A 2019 Bushwick Block Party

And there is a House of YES Block Party going on in New York City on this day as I type this blagh post. And even though I didn’t make it to that block party, I did manage to make it an 8th Annual BUSHWICK COLLECTIVE Block Party that was a block away from that House of YES Block Party in that neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn to be found in that city of New York, in an attempt to vend those #blacklivesmatter, #notmypresident, #occupywallstreet, #nopolicestate, #berniesanders, #yoga, #bushwick, #brooklyn and #iloveny necklaces, magnets, key chains and pins for $2 each at, well, during, this block party and that Bushwick Art Crawl that was a block away from this Bushwick Collective Block Party as well. And if I must blagher say, one thing that particularly stuck in my mind was a sign that read “bushwick collective exploits artists plus community’ that was seen while vending that jewelry at, well during, that block party on this day, that finds itself posted in one of those photos above. And the rain held off on this day for those block parties yesterday, though not exactly for House of YES Block Party today, as it just started raining as I type this blog post and their block party seems to have turned into a rain dance in a 15 minute downpour. And what else is there that I can blagher say about these New York City events that has not already been said in blogger time except what those Facebook event descriptions say. And that Bushwick Art Crawl Facebook event reads something like: 

A FREE art festival in the public space in Bushwick, on Wyckoff Ave, and surrounding art studios, galleries, pop ups centered around the JEFFERSON L TRAIN STOP.

We invite the community to IMMERSE into celebrating art with the many artists studios, local music talent, performance art, live art, body painting, installations, a creative experience that sparks new bonds and reshapes the neighborhood! Organized by Arts in Action Corporation, non profit for the Arts

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bushwick-art-crawl-tickets-61325600522 

To participate/register with Art work, as performer, music or creative activities, visit http://artsinactionorg.net, all registration forms are there 

And that 8th Annual BUSHWICK COLLECTIVE Block Party Facebook event reads something like: 

– FREE COMMUNITY EVENT – 

VIP access available on @eventbrite on 4/20

LIVE STREET ART • LIVE MUSIC • BEER GARDEN • DJs • B-BOY DANCERS • MERCHANT VENDORS • FOOD TRUCKS • GIVEAWAYS • FREE PRODUCT SAMPLING • And MANY MANY more announcements COMING SOON 

And with the exception of that “bushwick collective exploits artists plus community’ sign seen during this Bushwick Collective Block Party and Bushwick Art Crawl, this block party rocked. Have a great New York City Block Party day and more.

A Squatter's Opera

And so the The 32nd Annual Loisaida Festival, the 24th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts and a host of other festivals and events happened this past Memorial Day weekend in that city of New York. And it was at that 24th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts that I found myself at as one of those sign holders in Deb Lee's  A Squatter's Opera by Michael Shenker.  And that Facebook event invite for Theater for the New City's 24th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts reads something like as follows:

Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer and there's no more exciting way to mark the season than with a visit to the THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY's 24th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts. A FREE celebration that brings together over 70 groups for more than 270 performances. The shows reflects the neighborhood's heritage and New York City's incredible diversity. This year's theme is 2020 Vision – SAVE Our Planet, Save Our Country, a call for a green revolution and a more welcoming nation.

MAY 24 – MAY 26
Friday 6PM - 1AM
Saturday NOON - 6PM Outside, 6PM - 1AM Inside
Sunday 6 PM - 1 AM

As Crystal Field, Executive Director puts it, "Art cannot move mountains, but it can move minds."

And Deb Lee's A Squatter's Opera by Michael Shenker Facebook event invite reads something like as follows:


A SQUATTER’S OPERA - brought to you by Deb Lee

In the 1980’s before RENT, Michael Shenker created A SQUATTER’S OPERA, a gritty history of Squatting and our fight for the right to Housing on the Lower East Side. Originally performed in 1992 at TNC as the four-song cycle LIVE FREE OR DIE!, tonight we present one of these songs aptly named…Live Free or Die. Stay tuned for the full production in the future! This is a FREE event.

Writer & Composer: Michael Shenker 

Co-Directors: Elizabeth Ruf Maldonado, Deb Lee, Anne “An Address” Edris, Dara Wishingrad 

Musical Director: Elizabeth Ruf Maldonado

Musicians: Elizabeth Ruf Maldonado, Piano; Karl Bateman, Guitarist; Eric Blitz, Drummer

Singers: Joanie Fritz Zosike, Robert Hieger, Frank Morales, Marta VI, Karl Rosenstein, Elizabeth Ruf Maldonado, J. Gonzalez-Blitz, Kara Madeline, Wolfie and Alfie Rogers

Choreographer: Elizabeth Ruf Maldonado

Artists: Seth Tobocman, Anne “An Address” Edris, Rolando Politi, Fly!, Kathy Creutzburg, Jordan Worley, Aaron Sinifit

Sign-Holders: Barbara Lee, Carla Cubit, Ali Rogers, Ann "An Address" Edris, Fly!, Rolando Politi, Pete Missing? Ray of Rays Candy Store?, and many more fine folks to be confirmed.

Film Crew: Simeon Rose, Stefan Harshman, Paul DeRienzo
PA: Karen Souza

And if I must blogger say, Ray of Ray's Candy Store left his store and he was there holding a sign also. And as one of those sign holders in that Squatter Opera, I didn't exactly get to take photos of the actual performance, though Eden posted

Part of the squatter opera tonight at theatre for the new city. pic.twitter.com/YyP0GKutej

— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) May 27, 2019

a video of the play on her twitter page and Barbara Robin Lee's choir mate took a photo of the performance that finds itself posted in one of those photos above. And this Squatter Opera scene rocked and was really cool. And so what else is there that I can say about this Lower East Side Festival of the Arts and Squatter Opera that has not already been said in blogger time except have a great festivals day and more. Housing Is A Human Right. Live Free Or Die. Squat The World.

Tompkins Square MAY DAY!

It was cold and rainy on that next to the last day of April, a few days before MAY DAY 2019. that I found myself attempting to vend those #blacklivesmatter, #notmypresident, #occupywallstreet, #nopolicestate, #berniesanders, #yoga, #squat, #morus, #theshadow, #brooklyn #tompkinssquarepark, #eastvillage #lowereastaide, #manhattan and #iloveny necklaces, magnets, key chains and pins for $1 each on a drum set kit, makeshift vendor table next to Kelley and her really cool Police State cassette tapes she was selling, at another one of The Shadow"s Tompkins Square MAY DAY! concerts at Tompkins Square Park, before Chris came with the merchandise tables for The Shadow and all of the other bands merchandise.  And I have blaghed about May Day before on this blagh many times in times past and could almost just recycle the same post over and over as each holiday year rolls around.  And the rain held off for most of the concert. And Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council  held a May Day in the Park 2019 on this day as well with lots of good food and their Facebook event invite read something like

"Guess who's back! Join radicals and anti-fascists from across the city for a fun, sunny day of free food, talks, games, crafts, sunbathing, zine-reading, face-painting, daydreaming, hand-holding and more as we celebrate May Day, community, radical life and the dream of a world where we can one day enjoy the commons every day! This year we will have childcare accommodations. "

And then there was Food Not Bombs sharing good vegetarian food as well during  the concert hours. And so the bands played music, music and more music, and everyone danced, danced and damced some more until  the concert hours ended and another MayDay concert in the park has come to pass.  And there is to be more Shows in Tompkins Square Park this coming season.  And a host of other May Day events in the New York City area as well.

And the band played on.  Have a great May Day and more.