Billy's Bakery

Co-Founders Marc & Wayne
Photo courtesy of Billy's Bakery

Established in 2003, Billy’s was originally opened by school friends Billy, Marc, and Wayne. Billy started his baking career working at the ever-popular Magnolia Bakery in Greenwich for two years before quitting to begin his own baked goods venture. Billy’s Bakery became an overnight success and quickly expanded, adding locations in Tribeca and the Upper West Side.

Each day at Billy’s, everything is still made from scratch. From our (pretty well known) Icebox Cake to our (pretty darn well known) Red Velvet Cupcakes—it’s as real as our grandmothers used to make. For us, that smell when you walk into a real local bakery is almost as important as the taste. And we’re never going to lose that. For Billy’s, it’s all about real ingredients, authentic recipes, and real people making it happen.

Featured Cupcakes provided by Billy's Bakery
on June 30th, 2022:

Confetti, Chocolate, Blackberry Lime, Bourbon Salted Caramel

Photos courtesy of Billy’s Bakery

Billy’s Bakery

Upper West Side, Tribeca, and Chelsea

www.billysbakerynyc.com

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Colonia Verde

Chef Felipe Donnelly

Felipe Donnelly is the Executive Chef and owner of James Beard nominated Colonia Verde in Fort Greene, Cosmico Wine Bar, Disco Tacos & Compartí Catering.

The Colombian chef was born in Madrid and spent his childhood living in Bogota, Sao Paulo, and Mexico City – an experience deeply imbued in his culinary style. Having lived across many Latin American countries, the act of experiencing and sharing food was the first step in calling a new place home. By producing bold, homegrown Latin flavors in all his endeavors, Donnelly is able to explore his culinary creativity through the lens of the heart of the Latin kitchen. With inimitable hospitality, dining at one of Donnelly’s restaurants is where a new restaurant quickly becomes home and new friends become family.

Colonia Verde opened its doors in 2014 and has since become a neighborhood staple frequented by visitors from across the globe. Colonia Verde is inspired by the hearth of Latin American fincas, built on the principle that food tastes better when shared, and for the vibrant community of Fort Greene.

Featured Entrée provided by Chef Felipe Donnelly
on June 30th, 2022:

Lamb Meatballs with Polenta & Grilled Mushrooms

Featured Entrée provided by Chef Felipe Donnelly
on December 16th, 2021:

Pulled Pork with Butternut Squash Purée & Aji Cornbread

Photos courtesy of Colonia Verde

Colonia Verde

219 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

www.coloniaverdenyc.com

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JULY FOOD FESTIVAL: RATATOUILLE

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.

Ratatouille is a vegetable dish originating in Provence, France. Recipes vary but common ingredients include eggplant, tomato, zucchini, garlic, onion, red bell pepper and herbs. Ratatouille is an eye-catching dish because of the ingredients’ bright colors; a sign of many disease-fighting phytochemicals.

Serve a variety of phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals on one plate with ratatouille. Ratatouille contains several non-starchy vegetables. Pair with French bread or rice and baked cod for a balanced meal.

Our Culinary Ambassador, Georgette Farkas, had shared her very own Ratatouille recipe.

Ratatouille

Ratatouille has always been my family’s summer staple. It’s one of those dishes that is even better the second day. The dish is a must if you happen to grow zucchini and tomatoes. Savor it as is as a vegetarian lunch dish along with a mesclun salad and a baguette. Or serve it as a side dish to accompany roast chicken, lamb or fish. It can even be used to fill an omelet or toss with pasta and top with goat cheese or parmesan. This version is prepared with the vegetables thinly sliced and then layered. But it’s just as delicious with everything roughly cubed and then baked together in a good heavy bottomed pot, once you’ve first sautéed the onions and garlic on the stove top. Baking time will vary depending upon the pot you use. But the dish is very forgiving. The vegetables should hold their shape, but melt in your mouth tender.

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

  • 3 oz olive oil
  • 1.5 lbs white onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 oz garlic, minced
  • 4 Tbsp herbes de Provence
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 12 oz Japanese eggplant
  • 1.75 lbs yellow and green zucchini
  • 1 lb tomatoes

NOTE: Ideally, eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes should be of similar diameter

Procedure

  1. Slice the eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes into 1/8″ thick slices.
  2. Toss sliced zucchini in 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 Tbsp herbes de Provence, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange on a sheet tray in a single layer and cook just a few minutes until barely softened and pliable. Repeat with the sliced eggplant. This pre-cooking step makes it possible to layer the vegetables tightly in the next step.
  3. Sauté the onions and garlic in olive oil with herbes de Provence. Cook until well caramelized. Add tomato paste, salt and pepper. Cook while stirring for two to three minutes more.
  4. Line the sheet pan with sautéed onion mixture. Arrange alternating rows of each vegetable over the layer of onions. Bake at 400 F until cooked through and lightly caramelized at the edges.

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. 

EXCITING EVENTS AROUND NEW YORK: JULY 2022

By Great Performances

Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!

Photo: ©Apollo

AMATEUR NIGHT AT THE APOLLO

Every Wednesday at 7:30pm

Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater

Known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, Amateur Night at the Apollo attracts performers and audiences from around the world in a classic talent competition that has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, and Jazmine Sullivan.

Join in on the fun with the weekly classic competition that sheds light on the careers of a whole new roster of stars. Be a part of the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other and lend your voice to decide who will “Be Good or Be Gone” to win the triumphant grand prize.

Amateur Night at the Apollo is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess. And keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage.

Click here to learn more

Photo: Chris Alfonso

DRINK AND DRAW

Thursday, July 21st from 7:00pm-9:30pm

Location: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor

Ticket Information: $35 and include after-hours admission to Monet to Morisot, your own Brooklyn Museum tote, and a complimentary drink. Member tickets are $25.

Sip and sketch in our backyard Sculpture Garden this summer with a monthly series of life drawing classes. Drink and Draw is open to all levels and accompanied by a refreshing beverage and musical vibes by local DJs. In July, celebrate works from our European art collection featured in Monet to Morisot: The Real and Imagined in European Art. Sketch from live models and experiment with materials in a casual class led by teaching artist Mellasenah Nicole Edwards. Plus, enjoy tunes by Amber Valentine.

Click here to learn more

Abdou Mboup. (Photo: Richard Conde)

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN: ABDOU MBOUP AND WAAKAW

Sunday, July 24th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Location: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor

Ticket Information: This program is free and open to the public.

Swing by the Museum’s backyard Sculpture Garden for performances by some of the city’s best musicians, and enjoy a range of creative styles incorporating blues, jazz, and international sounds. Presented in partnership with Jazz Foundation of America.

In July, multi-instrumentalist Abdou Mboup incorporates jazz ensemble music by his group, Waakaw, into the griot tradition of his native Senegal.

Click here to learn more

Photo: ©Caramoor

THE CHEVALIER

Sunday, July 10th at 4:00pm

Ticket Information: Starting at $40

This innovative work of concert theater honors the life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges — a prolific 18th-century composer, virtuoso violinist, the finest fencer in Europe, general of Europe’s first Black regiment, and a crusader for equality. The story of this extraordinary artist of color, overlooked in history, is bursting to be told!

The Harlem Chamber Players are joined by four actors and violinist Brendon Elliott for this concert theater work exploring Bologne’s music, friendships with Mozart and Marie Antoinette, and his unknown contribution to the abolishment of slavery.

Photo: ©Caramoor

IMANI WINDS

A Woman’s Perspective

Thursday, July 14th at 7:00pm

Ticket Information: Starting at $40

The Grammy-nominated Imani Winds lead the evolution of the wind quintet through their dynamic playing and adventurous programming, striving to push the classical repertory forward into inclusivity. Their Caramoor debut celebrates the diversity of four prominent, yet under-represented, female composers. 

Talkback with Helga Davis / Stay for a conversation with Imani Winds immediately following the concert. 

Photo: ©Caramoor

CONCERT ON THE LAWN: RACHAEL & VILRAY

Presented in collaboration with City Winery

Saturday, July 23rd at 8:00pm

Ticket Information: $65

Lake Street Dive singer-songwriter Rachael Price and composer, singer, and guitarist Vilray turned their shared love for the jazz music of the 1930s and ’40s into a heart-warming collaboration between friends. After meeting at the New England Conservatory of Music, the duo later reunited for a performance that sparked songwriting inspiration. Performing a mixture of original songs and forgotten treasures, Rachael & Vilray welcome you to an evening rich with nostalgia for an era gone by. 

Please bring your own seating for this concert, as it takes place on our grassy Friends Field. You can even bring or purchase a picnic dinner!

Photo: ©Dizzy's Club

LAKECIA BENJAMIN

Tuesday, July 12th and Wednesday, July 13th

Ticket Information: Start at $35

ABOUT THE SHOW

Rising star saxophonist and Essentially Ellington alumna Lakecia Benjamin returns to the Dizzy’s Club stage! Benjamin has developed a reputation for energetic, genre-crossing performances, and she has played with musicians ranging from Jimmy Heath, Joanne Brackeen, Charenee Wade, and Harry Belafonte to Macy Gray, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and The Roots. For this performance, she will return to a favorite source of material by leading her quartet through repertoire from her new album, which celebrates her major saxophone influence John Coltrane as well as the great multi-instrumentalist Alice Coltrane. Come check out one of the instrument’s freshest new voices perform her own take on this timeless music.

Click here to learn more

Photo: ©Dizzy's Club

JON FADDIS QUARTET: HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK!

Thursday, July 21st through Sunday, July 24th

Ticket Information: Start at $40

ABOUT THE SHOW

It’s only fitting that Jon Faddis celebrates his birthday every year – July 24 –  at Dizzy’s Club, considering the club’s namesake was Jon’s lifelong mentor and friend. And, like his hero, Faddis is an overwhelming presence on the bandstand, as both a player of both prodigious power and finesse and as a gregarious frontman, cracking up both his bandmates and audiences. 

Born in 1953, Faddis began playing at age seven, inspired by an appearance by Louis Armstrong on the Ed Sullivan Show. Bill Catalano (an alumnus of the Stan Kenton band) hipped Faddis to the music of Dizzy Gillespie. Meeting Dizzy Gillespie at the Monterey Jazz Festival and then sitting in with him at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco proved to be a pivotal beginning of a unique friendship between Gillespie and Faddis, one that spanned almost three decades.

Two days before his 18th birthday, Faddis joined Lionel Hampton’s band as a featured soloist, moving from Oakland, CA to New York. Shortly after arriving in Manhattan, Faddis was invited to sit in with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Village Vanguard; he rapidly became lead trumpeter for the band, touring the world. He soon formed his own quartet, and began directing orchestras, including the Grammy-winning United Nation Orchestra, the Dizzy Gillespie 70th Birthday Big Band, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble (2004-2010), the Carnegie Hall Centennial Big Band, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (1992-2002), and the Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York (2003-present).

A devoted educator, Faddis is a full-time faculty member at the Conservatory of Music, Purchase College-SUNY, where he began in 1999 as Artist-in-Residence, becoming shortly after Professor and Director of Jazz Performance and he holds the first-ever honorary doctorate in Jazz from Manhattan School of Music (which he attended for about a semester when he was 18). Come celebrate the birthday of one of the true disciples of bebop, the one and only Jon Faddis. 

PERFORMANCE LINEUP

Jon Faddis – Leader & Trumpet

David Hazeltine – Piano

Kiyoshi Kitagawa – Bass

Dion Parson – Drums

Click here to learn more

Photo: ©Poster House

FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, July 1st

Peace Poster Workshop: (1:00pm to 2:30pm) Join artist and printmaker Todd Drake for this hands-on workshop centered on the theme of peace. Inspired by the work of designer and artist Peter Paul Piech, participants will learn basic linoleum printmaking techniques while creating their very own peace posters. Tickets: $10

Collaborative Paper Marbling: (4:00pm to 5:30pm) Led by cultural worker and teaching artist Fan Kong, this workshop will introduce beginners to Suminagashi, the oldest paper marbling technique. This meditative practice involves floating colors on the surface of water and delicately transferring them to paper. Each participant will learn to create and experiment with Suminagashi in small groups. Along the way, we will reflect on and challenge traditional thinking processes through creative problem solving and mindfulness. Tickets: $20

Ethel Reed Docent Tour: (5:30pm to 6:30pm) Get an inside look at the exhibition Ethel Reed: I Am My Own Property during this informative docent tour. Learn about this pioneering graphic designer—one of a handful of American women to make a name for herself in the field at the turn of the 19th century—and explore the dark and oftentimes defiant thread that ran just beneath the surface of her otherwise cheerful compositions. FREE!

Fabulous Florals Workshop: (6:00pm to 7:00pm) Just in time for spring, join artist and designer M for an interactive, flower-based design activity. Participants in this hands-on workshop will learn to incorporate floral motifs into their analog designs. Guests will leave with a personal design inspired by the exhibition Ethel Reed: I Am My Own Property. Tickets: $10

Battleship Potemkin Movie Screening: (7:00pm to 8:30pm) Enjoy a screening of the renowned 1925 silent film Battleship Potemkin in the museum’s main gallery. Widely considered to be a technical masterpiece and one of the greatest movies of all time, Battleship Potemkin continues to influence and inspire filmmakers. This unique experience offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy the acclaimed film among the film posters featured in The Utopian Avant-Garde: Soviet Film Posters of the 1920s, on view through August 21. FREE!

SIGSPACE X EMANCIPATED STORIES

Wednesday, June 29th through Sunday, July 24th 

Ticket Information: Free!

Creating invigorating connections among people on the inside and out, Emancipated Stories is collaborating with SigSpace to share a visual and experiential activation to create a bridge to people who have been affected by incarceration, who often feel impenetrably separated. Founded by Quiara Alegría Hudes and her cousin Sean Ortiz, designed by Yazmany Arboleda, this lobby installation features letter-writing and pop-up performances produced in collaboration with The Fortune Society. Bear witness to the real, handwritten words and art of those behind bars — and respond.

Click here to learn more

Photo courtesy of Wave Hill

SUNSET WEDNESDAY: AFRO LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Wednesday, July 13th from 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Location: Great Lawn

Ticket Information: $12/adults, $8/students/seniors, $6/children, FREE for members

Feel the beat of the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble, an octet made up of some of the most virtuosic musicians in jazz today. Based in New York City, the ensemble is part of the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, founded by Grammy-award winning pianist and composer Arturo O’Farrill. Their repertoire honors the pioneers of Latin jazz, like Mario Bauzá and Tito Puente, while keeping a strong foothold in progressing that music by performing contemporary compositions of the genre.

Sunset Wednesdays take place on the Great Lawn. You may bring folding chairs, but blankets are not permitted, and visitors may picnic only in designated picnic areas. The closest to the Great Lawn is adjacent to Glyndor Gallery. The Café and Shop are open until 7PM.

Click here to learn more

Photo: Lauren Desberg

SUNSET WEDNESDAY: GINA D’SOTO

Wednesday, July 20th from 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Location: Great Lawn

Ticket Information: $12/adults, $8/students/seniors, $6/children, FREE for members

The multi-talented singer, composer and arranger Gina D’Soto is one of the first prominent Cuban musicians to emerge out of the late 90s generation, with a sound best described as the blending of jazz, soul, fusion and Cuban traditions. She is known for her energetic, soulful and powerful vocals, and has shared the stage with such legendary musicians as Arturo O’Farrill, Antonio Sanchez and Anna Tijoux.

Sunset Wednesdays take place on the Great Lawn. You may bring folding chairs, but blankets are not permitted, and visitors may picnic only in designated picnic areas. The closest to the Great Lawn is adjacent to Glyndor Gallery. The Café and Shop are open until 7PM.

Click here to learn more

Credit: Steve Malinski

SUNSET WEDNESDAY: THE BRASS QUEENS

Wednesday, July 27th from 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Location: Great Lawn

Ticket Information: $12/adults, $8/students/seniors, $6/children, FREE for members

The Brass Queens is a Brooklyn-based, 8-piece brass band whose music is deeply inspired by the New Orleans tradition, which influences their genre-spanning sound. Brass Queens features an all-female horn section with the goal of expanding the space for women in a male-dominated industry. Their rousing energy will have you swaying, dancing and toe-tapping!

Sunset Wednesdays take place on the Great Lawn. You may bring folding chairs, but blankets are not permitted, and visitors may picnic only in designated picnic areas. The closest to the Great Lawn is adjacent to Glyndor Gallery. The Café and Shop are open until 7PM.

Click here to learn more

THE DISCOASIS

Extended through October 1st!

Ticket Information: Start at $29, varies based on day and time

The DiscOasis is a timed-entry immersive theatrical experience that unites art, light, music, dance, live performances, roller skating, good times, and good vibes within the iconic Wollman Rink in Central Park. At The DiscOasis you will find yourself dancing and skating your way through a glittering sonic fantasia for the soul with a soundscape curated by our Groovemaster, disco and funk legend Nile Rodgers. Whenever you visit, you will be immersed in the groovy paradise that is The DiscOasis. The environmental design features art installations, photo ops, and soundscapes curated by Groovemaster Nile Rodgers.

The DiscOasis is rolling through New York for a limited engagement starting June 16. The experience will be open Wednesday-Sunday, with daytime skate sessions from 10:00am-4:30pm, and the nighttime experience from 5:30-10:00pm.

Click here to learn more

BROADWAY SINGS THAT FUNKY MUSIC

Tuesday, July 5th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Ticket Information: $25 – general admission to the performances.

Live performances are back at Wollman Rink during roller skating season! At Broadway Sings® that Funky Music, join the live, brass-packed Broadway Sings band and six insanely talented Broadway stars as we jam to popular songs from the past 50 years. Throughout the night, you’ll hear new arrangements of the hits from the 1970s to 2022, each given a funky-fresh twist and featuring artists such as Stevie Wonder, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars and Ariana Grande. Grab a cocktail and some food and come party with Broadway Sings in Central Park — this band kicks BRASS!

Scheduled to Appear:

  • Tamika Lawrence (Caroline, or Change)
  • Marty Thomas (Wicked)
  • Corey Mach (Kinky Boots)
  • Mia Gentile (Kinky Boots)
  • Phoenix Best (Dear Evan Hansen)
  • Ben Fankhauser (Newsies)

Click here to learn more

EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: JULY 2022

By Great Performances

Explore exciting community events around the Bronx during July of 2022.

MOVIE UNDER THE STARS:

Spiderman: No Way Home

Friday, July 22nd from 8:30pm to 10:30pm

Location: Shoelace Park (exact location TBD)

Grab a blanket and join us for a FREE screening of Marvel’s Spiderman: No Way Home at 8:30pm at Shoelace Park! No registration required!

Click here to learn more

THE BRONX VEGAN BAZAAR

THE BRONX VEGAN BAZAAR

Saturday, July 16th from 11:00am to 5:00pm

Location: Andrew Freedman Home, 1125 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10452

A market experience for ‘big’ business owners sharing their delicious vegan food, pastries and natural juices to the community. Experience over 20 vegan food vendors, awesome humans to network with, and more.

The Bronx Vegan Bazaar is the first vegan food experience for and by the Bronx. This monthly event highlights emerging Bronx food vendors, and hosts established ones, who want to share their expression of living a vegan lifestyle to improve the health of Bronx residents.

Organized by a group of Bronxites, BVB understands the needs of the community and is committed to changing the health and commerce landscape of the borough.

Click here to learn more

BRONX RIVER URBAN FOOD HISTORIES TOUR

Saturday, July 9th at 2:00pm

Hear from Dariella Rodriguez of the Bronx River Alliance how the Bronx River has offered respite for residents of the South Bronx while aiding in the economic industrialization and exploitation of its waterfront.

Click here to learn more

AROUND THE TABLE: STORIES OF THE FOODS WE LOVE

Saturday, June 4th through Sunday, September 11th, 10:00am to 6:00pm

A Celebration of the Art and Science of Edible Plants

Food is at the center of many of life’s most important events. When we gather together for a meal, the dishes we share often tell a story—and we share a bit of ourselves. Explore the rich cultural history of what we eat throughout this multifaceted, engaging exhibition that examines the art and science of foodways and food traditions, many dating back thousands of years.

From global dietary staples such as rice, beans, squash, and corn to the regional spice and flavor provided by peppers, greens, and tomatoes, plants are at the base of all culinary customs. Discover the diversity and beauty of plants that are grown for cuisine around the world. Across NYBG’s 250-acre landscape, uncover the botanical origins of the foods you think you know; gain a deeper understanding of the environmental and social impacts of food choices throughout history; and gather at artist-designed tables that explore the significance of the featured plants, bringing to life inspiring stories of community and survival.

Click here to learn more

HIBISCUS DRINK STATION

Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays through September 11th, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Location: the African American Garden

Join us at the African American Garden to sample a healthy hibiscus drink, known by many names throughout different countries: Bissap in West Africa, flor de Jamaica in Central America, and sorrel throughout the Caribbean. The version served is called sorrel or “red drink” in African American tradition; a recipe from Dr. Jessica B. Harris that is made from dried hibiscus, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.

Click here to learn more

CITYPARKS SUMMER SPORTS IN PELHAM BAY PARK

Tennis: Free beginner tennis instruction for children ages 6 – 17 on a first come, first serve basis. Our instructors use fun exercises and drills to help teach kids the basics of tennis and discover a sport for life.

Track and Field: The CityParks Track & Field program provides an introduction to the simple and beautiful sport of track and field and gives New York City kids the chance to learn the basics of the sport, from hurdles and relay races to long jump, shot put, and javelin throw, while encouraging general fitness and healthy behaviors. A novice track meet for all participants is held at Icahn Stadium at the end of the summer.

Canoeing: Few experiences compare with being on the open water in New York City. The rhythm of the waves, the sun on your face, and the exhilaration of slicing through the water all add up to an experience you’ll never forget. Our trained Urban Park Rangers will lead you on canoe adventures that range from the gentle waters of protected lakes to the challenging open waters of rivers and bays. All canoe programs are for ages 8 years and older. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday July 20.

Click here to learn more

NYC PARKS PRESENTS: SILENT DISCO IN THE BRONX

Saturday, July 16th from 5:00pm to 8:00pm

Join NYC Parks for a Silent Disco event at St. Mary’s Park! Come out and boogie on the dance floor while you listen to your favorite music using headphones. This is an event you don’t want to miss!

Click here to learn more

MOVIES UNDER THE STARS: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Thursday, July 14th from 9:00pm to 10:30pm

Location: Running Track in Van Cortlandt Park

Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park or playground! This summer, NYC Parks will host family-friendly movie showings across the five boroughs.

Click here to learn more

YOUTH RUN FARMSTAND

Wednesdays from 2:00pm to 7:00pm
from July 6th to October 26

Location: Train Park Garden (Gale Place and Orloff Avenue)

We are very excited to bring our Youth Run Farmstand featuring fresh local produce at affordable prices back! We accept WIC, FMNP Checks, EBT, Snap, Cash and Credit/Debit.

Click here to learn more

CITYPARKS SUMMER SPORTS IN VAN CORTLANDT PARK

Zumba is a fusion of Latin, International and popular music dance themes creating a dynamic, exciting, effective fitness system! The routines feature aerobic, fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body with easy to follow dance steps.

Tennis: Free beginner tennis instruction for children ages 6 – 17 on a first come, first serve basis. Our instructors use fun exercises and drills to help teach kids the basics of tennis and discover a sport for life. Beginner tennis classes are usually divided into three 1-hour sessions at each park, depending on number of participants and available courts. Children ages 8-10 years old are typically the first hour, followed by ages 11-13 and then 14-17. When registering please select the time slot that corresponds to your child’s age. Instruction for intermediate-level players is also available at select sites. Once the program begins, the site director will provide more specific schedule information for that park.

Golf: Our summer beginner program transforms local neighborhood ball fields into driving ranges and practice greens to introduce the basic skills of the game. The final class is held at a nearby golf course. After completing the 6-week program, students are invited to continue to learn and play at our CityParks Junior Golf Center in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn or at Golf Center Annex in Flushing, Queens.

Click here to learn more

Baz Bagel

Saralyn Feinberg & Bari Musacchio

Baz Bagel and Restaurant is a neighborhood bagel shop and lunch counter located on historic Grand Street in New York by Bari Musacchio. Bari worked as GM of Rubirosa Ristorante for over 13 years before deciding to launch her own venture with her girlfriend, Saralyn Feinberg. Baz was inspired by their 1/2 Jewish and 1/2 Italian family rooted in the the traditionally Jewish neighborhoods of LES and Italian Little Italy. Their bagels are hand-rolled, kettle boiled and baked in house using the traditional NYC method. In addition to their popular bagels, Baz offers a wide array of smoked fish, spreads and Jewish-ish diner fare like latkes, matzoh ball soup, blintzes and more.

Featured Breakfast provided by
Saralyn Feinberg & Bari Musacchio on June 9th, 2022:

Bagels:
Rainbow, Sesame, Poppy, Cinnamon Raisin, Whole Wheat Everything

Specialty Cream Cheeses:
Beet & Horseradish, Nova & Chive, Cucumber & Dill, Blueberry

Photos courtesy of Baz Bagel

Baz Bagel

181 Grand St, New York, NY 10013

www.bazbagel.com

Follow Baz Bagel:

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Rosemary's

Chef Michael Han

For the past decade, Rosemary’s has been a neighborhood staple in the West Village, serving seasonal Italian cuisine. With an emphasis on sustainability and local sourcing, Rosemary’s boasts a rooftop garden which provides fresh herbs and produce throughout the year. Executive Chef Michael Han leads culinary operations and brings expertise in Italian cooking having honed his skills under chefs such as Missy Robbins and Jose Garces.

Based in Brooklyn, Michael completed his culinary training at Johnson & Wales University. He has worked as Executive Chef at New York restaurants including Extra Place & Heidi, A Voce Columbus, and Ortzi Restaurant.

Featured Entree provided by Chef Michael Han
on June 7th, 2022:

Roman Spiced Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder,
Broccoli Rabe, Gigante Beans, Spicy Pomodoro

Photos courtesy of Rosemary’s

Rosemary’s

18 Greenwich Avenue, New York, NY 10011

350 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10010

www.rosemarysnyc.com

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BLACKBARN

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JUNE FOOD FESTIVAL: SPRING BEETS

BeetandCarrotSalad

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.

Beets are rich in phytochemicals. Phytochemicals, biologically active compounds in plant foods, give plants their colors and flavors. Betanin is the phytochemical in red beets that gives them their bright red color. Betanin, like other phytochemicals, may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Try new beet varieties. Red beets are the most common variety found in stores, but these root vegetables come in a range of colors including purple, pink, golden, white and striped. The different colors of beets indicate an array of phytochemicals.

Our Culinary Team has shared one of our signature Beet recipes for you to make at home this season! 

Beet & Carrot Salad

Serves 2-3

Ingredients

  • 2 medium beets
  • 1 Tbsp + ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and shredded
  • 1/3 cup golden raisins
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper

Procedure

  1. Prepare the beets. Preheat oven to 375. Clean and trim the beets, drizzle with 1 Tbsp olive oil, and wrap with aluminum foil. Bake in oven until tender, approximately 45-60 minutes. Remove from oven and when cool enough to handle, peel by using a dishtowel to rub off the skin. Dice.
  2. Prepare the dressing. Add lemon juice, ¼ cup olive oil, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper to a jar and whisk until combined. Remaining vinaigrette will last up to two weeks in the fridge.
  3. In a large bowl, combine prepared beets, carrot, raisins, and parsley. Toss with dressing and serve immediately.

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. 

Butter

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli
Photo courtesy of Alex

The daughter of esteemed cookbook editor Maria Guarnaschelli, as a child Guarnaschelli received a global education in food as she was raised on the cuisine of whatever book her mother happened to be working on at the time.

In 2003, Guarnaschelli became the executive chef at Butter Restaurant in New York City, which provided the opportunity for her to develop a menu based on her own choices and point of view. Guarnaschelli created an American menu spotlighting local ingredients in dishes that allowed their flavors to shine. Butter Restaurant has maintained an exclusive niche restaurant scene for stylish Manhattanites since its initial inception on Lafayette Street in 2002. The American restaurant is helmed by Food Network star and Executive Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, who uses greenmarket offerings to create a seasonal menu. The dining room at Butter offers a unique atmosphere and decor. Between high arching ceilings – caped with a large format nature scape, cozy booths – perfect for a romantic night out, and an inviting bar, Butter caters to any guest, whether they are seeking either a formal dining experience or one that is more casual.

Today Guarnaschelli is recognized as one of America’s most accomplished top chefs, acclaimed for her work in the kitchen, as an author, and as a popular television personality.

Featured Salad provided by Chef Alex Guarnaschelli
on May 24th, 2022:

Barbecued Shrimp Salad with
Roasted Red Pepper, Farro, Gem Lettuce, and Meyer Lemon Dressing

Photos courtesy of Butter

Butter

70 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036

www.butterrestaurant.com

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EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: JUNE 2022

By Great Performances

Explore exciting community events around the Bronx during June of 2022.

MUSIC MATTERS

Featuring ¡Retumba!

Saturday, June 4th and Saturday, June 25th at 1:00pm

Location: Mill Pond Park (Exterior St between E 150th & E 153rd St., Bronx, NY 10451)

Admission: FREE!

An exciting music and dance ensemble show-casing folkloric and contemporary dances with rhythms from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti, Brazil, Mexico and Africa. Performances in English and Spanish.

Click here to learn more

BUTTERFLY RELEASE AT CONCRETE PLANT PARK

Saturday, June 4th from 12:00pm-4:00pm

Location: Concrete Plant Park (1370 Westchester Ave, Bronx NY)

Join us for this special culminating event a part of Flutter By, a series on supporting pollinators. Come out to support the release of butterflies and stay to celebrate community, friends and family with music, activities, and more!

Click here to learn more

COMMUNITY PADDLE

Friday, June 10th from 10:00am-2:00pm

Location: 1490 Sheridan Blvd., Bronx, NY 10459, USA

Friday, June 17th from 1:00pm-5:00pm

Location: Concrete Plant Park, 1357 Westchester Ave, Bronx, NY 10459

This is a great activity for beginners and families to join. Waves of paddlers will spend about 30-45min on the river, in order to maximize the number of community members able to participate in this event. Canoes will be available for partners and families, and kayaks will be available for solo paddlers.

Click here to learn more

Credit: Julie Larsen Maher

WORLD OF BIRDS ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND

Saturday, June 11th & Sunday, June 12th from 10:00am-4:00pm

Tickets: included with Admission Ticket to the Zoo

Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic Bronx Zoo World of Birds.

  • Learn all about the different species of birds
  • Get hands on with fun birding crafts
  • Meet some very large bird puppets
  • Check out the bird meet and greet

Click here to learn more

Credit: Julie Larsen Maher

BREW AT THE ZOO

Friday, June 17th from 6:00pm-11:00pm

Tickets: Start at $39.99

Kick off the summer at the Bronx Zoo! Brew at the Zoo, your favorite after-hours party for adults ages 21+, is back on Friday, June 17.

You’ll get up-close with 52 life-sized dinosaurs and pterosaurs on our BRONX ZOO DINOSAUR SAFARI walking trail! Get “lit” in our new ILLUMINATED PLAYGROUND, with lighted swings, seesaws, and more. Play NEW GAMES including 60 second challenges at the Tournament Zone, EXPANDED TRIVIA, and Name That Tune, and take photos with illuminated characters!

Plus, enjoy MORE VIP EXCLUSIVES than ever before, including exclusive beer and wine sampling areas, new locations and photo ops throughout the park, and exclusive VIP swag.

And of course, your favorite Brew at the Zoo classics return, with sample bites from food trucks and zoo cafes, and tastings of more than 100 varieties of beer, wine and cider.

Click here to learn more

ART FEST

Wednesday, June 29th from 4:00-6:00pm

Come share your art with folks from the Mott Haven community! We’ll be serving up $6 cocktails and $6 tacos for the event.

Please RSVP by messaging @MaeMaePlantCafe on Instagram or buy emailing maemaecafe@greatperformances.com. 

Click here to learn more

AROUND THE TABLE: STORIES OF THE FOODS WE LOVE

Saturday, June 4th through Sunday, September 11th from 10:00am-6:00pm

A Celebration of the Art and Science of Edible Plants

Food is at the center of many of life’s most important events. When we gather together for a meal, the dishes we share often tell a story—and we share a bit of ourselves. Explore the rich cultural history of what we eat throughout this multifaceted, engaging exhibition that examines the art and science of foodways and food traditions, many dating back thousands of years. From global dietary staples such as rice, beans, squash, and corn to the regional spice and flavor provided by peppers, greens, and tomatoes, plants are at the base of all culinary customs. Discover the diversity and beauty of plants that are grown for cuisine around the world. Across NYBG’s 250-acre landscape, uncover the botanical origins of the foods you think you know; gain a deeper understanding of the environmental and social impacts of food choices throughout history; and gather at artist-designed tables that explore the significance of the featured plants, bringing to life inspiring stories of community and survival.

Click here to learn more

EDIBLE ACADEMY FRESH FROM THE GARDEN TASTINGS

Every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00pm and 4:00pm

Get hands-on with healthy cooking using new recipes featuring plants grown in the Edible Academy. NYBG staff create these family-friendly recipes using seasonal vegetables, fruits, and herbs, and kids and adults alike can learn how garden-to-table cooking is not only nutritious, but fun, too. While you’re exploring the Edible Academy, get hands-on with the crops in the vegetable garden during Dig! Plant! Grow! each month.

Click here to learn more

PELHAM BAY PARK FOREST RESTORATION

Friday, June 10th from 9:00am-12:00pm

Location: Meet at the north side of Orchard Beach Parking Lot

Free to Join

Volunteer with the Stewardship Team to protect the forested areas in Pelham Bay Park! Volunteers will contribute to ongoing restoration work and learn the importance of species diversity to ecosystem health.

Click here to learn more

PELHAM BAY PARK MILE-A-MINUTE CHALLENGE

Saturday, June 18th from 9:00am-12:00pm

Location: Meet at the north side of Orchard Beach Parking Lot

Free to Join

NYC Parks needs your help to defend Pelham Bay Park against the mile-a-minute vine! The annual Persicaria perfoliata vine is capable of growing up to six inches a day, often destroying young trees in the process.

Click here to learn more

THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC CONCERTS IN THE PARKS: VAN CORTLANDT PARK

Tuesday, June 14th from 8:00pm-10:00pm

Location: Enter the park from Broadway, near West 251st Street. The concert site is north of the baseball fields.

Free to Join

The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, have become an iconic New York summer experience since they began in 1965, transforming parks throughout the city into a patchwork of picnickers and providing music lovers with an opportunity to hear classical music under the stars. This beloved series returns in June 2022 after two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here to learn more

LEARN TO RIDE A BIKE: BRONX EVENT

Saturday, June 18th from 11:0am-2:00pm

Location: Southwest Playground

This service will offer a variety of techniques geared towards developing the participants knowledge in learning how to ride a bike.

Click here to learn more