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

Free Events at Chelsea Green Park / The Sweat Sessions / Shari & Lamb Chop / Free Programming from HYHK (Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance) / Music, Art, and More at Verdi Cannabis / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea

Free Events at Chelsea Green Park (140 w. 20th St. btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) | The Friends of Chelsea Green continue to bring free programming to the micro-but-mighty West Chelsea park. “The Honk Family Band is returning,” note the Friends, of the July 31 gig. “They played our 2024 Spring Fling and we are so excited to bring them back. It is going to be a fun rocking evening in the park. ” Get into the Honk Famiy soul/global groove and soak up some of their unstoppable energy! Elsewhere on the calendar, free Chi Kung Movement Classes happen on Tuesdays through September 30, at 6:30pm. Laura Shapiro is your instructor.  To sign up for classes, click here.

The Sweat Sessions: Free Outdoor Fitness Classes /  August Dates, in 14th Street Park (10th Ave. btw. 14/15th Sts.) | Brought to you by MEATPACKING (the Mearpacking District’s BID) and the Wellth Collective, these free, 45-minute fitness classes are held at 5:30pm, 6:30pm, and 7:30pm on Tuesday,  August 15, 12, & 29. Yoga, dance cardio, boxing, and pilates are among the workouts offered. To learn more and reserve your space for any of these Sessions, click here.

Shari & Lamb Chop: A Documentary by Lisa D’Apolito / Through July 31 at the Quad Cinema (34 West 13th Street) / Visit QUADCINEMA.COM for tickets, showtimes, and info | This release from Kino Lorber givse puppeteer and pioneer Shari Lewis the widespread adoration that eluded her in life–or at least failed to deliver its due amount of recognition. Best known as the ever-patient friend to sweet spitfire Lamb Chop, Shari Lewis was more than a performer of multiple, memorable characters. She was (along with Jim Henson) a primary architect of the Children’s Television genre. Lisa D’Apolito’s breezy documentary demands respect for is subject by letting early era footage and clips of in-her-prime performance play until the viewer is just another kid completely invested in the one-of-a-kind mindset posessed–andshared–by Shari Lewis.-breezy documentary demands respect for is subject by letting early era archival footage and clips of in-her-prime performance play on until the viewer is just another kid completely invested in the one-of-a-kind mindset created by Shari Lewis.

****ONGOING EVENTS****

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.). 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 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.) | 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. Closing out the July Green Room series will be Real Intentions (sponsored by Jaunty Rythm) on July 31, 6:30pm-9:30pm. In August (all times are 6:30pm-9:30pm unless otherwise noted), the series welcomes Dawoud Kringle on August 14 and TB&J on August 21. The musical guests for August 7 & 28 are TBA–as in, “To be Announced.” Check the Verdi events calendar for updates (to do so, click here.). As for special events: Having premiered on May 16, Wake and Bake Fridays with A-Roastia Coffee is a coffee cart pop-up that takes place at 9am on Friday, August 8 & 29. “The goal is to always have something fun, interesting, and unique happening here at Verdi,” says Assistant GM and Events Coordinator Kenny Cunningham (featured in this Q&A segment). 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. Down to Earth Markets brings together two kinds of vendors: local farmers and area food and crafts makers using locally sourced ingredients. Their mission is to ensure a future for small scale agriculture and food production in the New York area by creating vibrant marketplaces where community thrives, and shoppers connect directly to the local food system.

—Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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