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Henry Street Settlement – Community Day fun for all the neighbors

The “Magic Man” doing his routine to a captive audience.
The “Magic Man” doing his routine to a captive audience.
Photo by Tequila Minsky

On Saturday, popcorn, cotton candy, ring toss and other games along with a magic show and story telling ruled the afternoon for the Henry Street Settlement Community Day that brought out children and their parents and neighbors of all ages for a day of relaxation and fun.

Local politicians including Boro President Gale Brewer,  Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez and City Councilman-elect Chris Marte made an appearance. 

Tables spread out along the closed street offered information about the many programs Henry Street Settlement offers.  A wheel-of-fortune spinner provided chances at favors and masks were given out. 

Two women who represent this diverse neighborhood in Manhattan— Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez and Boro President Gale Brewer, Congresswoman Nydia are with Henry Street Settlements President David Garza.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Daso El Afro Caribeno Band mesmerized the crow.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)

This settlement house has a long and proud history having begun in the late 1800s to offer health care to the industrial poor immigrants of the neighborhood. Over the years the service to the neighborhood has broadened. 

Henry Street hosts a broad swath of programs that serve pre-schoolers to seniors. Education, sports and recreation, senior services, health and wellness, transitional and supportive housing and employment are among the services Henry Street offers the Lower East Side. 

Their ATTAIN (Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking) laboratory offers free access to the Internet and free computer training to members of the community. Due to COVID, these Lab classes are being held virtually at the present time.  Other Henry Street programs are also being conducted on-line. 

Daso El Afro Caribeno Band mesmerized the crow.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
The cello in Daso El Afro Caribeno Band is a welcome addition to the Latin rhythms and melodies.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
The percussion of Daso El Afro Caribeno Band.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)

Henry Street Settlement’s commitment to the arts is apparent with its Abrons Arts Center on Grand Street built in 1975. Adjacent to its national landmark the Harry De Jur Playhouse,  Abrons presents performances, exhibitions, educational programs and residencies. 

A home for contemporary interdisciplinary arts in this Lower East Side neighborhood, the Abrons Center is a core program of Henry Street that believes that access to the arts is essential to a free and healthy society. 

Spirits were not dampened during Saturday’s overcast—rain threatened but did not occur—day. Folks were inspired to dance by DJ Tra$e  who kept the beat going all afternoon and rocked Henry Street with his 80s and 90s musical mash-ups. 

The mid-afternoon performance from Daso El Afro Caribeno Band —that’s Afro Latin Caribbean soul—provided the pure joy which comes with live melodies and rhythms. The band’s cello adds even greater dimension to its feet stomping Latin sound. 

The beats of DJ Tra$e inspired moving and groving.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
The beats of DJ Tra$e inspired moving and groving.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Councilman-elect Chris Marte with Debbie Cox who organized the whole day.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
DJ Tra$e inspired moving and grooving.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Moving and grooving.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
The “Magic Man” doing his routine to a captive audience.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Art work, one of the many fun activities of the day.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
An animated “Magic Man” captivates the children.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Ices and ice cream are part of the afternoon.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
What’s a summer afternoon without ice cream?(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
This fellow loves his face painting.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Art work, one of the many fun activities of the day.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Face painting of all sorts.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Ring toss for the children.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Ring toss for the children.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Rosalinde Block with her charmingly illustrated book.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
The wheel of favors— just take a spin.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)
Cotton candy fun.(Photo by Tequila Minsky)