Coming Together: A Social Justice & Music Festival on Saturday, September 14, 10am-4pm at West 30th Street (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.) | Presented by indefatigable social justice advocacy org. Midtown South Community Council and co-sponsored by like-minded coalitions, this event celebrates the commitment to an equitable New York City as well as to resilience and respect for the community. The Festival is a “Call to Action” to foster a sustainable society through better health, housing, and equitable development; to “reclaim our city from those who prioritize profit over people”; and to examine the causes of growing inequalities. Musician Steve Marshall, who has lived on the block since 1975, will organize vaunted, veteran top musicians Arno Hecht (sax — The Rolling Stones), Charlie Roth (Keyboards — Ozzie Ozbourne), Tony Machine (Drums — Buster Poindexter), and Richard Michaels (Elephant’s Memory/ owner of Rogue Music Store!) and additional artists including musicians from the Association of the Blind. Speakers will include human rights attorney Norman Siegel, ReThinkNYC’s Sam Turvey, community advocate Luana Green, and End Apartment Warehousing’s Sue Susman. Click here for more info.

West Side Town Hall: Sunday, September 15, 1-4pm at the American Museum of Natural History (enter on West 77th Street) | New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal invites you to this opportunity to get your questions answered on topics including E-bike safety, good cause eviction, and how to address the surge in antisemetic incidents. RSVP by calling 212-633-8052 or do so online by clicking here.

Dumpling-Making Class and Storytime: Sunday, September 15, 10am-11:30am atMarket 57’s PLATFORMinside Pier 57 (25 11th Ave. at W. 15th St.) | Celebrated children’s book author and illustrator Melissa Iwai and Google food educator Chef Marian Laraia lead a reading and hands-on cooking class at PLATFORM, a kitchen and educational space featuring culinary arts programming and events by the James Beard Foundation. Children will have the chance to create and taste their own dumplings inspired by recipes from around the world. Iwai will also read two of her books, Dumplings For Lili and Pizza Day, which participants will be able to purchase and have signed. Tickets are available for children ages 4-12 for $25here.

The Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund (ASLF) Third Annual Benefit: Thursday, September 19, 6pm-10pm at Chelsea Market (437 W. 15th St.) | ASLF came to be in 2021 after the sudden passing of the much-loved Anne Saxelby, founder of Cheesemongers in NYC. ASLF provides monthlong immersive apprenticeships for students to live on sustainable farms—returning home with new knowledge and skills alongside inspiration to create “positive change in their communities and beyond.” For the ASLF’s Sept. 19 benefit, Chelsea Market will be transformed by over 130 of Anne’s favorite chefs, artisans, and mixologists preparing sustainable dishes and cocktails from their own individual kiosks. Featured areas include a “Salumeria” with Cesare Casella, Tempesta Artisans, and Smoking Goose; a “Sweet Retreat” headed up by acclaimed pastry chef Caroline Schiff; and a Pasta Tour located at La Devozione. Tickets and a list of participating chefs available at ASLF BENEFIT TICKETS, starting at $150 for general admission or $75 for kids under 12. The evening will also include a silent auction and raffle featuring exclusive chef experiences cooking in your home (bidding is taking place now, online). To preview the event, click here to view our mouthwatering photo roundup of last year’s benefit.

Ice Cream Social: Saturday, September 21, 12:30pm-2:30pm at Clement Clarke Moore Park (10th Ave. & W. 22nd St.) | The 400 and 500 West Block Associations invite you to what’s happily become an annual event, whose getting-to-know-you purpose is helped along by the sweet, sweet taste of free ice cream!

The Flatiron NoMad Partnership’s 18th Annual Meeting & Reception: Monday, September 30, 4:30pm at the Simons Foundation (160 Fifth Ave., south side of 21st St., 2nd floor; photo ID required at the door) | The Business Improvement District (BID) covering the Flatiron area as well as the nabe “North of Madison Square Park” (aka NoMad) encourages community members to attend this annual gathering that dives into the data points and trends of the neighborhood, reflects on the organization’s work over the last year, and sets the stage for things to come by holding a Board of Directors election. After taking care of all that business, things get personal—as in, social, via a reception immediately following the Annual Meeting. On-site check-in begins at 4pm. The meeting starts at 4:30pm. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend (but with capacity limited, best to reserve your place right now). As for how to register, the Partnership notes, “BID property owners, commercial tenants, businesses, and residents who wish to vote at the meeting are asked to RSVP by Friday, September 20 (to see if you fall within the Partnership’s area of coverage, click here to access a map). Those who do not own real property, rent commercial office space, or own/rent a residence within the Flatiron & NoMad district are asked to click here and register as a non-voting member/guest.

The Longest Table: Sunday, October 6, 12pm-2pm on West 21st Street (btw. 9th & 10th Aves.) | Seen two years ago for the first time, the concept for The Longest Table grew out of the pandemic era’s yearn to connect with people in a setting other than Zoom. Its premise was simple: Fill a crosstown block with one very long table populated by friends and strangers brought together by the simple acts of breaking bread and sharing stories. Attendance was robust, and the response was over-the-moon positive. Last year, the event returned and proved its good mood mojo was no mere fluke. Now comes word from organizers that The Longest Table will be back on October 6–and if history repeats, we may well be looking at an annual event with real legs (lots and lots of them… because, you know, a table has legs, and that table is looooooong). So get in on the ground floor while there still is one: Claim your place at the table, or be one of the well-treated volunteers who help make the whole thing happen. For details, click here to visit The Longest Table website–and to view Chelsea Community News’ coverage of the event in years past, click here and click here.

WEEKLY & ONGOING EVENTS

The Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance Presents, Through October, Free Programming in Bella Abzug Park (W. 34th to 35th Sts., 10th to 11th Aves.) | From fitness classes to dance to music to music, free events abound in Bella Abzug Park. They’re brought to you by the Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance. Free yoga classes taught by instructors from Bien Good Well are offered Mondays and Wednesdays at 6pm and Saturdays at 10:30am. To register, click here. Every other Thursday in September and October, Vinyl  Nightsfills Bella Abzug Park with dance-demanding classics of the 70s, 80s, and beyond, as spun by veteran NYC DJs working with, yes, real vinyl records. For more info, click here. Every Tuesday in September (Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24) from 10:30am to 11:15am, Mike Messer leads an acoustic Kids Concert in the park’s Playground space. Singing and dancing from the audience is encouraged!

Gather Round: Street and Club Dance Battles / An Outdoor Series, Free and Open to the Public / 4:30pm to 6:30pm, Wednesday, September 11, 18 & 25 at Manhattan West Plaza (385 Ninth Ave.) |Manhattan West in partnership with the Guggenheim’s Works & Process presents an exhilarating, athletic, and competitive series inspired by the competitions of the summer Olympics in Paris and the debut of breaking as an Olympic sport.

The series began on September 4 with Behind The Groove: CeleBreak Outside! as four breaking teams battled it out to the sounds of DJ KS360 and DP One. September 11, Gather Round Kiki Ball is a celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and the skills and style that distinguish contemporary Ballroom culture. September 18, Fabulous Waacking Festival Fall Edition honors the roots and influences of Waacking, with premiere practitioners going head-to-head. September 25, Manhattan West Beatbox Battle with The Beatbox House sees NYC’s top beatboxers bring their newest material in advance of the 2024 USA Beatbox Championships in Pittsburgh. For much more info on this series, click here to read our recent article previewing the series.

Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea: Satudays, 9am-2pm | Seasonal, local food by vendors you can rely on for the basics and trust when it comes to embracing new cuisine and ingredients is the great strength of this weekly Market that pops up Saturdays, 9am-2pm, on West 23rd Street Off of Ninth Ave. A tip worth taking: Click here to sign up for their newsletter, and every week you’ll get a preview of what’s so special about the next Market.  Also a source of food for thought in advance of each Saturday’s Market: A visit to its online presecce (click here to do so). A new addition for 2024: Textile Recycling! Bring your linens, old clothes, shoes, torn, stained, or new to recycle (look for the green bin). Also Note: Food Benefit Programs are welcome. Go to the Manager’s Tent to use your SNAP EBT card and get tokens to spend with the vendors. Matching Health Bucks are available ($2 for every $2 withdrawn, up to $10). FMNP vouchers can be used June-November. For a full explanation of benefits, visit this link. NYC residents who have questions about the FMNP program can dial 311.

Pow! Bam! Wow!  — An Exhibit On View Through October 2 at Hudson Guild Gallery (441 W. 26th St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves.) | Contemporary comic strip art is the subject matter for this exhibit curated by Danny Simmons and featuring the work of Eric Battle, N. Steven Harris, Shawn Martinbrough, Raphael Tiberino, and Vincent Zurzolo. The weekly viewing hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10am-6pm and Saturday, 12pm-3pm.  / There is an Artist Talk on October 1 at 4pm; Admission is Free.  See the below flyer for more info.

—-Listings compiled by Scott Stiffler

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