Brian Rose’s new book, “Time and Space on the Lower East Side,” juxtaposes street scenes from 1980 with images from 2010. The Local asked him to share some of his favorites from the book – as well as some more recent photos – along with his thoughts about the world of change he has documented.

East 4th Street – 1980

In 1980, shortly after graduating from Cooper Union I began photographing the Lower East Side, which includes the East Village, in collaboration with Ed Fausty. Walking in the footsteps of photographers Jacob Riis and Berenice Abbot, and inspired by new developments in color photography, we documented the neighborhood over the course of a year with a 4×5 view camera. It was, perhaps, the neighborhood’s darkest, but most creative moment. While buildings crumbled and burned, artists and musicians came to explore and express the edgy quality of the place.

After moving on to other projects and living in Amsterdam for 12 years, I decided to return to where I first made my stand in New York – the Lower East Side, where so many Americans trace their roots: the old neighborhood tucked beneath the bridges, lying at the feet of the pinnacles of power, would serve as a barometer of change and continuity. Read more…

Evan Bleier Patricia James in her former home.

With the help of over $14,000 in rent that she withheld from the New York City Housing Authority because, she said, it didn’t make repairs to her apartment in the Two Bridges complex, a lifelong New Yorker has left the city’s public housing for suburbia. Now, instead of complaining about rodents, Patricia James is dodging ducks in her parking lot. She even has a fireplace.

In March, the 67-year-old grandmother said she didn’t want to fork over a check for over $14,000 in back rent and fees until the housing authority assured her in writing that it would let her stay in her $517-a-month apartment. In April, a Housing Court judge ruled that she must leave her apartment of 37 years, but gave her permission to stay until July.

The judge, said Ms. James, offered her a “settlement that would give me an opportunity to find a place to live and some money to move. It gave them possession of the apartment, and me the money.” Read more…

Daniel Maurer Mary Help of Christians earlier today.

After serving as an after-hours club for one film and then a church in the Bronx for another, Mary Help of Christians is now being taken back to 1920s Little Italy, for a scene in “Boardwalk Empire.”

The Local spotted a film crew loading wooden panels into the church this morning, and Don Angst, an electrician, said that filming for the HBO show’s third season would occur Tuesday. But first, he said, carpenters will make adjustments to the endangered house of worship so that it resembles a church in Little Italy, circa 1923. The rounded pews, which are 1950s in style, will get more traditional caps, he said, and marbleized flats will be used to change the look of the altar.

“We usually make the place look better than it actually is,” said Mr. Angst.

So will the show’s star, Steve Buschemi, be making an appearance in his old neighborhood? Workers wouldn’t cough up any details about the scene, but we’ll keep an eye out as set-up continues tomorrow and Monday.

Melvin Felix Robin Manning glides down a zip line at Union Square Park.

Some lucky pedestrians around Union Square got to zing down a 160-foot-long zip line before going off to work this morning.

Melvin Felix A group waits in line to ride the zip line.

“It was so fun,” said Robin Manning, 48, who lives in Hanover Square and said she was late on her way to therapy.

The zip line is one of several free activities associated with Summer Streets this year. For three Saturdays in August, the city will clear traffic on nearly seven miles of streets and turn them over to pedestrians. This year’s events, which will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the first three Saturdays of August, will include a 25-foot climbing wall, sports-themed activities such as dance and yoga classes and, of course, the zip line.

“You don’t need a cup of coffee,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, who glided down the long cable at Union Square twice this morning. “You can start your morning off with the zip line.”

Melvin Felix Department of Transportation Commissioner
Janette Sadik-Khan.

Ms. Sadik-Khan, who spoke with a bike helmet at her side (they were given out at the event) said community groups would also offer family-friendly activities, dubbed Weekend Walks. Fourth Arts Block will host the East Village’s Weekend Walks on August 18, 19, 25 and 26, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at East Fourth Street between Second Avenue and Bowery.

Scott Lynch

Good morning, East Village.

The Post has more about Carl Knox, who is accused of stabbing his girlfriend’s nephew to death Saturday morning. “Knox has been in and out of state prison since 1986. His rap sheet lists more than 25 arrests, including for such serious charges as rape, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.”

The Observer drops into Andre Saraiva’s show at the Hole, “Andrépolis,” and notes “Manhattan’s newest thrill ride: a giant, purple, mechanical penis.” Scott Lynch took a less risque photo at the exhibit, above. And Hole gallerist Kathy Grayson tells Style.com, “Without people like André bringing us together, we’re just all lonely in our little apartments. New York would suck.”

Elsewhere in the art world, Bowery Boogie has photos from the Guild of the Black Eagle show at Fuse Gallery. Read more…

Daniel Maurer

Good morning, East Village.

The sidewalk outside of The Hole was more or less impassable yesterday. Inside, André Saraiva, graffiti artist and owner of the chic Le Baron nightclubs, was debuting “Andrépolis,” his exhibit consisting of mini neon-splashed New York City nightspots.

Speaking of reproducing downtown bars: The Savannah Morning News has shots from the set of the CBGB movie, and reports that the club’s toilets and bar will be flown down to Savannah, Georgia for the shoot. Plus, the Bowery will be recreated for exterior shots. “People keep asking, ‘Why Georgia instead of New York?’” says the movie’s creative director. “New York is so expensive, so there’s a real incentive here.”

CBGBs will also be recreated in play form, apparently. In a preview of the East Village Theater Festival at Metropolitan Playhouse, The Villager mentions that Anthony P. Pennino’s “Posers” will revisit the CBs of the 80s, while “Alphabet City, VIII” is “the latest installment of an ongoing project that puts the words of local residents, verbatim, into the mouths of monologuists.”

And here’s another downtown bar in an unlikely place: The Post visits the new Asbury Park outpost of Max Fish. Owner Ulli Rimkus is digging the boardwalk locale: “You can smoke [on the deck] and you can dance and [nobody’s] going to stop you,” she says. Read more…

Daniel Maurer

Good morning, East Village.

A parent at the Neighborhood School writes in to remind us that today’s the day when students will team up with The Bean to raise money for the school’s library. The kids will sell lemonade and artwork, and The Bean will match whatever funds they raise. See more here.

The folks at the Centre-Fuge Public Art Project tell us they’re hosting a fundraiser on Sunday, across the street from the project at Tuck Shop. From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., public art supporters can enjoy meat pies, beer specials and raffles. More information here. Centre-Fuge will also reveal a brand new mural by previous contributor Ben Angotti which will cover the façade of Tuck Shop.

The Times and The Post report that N.Y.U. Langone Medical Center may merge with Continuum Health Partners, which operates Beth Israel and other hospitals. The result could be “a new academic health-care system in the City of New York.” Read more…

Sarah Darville The empty Milavec Hakimi Gallery space.

There’s one less gallery along the Bowery.

After opening in September, the Milavec Hakimi Gallery has closed for good, leaving a darkened corner in Cooper Union’s imposing new academic building.

The gallery shared the ground floor of 51 Cooper Square with two other newcomers, Au Breve Espresso and the Preschool of the Arts, which may take over the space.

“We couldn’t really manage the rent,” said Karen Hakimi. “I think it was a little tough for a gallery, since it’s separate from all the other galleries. A lot of people thought it was a part of the school, and didn’t understand it was an independent gallery, not student work.” Read more…

Photos: Chris O. Cook.

It’s Allen Ginsberg’s birthday weekend and today Tompkins Square Park was buzzing with art, dance, music, and, um, bouncy castles and face-painting. Yes: it’s Howl! Festival.

Chris O. Cook Bob Holman, a festival organizer.

Bob Perl, an organizer of the annual happening, told The Local it was created as a nod to the neighborhood’s abounding influence. “The idea was that the East Village mindset is not just tied to here,” he said. “It’s had effects in places like Kyoto. There are creatives who come out of here and they become part of the diaspora and there are some that remain here, but this is a great place for us to all gather, and an opportunity for everyone to come out at least for a few days a year to create the scene that was so potent and vital down here.”

Indeed, the festival drew many former East Villagers, including Susan Martin, who came back from her current home in New Mexico to serve as Howl!’s publicist. She was keen to emphasize that the festival raises money for Howl! H.E.L.P., created to provide emergency assistance to local artists. “Up until the time of Howl!, if you were a drag queen and you got sick, and you didn’t have health insurance, good luck,” she said. Read more…

The Local’s occasional round-up of what’s new and interesting on the art scene.

Guild of the Black Eagle 5 (June 6 to July 5) David Hochbaum started holding Guild of the Black Eagle salons, featuring some of his art-world associates, in his studio in 2006. Now twelve female members of The Guild (Kristen Ferrell, Danielle de Piccotto, Annie Kyle, Samantha Levin, Philly-Kondor8, Evelyn Tiernan, Gabriela Vainsencher, Alison Silva, Sara Gage, Zoë Williams, Allison Berkoy and Elka Amorim) will be featured in the group’s first New York gallery show. Opening reception June 6, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fuse Gallery, 93 Second Avenue (between Fifth and Sixth Streets), (212) 777-7988.

Jim Joe, Yes 1 2 (June 1 to June 3) You’ve seen Jim Joe’s name scrawled all over the city. Now see seventeen of his new works (paintings, drawings, and sculptures) in a proper gallery setting. Opening reception June 1, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Hole, 312 Bowery (near Bleecker Street), (212) 466-1100.

1962/1972 Candy Darling, Drawings & Musings. Candy Darling, a Warhol superstar who inspired the Velvet Underground song “Candy Says,” was photographed by everyone from Mapplethorpe to Avedon. This exhibit focuses on Candy (born James Lawrence Slattery) as a creator, and displays some of her musings and drawings. Clayton Gallery & Outlaw Art Museum, 161 Essex Street (between Houston and Stanton Streets). By appointment only, (212) 477-1363.

And for more Lower East Side gallery recommendations, check out The Lo-Down’s “Gallery Goer” column.