Shop Bryant Park: The NFL Shop at Draft Pop-Up

Tricia from Fashion Herald attends the NFL Shop At Draft press preview. The Shop opens Monday,  April 2nd at 11:00 AM. The first 500 fans in line to enter the store will receive a commemorative 2012 NFL Draft coin. Also, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will work as a store employee from 11AM - Noon.

Disclaimer: There's going to be a lot of Jets merchandise in this post. They are my team.

Yes, I'm this much of a fan.

As a fashion blogger and NFL fan, I fully endorse shopping the NFL Shop at Draft pop-up store. The NFL has really stepped it up for the female fan. They even found us an Italian handbag designer. His name is Angelo, and he has dreamed up all these fabulous bags. Yes, NFL bags are fabulous:

In addition to limited-time-only product exclusive to the NFL Shop at Draft, like Nautica apparel and VF 2012 NFL Draft tees, the pop-up will be the only place fans can see all 32 NFL teams' New Era Draft Caps, as well as all 32 new Nike jerseys (starting April 3rd). Also, this is the only place you'll be able to get Draft Day Gnomes by Forever Collectibles. OK, I'm not that much of a fan. But I know you all are out there, and you can't miss this shop.

Can you spot/name the Jet hidden in this photo?

Be sure to drop by often as merchandise will be rotating throughout the month. The Vince Lombardi Trophy will be on display April 4 - 14, and Super Bowl championship rings will be on display April 8 - 14. 

I'll be returning April 19th, because starting then fans may purchase commemorative Wilson game footballs and have them customized on site, including the first-ever team specific footballs. There are so many special-exclusive-uniques in this pop-up, football fans are going to be in NFL merchandise heaven for all of April. Happy NFL shopping at Bryant Park!

Click through for more photos.

NFL Shop at Draft Pop-Up

1095 Avenue of the Americas, between 41st and 42nd Streets on Sixth Avenue

Favorites from the Flickr Pool

We love to see the park through your eyes. Have a great photo you'd like to share? Add it to our BryantParkNYC Flickr Group.

Going with the Flow by nj dodge

Lunchtime at Bryant Park by Pabo76

Winter Season at Bryant Park by SomePhotosTakenByMe

G Stein - Bryant Park by 3rdTiger

Hyacinths from Bulb to Bloom

We use a beautiful and fragrant purple hyacinth in the park each spring. When these intricate flowers spring from the ground, they really don't look like much. The flowers appear from their bulbs a bit haggard and winter weary.

And then like magic, the gnarled buds bloom into lilylike flowers, with distinctive petals. Over just a few short days, the hyacinth stalks balloon with even more flowers until some can't even support their own weight. The visual effect is nonetheless stunning.

Photos by Sarah Xu

Paddles and Foils

We have many signs of spring and the coming warm weather in the park. First the rink goes, the grass appears, and the flower bulbs bloom. And then, as the temperatures rise, all of our activities return to the park. We've already told you that Juggling, Chess, and The Reading Room got early starts this year. And now it's time to welcome back Ping Pong and Fencing.

After undergoing a renovation to give spectators more room to move about the area, The Tables will reopen on Monday. The area will be staffed daily from 11am-7pm with equipment provided to allow you to stop by anytime for a fun and free ping pong match. 

And beginning on Tuesday, we'll be offering another round of free Fencing lessons in partnership with Manhattan Fencing Center. If you're interested in learning to hold a foil, or see through a fencing mask, then call MFC to sign up at (212) 382-2255.  Pre-registration is required, but you're always welcome to take a chance and drop by The Library Terrace at 1pm on Tuesdays.

20th Anniversary: Bryant Park Before BPC

1983: Looks nice and green, but those hedges on the lawn were quite tall.

A look back at Bryant Park in the late 1970’s reveals a scary and depressing place. Three headlines in the New York Times from 1976 demonstrate just how bad things were. Following the murder of a Bronx man in the park over a game of craps, the NY Times published a series of articles: ‘Murder Scene in Bryant Park is a Place to Drink and Gamble’; ‘Civic Leader Wants Bryant Park Closed’ and ‘Bryant Park: an Oasis Rife with Crime.’ All of these articles mention drugs, gambling, open containers of beer or liquor, and scared neighbors. The latter article revealed some depressing statistics: 43 muggings, 52 arrests for drug possession; and 10 arrests for drug selling in the first six months of 1976.

1982: From a different angle, you get a better perspective of the barriers created by these hedges.

How did it come to that? There are many factors, but three stand out. The park’s sanitation and capital maintenance was provided solely by a financially strapped city. Security was provided solely by an over-taxed police department. Finally, there was the existing design of the park itself. A 1930’s redesign instituted by Robert Moses raised the park four feet from sidewalk grade and featured tall hedges along the north and south edges of the lawn. This combination of factors was devastating: not only was the park relatively inaccessible for law-abiding passersby, but the drug dealers who had taken it over found themselves with a built-in wall to cloak their activities. As Andrew Heiskell, one of the founders of Bryant Park Corporation, told the NY Times in 1980, “It’s incredible, but it seems the park was designed for pushers.”  

Walls on the perimeter of the park kept people out, and hid illicit behavior within.  

There had been numerous efforts to “clean up Bryant Park”, but things really got rolling in 1979. William H. (“Holly”) Whyte, famed urbanist and author of The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces (a seminal text which can be purchased at Bryant Park Shop) was asked by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to study the park. He wrote in his report: “If you went out and hired the dope dealers, you couldn’t get a more villainous crew to show the urgency of the [contemporaneous Bryant Park] situation.”

Also that year, Heiskell, former Editor-in-Chief at Time Magazine and at the time the incoming President of the New York Public Library, became weary of hearing complaints about conditions around the main branch in the park. Armed with a grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, he teamed with Dan Biederman to form the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation (later to be renamed Bryant Park Corporation). They immediately went to work providing extra sanitation and security, and filling as many hours as possible with programming that drew law- abiding citizens in and chased criminals out.


For more information on the park's transformation, read posts from our 20th Anniversary Series: 

• March 20: Bryant Park from 1992 to Today

This is an excerpt from a series of articles on the transformation of Bryant Park from our weekly newsletter, MidCity News, written by Terry Benoit. MidCity News keeps park enthusiasts informed about our events, milestones, operations, and all of the detailed maintenance work that goes into caring for the park. Weekly updates are sent with our sister organizations 34th Street Partnership and Chelsea Improvement Company. 

You can view this edition of MidCity News online, or sign up to receive it in your inbox. 

Kubb Coming Soon

Straight from Scandinavia, we're planning a new activity to help you pass the time in Bryant Park. This summer, we'll be offering Kubb on the lawn. If you've never heard of the game, don't fear. We'll also provide you with instructions and a proctor to teach lessons. We can already tell that this Viking Chess game will get quite competitive.

We had a special lesson out in the park today from the folks at Old Time Games, and we can't wait to share it with the rest of the park patrons. Stay tuned for more info on Bryant Park's new Game Area.

Happy Hour Alfresco

Outdoor space in New York City usually comes at a premium. But in Bryant Park, we've got a few options for you, including two terrific happy hour spots at the Bryant Park Cafe and the Southwest Porch.

The Bryant Park Cafe is a midtown classic with a large bar for a few end of the day cocktails, and casual seating for their new American style menu at lunch or dinner.

Or you can swing into your after work plans at the Southwest Porch with sips and snacks provided by 'wichcraft. All the while relaxing in adirondack chairs and porch swings.

The warm weather after work fun has just begun. Why not savor it alfresco?

Happy Birthday Benito Juárez

Did you know that Bryant Park is home to a monument honoring Benito Juárez, Mexico's first president of Indian descent? The statue was a gift to New York City by the State of Oaxaca. Each year on March 21st, a group from the Mexican Consulate gathers at the park to honor the anniversary of their past president's birthday with a short ceremony and a floral display.

Happy Birthday Señor Juárez!

20th Anniversary: Bryant Park from 1992 to Today

April marks the twentieth anniversary of the re-opening of Bryant Park after an extensive, four-year re-design and renovation. For younger New Yorkers, and those who have moved here since 1992, it might be difficult to think that there was a time when Bryant Park was a symbol of urban decay, and not the vibrant, busy, and beautiful “Manhattan’s Town Square” we all know and love.

Before

There was such a time. Bryant Park in 1970s was a down-trodden place, dominated by drug dealers and assiduously avoided by midtown workers. There was no merry-go-round, Reading Room, pétanque court, ping pong, free classes, food kiosks, film nights, or free ice skating. The re-opening in 1992 dramatically capped a multi-year effort by the Bryant Park Corporation to reclaim the park for the people of New York.

BPC was founded in 1980, and immediately began improving the park by introducing sanitation and security services, capital improvements, and event programming. BPC’s progress through the 1980’s led to the bold decision to close the park for three years in 1989 to begin the lavish renovation. Upon the re-opening in 1992, the praise was overwhelming and midtown Manhattan has never been the same.

After

The resurgence of Bryant Park is one of the great urban reclamation stories of our time. Look for us to celebrate 20 years of the new Bryant Park in April and beyond. Leading up to that time, we’ll tell you the story of how a dilapidated, crime-ridden park recovered to become one of the busiest public spaces on the planet, and why it is used as a model for how to create vibrant public spaces throughout the world.


This is an excerpt from a series of articles on the transformation of Bryant Park from our weekly newsletter, MidCity News, written by Terry Benoit. MidCity News keeps park enthusiasts informed about our events, milestones, operations, and all of the detailed maintenance work that goes into caring for the park. Weekly updates are sent with our sister organizations 34th Street Partnership and Chelsea Improvement Company. 

You can view this week's edition of MidCity News online, or sign up to receive it in your inbox. 

Weekend Round-up

Now. The lawn has returned to Bryant Park! Our crews completed the installation this afternoon, and we are thrilled to see some green out there. The lawn will be closed for a few weeks, while we give the new sod time to take root, and should open some time in late April or early May. See a full album of the process on the Bryant Park Facebook.

Saturday. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the Southwest Porch with Irish music and food. We'll be playing a variety of Irish music from traditional, to bagpipes, to U2, while 'wichcraft serves up some Irish favorites. Think Guinness, burgers, corned beef and cabbage sandwiches, and of course, green beer.

Monday. The Chess Area reopens next week. Join the Marshall Chess Club in the park for sociable or challenging games. You never know what kind of opponent you might face. We've had a few grandmasters grace us with their presence in the park.

All Summer. The Reading Room has opened for the season. Follow the burgundy umbrellas and pass the time in the warm weather with free newspapers, books and magazines.

The Daffodils of Bryant Park

Take a walk through the park, and you'll catch a bit of yellow almost everywhere you turn. The park is home to several varieties of daffodils in varying combinations of yellow, orange and white. Though the daffodils are sprinkled throughout, be sure to see the most stunning display on the 42nd Street side of the park near the bathrooms. Enjoy the shades of yellow now, and look forward to the other spring flower bulbs that are on their way. You can already see the purple tops of hyacinths maturing in a few of the gardens.

 

A Perch Over Bryant Park

We're always hearing questions from midtown visitors about where to get lunch around the park. Besides our excellent park options like 'wichcraft and the Bryant Park Grill, there a plenty of places to eat around the park, if you're willing to be a little adventurous.

The Daily News recommends Cafe Zaiya for a twist to your regular lunch routine and an excellent view of the park blooming into spring.

Photo from Daily News

Japanese Perch: Cafe Zaiya is a great lunch spot with aerial view of Bryant Park
BY PATTY LEE
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

The rink has come down at Bryant Park—a sure sign that spring is right around the corner.

And the perfect spot to watch the space transform from a winter wonderland to a warm weather oasis?

Cafe Zaiya, located on the second floor of Sixth Avenue’s Kinokuniya bookstore. Just steps away from the 7 line’s 42nd Street stop, the Japanese bakery has long been an affordable lunch spot for midtown office workers.

Most go for the traditional bento boxes—some options are fish, chicken and vegetarian—or donburi, Japanese rice bowls.

There’s also a large selection of wrapped sandwiches, including the customer favorite, chicken cutlet with housemade mayo. Lighter fare include sushi and onigri, Japanese rice balls. Shaped into triangles, the rice balls come stuffed with salmon, shrimp tempura or spicy tuna.

Be sure to follow directions on how to unwrap it or the seaweed covering will quickly separate from the rice, turning the portable snack into a messy meal.

While most diners grab and go, the aerial view of Bryant Park from Cafe Zaiya’s window bar is truly worth a stay.

Stop by during the post-lunch rush and enjoy the cafe’s real gems: the pastries.

Sit down for a coffee—they brew Seattle’s Best—or better yet, a green tea latte. On hot days, Cafe Zaiya regulars recommend the black sesame frappe, a frothy milkshake made with ground sesame paste.

Pair the drinks with a savory bun like the C.O.B. (corn, onion and bacon) or satisfy your sweet tooth with yakimochi, a grilled rice cake stuffed with mashed azuki beans.

The desserts are a mix of East and West—the berry berry mousse, made of strawberries, raspberries and white chocolate, sits next to a green tea cake in the display case near the cash register. Meanwhile, pudding cups come in flavors like mango mousse and tiramisu.

Between the food and the nearby shelves teeming with Japanese fashion magazines and mangas, it’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Tokyo. Just ignore the yellow cabs rushing by underneath the window.

Cafe Zaiya 1073 Sixth Ave. at W. 41st St., 2nd Fl. (212)

Ping Pong Renovations

The Tables at Bryant Park have been a hit ever since they opened in May 2009. The Tables are staffed April - November with a Bryant Park attendant to help arrange games, manage time limits, and facilitate a waiting list. Each day, new people are attracted to the area to try their hand at ping pong, free of charge. While, we've also developed a devoted following of regular players who just can't get enough table tennis! As great as the area works now, we thought there was room for improvement.

Work is underway this week to move the tables farther apart, increase the size of the platforms on which the players stand, and create more access points to the entire area. We hope that this will alleviate crowding, allow for more circulation around the area, and prevent some of the drainage problems in the gravel.

Thank you for your patience while we undergo a little renovation. The area should reopen next week for regular play with your own equipment.

Know anyone who'd make a great ping pong area host? We're hiring for our 2012 attendants now. The fully equipped staff will return on April 2, making it even easier to drop in for a quick match.