Well, yes, the fountain was turned on at the end of last week.

It is (side) plumeless (as I was wondering) but it is on! When Phase I of the park’s redesign opened in 2009, four years ago this week, the fountain debuted with side plumes (or side jets) around its perimeter … they’ve been up and down, on and off – mostly off – for the last two years.

The fountain has been in the park since around 1870 when it was moved from 5th Avenue and 59th Street (Central Park?) to Washington Square. Before the park’s redesign — which entailed the Bloomberg Admin’s decision to move the fountain 22 feet east to “align” with the Arch – the prior structure lasted 80 years. The fountain is wonderful but those side plumes made it just a bit nicer.

*   *   *

Photo: Tom Martinez.

Also, of note — Photographer Tom Martinez who took this shot is beginning Photo Workshop Walking Tours of locations across the city, including Washington Square Park. These photo walks and workshops are “designed to instruct you in the use of the manual controls of your camera. [They've] chosen spectacular locations in Brooklyn and the New York City area for you to test out your new skills.” Instructions in these “Switch to Manual” photography workshops are given by Tom and his partner during two to four hours along the way at the designated spot. Other locations include Coney Island, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It sounds great.

This is from outside the location of the former Barnes & Noble at 8th Street and 6th Avenue yesterday, site of a murder and what police are calling a “hate crime” that occurred in the Village Friday night (5/17). Marc Carson, the man who was “brutally murdered,” was taken to Beth Israel Hospital where he died which just reminded everyone how our elected officials didn’t fight to keep St. Vincent’s Hospital, only a few blocks away, from closing.

The killer also allegedly referenced that he was involved with or responsible for the Sandy Hook shootings of elementary school children in Connecticut in 2012.

Rest in Peace, Marc Carson.

Photo: Cathryn

Upcoming talk next Tuesday, May 21st with author John Strausbaugh, who wrote the recent book, THE VILLAGE: 400 Years of Beats and Bohemians, Radicals and Rogues, and a chance for Washington Sq Park Blog readers to get in for a discounted price. Strausbaugh will be speaking at the General Society Library in midtown on the 21st at 6 p.m.

Mention Washington Square Park Blog and get in for $10 (regular price $15).

Here is the info:

The renowned cultural commentator, John Strausbaugh, has just published his new book, THE VILLAGE: 400 Years of Beats and Bohemians, Radicals and Rogues – A History of Greenwich Village. The work is a monumental study that captures the singular spirit and significance of a place that long shaped American arts, politics, and popular culture.

A sprawling, anecdotal chronicle that begins with the earliest settlements and travels with non-stop momentum to the reinvented, affluent Village of today. 

Tuesday May 21st at 6 p.m.
Wine and cheese reception to follow, chance to meet the author and purchase the book.
General Society Library
20 West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
Manhattan

For more information, click here.

To reserve tickets in advance, call #212.840. 1840, ext. 2 or email: victoria.dengel@generalsociety.org .

Mention Washington Square Park Blog and get in for $10 (regular price $15)!

I love the book cover with the pigeon atop the Arch!

As I anticipated on Monday (that it would be turned on this week), the Fountain at the Park is On! Pictures to follow. Water fountains are on as well.

Updated Dojo’s Restaurant, a cozy and unpretentious spot a few blocks from the park on West 4th Street at Mercer, a favorite of many (partially perhaps because it’s not a bland and/or expensive artisanal something or other), will be closing.

Dojo’s used to be a place you stopped in before a show at The Bottom Line across the street if you were in a hurry and wanted a nearby inexpensive, quick meal. Of course, that was awhile back as The Bottom Line itself closed in 2004. Did you know that the owners are still trying to reopen the club in a new location? (More on that in a minute.)

As far as Dojo’s closing, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York reported Friday that the restaurant will close this summer.

The original Dojo opened in 1974 on St. Mark’s Place – that closed, also due to increased rent, the reason the remaining West 4th Street location is closing as well.

On Dojo’s web site:

...in 1991, Dojo in the West Village was created – both Dojo East and Dojo West were favorite local gems. Unfortunately in 2007, Dojo East was closed down due to high rent!! BUT Dojo West is still going strong!

Not much longer. 

Dojo’s felt like it had been there longer than 1991. Now, what are the chances something bland like what replaced the Bottom Line (below, NYU building) and also expensive will arrive, only in the form of a yogurt shop or chain restaurant? What kind of business can afford the high rent the landlord is apparently looking for? Should we start a fight to save it?

Non-descript NYU Space Replaces Previously Engaging Bottom Line

As for famed music nightclub The Bottom Line, I never fully understood the entire story of the closing, but, in February 2011, the owners wrote on their website that they are still looking to reopen (who knew?):

The Search For The Club

Over the last four years, we have been so close to a deal that landlords presented us with leases all that remained was negotiating the lease. However, each time that last step turned out to be more prolonged and difficult than we anticipated (one negotiation lasted for a year and a half). We’ve been very close to an agreement four times, and each time the deal couldn’t close. These negotiations are difficult and time consuming. Until we’re sure that a deal can close, we’re hesitant to post a false positive. But there’s one thing you should be certain of: Just because nothing’s posted, doesn’t mean that nothing is happening. The one thing Stanley and I are certain of is the process goes on. To paraphrase Arnold in The Terminator, “We’ll be back.”

Keep the faith. Keep the e-mails coming.

Happy Anniversary
Love,
Allan and Stanley

More on the history of the Bottom Line via Wikipedia.

Update: Thanks to Seth who wrote: ”I think it is less likely that the Bottom Line will reopen since one of the founders passed away in March 2013.” He reminded me that Bottom Line co-owner Stanley Snadowsky died in March of this year. (Thanks for the link too, Seth!) So, unless remaining owner Allan Pepper is ready to ‘give it a go’ alone, it does seem very unlikely.

This makes it all even a bit more depressing. I was rereading some of the back history of how NYU (which owns the building) wouldn’t work with the club on the rent and costs for renovations despite the fact that NYU, as an educational institution and non-profit, ‘enjoys’ – and profits from –  low real estate taxes. (The Villager, 2003.)

Photos: Cathryn

Updated

Scene at the Fountain Today

The Fountain should be on soon… possibly this week! At the Community Board 2 Parks Committee Meeting earlier this month, District Manager Ralph Musolino projected “mid May.” It’s been a little chilly and I’m not sure if that’s a factor but it should be turned on soon. At least by the end of the month.

The larger question… when is it turned on, will it appear with side jets (plumes) … like this…

Or not… like this…

To read the saga of the disappearing plumes, visit these previous WSP Blog posts:

The Fountain, (Side) Plume-less Again September 11, 2012

Late Summer 2012: After More than a Year, The Washington Square Fountain’s (Side) Plumes are Back On! August 30, 2012

It’s the Prime of Summer 2011 — Is Something (New) Wrong with the Washington Square Park Fountain? August 11, 2011

A note: the previous fountain lasted for 80 years… maybe it should have been left in its previous location (where it had been since 1870). Just a thought.

Photo 1 & 3: Cathryn

Photo 2: Scott Steinbaugh

Dog contemplates…

This flooding situation has been a problem in Washington Square’s large dog run for awhile now and I gather that the Parks Department figured, at this point, they would wait for the new dog run to open – the new 24 hour dog run (that apparently nobody asked for) in a new location (which pretty much nobody wanted) – versus correcting whatever the problem is. These photos above are from Saturday (5-11) after two days of rain.

There is light at the end of the tunnel…?

The brand new dog run will be in a new spot, relocated along Washington Square South, and is expected to open at the end of May, per the Parks Department.

New Dog Run On the Way … Construction Almost Complete

Some history

In October 2011, one of the board members for the large dog run, Jena Tarleton, posted this comment below. It is worth reposting since the new dog run will be open soon and this explains some of the history and problems from the past and potentially in the future:

…the truth is that the drainage for our current dog run was never installed properly, so it floods in every rain. Of course all of this is old news by now. But if you want some fresher news, here’s a scoop: Parks’ line about making the new dog run 24 hours because we wanted it is completely untrue. Even worse is their claim that they have to have the entrance into the run be on the outer perimeter of the park in order to meet “our” demands for a 24 hour dog run. This is painfully ironic to us because we’ve never asked for a 24 hour dog run (we have enough problems finding needles in the run every morning without it being open 24 hours), and we fought to the bitter end not to have *any* entrance into the run from the parks’ perimeter, because every now and then a dog darts through someone’s legs as they enter or exit and gets out. Right now it isn’t much of a problem, because they end up in the middle of the park where they can be grabbed easily. But if there is an entrance directly onto the street, we are certain to have a number of dog fatalities. The truth is that Parks doesn’t want the big dogs inside WSP, and they think that if they make the entrance to the dog run on the outer perimeter of the park, it will cut down the number of dogs coming into the park.

Why was the Parks Department so insistent on having a 24 hour dog run and an entrance from the street? Was it to limit the number of dogs? Was this re-designer George Vellonakis’s idea or did it come from higher up?

(A bit behind, but Phase III construction update is coming…)

Photos: Cathryn

The Gandhi Statue at Union Square Park has an interesting background which actually supports the argument of people who want to preserve a certain something about Union Square, by, for example, preventing a restaurant in the park (tho’ there are many other compelling reasons against this, such as alienation of park land, support for community usage, and the fact that there are a gazillion other restaurants that circle the park).

The information below on the history of the statue located on the western side of the park near 14th Street comes from the NYC Parks Department (which refers to him as Mohandas, some refer to him at Mahatma):

This bronze sculpture depicting Mohandas Gandhi (1869–1948) was sculpted by Kantilal B. Patel (born 1925). After its dedication on October 2, 1986, the 117th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth, the sculpture joined monuments to Washington, Lafayette, and Lincoln in Union Square Park as a quartet of works devoted to defenders of freedom. Noted civil rights leader Bayard Rustin (1912–1987) was the keynote speaker at the dedication.

The monument, donated by the Gandhi Memorial International Foundation and underwritten by Mohan B. Murjani of Murjani International, Ltd., was installed at Union Square because of the tradition of protest associated with the park. The champion of nonviolent protest and Indian independence from Britain, arguably one of the most important figures of the 20th century, is seen here grasping a staff in his right hand, looking towards a point on the horizon, and walking forward. Clad in sandals and a cotton dhoti, Gandhi’s dress illustrates his Hindu asceticism as well as his support for Indian industries. After its installation the monument became an instant pilgrimage site, with an annual ceremony taking place on Gandhi’s birthday, October 2.

In 2001, Parks conserved the statue after it had been removed temporarily to facilitate the construction of a water main beneath the site. In 2002, the piece was reset on a more naturalistic stone base and the landscaped area around the monument, known as Gandhi Gardens, was expanded and improved.

Wikipedia on Mahatma Gandhi.

Bikes & Ballerinas … Silent Protest Petrocino Square

“Legends Never Die” via Narrative.ly- on the ‘kids’ from “Kids” (filmed at Washington Square early ’90s) — May 2, 2013

Overview of Parks Department, the Performance Issue and Community Board 2 Meeting last week via A Walk in the Park Blog; May 8, 2013

Save Cooper Union – great piece by Sangamithra Iyer in n+1 April 11, 2103

Transportation Department’s bike docking station at Petrosino Square sparks protests – New York Daily News May 10, 2013

Soho artists activists protest placement of bike-share station in Petrosino Square – New York Post May 10, 2013

Photo: Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News

***********************************************************

Like what’s on this site and want to show some love?  ’Tip’ the blogger! Funds help me maintain and improve the site (helps morale too!). You can do so via PayPal or WePay here. Thank you!

An invite to all to attend the 4th Annual West 11th Street Block Party this Saturday, May 11th. The fun begins at 11 a.m. on 11th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues and lasts until 5 p.m. The event is organized by the West 11th Street Block Association and they  welcome all neighbors to “join us for food, music, dunk tank, bouncy house and face painting for the kids.” In addition, The Rickshaw Dumpling Truck will be parked on 11th Street “to help feed hungry passersby.”

They say it’s always a great event and it’s just a few blocks from the Park so be sure to check it out this Saturday, May 11th!