The annual Loisaida Festival happens this Sunday on Avenue C

[Poster by Adrian Viajero Roman]

Via the EVG inbox...

This year, the Loisaida Festival returns with a lineup that pays homage to the organization’s original Puerto Rican roots.

The mainstage lineup reflects those roots, bringing together a mix of legendary and rising Puerto Rican stars. These include hip-hop singer DayLuv, songstress Maxine Ashley, Lower East Salsa, and Johnny Colón. Macha Colón y Los Okapi will be joining the stage courtesy of La Marqueta Retoña. The carnival procession and Theater Lab return, providing entertainment for children and their families. Puerto Rican icon and international entertainment phenomenon, Iris Chacon, will host the festivities alongside Marine-combat-vet-turned actor, singer/activist J.W. Cortes (from FOX's "Gotham”).

The Loisaida Festival 2016’s expanded offerings preview a new stage in Loisaida, Inc.’s plans to combine STEAM programming with social services that meet the needs of the local community. Some of the new offerings include a Grassroots Innovation Fair, discussions on how art and digital technologies intersect, an expanded Healthy Living Zone, with free dental screenings for children, and a new Sustainable Innovation Zone, which will include a Bio Bus.

You can find the main stage schedule here.

The Festival hours on Sunday are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Avenue C, from Sixth Street to 12th Street.

There are more events on Saturday, including an exhibition of original artwork from Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez's best-selling debut comic book "Guardians of the Lower East Side." Find more details here.

This marks the festival's 29th year.

At the Loisaida Festival

The 28th Loisaida Festival was today on Avenue C... and EVG contributor Stacie Joy shared a few photos from the afternoon...


















[Host Luis Guzmán]

... and a few shots from EVG contributor James Maher...

The Loisaida Festival is this weekend

There's a lot going on this weekend related to the Loisaida Festival, now in its 28th year.

Here are some details via the Festival's Facebook page:

The Loisaida Festival has been celebrated on Sunday before Memorial Day since 1987.

Performing on the LoisaidaFest Main Stage: Calma Carmona, Chicano Batman, Papote Jimenez, Herencia De Plena, E.A.Flow, Capá Prieto & more...

Hosted by Luis Guzmán

Beyond the top-notch diverse musical line-up of our Main Stage, the Festival offers a Green Zone, Healthy Living Zone, Arts and Craft Zone, and rich culinary street-level experiences, our Theater Lab with an Itinerary for Kid Friendly Activities, the Loisaida Awards, and our celebratory Loisaida Fest Carnival Procession.

The Festival is the annual signature event of Loisaida Inc. Funds are raised to expand our non-profit, which recently secured a 51-year lease for its new Loisaida Center. All proceeds from the Loisaida Festival are used for the production of the same and for the operations of the Loisaida Center.

This year’s theme is “One neighborhood… and entire community.”

The Festival hours on Sunday are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Avenue C, from East Sixth Street to East 12th Street.

And head to the Festival's website for all the activities this weekend, including tonight — Performing Queer Latin@ Loisaida: A Cabaret.

Last night, EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the Festival's opening reception at the Loisaida Center at 710 E. Ninth St., where several of the participating artists were on hand...




[Calma Carmona]


[Eury G. Orsini & Zuleira Soto Roman]


[Papote Jimenez & Edgardo Tomas Larregui]

The Loisaida Festival street fair is TODAY; big chair photos await

Day Three of the Loisaida Festival begins soon (depending on when you are read this) … it's the street fair component of the festival … on Avenue C between East Sixth Street and East 12th Street …

There is some of the usual street festival stuff… but this one also has more unique vendors …





… and yes! Gag holiday cards on the way!



Here are more details on what to expect today noon till 5:

Kid Zone — anchored at La Plaza Cultural Community Garden 9th Street & Ave C
Children and/or Puppet Theater, Storytelling, Arts & Crafts Workshops, Capoeira demos and more.

Green Zone — a designated block featuring environmental and civic organization offering hands-on learning on topics of environmental literacy, food waste & composting, neighborhood storm surge resiliency.

Exhibitors and Vendors
Will feature local Loisaida artists and NYC based Latin American artists, creative arts & crafts, clothing, community, civic and cultural organizations, housing and health services, domino tournament, sampling of diverse Latin American foods and staple Latino restaurants from the neighborhood.

You may head over to the official website for a list of the performers today and other details.

Today at the Loisaida Festival

From the EVG inbox...

2:00 pm-6:00 pm / New Loisaida Center, 710 E 9th Street (just east of Avenue C) / Admission free

The Production of Nabe:
Loisaida’s land-use and environmental activism, past and present

Screenings: 3 vintage documentaries about Loisaida’s sweat-equity, community garden and environmental initiatives since the 1970’s.

“The Heart of Loisaida” by Marcie Reaven & Beni Matais

“11th Street Movement” by Stuart Leigh

“Umbrella House” by Catalina Santamaria

• Real-time Oral Histories: Historians interview old-time activists/players from Loisaida’s urban appropriation movement.
• Talk/Presentation: Contemporary land use issues, recent development and its environmental impacts in the LES by GOLES
• Debut of “Memorias de Loisaida”, a theatrical piece by artists in residence Papel Machete.

Here's the Festival website with more info. You can find the street festival and live music tomorrow on Avenue C from East Sixth Street to East 12th Street.

At the Loisaida Festival

Here are photos from yesterday's 26th annual Loisaida Festival on Avenue C...




[Top 3 photos by Bobby Williams]

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And a few Avenue C street scenes via EVG contributor James Maher...




















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And here's a video featuring an after-party on the Avenue...

Spider-Man on Avenue C (aka, BOUNCY CASTLE)

Bouncy castle! (And not quite sure why Batman and Superman get such low billing here...) Oh! All this during the Loisaida Festival today on Avenue C today... we'll post more photos tomorrow... this shot is via Peter Parker Bobby Williams.

Reminders: The Loisaida Festival is today

The 26th annual on Avenue C, from East Sixth Street to East 12th Street ... The official Festival site is here.

And this morning, everyone is setting up for the day... from the shetland ponies ...



... to the corn ...

The Loisaida Festival is Sunday

This is the 26th year for the festival ... on Avenue C from East Sixth Street to East 12th Street... rain or shine!

The Lo-Down has the entertainment schedule here. The official Festival site is here.

Find some previous EVG coverage of the Festival here.

Update on the new community center and supportive housing on East 9th Street

The vendor registration for the 2013 Loisaida Festival (date: May 26) includes a mention of the group's "new Community Center" coming to Avenue C and East Ninth Street.

That would be at 710 E. Ninth St., just east of Avenue C, where workers are converting the former Henry Street Settlement Day Care #3 into a community facility space on the ground floor... with the upper levels serving as housing for homeless young adults and young adults no longer in the foster-care system.

Here's more information from the Loisaida Inc. website:

710 East 9th Street Building Development Project

With the support of the Manhttan Community Board #3 and the community, we were granted an equity position and standing in our original home, 710 East 9th Street. The result is a joint venture with Loisaida, Phipps Houses and University Settlement, a three-way partnership. Phipps Houses as the lead has supported and guided Loisaida thru the various stages of the development project.

The existing city-owned 4-story building on 9th Street was the 30-year home of Loisaida. It is being converted to a supportive housing facility and community center. The project will include 51 units of supportive housing with related program space located on floors two thru five.

Homeless young adults, young adults aging out of foster care and young single adults will occupy the residential units with children

Loisaida will occupy and operate a 10,000 sq. foot - new community center on cellar and first floor. This project is being developed though the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development HPD.

Our new community center will be a multi-generational and multifunctional facility offering services at no cost to local low-income residents of LES. We have incorporated a commercial kitchen, media center and performance space.

Occupancy is projected for 2013.

H/T MoRUS

Previously on EV Grieve:
Community center and supportive housing coming to East Ninth Street

Checking in on the community center-supportive housing project on East Ninth Street

Just a few scenes at the Loisaida Festival today

A few moments from the 25th anniversary of the Loisaida Festival today on Avenue C... via Jacob Anderson ... always one of the best street festivals around...

Ivy Irizarry-Rivera, right, of Ivy Jewel, was one of the few vendors based in the neighborhood... (Many of the other vendors were from the outer boroughs, according to festival officials...)

Above, Sixth Street resident David Joffe gives a demonstration of one of his trinkets for sale...

Avenue C gold rush

During the Loisaida Festival today... photo by Bobby Williams...

25th anniversary of the Loisaida Festival is today

Starts at noon on Avenue C, between 12th Street and Sixth Street... The Festival website is here.


Find some previous EVG coverage of the Festival here.