***RAIN DATE JUNE 11*** A new outdoors summer series of art and food at the iconic gateway of the Manhattan Bridge in Chinatown, NYC. Think!Chinatown (T!C) is kicking off a new summer series of art and food at the iconic gateway of the Manhattan Bridge. This new open-air cultural festival will debut an art installation lightbox showcasing Chinatown-focused programming. “Chinatown Nights” is presented in partnership with Neighborhoods Now and Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE).
The program will feature a T!C tribute to Corky Lee, Grand Rising, a fashion story by Black Gotham Experience, the latest season of The Art of Storytelling by T!C, and a film short from Asian CineVision. As part of the Coalition of Asian Pacific American (CAPA)’s heritage month festival, AAPI organizations will be highlighted throughout the evening.
As the pilot installment of a recurring monthly incubation program to support local vendors, bring more foot traffic into Chinatown during weekday evenings, and help make underutilized city spaces more welcoming and accessible to the public. Chinatown Nights will evolve into a fuller program of art and food concessions with live public performances, but as many health safety protocols are still in place, the event in May will be starting at a smaller scale.
***We’re now completely out of advance reservation tickets, but don’t worry! You can still join us for our summer series kick off at 10pm or 10:30pm as these slots are completely reserved for walk-ins. There will also be a limited amount of walk-in tickets for each session and also an unticketed standing area. Thank you for your understanding as we do our best to hold a community event while many pandemic restrictions are still in place.***
Due to pandemic restrictions, limited occupancy and safety measures will be enforced. Chinatown Nights is a free ticketed event. Limited standby tickets will be available, online reservations will be open soon.
In case of rain, the event will be postponed. Those holding reservations for May 28th will receive priority in registering for the event on the rain date when it is announced.
About Think!Chinatown
Think!Chinatown is an intergenerational non-profit supporting what we love about Manhattan’s Chinatown. Through the arts, storytelling, and neighborhood engagement, we are here to listen, to respond, and to build Chinatown's capacities as a strong & vibrant immigrant neighborhood of NYC. Learn more at: www.thinkchinatown.org
About the partners:
Chinatown Nights is made possible by the Neighborhoods Now program, a collaboration of Urban Design Forum and Van Alen Institute. Local design studio, Leroy Street Studios, along with the offices of di Domenico + Partners, Buro Happold, Fried Frank all contributed pro-bono staff time to design the festival’s installations and coordinate the logistics and permitting necessary for this community event to happen.
About Neighborhoods Now
Launched by the Urban Design Forum and Van Alen Institute, Neighborhoods Now, a COVID-19 response initiative that connects New York City’s hard-hit neighborhoods with coalitions of architects, designers, engineers, lawyers, and planners providing pro bono expertise.
About Asian Americans For Equality
Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) is a non-profit organization based in New York City that has become one of the city’s leading housing, social service and community development organizations. AAFE strives for a more equitable city through research, advocacy and grassroots community organizing.
About Black Gotham Experience
Black Gotham Experience (BGX) creates spaces to reimagine the African Diaspora through experiences rooted in art, education, and community. By bringing people together to share and create the stories that have been missing from history, BGX highlights how the past is present in our lives from these collective experiences at the intersection of aesthetics and scholarship.
About Asian CineVision
Asian CineVision (ACV) is a media arts nonprofit devoted to the development, exhibition, promotion, and preservation of Asian and Asian American experiences through storytelling. Our mission is to nurture and grow the community of makers and enthusiasts of Asian and Asian American independent film, television, and digital.
About Neighborhoods Now
Launched by the Urban Design Forum and Van Alen Institute,Neighborhoods Now is a COVID-19 response initiative that connects New York City’s hard-hit neighborhoods with coalitions of architects, designers, engineers, lawyers, and planners providing pro bono expertise.