Members of Kid Le Chat and Blac Rabbit pose with Dustin Pittman, Downtown editors, and Downtown’s CEO.
All photographs by Alice Teeple
On Friday, September 6th, bands took the stage as part of the 2019 World Trade Center Music Festival. Bands like Kid Le Chat,Blac Rabbit, Greko, Marc Scibilia, and Brooklyn’s Blake Charleton braved rain and wind to play for crowds of often-wet attendees. The event, put together by Downtown Magazine and WTC Silverstein Properties, honored first responders and Tuesday’s Children as well as the people and businesses who moved downtown following the September 11th tragedy.
“We heard about what Downtown Magazine (and Silverstein Properties) were doing, bringing these sort of cultural events and making more activities out of what’s typically a very corporate business environment,” says Blake Charleton Drummer Sam Berkowitz, “I work downtown as well. I work in one of the World Trade buildings. So it’s exciting to see all these creative and interactive events.”
Hundreds of people attended the event, including minor celebrity Hurricane Dorian, who traveled all the way from the Bahamas for the event. Unfortunately, some guests are better than others, and the rain from Dorian forced the show to end early. The show was short, but epic while it was going on. For those who unable to brave the rain this year, Downtown has brought some of the festival with us. Check out these pictures below, from the festival and a performance by artist Gus10 at the afterparty, and we’ll see you again next year. Don’t forget your raincoat.
Blake Charleton
Blac Rabbit
Blac Rabbit
Blac Rabbit
Gus10 performs at the festival afterparty
Gus10 performs
Downtown CEO Grace Capobianco introduces The Dogpound’s Kirk Myers
The most luxurious thing on the menu is definitely the sticky pork belly. The dish pairs the already indulgent fat/meat combo with tamarind caramel, cashews, chili, fresh herbs, and tons of lime. Paired with a spicy margarita, the sticky pork belly is a killer date night combo.
Sugar Momma 15 Cliff Street Tuesday–Saturday: 6:00 PM – Late (Kitchen closes at 10:30 PM)
Don Wagyu, best known for their $180 Ozaki Wagyu Katsu Sandwich, is expanding their lunch sandwich service with their snacks menu and dinner after dark series. Along with their iconic sandwiches and seaweed dusted shoestring fries, the snack menu, offered Monday through Friday, includes wildly addictive bar peanuts, a high class corn dog, tempura mushroom bao, and a washugyu tartare sandwich.
Even more exciting is their new Don Wagyu After Dark series. Thursday and Friday nights at 8:30, the tiny counter turns into a tasting menu spot with a multi-course rotating menu from Chef Corwin Kave. In addition to their signature sandwiches, the menu features baos, tartare, curry carrot ramen, and even dessert. For now, reservations can be made via Instagram.
Just because you’re staying in New York this Winter doesn’t mean your tastebuds have to! Downtown favorite Khe-Yo offers private parties with amazing menus comprised of beautifully redefined Lao cuisine. Khe-Yo can accommodate up to 60 diners for a sit down dinner and up to 100 for a passed appetizers type of event. This all sounds wonderful, but what even is Lao food?
Serious Eats describes Lao cuisine as “often unassuming, but packed with flavor in a way that showcases the country’s prowess at marrying herbs, chilies, and the pungent bacterial riot of fermented meat and fish.” Lao food has a lot in common with Isan Thai food, which was part of Laos when the French invaded Southeast Asia. Expect lots of vegetables and bitter elements in every dish plus tons of fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, and dill. And a meal would not be complete without sticky rice, which is cooked and served in a woven basket. Khe-Yo encourages to eat the stick rice, and everything else, with your hands, as is customary.
Can’t miss dishes include Sesame Beef Jerky–which doesn’t taste anything like the gas station type you might be used to– Laos Style Pork Sausage, Smashed Green Papaya Salad, and vegetarian Crunchy Coconut Rice, all specialties you would find if you traveled to Laos yourself.
Have a smaller party? Khe-Yo is open on Christmas from 4–9 PM and on New Year’s Eve for a celebratory dinner. Make your reservations here! Before you go, check out this amazing, 360˚ view of the restaurant.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
With the continued renaissance right here in the birthplace of New York, Downtown just keeps getting better!
Just this month, the Downtown Alliance reported, Lower Manhattan recorded its strongest quarter of commercial leasing activity in seven years and outpaced the five-year quarterly average in Q2.
For 300 years Lower Manhattan has dominated the city’s economic life. At the start of the 1920’s this area took a detour to midtown. Fast forward after the September 11 attacks, Lower Manhattan was as at its lowest point. Shortly after, an article written by the Wall Street Journal quoted Larry Silverstein as saying that he felt a moral obligation to rebuild. “The city is not dead and can’t be allowed to die,” he said. “We owe it to our children and to our grandchildren.” His words ring true each and every day as we witness and enjoy Lower Manhattan’s trendy booming population, manicured neighborhoods, economic renaissance, and the arrival of new and exciting commercial properties.
AT 103 YEARS OLD, YOU’D NEED A FACELIFT, TOO.
In 1985 Silverstein Properties purchased 120 Broadway. Today 25 years later, 120 Broadway is returning to its original grandeur, offering soaring vaulted ceilings, gold leaf accents, marble floors, and hand-carved architectural detail, it has been an icon of classic style for over a century. This Beaux-Arts masterpiece, located in the heart of Lower Manhattan, is widely considered Downtown’s original symbol of power and stature. Now, the property is set to undergo a series of major capital improvements by Silverstein Properties.
This endeavor will focus on restoring the building to its original grandeur.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
120 Broadway was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978. New York City landmark in 1996. It was restored in 1983–90 by Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Whitelaw. Peirce Anderson as the architect-in-charge completed the building in 1915. At the time it was the largest office building in the world by floor area. This building was built to be the headquarters of the Equitable Life Insurance Company.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
This site had previously been intended in 1906 for a 62-story tower designed by Daniel H. Burnham, but the project had been postponed. When the Equitable’s previous headquarters, the Equitable Life Building was destroyed by fire in 1912. 120 Broadway was chosen as the location for its new headquarters building. It was originally intended to be 40 stories high, but it was reduced by four floors on the advice of consulting engineer Charles Knox, who determined the lower height as being optimal for its elevators.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
Tenants will experience modern luxuries, including – rooftop terrace, tenant lounge & cafe, and for the many NewYorkers who ride to work, a bike storage with locker room & showers. New elevator cab finishes, turnstiles going into the elevators, retail renovation and activation, and a grand entryway are some of the planned updates.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
Rising 40 stories, the building spans a full city block bordered by Broadway and Nassau, Pine and Cedar Streets. The property has 1.9 million square feet of space, accentuated by a grand lobby with soaring ceiling heights and generously-proportioned 50,000 square foot floor plates.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
In late 2016, Seamless unveiled an interesting study as part of its “How New York Eats” campaign. The company compared the ordering habits of its regular customers versus that of Broadway casts, including Kinky Boots, The Color Purple, Hamilton, Waitress, and The Book Of Mormon. The cast of Kinky Boots, for example, ordered 847% more shrimp tacos, 795% more croissants, 324% more shrimp tempura rolls, and 286% more vegetable dumplings than the rest of New York City.
Downtown had the pleasure of conducting Q&A with both Kaitlyn Carl, Grubhub’s media relations and trends specialist, and Kinky Boots cast member Blair Goldberg. The interviews were conducted prior to Kinky Boots attracting even more A-List stars to its show, including Taylor Swift and Kevin Costner. Grubhub — which merged with Seamless in 2013 — can of course be visited online at www.grubhub.com, while Kinky Boots is on the web at www.kinkybootsthemusical.com.
Kaitlyn Carl: Seamless launched its “How New York Eats” campaign a few months ago, which highlights how different neighborhoods choose from their local favorites that we have to offer. With the Theater District being located in the heart of Manhattan , we wanted to see how exactly how theater companies and their casts fuel themselves through the day.
Were any of the results especially surprising for you?
Kaitlyn Carl: Seeing the variety of foods across multiple shows was a pleasant surprise! It makes you think if perhaps each show’s demands, ranging from rehearsal schedule to genre, could give different cravings per cast. The most ordered foods at each theater ranged from shrimp tacos to sushi to grilled cheese sandwiches — representative of the diversity among casts.
The Grubhub survey said that your cast orders shrimp tacos 847% more than the rest of New York City. Is there a particular spot that you favor for tacos?
Blair Goldberg: Absolutely. You all MUST check out Otto’s Tacos — 705 9th Avenue — for some of the most delicious, cheap tacos you’ll ever have! My favorite is the Carne Asada Tacos. And the Churros? TO DIE FOR! Heaven!
What about for fried chicken sandwiches? Grubhub’s survey said that your cast orders those 226% more than the rest of New York City.
Blair Goldberg: I dig Lenwich — formerly known as Lenny’s — for sandwiches. Awesome and quick delivery, and a million options to choose from!
Are you proud of Grubhub’s survey results? Has anyone at your shows talked about the survey to you?
Blair Goldberg: Yes! We were actually all buzzing about it backstage when the survey came out! We LOVE to eat over at Kinky Boots, and you will consistently hear our stage doorman over the loudspeaker all throughout the show saying that more food delivery has arrived every night! Besides performing, I’d say eating is certainly my other passion. I’m hardcore.
Do you have a favorite restaurant on Grubhub?
Blair Goldberg: At work, it would have to be Schmackary’s, best cookies in the world. At home — FiDi, woohoo Downtown! — it would have to be Harry’s Italian.
Kaitlyn Carl: When I’m visiting our New York office, my favorite lunch is from Chop’t Salad. Always arriving quickly, their customer craft salads are my go-to! Another midtown favorite of mine is Alidoro. Their subs offer fresh ingredients, hand-sliced meats and cheeses and is one of the best sandwiches I’ve had while visiting New York.
Your show recently added Todrick Hall to the cast. Had you been familiar with his work before he was cast?
Blair Goldberg: Absolutely. Todrick is incredible and his viral videos are on another level. They are definitely worth checking out! As a huge Taylor Swift fan, my favorite is his “4 Taylor” video. Todrick has been nothing but gracious and wonderful to work with! We are so happy to have him as a member of our Kinky family.
Kinky Boots attracts a lot of celebrities. Who was the last visitor that had you starstruck?
Blair Goldberg: Katie Holmes! Or RuPaul! Both amazing!
Do you have a favorite moment within the Kinky Boots show?
Blair Goldberg: Yes! “Everybody Say Yeah” is our Act I finale, and it’s one of most phenomenally staged numbers I’ve ever been lucky enough to watch, let alone be a part of. I love looking at the audiences faces when we are performing that number. They usually have the biggest smiles plastered on their faces! I also love the finale (“Raise You Up”) because it is the heart of our show, and is all about the message to, “Just be who you wanna be.” It’s such an important message about learning to love and accept yourself and I consider it an honor to sing every night.
What’s coming up for Seamless in the New York area? Any new restaurants? Promotions?
Kaitlyn Carl: Seamless is constantly adding more local options for New Yorkers to choose from. For example, we just brought on Ivan Ramen and Westville, which are favorites amongst New Yorkers. Additionally, we recently just launched Gift Cards. Now it is easier than ever to give the gift of Seamless with friends and family by going to Seamless.com/giftcards.
Blair Goldberg
Aside from Kinky Boots, how do you like to spend your free time?
Blair Goldberg: I spend lots of time in the Downtown area where I live with my husband and one-year old daughter, Lyla. We love exploring Manhattan together, especially now that she’s at such a fun age! Our neighborhood is so wonderful for families-we love having the Seaport right across the street!
Kaitlyn Carl: Food has always been a passion of mine, and whenever I have free time, I love to explore different neighborhoods and their unique restaurants. With Singaporean roots, I’m on a mission to find the most authentic Hainanese chicken rice in town. I will also gladly accept suggestions for the next time I am in New York!
Kaitlyn, do you often get to catch live events? Do you have tickets to any upcoming concerts or plays?
Kaitlyn Carl: Because I am based out of Chicago, most of my time in New York is spent working in our Midtown office. However, every time I do come to town I make sure I explore the city as best as I can. Last time I was in town, I visited Central Park and Lincoln Center and consumed some of the best food I have ever had in Chinatown and Williamsburg. I am a huge fan of the theater though! I was able to get my hands on a pair of Hamilton tickets for the Chicago show and am counting down the days until I go.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
Kaitlyn Carl: We were delighted to see that eating healthy was a priority among all casts — based on sheer volume, we found that the Theater District turns to Seamless for salads and protein-centric dishes. It’s representative of the fact that we have everything on the platform to fit every craving, whether it be something to fuel you for a busy rehearsal schedule, or something for your a cheat day, like a delicious cheesesteak from Shorty’s.
Blair Goldberg: Come check us out at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre! And bring some tacos, please! We’re hungry!
