Time for some more fun at the run. Here’s this week’s Dog Run Duo.

Nicole Guzzardi

Nicole Guzzardi

The Master: George Smol, 60, has lived in the East Village for 30 years, likes to keep to himself and devotes most of his time and energy to his dogs.

The Dog: Cassie, a seven-year-old English Mastiff. Full name: Cassie California Dreamin’. Nicknames include Castle, likely because she weighs in at about 140 pounds.

Tricks: “You’re lookin’ at it,” Mr. Smol laughed, petting Cassie as she sat next to him on a park bench. “She’s pretty laid back, just wants to be near me.”

Favorite Food: People food — or garbage, but Mr. Smol doesn’t let her get into that kind of stuff. And he doesn’t dole out treats. “She’d become treat-obsessed,” he said.

Claim to Fame: Cassie is proud mother of Mr. Smol’s three two-year-old puppies. “She had a litter of eleven,” he said. “It was amazing.” Mr. Smol kept three of them, two of which are already considerably larger than their mom.

Daniel Maurer

Someone must’ve read about the third East Village location of 2 Bros. Pizza opening within spitting distance of three other dollar-slice joints. Just check out the message that’s been slapped over the sign of Little Italy Pizza, which shuttered soon after opening across from Ray’s.

Daniel Maurer

Doc Holliday’s may have upgraded its lovably dilapidated awning in recent weeks, but all that sand at the intersection of Avenue A and East Ninth Street is bringing the saloon back to the days of its namesake gunslinger. Anyone know how it got there?

Daniel Maurer

If you thought a weekly “model party” sounded trashy, just look at the place now: 308, the lounge that replaced the short-lived Litro on 308 East Sixth Street, is looking rather closed. Garbage bags have obscured the front window in recent weeks, and the phone line is going unanswered.

Anyone know what’s going on?

Daniel Maurer

Can you tell us what’s missing from the corner of East Fourth Street and Cooper Square?

No?

We’ll give you a hint: Skullphone.

Still nothing?

Okay: there was a giant boom box here last month, and now it’s gone. As expected, the construction containers that were here for about three years have been removed by the city now that water-main work is done on Cooper Square. We’re sorry to see the outdoor canvases go, but hey, we’ve still got Centre-Fuge, and now this guy has a few more parking spaces at its disposal.

Steven Matthews

Good morning, East Village.

A teenager has been charged with weapons possession and murder in Friday night’s shooting on the Lower East Side. “Timothy Montalvo, 16, was busted yesterday for allegedly taking part in the fatal shooting of Raphael Ward in front of a church on Rivington Street after Ward resisted demands to relinquish the parka.” [NY Post] Yesterday a series of scuffles broke out among mourners outside of the Provenzano Lanza Funeral Home. [DNA Info]

A judge has upheld an injunction preventing a restaurant that would have served $34 entrees from opening in Union Square Park. [NY Post]

“New York City put out a call Wednesday for builders interested in its long-delayed Seward Park project, which would transform the largest parcel of underdeveloped publicly owned land in Manhattan below 96th Street.” [Wall Street Journal]

The crowd at The Library at The Public is “a lively mix of sleek show folk and chic downtowners in their 30s and 40s. On a recent evening, actors from current Public productions and theater staff members were clustered in groups around the bar, mixing freely with well-dressed theater patrons.” [NY Times]

Check out a handful of cocktails at Edi and the Wolf’s new bar, The Third Man. The Spirit of ’49 is “on a Gold Rush, this juicy, fruit-forward sipper combines Four Roses Yellow Label Bourbon and honey with vibrant Tremontis Mirto, a myrtle berry liqueur from Sardinia.” [Serious Eats]

Paul Gerard, chef at Exchange Alley, loves the sesame-seed sandwich at Vanessa’s Dumpling House. “You can get duck, pork, or beef, but the duck is fantastic. They’re all fantastic.” [Eater]

Ray Lemoine

Good morning, East Village.

The police have released surveillance camera footage of four “persons of interest” who were in the deli where Raphael Ward died Friday. [NY Times] The Post says three are being questioned. [NY Post] A tribute video to the fallen teen is being circulated. [The Lo-Down]

Here’s a look at a couple of the “portals” that Nicolina Johnson has created. [Gamma Blog]

MulchFest is this Saturday and Sunday at Tompkins Square Park. [Gamma Blog]

Grand Harmonie, an ensemble specializing in Classical and Romanic wind music on period instruments, will perform 19th century parlor music at the Merchant’s House Museum on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. [Merchant’s House Museum]

And a tipster sends the above photo indicating that the new location of Gruppo, at 98 Avenue B, now has signage.

Daniel Maurer A tragically Darwinian scene.

This has to be the saddest thing we’ve seen since ol’ Free Willie Nelson caught fire and we were forced to comb the neighborhood for its next coolest set of wheels.

This beauty of a microbus, often seen parked off of Tompkins Square Park, just up and stopped running — resulting in the somber scene that transpired just minutes ago.

Of course, there are still a couple of newer-model VW Vanagons bouncing around the neighborhood (not to mention the beast below — which is for sale!), but this is so harshing our mellow.

Anyone know who the owner is? We’d like to send our condolences. Read more…

Michael Natale

As we prepare to dim the lights at The Local–until the morning of January 2, 2013, news willing–here are a few more ideas for painting the neighborhood red.

In the world of noise, Blonde Redhead plans to a thunderous New Year’s Eve at Irving Plaza. The Punch Brothers have taken over Patti Smith’s regular New Year’s Eve spot at the Bowery Ballroom. They sold out in advance, just like she always did.

If you insist on making a complete night of it, here are the bars licensed to stay open for the duration. At higher cost, party through until dawn at Webster Hall’s New Year’s Eve Ball.

Soothe sore heads at the Poetry Project’s 39th Annual Marathon Reading on New Year’s day. Or celebrate in vintage style, of course, at Merchant’s House Museum, which invites you to pay New Year’s calls just like 1850–after holiday punch and some canapés.

Enjoy–and we’ll see you back here next year.

For every East Village business that’s opening or closing, dozens are quietly making it. Here’s one of them: Dinosaur Hill.

Photo courtesy Pam PierPam Pier, owner of Dinosaur Hill, listens to a yodelling pickle.

You don’t have to be a kid to be dazzled by the shop-o-tainment that Dinosaur Hill provides; you just might want to be a little tiny bit careful. “We’re just 450 square feet,” says owner Pam Pier. “So we try to cool excited kids down but just showing them how things work first. There’s a lot of laughter coming out of this place.”

Those who enter Dinosaur Hill, a masterfully curated toyshop at 306 E.9th Street are seeking something thoughtfully amazing; not the made in China big box Toys R Us experience. “That’s a meaningless place to me,” says Ms. Pier. “Small toys stores are so few and most have come and gone. I’m sticking around until they have to carry me away in a box!” We spoke with the “purveyor of fun and wonderments” about how she’s managed to hang in there all these years and keep the neighborhood playful purchasing.

How did Dinosaur Hill come to be?

I started Dinosaur Hill in March of 1983. It’s going to be 30 years in March. I was working at the crafts and art store that was here on 9th Street. It was called Muddy’s and the owners were divorcing so I was able to take over their lease. There was only about $600 in inventory left so it was easy for me to take over and start over. I changed the name to Dinosaur Hill.

Where does that name come from?

It’s named after a place in Rapid City in South Dakota where I’m from. It’s a mountain and they created Dinosaur Park where there are like [seven] life-size dinosaurs they made for tourists to visit and kids to enjoy. I had gone there a lot as a kid. Kids love dinosaurs.

Why a specialty toy store?

I used to be a pre-school teacher, and I also was a freelance artist who was making things that fell somewhere between art and craft, that I sold in Washington Square.

Have you always been here?

We’ve moved twice within the building. It’s a big building we share with Veselka restaurant, and people move in and out, and Veslka has taken more space, and I have moved around that.

The early 1980s was a rough and gritty time for the East Village. Was there much demand for a whimsical toy store?

I have a real loyal neighborhood base. When it started becoming a destination tourist place, I got more and more interesting items for the store. I am a little ambivalent about the changes in the neighborhood though.

In what way do you feel ambivalent?

The changes have helped the store, but it means the neighborhood seems a little less open than it used to be. The infusion on N.Y.U. students makes it more of a bedroom neighborhood than one with local people living and working in the neighborhood. I miss the good old neighborhood camaraderie.

Why do you think Dinosaur Hill keeps making it all these years?

There is a book I read when I was a little girl where there was a quote that stated, ‘I never worked and I never will.’ It’s because I love what I am doing. My work combines art and people. I’m trying to make things available to kids that promote ability. I want kids to become doers and makers and active people. I contribute with these toys that engage them. I think it’s all about my philosophy and enjoying what I’m doing. Also, I never cared much about money, although, I care more now. Money never becomes important until you don’t have any. Occasionally, I think “why didn’t I stay with teaching?” I would have pension now!

How do you go about selecting your merchandise?

I buy things that I like; things that amused me and still amuse me. I try not to think too much about what I need for this or that. I guess and entertain myself. Lately, I have been fighting harder to keep kids from being totally passive receivers of information. I really try to find an alternative to flat screen toys. I want to enhance hand-eye coordination and the ability to build and manipulate things three-dimensionally. I want people to be involved with real people, real time, and real space. Read more…

If all goes according to plan, we’re hanging out the closed sign until December 26. Stay warm, safe, and festive.