By Steven Moskos, Director of Staffing & John Gargano, Director of Service.
Service is at the core of who we are at Great Performances, and an important component of what we look for when we hire anyone, from our back of house and administration teams to our front of house and service teams. At every level, we should have a service and hospitality mindset.
Alongside the event venue and décor, the service helps sets the tone for an event. When guests attend a Great Performances party, they should feel welcomed and taken care of by every member of our team. Steven Moskos, our director of staffing, and John Gargano, our director of service, work closely to ensure our service staff have the training they need to hone their hospitality instincts and deliver exemplary service.
“At Great Performances, everybody receives comprehensive training as part of our 360-degree approach to transformation,” comments Gargano.
Training begins at onboarding and continues throughout a staff member’s tenure at GP, whether they’re adding new skills, learning the ins and outs of an event venue, or changing positions. As we kick off each season, we’ll also host training sessions to reinforce the essential skills necessary to produce successful events and that help them progress in their careers. We also take the opportunity to train new Service Leads and Captains, who will be added to our roster of leadership throughout the upcoming season. New hires and captains will embark on training shifts at actual events, where they get to grow in their skills through practical experience.
“We pride ourselves on giving staff the keys to their own success,” Moskos shares. “Through these trainings, staff who want to grow with us are given the skills they need at every stage to excel.”
Off season training sessions are refresher courses and professional development courses including Buffet, Tasting, and Private Home Service Skills and venue-specific trainings.
Our training program comprises classroom-style instruction, hands-on practice sessions, and role-playing exercises that use real-world scenarios. Through repetition and employing a variety of techniques that appeal to different learning styles, we ensure that all team members acquire the skills and mindset to provide the highest levels of professional, friendly, and warm service.
Learning the basics of service and building muscle memory allows our staff to practice empathy, attentiveness, and adaptability as they interact with guests and encounter different situations. More than just training our team members on skills, we focus on the qualitative aspects that turn service into genuine hospitality. We encourage our staff to look for non-verbal cues that can help them anticipate client and guest needs and deliver an experience that exceeds their expectations.
Throughout the training, our service pillars of Presentation, Teamwork, Knowledge, Service, Leadership, and Personality are highlighted, all of which drive our mission at Great Performances: Unleash Joy through Genuine Hospitality.
We’re delighted to share that Liz Neumark, Founder & CEO of Great Performances, has been voted onto the Board of Directors of New York City Tourism + Conventions.
New York City Tourism + Conventions is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) and convention and visitors bureau (CVB) for all five boroughs of New York City. Their mission is to invite the world and energize NYC, building equitable, sustainable economic prosperity and community through tourism for the mutual benefit of residents, business, and visitors.
Their focus on strategically driving leisure travel and business events in NYC have made a significant impact for their members and for NYC across all five boroughs. Their efforts across numerous communications channels have reached millions of travelers and potential visitors, helping drive an increase in conventions and tourism increasing leads and business for NYC.
In 2023, visitors who travelled 50 miles or more or spent one night in NYC increased to 61.8 million people, 93% of the record 2019 total. NYC is on track to welcome 64.5 million visitors in 2025 and to exceed pre-covid highs in 2025. This yields $74 billion in economic impact and 380,000 jobs.
A longtime member of the organization, Liz is proud to join a group of other industry leaders who are committed to the growth and success of NYC travel and tourism.
To learn more about the Board of Directors, please read the press release here and to learn more about the impact of NYC Tourism + Conventions, visit their website here.
Delicious Books to Celebrate Women’s History Month
By Solanki Roy, Executive Venue Chef
For Women’s History Month, Chef Solanki Roy shares some of the books that are on her shelf for reading – and re-reading! – and that have provided inspiration for her as a female chef.
I’m an ardent reader, and as a female chef in a male-dominated industry (26.9% of chefs in the US are female, while 73.1% are male), I’m thrilled to share some of my favorite books which talk about the historic impact of women in the culinary industry.
Tastemakers: Seven Immigrant Women who Revolutionized Food in America by Mayukh Sen
This book delves into the fascinating world of culinary influencers, exploring the stories behind some of the most iconic women who have shaped the way we eat, cook, and think about food. From renowned chefs and food writers to innovative entrepreneurs and cultural icons, this book uncovers the journeys, inspirations, and impact of these tastemakers on the culinary landscape.
Who Cooked the Last Supper: The Women’s History of the World by Rosalind Miles
“Who Cooked the Last Supper?” is a thought-provoking exploration of the often-overlooked role of women in the history of cooking and culinary traditions. Delving beyond the conventional narratives of famous male chefs and cookbook authors, this book uncovers the untold stories of women who have shaped the way we eat, cook, and think about food.
Drawing on a wealth of historical sources, “Who Cooked the Last Supper?” sheds light on the diverse roles that women have played in the kitchen, from home cooks and food artisans to professional chefs and entrepreneurs.
What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women and the Food That Tells Their Stories by Laura Shapiro
“What She Ate” focuses on a different woman from diverse backgrounds and time periods, spanning from historical figures to contemporary icons. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, readers are transported into the kitchens, dining rooms, and lives of these extraordinary women, gaining insight into their personalities, struggles, and triumphs.
From the extravagant feasts of Eleanor Roosevelt to the humble meals of Rosa Parks, “What She Ate” offers a window into the everyday rituals and extraordinary events that shaped these women’s relationships with food. Through their culinary choices, readers discover the cultural, social, and emotional significance of food in the lives of these women, revealing insights into their values, desires, and aspirations.
Lastly but most importantly my mother and my grandmother having profound influence on me subconsciously of how to cook with passion and love. They always told stories of the historic freedom movement in India, had intellectual discussions on science, economics, and arts and recited poetries of Rabindranath Tagore and Najrul Geeti while sipping on our flavorsome Chai or kneading on a dough of luchi. Food has been a universal love language.
Celebrating a Sustainable City
By Alison Pirie, Open House New York
Did you know there’s an apple orchard on top of the busiest convention center in the nation?
Most New Yorkers know Javits Center as a mammoth glass convention hall, but in recent years, renovations have transformed the site into a model of biodiversity and green infrastructure. It is now home to both trade shows and over 50 species of birds.
In addition to the apple orchard, North Javits, part of the $1.5 billion expansion of Javits Center, boasts a pollinator meadow and one-acre rooftop farm growing native plants that were once rooted on the very land where the Javits Center now stands.
Open House New York, a nonprofit known for unlocking the city’s hidden gems, invites you to celebrate this remarkable project at the Open City Benefit on April 18. At the event, the North Javits design-build team will be honored with the Open City Award for their pivotal role in shaping a greener, more sustainable future for our city.
Join hundreds of New Yorkers in the saw-toothed pavilion of North Javits for a festive evening of cocktails, farm-to-table dining, entertainment, and design tours, surrounded by a lush rooftop farm and spectacular skyline and river views.
Open City Benefit
Thursday, April 18, 2024
North Javits: Rooftop Pavilion and Farm
New York City
The Open City Benefit isn’t just an event—it makes possible Open House New York’s mission to unlock the city’s treasures for all to enjoy—including the beloved annual citywide festival OHNY Weekend. And it is a ton of fun.
One of the world’s oldest crops, the tiny legumes known as Lentils have been a staple in cultural cuisines across the globe for many centuries. And it’s no wonder; packed with plant-based protein, fiber, iron, potassium, and folate, lentils contribute to a healthy, well-rounded diet. And with over 50 varieties, they come in a beautiful array of colors and flavors to choose from. Our Venue Chef, Tatiana Iglesias, has shared her favorite Lentil Soup recipe, inspired by her grandmother’s original recipe. Enjoy this flavorful, hearty dish this March during the final cold days of winter. We encourage you to add more veggies or spices of your choosing and serve with your favorite lightly toasted crusty bread.
Lentil Soup
by Tatiana Iglesias, Venue Chef
INGREDIENTS
- 2 Tbsp dried onion
- 3 tsp dried garlic
- ¼ tsp cumin
- 1.5 cups lentils
- 1 tsp oil
- ½ cup chopped scallions
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- ½ cup grated carrots
- 5 cups water or broth
- ½ cup cubed potatoes
- Cilantro to garnish
PROCEDURE
- Heat oil in pot then add carrots, scallions, and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and cook till softened.
- Add dried onion, garlic, and cumin and sauté for 1 minute till fragrant.
- Add water (or broth) and the lentils, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer until lentils are tender but not mushy (about 45 minutes).
- Add potatoes and cook for additional 15-20 minutes until potatoes are cooked and tender.
- Ladle into soup bowls and top with cilantro if using and serve immediately.
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND NEW YORK: MARCH 2024
By Great Performances
Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!
Apollo Comedy Club
Thursday, March 14th at 10:00pm
Location: Apollo’s Soundstage
Tickets: $30 (Plus $10 food and beverage minimum)
FEATURING: RITU TIRTHANI, VALERIE SALNAVE, SOO RA
HOSTED BY: MEME MANNING
Jumpstart your weekend with a fun night of laughter, drinks, and tasty bites with the best up and coming talent in comedy today. Curated by Bob Sumner (legendary producer of Def Comedy Jam, creator of Laff Mobb on Aspire), The Apollo Comedy Club presents a night of comedic sets that will have you rolling in laughter.
Perfect for date night, or a night out with friends, don’t miss your chance to heat up your Thursday with the hottest ticket in Harlem. Doors open at 9pm; Showtime is 10pm. There is a $10 food/beverage minimum.
Apollo Comedy Club is part of The Apollo’s Winter/Spring 2024 season.
APOLLO MUSIC CAFÉ: NELLA ROJAS
Friday, March 15th at 10:00pm
Location: Apollo’s Soundstage
Tickets:$30 (Plus $10 food and beverage minimum)
From student at the famed Berklee School of Music to winning Best New Artist at the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards–singer-songwriter Nella Rojas’ path was paved by the pop, jazz and Andalusian sounds she admired while developing her sound in her native Venezuela. Join us to hear the melodies that have packed venues worldwide. One-night-only on The Apollo Soundstage.
Perfect for date night, or a night out with friends, the Apollo Music Café series has served as a launching pad for numerous artists including Grammy winners PJ Morton and Samara Joy–showcasing their unique artistry in an intimate nightclub setting. The series features diverse performances across a myriad of genres (R&B, hip-hop, soul, jazz, latin, pop, funk and rock) and showcases artists drawn from the independent music scene who are making their mark in the industry. Doors open at 9pm; Showtime is 10pm. There is a $10 food/beverage minimum.
Apollo Music Café: Nella Rojas is part of The Apollo’s Winter/Spring 2024 season.
LEO BAR HAPPY HOUR
Featuring COAL + ICE, Asia Society’s exhibition
Thursday, March 14th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Tickets: $25
Visit Asia Society’s new exhibition, COAL + ICE with an evening of cocktails, music, and catching up on Thursday, March 14 from 5:30 to 8 PM.
Enjoy the gorgeous Garden Court as you look at art, mingle with friends, and make new connections at Asia Society!
A ticket includes one drink, followed by a cash bar. Kindly note this event is only open to guests 21 years old and over.
Family Day: Spring Into Nowruz
Celebrate the Persian New Year. In partnership with Pardis for Children.
Saturday, March 16th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Tickets: $12 adults, $7 members, $5 children over 2
Celebrate Nowruz and welcome the Persian New Year with a fun, family-friendly afternoon on Saturday, March 16, 2024, from 1 – 4 p.m. Join us for a day filled with interactive workshops, music, crafts, storytelling, and more. Don’t miss our live theater performance and make sure to stop by our special Nowruz photo booth to commemorate the start of the Spring season! Enjoy Persian sweets and savories as well, available for purchase at the Leo Cafe. Spring Into Nowruz is an Asia Society Family Day co-presented with Pardis for Children.
The Look of Love
Wednesday, March 20th through Saturday, March 23rd
Location: Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Tickets: start at $25
An Evening of Dance to the Music of Burt Bacharach
Mark Morris Dance Group and Music Ensemble
Choreography by Mark Morris
Part of Winter/Spring 2024
Playful and profound, Mark Morris’ sumptuous choreography finds an ideal counterpart in the chart-topping songs of Burt Bacharach. The legendary composer’s soaring melodies and unique orchestrations shine in lush new arrangements of songs like “Alfie,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “What the World Needs Now” by Pepperland composer Ethan Iverson. Broadway star Marcy Harriell offers a rich interpretation of Hal David’s bittersweet lyrics, backed by a live band. In his first major production in five years, Morris draws out both the joy and the piercing depths of these works to craft a heartfelt exploration of pop music’s most timeless theme: love.
Pints and Prints:
Copy Machine Manifestos
Friday, March 8th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Tickets: $35 and include after-hours admission to Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines, a complimentary drink, and a Brooklyn Museum tote.
Grab a brew and create your own art prints inspired by Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines. Teaching artist Sam Kelly leads a class centered on printmaking, a practice essential to DIY zines and art books. Plus, enjoy tunes from 8-Ball Community’s DJ Shiver.
Art History Happy Hour: Giants
Thursday, March 21st from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor
Tickets: $30 and include one specialty drink and after-hours admission to Giants.
Our season of Art History Happy Hour continues with an evening of lighthearted and informative lectures celebrating Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Schwab Vocal Rising Stars
Eros and Co.
Steven Blier, Artistic Director & piano
Bénédicte Jourdois, Associate Director & piano
Sunday, March 17th at 3:00pm
Tickets: start at $30
The chaos and the delight of Cupid’s arrow are refracted in songs by Saint-Saëns, Granados, Cole Porter, Sam Cooke, and many others. This concert is the culmination of a week-long mentoring program at Caramoor for four young singers and a pianist, selected by Artistic Director Steven Blier.
Will Liverman, baritone
Myra Huang, piano
Sunday March 24th at 3:00pm
Tickets: start at $39
Hailed as “a voice for this historic moment” by The Washington Post, baritone Will Liverman is one of the most exciting and versatile singers today. Following his “breakout performance” (New York Times) opening the Met’s 2021–22 season in Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones (which won the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording) he returned this Fall to star in Anthony Davis’ X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. Secure yourself a front-row seat to feel the power and beauty of Liverman’s voice in his Caramoor debut recital.
ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY:
INSPIRED CLASSICS AND ORIGINALS
Friday, March 8th through Sunday, March 10th
Tickets: start at $20
Pianist, singer, and composer Ann Hampton Callaway delights listeners of every generation with her striking vocal technique, intimate storytelling, and theatrical presence. A treasured artist whose music defies singular category, she interprets the American Songbook with astonishing range and wit. Expect a slick and stylish evening with the only artist ever known to collaborate with Cole Porter, penning music to his poem that would become “I Gaze in Your Eyes.” Don’t miss it!
Ben Goldberg
NPR calls clarinetist and composer Ben Goldberg “an artist who seems to find beautiful melodies at the end of every path,” while Pop Matters lauds him as “one of those Midas musicians who brings all of the instrumental music’s best traits to roost under one umbrella.”
BEN GOLDBERG’S GLAMOROUS ESCAPADES
Tuesday, March 26th at 7:00pm
Tickets: start at $20
Goldberg’s Glamorous Escapades features selections from his book of compositions Porch Concert Material. Experience a night of wonderplay among creative improvisers: John Ellis, Will Bernard, Michael Coleman, Ben Allison, and Allan Mednard.
BEN GOLDBERG’S EUPEMYSTICAL VIBRAPHONIUM
Wednesday, March 27th at 7:00pm
Tickets: start at $20
Goldberg’s Eupemystical Vibraphonium features new music and acclaimed favorites originally composed around the vibraphone and interpreted by a fearless ensemble of creative improvisers.
FAMILY CONCERT:
WHO IS MAHALIA JACKSON?
Saturday, March 16th at 3:00pm
Location: Rose Theater
Tickets: start at $20.50
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and special guest vocalist Tammy McCann pay homage to the Queen of Gospel: Mahalia Jackson.
Born in New Orleans, the singer, band leader, and civil rights activist recorded some of the most memorable songs in the American canon, including “Move On Up a Little Higher,” the hit song that catapulted her toward international fame.
Join McCann and the JLCO as they perform inventive arrangements of Jackson’s significant recordings and lesser-known tunes and share stories of her commitment to fighting for justice and freedom.
KURT ROSENWINKEL:
THE JLCO WITH WYNTON MARSALIS
Friday, March 22nd and Saturday, March 23rd
Location: Rose Theater
Tickets: start at $40.50
Influential guitarist and composer Kurt Rosenwinkel returns to Rose Theater alongside the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
Beloved for his skyscraping improvisations and genre-bending compositions — and known for his creative collaborations with like-minded improvisers, including Joe Henderson, Brian Blade, and Mark Turner — the Philadelphia native’s emergence in the ’90s redefined his instrument and inspired a new generation of jazz guitarists.
Join this groundbreaking artist and the JLCO as they present the world premiere of Community and Continuum featuring new arrangements of Rosenwinkel’s original works.
Poster Kids: New York, New York!
Sunday, March 24th from 10:30am to 12:00pm
Tickets: FREE!
New York City is the center of the universe—or, at the very least, the center of this month’s Poster Kids! Join us for a guided family tour of the new exhibition Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters and then participate in a cityscape-focused art-making experience.
PH x Teens: Unlocking NYC
Friday, March 29th from 3:30pm to 6:00pm
Tickets: FREE!
What makes New York City a “Wonder City”? Inspired by our newest exhibition, Wonder City of the Word: New York City Travel Posters, teens are invited to design their own keychain. Participants will reflect on notable landmarks, quotes, and events that symbolize what NYC means to them!
PH x Teens – Unlocking NYC is a drop-in program for young adults ages 13 to 18. Advanced registration is required but participants are not expected to stay the entire time; guests should plan to spend about an hour on this interactive, self-guided activity.
Spring Lecture Luncheon
Wednesday, March 20th from 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: Wave Hill House
Tickets: Ticket levels vary
Rachel Lambert ‘Bunny’ Mellon is well known for the breadth of her creativity and exquisite taste, which in the horticultural sphere included designing the Rose Garden at the White House for President Kennedy. However, the sweep of Bunny Mellon’s artistry sees its fullest expression in the estate, garden and home that she shared with her husband Paul near Upperville, in rural northern Virginia, a little over an hour west of Washington DC. The lecture by Sir Peter Crane, President of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, will focus on the remarkable walled garden that Mrs. Mellon created at her Virginia home and her exceptional library, which mainly includes works on the history of plant science, plant exploration, and the development of gardens and landscape design.
Telmary
Sunday, March 24th from 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: Armor Hall
Tickets: $30 Adult/$16 Student with ID/$14 Child (8-18), including admission to the grounds. Advance tickets $2 off. Wave Hill Members save 10%
Street poet and musician, Telmary has emerged as a leader and trendsetter on the cutting edge of hip-hop and urban music in Cuba. As a rapper, Telmary uses her distinctive voice, at times deep and soulful, at times fast and aggressive to proclaim a positive, empowering message, tearing down cultural barriers and connecting people of different backgrounds and languages. A Cubadisco award winner, Juno award winner and Latin Grammy nominee, Telmary has devised a special “unplugged” program for her Wave Hill debut, featuring horns, percussion and vocals.
This concert is part of “Roots and Branches,” Wave Hill’s indoor concert series featuring artists from across musical disciplines, exploring how traditions and heritage inspire musical exploration and growth.
Join Ice Theater of New York this Winter for a City Skate Pop Up Concert at Wollman Rink!
Thursday, March 7th at 6:15pm
Founded by Moira North, ITNY’s mission is to celebrate and advance dance on ice as a performance art. Through its performances in both traditional and site-specific venues, ITNY presents ice dance that helps to open one’s eyes to seeing skating in new and unexpected ways. ITNY was the very first ice dance company to receive dance program funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. www.icetheatre.org
Ice Season Concludes!
now through March, 15th, 2024
Wollman Rink NYC in iconic Central Park will open for ice skating daily from Saturday, October 28th, 2023 to March 15, 2024.
Don’t miss your chance to skate at Wollman Rink NYC, the perfect place to enjoy an iconic New York experience!
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: MARCH 2024
By Great Performances
Explore exciting community events around the Bronx this month.
2024 AUCTION ON ARTSY & AT GALA
March 4th through 18th
The Bronx Museum’s 2024 Benefit Auction—featuring exclusive works by some of the most significant contemporary artists practicing today—goes live on Artsy Monday, March 4! Create your account on Artsy now so you are ready to start bidding right away.
All proceeds from the sale of works by artists including Angel Otero and Hank Willis Thomas will support the Museum’s mission to make art accessible to everyone.
Bidding on artworks will also take place in person at our Gala on March 18!
2024 GALA & ART AUCTION
Monday, March 18th from 6:00pm to 10:00pm
At Ziegfeld Ballroom
GALA DETAILS
6:00 PM Cocktails
7:00 PM Dinner & Live Auction* conducted by Jennifer Wright, Christie’s
9:00 PM Dessert and Dancing
*(Auction opens March 4 online via Artsy)
WINTER WORK DAY AT THE FOODWAY
Saturday, March 9th from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Concrete Plant Park
Come lend a hand at the Bronx River Foodway Saturday March 9th from 10a-12p!
Learn how to prune plants and help us lay mulch.
Urban Park Ranger Volunteer Litter Clean-Up
Saturday, March 16th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Location: Crotona Nature Center
There’s no better way to contribute to a cleaner and healthier community than by volunteering. Join the Urban Park Rangers and fellow community members to clean and beautify Crotona Park.
Nature's Workshop:
Insect Inspired Art
Sunday, March 31st from 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Location: Crotona Nature Center
Learn about the famed naturalist and scientific illustrator Maria Sybilla Merian. Join the Rangers and try your hand at nature art and illustration. Materials provided, beginners welcome.
ONE BOOK ONE BRONX
Punch Me Up to the Gods: A Memoir by Brian Broome
Saturdays: Mar 16, 23, Apr 6, 13, & 20
The Bronx Museum, 1040 Grand Concourse
Tuesdays: Mar 19, 26, Apr 2, & 9
on Zoom
A poetic and raw coming-of-age memoir in essays about blackness, masculinity, and addiction, Punch Me Up to the Gods: A Memoir introduces a powerful new talent in Brian Broome, whose early years growing up in Ohio as a dark-skinned Black boy harboring crushes on other boys propel forward this gorgeous, aching, and unforgettable debut.
THE ORCHID SHOW:
FLORALS IN FASHION
through April 21st
Strike a pose! The Orchid Show brings the catwalk to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory in a fashion-inspired celebration of all things orchids—and we want YOU at the center of the sartorial experience. Catch the bold new designs of New York’s rising stars of the stitch with work by Collina Strada by Hillary Taymour, Dauphinette by Olivia Cheng, and FLWR PSTL by Kristen Alpaugh, fashionistas sure to create dramatic, picture-perfect floral displays at the Garden that always capture the orchid’s good side. This is your chance to “walk the runway” and show off your own personal flare, your love for orchids, and your fashion-forward connections to the natural world. Because florals are always en vogue at NYBG.
CRAZY FOR COMPOSTING 2024:
THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
OF COMMUNITY COMPOSTING IN NYC
Saturday, March 16th from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Get Crazy for Composting with NYBG’s Bronx Green-Up and friends! Join us for this mini-compost conference to celebrate community composting in New York City. Enjoy presentations, a panel discussion, compost workshops, and network with other compost enthusiasts. Connect with environmental organizations offering educational, technical, and grant resources. Learn from and elevate the voices of community composters in NYC who are diverting organic waste from landfills, revitalizing our soils to grow food, building resilient communities, and promoting environmental justice.
THE SOUNDVIEW GARDENER'S CLUB
every Tuesday from 3:00pm to 6:00pm
Location: Soundview Field House – 1550 Lafayette Avenue, Bronx
The Soundview Gardener’s Club is a space where After-School students from local schools and community volunteers come together to clear invasive plants, plant trees/native plants, and spread mulch as part of our forest restoration efforts in Soundview Park in The Bronx.
NYRR OPEN RUN: SOUNDVIEW PARK
every Saturday from 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Entrance – Lafayette Avenue and Morrison Avenue
NYRR Open Run brings free, 5K weekly community-led runs, to neighborhood parks across the greater New York City area. The program is free and open to runners and walkers of all ages, abilities, and experience levels.
Called the “Gateway to the Bronx River,” 205-acre Soundview Park is located where the Bronx River opens into the East River. This urban green space is filled with grassy baseball and soccer fields, a cricket pitch, basketball courts, a running track, walking/biking paths, picnic fields, and more! With its extensive views of the water, Soundview Park celebrates the beauty of both the Bronx and East Rivers. The back part of our Open Run course has beautiful views of the Bronx River waterfront for participants to enjoy!
Women's History Month:
Cass Gallagher
Sunday, March 3rd from 11:00am to 12:30pm
Location: Broadway and Mosholu Avenue in Van Cortlandt Park
Celebrate Women’s History Month with the Urban Park Rangers. Learn how to see through the eyes of a naturalist, as you take a lenghty hike with the Urban Park Rangers along the nature trail named in honor of longtime Bronx resident and naturalist, Cass Gallagher. Learn more about her impact to the local neighborhood and the natural world.
BOTANY AND BOTANICAL ART
Sunday, March 17th from 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center in Van Cortlandt Park
Learn about Ireland’s first female botanist Ellen Hutchins and live her legacy with a botanical walk followed by a botanical art workshop!
Celebration of Women - The Art of Adventure
March 7th, 12th, and 19th from 11:00am to 1:00pm
Location: Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center
Celebration of Women are workshops in March that welcome everyone to join us for creativity, beauty and strength.
The Art Of Adventure workshops’ goal is not to create better artists but to inspire the person within, offer new perspectives and improve well-being.
Jane Bishow-Semevolos LCAT, ATR-BC, is a creative arts therapist and adventure based counselor. She is the owner and facilitator for The Art of Adventure: Team Building and Wellness Workshops. She provides customized art making and group experiences that encourage participants to expand their comfort zone, improve self-awareness, connect with others and have fun.
March 7 11am – The Adventure of Art – art and team building
March 12 11am – Ready Set Pose – photography
March 19 11am – Self Defense
Did you know that Great Performances is headquartered in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx? We love being a part of the Bronx community, supporting other Bronx-based companies, and giving back to our community.
Celebrating Chinese New Year with Hugh
by Hugh Chan
This year, we celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a two-week celebration.
Our celebrations begin the night before, on Chinese New Year Eve. On this night, everyone from the family travels home to gather for a reunion complete with a huge meal. My mother would have spent the day preparing the Chinese New Year Eve dinner and the food for the following day.
We would have dishes that symbolize good luck and fortune. A staple with almost all families is black moss, which translates in Chinese to Fat Choy which means Good Fortune, and Dried Oysters, which translates to Ho See meaning Good Deeds / Good News / Prosperity.
At the end of the night, the elders of the family will give us a Red Envelope to put under our pillows before our sleep. The Red Envelopes contain money, and putting them under our pillows before we sleep represents ending the year with Good Fortune.
The next day, my mom wakes up at 5am to start cooking all the food she prepared from the night before. Once the meal is ready and placed on the dining table in a big feast, we join together to light incense and burn papers to welcome the gods and ancestors to eat first.
The first meal of the day will be all vegetarian dishes including vermicelli noodles, mushrooms, black bean with tofu, cooked cabbage, and more.
Then anyone who is not married will go to the married members of the family to wish them good luck and share blessings. In return, they’ll receive a Red Envelope for Good Fortune, symbolizing starting the year with Good Fortune.
After the first meal, you can eat meat throughout the rest of the day. Dishes include white rice; a whole steamed chicken; roasted pig; stir fry vermicelli noodles with mushrooms, tofu, and black beans; and stir fry cauliflower.
Other traditions we uphold include not sweeping or taking out the garbage for five days, as it’s believed if you do so, you’re sweeping out good luck and wealth from your home. You also can’t use knives or scissors as it can lead to bad luck.
Sharing Our Love Through Food
by Michelle Altman and Josh Stern
From the moment we landed on doing our wedding at Wave Hill with Great Performances, we would convene for dinner and discuss work and this crazy thing coming up…our wedding! For years Josh has been a member of a CSA in Brooklyn. Coming together and figuring out the best use of whatever was in season was not only fun, but also helped us eat our way through the wedding planning. Whittling down our invite list while figuring out what to do with carrots, leeks and asparagus. Preparing for our combined bachelor/bachelorette weekend while chomping many lettuces, chard, herbs. And sitting there biting fingernails in the final countdown with an overflowing fridge of bursting tomatoes.
We still use cooking and food as a time to reconnect, laugh, and talk through whatever might be weighing on us. And as the wedding planning vacuum has taken hold, planning and cooking meals has become a daily way to share our love for each other. As the work day winds down, the ‘what are you thinking for dinner?’ text is a mainstay. Sometimes it’s, ‘What are you in the mood for?’ or, ‘I’m home first so I can start din!’ or ‘Are you eating rice this week?’ but no matter what starts the conversation, thinking about food always means thinking about each other.
We pretty naturally split cooking, both of us love the process and the result of making something for each other, to share. A lot of what makes meals memorable and full of love is putting in that extra step or homemade touch. As the winter rages on, we have been making a lot of homemade broth from veggie scraps we accumulate during the week — a tip Josh picked up from the cookbook Sylvia’s Table by Liz Neumark. It’s a really sustainable and thoughtful way to add depth to a meal. The process reminds us of our wedding, actually, not because we had soup (we didn’t) but because there was no team more thoughtful in their small, medium, and big touches than Great Performances. It’s very easy to get caught up thinking about how others will experience your wedding while planning, but Great Performances made sure WE had the best time at our wedding. Not once was a drink missing from our hands or a grumble in our stomachs. And it didn’t stop at the food! After a tropical storm swept in and left Michelle with a wet train (oh no!), one of Great Performances’ magical fairies (aka staff) swooped in and helped pin the dress into a perfect bustle, while her sweet GP sidekicks poured us champagne and brought us trays with two of every appetizer. Never did we imagine or expect that when we chose the delicious seared tuna appetizer, that GP would be serving it to us while simultaneously jerry-rigging Michelle’s wedding dress into a gorgeous, totally incognito bustle. Miraculous. Incredible. Unforgettable. Are we talking about the tuna? The staff? It’s hard to tell!!! We barely know…
We wanted the food at our wedding to celebrate our love as well as share it. From the minute people walked in the door, they were greeted with a bright, sweet beverage. How would the contrasting pink of the beverage look against the background of the venue? We were floored that GP seemed genuinely as interested as we were to talk about a detail as minute as this. But they did! To celebrate Michelle’s Persian ethnicity, the team set up a Persian tea table stocked with dried fruits, nuts, and Persian cookies. Great Performances made sure the table looked and felt exactly as we envisioned and it’s something we’ll never forget. Sending our family and friends off at the end of the night with VERY full bellies was also something we wanted, and Great Performances had the genius idea to pull out their classic soft pretzel machine and hand those out, as well as Greenberg’s Black and White cookies, to each guest on their way to their cars. They cared as much as we did about our wedding, which seems hard to believe because we cared a LOT.
Even though the wedding is over, we’re still showing our care, love, and compassion for each other through food. For Valentine’s Day, we plan to stay in and recreate one of our favorite restaurant dishes at the moment, the Green Curry Mussels from Greenpoint Fish and Lobster (huge shoutout to them). Instead of going to the restaurant, we’ll pick up mussels from their fish market instead! Even though we could easily spend this special night at one of their dimly-lit-to-perfection high top tables, it’s much more appealing to us to clean and steam the mussels together over a glass of wine and the new André 300 flute album because it’s something we can do for each other with each other. There’s little else outside of food that provides this opportunity as often or as richly as food does. Happy Valentine’s!
FEBRUARY FOOD FESTIVAL: POTATOES
We all love potatoes, and they’re a great source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. They’re also the perfect vessels for delicious flavors, including our Kelewele Spice Mix developed by Chef Daniel Sokolov. Kelewele is a popular food from Ghana made of fried plantains and seasoned with spices including ginger, garlic, onion, cayenne, nutmeg, and anise. This savory dish is often served alongside stews, although it’s delicious on its own as a snack.
Chef Daniel Sokolov has adapted the recipe from our Pan-African Station and made it available to the home cook. Here he suggests using it to season a roasted potato dish, but it would be a delicious seasoning for almost anything from vegetables to proteins including shrimp, chicken, and tofu.
Kelewele-Spiced Roasted Potato Wedges with Citrus Yogurt Sauce
by Daniel Sokolov, Research & Development Chef
INGREDIENTS
For Potatoes
- 2 pounds potatoes, cut into wedges
- 1 – 2 Tbsp GP kelewele spice blend
- Olive oil
- Salt to taste
For Citrus Yogurt Sauce
- 8 ounces plain Greek yogurt (or vegan yogurt)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp dill, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 Tbsp orange zest
- 1 tsp honey (or maple syrup)
- Salt and pepper to taste
PROCEDURE
For Potatoes
- Preheat your oven to 425° F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil.
- Toss the potato wedges with olive oil, spices, and salt. Add to pan in a single layer and roast for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the potatoes are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from pan, garnish with mint, basil, and pickled onions, and serve immediately.
For Citrus Yogurt Sauce
- Combine sauce ingredients and mix well until smooth and well combined. Serve with kelewele-spiced potatoes.
More Food Festival Recipes
