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Sandy’s Victims – How You Can Help

New Yorkers are already helping out their neighbors in truly local fashion—hosting pizza parties, organizing concerts for every musical appetite and peddling T-shirts to raise money for relief efforts.

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Craig Ruttle / AP Photo
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Nearly three weeks after Hurricane Sandy wrought widespread destruction across the northeast, some of New York’s hardest-hit regions like the Rockaways, Red Hook and Coney Island remain crippled, without power or basic necessities. President Obama toured the most devastated areas on Nov. 15. “I’m very proud of you, New York,” he said. “You guys are tough.”

Obama’s visit revealed how much rebuilding remains to be done, but New Yorkers are already helping out their neighbors in truly local fashion—hosting pizza parties, organizing concerts for every musical appetite and peddling T-shirts to raise money for relief efforts.

Craig Ruttle / AP Photo
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For relief groups like Occupy Sandy to local politicians to ordinary New Yorkers, the Amazon wedding registry has emerged as a clever workaround to get much-needed supplies such as diapers, batteries and flashlights to the areas that need them most. have This impromptu network of registries has helped solve a familiar problem for disaster-relief volunteers: what’s needed most, and where should I give?

Anyone can log on to one of the registries and send cleaning materials, warm clothes, and even portable generators to various distribution centers in New York and New Jersey. Prices range from about $2 to $200. Those who have to pay high shipping costs are encouraged to call Amazon for refund options.

Hurricane Sandy Relief Foundation and Hurricane Sandy Victims' Wedding Registry

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2. Roberta’s Pizza Party for the Rockaways ($30)

New Yorkers don’t need another excuse to binge on pizza, but popular Brooklyn pizzeria Roberta’s is hosting a pizza party in its garden on Nov. 16 to raise money for Rockaways relief efforts. The restaurant, which sells pizzas with names like “Errday I’m Brusselin” (brussels sprouts, lemon and scallion), is selling $30 tickets for a dinner of pizza and beer. Partygoers also can also sign up to volunteer in the Rockaways, and raffle tickets will be sold for various prizes to raise extra money for the battered community. The event is co-hosted by Heritage Radio Network and Van’s shoes.

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Two of New York’s most popular—and perennially booked—restaurants are hosting tasting-menu events to help Governor, a new restaurant in the Brooklyn neighborhood of DUMBO, get back on its feet after it sustained severe damaged during Sandy. The restaurant was flooded with four feet of water, ruining its floors, kitchen equipment and all inventory.

Eleven Madison Park, one of the few restaurants in New York to be awarded three Michelin stars, is hosting a seven-course dinner on Nov. 20 for a minimum donation of $250. The menu includes delicacies such as caviar with brown-butter ice cream and prawn crackers with sea urchin, and all proceeds will go directly to rebuilding Governor. Act fast! Only fifty seats are available.

Another acclaimed New York restaurant, Momofuku, is hosting a six-course lunch at its new cocktail bar, Booker and Dax, with all proceeds going directly to Governor. The lunch, which costs $325 for six courses with beverage pairings, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17. 

Eleven Madison Park: $250 minimum donation

Momofuku: $325

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4. Gift Certificates for the Red Hook Lobster Pound ($28-1000)

The Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook sustained some of the most extensive damage from Sandy, with many homes and businesses destroyed in five-foot floodwaters. Favorite local eatery the Red Hook Lobster Pound lost all its inventory, and its equipment, walls and floors were destroyed. The owners are now ++selling gift certificates++ [http://smallknot.com/red-hook-lobster-pound] ranging from $28 (chick) to $1,000 (lobstar). Once the restaurant gets back on its feet, those who purchase gift certificates can redeem their cards for lobster dinners, tickets to the Lobster Pound’s eventual re-opening party, and even a hug and kiss from the owners.

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5. All-Star Soul Cycle Rides and T-Shirts ($38)

Perhaps only New Yorkers would pay $38 for a 45-minute workout session—and Soul Cycle is taking advantage of locals’ latest workout obsession for a good cause. Last week, Soul Cycle hosted several “All-Star rides”—with bikes costing up to $1,500 each—featuring celebrities like Alec Baldwin and Kelly Ripa, plus local politicians like Christine Quinn. The rides raised $100,000 for Sandy relief focused in Staten Island, the Rockaways, and Long Beach.

Soul Cycle is also selling red “Soul for the City” T-shirts—sported by the all-stars who participated in last week’s rides—at its locations across the city and online.

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6. Jersey Strong T-Shirts ($16)

After the Atlantic City boardwalk and other parts of the Jersey Shore were destroyed by Sandy, Jersey pride is as important as ever. The Hurricane Sandy Relief Organization is selling “Jersey Strong” t-shirts, featuring the outline of the state with the Red Cross symbol and a heart. We’re hoping Gov. Chris Christie has already ordered his.

The Jersey t-shirts have already produced spin-offs, also sold through the Hurricane Sandy Relief Organization. New Yorkers and Staten Islanders can have their own “Strong Island” or “New Strong City” shirts, also for $16.

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7. 12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief ($TBD)

Superstars from Paul McCartney to Bruce Springsteen to Kanye West will appear in the upcoming 12.12.12 Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 12.

The Concert is hosted by the same folks who brought New York the 9/11 benefit “Concert for New York City”—Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the Weinstein Company and the Madison Square Garden Company.

All proceeds from the concert will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which was started after Sept. 11. Tickets and prices have not yet been announced, but updates can be found on the event’s Facebook page. Other artists on the lineup include Jon Bon Jovi, the Who, Alicia Keys and Billy Joel.

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8. Occupy Sandy Benefit Concert ($30)

If you’re in search of a slightly more low-key event, Occupy Sandy is hosting a benefit concert of acoustic performances from some of indie rock’s most popular acts, from Vampire Weekend to the Dirty Projectors.

The daytime concert will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17 in the Church of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity in Brooklyn.

Tickets are a $30 minimum donation, and only two tickets can be purchased per person. Concertgoers can sit back and relax in the church pews and listen to music from local indie darlings the Walkmen and Real Estate, among others. All proceeds go to Occupy Sandy.

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9. Electronic Dance Music Benefit ($20)

The benefit concerts keep on coming! The Gramercy Theater in Manhattan is hosting an electronic dance music concert, with 100 percent of profits going to the Red Cross for Sandy relief. The concert will be held on Monday, Nov. 19, and the lineup includes the Crystal Method and Tommie Sunshine. Tickets are $20 and more artists will be announced over the weekend.