Celebrations, Performances, & Gatherings on East 4th Street

In just one calendar year, NYTW staff, artists, friends, neighbors, and community partners gathered outside on East 4th Street for a variety of events that each echo the block’s long-standing history of artistry and community-building. Take a look back with us at all the fun we’ve had breaking bread and celebrating together, from last summer to this one!

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July 2025: Honoring Alex Harsley
Last July, NYTW honored photographer Alex Harsley, founder of the 4th St Photo Gallery, with an outdoor celebration of his work and career. Living on the block since the 1970s, Alex is known for his street photography, portraits, and focus on Black leaders in the arts, politics, and activism. During the event, neighbors and visitors meandered the street, admiring Alex’s shop and photos, watching Brigitte Barnett-Loftis present a solo performance about Alex, and connecting over food.

 

October 2025: Open Salon – Let’s Talk About Love

During NYTW’s production of Saturday Church this past fall, cast member Jackson Perry belted out a fan favorite song from the new musical outside on the block, before passing the mic to NYTW community members for our Open Salon titled “Let’s Talk About Love.” In this open-mic style event, performers delivered monologues about the theme of love, underscored live by musicians in partnership with Poetic Theatre Productions. Filling the street with laughter and thought-provoking reflections, the artists drew a crowd on one last perfect autumn evening.

Then, wrapping the calendar back around to the warm weather this May, NYTW headed outside once again, with two even bigger events.

 

May 2026: Walk the Block on East 4th Street (May Day)

First, as part of the Doris Duke Foundation’s multi-leg Creative Labor, Creative Conditions celebration on May Day, NYTW and the community on East 4th St hosted one section of the event, inviting the public to walk the block and engage with the busy street full of performances, activations, food, and joy. After remarks from special guests, including the Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs Diya Vij and Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Rafael Espinal, organizations on the block shared their history and artistry during the event through various activations.

The menu of engagements offered something for everyone, whatever their artistic taste might be. From dance pieces with Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company, Rod Rodgers Dance Company, and an artist from La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club to theatre pieces and excerpts of performances with WOW Café, Murielle Borst-Tarrant, and Modesto Flako Jimenez. For artists of all ages, Ali Rose Dachis led a finger puppet-making activity at a craft table in front of the Workshop, while visitors could also check out samples from the NYTW Archive with Nicholas Polonio, learn about the creation of costumes with NYTW’s costume shop manager Jeffrey Wallach, or watch Daniel J. Watts dip his shoes in paint and dance on a large board to create a piece of art. After walking the block, some visitors stayed the East Village longer, heading into the NYTW 4th St Theatre for the Workshop’s activation for Fall of Freedom. In partnership with National Black Theatre, the event featured the Resistance Revival Chorus who kept the energy up, before kicking off a screening of the documentary Reclaim the Flag by Bruce Cohen and Alexis Bittar.

 

May 2026: The Longest Table – A Table for Stories & Connection

Then, for our final, culminating event of the season, the Workshop closed off the street one more time to host The Longest Table. As the name of the event suggests, one long table ran down the center of the street, and around it sat dozens of NYTW community members. From program alumni to artists, to NYTW Trustees to first-time visitors, the guests all snagged a seat at the table, some food (including fried rice and dumplings from our neighbors at DokoDemo), then quickly got to know one another. Table captains, including representatives from our season-long community partners like Hetrick Martin Institute, Rod Rodgers Dance Company, and Poetry Society of New York, spread out across the table to help spark dialogue. Conversation starters turned quickly into stories and deeper discussions, and after a collective Cha Cha Slide, the crowd slowly dispersed, continuing to connect as they grabbed some more food for the road.

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Each of these events over the past year represent the ongoing creativity for which the block is known—a home for artistic freedom and new, bold work that is inventive and inclusive. These gatherings symbolize an open invitation to come walk the block at East 4th St at any time, to learn the area’s history, and by doing so, to celebrate the artists and residents who have built this vibrant community into what it is today.

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Visit East 4th Street and check out the Good Neighbor page on our website for local recommendations to eat and explore while you’re here.

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Categories: 2025/26 Season, Community Spotlight, and For The Culture. Tags: Community Spotlight, Education & Engagement, and Marty Chandler.