By Janel Bladow
Snow and cold weather haven’t slowed things down around the Seaport and Financial District. Come the holidays and the New Year, the area beckons locals and tourists alike to enjoy our ’hood.
Songs of the Season… This weekend is the last to catch the carol tree in on Fulton St. Gather round while you can and sing a song for Santa, snowmen and the season. Final performance is Sunday.
Dancin’ Away the Decade… And to put the final touch on the first decade of the new millennium, your options are many Downtown. Why bother heading to Times Square or Central Park when there are plenty of places to partee in our own backyard? You can celebrate in high style or low key, the choice is yours.
At Ciprinai Wall Street, ring in ’10 in formal fashion with European flair. Step across the threshold of this landmark building and you’ll immediately be whisked in to world of wealth and glamour. For N.Y.E. five star service, light Italian fare, top shelf open bar for six hours and a surprise celeb D.J. will usher in the decadence only a Wall Street gala could pull off in this economy.
Over at Sequoia in the Seaport’s Pier 17, another 6-hour open bar complete with hip-hop and ‘80s rock and complimentary hors d’oeuvres, sets the festive tone. The nautically themed restaurant features a two-story area and outdoor patio where revelers can cool off — or freeze — while watching the Prospect Park fireworks across the East River.
Down at Ulysses on Stone St., the night is fun-time! Non-stop D.J. music and no cover will lure in plenty of customers who want to clink champagne glasses with a toast at midnight.
Most of the restaurants we checked with in S3 and FiDi say they’ll have special surprises on their menus so any way you want to party — quiet or full out — there’s something certain to put a buzz in your New Year.
We like to do what we call “hop the ‘hood” and bounce the bars around Peck Slip, Front and Fulton Sts. to mix up the fun.
Chamber Tunes… Downtown’s own chamber orchestra is making news as well as music. Founder and music director Gary Fagin says that the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra is deepening its roots and building a thriving future in Lower Manhattan, thanks to the many contributions it received throughout the year. The orchestra’s youth outreach programs, soirees and performances have “transformed the musical landscape in Lower Manhattan.” But they still need financial help to expand, perform and “provide our superb musicians with a secure institution,” he adds.
To kick off a New Year and new season, the orchestra presents a free concert on January 16, at 7 p.m. with a return to the Winter Garden. The program features Prokofiev’s “Peter & the Wolf” narrated by “Coraline” author Neil Gaiman. And it will feature the world premiere of Maestro Fagin’s composition celebrating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s sail into New York harbor. The piece stars Jason Danieley, whom the New York Times describes as “the most exquisite tenor on Broadway.” And there will be dancing! The orchestra will also perform a waltz, a Duke Ellington gem and other works.
Sad Note… Another longtime S3 canine went to sleep earlier this month following a downward spiral and four weeks of feeding tubes. Our thoughts go to Tina, Tom and Tian Carling on the passing of their feisty four-legged family member Zoe, the doggie matriarch of the nabe. We’re sure she’s romping with her buddies in the great dog run above.
