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Event: Rocking Manhattan 2019

At 7:35 am on September 28th, teams of rowers will set out along the East River. No, this isn’t a mass exodus, nor is it an attempt to avoid morning traffic. It’s part of Rocking Manhattan, a 9-hour journey to circumnavigate Manhattan island in rowboats.

Rocking Manhattan is a 30-mile rowing event, providing participants with a rare perspective of New York City and a shared experience with a committed group of fellow New Yorkers (with a few Californians and Rhode Islanders mixed in). Formed into teams of between 4 and 12 people, they circle Manhattan Island along its three rivers—north up the East, west across the Harlem, and south down the Hudson. 

Each team is charged with raising at least $25,000 to support Rocking the Boat’s programs for youth in the South Bronx. Most raise significantly more towards the goal of $400,000, or 13% of Rocking the Boat’s annual budget.

  • Rocking Manhattan 2019

Event participants include rowers, coxswains, and powerboat drivers. Event beneficiaries are the roughly 4,000 members of the Hunts Point community who take part in Rocking the Boat’s youth development and public programs.

Groups of relatives, friends, and co-workers form the always creatively named teams rowing around Manhattan Island in Rocking Manhattan, including Flotsam and Jetsam, Dismasted, Knots Unlimited, Shore Thing, Going Full Circle, Rabble Rowsers, Either Oar, Sirens and Argonauts, Ebb and Flow, Rock Lobster. Some have been involved since the first circumnavigation in 2009, others are rowing for the very first time. Some started as members of other teams and have now taken the plunge to captain their own team. Rocking the Boat Board members are leading six of this year’s nine teams. Rocking the Boat’s Founder an Executive Director, Adam Green, always rows one or two of the three legs.

Graduates of Rocking the Boat’s after school youth development program serve as coxswains, steering the boats and keeping their rowers synchronized and motivated. They are members of Rocking the Boat’s Alumni Rowing Team, which trains all summer for the event.

A dear friend of Downtown’s Alies Van Den Berg, will be rowing two legs. We felt that this was something everyone can get out to support.

Members of the tight-knit sailing community in Barnegat Bay, NJ fill a vital role driving safety boats that accompany the rowing gigs throughout the day, providing support as needed from filling empty water bottles to giving weary rowers a short tow.

Rocking the Boat

Starting and ending at One°15 Brooklyn Marina in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the route includes a breakfast stop at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City and a lunch stop at Muscota Marsh in Inwood and brings rowers under bridges, past landmarks, and adjacent to ferries, cruise ships, and coast guard vessels. 

A celebration dinner and award presentation (for generating the most dollars, not rowing the fastest) takes place in Brooklyn once everyone returns to the dock.

Outside of a few smallish corporate sponsorships, this is a peer-to-peer fundraiser. Everyone involved has an individual fundraising page complete with progress thermometer. They post photos, write brief stories about their connection to the organization, and then proceed to hit up their networks for donations! 

Rocking the Boat posts updates on social media and engages sponsors like Hydroflask for water bottles and Hornblower (the operator of NYC Ferry and Hornblower Cruises) for dry bags.

Rocking the Boat

Rocking the Boat brings tremendous positive impact to the high-need youth of Hunts Point by sustaining a hub of crucial resources and opportunities that help students overcome the circumstantial disadvantages that threaten to stifle their full potential. Activities centered on small boats and local waters are the unique vehicles Rocking the Boat uses to affect profound changes in the lives of young people and the vitality of their community. Wooden boatbuilding, sailing, and environmental research and restoration captivate and challenge young people, expose them to new experiences, and show them they are capable of doing things they never imagined, or only dreamed of. In doing so they develop the technical, social and emotional skills to replicate the successes they have in the shop and on the water in their personal, academic, and professional lives.

Rocking the Boat

The event is a circumnavigation of Manhattan Island over the course of nine hours. The boats, the rowers, the hydration and snacks, and the accumulated enthusiasm of over 100 volunteers are all in place…the only element we cannot plan for (other than the weather!) is a cheering section. Downtown has assembled the following list of locations and estimated times (+/- 10 minutes) for anyone who wants to have a one-of-a-kind New York experience coming out and cheering on the rowers. 

Rocking the Boat

Schedule – Enjoy a one-of-a-kind New York experience come on out to cheer on the rowers at any of these viewing areas along the New York Waterway.

Leg 1: East River

Empire Ferry Fulton Ferry Park (base of Brooklyn Bridge): 7:35 a.m.

Main Street Park (base of the Manhattan Bridge): 7:40 a.m.

Gantry Plaza State Park (Hunters Point): 8:10 a.m.

Queensboro Bridge: 8:20 a.m.

Queens Bridge Park (Long Island City): 8:20 a.m.

Roosevelt Island Bridge: 8:40 a.m.

Leg 2: Hell Gate and Harlem River

Carl Schurz Park: 10 a.m.

Thomas Jefferson Park: 10:15 a.m.

The High Bridge: 11:15 a.m.

Sherman Creek Park: 11:40 a.m.

Leg 3: Hudson River

George Washington Bridge / The Little Red Lighthouse: 2:15 p.m.

Riverside Park promenade at 116th Street: 3:15 p.m.

Riverside Park Boat Basin at 79th Street: 3:45 p.m.

Pier 40: 4:15 p.m.

Pier 25: 4:30 p.m.

Rockefeller Park 4:35 p.m.

Robert F. Wagner Park: 4:45 p.m.

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Summer Fun – In New York City Has Never Been Better!

Hudson River Park

MARK YOUR CALENDARS and let the SUMMER FUN begin June 2, 2018!

Living in a big city has many pitfalls and stressful moments, but living in a big city also has the BEST perks. Think about it, you can go from uptown to downtown in 15-20 minutes, east to west in a flash and hop on a ferry and your in another state!

So shake off the winter blues because Summer Fun in the City has never been better.

Hudson River Park’s 20th Anniversary Summer of Fun Season Lineup Offers Free Films, Dance, Music, Food, Fitness and yes there is MORE!

Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Hudson River Park and Experience a Summer of Wonder and Magic Along the Shores of New York’s Park for Play, the Nation’s Longest Riverfront Park

Premiere Events & All-time Favorites Include the Healthy on the Hudson Fitness Series, Shell-ebrate Oysters, Sunset Salsa Dancing, 19th Annual Blues BBQ Festival, Hudson RiverFlicks Sing-Alongs, and wait there is more!!

So shake off the winter blues because Summer Fun in the City has never been better.

Hudson River Park, an urban oasis for New Yorkers and visitors from every corner of the world, is proud to announce its 2018 lineup of free cultural, recreational, entertainment, environmental and educational events and attractions for New Yorkers, families and visitors to the Big Apple. The Park’s 20th Anniversary Summer of Fun season officially swings into action on Wednesday, May 23rd, kicking off more than 400 events and outdoor programs scheduled across Hudson River Park’s 550 acres of lush parkland and estuarine sanctuary all summer long, and throughout the month of October.

Over the past 20 years, Hudson River Park has transformed Manhattan’s Westside waterfront into a celebrated urban treasure which serves as both a hot-spot destination and beloved community backyard. To celebrate the Park’s “20 Years of Piers,” a full day of free, celebratory events and activities have been planned for Saturday, June 2nd on Hudson River Park’s Pier 45 in Greenwich Village, presented by Citi.

There’s fun for the whole family, starting with a Healthy on the Hudson workout, followed by catch-and-release fishing, and other environmentally-themed activities hosted by the Park’s Estuary Lab educators.  Kids and adults alike will be amazed and entertained by Mad Science’s water science show.

Grab lunch and join magician Kid Ace for a mesmerizing riverside magic show. End the evening by moonlight with Mitch Frohman & the Bronx Horns, Sunset Salsa with Talia Castro-Pozo, and the RiverFlicks blockbuster 20th Anniversary screening of The Wedding Singer.

Visit www.HudsonRiverPark.org for times and additional details.

Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee Backyard BBQ– Give Back in Your Own Backyard – May 31.   


“During the last two decades, Hudson River Park has grown to become such a vital and extraordinary part of the New York City landscape,” said Madelyn Wils, CEO, and President of Hudson River Park Trust. “We’re so proud and excited to welcome all of our friends, families, and visitors to the Park this summer to explore and discover the many wonders that the Hudson River waterfront has to offer. From premier cultural entertainment to the myriad recreational and environmental experiences that keep people coming back to our shores from all over the world, Hudson River Park’s20th Anniversary Summer of Fun season is sure to be the best yet.”

One of Hudson River Park’s most unique and prized features is its 400-acre estuarine sanctuary – an ecologically significant environment supporting an abundance of fish and other wildlife.  Each year the Park’s Estuary Lab offers hundreds of hands-on education programs and interactive research projects that engage park patrons in discovering, exploring, and even restoring this precious natural resource. From Big City Fishing to Shell-ebrate Oysters, the Park’s Estuary Lab hosts programs throughout the Park’s four-mile footprint that excite and inspire audiences of all ages.  Participants can even work alongside Estuary Lab staff to support the health and habitat of the Park’s urban waters through community research projects such as oyster monitoring and marine debris analysis.


A headline event on the bill this summer is the Hudson River Dance Festival, which brings world-renowned modern dance companies and artists to the river’s edge at sundown for a spectacular sampling of the hottest modern dance programs—all for free. This year’s Hudson River Dance Festival will feature Jason Samuels Smith & Igmar Thomas, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Limón Dance Company, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and The Chase Brock Experience.

The 19th Annual Blues BBQ Festival, as well as Big City Fishing, Hudson RiverFlicks movie series, Sunset on the Hudson concerts, and Salsa Dancing with Talia Castro-Pozo also return!

The Healthy on the Hudson fitness series, one of the Park’s most popular summer offerings, has expanded to offer more variety of fitness activities for New Yorkers of all ages, from outrigger sessions to rejuvenating yoga and tai chi. Free sing-along movie nights featuring audience favorites Frozen and Chicago will liven up the lawn at Clinton Cove, and legendary artists curated by the Jazz Foundation of America will bring their sultry sounds to Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 on select Thursday evenings from May through September.

 

Enjoy delicious barbeque and picnic fare, cocktails and live music in your own backyard along the river’s edge!


You won’t want to miss one of NYC’s most glamorous—and family-friendly—fundraising soirees of the summer, the 2ndannual Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee Backyard BBQ. This evening of summertime celebration on the Chelsea Lawn Bowl at Hudson River Park’s Pier 62 is a great way to welcome the season and give back to help support free programs for families and children in New York’s Park for Play. Enjoy delicious barbeque and picnic fare, cocktails and live music in your own backyard along the river’s edge. Activities include offerings from Big City Fishing, Brooklyn Robot Foundry, Bubble Dad, Chess at Three, Curated Care, Craft Studio, Melinda’s Children Parties, Strong Heart Fun, Super Soccer Stars, Taste Buds, Tesla, a Photo Booth—and more!

A detailed listing of this year’s 20th Anniversary Summer of Fun events—from movies to music, to magic and much, much more—can be found below. For updates and more information, please visit www.hudsonriverpark.org/events throughout the summer. Follow us @HudsonRiverPark on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram to share your Summer of Fun!

Hudson River Park’s 20th Anniversary Summer of Fun  Events Calendar 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION EVENT June 2nd, Pier 45 – FREE

9:00 am – 10:30 am: Healthy on the Hudson workout
10:00 am – 10:45 am: Eco walk
10:45 am – 11:45 am: Healthy on the Hudson workout
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Estuary Lab Science Saturdays programming include Big City Fishing & Shell-ebrate Oyster
1:00pm – 1:30pm: Mad Science Show
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: RiverKids: magic with Kid Ace=
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Sunset on the Hudson musical performance
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Sunset Salsa dancing with Talia Castro-Pozo, accompanied by Mitch Frohman and the Bronx Horns
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm: RiverFlicks: 20th Anniversary screening of the 1998 blockbuster The Wedding Singer

 

 

 

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE

Hudson River Dance Festival – FREE

Presented by SHS Foundation in association with The Joyce Theater

Hudson River Park is proud to bring you the fourth annual Hudson River Dance Festival. This celebration of dance will feature the rare treat of some of New York’s (and the world’s) favorite dance companies appearing in one evening, on one stage, for two nights only –  don’t miss these renowned dance companies in motion!

2018 Hudson River Dance Festival Dance Companies:
Jason Samuels Smith and Igmar Thomas performing MOST LIKE LEE
American Ballet Theatre Studio Company performing LE JEUNE by Lauren Lovette
Limón Dance Company performing CORVIDAE by Colin Connor
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo performing TARANTELLA
The Chase Brock Experience performing SPLENDOR WE ONLY PARTIALLY IMAGINED by Chase Brock

Event Location, Date and Time: • Hudson River Park’s Pier 63 Lawn, located at West 23rd St. in Chelsea
Thursday, June 7 and Friday, June 8 7:00pm

GET YOUR Dancing shoes ON!
Sunset Salsa – FREE

Things heat up when the sun goes down in Hudson River Park with Sunset Salsa! Join us on Tuesday nights in July & August for salsa dancing led by Talia Castro-Pozo and friends.
Beginner Salsa dance lessons from 6:30 pm – 7:15 pm; DJs start the party at 7:15 pm.

Event Location, Dates and Time: • Hudson River Park’s Pier 45, located at Christopher St. in Greenwich Village
Every Tuesday from July 10 – August 28 6:30 pm

 

FAMILY, Children get your parents out of the house!

Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee Backyard BBQ– Give Back in Your Own Backyard – May 31st   

Presented by Hudson River Park Friends                        

The Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee Background BBQ is the perfect way to welcome summer in New York City! Parents and their children can enjoy summer fun with delicious barbeque, cocktails and live music in your own riverfront backyard while giving back to help support free programs for families and children in Hudson River Park. Activities include offerings from Big City Fishing, Brooklyn Robot Foundry, Bubble Dad, Chess at Three, Curated Care, Craft Studio, Melinda’s Children Parties, Strong Heart Fun, Super Soccer Stars, Taste Buds, Tesla, a Photo Booth—and more! CLICK HERE for sponsorship opportunities.

Event Location, Date and Time: • Chelsea Lawn and Hudson River Park’s Pier 62, located at 23rd Street in Chelsea
Thursday, May 31, 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Cost: Tickets start at $125 for individual kid tickets; visit www.hudsonriverpark.org/backyardbbq for more information

Hudson RiverKids – FREE

Hudson River Park brings out all of your favorite New York City family performers each week, proudly supported by Manhattan Youth! From music to magic to interactive storytelling, Hudson RiverKids will keep your family entertained all summer fun long. The Hudson RiverKids season will run from June 4th through September 13th, and these fantastic programs will be offered twice per week at two locations, Pier 25 in Tribeca AND Pier 62 in Chelsea. Please note: show times (below) will change at the start and end of the season, with events prior to June 18th and after August 20th starting at 4:00 pm, while the remainder of the programs will begin at 6:30 pm.

2018 Hudson RiverKids Performers: • 6/4 and 9/6: Kid Ace

  • 6/11 and 6/14: City Stomp
  • 6/18 and 6/21: Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band
  • 6/25 and 6/28: Tim Kubart Trio
  • 7/9: Mister G
  • 7/12: Story Time with Nick Bruel
  • 7/16 and 7/19: Story Pirates
  • 7/23 and 7/26: Ramblin’ Dan and the Freewheelin’ Band
  • 7/30 and 8/2: The Pop-Ups
  • 8/6 and 8/9: Suzi Shelton
  • 8/13 and 8/16; Joanie Leeds
  • 8/20 and 8/23: Mike Messer (of the Dirty Sock Funtime Band)
  • 8/27 and 8/30: Penny Jones Puppets
  • 9/10 and 9/13: Bilingual Birdies Band

Event Location, Dates and Time: • Mondays at Hudson River Park’s Pier 25, in Tribeca
Thursdays at Hudson River Park’s Pier 62, in Chelsea
Times vary; please visit www.hudsonriverpark.org

ESTUARY LAB
Hudson River Park’s Estuary Lab programming lets participants discover, explore and even restore the Park’s 400-acre estuarine sanctuary 

Big City Fishing – FREE

Adults and kids ages 5 and up learn how to fish while engaging with trained environmental educators about river science topics.
Event Location, Dates and Times:
Every Sunday from July 1 – August 26 ◦ Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, located at West 44th St. in Midtown11:00 am – 3:00 pm •
Every Sunday from  July 1 – September 30 ◦ Hudson River Park’s Pier 25, located at N. Moore St. in Tribeca ▪ No program on September 23rd ◦ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm •
Every Monday from July 2 – August 20 ◦ 2 locations: Hudson River Park’s Pier 25, located at N. Moore St. in Tribeca  and Hudson River Park’s Pier 46, located at Charles St. (just north of Christopher St.) in Greenwich Village ◦ 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Science Saturdays – FREE (New Event) Dive into science this summer at Hudson River Park! The whole family can enjoy hands-on activities including larger than life experiments, microscopic investigations, nature-inspired crafts and more.

Event Location, Dates and Times: • Locations vary; please visit www.hudsonriverpark.org
Saturdays: June 2, July 14 and August 11 – 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Pre-registration recommended at  www.hudsonriverpark.eventbrite.com

Roving River – FREE
This summer, keep an eye out for Hudson River Park’s Roving River Tricycle – a unique display of live Hudson River wildlife on wheels. Observe river animals up close and interact with smaller critters in a kid-friendly touch tank for this year’s Summer Fun.

Location, Dates and Times: • Travels between Pier 40, located at W. Houston Street, and Pier 25, located at N. Moore Street
Every Sunday from July 1 – September 30 ◦ No program on September 23rd • 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @HudsonRiverPark to find out where it’s headed next.

Pop Up Maker Space – FREE
Sponsored by Google
Calling all Makers! Tinker, test, and LEARN at Hudson River Park’s outdoor summer fun Maker Space for weekly workshops where participants get hands-on experience designing and constructing innovative solutions to marine-focused challenges.

Event Location, Dates and Times: • Every Sunday from July 1 – August 26 ◦ Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, located at West 44th St. in Midtown
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Pre-registration recommended at www.hudsonriverpark.eventbrite.com

 

 

 

Shell-ebrate Oysters – FREE 

There’s more to do with oysters besides shucking them! They filter water, engineer reefs, and stabilize our shorelines. Help us keep them happy and healthy in the Hudson by working alongside Park staff to restore oyster beds and learn how these bivalves benefit the health of the River.

Event Location, Dates and Times: • Hudson River Park’s Pier 25, located at N. Moore St. in Tribeca
Every Sunday from July 1 – September 30 ◦ No program on September 23rd 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Pre-registration recommended at  www.hudsonriverpark.eventbrite.com

Hudson Nature Walk – FREE
Learn about Hudson River Park’s wildlife by joining knowledgeable naturalists on guided nature summer fun walks along the Park’s esplanade. Don’t forget to take photos!

Event Location, Dates and Times: • Every Sunday from June 3 – September 30
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Meet at the Christopher St. Fountain, Christopher Street, in Greenwich Village
Pre-registration required at www.hudsonriverpark.eventbrite.com

Community EcoPaddle Partnering with Manhattan Kayak Company
*This event has a nominal fee
Join Hudson River Park and Manhattan Kayak Company for an evening of summer fun kayaking and oyster restoration. Community EcoPaddle allows participants to explore local aquatic wildlife and learn to paddle in the River.

Event Location, Dates and Times: • Monthly tours offered from June through September
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at various locations
Cost: $20 (includes all necessary equipment)

Hudson History Walk Partnering with Brooklyn Brainery
*This event has a nominal fee
Discover NYC’s dynamic waterfront history through a guided walking tour led by local historians.

Event Location, Dates and Times:
Monthly tours offered from June through September
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm at various locations
Cost: $15
Visit www.hudsonriverpark.org for tour themes and tickets

SUBMERGE – FREE
Hudson River Park’s NYC Marine Science Festival 

Hudson River Park’s SUBMERGE festival celebrates NYC’s coastal waters while bringing marine science to life.  Enjoy free hands-on activities, kid-approved science entertainment, presentations by noted scientists, citizen science, kayaking, fishing and more!

If you are looking for superb fishing reels, visit Dreamguides.

Event Location, Dates and Times: • Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, located at West 44th St. in Midtown
Saturday, September 22
Rain Date: Sunday, September 23 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

 

 

MOVIES & Popcorn FREE

Hudson RiverFlicks: Big Hit Wednesdays 

From blockbusters to instant classics and Oscar winners, Hudson RiverFlicks: Big Hit Wednesdays summer fun has all of your favorite movies from the last year. Hudson River Park gives you the chance to see your favorite movies on the big screen.

2018 Hudson RiverFlicks: Big Hit Wednesdays Titles:

7/11: Get Out – Rated “R”
7/18: The Big Sick – Rated “R”
7/25: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle – Rated “PG-13”
8/1: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Rated “R”
8/8: Wonder Woman – Rated “PG-13”
8/15: Lady Bird – Rated “R”
8/22: Blade Runner 2049 – Rated “R”

Event Location, Dates and Times: • Hudson River Park’s Pier 63 Lawn, at West 23rd St. in Chelsea
Every Wednesday from July 11 – August 22
Movies begin at dusk (generally around 8:30 pm)

Hudson RiverFlicks: Family Fridays – FREE

There’s something for everyone in the family on Friday nights in Hudson River Park! Hudson RiverFlicks: Family Fridays returns to Hudson River Park’s Pier 46 this summer fun and features recent favorites as well as classic movies for the whole family to enjoy.
Free Popcorn
2018 Hudson RiverFlicks: Family Fridays Titles: • 7/13: Moana – Rated “PG”
7/20: Wonder – Rated “PG”
7/27: Jumanji (1995) – Rated “PG”
8/3: Paddington 2  – Rated “PG”
8/10: Spice World – Rated “PG”
8/17: The Karate Kid (1984) – Rated “PG”
8/24: Coco – Rated “PG”

Event Location, Dates and Times: • Hudson River Park’s Pier 46, located at Charles St. (just north of Christopher St.) in Greenwich Village
Every Friday from July 13 – August 24
Movies begin at dusk (generally around 8:30 pm)

Hudson RiverFlicks: Sing-Along Special (in Clinton Cove) – FREE

Join us in Hudson River Park’s Clinton Cove (just off 55th Street) to celebrate all-time-favorite summer fun musical movies! Sing along to show-stoppers with Chicago, and Let It Go with the family favorite, Frozen. Join us in the Park to relax, enjoy the show, and sing your heart out!

Free Popcorn

2018 Hudson RiverFlicks: Sing-Along Special Titles:
7/26: Chicago – Rated “PG-13”
8/23: Frozen – Rated “PG”

Event Location, Dates and Times: • Hudson River Park’s Clinton Cove, at West 55th St. in Clinton
Thursday, July 26 and Thursday, August 23
The summer fun movie begins at dusk (generally around 8:30 pm)

 

 

 

MUSIC

Jazz @ Pier 84: Featuring the Jazz Foundation of America – FREE 

Presented in association with the Jazz Foundation of America

Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 comes alive on sultry summer fun Thursdays from May through September with fantastic musicians from the Jazz Foundation of America! For almost 30 years, JFA has provided help to jazz and blues musicians with both direct assistance and opportunities to play sizzling hot shows, just like this one!

Jazz @ Pier 84 Bands:
5/31: Ray Mantilla
6/21: Alvin Flythe Quartet
7/19: Sylvia Cuenca Organ Quartet
8/16: Michael Marcus
9/13: George Braith

Event Location, Dates and Time:
Hudson River Park’s Pier 84, at West 44th Street
Thursdays: May 31, June 21, July 19, August 16 and September 13 7:00 pm

Sunset on the Hudson – FREE
Friday nights equal great local music!
Join us every Friday night at Hudson River Park’s Pier 45 at 7:00 pm for summer fun, music to hear some of NYC’s best local artists!

Sunset on the Hudson Bands:
6/29 and 8/10: High & Mighty Brass Band
7/6 and 8/24: Manhattan Samba
7/13 and 8/17: Baby Soda
7/20: Jenna Kyle
7/27 and 8/3: The Chuck Braman Jazz Band

Event Location, Dates and Time: • Hudson River Park’s Pier 45, located at Christopher St. in Greenwich Village
Fridays from June 22 – August 24
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Hudson River Park’s 19th Annual Blues BBQ – FREE Admission 

The 19th annual Blues BBQ returns to Pier 97 for an amazing day summer fun filled with food, friends, and great blues music. Pairing America’s best Blues and Roots musicians with New York City’s favorite BBQ restaurants makes for an unforgettable summer day on the Hudson River!

 2018 Blues BBQ line up*:
2:00 pm: The Slam Allen Band
3:15 pm: Danielle Nicole
4:30 pm: Welch-Ledbetter Connection
6:00 pm: Dawn Tyler Watson
7:30 pm: Vieux Farka Touré

  2018 Blues BBQ Restaurants include: • Pig Beach

  • Mighty Quinn’s
  • Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

 Event Location, Date and Time: • Hudson River Park’s Pier 97, located at West 59th St. in Clinton
Saturday, August 18
2:00 pm – 9:00 pm *Program and artists subject to change

 

FITNESS

Healthy on the Hudson – FREE

Working out in New York City has never been better! This FREE exercise series will take place every Monday, Wednesday & Thursday all summer long! A wide range of classes are offered; space is limited to 75 people per class and participation requires RSVP for this Summer fun activity.

Mondays • Presented in partnership with the New York School of T’ai Chi Chuan, classes will take place on Pier 84 in June and July.
Wednesdays • Lululemon partners with Hudson River Park every Wednesday to bring you a summer of fitness and fun! Workouts vary – check our website for details.
Thursdays • Presented in partnership with Shape Up NYC, take your yoga practice to the west side waterfront on Pier 46. Bring your own mat!

BECOME ONE OF HUDSON RIVER PARK’s ‘FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS’ TODAY! 

Hudson River Park receives no government funds for its operation or maintenance. You can support the Park by becoming A FRIEND at hudsonriverpark.org/friends. Friends’ Membership starts at only $50 and helps ensure that free and low-cost programs will continue to thrive in New York’s Park for Play. Benefits also include member perks at local community partner locations and invitations to Friends events throughout the year.

About Hudson River Park

Hudson River Park, which extends from Chambers Street to 59th Street along Manhattan’s west side, is the longest riverfront park in the United States. This free, urban recreational oasis is home to award-winning skate parks, playgrounds, sports fields, gardens and nature exhibits, boating and maritime activities, art installations, and myriad year-round events that celebrate the diverse cultures and neighborhoods along its shores. The Park plays a critical role in protecting the Hudson River ecosystem, and though it receives no public operating funds from the city, state or federal government, its development has transformed four miles of decaying piers and parking lots into a premier New York City destination for local residents and visitors alike. The non-profit,  Hudson River Park Friends helps to ensure ongoing sustainability by serving as the Park’s primary source of fundraising, advocacy and support, working in concert with the Hudson River Park Trust, the city-state entity that oversees the design, construction and operation of the Park. For more information, please visit www.hudsonriverpark.org.  Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @HudsonRiverPark, and LIKE us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/HudsonRiverPark.

Categories
Events Featured

Giving Thanks By Giving Back

A quick summary of the history of Thanksgiving: In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. Since Bradford wrote of how the colonists had hunted wild turkeys during the autumn of 1621 and since turkey is a uniquely American (and scrumptious) bird, it gained traction as the Thanksgiving meal of choice for Americans after Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

There are plenty of ways to give back if you feel so inclined:

  • Support the Troops
  • Invite Someone Over
  • Visit a Retirement Home
  • Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
  • Donate to Food Banks

 

Downtown Magazine partnered with Pastor Cody and Ashley Abercrombie of Liberty Church this Thanksgiving to help those less fortunate.

Pastor Ashley and her team were working with a local school to help several families who otherwise would not have a Thanksgiving meal.

When our CEO/Publisher Grace A. Capobianco heard about this she wanted to help. Grace has been a member of this community for 17 years, and in 2010 launched the much needed luxury lifestyle magazine dedicating the content to the diverse culture which is in Lower Manhattan.

One thing that is said often when speaking about Grace is that she not only serves the people and businesses of Lower Manhattan, but she somehow gets those around her to advocate for our mission too. Grace reached out to her close friends from Whole Foods TriBeCa and Gristedes Battery Park to see if they would donate a meal.

Ashley only asked that each person donates from a list of a Thanksgiving day menu; potatoes, turkey, vegetables etc. but when Grace called upon her dear friends at Whole Foods and Gristedes they each donated an entire meal for two of the families.

We were able to ask Ashley Abercrombie of Liberty Church a few questions about this Thanksgiving and the gift of giving back.

 

What does it mean for Liberty Church to give back?

Ashley Abercrombie: It is important to us to participate in what is already happening in our local community. There are schools, churches, businesses, non-profits, media and publishing companies that have been around for decades, and we are part of that larger story. Giving back helps us become part of the fabric of our neighborhood.

 

How did you choose this particular school and families?

AC: We have many teachers and educators in our faith community, and one of them, Liz Rivera, serves in our church’s non-profit Liberty City, that focuses on the intersections of anti-human trafficking, mass incarceration, youth and education. She has led workshops for young women who are currently incarcerated, a group at her school, called Be Brave, for young women, and leads some of our efforts as well. Teachers and counselors in schools are often the first responders for the next generation, and have the pulse on what is happening in the lives of families in our community. We approached her to ask if we could help, and she responded with a list of names.

 

What memory will stay with you when you handed the children these meals?

AC: We had the baskets delivered so that they came from Liz, which keeps things safe and healthy for the students receiving what they need, but she did send us pictures. We loved seeing their smiling faces, and we also love creating opportunities for people to engage their faith with their neighborhood, and that’s what will stay with us. The more we can connect people to our city, the better.

 

What are you most thankful for?

AC: The people in my life. We can go through all kinds of hell in our lives, but if we are surrounded by people who make us laugh, love us like we are, and inspire us to rise to the strength of our full potential, it makes it all worth it. There’s so much pressure in our world to achieve, to care more about things than people, and to put on a mask, and pretend like everything is okay, when it’s not. My husband often says, “It’s okay to not be okay.” He’s right, and we need to create space for the mess of life, and not just the highlight reel, and the people in our corner, who cheer us on and remind us of what’s really important, help us do exactly that.

 

What would you like our readers to know about giving back?

AC: Giving back is reciprocal. We have as much to receive from the person we are helping, as they have to receive from us. We’re not better than anybody else, and we are nobody’s savior, and I think it’s always important to remember that the ground is level, as we give. We are all human beings with needs – they might look different, but we each have dreams and desires, and the truth is, we need each other. And giving is easier than we think: Who’s already in our daily life, on our job, in our apartment building, in our school (or kid’s school), at the coffee shop we go to every day, that we can build a relationship with? Opening our eyes, right where we are, and seeing the people we interact with every day, can help us discover a need, and graciously respond.

 

We were also lucky enough to ask our donors to answer a few questions. First up is Rick Marquardt, Metro Marketer of Whole Foods Market in NYC.

 

Where will you spend your Thanksgiving holiday and what are you looking for most on this Thanksgiving day?

Rick Marquardt: I will spend the first part of my day at Whole Foods Market making sure everyone has what they need for a wonderful celebration. The early evening will be spent in Brooklyn at a vegan Friends-giving! Food and fellowship with kindred spirits who acknowledge that we have so much to be grateful for.

 

What would like to share with others about giving back?

RM: Nothing brings our team closer together than giving back to the communities our stores serve. Whether volunteering for a day or fundraising with an organization that does outreach for those in need on any level, it’s incredibly gratifying.

 

Tell us what your favorite thing about working for Whole Foods?

RM: Knowing that small well-thought-out actions in an organization of this scale can impact our world in a positive way, whether it’s in our own backyard or even at the global level like with our Whole Planet Foundation.

 

We were also able to talk to Eric Rivers, Store Manager of store #070 Gristedes, about Thanksgiving this year.

 

Where will you spend your Thanksgiving holiday and what are you looking for most on this Thanksgiving day?

Eric Rivers: Family. I’m looking forward to our family tradition and time together.

 

What would like to share with others about giving back?

ER: It’s part of life. Whether you give back with your time or help as we did with this Downtown opportunity.

 

Tell us what your favorite thing about working for Gristedes?

ER: Seeing my happy costumers. I love when they are happy and satisfied. We have the opportunity to do that in each store within our communities.

 

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Categories
Culture Entertainment Events Lifestyle Living News Pets

Downtown’s top picks for Halloween 2016

Whether you’re looking for something to do with the kids, with a date, or with your friends, here are some Halloween events to consider for this weekend, courtesy of Downtown:

cider

Photo courtesy of Astor Center

Start Halloween weekend early and get into the autumn mood with some Thursday night cider tasting. Astor Center is hosting Applepalooza 2016, a casual tasting, perfect if you’re a cider enthusiast or just “cider curious.” Try different ciders from all around the world and relax into the weekend.

 

World Masquerades presents The 9th Annual Masquerade Ball9462323861_ceaeb9efb5_b

Want to kick off the Halloween celebrations in a more glamorous way? Put the costume aside and bring out your formal attire and mask. This secretive party is being held by Worlds Masquerades and the location will be announced on the day of. Your Thursday night will never be classier. 

 

DJ Khaled Presents Highline House of HorrorsHlb 3

Photo courtesy of Highline Ballroom

In the mood to blow off steam? On Friday night, head to a concert at the Highline Ballroom. Costumes are encouraged and DJ Khaled will host a night of great performances. DJ Spade, Scram Jones, and more will help you start the weekend off right.

 

Haunted Halloween Gingerbread Houses

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Photo courtesy of Taste Buds Kitchen

Does you kid need some activities for this weekend? A twist on winter gingerbread houses, Taste Buds Kitchen is offering a Halloween gingerbread workshop from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Saturday (the class is also offered on Sunday). Kids, from ages 2 to 8, can build their own haunted house out of gingerbread, while wearing costumes and listening listen to spooky music.

 

Brookfield Place Halloween PartyScreen Shot 2016-10-25 at 1.33.37 PM

Photo courtesy of Arts Brookfield

To entertain the kids (and maybe get some shopping done), head to Brookfield Place on Saturday between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Kids of all ages are welcome for a Halloween party with science activities, magicians and performances. Show up in costumes so you can get some great photos of the kids on the costume catwalk.

 

Halloween at The Stanton SocialScreen Shot 2016-10-25 at 2.26.00 PM

Photo courtesy of The Stanton Social

Put on your best costume and head to The Stanton Social. This bar is “unabashedly luxurious” and will hold a lavish Halloween party on the Saturday night. With a premium open bar and a live DJ performance, and a 1940s vibe, this is a great place to dance the night away.

 

Halloween Pup Parade

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Photo courtesy of The High Line Hotel

Halloween weekend will be busy and by Sunday, you might be a little exhausted. The perfect pick-me-up is a puppy parade! The High Line Hotel, known for being dog-friendly, is hosting a Halloween event from 10:00 AM until noon, with face painting and pumpkin carving and other events for the kiddos. The highlight (of course) is the Halloween pup parade at 11:30.

 

Tag Your Pet’s Costume

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Speaking of puppy costumes, starting today tag your pets with #PawlloweenNYC and you could see them on the subway! LinkNYC will be taking photos from Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and will be featuring them on LinkNYC and the MTA On-The-Go kiosks from Oct. 24-31.

 

 

 

 

Categories
Events Lifestyle Living

5 Great Day Trips — Courtesy of Denise & FiDi Families

Courtesy of FiDiFamilies.com

Courtesy of FiDiFamilies.com
Courtesy of FiDiFamilies.com

Courtesy of our friend Denise Courter at www.fidifamilies.com, here is a link to a piece on five great day trips that our Downtown Manhattan-based readers can take with their families:

http://bit.ly/2em0ONB

If you miss any of this year’s event, well, there’s always next year.

Thanks Denise!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpj2BOX16s0

Categories
Lifestyle Living

Mother’s Day Profile With Heather Ross

10917861_10153336862694796_983079708358864529_nDowntown Mom, Heather Ross is a children’s book illustrator, an author, and artist. Our Lifestyle and Family Editor, Denise Courter, recently had a chance to learn more about her business and family life in Lower Manhattan.  She lives in the Financial District with her husband and daughter, which is also where she has a studio. Her studio is located at 139 Fulton Street and according to Heather, “is filled with creative professionals and studios and offices, which makes it the perfect space” for her to work in her creative field. She is a children’s book illustrator and author and has created some memorable children’s book covers, such as “How to Behave at a Tea Party”, written by Madelyn Rosenberg. She also is a portrait artist. She is in the midst of some new and exciting projects and continues to innovate and design in Lower Manhattan.

Q: What is your perception of the Financial District today, compared to when you moved into the neighborhood, seven years ago?

A: When we came to this neighborhood, we thought it would be just for a year or two. We realize now that we never want to leave, and are looking to buy something in the Seaport area or FiDi, soon. We’ve put down roots in a way that you don’t expect to in a big city, and love being a part of and witness to what is happening in Lower Manhattan. My husband and I realized recently that we have lived in our apartment longer than either of us has even lived at the same address in our entire lives.

Q: What is the best parenting advice/phrase you were given?

A: A very wise woman once told me that there are only two things a woman never regrets: a swim, and a baby. When I was pregnant, I really appreciated the random woman who came up to me and whispered in my ear: Don’t worry, it’s more fun than it looks.”. I’ve passed that one along a few times.

Q: Did you grow up as a city kid or a suburban kid?

A: I grew up in a few different places, mostly on a Vermont mountaintop, right on the Canadian border, but also in Middleburg Virginia, Santa Cruz, California, and San Miguel De Allende Mexico. It was the seventies. If a place sounded exciting, we put everything important in the car and went there.

Q: What are your favorite things about being a City Mom?

A: Never having to get into the car, unless it’s on the weekend and we are getting out. I love always being about fifty paces from a snack or a bottle of water. The amazing options for educating our kids, especially in this neighborhood, commuting to school by scooter, and admittedly, I’m a sucker for crazy, overblown, themed destination birthday parties. The more ridiculous the theme, the better.

Q: What are the challenges of being a working Mom in the city?

A: I was on the West Coast for ten years before moving to New York. You aren’t really succeeding there unless your quality of life is just as good as your career. It can actually lead to whole other category of stress, but it helps keep things in balance, too. In New York, people work themselves as hard as they can. I respect and admire that, but if I try to live that way, I start to stumble a lot as a mother, which makes me miserable. My friend Sara said to me recently that I should really read the Sheryl Sandberg book, Lean In, since I think its probably relevant to me. I’m so leaned in that I’m bent over! I thought that pretty much summed it up.

Q: What is your favorite Summer family activity?

A: We are in the Catskills in the summer, where we have a grand, but dusty and crumbly old lake house. We are in the water as much as we can be, but we also spend a lot of time hiking and foraging for blueberries and mushrooms. We are also obsessed with tracking our local wildlife, and the family of owls that comes and goes in our woods. My daughter has the confident, haunting, Barred Owl hoot of a master, life-long birder. On rainy days we make and decorate paper boats and race them in our stream, which is much more fun with cousins and friends around. It’s a wonderful break from the City, but we are always ready to come back and newly appreciative of being here come fall. On sunny days in the city you’ll find us at the elevated green-space down at the piers near the seaport, being barefoot on the grass and watching the boats and helicopters go by, feeling very blessed.

Q: As a dog lover and Mom to your dog Lobo, what can you tell us about him?

A: Our dog Lobo spent his formative years in a gang on the mean streets of Quito Ecuador. He’s the most urban one in the family.

“Favorites” List of Questions:

Favorite Downtown Playground is –

The Imagination Playground, especially now that the El Luchador restaurant has arrived.

Favorite Downtown place to get a cocktail –

I just recently fell in love with The Hideaway in the Seaport. It’s going to be my spot now. I also love Warren 77 in Tribeca, and the bar at Felice in FiDi is great, too.

Favorite Downtown Mommy and Me activity –

My daughter Bee and I have been pretty obsessed with seeking out big piles of fruit tree blossoms, and then throwing them up in the air and pretending that we are in a New York City Snowglobe. But that’s this week. We love a good chopstick-practicing outdoor lunch at Sutieshi, and “just browsing” at the Petlands pet store on Nassau Street. We are also longtime supporters of the Downtown Community Center, and Imagine Swimming. Bee and I do a lot of baking and cooking together, too, so trips to Whole Foods or GreenMarket for more obscure items can consume an entire afternoon.

Favorite mode of transit –

Bee: on the scooter, Heather: running alongside with a pocketfull of Dora Bandaids. We like the subway, too, but since our home, Bee’s school, and my studio make up a five block wide triangle, we can go most places on foot.

To learn more about Heather and her current and upcoming projects, please visit her website.

-by Denise Courter

Denise Courter is the Founder and Publisher of FiDiFamilies, a website for Lower Manhattan