When it comes to New York City parks, Brooklyn Bridge Park is at the top of my list. It’s tiny compared to Central Park, there aren’t a lot of trees, and it’s miles away from my home in Hamilton Heights. Still, this park is one of my favorite places to go. The view pretty much explains it all.

You can see this view from Brooklyn Bridge Park’s outdoor garden bar, its famous Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (there’s always a line), and the delightful Jane’s Carousel (which I have yet to actually ride!).

The park always has some sort of public art display. Current art in the park include Jeppe Hein’s Please Touch the Art (as interactive as it sounds) and Sarah Conarro’s Come Say Hey (also interactive!). Alas, Tom Fruin’s brilliant Stained Glass House just left last week (but at least you can read all about it and see more pictures here).

Brooklyn Bridge Park has hosted some of my favorite events:

Shakespeare in the Park,

the most beautiful sunset yoga.

This Thursday October 8th, I can add the Brooklyn Bridge Black Tie Ball to that list!

This will be the first event I’ve ever attended in this park that is not free. Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy  hosts hundreds of free and low cost educational, recreational, and cultural activities every year. This black tie event benefits all of these Conservancy programs! They make the park just as special as the view does, and that’s saying something!

Michael Bloomberg is the honoree for this third annual Brooklyn Bridge Black Tie Ball. Which is a pretty big deal because he was extremely influential in the creation of the park and he’s done a ton for NYC parks in general. It’s been only since 2000 that visitors have been able to enjoy the Conservancy’s free, public programs. Just 30 years ago this gorgeous waterfront was nothing but abandoned piers, I had no idea!

Now I gotta tell you tickets to the Brooklyn Bridge Black Tie Ball are all sold out. Which on one hand is a great thing: All that money (the cheapest ticket was $500) is going to benefit these free programs! On the other hand not so great if you really wanted to go (but could you really afford $500?)! Well here’s the great thing; tickets for the AFTER PARTY are still available [EDIT] SOLD OUT TOO! Sorry you’re missing this but don’t worry, you can pretend you went when you read my post on the event on Friday! Did I mention there’s an open bar? And dancing?? AND (maybe) mingling with former mayor Bloomberg (hopefully he stays for the after party)??? Learn more and get your tickets via Brooklyn Bridge Park’s website.

I’m excited. I hope to see you there! I’ll be rocking the dance floor be in my fancy red dress AND I’ll save a dance for you!

If spending time rather than money is more your style, they have volunteering opportunities to benefit the park as well. If your interested in that, find out more here, and if you want company let me know and maybe we can volunteer together!