I know this newsletter can be unwieldy; click on these anchor links to go straight to a section you’re interested in: News & Information // Useful items // Events 
If you’re receiving this newsletter via Gmail, they will “clip” the following text in midstream. To avoid that, just click the logo above and open the newsletter uninterrupted in a new web browser tab, or scroll down and click the “message clipped” link at the bottom. Up to you!

(I first sent this out on Thursday, July 28, 2022; I thought those of you who didn’t get a chance to read it then might welcome the chance to see it on a slower day. I deleted the Thursday and Friday events for convenience.)

Friends,

It’s Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Scroll all the way down for our new feature, “Quirk of the Week”)

Last week, an unvaccinated man in Rockland County was diagnosed with polio, the first U.S. case of polio in nearly a decade, according to the NYS Dept. of Health. The Washington Post reported that the man had traveled to Poland and Hungary earlier this year; the health department said testing suggests “the virus may have originated in a location outside of the U.S. where [oral live-polio vaccine] is administered.”.

Still, there’s been a worrying decline in routine vaccinations, according to Katelyn Jetelina:

“The U.K. issued a measles health warning in February 2022, as only 85.5% of children were vaccinated. (Measles needs about 95% vaccinated to reach herd immunity.) In the U.S. during the 2020-2021 school year, 94% of kindergartners had all required vaccines, which is high, but a drop below the target of 95%. The overall U.S. polio vaccine coverage is 92%—below the target set by the WHO to control the virus.”

(We have plenty of free test kits and masks available for pickup during business hours at my district office: 563 Columbus Ave. at 87th St.)

Rockefeller University is spearheading a clinical study of those who do not catch COVID despite significant exposure (spouses of those who do catch it, for example, or some health care practitioners). It’s part of an international effort to identify genetic differences which might contain secrets to better treating the virus. If you’ve not yet had coronavirus and would like to learn more about the study, take the pre-screening survey here. More in this Washington Post piece, “Meet the covid super-dodgers.”

There’s a new peer-reviewed study, published this week in Science, that concludes that COVID started among the live animal trade in China's Huanan Seafood Market in late 2019. Here’s an explanatory twitter thread by one of the study’s authors, Dr. Angela Rasmussen, and another by Michael Worobey. 

MONKEYPOX

According to the regularly updated DOHMH Monkeypox page, there are 1,148 people in New York City who have tested positive for orthopoxvirus/monkeypox as of yesterday (7/27), up from 811 last week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday (7/22) declared monkeypox a global emergency, the highest alert they can issue (only Covid and polio have similar designations right now). More than 19,000 cases have been traced to 78 countries worldwide, and experts say the actual total could be much higher. Most cases have appeared among men who have sex with men; however, the WHO warns the virus could spread to other groups. 

(If the WHO had acted sooner, perhaps the US government wouldn’t have adopted a wait-and-see response to the outbreak, calling for more vaccines only after cases were growing exponentially. See the NYT: “As Monkeypox Spread in New York, 300,000 Vaccine Doses Sat in Denmark”).

If you have symptoms of monkeypox—a new or unexplained rash or sore—you should see a health care provider for testing (if you do not have a provider, call 311 or search the NYC Health Map). More information about how you can prevent monkeypox. And Monkeypox 101 here. Again, the DOHMH Monkeypox updates page and vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.

Finally, to get text alerts when monkeypox vaccination appointments are posted and other updates, text “MONKEYPOX” to 692-692. 

UKRAINE

We haven’t posted much about the Russian invasion of Ukraine lately. NPR had a good update Monday (7/25). Videographer Jon Farina went to Ukraine when the war broke out. He ended up in Kharkiv and fell in with a group of Ukrainian volunteers, recording their efforts. The result is a heartbreaking 30-minute video (“Meet the ‘Not Calm Hearts’: Four civilians’ mutual aid keeps the Ukrainians of Kharkiv alive”) about conditions there in recent months. Independent journalist Matt Taibbi (yes, the son of local TV reporter Mike Taibbi if you’re as old as me!) interviewed Farina for an edition of his Substack newsletter here.

News & information.

A bit of housekeeping. We’ve received a couple of comments—ok, complaints—about how l-o-n-g this newsletter is. And it’s true! I try to be as complete as I can. But in an effort to respect your time and to make things more manageable (what's the opposite of unwieldy?), we’ll stop duplicating items more than two weeks in a row from now on. (Unless it’s something really important!)

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A lawsuit was recently filed by a group of New York City parents and school teachers challenging the City’s more than $200 million in budget cut to schools, which has stalled negotiations between the Council and the Mayor to restore school budget dollars.  It comes at a critical time because school principals are making major decisions now about this coming school year’s expenditures, including personnel.  A hearing in this case has been scheduled for next Thursday, August 4 in the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan.
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Food banks in NYC have been hit with a double whammy: an increase in clients due to the pandemic, and the crazy inflation we’re all experiencing. This Gothamist piece (“Food prices hit both poor New Yorkers and the food pantries that support them”) carried a fact that I wasn’t aware of: “...the money from the SNAP program going to qualifying low-income New York City residents each month has more than doubled… from $223 million in April 2019 to $463 million this April [2022]…”. But SNAP isn't stretching as far as it used to. 

So it’s necessary news that the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and the West Side Campaign Against Hunger (cosponsored by The Joseph Stern Center for Social Responsibility and Day Camp) are mounting an all-day food drive, from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm this coming Monday (8/1) in the JCC lobby, 334 Amsterdam (76th St.). They’re looking for shelf-stable food, including canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, rice, beans (black/white/red/pinto), cereals, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, Natrel 1% shelf stable milk, canned pork, beef, salmon, chicken, Port Royal chunk light tuna, Oceania/Dolly tuna, etc. You get the idea.

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Senators Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer have come to terms on the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” which raises corporate taxes, increases tax enforcement, closes the carried-interest loophole, and starts to allow Medicare to negotiate some drug prices (something Democrats have been fighting for since the Part D Medicare drug benefit was passed during the Bush administration). The funds raised by those provisions will reduce the deficit by about $300 billion, funds an extension of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act begun during the pandemic, and allots $369 billion to address “energy security and climate change.” 

If passed—the key phrase—this will be the largest climate investment ever made by any country; it’s projected to reduce carbon emissions in the U.S. by 40% by 2030. And it will hasten investments by private capital and prompt other countries to make their own investments too (according to The Intercept’s Ryan Grim, because those countries don’t want to fall behind in the industry that will dominate the next century). To quote Joe Biden after passage of Obamacare, this is a big f****** deal. More about the bill here. 

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The “surprise” August 23 primaries have resulted in a scramble at the Board of Elections (BOE). They of course had anticipated the need for citywide polling places for the regular primary in June; but this year, due to the redistricting debacle, a court upstate decided to redraw Congressional and State Senate districts and require a second primary August 23rd for those new districts. 

That’s why, here in the 6th Council District, Reps. Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney have been thrown into a single district, combining the Upper East and Upper West Sides for the first time in forever. 

Now comes two crucial bits of news about the August Primaries. 

The Board of Elections has changed polling places from the June locations for many voters. (See “Senate Polling Sites Have Changed for 86,500 Voters Between June and August Primaries” by Rachel Holliday Smith at TheCity.nyc).

The solution to this possible confusion? Everyone should use the online BOE lookup tool at findmypollsite.vote.nyc/; enter in your address and get the correct polling site, either for early voting or for primary day. 

The second bit of August election news is from Brigid Bergin at WNYC/Gothamist: “Republicans could sway NYC’s most competitive Democratic primaries on August 23rd. Here’s why”: 

[The August Primary will be] “a one-off test of a type of open primary election, where registered voters can change their party affiliation up until, and including on Primary Day itself, August 23rd. Under state election law, the deadline to change one’s party affiliation is normally February 14th, and then the window is closed until one week after the June primary. That meant voters who wanted to change parties for the June 28th primary for statewide and Assembly races needed to submit their updated registration more than four months before the election. That’s not the case for New Yorkers looking to vote in the August primary for new congressional and State Senate races…”

Tomorrow, Friday 7/29 at 5 pm is the deadline to register to vote in the 8/23 primary. You can register online, by mail, at the DMV, or in-person at the Board of Elections (200 Varick Street, 10th floor, 212-886-2100, 9 am – 5 pm). 

A week from Monday—August 8—is the deadline to request an absentee ballot. You can do that online or download an application form, complete and mail it (postmarked by 8/8). If you need to, request an Accessible Ballot here. (You must return the completed ballot by mail, postmarked by 8/23, or in person at an early voting or regular voting site.)

Also, due to a recent change in the law, if you request an absentee ballot, and then change your mind and decide to vote in-person, you’ll have to use an “Affidavit Ballot” at the polling place. You could, however, complete your absentee ballot and deliver it to that same polling site, and avoid the affidavit nonsense.

If you don't feel comfortable mailing your completed ballot, or can't drop it off in-person, Invisible Hands volunteers will deliver your ballot for free! Click here to request a volunteer. 

Early Voting for the August Primary runs 8/13 – 8/21. I will publish the list here when the sites are announced. But you can do a lookup here, too—and note that hours vary by day during the early voting period. 

Questions? Call the Board of Elections at 1-866-868-3692. Assistance is available in multiple languages.

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We've heard from constituents about the sorry state of the Dinosaur Playground in Riverside Park at 97th St. The broken paths and stairs leading to it, the erosion and drainage issues, peeling paint, the nonworking water fountains, etc etc. That's why I worked to include almost $7 million in the new FY 22-23 budget for its renovation, with the help of Speaker Adrienne Adams and with funds from former Council Member Helen Rosenthal.

The Speaker and I also worked together to secure $3,180,000 for major repairs to the Sol Bloom playground at 91st St. and Columbus Ave. Funding will be used to reconstruct the playground including play equipment, safety surface, spray shower, seating, landscaping, fencing and sidewalks.
 
The Parks Department will hold a series of community events to gather input on designs. I will keep you posted when those are announced.  

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According to the NYPD, theft of catalytic converters—the emissions control mechanisms underneath cars—are up 293% (for a total of 4,713 thefts citywide), year to date. It’s no wonder why: removing one takes less than two minutes, and each one contains precious metals that can be resold on the black market. It costs the car owner anywhere from $2,000 – $3,000 to replace the stolen one. 

That’s why I’ve introduced a bill to make it harder for thieves to resell the converters. Int 525 requires those selling catalytic converters to provide a VIN and the car title of the car it came from; this will work to make the parts less attractive and disrupt the black market. 

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I testified as part of the rule-making process with the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation about a proposed rule that would reduce the number of replacement trees that NYC Parks may require to be planted by those that lawfully remove trees during construction projects. I think a blanket limitation on tree replanting is not the most constructive way to address the challenge of maintaining the city’s tree canopy during the climate crisis.

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The New York City Districting Commission released an online mapping tool which will allow New Yorkers to draw their own City Council districts and submit their drawings to the commission as their public testimony. Called “DistrictR,” it’s accessible through the Commission’s website at nyc.gov/districting, it includes population data, census blocks, citizen voting ages, existing Council district lines, Community Board boundaries, and the new five percent population deviation legal requirement.  

The Commission has already released its own proposed draft of new districts, and will hold hearings scheduled for Aug. 16, 17, 18, 21 and 22. Testimony may be provided via Zoom, in person during the public hearings, by email at PublicTestimony@redistricting.nyc.gov, and by mail at NYC Districting Commission, 253 Broadway, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10007. Final maps are anticipated to be completed by December 2022.

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This week is the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act—one of the reasons July is Disability Pride Month. So it was good to read that the federal government is opening applications for $1.75 billion in funding to update public transit stations that do not currently comply with the law. (I assume the MTA will be applying!) The funding was approved as part of the federal infrastructure law enacted last year. 

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Next Thursday (8/4) will be another “Pickup Thursday” for my Fresh Food for Seniors program (in partnership with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine). That’s when you can stop by the Goddard Riverside Older Adult Center between 1 – 3 pm, pay $10, and order a bag of fresh local produce (a $15+ value) for pickup on 8/18. Sort of like a one-week CSA! Here’s the schedule for the rest of the season:

• August 18 (Sign up for Sept 1)
• September 1 (Sign up Aug. 18)
• September 15 (Sign up Sept. 1)
• September 29 (Sign up Sept. 15)
• October 13 (Sign up Sept. 29)
• October 27 (Sign up Oct. 13)
• November 10 (Sign up Oct. 27)

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Three Saturdays in August (8/6, 13 and 20) from 7 am – 1 pm: NYC Summer Streets is back. Everyone is invited to play, run, walk, and bike on Park Avenue and feeder streets, from Brooklyn Bridge to East Harlem. Public art installations, performances and activities will be along the route. Check out the activities, art and performances happening during Summer Streets 2022. On August 6, Citi Bike will be offering free day passes. Use the code SUMMER22 in the Citi Bike app to receive unlimited 30-minute rides on a classic Citi Bike for 24 hours. Click the links for more information.

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The New York State Office of Children and Family Services, with funding from the federal American Rescue Plan, is issuing $30 million in grants to child care providers in areas without sufficient child care slots. Applications from providers are accepted now until August 24, 2022 with announcements expected in September. Allowable expenses include program development, personnel costs, expenses for accessing COVID-19 vaccines, rent, utilities, or payment of some mortgages, training and technical assistance (including professional development, trainings and services). For more information and to apply, click this link.

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Last week the Upper West Side Coalition of Block Associations held a forum about licensed cannabis retailing, with a presentation from the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on how last year’s “Marijuana Revenue and Taxation Act” seeks to achieve social justice, economic development, and public safety. and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is working with NYPD and coordinating with the special narcotics prosecutor to address the illegal sales going on in plain sight now. OCM issued cease-and-desist letters to 52 unlicensed merchants who are illegally peddling marijuana in NYC. Follow this link to view the forum recording on YouTube. Click the first link to download the OCM presentation.

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Gov. Hochul has made her appointments to the Traffic Mobility Review Board, which will make recommendations about the long-delayed congestion pricing program, known formally as the Central Business District Tolling Program. The MTA will release the program’s Environmental Assessment on or about Aug. 10, with a series of six virtual public hearings:   

• Thursday, Aug. 25, 5 – 8 pm. 
• Saturday, Aug. 27, 10 am – 1 pm. 
• Sunday, Aug. 28, 1 – 4 pm.
• Monday, Aug. 29, 1 – 4 pm. 
• Tuesday, Aug. 30, 5 – 8 pm. 
• Wednesday, Aug. 31, 10 am – 1 pm. 

Watch the hearings at mta.info/CBDTP at the dates and times listed above. Comments at these sessions will also become part of the formal record. Comments will be accepted online as well as email, mail, voicemail, and fax.

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Wednesday 8/3, 2 pm, virtual: NYC Restaurant Reminders & Resources Webinar with New York City Hospitality Alliance and the NYC Dept. of Small Business Services. Get an overview of free business services and how to access financing, navigating government, pro-bono legal services, emergency preparedness, M/WBE certification, and recruitment. Operators can get answers to their questions related to government navigation, permits, licensing, and compliance. Click the link to register.

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Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine has launched a pilot $50,000 Composting Initiative to support composting programs throughout Manhattan, funding projects between $5,000 – $7,500 aimed at composting education programs for youth, for seniors, or general community engagement. Apply here by close of business 8/26/22 (Use code: MCI2023). Learn more here. 

Useful items.

The Columbus Avenue Open Street that happens every Sunday welcomes musicians and other entertainers a chance to perform along that street. Use this form to apply and make the “Ave” your own. 

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Goddard Riverside Community Center is surveying the community about neighborhood needs. (To learn more about the programs and services offered by Goddard, click here.) Take Goddard Riverside’s short, ten-minute community survey here. 

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NYC Health + Hospitals launched a student loan forgiveness program for behavioral health providers—psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers—who care for New Yorkers with mental health or substance abuse needs, courtesy of a $1 million anonymous donation. The loan forgiveness program will be available to eligible employees and new hires for the next year or until the donation has been exhausted. Applications are open now, and New Yorkers can also donate to support the program at that link. 

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Mayor Eric Adams released “Homeowner Handbook: Protecting and Maintaining Home in NYC,” a comprehensive guide to help New Yorkers protect and maintain their homes and navigate the responsibilities of home ownership. It’s an initiative of the Homeowner Help Desk and a partnership between the City’s Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development, the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, Attorney General Tish James. 

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Diapers will be tax exempt in New York State starting next year, after Gov. Hochul signed a new law exempting them from all local sales and use taxes (they’re already exempt from the 4% state sales tax). 

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Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce is once again hosting Harlem Week next month, from 8/12 to 8/21. Exhibit and vendor space is available for rent, via this form (pdf—print, fill it out and email or mail to Harlem Week, 200A W. 136th St, New York, NY 10030) or call 1-877-427-5364, or email vend@harlemweek.com. 

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The DOT is milling streets (the first step to resurfacing) as follows:  

• Mon–Tues,  8/1–2:  Broadway between W. 98 – W. 83 St. 
• Wednesday, 8/3: W. 97 St between Central Park West – Riverside Drive 
• Also, W 98 St. between Amsterdam – Riverside Drive
• Thursday 8/4: W 99 St between Amsterdam – Riverside Drive
• Also, W 94 St from Central Park West – Riverside Drive 

Con Edison is also doing work: 

• W. 83rd St. between Riverside and Broadway continues until mid-August.
• W. 83 St. between Broadway and Columbus, until end of September. 
• W. 83 St. between Columbus and Central Park West until end of October.
• W. 71st St between Broadway and Columbus until the end of August. 

DOT is still working on the 79th St. Boat Basin’s Rotunda Complex, so the majority of the Traffic Circle will be closed, as well as the southbound Henry Hudson Entrance Ramp from the rotary. There’s no westbound traffic on W. 79th St. past the Henry Hudson Parkway northbound entrance ramp. Finally, the parks/marina garage is closed. Here’s a map of the temporary routes for cyclists, pedestrians, and drives. (Here’s one for NYCT buses). 

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The FCC is cracking down on those 'auto warranty' robocalls, finally. The agency issued an order to wireless carriers to stop placing calls it has linked to 13 individuals and six companies, which have placed billions of robocalls since 2018.  

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Manhattan Community Board 7's Senior Task Force sponsored a virtual housing education series for older adults, and posted recordings to Youtube. (Session I: Obtaining Housing; Session II: Maintaining Housing; Session III: Thriving in Housing.)

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New York City’s speed cameras will begin operating 24/7 on Monday, 8/1. The city’s 2,000 automated speed cameras were previously authorized by the state to operate only on weekdays, between 6 am – 10 pm, and thus missed 59% of traffic fatalities that occurred in the downtime. 
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The Sanitation Department will start to enforce the City’s food waste law 8/1 as well. Passed in 2020, the law requires commercial food establishments to separate and process their organic waste. Offenders could be fined between $250 and $1,000. 

JOBS

A virtual information session for a free ten-week Medical Administration training program for women (beginning in September, sponsored by Grace Institute) will be held 8/15 at 1 pm. Learn MS Office, business communication skills, etc. or train as a Patient Service Representative; job placement assistance has an 80% success rate. HS diploma or GED required. RSVP at 718-289-8100 or register online at: bit.ly/jobsplusgrace.

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The NYS Department of Labor has partnered with Coursera, the leading online training provider. New Yorkers will have access to nearly 4,000 courses across high-growth industries; many are pathways to professional certificates. Sign up here using this form.

Events.

THIS Saturday, 7/30, from noon to 6 pm, the 75th Anniversary celebration of NYCHA’s Amsterdam Houses at 64th St. between Amsterdam and West End. Residents will party with New York Salsa band Los Hacheros (from 2 – 4 pm sponsored by Lincoln Center) , DJ Ritchie, children’s activities (balloon art, clowns, jugglers, magicians, and rock climbing), a free fun photo booth, basketball with the Positive Influence Old Timers, souvenir T-shirts, and refreshments! (Sponsored by my office, as well as Fordham University, Goddard Riverside at Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, Landmark West, Lincoln Center, NYCHA Amsterdam Addition, and Positive Influence.)
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Tuesday 8/2 is National Night Out (it used to have the words “Against Crime” at the end) —an annual event that brings communities and law enforcement together in a positive atmosphere. Our local NYPD precincts will be participating, building personal relationships and understanding between officers and citizens and making our neighborhoods safer and improving quality of life. 

• Midtown North Precinct, 5 – 8 pm, Hell’s Kitchen Park (Tenth Ave between W. 47th & 48th St.)
• 20th Precinct, 6 – 8 pm Verdi Square (Broadway between W. 72nd and 73rd St.)
• Central Park Precinct and Transit District 1, 4 – 8 pm, Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park (by Merchant’s Gate and the Maine Monument) 
• 24th Precinct, 6 – 9 pm, Happy Warrior Playground (W 98th and Amsterdam)

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There's STILL a lot of Shakespeare…

The Classical Theatre of Harlem’s “Afrofuturistic” production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” starring Kara Young (a 2022 Tony nominee for her performance in “Clyde's”) continues through Friday 7/29 at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. Reserve free tickets here.

This year’s second production of Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park is As You Like It, opening 8/10 and running through 9/11. Ticketing options: in-person distribution in Central Park; in-person lottery at The Public Theater; in-person distribution in the boroughs; a digital lottery with TodayTix; and in-person standby line in Central Park.

The Hudson Classical Theater Company is performing “Macbeth” at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, 89th St at Riverside Park, Thurs. – Sun, at 6:15 pm, beginning 7/28 until 8/21. —

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This weekend and next (7/30-31, 8/6-7) at 6 pm Saturday/Sunday, The West Side Community Garden hosts the Greenhouse Ensemble in their 6th “Ten Minute Play Soiree” featuring 17 actors, six directors, and seven short plays—each by a different author. That means 7 chances to laugh, to cry, or to be inspired, all in one evening of theater!
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The Riverside Clay Tennis Association's 2022 Sunset Concert Series continues every Saturday at 7 pm; here's the lineup:

• 7/30, 7 pm: Gilad Bloom Band
• 8/6, 7 pm: Mimi & The Podd Brothers
• 8/13, 7 pm: Jacob Varmus Quintet
• 8/20, 7 pm: Cynthia Sayer
• 8/27, 7 pm: Leon & The Peoples

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Sundays from 2 – 4 pm, at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center at the Harlem Meer in Central Park, 110th St. near 5th Ave.: The Harlem Meer Music Festival. Remaining performances: 7/31, Spanglish Fly (Latin Boogaloo); 8/7, Johnny Rodriguez and the Dream Team (New York Salsa); 8/14, Clean Money Music; 8/21, Despers USA Steel Orchestra.

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Tues–Wed, 8/2–3, virtual: Real Torah / Real Life: Abortion, Beyond Law. “In a time when the dignity and agency of people navigating hard realities of pregnancy is being denied, there is much work to be done. Alongside taking action, it is also a moment to reach for the narratives and theologies that strengthen us in this work. Embracing our Jewish tradition, we can find a much-needed religious voice of care and compassion towards experiences of abortion.” Presented in partnership with SVIVAH, HerTorah, the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, and the JTS Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice. Click the link to learn more. 

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Next weekend, 8/5 - 7, Gov­er­nors Island Arts will bring togeth­er more than 15 cul­tur­al part­ners for a week­end-long cre­ative cel­e­bra­tion, House Fest, in the his­toric Nolan Park and Colonels Row areas on the Island, fea­tur­ing free dance and music per­for­mances, out­door instal­la­tions, inter­ac­tive work­shops, open stu­dios, and pan­el dis­cus­sions. The three-day cel­e­bra­tion will also fea­ture the incred­i­ble line­up of works already on dis­play from the two dozen Orga­ni­za­tions in Res­i­dence in the his­toric hous­es in Nolan Park and Colonels Row—click here to meet them all.

Cen­tral to the weekend’s fes­tiv­i­ties is Dance Par­ty NYC on Saturday, 8/6, 3 pm, at Nolan Park. Performances from Brooklyn United Marching Band and Brass Queens, tunes from DJ Aguapanela Mami and DJ Yung Mayne, food trucks, and a beer garden. RSVP for the dance party here. 

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Saturday, 8/6, 1 – 3:30 pm, Ft. Tryon Park (Enter at Ft. Washington Ave/Margaret Corbin Circle): Stanley Michels Memorial Jazz Concert sponsored by Ft. Tryon Park Trust. Join the Fort Tryon Tryon Park Trust, NYC Parks, and the Michels family to honor the late Council Member Stan Michels at the 14th Annual Stan Michels Memorial Jazz Concert. Enjoy live jazz by local impresario Marjorie Eliot, her son Rudel Drears, and their ensemble. In the event of rain, the concert will be held indoors at Our Saviour’s Atonement/Cornerstone Church: 178 Bennett Ave. (Stan was a beloved colleague who represented Northern Manhattan for 24 years, 1978 – 2001. He was a steadfast advocate for parks, allocating over $50 million for park improvements in Washington Heights, Inwood, and Harlem, and virtually every playground in his district!) 

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Saturday, 8/13, 12 Noon – 9 pm,  Pier 76 (at 34th St.): Hudson River Park’s Blues BBQ Festival, the longest-running free blues festival in the New York area, dedicated to bringing in the most celebrated blues artists from across the country. This year the event will be hosted by guitarist Binky Griptite, with performers including Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Don Bryant, Bette Smith, Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers and Jackie Venson. Five restaurants will participate: Blue Smoke, Jase’s BBQ, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Kimchi Smoke, and Big Papa Smokem—along with beverages from  Allagash, Bronx Brewery, Sunday Beer Lager, Archer Roose Rose and Sparkling White Wine and Two Robbers Hard Seltzer. 

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Saturday, 8/13, 11:30 am – 7 pm, E. 120th Street & Harlem Art Park (Between Lexington & 3rd Ave.): The Afribembé Festival, an all-day Pan-African celebration of the African Diaspora's creativity, musicality, intellectuality, and artistry, sponsored by the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute. The festival's Bembé Stage will feature live DJ sets and artists representing various regions.

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Sunday, 8/14, 1 – 4 pm, Amsterdam and 109th St. Open Street: Homemade History Exchange, a project of the Columbus Amsterdam BID and the Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group. View a treasure chest of historical photos, articles, and maps related to the Bloomingdale neighborhood. Be an active participant—bring along any historical photos or other items that you have that might be of interest to others. 

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Saturday–Sunday, 8/20 – 21, 2 – 6 pm, Morris Jumel Mansion: 30th Annual Jazz at the Mansion Concert with Marjorie Eliot and Parlor Entertainment with support from the Jazz Foundation of America. The lineup:

• Rudel Drears – Piano, Vocals, Founder & Musical Director
• Marjorie Eliot – Piano, Founder & Artistic Director
• Sedric Choukroun – Saxophone
• Nicholas Mauro – Trumpet
• Jeffrey Michels – Guitar
• Yuma Takagi – Bass
• Will Glass – Drums, Percussion

Their location is across the street from 555 Edgecombe Avenue (also known as the “Triple Nickel”), a historic apartment building home to Count Basie, Paul Robeson,  and Cassandra Wilson. This outdoor event is free and open to the public. This event has a limited capacity, and it is recommended that you arrive early to obtain a seat. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be canceled. (Visit the brand new Morris Jumel website with in-depth stories about the Mansion and its collections.)  
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The listings above are a small sample of just what WE know about. Find out more from these sources:

• The West Side Rag has a consistently great weekly events listing here. 

• Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City programming continues; check this link for calendar. Every Wednesday from 8 – 10pm on Jaffe Drive, Comedy Underground presents new standup comedians. Film at Lincoln Center screens several movies outdoors each week. 

• The Riverside Parks Conservancy and NYC Parks offer dozens of free “Summer on the Hudson” events all summer long. View their calendar here and follow them on Twitter @summeronhudson for up to the minute event information (including cancellations).

• Hudson River Park events can be found here; sign up at the top of their webpage to receive their weekly newsletter with dozens of free events listed. 

• Battery Park Conservancy also sponsors lots of events; view their calendar here.

• The Columbus Avenue BID has a variety of events.
   

Here's our “Quirk of the week”: Sharkle.com is a “generator of random awesomeness.” Click the link, then click “Show me something awesome” and see what happens!