Looking for volunteer opportunities during the holidays

A reader, fairly new to the neighborhood, is looking to volunteer somewhere in the East Village during the holidays... "Do you know which churches/shelters in the area accept volunteers?" Thought I'd open it up for suggestions... perhaps come up with some ideas a little off the radar ... and maybe inspire someone else to volunteer...

Xoom holding a coat and cold weather clothing drive

From the EV Grieve inbox...

This coming week, Xoom, the smoothie shop on Seventh Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, will be having a coat and cold weather clothing drive for the The Hetrick-Martin Institute. Hetrick provides free programs and services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender young people in New York City. Please bring gently worn or new coats, sweaters, hats, scarves, etc. to Xoom Monday-Friday and they will deliver them to Hetrick.

If you have any questions, you can call the store 212-505-9666 or e-mail Jennifer the owner at jenn@xoomjuice.com.

Holiday Fair at the Neighborhood School (plus, pix of cute kids!)

From the EV Grieve inbox...

The Neighborhood School’s Holiday Fair:
A FUN FAIR FOR A GREAT CAUSE!

The Neighborhood School’s beloved Holiday Fair is back! On Sunday, December 5, from 11 am to 5 pm, come out to support a local public school and have a blast. There’ll be carnival games, arts & crafts, face-painting, print-making, henna and temporary tattooing, a huge kid-built maze (made of deconstructed cardboard boxes — the Avenue A equivalent of a corn maze), a raffle and great food from neighborhood vendors including Ciao for Now, Solo Pizza and Mudspot.

And of course there’s the silent auction. A mere sampling of items up for bids this year: Gift certificates to terrific local shops, salons, spas, yoga studios and gyms; passes to the Landmark Sunshine; museum memberships; theater subscriptions; Knicks tickets; Doyle & Doyle jewelry; family portraits by professional artists and photographers; meals at fave neighborhood spots like Mama’s Food Shop, Esperanto, Il Buco, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Café Mogador, Caracas Arepa Bar, Balthazar and many more! Bid online or in person. Neighborhood School dad and EV institution Richard “Handsome Dick” Manitoba and writer Zoe Hansen will host a live auction at 3pm. Bidding closes at 4pm.

Admission to the fair is free and open to the public. Wondering what a progressive public school in the East Village is like? Come check us out! This is a great (and cheap) way to have fun indoors with your kids on a chilly winter’s day; you can have a nosh and shop for some great items while your kids run around playing and art-making with their friends. Proceeds from the fair support the Neighborhood School PTA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that pays for the school’s art and music education, field trips, classroom supplies, special programs and teacher support. The Neighborhood School is at 121 East 3rd Street between First Avenue and Avenue A

And a school parent passed along photos of some of the students... most of them were taken by the kids, some in an afterschool photography class (taught by a parent, since there is no more funding for afterschool programs) and some in school as part of the curriculum.

Babeland's Pink October

From the EV Grieve inbox

Babeland is partnering with the Young Survival Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to helping breast cancer survivors, to raise money for their programs throughout the month of October. Over a quarter of a million women under the age of 40 have breast cancer and they face higher mortality rates, fertility issues and the possibility of early menopause.

During Pink October, Babeland is dedicating 10% of the sales of a select group of products to the Young Survival Coalition. Among the toys featured are the popular Form 2 and Rabbit Pearl vibrators, the Rose G-spotter, and a Candy G-string. The makers of our most popular personal lubricant, Sliquid, created a new flavored lube, Pink Lemonade just for this fundraiser. As an added incentive, customers receive a FREE Babeland Buzz mini-vibe with the purchase of any of these toys. A full list of the toys can be seen here.

Babeland’s Come for a Cause program is our way of giving back and letting our customers help support organizations with missions that are compatible with Babeland’s mission and values. So far in 2010, Babeland raised more than $10,000 for grist.org, a “beacon in the smog” environmental news website, and more than $17,000 for SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, among other things.

Last day to help the East Side Community High School win $500,000

Over on 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue, students and teachers are outside with computers to get people to vote online so that the school can win $500,000 in the Kohl's Cares for Kids contest.

The Villager has a nice feature on this.... As part of the competition, Principal Mark Federman has been sleeping in a tent out front of the school since Aug. 23

If you go to www.eschs.org, then you'll find more details.

Protecting community gardens: Sunflower Jess climbs a tree and gets arrested

Here's some video of Sunflower Jess getting arrested for climbing a tree in City Hall Park during Time's Up! Harvest Day of Action to Save the Community this morning...



(Here's the press release on the Harvest Day.)

...and here is video of the Paul Revere ride from last Thursday that started in Tompkins Square Park...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Protect our community gardens

Reminders tonight: Harvest party on First Street

From the inbox...

With the successful run last month of “First Growth,” a benefit exhibition of donated art works, First Street Green — the community organization working in cooperation with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to create a community cultural park—will hold a follow-up party and sale of new and remaining works to complete its summer initiative to raise local support for the project.
Many of the works on sale will be offered at the bargain price of $100 to help raise funds and mobilize community support to convert the rat-infested vacant lot at 33 East 1st Street into a cultural center and park with a sculpture garden and temporary installations.

Local groups working with First Street Green include the First Street Block Association, The Lower East Side Girls’ Club, and the Citizen’s Committee of New York City, which awarded First Street Green two New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods Grants to help launch its campaign.

The closing or “harvest” party will be held in the temporary gallery space next door to the vacant lot where the rubble of a building demolished in the 1930s continues to be a serious health hazard to the neighborhood due to a persistent rat infestation.

The bargain sale of contemporary works of art by well-known local artists will garner increased support for the project by providing visitors with an opportunity to view and buy fine works of art and to read FSG brochures and posters illustrating the projected plans for the park while enjoying free food and drink provided by Joe Doe, Prune, Arlo & Esme, the Lower East Side Girls Club Bakery, and other local venders.

The Harvest Party will provide a one-night-only opportunity to purchase works of contemporary art at excellent rates (works selling for $100 or less will be identified with green labels at the party). The event is free and open to the public.
Help green the city by enjoying its local culture!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Residents pitching in to help refurbish First Street garden

Residents pitching in to help refurbish First Street garden

So you might probably know this spot on East First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue...





Now some local residents have gotten together to try to save this derelict lot, owned by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Here's some history via the organizers, First Street Green:

"For years -- back when the laws in New York were a little less rigidly enforced -- a block resident named Mattie made sculpture installations there, and he'd let neighborhood kids in to play basketball. Since Mattie's death, the rat population has exploded and the pavement is riddled with burrows. The only purposes it serves these days are to skeeve block residents and to horrify the block's restaurant patrons (which might be amusing, but their horrified screams are obnoxiously loud). First Street Green (a group that includes block residents, artists, and others) has tried going through the proper channels to develop the lot into a simple sculpture park, with no success: Parks funds are nonexistent (Parks leaves rat poison once a month, and that's about it); the City isn't interested in setting aside money to develop it into a park because of its low profile; it can't become a resident-run Greenthumb garden because it's owned by the Department of Parks and Recreation. So we have two choices: It can stay like this forever, or we can raise the money ourselves to develop it."

So that's what the "First Growth benefit show" is doing tonight from 6-9 at 35 E. First St. (This is in the empty storefront in the building next to the lot/park.)

Per the invite:

"Come and brows, buy and admire the works of local artists with all moneys to benefit the rebuilding of the First Street Green park. Refreshments and wine provided from surrounding businesses will be served. This show will also feature a series of masonite 'rats' created and donated by the Lower Eastside Girls Club."

First Growth's goal is to remove the rubble and create a simple-to-maintain garden and cultural space. Click on the image below for more on the plans.

Construction for new Lower Eastside Girls Club home starts next week

The Lower Eastside Girls Club is prepping for the groundbreaking next week of its new home (Center for Community) on Avenue D...

As the flyer shows, there's a meeting this Tuesday night at the Jacob Riis Community Center, 80 Avenue D, between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

A detailed presentation will be made about the construction timeline and neighborhood impact as well as information about the upcoming Girls Club programs.

Questions can be submitted in advance to:
building@girlsclub.org

For more information, go here.

Meanwhile, as we've covered here before, here's a look at the new home:




Among other things, the new building will include:

We are expanding our successful entrepreneurial social venture businesses, The Sweet Things Baking Company and Community Café, with the construction of a Culinary Education Center and commercial kitchen. These programs offer job training and opportunities for teenage girls and neighborhood women. The kitchen will also serve as a classroom for nutrition education and meet in-house food service needs. A courtyard filled with flowers, an outdoor fountain designed by artist Kiki Smith, and café tables will provide a unique oasis for dining and quiet events.

And!

In the Fair Trade Gift Shop and Book Store, items from cooperatives around the world share shelf space with girl-made crafts and artwork. Our public market space will be a home for our Farmers Market Center, simultaneously supporting New York State farmers and our community's health.

And!

A portion of this new facility will be devoted to public programming and the arts. The “Girls Out Loud” Internet Radio Station is the site for live programming, podcasting, and digital journalism activities. Simultaneously, girls will be taking their digital film, photography and IT courses, while school classes and the general public participate in film festivals and screening events in the Screening Room. The Art + Community Gallery, site of LESGC’s teen curatorial training programs, will act as a venue for a wide range of art exhibitions.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Lower Eastside Girls Club's "urban paradise" closer to reality

Reminders today: The Loisaida Festival on Avenue C

And I'm a little late in telling you this... but in case you parked on Avenue C and didn't see the signs...

Day 3 of the Ukrainian Festival

Ukrainian Festival is under way

As of yesterday... and today and tomorrow...

Reminders this weekend: The Saint George Annual Ukrainian Festival

All this weekend on Seventh Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue...



Last year, we had performers on stage!



And in the crowd!



Previously.

Momofuko Milk Bar donates hundreds of cookies to the Lower Eastside Girls Club

Tomorrow night is the 10th annual Gowns for Girls prom dress give-a-way at the Lower Eastside Girls Club...



And Executive Director Lyn Pentecost told us last night: "Someone loves the Girls Club! Momofuko Milk Bar surprised us today. They sent over hundreds of cookies for the girls coming Friday for our Gowns For Girls prom dress give-a-way."

Save the Date: May 8 Kids' Art Bike Parade in Tompkins Square Park

For additional information, visit The East Village Community Coalition Web site.

East Villagers form non-Yelp-like community on Facebook

There's a newish Facebook group called "I know a great little place in the East Village NYC."

Here's the description:

A group for all things great in the East Village, if you know of a great place to shop, eat or do anything in your spare time, share it with people from your neighborhood. The East Village was formerly known for its sense of community, so share what you love whether popular or obscure.

This is not a forum to slag off places though, only places you enjoy.

This is an attempt at a community that isn't Yelp. A community that is actually driven by sharing and experiencing the hidden gems in the East Village. This is for people to discuss all things East Village for each other.

There are a ton of awesome people running small businesses trying to survive in this expensive NYC environment. Through people exposing these great little gems, we're helping to keep cool places in and awful chains/franchises out.

Reminders: Bake-in Rally at City Hall today

Parents whose children attend the East Village Community School, one of four progressive public schools in the East Village, are among the organizers of a bake-in (not that kind) at City Hall this afternoon.

A quick overview:

On Thursday March 18th there will be a protest against Regulation A-812, limiting the sales of home-baked goods at public school bake sales. It’s from 4-6pm at City Hall. Activist parents will have two tables: one with home-baked goods, and another with the “approved” items: Doritos, Fritos, Pop-Tarts, and Snapple.

EV resident Marjorie Ingall has more on the issue on her blog. And there's more information here on NYC Green Schools.

Concert to benefit Haiti this Saturday at the Second Street Cathedral

Father Calin passed along the following information to us...

As part of an ongoing effort to help the suffering and the homeless of Haiti, the Second Street Cathedral will host a Benefit Concert on Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds from the concert will go to aid Haiti’s people in their hour of need. A Vespers service with special petitions for the Haitian people and the relief workers will precede the concert.

This event features the world premier of a new Passion Cantata incorporating hymns of the Crucifixion from Good Friday. The music is based on ancient Russian and Georgian chant, sung a cappella in English. The Cantata was written by composer Robert Sirico specifically for this occasion. The concert will be directed by Juilliard-trained musician Nicholas Reeves, and performed by a select chamber choir formed for this concert.

Second Street Cathedral has a history of supporting the community through music. After 9/11, the parish raised over $20,000 for local firefighters through a similar concert and campaign.

To ensure this event is just as successful, we are reaching out to everyone in our community and neighbors of all faiths to come hear the prayers for Haiti. Concertgoers will be asked for a $20 donation, 100% of which will go to the people of Haiti.

WHAT: Passion Cantata: Concert to Benefit the People of Haiti
WHEN: Saturday, March 20 2010 (5:30 Vespers service; 7:30 Concert)
WHERE: Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection
59 East Second Street (between First & Second Avenues)

The Save Ray's clothing and accessories line

East Village resident Conrad Oakey designed the Save Ray's logo for the flyers promoting tonight's Save Ray's benefit at the Theater For The New City on First Avenue... Oakey says the image is taken from a photo of Ray holding up the the cover of the Daily News in the days after Sept. 11, 2001...



"I got to know Ray first by becoming addicted to his frozen yogurt, then later by setting him up with Internet access," Oakey says. "I've never seen anyone take such joy in the access to the world the Web provides.

"When he told me about his troubles making rent, I started thinking about what how iconic he is ... and how having some T-shirts around to sell to his late night following would give him another revenue stream."

Now, in another fund-raising effort for Ray's, Oakey and Matt Rosen teamed up to incorporate the Save Ray's image and launch a line of Save Ray's clothing and accessories at Cafe Press. There are more than 80 items for sale. (Including the Save Ray's "classic thong.")





Rosen, who moderates the East Village Neighborhoodr blog, says Ray gets 100 percent of the "markup" on each item sold. (So, if a T-shirt has a wholesale/base cost of $8, and is sold for $12, Ray gets $4.) As Rosen notes, the benefit of using CafePress is that neither Ray or anybody else has to put up any money up front to purchase the inventory and then worry about selling it afterward. CafePress sends out checks once sales reach a certain amount.

"I'll just keep track and hand Ray the money as it comes in," Rosen says. "Hopefully this really takes off. Aside from the fund-raising aspects, it's a neat way for people to show their support."

There will be several of the clothing items available for purchase tonight at the benefit.



As for tonight, Rev. Billy and the Life After Shopping Gospel Choir will be one of the many groups performing. I asked Rev. Billy why Ray's is important to the East Village. He responded, via e-mail:

A healthy neighborhood feels good, it's funky, it's real and it's love! Our neighborhoods are not for sale: we must protect local shops like Ray's, which allow us to encounter each other and share and create stories with each other in a community!

Ray's in the Times

At the Times, Jim Dwyer checks in on the situation at Ray's. He talked with Bob Arihood... He also spoke with Arianna Gil, who helped organize the Saturday night delivery service. (Speaking of which, it's Saturday. If you need something delivered... 718-473-9636)

The headline: Not Your Banks’ Bailouts: Stores Too Loved to Fail

Anyway, here's a passage:

One recent blustery night, Maria Musial stood behind the counter at Ray’s, where she has worked since arriving from Elk, Poland, in the early 1980s.

“When I came, he was nearly the only store on the block,” Ms. Musial said. “The squat people was here. Now it’s young customers, new people.”

A friend, Bozenna, chimed in.

“They don’t like egg creams,” Bozenna said.

Read the whole article here.

[Photo by Michael Sean Edwards.]