2009 November 23 | The Lo-Down : News from the Lower East Side

If You Want to Speak Out About the New Restaurant at 384 Grand...: We're working on it!
No Sanctuary for Young Israel Synagogue: Dear Below Grand, Sorry, your comment made me chuckle, an
If You Want to Speak Out About the New Restaurant at 384 Grand...: Any chance the Lo-Down could interview the owners? I'd like
No Sanctuary for Young Israel Synagogue: Great reporting! But what a sad story. No one wins here.
Chinatown Working Group: LES Question Unresolved: I agree with Sun. I don't believe Lalan has spoken with any
Mexican Restaurant Seeks Liquor License at 384 Grand : I hope the Lo-Down can get in contact with the proprietors o
Op/Ed: Make Schools a Priority in SPURA Plan: We have so blurred the private/public boundary in NYC over t
Op/Ed: Make Schools a Priority in SPURA Plan: I don't understand this; why the apparent bias for a charter
Op/Ed: Make Schools a Priority in SPURA Plan: Since there have been a few comments about this story, I wan
Op/Ed: Make Schools a Priority in SPURA Plan: "The Department of Education doesn't believe a new school sh

This Week’s Music Picks

Dancers Scott Heron and Hijack come to Dixon Place with Smithsoniansmith - photo by William P. Starr via Time Out NY

The Lo-Down List: This Week’s Happenings

Gary Shteyngart at Brown Cafe - photo by Matthew Monteith for thelodownny.com

TLD Interview: Author Gary Shteyngart

November 23rd, 2009

Artist Malachi Farrell In His Own Words

We stopped by the opening party for Malachi Farrell's exhibit, The Shops Are Closed, at Abrons Arts Center on Friday. Along with a version of his famous electronically animated air-conditioning tubes, there is a sculptural installation involving two missiles "on vacation" with an audio track (see video below), various projected video animations and even some shoes thrown over a wire, strung across the courtyard at Abrons. Malachi told us about the show (held in concurrently with his show Malachi Farrell: Strange Fruit in the Streets, at Jane Kim/Thrust Projects) and talked about why the shoes hanging from wire are such an intriguing urban symbol. (Although he denies it, we think Malachi was most likely doing a tribute to The Lo-Down's logo.)

Continue reading Artist Malachi Farrell In His Own Words

November 23rd, 2009

Scenes From Cemi Guzman’s LES Girls Club Benefit

Last week we posted about high school senior Cemi Guzman, who was busy coordinating a benefit for the Lower East Side Girls Club. It was his idea to orchestrate an event that would not only raise money for a great organization, but also bring together a group of entertainers and motivational speakers to inspire young people to stay on the right track. We stopped by to check out the benefit, held over the weekend at the Bowery Poetry Club.

That's Cemi, master of ceremonies, up on stage with author and speaker Ivan Sanchez. Pictured below is Liz Murray, who's inspirational story won her worldwide fame. Her real-life ordeal was chronicled in the Lifetime movie, "Homeless to Harvard."

Cemi's dad, well known actor and LES activist, Luis Guzman (below) took his turn up on stage. But Cemi held his own – an obvious natural in front of an audience. The money raised on Saturday will support the Girls Club's after-school programs.

November 23rd, 2009

Thanksgiving Dinner & Celebration at the Grand Street Settlement

Our friends at the Grand Street Settlement sent us their flyer for tomorrow afternoon's Thanksgiving week celebration. It's free and open to the public: