This Week In & Around Chelsea: January 27-February 2, 2025

Here’s What’s Happening (in order of appearance):

Policy Prerspectives: An Online Forum / 10th Precinct Build the Block Sector A Meeting / The 10th Precinct Community Council Meeting / Events at Verdi Cannabis / 

Policy Prerspectives: An Online Forum at 5pm on Monday, January 27NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher–whose District 3 area of coverage includes Chelsea–presents the latest installment of his online “Policy Perspectives” series, this time featuring the Council Member in conversation with Criminal Court Judge John Z. Wang of the Midtown Community Justice Center. (whose goal is to reduce crime and increase public trust in justice” by constructively addressing “harm through alternatives to incarceration”). Attendance is free. Click here to register for the event and submit your questions about New York City’s criminal court system, public safety, mental health, and more.

10th Precinct Build the Block Sector A Meeting: Tuesday, January 28, 5pm at the 10th Precinct (230 W. 20th St. btw. 7th & 8th Aves.) | NCOs, or Neighborhood Coordination Officers, host quarterly Build the Block meetings addressing crime and quality of life matters for the 10th Precinct’s three Sectors: A, B, & C. Expect introductory comments often discussing crime stats, trends, and prevention, with the majority of the meeting devoted to a Q&A session between the NCOs and attendees.

Sector A’s area of coverage is West 14th Street to West 21st Street, 7th Ave. to the Hudson. NOTE: It’s a good idea to check in the day of a scheduled meeting, as plans do sometimes change on short notice. The 10th Precinct’s Twitter (aka “X”) account (@NYPD10Pct) can be a source of information–and you may also call the NCO office within the 10th Precinct. Their number is 212-741-8207.

The 10th Precinct Community Council: Wednesday, January 29, 7pm at the 10th Precinct (230 W. 20th St. btw. 7th & 8th Aves.) | The first 2025 installment of this last-Wednesday-of-the-month meeting is only days away. Hosted and moderated by the Council’s president, Larry O’Neill, this citizen-run gathering is a rare opportunity for the public to engage directly with top 10th Precinct leadership on matters of crime trends, troubled local locations, and quality of life matters. Representatives from the offices of local elected officials are often in attndance, as is a rep from the Manhattan District Attorny’s Office. Do questions remain? Bring them to the Q&A session that makes for the meeting’s main attraction. Follow the Community Council on Facebook by clicking here.

The work of photographer Scott Harris is on view at Verdi Cannabis. | Photo by Kenneth Cunningham

Events at Verdi Cannabis (158 W. 23rd St. btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) | Soon to celebrate its first full year since setting up shop on West 23rd Street, legal cannabis distributor Verdi Cannabiscontinues to take an active interest in the community it’s become part of. Kenny Cunningham, co-curator of Verdi’s ongoing music and arts programming, notes the in-store Donation Drives of December will continue into January. Explained Cunningham, “In partnership with Eaton Botanicals, we are running a Menstrual Products Drive–collecting tampons, pads, liners, etc. Also, in partnership with Pax, we are running a Food Drive, with all collections to go to Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen. Of particular need are flour, rice, dried beans, grape juice, cooking oil, peanut butter, non-perishables, and shelf-stable milk. For our third Drive, a clothing drive, all collections go to Holy Apostles. Of particular need are hats, hoodies, scarves, socks, jeans, gloves, and coats–especially men’s items.” Donations are accepted during Verdi’s hours of operation (Mon-Fri, 9am-10pm; Sat/Sun. 11am-10pm).

Verdi’s Thursday night 6pm-9pm Green Room Music Series concludes its January schedule on the 30th, with music frm Darkness Shrugs, sponsored by Eureka. As for the featured artists whose work can be found on Verdi’s walls: Photographer Scott Harris presents a series of images from Phish concerts, available for purchase at $55 each. Also on view and available for purchase is the work of painter Pat Gallagher (aka G Funk). To keep up with what else is up with Verdi, click here to visit their website. To visit the EVENTS page of their website, click here.

—Listings compiled by Scott Stiffler

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