June 30, 2017
Dear Neighbor,
Apologies for the error in last week’s listing for UP Theater's readings in Isham Park: I got the dates right but the days wrong! They’re on SATURDAYS, not Sundays. Last week's presentation of Arthur Miller's "Incident At Vichy" was just terrific, and Isham Park provided a delightful setting. I am so sorry if you missed it due to my misplacement of it with Sunday events. But good news: there are two more readings; scroll down to the "next weekend" section for details.
Shout out to last Saturday night’s excellent Higher Ground Festival. If you missed it, you really missed quite an evening. The weather was perfect, and the performances were spectacular. It was free to the public, but not free to produce, so if you have a couple bucks to support art in our community, scroll down to the “How You Can Help” section for a link to their KickStarter, which ends on Sunday.
The Hudson Co-op Pop-up Art Shop keeps getting better and better! The makers are replenishing inventory and adding new items, and some have begun to offer classes. What a great community that has built up so quickly around this wonderful concept. It’s not just maternal pride over my daughter’s clever cards and embroidery hoops (“tina ritter: carved it / stamped it / stitched it / pundit”); I am SO PROUD OF MY ‘HOOD and all of the creative people in it. Huge thanks to Laura Thorpe, Sue Seitner, & Erin Hinchey for following their bliss to make this fun shop happen. Check. It. Out! In the former Gideon's Bakery on W. 187th St., just off Ft. Washington Ave. M-F, 2p-8p; Sat., 10a-8p; Sun., 11a-6p.
I’ll be going on hiatus for most of the summer, celebrating a beloved uncle’s milestone birthday, travelling to France, and working at a family camp in Vermont teaching improv and washing dishes. I can’t believe I’ll be missing the annual Toast to Fort Tryon at which I am being recognized with Marcela Xavier, Lourdes Rodriguez & Ricardo Brown, with whom I joined last year in a lawsuit to protect the Park’s landmarked views. It is an honor to be in their company! I hope you can attend to cheer them on and support the work the Trust is doing to keep Fort Tryon Park “New York’s Happiest Place”!
I might be able to squeeze out an eblast from my tent’s WiFi (seriously!), but in case I don’t here’s what I know about for the summer. Of course you should also check out www.HeightSights.com (they also have an email list) and the Inwood Community Group FaceBook page, both of which have a lot of great listings of local events. I’ve also found www.harlemonestop.com to have a lot of stuff in the lower Heights and West Harlem. If you want stuff directly in your inbox, CB12’s District Manager also send a lot of emails about neighborhood events, and many of our local institutions – the Morris Jumel-Mansion (marketing@morrisjumel.org), the Dyckman Farmhouse (info@dyckmanfarmhouse.org), WordUp Community Bookstore (info@wordupbooks.com), NorthernManhattanParks.org, the Northern Mahattan Arts Alliance (info@nomaanyc.org), and more – have useful email blasts. Subscribe to them!
And speaking of the Morris-Jumel Mansion, we bid farewell to Carol Ward, at whose helm for the last nine years the Mansion has flourished as not only a charming historical site but also a hub of arts and cultural activity and a home for site-specific art installations. The community is better off for the energy and vision Carol brought to the mansion. We will miss not only those talents, but also the gift of her sunny personality and sharp wit. I wish her luck and all happiness in her new endeavors, and hope she won’t forget her many friends and admirers in Washington Heights!
Check out listings under:
· Tonight & Tomorrow
· This weekend
· Next Week
· Next weekend
· Planning Ahead for July & August
· How You Can Help/Donate
· Employment, Education, Grants, & Calls for Submissions
· News You Can Use
And don’t forget the excellent 6th Annual Dominican Film Festival, beginning July 25th.
Happy Summer!!
Best,
Liz Ritter
***TODAY (FRIDAY) & THIS WEEKEND*** (9 items)
Summer Pies Are Here: The Pie Lady is here for a few more days! This is everybody’s favorite pop-up pie shop. Now featuring: Aunt Sara's Just Peachy, Mel's Jazzy Blueberry, Miss Lady's Cherry, and Vic's Piña Colada Escape. Mini Pies $6, 8" Pies $20; volume discounts available. Trust me: they’re all delicious. At Le Cheile, 839 W. 181st St. @ Cabrini Blvd. Through July 3rd, 11am – 11pm daily, and 11am – 3pm on July 4th. (This venue is accessible.)
Warrior Queen Women's Open Mic Warrior Queen Initiative's open mic features all female and gender-nonconforming performers. All audience members are welcome to enjoy the poetry, music, and comedy. Free and open to the public. At Word Up Community Bookshop, 2113 Amsterdam Ave. @ W. 165th St. Friday, June 30th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. (This venue is accessible.)
LGBTQ Pride Service Celebrate Shabbat in solidarity with LGBTQ rights. With guest speaker Tyler Gregory, Deputy Director of A Wider Bridge. A Wider Bridge promotes equality of LGBT Israelis, including Israeli Arabs, while strengthening the relationship between American and Israeli friends of the LGBT community. Free and open to the public. At the Hebrew Tabernacle, 551 Ft. Washington Ave. @ W. 185th St. Friday, June 30th at 7:30pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Summer Friday Evening Hours at the Cloisters: Trumpeter Alex Nguyen This summer, the Met/Cloisters will again offer extended hours on Friday evenings, from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Some three dozen choristers (ages 9 to 14) of the Escolania de Montserrat, Europe’s oldest boy choir, will sing in the galleries. Light fare and beverages will be available for purchase in the Museum’s Trie Café until 7pm. Free with Museum admission. At the Cloisters, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, in Fort Tryon Park. Friday, June 30th, 5:30pm – 7:30pm. (This venue is not accessible.)
Cabrini Woods Stewardship Day Join the Fort Tryon Park Trust for a clean-up day in Cabrini Woods! This small woodland, located along Cabrini Boulevard just north of W. 190th Street is an important ecological asset, as its rich biodiversity provides critical food and habitat for local wildlife. Help us restore and protect the native ecology and 80+ bird species that visit Cabrini Woods by participating in stewardship activities like weeding and debris removal. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes. Tools, gloves, and safety goggles will be provided. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Saturday, July 1st, 10am - 2pm. (This venue is not accessible.)
Showtime Saturdays Surprising, funny, quirky, serious and silly = Story Hour at the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, 898 St. Nicholas Ave. @ W. 155th St. Info: 212-335-0004 / info@sugarhillmuseum.org. Saturdays, 1pm - 2pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Building a Better World Through Watching Movies The Inwood Library is pleased to present its very own summer film series, Films For A Better World. We hope to use the NYPL film collection as a tool to shine a light on diverse cultural narratives from around the globe. Next up: Bad Day at Black Rock (USA): When Spencer Tracy's one-armed war veteran arrives in the desert town of Black Rock, hoping to repay his debt to a Japanese-American soldier he served with, he finds a chilly reception from the locals. We'll be screening this classic Western-thriller with a special focus on racial discrimination on the first Sunday in July. Directed by John Sturges; Not Rated; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.; 81 minutes; 1955. Free and open to the public. At the Inwood Branch Library, 4790 Broadway. Sunday, July 2nd at 2pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Parlor Jazz Salon If you’ve never been to Marjorie Elliot’s for jazz, do yourself a favor and go. She’s a neighborhood institution, and fine musician, and a pure joy of a woman. The best acts from the Blue Note on Saturday night are in her living room every Sunday afternoon for a two-set pay-what-you-can/pass-the-hat jam session that is truly priceless. Refreshments during the set break. Free, but donations gratefully accepted. 555 Edgecombe Ave. @ W. 160th St. Sundays, 3:30pm - 6pm.
Chill on the Hill: George Masone Join us for a free, live acoustic music set on the steps of the Morris-Jumel Mansion. This month’s featured artist is the eclectic duo, Bookends. George Masone, guitar/vocals and Merrill Gervasi, cello, will be playing a mix of folk, jazz, and ballads with original arrangements. Chill on the Hill is FREE and open-to-the-public concert every first Sunday of each summer month. At the Morris-Jumel Mansion, 65 Jumel Terrace, one block east of St. Nicholas Ave., between W. 160th & W. 162nd Streets. Sunday, July 2nd at 5pm. (This outdoor venue IS accessible.)
***NEXT WEEK*** ( items)
Film Works Alfresco Outdoor Summer Cinema Series FREE films every Monday evening; pre-show entertainment starting an hour before. This curated film series will focus foremost on presenting independent and popular films with local relevance that culturally resonate with the Northern Manhattan community. Film Works Alfresco expands public access to professional filmmaking in Northern Manhattan, and presents as diverse an array of films as the community it serves. Plus, we have incredible pre-show entertainment lined up for each screening, which will commence approximately an hour before the films. So make plans to bring a picnic and come enjoy a show before the show! At Gaelic Field in Inwood Hill Park (near the salt marsh; enter the park at Isham Street and walk west and north, or at W. 218th St. and walk west and south.) July 3rd films will be a series of Summer Shorts: Around the Hood. 50 minutes of comedy, Drama, and Documentary in English and en Español with subtitles in English (2015, USA). Enjoy a curated selection of short films that showcase the multi-cultural diversity found in Northern Manhattan’s gem of a neighborhood by looking right outside your door. All films selected are made in the Inwood community and by Inwood community filmmakers. Featuring: Two Oh Seven directed by Davis Hall; Venticino: El Domino directed by Yuby Hernandez and Ben Nager Sadoff; Leaves by Whit K. Lee; This Burning House by Rich Perez; 8am-8pm by Cristobal Vivar; and The Incredibly Spectacular Dyckman Fireworks Co. directed by Jonathan Ullman. FUTURE MOVIES: Ballplayer: Pelotero on July 10th, Gold Diggers of 1933 on July 17th, Las Adventuras de Tadeo Jones (or Tad, The Lost Explorer) on July 24th, An American Tail on July 31st, Before the Flood on August 7th, Los Domirriqueños on August 14th, and On the Town on August 21st. For more information on the films, visit https://www.facebook.com/BigA56. Mondays through August 21st at dusk. (Pre-show entertainment begins at 7:30pm.)
Save a Life (or Several): Donate Blood! Call 1-800-933-2566 to schedule an appointment. Bring ID w/ photo and signature. For questions about eligibility to donate due to travel out of the US, medications, or other medical conditions, call 1-800-688-0900. At the NewYork-Presbyterian Winter Garden, 3959 Broadway (at W. 167th St.) Wednesday, July 5th, 10am–6pm. (These venues are accessible.)
Citizenship Thursdays Did you know that Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrants Rights holds citizen drives every Thursday? We file the application for free! Call us to find out more or come into the office for a list of requirements! www.nmcir.org / info@nmcir.org / 212-781-0355. At the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, 5030 Broadway, Suite 639. Every Thursday, 8am-5pm.
Topsy-Turvy Thursdays Surprising, funny, quirky, serious and silly = Story Hour at the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, 898 St. Nicholas Ave. @ W. 155th St. Info: 212-335-0004 / info@sugarhillmuseum.org. Thursdays, 3:30pm - 4:30pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Draw Me A Pic! Imagination becomes illustrations with artist Elisa Huberman! Free with Museum Admission. At the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, 898 St. Nicholas Ave. @ W. 155th St. Info: 212-335-0004 / info@sugarhillmuseum.org. Fridays, 1pm - 3:30pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Virtuous Journeys Surprising, funny, quirky, serious and silly = Story Hour at the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, 898 St. Nicholas Ave. @ W. 155th St. Info: 212-335-0004 / info@sugarhillmuseum.org. Fridays, 3:30pm - 4:30pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Alexander Hamilton: The Man vs The Musical Presented in partnership with Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society, guest lecturer Rand Scholet will analyze and compare the factual life of our nation’s first treasury secretary and the musical that catapulted him into the pop culture spot light. $15, $10 for Members/Students and AHA members. E-mail publicprograms@morrisjumel.org for additional information. At the Morris-Jumel Mansion, 65 Jumel Terrace, one block east of St. Nicholas Ave., between W. 160th & W. 162nd Streets. Friday, July 7th at 4pm. (This venue is not accessible.)
***NEXT WEEKEND*** ( items)
Marc Solomon - Oil Paintings - A Point To Reach The Hebrew Tabernacle's Armin & Estelle Gold Wing is pleased to invite the community its upcoming exhibit, “A Point To Reach”, with oil paintings by local artist, Marc Solomon. The exhibit features self-portraits and landscapes of Fort Tryon Park. Artist's opening reception following July 8th Sabbath Services, exhibit is on view M-W-F 9:30am - 4:30pm and by appointment. Free admission. Accessible - call first. HebrewTabernacle.org, 212-568-8304 551 Fort Washington Avenue at 185th St. Artist’s opening exhibition is Saturday, July 8th at about noon-1:30pm; exhibit closes August 28th.
Columbia Summer Winds Concert Columbia Summer Winds performs the finest in wind band music throughout New York City every summer. The 90-person concert band provides free outdoor concerts in NYC parks, bringing amazing tunes to our neighborhoods' backyards. From Sousa marches to orchestral transcriptions, from Broadway show tunes to movie soundtracks, the music of Columbia Summer Winds surely will leave the audience clapping for more! Bring a blanket and enjoy a free concert! On Fort Tryon Park’s Billings Lawn (enter the Heather Garden at Margaret Corbin Circle at the head of Ft. Washington Ave. north of W. 190th St., and turn left.) Saturday, July 8th, 2pm - 4pm. (This venue is accessible from the northern end of the Lawn.)
Summer Heat Reading Series Drama in Isham Park (north end between Park Terrace West & East, just south of W. 215th St.) A series of three afternoons presented by the UP Theater Company. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on! Light refreshments will be served following the performance. Next up: “No Knowing Where We’re Rowing” written and directed by Sarah Congress. Third: “King Lear”, adapted and directed by Barry Dunleavey. Free and open to the public, with support from Partnerships for Parks' Inwood Parks Grant made possible by Columbia University. Saturdays, July 8th & 22nd, beginning at 4pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Firefly Pajama Party Join Eva Neves, artist and educator, for a fun night of crafts, games, stories, and firefly catching! Kids will learn about fireflies and create their own firefly to bring home. Feel free to get ready for bed before you come out and chase fireflies in your pajamas! Bring a clear jar or container to hold any fireflies you catch. Don’t forget to let them out before you go to sleep! They have important work to do finding a mate and lighting the summer evenings. Designed for children ages 4-10. Children must be accompanied by adults. Please note: Space is limited and RSVP is required. To register, please email RSVP@FortTryonParkTrust.org. In Fort Tryon Park’s Javits Playground (at Margaret Corbin Circle on Ft. Washington Ave just north of W. 190th St.) Saturday, July 8th, 7:30pm - 9pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Volunteer for Fort Tryon Park Counts - Final Phase! Thanks to those of you to volunteered to collect data for the Fort Tryon Park Counts Study in May! We gained valuable insights about park use patterns, and we deeply appreciate you contributing your time. In order to gain a more complete understanding of park use, we will be conducting a final round of data collection. Volunteers are needed for the final count to help count park visitors and/or administer visitor questionnaires at various times throughout the day. All volunteers will receive a special thank you gift for participating. Sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TS8LZZB. Questions? Email jocelyn.lee@parks.nyc.gov. Sunday, July 9th, 8am – 8pm. (This venue is accessible.)
***PLANNING AHEAD FOR JULY & AUGUST*** (15 items)
Let the Anthropologists Help You Save Your Closet! The Anthropologists is planning a great night in just a few weeks and I want you to be there! Awesome clothes and accessories for swapping! Lagunitas beer! A bevy of wine! LIVE PERFORMANCES! Vegetarian Indian food from Basera! Amazing raffle prizes! Door prizes! AND MORE. All this for only $15!! Trust me, this is really worth it. Even if you don't want to schmooze with the fabulous cast and creative team of The Anthropologists Save The World!, you'll be able to declutter AND refresh your closet on the cheap! AND you'll have the satisfaction of helping to fund our Ice Factory premiere, The Anthropologists Save The World!, July 26-29 at the New Ohio. So, save a few bucks and buy online (cuz it's $20 at the door): http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2998503. At the fantastic new artist co-working space, The Artist Co-Op (500 W. 52nd St., #3W, @ Tenth Ave.) Tuesday, July 11th, 6:30pm - 9:30pm.
A Toast to Fort Tryon Park: Cocktail Fundraiser with Live Music A Toast to Fort Tryon Park brings together more than 200 community members and wine and beer lovers from across the city in support of Fort Tryon Park, our beloved 67-acre scenic landmark. Crafted brews will be provided by Dyckman Beer Co. and delectable food by the New Leaf Restaurant. Raise a glass of fine wine in support of your favorite park and dance to the sounds of live Latin Jazz performed by Ran Kan Kan. This year we will be honoring community heroes who stood with the Park in a lawsuit to protect the Park’s cherished views: Ricardo Brown, Marcela Xavier, Liz Ritter, and Lourdes Rodriguez. Benefit proceeds will help sustain this historic park, underwriting horticulture staff, free environmental, cultural and fitness programs, and targeted capital improvements in the park. Discounted tickets are available for $50 while supplies last. Tickets are $65 at the door if space allows. PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE! Be sure to print out your receipt to bring with you for event entry. Given permitting requirements, only a limited number of tickets will be available and all guests must be over 21. In Fort Tryon Park’s Stan Michels Promenade; enter at Margaret Corbin Circle, at the head of Ft. Washington Ave., just north of W. 190th St.) Thursday, July 13th, 6pm - 8:30pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Films For A Better World In keeping with The New York Public Library's Summer Reading theme, Build A Better World, Inwood Library is pleased to present its very own summer film series. We hope to use the NYPL film collection as a tool to shine a light on diverse cultural narratives from around the globe. Free and open to the public. At the Inwood Branch Library, 4790 Broadway. Our next featured film in the series is Caramel (Lebanon): A Beirut beauty salon becomes a treasured meeting place for several generations of women from various walks of life to talk, seek advice and confide in one another. Directed by Nadine Labaki; Rated PG; Lions Gate Films, Inc.; 96 minutes; 2008. Thursday, July 13th at 7pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Summer Friday Evening Hours at the Cloisters This summer, the Met/Cloisters will again offer extended hours on Friday evenings, from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Many weeks you can enjoy a special program or concert, free with admission to the Museum (which is itself free, though there is a suggested donation; don’t be a schnorrer, give them something!) July 14th, In celebration of Bastille Day (France’s Fête nationale), Lucy Dhegrae, praised as both “soprano and raconteur” (The New Yorker), will sing French popular songs from the 1930s accompanied by Kamala Sankaram on accordion. July 28th: Ruth Cunningham, soprano and former member of the vocal ensemble Anonymous4, and cellist James Waldo, founder and artistic director of the Listen Closely Inwood Chamber Music Initiative, will perform English Renaissance consort songs by Dowland and others. August 11th & 25th: Trumpeter Alex Nguyen will perform music of the 1930s with a jazz quartet. September 1st: In conjunction with New York Textile Month 2017, Museum educators will give brief talks about fibers, dye plants, and medieval textiles. Light fare and beverages are available for purchase in the Museum’s Trie Café until 7pm. At the Cloisters, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, in Fort Tryon Park. Fridays through September 1st, 5:30pm – 7:30pm. (This venue is not accessible.)
Spanish Coffee: Black, No Sugar In 2015, A.B. Lugo, award winning actor and playwright, suffered through the deaths of his parents, only months apart. To cope with his grief, he dedicated himself to writing a poem for each week of 2016. Little did he know he would be chronicling an historic year, one of social strife and tragedy that would culminate in the election of a man whose movement brings new awareness and fear to A.B. as an Afro-Puerto Rican. Spanish Coffee: Black, No Sugar, much like its title, is a bitter experience, as life can be, but also one that gives us the energy and power to make it through each day. More worn, for sure, but also stronger, and hopefully, wiser. A collection of poems influenced by history and inspired by the depths of the soul, Spanish Coffee: Black, No Sugar is as unforgettable as the year it chronicles. A.B. Lugo is a writer and performer. Some of his poetry can be found in the anthology Me No Habla With Acento (Rebel Satori Press). This is his first published collection of poetry. At Word Up Community Bookshop, 2113 Amsterdam Ave. @ W. 165th St. Friday, July 14th, 7pm – 8:30pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Cabrini Woods Vegetation Walk Join expert naturalist Mike Feller to discuss the interplay of native and non-native plants, their relative contribution as habitat, and the chemical arms race between plants and insects! Free and open to the public. Meet on Cabrini Boulevard at W. 190th St. Saturday, July 15th, 9am - 10:30am. (This venue is not accessible.)
Uptown Bounce Co-sponsored by the Museum of the City of New York and El Museo del Barrio. July 19th program features the cultural fusion that defines New York style salsa, boogaloo, merengue, cumbia salsa and Latin disco. July 26th program is a throwback to the 1990’s, from gangsta rap to bubblegum pop. Free and open to the public. At the Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St. For more information, visit www.mcny.org Wednesdays, July 19th & 26th, 6pm – 9pm.
Summer Heat Reading Series Drama in Isham Park (north end between Park Terrace West & East, just south of W. 215th St.) A series of three afternoons presented by the UP Theater Company. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on! Light refreshments will be served following the performance. Final show: “King Lear”, adapted and directed by Barry Dunleavey. Free and open to the public, with support from Partnerships for Parks' Inwood Parks Grant made possible by Columbia University. Saturday, July 22nd, beginning at 4pm. (This venue is accessible.)
6th Annual Dominican Film Festival Opening Night film is “Carpinteros”, at the United Palace Theatre. (Synopsis: Julián finds love and a reason for living in the last place imaginable: the Dominican Republic's Najayo Prison. His romance, with fellow prisoner Yanelly, must defeat the distance that separates them by using a sign language created by the inmates in Najayo, called “Woodpecking”, enabling them to effectively communicate and develop personal and even intimate relationships without the knowledge of dozens of guards.) There will be dozens of films at several venues throughout the neighborhood. For more information, visit www.dominicanfilmfestival.com. Most films are $15 ($12 for senior/student/military with ID), but all festival passes will also be available. Online ticket sales begin July 11th: http://www.dominicanfilmfestival.com/index.php/en/buytickets2017. For sponsorship information, call or email Armando Guareno: domfilmfest@gmail.com / 917-497-2375. July 25th – 30th.
Veterans' resource fair in Harlem The 4th annual veterans' resource fair will be held at the State Office Building Plaza / Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building Plaza, 163 W. 125th St. The keynote speaker will be Loree Sutton, Commissioner of the NYC Dept. of Veterans Services; our panel topic will be "Educational Opportunities for the Veteran." Co-sponsoring the event is Council Member Bill Perkins, the NYC Dept. of Veterans Services, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Legal Services NYC, Harlem Veterans Center, Samaritan Village, and NY Metro Vets. This is a great opportunity for veterans to get help and connect with service providers and agencies. RSVP: (212) 678-4505 / eventscoordinator@ls-nyc.org. Wednesday, July 26th, 9am-4pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Friends Committee Beautification Join the Friends Committee to improve Fort Tryon Park’s condition and beauty. Meet at the Heather Garden (Margaret Corbin Circle entrance, at the top of Ft. Washington Ave., north of W. 190th St.). Wear sleeves/long pants. We’ll supply sunscreen, gloves, bags, and refreshments. Sundays, July 30th & August 20th, 10am – 2pm. (This venue is accessible.)
National Night Out Against Crime in all NYC precincts. Please attend. Activities for kids and families, educational displays, giveaways, entertainment, and more. The goal is to promote police-community unity, heighten crime prevention awareness, get to know your neighbors, and send a message about neighborhood unity and safety. Contact your local Precinct’s Community Affairs Office for details. This year, the 34th Precinct's annual Event will be from 3pm – 7pm at the Anne Loftus Playground (intersection of Broadway, Riverside Drive and Dyckman Street). We will have Crime Prevention information, food, music, free raffles, arts and crafts and games. Info: (212) 927-0576. For information on the 33rd Pct., call (212) 927-3891 Tuesday, August 1st.
9th Annual Stan Michels Memorial Jazz Concert Join the Fort Tryon Park Trust, NYC Parks, and the Michels family in honoring the late Council Member Stan Michels at the ninth annual Memorial Jazz Concert. Enjoy live jazz by local impresario Marjorie Eliot and her ensemble underneath the majestic elms on the promenade, alongside the beautiful Heather Garden and overlooking the Hudson River. Stan Michels represented Northern Manhattan in the City Council for 24 years from 1978 through 2001. He was chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection, and his legislative record was notable for his work fighting on behalf of tenants for the expansion of the city’s recycling program, for the protection of our water supply and cleaner air, and against childhood lead poisoning, smoking in public places, and unreasonable noise. He was also a steadfast advocate for parks, allocating over $50 million for park improvements in Washington Heights, Inwood, and Harlem, including virtually every playground in his district. The promenade where this concert is being held was named in his honor shortly before he passed away on August 1, 2008. We hope you can be with us to remember Stan on the ninth anniversary of his passing. FREE and open to the public. In Fort Tryon Park on the Heather Gardens’ Stan Michels Promenade (enter at Margaret Corbin Circle, at the head of Ft. Washington Ave., just north of W. 190th St.) Saturday, August 5th, 12:30pm - 3:30pm. (This venue is accessible.)
Movies That Reawaken Wonder: “Jaws” Experience Jaws on a 50-foot screen and stay for a bite! Before the screening, we're turning the theatre into a tropical Palace with fin-tastic decor and Jaw-dropping activities, but beware of the deep end! Wear your beachwear for a free bag of popcorn, then catwalk on our stage in the fashion show! Floaties and shark costumes encouraged. Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel. In the story, a giant man-eating great white shark attacks beachgoers on Amity Island, a fictional New England summer resort town, prompting the local police chief to hunt it with the help of a marine biologist and a professional shark hunter. The film stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, Robert Shaw as shark hunter Quint, and Richard Dreyfuss as oceanographer Matt Hooper. Pre-film beach party will include: reef-freshments, photo booth with sandpit, beachwear fashion show, Tiki by Tuto, and frees leis from our Lei Greeters. "Movies at the Palace" take place at the stunning United Palace, formerly the Loew's 175th Street Theatre that first opened as a deluxe movie theatre and vaudeville house in 1930. We honor that past while reinventing the movie-going experience by pairing classic titles with pre-show entertainment and expert Q&A’s. The year-long series of “Movies that Reawaken Wonder” celebrates both the Palace’s past as a Wonder Theatre and recent cinematic rebirth, including Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 2016 donation of a DCP projector. Tickets are $10 online, $15 at the door. (Seniors/65+: $5/$10.) Info: 212-568-1157 / www.unitedpalacearts.org. At the United Palace Theatre, 4140 Broadway @ W. 175th St. Sunday, August 6th beginning at 4pm for the Beach Party, and 5pm for the film. (This venue is not entirely accessible due to security screening procedures.)
Chill on the Hill: Kim Vogels Join us for a free, live acoustic music set on the steps of the Morris-Jumel Mansion. This month’s featured artist is singer-songwriter Kim Vogels. Chill on the Hill is FREE and open-to-the-public concert every first Sunday of each summer month. At the Morris-Jumel Mansion, 65 Jumel Terrace, one block east of St. Nicholas Ave., between W. 160th & W. 162nd Streets. Sunday, August 6th at 5pm. (This outdoor venue IS accessible.)
***ONGOING EVENTS*** (6 items)
Awesome Asana Yoga is Back! Join new teachers, Jacob and Lucy, Thursdays or Sundays in Vinyasa Flow class "designed to awaken the spirit and bring the body and mind back to a place of peace." There are two levels/dates. Free Flow and Let Go (Thursdays at 6pm with Jacob) is an open-level vinyasa practice to pick up the pace and get you through the rest of your week with clear mind, open heart, and pep in your step. Shake off that mid-week slump and apply alignment principles adopted in Sunday's class to this rhythmic release flow. This is a FREE community class sponsored in part by the New York Restoration Project. Slow Down and Realign (Sundays at noon with Lucy) is an open-level, moderately-challenging fusion of hatha and vinyasa movement, this class combines a slower approach to alignment with the power of prana (energy) and mindful intention to bring the practitioner back to a place of balance and peace. Class: $7 cash, $10 credit/debit; new: optional in-person discount: "Sunday season pass" 13 classes for $80. Mats and blocks, should you need one, are provided. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before class. At the Morris-Jumel Mansion, 65 Jumel Terrace, one block east of St. Nicholas Ave., between W. 160th & W. 162nd Streets. Thursdays at 6pm & Sundays at noon. (This venue is not accessible.)
Arlene Schulman: The First 100 Years Ms. Schulman’s extraordinary body of work illuminates facets of New York City that the majority of us never see: gritty city living, boxing gyms, baseball dugouts, police officers on the beat. Capturing the heroes, colleagues, and neighbors among us in gritty, straightforward, large format images that celebrate and ennoble the human condition, Ms. Schulman brings her life’s work together in one exhibit. At the Inwood Branch of the New York Public Library, 4790 Broadway, just north of Dyckman Street. Check the library website for hours: http://https://www.nypl.org/locations/inwood. Through July 31st. (This venue is accessible.)
Morning Fitness Walking In Fort Tryon Park with Nancy Bruning. Free and open to the public. Meet at the entrance to the Heather Garden at Margaret Corbin Circle (head of Ft. Washington Ave., just north of W. 190th St.). Tuesdays & Thursdays at 7:30am, Saturdays at 8:30am. Year-round, only cancelled for extreme hot/rain/cold.
Sunrise Tai Chi in Fort Tryon Park On the David Rockefeller Linden Terrace. Free and open to the public. Wednesdays at 6:30am through August 30th.
Sunset Yoga in Fort Tryon Park On Abby’s Lawn. Free and open to the public. Bring a mat and water. Wednesdays at 6:45pm – 8pm through August 30th. (Please come early so that you are in position and ready for yoga at 6:45.)
Parent & Me Yoga in Fort Tryon Park Yoga for children and their parents/caregivers. On Abby’s Lawn. Free and open to the public. Bring a mat and water. Saturdays at 9am - 9:45am through August 26th. (Please come early so that you are in position and ready for yoga at 6:45.)
***HOW YOU CAN HELP / VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES*** (6 items)
Northern Manhattan & Marble Hill Are Picking Up! Thanks to all for attending our past cleanups. If you’re interested in participating, reach out to Martin Collins for upcoming dates: mcollinsnyc@yahoo.com. Thanks to Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez and the Community League of the Heights (CLoTH) for sponsoring this program, which has been cleaning up throughout our neighborhoods. Refreshments, t-shirts, gloves and all supplies will be provided.
NMAC – GoFundMe Campaign Please support Northern Manhattan Arts & Culture (NMAC) and spread the word for our GoFundMe campaign. We are a coalition of artists, cultural organizations, and community stakeholders committed to growing and supporting the cultural ecosystem of our Uptown communities of Washington Heights and Inwood. Through our mission to engage, empower, advocate, and celebrate our arts and culture in our Northern Manhattan neighborhoods, NMAC creates a forum where local artists and organizations can exchange ideas, voice their needs, and expand their reach. We are calling on neighborhood heroes and New York City visionaries to support the bold and committed work of Northern Manhattan Arts, and Culture has begun. We are counting on local artists, community leaders, and art lovers to help us receive a 5:1 matching grant (that’s right: QUINTUPLING our goal!) to support the arts and culture in our neighborhoods through 2017 and beyond. We thank you in advance for your support. https://www.gofundme.com/northernmanhattanartsandculture
Medieval Festival Volunteers Needed on Sunday, October 1st The 33rd Medieval Festival in Fort Tryon Park is Sunday, October 1st, from 11:30am-6pm and volunteers will be needed throughout the day at the largest annual NYC Parks event. Please let me know if you will help at mcollinswhidc@aol.com. About 90 volunteers helped last year and we will need that many again:
• Volunteers Check-in Assistant (4 people needed, one per shift 7a-11a; 11a-2p; 2p-5p; 5p-8p)
• Tent Set-up (12 or more people from 6:30am-9:30am)
• Tent Breakdown (12 or more people from 6:30pm-8:30pm)
• Information Booth (As many as possible in shifts from 11am-7pm)
• Hay Drop-offs (10 people from 7am-10am)
• Booth Decorators (10 or more needed starting at 9am)
• Costume Tent (10 people needed in shifts starting at 8:30am)
• Parking Attendants (8 people are needed starting at 7am)
The Hudson River Estuary Program's 2015-2020 Action Agenda (PDF, 1.40 MB), was released in 2015 and available on DEC's website, is a blueprint to achieve six key benefits: clean water; resilient communities; a vital estuarine ecosystem; conservation of its fish, wildlife, and habitats; preservation of the region's natural scenery; and enhanced opportunities for education, river access, recreation and inspiration. Implementation of the Action Agenda relies on partnerships with federal and state agencies, as well as municipalities, academic and scientific institutions, businesses, and citizens. Comments on the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program's draft Action Agenda are due July 14, 2017 to HEPAgenda2017@hudsonriver.org. The final agenda will be released in 2018.
Volunteer for Fort Tryon Park Counts - Final Phase! Thanks to those of you to volunteered to collect data for the Fort Tryon Park Counts Study in May! We gained valuable insights about park use patterns, and we deeply appreciate you contributing your time. In order to gain a more complete understanding of park use, we will be conducting a final round of data collection. Volunteers are needed for the final count to help count park visitors and/or administer visitor questionnaires at various times throughout the day. All volunteers will receive a special thank you gift for participating. Sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TS8LZZB. Questions? Email jocelyn.lee@parks.nyc.gov. Thursday, June 29th & Sunday, July 9th. (This venue is accessible.)
Higher Ground Kickstarter Campaign Last week’s 2017 Higher Ground Festival featured 45 local artists in 7 collaborations in a single performance that was free to the public in Fort Tryon Park’s Anne Loftus Playground. If you missed it, you really missed quite an evening. The weather was perfect, and the performances were spectacular. Each collaboration featured at least two art media: music, dance, spoken word, even painting! Styles range from folk to contemporary to classical to modern; there was something for everybody. The crowd included folks of all ages who came and stayed for the whole evening, to families and kids who were at the playground and wandered over to see what was going on. Hundreds of people were engaged! And did I mention this was FREE?! But it’s not free to produce. The artists needed rehearsal space and costumes; there were permits, lights, a sound system, a stage, and a crew to get it all together; chairs for the audience and changing tents for the performers; and many other production requirements. Please help support this wonderful event by making a contribution of whatever size you can. They have a goal of $6,000 and the funds they already have pledged will only be paid if they reach their goal by Sunday. Please be generous! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/highergroundnyc/2017-higher-ground-festival. Deadline: July 2nd.
***EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, GRANTS, & CALLS FOR ARTISTS*** ( items)
Sukkahwood: Art / Nature / Community / Creativity Chabad of Inwood invites artists and designers to re-imagine a “Sukkah” and be part of the “Sukkah Wood” outdoor exhibition of temporary dwelling installations. Each artist may submit one design for their sukkah: a temporary shelter or hut that is the central element of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The structures will be on display for one day in idyllic Inwood Hill Park. Each sukkah must be designed to be built and taken down on the same day of the event. Sukkah Wood asks each entrant to consider questions such as “What is a home?” and “How can a home be temporal, ephemeral and connected to nature?” This project is designed to push the boundaries of a thousands-year-old tradition and implant it in a contemporary setting. The challenge of this competition is to explore what a contemporary Sukkah could be, focusing on modularity, sustainability and affordability, while maintaining a diverse and rooted meaning of time and space. Please join us in our mission to connect the arts with tradition and foster community across all lines. Please visit www.sukkahwood.com for a complete list of design guidelines and other information. Each artist or group of artists selected will work together with consultants to ensure that the structures are in accordance with the guidelines. Proposal submissions are due by 11:59pm on July 15th. The first project meeting will be August 24th. The Sukkah event will be on October 8th in Inwood Hill Park.
Housing Paralegal at NIMC The Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, a community-based, not-for-profit multi-service agency whose mission is to serve as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of the people in our community on their paths to secure and prosperous futures. NMIC offers legal and social services, a weatherization program, community organizing, and education & career services. NMIC seeks a Housing Paralegal to work with our highly skilled and experienced interdisciplinary legal team.
Paralegals provide assistance to NMIC clients for housing and housing-related benefits issues in partnership with our housing attorneys. The successful applicant will advise and assist clients with on housing court (and pre-litigation) cases under supervision from a NMIC housing attorney supervisor; interview clients and assess cases for legal representation; refer cases to housing attorneys as necessary; prepare government housing subsidy applications and advocate for public benefits; collaboratively develop approaches to affordable housing retention; maintain daily and consistent case notes and status updates in NMIC’s proprietary database; organize and maintain client files in compliance with grant requirements; remain informed about and abreast of recent developments in housing law; assist in organizing and attend ongoing educational trainings and forums at NMIC and other ; refer clients for necessary legal and social services both within NMIC and at other agencies; participate in all unit, department, and agency meetings; legal trainings; and outreach events; and other duties as may be assigned. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree (candidates enrolled in a BA program in a certified institution will be considered); strong organizational and writing skills; strong interpersonal and communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and use of spreadsheets; and a team-oriented approach. Fluency in English/Spanish is required. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in housing law and/or advocacy. Please address all applications to Rodrigo Sanchez-Camus, Esq., Director of Legal Services, at legalemployment@nmic.org with the job title in the subject line and include the following: cover letter; resume; a writing sample; and salary requirements. All attachments must be submitted in Word or PDF format. No telephone calls, please.
Excelsior Scholarship Thanks to Sen. Liz Krueger for this blurb! “Earlier this year the Senate Democratic Conference included in their budget proposal a call to make college tuition more affordable for New Yorkers. The final adopted budget included the Excelsior Scholarship, which in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows some students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. Additionally, the Enhanced Tuition Award will allow eligible students enrolled in private colleges to receive up to $6,000 in tuition assistance. Eligibility for both programs will be phased-in over three years, beginning with New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall of 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and reaching $125,000 in 2019. Although I have concerns about many parts of the Excelsior Scholarship – including credit requirements, post-college residency requirements, and failure to address non-tuition costs -- I am pleased that New York is taking action on college affordability and I will continue to advocate for accessibility for all students who wish to pursue higher education. The application for the Excelsior Scholarship opened this week and will be accepted through July 21. For eligibility information visit https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/the-excelsior-scholarship/excelsior-scholarship-fact-sheet.html; the application can be found here: https://webapps.hesc.ny.gov/questionnaire/page.hesc?questionnaireId=58&versionNumber=1. You can find tips for completing the application here: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/the-excelsior-scholarship/tips-for-completing-the-excelsior-scholarship-application.html. In order to apply, students must meet eligibility requirements, including: NYS residency; attending a SUNY or CUNY two or four-year degree program; take 30 credits per year; maintain good academic standing; be on track to graduate on time with an Associate's Degree in two years or a Bachelor's Degree in four years. To complete the application, you will need: your 2015 IT-201 NYS Income Tax Return(s); your current unofficial college transcript; your Student Aid Report (SAR), which you received when you filed your completed FASFA. The application for the Enhanced Tuition Awards for private colleges is anticipated to open this month. You can learn more about eligibility and sign up to be notified when the application opens here: https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/the-excelsior-scholarship/enhanced-tuition-awards.html.”
Reuse & Repair Grant Don’t throw it out! Get a grant to start a reuse or repair project. Citizens Committee for New York City http://www.citizensnyc.org/grants/reuse-and-repair-grant is partnering with the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer to launch our newest grant initiative: NYC Reuse and Repair. The goal of the grant is to support New York City in reusing, repairing, and refurbishing 100% of all discarded products that can be reused in some capacity, with the balance being recycled. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded to start new reuse or repair projects, undertake related research projects, or initiate other activities which will help lead to replicable reuse or repair models in all five boroughs of New York City. Info: Katie Grassle at kgrassle@citizensnyc.org or (212) 822-9567. Deadline: Tuesday, September 12th.
***NEWS YOU CAN USE*** (4 items)
Overseas Citizens Voters Week First-time voters and those who will turn 18 on or before November 6, 2018, may use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to vote by absentee ballot from abroad. The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is your official U.S. ballot request. In order to be prepared to vote and receive your official absentee ballot, we suggest that you register using this form as soon as possible. It only takes a few quick steps to make sure your vote is counted no matter where you are in the world. You can fill it out online, complete a .pdf, or send an email to receive a hard copy version from the US Consulate in the country in which you find yourself. The online assistant will guide you through the process of completing the form. Once you complete the form, you will be able to download and print the PDF package to sign and send to directly to your county election office in the United States. State-by-state information, including your election office address, and voting deadlines is available on the FVAP’s website. The Embassy’s Voting Assistance Officers are here to answer all your voting questions as well as provide voting forms, materials and guidance; contact your local Embassy! Voters can also contact FVAP's call center at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683), DSN 425-1584 or at vote@fvap.gov. Toll-free phone numbers from 67 countries are listed at FVAP.gov. Find FVAP on Facebook at facebook.com/DoDFVAP and follow @FVAP on Twitter. Remember, every vote counts! Through July 5th.
Need a home-cooked meal you didn’t have to cook? This just in from Buunni’s fabulous Sarina Prabasi: My mom and sister-in-law are making home-cooked meals on Fridays. Himalayan, South Asian, fusion international dishes, nutritious, high quality organic and local ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan options available and other dietary requirements by request. You can pick up or have it delivered (10033, 10034, 10040). A meal will serve 3-4 people and costs $35. $5 surcharge for specialty items (seafood, lamb, etc). If you're interested, please email jonucha@hotmail.com, or contact via Facebook, Aama's Kitchen: www.facebook.com/aamas.kitchen.
Roar, Lion, Roar! We're less than three months away from the start of the 2017 Columbia Football season! Still haven't purchased your season tickets? Here are just a couple reasons to lock them up today. We're excited once again to offer Columbia Football season ticket holder benefits. New this year is our referral program - refer a NEW Columbia Football season ticket holder and you'll be invited to a special VIP viewing of a Columbia Football game in Wien Stadium. And with your purchase by June 30th, you'll be eligible to receive the 2017 commemorative ticket sheet! Don't delay. Purchase your Columbia Football season tickets today at gocolumbialions.com/tickets or call 888-LIONS-11.
DYCD Youth Connect NYC Youth Connect is a one-stop shop for all youth-related resources in NYC. Youth Connect has a toll-free hotline and utilizes web-based strategies to increase access to and visibility of New York City’s opportunities for youth, families, and community organizations. Youth Connect Resource Specialists are trained to connect callers and correspondents to the services they need. Youth Connect’s database includes more than 8,000 community resources from DYCD-funded agencies as well as other public, nonprofit, and private sector organizations. Youth Connect receives over 55,000 calls annually, and staff utilizes AT&T’s Language Hine to communicate in more than 180 languages. Call NYC Youth Connect toll free: 1-800-246-4646 or call 646-343-6800 Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm, email youthconnect@dycd.nyc.gov. In NYC call 311 or out of the city call 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675), or visit www.nyc.gov/dycd. Youth Connect has information on jobs, internships, education, scholarships, family support, cultural activities, afterschool programs, volunteer opportunities, and so much more!