MANHATTAN — 'Tis the season for arts, crafts and street food.
The streets of Greenwich Village, SoHo and the West Village will fill with street fairs and block parties as temperatures rise. DNAinfo.com New York checked out the events Community Board 2 has cleared to set up on west side streets.
Friday, May 18
Christopher Street Block & Merchant Association Street Fair: This annual fair will be held on Christopher Street between Seventh Avenue South and Hudson Street.
West Village Nursery School Block Party: A day of activities for kids in celebration of the Horatio Street cooperative nursery school's 50th anniversary will take place on Horatio Street between Washington and Greenwich streets.
Saturday, May 19
Caring Community Block Party: The Greenwich Village senior citizen service organization The Caring Community will set up on Waverly Place between Sixth Avenue and University Place. The 20 Over 60 Senior Art Show is part of the festivities. The juried show will be on display at 20 Washington Square South May 18 to 25.
Ye Olde Village Fair: Craft sellers and food vendors will set up on Barrow Street between Bedford and Hudson streets for this 19th annual fair by the Bedford Barrow Commerce Block Association.
Sunday, May 20
Fine Art and Designer Crafts on Bleecker: This fundraiser for the Greenwich Village Youth Council, which coordinates activities and counseling services for at-risk youth, will be held on Bleecker Street between Bank and Christopher streets.
Thursday, May 24 through Sunday, June 3
St. Anthony of Giovinazzo Feast: A street procession and a wide range of Italian food items are highlights of the feast on Mulberry Street between Broome and Spring streets.
Saturday, June 2
Jane Street Block Association Street Sale: This event is one part yard sale and one part arts and crafts fair, according to the Greenwich Village Block Associations website. It will be held on Jane Street between Eighth Avenue and Hudson Street.
Morton Street Block Party: This event has CB2 backing to be held on Morton Street between Bedford and Hudson streets.
Sunday, June 3
World Science Festival Street: This "ultimate science street fair" will have interactive science exhibits for adults and children. "Visit a telepathy lab and control a computer just by thinking about it, learn the science tricks to shooting perfect free-throws with NBA stars, create your own fragrance at the Smell Lab, ride a square-wheeled tricycle and much more!" the event's website said. It will be held on LaGuardia Place between Washington Square South and West 3rd Street, Washington Square South between Sullivan Street and Washington Square East and West 4th Street between Washington Square East and Mercer Street.
Saturday, June 16
Village Reform Democratic Club Waverly Place Festival: Vendors will set up shop on Washington Square North between University Place and Fifth Avenue and Waverly Place between Broadway and University Place.
Saturday, June 23
Our Lady of Pompeii Church Bleecker Street Festival: The church on Carmine Street west of Sixth Avenue will host vendors on Sixth Avenue between West Houston Street and Waverly Place.
Saturday, June 30
Bleecker Area Merchants' and Residents' Association Bleecker Street Festival: This year's fair by the Greenwich Village association will be held on Bleecker Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway.
Sunday, July 15
Astor Place Festival: This year's event, hosted by the Women’s Democratic Club, will set up on Astor Place between Broadway and Lafayette Street.
Saturday, August 11
Village Visiting Neighbors University Place Festival: The Village nonprofit Visiting Neighbors, which helps seniors keep their independence through help from volunteers, has CB2 approval to host a street fair on University Place between Waverly Place and East 14th Street.
The Mulberry Street Mall, which ran between Canal and Broome streets on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day starting in 1995, was denied CB2 backing for a permit this year following accusations that its organizer, the Little Italy Merchants Association, filed phony petitions in support of a request to extend the event.
The historic Feast of San Gennaro, which includes music, religious processions and a cannoli-eating competition, is scheduled to be held on Mulberry Street between Houston and Canal streets from September 13 to September 23.
CB2 recommended approval of the preceding permit applications at full board meetings Jan. 25, Feb. 23 and March 22, meeting records show.
Street fairs and block parties approved by the city's community boards must receive final clearance from the Street Activity Permit Office before the festivities. Permits are issued approximately a week or two before the events, a SAPO spokeswoman said.
