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Downtown Holiday Events 2021

Downtown Magazine is your source for information on downtown holiday displays, events, and NYE parties. Watch this space for updates.

Now-Dec. 19 Bombay Window Displays & Free Cocktails

Bombay Sapphire Window Soho
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 designer Romeo 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 VillageGelso & GrandLil Frankie’s and AMA West Village) when you show the window QR codes).

NYE- The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17

winter cabin the rooftop 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

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

Malibu Farms
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:

  • ekologicSingular pieces of eco-fashion and accessories, made sustainably by a women-owned collective
  • Fashion For Empowerment: Organic textiles and home decor, rooted in the age-old craft
  • in2 designBeautiful jewelry with Swedish simplicity
  • Judith Haas: Gorgeous wearable art molded from metal and semi-precious stones
  • Karla Gudeon Art & Design: Color engravings influenced by illuminated manuscripts and folk art
  • Skendzic PhotographyArresting photographic prints on gold leaf
  • 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.

Check out the event URLs:

 

 

Categories
Fashion Featured Industry News Miami News NYC

Time Square Fashion Week 2020

By DCG MediaGroup

 

MEDIA RECAP

Jean Shafiroff, NYC Socialite and Philanthropist, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer welcome Guests to Times Square Fashion Week!

 

The first LIVE Event in Father Duffy Square, Times Square since the commence of COVID-19! Times Square Fashion Week takes the famous Father Duffy Square red stairs and makes history by changing the landscape of #NYFW produced by Dee Rivera Founder, DCG Media Group & Fashion Mingle. Throw NYC designs a Fashionable Mask to benefit City Harvest NYC.org

Times Square Fashion Week takes the famous Father Duffy Square red stairs and makes history by changing the landscape of #NYFW. 

New York, NY September 2020 — As the Big Apple is gaining some normalcy day after day, Times Square Fashion Week gave a  taste of the new normal  in the midst of a global pandemic to the fashion industry and brought a glimmer of hope to fashion insiders, designers, and VIPs to the heart of New York City, 

Featuring seven talented designers on deck, as well as key sponsors, key-note speakers, and other creatives artists, this event was a slam dunk on how moving fashion-forward is done.

Times Square Fashion Week is on its second-year debut, the objective was to move fashion forward by spreading the word globally and locally, making sure the message is  #fashionnewyorkstrong. 

During New York Fashion Week, many designers are doing LIVE Stream Virtual Shows showcasing their collections. Times Square Fashion Week took the opportunity to showcase a full-frontal fashion live event at Father Duffy Square NYC! Most importantly, the event was a socially fashion-conscious show with beautiful, antimicrobial masks, designed by Throw NYC which everyone received as they entered.

“We are extremely grateful for all of the talented designers that showcased their work for Times Square Fashion Week as well as our sponsors,  keynote speakers, and VIP guests,” said Dee Rivera., Founder of Times Square Fashion Week and CEO of DCG Media Group

“It took hard work and determination, but we did a LIVE event in the heart of Times Square, which was more than expected. I am very proud of what we accomplished during a global pandemic for NYFW and grateful to my Executive Producer, Melissa Shea of Fashion Mingle who saw my vision and decided to take a leap of faith with me to make this event happen.”

The designers’ collections brought the heart of Times Square a vibe that was much needed since the start of Covid-19. 

Partners included Jean Shafiroff as the Mistress of Ceremony including as well as 

Gale A. Brewer, Manhattan Borough President, provided a phenomenal speech prior to the models walking down the red carpet, where she expressed her thanks to DCG Media Group, Melissa Shea of Fashion Mingle, the Times Square Alliance, City Harvest, THROW Nyc, and even the weatherman for providing beautiful weather for this delightful evening.

The catwalk included designers such as Justin Haynes [JUS10H], who featured a colorful collection full of his eye-catching signature patchwork. Makeup for Haynes’s models had a pop of color which made the outfits stand out.

Cenia Paredes [Cenia NY]featured an array of peacock colors on flowing cocktail gowns that were a Show Stopper and perfect for an outdoor soiree. The makeup on the models was very natural, glowy, and dewy. 

Isabella Barrett [House of Barretti] showcased Chanel style suits which can channel Jackie Kennedy in every Millenial and Gen Xer nowadays. The makeup looks were natural and to the point.

Gloria Lee [Gloria Lee Designs] had an all-white silky long dress with makeup consisting of a pink smokey eye and dramatic white lashes that provided the touch of an angel hitting the runway.

Cherelle Towns [XEVONQUII] showed her model wearing a playful yet colorful two-piece suit that will have you land your next job interview in the blink of an eye. The makeup for her model was natural as well.

Chokomode had two models sporting a wide-leg striped jumpsuit and mid-length one-shoulder dress which also had stripes. These outfits were classy yet sexy and can be worn to a wedding or a night out in the town with the girls.

Kimberly Pucci [Kimberly Pucci Atelier + Vault] featured a chic weekender bag that can be utilized for a mini getaway or even as a gym bag to look chic when entering the locker room.

Afterward, Raven Roberts, Style & Fashion Director of ravenroberts.com, was Times Square Fashion Week’s red carpet host and interviewed Designers and VIP guests.

This amazing event ended with a toast to Times Square Fashion Week, as the event was nothing but phenomenal. Guests mingled and received swag bags containing a bottle of Black Baron Wine, Vera Moore Cosmetics, and an Astouri Designed Mask.

Our finale was breathtaking as everyone strolled to the Times Square billboard and featured our Digital Fashion Show featuring each designer’s collection as well as Ads for all of our sponsors with Naomi Group, Black Baron Wine, Astouri, New York Makeup Academy, and True Model Management.

Stay tuned for our LIVE Virtual Premiere on Globalfashionchannel.com on September 17th at 8 pm EST.

ABOUT DESIGNER

XEVONQUII New York

Cherelle Townes is back at it again, this time with her latest fashion line, Xévonquii, due to launch September 2020. Xévonquii exudes class and its 1920s inspired style will have you wanting to add pieces to your closet immediately. Xévonquii is all about vintage tweed and soft velvets with a heavy influence from Chanel. Townes’ goal is to master one fabric and be known for her iconic use of it. The Richmond, VA native is not new to the fashion industry. 

 

Gloria Lee is a womenswear brand that offers dresses that women can wear from day to night.  Inspired by mythology, nature, and history, Gloria Lee™ designs each and every garment with the purpose to highlight women’s innate elegance, beauty, and a touch of drama.  The mission of the company is to deliver style without polluting or damaging our ecosystem. It starts with the promise of creating beautiful collections with natural fibers and embodying production processes (ex: Zero-Waste pattern-making, manufactured locally) that are least harmful to our ecosystem. 

 

JUS10H

International Fashion Designer Justin Haynes, is CEO and founder of JUS10H; specializing in men, women, and children’s clothing. Justin’s modern vintage designs are featured at local, national, and international shows—from his native Springfield, Massachusetts’ runway to the Fashion Weeks of New York, Los Angeles, Chattanooga, Miami, Paris, and Milan. Justin has taken patchwork to a whole new level. Creating clean, tailored garments on a signature level resulting in numerous requests to create trademark looks for the Oscars 2020. 

House Of Barretti

House of Barretti is a worldwide leader in Custom 2 Piece Suits for the sophisticated Tween, Teen, and Young Adult.  Successful Teen entrepreneur, spokes Model, TV Actress and one of the youngest millionaires in the USA. She has worked with Young Entrepreneurs across the country building brands and has several successful brands including a skincare, haircare and teen suit line under the House of Barretti label. Isabella Produces a fun IGTV show called Business with Bella and is about to release a book Teens Guide to Business. 

Chokomode is a unique clothing line offering individual collections of rich quality fabric for today’s professional woman whether at work or at play. We are passionate about creating indelible first impressions for the style-functional woman. Our clothing is designed for authority and power while embracing the soft and sexy femininity within every woman. Chokomode as a fashion brand symbolizes the essence of the well-dressed woman while offering a high-quality collection of fashion items built for the success and lifestyle of the modern working woman. Our designs are classy, sophisticated, and elegant yet boast a figure-flattering tailored fit.

CENIA New York: Cenia caters to the woman who embraces her curves, is sassy, self-secure, and wants to look tastefully sexy and radiant no matter what size or body shape. In 2011, Cenia was chosen among 900 companies as one of the 22 participants of TheWorkshop At Macy’s, and she was one of 4 vendors chosen to launch her product in selected stores. Since then Cenia has expanded her distribution to specialty stores globally and has expanded her line to include a highly successful denim line with her patent-pending Cenia Convi Jean. In the Spring of 2016, Cenia’s debuted on Shopping Life 24 in Russia and HSN in the USA.

Kimberly Pucci 

Now, with Kimberly Pucci Atelier and Kimberly Pucci Vault, her artistic sensibility and unparalleled expertise have found their ultimate expression. “I am living my passion,” she says. “Building relationships with my clients, and my artisans, based on uncompromising quality and integrity. It’s a dream come true.” Kimberly Pucci was planning to become a lawyer, but a fateful junior year abroad at the Università degli Studi di Firenze changed everything. “Florence stopped me in my tracks,” she recalls. “Everywhere I turned I was inspired, whether it was food, wine, art, or just the culture of living la dolce vita.” Her host family included artisans who handcrafted frames for Renaissance paintings at the Uffizi Gallery—and she was hooked. 

ABOUT OUR TEAM

Founder/Executive Producer

Dee Rivera, Latina Entrepreneur, Founder of DCG Media Group, and Times Square Fashion Week has over nearly 20 years of fashion production and public relations experience. She has worked with some of the most recognizable fashion, beauty, luxury, lifestyle brands, and celebrities in the world. With a vision to create a fashion week that can be celebrated around the world, during Covid-19, Times Square Fashion Week was born. 

 

Media Partner/ Executive Producer

Melissa Shea is the Founder of Fashion Mingle, a global network for fashion industry professionals.  Our mission is to build a revolutionary platform that will fuel the growth of local fashion communities creating economic opportunities for all.

Fashion Mingle has over 5,000 members in 100+ industry categories, creating a global hub for collaboration and commerce.

KeyNote Speaker-CoSponsor-Gale A. Brewer is the 27th and current President of the New York City borough of Manhattan and a Democratic politician from the state of New York. She was a member of the New York City Council, where she represented the Upper West Side and the northern part of Clinton in Manhattan

 

Mistress Of Ceremonies

Jean Shafiroff is an American philanthropist, author, advocate, and socialite. Shafiroff serves on the boards of several charitable organizations and has been honored by the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, NYC Mission Society, The Jewish Board, The Hadassah, Surgeons of Hope, and more. She is the host of the television show “Successful Philanthropy” on LTV.

 

 

A portion of the proceeds plus our Times Square Fashion Week Face Mask will benefit City Harvest. City Harvest is New York’s first and largest food rescue organization, helping to feed millions of New Yorkers who struggle to put meals on their tables. This year, we will rescue 109 million pounds of fresh, nutritious food and deliver it — free of charge — to more than 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, community partners, and our own Mobile Markets across the five boroughs. We work alongside our community partners to boost community capacity, expand nutrition education, and strengthen local food systems. For more than 35 years, City Harvest has always been there to feed our city — one day, one meal, one New Yorker at a time.

 

Global Fashion Channel has become the Official Live Stream Channel for Times Square Fashion Week. Around the

world, enthusiasts have access to the Global Fashion Channel platform. Their app is free to download and available for Android devices, including TV apps for Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV. In addition, their content will be redistributed via numerous networks, satellites, and cable providers worldwide. Currently, there are over 15 million monthly views. Global Fashion Channel as the Official Live Stream Global Channel streaming

Times Square Fashion Week, Fashion Mingle Globally on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon.

MASK DESIGNED by THROW NYC

THROW NYC

Fashion can be transformative, and at THROW we take that notion to heart. THROW takes designer and industrial materials that have served a purpose, then transforms them through re-design into something beautiful and new again. From surplus designer fabric left at the cutting room to giant vinyl trade show banners destined for landfill, THROW diverts excess from the supply chain and gives it new life. THROW’s focus is on up-cycling rather than recycling. What’s the difference? Recycling generally goes more downstream (think designer jeans recycled into insulation, or elegant writing paper turned into egg cartons)

 

 

PARTNERS

Categories
Business Featured Fitness Health

Manhattan’s Most Exclusive Gym Invades Times Square

Kirk Myers and Rhys Athayde watch the Dogpound billboard in Times Square. Photo by Jade Gomez.

Dogpound NYC employees were greeted with a treat last night: a Times Square billboard showing gym and employee highlights and flashing the Dogpound logo. Trainers watched as their faces flickered 50 feet in the air, running, lifting, and posing in Dogpound attire. They let out a cheer, echoing over the sounds of the square where many had stopped to watch. It was the first of its kind for the fledgling fitness empire, and a dizzyingly tall “thank you” to their staff.

The Dogpound was already a global phenomenon when the billboard went up. In four years, owner Kirk Myers has grown the gym into a global brand, training all over the world with celebrity clientele. They opened their second permanent location in Los Angeles only a few months ago. The Dogpound’s NYC gym–where the franchise began–is a host to more than 50 trainers, masseuses, and other employees.

Amongst the employees and other guests was celebrity/Dogpound member/investor Oliver Trevena. “It was so amazing to be a part of such a monumental moment for an incredibly inspiring brand,” he told Downtown, “To witness the team’s reaction and the energy surrounding it was unforgettable & so excited to be an investor and part of the DP family!”

Dogpound
The crew gathers before their adventure. Photo by Jade Gomez.

The trip was organized with the help of Downtown Magazine’s CEO Grace A. Capobianco. She and Myers have known each other since the magazine’s launch. Myers is Capobianco’s personal trainer as well as Downtown’s fitness editor for several years prior to the launch of the Dogpound. Capobianco said that we are extremely excited to announce that “Dogpound by Kirk Myers Fitness” will once again be heading up our print and digital fitness pages starting with the Fall 2019 issue.

At 5:45 pm, the Dogpound staff gathered outside the gym. They crowded a coach bus, laughing and chanting. Only the management and select Downtown Magazine staff knew where they were headed or why. 

30 minutes later they disembarked outside of Times Square. They were met with one of the Square’s most prominent residents, the Times Square Naked Cowboy. The stripped singer serenaded the team, turning his back to reveal a pair of Dogpound underwear worn for the occasion. The cowboy led his posse through Times Square, stopping in the center for pictures, chants, and more quiet speculation on the trip’s purpose. 

A musical eruption interrupted the affair as a dozen Dogpound-clad dancers burst into motion, clearing a space for a spontaneous dance number. The Dogpound crowd, which had grown with late arrivals and guests, was now surrounded by a sea of onlookers who stopped to snapshots of the scene. At 6:59 and 55 seconds, the music dropped and the dancers froze, their fingers pointed up at a screen towering 100 ft above the square.

The screen went black and flooded with words in Dogpound brand black and white. Disbelief evaporated as trainers saw their faces on the screen–running, lifting, biking, laughing. They pointed and called out to each other. They chanted and cheered. The energy was electric. 

“Having been born and raised in NYC by immigrant parents, Times Square is the world’s greatest stage,” says Rhys Athayde, The Dogpound’s Chief Experience Officer, “All I wanted to do was share the news with everyone. For our DP family, it was worth the wait to see the looks of shock, awe, accomplishment, and pride when we took over the heart of NYC.”

The billboard was only up for 20 minutes, but the staff sees it as a sign of more to come. As The Dogpound expands, it has its eyes on the world. For 20 minutes in the center of the world, that world had an eye on them.

Categories
Bars Culture Dining Featured NYC

SoHo Cigar Bar Celebrates Twenty Years of Unique Traditions in New York

Soho Cigar Bar celebrated its 20th Anniversary in NYC on Wednesday, January 16th. The hotspot, formerly known as Circa Tabac, is one of New York’s oldest cigar bars and lounges and one of the few bars left in the city where smoking is permitted. Walking into the bar is like stepping back in time, all the while enjoying a true New York City experience by indulging in the finest cigars, classic cocktails, rare whiskeys, delicious food and top-notch service.

soho cigar bar celebration
Photo by Carlos Alvarado Jr.

Owner Lee Ringelheim and GM Michael Dounoulis, who is the only certified Cigar Sommelier in the state, welcomed over 150 guests over the course of the evening. Guests circulated the bar while sipping on Hudson Whiskey Old Fashioneds and watching how cigars get made along the way.

cigar rolling
Photo by Carlos Alvarado Jr.

The warm and welcoming environment of Soho Cigar Bar is reminiscent of a 1920’s speakeasy with plush leather furnishings and art deco inspired décor. Modern touches include a state-of-the-art ventilation system and flat screen TVs throughout, discreetly hidden behind timeless art photography.

soho cigar bar
Photo Courtesy of SoHo Cigar Bar

Partygoers walked away with a gift bag filled with Soho Cigar Bar merchandise, ranging from ash trays and cutters, to commemorative lighters, in addition to Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey shot glasses, Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky, Frey freshener, a Madame Paulette stain removal kit and a copy of the newest issue of Cigar Aficionado magazine.

soho cigar menu
Photo Courtesy of SoHo Cigar Bar

Soho Cigar Bar is open to the public 7 days a week beginning at 12pm.  For more information or to make reservations, please visit, http://www.sohocigarbar.com.

 

 

Categories
Culture Dining Events Featured Fitness Lifestyle News

BROOKFIELD PLACE TENNIS OPEN Saturday August 25th

Summer is not over just yet! Get your whites on and come downtown to the 3rd annual Brookfield Place Tennis Open. Can’t get out to the open, no problem Brookfield Place has something for everyone. Life overlooking the Hudson is never amiss. Brookfield Place our very own gem delivers the excitement from Queens US Open to Downtown, New York.

 

Brookfield Open Tennis , by Sophie Noel
Brookfield Open Tennis

The Brookfield Tennis Open kicks off Saturday, Aug 25th through August 31st. Here you will find as much fun off the court as you will on the court, from delicious food, to open courts, tennis clinics for both children and adults to photo opts with some of your favorite tennis players. Or simply come out to refine your skills with their free clinics.

Tennis Courts Brookfield Place
Brookfield Place Tennis Open

John Isner and Lucas Pouille will be at Brookfield Place New York to celebrate its 3rd annual Brookfield Place Tennis Open with an event today August 25th presented by Prince, the leading global racquet sports brand. John Isner and Lucas Pouille, Prince Brand Ambassadors, will square off for a fun, public match to kick-start the Brookfield Place Tennis Open in Lower Manhattan.

Come on over to Brookfield, for participatory demonstrations and games with prizes!

Tennis Brookfield Place
Brookfield Place Tennis Open

Families, no problem, don’t leave the children with their nanny, stop by for their kids camp and adult and kids clinics on the court.

WHEN: Kick-Off Celebration: Saturday, August 25th (1 PM – 6 PM)

  • 3:30 PM: Press Check-In
  • 4 PM: Interviews with Players
  • 5 – 6 PM: Tennis Matches

WHERE: Brookfield Place New York, Downtown the heart of every city!

Categories
Culture Events Featured Living

Thousands Party in Times Square for Israel’s 70th Birthday

Times Square rocked with thousands of partygoers on Sunday evening, as New Yorkers, Israelis, and tourists from around the world came together to celebrate Israel’s 70th anniversary.

 

Headed by Israel’s Ministry of Culture and Sport, and the Consulate General of Israel in New York, the enormous block party began at 8:00 pm with a countdown in the timeless style of New Year’s Eve parties in the square.

   

The beat dropped, and the party raged!

Performances by Israeli Broadway star Shiri Maimon and DJ Omri Anghel took control of the rest of the evening. Crowd favorites included hits by Omer Adam, Moshe Peretz, and Israel’s Eurovision champion Netta blasting out from the heart of the city.

Along with Maimon and Anghel on stage were Israel’s Minister for Culture and Sport Miri Regev; Israel’s Consul General to New York, Ambassador Dani Dayan; and MKs who had joined a delegation for to New York.

TIMES SQUARE CELEBRATES ISRAEL

Excitingly, Sunday night’s event marks the first time a foreign country has held a celebration in the iconic plaza. The atmosphere lived up to the best block parties Israel has to offer.

The famous screens surrounding the partygoers broadcasted spectacular images of Israel’s “History of Innovation” for much of the evening, sharing the Jewish state’s progress and prowess in science and technology. The screens also showed highlights of Israel’s stunning scenery and cultural and religious depth.

https://www.alexipix.com/Events/IsraelTimesSquare2018/AllTimesSquare/n-MhBLGp/i-rgK8fwQ/A

 Also, the crowd watched video welcomes from celebrities such as Michael Douglas and Mayim Bialik; political leaders including Senator Chuck Schumer, Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Mayor Bill de Blasio also wished the crowds “Mazal Tov”.

Preceding the party, a VIP reception was held in the Renaissance Hotel overlooking the square. Minister Regev and Ambassador Dayan hosted the evening. National anthems were performed by Gloria Gaynor and Shiri Maimon, who sang the Star-Spangled Banner and Hatikvah respectively.

SPECIAL QUOTES OF THE NIGHT

Minister for Culture and Sport, Miri Regev: “Tonight, we painted Times Square in blue and white. It was exciting to see thousands of Israelis, tourists, and locals dancing and singing Israeli music together. I would like to thank the American leadership and people for their unqualified support for the State of Israel. We have again demonstrated our strong relationship with the United States.”

Consul General of Israel in New York, Ambassador Dani Dayan: “Israel and the United States have the strongest partnership in the world, and tonight we marked it in an unprecedented way…. I am proud that we marked our country’s special birthday with so many close friends and supporters, coming from every walk of life here in New York.”

In attendance were elected officials, leaders of the Jewish community, and significant figures from the worlds of academics, business, and media.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Guests included: Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), NY Assemblyman and Co-Chair of the Democratic National Committee Michael Blake, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Jewish Community Relations Council CEO Rabbi Michael Miller, and American Jewish Coalition CEO David Harris.