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Daily Archive

May 2010
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Monthly Archive

May 28th, 2010

Hester Street Playground Nearly Finished

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.

May 28th, 2010

Abrons Artists “AIR Out”

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.

Continue reading Abrons Artists “AIR Out”

May 28th, 2010

M.S. 131 Students Create, Dedicate 90-Foot Mural

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

May 28th, 2010

CoDA's Endorsements

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.

May 28th, 2010

Charter School Deal, Casa Mezcal Debuts, Thompson LES Roof Opens

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

May 28th, 2010

Good Morning!

Purple Flower Sticks #3

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.

May 27th, 2010

Memorial Day Weekend Guide

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.

Continue reading Memorial Day Weekend Guide

May 27th, 2010

LES Walking Tours

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.

Continue reading LES Walking Tours

May 27th, 2010

Westville's New Message to Customers

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 Westville’s New Message to Customers

May 27th, 2010

Followup: The U.S. Census on the Lower East Side

Yesterday, we reported officials with the U.S. Census had gone to Community Board 3, asking for help in gaining access to several buildings in the neighborhood. One of the developments they mentioned was the Hillman Cooperative on Grand Street, where State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver lives. Today we received a statement from Silver about the situation:

Continue reading Followup: The U.S. Census on the Lower East Side