(via morsels)

My favorite part of the day was sitting in Bryant Park, watching mothers read to their children, working folk sipping on drinks while lounging on porch chairs, students flipping through novels, families lying on the grass… a piece of peace in the midst of the business that is New York City.

This Week in the Park

Let the sounds of jazz lead you to the park’s custom made piano, now located under the big green and grey umbrella on the Upper Terrace. Treat yourself to lunch al fresco, and snag a table and chairs with our new seat cushions and tablecloths for the complete outdoor piano cafe experience in Bryant Park. An exceptional pianist and veteran of the music industry (including credits as a conducter, composer, arranger, and musical director), Frank Owens tickles the ivories every day this week.

Frank Owens at Piano in Bryant Park 
Monday – Friday
12:00pm – 1:45pm
Upper Terrace

Find the full schedule of this week’s events on bryantpark.org.

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For rain cancellations and other real time information about the park, follow us on Twitter @BryantParkNYC, or go to http://twitter.com/BryantParkNYC to peruse the updates on our page.

To keep you in the know, our latest tweet is always displayed right here on the blog (top of the column to the right of this text).

A US Open Experience

Yesterday’s US Open Experience in Bryant Park was a crowd pleasing event, thanks to DIRECTV, ESPN, and the tennis pros who braved the sun’s scorching rays to spend the day in the park. The midtown location made some of the world’s best players and a US Open atmosphere accessible to all.


Two US Open regulation courts were constructed on the lawn over the course of 35 hours.


Kids from the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program played for the gathering crowd as the event began.


Games took place on two different courts at the same time to demonstrate DIRECTV’s upcoming coverage of simultaneous US Open matches all on one channel.




The Jensen brothers, Murphy and Luke, were the first pros to take the courts (left), followed by Victoria Azarenka and Mary Jo Fernandez (right, wearing blue and pink, respectively).


Fans leap to their feet as Venus Williams entered the arena.


Tennis legend John McEnroe showed off his swing in a game against James Blake.


The Williams sisters and Jensen brothers competed in a playful sibling mixed doubles match.


An impromptu dance-off between Venus and Serena Williams sparked cheers from the crowd…

 
and the DIRECTV blimp circled the sky above the park throughout the day.

Former tennis champion, Justin Gimmelstob, and pro-turned coach, Brad Gilbert, were also in attendance, along with sportscaster Bud Collins, who interviewed players for the audience as they left the courts. To wrap up the festivities, members of the public were invited to compete in various skills challenges, and 12 pairs of US Open tickets were awarded to the best of the bunch.

Biggest Names in Tennis Coming to Bryant Park

The 2009 US Open may not start until next week, but last night the Bryant Park Lawn began its transformation into two regulation tennis courts for tomorrow’s DIRECTV ESPN US Open Experience.

Free and open to the public from 9am to 4pm, the event will feature a tennis exhibition and USTA clinic with some of the biggest names in tennis. In attendance will be Venus and Serena Williams; former pros turned TV commentators, the Jensen brothers; the World’s current No. 1 Men’s doubles team, the Bryan brothers; James Blake; and John McEnroe.

You’ll even have a chance to show off your tennis skills. From 9am to 10am and 1pm to 4pm, park visitors will be able to play against local pros for a chance to take on James Blake and another tennis star. How’s that for a US Open experience?

This Week in the Park

Every day this week the Fountain Terrace becomes a stage for music to start the end of your day. From Latin rock to classical winds, this special week-long celebration of music has it all.

Bryant Park After Work
Monday – Friday
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Fountain Terrace 

Monday, August 24
Indie rock: Apollo Run

Tuesday, August 25
Classical: Columbia Summer Winds 

Wednesday, August 26
Jazz: Ethan Lipton & his Orchestra 

Thursday, August 27
Singer-Songwriter: KJ Denhert 

Friday, August 28
Latin rock: El Hotel

There’s more than just music in the park. Check out the full schedule of this week’s events on bryantpark.org.

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niqitecture:

Bryant Park

Did you know… the London plane trees in Bryant Park turn 75 this month. Join us, as we toast the septuagenarians on Wednesday, September 16 with music, tips on tree maintenance, and a historical look at how the trees have changed through the decades.

What Rhymes With Croquet? A Bryant Park Romp

What Rhymes With Croquet? A Bryant Park Romp

Friday is your last chance to experience “Bryant in the Park”, an original performance art piece created by art.party.theater.company, featuring the poetry of the park’s namesake, William Cullen Bryant.

Take a cue from the New York Times and stop by the lawn in your best croquet whites, tomorrow at 5:30pm, for one final celebration of summer with the fictional Bryant Park Croquet Society.

Click the title link above for the Times’ coverage of the one-of-a-kind performances in Bryant Park, and check out their slideshow for more photos of the event.


  Image courtesy of the New York Times

Cast Your Vote

Bryant Park Furniture Takes Center Stage on Broadway

The finished product of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) “Green Light for Midtown” project was unveiled yesterday morning, as sections of Broadway that had been shut down to vehicular traffic over Memorial Day weekend were finally furnished with tables, chairs, benches, and umbrellas.

DOT’s furniture of choice was bistro-style chairs and tables, similar to those that have inhabited Bryant Park since 1992 and 1999, respectively.

Of the three Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) the pedestrianized stretch of Broadway runs through, each selected different colors and materials for their furniture. Here’s the bistro chair cheat sheet to help you identify which BID manages and maintains the section of Broadway you’re in:

- Red and silver metal chairs: Times Square Alliance

- Natural wood slatted chairs with black metal frame: Fashion Center

- Light green Duraflon (lighter than metal, more durable than wood) chairs: 34th Street Partnership

If you find yourself reclining in a dark green, wood slatted chair, you’re either in Herald Square Park, Greeley Square Park (both managed by the 34th Street Partnership), or good old BP.

Read more on yesterday’s completion of the ”Green Light for Midtown” project on the New York Times City Room blog.

Film Festival Finale Tonight: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Steven Spielberg’s classic scifi blockbuster stars Richard Dreyfuss as a regular guy whose strange obsessions turn fantastically clear at Devil’s Tower. Co-starring Teri Garr as his frustrated wife, and Francois Truffaut, the legendary French director, as a scientist seeking communication with extraterrestrials. (1977) 132 Min. Panavision (Sony/Columbia)

From con men and convicts, to custody battles and close encounters, it’s been a summer of memorable Monday nights in Bryant Park. Claim your favorite patch of grass one last time when the lawn opens at 5pm, then sit tight until sunset for tonight’s feature presentation.

This may be the last film of the summer, but there’s never a shortage of events in Bryant Park. Visit our website to discover all the park has to offer.

Hospitality is Fashionable at the Southwest Porch

BizBash wasn’t the only publication to notice the Southwest Porch this week. No stranger to Bryant Park, legendary New York Times fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham, included shots of stylish folks lounging on the Porch in his On the Street slideshow.

Comfy, free, and open to all, the Porch has become one of this summer’s most successful amenities in the park. Aside from the beautiful location and tasty treats from ‘wichcraft, much of the success can be attributed to Southwest Airlines’ dedication to high quality customer service.

If you want to find out how they pull it off, join Ginger Hardage, Southwest’s Senior Vice President of Culture and Communications, for lunch on the Porch and insight into the company’s renowned culture of hospitality. Check out the invitation below for all the details.

 

Space is limited, so please RSVP to Barbara Brookhart at bbrookhart@urbanmgt.com if you wish to attend.  

Stamos Braves the Rain in Bryant Park

The 2009 season of Broadway in Bryant Park ended today with a memorable appearance by John Stamos, the soon to be star of Bye Bye Birdie at Henry Miller’s Theatre, located just around the corner from the park.

The casts of Mamma Mia! and Altar Boyz performed under a cloudy sky, but a light rain began to fall as stars of South Pacific took the stage, followed by Matthew Morrison of Fox TV’s new musical comedy, Glee, who sang the John Denver’s classic, “Leaving on a Jet Plane”.

Hardly fazed by the rain, the audience popped up their umbrellas and sat tight, their applause as loud and enthusiastic as ever.



John Stamos arrived on the scene around 1pm. He graciously posed for pictures and gave autographs to many of his fans, and even signed a photograph sent to us from an admirer in Germany who read of his Bryant Park appearance online. She sent us a picture along with a note describing how much it would mean to her to have an autographed photo of John. Included in the envelope was enough postage to mail it back overseas - how could we refuse such a request?

 

Stamos watched the performances from backstage, then spoke about his upcoming role on Broadway before introducing the cast of Billy Elliot.



We were so impressed by the number of people who remained in the park despite the unfortunate weather. If you ran for cover or just couldn’t make it to the show, be sure to check out Lite fm’s website for a recap video of today’s conclusion to another fabulous season of Broadway in Bryant Park.

Let Matthew Broderick Be Your Guide

Did you know you can take an audio tour of Bryant Park, created by the talented team at Soundwalk?

Much more exciting than your run of the mill audio tour, native New Yorker and BP fan, Matthew Broderick, guides you from the Fountain Terrace to Le Carrousel, the Reading Room, and more, sharing stories, history, and facts about the park along the way.

Follow on foot with your mp3 player or let yourself be transported to Manhattan’s town square from anywhere around the globe. If you’re in the neighborhood use the park’s WiFi to download the tour free from our website or on iTunes.

The Magnificent Seven, Tonight's Feature Presentation in Bryant Park

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One of the most beloved Westerns of all time with one of the greatest scores of all time (by Elmer Bernstein). Seven mercenaries, including Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, and Charles Bronson are hired to protect a Mexican village under siege by large group of bandits led by Eli Wallach. (1960) 128 Min. Panavision (UA/Provided by MGM)

The lawn opens at 5pm for blankets and picnicking (no chairs or plastic tarps, please). The film will begin at sunset, preceded by an animated short and the “HBO Dance”.

Nine down, one to go - the film festival is rounded out next Monday with the Oscar winning Steven Spielberg flick, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

This Week in the Park

Stars of hit shows on and off Broadway take the stage in Bryant Park for one last time this summer. Come see your favorite numbers performed by the casts of Billy Elliot, South Pacific, Mamma Mia!, and Altar Boyz, along with special appearances by Matthew Morrison, star of Glee, the new musical comedy TV show on Fox, and John Stamos of Bye Bye Birdie.

Broadway in Bryant Park Season Finale
Thursday, August 13
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Lawn

Find more musical performances and the full schedule of this week’s events on bryantpark.org.

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Photo: The cast of Burn the Floor performs for a large crowd at last week’s Broadway in Bryant Park event.

Please Pardon Our Appearance (Part 2)

Summer is a busy time in Bryant Park, and the capital improvement schedule is no exception. Craig, who updated us last week on the sanitary line installation in the 40th Street Allee, is back to explain what’s going on behind the sidewalk shed in front of the New York Public Library.



Bryant Park Corporation and the New York Public Library are partnering to restore the Library Plaza along Fifth Avenue between 42^nd and 40^th Streets. There are three distinct elements of work in the overall replacement-in-kind and cleaning program.

The first, currently in progress, is the reconstruction of the stairs along the 5^th Avenue sidewalk. Over time, the foundations for the stairs have deteriorated and the granite steps have become misaligned and several have become unstable. The foundations are being reconstructed and many of the original steps will be put back in place, however, approximately seven tons of new granite will be required to replace original stones that were broken.

In addition, nearly 10 tons of bluestone and granite pavers will be installed throughout the entire Plaza to replace damaged pieces. The work on the stairs will be completed in early September, while the pavement work will be completed before the end of 2010.

The second step in the restoration is the repair and cleaning of all bronze elements on the plaza and the 42^nd Street terrace, including two ornate flagpole bases, two torchieres, and various plaques.

Finally, the repair and cleaning of the masonry on the Plaza is the third element of the project. This includes the limestone balustrade railings along 5^th Avenue, 42^nd and 40^th Streets, and the bases of the flagpoles. The bronze work and masonry repair will both be completed before the end of 2010.

Don't Forget! Ping Pong Tourney & Outdoor Theater

Join us tonight and tomorrow for two firsts in the park.

Bryant Park Ping Pong Open

- Tonight, 6:30pm.
- Watch professional players demonstrate their skills and cheer on favorites at the public tournament, hosted by a surprise celebrity guest.
- Presented by Fred Perry and SPiN New York.

“Bryant in the Park”

- Tomorrow, 5:30pm.
- Don your most sophisticated croquet whites and enjoy a free evening of fun and theater in the park as fifteen members of the fictional Bryant Park Croquet Society sip tea, play croquet, and celebrate the poetry of Bryant Park’s namesake, William Cullen Bryant.
- Created and presented by art.party.theater.company.

Illustration courtesy of art.party.theater.company.

Mark Your Calendar for "Bryant in the Park"

Sultry. Stirring. Surprising.

The first of it’s kind, ”Bryant in the Park” is an original performance art piece created specifically for Bryant Park and it’s patrons by art.party.theater.company.

Join fifteen members of the fictional Bryant Park Croquet Society as they sip tea, play croquet, and celebrate the poetry of Bryant Park’s namesake, William Cullen Bryant.

art.party describes the piece as “a paean to nature in an urban oasis” and “a surreal celebration of summer.” Free, fun, and appropriate for all ages, we hope to see you there in your most sophisticated croquet whites.

DETAILS:
Fridays, August 7, 14 & 21
5:30pm – 7:00pm
Lawn

Weather permitting announcements can be found at:
twitter.com/artpartytheater
twitter.com/BryantParkNYC
bryantpark.org

Founded in fall 2008, art.party.theater.company strives to create accessible, generous, physical performance with a methodology based on community building, spatial sensitivity, and irreverence.

And They're Off!

It’s almost 5pm on a Monday in the park. Summertime. The air is filled with anticipation. Moviegoers of all ages and backgrounds converge in the park, armed with blankets, cushions, and picnic baskets, eager to claim a precious patch of grass for the remainder of the day.

Suddenly, a crackle of audio and a woman’s voice declares, “Enjoy the show!”

Excited screams and shouts ring out as the crowd rushes forth onto the green expanse. Within seconds, blankets are spread, areas are claimed, and the anticipation dissolves into a pleasant buzz of chatter and laughter. Nothing left to do but soak up the sun, eat, drink, relax, and wait for the classic movie to begin.

If you’ve never witnessed this scene in person, take a look at the short video below, filmed on Monday, July 20th as the lawn was opened for the Bryant Park HBO Summer Film Festival presentation of Harold and Maude.

Bryant Park Lawn Opens for HBO Summer Film Festival, July 20, 2009 from BP Blog on Vimeo.

There are only two more Mondays left this summer to catch a show. Will you be running with the crowd?

Don't Miss Kramer vs. Kramer, Tonight in Bryant Park

Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for his role as a father who will go to any length (even making French toast) to keep custody of his son. Meryl Streep is unmatched as his icy wife who walks out on him and returns to claim the boy, played by Oscar nominee Justin Henry. Robert Benton directs one of best acted films of the decade. (1979) 105 Min. (Sony/Columbia)

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.

Only two films left in the 2009 HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival! Visit our website for the remaining schedule as well as listings for park events and activities when the film festival ends. My, how the summers fly by.

This Week in the Park

Bragging rights will be decided at the first ever Ping Pong Open in Bryant Park, presented by Fred Perry and SPiN New York. Watch professional players demonstrate their skills and cheer on favorites at the public tournament, hosted by a surprise celebrity guest.

Bryant Park Ping Pong Open
Thursday, August 6
6:30pm – 9:00pm
Ping Pong Area (42nd Street near 6th Avenue)

Find the full schedule of this week’s events on bryantpark.org.

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