Paved Paradise Redux: The Art of Joni Mitchell. After an eight year respite, performance artist John Kelly has returned to the Abrons Arts Center with his inspired tribute. As the Village Voice noted, even Joni Mitchell said the performance made her cry. You can see it through June 27th.
The New York Times recommends the paintings of Lisa Beck at the gallery, "Feature Inc.," 276 Bowery.
Rooftop Films:
"Winnebago Man," the story behind the pitchman who became an internet
sensation when his hilarious profanity-laced tirades went viral. It's a special
sneak preview, Open Road Rooftop above New Design High School, 9pm
tonight. Oh, and for your enjoyment, Jack Rebney, "in his own words." (profanity alert…)
Organizers are putting the finishing touches on tomorrow's 3rd Annual New Village Music Festival in Tompkins Square Park. It's a celebration of music, culture and community that was created not only to promote emerging musical artists in the neighborhood but to embrace the organizations that serve the East Village and Lower East Side. The festival was the brainchild of musician David Soto (Daso), who's also youth director at the Campos Community Center. Community leader and activist Chino Garcia is co-host this year. The performances will cross multiple generations, cultures and genres, including reggae, Afro Latin, flamenco Latin jazz, folk, pop, electro Latin funk, positive hip hop and R & B. More information on the festival's Myspace page. Take a look at one of the performances from the New Music Festival, 2007:
Eater reports an overnight fire broke out at Teany, the tea and sandwich shop on Rivington Street. It was apparently an electrical fire that caused damage to the restaurant and at least some of the apartments in the building. A manager told Eater the destruction is significant, but they hope to reopen in a few weeks. Teany was once owned by Moby.
The Fourth Arts Block and the LES Business Improvement District are joining forces for the first ever "Pride Goes East" celebration. The two organizations are sponsoring a week full of free entertainment events, nightlife specials, restaurant deals and shopping discounts that stretch across the East Village and the Lower East Side (click here for more info). The kickoff event is this coming Sunday from 4-6 pm on Orchard Street, between Houston and Stanton. The emcee is Allen Roskoff, a veteran gay activist who co-authored the nation's first gay rights bill. A number of elected officials have been invited to attend, including City Councilman Alan Gerson.
Pride Goes East, is an effort to expand New York's Gay Pride celebration beyond the West Village. Sunday's event will also feature special musical performances and an appearance by the popular drag queen, "Ms. Sarah Palin." According to Roberto Ragone, executive director of the Lower East Side BID and Tamara Greenfield, executive director of Fourth Arts Block, their collaboration is meant to show that Houston Street is not an imaginary barrier separating two neighborhoods. They point out that, historically, the entire area was thought of as the Lower East Side — and that today they still have a certain kinship. We'll have more about that next week.
Despite the fact that the city faces a $5 billion loss in revenues and has decided to layoff 2-thousand employees, the City Council has not reduced pork barrel spending one cent. Next year's budget includes more than $48 million in "discretionary spending." Most of this money goes to worthy non-profits, but a lot of people see the "discretionary" pot as a political slush fund – and it's been plagued by scandal this year. LES Council Member Alan Gerson is not the worst offender. He's in the middle of the pack, with 30 discretionary items. This year's champion: Inez Dickens (149 items). The Council votes on the budget this afternoon.
The city reports that major crimes (such as murder, rape and robbery) declined 9-percent in the public schools in the past year.
Council Speaker Christine Quinn (with Mayor Bloomberg's support), wants to relax certain city regulations to help ease the financial burden's on small businesses. The Daily News likes the idea. So does the Neighborhood Retail Alliance, but not surprisingly, they want to see more steps taken.
Curbed has new details about the hotel ("Stories_NY") going up at 163 Orchard, which may or may not be in compliance with the LES's new zoning rules. The hotel apparently includes a "lot-through outdoor terrace with a bar on the second floor." Make you nervous?
Tomorrow at noon, at the Bowery Poetry Club, "The Bowery: Past, Present & Future." The presentation and discussion is a fundraiser ($6 minimum) for the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors.
Follow the Discussion