Friday, April 04, 2008
More Shots Fired in the East Village : A Young Man is Dead
ABOVE and BELOW : As children watch from a window , police search the scene of the shooting , the court yard of 635 east 13th st. and 205 avenue C , for evidence including the empty brass casing from the fatal round .
ABOVE and BELOW : NYPD aviation searches the rooftops in the immediate area of the buildings , Campos Plaza , at the corner of 13th st. and avenue C .
ABOVE : With police personnel filling the foyer of 635 east 13th st in the distance , a news photographer takes a break allowing some neighborhood kids to take pictures of each other with his camera .
ABOVE : 9th precinct commander , in beige suit , confers with other ranking officers representing NYPD units involved in the gathering of evidence and in conducting the search for the 4 young males that were involved in the shooting of David Bookin .
ABOVE and 2 BELOW : Some heavily processed images ,taken through a heavily dirt-fogged window , of NYPD Emergency Services ( ESU) personnel and their police dog waiting to conduct a vertical search of 635 east 13th st. .
BELOW : NYPD ESU personnel leaving 635 east 13th st. after conducting vertical search of building .
For at least the third time this week shots were fired in the East Village . This time one of those shots killed a man .
Shortly after 7:00 PM Thursday evening , in the court yard of the buildings at 635 east 13th st. and 205 avenue C , Campos Plaza , David Bookin , 33 , was reported shot in the back one time . According to witnesses , the four young men that were responsible for the murder fled the scene immediately after the one shot was fired . Mr. Bookin died a short time later either on the way to a hospital or in the emergency room at the hospital .
Reportedly several people , adults and children , were present in the court yard and witnessed the shooting . It is likely that among those present there are some who know who the young men were that are responsible for this murder .
In a brief , sad conversation with David Bookin's very distraught brother we learned that the shooter was someone that both he and his brother knew . According to Mr. Bookin the 4 responsible for the murder of his brother were of a younger generation than his brother . He noted that though his brother was well liked by most in the building and surrounding neighborhood , these younger males were not at ease with the older members of the community such as his brother .There was an altercation and then 1 shot . In short the "new jacks" comming up don't like the "old timers" being around ; not a new story over on avenues and C and D but certainly a sad and troubling story .
Having lived in the neighborhood all his life , this tragedy was a story that Mr. Bookin knew all too well . His last comment was " now he's with our mother" . After our conversation he stoically rode off on his bicycle to his night-time job .
In addition to David Bookin's brother an aunt , with whom he sometimes lived , and some cousins were also at the scene of the murder comforting each other along with some friends .
A conversation with one resident of 205 avenue C revealed that the buildings had been requesting cameras and security personnel for the court yard for some time . The resident noted that there had been 3 murders in this courtyard in the last 3 years .
At the most recent Community Board meeting last week the building again made their request for cameras and security personnel .
Sunday, January 27, 2008
8 Days A Week and 75 Years Old ..
8 days a week Ray works at his candy store even though he is 75 years old .It is absolutely necessary that he work everyday because he has big bills to pay , Con Ed , water , supplies , employees and something like $5000 per month rent with a harridan ( our opinion and term )of a managing agent that harrasses him and who will only allow him a month to month lease .
Today most in the neighborhood don't even know what a candy store is and certainly don't recognize Ray's enterprise at 113 avenue A as being one . Too many in this neighborhood today are above having a need for the things that are commonly found in a candy store . Most , not knowing Ray's name , only think of "Belgian Fries" when the location is mentioned ; not knowing that the store at 113 avenue A is not "Belgian Fries " but "Ray's Candy Store" . Because of all of this Ray has less business than he did 20 years ago . With the high rent it is difficult to keep his candystore going but somehow he continues .
Ray's venerable candy store at 113 Avenue A is one of the last of the existing anchors to the past and to the ways of the old East Village .This village is quickly fading to little but a memory .
Everyday Ray labors on at least 8 hours a day while still somehow finding the time and the resources to also help so many people by listening to their problems , loaning them a little extra money or by giving them a little free food or coffee .He is "holding down the fort" against gentrification and a banal future for all so many of us every day .
At 75 he deserves a real birthday party and that is what his friends ,customers and neighbors made possible and celebrated with him Friday night .
Creamy Stevens from the " Starshine Burlesque " came to dance for Ray . Perhaps for some this performance was all a bit too lascivious but most had no problem with the celebration and enjoyed it greatly . Since NMNL is already tagged by "Blogger" as an adult site we pulled no punches when editing . If your parental security settings are correctly set then your Kids can't look at this site without your permission . Ah censorship....
We here at NMNL proudly present the evening in pictures for your enjoyment . We hope that you can celebrate with us and the neighborhood the birthday of a real neighborhood hero .
A special view from the customer's side of the service counter .
In the midst of the show a little conversation 
One more "Raison d'etre" for Ray's "Boar's Head" brand hotdogs
Off with a glove
Left-over accessories
Sort of like airplane propellers but she does not fly away
A birthday cheer for Ray
An after-dance embrace
the birthday kiss
Ilya cuts the cheesecake birthday cake donated by Pozzo's Bakery
Some of the guys just wanted to spend some time talking to Creamy
Phil liked the cheesecake birthday cake
"Team Spyder" was there doing some video
Another birthday cake for Ray from some friends
Jack and Biker Bill arrived early to be sure to be able to be right up-front watching the show
Biker Bill , wearing recently deceased "Outlaw"s hat , enjoyed the show
Creamy Stevens of the " Starshine Burlesque" every Thursday at Rififi ( Cinema Classics ) , 11th street between 1st and 2nd Avenue . http://www.starshineburlesque.com/
Impresario Ilya who with help from friends produced the birthday extravaganza
Ray's birthday kiss by Ilya's Polaroid
Off with a glove
More flesh is exposed
Left-over accessories
Sort of like airplane propellers but she does not fly away
A birthday cheer for Ray
An after-dance embrace
the birthday kiss
Ilya cuts the cheesecake birthday cake donated by Pozzo's Bakery
Some of the guys just wanted to spend some time talking to Creamy
Phil liked the cheesecake birthday cake"Team Spyder" was there doing some video
Another birthday cake for Ray from some friends
Jack and Biker Bill arrived early to be sure to be able to be right up-front watching the show
Phil was there early too but he mostly watched the show along with many others from outside the candy store .
Biker Bill , wearing recently deceased "Outlaw"s hat , enjoyed the show
Creamy Stevens of the " Starshine Burlesque" every Thursday at Rififi ( Cinema Classics ) , 11th street between 1st and 2nd Avenue . http://www.starshineburlesque.com/ 
Impresario Ilya who with help from friends produced the birthday extravaganzaRay's birthday kiss by Ilya's Polaroid
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday Night in the East Village
Friday, February 29, 2008
The "Mars Bar" : From the Inside Out ...
It was a cold and windy Thursday night ; not so many people on the street... we ended -up at the "Mars Bar" . A friendly place ,we felt at home and had a shot of Bushmill's and a couple of Buds ... cheap too.
In our estimation a venerable and worthy drinking establishment but perhaps a reality that many of the recently arrived East Village upper crust would not be prepared to honestly embrace and suffer .
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