could only be free…of myself.” Read more…

Stephen Rex Brown Mosaic Man’s “fellow conspirator,” Al Bonsignore, sports the signage.

Stephen Rex Brown Jim Power supervises the installation of the new sign.

The Mosaic Man Jim Power is currently presiding over the installation of the new signage for The Bean cafe at Second Avenue and Third Street.

The letters, along with an abstract tiling, look to be one of the larger works Mr. Power has done recently.

“Man, we’ve been working round the clock for days,” said Mr. Power, who showed no signs of exhaustion, as usual. “We had tiles coming in from Texas!”

A sign on the window of the cafe says it is opening on Monday. Read more…

Courtesy of Prince Chenoa

During the three years he’s lived in the East Village, Prince Chenoa has been keeping the neighborhood’s rebel heart alive. Born Peter Robinson, he originally made his name with his Prince Peter Collection. Though his edgy t-shirts have been featured in high-fashion glossies and more than a few tabloids — adorning the likes of Lil Wayne, Susan Sarandon and Katy Perry — these days his energies are devoted to being creative director of “Lovecat,” a fanzine for models and the artists who love to chase them. Last weekend, he jaunted to Miami Beach to debut the latest issue to the sun-dipped Art Basel crowd.

Prince Chenoa, as he now prefers to be called, said that the magazine’s aesthetic, which borrows from punk fanzines of the pre-Internet era, was inspired by the East Village’s “cool rock ‘n’ roll vibe that still feels nostalgic of the punk rock days.” The result is a bit “messy, dirty and provocative,” he said — “[produced] on newsprint so we stand out among all the glossies, kind of like an East Village kid would.”

So where does this East Village kid hang out?

Read more…