Bowery Boogie | A Lower East Side Chronicle

A Well-Preserved Chico Mural

Posted: November 2, 2009 at 6:18 am

Chico has been in the local news quite a bit the past couple of weeks.  EV Grieve first reported that the Lower Eastside Girls Club commissioned the neighborhood luminary, who has since moved to Florida, to paint various messages of anti-violence.  In particular, at his prime canvas near the corner of Houston and Avenue B.  The Villager followed up the story in this week’s issue, noting that he will be painting the Rat Pack near a bar on Avenue C and Ninth Street.

That said, it’s worth visiting a longstanding Chico mural not yet corrupted by encroaching gentrification or Madison Avenue advertising interests.

Indeed, down under the scaffolding near the corner of Clinton and Henry Streets is this well-preserved memorial to “Sonny.” The heartfelt tribute reads as follows:

I’d like to leave

An echo whispering

Softly down the way

Of happy times

and laughing times

and bright and sunny days