Jefferson Market Library and Garden combo benefit rakes in green

Jul 22, 2023

BY THE VILLAGE SUN | The inaugural Blooms and Books benefit raised healthy bucks for both the Jefferson Market Library and Jefferson Market Garden.

Supported by local businesses and residents, and helped by the star power of Jessica Sarah Parker, the April 30 event was successful despite the rainy weekend. The money will be split — half for the library, half for the garden — going to fund special community programs at both.

The crowd mingled on the library's second floor, enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvres as a jazz band played overhead on a footbridge spanning the spacious room. The plan had been for an outdoor shindig, but the weather didn't cooperate.

Some historical figures dropped by the festivities, including Mae West. The saucy actress was hauled into the historic building in 1926 when it was a courthouse, after authorities accused her Broadway show "Sex" of "obscene exhibition." West was fined $500 and sentenced to 10 days mopping the floors on Welfare Island.

Andy Warhol also made the scene, snapping photos of the benefit's beautiful people, meaning all of them. His connection to the library was that Valerie Solanas, the man-hating author of the "SCUM Manifesto," shot and nearly killed the Pop Art icon in 1968, after which she was held at the Women's House of Detention, which formerly sat on the garden's property.

Also at the benefit, Edgar Allan Poe, who used to live nearby on W. Third Street, held court down in the basement amid the space's red-brick archways. Poe was actually Campbell Harmon, a historical reenactor, who recited Poe's entire lengthy poem "The Raven."

"I hope that house is being taken good care of by the current owners," he said. Actually, N.Y.U. demolished the structure two decades ago for a new law school building, though did create a facsimile exterior; Poe-themed events are occasionally held there.

Parker was unfortunately unable to make the actual event. But actor John Leguizamo and many of his family members were there. His new TV miniseries, "Leguizamo Does America," had just recently launched. Writer Calvin Trillin also attended.

The evening was spearheaded by Elizabeth Butson, the garden's chairperson. She, fittingly, proclaimed it a huge success.

Part of the haul included a painting of the garden by Eric Leichtung that was raffled for $900, plus $3,000 in other raffle tickets. Raffle items included a private tour of the library's tower, a designer necklace and a Citarella gift basket.

"This was really a great community effort — I would say, ‘community response’ to the library and the garden," Butson said afterward. "The garden and library have had a great relationship historically and currently. So we really felt that our annual fundraiser, the profits would be split between the library and garden. And it's important that they be able to flourish for the next generation to come. This event showed the worth. People came out, even on a rainy Sunday."

Wine, food and flowers for the event were all donated.