I wish every event I attended had an open bar and an enthusiastic dance floor.
Better yet, I wish every event I attended raised one million dollars for a wonderful NYC cause.
Okay, okay, I know that’s silly. I don’t want to become an alcoholic and I’d rather not get my party heels resoled every month. People would run out of money, the city economy would crash…maybe? Is it a surprise I know nothing about finance? What I am of course trying to say is this: the Brooklyn Black Tie Ball was super successful and the after party was incredibly fun.
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!).
Always a line at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory!
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’sCome 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:
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.
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!
Remember that moment in middle school gym when the teacher announced the next unit would be Square Dancing? Did your entire class emitted a groan of angst and anguish?
I reckon this is the average American’s association with square dancing. That’s a darn tootin’ shame.
Now if you were in the heart of Manhattan last weekend, you may have a new-found association with square dancing. One of complementary cowboy hats, the moon rising of the New York Public Library, killer jams from a live band, and the Empire State Building. Read More
Once every 41 seconds, a child decides they hate Shakespeare.
I may have completely made up the statistic, but the sentiment is true. People see a poor production or receive a lesson by a mediocre teach and BAM they close their books, refuse to see his plays forever.
Ugh, it’s boring! I don’t understand it! It’s old! Who cares?
“O, speak to me no more; these words like daggers enter my ears!” Fear not, there is much good news, for Shakespeare lovers and haters alike! (Well, at least for those of legal drinking age.) A Shakespeare society in NYC is burning down all those wretchedShakespeare clichés. Dowsing them in alcohol, lighting a match, and dancing impishly around the blaze.
If there was a bar eight blocks from where you work- with cold drinks and perfectly spiced bay fries, where there’s always a cool breeze even on 90 degree nights- you’d go all the time, right? This bar would become your summer house, your summer boat house I should say, for indeed the bar floats a top the Hudson River. The boat boasts perfect waterfront views of downtown Manhattan and New Jersey. Sit back, sip a margarita, and watch the sun set. Enjoy how beautiful Jersey looks from Manhattan and feel smug you don’t live there. (I speak of the Frying Pan, of course. If you’re unfamiliar, you can read all about it this previous post.)
