Bryant Park Grill

The Bryant Park Grill is a great excuse to visit the park if the winter blues have been keeping you away. Located behind the New York Public Library at the Southeast corner of the park, the Grill serves brunch, lunch, and dinner in a sophisticated dining room and boasts a beautiful bar area.

The menu is full of delicious winter dishes to help tide you over until Spring. Offerings include Cauliflower and Butternut Squash Chowder, Crispy Duck Confit and Asparagus Salad, and Jumbo Lump Crabcakes, to name a few.

End the meal with a divine dessert like Creme Brulee or Peach Upside Down Cake, by chef Anne-Marie (who created an adorable cake last summer for our 75th Anniversary Celebration of the park’s London Plane Trees).

If that isn’t enticing enough, many movies, including 2009 hits Julie & Julia and It’s Complicated, have filmed scenes at the Grill and it’s not uncommon to spot a celebrity dining a few tables away.

Visit the Bryant Park Grill website for the full menu as well as hours and information. Special menu items are frequently posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.

Bryant Park on the Web

Flashback: The Old Croton Distributing Reservoir from Gothamist
A look at the site of Bryant Park in the 1800’s when it was used as a reservoir and burial ground

10 Great Places to Read in NYC from Books in the City
Bryant Park is ranked as an ideal reading spot by a NYC blogger

Another shot at greatness from the Houston Chronicle
A $3 million plan to revitalize a downtown Houston park is modeled on Bryant Park


On our radar this week

Meet Lori Benson, Parks’ Visiting First Deputy Commissioner from The Daily Plant
Mayor Bloomberg begins a First Deputy Exchange Program, designed to encourage communication among city agencies and help leaders gain perspective on important issues in the administration


Scenes from Bryant Park

Bryant Park umbrellas by hirizarry12 from the Bryant Park Flickr Pool

New Perspective

As mentioned last week on the blog, Bryant Park Corporation recently relocated to a new office at 1065 Avenue of the Americas. After a few minor snafus, we are settling in and our internet and phone services are back up and running.

In addition to gaining more office space for our growing staff, conference room space for hosting guests, and storage space to accommodate our archives, we also have fantastic views.

Our windows on the 24th floor provide us with a new perspective of the park and another opportunity to keep an eye on its operations and usage.

In the past, we had to coordinate with building managers of spaces surrounding the park in order to take aerial photographs (like this) from their windows or roofs. Now, we will be able to capture great images of crowds at our signature events like the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival and The Pond, just steps away from our desks. We can also monitor the load in and load out of special events like Fashion Week, which is currently building tents in the park for the last time.

We hope you will enjoy these new views as much as we do!

Don’t forget our new address:

Bryant Park Corporation
1065 Avenue of the Americas
Suite 2400
New York, NY 10018

Ping Pong Upgrade

Regardless of the chilly weather, ping pong aficionados have been visiting the park with their own paddles and balls, putting the tables to good use during the winter months. The photo above was taken last week on January 27 as the temperature hovered around 38 degrees! Petanque devotees have also been frequently spotted playing in the park on milder winter days.

When the weather permits, amenities like these have helped Bryant Park become a truly active public space, year round. In the summertime we will bring back our Ping Pong Area attendant to monitor a sign up sheet and provide equipment, free of charge, for those who wish to play.

This Week in the Park

Video of September Fashion Week set up, created from park webcam images. Found here.

Please pardon our appearance as tents are set up one last time for Fashion Week in Bryant Park. Ignore the construction, brave the chilly weather, and come enjoy a ride on Le Carrousel in Bryant Park, guaranteed to warm you up. Single tickets are $2 or buy a discount card for 10 rides at $15.

February Hours at Le Carrousel
Thursday – Sunday, 11:00am – 6:00pm
40th Street side of the park
Weather permitting

Visit bryantpark.org for a full calendar of events in the park, or sign up here to have weekly listings sent to your inbox.

Bryant Park on the Web

New York on the Clock from WNET Thirteen
Meet Maureen Hackett, the woman behind the beautiful plants, flowers, and horticultural elements in and around Bryant Park.

On the Street | Critters from The New York Times
Fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham, spots funky winter hats at The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park and throughout NYC.

Scenes from Bryant Park

The Chairs at Bryant Park by holly_northrop from the Bryant Park Flickr Pool

We're Moving!

After 10 long and productive years in our headquarters on Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, Bryant Park Corporation is packing up and relocating to a different corner of the park.

As of February 1, our new address will be:

Bryant Park Corporation
1065 Avenue of the Americas
Suite 2400
New York, NY 10018

Situated at the west side of the park, the new offices offer more room for our growing staff, and have wonderful views of the beautiful green space we work hard to maintain and improve every day.

Please note that for short periods of time during our transition this weekend (from Friday, January 29 through the morning of Monday, February 1) the company phone lines and bryantpark.org website may be temporarily unavailable. Please be patient, as all inquiries will be responded to as soon as possible on Monday.

Season Highlights from The Pond

Skating season ended just yesterday at Bryant Park, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to share our top five highlights of 2009 at The Pond.

1. Modelquins on Ice

This year, The Pond landed a starring role in an Old Navy commercial alongside the famous Supermodelquins in their Alpine Hoodies. Filmed just one day before The Pond opened to the public, the commercial appeared on television sets all over the country throughout the holiday season.

2. Grand Opening Celebration

The fifth season of free ice skating at Bryant Park began on a beautiful day in November with live music performances and routines by Stars on Ice and synchronized skating champions, The Haydenettes. For the first time, The Holiday Shops opened to eager crowds on the same day as the rink.

3. Let There Be Light

An annual tradition at the beginning of December, the park’s Tree Lighting Ceremony featured ice performances from Olympic skater, Elene Gedevanishvili, and synchronized team, The Lexettes. The public skated to live music and counted down as the tree was lit for the holiday season.

4. Toys for Tots

For the team’s 16th annual Holiday Toy Drive, the New York Rangers returned to Bryant Park. Rangers, including Christopher Higgins, Michal Rozsival, and Ryan Callahan, signed autographs in exchange for toys donated to the US Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program. Team alums Adam Graves, Brian Mullen, and Ron Duguay also visited The Pond to skate with fans.

5. Elves Take Over

In early December, 607 men, women, and children donned costumes and congregated at The Pond to help ABC Family successfully break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of Santa’s Elves. It was quite a sight to see!

What were your favorite moments this year at The Pond?

Bryant Park on the Web

Bryant Park on Yelp!
Read visitor reviews of the park and share your own

Bryant Park on Midtown Lunch
Articles and reader forums reveal the best inexpensive dining options around the park


On our radar this week

“Wither the Ugly Sidewalk Shed, Slayer of Urban Vitality?” from The New York Observer
NYC chooses winner in design competition to beautify construction sheds around buildings


Scenes from Bryant Park

ants on ice by dsottavio from the Bryant Park Flickr Pool