Chelsea Now photo by Jefferson Siegel

On Wednesday, Ellen and Allan Wexler, Chelsea residents since 1978, spent the whole day overseeing installation of their public art sculpture “Two Too Large Tables” at 29th St. in Hudson River Park. Made of two 16-foot-square planes — one 7 feet tall, the other 30 inches tall — supported by chairs and built of ipe wood and stainless steel — the two pieces serve as a shade pavilion and community table. “Because it surrounds you, you feel as if everyone’s connected,” said Allan, who was looking a bit frustrated, above, after learning he’d have to return the next day because the installation was going slower than expected.

NEWS

On the waterfront: A new park grows
By Josh Rogers and Albert Amateau
Chelsea’s waterfront is slated to get three public piers within the next few months, and long-term plans include a merry-go-round, gardens and a park for skateboard stunts.

The News

By Lori Haught
One of the oldest and largest child welfare agencies in the city, New York Foundling is located in the heart of Chelsea. It was started by the order of the Sisters of Charity in the 1860s as a place for children orphaned by the Civil War.

By Judith Wilmot
Reverend Jacob (Jake) Smith, the new Episcopal priest at Calvary/St. George’s Church, graduated from seminary in June, and was recruited to join the church staff. He and his wife, Melina, have quickly become part of the neighborhood.

By Lincoln Anderson
The Cooper Union is getting ready to demolish its Hewitt Building on Third Ave. between Sixth and Seventh Sts. and replace it with a striking new nine-story “green” building designed by architect Thom Mayne.

The World Wide Chelsea Hotel
By Vivienne Leheny
Dozens of ghosts reside at the Chelsea Hotel. Within these hallowed walls, Dylan Thomas quaffed his last drink, Sid Vicious off’d his lover Nancy, and Arthur Miller penned the aptly-titled “After the Fall.”

A marriage of mad minds
By Rachel Breitman 
Weddings bring out the romantic Romeo in some, but also the shrew, rogue, and peasant’s slave in others. With this in mind, Moonwork, a Downtown nonprofit theater company, throws together lines from half the Shakespeare canon, and adds some musical drama à la “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” to insure that “never sure was there such a mad marriage” in their new play, “Fools and Lovers.”

New media depot Rhizome celebrates 10 years
By Jennifer O’Reilly
Something flickers, and in an instant your screen has turned that sickeningly familiar shade of glowing blue.

The Odd Couple
By Leonard Quart
The New York Film Festival, taking place right now at Lincoln Center, is an extremely discerning festival, screening only about 25 feature films and a number of shorts that the selection committee feels are the best of the year.