Another photo from A. Jesse Jiryu Davis — an impromptu portrait made on the streets of the Lower East Side April 13, 2011.
         
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A “letter to The Lo-Down” from Lower East Side resident Joseph Hanania: As an avid park user, may I propose expanding the East River Park, which will get even more use as SPURA gets developed? The present green space controversy involves the size and siting of a small park south of the Williamsburg Bridge – which is a bit out of the way, and may not get used a heck of a lot. What if we could instead use those capital costs to expand the already widely used East River Park?  
 Allegra LaViola at her gallery - photo by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis for thelodownny.com Tomorrow night, the neighborhood will stay open late for Third Thursdays, a new monthly event from the LES Business Improvement District showcasing the Lower East Side’s flourishing arts scene. Galleries will be staying open until 9pm and the New Museum is offering free evening admission. As media sponsor of Third Thursdays, we’re pleased to offer a series of participating gallery profiles. Last week, we visited the Allegra LaViola Gallery. Since moving in to the space at 179 East Broadway, some of the shows the Allegra LaViola Gallery has offered up include a non-stop, three-day live action Dungeons & Dragons tournament with art and performances, monthly “performative dinner parties,” where guests are treated to dinner and art and performance by the artist/s in residence for the evening, and most recently, a collaborative performance and interactive show involving meat, potatoes and knishes. Oh, and then there’s that provocative exhibit which caused quite a stir in the neighborhood a few weeks ago. I spoke with LaViola and asked her about the recent controversy. Continue reading Third Thursdays – Featured Gallery: Allegra LaViola
Community Board 3 and city planning officials have decided to delay an in-depth discussion on the future of the Essex Street Market (it was originally scheduled to take place May 2). Neighborhood activists have been gearing up to defend the four 1940-era buildings for the past four months, ever since it became apparent they might be endangered by the redevelopment of the Seward Park site. Cynthia Lamb, who’s heading up the new organization, Save the Essex Street Market, has gathered more than 800 signatures in an online petition. And today, members of the group plan to formally ask the Landmarks Preservation Commission to protect the market buildings. Continue reading Historic Protection Sought for Essex Street Market
 Brothers Grimm fairy tales come to life at the Manhattan Children's Theatre April 23 - May 30 This weekend fairy tales come to life at the Manhattan Children’s Theatre. The show includes every single story written by the Brothers Grimm (abridged, of course) including Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, Snow White and Cinderella. A cast of four actors tells hundreds of stories in less than an hour. Suitable for all ages. April 23 – May 30, Saturdays & Sundays at 12:00 & 2:00pm. Tickets are $20 ($50 for front row seats, a meet and greet with actors prior to the show, and programs signed by the cast). The theater is at 52 White Street in Tribeca (between Broadway & Church).
 Photo by Vivienne Gucwa. Look for a high of 69 today and scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Continue reading Good Morning!
 Xi'an Famous Foods. Photo credit: Village Voice. In Lower East Side food news:
He waited… and waited… and waited. Finally at 2:30 a.m. – eight hours after arriving at Community Board 3′s liquor licensing hearing last week – Wilson Tang won the committee’s approval for a beer and wine license. Last Friday, I stopped by the historic Nom Wah Tea Parlor (est. 1920) to check in with Tang, who recently reopened the restaurant after completing a major restoration of the Chinatown institution. Was the wait worth it? Wilson says “yes,” although it will probably be a couple of months before the State Liquor Authority signs off on his application. Nom Wah is not following in the footsteps of its naughty neighbor, Apotheke. Some customers have simply been requesting a beer or a glass of wine with their dim sum — and Tang wanted to accommodate them. On Friday, the “New York Times Effect” was readily apparent. Following last week’s “$25 and Under” column, every table was filled throughout the lunch hour. The clientele was mixed: some Chinatown regulars, some tourists, a few uptown visitors.
The Festival of Ideas is fast approaching. Among the many downtown organizations taking part in the unprecedented event is the NYU School of Public Service, which is facilitating an interactive conversation about issues important to Lower Manhattan’s many diverse communities. Continue reading Festival of Ideas Seeks Feedback on Downtown Issues
 Photos by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis.
Another photo from A. Jesse Jiryu Davis — an impromptu portrait made on the streets of the Lower East Side April 13, 2011.
 Gallery Bar, 120 Orchard Street. More this morning on the 7th Precinct’s crackdown on Lower East Side bars and clubs. At a community meeting last week, Captain David Miller said underage drinking is a problem in several neighborhood nightlife venues. Continue reading Gallery Bar Owner Speaks Out on Underage Drinking Crackdown
 A Callery Pear tree in full bloom at Delancey and Clinton streets, bordering Seward Park redevelopment site #6. Photo by Linda Jones. Cloudy skies this morning, with more rain expected this afternoon, beginning around 1 p.m. Expected high: 54 degrees. Continue reading Good Morning!
 Sheldon Silver rallied at City Hall last month with housing advocates, calling for the passage of stronger rent regulations. Most community news outlets keep tabs on their neighborhoods’ elected representatives. On the Lower East Side, of course, our state assemblyman just happens to be the Speaker, one of the most powerful and high profile public figures in New York. This means Sheldon Silver is very much in demand, a constant presence in newspapers and on television across the state. But even foes would concede Silver has never forgotten his roots — and continues to pay a lot of attention to the old neighborhood. After a frenzied few weeks, Silver and his colleagues in Albany are back home for the holidays. Last Thursday, he sat down with me in his office across from City Hall to talk about the Legislative session, important local issues and the ever-evolving Lower East Side. Continue reading A Conversation with Sheldon Silver
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