Bryant Park Blog

Debuts this Week: Authors and Dancers

2012-05-15T18:59:00.001-04:00

This week marks the return of Authors and Dancers to the park. Word for Word Author debuts at the Reading Room tomorrow with a very funny line-up. And then Bryant Park Moves takes over the lawn on Saturday for bouncing, jumping and stretching with Limon Dance.

Michael Showalter and Jenny Slate at the Reading Room in June 2011

Authors Tomorrow, Ali Wentworth, Justin Halpern, and Sara Barron will kick-off our very impressive list of celebrity authors visiting the park this summer. You know Ms. Wentworth from In Living Color and Seinfeld, and now this very funny lady is breaking down the news for parents in Daily Shot with Ali Wentworth. She'll be talking about her new book Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales tomorrow in the Reading Room with Justin Halpern, who's best known for the Shit his Dad Says (sic). Mr. Halpern's will discuss his second book, sure to bring the same self-depricating, bittersweet humor, I Suck at Girls. Sara Barron will serve as host, wrangling these two comedians, while adding a little humor of her own. Ms. Barron's book of essays is called People are Unappealing: Even Me.

While you're there, be sure to check-in to the Bryant Park Reading Room on Foursquare. Tomorrow, the first three lucky attendees to check-in at the event will receive a book by one of our featured authors. We'll be giving away books all summer long, so come early, enjoy the talk and you may just go home with a free book!

Dancers And then this weekend, you can take off your shoes, and spend your Saturday morning barefoot in the grass with Bryant Park Moves. This class from the Jose Limon Dance Company is energetic and freeing, a class that's truly accessible for all ages, and abilities. If you don't remember Limon Dance from last summer, take a peek at the video from our 2011 classes.

2012 Summer Film Festival and Kick-Off Contest

2012-05-14T12:15:00.002-04:00

The HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival, Now with Pepsi and presented with Ralph Lauren begins on June 18. Get your blankets and picnics ready, and start eyeing your favorite place on the lawn.

You may recognize a few titles in the list below. As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the reopening of the park and the Film Festival, we're highlighting some of our favorite films from the last twenty years. Nine of the films have screened before in the park, and one is brand new for 2012.

JUNE 18

PSYCHO

Screened in 2007

JUNE 25

BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID

Screened in 2003

JULY 2

THE WIZARD OF OZ

Screened in 1997

JULY 9

ON THE WATERFRONT

Screened in 1996

JULY 16

ROMAN HOLIDAY

Screened in 1999

JULY 23

THE MALTESE FALCON

Screened in 2000

JULY 30

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE

Screened in 1993

AUGUST 6

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

Screened in 1996

AUGUST 13

ALL ABOUT EVE

Screened in 1999

AUGUST 20

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Film Festival Kick-off Contest

Now that you’ve checked out the line-up, enter to win one of four Film Festival prize packages featuring

Pair of reserved seats at the movie of your choice in the park

Limited Edition Bryant Park 20th Anniversary Tote Bag

HBO-themed swag including DVD sets, t-shirts, and drinking glasses from Game of Thrones, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, or Curb Your Enthusiasm

Big Pony Fragrance Collection for Women by Ralph Lauren gift set containing four 15ml bottles in four distinct scents will be included in 3 of the prize packages.

To enter, leave a comment here and tell us your favorite accompaniment to a night at the movies in Bryant Park. Please include your email address in your comment, so we can notify winners. For extra entries do one or both of the following and tell us about it in your comment below:

- Like BryantParkNYC on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter @BryantParkNYC (tweet @ us with #BPFilmFest and we'll follow you back!)

You'll get an extra entry per item. We believe in the honor code!

The contest will close at 11:59pm on Sunday, May 20 and four winners will be announced Monday, May 21 via email. A valid email address is required for entry. Prizes will be mailed by Friday, May 25. Entrants must have valid mailing address within the continental United States.

See you at the movies!

Piano in the Park Returns with Roy Eaton

2012-05-11T18:38:00.002-04:00

Roy Eaton has been a mainstay at our lunchtime piano series over the years. Mr. Eaton is a gifted classical pianist, with a strong history in playing Chopin and Joplin. His interest in music started young. Mr. Eaton was a child piano prodigy, who played at Carnegie Hall when he was just six years old! For more on Mr. Eaton's childhood, see this NY Times article.

This Monday, Mr. Eaton will inaugurate the 2012 season of Piano in Bryant Park with an extra special performance. Monday is not only the season debut of Piano, but it's also Roy Eaton's 82nd Birthday! Here's what he has to say about his residence this week in the park...

"I will be performing Joplin, Chopin, Gershwin, Mozart and some suprises from my latest album "I Play for Peace". Come enjoy the park, the sun, a good lunch and some joyful music making. Hope you can make it."

Drop by Monday and wish him a Happy Birthday! You should also be sure to mention this photo for a real conversation starter. It's Mr. Eaton on the right, during that first Carnegie Hall performance back in 1937:

Piano in Bryant Park runs all summer with a very impressive lineup of musicians taking the seat at our piano on the Upper Terrace every weekday at lunchtime. Tune in for the full schedule.

Monday's Big Announcement

2012-05-10T18:39:00.002-04:00

The HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival, Now with Pepsi returns to the park on Mondays beginning June 18. As always, the schedule is a highly anticipated announcement in our summer lineup. But don't worry, the wait is almost over. We will announce the full 2012 film schedule on Monday morning right here on the blog. Be sure to check back for a chance to win one of several prize packages that include reserved seats at the film of your choice. Last year's prizes also included DVD sets from HBO's critically acclaimed shows.

Prepare to set your calendars for Monday movies in Bryant Park!

Painter in Residence

2012-05-09T17:34:00.001-04:00

Over the years, we've been honored to see the park depicted in daily sketches, impressionistic watercolors, and stunning photographs. These works come to us almost by chance... the artist emails us, or we stumble upon it online. You can see a small collection of them on our Pinterest Board. This summer however, we're trying something new.

Bonnie Steinsnyder

Put your paintbrush to the Park. This summer, we're commissioning 3 painters to create representational images to serve as a visual record of Bryant Park. Each painter will spend two weeks in the park capturing landscapes, iconic architecture, and daily happenings.

Interested in taking up residence in the park? We're accepting submissions now through May 31, 2012. For information about eligibility, requirements, and the process please visit our website:

Painter in Residence Application

Frank Hanavan

Employee of the Month

2012-05-08T17:22:00.001-04:00

We keep the park in excellent condition thanks to the hard work of many people. Our staff represents expertise in horticulture, sanitation, industrial design, security... the list really goes on and on. Each month, we single out an individual for superior performance on our sanitation team.

Richie Zinnermon was elected April's employee of the month for the second time. He's reliable, sets a good example for others on the crew, and frequently goes above and beyond what is required of him. What's even more incredible about Mr. Zinnermon is that he's been working for Bryant Park for over 22 years! He says the biggest change from then to now has been in the uniforms. The park staff used to wear white pants with simple green shirts.

Our new uniforms were reinvented in 2006 by Stan Herman, who also designed uniforms for FedEx and Jet Blue. We now sell the Bryant Park Vest and Jacket on the Bryant Park Shop. Did you know the design of the Bryant Park uniforms was inspired by the variegated colors in the bark of the London plane trees in the park?

You'll usually find Mr. Zinnermon on his route along the 42nd Street Allee. Say congratulations if you see him!

20 Years of Bryant Park, The Exhibit

2012-05-07T17:50:00.001-04:00

The last twenty years have marked a dramatic change in the condition and perception of Bryant Park. In the late 1980's the park was dangerous, rundown and under used. Today it is home to lush gardens, a carousel, a world class restaurant, as well as hundreds of events and programs. As we celebrate the transformation of the park from neglected to beloved, we're looking back on the park's history through photos, stories, and more. You may have been following our 20th Anniversary series on the blog, and now many of these elements come to life in a custom photo exhibit on the park's perimeter fence.

You'll see images from the park's storied past as the home of the Crystal Palace, pictures from the dark times, from our blockbuster events today, and then images that transcend generations like the simple act of enjoying your lunch break in the park's shady allees.

20 Years of Bryant Park will be on display around the park's fence through June 29. It can also be viewed virtually on Flickr at bryantpark.org/20thphotos.

Share your Bryant Park.
In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, we’re collecting your favorite images, stories and memories from your experiences in the park. We want to know if you were there in 1983... or even 1934.

Tell us your interactions with the park from then and now.
Tweet us @BryantParkNYC. Post on our Facebook. Email or write us a letter. Comment below.

The World's Largest Short Film Fest

2012-05-04T18:08:00.002-04:00

Your film here?

On June 23, a competition of short films will take the screen in the park for Tropfest, the world's largest short film festival. Top films in the competition will be judged before an industry and celebrity panel live in the park, and Hugh Jackman will serve as the evening's host. Tropfest, which began in Australia, is celebrating it's 20th Anniversary this year, so spectators will also be treadted to highlights from the best films in the festival's history.

Want to see your original work on the screen in the park? Submit now for a chance at Tropfest glory. The regular deadline is May 10, and the extended submission deadline is May 17. Please visit tropfest.com/ny/submit/submission-info for more information.

Want to attend the fest? Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. Visit our calendar for information on registration.

Spring Recycling

2012-05-03T17:16:00.000-04:00

Our very talented horticulture crew works hard to keep our gardens lush and beautiful throughout the year. In an effort to create seasonal interest and vibrancy, we rotate our annual plants with each changing season. As the weather turns warm, we are changing out our spring bulbs, and before they are discarded, we thought we'd try something new.

We've bagged the discarded flower bulbs and put them in the 40th Street allee directly north of our Park Operations office (The parkhouse is across from the Bryant Park Hotel). We invite the public to help themselves to free spring bulbs, while supplies last. We have a mix of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils up for grabs. Please remember this is for a limited time only, and bring your own gloves and bag to handle. We ask you keep the park tidy when you come to pick up.**

Planting Tips
Our Director of Horticulture Maureen Hackett recommends drying out the bulbs first, and either planting now in the ground, or storing in a cool, dry place until the fall. Be sure to store them in paper (not plastic!) in a moisture-free space, so they don't mold. If you're planning to plant them in pots or small containers, you can store them until early spring, place them in the refrigerator for about six weeks to cool them, and then plant in March for lovely spring blooms. Maureen says it's a bit of work to do correctly, so be warned!

We're also recycling flower bulbs at Herald Square with the 34th Street Partnership. Same rules apply!**

**Update May 7, 2012:
The bulbs at Bryant Park have been moved to the Fountain Terrace, and will be available until 7pm today. The bulbs at Herald Square have been depleted, but more bulbs are now available at Greeley Square through the end of the week.

**Update May 9, 2012:
All bulbs are gone from all locations.

20th Anniversary: The Reading Room’s Depression-Era Predecessor

2012-05-02T19:28:00.000-04:00

Photo: NYPL

Whether referred to as an “Open Air Library” or a “Reading Room”, the idea of offering visitors to Bryant Park the free use of newspapers, magazines, and books, was a logical one. After all, the park was named after a man who was a poet and a publisher, and it lies adjacent to one of the most famous libraries in the world, the magnificent New York Public Library. In fact, the park has had two incarnations of such a place – today’s Reading Room, and, beginning back in the 1930’s, the first Bryant Park Open Air Library.

The first free reading outpost at Bryant Park was instituted in August 1935, just about one year after the renovation was directed by then-Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. The Open Air Library was directed by “Miss Ruth Wellman”, superintendent of NYPL’s extension division, staffed by workers from the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration, and stocked with books supplied by NYPL and magazines donated by merchants and citizens. Its very existence was a frank comment on the times: it was meant to provide out-of-work businessmen and intellectual workers a place to read for free. It originally consisted of several benches, book and magazine racks, and five beach umbrellas for the staff, who worked six days a week from mid-morning until mid-evening.

Photo: Daily News

An article in the New York Times about the first day was not given to optimism about the venture: ‘Park Sitters Shun Open-Air Library’ ran the title. The body of the article explained how park visitors were satisfied with their own newspapers, and didn’t rush the table to take out books. The indefatigable Miss Williams was described as directing her staff to fan out over the park to spread the word that free reading materials were available. In an interesting aside, a snickering on-duty police was quoted as wondering just how many books would be “borrowed permanently.” To which the WPA aides responded, in unison: “The civic responsibility of New York’s citizens was all the assurance one needed of the volumes’ safety.” Those were wise words, and the aides’ faith was justified by an extremely low “missing” rate throughout the Open Air Library’s history.

The Open Air Library was a success for its time. At a 1940 celebration marking its fifth anniversary, NYPL Director Harry M. Lydenberg told the NY Times that 350,000 park visitors had borrowed the facility’s 400 books and 1,000 magazines. 1940 was the last full peacetime year in the U.S. for a half-decade. With World War II came conscription and full employment, and the very rationale for creating the original Open Air Library disappeared: there were very few people with nothing to do. It closed quietly after the 1944 season. It would not be until 2003 that the idea to bring this wonderful institution back to the park became reality.

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

March 20: Bryant Park from 1992 to Today
March 26: Bryant Park Before BPC
April 4: The Tide Turns in 1980
April 10: Bryant Park in the 1930's
April 19: 1934 Renovation and Robert Moses

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 most recent edition of MidCity News online, or sign up to receive it in your inbox.

A New Season at The Southwest Porch

2012-05-01T19:41:00.000-04:00

Breakfast Service. Linger in the park before you head into the office over coffee, a newspaper, and a little morning sun. 'wichcraft launched their all new breakfast menu at The Southwest Porch earlier this week offering seasonal pastries, yogurt, and 'wichcraft's hand-crafted granola.

Breakfast Briefings. Start your day early with breakfast and an inspiring seminar. Our monthly business series returns on May 22 with an inside look at different industries from the executives who know them best. Last year's participants included Bob Bowman of MLB.com and Alison Moore of HBO, among others. The schedule will be up soon, but if you're already convinced, go ahead and register here. Produced in partnership with Fast Company and Southwest Airlines.

Trivia. Game Nights get even better at the Porch this summer with our all new Cult Movie Trivia Fest, every other Tuesday with the folks from triviaad.com. Topics will sample from some of your favorite cult movies including The Big Lebowski and Dazed & Confused. First up on May 22 is Sixteen Candles, so study up! Please RSVP to trivia@wichcraftnyc.com.

That's still not all! 'wichcraft is serving up a new grill menu with cheddar burgers and bbq-spiced grilled chicken sandwiches, not even to mention the Sip & Speak Language Meet-Ups taking place monthly at the Porch with inlingua. It's a busy summer at the Porch, so stay tuned to our calendar, and follow us on Facebook for reminders.

Our New Birdbath

2012-04-30T03:08:00.000-04:00

The park has a new amenity in the begonia flower bed near the bathroom. But it's not for humans. It's for the birds.

The park is home to a variety of bird species between the ever present pigeons, our Meet the Birds sessions, and migratory stopovers. In fact, birds may be the second most numerous visitor to the park after people. Our new birdbath is in an effort to better serve the migrating birds and encourage a larger population. Curious about the birds spotted in the park? Follow our discoveries from the weekly NYC Audubon Society led Birding Tours.

World Tai Chi Day

2012-04-27T16:30:00.000-04:00

Each year, we kick off our season of biweekly Tai Chi classes with World Tai Chi Day. The annual event, celebrated throughout the world, promotes the medicinal benefits of this ancient Chinese martial art. We are lucky to host Master C.K. Chu of the Tai Chi Chuan Center for a continuous demonstration of this global holiday on the last Saturday of April. Stop by tomorrow to practice en masse, or return every Tuesday and Thursday for our morning sessions at 7:30am on the Fountain Terrace.

Parlez vous Français? Español? Nippon? Italiano?

2012-04-26T17:39:00.000-04:00

Everybody's talking...

... about Bryant Park's new series of free language classes. This summer, we've partnered with inlingua to offer beginner lessons in French, Spanish, Japanese and Italian, as well as intermediate lessons in French and Spanish.

Each month will offer one beginner lesson in each of the four languages on a rotating Monday schedule. Intermediate lessons will alternate each Wednesday between Spanish and French.

Keep in mind that though there are four sessions of each beginner language class, the beginner classes are geared towards true newbies, and each beginner class of a particular language will have the exact same structure and lesson.

Intermediate classes are meant to be more conversational with different themes. New vocabulary will be covered each week, and the outcomes will be different for the intermediate students because of their varying capabilities.

Tenth Annual Poem in Your Pocket Day

2012-04-24T18:27:00.000-04:00

Hundreds of eager kids will gather in Bryant Park on Thursday for an open mic event to celebrate poetry on the tenth annual Poem in Your Pocket Day.

Could you do it? Stand on a stage in front of not only your peers and teachers, but also the general public of New York City and share your own creative writing? Each year proves to be a truly amazing display of young creativity and bravado. In addition to student-poets, the Reading Room will also host a slew of special guests on Thursday including NYC Youth Poet Laureate Ishmael Islam, and published guest poet Mahogany Browne. Music will be provided by Aurora Barnes and DJ Flip Bundles. Attendees will also receive a free book of poetry, while supplies last.

So get those poems ready... Thursday is all about sharing your favorite poetry.

Want to join in the fun virtually? Why not share a stanza with us on Twitter. Tweet us @BryantParkNYC #PIYP.

Let there be Lawn!

2012-04-22T18:17:00.000-04:00

We opened the lawn Friday to glorious sunny weather with a live concert from Swear and Shake. The jugglers were out, and the school groups couldn't get enough of the grassy space to roam. If you missed it, don't worry. We've got all spring and summer to enjoy Midtown's favorite patch of green.

Photos by Sarah Xu

42 New Reasons to Love the Park

2012-04-20T16:30:00.001-04:00

Plug it in, plug it in!

The park was recently outfitted with 42 new electrical outlets for your added convenience. Just locate one of these handy green posts, flip up the lid, and plug in. Help yourself to free power, but remember, the outlets are intended for phones, tablets and computers only. And technically there is a one hour time limit! We're happy to bring you more reasons to stay in the park longer.

20th Anniversary: 1934 Bryant Park Renovation and Robert Moses

2012-04-19T06:30:00.000-04:00

Prior to 1992, the most dramatic renovation to Bryant Park happened in 1934. On January 1 of that year, the park was a much-lamented eyesore, due to a lack of money and leadership, and the legacy of a failed exhibition featuring a replica of Federal Hall. There was also, however, a tremendous amount of energy being expended by persons wanting to save the park. One such effort occurred in late 1933, when the Architects Emergency Committee, formed to provide relief for unemployed architects, held a contest calling for plans to renovate the park. That contest was won by Queens architect Lusby Simpson, and all 40 entries were displayed at the Ziegfeld Theater in November, 1933. That victory netted Mr. Simpson $100 and not much else, as the contest was private and merely added to the plethora of possible plans for the park. This photo shows Mr. Simpson surveying work on the park from the western edge.

Park Reconstruction. View south on 6th Avenue from 42nd Street 1934 (Photo: NYC Parks Department)

The real change came in 1933 with the election of the reform-minded Fiorello LaGuardia as Mayor of NYC. LaGuardia knew that the prevailing situation, wherein the city’s parks were directly administered by borough Presidents who often had no expertise in the field, was inadequate. LaGuardia proposed that all of the city’s parks be administered by one true Parks Commissioner, and nominated Robert Moses for the post, who already chaired the New York State Park Council, was President of the Long Island State Park Commission. State lawmakers didn’t want Moses to hold all those positions, but after some intense lobbying in Albany, the appointment came through and Moses wasted no time.

1934 Opening Dedication with Commissioner Moses (Photo: NYC Parks Department)

Using Simpson’s plan as a basis, Moses directed an incredibly quick refashioning of Bryant Park in 1934. The park was raised four feet from the street, a broad lawn was installed, and the entire park was surrounded by a granite wall topped by a wrought-iron fence. The Lowell Fountain (picture taken at the opening dedication ceremony on September 14, 1934) was moved from the shadow of the library to its current position on the west end of the park, and 270 London Plane trees were planted. Though the effect was lavish, the renovation cost was relatively modest, as workers from the New Deal-era Civil Works Administration were employed. In little over six months, the park was transformed from a waste heap to an attractive accompaniment to the Beaux Arts magnificence of the New York Public Library.

Praise was generally lavish, but not everyone was thrilled. Lewis Mumford, longtime architecture critic for The New Yorker, famously dissented. After perfunctorily admitting that anything was better than the previous situation, his objections centered on the fact that the east-west orientation led to a spectacular vista of…the Sixth Avenue El train. That structure had plagued the park since the 1880’s and was finally torn down in the late 1930’s. That was good news for the park, but unfortunately, that demolition, coupled with the construction of the Sixth Avenue subway, dominated the park for years. This photo of the El being torn down gives a good idea of just how unsightly it was.

Dismantling the IND 6th Avenue Line 1939 (Photo: NYPL)

There were other problems with the design, not immediately apparent. As discussed here before, the elevation of the park removed it from the ebb and flow of pedestrian traffic (check out this photo to see the effect the elevation wrought). Also, the stone walls, the relatively few entrances, and tall hedges inside the park exacerbated an urban problem that Moses and Simpson could not have anticipated: the open selling of illegal drugs.

Whatever the defects, the 1934 rehabilitation of Bryant Park established some important precedents. First, the need for a breathing space in midtown-Manhattan was widely acknowledged; second, business and building owners in the area made it clear that they believed a thriving park was essential for the success of the entire neighborhood; and third, the changes that strong leadership could bring to bear on a seemingly forlorn cause was made apparent.

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

March 20: Bryant Park from 1992 to Today
March 26: Bryant Park Before BPC
April 4: The Tide Turns in 1980
April 10: Bryant Park in the 1930's

A Lost and Found Success Story

2012-04-18T17:25:00.001-04:00

Our security team's primary responsibility is to maintain safety and order in the park. However, crime and misbehavior are so low that they often have time to serve as ambassadors, providing information or directions, and preventing theft by keeping an eye on the possessions of our park patrons. Bryant Park security officers take great pride in their ability to spot items people inadvertently leave behind during park visits, and to return these items safely to their owners. We are lucky to receive a few letters like this each year:

"I left a messenger bag in the park after my lunch break today, and I had a fantastic experience with your lost & found operation. The bag was very quickly picked up by one of your security officers, Moses, who found my phone inside and called a couple of contacts so they'd tell me to retrieve it. So I learned it was missing well before I would have figured it out on my own. I called the park office & was very efficiently told how to go retrieve it. When I got back to the park, Moses knew who I was before I introduced myself, and very pleasantly took me to retrieve the bag.

I'm amazed at how easy this was, and how excellent the whole experience was. So, thank you for running such an efficient operation, and thank you to security officer Moses for going above & beyond with his careful, professional, friendly work in helping me out today. Incidentally, I started working on 5th Avenue last year, and I can't imagine midtown without summer lunches in the park and the winter ice skating. So I am a big fan of the park in general."

For more information on park security, read up on the Broken Windows Theory. If you think you lost an item in the park, please call us. We'd be happy to check for it!

Fly Fishing on the Terrace

2012-04-16T05:19:00.000-04:00

Image Source

Just as we fill the park with chairs and tables for relaxation and passive enjoyment of the space, we also try to fill the days with ways to actively use the park. We've got ping pong and petanque, fencing and yoga, to name just a few. And new for this year, Orvis is bringing you free Fly Fishing instruction, coming to the 5th Avenue Terrace at the end of the month.

This trusted sporting outfitter has a store just up 5th Avenue from the park, and they thought our shady terrace would be the perfect place to demo fly casting and outfit rigging for the adventurous city dwellers. Classes are first come, first served, and reservations are recommended at (212) 827-0698. There will be nine classes from April - June, so be sure to check out our calendar for all the details.

Happy Fishing!

Bryant Park Fly Fishing

Saturdays, 10am - 12pm
April 21 &* 28
May 5, 12 & 26
June 2, 16, 23 & 30
Fifth Avenue Terrace at 41st Street

*Update: The start date for fly fishing classes has been postponed. There will be no class on April 21.

Orvis
522 5th Avenue at 44th Street

From the Archives: Their Last Voyage

2012-04-13T09:41:00.000-04:00

In this post, BPC's archivist Anne Kumer shares some history.

One hundred years ago the Titanic sank, taking with it over 1,500 passengers and crew members. One of three ships operated by the White Star Line, she was said to be unsinkable, and the largest existing passenger ship.

The RMS Titanic embarks on its maiden voyage from Southhampton, England to New York City, USA, on April 10, 1012. Photo: National Geographic

Two of the passengers were John Jacob Astor IV and his pregnant wife Madeleine Talmadge Force . . . Astor. Their marriage created a scandal in the States, partially because of their age difference. He was 47 and she was 18, just a year older than his first born son from a previous marriage, Vincent Astor (pictured here). While waiting for the scandal to die down the newlyweds embarked on an extended honeymoon. The final leg of the journey was the Titanic voyage from Southhampton England to New York City.

Astor's first son from a previous marriage, Vincent Astor, married socialite and philanthropist Brooke Astor, who was known for her support of the NYPL and Bryant Park's restoration.

Mr. and Mrs. Astor shortly after their marriage in 1911

Mrs. Astor was one of the few lucky passengers to survive when the ship went down on April 15, 1912. Largely because of the policy dictating that women and children be given preference to the lifeboats, Mr. Astor did not survive. Read more about the Titanic, and two more of its passengers, Mr. Isidor Straus (then co-owner of Macy's department store) and his wife Ida, on our sister blog Fashion Herald.

A Field Guide Study

2012-04-12T18:20:00.002-04:00

At Monday's inaugural Birding Tour for the 2012 season, we were very lucky to not only spot both a Field Sparrow and a Chipping Sparrow, but we heard both singing, a true rarity in the city. The coincidence is even more fortuitous as these two sparrows are very similar in appearance and make an excellent field guide comparison for novice and intermediate birders. We, of course, looked to our expert guide from the NYC Audubon Society Gabriel Willow for notes on telling the two apart.

Field Sparrow
Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar

Chipping Sparrow
Photo by Tripp Davenport

Here's what he had to say:

Field Sparrows are browner, with pink beaks and a plain gray face with a white eye-ring, giving them a wide-eyed, innocent expression. Their song is a beautiful whistled "bouncing ball" series of accelerating descending notes. Chipping Sparrows have a black bill, a dark line through the eye making them look a bit "squinty", and a brighter rusty cap. They are grayer overall; Field Sparrows are often a warm pinkish-brown tone (but can be gray too). The Chipping Sparrow song is really different: it's a steady trill, all on one note/pitch. Otherwise these guys are pretty similar in size, shape, and habits: they're closely related.

NFL Pop-Up: For the Ladies

2012-04-11T18:14:00.002-04:00

Last week Fashion Herald gave you a sneak peek of the NFL Shop at Draft Pop-Up Shop across 6th Avenue from the park. Inside, she found fan gear galore for all the teams in the league, including New York's own Jets and Giants. (Don't mind her bias for Jets apparel.)

This week she gives you the scoop on the NFL Shop at Draft's ladies night event taking place tomorrow to highlight their special NFL Ladies Boutique. Click through for the full rundown on NFL player appearances, free manicures and massages, and special edition team purses and boots.

Ladies night is tomorrow from 5pm-7pm at the NFL Shop at Draft Pop-Up. (Details)

NFL Shop at Draft Pop-Up
1095 Avenue of the Americas, between 41st and 42nd Streets on Sixth Avenue

The Sand Cherry

2012-04-11T15:50:00.000-04:00

With a common name like sand cherry, the Prunus Cistena doesn't sound particularly lovely. But once a year in early spring, the purplish-red shrub blooms with white flowers. These buds are an early spring highlight in our perennial gardens to the north and south of the lawn.

After the blooms go away, the purple foliage provides a colorful anchor in the gardens, and acts as a vibrant foil to the deep green shrubs and trees that form a backdrop in our lawn's borders.

Instagram user pflugerc also caught the Prunus Cistena in bloom above our delicate tulips last week.

20th Anniversary: Bryant Park in the 1930’s

2012-04-10T16:44:00.002-04:00

Long before the founding of the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation in 1980, there was another major effort to reclaim the park for the people of New York City. The 1934 renovation of Bryant Park followed two of the most dramatic years in the park’s history. In 1932, Bryant Park’s fortunes were at low ebb, for many reasons. The park laid in the shadow of the “noisy, clanky, and utterly barbarous” Sixth Avenue El train, and was bordered by “newsstands that look like the shacks of squatters”, according to commenters in the New York Times. The nation was also in the midst of the Great Depression, which meant that there was little city money available to maintain the park. Administration of NYC’s parks was, at any rate, a haphazard affair: there was no Parks Commissioner, and each borough’s parks were administered by a separate official, who often was a patronage appointee with little expertise.

Aerial view 1931

Despite efforts by neighborhood business alliances, such as the grandly named ‘Forty-Second Street Property Owners and Merchants Association’; the ‘Sixth Avenue Association,’ which deemed the park a “civic eyesore”; and the ‘Fifth Avenue Association;’ to lobby the city to improve the park, funding problems proved intractable. The park’s condition was so poor that Nathan Straus, Jr., President of the New York City Parks Association, a private advocacy group, okayed a plan to place a replica of Mt. Vernon there because “Bryant Park is a park in name only…little harm could be done by placing it there.”

Though the idea to place a replica of Mt. Vernon in the park was scratched, the Commission on the Bi-Centennial of the birth of George Washington did build a replica of Federal Hall there, as seen in this 1932 photo of the park. ‘Federal Hall at Bryant Park’ was the scene of many musical performances and appearances by the famous, including a visit by Amelia Earhart fresh off her trans-Atlantic solo flight. The exhibit was, however, a financial disaster, as far too few of the city’s residents could afford the 25-cent admission fee. Afterwards, it took litigation to compel the organizers to remove the replica from the park, a process that was not completed for nearly a year after the exhibit closed. As a result, the park was in worse shape than ever through much of 1933, leading one observer to state that “Those who once used it as a park now shun it in disgust.”

1930

Things looked pretty bleak, but deliverance was on the way. Throughout the early 1930’s, calls to save the park continued, and at least 100 plans to remodel and restore it were created by landscape architects and circulated. In late 1933, the Architects Emergency Committee, formed to provide relief for unemployed architects, held a contest calling for plans to renovate the park. That contest was won by Queens architect Lusby Simpson, and all 40 entries were displayed at the Ziegfeld Theater in November, 1933. Simpson’s design would serve as the basis for a spectacular restoration, but a few things had to happen first - most importantly, the appointment of a true Parks Commissioner (Robert Moses) with the power, will, and energy to fight the inertia that seemed to have doomed the park to permanent dilapidation.

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

March 20: Bryant Park from 1992 to Today
March 26: Bryant Park Before BPC
April 4: The Tide Turns in 1980