Lauren Carol Smith

A sampling of reader reactions to recent posts that have appeared on The Local.

Brendan Bernhard’s post about aging in the East Village — particularly his contention that our neighborhood is “one of the more trying places in which to grow old” — prompted a good deal of discussion in the blog’s forums.

Amelie wrote:

“I completely disagree with you. My father is 87 and has lived in the East Village all of his life. My father and his friend (who are old folks so called wondering around in the east village)… happen to love it here… they love the small cafes, they feel young and a lot of them do not want to accept their age. Being surrounded by young folks makes them feel young.”

Joelle Morrison said:

“I’m 72, a Lower East Side expatriate living in the wilds of Staten Island, but when I’m really old I intend to head back to my old nabe. If you can’t drive and want access to food, culture, books, parks, doctors, etc., you need Manhattan or Brooklyn. There are lots of older people living in my old nabe, you just don’t see them all over or out at night because they have a LIFE! They’re not tourists or students or dilettantes clogging the streets and barfing all over on weekends. They bring a sense of reality, solidity and presence to a neighborhood now in sore need of those things.”

Read more…

Todd Olmstead.

We at The Local are pleased to announce the arrival of Todd Olmstead, who today begins work as the news blog’s assistant editor for digital and community outreach.

In this newly created role, Mr. Olmstead will help to facilitate a neighborhood-wide conversation through the blog’s social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. He will also be a regular presence in the neighborhood and engage with the site’s readers on a one-on-one basis.

Mr. Olmstead is a student in the Studio 20 master’s degree concentration at NYU Journalism where he studies the Web and innovation in journalism. Since coming to NYU, he has served as a community intern at Mashable and managed Explainer.net, home of Studio 20’s Building a Better Explainer project.

A graduate of Colby College, Mr. Olmstead previously lived and worked in Iowa City, where he covered the local music scene. His writing on music has appeared on Crawdaddy, Tiny Mix Tapes, Daytrotter, and his own site. Last fall, he was a member of The Local’s social media team.

“Todd has a natural understanding of the ways that we can use social media to extend the reach of our journalism and we’re thrilled to have him on our team,” said Richard G. Jones, the editor of The Local. “We hope that he’ll be a conversation leader and that he’ll help fundamentally change the way that the blog interacts with its readers in both the digital space and out on the streets of the community that we all share.”

Follow Mr. Olmstead on Twitter at @toddjolmstead.

Vivienne Gucwa

Good morning, East Village.

Don’t worry if you missed the Howl! Festival over the weekend; neighborhood bloggers have enough coverage for you to re-live the event virtually. The Local’s Flickr pool members were on the case. Melanie of Melanie Musings was a seemingly unstoppable photographic force, so check in with her and start scrolling down. EV Grieve has a few choice shots here and here. Gamma Blog has some video clips, too. DNA Info also has a round up.

On Friday, EV Grieve noted an epidemic of mattresses left out on the curb (and possibly coined a collective noun in the process). Some of his commenters mused that it was probably because of June leases being up, but others worried about a new bed bug outbreak.

DNA Info has an update on the errant bee colony that decided a Little Italy mailbox would make a good home. The 7,000-odd drones have been integrated with another swarm from Washington Heights at a hive in Queens. Beekeeper Elie Miodownik said the bees are at work, despite their own queen being seized by the NYPD. Her whereabouts are unknown at this time.

Looking ahead, it’s Internet Week. Techies will gather in New York to discuss the future for the series of tubes. Most of the fun is happening over in the heart of Silicon Alley –- the area north of Union Square — but the Post has news that Mayor Michael Bloomberg is throwing a party in honor of East Village start up Foursquare. The paper reports that the Mayor has become close with Dennis Crowley, the site’s 26-year-old founder.

We’ve learned more details about the unpaid taxes that forced the closure of Luca Bar. The owners of the bar, Vito DiTomaso and Christophe Mazuel, owe state tax officials a grand total of $31,385.49, not including interest and penalties, said Susan Burns, a spokeswoman for the State Department of Taxation and Finance. Ms. Burns, who declined to discuss what would have to occur for the bar to re-open, said that the bar has six open warrants for unpaid taxes dating to November 2009; Mr. Mazuel did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Stephen Rex Brown Luca Bar, 119 St. Marks Place.

State officials have seized Luca Bar, the upscale bar and restaurant at 119 St. Marks Place, for non-payment of taxes. The bar, known for its European flavor, was seized last night, according to those who work on the block; a bright orange sign announcing the seizure had been taped to the bar’s front window. The Local has reporters working on the story and we will provide more information as it becomes available.

Tim Schreier

Good morning, East Village.

DNAinfo reports that the former location of the Sin Sin Lounge, known for its rowdy atmosphere and late-night drunken brawls that culminated in a fatal shooting last summer, is planning to re-open as an upscale bakery. Yes, it will still serve drinks. But the ownership appears to be going to great lengths to demonstrate that the location wants to change its reputation. The new bakery will feature flakey pastries and swanky upstairs dine-in seating. It even had that old prison tattoo of a name blotted over and tentatively replaced with “Sweet Boutique.”

Last week, we brought you a post in which some of the founding members of P.S. 122 shared their memories of the performance space’s early years. An article by the BBC describes the space’s role in the fight against AIDS. The BBC details the history of the red ribbon, from its origin as a reaction to global indifference concerning the HIV outbreak, to its rise as a universally recognized emblem of support – much of which began at P.S. 122.

On Wednesday, we described the neighborhood-wide reflections about the 20th anniversary of the 1991 Memorial Day riot at Tompkins Square Park. The Times checks in with an assessment of how the riot was a turning point for our community.

And finally, the Howl! Festival will begin today with a reading of its namesake poem in Tompkins Square Park at 5 this evening. A number of poets will lend their voices to reading, including Miguel Algarín, who we mentioned on the blog  yesterday. It’s a small world among poets: Hettie Jones once said she could fit the entire beat generation into her living room. Ask her, she’ll be there.

The police say that this man is a suspect in five robberies.

The authorities are looking for a man suspected of committing five robberies — including three in the East Village — over the course of four days.

The first incident occurred on May 12 at 315 East 18th Street, when the thief approached a 26-year-old woman at around 10:30 p.m., brandished a knife and demanded her wallet. He fled the scene empty-handed.

The next morning the suspect struck again, this time in our neighborhood at Second Avenue and East Houston Street. The police said he grabbed a 27-year-old woman from behind, covered her mouth and once again failed to steal his victim’s wallet.

Investigators said that on May 14, the suspect struck twice more in the East Village. At 1:20 a.m. he wrapped his arm around a woman’s neck at 202 East Sixth Street and stole her cell phone. Then, the police said that at 9:10 a.m. the man covered another woman’s mouth at Lafayette and Bleecker Streets and demanded her wallet. He again left empty-handed.

In the fifth incident, the police said that the man pushed a 24-year-old woman against a wall at 44 Wall Street at 3 a.m. and stole her cell phone.

Police said the man — who is pictured above in a pair images from surveillance cameras — is roughly 6 feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds.

Hannah ThonetThe poet Miguel Algarín.

Good morning, East Village.

The founder of Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Miguel Algarín, is fighting for his legacy. According to Sonic Scoop, the 69-year-old poet and former Rutgers University professor, who spent years bringing the work of new poets into the public eye, will be the subject of a documentary. “The Miguel Algarin Story,” which is still in production, depicts the poet’s life, his early achievements, his challenges with HIV, but mainly targets the ongoing struggle he faces in trying to reclaim a leadership role at his landmark club.

While condo sales in the Village continue to log seven-figure milestones, Downtown Express offers a look back to the vacant properties along 13th Street during the early 1990’s and the street art of the squatter movement. For more artifacts of the squatter’s life visit The Times’ coverage of the 2010 exhibition, “The Perfect Crime,” at Bullet Space.

And finally, Ephemeral New York shares a serene noir view of the city via a 1928 etching by the artist Martin Lewis, which depicts a man peering over a railing on the Williamsburg Bridge.

Phillip Kalantzis Cope

Yesterday, we told you about a post by the Neither More Nor Less blog that marked the 20th anniversary of the 1991 Memorial Day riot in Tompkins Square Park.

Bob Arihood, the author of Neither More Nor Less, correctly noted that we erred in indicating that the riot was sparked because of the park’s homeless population.

“This riot was not about a homeless encampment in Tompkins Square Park . It was the result of the enforcement of the ending time of a concert . the concert goers were mostly drunk . bottles had been stashed in preparation for a riot . Cops and drunks confronted each other and nature took its course”

And longtime resident Martin Johnson offered his recollection of the evening.

“The street and sidewalks were cluttered with the debris of a riot, and police with combat gear were everywhere. When I reached 9th St, a policeman stopped me and asked me where I thought I was going. I told him “home,” and that I lived on Avenue A near 14th. He asked if I had some ID or a utility bill to prove it. My Driver’s License uses my mailing address, so I told him I didn’t have anything other than my word (which had usually been good enough). He threw me against the side of the building which now houses Cafe Pick Me Up and told me I was lying and that if I didn’t get off of *his* block, he was going to shove his nightstick down my throat.

You can read Mr. Johnson’s complete account of the night here.

Join the conversation: Do you have any memories of the riot on Memorial Day 1991? Please share them in the comments section below.

Michelle Rick

Good morning, East Village.

While the city agrees on the proposal to expand the boundaries intended to preserve several East Village landmarks, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York reports that a significant part of the neighborhood’s history has just been lost. The faded lettering for The Fat Black Pussycat Theatre, which hung over Panchito’s restaurant, was painted over by the owners on Wednesday. The fresh coating of paint not only obscures the daily reminder that the Minetta Street location was once much more than a restaurant, but also takes away those little moments of discovery that help residents who were unaware engender a healthy respect for the history that surrounds them.

Forgotten New York provides a very informative digital walking tour of St. Marks Place. The tour encompasses the full personality of the street, covering everything from the architectural, to the cultural, to the personal for history that is old, new, and sometimes, in the making.

And it didn’t take the Parks Department long. Today the ping-pong table in Tompkins Square Park will receive its first bath after being tagged — also a first — last weekend.

Adrian Fussell

A sampling of reader reactions to recent posts that have appeared on The Local.

Brendan Bernhard’s recent post on his ambivalence toward bicycles prompted a range of reactions.

Dave, who described himself as a “committed cyclist,” wrote:

“I don’t get the NYC vibe (which is not limited to pizza deliveryemen and bike messengers, by the way) that all bad behavior on a bike is excusable because ‘hey man, I’m riding a bike’. When car and bike meet, car almost always wins. When bike and pedestrian meet, bike can win but at a cost to the rider. Better that we should all be more mindful of the other. And the police should enforce the rules of the road, regardless of the means of conveyance.”

Jody Oberfelder said:

“Everybody should look out for everybody. Share the road!”

Read more…

Mario Ramirez

Good morning, East Village.

Hope your Memorial Weekend was something to remember.

As we start the week, Neither More Nor Less reminds readers that not every Memorial Day in the East Village passed as peacefully and offers a recollection of the 1991 Memorial Day riot in Tompkins Square Park.

The park closed for a year, following the incident, in order to undergo a $2.3 million renovation project. For a full account of the story, visit The Times’ archives.

In other news, the Bowery has been credited as the birthplace of the ice-cream sandwich. In a recent Q&A, The Times referred to the book “Of Sugar and Snow: A History of Ice Cream Making” by Jeri Quinzio, which maintains that the popular summer treat was first made available through pushcart vendors peddling along the Bowery. The sandwiches were first sold for 3 cents apiece, a price that was subsequently driven down to one penny by New Yorkers.  Go to the article for one paper’s intriguing description of how the sandwiches were made.

And finally, Neighborhoodr! captured mosaic artist Jim Powers making progress on his “Japanese tribute pole” on Second Avenue & St. Mark’s Place last Friday.  With Japan’s economy already suffering massive blows from Fukushima and TEPCO officials recently  admitting they see no end in sight for the reactor crisis, the country will continue to depend on international support.

This post has been changed to correct an error; an earlier version misstated the sequence of events leading up to the 1991 Memorial Day riot.

Rachel Citron

Good morning, East Village.

And Happy Memorial Day.

Who needs to travel when so many cheap and interesting things are happening in your own backyard? This weekend the Theatre for New City hosted the Lower East Side Festival of the Arts for its 16th annual celebration. More than 100 artists participated in the event, offering live music, poetry, dance, and other performances — many for  free — for what has turned out to be the latest contribution to a colorful tapestry.

For another look at art in the village check out Celine Danhier’s documentary “Blank City.” It offers retrospective on the birth of the East Village’s  “No-budget” filmmaking industry — which should also be in quotes, seeing as all that was required to start out in those days was a camera and a willingness to shoot. The film revisits the work of those who were successful at it, and provides a look at the cultural dynamic of “No Wave” film; both in its heyday and as it evolved.

Also, it appears that the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s recent expansion of the study area for a proposed East Village Historic District could make the birthplace of drag a local landmark. DNAinfo reports that the site of the 1979 performance bar the Pyramid Club, where RuPaul was said to hone her craft, falls smack within the range of the broadened prevention effort.

Finally, two very different acts involving spray paint: while upcoming nuptials are celebrated on a mural on Avenue A and Second Street, the honeymoon is over for the ping pong table at Tompkins Square Park — someone has finally tagged it with graffiti.

Earlier this week, we told you about plans to expand the boundaries of the proposed historic district for the East Village; under the proposal the number of buildings receiving landmark protection would grow to 287 from 270. We’ve just learned that the Landmarks Preservation Commission will vote June 28 regarding whether to hold a public hearing about the creation of the district; a commission spokeswoman told us that the final vote to determine whether the buildings are landmarked will likely not be held this summer. Check The Local often as we continue to follow developments in this story.—Stephen Rex Brown

Kyle Terwillegar After initially announcing that a water main project in Cooper Square would be finished by the winter, city officials now say it won’t be completed until spring 2012 at the earliest.

If you’ve walked around Cooper Square for the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen how it’s been turned into a labyrinth of construction barricades and detoured traffic due to the replacement of water mains in the area.

Well, the excavation overtaking much of the intersection of the Bowery and Fourth Avenue will not be finished anytime soon. After originally announcing that the project would be finished this winter, officials now say that the work won’t be completed until spring 2012 at the earliest.

Ray Martin, the operating engineer at the site, which stretches from Cooper Square to East Fourth Street, said on Thursday that the work wouldn’t be finished until summer of next year.

“The timeline changes all the time, there’s a lot of utilities in the ground,” Martin said.

A spokesman for the Department of Design and Construction, Craig Chin, took a more optimistic view, saying that work could be completed by spring 2012. But he did not dispute that the $10.8 million job, which involves replacing antiquated water mains up to Astor Place, is a tough one.

“If you look at the open trench, it’s a tangled web of wires,” Mr. Chin said. “Things have to be moved from one side to the other so they can put in water mains. It’s a painstaking process.”

Kyle Terwillegar contributed information to this post.

Michelle Rick

Good morning, East Village.

The trial of two East Village officers accused of raping a woman concluded yesterday after almost two months of testimony. Officers Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata, formerly of the Ninth Precinct, were acquitted of rape charges but convicted on three counts of official misconduct; all other charges were dismissed. According to DNAinfo, the officers will lose their jobs as a result of the convictions and could face up to two years in jail. However, some members of the community are bemoaning the verdict, declaring that the officers’ acquittal on more serious charges damages the credibility of the police and could prevent rape victims from coming forward in the future.

During a speech in Cooper Union yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg cautioned opponents of same-sex marriage not to be on the wrong side of history. In his speech, he likened the struggle for marriage equality to several other historical civil rights movements and called for a vote on the issue in the current legislative session, rather than waiting until 2012, citing that as the birthplace of the gay rights’ movement, New York had a duty to lead.  DNAinfo has the story.

And finally, after 20 years as the host of Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade on WBAI-FM 99.5, Bill Weinberg was let go from the self-described “Free Speech Radio” station in March for “denigrating other programmers on the airwaves.”  Mr. Weinberg claims his departure came after he began openly criticizing the radio station’s support of right-wing commentators and conspiracy theorists.  For more on the story head to the City Room blog at The Times.

Two East Village police officers were found not guilty today of raping a drunken woman after helping her home to her apartment. The officers, Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata, were convicted of official misconduct for entering the woman’s apartment but acquitted on all other charges; Mr. Moreno and Mr. Mata, who worked in the Ninth Precinct, had been indicted in 2009 and their trial lasted almost two months. Visit The Times for complete coverage.
—The Local

Michelle Rick

Good morning, East Village.

Wake up feeling a strange sense of vindication?

Well, if you:  a.) have a bike, b.) rode it this year, c.) became one of the unhappy recipients of one — or more — of the13,843 tickets handed out to cyclists since January; then you may have cause to celebrate. Gothamist reports that a group of cyclists are suing the city for tickets that were issued to riders for infractions that they say do not qualify as violations under city law. The law firms Oliver and Oliver Law and Rankin & Taylor are gearing up to represent the cyclists in a class-action lawsuit that should be underway in a couple of months.

Natividad Zirate, the East Village’s premier curbside bike repairman, was forced to relocate yesterday, due to construction at his normal location near Sara Delano Roosevelt Park. Mr. Zirate has provided bargain-rate repairs to passing cyclists for at the location for the past couple of summers and almost without incident. However, this season has proved different. Two weeks ago, park enforcement officers confiscated Mr. Zirate’s tools and destroyed them while he was away, claiming that by being on the sidewalk the tools presented hazardous conditions for patrons of the park. And now the new construction has pushed his business across the street to the northwest corner of Houston Street and Second Avenue. Despite these setbacks, Mr. Zirate appears intent on continuing his sidewalk operation, but is sorely in need of tools. The Bowery Boogie compiled a list of items.

And finally, while preservationists paid their final respects to 35 Cooper Square last night, the Community Board 3 listened to a variety of proposals that would allow the Essex Street Market to continue operating, though some would involve uprooting the market and moving it to a new street. Bowery Boogie has the details.

Stephen Rex Brown Preservationists gather at the site of the now-demolished 35 Cooper Square.

About three dozen locals dressed in black held what they called a vigil at the ruins of 35 Cooper Square on Wednesday, lamenting the loss of the 19th century building that was built by a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant and once hosted the likes of Diane di Prima, William Burroughs and Cecil Taylor.

“This is truly a day of sadness, said Victor Papa, the president of the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council. “It was as precious as the White House, and it’s gone forever.”

Mr. Papa and at least a dozen others spoke in front of the plot of land that only two weeks ago featured the two and-a-half story home noted for its Federal-style architecture.

Now it was nothing more than a pile of rubble.
Read more…