The third time was the charm for the semi-annual fundraiser for the El Sol Brillante Garden, one of the more beautiful community gardens in the East Village.
After being rained out twice, Saturday afternoon served up perfect weather for the mix of food, music and camaraderie that went on from “noon to moon,” as they like to say. The garden, which was once the site of four buildings that were demolished in 1976, is now a lush oasis that is lovingly tended to by its members.
There are 29 plots that are the responsibility of individuals and eight of the areas are tended by the community — all with some help from some thriving beehives.
“The garden has changed tremendously since I became a member 40 years ago,” artist/scientist Alexis Adler says. “Then it was basically a rubble-filled lot with a few raised beds.”
Adler, who has tended her own plot for the last 30 years, noted that the day was “such a great feeling of community togetherness.”
Frankie Vigilante, who is currently the vice president of the garden, has been a member for 26 years and has handled the entertainment curation for the past 10 years of the get-togethers.
This edition featured local favorite “Pinc Louds,” whose very lively solo set featured his battered guitar, kalimba, lots of bubbles and a tautogram poem, a form which requires every word to start with the same letter (this time it was R).
He was followed by Michael G. Potter, who played a mix of classic rock covers and originals, Sofia Canale performing original tunes as “Worm Catcher,” Noah Whiteside (joined by David Koelker) doing his own country folk numbers, and Vigilante’s own “New Vigilantes” performing their funk rock originals.
“It was like a musical coffeehouse,” opined garden treasurer David Schultz. “It’s remarkable that Frankie finds great local musicians to play every year.”
Schultz noted that “every party is a reunion and it’s great to see younger members bringing their friends.” He guessed that a few hundred people passed through before it was over.
People took time to explore the paths and enjoy quiet corners while kids climbed on trees, blew bubbles, and in one spot, watched with fascination as a snail crawled slowly (is that redundant?) across a bench.
There was plenty of good food, donated by members and served by volunteers. Liquid refreshments included sangria, mint or lemon balm-infused water, beer, and a concoction made from stinging nettles found in the garden. We passed on the nettles (maybe next time?) and went for the minty water—it was delicious.
El Sol Brillante can be visited anytime there is a garden member present, which is pretty much any weekend (and occasionally during the week) when the weather is good.
The garden frequently hosts school trips and events such as composting lessons and sometimes free concerts which will be listed on their Instagram at @elsolbrillantegarden and on the website, elsolbrillante.org, where you can read more about the history, find out about becoming a member and, if inclined, buy one of the pretty cool t-shirts designed by Robert Butcher.
Adler and fellow artist Kuki ran the tie-dye and printmaking workshops, respectively, which resulted in some pretty fancy t-shirts and new artwork for the family refrigerator. All in all, it was a great day for everyone and especially the garden itself, which saw its bank account happily inflate.
Vigilante summed it all up, saying, “It was a wonderful conglomeration of like-minded people.”
