Benefit for Ray's Candy Store

Sliding scale $5-$15 at the door.

Ray's Candy Store is the latest neighborhood business that is under threat of eviction due to escalating rent hikes. 77 year old Ray Alvarez has had his store at 113 Avenue A for over thirty five years. Now, he is in danger of losing his home because he's finding it difficult to make the rent. His store personifies what used to be a real neighborhood place. All kinds of people from the elderly Ukrainians, the Puerto Ricans, the hippies, the punks, the yuppies and the hipsters, ecetera etc..all use Ray's Candy Store for food, cigarettes, coffee and to be down right neighborly. It's one of the rare places in the city where all can gather and all can feel welcome. This benefit is in the old rent party tradition of raising money to help one of our own to stay where he belongs, to remain an essential part of the community.

Some of the performers will be Reverend Billy and The Life After Shopping Gospel Choir, East River String Band, DJ Didi of Brazilian Girls and Blind Boy Paxton as well as other great musical artists. They are all excited and happy to give their time to help raise money for Ray's Candy Store. It promises to be a wonderful evening of giving love to a neighbor in need. Ray himself will be there with us! and some of our East Village activists. This will be an event from our beloved neighborhood to Ray, a men who has work hard and long and have give back, support, smiles, someone who has protect many of us! today we can give back to him and celebrate the spirit that still lives among us! the spirit that mayor Bloomberg and his politics want to finish, to eradicate ... We will fight against it! Lets get united to celebrate the very beautiful Ray!!! Lets have him for many more years! He'll be our strongest representation... right here in the heart of our little Villlage. please assist, collaborate, The whole East village will be there!

Contact:
Francisco Valera. 646- 288- 5901 francisco@franciscovalera.com
Barbara R. Lee 347-325-1211 Barbikat60@aol.com