The 4th annual LUNGS Theater Festival takes place this weekend

The fourth annual LUNGS (Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens) Theater Festival is this weekend — weather permitting — at the 6th Street and Avenue B Garden. 

The free performances start at noon on both Saturday and Sunday. (Note: The program is the same each day.) For a detailed preview, visit the LUNGS website here. 

Joseph Papp began the outdoor theater tradition on the Lower East Side in 1956 when he introduced "Shakespeare in the Park" in the (now-demolished but being rebuilt) East River Park Amphitheater.

In 2022, LUNGS continued this part of his legacy with the free Summer Theater Festival.

A celebration of East Village community gardens TODAY

The annual Spring Awakening, postponed from last Saturday, is taking placing today.

Hosted by Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS), the event helps celebrate the neighborhood’s community gardens. There are activities during the afternoon on Avenue B between Seventh Street and Ninth Street from noon to 4 p.m., including pony rides. 

You can visit the LUNGS website for more details on the activities.

Spring Awakening takes a rain check

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Due to the risk of severe thunderstorms today, organizers are postponing some outdoor events, including the annual Spring Awakening hosted by Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) to celebrate the neighborhood’s community gardens. 

The 2025 Spring Awakening has been rescheduled from today to May 10.  

Also, as far as we know, the city's annual Car-Free Earth Day is still ago. There are activities set for Avenue B between Seventh Street and Ninth Street, and Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery.

The 13th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival continues through Sunday

Here's a reminder that the 13th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival continues through Sunday at dozens of East Village/LES community gardens.

Check the LUNGS website here for the day-by-day, garden-by-garden schedule. 

Explore neighborhood community gardens during the 13th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival

The 13th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival begins tomorrow night (Friday, Sept. 20). 

This year's festival, which runs through Sept. 29, includes 10 days of free activities at dozens of East Village/LES community gardens. Each garden features various performances, concerts, workshops, and other related events. Check the LUNGS website here for the day-by-day, garden-by-garden schedule. 

The opening night event at La Plaza Cultural on the SW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street starts at 6 ... showcasing Avon Faire, performing traditional Celtic and English folk songs, and Source and Abdoulaye Diabate, providing "a vibrant and danceable mix of music of Guinea and Mali with a jazz inflection."

The 3rd annual LUNGS Theater Festival takes place this weekend

The third annual LUNGS (Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens) Theater Festival is this weekend at the 6th Street and Avenue B Garden. 

The free performances are scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. (Note: The program is the same each day.) For a detailed preview, visit the LUNGS website here. 

Joseph Papp began the outdoor theater tradition on the Lower East Side in 1956 when he introduced "Shakespeare in the Park" in the (now-demolished) East River Park Amphitheater. 

In 2022, LUNGS continued this part of his legacy with the free Summer Theater Festival.

Earth Day extravaganza: A celebration of East Village community gardens this Saturday

On Earth Day this coming Saturday, Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) is hosting its annual Spring Awakening to celebrate the neighborhood's community gardens. 

Details!

Our parade begins at noon from El Sol Brillante, 522 E.12th St., between Avenue A and Avenue B. It will feature our Tree Goddess, Batalá, Stiltwalkers, and more. The parade will travel east on 12th Street, south on Avenue C, west on Sixth Street, north on Avenue A, enter Tompkins Square Park at Seventh Street, and end on Avenue B and Ninth Street. 

Several EV community gardens will host events throughout the afternoon, from workshops to live performances. Check this link for a schedule to date.

The Spring Awakening coincides with the 2024 debut of activities on the Loisaida Open Streets, where a slate of events is held throughout the day on Avenue B between Eighth Street and 10th Street. This is part of the citywide Car-Free Earth Day. 
 

The 12th annual Harvest Arts Festival starts Saturday in East Village community gardens

Updated: Due to the rainy forecast, the opening-night party is now on Saturday at 6 p.m. — still at LaPlaza...

The 12th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival gets underway tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 29)  Saturday night at 6. 

This year's festival, which runs through Oct. 8, includes 10 days of free activities at dozens of East Village/LES community gardens, each featuring various performances, concerts, workshops and other related events. Check the LUNGS website here for the day-by-day, garden-by-garden schedule. 

The opening night party at La Plaza Cultural on the SW corner of Avenue C and Ninth Street features jazz standards from Trio Daphne and "Blue Note Americana" from Kid Java.

Check out 6 plays written and performed by local artists at the 6th and B Garden

 

The second annual LUNGS Theater Festival takes place this weekend at the 6th Street and Avenue B Garden.

The free performances are from 3-6 p.m. each day. Note: The program is the same today and tomorrow.

Earth Day activities in East Village community gardens and along the Open Street of Avenue B

Today. Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) is hosting its annual Spring Awakening to celebrate the neighborhood's community gardens. 

The activities get underway with a parade at 11 a.m. at El Sol Brillante, 522 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. Hit this link for a list of garden events.

There are also activities along the Open Street of Avenue B between Seventh Street and Ninth Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ...

 

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Awakenings: A celebration of East Village community gardens this Saturday

On Earth Day this coming Saturday, Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) is hosting its annual Spring Awakening to celebrate the neighborhood's community gardens.

Per the LUNGS website:

Spring Awakening kicks off with our parade led by Batalá, through the Streets beginning at 11 a.m. at El Sol Brillante, 522 E. 12th St. between Avenues A and B, walking east to Avenue C, south on Avenue C to Seventh Street, west on Seventh to Tompkins Square Park, meandering through the Park and ending at Avenue B and Ninth Street.

Some of the individual community gardens will be hosting events throughout the afternoon. Check this link for details.

Last weekend for the annual Harvest Arts Festival

We're into the final weekend for the 11th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival...  where you can find activities at dozens of East Village/LES community gardens, each featuring various performances, concerts, workshops and other related events. 

Check the LUNGS website here for the day-by-day, garden-by-garden schedule.  

The annual Harvest Arts Festival starts tomorrow in East Village community gardens

The 11th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival gets underway tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 7). 

This year's 9-day festival includes activities at dozens of East Village/LES community gardens, each featuring various performances, concerts, workshops and other related events. Check the LUNGS website here for the day-by-day, garden-by-garden schedule. 

The opening-night festivities are at La Plaza Cultural on the SW corner of Ninth Street and Avenue C... featuring "LGBTQ performers highlighting famed artists from the legendary Apollo Theater, with guest MC Lee Soldier Simmons." The show starts at 6:30 p.m.

These 2 community gardens are hosting a free summer theater festival

In 1956, Joseph Papp began the outdoor theater tradition on the Lower East Side when he introduced "Shakespeare in the Park" in the (now-demolished) East River Park Amphitheater. 

This month, LUNGS (Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens) continues this tradition with the free LUNGS Summer Theater Festival in two East Village community gardens. 

Via the EVG inbox... 

The theme of the 2022 Festival is Mother Earth/Nature. 

The festival will present six 30-minute plays performed in two community gardens. Three plays will be performed on Saturdays, June 4 & 11 at 6B Garden, on the corner of Avenue B and Sixth Street ... and three different plays will be presented on Sundays, June 5 & 12 at Green Oasis Garden, 370 E. Eighth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D. 

A set of three plays will be performed twice on Saturdays from 2-7 p.m., and twice on Sundays from 2-7 p.m. Each program will be repeated the following weekend, Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12.

This inaugural Theater Festival is curated by Penny Arcade, Erez Ziv, Riki Colon, Roman Primitivo Albear, Bonnie Sue Stein and Charles Krezell. 

Everyone is welcome! We are hoping for great audiences to experience Free Theater in our community gardens! 

Find more info here.

On Saturday, a Spring Awakening and Car Free Avenue B

Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) is hosting its annual Spring Awakening in honor of the neighborhood's community gardens on Saturday.

Here's more via the EVG inbox:

Join LUNGS NYC for the 9th Annual Spring Awakening. The parade kicks off from El Sol Brillante Community Garden (12th Street between A and B) at noon and continues to Avenue B Open Streets, where we'll celebrate until 5 p.m. with pop-up gardens, pony rides, presentations and more.

Avenue B will be closed between Seventh Street and 10th Street from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday as part of the citywide Car-Free Earth Day...

Among the activities on B Saturday (via this news release) ... 

• Bio Bus Lab: Scientists help participants investigate the environment through a different lens, and develop scientific reasoning skills in a mobile biology lab set-up

• Black Cowboys of Brooklyn: Children are invited to enjoy activities and pony rides from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. The Black Cowboys of Brooklyn are committed to sharing Black Cowboy culture and heritage with children in urban environments.

• Citizens' Climate Lobby: Learn about respectfully engaging elected officials, community leaders and the public on the best solutions for climate change. Children are invited to make climate change postcards.

• FABnyc/East Village Community Coalition: Participate in arts and culture workshop led by a team of artists and organizers working to preserve, strengthen, and grow the cultural vibrancy of the Lower East Side. 

• Materials for the Arts: Materials for the Arts will have a booth set up where everyone can make their own art pieces out of an inspiring selection of found objects and re-used materials including hundreds of leftover shiny CDs. People can make puppets, wands, and whatever else their imagination decides upon at this art-making station that celebrates sustainable strategies.

A night at the opera via the LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival

The 10th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival continues through Sunday in neighborhood community gardens. 

Here's one of the more unique events taking place... tomorrow (Friday!) night, dell'Arte Opera Ensemble and LUNGS present "The Great Aria Throwdown" in the Campos Community Garden on East 12th Street just west of Avenue C.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., you'll find "an hour of music at operatic proportions featuring Bahati Barton, Perri di Christina, Diana Charlop and Jeffrey Mandelbaum with Pablo Zinger at the piano."

Find the full LUNGS schedule here.

The 10th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival is underway

In case you missed our post from Wednesday... the 10th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival is underway.

This year's festival includes activities at dozens of gardens, each featuring various performances, concerts, workshops and other related events.

Check the LUNGS website here for the day-by-day, garden-by-garden schedule. There's a lot of free live music on the calendar for today (Sunday!).

The 10th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival begins on Friday evening

There are 10 days of free events in the neighborhood's community gardens connected to the 10th annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival.

This year's festival includes activities at dozens of gardens, each featuring various performances, concerts, workshops and other related events (dominos tournament!). 

The festivities begin with an opening-evening celebration at 6 at Green Oasis, 370 E. Eighth St. between Avenue C and D.

Check the LUNGS website here for the day-by-day, garden-by-garden schedule.

Saturday's parting shot

A moment from the LUNGS parade today on Avenue B in celebration of the neighborhood's community gardens... photo by Derek Berg...

A celebration of community gardens on Saturday

Loisaida United Neighborhood Gardens (LUNGS) is hosting its annual Spring Awakening in honor of the neighborhood's community gardens tomorrow (Saturday).

Per the LUNGS website:

The parade will begin at noon at El Sol Brillante, 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B, meander down Avenue C ... cross 6th Street and end up on Avenue B. 

Spring Awakening will feature a photo scavenger-treasure hunt, prizes, music, puppets, workshops, comedy and art.

Some of the individual community gardens will be hosting events throughout the afternoon. Check this link for details. 

There will also be events in the afternoon on Avenue B between Eighth Street and Ninth Street in conjunction with Loisaida Open Streets. (Yesterday, City Council made the Open Streets program permanent. More on this later.)