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

Pick of the Week: Policy Perspectives / 10th Precinct Community Council / Vanderbilt in the City / Penn South Ceramics Studio Mother’s Day Show & Sale / Music & Art at Verdi Cannabis / New York State Assemblymember Tony Simone’s Town Hall

PICK OF THE WEEK: POLICY PERSPECTIVES

Policy Perspectives: A Conversation with NYC Housing Authority Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt on Wednesday, April 30, 5pm Online | NYC 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 NYC Housing Authority Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. What a guest to have, at a time like this, when Chelsea’s NYCHA properties (Fulton Houses and Elliott-Chelsea Houses) are the topics of a divisive debate. On one side is the public/private partnership of NYCHA and Related Comanies (whose plan calls for the demolition of all tenant buildings, replaced with new tenant structures aside market rate towers. On the other side is a tenant-led scenario that would repair the aging buildings instead. So kudos to the participants for this event exclsively devoted to, the promo flyer notes, “the future of NYCHA and the plan for Elliott-Chelsea and Fulton Houses.” Your questions can be submitted alongside the registration neessary to attend this online event. To register, click here.

10th Precinct Community Council Meeting: Wednesday, April 30, 7pm at the 10th Precinct (230 W. 20th St. btw. 7th & 8th Aves,) | These monthly meetings of the citizen-run Community Council are presided over by its president, Larry O’Neill, who notes they are “an excellent opportunity to connect, learn, and ask questions. Open to everyone in our community, they bring together residents and representatives from our elected officials. They’re a valuable way to share information, clarify responsibilities, and foster open communication.” We encourage respectful and constructive dialogue—your voice matters!” Much of that “respectful and constructive dialogue” comes from the Q&A session that comprises most of these meetings. O’Neill moderates, attendees pose the questions, and top 10th Precinct leadership (and the occasioal elected official’s reo) responds with the answers. NOTE: Next month’s Council meeting, tentatively scheduled for May 28, is the last installment until (tentatively) September 24, due to the Council’s summer hiatus spanning June, July, and August.

Vanderbilt in the City: Conversations on America | Thursday, May 1 at Vanderbilt University (Entrance at 440 W. 21st St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves.) | Reception, 6pm to 7pm; Event, 7pm to 8:30pm | This first piece of public programming offered by Vanderbilt University in conjunction with their newfound presence in Chelsea (on the General Theological Seminary grounds) had two very well-attended editions recently. For the March 6 debut, America and the World saw moderator Jad Abumrad lead a panel discussion that explored  how shifts in foreign policy and international alliances might impact multilateralism, global security, and America’s approach to challenges like climate change and emerging technologies. On April 10, American Humor had award-winning authors and Vanderbilt faculty members Lorrie Moore (Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English) and Major Jackson (Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English) exploring the power of humor and storytelling to bridge divides. On Thursday, May 1 (after a 6pm-7pm Reception), the series closes with Health in America: Challenges and Opportunities (7pm-8:30pm). Experts from NYU, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, and the American Journal of Public Health will touch upon topics such as health equity, science-based policymaking, and the rise of “healthism” and self-directed health. The May 1 event is open to the public, and registration is required. Click here to do so.

Penn South Ceramics Studio Mother’s Day Show & Sale: 11am to 6pm on Saturday, May 3 & Sunday, May 4; Studio Entrance at NE Corner of 9th Ave. & W. 26th St. | Let’ s just start with the basics: Mom is great, her special dayt is May 11, and every mother’s child who doesn’t have some utterly horrific tale to tell about how the old lady is an evil monster had BETTER have card and present  wrapped and ready, come May 10. The card? That’s between you and the good people at Hallmark. And for the gift? The great people of the Penn South Ceramics Studio have your back. Their annual Mother’s Day Show & Sale lets you meander around the Studio’s cozy confines (replete with all the paint, brushes, and kilns you’d expect). Once you’ve made the rounds, we’re confident you’ll emerge with mom’s new favorite bowl, plate, vase, sculpture, mug, or piece of jewelry. Pro Tip: Buy something for yourself! Buy a secret replacement gift that can be immediately sent to mom should May 10’s beloved object suffer some sort of catastrophic fall. (Ceramics aren’t as strong as your love had better be, for the human being who brought you into being!

New York State Assemblymember Tony Simone’s Town Hall: Saturday, May 3, 11am to 1pm at the PS11 Auditorium (320 West 21st St. btw. 8th & 9th Aves.) | “I’m excited to invite you to my upcoming Town Hall,” Assemblymember Simone recently wrote, declaring it will be “a space for open dialogue, community engagement, and solutions-driven discussions on the issues that matter most to you… This is your chance to ask questions, share your concerns, and connect with neighbors working toward a stronger, more inclusive New York.” Click here to read our account of Simone’s 2023 Town Hall, whose participants discuss current hot topics such as NYCHA public/private partnerships and casino gambling in Manhattan order to be moved during construction, and welcomed back into a new apartment that can be passed down to others eligible for succession. “The elected officials,” insisted Simone, “have the back of every NYCHA resident.” Back to the present: Click here to RSVP to the May 3 event.

WEEKLY & UPCOMING EVENTS

Events at Verdi Cannabis (158 W. 23rd St. btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) | Having recently celebrated its first full year since setting up shop on West 23rd Street, legal cannabis distributor Verdi Cannabis offers free arts programming via gallery-style displays of artwork on their walls, and a live Thursday night music series called The Green Room, whose performances typically take place in the 6:30pm to 9pm time period. On May 1,  3 Day Weekend kicks off that lusty month’s musical performance calendar. Originally scheduled through May 3 and recently extended, Alexandraa DeMatteo has art on the walls alongside the photography of Tom Blake. 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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