Smile

"Slactivist" John Penley Returns to Hold a Memorial for "Barnacle Bill" Scott at 9 PM Friday Night ...

John Penley will be returning to the East Village this week . Things did not work out well for him during his stay in Erie Pa. so he has decided to return to NYC ... at least for a while .

"Slacktivist" Penley will for his first action hold a memorial for neighborhood sailor "Barnacle Bill" Scott who recently died of complications of a stroke .

The memorial will begin at 9 pm Friday night 17 July at the corner of 7th street and avenue A at the entrance to Tompkins Square Park .

Friends of much loved and legendary Tompkins Square Park regular "Barnacle Bill" will be accepting donations as above to place an inscribed memorial octagon at the Temperance fountain in remembrance of Bill.

Sunday Evening The Reverend Billy's Campaign Trail Led Down Crusty Row to Ray's Candy Store ...

Some surprised regular inhabitants of Crusty Row this evening were unprepared for a visit from a candidate for Mayor . The Reverend Billy strolled down the row of park benches after an afternoon of rehearsals and a potluck dinner sur l'herbe in Tompkins Square Park . This evening the campaign trail led the Reverend Billy and his choir , by way of Crusty Row , to Ray's Candy Store .

Encomium with choral accompaniment cheered and lifted a dispirited Ray at the front door of his store . 76 year old Ray was praised and thanked for being the good and worthy person who has helped so many over the past 35 years . His candy store's years as a unique part of this East Village community were celebrated too . This little bit of support for Ray , whose candy store is facing a very uncertain future , brought at once a smile to Ray's face and then a tear or two to his eyes .

More on all of this at :

http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/2009/07/reverend-billy-picnic.html

Saturday Afternoon in Tompkins Square Park

Former "Crusty" Pup Maximus Lounges on a Tompkins Square Park Bench One Week After Surgery to Remove a Shoulder Tumor

With the Cast Removed From His Recently Broken Hand and Wrist ,Mosaic Man Now Grasps His Monster With Ease

Markey Hayden Bena Again Beaten While Sleeping Alone on the Street . This Time on 9th Street .

Markey Bena , noticeably in pain , walked with difficulty to the infamous phone booth at 7th street and avenue A known in our local sector of the blogosphere as the "Pee Phone " . The booth would provide a much needed , if unaesthetic , seat for Markey . We had been talking to Markey who was tiring and in pain and needed a place to sit and rest . Markey had only been out of the hospital for a few days and was not at all well . According to Markey , 9 days ago at 2 am Markey , while trying to sleep on 9th street just around the corner from Doc Holiday's , was beaten with a wooden dowel used as a club and kicked by 4 young males dressed in white .

We wrote of Markey recently , May 15 , and another beating that he suffered on the night of May 8th , the same night that Lesia Pupshaw and 2 males were severely beaten in Tompkins Square Park .On that night there were witnesses to the attack on Markey that confirmed the details of the attack that he related to us . There were no witnesses to this most recent attack ;we only have Markey's account of this most recent beating of 9 days ago .

Early Monday morning , 29 June , Markey was trying to sleep on the sidewalk . 4 males in their late teens and 1 female companion approached . The 4 males dressed in white and wearing "Doc Martens " , 2 of them wearing black bowler hats , began to beat with a wooden club and kick Markey . Markey at one point referred to his attackers as "Droogs" , the young sociopaths from "A Clock Work Orange". Marky claims that he believes he heard his attackers speeking Portuguese . Markey claims the female companion , dressed in lacy white attire , also laughed loudly as her companions battered and kicked Markey . Markey became unconscious early in the attack and remembers nothing further other than waking somewhat later at Belleview Hospital .

At Belleview Markey was treated , his hair was sheared and his scalp sewn and stapled . Markey claimed that his body is covered with numerous contusions and abrasions . Markey spent the better part of 3 days in hospital .

While there is no doubt that Markey was severely beaten in the street we have no other witnesses than Markey to confirm the details of his "Clock Work Orange-esque" account of the beating .

This Tuesday evening at Ray's Candy Store Markey was accompanied by a friend who was looking after him . His friend was trying to get Markey off the street . She finally took a still weak and wounded Markey by cab back to the hospital for more medical attention .

Midnight at the Entrance to Tompkins Square Park

Biker Bill Says : "Little Snakes Become Big Snakes"

Police RMP Careens Onto Sidewalk After Colliding with Cadillac at 5th Street and avenue D. Several Injured ....

Tuesday afternoon around 4PM a police RMP (Radio Motor Patrol) was heading uptown on avenue D in the downtown lane . According to witnesses a Cadillac traveling uptown , the same direction as the RMP , on D in the uptown lane attempted to turn left onto 5th street . The police RMP struck the turning vehicle at the front left wheel well and door . The energy of the impact was sufficient to spin the Cadillac through a 180 degree spin and slide it side ways at least 20 feet .

The RMP was damaged in the collision losing at least some control of the front wheels . The damaged out of control RMP careened onto the the side walk where varying witness accounts report 5 or 6 pedestrians were struck . The track of this sidewalk transit can be seen in the trail of smudges ,gouges and scrapes in the street and on the sidewalk in the pictures above .

We do not know why the RMP was in the downtown avenue D lane heading uptown . Judging from the extent of the damage to the 2 vehicles and that the Cadillac was spun 180 degrees and displaced several feet it must have been traveling at significant velocity . Witness accounts differ on whether sirens were heard and whether the RMP's lights were flashing .

NYPD aviation was on the scene to monitor rooftops in the area and police officers were positioned on roof tops to assist in crowd control .

At this time we know that 2 people in the Cadillac were rescued from their vehicle and taken to hospital . The 2 police officers in the RMP were taken to hospital for treatment of head and neck injuries .There were 5 or perhaps 6 pedestrians who were struck by the RMP on the side walk that were taken to hospital also . We do not know the extent of the injuries to any of these individuals .

More here

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/nyregion/01crash.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

http://www.nypost.com/video/?channel=PostUsFeed&clipid=1458_539125&bitrate=300&format=flash



http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/07/02/2009-07-02_heaven_blessed_baby_in_cop_car_crash_chaos.html

More Violent Games on Crusty Row in Tompkins Square Park ...

When they hit some one it hurt . They were so young and so small . Their game running in the street part play , part combat went on for a couple of hours on the street , on Crusty Row and in Ray's Candy Store .

We first noticed the gang of 8 or so young males of mixed race and very young running up and down Crusty Row Monday night around 9 PM . We spotted them from the avenue A side walk as they ran in their white T-shirts. We immediately knew that something unusual was happening in Tompkins square Park on Crusty Row .

We suspected another wilding attack . When a few minutes later we were able to view and photograph the scene on Crusty Row from a discrete distance we we saw mixed with running , jumping , laughing and shouting clearly violent episodes of battery . Threatening confrontations exploded , with the smallest of the members of the group clearly the more aggressive .

But there was so much play fullness too . Even though we saw multiple punches thrown , grappling and objects including bottles and a milk crate thrown such violence was tempered with a sense of play. Taunt ,hit and run and laugh . Laugh and run to the other side of the park and then return to taunt and hit some more . In the most uneasy way tiny bits of innocence stirred lightly , hesitantly through these acts of blunt violence in TSP . When they saw us with a camera they immediately ran from TSP to avenue A .

On avenue A the group gathered outside Ray's candy Store . They entered the store pushing their way around and according to witnesses demanded in Spanish some "pussy-flavored" ice cream . The Polish and English speaking young woman behind the counter did not understand so the youngsters , again according to witnesses , called her a white bitch and suggested in English that she should suck their cocks .

Ray had been taking a nap in the back of the store . The commotion woke him ;confused he entered the front of his store and told the group that they should leave , he would not serve them . They did not leave and Ray threw a cup full of water at them . They still would not leave but when they saw us taking pictures of them they immediately left the store running up avenue A.

Police were called and when they arrived at Ray's the story of the young males' aggressions was told by those who had seen it all while in the candy store .

We decided to do some recon in TSP hoping to find where the young males went . We found them at the intersection of avenue B and 10th street playing something of the rough game that they had been playing earlier . They were also in the midst of adults who occasionally yelled at them . Finally both the young males and the adults entered the corner building by an entrance on 10th street .

Though we did speak with some who had been attacked and hit by the young males no one claimed to have been hurt badly . We should also note that we have pictures of some of the young males and that we have not published them , at least at this time , because they were all minors .

We do not know what if any action has been taken by NYPD concerning this event and these young males .

Downtown Saturday

Friday Night : Moon Walk at Odessa

Mosaic Man Leaves His Mark on his Former Home ,Benjamin Shaoul's 120 Saint Marks Place ...

120 St. Marks Place to this day does not have even a temporary certificate of occupancy let alone a full and permanent Certificate of Occupancy . This lack of a Cof O is likely due to the considerable number of outstanding violations and unpaid fines listed on the Department of Buildings profile for the 120 Saint Marks Place property .... at least if the DOB's building information system can be believed . We leave it to the reader to see for themselves http://www.nyc.gov/ . Click on "Buildings" and fill in the blank spaces with the property's street address.

There have been numerous problems with this building according to the community and the NYC Dept. of Buildings . Check the total number of complaints on the building profile and of course take a look at the Internet entries on 120 St. Marks Place . Mosaic Man too had his share of problems : this blog was started documenting Mosaic Man's life on the street right out front of 120 St. Marks Place .

We followed and posted of the eviction of Mosaic Man from the previous building known as the" Cave" at this location , the eviction of other squatters from the cave , the demolition of this previous building and of course the construction of the building that now stands fully occupied with out a Certificate of Occupancy at 120 St. Marks Place .

Last week almost exactly 3 years after his eviction from the "Cave " at 120 Saint Marks Place , Mosaic Man returned to place a death's head with a rose near the front window of the piercing salon and tattoo parlor in today's 120 St Marks Place.

The Street's Hustle in Print on the Wall of the "Pee Phone"

Where Do Super Heros Get Their News ? The Shadow , Available at a News Stand Near You

http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org/index.html

Friday Night : Too Much of the Same for Avenue A

Saturday Night at Ray's Candy Store

Trouble at the Chess Tables for the Groper .....

Tuesday night uniformed police were on avenue A and in Tompkins Square Park . Foot patrols were walking the avenue side walk and foot patrols and motor patrols were regularly seen in TSP .No matter the police presence though neither peace nor harmony were possible in TSP .

Sometime around 10 PM a heated altercation at the chess tables in TSP turned violent . 2 very animated males were arguing vociferously with the Groper . Tonight she was not groping , just in the males' faces arguing . One of the males punched the Groper in the face producing a bloody nose and a swollen painful lip . Police were called .

Several uniform officers arrived at the scene . Suspects were questioned and 1 male was arrested , cuffed and hauled away on assault charges .

Its becoming clear that just more police on the street and in the park will not bring peace and harmony to TSP and avenue A . Tonight the additional special help needed to achieve that end though may have arrived . Terrific twosome "Citizen Prime" and "Dark Guardian"made a timely show on avenue A at midnight offering to help fight crime and bring social harmony to the neighborhood .

Suspicious Odor at Butter Lane ...

Tuesday evening around 7:45 PM fire department , police and emergency medical personnel were called to cupcake purveyor Butter Lane on 7th street between avenue A and 1st avenue . A suspicious chemical odor , possibly gas , and the rescue of apparently trapped individuals was the reason for the call .

FD found no gas problem , no one needed rescuing or medical care and as far as we know no one received any free cupcakes .

Avenue A Night

More Saturday Night Violence on Crusty Row in Tompkins Square Park ...

Jimmy Jones angered somebody on a crowded Crusty Row Saturday night , the first night in several without a uniformed NYPD presence in Tompkins Square Park , and in doing so earned himself some injuries including a very large and nasty bleeding gash in his scalp .

Certainly there was something of a violent scuffle in the midst of the mostly congenial partying crowd of Crustys and friends . Witnesses' accounts differ with some claiming that he was shoved and fell into a park bench and others claiming that he was kicked in the head . A drunken , stunned and confused Jimmy when we questioned him claimed that he had been kicked in the head .

Police , FDNY and an ambulance found him on 7th street in the middle of the block between avenues A and B around 9:30 PM . Somehow he had wandered with swollen , battered face and blood soaked hair draining blood into his his nearly swollen-closed eyes the 300 yards or so to the spot where some one found him and called 911 . Jimmy was treated at the mid block location and then taken to hospital .

We do not know much that is verifiable about what happened on Crusty row or why Jimmy Jones was hurt on Crusty Row tonight . We do know that there were different stories offered by different witnesses .Some of the folks involved tonight were probably also present on Crusty Row the night 4 weeks ago when Lesia Pupshaw and others were beaten . One thing is clear though and that is that the violence tonight was not done by a wilding gang of young Hispanic males from avenue C or D.

Later at 10 PM police cleared Crusty Row .

Rainy Afternoon

Best of Friends ...

A bit more than a week ago these two were seen fighting along with pacing back-and-forth and bellowing at each other for half an hour on avenue A here on NMNL in a post titled "These Boots Weren't Made For Walkin' " . In this post from last week the Groper , sitting with cocktail above , even claimed that Dennis had hit her over the head with a ketchup bottle just like the bright red one sitting on the table above . Tonight though it was all much less frenzied at Odessa Bar .

Tonight the Groper needed a drink . She walked into the Odessa Bar and ordered a Long Island Iced Tea . As she sat in a booth sipping her cocktail her new friend Dennis , the claimed ketchup bottle wielding manager from the previous post , walked up and much to our surprise gave her a hug . Tonight Dennis and the Groper were best of friends .

Ray's Candy Store Reopens ....

This afternoon a clamoring horde of impatient patrons rushed and mobbed Ray in order to be the first in the door as he removed a health department closure notice and reopened his world famous candy store .

Today as Ray was in court dealing with the closure of his business before an administrative judge a health inspector was inspecting his candy store . The inspector approved Rays improvements and operation in general and the judge allowed Ray to reopen his 24 hour a day , 7 day a week business.

There are still more critical inspections to come and several thousands of dollars in fines to be paid .

Finally , all should thank the several loyal friends and neighbors who freely labored all day and all night to help Ray clean and repair his candy store so that it would pass the health dept inspection this morning .