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

—END—

The post This Week In & Around Chelsea: September 7-13, 2026 first appeared on Chelsea Community News.

Gather Round: Let’s Dance!

A 4-Part Outdoor Series, Free & Open to the Public

5pm to 6:15pm / Wednesday, September 9, 16, 23, 30

At Manhattan West Plaza (385 Ninth Ave.)

BY SCOTT STIFFLER | Manhattan West, in partnership with the Guggenheim’s Works & Process, presents the return of what’s become an annual September series of athletic, artistic performances and interactive instructive opportunities–with this year’s edition offering everything from Afro-Latin Dance and Swing to Contra and Freestyle. Here’s the skinny on the 2026 schedule:

Wednesday, September 9 at 5pm: LayeRhythm | Freestyle movements including house dance, litefeet, flexN, breaking, and locking—with the unpredictable presence of improvisation—are the ample calling cards of LayeRhythm (curated by founder and house dance specialist Mai Lê Hô). Their performance of live music and street dance concludes with “an open dance floor for all!”

Wednesday, September 16 at 5pm: SEKOU McMILLER & FRIENDS | “Learn how to mambo like they used to in New York’s legendary Palladium Ballroom, where the social dance movement was born!” is the promise of this intergenerational dance party and lesson  from Sekou McMiller & Friends, featuring live music by the Palladium Mambo Band.

Wednesday, September 23 at 5pm: A Barn Dance with BROOKLYN CONTRA | This self-described “approachable social dance” gets its live music mojo from Some Assembly Required Quintet’s dynamic take on Appalachian and Irish tunes. Not familiar with the implications of that mashup? Advance press for the event offers this explainer: “Originating in northern Appalachia based on English and French formal dances, contra is now danced around the country by multi-generational communities.” Okay, but do you even know how to dance the contra–and if so, how to do it the “Brooklyn” way? Once again, advance promo to the rescue: “No partner necessary,” the press release assures, noting, “All dances are taught” before the event officially begins. 

Wednesday, September 30 at 5pm: NEW YORK SWINGS with JOSH LEE AND THE EXTENDED FAMILY | New York Swings “brings the excitement of Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz dance” to their playful, athletic, “historically grounded” performances—led by choreographer Gaby Cook, and danced by an ensemble of NYC’s own. Also on the bill is Philadelphia-based musical ensemble Josh Lee and the Extended Family, whose selections draw from the classic compositions of Basie, Ellington, and more.

For more info on this series, Click Here and Click Here to visit, respectively, Works & Process and Manhattan West.

—END—

ChelseaCommunityNews.com (CCNews) is an independent, single-owner online newspaper providing news, arts, events, and opinion content to Manhattan’s Chelsea community and its adjacent areas (Flatiron/NoMad and Meatpacking Districts, Hudson Yards, Hell’s Kitchen, Broadway/Times Square, and the Penn Station area).  Our editorial content is made possible by advertising revenue, grants, quarterly pledges of support, and voluntary reader donations (click here for our GoFundMe campaign). To join our subscriber list, click here to receive ENewsletters containing links to recently published content–as well as an occasional “Sponsored Content” email featuring an advertiser’s exclusive message. 

ChelseaCommunityNews.com is a member of the New York Press Association (NYPA) and theEmpire State Local News Coalition. Our content is collected for placement in the United States Library of Congress’ LGBTQ+ Studies Web Archive. (“We consider your website to be an important part of  the historical record,” read a July 26, 2019 email.) Our freelance reporters have been recognized by NYPA’s annual Better Newspaper Contest, with Honorable Mention wins for Best News or Feature Series  (2021 & 2023). CCNews is a three-time winner in the Coverage of the Arts category (First Place and Honorable Mention, 2022 and Third Place, 2023).

PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: HELP CHELSEA COMMUNITY NEWS THRIVE BY FREQUENTLY  VISITING THIS WEBSITE TO READ OUR ARTICLES AND CLICK ON THE ADVERTISEMENTS.

The post Assemble at Manhattan West, for ‘Gather Round: Let’s Dance!’ — Wednesdays in September first appeared on Chelsea Community News.

MCB4’s Full Board Meeting / Free Live Music at Urban Vegan Kitchen / Free Events in Chelsea Green Park / Hudson Guild Gallery Exhibit / Free Outdoor Events in Bella Abzug Park / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea /

The September Full Board Meeting of Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4): Wednesday, September 2, 6:30pm Online via Zoom & YouTube and In-Person at the Hotel Trades Council (305 W. 44th St. btw. 8th/9th Aves.) | After their annual August hiatus, the full membership of MCB4 resumes its regular meeting schedule (on the first Wednesday of the month). The Full Board’s main business: Vote on advocacy-minded letters generated by various committees, whose names (Chelsea Land Use, for example) speak to their areas of concentration. Click here for an online calendar that allows access to the Agenda of each committee, during their September meeting.

Members of the public also get to vet and vent, via signing up to speak during the Public Session (on topics of your choosing) or during the Public Hearing. The “Hearing” is your chance to opine on an Agenda Item to be taken up by the full board later on in the meeting. On Sept. 2, Fiscal Year 2028 Community District 4 Statement of District Needs and Budget Requests is the topic. It refers to the annual practice of having each MCB4 committee “consider the most pressing needs of the community for improved government services and capital investment.” In addition to addressing the Board directly, membes of the public can weigh in by clicking here to take the District Needs Online Survey. Note: Each Public opportunity affords participants uninterrupted speaking time (1 or 2 minutes total, at the Board’s discretion; you must attend in-person or via Zoom, to participate). Local elected officials/Precinct COs or their reps also appear at these meetings on a regular, rotating basis. September 2’s meeting will see reports from new District Manager Stacie Johnson as well as MCB4 Chair Leslie Boghosian Murphy (click on their names to access our “intake” interviews, conducted shortly after they were, respectively, hired and elected). For more information about MCB4, click here to visit their website.

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 (7pm on 8/25; 6:30pm in Sept.), 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. On Wednesday, September 2, at 6pm, the Music in Chelsea Green Park series presents Dennis Lichtman and friends. Multi-instrumentalist Lichtman–a clarinetist equally adept when holding a mandolin or fiddle, will perform in the same spirit he brings as leader of the Tuesday night jam sessions at Mona’s. See the below flyer for details.

Many Ways of Being: Portraits by Lola Sandino Stanton / Sept. 10-Nov. 5 at Hudson Guild Gallery (441 W. 26th St. btw 8th/9th 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. Also see the promotinal flyer, directly below.

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

—END—

The post This Week In & Around Chelsea: Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2026 first appeared on Chelsea Community News.

BY SCOTT STIFFLER | Nearly two full years after the financially strapped General Theological Seminary found a 99-year leasee for its iconic Chelsea property, an inaugural class of undergrads is on the ground—officially transforming West 20th to 21st Streets (btw. 9th/10th Aves.) into the first satellite campus of TN-based Vanderbilt University.

Construction and repair work to exteriors and infrastructure has been taking place for months, with much of the paint barely dry—and some of it yet to be applied. Nonetheless, the fall semester’s unyielding calendar has seen the block-long, iron-gated, tree-lined area once known as the Close now open for business as Vanderbilt University–New York City (aka Vanderbilt or VU-NYC). But what does the arrival of a new neighbor—and its nearly 100 tenants—mean for the surrounding area?

“Vanderbilt has made significant progress preparing the historic Chelsea campus to welcome its inaugural cohort for fall 2026,” VU-NYC’s James Kellerhouse told Chelsea Community News (CCNews). To date, work has “focused on making the campus student-ready while preserving its historic character,” he noted, referencing changes made to learning, residential, and community spaces across the 13-building campus. Work has been accomplished in the form of “interior renovations, façade restoration, restoration of the campus’s historic bluestone pathways and landscaping, accessibility improvements, lighting improvements, and other upgrades,” said Kellerhouse, with all exterior restoration and improvement efforts “reviewed and approved by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, with Vanderbilt working alongside historic preservation experts to retain the character and original design features of the campus.”

While Vanderbilt is in the early stages of determining what “restoration and enhancement” work will entail during “phases over the coming years,” Kellerhouse assured, “We look forward to sharing that information with our labor partners and the community.”

Including “labor” in the loop is no mere casual mention: VU-NYC is still in fence-mending mode, after a series of on-site protests earlier this year called for the elimination of non-union labor that cut project costs by circumnavigating the pay rate expected (and safety training required) by union workers. Kellerhouse’s recent dialogue with CCC saw the spokesperson assure, “Future phases of work are being discussed with our construction partners, and Vanderbilt University remains committed to open dialogue.” For now, though, the architects of things-to-come are “focused on opening the campus and welcoming our students.” 

As for those based beyond the campus, Kellerhouse says Vanderbilt will “continue to keep the community informed about construction, restoration, and other projects,” albeit perhaps not with the consistent frequency we’re used to. Up to now, Inside Chelsea Square—VU-NYC’s weekly Construction Update electronic newsletter—has kept subscribers well-informed about work taking place on the grounds, and its potential impact on neighborhood noise, parking, and foot traffic. “While updates may not always continue on a weekly schedule as work evolves,” says Kellerhouse, “Vanderbilt remains committed to communicating relevant information with the community. As additional restoration and enhancement projects are planned and begin in the coming years, Vanderbilt will provide updates as appropriate.”

As for those undergraduate students now ensconced in Chelsea (juniors and seniors thus far educated at “Vanderbilt OG” in Nashville, TN), this inaugural class and those who follow will be experiencing NYC for one semester only. The fall 2026 semester ends on December 10, 2026, with examinations and reading days running December 11–19. Fresh faces will arrive just prior to the start of 2027’s spring semester, scheduled to begin on January 11, 2027.

In addition to attending classes held on campus grounds, each undergraduate student will be required to participate in VU-NYC’s internship program. The internship destinations for this initial cycle–all of them Manhattan-based, and many of them hyperlocal–are a Who’s Who of coveted resume credits. Here’s the complete host list, as provided by VU-NYC just days ago: Alvarez & Marsal; American Museum of Natural History; Atria Health; Avenues New York; Bank of China U.S.A. New York Branch; Berry Campbell; Beyer, Blinder Belle; Blue Star Innovation Partners; Brick & Patel, LLP; Center for Urban Future; Churchill Asset Management; Consigli; Cumming; DataDock Solutions; Digitalis Research; Elysian; Equinox Group; Excel; Federal Defenders of New York; First Manhattan; Fortress Investment Group; Halo; Heartshare; HR&A Advisors; Hudson Guild; Indego Africa Project; Inlightenup; Invictus Property Advisors; Long Point Capital; Manny Cantor Center; Merrill Lynch; NYC Law Department; Obra Capital; Park Slope Cardiac and Diagnostic Services; Pepper; Perry Law; PointState Capital; Prime Number Capital; Printed Matter; Rethink Food; Robin Hood Foundation; Rosenblatt Securities; RPG; Specialty Aesthetic Surgery; The Architectural League of New York; The High Line; The Legal Aid Society; The Shed; The Smile Institute; Tishman Speyer; Treater Inc.; U Outreach; Uber; Vanderbilt NYC; Vendors First; and Veritas Capital.

Asked to what extent the Chelsea campus will be accessible to the general public, Kellerhouse said Vanderbilt will “continue to host a range of community events and other opportunities that welcome members of the public to visit and experience the campus, including Open House New York, the Longest Table, Design Trust programs and many others.” Additionally, VU-NYC expects to offer public tours during select times, TBA. Interested parties are encouraged to visit the VU-NYC website for information about events and activities accessible to the general public. Click here to sign up for the newsletter and get campus updates.

—END—

ChelseaCommunityNews.com (CCNews) is an independent, single-owner online newspaper providing news, arts, events, and opinion content to Manhattan’s Chelsea community and its adjacent areas (Flatiron/NoMad and Meatpacking Districts, Hudson Yards, Hell’s Kitchen, Broadway/Times Square, and the Penn Station area).  Our editorial content is made possible by advertising revenue, grants, quarterly pledges of support, and voluntary reader donations (click here for our GoFundMe campaign). To join our subscriber list, click here to receive ENewsletters containing links to recently published content–as well as an occasional “Sponsored Content” email featuring an advertiser’s exclusive message. 

ChelseaCommunityNews.com is a member of the New York Press Association (NYPA) and theEmpire State Local News Coalition. Our content is collected for placement in the United States Library of Congress’ LGBTQ+ Studies Web Archive. (“We consider your website to be an important part of  the historical record,” read a July 26, 2019 email.) Our freelance reporters have been recognized by NYPA’s annual Better Newspaper Contest, with Honorable Mention wins for Best News or Feature Series  (2021 & 2023). CCNews is a three-time winner in the Coverage of the Arts category (First Place and Honorable Mention, 2022 and Third Place, 2023).

PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: HELP CHELSEA COMMUNITY NEWS THRIVE BY FREQUENTLY  VISITING THIS WEBSITE TO READ OUR ARTICLES AND CLICK ON THE ADVERTISEMENTS.

The post If You ‘VanderBuild’ It, They Will Come: TN-Based University Launches Satellite, in Chelsea first appeared on Chelsea Community News.

Free Events in Chelsea Green Park / Free Outdoor Events in Bella Abzug Park / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea /

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 (7pm on 8/25; 6:30pm in Sept.), 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. On Wednesday, September 2, at 6pm, the Music in Chelsea Green Park series presents Dennis Lichtman and friends. Multi-instrumentalist Lichtman–a clarinetist equally adept when holding a mandolin or fiddle, will perform in the same spirit he brings as leader of the Tuesday night jam sessions at Mona’s. See the below flyer for details.

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 movies to mindful movement, there’s something for every age and inclination. Regarding the just-invoked matter of movies–see directly below, the rundown of free flicks in August, followed by info about ongoing events.

Ongoing Bella Abzug Park-based events: 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.

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

—END—

The post This Week In & Around Chelsea: August 24-30, 2026 first appeared on Chelsea Community News.

Summer Outing / Free Outdoor Events in Bella Abzug Park / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea /

Chelsea Community Church’s 25th Annual Summer Outing: Sunday, August 23, 9am to 2pm | Celebrating a marriage’s quarter century mark is easy: Whether Traditional or Modern, the gift is something silver. But if the “Big 25” is a local summer outing, the appropriate gift is the one you give yourself—by clearing this Sunday’s calendar, from 9am to 2pm. Those are the hours that members of Chelsea Community Church and friends will be seen pairing good eats with uncommon knowledge.

Here’s the event-by-event timetable: Things begin with a nod to the most important meal of the day, as the group meets for breakfast at Empire Diner (210 10th Ave./W. 22nd St.). Although orders can range from a lone cup of Joe to more lumberjack-appropriate options, a Church member familiar with the menu notes, “Favorite items include buttermilk biscuits and rye pancakes.” By 10:15, the High Line (W. 23rd St. & 10th Ave.) provides a scenic, elevated view of Chelsea—while on the ground, arborist Wayne Kammerer takes you on a stroll from W. 23rd to W. 14th, pointing out some of the High Line’s indigenous trees along the way (including flowering dogwood and gray birch). Then, from 11:15am to 11:45am, a walk through Chelsea Market (enter at W. 15th St. & 10th Ave.) encourages those who’ve not arrived with a bag lunch to pick up some take out (for the impending picnic lunch).

From 12:45pm to 1pm, the group’s gathering at Little Island (W. 14th St. & 11th Ave.) has Church member Gloria providing some background on the Hudson River Project, which the aforementioned island hovers above. Things wrap up from 1pm to 2pm with another occasion for grub and gab (and maybe some grace-style personal reflection; it is, after all, Sunday). The official location has you partaking of a picnic lunch, at the Meatpacking District’s 9th Ave. & W. 12th St. outdoor plaza. Want something fancier, and indoors? You’ll be in visual distance of Serafina (“for those who might prefer a restaurant meal,” say organizers). As for how to participate in the Outing—full schedule or individual stops—send an email to E. Diane Nichols, via beacon195@aol.com. Find out more about Chelsea Community Church with an online outing to their website, viewable here.

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 movies to mindful movement, there’s something for every age and inclination. Regarding the just-invoked matter of movies–see directly below, the rundown of free flicks happening on a weekly basis next month, followed by info about ongoing events.

Ongoing Bella Abzug Park-based events: 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.

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

—END—

The post This Week In & Around Chelsea: August 17-23, 2026 first appeared on Chelsea Community News.

World Arts East offers arts and wellness services and experiences from around the globe. Connect and immerse yourself in a variety of movement and wellness forms for youth and adults including dance, yoga, meditation, martial arts, circus arts, visual arts, and Ayurvedic treatments.

World Arts East

115 West 29 Street (btw. 6th & 7th Aves.) / Suite 1106 

Phone: 347-361-1661  / Email: worldartseast@gmail.com

Q&A With Erica Bowen

Scott Stiffler, for Chelsea Community News (CCNews): What is your job at World Arts East? How is the work you’re doing now informed by previous work/life experience?

Erica Bowen (Erica): I’m Co-founder of World Arts East, a small family business and boutique arts, fitness, and wellness studio that highlights arts, fitness, and wellness techniques from around the world. My background as a multi-hyphenate artist, fitness/wellness coach, yogi/Ayurvedic practitioner, television stage director, community programmer, and small business addict informs my work at World Arts East.

CCNews: World Arts East ”offers arts and wellness services and experiences from around the globe.” What is the relationship between arts and wellness, and what are some of the global influences in the services and experiences you offer?

Erica: Arts and wellness are interconnected. They can provide the foundation or inspiration for the other. I think of my yoga teacher training with Aadil Palkhivala. Our teacher training did not consist solely of the physical yoga postures and meditation, but also in depth study of mantra (music/sound vibration), poetry, elocution (public speaking/theatre), and more. This teacher training reminded me that in many ancient wellness techniques art and wellness techniques are seamlessly interwoven to make the scientific and the creative complimentary to each other. 

CCNews: Why does World Arts East have a presence in Chelsea? What programming and opportunities will people find at this specific location?

Erica: The community of Chelsea has a long history that has attracted Black Americans, immigrants, abolitionists, LGBTQ persons, artists, and activists of civil rights including Bayard Rustin. It is a place that historically has nurtured freedom of thought, the arts, and diversity. We knew it was the perfect place for World Arts East because of this history. And of course, even now when you walk through Chelsea you feel an extension of community that is unique in New York City.

To date, our services and experiences have highlighted wellness techniques and arts from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and the United States. You can come into the studio and be immersed in classes focused on bellydance, ballet fitness, disco kickboxing, Senegalese sabar drumming, Brazilian percussion, circus fitness, or a traditional Ayurvedic abhyanga massage.

CCNews: Where do you find the instructors for the programming you offer?

Erica: Our instructors and coaches are an array of individuals deeply rooted in the techniques they teach. Some come from a family tradition of teaching a form, while others have studied, practiced, performed, researched and taught for years. What’s most important is that we find a synergy of someone who can impart knowledge, inspire our guests, and bring a little joy and fun in the process.

We know our guests come from different backgrounds. Some come directly from work and the percussion class they participate in is a way for stress management and a sense of community. Someone else may be a teenager who always wanted to take ballet and this is a perfect opportunity to do so in a safe and encouraging space. We understand that all of our guests have different goals and we aim to give each person that comes in to our studio something that nurtures their goals, creativity, and well-being.

CCNews: Are there goals and/or plans to expand your services and the scope of your mission?

Erica: At this time we are laser focused on expanding our presence in Chelsea and surrounding neighborhoods. We know that many people would enjoy what we are offering and we want to make sure they know we are here. Some of our other future goals include offering teacher training programs for national/international students, scholarships for at-risk youth, and community programs for seniors and youth with disabilities. 

To visit the World Arts East website, click here.

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The post A World of Arts & Wellness, in Chelsea first appeared on Chelsea Community News.

Laurels from colleagues abounded at the July 22 full board meeting of Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4)—the last such occasion attended by outgoing MCB4 District Manager Jesse Bodine, whose tenure tending to board matters stretched for over a decade.

The July meeting was also an occasion for Agenda Item #34—a formal offer of the vacant DM position to Stacie Johnson. But what, exactly, does a DM do, and what skills, experience, and perspective will Johnson bring to the position? You’ll find the answers to these and other valid inquiries in the below Q&A…

Scott Stiffler, for Chelsea Community News (CCNews): What’s your work background, and what prior experience made you a strong—and ultimately winning—candidate?

Stacie Johnson, District Manager, MCB4 (Stacie): I have a lot of experience in housing. I just concluded a two-year fellowship working at New York’s state housing agency—Homes and Community Renewal, in the Office of Housing Preservation. Previously, I was a fellow at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, doing research on housing affordability after the East New York Rezoning and working in asset management for properties with low-income housing tax credits.

I also have experience with constituent services. I was a Community Liaison in the office of State Senator Brian Kavanagh [District 27] for two and a half years, working mostly with constituents in the West Village and Soho, but also in Brooklyn when the Senator’s district included the Brooklyn waterfront. I liaised with individual constituents, community boards, community groups and precinct community councils, and advocated on their behalf to city and state agencies.

CCNews: Why did you seek the position of District Manager, and what are some of the primary duties you hope to focus on?

Stacie: I know the role. It’s equivalent to being in the middle of everything at the local level—and I love hyperlocal politics and advocacy. My main focus will be to make sure the communities represented by MCB4 have a voice, and to make sure the board can use its voice as efficiently as possible. I also hope to keep the board organized and, gather the information they need to make solid decisions. Participatory democracy at this level is hard work, and I hope to make the experience easier for all of the volunteer board members.

CCNews: Unlike the volunteer nature of MCB4 members, this is a paid position—and an open-ended one, at that (note Jesse Bodine’s nearly two-decade tenure). How, if in any way, do you regard the position within the context of its “hired” and potentially long-term status?

Stacie: I’m thrilled to be able to do this type of work and get paid for it. For many years I was a studio artist while also working as a Personal Assistant on the UES. I had a rigorous studio practice but kept finding myself using studio time to work on local policy issues. Before I knew it, I was volunteering tons and getting sucked into NYC’s ecosystem of local politics and grassroots advocacy. That led me to make a mid-career switch. I went back to school to get a second Masters in Urban Policy, at Hunter College.

Getting this position really confirms that going back to school was the right decision. This position feels like the right fit because I love helping people and I’m dedicated to being a public servant. With my history of volunteering in similar capacities, I can easily relate to board members and I find it extremely satisfying to solve urban policy problems.

CCNews: In preparing for this Q&A, CCNews was surprised (pleasantly) to find you’re also a prolific and much-shown artist. How did you come to be a studio artist? In what, if any way, is there a connection between the colors, compositions, and motifs of your visual art and your work experience in the realm of public/urban policy?

Stacie: I took painting as an elective during my last year of undergrad. Eventually, I got an MFA in Studio Arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago. When I moved to NYC in 2009, it was to be with all of the art friends that I met in Chicago. Thirteen of us started a gallery together on the border of Brooklyn and Queens called Regina Rex. It was run as a curatorial collective, and it was a real lesson in “small-d” democracy. That experience also made me sensitive to the artist’s role in gentrification and inspired me to get involved in my community and in the tenant movement.

There’s no conscious connection between the formal elements of my paintings and urban policy, although I do find that the dizzying nature of the city is like the visual buzz that I look for in a painting. The real connection is that I have a strong passion for both painting and urban policy. I love watching things take shape. 

CCNews: How does the DM interact/collaborate with the Chair?

Stacie: I work for the entire board—but the Chair [Leslie Boghosian Murphy] is my direct report. I’m there to help the Chair be organized and on track to meet deadlines, and to keep her aware of everything that’s going on.

CCNews: How does the DM interact/collaborate with specific committees?

Stacie: I will be one of three staff at MCB4, and we will share the responsibility to attend all the committee meetings. Our goal is to assist the Co-Chairs of each committee and to manage logistics. I’ll take over the previous District Manager’s schedule to attend the Arts, Culture, Education & Schools (“ACES”) Committee meetings and the Chelsea Land Use (CLU) Committee meetings, along with Executive Committee and Full Board meetings. The other six committee meetings will be attended by Assistant DM Nelly Gonzalez and Community Associate Janine Pretente-Yusuf.

Committee meetings are where the in-depth discussions happen, and where city agencies and/or specific stakeholders come to the board with presentations. I hope to offer assistance in the form of research and data analysis. I also love the idea of curating learning opportunities for new board members and recruiting participation from experts and public members who can help the committee understand the issues on the agenda.

CCNews: What is the DM’s role at Full Board meetings?

Stacie: It will be similar to my role at a committee meeting (mostly logistics), except that I will deliver a monthly DM’s Report to let the board and the public know what I’ve been doing that month. The Full Board meeting is a lot bigger than the committee meetings, so part of the role is to make sure all 50 board members are in attendance and have access to information about the issues being voted on. The board Chair and the Co-Chairs of each committee lead the meeting. I’m there to assist them and connect the dots when necessary. My role is also to interact with the public and make sure they know how to sign up to speak. 

CCNews: What current MCB4 issues of concern are you particularly interested in addressing—and in what context does a DM do that?

Stacie: My work will stem from the board’s actions. It’s too soon for me to know which of those issues will be of the most interest to me, but I’m really interested in housing and education. I will handle constituent services, so I hope to ensure residents have the information they need about their housing. For renters, that means tenants rights, but I’m also interested in being an advocate for co-op and condo owners and for owners of larger properties. I can help connect them to city agencies when they have questions about sanitation, their water bill, their property tax bill, etc.

I’m also really interested in K-12 education and after-school programming. Given my background in the visual arts, I’d love to support artists and art organizations in the district. I’m also excited about all the yummy food in the district and eager to build relationships with the local BIDs. If you ask me this question again in a year, I can have a more specific response!

CCNews: Favorite Golden Girl, and why?

Stacie: Sophia, because she says it like it is.

CCNews: Thanks for your time and please use this space to talk about anything of note, not covered by the above questions.

Stacie: Thank you for doing this important work! It’s wonderful that you are providing a hyperlocal news source for residents in the neighborhood.

NOTE: Stacie Johnson’s first MCB4 Full Board Meeting takes place on Wednesday, September 2, 6:30pm online via Zoom & YouTube, and in-person at the Hotel Trades Council, 344 W. 44nd St. btw. 8th & 9th Aves. (click here to register).

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The post What a DM Does: Q&A with MCB4’s New District Manager first appeared on Chelsea Community News.

Flame Con / Free Outdoor Events in Bella Abzug Park / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea /

Flame Con: Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16 at the Mariott Marquis, Times Square | The globe’s premiere queer comic con—curated with swoon-inducing care by the Geeks OUT gang—returns to Times Square this Saturday & Sunday, August 15 & 16. For one hot weekend, choice locations throughout the Mariott Marquis (1635 Broadway) become welcoming portals to arts, entertainment, education, and skill-sharpening opportunities. Cosplay-encouraged attendees can access thought-provoking panel discussions, artist meet-and-greets, genre and performance-themed workshops and mentorships, exclusive live performances, screenings, and more. Rest assured, this is one con that definitely knows how to deliver on the promise of “more.” Visit the Flame Con website for the full menu of gongs-on. For tickets ($57.10, weekend pass; 36.70, 1-day pass), click here.

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 movies to mindful movement, there’s something for every age and inclination. Regarding the just-invoked matter of movies–see directly below, the rundown of free flicks happening on a weekly basis next month, followed by info about ongoing events.

Ongoing Bella Abzug Park-based events: 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.

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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The post This Week In & Around Chelsea: August 10-16, 2026 first appeared on Chelsea Community News.

 No Parking for Ice / National Night Out / Free Webinar About the Penn Station Transformation Project / Free Outdoor Events in Bella Abzug Park / Down to Earth Farmers Market Chelsea /

Chelsea Neighbors United Invite You to Participate in No Parking for ICE: Monday, August 3,  5:30pm at 35 Harrison Street | Say reps writing for CNU, the active and effectve direct action group, “We forced an end to the ICE parking contract at Pier 40, and then kicked them out of the Morton Street garage. We helped stop Citizens Bank from financing the for-profit prisons. We did it because we were out in the streets. We spoke to our neighbors and friends. And we became part of a movement that is getting stronger with each struggle. Join us on August 3rd when we say NO TO ICE – NO PARKING, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.”

10th Precinct Celebrates National Night Out: Tuesday, August 4, from 3pm to 6pm on West 17th Street (btw. 9th & 10th Aves) | National Night Out is “an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.” For Chelsesa’s 10th Precinct, that means plenty of food on the grill, music in the air, and kids bouncimg round in a Bouncy Castle. See the belolw flyer for details.

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 movies to mindful movement, there’s something for every age and inclination. Regarding the just-invoked matter of movies–and mindful of the fact that August is soon upon us–see directly below, the rundown of free flicks happening on a weekly basis next month, followed by info about ongoing events.

Ongoing Bella Abzug Park-based events: 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.

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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The post This Week In & Around Chelsea: August 3-9, 2026 first appeared on Chelsea Community News.