Vita Coco – Downtown Magazine

For the fourth year in a row, Gramercy Neighborhood Associates will be hosting its acclaimed Taste of Gramercy Neighborhood. Taste Of Gramercy Neighborhood was started to promote local businesses and introduce residents of New York City to the wonderful array of food that Gramercy has to offer. Taking place between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Saturday, Sept. 24, this year’s event will be hosting on Irving Place between 17th and 18th Street.

This year’s vendors include BLT Prime, The Smith, Paul & Jimmy’s, Ainsworth Park, Bedford Cheese, and Casa Neta. Beyond the food and drink offerings on-site, there will also be raffled items from the likes of Tory Burch, Beecher’s Cheese, CYC Fitness, and Baked By Melissa. Sponsors making this event happen include conEdison, Breads Bakery, Vita Coco, and Farm2me. As GNA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, this year’s event will also keep up TOGN’s tradition of helping out some great causes.

Antonella Napolitano, Treasurer of Gramercy Neighborhood Associates, spoke to Downtown about this year’s event and plenty more. Advance tickets and other info about Taste Of Gramercy Neighborhood can be found at www.gnaonline.org.

How would you describe the Taste Of Gramercy Neighborhood event to someone that hasn’t yet attended it?

Antonella Napolitano: A fun and social event that gives attendees the opportunity to explore the wonderful array of food that Gramercy has to offer while contributing to a charitable cause. The event showcases some of Gramercy’s top restaurants and profits go to benefit healthy meal programs at local public schools, including P.S. 40 and School of the Future. In addition, all leftover food will go to feed the homeless via the Bowery Mission.

How does this year’s event to compare to the first year that Taste Of Gramercy was done?

AN: TOGN has grown significantly over the years. The festival features more restaurants, more product sponsors who provide free goods to ticket holders, a lot more media attention and activity. This has translated in more attendees each year. Due to continued demand from restaurants, we are hoping to expand to two blocks on Irving Place for the 2017 event.

Aside from this festival, what else is coming up for Gramercy Neighborhood Associates?

AN: We have our annual green market rescue in Union Square in partnership with City Harvest on Sept. 10. In November and December, we participate in a holiday project in conjunction with Epiphany Parish, where for the eighth year in a row we will organize a gift-giving program for the homebound. We will also be participating in the Daily News Food Drive, whereby in partnership with Daily News, NYPD and FDNY, GNA collects non-perishable food to stock shelves at 500 soup kitchens, food pantries and other community food programs across the city.

Is there something that you wish more people knew about Gramercy Neighborhood Associates?

AN: GNA was founded over 100 years ago in 1912 and is one of the oldest community groups in New York City. We started as a landmarking organization and in the 1990s, GNA fostered the creation of the East 17th Street/Irving Place Historic District and the extension of the Gramercy Park Historic District. GNA also worked with other coalitions on the landmarking of Scheffel Hall, Union Square Savings Bank, Century Association Club House, Russell Sage Foundation, the Guardian Life Building and former Tammany Hall.

GNA has also funded the publication of two books on Gramercy history: Gramercy: Its Architectural Surroundings by Andrew Scott Dolkart and Gramercy Park: An Illustrated History Of A New York Neighborhood by Stephen Garmey.

When not busy with the Gramercy Neighborhood Associates, how do you like to spend your free time?

AN: When not busy with GNA or at work, I spend time with family and friends — and my dog!

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The 1,632 steps were symbolic, charitable, and historic.

More than 660 people from 15 states converged at 4 World Trade Center last night. They did last minute stretches, affixed bib numbers and took loads of selfies – staring up at the gleaming new building.

A short while later, with dozens of elite climbers at the helm, they began their sprint up to the top of the 72-story building. There were parents, coworkers, teenagers and senior citizens. Police officers and firefighters, including a number donning their heavy fire gear.

All climbed for cancer. Last night’s event was the first-ever stair climb at 4 World Trade Center, an endeavor to benefit the cancer research of young scientists funded by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

“We thank Silverstein Properties for partnering with us at this historic moment in time. 4 World Trade Center is a symbol of innovation and resilience, and was an appropriate venue to champion commitment to the cutting-edge researchers who are making the medical breakthroughs of tomorrow,” said Lorraine W. Egan, the Foundation’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“All proceeds from Runyon Up will allow us to support the best and brightest young cancer researchers in the nation. Our participants help make life-saving discoveries.”

In total, more than 700 people – from those affected by cancer to professional stair climbers – took part in the stair climb. As of today, they’ve raised nearly $173,000, though fundraising continues until April 30^th at runyonup.org. One hundred percent of all donations raised by participants will directly support young scientists pursuing cures for all forms of cancer.

The first to arrive at the top was Tim Donahue, 44, of Manhattan, who completed the climb in 8 minutes and 56 seconds. Hours later, after eight heats that took off about 10 minutes apart, the final arrivals were gear-adorned firefighters from the Clinton Rescue Company 455 from North Hunterdon, New Jersey.

Most of the climbers made it to the 72^nd floor, where yellow-shirt-clad volunteers cheered them on, distributed medals and handed them bottles of water. Dripping with sweat, the climbers awaited their teammates, took more selfies and snapped photos of the amazing nighttime cityscape.

Among the group were more than a half dozen young scientists, who are funded by Damon Runyon. They greeted climbers, and thanked them for their support.

The event marked a pivotal point in the history of the World Trade Center site. In November, officials held a ribbon-cutting at 4 World Trade Center, which will soon be the sixth-tallest building in New York City and recently was named Curbed’s Building of the Year.

For most people, this was their first view inside the 2.3 million square foot building, which is not expected to see tenants – including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey – until 2015.

Down on the 54^th floor, the event took on a festive atmosphere, as those who accomplished the vertical feat were able to drink beer and nosh on snacks provided by sponsors, including Pepsi, Cabot Creamery, Dave’s Hoagies, GoGo squeeZ, GuS – Grown-up Soda, SkinnyPop Popcorn, Utz, Vita Coco, Vita Organic Foods, and Whole Foods.

Before many left, they approached a wall on the 54^th floor, at which a number of the participants affixed messages in memory of those they’ve lost, or in honor of those currently fighting battles against cancer. It was a surreal moment, reflective of the poster-emblazoned walls outside of area hospitals after the September 11^th attacks 13 years ago.

One thumbtacked to the corkboard read: “I climbed for those who can’t anymore.”

-Jeff Simmons