Here’s What’s Happening

This Week In & Around Chelsea

 Manhattan Community Board 4’s Full Board Meeting / Free Affordable Housng Workshop / 300 W. 21st 22nd 23rd Streets Block Association’s Neighborhood Meet & Greet / Rooftop Films Screens Penn F-ing Station / Free Programming in Bella Abzug Park / The Sweat Sessions / HYHK Alliance Needs Assessment Survey / Meet My Friend Speed Dating / Food Bag Program: Fresh Food for Seniors / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea /

The Full Board of Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4): Wednesday, July 24, 6:30pm Online via Zoom & YouTube and In-Person at High Line Park at West 14th Street | The full membership of MCB4 usually convenes on the first Wednesday of the month. But summertime has its own rules–which means the July/August MCB4 calendar calls for a July meeting (a July 24 meeting) that serves as the full board gathering for that month as well as August. Click here to view the agenda and draft versions of letters generated by individual committees and voted on by the Board’s full membership (approved as is, pending changes per Full Board discussion or, rarely, returned to committee for more work). At the July 24 meeting, there will be a presentation by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey regarding the Midtown Bus Terminal Replacement Project. There will be three Public Hearings at which members of the public will be allowed to voice their opinion. The topics: On the Land Use Application for the Midtown Bus Terminal Replacement Project; on the Department of City Planning’s City of Yes for Housing Opportunity Text Amendment; and on a Land Use Application for 343 W. 47th St. A Public Session also lets you speak directly to the Board (uninterrupted and usually for 2 minutes). To attend via Zoom, click here. To view it live via CB4’s YouTube channel, click here. Note: All MCB4 meetings–including this one–can be viewed after the fact, as archived recordings on the YouTube channel. Also Note: Zoom registration allows you to sign up for the Public Hearing and Public Session, up to 5pm on the day of the full board meeting. There will also be a sign-up sheet at the meeting for those attending in person. To attend the meeting via phone, call 646-518-9805 (when prompted, the Webinar ID s 986 0945 5541). If attending in person—at High Line Park at W. 14th St.—Note, the portion of the park from W. 16th-23rd Sts. will be closed due to construction. To access the meeting use either the W. 14th St. Passage or the W. 16th St. passage. If you plan to take the W. 14th St. elevator, please check the Elevator Status page by clicking here. For info about all things MCB4, their website can be found by clicking here. There is no August full board meeting. First-Wednesday-of-the-month Full Board meetings resume as of September 4.

Free Affordable Housing Workshop: Wednesday, July 24, 2pm at Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center (593 Columbus Ave. btw. W. 88th & 89th Sts.) | Chelsea’s own New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal is among the co-presenters of this in-depth discussion of affordable housing options available to New Yorkers (including Housing Connect, Mitchell-Lama, and senior housing developments). Attendees will learn how to search listings, join waiting lists, and submit applications. To RSVP sign up here. For more information or help signing up, call Sen. Hoylman-Sigal’s office at 212-633-8052 or email hoylman@nysenate.gov.

The West 300 21st, 22nd, 23rd Streets Block Association’s Neighborhood Meeet & Greet: Saturday, July 27, 10am,-2pm in front of 360 West 22nd Street | This relatively new Block Association has come onto the scene strong, having already hosted two community gatherings that, in addition to identifying issues at the forefront of membership concerns, also welcomed reports from elected officials and their representatives. This July 27 event puts the focus squarely on schmoozing–emphasizing the social, get-to-know-you aspect that BA founders note is on equal footing with their issues-driven work. So meet them on West 22nd Street and raise a glass (of lemonade, coffee, or iced tea) in support of  that…

Elsewhere on the program, How to Make Callah delves into “one family’s history through the lens of baking” while What Happened to Bobi has filmmaker Ian Faria staging reenactments to tell the story of the family’s grandmother, “who was abducted by aliens in 1957.” Made for $20, Luis Figueroa Caunedo’s They Got Me Goin’ In on My Day Off is a “lo-fi, dry-humored portrait of one of the city’s thousands of transportation workers,” while Allie Viti’s Your Mailbox is Full reconnects a frequent caller with the intended receiver after they clear “a scattered archive of voicemails.” To purchase tickets ($20.05) and for more info about Rooftop Films, click on the below image from Penn F-ing Station or click here.

The Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance Presents, Through October, Free Programming in Bella Abzug Park ( (W. 34th to 35th Sts., 10th to 11th Aves.) | From fitness classes to dance to music, free events abound in Bella Abzug Park. They’re brought to you by the Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance. That’s a fitting connection, given that the Alliance is dedicated to championing the two distinct neighborhoods of its namesake–whereas the venue, Bella Abzug Park, has a footprnt which affords it a foothold in both worlds. Complimentary pairings also pop up all over the Parks’s calendar of events, we hear. Case in point, the well-chosen instructors who motivate those who’ve taken a liking to Bien Good Well’s free yoga classes (Mondays and Wednesdays at 6pm and Saturdays at 10:30am). To register, click here. Tuesday, July 30, 4pm-6pm at the Paradise Cafe Kiosk in Bella Abzug Park, bring your dog for Happy Hour (aka “Yappy Hour”) food and drink specials, along with giveaways for you and your dog. Dogs must be leashed at all times.

Every other Thursday in July, September, and October, Vinyl  Nights fills Bella Abzug Park with dance-demanding classics of the 70s, 80s, and beyond, as spun by veteran NYC DJs working with, yes, real vinyl records. For more info, click here. Public space programmers from Street Lab will be popping up in Bella Abzug Park for six weeks in July and August, bringing interactive activities for kids of all ages. 

The Sweat Sessions: July 25 & August 8/22 | 45-Minute Classes at 5:30pm, 6:30pm, & 7:30pm  at Hudson River Park’s 14th Street Park (10th Ave. btw. W. 14th & 15th Sts.) | The Meatpacking BID, the Wellth Collective, and the Google Storeteam up to bring you free, al fresco fitness classes from some of NYC’s top trainers and gyms/boutiques. Yoga, bootcamp, dance cardio, boxing, pilates and more are sure to make you sweat thanks to the challenging pace and the series’ cruel-to-be-kind placement on the calendar (if not the height of summertime heat, then likely to hover around whatever number ends up claiming the top spot). New this year, to Sessions: You’ll have the opportunity to borrow a Google Pixel Watch or Fitbit Versa 4 to track your workout. (Bring a government issued ID to the session, to borrow the equipment and track the number of calories burned, Active Zone Minutes, and more.) For the full schedule of Sessions content, click here. To RSVP (required), click here. Note: Proper athletic attire must be worn.  Arrivals after 10+ minutes into a class will not be permitted to participate. Notices of cancellation or postponement due to inclement weather will be emailed in advance of each class. Participants must supply their own mat (because it’s gonna get, you know, all sweaty).

Take the HYHK Alliance Needs Assessment Survey | The Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance (HYHK), the area’s BID (Business Improvement District), is exploring an expansion of its boundaries. If acted upon, the Alliance’s area of coverage would newly embrace parts of 9th, 10th, and 11th Aves. north of West 42nd Street. Part of the “active exploration”process involves activating local residents, business owners, and property owners within the proposed expansion area to participate in a brief but telling Needs Assessment Survey. The results will reveal specific concerns to address. “As a neighborhood stakeholder, your input is extremely valuable,” says the Survey’s online recruitment page. If you have questions or comments or would like a printed copy of the Survey, send an email to HYHKexpansion@hyhkalliance.org. To take the Survey (and learn more about it before you do), click here.

Meet My Friend Speed Dating: Tuesday, July 30, 7pm-9pm at The Tippler (in Chelsea Market, 425 West 15th Street) | In a classic cocktail bar nestled below Chelsea Market, local relationship building organization We Met IRL hosts this maybe-matchmaking, diversity-minded event. The premise: Each attendee brings a companion for a real-life singles experience. Each ticket is valid for two people ages 25 – 35, ideally of the opposite sex. If you’re the imbibing type who knows what you like (and knows your limit regarding the use of social lubricants), you’re in luck: The Tippler serves specialty cocktails, artisanal spirits, beers, and wine. Tickets are $65 for two people and can be purchased in advance here.

Food Bag Program/Fresh Food for Seniors | Don’t balk at the program’s title. Sure, it’s well-designed with seniors in mind—but local residents of all ages are able to participate. By doing so, they’ll have access to fresh fruits and vegetables from farms near New York City, for just $10 a bag.

Last year, notes NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher, “We distributed 1,309 bags of fresh produce as part of this program.”Starting on Monday, July 1, notes the Council Member, you can “visit one of our participating senior centers (see list below) and sign up for the program by paying $10 for a bag. The following week, you’ll pick up your pre-packed food bag, filled with the fruits and vegetables that are in season.”

This program is offered by Bottcher’s District 3 office in partnership with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “Our team,” says the Council Member, “gets together in the morning on delivery days to prep the bags…and we always need volunteers! If you’re interested in volunteering, please click here.”

Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea: Satudays, 9am-2pm | Seasonal, local food by vendors you can rely on for the basics and trust when it comes to embracing new cuisine and ingredients is the great strength of this weekly Market that pops up Saturdays, 9am-2pm, on West 23rd Street Off of Ninth Ave. A tip worth taking: Click here to sign up for their newsletter, and every week you’ll get a preview of what’s so special about the next Market.  Also a source of food for thought in advance of each Saturday’s Market: A visit to its online presecce (click here to do so). A new addition for 2024: Textile Recycling! Bring your linens, old clothes, shoes, torn, stained, or new to recycle (look for the green bin). Also Note: Food Benefit Programs are welcome. Go to the Manager’s Tent to use your SNAP EBT card and get tokens to spend with the vendors. Matching Health Bucks are available ($2 for every $2 withdrawn, up to $10). FMNP vouchers can be used June-November. For a full explanation of benefits, visit this link. NYC residents who have questions about the FMNP program can dial 311.

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