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Hudson River Park News Spring 2006


Summer Events

As spring returns to Hudson

River Park, things are once again coming

to life. With the flowers blooming and the gardens

growing, Hudson River Park Trust’s Public Programs

are busy gearing up for our exciting summer events season.

As part of the Hudson River Park Trust’s overall mission to design, build, operate and maintain a 550 acre waterfront park, there is the commitment to provide “public recreation and entertainment, including the arts and performing arts, on open spaces”.

This integral provision of the Hudson River Park Trust Act has become the impetus for the Trust to provide some spectacular and innovative events, free and open to the public. This newsletter is devoted to Hudson River Park’s Take Me to the River festival. It is a guide to and a behind-the-scenes look at everything that makes Hudson River Park’s summer events season so sensational.

. . . a look at everything that makes Hudson River Park’s summer events season so sensational.

Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PaidPermit No. 00086

New York, NY

www.hudsonriverpark.org

Pier 40, 2nd FloorWest St. at W. Houston St.New York, NY 10014

Phone 212.627.2020Fax 212.627.2021General Info: 212.533.PARK

George E. Pataki, GovernorMichael R. Bloomberg, MayorScott Stringer, Manhattan Borough PresidentCharles E. Dorkey, III, ChairmanDaniel Doctoroff, Vice-ChairmanConnie Fishman, President

Debra Coleman, 2005


The Hudson River Park is a self sustaining entity in that it is

required by the Hudson River Park Act to raise its own revenue

to maintain its facilities and programs without government

funding. Sponsors play a major role in helping the Park put on

fantastic events.

The Park and its events offer unprecedented opportunities to

reach a wide variety of groups that can be narrowly or widely

targeted depending on what is sponsored. That, plus the

30 million people that pass through or by the park and visit

the website is what makes a sponsorship with the Hudson River Park such an attractive opportunity. To find out how

you can become a sponsor of Hudson River Park’s events,

contact Chris Martin, Vice President of Marketing and

Public Affairs, today at 212-627-2020.

. . . your support makes our events possible.

Sponsorship


“. . . I knew that this event would be a winner from the moment Justin proposed it”

Two Thursdaysat 7pm

on Hudson River Park’s

Pier 54

June 29 (rain date: 06.30.06)

July 27 (rain date: 07.28.06)

Punches will be thrown once again in 2006 as Hudson River Park kicks off the second season of its boxing series Rumble on the River. Produced in conjunction with the Church Street Boxing Gym, Rumble features sanctioned amateur boxers from all walks of life facing off in the ring to prove who is the best.

Rumble on the River was created in conjunction with boxing entrepreneur Justin Blair, owner of the Church Street Boxing Gym located in lower Manhattan. Blair has produced many boxing events including some at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun, as well as locally, as part of Church Street’s Friday Night Fights series. Church Street caters to men and women from all backgrounds—from Wall Street professionals to construction workers —and has been used as a training facility by professional boxers including Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.

“I was just jogging down the waterfront as the sun was setting when I came upon Hudson River Park’s Pier 54. I thought to myself, what a great outdoor setting for my gym’s already popular Friday Night Fights series,” said Blair when asked why he came to the Park to propose the event. “I approached the Trust with my idea and they thought it was fantastic. We all set to work planning the events, and the rest is history.”

“I knew that this event would be a winner from the moment Justin proposed it” said Chris Martin, Vice President of Marketing and Public Affairs for the Hudson River Park Trust. “A large part of my position here at the Trust is coming up with new and novel ways to entertain visitors, create publicity for the Park and generate revenue. Rumble solidly delivered on all three.” This year’s Rumble on the River will be held on Hudson River Park’s Pier 54. Check hudsonriverpark.org for times and datesor to sign up for our mailing list so you can receive a summer calendar with all the Park’s events.

“Pier 54 . . . makes for an unforgettable experience.”


RiverFlicksAlthough they’ve become more commonplace these days, Hudson River Park was one of the first parks in New York City to regularly show outdoor films on summer evenings. Definitely not common place is the spectacular setting in which the RiverFlicks movie series occurs. Shown on Hudson River Park’s Pier 54 and also on Pier 46 in Greenwich Village (while Pier 25 in TriBeCa is closed for construction), RiverFlicks offers spectacular vistas at which to enjoy movies by the water and under the stars.

Also novel to the RiverFlicks movie series are its quirky themes. Pier 54’s Wednesday night movies are PG-13 and R rated, while Pier 46’s Friday night movies are family- oriented (with G or PG ratings). Past years’ themes have included Horror on the Hudson and Slackers. The former featured throw-back horror films like Attack of the 50-Foot Woman, Freaks and House of Wax, while the

latter featured movies with people who just can’t seem to find their way in life like Animal House, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke and The Big Lebowski. According to Trust President, Connie Fishman, “Helping to pick the summer movies has always been one of everyone at the Trust’s favorite activities. The whole staff gets to vote on each year’s oddball themes.”

RiverFlicks has also been one of the public’s favorite components of the Take Me to the River festival of summer events. Besides the amazing setting, RiverFlicks offers free popcorn. What more could you ask for? Sign up for our mailing list so you can receive a summer calendar with all the Park’s events and get specifics at:


Wednesdays—Adults

One Mean Summer ... movies with mean

spirited characters or themes

Dusk, around 8:30pm on

Hudson River Park’sPier 54

July 5—August 23

Fridays—Kids

BIG ADVENTURES ... family-oriented movies

that are based on adventures

Dusk, around 8:30pmon

Hudson River Park’sPier 46

July 7—August 25

RiverRocks

June 27 July 20Aug 10

at 7pm

on Hudson River Park’s

Pier 54

Besides the amazing setting, RiverFlicks offers free popcorn. What more could you ask for?

Hudson River Park has been presenting its signature RiverRocks concert series going on eight years and, from meager beginnings, the series has grown tremendously. Focused on up-and-coming artists, RiverRocks has featured such groups as the White Stripes and Rooney (who also performed on Fox’s the O.C. andNBC’s Good Morning America). The series has become a mainstay of the Park’s Take me to the River festival and is enjoyed by thousands of New Yorkers.

RiverRocks is held on Hudson River Park’s Pier 54 located at 13th Street and the West Side Highway. The 770 x 80 foot Pier is novel in that it is absent any structures. This makes it an ideal location for concerts and other events. “The Trust thinks of it as a blank canvas on which to create an amazing concert setting,” said Martin.

“There is nothing more amazing than when the first act comes on and the sun begins to set,” says Charles “Trip” Dorkey III, Chairman of the Hudson River Park Trust. “Pier 54 allows someone to hear great music, watch the sun set over the river and view the city skyline, including the Empire State Building, all at the same time. All that combined with being located right next to Gansevoort’s Meat Packing District, one of the hottest areas in the city, makes foran unforgettable experience.”

RiverRocks growth in reputation and popularity has resulted in a number of top level artists taking notice of Hudson River Park’s Pier 54 and selecting it as a venue for their concerts. These include Ashanti, Natalie Cole, Moby, Spyro Gyra, George Benson, and the Roots.

Sign up for our mailing list so you can receive a summer calendar with all the Park’s events and get specifics at:


The Donnas, 2005

Tango, Swing & Salsa.

Each night of MoonDance features a different dance style accompanied by some of the best live bands in the business.

Five Sundays Dance Lessons: 6:30pmLive Bands go on at 7pm

Location TBD

July 9, 23, 30August 6, 13


Hudson River Park’s Blues & Barbeque festival is the

only one of its kind in the Tri-state area. Featuring both top level and hard to find acts,

coupled with New York’s best BBQ houses, the festival adds a much needed element to New York City’s outdoor

summer entertainment menu.

Nearly seven years ago, when the Hudson River Park Trust was in

its infancy, then-president Robert Balachandran came up with the idea for the first Blues, Barbeque & Fireworks festival working with one of the Trust’s event producers.

“While considering some of the park

programming several years ago, I asked myself

what New York was missing in its outdoor music scene and

it came to me – a really grand Blues Festival. The addition of great

barbeque was a no-brainer given the music’s southern roots.” Balachandran called on

veteran event producer Lewis Siris of Public Works, which now produces the festival, to help refine, develop and implement the idea.

“I thought Rob’s idea for a large scale blues festival in New York City was really great,” says Siris, “The Blues are one of my favorite styles of music and that, coupled with some of the best barbeque houses here in the City and the awesome riverside setting make for a fantastic event.” Ironically, Siris notes “the funny thing about all this is that I’m a vegetarian.”

Blues & BBQ

“. . . the funny thing about all this is that I’m a vegetarian.”

SundayAugust 202–9pmHudson River Park’s Pier 54


MoonDance

Setting the stage for dancing Sunday nights throughout the summer is Hudson River Park’s MoonDance. This amazing event starts with free dance instructions from the renowned school, Dance Manhattan, and culminates in an all out dance extravaganza. MoonDance allows seasoned dancers and novices alike to get out on the custom dance floor and learn steps from exceptional instructors in Tango, Swing and Salsa.

Each night of MoonDance features a different dance style accompanied by some of the best live bands in the business. Dances are frequently attended by more than 1,000 people. “We really love coming out here and teaching both experienced dancers and people who have never taken a dance step in their entire life,” says Elena

Iannucci, owner, manager and one of the instructors of Dance Manhattan. “I can’t count how many times someone just happens to be walking by, comes over to see what is going on, and the next thing you know they are doing the Tango.”

MoonDance was previously held on Hudson River Park’s Pier 25 in TriBeCa, which is now closed for construction. As of the writing of this newsletter, a new venue within the Park is being planned for this year’s events. Check back soon at hudsonriverpark.org for locations, times, dates and performers, or to sign up for our mailing list so you can receive a summer calendar with all the Park’s events.

Blues & Barbeque this year will be held on Hudson River Park’s Pier 54, and next year will return triumphantly to Pier 84 (at 44th Street), the location of the first festival. Pier 84 is currently under construction and set to reopen this fall. Check hudsonriverpark.org for times, date and performers.

Previous years’ festivals have always ended with a trademark fireworks display. Hudson River Park Trust is currently looking for a sponsor or donor for this years’ fireworks show.

Eleven Tuesdays at 6pm

onHudson River Park’s

Pier 45

June 6—August 22

The Manhattan School of Music is one of the premier private music conservatories in the nation, with nearly 275 faculty members dedicatedto shaping over 800 students from 40 countries into world-class musicians. Throughout the world, former Manhattan School of Music students demonstrate high achievement in a wide range of musical careers. Hudson River Park’s Stars of Tomorrow gives you the opportunity to view current students of the school perform jazz and classical selections on the Park’s picturesque Pier 45. Don’t miss tomorrow’s stars today!

Stars of

Tomorrow

Twelve Fridays at 7pm

onHudson River Park’s

Pier 45

June 9—August 25

David Ippolito (aka The Guitar Man) has been playing in New York City for 15 years. His avid following enjoys both original and cover songs that are of a folk style. David’s original songs bring out his unique perspective on life which you can enjoy along with the beautiful sunset from the spectacular grass covered pier 45 that stretches 900 feet into the majestic Hudson River.

Sunset on the Hudson

Jazz and Classical Performancesby the prestigious

Manhattan School of Music.

The perfect way to wind down the work week.


42

9596

72

49

32

Clarkson St.

Park Progress

Construction on Pier 84 continues in anticipation of a Fall opening. One of the Park’s largest and busiest public piers, located at West 44th Street, between the Circle Line and the Intrepid Museum, Pier 84 will serve millions of tourists and New Yorkers. The design will include a formal plaza with seating and a dynamic water display fountain, a water-based play and education area for children, a community garden and dog run, a large green lawn, and one of the Park’s four non-motorized boathouses. A small waterside café and park store will complete the experience.

In July 2005, the Hudson River Park Trust began construction of the upland park area from 26th to 29th Streets. Ongoing work includes excavation and grading, bulkhead repairs, and installing irrigation systems, lighting, wood decking, paving and railings. Soon this area will be transformed into a distinctive historical and ecological zone. A paved plaza with animal “hoof prints” embedded into the ground near the historic Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Float Transfer Bridge at Pier 66a will educate Park visitors about the Hudson River’s vital past as the country’s preeminent port. Further north, a dense mix of native plantings will provide habitat for birds and insects.

Construction in Segment 6 south began with the reconstruction of Pier 66 at 26th Street, adjacent to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Float Bridge. Pier 66 will feature yet another non-motorized boathouse as well as a number of slips designed for small sailing or motorized vessels. At the pier’s western end, a specially commissioned “water wheel” sculpture will turn with the tide as the river ebbs and flows.

Pier 64’s piershed and deck has been demolished in anticipation of a new park pier which will begin construction this spring. A decade ago, this pier housed an auto glass repair shop and other non-water-enhancing uses. Its next incarnation will be as a lush green lawn with a grove of flowering trees and expansive vistas providing views south to the Statue of Liberty and north to the George Washington Bridge from the far western end. The marine phase of construction including driving new piles and installing a new pier deck will take place over the next 12 to 18 months.

The TriBeCa section of the Park will begin construction this year with funding from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. This segment’s design emphasizes the environment, active recreation and small boating opportunities. Among the many public facilities to be created are a boathouse, restaurant, children’s playground, volleyball courts, open lawn, mooring area, mini golf course, basketball court and a skate park. All of these activities will be linked by beautiful pathways and planted areas.

Segment 3 - TriBeCa

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Pier 66

Upland Park from 26th to 29th Streets

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Hudson River Park

Getting Here


hudson river park spring …...moby, spyro gyra, george benson, and the roots. sign up for our...

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