After reports of the Waverly Diner’s gutting for renovation, the place suddenly looked shut down and abandoned, with the neon sign gone from the front and ominous plywood in the windows–some decorated with “Yuppies go home” graffiti.

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Saturday: Occupy Tompkins Square Park with John Penley. [EVG]

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On the Bowery: “generic glass-and-steel towers, trendy hotels, art galleries and chains like Whole Foods have been chipping away at the streets character, threatening to make some blocks resemble the sleeker stretches of Avenue of the Americas or Third Avenue in Midtown.” [NYT]

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“The lambs of historic preservation,” wrote Christopher Gray in the Times last week, “fought the lions of John Portman and his hotel juggernaut at the Battle of the Helen Hayes Theater in 1982. The lions won, and the theater was destroyed, like Carthage. Later this month, anyone who wants a very substantial battlefield souvenir may bid on a truckload of 300-pound pieces of glazed terra cotta.”

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When a framing shop shuttered on 2nd Ave. and 52nd St., workers tore down the awning and uncovered a ghost sign, complete with an old telephone exchange–PL3–which I’m assuming stood for “PLaza.” Thanks to reader Sean for sending in this photo of Louis Mattia’s lamp shop.

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New York’s ample Apple acolytes express their sadness about the death of CEO Steve Jobs. [Racked]

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Don’t worry. It’s not vanishing. But I thought I’d better get a bite here soon, as luxury encroaches on this block of Bleecker.

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At last night’s memorial for Bob Arihood–memories, mosaics, and LES Jewels’ penis. [EVG] [BB] [MAD] [Gothamist]

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Following the knit-bombing tea cozy craze? Some guy is covering bus shelters on 14th with doilies:

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Reader John DeFore wrote in yesterday to let us know that another Ray’s Pizza has vanished from New York City. Fork in the Road announced the closure. Panic ensued, as this shuttering follows the loss of the very first Ray’s on Prince Street.

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