🌱 East River Park Demolition + Hester St. Burglars At Large

Happy Friday, Lower East Side-Chinatown! I am your host, Patrick Murray bringing you two fresh stories as we head into the weekend.

First, today's weather:

Windy with a high of 41 and a low of 11.

Here are the top stories in Lower East Side-Chinatown today:

1. The demolition of East River Park has been underway for some time now, and the once lush green space is growing more bare with each passing week. Construction began on a phased schedule, and the park is now sealed off from Houston Street to Corlears Hook. Attractions such as the tennis courts, some basketball courts, and the beloved amphitheater have been torn down along with most of the park's trees. (Bowery Boogie)
2. Police are searching for a group of men in their mid-20s who committed a string of burglaries on or near Hester Street. This string of robberies of grocery stores and apartments occurred in early December, and the suspects remain at large. The NYPD released surveillance photos and video of the alleged suspects from the location of the first incident. (The Village Sun)

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Today in Lower East Side-Chinatown:

• "Winter Wind" screening at The Metrograph. (2 p.m.)
• "Tequila Sunrise" screening at The Metrograph. (4 p.m.)
• NYC Winter Jazzfest at Mercury Lounge. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Rockland at Animal Haven is still looking for a home! (Facebook)
• Grand St. Settlement: "Assembly Member Harvey Epstein's office is distributing at-home COVID-19 tests this Friday, Jan. 14." (Facebook)
• Lower East Side-Chinatown weekend weather forecast. (Lower East Side-Chinatown Patch)
• Lower East Side throwback photo from Union Square. (Facebook)

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• FREE WEBINAR | “Romanesque Architecture in Tuscany” Presented by Dr. Rocky Ruggiero (January 18)
• Happy Time Apocalypse (January 18)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update!

— Patrick Murray