The exhibition Sound & Vision goes live at Morrison Gallery Jan. 22.
The work of visionary David Bowie is being celebrated at Morrison Hotel Gallery, with Sound & Vision, a web-exclusive Bowie retrospective as seen through the singular lens of Mick Rock. The exhibition goes live January 22nd at morrisonhotelgallery.comand select works from it will be on view at Morrison Hotel Gallery’s New York City location, at 116 Prince Street.
This online exhibition explores the enduring, collaborative masterworks of two prolific artists spanning more than 30 years. From Rock’s renowned imagery of a bombastic Bowie to rarely-seen moments of unmasked intimacy, Sound & Vision offers a captivating and comprehensive look into the proliferation of a beloved icon and the fundamental role photography plays in capturing the staying power of thin air.
Rock is often considered “The Man Who Shot the 1970s,” and the iconic lensmen had privileged access to Bowie. Rock met Bowie in 1972 and became his official photographer for a time, shooting some of the most defining images of Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust finery. Rock also produced and directed the music videos for Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” “Jean Genie” and “John, I’m Only Dancing.” Rock passed away on November 18, 2021, and this retrospective will unveil rare pictures and feature renowned works from the legendary British photographer’s archive.
Local eateries made the best of a bad situation back in the cold, cold winter months with an excuse to try out all the first-rate dining rooms with the generous deals found during Restaurant Week: Two- and three-course prix fixe meals ranging from $29 to $39 to $59.
The promotion begins Tuesday, January 18, through Sunday, February 13 and, per NYCGo, the deals run Monday through Friday (not Saturdays) and it’s up to each restaurant whether they honor the rates on Sundays. You can read more details at the Restaurant Week site but for your convenience, the following are the participating restaurants below Chambers Street:
Anassa Taverna (104 North End Avenue)
Bareburger (155 William Street)
Batard (239 West Broadway)
Blue Smoke (255 Vesey Street)
Capital Grille (120 Broadway)
Felice (15 Gold Street)
Front & Wall Street (110 Wall Street)
The Fulton (89 South Street)
Gran Morsi (22 Warren Street)
Industry Kitchen (70 South Street)
La Pizza & La Pasta A Colori (101 Liberty Street)
Mad Dog & Beans (83 Pearl Street)
Malibu Farm (89 South Street)
MarkJoseph Steakhouse (261 Water Street)
Merchants River House (375 South End Avenue)
Morton’s The Steakhouse (136 Washington Street)
Route 66 Smokehouse (46 Stone Street)
Sant Ambroeus (200 Vesey Street)
Schilling (109 Washington Street)
Treadwell Park (301 South End Avenue)
Vino e Grano (101 Liberty Street, Eataly NYC Downtown)
DOWNTOWN’s board member Elizabeth Velez was named to the board of MTA, along with Janno Lieber as Chair and CEO of the MTA Board.
“We’ve been fortunate to work with both Elizabeth and Janno, a perfect pair to ensure the continued success for MTA, and we are excited to see what the future holds for our public transportation system. We wish them the best in their newly appointed positions,” says DOWNTOWN’s publisher and founder, Grace A. Capobianco.,
Governor Hochul today announced Janno Lieber has been nominated to serve as Chair and CEO of the MTA Board and Elizabeth Velez has been nominated to serve on the MTA Board.
“As Governor, my first duty to New Yorkers is to ensure that those who serve our state are experienced, committed, and ready to tackle the challenges we face,” Governor Hochul said. “Janno is leading the MTA forward with expert management and vision, and Elizabeth will bring a wealth of invaluable knowledge and expertise to our challenges together. These are strong, competent leaders who will help steer the MTA through this critical time. We will continue to make appointments that ensure our transit system delivers for riders.”
“I am honored and grateful to be nominated by Governor Hochul, who has been a supporter from day one of a smart transit system that serves all New Yorkers. I look forward to working with the governor, her team, and our partners in the legislature to ensure that subways, buses, and commuter railroads continue to be an engine fueling the region’s economic recovery,” Janno Lieber said. “Elizabeth Velez has a deep understanding of the value of transportation to New Yorkers, will be an excellent addition to the board and I’m eager to work with her on important issues facing the MTA, including a historic capital program that will modernize and expand the transit network and provide enhanced equity and accessibility to New Yorkers in the years ahead.”
“I am thrilled to be nominated by Governor Hochul to the MTA Board,” Lieber said. “The MTA is a crucial connection point for New Yorkers throughout our city. With the impending influx of infrastructure dollars, the MTA is central to not only improving essential transportation but also to create opportunities both in workforce and procurement that affect our communities.”
Janno Lieber will be nominated to serve as Chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board. He has been Acting Chair and CEO since July 2021.
Janno Lieber photo by MTA
In his role at MTA Construction and Development, Mr. Lieber oversaw the agency’s $55 billion five-year capital program, including State of Good Repair investments in infrastructure and facilities of New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and MTA Bridges and Tunnels. He is responsible for upgrades to signals and other major systems, system expansions, and mega-projects such as East Side Access, the second phase of the Second Avenue Subway, and the Third Track expansion of the Long Island Rail Road mainline. He is also responsible for upgrading and professionalizing the MTA’s project management capacity and for integrating real estate planning and economic development into MTA infrastructure projects.
From 2003 to 2017, Mr. Lieber served as President of World Trade Center Properties LLC, where he was responsible for managing all aspects of the Silverstein organization’s efforts to rebuild the World Trade Center site, including planning, design, and construction issues; business, financing, and legal matters; and public affairs, government, and community relations.
Earlier in his career, he held positions in the administrations of President Bill Clinton and NYC Mayor Ed Koch and worked as an attorney in private practice.
Elizabeth Velez will be nominated to serve on the MTA Board. She is currently the President of the Velez Organization, a second-generation construction firm started in1972 by her father, Andrew Velez.
Elizabeth Velez photo by Velez Organization
To her credit are hundreds of projects which have come to fruition under her direction, including over 600 units of housing made affordable by state and federal grants in the Bronx and Harlem, and over ten billion dollars of significant educational, healthcare, and large-scale projects throughout New York.
She is a Trustee of Boricua College; an accredited private institution serving primarily Latinas through three campuses in New York. She serves on the advisory boards of numerous New York City and New York State agencies, industry non-profits, and groups supporting mentorship and scholarships for youth. She is a member of the Board for Catholic Charities and the New York City Police Foundation. She is currently serving as a Commissioner of the New York City Property Tax Reform Commission. Following Hurricane Maria’s disastrous landfall, Elizabeth was appointed to the NY Stands with Puerto Rico Recovery & Rebuilding Committee, the NY Memorial Commission for Hurricane Maria, and has spearheaded numerous workforce and economic development programs – including a satellite corporate office in Ponce Puerto Rico. On the international front, Ms. Velez is Co-Chair of Iran 180 – an organization that advocates for human rights and the end to Iran’s nuclear threat. She is a contributor to media outlets such as Matter of Fact TV with Soledad O’Brien, Fox News Latino, The New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, El Diario, La Prensa, Hispanic Business, ENR, City & State, and Crain’s New York Business, and most recently, DOWNTOWN Magazine.
She is an outspoken advocate for diversity and empowerment of women and a sought-after speaker on women’s leadership and work/family balance issues. In addition to numerous awards and recognition, Ms. Velez was recognized by City & State as one of the “Manhattan Power 50“.
Help us in congratulating both Janno Lieber and Elizabeth Velez.
A new plan to protect Lower Manhattan from rising waters and the effects of climate change was unveiled last week, calling for flood walls, improved stormwater infrastructure, new open spaces, and a drastic reshaping of the shoreline.
The master plan from the Mayor’s Office of Climate Resiliency and New York City Economic Development Corporation aims to defend the one-mile stretch from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Battery from future storms like Superstorm Sandy and intense rainfall, like the soaking the city got from the remnants of Hurricane Ida last summer.
The plan would dramatically reshape the neighborhood’s relationship to the waterfront — adding more soft spaces to absorb water and extending the shoreline into the East River via a walkway. It calls for a multi-level construction that would add a water-level esplanade underneath the extended shoreline, where floodwalls would absorb waves from coastal storms. Piers and terminals for the NYC Ferry would also be reinforced.
The problem the plan is addressing is one that much of the borough, and the city, is facing in the climate crisis: Manhattan is made of hard surfaces, which give rain and floodwaters nowhere to go. The new plan would fix that via new stormwater pumps and green spaces that sponge up the water while creating coves to protect wildlife.
The project is expected to cost between $5 to $7 billion and would take an estimated 15 to 20 years to design and build. That’s already a tight timeline: according to the New York City Panel on Climate Change’s projections, rising tides have long been expected to flood Lower Manhattan on a monthly basis by the 2050s; in another 30 years after that, floods could become daily. Some frequent tidal flooding might occur as early as the 2040s, less than 20 years away.
This master plan is the last link in an overall Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency Strategy that has already proposed makeovers to shore up the rest of the tip of Manhattan. This particular stretch of neighborhood holds extra challenges because the built infrastructure — like subway tunnels, roads, and shipping ports — provides less green space and less wiggle room than other stretches of the waterfront.
The plan used input from the Climate Coalition for Lower Manhattan, which includes the Alliance for Downtown New York.
Bombay Sapphire Window Displays in SoHo, will include codes where passerby can get codes for free cocktails at participating nearby bars, now through Dec. 19.
Fashion designerRomeo Hunte and visual artist Shavanteì Royster have unveiled the first ever Bombay Sapphire holiday window displays, celebrating New York creatives and ‘turning the lights back on’ for storefronts in lower Manhattan, where almost one third of small business have closed during the pandemic. The Art, Fashion, and Design windows come to life with performances (think live Charlie Chaplin-esque nutcracker dances, holiday fashion shows and painting demos in the windows). Times are 4-9pm daily for passersby + free cocktails at nearby bars (Dante West Village, Gelso & Grand, Lil Frankie’s and AMA West Village) when you show the window QR codes).
NYE- The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17
Spend New Year’s Eve by The Greens on the Rooftop at Pier 17. Photo: J. Kratochivl.
For an intimate venue to toast to the New Year, visit The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17, New York City’s seasonally rotating dining concept. Take over your own winter cabin with up to 8 guests and indulge in buckets of bubbly, craft cocktails, and a delicious cuisine specific menu while soaking in the stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.
There are five reservation slots throughout the day–11am-12:30pm, 12:45-2:30pm, 3-5pm, 6-8pm, or 9pm-1am–each with various food & beverage packages to choose from. For more information about the packages and to make a reservation, visit The Greens website.
New Year’s Eve Champagne Pairing Cruises
Friday, December 31st 2021 @ 10pm – Saturday, January 1st 2022 @ 12:30am. Celebrate New Year’s Eve safe and comfortable on Classic Harbor line. Enjoy, Champagne, Cheese & Dessert Pairing With Harbor Fireworks & Live Music. This is still our number one choice for NYE. Take in all the beauty the New York City skyline has to offer while cozying up and staying warm. Fully decorated for the holidays and plenty of space and partitioning to feel at ease while you take in the sights. Bundle up, as it can be quite cold as you step out on the outer deck to take in the sites. It’s a night and NYE you will never forget. Book now.
NYE-Masquerade Ball at Pearl Alley
Don’t miss Pearl Alley’s NYE celebration.
This New Year’s Eve, Dante’s Winter House Masquerade Ball is taking place inside Pearl Alley at Pier 17, NYC’s luxurious new waterfront venue. The newly opened space will be offering a 4-hour premium open bar with festive signature cocktails made by Dante’s award-winning bar team alongside delicious bites severed throughout the night. Hidden under your Masquerade Mask, dance the night away with live performances by DJ Chachi, DJ Tre and Saxophonist. There will be party favors, surprises, and to top it all off, the best views in New York City. Toast to 2022 with bubbles in hand and an unforgettable night at the Seaport’s most exciting new venue. Get your tickets here.
NYE at The Fulton
On New Year’s Eve, The Fulton by Jean-Georges will be offering its menu à la carte from 5 pm -7:30 pm, in addition to a $298 five course prix fixe menu 8 pm -10 pm, including delicious dishes such as Sashimi with Spicy White Ponzu, Char Grilled Octopus and a Truffle Course with a choice of Fresh Tagliatelle with Black Winter Truffle or Truffle Meyer Lemon-Parmesan Risotto. Please note: the pre-fixe menu is $84 for children under 10 years old. The full menu can be found here. Reserve a table here.
NYE & New Year’s Day at Malibu Farm
Enjoy NYE and New Year’s Day specials at Malibu Farm.
In celebration of New Year’s Eve, Malibu Farm will be offering delicious new specials to toast the new year, in addition to their all-day menu on Friday, December 31st, and Saturday, January 1st. Specials include Peekytoe Crab Risotto, Grilled Lobster, House-made Carrot Ricotta Gnocchi, and more. The full menu can be found here. New Year’s Eve hours, 12 pm – 1 am; Happy Hour from 10 pm – 12 am. New Year’s Day hours, 11:30 am – 8 pm. Reserve your table here.
GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL/HOLIDAY MAGIC AT EVERY TURN
The holidays are just around the corner and Grand Central Terminal has all your readers’ gifting needs covered. The Terminal is thrilled to present Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Vanderbilt Hall. Featuring crafty creations, artisanal elegance, and handmade delights, the collection of six vendors provides customers with even more unique and thoughtful last-minute holiday gift choices.
The Grand Central Holiday Pop-Up Shops are open from 10 am–7 pm on December 17th – 24th (closed at 3 pm on Christmas Eve). Please find the selection of artisans below:
ekologic: Singular pieces of eco-fashion and accessories, made sustainably by a women-owned collective
Magnolia Bakery (open December 21st – 24th): From beautifully iced cupcakes and cakes to iconic banana pudding
In addition to the Holiday Pop-Up Shops, Grand Central’s 55 plus shops and restaurants offer holiday magic at every turn, from gift shopping at the likes of Apple, Diptyque, and TUMI to dining at Cipriani Dolci, the Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant, and many more.
To top off the shopping experience, GCT is offering complimentary wrapping for gifts purchased at shops inside Grand Central Terminal. The Holiday Wrap-Up will be available from December 18 and 20–24 near the New York Transit Museum on the Upper Level. Bring up to five-holiday gifts purchased in the Terminal, and their receipts, and GCT’s gift-wrappers will then wrap your gifts in luxurious celestial ceiling paper.
Due to popular demand, Immersive Van Gogh at Pier 36 has been extended.
Immersive Van Gogh at Pier 36 on Vesey Street, has been extended through April 2022. Photo by Liz Devine.
Due to popular demand, Immersive Van Gogh at Pier 36 on Vesey Street, has been extended through April 2022.
It was seen by 800,000 visitors during its New York City premiere in the summer of 2021, before closing to make way for previously scheduled events at Pier 36. More than 3.5 million tickets have been sold to Immersive Van Gogh since its North American premiere in July 2020, making it one of the most popular attractions in North America.
Immersive Van Gogh invites audiences to “step inside” the iconic works of Van Gogh, evoking his highly emotional and chaotic inner consciousness through art, light, music, movement and imagination. The gallery space offers patrons more than 500,000 cubic feet of animated projections. Immersive Van Gogh was designed by Creator Massimiliano Siccardi, with original, mood-setting music, both original and curated, by Italian multimedia Composer Luca Longobardi, who provided a score that combines experimental electronic music with pure, ethereal and melodic orchestral pieces. Vittorio Guidotti is the Art Director.
Creative Director David Korins, award-winning designer of Broadway hits including Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen, created a custom design to fit the architecture of the exhibition’s New York home, adding innovative design elements to the Pier 36 experience.
