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.

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.

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.

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.

Michael Natale

Vivienne Gucwa

Good morning, East Village.

We begin this morning with a reminder that tonight at 6, residents will gather for a vigil for 35 Cooper Square. The photo above depicts workmen demolishing the building earlier this week; the photo at right was taken earlier this year. EV Grieve has more photos of what’s left of the historic building.

Yesterday, the Rent Guidelines Board voted on a series of proposals affecting rent increases. The board backed plans that could increase rent for some tenants by as much as 6.75 percent. The Indypendent has the tally, but overall, rent hikes are on the horizon.

And there’s another event concerning possible development tonight: Community Board 3 will meet to discuss the fate of the Essex Street Market.

And in other neighborhood news, Bowery Boogie shined a light on one woman’s mission to catalogue the city’s neon signs before they become replaced by more energy efficient versions. For Kirsten Hively — who concludes her letters to fans of her project by signing “neonistically yours” — this characteristic brand of advertising is worthy of it’s own digital museum. She’s currently raising funds to create a free iPhone app that provides pictures and locations of the city’s glowing ads.

And finally, Off the Grid has some street scenes from yesteryear. Take a tour of the neighborhood via some music videos from the 1980’s.

Michael Natale

Good morning, East Village.

The jury in the rape trial involving two East Village police officers has asked to review the plaintiff’s testimony about four visits that prosecutors said the officers made to her apartment on the night of the incident. DNAinfo reports that since May 18, the jury has requested several pieces of evidence to assist in their deliberations, including transcripts from a tape-recorded phone call and a special meeting arranged by the district attorney’s office.

East Village police are on the lookout for a man accused of mugging a 60-year-old home health aide worker earlier this month in her apartment building on FDR Drive. The authorities told The Local’s Stephen Rex Brown that this man followed the woman into the elevator and wrestled the purse off her neck. DNAinfo is on the story, too.

And finally, Ray’s Candy Store can’t stay out of the lens.  EV Grieve reports that the film crew of “How to Make it in America” used the Avenue A storefront as a backdrop for filming yesterday. Didn’t know it was one of Bryan Greenberg’s favorite places.

Heather Holland

Good morning, East Village.

So the rapture didn’t happen.  On Saturday, the only thing to descend on the East Village was a massive flock of dancers.  Out of the ordinary, perhaps, and measurably more welcome than pestilence and stinking sores, but still, it was not what Harold Camping had envisioned when he spoke of the Earth’s assured destruction on May 21, 2011. Some people are now wondering where the old radio minister is?  Chief among them, Robert Fitzpatrick, the man who plunked down $140,000 — his life savings — to finance the doomsday ad campaign.  But most are simply turning their attention elsewhere.  Even the Mars Bar has a new sign!

The allergy season is flaring up and blurring the lines between pets and their owners. According to The Post, one in five pets may be suffering from some form of allergy, and with the pollen season in full swing, some East Village pups are now taking human antihistamines for the doggie form of hay fever.

As for the human-caused air irritants, EV Grieve is up on the latest extension of smoking bans to city parks. Starting today, if you light up in Tompkins Square Park you might have to cough up $50.

The Daily News has a special multimedia report today that was prepared by the students of NYU Journalism. The report finds that residents of East Village and Lower East Side public housing developments are complaining about the damaging effects of mold and other hazards found inside their apartments. According to the report, out of 106,000 orders for repair, only 9,000 have been scheduled for 2012.

And good news for Ray’s Candy Store, which finally reopened last Friday. Last week, the owner, 78-year-old Ray Alvarez, had been fighting to pass a series of follow-up inspections, after racking up 53 points in health code violations that had earned his shop a forced closure sign on Monday. Neither More Nor Less captured Mr. Alvarez doing one last bit of cleaning before reopening to the public.

Vivienne Gucwa

Good morning, East Village.

It’s official: with the demolition order on file, we can finally say that it’s the beginning of the end for Mars Bar. Its destruction has been long anticipated, and it’s unclear exactly how many days the iconic dive bar has left before it becomes part of the permanent foundation for 12-story apartment complex. Ultimately though, the end may turn out to be more of a hiatus. As DNAinfo notes, after two years Mars Bar will get the chance to reopen in the same place at quadruple the square footage.

The EV Grieve just sent out invitations for the funeral of 35 Cooper Square, scheduled May 25. The event will no doubt serve as a bit of closure for preservationists after the long fight to save the historic building ended in defeat.

And finally, The Times recently had a rummage through the eclectic collection of trinkets, odds and ends, and bric-a-brac at Archangel Antiques. The Ninth Street shop carries a stock of over 1 million buttons dating back to the 1860’s and proves that at least half the fun of collecting antiques is the type of people that you meet.

Gloria Chung

Good morning, East Village.

Around 3 p.m. yesterday, in the midst of the downpour a cyclist was struck by a white van while moving between Broadway and East Houston. The accident, also involving a truck, resulted in three injuries, none of which the authorities believed were life-threatening. The police secured the scene until emergency responders could arrive. The injured were transferred to local hospitals.

New rules by the Parks Department will limit the number of art vendors in Union Square, along with three other city parks. A temporary restraining order to block the rules was lifted last Tuesday by a Manhattan appellate court. According to DNAinfo, the number of art vendors in the Union Square will be reduced to 18. Enforcement starts on Monday.

And there’s more news about Ray’s. According to Neither More Nor Less, health inspectors revisited Ray’s Candy Store yesterday and, despite all his efforts to clean up, the inspectors were still able to locate mouse droppings. Earlier in the day, the store’s owner, Ray Alvarez, went to court to address his fines for the citations he had been issued over the last couple of days. EV Grieve posted a listing of area bars and restaurants that received flawless inspections from the Department of Health — something for Ray to aspire to. Yesterday he was hoping to open his doors. Looks like we’ll all have to be a bit more patient.

Tim Schreier

Good morning, East Village.

The third round of closing arguments in the East Village rape trial brought the character accusations full-circle.  According to DNAinfo’s ongoing reports, Assistant District Attorney Coleen Balbert accused defendants Kenneth Moreno, 43, and Franklin Mata, 29, of acting more like sexual predators than officers of the law, labeling the pair two of “New York City’s worst.”  As evidence, the prosecution cited that on the night of the incident the defendants lied to their supervisors about the number of trips they made to the plaintiff’s apartment, placed a phony 911 call to in order to have more time with her, and later falsified patrol logs to cover their tracks.  With closing arguments over, the jury will deliberate.

In other news, the now defunct SuperDive’s reputation for booze-fueled after hours seems to have stood in the way of plans to resurrect the space as an art-concept restaurant.  DNAinfo reports that the Community Board 3 liquor license committee voted 5 to 1 against a proposal to revamp the building, with one member suggesting they had taken a lesson from the former occupant: “It would be lunacy” to allow another establishment on that premises to serve alcohol until 4a.m..

EV Grieve posted a “frictional” account of one resident’s encounter with his post-midnight nemesis.  It’s a tale of interrupted sleep, turned late-night vigilantism in: man vs. party bus.

And finally, in late-breaking celebrity news, James Franco was spotted among the latest batch of NYU graduates on Monday.  Gothamist admits to being slightly confused this had not happened already.  But considering all the schools Mr. Franco has attended, is attending, or plans to teach at in the future, a little confusion is understandable.

Gloria Chung

Good Morning, East Village.

Closing arguments continue in the case of the two East Village officers accused of rape.  Yesterday, defense attorney for the second officer, Franklin Mata, accused of acting as a “lookout” for his partner, again made the case that no forensic evidence had been supplied that link either man to the rape and attempted to persuade the jury that the plaintiff charged the two men in order to prompt a multi-million dollar settlement from the city. The prosecution is scheduled to begin its closing arguments today.

And problems have escalated for Ray’s Candy Store.  Yesterday, after failing a health inspection, the 37-year-old Avenue A  cornerstone is once again facing possible closure. 

Despite being ordered to temporarily shut down until a follow-up inspection can be made, the 78-year-old owner, Ray Alvarez, has chosen o keep his store open.  He is caught in a catch-22: risk a fine for every day he fails to comply with the order by remaining open or close and possibly fall short on the rent, again. The embattled candy store has been struggling to stay afloat financially for more than a year now, inspiring numerous community support and fundraising efforts throughout the neighborhood.

In other news, the helmsman at EV Grieve sat down for a candid Q&A with the Village Voice’s Fork in the Road Blog to share his views on the present state of gentrification, food tourism, and liquor licensing in the neighborhood. 

Michelle Rick

Good morning East Village,

Last week, lawyers began making their closing arguments in the case against two East Village police officers on trial for rape, burglary, and official misconduct. The Times reported that on Friday Kenneth Moreno’s lawyer called on the jury to acquit his client, citing a lack of physical evidence. Closing arguments are set to resume today in the Manhattan Supreme Court.

Also, a search for missing 14-year-old Queens resident, Chetsea Williams, has spread to the East Village. Yesterday, the EV Grieve spotted these flyers, posted in Tompkins Square Park. The girl’s mother told The Local this morning that her daughter has not been seen since going to school on Friday and that local authorities are involved in the search. If you have any information, please contact the numbers listed on the flyer.

In happier news, changes on the restaurant scene mean much is afoot for local flavor.  Last week, Ssam Bar reopened the space at its adjunct, previously Momofuku Milk Bar, and posted a fresh menu, headlining their new duck-featured lunches.  Japanese burgers have immigrated to Second Street.  And while the Acme Bar & Grill fell into the hands of new owners, Luke’s Lobsters threw in with the food truck trend, christening their new portable food counter the “Nauti.”

Tim Schreier

Good morning, East Village.

And welcome to the weekend. It might shape up to be a rainy and cloudy one, but it’s here. Brave the weather and wander a bit south for the second weekend of the Hester Street Fair. Bowery Boogie has a list of the vendors and a take on the saga of one pickle-seller’s return.

If you didn’t catch it last night the neighborhood seemed rather supportive of the city Landmarks Preservation Commission’s plans to create historic districts in the East Village. There were a few reservations, but lots of thumbs-ups from preservationist groups and longtime Village residents.

And for an artsy (and studied) take on the cultural obsession with preservation, you can wander over to the New Museum for a new exhibit on how we build and maintain and remember. If you make it over, Gothamist has some helpful tips for how to behave. Don’t point!

Happy Friday.

Michael NataleThe roof of 35 Cooper Square as it was being dismantled by workers Wednesday afternoon.

Good morning, East Village.

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and like the rest of our neighbors, we’ve still got our binoculars focused on 35 Cooper Square, where the roof is starting to come down. We’ll keep an eye out for more changes, as usual. We’ll also be covering tonight’s Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing, so stay tuned to see how more changes in the area might play with building owners and preservationists.

Meanwhile, a few blocks away, the rescue of a red-tailed hawk nesting on the 12th floor of an NYU building is scheduled for today. Wildlife experts who have been monitoring the bird, Violet, may try to treat her swollen leg and release her into the wild.

Over at EV Grieve, there’s a roundup of restaurant news, plus a few more changes on the menu for the neighborhood’s eateries: new delis, new names, new faces up for hire. Here at the Local, we pointed out that today is the last day of pizza parlor Enzo’s. Head out for a slice to say your goodbyes, and enjoy the weather before the rain hits this weekend. Happy Thursday.

Rachel Citron

Good morning, East Village.

And welcome to what promises to be a beautiful week. Highs today will creep up to 70, and the sun should stay out till Friday.

On the heels of a cloudy weekend, that sounds pretty good. Hope you found your way outside in the last couple days to enjoy some of the street festivals and/or buy flowers for your mom.

As we reported earlier, a rat-infested lot in the East Village is set to host a traveling art project from the Guggenheim. Now the museum has revealed its plans to build a hovering “toolbox” platform for art exhibits while a “community gathering space” below, according to DNAinfo.

Meanwhile, animal rescue workers are concerned after a new addition to the family of Violet the hawk, who has been nesting on an NYU building. Because of a metal band on the bird’s leg, the wildlife workers may try to capture the hawk through the window of NYU’s president’s office.

And if you’re out and about this afternoon and want to rest your legs, stay away from this stretch of Bond Street, where what EV Grieve has dubbed “fanny fenders” just went up to keep “sitting on a window ledge” off your to-do list. Happy Monday, Villagers.

Michelle Rick

Good morning, East Village.

Welcome to the weekend, that is, unless you started things early with Cinco de Mayo celebrations last night. East Village bars, restaurants, and even delis got into the festivities.

Keep out those calendars out for some more memorable dates; Sunday is Mother’s Day, and for all you naughty children who forgot to make plans, DNAinfo put together a nice list of “outside the box” ideas, like East Village and NoHo History and Dessert Tour at Twilight.

For Yiddishe Mamas, perhaps a walking tour chronicling the “beloved balabustas” of the Lower East Side and sharing rugelach with the Eldridge Museum? While you jot down your plans, make note of the the annual Ukrainian festival coming up next weekend and spanning Seventh Street between Second and Third Avenue.

And in other neighborhood news, it seems the much loved ping pong table in Tompkins Square Park has been “defaced, kind of,” according to EVGrieve, despite its graffiti-resilient design of polished steel.

It’s been bad luck lately for the neighborhood’s outdoor sports fixtures: Grieve also reports that the basketball hoop on Extra Place has been removed; the why remains to be seen.

Today’s sunny high of 69 will make a quick dip for rain tomorrow, then back to the high 60’s and sunny skies on Sunday.

Phillip Kalantzis Cope

Good morning, East Village.

As we offer you our daily greeting, we pause to ask how you’d greet a neighborhood Wal-Mart?

At Wednesday’s Community Board 3 meeting, Wal-Mart representatives expressed a wish to open up shop on the Lower East Side as part of an effort to stake its presence across Manhattan. DNAinfo reports that a coalition of groups opposed to the retailer called Walmart Free NYC asked the Economic Development Committee to vote against any future developments that could adversely affect small businesses.

But in a recent poll of New York City voters by Quinnipac University, 68 percent of respondents said that they’d shop at Wal-Mart. Would you? Let us know in the comments section below.

A vision of our community’s future is being offered through the weekend with the first Festival of Ideas for the New City, a collaborative project featuring downtown organizations with conferences and events, and a “Streetfest” along the Bowery.

The festival, which began Wednesday and carries on through Sunday, highlights the history of the Bowery with local voices, including Rob Hollander of the Lower East Side History Project, who’ll be giving a walking tour entitled “The Bowery: How It Got There and Where It’s Going,” beginning on Astor Place.

If you plan on going, you may want to bring along an umbrella: Today’s mix of clouds and sun will most likely give way to rain by Saturday.

Gloria Chung

Good morning, East Village.

For some who attended last night’s meeting at Cooper Union, it may not be such a good morning. Protestors booed and jeered as the New York City Rent Guidelines Board took a preliminary vote to increase rent stabilized apartments between three to 5.75 percent for one year apartment leases, and up to nine percent for two year leases, with an additional one percent for oil-heated buildings, DNAinfo reports.

The board approved the increase with a 5-4 vote, citing the need to keep up with the growing operating costs for building owners. What’s next? Two more public hearings on June 16 and 20, before a final vote on June 27. Will you be in attendance? Let us know.

But hey, at least British royalty can still afford the neighborhood. On Saturday, the East Village tipped its hat to the famous newlyweds, with a fresh mural of Prince William and Kate Middleton holding court on the corner of East Houston and Avenue B. According to BoweryBoogie, Lower East Side artist Chico offered up his congratulatory message (only up for about three weeks) after being commissioned by Branson B. Champagne, a Harlem based liquor company.

And the rain, rain won’t go away–at least not for another day. Expect wet weather with a high of 55.