Here’s What’s Happening This Week 

Book Club / Apply for a West Side Community Fund Grant / Hands Off Our Votes and Our Neighbors / Many Ways of Being: An Exhibit at Hudson Guild Gallery / Live Music at Urban Vegan Kitchen / Events in Chelsea Green Park / Events in Bella Abzug Park / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea

PICKS OF THE WEEK—NEXT WEEK, THAT IS…

This Week In & Around Chelsea will begin each new column with a featured event or two happening next week. Case in point, the below listing.

Manhattan Borough Book Club | Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal’s Book Club presents a new installment in the ongoing series. Its brick-and-mortar element happens at Manhattan Neighborhood Network (509 W. 38th St.). Doors open at 5pm, for the 5:30pm-6:30pm event. RSVP required, for this limited-space happening. To do so, click here. Or, view it online by clicking here. See the below flyer for info about the book of choice, as well as info about entering the lottery to win a free copy of the book!

Sept. 9 Through Oct. 9: Applications Accepted for the West Side Community Fund’s Fall 2026 Grant Cycle | Founded in 2018, the West Side Community Fund (WSCF) is a consortium of companies based on Manhattan’s west side. Twice yearly, their grant program provides much-needed funding to worthy initiatives serving those in Chelsea, Hudson Yards, or Hell’s Kitchen (“particularly under-resourced, long-time residents”). To date, WSCF has distributed over $1,650,000 to local community health centers, block and tenants’ associations, non-profits, schools, youth leadership programs, neighborhood news groups, food pantries, social services for seniors, arts programs, and others. Their latest funding opportunity—accepting applications through October 9—follows WSCF’s Spring 2026 distribution of grants for programs serving LGBTQIA+ populations.(Full Disclosure: LGBTQCommunityNews.nyc—this very website’s sister publication—was among the recipients.) Click here to find out everything you need to know about what it takes to qualify as an applicant—and click here to apply for a Fall 2026 WSCF grant. Questions? Send an email to jlisbon@hudsonguild.org.

Hands Off Our Votes and Our Neighbors: A Chelsea Neighbors United (CNU) Community Planning Meeting at 6pm on Thursday, September 10 | “Trump and his billionaire buddies are not only waging war on the immigrants in our communities, they are waging war on democracy itself,” say reps from Chelsea Neighbors United (CNU). The hyperlocal collective of resistance-minded human rights advocates wants “your ideas, support and participation as we get ready for the Fall. We will be continuing the work we’ve been doing since November [2025], supporting our immigrant neighbors—whether providing know your rights information to businesses as well as domestic workers in our homes, conducting trainings, supporting detainees at Delaney Hall, or being part of a rapid response team when ICE is on our streets.” This free September 10 event (light refreshments provided) is your chance to meet CNU membership, and help “be a part of the planning discussion.” Click Here to register. Comments? Questions? Email CNU at chelseaneighborsunited2@gmail.com.  

Many Ways of Being: Portraits by Lola Sandino Stanton / Sept. 10-Nov. 5 at Hudson Guild Gallery (441 W. 26th St. btw, 9th/10th Aves.) | The portraits of Nicaragua-born, NYC-based painter Lola Sandino Stanton explore identity, memory, and the ways in which people choose to express themselves. This particular collection of work draws from members of the LGBTQ+ community. “Over a lifetime in NYC,” notes the exhibit’s promotional material, “Lola Sandino Stanton found her subjects among friends, family, and chance encounters. These paintings celebrate the richness of New York’s communities and the dignity, individuality, and humanity of every life.”

Note: An opening reception, with the artist in attendance, happens on Thursday, September 10, 5:30pm to 7pm at Hudson Guild Gallery (441 W. 26th St.). Viewing hours through Nov. 5: Tuesdays through Fridays, 10am-6pm; Saturdays, 12pm-3pm. For more info on this and other Hudson Guild events and activities, click here.  

Roots & Rebels Nights: A Free Live Music Series, Thursdays & Fridays, 7pm-9pm at Urban Vegan Kitchen (265 W. 23rd St. btw. 7th/8th Aves.) | Urban Vegan Kitchen–the intimate eatery whose menu handily delivers on the promise of its name–presents free live music every Thursday and Friday, 7pm to 9pm. Roots & Rebels Nights showcaes blues, piano, Latin ballads, and beats curated in a manner, they promise, that “adds to dinner without taking over the room.” Click here for details about the September lineup. Featured artists include Luis Salcedo on jazz guitar (Sept. 3 & 24); and piano and latin ballads from Santiago Gran Colombia (Sept. 11 & 25. ). To preview the 100% vegan menu, click here–and see below flyer for September’s music lineup.
Free Events in Chelsea Green Park (140 W. 20th St. btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) | Ongoing and one-shot programming, presented by Friends of Chelsea Green, fills the West 20th St. public park with free events you can move and groove to. Every Tuesday at 6:30pm, Chi Kung is a movement class taught by Chelsea’s own Laura Shaprio. Please RSVP Here. Choreographer and Wellness Movement specialist Shapiro will guide you through a gentle movement practice designed to restore energy, improve balance, and bring calm to body and mind. 

Free Outdoor Events in Bella Abzug Park (524 W. 34th St. btw. 10th & 11th Aves.) | Summer is in full swing–and with it, the roster of free events and activities offered annually by the Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance (HYHK) is about to reach the busiest period.of its May through October season. From music to mindful movement, there’s something for every age and inclination. Now through October, instructors from Bien Good Well lead yoga classes at 5pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as mat pilates, Saturdays at 10:30am. To register, click here On select Thursdays and Saturdays, Vinyl Nights is a DJ dance party that gets you moving to the grooves that defined NYC in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.  For the kids, Mike Messer Music offers acoustic concerts on Tuesday mornings. Click here to visit the HYHK Event Calendar, where you’ll find info on all of their free programming. See the below promo flyer for a September 9 event.

Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea: Saturdays, 9am-2pm on West 23rd St. off Ninth Ave. | An April through December presence in Chelseda for over a decade, this opportunity to eat well while supporting local vendors is a win-win. See the below flyer for details. To sign up for the Market’s email newsletter (sent every Thursday), click here.

—-Listings Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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