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The Parks Department has been working to transform the Hester Street Playground in Sara D. Roosevelt Park for nearly a year. As you can see from the photo above, they’re almost done with the $5 million project. We’re told a the playground will be officially opened in about a month. Community groups played an active role in the design concept.  
 Abrons 2010 Artists in Residence - Clockwise from Left: Mikhail Iliatov, Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Caitlin Masley, Aisha Tandiwe Bell, Ella Kruglyanskaya and Erika Ranee. Photo by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis for The Lo-Down The Artists in Residence at the Abrons Arts Center took off their “work gloves” for friends, family and fans who came out to see what they have been working on at the opening reception of AIRspace 2010 last Thursday night. Abrons’ Visual Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Workspace Program provides free studio space each year (for 11 months) to six NYC artists. This year’s artists are: Aisha Tandiwe Bell, Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Mikhail Iliatov, Ella Kruglyanskaya, Caitlin Masley, and Erika Ranee.
We stopped by M.S. 131 yesterday, where 8th grade students took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony for an expansive and colorful mural they designed and created outside their school, on Hester Street. The project is part of the Hester Street Collaborative’s “Ground Up” education program, which helps kids relate to their communities and “social environment.” Continue reading M.S. 131 Students Create, Dedicate 90-Foot Mural
During the next couple of weeks, the city’s political organizations will be weighing in on the upcoming statewide elections. Last night, the influential Lower East Side group, CoDA (Coalition for a District Alternative), met to make endorsement decisions. No surprises. CoDA chose to back Carolyn Maloney and Nydia Velazquez in their Congressional re-election campaigns. State Senator Eric Schneiderman got the nod for Attorney General. Also winning club endorsements: State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh. Thanks to CoDA’s Harvey Epstein for passing these results along.
Tentative compromise reached on charter school bill (NYT). Budget cuts threaten after school programs (Gotham Gazette). Squadron’s tour bus proposal (DE). Continue reading Charter School Deal, Casa Mezcal Debuts, Thompson LES Roof Opens
 Image from ibexclusive's Flickr photostream. Mostly cloudy today with a high of 71. Showers tonight and tomorrow – warm and sunny Sunday and Monday with highs in the mid-80′s. Hope everyone has a good Memorial Day holiday.
We’ve got plenty of ideas for your “stay-cation” this Memorial Day Weekend. If there are other L.E.S. events or activities that you’d like us to know about, please email us. The weather might be too warm to resist taking a field trip over to Pier 40 for some FREE kayaking, brought to you by the NYC Downtown Boathouse. Usually only available on weekends, they’ll be open this Monday for the holiday. Walk-ups are welcome from 9a – 6p with the last boat going out at 5:30p.
By Traven Rice in Arts, Community Organizations, Film Club, Kids on May 27, 2010 5:42 pm |
 0 Comments  Since the holiday weekend is nearly upon us and we’re expecting beautiful weather, we thought it would be a good time to review some of the neighborhood’s best walking tours…  Eldridge Street Synagogue Let’s start with the Museum at Eldridge Street, which is offering a “Five Points” tour on Sunday, 2pm. The roots of the grand Eldridge Street Synagogue can be found in Five Points and Chinatown. You’ll be guided through the streets of these communities, tracing the “Jewish immigrant experience,” visiting synagogues, as well as the historic cemetery alongside Chatham Square. $15. More info.
Shawn Chittle, who lives above the popular Avenue A restaurant Westville, emailed us this photo this morning. If you haven’t been following the debate, CB3′s SLA Committee rejected Westville’s request for a sidewalk cafe license earlier this month. While everyone seems to agree the restaurant is a responsible business, there were concerns about overcrowding on the sidewalk outside 173 Avenue A (11th Street).
Continue reading Followup: The U.S. Census on the Lower East Side
Girls Prep saga not over yet (Post). Praise for Sheldon Silver on teacher evaluation bill (Daily News). Is something happening at 180 Orchard? (Curbed) Continue reading Girls Prep Still in Limbo, Advertising Avenue D, Baby Blue Jay Rescued
 Hua Mei Bird Garden in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Image from carolvinzant's Flickr photostream. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies but a lot cooler than yesterday — a high of 76 expected. Some thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow but the holiday weekend should be gorgeous. Speaking of the holiday, we’ll have our weekend guide one day early. We’ll also have a look at some LES walking tours coming up in the next several days.
Today, Lower Manhattan’s elected officials followed up, releasing a press statement, which reads in part: Continue reading Elected Officials Press LaHood to Study Park Row Security
It seems Census forms were sent to the Hillman Co-op, where Silver has lived for decades, but they were returned due to mailing errors. Census officials say workers attempting to pay personal visits to Hillman have been turned away. They came to CB3, looking for help (Silver aid Zach Bommer stepped in to see what could be done). In all fairness, we assume (but don’t know for sure) Silver mailed in his form long ago. Continue reading U.S. Census — Counting Shelly Silver and Everyone Else on the LES
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