Shop Bryant Park: The alice + olivia Boutique

One of the best things about the alice + olivia boutique at Bryant Park is its versatility. The designer, Stacey Bendet, started it all with a reputation for great-fitting pants. While sussing out the store with me, Lindsey tried on some perfect pinstripe trousers ($264). When they fit that good, it’s hard not to buy them. And the harem pants ($198) were some of the best I’ve seen all season.

But surely now alice + olivia is a staple for party frocks. As I picked out several for Lindsey to try on (and in alice + olivia it’s difficult to edit your choices), the boutique was bustling with women heading to the dressing room with armfuls of dresses.

I couldn’t resist putting Lindsey in a silver disco dress she normally wouldn’t try. You need to see this one IRL: amazing. And the white dress isn’t bad either, but not for the shy. That hemline is saucy short.

The lace and beading detail from the lining of the white dress:

This boutique really does personify all that a small store should embrace: tempting aesthetics, ease of shopping, and a well-rounded selection. The staff, too, is attentive. Perhaps they don’t need to be right outside your dressing room while you try on your many selections, but at least you won’t have trouble getting another size or style.

The cut of the sweaters and tops are dead-on. That white shirt on the right (with beautiful detailing on the back) is one of those tops you’ll want to wear every day.

And in alice + olivia, you’ll certainly have no problem finding a basic for work or something shiny for evening fun. Although prices are high for those on a budget, there is a rack of clothes by the dressing rooms that is 40% off. Try on the long, strapless, yellow gown, please. It’s got a lovely, grecian-style pleated bodice.

alice + olivia, 80 W. 40th Street on the southwest corner of Bryant Park

Shop Bryant Park is written by Fashion Herald, our retail blogger.

Please Pardon Our Appearance

Over the past week, those strolling through the 40th Street Allee may have noticed a disturbance to certain sections of the pathway. Craig, Bryant Park Corporation’s Vice President of Capital Projects and animal rescue operative, penned an explanation to his department’s most recent upgrade to the park.

In order to better serve the patrons of our winter ice rink and holiday market, The Pond and The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, the Bryant Park Corporation is constructing a sanitary sewer line in the south central area of the 40^th Street side of the park.

To support the crowds that visit the winter events, portable restrooms are brought in and require daily pumping and cleaning of the toilet tanks. The new sanitary line will enable the event producers to install a trailer with multiple bathrooms inside, connect to the sanitary line beneath the trailer facility, and use a gravity system to discharge effluent. No offensive, expensive daily maintenance is required, improving the overall quality of the holiday activities in the park.

The sanitary line will tie into an existing manhole situated in the 40th Street Allee. The project involves the removal and replacement of extensive bluestone pavers, trenching and installation of a six inch diameter pipe, and reinstallation of the bluestones. The project is scheduled for completion by early August 2009.

We appreciate your patience while the sanitary line is being installed. Feel free to contact us if you’re curious about any construction or maintenance activity you observe in the park.

Mark Your Calendar (Again) for the Bryant Park Ping Pong Open

As promised, here are the updated details for the Bryant Park Ping Pong Open, which was cancelled last week due to rain.

WHAT: A ping pong demonstration by professional players, followed by a high energy public tournament, and hosted by a surprise celebrity guest. If you signed up to play in the tournament last week, your place will be held. Any slots that open on the day of the event will be filled on a first come-first serve basis, but all are encouraged to come cheer the players on - ping pong is a great spectator sport!

WHEN: Thursday, August 6; 6:30pm – 9:00pm

WHERE: Ping Pong Area in the 42nd Street Allée, close to 6th Avenue (Northwest corner of Bryant Park).

WHO: Hosted by our partners, Fred Perry and SPiN New York.

The Defiant Ones, Tonight in Bryant Park

Stanley Kramer’s once controversial drama of racial tension and tolerance scored nine Oscar nominations and was named “Best Film of 1958” by the New York Film Critics Circle and the Golden Globes. Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis give riveting performances as fugitives from a Southern chain gang, uncomfortably shackled to one another. The two must overcome their mutual hatred and develop a taste for teamwork if they want to continue their run for freedom. (1958) 97 Min. (UA/Provided by MGM)

The lawn usually opens at 5pm and the film begins at sunset. In the case of rain, the lawn may be too wet to have people on it but the show will go on as long as there is no thunder, lightning, or torrential rainfall around sunset. Keep in mind, there are no rain dates for the film festival, so if you can handle a little damp weather it’s worth it to come down, snag a seat, and wait out any showers that may pass through.

Visit our website for the final films on the roster for the 2009 HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival and check the message at the top of the page for lawn updates before you head over.

Update: The lawn is too wet to have people on it and will remain closed for tonight’s film.

This Week in the Park

In the first ever “Mactet” to hit Bryant Park, award winning trumpeter and composer Chuck MacKinnon will fill the air with sounds of jazz on Wednesday after work. Recently returned from 5 months on the road touring the world with pop star John Mayer, MacKinnon will be joined by Kenny Brooks on the tenor saxophone, Gary Wang on bass, David Cook on piano, and Russ Meissner on drums.

Bryant Park After Work - The Chuck MacKinnon Mactet
Wednesday, July 29
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Fountain Terrace

Find the full schedule of this week’s events, including more after work music in the park, on bryantpark.org.

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A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Find yourself getting snap-happy with a camera in Bryant Park?

Add your photos to our Flickr pool, or just stop by the page to check out the growing set of (over 350!) photos of the park, as seen through the eyes of its many visitors.

Photo courtesy of The Juicer, who also maintains the beautiful NYC based photo blog, Big Apple Juice.

Event Update: BP Ping Pong Open Postponed

Unfortunately, this evening’s Bryant Park Ping Pong Open has been postponed due to wet weather. But don’t worry, a rain date will be scheduled and still feature special guests in a pro exhibition, a public tournament, and prizes for the winners.

Stay tuned to the blog or check our website for updated information about the event.

Mark Your Calendar: Bryant Park Ping Pong Open

WHAT: A ping pong demonstration by professional players, followed by a high energy public tournament, and hosted by a surprise special guest. Tournament space is limited, so be sure to sign up in advance with a ping pong attendant in the park. This event is free and open to the public.

WHEN: Tomorrow, Thursday July 23; 6:30pm – 9:00pm

WHERE: Ping Pong Area in the 42nd Street Allée, close to 6th Avenue (Northwest corner of Bryant Park).

WHO: Hosted by our partners, Fred Perry and SPiN New York.

Spotlight On: Meet the Birds in Bryant Park

Meet the Birds in Bryant Park – featuring avian guests Desi and Ruby. These Eclectus Parrots are part of a new exotic bird education program. Stop by to watch, ask questions, interact with the birds, or just take pictures. Perfect for children of all ages, this program is brought to you all summer long free of charge.

The sociable, people-friendly birds come to us from the Arcadia Bird Sanctuary of New Jersey. A great resource for the tri-state area, Arcadia provides services for birds in need, whether they’ve been injured or their owners can no longer care for them. An exotic bird, like a Macaw, can live anywhere from 40-80 years, and pet birds will often outlive their owners! When problems arise, Arcadia is there.

Arcadia Director Terri Jones is both a certified avian specialist and a life-long animal lover. You can find her with feathered friends in tow every Tuesday from 11:30pm-2:00pm by the Carousel. She brings different types of birds each week, so there’s always a new bird to meet.

Harold and Maude, Tonight in Bryant Park

“Single male, 20, seeks older (79+) single female for meaningful relationship. Enjoys sunsets, walks on the beach, attending funerals, driving a hearse and staging suicides.” Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon are the extrememly odd, yet oddly perfect, couple at the heart of this pitch-black romantic comedy. Audacious and heartbreaking, Hal Ashby’s cult classic also features a perfect soundtrack by Cat Stevens. (1971) 91 Min. (Paramount)

The film begins at sunset preceded, as always, by an animated short and the “HBO Dance”. The lawn opens at 5pm for blankets and picnicking (no chairs or plastic tarps, please). After tonight we’ve only got four more movies to go. View the line-up on our website.

This Week in the Park

Bring your kids (or your inner-child) to the Reading Room for interactive tales, lively songs, and rhymes presented by talented storytellers from the New York Public Library, and hosted by Bryant Park’s resident mascot, Flaubert Frog.

Word for Word Storytime
Tuesdays, 10:30am - 11:30am
Through July 28
Reading Room

Find more activities for kids and the full schedule of this week’s events on bryantpark.org.

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Did You Know?

A daily count of people in Bryant Park is made every day at 1:15pm. Inspired by the public space principles of William “Holly” Whyte, we believe that a successful space must be attractive and appealing to women, as they tend to be more discerning patrons and less likely to spend time in dirty or unsafe places.

Comparing counts of male and female park users is one way we keep track of our progress in managing and maintaining BP. The ratio of men to women is usually close to 50/50, although we are constantly improving upon our methods in order to attain slightly higher numbers of women every day, demonstrating another Holly Whyte principle, “You are never finished.”

Southwest Porch Update

Southwest is taking off in Bryant Park! Special service hours at the Porch have been extended due to popular demand. Beginning tomorrow, July 16, the following hours will be in effect:

Monday - Saturday: 12pm - 9pm
Sunday: 12pm - 6pm 

At those times you can purchase beverages and snacks from the friendly Southwest staff, off a one of a kind menu created by Tom Colicchio and Sisha Ortuzar at ‘wichcraft.

Whether or not you choose to take advantage of the additional services, the Porch is open to everyone during all park hours.

Make Way for Ducklings

In spring we spotted a multitude of birds on the Birding Tours of Bryant Park. The month of May saw a BPC staff member rescue a Common Yellowthroat from a busy city sidewalk, and a couple of ducks enjoying the lawn on a rainy Friday morning. Last Sunday, July 12, we made our cutest avian sighting to date: ducklings!

 

Undeniably more adorable than their full grown counterparts, these ducklings automatically jumped to the top of our on-going “strangest things we’ve seen in the park” list. According to Sarah, BPC’s Assistant Director of Events and a pro duckling tracker/photographer, the little family first appeared in the 42nd Street Allee, near the Reading Room. Sarah followed as the mother duck lead her five babies to the Fountain for water, but quickly realized they were too small make it over the tall ledge.

The annual Obon Dance Festival was in full swing on the Fountain Terrace and audience members who noticed the odd sight began to gather and take pictures, prompting the mother to head back to the 42nd Street Allee, hissing at anyone who got too close to her children. She ducked into an ivy bed for shelter and the babies huddled around her.

 

Once in the ivy, most park patrons were oblivious to their presence. However, if you looked closely enough you could see the mother duck’s head pop up from the foliage every few minutes. Sarah was determined to have the little family relocated to a more appropriate park by the end of the day, but their appearance on a Sunday made it difficult to establish contact with a park ranger certified in duck relocation (who knew it was unlawful to move ducks without a permit?).

Research on Google Images helped us determine that the ducklings were probably only a day or two old. Our theory may be full of holes, but we believe they could have been the offspring of the ducks we spotted in May, and hatched in one of our ivy beds that morning.

 

To prevent the little ones from waddling around the park in search of water, we placed two make-shift wading pools next to their ivy bed which they took advantage of almost immediately. Without qualified assistance to move the ducks, staff members on-site reluctantly left for the evening, with hopes to see them safe and sound in the morning.

Much to our disappointment, the next day they were nowhere to be seen. Aside from a small mess left on the bluestone, they were a nice addition to the park for an afternoon and certainly a strange sight to see in Midtown. If you saw them or have any idea what may have happened to them, please let us know!

Check out the ducks appearance on yesterday’s New York Times City Room Blog.

How Green Was My Valley, Tonight in Bryant Park

Winner of the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director (over “Citizen Kane”), this beautiful film is about a close-knit family in a Welsh mining village. John Ford directed the story, told through the eyes of a young Roddy McDowell, striking an incredible balance between moral seriousness and elegy. (1941) 118 Min. (Fox)

The lawn will open at 5pm for blankets and picnics and the film will begin just after sunset. Please keep in mind that chairs and dogs are not allowed on the grass.

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through this summer’s Film Festival. Visit our website to check out the final five films on the list.

This Week in the Park

Visit the Reading Room for an expert panel discussion on how to greenify New York City, hosted by Bryant Park’s very own Director of Horticulture, Maureen Hackett.

Word for Word Author: Gotham Goes Green
Wednesday, July 15
12:30pm - 1:45pm
Reading Room

Find the full schedule of this week’s events and more speakers in the Word for Word series on bryantpark.org.

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Foodie Friday

With an office full of foodies, everyone has an opinion on the best place to eat around Bryant Park. Two BPC employees spent their lunch hour moonlighting as food connoisseurs to share their thoughts on one of many options around the park. Kati sums up the duo’s picnic in the park.

Looking for fresh fast food in the Bryant Park area? If you work in midtown Manhattan, you are probably already well-versed in the Pret A Manger lore. This London import was practically made for park picnicking, so it’s no surprise that there are about five in the Bryant Park vicinity. Yesterday, with no threat of rain and a park full of Broadway stars, I headed out with coworker Catherine for a Prêt picnic in the Park.

Catherine, a vegetarian, beelined for one of her favorites, the Spicy Falafel Melt. I too opted for a favorite, the Roast Beef and Arugula sandwich. Prêt makes two different sized sandwiches – the half size is perfect for mixing and matching, so I chose the Balsamic Chicken and Avocado Sandwich to complete the meal.

Catherine loved the East meets Italy Falafel. Here’s what she had to say:

At first bite, it’s all falafel. A few more, and you’re in a sea of spicy tomato sauce and red peppers. The ingredient list includes a “Mediterranean yogurt,” but I didn’t discover any until I’d almost devoured it. Too bad, because it was deliciously creamy and cut down the heat of the tomato sauce.

The falafel fits in surprisingly well with the Italian flavor of peppered tomato. I couldn’t figure out why until I opened a falafel ball and found fennel inside; the small touch is delicious and brings the seemingly opposing flavors together into a warm, gooey, and (very) filling wrap.

Good choice Catherine. I, on the other hand, was not completely satisfied with either of my choices.

The Roast Beef was adequate – the acidity of the red onion and Dijon mustard, combined with the creaminess of the mayonnaise create excellent foils to the smoky roast beef, elevating this sandwich out of a ‘meat & potatoes’ category. That being said, I usually want roast beef to be rare - this meat had been cooked past any pink color. And what’s with all the arugula? A simple piece of lettuce would have sufficed, and not fallen out the sides of the sandwich.

Worse was the Balsamic Chicken and Avocado Sandwich, a simple combination. Again – same complaint with the arugula. This balsamic chicken would be excellent in a salad, but as a sandwich, it’s lacking. One of the main tenets of Pret sandwich-ology must be that avocado is a condiment.  I have to disagree, as this sandwich falls flat on its un-dressed bun.

After tasting these halves alone, Catherine and I got creative. Chicken and Avocado… meet Roast Beef with Arugula. What we created may offend, but I have to assure you it was a match made in Bryant Park sandwich heaven. World, meet the nouveau club sandwich.

With sandwiches priced under $10, you can afford their popcorn, too.  Never before have three ingredients created such bliss. Yes, just three! Corn kernels, oil, and sea salt. Catherine says though she has these ingredients at home and both a stove-top and an air popper, she simply can’t create anything that rivals the white fluffy goodness that comes out of a Pret bag, despite dozens of attempts. Until she masters it, she vows to give Pret $1.50 for the privilege.

All in all, Pret is not to be missed if you’re looking for a high quality lunch at affordable prices. Catherine and I may have come up 2 for 4 with our choices (unless you count our culinary creation), but Pret has dozens of sandwiches made from seasonally fresh and often organic ingredients. So if you don’t like it the first time, there are always more options. Stop at the Pret on 42^nd Street between 5^th and 6^th to pick up lunch on your way to Bryant Park. Grab a table, pull up a chair, and unwrap your Pret box “ready to eat”.

Bryant Park Studios aka The Beaux-Arts Building

Barbara, an integral part of the Bryant Park Corporation for 10 years and active member in her Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn community, sheds light on one of the many beautiful buildings surrounding the park in this guest post.

The distinctive Bryant Park Studios building, at the corner of 40th and 6th Avenue, was one of the earliest buildings in New York specifically designed to house artists’ studios. According to an article by Christopher Gray in the New York Times, it had a critical asset for turn-of-the-century artists. The landmark building, with its double-height windows and location across from Bryant Park, allowed for uninterrupted northern light exposure that made it aptly suited for artist studios.



Over the years, the 1901 Beaux Arts-style building has attracted an eclectic roster of tenants, including the photographers Edward Steichen, Irving Penn, and Bert Stern, the French cubist painter Fernand Léger, and the sculptor Jo Davidson. The building is almost exclusively tenanted by women’s contemporary casual showrooms, such as the very popular, hip woman’s line Alice + Olivia, and White + Warren, a luxury cashmere line that is a favorite of editors and celebrities.

Long-time tenant Stan Herman, a clothing designer and the past-president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, recalls immediately falling under the space’s spell. ”I went to the building to buy fabric one day and saw the windows and the fireplace, and I had to have it,” he said. That was in 1975. Today, he is the building’s longest-running tenant. He credits his eighth-floor studio view for inspiring him to stage the Seventh on Sixth fashion shows in the park.

It was also that view of the park and its trees that inspired the design for the Bryant Park sanitation worker uniform, which Herman designed. The shades of green that top the London Plane trees became the pallette of colors. He is constantly inspired by the view of this modern, ever-changing city through the graceful shape of this landmarked building’s windows.

Some of the building’s enduring charms might be traceable to the good taste of Abraham Archibald Anderson, a painter and philanthropist, who in 1900 commissioned the prominent architect Charles Alonzo Rich to design and construct the elegant 12-story building. Rich designed an elaborate French Beaux Arts-style building that featured 24 north-facing, double-height studios, just right for painters of big portraits and giant landscapes. Rich and his partner Hugh Lamb were noted for their commercial and institutional architecture. Examples of their work include, The Harlem Club and the Harlem Free Library, and buildings on the Pratt Institute (Brooklyn), Barnard, Colgate, Dartmouth, Smith, Williams, and Amherst College campuses.



During the last few years, the owners, an affiliate of Mountain Development Corp. has completed substantial façade work on the building, including both corrective work to sections on the upper floors and an entirely new storefront on the retail level. Mr. L. Robert Lieb, Chairman of Mountain Development, said a master plan, for the renovation of the façade of the retail level, entryway and the exterior elevations, was prepared by the firm of CR Studio Architects PC.

The plan was approved by the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission and includes, amongst other things, restorative work to the terra cotta and salmon brick façade, and the reconfiguration of three former storefronts to create one larger store. This store is now the new flagship for Alice + Olivia, which also maintains a showroom on the ninth floor.

Executive Director of Bryant Park on Smart City Radio

Executive Director of Bryant Park on Smart City Radio
Follow the title link to listen to Dan Biederman, the man responsible for Bryant Park’s restoration in the early 90s and current Executive Director of the Bryant Park Corporation, share some secrets behind the park’s success. Biederman’s piece begins approximately 28 minutes and 20 seconds into the show.

Dog Day Afternoon, Tonight in Bryant Park

Sonny, played by Al Pacino, needs money to pay for his boyfriend’s sex-change operation and decides to rob a bank to get it. Things go wrong and he’s soon bogged down in a long, drawn-out hostage situation. Sidney Lumet directed this gritty, darkly humorous drama set in Brooklyn on the hottest day of the year. (1975) 125 Min. (Warner Bros.)

The lawn opens at 5pm and the film begins at sunset. Bring your blankets and a tasty picnic dinner or order something from ‘wichcraft and pick it up at one of the park kiosks when your tummy starts rumbling. Check out the full schedule of the 2009 HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival on our website.

This Week in the Park

Lay down your blanket or pull up a chair. Phantom of the Opera, STOMP, Avenue Q, and In the Heights will kick off this summer’s series of hit performances from the biggest shows on and off Broadway.

Broadway in Bryant Park
Thursdays, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
July 9 – August 13
The Lawn

Find the full schedule of this week’s events and more shows in the Broadway series on bryantpark.org.

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Not at the Beach?

Here are five good reasons to visit the park today.

1. Bryant Park Chess 11:00am – 7:00pm, lessons from 3:00pm – 4:00pm

2. Bryant Park Ping Pong 11:00am – 7:00pm

3. Petanque Lessons 11:30am – 6:00pm

4. Junior Mance at Piano in the Park 12:00pm – 1:45pm

5. The Southwest Porch special services from 12:00pm – 9:00pm

Who said that 4th of July weekend has to be spent in the Hamptons, anyway?

We're Here to Help

Questions, comments, complaints, or compliments, call our office at 212-719-4242 and let us know what’s on your mind. The phones are manned during our business hours from 9am to 5:30pm.

You might not know that we also act as a lost and found. If you think you left something in Bryant Park one of our 24 hour security officers may have picked it up. Give us a call and we’ll see if we can find it for you. And if you have any trouble with our WiFi while you’re in the park, dial the number and we’ll do our best to help you get connected.

If the phone’s not your thing you can contact us in other ways including email, Facebook, Twitter, and right here on the blog.