Free Walking Tours from Save Chelsea and Jane’s Walk | Through outreach and advocacy, the community-based organization Save Chelsea is “concerned with preserving the integrity of Chelsea’s Historic Districts and buildings and maintaining a diverse mix of economic, social, and generational populations.” That mission articulates itself not just through interactions with electeds and city officials, but also via its ongoing Walking Tour series—where Chelsea history comes to life, and is put in proper contemporary context.

On Friday, May 3 at 6pm, their two-hour tour (presented in conjunction with the citywide, May 3-5 “Jane’s Walk” event considers “The Chelsea Historic District and The Need to Expand It.” Save Chelsea’s David Holowka and Laurence Frommer will guide the group, visiting blocks both within and outside of the Chelsea Historic District. The event is described thusly: “A year and half after the inexcusable destruction of Federal era houses with their distinctive Flemish Bond brickwork on W. 19th St. and the destabilization of adjacent properties including historic Saint Peter’s Church, we need more than ever to expand Chelsea’s central historic district. In addition, the Landmarks Commission approving plans to demolish all but the facade of Chelsea’s oldest house poses a threat to the existing historic district’s integrity. There are indications that this will happen to other protected areas in the neighborhood.” To register for this free walk, click here.

Then, on Saturday, May 4 at 4pm, Save Chelsea and Jane’s Walk offer another two-hour tour, this one considering “LGBT Historic Sites in Chelsea on the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. “Chelsea is a neighborhood that was strongly associated with gay life in the 1990’s,” they note, “but was actually quite ‘gay’ for many, many years before that. Such important pioneering pre-Stonewall gay rights groups as The Mattachine Society, The Daughters Of Bilitis, and the West Side Discussion Group were located in Chelsea in the decade before Stonewall. In the aftermath of Stonewall, the radical Gay Liberation Front had its first meetings in Chelsea and the neighborhood was home to such pioneering lesbian organizations as Lesbian Feminist Liberation, the Lesbian Herstory Archives, and the Lesbian Switchboard—which were all housed at the Women’s Liberation Center on W. 20th St.”

Laurence Frommer and Save Chelsea board members are your guides. To register for this free event, click here. For more information on Save Chelsea, visit www.savechelseany.org. On Facebook: www.facebook.com/Save-Chelsea-NY-885560138225483/. Twitter: @SaveChelseaNY.

Final Days of The Tribeca Film Festival | A reliable source of compelling documentaries, world premiere feature films, virtual reality experiences and special events, this festival, which began as way to bolster its namesake neighborhood after the events of 9/11, always has a strong presence in Chelsea. This year, the SVA Theatre (333 W. 23rd St. btw. 8th & 9th Aves.) hosts a number of notable screenings—and you only have until Sun., May 5, to access all the fest has to offer (TFF began on April 24).

Chelsea Community News recently spoke with one of TFF’s programmers, who talked about the ongoing mission to feature emerging voices, offer interactive opportunities to festivalgoers, and champion filmmakers who choose to showcase their work online. To read that interview, click here.

Click on the following, to read our reviews of Tribeca Film Festival selections. Can’t make it to a screening? Has the final screening of that film passed? Don’t lose hope. Many films in the fest will get theatrical releases, become available On Demand, or find themselves on other platforms.

“The Good, The Bad, The Hungry”

Reviews by Puma Perl: “Luce” and “Pearl”

“A Woman’s Work: The NFL’s Cheerleader Problem”

“Flawless”

“Gay Chorus Deep South”

“Luce” Review by Winnie McCroy

“Charlie Says”

“Blow the Man Down”

“Initials S.G.”

The Tribeca Film Festival happens through Sun., May 5. For more information, and to order tickets, visit tribecafilm.com or call 866-941-3378. Matinee screenings are $12, evening and weekend screenings are $24, Tribeca Talks and Tribeca Immersive tickets are $40, and Tribeca Cinema360 tickets are $15. Discounted packages are available. Free Film Friday (free film screenings) is May 3. Twitter: twitter.com/tribeca. Facebook: facebook.com/tribeca. Instagram: instagram.com/tribeca. Hashtag: #Tribeca2019.

–By Scott Stiffler

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