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Read the press release here.

Third Annual LES History Month Kicks Off With Chalking Tour

By Allegra Hobbs | April 29, 2016 2:56pm
 Show your love for the Lower East Side by joining the chalking events on May 1 and 2.
Show your love for the Lower East Side by joining the chalking events on May 1 and 2.
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LES History Month

LOWER EAST SIDE — The third annual Lower East Side History Month will kick off on Sunday with a neighborhood-wide chalking tour, inviting community members to mark up the sidewalk in honor of the cultural celebration.

Locals will add some color to the city sidewalk as they document neighborhood history and personal memories outside participating locations, starting with the First Green Street Park at 10 a.m. The two-day event is an homage to the neighborhood’s storied history, said an organizer. 

“The Lower East Side has a very long history and tradition of artists living here, working here, and being activists,” said Denise Shu Mei of Fourth Arts Bock. “Art is definitely a big central figure of the culture here.”

The two-day chalking tour will continue on May 2 at 9 a.m., beginning at the Downtown Art space at 61 E. Fourth Street.

Attendees of both days will be treated to breakfast from local eateries, with bagels supplied by Kossar’s and coffee from MUD.

A full list of participating locations can be seen on the event’s website. Anyone interested in participating can email organizer Ryan Gilliam at ryan@downtownart.org. 

The month-long celebration will continue with a series of performances, talks, and exhibitions hosted by local institutions, all leading up to the LES Community Heroes Awards on May 26, where local unsung heroes will be honored in a ceremony, said Shu Mei.

For the first time, the annual event will include a volunteer fair on May 14, giving locals looking to lend a hand a chance to connect with community organizations in need of volunteers. 

The fair, aimed to strengthen the community through civic engagement, will take place at the Manny Cantor Center at 197 E. Broadway from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.