The farewell party for the famous "Toy Tower" at the Avenue B and 6th Street community garden took place yesterday. Vanishing New York estimates about 100 well-wishers were in attendance to eulogize the found object art tower, which rose to a height of 65 feet over the course of two decades. The eclectic structure is the work of the colorful East Village character Eddie Boros, who passed away one year ago this month. Adrian Benepe,......

A tipster tells Vanishing New York that the iconic found object “Tower of Toys” that began rising out of the Avenue B and 6th Street Community Garden in the mid-80s will be demolished by the Parks Department. According to the garden's executive committee, the 65-foot tower has been deemed unsafe. And, let’s face it, it’s just not in keeping with the city’s ever-expanding ‘generic and soulless’ real estate trend. The creator of the tower, Eddie......

In a neighborhood full of heaping plate entrees-under-$10, Back Forty makes a somewhat daring entry onto Avenue B (near 12th Street) with its a la carte style menu featuring chef-and-market driven dinner fare. Back Forty’s website describes itself as a place “meant to be comfortable for a quick bite before a movie, an easy meal for a collection of friends or a simple family meal. It’s dinner not a dining experience.” Dining experience--if by......

Missed Halloween but still feeling spooky? Never fear, you can continue the creepy vibe by celebrating the Mexican Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos. Observed on November 1st and 2nd, this holiday celebrates and honors the lives of the deceased and welcomes them to the new stage in their lives that commences upon death. Several Mexican restaurants across the city are joining in the celebration -- here's where to go and what to......

Back Forty: Peter Hoffman of Savoy brings his fresh-from-the-farm mentality to the East Village, complete with farm implements decorating the walls. The term "Back Forty" referred to the undeveloped quarter of a 160-acre homestead where farm families went to relax and unwind. The menu may be small, but includes a grass-fed beef burger, Maine shrimp and bacon beignets, and a whole grilled Catskill trout. Wash it down with a house cocktail, or if you've got......

Bun: Chef Michael Bao Huynh and his wife, Thao Nguyen, who has amazing noodle preparation expertise, have opened this Vietnamese rice-noodle and small-plate spot in SoHo. Although he has gotten some financial backing from Warren Cuccurullo, formerly of Missing Persons and Duran Duran, Huynh designed the designed the 45-seat space himself. The menu is affordable, with a cap at around $12, and features four varieties of pho, among other dishes. 143 Grand Street, near Lafayette......

TIP: According to Paper's Mr. Mickey, Chloë Sevigny is having a tag sale on her block this Saturday. We're guessing there will be lots of vintage Balenciaga. Check out her apartment in House & Garden...pretty nice! EVENT: The Howl Festival (which took last year off) continues on throughout the weekend. Tomorrow around 2pm you can catch Moby with his band The Little Death in Tompkins Square Park. Check out the full schedule here. All Weekend......

Alphabet City has long been a cheap eats favorite, with Kate's Joint for veggie-heads, Westville East for market lovers, and Nicky's Vietnamese sandwiches for the best salty-sweet-hot sandwich for under $5. You can get ramen (Minca) or delicious baked goods (Ciao for Now) or the city's arguably best coffee (9th Street Espresso), before even getting to welcome Cafe Cortadito, a new sure-to-be neighborhood favorite on 3rd Street and Avenue B. With miniature vases full......

August 11: Organic Harvest Celebration at Stone Ridge Orchard Stone Ridge Orchard, the farm behind the Organic Schmorganic blog, is celebrating its inaugural harvest from its fifteen acres of certified organic farmland. Take a trip to the country for some food and drink, right from the farm. 6 to 9 PM at 300 Springtown Road New Paltz. RSVP to Amy Johansson by email or by calling 845-249-3440. August 13: Regional Mexican Dinner at Mercadito This......

August 4: Winemaking Demo - Bottling Learn about the wine bottling process as students bottle, cork, capsule and label their 2006 and 2005 California wine in this final step. Stop by for a free demo and tour of the Piazza Brothers School of Winemaking, and taste the 2006 wines. 10:00 - 3:00, 690 Gulf Avenue, Staten Island, 732-299-8812. August 6: Regional Mexican Dinner at Mercadito Mercadito brings back their four-course regional Mexican dinners every Monday......

- As part of his "gearing up for Morandi" mode, Bruni takes a return trip to Balthazar and was not a happy camper. - The NY Sun brings us the fantastic news that the Mercadito team are expanding their empire. Callecito, which will focus on Mexcian street food, will be across the street from their Avenue B branch and is slated to open in June. - Grub Street's Josh Ozersky (a.k.a. Mr. Cutlets) recently taunted......

Okay, so you left it to the last minute once again. Never fear, there are still options for eating out on New Year's Eve. Time Out New York rounds up options for every budget, ranging from $20.07 snacks and apps at the Silverleaf Tavern (the bottomless glass of wine will cost you an additional $70, however), to a five course dinner at Cafe Gray including unlimited champagne and dancing for $550. Citysearch has a fairly......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a double shooting with an officer injured in East Flatbush, a big fire in Bushwick, a tripple stabbing in Bay Ridge, and a pedestrian struck by auto on Houston and Avenue B. The U.S. Navy is being called in to pull the Intrepid out of the Hudson River mud. Check out the renderings for Chelsea Cove, a new addition to Hudson River Park. The futuristic-looking Rector Street Bridge will......

When Snack Dragon, Josephine Jansen's taco shack on Avenue B between 2nd & 3rd doled out its final taco this past Memorial Day, late-night devotees and locals alike mourned the loss of the cheap eats joint with tasty, always fresh tacos. Officials claimed the shack was built without a permit and Jansen, the taco-loving East Village veteran, had no choice but to leave. Thanks to a coffee shop that closed literally around the corner,......

October 26: The Caffeine Question Get a buzz at this upcoming class at Joe, The Art of Coffee, where Head Barista Erin Meister will guide you through a tasting of coffees with levels of caffeine. Learn how the type of coffee bean and brewing method affect a beverage's caffeine level, and discover the many misconceptions about caffeine. Reservations are required: call 212-924-7400, or e-mail joecoffeestore@aol.com. 7:30 PM, 141 Waverly Place at Gay Street, $10. October......

The NY Sun looks at the strange but-more-common-than-you'd-think phenomenon of New Yorkers waiting for things. Well, in addition to Magnolia cupcakes and Shake Shack (yeah, you knew it) burgers and shakes, the Sun listed some waits:HALAL GYRO AND CHICKEN Sixth Avenue at 53rd Street Waiting for: A hefty platter of meat, rice, salad and secret sauce combination. Peak time: 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., and midnight to 3 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays Average wait time:......

- Ed Levine has a short round up of the Il Buco annual pig roast; looks like it should be on the calendar next year. - Check out this podcast from The Gilded Fork Culinary Podcast Network, they have William Grimes discussing the topic of restaurant vernacular. Sample topic - use of the word entrée and the difference in the meaning here and across the pond. - The rise, battle, takedown, and hibernation of E.U.......

Has East Village restaurant LeSouk, infamous for being a haven of "fights, underage drinking, and legitimate noise comlplaints" over the years, closed? Reader Stacie who lives across from Le Souk (and loathes it for its chaos) heard from someone at the 9th Police Precinct that the restaurant lost its liquor license - and in fact, it was closed last night. Stacie continued to build a compelling case for why residents on Avenue B may be......

As we mentioned yesterday in Extra, Extra, this week brought Manhattan preservationists some bad news and some bad news with a side of hope. First up, the bad but slightly hopeful news. On Thursday morning the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York shocked a number of folk when they, with no warning, started to demolish St. Brigid's Church on Avenue B and 7th (above), which at 157-years-old is one of the oldest houses of......

June 29: At the Table: Celebrating Women Chefs & Restaurateurs It's all about the ladies at this benefit for the scholarship fund of Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, an organization that promotes the advancement of women in the restaurant industry. Join top women chefs and sommeliers at this five-course dinner and reception, including Heather Carlucci-Rodriguez of Lassi, Rebecca Charles of Pearl Oyster Bar, and Patricia Yeo of Sapa, among others. Gourmet's Sara Moulton, the Honorary Chair......

June 24: QBQ BBQ Burger Bash Gothamist and A Hamburger Today bring you the best burgers from across the nation right here at Water Taxi Beach. We've told you about it plenty -- all the details are here. June 24: Cheese and Wine at Telepan Telepan joins forces with cheese team Waldemar & Nadia for the second of a series of Saturday afternoon cheese and wine tastings. Taste summertime artisan cheeses paired with Telepan's wines......

LITERATI and GRAFFITI: Smith Dalek, Sasha Jenkins and Darin Rowland (one of the authors of the book "Freight Train Graffiti") discuss the nature of the relationship between graffiti and art, and how a city fad broke out worldwide. A reception and book signing with the graffiti artists on hand will follow. 7 to 9pm // Chelsea Art Museum [556 West 26th St near 11th Ave] // Free ART: Witness a Gordian knot of artistic/intellectual conjecture......

Ah, Cinco de Mayo. We finally learned the backstory this year. Apparently, several decades after Mexico gained independence from Spain, France sent 6,000 of its soldiers to invade Mexico in 1862. On May 5th of that year, 2,000 ill-equiped but passionate Mexican citizens defeated the French army. Every year, on May 5th, it has been traditional to honor those brave fighters by partaking in a night of music, tequila and authentic Mexican cuisine, and we......

Gothamist loves indulging in weekend brunch just as much as the next person, but the hour long lines that linger outside downtown favorites like Clinton Street Baking Co. and Prune, can drive even enthusiasts away. Head up Avenue B and you'll find yourself at Rue B, where an all-inclusive $10 covers a breakfast cocktail, endless cup of coffee, and generously sized entree, served without the rush of those scowling at you from the long......

Sad news from the New York Post today: the 157-year old St. Brigid church on Avenue B and 7th Street will be razed. A Manhattan Supreme Court judge refused to block the demolition, so short of a miracle, nothing is going to save this beautiful building. The archdiocese is saying they don't have the seven million dollars required to bring the building up to code-- despite neighborhood claims that the true price tag is......

If there's one week that folks might be at a loss for things to do in the city, this is the week. You might think not a creature was stirring, but how many times do we have to tell you? This is New York. The kids are definitely not nestled all snug in their beds. What to your wondering eyes should appear this week? Take a look.... You may be done with Christmas, but Yo......

- The awful story of the off-duty Officer who was shot down yesterday becomes even more tabloid ready as one of the suspects turns out to be an actor from the Sopranos. - The News out-crazy-headlined the ">Post today when they announced that "Jeanine to disa-Pirro from race v. Hill." - Maybe not the best club opening ever? - The NYPD wants to keep the closed streets around the 14th Street Con Ed Plant......

Zoe Schneider, Writer and Clothing Designer...

December is here, and the joyous holidays of Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza are coming up soon. Most of those celebrations involve the combination of candles and combustible decorations-- like that extra dry Christmas tree you found the other night on Avenue B. Okay-- it was more of a discarded houseplant, but it's sitting in your living room now, surrounded by four lit menorahs and a slightly frayed set of Christmas lights. Maybe now is the time......

One of Gothamist's favorite passtimes is trolling Wikipedia for new information about New York, and today we really hit paydirt: Someone is building a complete list of songs that reference our fair city. Take just the first ten-- you know you're living in the right city when you've got both Simon & Garfunkel and 2 Live Crew writing about it:# "53rd and 3rd" by The Ramones # "Angel of Harlem" by U2 # "Arthur's Theme"......