Top Holiday Party Venues in New York
We’re looking ahead to Holiday Party season and have rounded up our top picks for this year.
COOK LIKE A CHEF: KATCHKIE FARM'S CSA WITH AYA MOHAMED
By Aya Mohamed
Dual functionality was the goal with my CSA bag.
My mission: Make a delicious meal and also meal prep for my ever-so-food-curious 11-month old.
First, I took my wonderful CSA share filled with the brightest of squash, rossa lunga onions, eggplant and carrots and finely chopped and sautéed with all of the other vegetables I had in my fridge (fennel, celery, bell peppers and cauliflower). I seasoned it with cumin, paprika, and onion powder, all of which are baby friendly spices. I combined that mixture with grains and lentils that I had on hand: quinoa, spelt, farro, brown rice, lentils and chickpeas. I ran the grains and beans through the food processor to breakdown the grains a bit. Adding some flaxseed is a great substitute for egg, making this dish vegan. Once it’s at a texture that’s desirable and seasoned to taste, I used a portioned scoop on a parchment lined sheet pan and baked them for 30 mins at 350 degrees.
This is a great way to get everything but the kitchen sink in and fortify your kids’ meals with them knowing. That alone is a mission accomplished for many parents with young kids.
These are great because I freeze half of the batch once they’re baked and re warm for a quick meal when baby gets hangry and daycare meals.
My husband and I accompanied our cakes with a cucumber and heirloom grape tomato salad, using the carrot tops and the stems from the onions to make a bright, citrus-forward dressing.
With plenty of lovely eggplant left over, I decided to prepare lunch the next day with a tempura fried eggplant and cauliflower, finished with furikake and a miso aioli. I also grated the rest of the carrots and chopped some of the onions to use in a forbidden ramen stir fry with tamari braised chicken. Suffice it to say, the older kids truly enjoyed the eggplant’s dual role of crunch and meaty.
There’s so much versatility with the crops I received this week and getting the kids involved in tasting the ingredients as we cook lunch goes such a long way.
Mission accomplished — Bon Appetit!
By Great Performances
Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!
HARLEM WEEK VIRTUAL TOUR
Wednesday, August 11 at 4:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Ticket Information: $15 per household (plus service fee)
Celebrate HARLEM WEEK with a virtual tour of the Apollo — an interactive look into the historic space and legacy of the Apollo Theater. Guided by Billy “Mr. Apollo” Mitchell, the virtual tour provides audiences an opportunity to explore the legendary history of the Apollo Theater and gain behind-the-scenes access to this iconic venue. This live tour connects the past, present and future through entertaining and inspiring storytelling, photographs, and video from the Apollo’s archives. Get your tickets today to experience the magic of the Apollo from the comfort of your own home.
JENNIFER HUDSON LIVE AT THE APOLLO PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD
Thursday, August 19 at 8:00 pm
Location: Apollo Historic Theater
Ticket Information:$59.99 – 99.99 (must be purchased with valid Mastercard)
Mastercard proudly presents Jennifer Hudson Live at The Apollo on August 19th. This intimate in-person gathering of Black women entrepreneurs and select cardholders features Ms. Hudson performing classic Aretha Franklin hits featured in the upcoming biopic Respect, as well as songs from her own catalogue.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a specially priced event exclusively for Mastercard cardholders.
For the safety of our audiences and staff, all ticketholders and attendees of this event must provide proof of vaccination in order to enter the theater. Click here for more information about our COVID safety policies.
RESPECT
Location: Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM Rose Cinemas
Ticket Information: GENERAL ADMISSION: $16; MEMBERS: $8 (free for Level 4 and above)
Directed by Liesl Tommy | 2021
With Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Mary J. Blige
Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson is the Queen of Soul in this star-studded new drama that’s bursting with song, with a cast that includes Audra McDonald and Mary J. Blige. Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of the legendary singer’s journey to find her voice.
BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
Thursday, August 26 at 7:30 pm
A Tribe Called Quest was one of the most commercially successful and artistically significant musical groups in recent history. The band’s sudden break-up in 1998 shocked the industry and saddened the scores of fans, whose appetite for the group’s innovative musical stylings never seem to diminish. This insightful film takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes journey, chronicling the group’s rise to fame and revealing the stories behind the tensions which erupted in the years to come.
KAWS: WHAT PARTY
February 26 – September 5
Location: Brooklyn Museum
For twenty-five years, Brooklyn-based artist KAWS (Brian Donnelly, American, born 1974) has bridged the worlds of art, popular culture, and commerce. Adapting the rules of cultural production and consumption in the twenty-first century, his practice both critiques and participates in consumer culture. KAWS: WHAT PARTY is a sweeping survey featuring more than one hundred broad-ranging works, such as rarely seen graffiti drawings and notebooks, paintings and sculptures, smaller collectibles, furniture, and monumental installations of his popular COMPANION figures. It also features new pieces made uniquely for the exhibition along with his early-career altered advertisements.
KAWS’s practice acknowledges that works of art can occupy multiple realms—the aesthetic and the transcendent, the commodified and the priceless—and emphasizes that even within a cultural environment shaped by image and consumption, universal emotions such as love, friendship, loneliness, and alienation remain constant. KAWS invites us to engage with his work, both in person and virtually, and explore our own relationship with and connection to objects. Teaming up with Acute Art, a digital art platform directed by acclaimed Swedish curator Daniel Birnbaum, KAWS presents new augmented reality works, allowing visitors to interact virtually with his sculptures using their smartphones to create their own experience.
DRINK AND DRAW: THE SLIPSTREAM WITH NONA FAUSTINE
Thursday, August 19 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: Biergarten, Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden
Ticket Information: $35 and include after-hours admission to The Slipstream, art materials in your own Brooklyn Museum tote, and a complimentary drink. Member tickets are $25.
Sip and sketch in our backyard Biergarten this summer with a monthly series of life drawing classes, open to all levels and accompanied by a refreshing beverage and musical vibes by local DJs. This month, celebrate our newest contemporary art exhibition, The Slipstream: Reflection, Resilience, and Resistance in the Art of Our Time, with special guest host Nona Faustine. The artist offers insights based on her experience representing the body in photographs, which are on view in the exhibition. Sketch from live models and experiment with materials in a casual class led by teaching artist Mellasenah Nicole Edwards.
CONCERT ON THE LAWN: FLOR DE TOLOACHE
Friday, August 13 at 7:00 pm
Location: Friends Field, World Music
Ticket Information: Adult $35; Child $15
The women of Flor de Toloache fuse together influences from across genres and cultures to produce a unique and powerful take on traditional Mariachi music.
THE MUSIC CONTINUES: CONCERTS ON THE LAWN On three Fridays in August, we invite you to a laid-back evening concert as the sun sets on our expansive Friends Field. Relax (or get up and dance!) as world-class musicians fill the air with music. Make it a date night, a family outing, or just another Friday at Caramoor by pre-ordering a picnic during checkout.
Please bring your own blanket or seating. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved into the Venetian Theater.
CONCERT ON THE LAWN: SHENEL JOHNS
Friday, August 27 at 7:00 pm
Location: Friends Field, Jazz
Ticket Information: Adult: $35, Child: $15
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
With a voice that embodies grace and passion and a personal style that sways effortlessly from jazz to R&B to gospel, Shenel Johns has emerged as one of the shining stars of her generation. A native of Hartford, CT, Johns has been performing since she was fourteen years of age, and has developed a distinctive, eclectic style that has increasingly caught the attention of her peers and some of the industry’s top performers.
THE MUSIC CONTINUES: CONCERTS ON THE LAWN On three Fridays in August, we invite you to a laid-back evening concert as the sun sets on our expansive Friends Field. Relax (or get up and dance!) as world-class musicians fill the air with music. Make it a date night, a family outing, or just another Friday at Caramoor by pre-ordering a picnic during checkout.
Please bring your own blanket or seating. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved into the Venetian Theater.
HERLIN RILEY QUARTET
Thursday – Sunday August 19-22, 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
Veteran drummer and founding Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra member Herlin Riley has been the drummer of choice for bandleaders such as Ahmad Jamal and Wynton Marsalis. Riley’s sound is rooted in his home of New Orleans, but his rhythmic vocabulary expands miles beyond any one style or location. At Dizzy’s, he will demonstrate his skills as bandleader, with a quintet featuring some of the best young talent in New York, including trumpeter Bruce Harris, pianist Emmet Cohen, bassist Russell Hall, and saxophonist Godwin Louis. Groove comes first when Riley is on drums, and these reopening weekend performances at Dizzy’s are sure to be a good time!
TRIO DA PAZ PLAYS JOBIN AND OTHER BRAZILIAN CLASSICS
Tuesday – Sunday, August 24 – 29, 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
Trio da Paz comes back to Dizzy’s Club to revive the tradition of their summer residency. Formed in 1990 by three of Brazil’s most in-demand master musicians—guitarist Romero Lubambo, bassist Nilson Matta, and drummer Duduka da Fonseca—Trio da Paz embodies the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. Joining them are Maucha Adnet on vocals, Joe Locke on vibraphone and Harry Allen on tenor saxophone.
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.
WALKS WITH GARDENERS: AQUATIC AND MONOCOT GARDENS
Wednesday, August 18 from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Location: Meet at the Perkins Visitor Center
Ticket Information: $30 / Members receive 10% discount; Includes admission to the grounds
The summer heat encourages tropical plants to flourish in the Aquatic and Monocot Gardens. Evening offers an escape from the heat, and the garden seems to come alive with the hum of insects, the rustle of leaves, and the antics of fish skimming the surface of the water. Guided by Wave Hill gardener Christopher Bivens, explore the design of these two formal gardens, where neatly trimmed hedges and symmetrical pergolas provide a framework for lush grasses, tropical plants and exotic water lilies.
Rain date: Wednesday, August 25
Registration required, online or at 718.549.3200 x251, and closes at noon on Tuesday, August 17. The program fee includes admission to the grounds. Space is extremely limited. Questions? Please email us at information@wavehill.org or call the telephone number and extension above.
AUGUST FOOD FESTIVAL: TASTY TOMATOES
About the Artist: Erin Robinson is one of our GP Artists. Click here to see more of her art.
EMBRACE TIP:
The red color of tomatoes comes from lycopene, an antioxidant linked to potential health benefits.
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.
And each year, we eagerly anticipate the tomatoes, especially the ones we grow at Katchkie Farm. Nothing tastes sweeter and more like summer than a sun-warmed, perfectly ripe tomato. Any way you slice it, it’s a treat.
KATCHKIE FARM GAZPACHO
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes
- ½ pounds cucumber
- ¼ pounds green pepper
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tbsp sherry vinegar
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Tabasco sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Croutons
Procedure
Rough cut all ingredients and place into a food processor and puree to desired consistency.
Garnish the soup with ripe cherry tomatoes and a few nice croutons.
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.
HOSPITALITY AT HOME: WORLD TOUR BROCHETTES
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 first video, Chef Georgette Farkas, Great Performances’ Culinary Ambassador, takes us on a world tour with brochettes, or skewered foods. From ideas for flavor combinations and suggestions for adapting the ingredients to suit different tastes and dietary preferences to creating the perfect side dish, Chef Georgette walks you through each step. Watch the video, download the recipe packet, and prepare the brochettes for your next summer party. Don’t forget to share photos with us!
Complete the form below to download the recipe packet.
QUICK AND EASY SUMMER DESSERTS
By Great Performances
As we roll into the hot and hazy days of summer, we fill our plates with the best of summer’s bounty from flavor-packed, sun-warmed tomatoes to surprisingly sweet and fresh corn; from cool and crisp summer salads to hot-off-the-grill kabobs. We love celebrating summer with all things vegetables — especially when it’s fresh from our farms.
And for those of us who crave something sweet at the end of the day (or as midday treat), we’ve rounded up some super easy summer desserts. These no-sweat recipes will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but allow you to enjoy summer evenings in the backyard, watching the fireflies do their nightly dance.
Cake Mix Magic
Julie Vallo, our HR manager who supports our venues, loves baking. Although she typically bakes things from scratch, her magical recipes using boxed cake mix make baking a snap. The beauty of these treats is they are so versatile. You can easily change up flavors and create delicious combinations. Strawberry cake mix with chocolate chip add-ins. Chocolate cake mix with chopped up toffee candy bars. The possibilities are endless.
Cake Mix Magic Cookies
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a bowl, combine any flavor cake mix, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 large eggs, and up to 1 cup of mix ins (chocolate chips, mini m&m, coconut, chopped nuts, sprinkles, chopped up candy bars).
Put batter in refrigerator for about 30 – 45 minutes. Once chilled, scoop 24 balls and place on prepared baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
Cake Mix Magic Biscotti
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, combine any flavor box cake mix, 1 cup all purpose flour, ½ cup melted butter, 3 large eggs, and up to 1 cup of mix ins (chocolate chips, mini m&m, coconut, chopped nuts, sprinkles, chopped up candy bars).
Divide dough in half and form 2 flattened logs about 12 x 2 inches. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for about 30 – 45 minutes. Bake logs for 25 – 30 minutes (they should feel firm in the middle). Remove from oven and let cool 15 – 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325˚F.
Once the logs have cooled, cut into ½” to 1” slices. Arrange slices on baking sheet and bake for 6 minutes. Flip logs and bake another 5-7 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
Once they are cooled, dip in melted chocolate – you can dip the entire cookie or just half the cookie.
Store in an airtight container. These are perfect to enjoy with a cup of coffee or on their own. I promise they won’t last long!
Celebrating Cherries
Ronnie Davis, our indefatigable managing director (and international man of mystery), shares his recipe for cherry clafoutis.
Traditional clafoutis is made with cherries that still have their pits. The pits give some almond flavor to the dish. But prepared that way can be a little more difficult to eat, so in this recipe we have pitted the cherries first. You can leave them in if you want.
Note that the texture of clafoutis is like a sturdy custard, so if it feels a little rubbery, that is just how it’s supposed to be.
Cherry Clafoutis
Ingredients
- 2 cups of fresh sweet cherries, pitted
- 2 tablespoons of blanched slivered almonds
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup of sugar (can reduce to 1/4 cup)
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup of milk (2% or whole milk)
- 3/4 teaspoon of almond extract (can sub 2 teaspoons of Amaretto)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Note: Feel free to reduce the sugar to 1/4 cup if you are working very sweet cherries or would prefer a less sweet clafoutis.
Method:
- Butter and flour baking dish, scatter with cherries and slivered almonds: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and lightly flour a 9X9 or 10X7 baking dish. Scatter the cherries and slivered almonds over the bottom of the dish.
- Make batter with eggs, sugar, salt, and flour: Whisk the eggs and sugars together until smooth. Whisk in the salt and flour until smooth.
- Add the milk, almond extract, and vanilla extract: Whisk until smooth.
- Pour batter into the baking dish over the cherries and slivered almonds.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes or until lightly browned and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Check about halfway through the baking and if the top is getting well browned tent it loosely with aluminum foil.
- Remove from oven to cool: When you pull it out of the oven it will wiggle a bit which is normal. Place on a wire rack to cool. The clafoutis will have puffed up quite a bit and will deflate while cooling.
- Dust with powdered sugar: When cool dust the clafoutis with powdered sugar. Serve.
Cobbled Together Dessert
Liz Neumark, our inimitable founder and fearless leader, spends as much time as possible up at Katchkie Farm. Her passion during the summer months when produce is at its peak is to can, pickle, and preserve the summer bounty for gifts and to enjoy during the colder months.
Second to her penchant for preserving is her love of baking, and we often are treated to delicious banana bread and muffins at the office. Here she shares a delicious recipe for a rhubarb crumble that can easily be adapted to any summer fruit.
Summer Rhubarb Crumble
Combine 8 cups of chopped rhubarb (or peaches, or any combination of summer fruits) with 1 cup of sugar and let sit for about an hour in your baking pan.
Mix together 1 ½ sticks of softened butter, 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of oats or granola, ¾ cup of brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Mix until well blended. Add 1 egg and combine until it starts feeling crumbly. This is your topping.
Spread the topping on the waiting fruit and bake in a 350˚F oven for 45 minutes until bubbly. Let cool for at least 15 minutes (if you can wait that long), and enjoy straight up or top with ice cream or crème fraiche.
Strawberries and Cream with a Kick
Carina Hayek, our Director of Marketing, loves vanilla ice cream because it’s perfection on its own or a delightful paired with other flavors. On most evenings, she’ll throw a dash of cinnamon on top (you know, for the health supportive benefits), but when she’s feeling a little extra fancy, she’ll add some strawberries with a twist. This unexpectedly delicious combination pairs well with a Lambrusco.
Black Pepper Balsamic Strawberries with Vanilla Ice Cream
When you’re buying balsamic vinegar, read the labels. You’ll find that the thick, syrupy ones tend to have a lot of added sugars. Instead, make your own – buy a bottle of balsamic vinegar, pour into a small saucepan, and reduce over medium / medium-low heat until it’s thick and syrupy. Make sure to keep an eye on the pan so it doesn’t burn! Store in a clean, glass bottle or jar and use any time you need something sweet, tangy, and tart.
Roughly chop or slice a pint of strawberries and macerate with up to a tablespoon of sugar. Don’t add too much sugar as you want them to be a bit tart. Scoop some vanilla ice cream into a bowl, spoon a generous amount of strawberries with their juices on top. Drizzle with a thick and syrupy balsamic vinegar (a little goes a long way), and finish with some grinds of fresh black pepper. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Going Bananas
Sarah Saracino, our HR director, looks for quick and easy desserts that will tempt the tastebuds of her family. This super easy banana cream pie recipe is easily customized, comes together in minutes, and is the perfect solution for last minute gatherings. Even though it takes a couple hours to chill, that means you have time to enjoy your meal and the day before tucking into this deliciousness.
Easy Banana Cream Pie
Using a hand mixer, whip 1 cup of heavy whipping cream with 1 tablespoon of sugar until you have soft peaks.
Slice 2 bananas into 1/4″ slices and lay on the bottom of a fully cooked 9″ pie shell (you can make your own or buy a pre-baked one).
In a medium bowl, combine 2 packages of vanilla instant pudding with 2 ½ cups cold milk and whisk until thoroughly combined. Fold in ½ cup of the prepared whipped cream. Pour into prepared pastry shell.
Chill for at least 3 hours, garnish with remaining whipped cream and additional banana slices. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
SOCIAL ATTRACTION AND EVENTS AT THE PLAZA
By Rob Arango, CPS Events at The Plaza
For the past 15 months, we have heard and read the term “social distancing” in an effort to halt the global pandemic. Our forced seclusion and isolation have made us long for the days when we could meet for drinks, share a meal with friends, and socialize with others. Our initial emergence from pandemic have demonstrated that we’ve been craving connection, and I think the new normal will be “social attraction.”
Of course, we must adhere to all the CDC guidelines and continue our efforts to eradicate this virus. I was asked a month ago to write a piece about the Plaza re-opening and the much anticipated Fall Gala season. Within the last few weeks, numerous discussions and concerns have taken place with various planners, development staff, and board members asking what are the safety protocols in place at the Plaza? Should their foundation require proof of vaccination at check in? What should they do if someone isn’t vaccinated? What about our staff? All these concerns are extremely valid and important to continue to address. At the Plaza, we are listening carefully to the CDC and state officials and will be passing along all our information to our guests to ensure a safe environment for their galas once we have a clear understanding of how to implement safety protocols.
With all that said, I also must share the other discussion, which is taking place daily with our clients. Dr. Keltner, co-founder of the Greater Good Science Center has expressed, “we’re hyper social mammals—it is our most signature strength.” For decades, Dr. Keltner has studied human behavior with a focus on “pro-social” states: behavior that strengthened connection between individuals and that are especially good for society.
Our culinary team at Great Performances, who provides all our delicious meals served at the Plaza, has a company saying that “Life happens around food.®” I add that connections with another person provide food for the soul.
In the 114 years that the Plaza has been open, it has endured the worst of historic crises including both World Wars, the first stock market crash, the Great Depression, 9/11, and countless other global calamities. Through it all, the Palm Court, Edwardian Room, Persian Room, Oak Room, and Oyster Bar remained open to soothe the social anxieties of their time. Whether it was enjoying an afternoon tea or a dry martini, Plaza guests yearned for a place to gather, hug, laugh, and enjoy the company of a friend during the worst of times. As we know even in the best of times celebrations of life are never taken for granted.
I tend to think the human spirit is nourished by social gatherings and the enjoyment of food and beverage. Many clients have expressed a strong desire to get dressed up again and begin to mingle in person as opposed to seeing one another in a Hollywood Squares-like box via video calls.
The collective actions of raising much needed funds for a good cause, the arrival of guests in their newest ballgowns, the first sip of dry champagne and a nibble of a savory canape, is what so many New Yorkers are craving. I believe there can be enormous healing among social gatherings. We aren’t meant to eat alone; we thrive on giving a hug and a smile to our dinner guest. But never forget we still need a little gossip and commentary when we can’t help but to whisper to another friend in person–“look at her dress!” or even, “she looks amazing—who is her doctor?”
We are ready to open the doors to the grand ballroom and welcome all of our friends back to celebrate.
There is a great line in a famous Sondheim lyric, “As if we never said good-bye”. That is what I imagine guests will say when they return the Grand Ballroom.
Until then, stay informed and continue to ask vital questions.
More From CPS Events at The Plaza
And We’re Live! The Return of In Person Nonprofit Events
AND WE’RE LIVE! THE RETURN OF IN-PERSON NONPROFIT EVENTS By Great Performances 40% of nonprofit organizations reported losses in total revenue for 2020. Partly attributed
Plaza Personality – Myka Meier
Get to know Myka Meier, The Plaza Hotel’s Finishing Program Etiquette Trainer.
Cocktail Recipe: Pink Gin & Tonic
This Pink Gin & Tonic cocktail recipe from the Spirits team at Great Performances Caterers will be the perfect way to toast to love on Valentine’s Day.
Our Favorite Wedding Venues, Inside and Out
A list of Great Performances Catering team’s favorite spaces for weddings in New York from gardens to lofts.
THE SYLVIA CENTER'S 14TH ANNUAL SUMMER CELEBRATION AT KATCHKIE FARM
By Great Performances
Each year, we’re honored to plan and cater The Sylvia Center’s summer benefit at Katchkie Farm. Over the years, the event has evolved, most recently becoming a farm-to-picnic-table (or blanket!) celebration in the Learning Garden at the farm. This year, 250 people attended and were able to enjoy the beauty of our farm from the fields full of summer vegetables and sunflowers to the Learning Garden framed by the rolling Catskills on one side and woods on the other.
With a menu curated by Chef Georgette Farkas and featuring ingredients sourced directly from the fields, it was a delicious event that highlighted the best of summer flavors. Read on to learn more about the experience. To donate to The Sylvia Center and learn more about future events, visit their website by clicking here.
It was a beautifully warm, sunny day in July, and one could feel the anticipation and excitement as guests walked along the path (or rode in one of the golf carts!) flanked by fields of sunflowers. As guests registered for the event and bought raffle tickets, happy chatter turned to exclamations and warm hugs as familiar faces were spotted and friends reunited. The Sylvia Center Executive Director Jonathan Cetnarski was on hand along with CEO and Founder of Great Performances, Liz Neumark, to meet guests and towards the registration table Guests were greeted at the registration table by The Sylvia Center team, including Executive Director Jonathan Cetnarski, and by Liz Neumark, CEO and Founder of Great Performances. After registering and joining the raffle, they proceeded to the food tent where they picked up their picnic bags and headed to the Learning Garden where there was plenty of space to spread out and enjoy their feast. Drinks were served under the shade of the Pavilion, which also hosts the pizza oven we used last year. This year, Rafi Bildner brought his Hilltown Hot Pies pizza truck and served his pizzas – always a fan favorite!
Delicious food highlighting the best that summer in New York has to offer was packed in cooler bags that guests picked up on their way to their tables. The menu included fresh, flavorful foods like NY Collection of Cheese & Charcuterie, Dried Apricots, Assorted Flatbreads; Gazpacho; Parker House Rolls (cultured local butter); Sweet Pepper Roast Chicken (cippolini onions, smoked paprika aioli); Corn and Cherry Tomato Succotash (edamame, swiss chard, feta cheese, roasted sunflower seeds, lemon-basil miso vinaigrette); Roasted Sweet Yellow Peppers (cherry tomatoes, black olives, capers, anchovy, yellow raisins, basil); Watermelon & Radish Salad – featuring both watermelon and watermelon radishes – (kale, cucumber, black beans, ginger lime vinaigrette); Lemon Grilled Baby Zucchini (whole wheat apricot couscous); our fan favorite Eggplant Chermoula; and Peach – Blackberry Crumble Bars.
As a special thank you to our guests, Farmer Jon picked cherry tomatoes fresh from the fields and we paired them with a savory basil parmesan pesto.
Rafi Bildner debuted his Hilltown Hot Pies pizza truck and served made-to-order Neapolitan style pizza with his own artisanal, wild-yeasted dough featuring produce picked from the farm and local cheeses and meats.
COOK LIKE A CHEF: KATCHKIE FARM'S CSA WITH CHRIS HARKNESS
By Chris Harkness
One of the benefits of working at Great Performances is access to farm fresh produce from our own farm. Our weekly delivery of our farm share from Katchkie Farm, our own organic farm in Upstate New York, has been a great source of inspiration and helps me feel more connected to the planet and grounded. One of the best things we can do as chefs is bring out the natural flavors of the produce and find ways to entice the eye and the appetite. Check out what I’ve done with last week’s farm share below.
In this week’s share, I received carrots, Swiss chard, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant.
I also harvested some produce from my own personal garden: rosemary, cucumbers (I needed more cucumbers as I was feeding three people!), basil, and peppers.
As I looked over my offerings, a dish I love, ratatouille, immediately came to mind. I also had a free range chicken, so I thought I’d roast them together. It’s a great way to add flavor to both the chicken and the squash. I added some small Italian canned tomatoes for more acidity and some rosemary to flavor the chicken.
I also had some great fennel on hand, so I decided to caramelize them for the swiss chard.
The rest of the ingredients felt like a wonderful salad. I kept it pretty rustic, peeling the carrots and slicing them into long wedges, halving the cherry tomatoes, thinly slicing the radishes, and chopping up the peppers. I decided to present the cucumber as long ribbons – this adds visual interest and are just fun to eat that way. I dressed the salad with lemon juice and olive oil and finished with sea salt and basil.
Everything came out beautifully and highlighted the fresh flavors of the season.
CELEBRATING SUMMER WITH THE SYLVIA CENTER
One of the things we look forward to the most each year is our Farm to Table Event with The Sylvia Center, a nonprofit dedicated to educating youth and their families on the connection between food and health. We support The Sylvia Center and host them at Katchkie Farm, helping their students learn about where food comes from and how to prepare various ingredients to create delicious, health supportive meals. From planting vegetables, to tending crops, and ultimately harvesting and cooking them, they get hands on experience with the full lifecycle of produce.
Each summer, we host The Sylvia Center’s Farm to Table Event at Katchkie Farm, our organic farm in upstate New York, to help them raise funds for their programs that run in under-resourced communities throughout Columbia County and New York City. Their programs are helping to develop the next generation of healthy eaters, cooks and advocates that can fundamentally change the future of food.
Georgette Farkas, our culinary ambassador, has created the menu for this year’s event. We promise an informal evening of dining al fresco in the fields on a farm inspired menu.
Event details: Saturday July 24, from 5 to 8pm, at Katchkie Farm in Kinderhook, NY
Purchase tickets here: https://donate.sylviacenter.org/event/the-farm-event-2021/e335176
If you can’t make it but would like to help support The Sylvia Center, you can donate at the link here: https://donate.sylviacenter.org/give/335176/#!/donation/checkout
By Great Performances
Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!
Asia Society at the Movies: My People, My Country — Hello, Beijing
Friday, July 9 at 5:00 pm – Monday July 19 at 5:00 pm.
Location: Online
Ticket Information: Beginning July 9 at 5 p.m. New York time until July 19 at 5 p.m. New York time, Hello, Beijing will be available to stream, with a 24-hour viewing window once the screening has started.
My People, My Country is a 2019 Chinese anthology consisting of seven short films directed by top Chinese filmmakers including Chen Kaige, Zhang Yibai, Guan Hu, Xue Xiaolu, Xu Zheng, Ning Hao, and Wen Muye. Released to mark the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, the stories are based on seven historic moments in the nation’s history since its founding.
In one of the shorts in the anthology, Hello, Beijing directed by Ning Hao, a taxi driver meets a young boy from the zone affected by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. The driver ends up giving him a ticket to the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which was originally intended to be a birthday gift to his aloof son.
Join us for a weekend-long screening of Hello, Beijing.
Asia Society at the Movies: My People, My Homeland — A Beijing Good Person
Friday, July 16 t 5:00 pm – Monday, July 19 at 5:00 pm
Location: Online
Ticket Information: Beginning July 16 at 5 p.m. New York time until July 19 at 5 p.m. New York time, A Beijing Good Person will be available to stream, with a 24-hour viewing window once the screening has started. The accompanying conversation will stream live on July 19 at 8 p.m. New York time.
My People, My Homeland is a 2020 Chinese anthology consisting of five comedic short films directed by acclaimed Chinese filmmakers including Ning Hao, Chen Sicheng, and Xu Zheng, among others. The hilarious and heartwarming stories take place in different parts of rural China in Beijing, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Hangzhou, and Shenyang, and depict how various characters explore what makes their communities unique.
The first short film in the anthology, A Beijing Good Person directed by Ning Hao, is a heartfelt and bittersweet story about a man, Zhang Beijing, helping his uncle to receive thyroid cancer treatment in Beijing. With no other options, Zhang ends up turning to identity fraud and has to fake his uncle’s medical insurance card.
Join us for a weekend-long screening of A Beijing Good Person, followed by a conversation on July 19 at 8 p.m. New York time with director Ning Hao and Ellen R. Eliasoph, a veteran film executive and producer. The discussion will offer a closer look at Ning’s career, Chinese film, and more.
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Location: Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM Rose Cinemas
Ticket Information: $16
Directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson | 2021
Making his filmmaking debut, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record—about an epic event in Black history, culture, and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just 100 miles south of where Woodstock was taking place, the Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was never seen and largely forgotten—until now.
Summer of Soul shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest—both past and present. Featuring never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, the 5th Dimension, and many others. Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
What to Send Up When It Goes Down
June 20 — July 11
Location: BAM Fisher, Fishman Space
Ticket Information: $25
Aleshea Harris’ acclaimed, groundbreaking new work is a play, a ritual, and a home-going celebration that bears witness to the physical and spiritual deaths of Black people as a result of racist violence. Setting out to disrupt the pervasiveness of anti-Blackness and acknowledge the inherent value of Black people, What to Send Up When It Goes Down blurs the boundaries between actors and audiences. These participatory performances ask audiences to join in a spirit of openness, offering a space for catharsis, discussion, reflection, and healing.
The play was originally scheduled to take place at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. With expanding health and safety regulations permitting safer indoor performances, the location change provides an opportunity for an extension in the production schedule and expands performances for more patrons to attend. Thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time—we’re thrilled to welcome you back into our theater.
All performances will adhere to protocols developed in accordance with New York State regulations and in consultation with medical professionals for the safety of our artists, audiences, and staff.
Accessible seating is available for this event. Contact info@BAM.org to reserve, or for more information.
Pop-Up Market
Sunday July 11, 18, 25
Location: Brooklyn Museum Plaza
Stop by our market to shop one-of-a-kind, handmade items from local artisans. This weekly event features more than twenty vendors offering artwork, jewelry, fashion, home and apothecary goods, and more.
This event takes place outdoors. We’re following procedures and guidelines laid out by the CDC and local health officials, including practicing social distancing for all activities. Masks are required for all adults and children over the age of 2.
Pop-Up Performance: Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, July 18 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Brooklyn Museum Plaza
Ticket Information: $15, $30, $45 / Members Free
Catherine Russell dazzles her audiences with familiar favorites and forgotten gems alike. Russell excelled as a backup singer and multi-instrumentalist with David Bowie, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, and Paul Simon, before launching a remarkable solo career, featuring Grammy award-winning and chart-topping recordings. In 2019 she released her seventh album, Alone Together, which was then Grammy-nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Celebrating
Stephen Sondheim’s
91st Birthday
Saturday, July 10 at 8:00 pm
Location:
Venetian Theater / $50, $84, $116, $147
Garden Listening / $20
Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim celebrated his 90th birthday last year, but the pandemic ruined our party. No matter! We invite you to join the celebration of his 91st!
Broadway stars Betsy Wolfe (Waitress, Falsettos), Scarlett Strallen and Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), and Ben Davis (Violet) will be on hand, with Tony Award winner Ted Sperling as Music Director and host for this evening of songs from Company, Follies, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Anyone Can Whistle, and more.
Afternoon Tea
Fridays in July at 1:00 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.
Live from Dizzy’s
Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Location: Online
Ticket Information: Suggested donation $10
Live From Dizzy’s welcomes club favorites & emerging artists back to the Dizzy’s Club stage. Join us from the comfort of your own home as we bring stunning New York views and the live jazz club experience to your living room. Additionally, each live performance will include an artist interview with Dizzy’s Club manager Roland Chassagne.
THE WATERING HOLE
June 22 – August 8
Location: YouTube
Ticket Information: Free with Registration
Over a year after closing our doors, Signature Theatre is excited to present The Watering Hole, an immersive experience envisioned by resident playwright Lynn Nottage, director Miranda Haymon, and a renowned group of creative designers. This grand experiment deviates from the norm, presenting a new kind of theatre—one that is collaborative, accessible and safe.
In-person, physically distanced audiences will move through a series of installations entirely curated by creatives of color at the beloved Pershing Square Signature Center. The multidimensional and multidisciplinary pieces disrupt traditional notions of theatre-making and challenge viewers to converse with what is most essential to us all, water. Excerpts from the in-person experience will also be available online in order to bring The Watering Hole to as far an audience as possible.
Following hit runs of Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine and By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, The Watering Hole culminates Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage’s residency at Signature Theatre.
Lessons from Wave Hill: Seasonal Container Displays
Monday, July 12 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Meet at Front Gate
Ticket Information: $65, including admission to the grounds. Wave Hill Members save 10%
Container plants play an important role in the seasonal displays at Wave Hill. Every summer, the gardens are filled with hundreds of potted plants enjoying a summer vacation from our indoor growing areas, together with seasonal containers planted with tropical and annual plants. Wave Hill Gardener Shane Pritchett has perfected the art of container gardening at the Pergola and on Wave Hill House’s Kate French Terrace, arranging a myriad of planted containers that highlight shape, height, texture and color. In this workshop, his shares his container-gardening expertise, including soil mixes, care requirements, design considerations and recommended plant species for sunny and shady locations.
Please note that Wave Hill is not open to the public on Mondays; participants are invited to bring their lunch to enjoy on the Kate French Terrace but will not be allowed to wander the grounds.
Registration required, online or at 718.549.3200 x251, and closes at noon on Friday, July 9. Space is extremely limited. Questions? Please email us at information@wavehill.org or call the telephone number and extension provided here.