The Cast | The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side

A nice gift idea for rock & roll fans: Sex Pistols – The Great Rock ‘N’ Roll Swindle – Double LP, Vintage Vinyl – First Pressing. $30.

We continue our holiday guide today featuring a few of the sweet shops on lower Orchard Street. We’re taking a look at ways you can help support Lower East Side merchants, restaurants and non-profits this holiday season. Remember your suggestions are welcome at tips@thelodownny.com.

Gargyle clothing store (16A Orchard St.) is offering some great “stocking stuffers” that include cozy wool socks, belts, hand made soaps and key chains, all under $40.

The Cast (71 Orchard St.) is known for their custom leather jackets but they also offer fun gift options like original tee shirts (made in-house) for $35, vintage vinyl albums for $25 and studded cuff bracelets, great vintage jewelry,and belts under $40.

Orchard Street a Week After Robbery: A Happier Ruckus

This afternoon, residents and business owners along and around Orchard Street are meeting with police and local civic organizations to discuss crime prevention in the wake of a violent robbery on June 14. We’ll have more on today’s discussion later, but in the meantime, last Tuesday’s sirens have been replaced by wailing guitars.

Here’s the scene on Orchard between Grand and Broome streets right now: a sidewalk concert by NYC bands Dirty Fences and Jail Bait, hosted by The Cast, a boutique that’s directly across the street from the scene of high drama last week and whose owner was one of the merchants who helped police nab three of the four suspects.

Cafe Katja Employee Describes Orchard St. Drama

Pilgrim store front after robbery on June 14, 2011 - photo by thelodownny.com

More on the dramatic scene that unfolded on Orchard Street earlier this evening. A few minutes ago, The Lo-Down’s Jennifer Strom spoke with James Fry, who works at Cafe Katja across the street from Pilgrim, the clothing store that was robbed.

Shortly before 6 p.m. Fry said he heard the sound of shattering glass. He walked outside to investigate and saw Pilgrim co-owner Brian Bennett on the ground, tussling with one of the suspects. They were both covered in blood and glass fragments.