DeLury Square Park, seen last year, is once again gearing up for its Spring Planting.
BY JANEL BLADOW | Is it spring yet? I recently heard that what we’ve experienced the past few weeks is a new season: Spwrinter…come May flowers. We’re anxiously waiting.
Get dirty, bloom pretty… So if you’re a bit like me and can’t wait any longer for Spring to spring and summer to come, get involved with Friends of DeLury Square Park. The sitting/strolling garden created in 2010 and named for John DeLury, Sr., who founded Local 831 of the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association in 1956 is an expansion of the former plaza at the corner of Fulton and Gold Sts. honoring DeLury and the city’s sanitation workers.
The next meeting of Friends is Sun., May 4, 4-5 p.m. in the small community room of Southbridge Towers courtyard. The group meets the first Sunday of every month and notes “we are pretty good about keeping it to an hour.”
The upcoming meeting is to gather new volunteers and plan Spring Planting Day on Sat., May 17 (which, by the way, is also the New York City Parks Department’s It’s Our Parks Day).
Friends is working with the city agency and the Partnership for Parks, which will supply equipment, new plants, flowers, shrubs and a professional gardener to guide volunteers. Neighbors are needed to plant, prune and clean up the park.
“This small park gets a lot of hard use,” said Veronica Ryan-Silverberg, the group’s coordinator. “As one of the few green spaces in the neighborhood, DeLury Square Park is extensively used by the many tourists coming and going between the South Street Seaport, and the 9/11 Memorial and [World Trade Center] tower along Fulton Street’s ‘Freedom Corridor.’
“Additionally, the rebirth of Downtown…after the chaos and destruction after Sept. 11, 2001, has brought many new residents and families…. Delury Square Park stands as a respite in the midst of explosive neighborhood, business, and cultural growth.”
If you’d like to pitch in or dig in, email friendsofdelurypark@yahoo.com or come to the meeting. No heavy lifting required.
Musical magic… Our own Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra plans a delightful evening soiree and fundraiser, Virtuosity and Majesty, hosted by neighbors and K.C.O. Board members Lynda Davey and Alan Schiffres on Thursday, May 15, 6 – 8 pm. During the evening of hors d’oeuvres, wine, and classical music, guests will hear the brilliant 19-year old violinist Shir Levy performing in this intimate setting overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. She will perform Debussy and Poulenc on her priceless 1772 Nicolo Gagliano violin.
Three days later, Sunday, May 18, 2:30 pm, Ms. Levy again joins KCO and Maestro Gary S. Fagin at the Museum of Jewish Heritage (36 Battery Place) to perform “Pièces de Résistance: Music Celebrating the Polish Spirit.” She will play Karol Szymanowkski’s hauntingly beautiful Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35. The program also includes Waltz in the Olden Style by Wladyslaw Szpilman, subject of the award-winning film, “The Pianist.”
Ms. Levy was the youngest musician (at 8 years old) to win the Kaufman Center Concerto Competition and has played such stellar international venues as the Tel-Aviv Opera House and Carnegie Hall. She is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Reservations are a must for both events. To purchase tickets or get more information: www.knickerbocker-orchestra.org and click on 2013-2014 season tab on left.
Little Foodies… The Saturday afternoon roll your own sushi classes for kids at SuTeshi was such a success that the Old Seaport Alliance has picked up the idea and launched Old Seaport Kids Academy with an array of one-hour classes in everything from pasta-making to pet care.
Starting April 12, the program is primarily for kids from 5 to 12 (but check the schedule) and classes cost $25 each, with 20 percent going to O.S.A. A sampling of classes: Make your own Pizza, Know your Gnocchi, Build a Better Burger.
Pub chefs at Keg 229 will guide 10 students in creating a custom burger with a variety of toppings. At Acqua, chef Ivan Beacco will make pasta from scratch with the kids and explain the tasty stories behind each fun noodle shape. But if your child is more of a naturalist than a foodie, there’s flower crown making class with spring blossoms, wines and ribbons (clippers will be used!) at Emily Thompson Flowers. For the full class schedule, descriptions and to register: info@oldseaportny.com.
Gearing up for summer outdoors… Two establishments presented their cases to sell liquor outside at the April 2 Community Board 1 Financial District Committee meeting.
Owners of a new boutique hotel, The Artisan, at 24 John St., asked to be allowed to serve alcohol at their planned rooftop lounge. They plan the space to be a brunch spot as well as relaxing location for an afternoon or evening drink. Committee members voiced concern about loud music and noise but co-owner Mike Maisano of DUC Construction Corp. promised there’d be no “weddings or bar mitzvahs.”
Also requesting a permit to sell alcohol outdoors were the owners of The Trading Post, 170 John St. They plan to put one row of six tables for four along the building setback. Food and drinks would be served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a half hour for clean up.
One building resident came to object, citing loud music now being heard through the building’s lower floors. Committee members suggested he talk with the owners and his building’s board about the issue since this wasn’t the topic before them. Both liquor licenses were approved.
And as you may have heard, Mark Joseph Steakhouse, 261 Water St., will also have a table or two outside this season.
