At the beginning of this issue of Downtown Post NYC, I quoted the beginning of a long poem by Maya Angelou that I printed out and have hanging next to my desk. It urges us to continue with courage, gratitude and compassion. If Poets House were still open, you could go there and read the rest of the poem. But of course, it's on the Internet. Here's a link to it, if you're interested.

Each issue of the newsletter takes an enormous amount of work and barely brings in enough money to cover out-of-pocket expenses, much less labor. This is discouraging but I am going to try to continue: there are things that I've wanted to tell you about. I hope you will find them useful. It would mean a lot to me if you would let me know, one way or the other.

Downtown Post NYC's website (www.DowntownPostNYC.com) is updated daily. That's the place to check for urgent messages, breaking news and reminders of interesting events in and around Lower Manhattan. So be sure to look at the website every day, especially if you want to know about breaking news.

Downtown Post NYC on Facebook: On its Facebook page, Downtown Post NYC has been providing information about the time of Governor Andrew Cuomo's daily press briefings and how to access them. DPNYC has also been highlighting some of Gov. Cuomo's announcements concerning COVID-19 statistics, reopening of various parts of the state for business and executive orders. Go to Downtown Post NYC's Facebook page by clicking here.

HOW TO SUPPORT DOWNTOWN POST NYC: I made Downtown Post NYC free to subscribers so that no one who was interested in reading it would be excluded because of cost. Downtown Post NYC is largely supported by advertising revenue. In addition, some people have made contributions, which are much appreciated. For more information about how to contribute or advertise, email editor@downtownpostnyc.com.

For 19 years, Dine Around Downtown was one of the culinary highlights of Lower Manhattan's spring and sometimes also, of the fall. Dozens of downtown restaurants would sell modestly priced samples of their wares from tents set up on what was long called Chase Manhattan Plaza at 28 Liberty St. In 20013, the real estate was acquired by a Chinese investment firm called Fosun. The name of the plaza changed, but Dine Around Downtown continued until this year, when Covid-19 did it in. No crowds allowed. But the Alliance for Downtown New York, one of the sponsors of Dine Around Downtown, was not to be deterred and created Dine Around Downtown: Cooking at Home Edition.

The Downtown Alliance enlisted James Beard Award-winning chef and New York Times-bestselling author Rocco DiSpirito as emcee for a Zoomed series that has been taking viewers behind the scenes of some Lower Manhattan restaurants where they can watch stellar chefs effortlessly working their culinary magic and ask questions. Viewers are provided with the recipes being demonstrated and are encouraged to try their hand at replicating what they see, posting photos of their plates on Instagram and tagging #DineAroundAtHome and @downtownnyc. There's a prize for this effort. The apprentice cooks could win a personal 30-minute cooking class with the featured chef.

The series launched over the summer with America's first fine dining restaurant, Delmonico's, and has since been followed with episodes featuring Gnoccheria, Taïm, Temple Court, Benares and Casa Taqueria. All previous episodes are available on YouTube.

Although the series is free, viewers are asked to contribute to a charity designated by each participating restaurant or to a fund for the restaurant's employees, who have been hard hit by reduced hours of work and restaurant closures during the pandemic. Contributions are voluntary.

Dine Around Downtown: Cooking at Home returns for a holiday special on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. featuring Seamore's executive chef Rob Eggleston making a holiday salmon roast. The limited series has also confirmed a new season starting in late January. Registration is open at downtownny.com/dinearound-at-home

LILAC is seeking donations to cover these expenses and a hoped-for move to an industrial berth for the winter where more restoration work can be undertaken. Lilac Preservation Project is a 501(c)3 public charity and all donations are tax-deductible. For more information about how to donate, click here.

Tenant Resource Fair: On Nov. 23 — the Monday before Thanksgiving— Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's office is cosponsoring a virtual Tenants Resource Fair with the Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development and local elected officials. Learn about tenant protections during the COVID-19 pandemic, including ongoing protections for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and those in rent-regulated apartments. Also learn more about the City’s affordable housing lotteries using the “Housing Connect” portal. Time: 6 p.m. Free. Click here to register for the Zoom meeting. (To download the Zoom application for Windows, MacOS, Android or iOS click here).

New web application helps NYS residents find needed social services: A new web application, "Find Services," unveiled on Nov. 16, 2020 will help New York State residents find social services that can assist with such things as rent payment, food, heat, medical care and other needs. The web application starts by asking a series of questions aimed at narrowing the field of possible services. After answering the questions, users are provided with a ranked list of potential services along with a description so that they can decide if a given service is right for them. They also receive information on how to apply.

The web application was developed at no cost to taxpayers in collaboration with Google.org. To access the application, click here.

Emergency food assistance: There are an estimated two million people (representing one-quarter of New York City's population) who currently don't have a reliable source of food. Anyone in need of emergency food assistance can call the NYC Emergency Food Line at (866) 888-8777. Among the food resources for New Yorkers are more than 200 Meal Hubs across the city where any resident can get three free "Grab and Go" meals a day. No reservation or identification is required. The Meal Hubs are open from Monday to Friday for families from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and for adults from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For information, text NYC FOOD to 877-877 or click here. People who need food delivery assistance can call 311 or go to NYC.gov/getfood on the web. Eligibility for this free service depends on there being no member of the household who can go out and get food because they are at increased medical risk or homebound and no neighbors or family members who can help. The applicant must not be receiving meal assistance from another provider and also must be unable to afford meal or grocery delivery.

Coastal storm evacuation information: The Office of Emergency Management wants New Yorkers to know that coastal storms, which include hurricanes, nor'easters, and tropical storms, can cause severe flooding, strong winds and heavy rain. Strong winds and high waters can create hazards such as falling trees, downed power lines, flying debris, and loss of heat, water and power. Be prepared and keep yourself and your family safe by using these tips.

   ◦   Know Your Zone: Areas of the city subject to storm surge flooding are divided into six evacuation zones (1 through 6) based on the risk of storm surge flooding. The City may order residents to evacuate depending on the hurricane's track and projected storm surge. Use the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder or call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) to find out if your address is located in an evacuation zone. If you live in an evacuation zone, have a plan for where you will go if an evacuation order is issued for your area. For the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder, click here.

Eviction moratorium extended: On Sept. 28, Governor Andrew Cuomo extended New York State's Tenant Safe Harbor Act through Jan. 1, 2021 to protect additional residential tenants from eviction if they are suffering financial hardship during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Executive Order extends the protections of the Tenant Safe Harbor Act to eviction warrants that existed prior to the start of the pandemic.

On Oct. 20, Cuomo signed an Executive Order extending the state's moratorium on COVID-related commercial evictions and foreclosures through Jan. 1, 2021. This measure extends protections already in place for commercial tenants and mortgagors in recognition of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on business owners, including retail establishments and restaurants. The extension of this protection gives commercial tenants and mortgagors additional time to get back on their feet and catch up on rent or their mortgage, or to renegotiate their lease terms to avoid foreclosure moving forward.

Lower Manhattan Greenmarkets: There are Lower Manhattan Greenmarkets in Tribeca (at Chambers and Greenwich Streets) and at Bowling Green, City Hall, the Oculus and the Staten Island ferry. GrowNYC asks that shoppers wear a face covering inside the market space and maintain a six-foot distance between themselves, Greenmarket staff, farm stand employees and other customers. Dogs and bicycles should be left at home.

Click here for a list of the fruits and vegetables now in season.