Organizers revive Cannabis March with Saturday rally and concert

The annual Cannabis March & Rally is returning tomorrow — with organizers looking to reclaim the long-running event's roots. 

Per the invite, the 54th edition traces back to the early 1970s, when the Yippies staged smoke-ins starting in Washington Square Park before heading up Fifth Avenue. 

This year's gathering begins at noon at the Washington Square Park arch, followed by a march to Union Square Park. A rally and concert are set there from 2-6 p.m., featuring political speakers and live music. Bands on the bill include Rebelmatic, Ricanstruction and Butter Brain. 

 Organizers say they are reviving the event independently after recent years when the city took over programming under its Cannabis NYC umbrella. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Dana Beal, longtime marijuana activist, serving months-long prison sentence in Idaho

May 1

DAILY DOUBLE. A discarded Christmas tree and today's Post nearby for verication purposes... all on Sixth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...

Candlelight vigil on 13th and B honors slain deli worker Abdul Saleh

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Community members and local elected officials gathered last night on 13th Street and Avenue B for a candlelight vigil honoring Abdulrahman Saleh — known to many as Abdul — the 28-year-old father of two who was fatally shot late Saturday outside Sal's Deli & Grocery, where he worked in the family-run business. 

The vigil followed a week of mourning and calls for action. 

On Wednesday, advocates and leaders held a press conference urging accountability and stronger protections for bodega workers. Saleh's funeral, closed to the media, was held yesterday in Sunset Park, where Mayor Mamdani attended.

"Tonight, we light a candle in the darkness. But at the same time, as we celebrate his life, we all have a responsibility to address gun violence because we've been here before," New York State Attorney General Letitia James told the crowd.

Police have charged Kavone Horton, 28, who lives nearby and had allegedly been a menacing presence in the store, in connection with the shooting. 

According to law enforcement and media accounts, an argument over unpaid food that began inside the deli spilled out onto the street, where Saleh was shot.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• 'He looked out for absolutely everyone here': Friends and neighbors discuss slain deli worker Abdul Saleh

Lower East Side History Month returns with a full slate of events

Lower East Side History Month is back, officially starting today... and bringing a packed calendar of events across the neighborhood. 

More than 70 local cultural and community organizations, small businesses, and residents are hosting exhibits, walking tours, talks, and festivals throughout the month. 

You can find the full lineup of (mostly free) events here. 

The annual celebration launched in 2014 to highlight the neighborhood's history and foster stronger connections among those who live and work here, per organizers.

Café Chrystie expands next door with new bar space

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Café Chrystie is expanding into the adjoining space — adding a new bar component that debuts today at 5 p.m. (There was a friends-and-family preview last night. See below.) 

The daytime café, which opened in the summer of 2023, will continue operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the new bar taking over from 5 p.m. to midnight (Tuesday through Saturday, for now). 

"This is a bar. No laptops, no wifi. I want human interaction," owner Pep Kim told us.

The kitchen is still being finalized, but the plan is to introduce a Korean food program. In the meantime: bar snacks and finger foods alongside beer, wine and soju-based cocktails — including spins on a negroni and highball.

Kim said a brunch service with Korean dishes could arrive this summer, along with expanded hours. 

The space — largely built out by Kim himself — features warm, dark wood, brass accents and dark green tones, with eclectic details like bag hooks, mix-and-match seating and framed artwork (including Harold Hunter skating contact sheets). 

Check out the space here...

And a few scenes from last evening's friends-and-family test run...