BRONX RIVER ALLIANCE; CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
By Great Performances
The Bronx River, the only freshwater river in New York City, is rich in history. Originally starting in Westchester County and called Aquehung (River of High Bluffs), it was a source of life for the Mohegans who lived along the river. As Europeans settled in the area, the ecology and landscape changed. Industrialization led to mills and factories being built along the river and waste being dumped into the river. By the end of the 19th century, it was referred to as an open sewer.
In the 1970s, the Bronx River Restoration was launched to turn around the river. Numerous organizations worked with communities to launch activities on the river, working to clean, beautify, and improve the area. In 2001, the Bronx River Alliance was incorporated to coordinate efforts to protect, improve, and restore the Bronx River corridor.
By engaging the communities along the river, The Bronx River Alliance and numerous volunteers have created green spaces and witnessed the return of wildlife including alewife herring, beavers, and many other species. They are bringing vibrancy and life back to the river and creating a welcome space for people to gather and enjoy nature in The Bronx. Last year, Katchkie Farmer Jon grew 150 rhubarb plants for the perennial forest in the South Bronx, a project managed by the Alliance.
There are opportunities for all interests, from recreational activities like walking, running, or exercising along the Greenway and paddling down the river to educational activities in this “Living Laboratory” through school programs and independent activities available on the Bronx River Alliance website.
The Bronx River has become a vibrant part of the communities around it, and the transformation over the past 20 years has been incredible. The rivers’ path, and its rejuvenation, is also the story of privilege and access. North of the city, the river’s restoration brings acres of clean water and land conservation to local communities. As the river winds into the Bronx, where it is the only connection to water and greenery, the need for environmental activism becomes even more critical. The amazing work of local advocates and supporters are making a difference. They welcome your support and a visit!
This year, The Bronx River Alliance celebrates 20 years at The Golden Ball, a sold-out event on Tuesday, October 5.
However, It’s never too late to support the Alliance. You can Donate online or Get Involved to help continue to transform the river by becoming a member, volunteering, or working for The Bronx River Alliance.
Learn more about the rich history of The Bronx River by watching the video below.
Last year, I joined the Board of Open House New York, an unusual organization that is, ironically, one of NYC’s best kept secrets. Founded in 2003, Open House New York “promotes broad, unparalleled access to the city—to the places, people, projects, systems and ideas that define New York and its future—and fosters civic dialogue about how the city functions and who it serves.”
As a die-hard New Yorker, I’m passionate about Open House New York because I believe that this kind of openness and access is vital to the economic health, equity and cultural vitality of New York—it is exactly what our city needs to get back on its feet. It brings us together, opens doors to new insights, educates, inspires and changes the way we look at our landscape.
In about 10 days, OHNY will be hosting OHNY Weekend, a testament to the collective and resilient OPEN spirit of New York..
What is OHNY Weekend? On October 16-17, New Yorkers (and visitors) can have unparalleled access to the places, people, projects, systems and ideas that define New York as dozens of partners open their doors to participants. This citywide festival of design, culture, and infrastructure will unlock 150 sites across the five boroughs, inviting New Yorkers to explore everything from Midtown skyscrapers to Brownsville libraries to Grand Concourse Art Deco architecture.
SIGN UP!! You can participate IRL or join a virtual tour. See the city from a new perspective – open your eyes, hearts, minds, doors and experience New York in ways you never knew.
There is a great kick-off event for supporters (and I know the food is going to be great!) I invite you to lend your support to OHNY Weekend as a festival sponsor or by purchasing tickets to the Launch Party, taking place on October 14 on the rooftop of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in Midtown.
Let’s share the secrets of OHNY and New York with the rest of the world!
By Great Performances
Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!
BIGGIE: I GOT A STORY TO TELL
Thursday, September 9 at 7:30 pm
Location: Putnam Triangle Plaza (22 Putnam Ave)
Every legend has an origin story. Christopher Wallace, aka the Notorious B.I.G., remains one of hip-hop’s—and Brooklyn’s—most beloved icons, renowned for his distinctive flow and autobiographical lyrics. This documentary celebrates his life through rare behind-the-scenes footage and the testimonies of his closest friends and family, revealing a side of Biggie Smalls that the world never knew.
Sun & Sea
September 15 – 26
Location: BAM Fisher
Tickets: $25
By Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė and Lina Lapelytė
Step into a sunny day by the sea. This theatrical installation stunned audiences at the 2019 Venice Biennale, earning its all-female creative team the much-coveted Golden Lion. It comes to BAM for its US premiere, transforming the Fishman Space into a crowded beach. Sunbathing characters offer up a range of seductive harmonies and melodic stories that glide between the mundane, the sinister, and the surreal. From the sprawling tapestry of their lives emerges a piercing exploration of the relationship between people and our planet, brought to life by 13 vocalists and 25 tons of sand.
Audience members stand in the balcony to experience the performance, and are encouraged to move around the viewing area. Accessible seating is available upon request.
A limited number of timed-entry tickets will be sold in advance. Ticketholders will be admitted on a rolling basis as space becomes available, and once admitted, may stay as long as they like.
100 Keyboards
September 30 – October 2
Location: BAM Fisher
Ticket Information: $25
One note, played on a toy keyboard, is followed by a second. Then a third, and a fourth. And with each note added, eventually reaching 100, the room changes. Frequencies multiply, reverberations hover in space, and the slightest acoustic variations emerge.
Experimental Japanese sound artist ASUNA invites guests to gather in the round and move about the space as he nimbly manipulates this room of instruments, using the moiré pattern to create an immersive, unusual, and sublime sonic bath. Simultaneously analog and electronic, minimal and complex, meditative and mesmerizing, 100 Keyboards builds unceasingly toward an infinite and sustained crescendo.
Audience members stand and move around the space to experience the performance. Accessible seating is available upon request.
THE OBAMA PORTRAITS TOUR
August 27 – October 24
Location: Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing, 4th Floor
From the moment of their unveiling at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C., in February 2018, the official portraits of President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama have become iconic. Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of President Obama and Amy Sherald’s portrait of the former First Lady have inspired unprecedented responses from the public.
This five-city tour travels the United States from June 2021 through May 2022 and is expected to reach millions of people who might not otherwise have an opportunity to view these remarkable paintings. This special presentation enhances the conversations surrounding the power of portraiture and its potential to engage communities. The Obama Portraits Tour is accompanied by a richly illustrated book published by National Portrait Gallery and Princeton University Press.
Other tour locations include the Art Institute of Chicago (June 18–August 15, 2021), Los Angeles County Museum of Art (November 5, 2021–January 2, 2022), High Museum of Art, Atlanta (January 14–March 20, 2022), and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (April 2–May 30, 2022).
The Obama Portraits Tour has been organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.
CHRISTIAN DIOR: DESIGNER OF DREAMS
September 10, 2021 – February 20, 2022
Location: Beaux-Arts Court, 3rd Floor
Tickets: $25
The New York premiere of the exhibition Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams traces the groundbreaking history and legacy of the House of Dior. The exhibition brings to life Dior’s many sources of inspiration—from the splendor of flowers and other natural forms to classical and contemporary art.
With objects drawn primarily from the Dior archives, the exhibition includes a vast array of over two hundred haute couture garments as well as photographs, archival videos, sketches, vintage perfume elements, accessories, and works from the Museum’s collection. The haute couture on view exemplifies many of the French couturier’s fabled silhouettes, including the “New Look,” which debuted in 1947.
Presented are galleries devoted to Dior and the artistic directors who succeeded him—Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri. A toile room, a tribute to the Ateliers, and adjacent galleries of couture garments showcase the excellence of Dior’s petites mains. The central atrium of our Beaux-Arts Court has been redesigned as an enchanted garden, and a concluding gallery celebrates dresses worn by stars from Grace Kelly to Jennifer Lawrence.
The Brooklyn Museum presentation of Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams is curated by Florence Müller, Avenir Foundation Curator of Textile Art and Fashion, Denver Art Museum, in collaboration with Matthew Yokobosky, Senior Curator of Fashion and Material Culture, Brooklyn Museum.
100 Keyboards
September 30 – October 2
Location: BAM Fisher
Ticket Information: $25
One note, played on a toy keyboard, is followed by a second. Then a third, and a fourth. And with each note added, eventually reaching 100, the room changes. Frequencies multiply, reverberations hover in space, and the slightest acoustic variations emerge.
Experimental Japanese sound artist ASUNA invites guests to gather in the round and move about the space as he nimbly manipulates this room of instruments, using the moiré pattern to create an immersive, unusual, and sublime sonic bath. Simultaneously analog and electronic, minimal and complex, meditative and mesmerizing, 100 Keyboards builds unceasingly toward an infinite and sustained crescendo.
Audience members stand and move around the space to experience the performance. Accessible seating is available upon request.
BEGINNER’S EAR: RUBÉN RENGEL, VIOLIN
Sunday, September 12 at 10:00 am
Location: Sunken Garden
Ticket Information: $50
Enlighten your Sunday mornings with Beginner’s Ear, a unique series founded by Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim and designed to bring mindfulness to the concert experience.
Caramoor’s bucolic Sunken Garden provides a fitting setting to clear the mind and nourish the spirit with silence and music. Beginning with a guided meditation and concluding with a group discussion, Beginner’s Ear offers a soul-nourishing new way of hearing music and builds community through the shared experience of silence and sound.
AFTERNOON TEA
Fridays in September at 2:00 pm
Location: Rosen House
Ticket Information: Adult: $45, Child: $20
Spend time relaxing with friends and enjoy an Afternoon Tea in the Spanish Courtyard of the historic Rosen House. Tea service includes a variety of tea sandwiches, scones with crème fraiche and preserves, delicious desserts, and a variety of fragrant teas all served on exquisite vintage china. You are also welcome to reserve a spot for a complimentary, docent-guided tour of the historic Rosen House. As you walk through the House, you’ll learn about the Rosen family, their much-loved country home, and their art collection. Don’t forget to leave yourself time to stroll through Caramoor’s colorful gardens and bucolic grounds or attend an afternoon concert.
ISAIAH J. THOMPSON QUARTET
Thursday – Friday, September 2 – 3, 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm
Location: Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Ticket Information: $35 – $45 plus f&b; Students $15
Pianist, bandleader, and composer Isaiah J. Thompson highlights new works and takes on compositions by the masters at Dizzy’s Club, featuring a quartet of young musicians on the rise. New Jersey native, Thompson has performed with major artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Ron Carter, John Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, Steve Turre and Buster Williams. His recording debut was featured on Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records’ Handful of Keys album with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and his debut album as a leader, Isaiah J. Thompson Plays the Music of Buddy Montgomery, released in 2020.
Thompson has worked on the Golden-Globe nominated soundtrack for Motherless Brooklyn, and was named a Steinway Artist and has been awarded accolades including, the 2018 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award, and second place in the 2018 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition.
CATHERINE RUSSELL
Thursday – Sunday, September 16 – 19, 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm
Location: Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Ticket Information: $35 – $45 plus f&b; Students $15
“…Russell’s natural, unforced way with a song, and the personal touch she brings to it…she virtually stands alone on today’s jazz landscape.” — Los Angeles Times
Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell has been a part of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s family for over a decade—from leading her various groups in the Appel Room and Dizzy’s Club, to touring with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis for Big Band Holidays, to mentoring and teaching our music’s next generation as a host for multiple Jazz For Young People concerts.
ENDEA OWENS AND THE COOKOUT
Saturday – Sunday, September 25 – 26, 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm
Location: Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Ticket Information: $45 plus f&b; Students $20 plus f&b
Lincoln Center’s Emerging Artist of 2019 and Detroit native Endea Owens, is a vibrant up and coming bassist, bandleader, composer, arranger and educator. Recently commissioned by Jazz at Lincoln Center, her composition “Ida’s Crusade” was performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis this past March, inspired by Ida B. Wells, America’s leading anti-lynching crusader, who was a courageous journalist, crusader, activist, and orator. While she’s performed with a diverse array of jazz, R&B and pop artists, including Jennifer Holliday, Rhonda and Diana Ross, Jazzmeia Horn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Steve Turre, h.e.r. and Lea Delaria from the Netflix original series “Orange is the New Black,” she continues to dedicate herself to hard-swinging jazz projectes, while finding time to hold down the bass for Jon Batiste’s Stay Human and and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. For these shows, she leads her own dynamic band “The Cookout” that encompasses the spirit, culture, and rhythm of Black American music.
INFINITE LIFE
Fall 2021
Location: The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre
A play about no end in sight. After the critically acclaimed premiere of John and sold-out run of The Antipodes, Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Baker returns with the final play of her Signature Residency, directing a new work that tackles persistent pain and desire.
TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992
Fall 2021
Location: The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre
One verdict can change the course of history. The news of the police officers’ acquittal in Rodney King’s police brutality case reverberated throughout the streets of Los Angeles. Variously called a “riot, a revolution, or a social explosion,” the events that followed the verdict drew worldwide attention. Playwright, actor and scholar Anna Deavere Smith responded artistically by dissecting the anatomy of the unrest. She interviewed over 350 Los Angelinos in preparation for the performance. Declared a “rich, panoramic canvas of a national trauma” by The New York Times, Smith’s transformative study of the 1992 L.A. riots reveals the fault lines that set the city ablaze. Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 is equal parts meticulously researched reportage and stirring cry for reform.
Signature is excited to work with Anna Deavere Smith and director Taibi Magar to reimagine this play for new performers and collaborators.
WINGS OVER WAVE HILL
Sunday, September 12
Location: On the grounds
Wave Hill is home to many different pollinators, including our resident honeybees. Spend the day chatting with beekeepers, visiting our honeybee hives and creating art with the Family Art Project. Swing by The Shop to purchase tasty honey, beeswax candles and host of honeybee-themed gifts. Can’t make it to Wave Hill? Check out our online videos to learn about the Wave Hill bees from the comfort of your home.
ECO-URGENCY: MUSIC AND NATURE WITH THE STRING ORCHESTRA OF BROOKLYN
Sunday, September 19, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Great Lawn
This program is held in conjunction with Eco-Urgency: Now or Never, an exhibition organized by Wave Hill in partnership with Lehman College Art Gallery. Enjoy an outdoor evening concert in the garden with the String Orchestra of Brooklyn, a close-knit group of musicians dedicated to exploring the breadth of the string repertoire, from the concerti of Bach to the latest experimental works by emerging composers. Featured in this evening’s program is Zach Layton’s Stridulitrum (2013), a composition for strings, bowed electric guitar and insect chorus. Layton is a guitarist, composer, curator, teacher and media artist whose work explores human and non-human sound production techniques, biofeedback, improvisation, indeterminacy and histories of the visual representation of sound and vibration. In Stridulitrum, he incorporates field recordings of crickets and other chirping insects with his string arrangement, creating sonic connections between humanmade music and harmonies found in nature. Also on the program will be Scott Wollschleger’s Outside Only Sound and Darian Thomas’ Floret Ephemera, which also work in concert with ambient sounds of the natural environment.
In the event of rain or other inclement weather, the concert will move indoors to Armor Hall, which has limited capacity. Registered guests will get priority seating.
This event is free with admission to the grounds, but registration is strongly encouraged. Register here or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. If you have any questions about this program or registration, please contact us at visualarts@wavehill.org or by calling the number and extension provided above.
This concert was curated by former Curator of Performing Arts Ginger Dolden.
SEPTEMBER FOOD FESTIVAL: CORN
About the Artist: Erin Robinson is one of our GP Artists. Click here to see more of her art.
EMBRACE TIP:
Corn is a starchy vegetable, meaning it’s higher in carbohydrates than other vegetables. Pair corn dishes with non-starchy vegetables and protein for a balanced meal.
Looking for more health supportive and wellness content? Check out GP Embrace
Each month, our Great Performances menus feature seasonal ingredients. It’s our way of celebrating the earth and bringing our special touch to every menu.
We love corn any way you can get it – steamed, boiled, or grilled straight off the cob or kernels tossed into a salad, gratin, or anything else that will benefit from the golden pops of sweetness.
Chef Georgette Farkas shares one of her favorite ways to prepare corn
SUMMER CORN SUCCOTASH
Ingredients
- 2 oz lemon juice
- 1 tbs sherry vinegar
- 2 tbs white miso
- 3 tbs finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 tbs finely minced Fresno pepper
- 6 oz olive oil
- 10 oz cooked corn kernels
- 5 oz cooked edamame
- 4 oz cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 3 oz Swiss chard leaves, julienned
- 2 oz feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tbs sunflower seeds, roasted
Procedure
Prepare the vinaigrette. Combine lemon juice, sherry vinegar, white miso, basil, Fresno pepper. Whisk in olive oil and adjust seasoning to taste.
Prepare the salad. Combine corn kernels, edamame, cherry tomatoes, and Swiss chard. Mix in vinaigrette to taste. Garnish with feta cheese and sunflower seeds.
Chef’s Note:
Leftover grilled corn (this is your hint to prepare more than you need) is perfect for this salad. Refrigerate grilled corn and cut the kernels from the cobs just before tossing into the salad. In the winter, frozen or canned corn can be substituted for the fresh corn and will give you a blast of summer on cold, winter days.
Katchkie Farm in Kinderhook, NY is dear to our hearts, not only because that is our local, organic farm; but because it allows us to educate children on food and where it comes from via the Sylvia Center. Katchkie Farm has recently become one of our wedding venues.
A NEW LENS ON KATCHKIE FARM: A PHOTO JOURNAL BY PATRICIA COOK
Patricia Cook and Liz Neumark first connected years ago through the Women’s Forum, enjoying meetings and dinners together, and they shared a love of cooking during cooking classes in the pastry kitchen of Stone Barns led by Chef Adam Kaye (founder of The Spare Food Co.). Over years of sharing incredible ingredients and delicious recipes, they developed a warm friendship.
Then Covid changed the world and meeting for dinners and spending time with friends was put on hold.
But during pandemic, Pat rediscovered her camera, taking trips to sanctuaries, beaches, gardens and parks. She published her photos in a book, Finding The Light, available on her website at this link.
Then in mid-August, Liz and Pat ran into each other at Dizzy’s opening night for board members and supporters of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Great Performances operates the food and beverage services at Dizzy’s, and Liz attended to greet board members and friends while Pat attended as a guest. It was a happy reunion, and over the course of conversations, Pat asked if she could visit Katchkie Farm, our organic farm in upstate New York, to take some photos. Armed with her new Leica lenses, Pat captured the beauty of the farm and equipment and shared it with us to share with you.
Enjoy!
Sublime Summer Weddings
By Great Performances
Our wedding event planners had an exceptionally busy summer of weddings this year! From backyard brunches to rooftop romances, and everything in between, we haven’t seen a wedding season like this before! Our wedding event planners worked tirelessly to ensure every detail was perfect for our couples. Check out a small handful of the weddings we planned this summer and you’ll see why made it into The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame!
620 Loft & Garden Rooftop Weddings
Seven floors above the hustle and bustle of Rockefeller Center is a tranquil oasis with incredible rooftop views of New York City. Strategically placed lighting and candles make the event sparkle with magic.
Guests were greeted with a welcoming flute of champagne and Mint Basil Lemonade. We highlighted the best of the growing season with a our ever-popular rainbow of vegetables in our Growing Season Vegetable Crudite served in a cup for easy nibbling and mingling. A special highlight was the couple’s favorite dish, Scarpetta’s Spaghetti Pomodoro.
Think 620 Loft & Garden might be the perfect venue for your wedding? See what all it has to offer at the link here.
Event planners: Amanda DiUglio & Emily Schreiber
Caramoor Weddings
Caramoor’s sprawling gardens with its romantic Sunken Garden make it an idyllic place to tie the knot. The Cedar Walk Path leads guests to the clear sided Reception Tent overlooking the Butterfly Garden.
Masked cater waiters greeted guests with refreshing Berry Basil Lemonades and a variety of hors d’oeuvres including Tuna Poke on a sesame tuile and Potato Cornets filled with Potato Cornet with portobello mousse. A guest favorite was the Raw Bar featuring jumbo shrimp, lobster, crab claws, oysters, and clams.
Think Caramoor might be the perfect venue for your wedding? See what all it has to offer at the link here.
Event planners: Amanda DiUglio & Emily Schreiber
Central Park Zoo Weddings
For the animal lovers out there, Central Park Zoo makes for a unique and playful wedding venue. One couple even brought their dog dressed for the occasion in a tutu! An open-sided tent with a clear roof makes for a light and airy covered space, perfect for a seated dinner. As the sun sets chandeliers and mood lighting create the perfect mood for an evening of celebration.
Our team greeted guests with a variety of speciality cocktails, including a Strawberry Frose. The decadent menu included a Caviar Specialty Station, an Asian Station, and a Mediterranean Station. After an evening of celebrating, guests were refueled with some late night classics including sliders, tater tots, grilled cheese with tomato soup shooters, and soft pretzels.
Think Central Park Zoo might be the perfect venue for your wedding? See what all it has to offer at the link here.
Event planners: Amanda DiUglio & Emily Schreiber
Hamptons Weddings
Private homes in the Hamptons provided an idyllic setting for several of our couples getting married. Our expert event planners will visit your home (or location of choice) and make recommendations about what you’ll need to create the wedding of your dreams!
Planning a wedding at your home? Let us help you turn your dreams into reality! Click the link here to contact us.
One of our favorite weddings included long tables bedecked with a red-checked tablecloth, reminiscent of a picnic. Colorful flowers and sparkling twinkle lights added to the whimsical air. A rainbow emerged, making this an especially memorable wedding.
Fun finger food including our Truffled Mushroom Pizzetta, mini Lobster Rolls, and Popcorn Chicken Cones kicked off the evening. Dinner included decadently delicious comfort favorites like Surf and Turf and Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffles, and guests barely had room for our Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies & Milkshake Shot, Lemon Meringue Pie Pops, and Flourless Chocolate Cake.
Event planners: Amanda DiUglio & Emily Schreiber
An especially vibrant wedding – from the decor to the dresses to the dishes – was an Indian wedding in Amagansett. Gorgeous cups of flower petals waited for guests to toss them over the couple. Hand-written menus graced each place setting, and there was an opportunity for guests to write a postcard about their favorite travel place. The food reflected the culture, with the bold colors playing beautifully off the white plates.
Event planners: Amanda DiUglio & Emily Schreiber
Wave Hill Weddings
We held a record number of events at Wave Hill – and looking through our albums, it’s easy to see why! This hidden gem in the Riverdale section of The Bronx has it’s own microclimate, and is lush and green throughout summer. Gorgeous landscaping and stunning views are enhanced by water features, a great lawn, and the greenhouse – all popular spots to take photos.
No two weddings are ever the same, as you’ll see from some of our photo highlights below.
For more information about Wave Hill, see what all it has to offer at the link here.
We love a good escort table – it immediately sets the mood for your wedding! Flowers, cacti, and moss all made their way to the escort cards, some even to be brought home by the guests.
Signature cocktails were a great way for the couples to share some of their favorite memories with the guests. Our teams can help you create a cocktail or we’re happy to use a recipe that has significance for you!
Inside or outside, although there are a some favorite spots in which our couples have chosen to exchange their vows. But there are so many other spaces to explore as well!
Dine al fresco either in a tent or with nothing but the sky above your heads or take your celebration indoors, we’ve got solutions for everything. From formal place settings to more casual ones, we can help make the rental decisions that express your theme. Flowers are always a beautiful pop of color and help bring the outside in.
Event planners: Amanda DiUglio & Emily Schreiber
THE SPARE FOOD CO.
At Great Performances, we’re always looking for delicious new products with a great mission to share with our customers and guests. Recently, we started sharing Spare Tonic with our guests and clients.
Spare Tonic is a delicious sparkling fermented beverage made from whey. It’s similar to kombucha, but less acidic, smoother, and less sweet with a lovely balance of fruit and spice flavors. It’s made from four ingredients: whey (that’s upcycled from strained yogurt production), fruit, spice, and honey, all of which make it a powerhouse of probiotics, protein, electrolytes, and B-vitamins.
The Spare Food Co. Impact
Whey is often discarded in the process of making strained yogurt. When not properly disposed of, it can create environmental problems and damage the ecosystem. The Spare Food Co. has turned this “problem” of whey waste around, using whey as an ingredient and creating Spare Tonic. You can read more in “The What, Where and Why of Whey” by Jeremy Kaye on their website [click here to read].
The Spare Food Co., like Great Performances, is committed to local, sustainable sourcing and supporting local businesses. They work with New York State producers to procure the raw ingredients for their Spare Tonics and all production is done in New York.
- About 90% of Spare Tonic is made from upcycled whey, (it varies 83 – 93% per flavor), which comes from White Moustache in Brooklyn, NY who in turn source their milk from Hudson Valley Fresh in the Hudson Valley.
- The honey in Spare Tonic comes from Howland’s Honey in Berkshire, NY.
- Spare Tonic is brewed in Peekskill, NY at River Outpost Brewing, the sister company of Captain Lawrence Brewing in Elmsford, NY.
- Spare Tonic is canned by a mobile canning company, Revolution Canning out of Rochester, NY.
We’re thrilled to partner with The Spare Food Co. and share their delicious drinks with our guests! Check out some tantalizing and refreshing cocktail recipes below!
Spare Tonic Cocktail Recipes for Great Performances
Created by Mixologist Iain Griffiths @iaingriffiths for The Spare Food Co.
Blueberry & Ginger Bramble
Peach & Turmeric Julep
BEHIND THE SCENES: SPECIALTY EVENT TASTING
By Great Performances
Working with Great Performances is a delicious journey.
We engage in a discovery process with our clients, starting with the basics like event style, size and goals; the essentials like venue, location and budget; and the fun parts including concept and theme, so we can turn ideas into reality.
Talking about favorite foods, researching culinary trends, and incorporating an event theme into the meal, is a delicious process. We brainstorm with our clients, discover their dreams and share our insights while our chefs work to create the perfect menu.
As part of the planning process, we book tastings with our clients as we fine tune the details of their menus and service styles.
We host these specialty event tastings at our home in The Bronx. These turn into fun, engaging, and of course, delicious opportunities to share a meal with our clients. Our chefs share the story of the dishes, sources of inspiration and answer any questions. Copious notes are taken to make any adjustments and to help ensure that the food at the actual event exceeds expectation. And though guests attend events for practical reasons, enjoying a memorable meal enhances the experience!
Check out these photos from our most recent specialty tasting event.
Spectacular food, an attentive service staff and a warm client-caterer bond made for an afternoon party months before the actual event.
Specialty Tasting Menu
Hors D’Oeuvres
Spaghetti & Meatball
beef meatball, fra diavolo sauce
Boneless Lamb Chop
mint chimichurri, pretzel
Potato Cornet
portobello mousse, sorrel
Habanero Smoked Tofu Taco
watermelon radish wrap
PB&J
hudson valley foie gras, pistachio butter, sour cherry preserves
Duck Rillette Fritter
cranberry port jam, rosemary skewer
Beef Carpaccio
saffron aioli
Peekytoe Crab on Togarashi Rice Crisp
jalapeno, miso aioli
Mozzarella Cup
gaeta olive, sundried tomato chutney
Peruvian Potato Cup
comte fondue
Korean Chicken Bite
gochujang fried chicken, kimchi slaw, sriracha aioli
BBQ Shortrib
roasted poblano, stone ground grits
Specialty Carving Stations
Carving Station: Veal
Sage-Stuffed Veal Breast Roulade
braised gigante beans
gemelli al pesto, green beans
grilled zucchini, ricotta salatta, lemon, basil
Carving Station: Duck
Roast Duck Breast Lapérouse
gruyere, mustard
foie gras mousse profiteroles
pommes duchesse
Carving Station: Jamon
Hand-Carved Jamon Mangalista
white anchovy barquettes
Carving Station: Ribeye
32oz Bone-In Ribeye
bordelaise, chimichurri, horseradish cream
Carving Station: Kobe
Seared 45-Day Dry-Aged Kobe Sirloin
japanese uni, shiitake summer roll, madeira gastrique, oyster sauce, chive puree
Specialty Seafood Stations
Toro Station
Fresh Cut Toro
caviar, yuzu pearls, gold leaf
Colossal Shrimp & Arctic Char Station
Colossal Shrimp
lemon-tarragon aioli, horseradish and smoked tomato cocktail sauce
Lightly Cured Arctic Char
olive oil poached peppers, anchovy
Ceviche Station
Red Snapper
leche de tigre, red onion, chili pepper, lime
Specialty Vegetarian Station
Mushroom Station
japanese turnips, erynggi mushrooms, matsutake mushrooms, trumpet mushrooms, black truffle, smoked dashi broth
HOSPITALITY AT HOME: CHILLED SUMMER SOUPS
For more than 40 years, we’ve been bringing gracious service and delicious food to your events both in your homes and at some of the most incredible venues in New York. And now, we’re teaching you some of the tips and tricks that have made your events, whether for 20 people or 20,000 people, so memorable. We start with the fundamentals of creating a delicious menu with easy to follow recipes that can be adapted for any season and a wide variety of tastes. You’ll learn what you can prepare in advance so that you can enjoy your guests’ company; and we’ll show you the pro tips that transform food into art. After all, we eat with our eyes first!
In our third video, Chef Georgette Farkas, Great Performances’ Culinary Ambassador, shows us how to create delicious and cold soups that take advantage of summer’s best flavors. You’ll keep cool while whipping up these refreshing and delicious soups that are packed with flavors. Also, learn some of her tips for keeping soups anything but boring by adding texture and pops of flavor with colorful garnishes.
Watch the video, download the recipe packet, and prepare these pasta salads for your next summer party. Don’t forget to share photos with us!
Complete the form below to download the recipe packet.
HOSPITALITY AT HOME: SUMMER PASTA SALADS
For more than 40 years, we’ve been bringing gracious service and delicious food to your events both in your homes and at some of the most incredible venues in New York. And now, we’re teaching you some of the tips and tricks that have made your events, whether for 20 people or 20,000 people, so memorable. We start with the fundamentals of creating a delicious menu with easy to follow recipes that can be adapted for any season and a wide variety of tastes. You’ll learn what you can prepare in advance so that you can enjoy your guests’ company; and we’ll show you the pro tips that transform food into art. After all, we eat with our eyes first!
In our second video, Chef Georgette Farkas, Great Performances’ Culinary Ambassador, takes your pasta salad to a whole new level. We know that the thought of pasta salads can evoke memories of gummy, flavorless bowls of pasta with bits of vegetables seasoned with mayonnaise. Chef Georgette is here to change your mind! She’ll review pasta shapes that work best for pasta salads and will introduce you to some incredible flavor combinations.
Watch the video, download the recipe packet, and prepare these pasta salads for your next summer party. Don’t forget to share photos with us!