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

Pick of the Weekl / The Art of Mending / Shred Day / Public Programs at Vanderbilt University–NYC / Hell’s Kitchen Culture Crawl /  It’s My Park Day

Pick of The Week  ‘

Upcoming Events From, and/or With, Chelsea Neighbors United (CNU) | The calendar of events from our locally sourced life and liberty force sees CNU following an “Election Defense Timeline,” amidst assurances they’re still “actively engaged in ICE OUT OF NYC – ABOLISH ICE efforts.” Tuesday, October 20, 6pm-8pm, you’re invited to take part in Election Sabotage Response Training, a hands-on workshop from Hands Off NYC (event location provided upon registration). Saturday, October 24 is when brick and mortar polling sites first open, for Early Voting in anticipation of November 3’s Election Day.  CNU will set up tables near two polling sites: The Chelsea Recreation Center and IS70.  “We’ll have 2 shifts from 10-12 and 12-2,” they note, adding, “We could use your help talking to people, handing out treats, buttons, and literature.” Voters and other passersby will be asked “to sign a pledge to defend our vote if they mess with our voting anywhere!” If that’s not enough to get you involved, few will find it in themselves to resist the additional promised incentives of “balloons and music.” For our readers still unsure what side to take in these troubled times, just ask yourself: “Which side has the balloons and music?” That being said, Click here to register for the October 20 Training or express an interest in other upcoming CNU activities.

Kintsugi: The Art of Mending | Thursday, October 22, 7pm-9pm at Neighbor (176 9th Ave. at W. 21st St.) |  An art form that offers a second act for ceramics that are cracked, chipped, or otherwise broken, Kintsugi is a contemplative, accepting alternative to slapdash repair work or wholesale recycling. Arrive with a damaged object (no glass, please) and learn how to mend it by applying golden Kintsugi lacquer to the cracks in a manner that announces its beautiful imperfection, as opposed to camouflaging its flaws.

The symbolism is not lost on contemporary artist Bianca Valencia Crisculo, the event facilitator who’ll work conversation about Kintsugi’s life lessons into this transformative, two-hour experience. To reserve tickets ($84), Click Here.

SHRED DAY: Thursday, October 22, 9am to 12pm (or until the truck fills up) / At Penn South; West 26th Street betweem 8th & 9th Aves. | Right and wrong, legal and illegal; it’s all about context. Case in point, the below flyer has several of our local elected officials encouraging the shredding of sensitive documents. In some cases, that would be a scandal. But in this case, it’s actually about helping constituents to prevent identity theft. So gather up your decades-old tax returns, bank and credit card statements, and any other paper products containing sensitive personal information. Take it to this three-hour event that disposes of old documents by ripping them to unrecognizable ribbons!

Open to the Public, at Vanderbilt University—NYC | Students are on the ground at Vanderbilt University’s Chelsea campus—and so is the public, via ongoing programs and initiatives.

Tuesday, October 27, it’s another installment of the new monthly series Cocktails and Community, in which invited guests (aka you, member of the general public) are invited to sip and schmooze at this Happu Hour-set opportunity for conversation and connection. This month’s Cocktails and Community has Vanderbilt University Landscape Architect James Moore as the special guest. on hand to discuss campus landscaping and trees—and anything else that comes up in conversation. To RSVP, click here. November 10, Artists and the City: Emerging Voices in Conversation is the inaugural program of Vanderbilt and the Whitney’s multi-year partnership. Registration is currently closed. Additional seating info will be shared through Vanderbilt NYC newsletters. More programs and initiatives will be announced in the coming months.

Hell’s Kitchen Culture Crawl: October 19-25 | Presented by the Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance Arts Committee, this week-long Culture Crawl is a soul-enriching sprint through Hell’s Kitchen arts and culture institutions for theatre, music, dance performances, open studios, and interactive art activities—many of them free, or offering exclusive discount codes. Venues include Baryshnikov Arts, Signature Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, Theatre Row, and The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts.

Also, after feasting on food for the heart and soul, redeem ticket stubs for deals and discounts at participating restaurants located along the crawl. Click here for the full schedule and more information.

It’s My Park Day: Saturday, October 24, 10:30am-12:30pm at Clement Clarke Moore Park (10th Ave. at W. 22nd St.) | On designated days throughout this month—which is flying by so quickly, it’s scary—city-owned, recreational patches of green have been taking part in It’s My Park Day. On October 24, that “Day” is observed locally, when the West 400 Block Association hosts a Halloween-themed celebration in Clement Clark Moore Park. That date’s creeping up on us, so here’s what you need to know: It’s costume-optional, but organizers encourage doing so, as a way to take your October 31 outfit for a test run. Craft table fun, sweet treats, and pumpkin-carving are on the agenda, which we’re told is written in BLOOD!!!… Wait, no, we read the press release wrong; that’s “written in STONE!!!.” Oh, and when you’re ready to say your day in the park is dead and buried? You’ll be sent home with daffodil bulbs to take home for tree pits and or backyards. (Email Allen if you’d like to help plant in the park, and/or join the Clement Clarke Moore Park Gardening Club aoster@earthlink.net).

—-Listings Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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