2016 has been a whirlwind year for singer/songwriter Grace VanderWaal. Nearly a year ago, Grace was auditioning for the NBC hit America’s Got Talent, of which she was the show’s Season 11 winner. Later this week, Grace will be releasing her debut EP, Perfectly Imperfect, through Columbia Records. And just a few days before that, Grace will be performing as part of the Seaport District’s 33rd annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Nov. 29.
In addition to a performance by Grace, this year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony — which kicks off at 6:30 PM — also features music by Vy Higginsen’s Gospel Choir of Harlem. In addition to the lighting of 60-foot Norway Spruce tree from Hinsdale, Pennsylvania, there will also be a seven-foot Chanukah menorah on display. The event, as presented by the Hallmark Channel, coincides with Giving Tuesday; the Seaport District’s Howard Hughes Corporation will be making a donation to the Peck Slip School music program as part of Giving Tuesday. More info on all things Seaport and Howard Hughes-related can be found at www.seaportdistrict.nyc.
Grace — who Simon Cowell has called “the next Taylor Swift” — caught up with Downtown for some Q&A about what’s ahead for her, Seaport District appearance included. She can be followed on Twitter via @GraceVanderWaal and otherwise visited online at www.gracevanderwaalofficial.com.
The Summer of 2016 may be behind us, but New Yorkers never have a shortage of fun things to see and do in Manhattan when the weather is cooperative. Presented by our friends at Expedia.com, here are six Downtown Manhattan spots to consider spending an off-day around:
Opened over the summer, Westfield’s World Trade Center location is a one-of-a-kind shopping destination featuring many of your favorite stores. Seeking beauty products? There’s Sephora and Mac. Looking for the latest and greatest in technology? Try Apple or Bose. Need a new outfit? John Varvatos, Lacoste, Saks and COS are just a few of the designers stationed at Westfield. And that’s without mentioning the many wonderful dining options — like Choza Taqueria, Eataly or Wasabi — or the breath-taking Oculus.
South Street Seaport was a wonderful destination for decades until Hurricane Sandy damaged it. However, the Howard Hughes Corporation has helped revitalize this historic area, truly bringing something for everyone. Seaport Smorgasburg recently returned for its third season. Seaport Studios Design Market is an innovative retail installation at 19 Fulton Street. iPic Theaters modernizes the movie theater-going experience. Taste Of The Seaport returns on Oct. 15. The Annual Tree Lighting takes place on Nov. 29. There is no shortage of things to do around the Seaport District no matter the time of year.
One need not be religious — or Jewish, even — to appreciate the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Presenting centuries of international history, the museum regularly presents curated live events beyond its exhibits on life and culture. Those hungry from all of that learning will want to try the museum’s new restaurant LOX, as helmed by Chef David Teyf.
Known for its ticketed sightseeing New York City cruises, Classic Harbor Line offers premium sailing experiences around our island’s waters. The latest addition to the Classic Harbor fleet is the Schooner America 2.0, which was introduced in 2010 and is modeled after the iconic ship that won America’s Cup in 1854. All sorts of themed events are presented by Classic Harbor Line — including music and food-centric cruises — ensuring that year-round sailing is worthwhile for locals and visitors alike.
The buildings of the Stone Street Historic District became protected by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1996. Filled with wonderful bars and restaurants — Bavaria Bierhaus, Adrienne’s Pizzabar, and Stone Street Tavern being three examples — outdoor seating is encouraging by many of the establishments when weather permits. The narrow cobblestones also add to the charm of the area which will likely help you forget that you are on the often-noisy island of Manhattan.
A 2,575 square foot pavilion, the SeaGlass Carousel is a carousel like no other. Born through the genius of wxy architecture, this attraction combines art, architecture and music into a destination that will appeal to people of all ages. The 30 massive fiberglass fish on the SeaGlass Carousel were custom-made by Show Canada, mixing beautifully with color-changing LED light fixtures, providing a unique underwater atmosphere for all observers.
The Seaport District wants to make cinema social! They have created a film festival to launch iPic Theaters opening in October. Seaport Social Cinema is challenging the community to create a 60-second film with the theme of discovery.
Your film will be entered for a chance at the $60,000 prize. This is your opportunity to showcase your talent, tell your story, or someone else’s story. From the serious to the sublime, or the highly-crafted drama to the comedic absurd, the sky is the limit!
New York City may be known as “the city that never sleeps,” yet it is full of communities that work together to keep it great. National Night Out, an annual event which started over 30 years ago, takes place this year on Aug. 2 in recognition of this concept. The event, as organized by the National Association Of Town Watches, brings anti-crime rallies all over the United States with the participation of local business and civic organizations.
A new collaboration between two great organizations, the First Precinct Community Council is organizing a National Night Out event at the Seaport District in collaboration with The Howard Hughes Corporation. Beyond being a great cause unto itself, this year’s outing also offers food from Smorgasburg, carnival games and a live DJ. Downtown caught up with Phillip St. Pierre, Senior General Manager of the Seaport District, and Marybeth Carragher, Secretary of the First Precinct Community Council, for some Q&A.
For more info on what will be happening on Aug. 2, check out NYC.GOV, the website of the FPCC, and/or call 646-610-5323.
How would you describe National Night Out to someone who’s only heard the name?
Phillip St. Pierre: National Night Out is a nationwide neighborhood event designed to bring police departments together with the communities they serve. On Aug. 2, over 16,000 villages, towns and cities across the country will come together for a night of games, food and fun. This is the first year National Night Out will be held at the Seaport District, and The Howard Hughes Corporation is proud to sponsor this event celebrating the outstanding men and women of the NYPD’s First Precinct.
Marybeth Carragher: National Night Out has been in existence for 30 years. Its intent is to promote communities to work together to fight crime. Each year, NNO occurs throughout the U.S. on the first Tuesday of August.
What’s your favorite part of the event?
PSP: With food from Smorgasburg, carnival games and a live DJ, this year’s National Night Out at the Seaport District will be one to remember. I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to meet the police officers who keep our community safe every day.
MC: The event is a wonderful venue for neighbors to meet local law enforcement. Although we live in New York City, the event has a true neighborhood sense to it. This year we will have carnival games and mini-golf, a DJ, and the Master of Ceremonies will be Steve Weatherford, who has played for the New York Giants and the New York Jets.
Is this the first event you’ve worked on with the First Precinct Community Council?
PSP: This is the first year that The Howard Hughes Corporation is sponsoring National Night Out. The First Precinct Community Council does an incredible job of strengthening ties between the NYPD and Lower Manhattan residents, as well as organizing this annual event. We are excited to work with them on this important community initiative.
Marybeth, how did you start working with the Howard Hughes Corporation?
MC: After having the event in Battery Park City for a number of years, we decided to find a new location to be more inclusive of each area within the First Precinct’s boundaries. We approached Howard Hughes because the Seaport is going through such an exciting revitalization. Howard Hughes has been extremely supportive as the hosts and we believe it will be a great event.
For those unable to attend, is there a way to support National Night Out?
MC: By working together as a community, we all can strive to make our neighborhoods safer. That and we invite anyone that is interested in the First Precinct Community Council to attend one of our monthly meetings at the NYPD First Precinct at 16 Ericsson. These meetings occur the last Thursday of each month, with the exception of August.
What else is coming up for The Howard Hughes Corporation?
PSP: The Taste Of The Seaport, the area’s beloved annual food festival, will be held on Oct. 15. This event features local Seaport District restaurants and highlights the incredible culinary diversity in our neighborhood. All proceeds from the event support arts and enrichment programs at two of our local elementary schools, P.S. 343 and P.S. 397. We look forward to seeing our Lower Manhattan community there!
And what else is coming up for the First Precinct Community Council?
Still looking for something to do for Monday, Jul. 4? One of your options to consider ought to be what’s being offered at South Street Seaport. As organized by the Howard Hughes Corporation, the Seaport District will be presenting its Festival Of Independence. The two-day celebration — which launches one day earlier on Jul. 3 — is presented in partnership with Noisey, the music and culture channel of VICE. Beyond performances by Porches, D.R.A.M. and Phony PPL, there will also be a second stage with incredible family-friendly performances from Clifford The Big Red Dog & Friends and the Marcus Monroe Juggling Show.
Phillip St. Pierre, Senior General Manager of South Street Seaport, spoke to Downtown about the Festival Of Independence and plenty more. Less than a week later, the same site will be hosting the 4Knots Music Festival, as presented by The Village Voice on Jul. 9, as featuring headliner Guided By Voices. IMPACT! and the recurring Fulton Stall Market are also on the docket for the Howard Hughes Corporation.
For more info on the Seaport, click on over to www.southstreetseaport.com. The legendary downtown destination can also be followed on Twitter via @TheSeaport.
Guided By Voices
How would you describe this event to someone thinking of attending?
Phillip St. Pierre: The Fourth of July is all about family, friends, and community. The Festival Of Independence is all about celebrating that sense of community and independent spirit.
This two-day concert series on the historic streets of the Seaport District includes a lineup of independent artists hand-selected by Noisey, VICE’s music and culture channel — the performances won’t be Noisey, they’ll be melodious! Artists including Wild Nothing, Porches, D.R.A.M and a Jonathan Toubin DJ set will perform on a dedicated stage on Fulton Street.
There will also be top-tier children’s performers all afternoon on July 4th. Acts include the Marcus Monroe Juggling Show and Tim and the Space Cadets, a Brooklyn entertainer and host of the only live morning show for preschoolers, Sunny Side Up.
All of this excitement and activity culminates with the Macy’s 2016 Fireworks Show over the East River. There is no better vantage point than up on the FDR at Pier 17 — that’s right, the city is closing down the FDR so you can walk right on up and see the show unobstructed — to watch this amazing display!
Is there a particular activity or part of the festival that you’re looking forward to most?
PSP: The Seaport District is a vibrant community, and The Howard Hughes Corporation is particularly excited about activities geared towards some of the neighborhood’s youngest residents. Lower Manhattan’s population under 18 is booming, and we are constantly looking for new ways to engage kids and their families through interactive programming and events. We know that Clifford The Big Red Dog live on The Peck Slip Stage is going to be a huge hit.
How did the opportunity to collaborate with VICE on this festival come about?
PSP: VICE’s Noisey is an expert at curating lineups of top-performers across a range of genres. We were very excited about their work, and we recognized that they could be a tremendous asset to the festival. They were also thrilled to be a part of the revitalization of the Seaport District, and play a role in making the neighborhood a place where all New Yorkers could congregate and listen to amazing acts.
Photo by Jane Kratochvil/Seaport District
South Street Seaport took a long time to rebuild from Hurricane Sandy. For someone that hasn’t been gone there in a while, what has changed recently?
PSP: There have been tremendous changes to the Seaport District since Hurricane Sandy. The neighborhood feels incredibly vibrant with the worst days of recovery far behind us. The Howard Hughes Corporation is committed to revitalizing the neighborhood into one of the top entertainment and cultural destinations in New York City.
In recent months, we’ve announced plans for new restaurants from legendary chefs David Chang and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, as well as the upcoming opening of iPic Theaters. This summer, Smorgasburg, everyone’s favorite food festival, has returned to the Seaport. We welcome all New Yorkers to come and experience the Seaport’s dynamic attractions first-hand this summer.
After this festival has wrapped, are there any future events at the Seaport happening that you can talk about?
Right now we are hosting the annual Seaport Culture District, the acclaimed arts initiative that brings cultural partners to the Seaport. As part of the Culture District, we’ve brought an ongoing design exhibit called IMPACT! which showcases projects from students at Parsons School of Design and explores the ways in which designers, artists, scholars and technologists come together to push the limits of creativity IMPACT! will be open for extended hours during the Festival Of Independence.
And on July 9th, music lovers should check out The 4Knots Musical Festival, sponsored by The Howard Hughes Corporation and The Village Voice. Like The Festival Of Independence, this event includes an incredible music line-up with bands like Girlpool, Guided By Voices and Car Seat Headrest. It’s going to be a memorable event.
What about events being produced by the Howard Hughes Corporation?
PSP: Every Sunday afternoon, The Howard Hughes Corporation hosts the weekly Fulton Stall Market, a farmer’s market that brings local food producers down to the Seaport to share their goods with the Lower Manhattan community. It’s a great way for people to connect with the farmers and food producers that are at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement.
When not busy with work, how do you like to spend your free time?
PSP: I love to ride. You will find me most weekends out in rural New York amongst our Fulton Stall Market friends riding my Harley. It’s where I can unwind and recharge. I am actually making the big trip later this summer, riding from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Golden Gate — 17 states in 16 days. I am really looking forward to it.
Finally, Phillip, any last words for the kids?
PSP: The Seaport District is great to visit all year-round, but it’s especially wonderful in the summer. We encourage everyone, and especially kids and families, to come to the neighborhood and experience firsthand what all the buzz is about.
Starting in June, the South Street Seaport will be home to the Seaport Studios, a two-story pop-up designed to showcase emerging and local fashion designers, and also feature an art gallery and coffee bar.
The pop-up, a 5,000 square-foot space located at the corner of Fulton and Front streets, is a collaborative effort between the Seaport owners, the Howard Hughes Corporation, and fashion trade publication, Women’s Wear Daily. The idea behind the new Seaport Studios is to provide a unique, one-of-a-kind experience to transform and help foster the future of the fashion scene in lower Manhattan.
Designed by the Brooklyn-based company, Guild Group, the store’s interior draws inspiration from the Seaport’s maritime and trading history. The first level of the space will feature the independent brands and designers with a coffee bar that overlooks the iconic ships and stone streets of the seaport. The second level of the space will be home to the art gallery that will feature curated exhibits and ongoing programs and events that will create an inspiring place to gather, engage and relax.
The new concept store will give local designers an opportunity to showcase their distinct brand, and unite retail, New York and curated activities all under one roof. The store will feature up to five designers at one time, and will rotate its selection every couple of months.
The pop-up will run through 2015, and has the option of staying open longer. The addition of the store is yet another expansion in the downtown area, especially at the seaport, which has seen a plethora of permanent boutiques that have debuted over the past several months.
