In This Week’s “THIS WEEK IN & AROUND CHELSEA”
NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (District 3) Presents a Conversation with Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Commissioner, NEC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene / Manhattan Community Board 4 (CB4) February Committee Meetings / The World is Coming to a Start: A Benefit Concert for the Ali Forney Center presented by Chelsea Community Church / BASIS Independent Open House / The Smuggler at the Irish Repertory Theatre / Free Admission Gallery Exhibitions at Hudson Guild / Coming Up Next Week: NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher’s Monthly Housing Clinic / An Homage to Black Trailblazers of Theater & Performance at Marble Collegiate Church /
NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (District 3) Presents a Conversation with Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Commissioner, NEC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Monday, February 6, Online | See the below flyer for details.
The February Committee Meetings of Manhattan Community Board 4 (CB4) | To attend a full board meeting of Manhattan Community Board 4 (CB4) is to burrow into the marrow of community concerns such as affordable housing, public parks projects, landmarking efforts, and liquor license renewals. But before the full board sinks their choppers into such meaty matters, CB4’s eight individual committees are the first stop in the process. The letters they generate—submitted for a vote when the full board meets on the first Wednesday of the month—articulate CB4’s approval, disapproval, or recommended actions regarding a particular topic. The public is invited to attend, and speak up, at these monthly committee meetings. For a full listing of all committee meetings this month, click here (listings include links to register for each Zoom-held meeting).
PreK-12th Grade Open House: Sunday, February 12, 10am at 556 West 22nd Street | BASIS Independent Manhattan’s is a PreK–12 private school whose educators, the school notes, “teach the globally benchmarked BASIS Curriculum in an environment where students develop the skills and citizenship to become tomorrow’s leaders.” The Upper and Lower campuses are hosting open house events this Saturday and Sunday (Chelsea is where the Upper campus is located). Prospective families will tour the campuses, and learn about school’s expert curriculum and extracurriculars, while gaining a sense of the BASIS Independent approach to education. For the Chelsea event, RSVP HERE. To attend the Lower House event (Sat., Feb. 11, 10am, 795 Columbus Ave.), RSVP HERE.
The Smuggler: A Thriller in Rhyme at the W. Scott McLucas Studio in the Irish Repertory Theatre (IRT) Through Feb. 26 | Writer Ronán Noone never strays from rhymed verse, in this one-person show whose scheduled run at the Irish Rep would have come the year after its acclaimed 2019 production as part of the Origins 1st Irish Festival (where Noone won the Best Playwright award). But the global pandemic of 2020 had other plans, forcing the Rep run to be cancelled—or, more accurately, postponed. “Irish Rep is proud to return to this production and bring it to our stage this winter,” said IRT’s Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director and Ciarán O’Reilly, Producing Director, of the current run. Michael Mellamphy reprises his 2019 performance in the role of Irish immigrant Tim Finnegan. When the aspiring writer loses his job as a bartender, he gets drawn into the world of smuggling. The act itself is plenty shady—but what he’s tasked with smuggling is the thing that reveals the dark underbelly of Amity, a Massachusetts summer colony where old money and newly arrived migrants make for a combustible mix. “The Smuggler,” notes the press material, “examines how far one man will go to restore his self-respect and asks the question, ‘What does it mean to be an American citizen?’ “
Through Feb. 26, performances are on Wednesdays at 2pm & 7pm; Thursdays at 7pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 7pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets begin at $50, available at IrishRep.org. The Irish Repertory Theatre is located at 132 W. 22nd St. (btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.). As of Jan.1, most performances at Irish Rep will be Mask-Optional. All Wednesday matinee and Saturday evening performances are Mask-Required.
Dialogue: Works by Wanda Payne and Taj Poscé
At Hudson Guild Gallery, Through March 15
Representing the thriving contemporary art scene in Philadelphia, this exhibition of work by Wanda Payne and Taj Poscé highlights their “vibrant, dense compositions,” which curator Jim Furlong notes are “filled with bold, overlapping shapes, as they experiment with form and technique. Seen together, their work creates a rich dialogue about the use of color and abstraction.”
Hudson Guild Gallery is located in the Hudson Guild Elliott Center (441 W. 26th St. btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.). Free admission. Weekly viewing hours through March 15 are Tues.-Fri. 10am-6pm, Sat. 12pm-3pm. For info, call 212-760-9837 orclick here.
Ar’n’t I A Woman?
At Guild Gallery II, Through March 15
Artist Vija Doks’s portrait paintings of famous women throughout history populate this exhibition, in which the artist strives to communicate the essence of each individual, while allowing the group’s collective voice to make “very apparent,” notes the promo material, “women’s contribution to the world.”
Guild Gallery II is located in Hudson Guild Fulton Center (119 Ninth Ave. btw. W. 17th & 18th Sts.). Admission is free. Weekly viewing hours through March 15 are Tues.-Fri., 10am-6pm. For info, call 212-760-9837 or click here.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK:
NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher’s Monthly Housing Clinic: Tuesday, February 14 |On the second Tuesday of every month, 4pm-6pm, Chelsea’s 3 Council Member, Erik Bottcher, hosts this free clinic that pairs District 3 residents with an attorney-in-the-know, who will hear about your housing challenges and recommend actions to eliminate or mitigate the situation. To schedule an appointment, send an email to district3@council.nyc.gov.
Making Space on the Great White Way: An Homage to Black Trailblazers of Theater & Performance: Sunday, February 19, 12:15pm at Marble Collegiate Church (corner of Fifth Ave. & W. 29th St.) | The latest installment of Marble’s Racial Justice Series pays tribute to the Black actors, composers, and playwrights who have made countless contributions to Broadway’s signature style and aesthetic—yet for many years, were not given the opportunity to perform on America’s premiere stage. “This event will be interdisciplinary in that the brilliant artists featured will combine dialogue, storytelling, and performance, “ says Rev. Rashad McPherson, Associate in Music and Ministry at Marble Collegiate Church. Guest performers and presenters include Broadway luminaries Natasha Yvette Williams (Some Like It Hot), Q. Smith (Come From Away), and Will Man (Hadestown National Touring Company). The event is free, welcome to all, and will be streamed live at marblechurch.org.
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