Chalk/LES to Kick Off Lower East Side History Month with Sidewalk Chalkings
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Starting tomorrow, the local streets will be chalked with memories as part of the first annual Lower East Side History Month. Just in time for the end of this deluge. Chalk/LES is a three-day community engagement project that encourages passersby to sketch trivia, memories, or random musings about the neighborhood in open spaces. It’s certainly a similar endeavor to the Triangle Shirtwaist commemoration each year.
The project continues into Saturday, when a dozen local organizations will host sidewalk-chalking sites, encouraging passersby to participate and write their own stories and images of the LES onto the concrete. Participating organizations include: the New Museum, First Street Green, City Lore, East Village Community Coalition, Museum of Urban Reclaimed Space, and Metropolitan Playhouse.
Chalk/LES culminates on Sunday with the Picnic on the Pier event at Pier 42. All are invited to brown bag it for an afternoon of family activities, live music, and dancing.
While the Chalk/LES campaign launches with good intentions, don’t be surprised to see the requisite inappropriate chalkings … like penises.
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