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

The 300 West 21-22-23 Street Block Association’s Springtime Block Party & Stoop Sale / Free Screening of Mamma Mia / 10th Precinct Events / Coffee & Conversations at Chelsea Green Park / NYS Assemblymember Tony Simone’s Town Hall / Free Programming from HYHK (Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance)  / Music, Art, & More at Verdi Cannabis / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea/ 

PICK OF THE WEEK

The 300 West 21-22-23 Street Block Association’s Inaugural Springtime Block Party & Stoop Sale (and Book Swap!): Saturday, May 31, 12pm-4pm on the 300 block of West 22d Street | This West Chelsea Block Association’s first-ever Block Party combines forces with a local tradition–the Stoop Sale. Bereft of commercial  vendors, its prone-to-haggle merchants are actually your friends and neighbors, who’ve put sale tags  on everything from clothes to kitchenware to music via vinyl, cassette tapes, CDs, and other beloved-if-dated modes of delivery. And if you thought the range of merh was diverse, check out this partial list of featured attractions at the concurrenly held Block Party: Singers, dancers, magicians, a knife grinder, a face painter, and a “Molecular Spectacular Show” from sience teacher Sarah. But that’s not all: That busy 300 Blodk will also host a Book Swap! “Do you have books that you’re looking to give away?” aak the event organizers. “Books you‘ve read and enjoyed and want to pass along? Bring them (maximum 5) to the front desk at 360 West 22nd Street by Friday, May 30 to be part of the Book Swap Table!” Questions? Send them via email to chelseawest300BA@gmail.com.  

Free Screening of Mamma Mia: Wednesday, May 28, 8:15pm  (after sundown) at Mathews-Palmer Playground (445 W. 45th St. btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.) | A long time ago (1970s), Swedish supergroup ABBA had a slew of hit songs which would, years later (1999), form the fun and frothy basis for the smash hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia–which became a hit film of the same name (2008), which would, years later (2025), be screened for free in a Hell’s Kitchen playground as part of a series hosted by the NYC Parks Department and City Council Member Erik Bottcher. So grab a blanket, head to the playground, and have some pre-screening fun by regaling the young folk with tales of the half-century journey from chart-topping pop tunes to the Merryl-Streep-Starring film about to be screened. Like the collective output of ABBA, the film’s lost love/paternity mystery/impending wedding plot is silly and easy to dismiss–but it somehow works, meaning Mamma Mia will occupy a good share of your headspace long after its actual runtime of 1h, 48m. Note: In the event of unfavorable weather, the screening may be canceled (notice given via the NYC Parks event webpage). Say the event organizers, “The movie has been rated PG-13. Some materials maybe inappropriate for children under 13.” To register (suggested, not required), click here.  

10th Precinct Community Council Meeting: Wednesdasy, May 28, 7pm at the 10th Precinct (230 W. 20th St. btw. 7th & 8th Aves.) | It’s the final meeting of the citizen-run Community Council before their annual June through August hiatus. Council President Larry O’Neill presides. In rare cases of his absence, capable Council VP Vincent Pizzonia takes over those duties, which consist largely of fielding inquiries from attendees during the Q&A session. More often than not, the top leadership charged with providing A’s to audience-generated Q’s is 10th Precinct Commanding Officer Captain Alexander R. Brathwaite. Frequently in attendance and available to weigh in on topics of discussion are reps from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Offices of the local City Council Member, NYS Senator, and NYS Assemblymember. Follow the Community Council on Facebook by clicking here. 

10th Precinct Build the Block Sector B & C Meetings:  May 29 & June 5 | 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. All meeting times, dates, and locations are subject to change. The NYPD asks you to”Please call your local precinct and speak to a Neighborhood Coordination Officer to verify correct meeting information.”

Note: Sector B’s coverage area is W. 21st St. to W. 29th St., 7th Ave. to the Hudson–and its NCOs are Police Officer Andrew Viscio (andrew.viscio@nypd.org) and Police Officer Dominque Waters (dominique.waters@nypd.org). (They came to this assignment in last year’s fourth quarter, when the 10th Precinct lost five of its six NCOs to promotions or transfers.) Sector B’s next Build the Block meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 5pm at Penn South (ground floor of 339 West 24th St.).

Currently scheduled for June 5 (5pm at 400 West 43rd Street) is the 10th Precinct’s Sector C Build the Block meeting. The NCOs are Police Officer Marian Bencea (marian.bencea@nypd.org) and Police Officer James Farrell (james.farrell3@nypd.org). Sector C’s area of coverage is  W. 29th St. to W. 43rd St., 9th Ave. to the Hudson.

Sector A’s second quarter meeting took place on Apil 23, 5pm at the 10th Precinct’s 230 W. 20th St. location. Your Sector A NCOs are Police Officer Justin Mattos (justin.mattos@nypd.org) and Police Officer Theresa Fletcher (theresa.fletcher@nypd.org), whose NCO coverage area is W. 29th St. to W. 43rd St., 9th Ave. to the Hudson.

Events at Chelsea Green Park (140 West 20th Street btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) | The warmer weather won’t know what hit it, now that Chelsea Green Park’s event programming has kicked into high gear, with this past weekend’s street-fair-meets-flea-market Secret Garden Festival. On May 30, 8:30am-9:30am, it’s the launch of a new community series: Coffee & Conversations. The debut installment welcomes NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher. Say the Friends, “Come connect with neighbors over coffee, conversation, and pastries provided by The Commons. All are welcome—bring a friend and join the conversation!”

NYS Assemblymember Tony Simone’s (Rescheduled) Town Hall: Sunday, May 31 from 11am to 1pm at Hudson Guild Fulton Center (119 9th Ave. btw. W. 17th & 18th Sts.) | See the below flyer for full details. To register for this event, click here.

ONGOING PROGRAMMING

Free Programming from HYHK (Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance)  | HYHK is back with another season of free and fun programming for all ages in Bella Abzug Park (524 W. 34th St.). See the below flyer for several Spring Fling offerings. A Co-presentation of HYHK and Colored Colors, this annual multi-date festival has live music, art activities, food vendors, and artisan-made goods. Saturday, May 10’s debut was cancelled because of high winds in the area–so the series’ default debut is May 24, with additional installments on June 7 and 21. The final installment on Sunday, June 22, takes place from 12pm to 8pm. Check out the full calendar of May-October HYHK-presented activities on their website. For information on cancellations due to weather, head to HYHK’s Instagram (@hudsonyardshellskitchen).

Among the events offered–all of them free and open to the public–are a series of yoga classes from Bien Good Well (Mondays and Wednesdays at 6pm,  Saturdays at 10:30am). In the Music & Dance category: On select Thursdays and Saturdays through October, Vinyl Nights and DJ The Real offer one of the city’s best dance parties, powered by music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Wednesdays in June, July, and August, enjoy free salsa and bachata classes, a live band, and dancing in partnership with Somos Latin Dance and Paradis in the Park. And for the kids, head to the playground at Bella Abzug Park on Tuesday mornings through October, for acoustic concerts with Mike Messer Music. For a full HYHK events schedule and to register for free classes, click here.

Events at Verdi Cannabis (158 W. 23rd St. btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) | Several monthd out from 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. Musical guests The Dogs are booked on May 22, and Usernames on May 29.

Elsewhere on the events calendar are two happenings that Verdi Assistant GM and Events Coordinator Kenny Cunningham (recently featured in this Q&A segment) says are “cool things that we’re doing  that will become more regular things.” Having premiered on May 16, the biweekly Wake and Bake Fridays with A-Roastia Coffee is a coffee cart pop-up schedued for May 30,  June 13, and June 27. (The sponsor for each respectivee date will be Umamii, Kiva; and Weekenders.) On the first Sunday of the month is a Puff Puff Pull class. Master Stretch Therapist Angel guides you through a full body stretch experience rooted in the three pillars of tension-relieving stretch therapy; Flexibility, Mobility, and Strength. The class makes its debut on June 1.

On the second Sunday of each month, Lift Up Class is “an infused sound bath experience.” that opens with a guided meditation by Amy Schiappa, followed by a sound bath experience facilitated by Amy and Baba Israel, “combining bowls, bells, flutes, didgeridoo, and vocal rhythms. The session will close with a collective reflection and creative writing activity. Bring water, a mat, and an open mind and heart.” Says Cunningham of that something-for-everyone events calendar, “These are just a few of the new things that we’re going to be doing regularly. The goal is to always have something fun, interesting, and unique happening here at Verdi. ”  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. 

Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea | It takes place every Saturday, 9am to 2pm, West 23rd St. off 9th Ave.  For more info, click here.

—Listings Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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