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

Pick of the Week: Policy Perspectives / 10th Precinct Community Council / Vanderbilt in the City / Chimp Cocktail / Penn South Ceramics Studio Mother’s Day Show & Sale / Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Bake Sale / Music & Art at Verdi Cannabis / Free Programs from HYHK / Friends of Chelsea Green Present a Secret Garden Festival

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 accounts for most of the meeting’s content.. O’Neill moderates, attendees pose the questions, and top 10th Precinct leadership (and the occasional elected official’s rep) 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.

Chimp Cocktail: Thursday, May 1, 7pm at The Players Theatre (358 W. 44th St.) | It’s not often we run an event listing for a sold-out show–but how can we say, “No” when the in-demand content comes from the silly, surreal (and occasionally subtle!) Homo sapiens who comprise Chimp Cocktail? The nearly dozen-strong troupe (as a collective of thespians are called; or, if you prefer, troop, the term for a multitude of chimpanzees) had a sold-out, 10-show run last year at The Pit, and seem poised for a repeat at their current venue, The Players Theatre. “Our upcoming show will feature all-new sketches with a three-act comedic play to start, break-up, and close the show,” says Chimp member Collin Dennis. A scan of available online content (and there ain’t much of it–a situation Dennis says they’re keen to rectify) appeared to offer none of the “comedic play” content promised, but plenty of theatrical sensibility. The simply staged, confidently underplayed ensemble work earns laugh after laugh without telegraphing the joke or milking the moment long after it lands. Add to that a knack for the efficiently established oddball premise and one begins to understand why Chimp Cocktail draws capacity crowds: The intrepid exploration of the human condition done by those who appear to be two chromosomes short is just plain funny. Curiosity piqued? The sold-out May 1 show, we’re told, will have 10 tickets available at the door–first come, first served. The troop returns to The Players Theatre for a 7pm show on Saturday, July 26. Tickets for that gig are already on sale (click here to order).

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 day 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 11. 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 a secret replacement gift that can be immediately sent to mom should May 11’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!)

Shop and Eat: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Bake Sale: Sunday, May 4, 1pm to 3pm at Pier 57 (W. 15th St. & 11th Ave.) | Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) pastry chefs and bakers bring their culinary traditions and artisanal flair to this two-hour event that invites you to “shop, sip, and savor the sweet diversity.” The offerings come from Market 57’s own Bessou and Local Roots alongside Brooklyn Fare, Breaking Bao, Bánh by Lauren, and others, with donated beverages from Makku, Lunar Hard Seltzer, and Lucky Ox. Best of all, your clean sweep of sweet tooth indulgence serves a higher purpose, when you loosen the grip on your own shopping bag long enough to decorate one for Heart of Dinner, a nonprofit that delivers nourishing care packages to elderly Asian Americans. For tickets ($25 general admission), click here. 

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. May 8, the musical talent is NSA, with Smooth Luxury on May 15, The Dogs on May 22, and Usernames on May 29. Originally scheduled through May 3 and recently extended, Alexandraa DeMatteo has art on the walls alongside the photography of Penn South resident Tom Blake, who says this of selections featuring a water tower atop a building at W. 25th/26th Sts. & 9th Ave.: “It’s a meditative touchstone for me…I see it through my window and it reminds me to pause, look at the sky, the clouds changing moment to moment. To be aware of the beauty that is available every day if we look. I try to bring the same awareness to the street and even more so to the subway, where it’s easy to tune out.” 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. 

Free Programming from HYHK (Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance) Kicks Off on Monday, May 5 | HYHK is back with another season of free and fun programming for all ages in Bella Abzug Park. Check out the full calendar of May-October activities on their website and see the below flyer for several Spring Fling offerings.

Friends of Chelsea Green Present a Secret Garden Festival: Sunday, May 18, 10:30am to 2:30pm on West 20th Street between 6th & 7th Aves. | See thebelow flyer for info about the upcoming street fair and flea market.

—Listings Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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