Here’s What’s Happening

(in order of appearance)

The 10th Precinct Community Council / Chelsea Neighbors United / West Side Street Clean Up / Free Paper Shredding / The London Terrace Street Fair / The Longest Table / Fourth Annual Blessing of the Animals / MCB4 Full Board Meeting / West Side Community Fund’s Fall 2026 Grant Cycle / Benefit Concert / GAG Doc at New Fest / Free Events in Chelsea Green Park / Free Events in Bella Abzug Park

Wednesday, September 30: The 10th Precinct Community Council | 7pm at the 10th Precinct; 230 W. 20th St. btw. 7th & 8th Aves.  | Council President Larry O’Neill moderates a Q&A, where members of the public can question top Precinct leadership about crime and quality of life matters. Between monthly meetings, keep your eyes on the Council’s Facebook page, where announcements will be made regarding Council activities. To visit and follow that page, click here. 

This Week with Chelsea Neighbors United (CNU) | Last week’s This Week In & Around Chelsea column previewed a Sept. 24 online training session in which CNU members joined others in preparing “to stand as unified New Yorkers” in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections. This week, CNU invites you to join them in the practical application of their training, when they stand with Hands Off NYC, Common Cause NY, and elected officials in a press conference/rally created to “call out Trump and his billionaire backers who want to sabotage our democracy.” It happens Thursday, October 1, 12pm-1pm at the General Post Office on 8th Ave. (btw. W. 31st & 33rd Sts.). Two days later, CNU will be present and accounted for, at the London Terrace Street Fair (10am-5pm, Sat., Oct. 3, West 24th St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves.). From a table staffed by CNU’s active activists, “There will be Election Defense material, Voter Registration forms, and information on what to do if you see ICE,” said CNU reps. “Of course, we’ll also have our T-shirts and buttons. Stop by the table to get information for you and your neighbors or just to show your support.” For info on this and other CNU activities, contact them via email, at ChelseaNeighborsUnited2@gmail.com. 

Thursday, October 1 | West Side Street Clean Up: Volunteers Needed  | NYS Assemblymember Tony Simone invites you to join his office in a hands-on neighborhood beautification effort. Disposable latex gloves and trash bags will be provided, alongside a limited number of gloves and brooms. On Oct. 1, 10am to 12pm. W. 40th to W. 50th Streets along 9th Ave. To sign up, click here. Questions? Concerns? Call 212-807-7900 or email mcmahonm@nyassembly.gov.

Tuesday, September 29 & Thursday, October 22: Free Paper Shredding | Once shredded, you won’t recognize the bank statements, tax documents, and medical records you showed up with—neither will identity thieves. On Tues., Sept 29, 9am-12pm next to 400 W. 43rd St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves. On Thurs., Oct. 22, 9am-12pm at Penn South, on W. 26th St. btw. 8th & 9th Aves. Events presented by NYS Senator Erik Bottcher, co-sponsored by MBP Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Council Member Carl Wilson, & Assemblymember Tony Simone. Questions? Call 212-633-8052, 

Saturday, October 3: The 34th Annual London Terrace Street Fair | 10am to 5pm on West 24th St.. btw. 9th & 10th Aves. | Chelsea’s official entry into autumn sees an entire crosstown block flanked by vendor tables brimming with high-quality clothes, art, jewelry, collectibles, and more. Also on hand are area clubs, organizations, and elected officials. “The energy is always positive, and virtually everyone finds something to buy at a reasonable price to commemorate a wonderful day,” and where you can find “one-of-a-kind collectibles,” says event organizer Inge Ivchenko, president of the London Terrace Tenants Association, who adds, “There will also be food and beverages to refresh yourself. Don’t be a stranger, and stop on by—all are welcome. There will be love and warmth, no matter what the temperature is that day. We hope to see you there!” For more information, email lttastreetfair@gmail.com. Visit www.facebook.com/london.streetfair.

Sunday, October 4: The Longest Table | 12pm to 2pm on the 400 Block of West 21st St. btw. 9th & 10th Aves. | Hard to believe it’s the half-decade mark for this annual event that’s been successfully reproduced dozens of times the world over. Created as a way for post-pandemic Chelsea to strengthen existing relationships and make new friends, the perfect–and perfectly simple—premise lines tables down the length of West 21st Street’s 400 block, fills them with folks and food, and lets the breaking of bread work its enduring magic. To participate, volunteer, or get more info, click here.

Sunday, October 4: Fourth Annual Blessing of the Animals for the Feast of St. Francis  | Sunday, October 4, 11:30pm in the courtyard of St. Peter’s Chelsea |346 W. 20th St. btw. 8th & 9th Aves.| Furry, feathery, scaly, or stuffed—all are welcome! Stick around after the service and have a pet portrait taken by a professional. The suggested donation is $20, with all proceeds going toward St. Peter’s 1831 Rectory Renovation.

Wednesday, October 7: Full Board Meeting of Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4) / On the Agenda of this monthly gathering: MCB4 votes on letters generated from committees; members of the public get uninterrupted time to speak; reports from MCB4’s Chair and District Manager, along with elected officials or their reps. Attend In-person, on Zoom, or via livestream on YouTube, where all MCB4 meetings are instantly archived and always accessible. For more info, click here.

Through Friday, October 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.

Tuesday, October 13 | Klezmer Concert 2026. to Benefit Ukraome’s Children of War | See the below flyer for details.

Friday, October 16: NewFest Presents the U.S. premiere of Gays Against Guns (a documentary) | 6:45pm at the SVA Theater (333 W. 23rd St. btw. 8th/9th Aves.) | Founded following the Pulse nightclub massacre of 2016, Gays Against Guns (GAG) has spent the past decade on the frontlines of America’s gun violence epidemic through a series of very public, highly theatrical protest actions that pointedly convey the group’s deeply felt grief, outrage, and resolve. Paul Rowley, an Irish immigrant, directs this collection of footage from street actions and candid personal reflections—including some sharp observations by the “Pope of Trash” himself, filmmaker John Waters (whose cutting wit pairs well with GAG’s hardwired self-awareness). To watch the trailer, click here. The October 16 screening will be followed by a Q&A. Tickets are $19.50 for the screening and $14.50 for a Virtual Single Ticket (Oct. 15-30). To purchase, click here.

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. Below, see the flyer for a new Thursday morning series.

Free Outdoor Events in Bella Abzug Park (524 W. 34th St. btw. 10th & 11th Aves.) | Brought to you by the Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance (HYHK), there’s something for every age and inclination among the free events. 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. 

—-Listings Compiled by Scott Stiffler

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