LESSONS FROM BUILDING A NEW WEBSITE
By Carina Hayek
As I turn the corner on five years at GP, I’m getting ready to launch the newest iteration of our website. It’ll be my third website launch at GP, but the previous two went largely unnoticed – by design. Our first website relaunch was early 2019 and I’d inherited it from my predecessor. There were minor changes to design and copy and some underlying SEO work that had been done. But by and large, very few noticeable changes to outsiders. Our next change took place in 2020, just before pandemic hit and dramatically changed how we operated. Visually, our website didn’t change, but behind the scenes, we made a major change in moving to WordPress, overhauling search engine optimization, increasing the number of calls to action, implementing better tracking and flow throughs, and creating strategic content to drive traffic. It worked. Despite the lull in events, we doubled our site visitors and the number of leads we generated on our website.
Although we had a lot of great elements on our website, our business was evolving and as much as we worked to integrate the changes in our existing website structure, it was starting to look dated and it didn’t serve us in the ways we needed it to serve us – and our visitors.
As we considered our needs for our website, we knew that it had to reflect our future while staying true to our ethos; that we had to prioritize the visitor experience and make it easy for them to navigate the complexity of GP – without realizing how complex it could be; and to build a platform that would allow for continued growth, evolution, and expansion. But that makes it sound simple. We engaged a consulting team to facilitate the project and a website team to lead development. Here’s what we learned along the way.
Although we are all things to all people, we needed to create a site that made us the exact right thing for that specific visitor on our site – no matter who they were or what they were looking for (as long as it was catering, events, or hospitality related, of course). That meant creating a path that took them from 30,000 feet to 10 feet effortlessly.
Look for the friction. These are the moments that your preferences are being challenged and for most people, it’s instinctive to push back or reject whatever is creating that friction or discomfort. It’s often accompanied by statements of “I don’t like it,” or “That’s now how we’ve done it,” or even “We’ve tried that before and it didn’t work.” Instead of immediately pushing back, sit in that discomfort and ask what’s triggering that. It’s a humbling and necessary part of the process.
This goes hand in hand with coming to terms with the fact that we’re not building the website for ourselves, but very specifically for people who are not us. People who bring their tastes, perspectives, and experiences to their viewing of our website. This seems elementary, but as we’ve been sharing the website with more people within GP, we need to remind ourselves of this. This is especially true if you’re building something to draw in a different generation. (Ouch)
Look for people who are going to disagree with you. One of the early pain points we had in working on our website was people agreeing to all feedback without pushing back and providing their opinions. Have the disagreements and discussions throughout the process because all the data points are important considerations. We want the best solution, not just a solution.
And most importantly, before beginning, plan to plan. And plan to spend a lot of time planning. At the end of the day, it saves time and frustration and can even help accelerate the process. When you think you’re done planning, take another day to do more planning. Although we spent a lot of time planning (which led to frustration and a feeling that we weren’t making progress), we continued to uncover areas that we perhaps didn’t plan enough. We also discovered that we’re a lot more complex than we might want to admit.
The rest of the stuff – CTAs, SEO, UI/UX, and all the myriad acronyms; the brand and mission alignment; the story-telling and customer journey – everyone knows and should be an automatic part of the website development process.
Our launch date is right around the corner, and I can’t wait to see the result of our months of hard work, sleepless nights, and feisty debates. And although we’ll take a moment to catch our breath and appreciate what we’ve built, a website is not a destination, but a journey. It should be ever evolving, and if we’ve done our jobs right, the new site should continue to grow and evolve as GP does.
LIZ'S LIST OF GIVING 2023
By Liz Neumark
New York is home. And it is a big, complex, kind, tough, and indomitable city.
It showers some with riches while being ground zero to suffering, hunger and hardship for far too many of our neighbors.
The pain is both in plain sight and invisible. We are a subway stop, a quick walk or just around the corner from the widest range of realities.
Supporting the nonprofits that help our neighbors and our city is important to all of us.
We each have causes that speak to our hearts be it anti-hunger, the arts, community health, homelessness, addiction, education, children or the elderly.
Here is a short list of some organizations I do my best to help support along with an invitation to you to learn more about them.
The Sylvia Center
The Sylvia Center educates young people on the connection between food and health.
We help children and teens take control of their health through better food choices, and encourage them to be healthy food advocates in their communities.
GrowNYC
For over 50 years, we have believed that everyone can make a positive impact and that collective action is necessary to secure a clean & healthy environment for future generations.
CityMeals
Citymeals on Wheels provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to our homebound elderly neighbors.
Public Housing Community Fund
The Fund for Public Housing enhances the lives of NYCHA residents and uplifts the importance of public housing to New York City.
Open House New York
Open House New York promotes unparalleled access to the city—to the places, people, projects, systems, and ideas that define New York and its future.
Bronx River Alliance
The Bronx River Alliance serves as a coordinated voice for the river. We work in harmonious partnership to protect, improve and restore the Bronx River corridor. Our goal is to make a healthy ecological, recreational, educational, and economic resource for all communities through which the river flows.
Bronx Museum of the Arts
The Bronx Museum of the Arts is a contemporary art museum that connects diverse audiences to the urban experience through its permanent collection, special exhibitions, and education programs. Reflecting the borough’s dynamic communities, the Museum is the crossroad where artists, local residents, national and international visitors meet.
The Knowledge House
The Knowledge House (TKH) was founded in 2014 to close the gaps in the education-to-employment pipeline by leading digital skills training in coding and design for underserved young people in the Bronx. TKH combines technology training, career support, and a comprehensive network of partners to help disconnected job seekers secure rewarding careers in the tech economy and become financially independent. TKH aims to lift entire communities out of poverty by creating a pipeline of talented and capable workers equipped with the technology and skills that provide economic opportunity, living wages, and career mobility.
West Side Campaign Against Hunger
West Side Campaign Against Hunger is on a mission to alleviate hunger by ensuring that all New Yorkers have access with dignity to a choice of healthy food and supportive services.
Bronx Community Foundation
The Bronx Community Foundation is the first and only community foundation in The Bronx, solely dedicated to delivering resources to the borough.
The Bronx Community Foundation supports and invests in community power to eradicate inequity and build sustainable futures for all Bronxites.
NEW YORK CITY TOURISM FOUNDATION GALA 2023
The Gala
On December 5th in the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel, New York City Tourism Foundation honored leaders who represent the best of NYC at their 21st Annual Gala. The event, which is also a fundraiser, raised more than $600,000 to further its mission of sustaining the local nonprofit arts community through cultural tourism development and education and outreach projects across the city. This year, funds will support the Borough Cultural Tourism Development Grant Program which supports audience development for cultural organizations across New York’s boroughs in partnership with the Borough Presidents’ offices.
Liz Neumark and Great Performances were delighted to be included in this year’s group of honorees.
United Airlines, accepted by Josh Earnest, EVP of Communications and Advertising (presented by Kathryn S. Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for NYC) ‘
Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), accepted by President Kenneth E. Raske (presented by Philip Ozuah, GNYHA Board Chair and President and CEO of Montefiore Einstein)
Liz Neumark and Great Performances, accepted by Liz Neumark, CEO and Founder (presented by Marcy Blum, Event Planner and Owner of Marcy Blum Associates)
Jonelle Procope, President and CEO Emerita of The Apollo received the Lifetime Achievement Award (presented by Charles E. Phillips, Chairman, Board of Directors, the Apollo Theater, and Managing Partner and Co-Founder, RECOGNIZE)
“For more than 20 years, the New York City Tourism Foundation Gala has placed a spotlight on leaders and businesses who continue to make tourism a driving force in the City’s economy, while supporting the cultural institutions that make up the fabric of our industry,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions. “Congratulations to this year’s honorees for their many years of incredible vision and partnership.”
“The Foundation’s work makes the Borough Cultural Tourism Development Grant Program possible,” said Charles Flateman, Board Chair of New York City Tourism + Conventions and Executive Vice President of The Shubert Organization. “Funds raised this evening provide resources to the many institutions that help make NYC one of the most culturally rich destinations in the world.”
By Kelly Curtin, Executive Vice President, Membership & Destination Services, NYC Tourism Foundation
We are thrilled to hold The New York City Tourism Foundation Gala event once again at The Plaza with CPS Events. Since its inception 2001, we have held this event 20 times, most frequently at The Plaza. The setting, especially in the holiday season, is second to none, as are the expert team and the culinary creations. We feel extremely at home there and are so grateful to be back again this year
Among the honorees, we’re especially excited to celebrate Liz Neumark and Great Performances. Liz’s creation of Great Performances–one of the most iconic New York City caterers serving our City’s most loved cultural intuitions–is huge in itself. When coupled with her incredible dedication to our communities, sustainability, and the next generation of hospitality leaders, Liz is the perfect honoree for our Foundation.
Our Foundation is dedicated to supporting our City’s vibrant and diverse cultural scene, particularly in the boroughs. These small organizations are what make New York City New York City. They provide reasons for visitors and residents to explore these neighborhoods which in turn support jobs and local economies.
We can only be successful and continue our support of New York City through your support. Here is a link to this year’s Gala invitation and highlighted below are key details on the event:
Honorees: Greater New York Hospital Association
Liz Neumark & Great Performances Catering
United Airlines
Lifetime Achievement Award – Jonelle Procope, President and CEO, Emerita of the Apollo Theater
About the New York City Tourism Foundation:
Formerly known as tghe NYC & Company Foundation, we recently changed the name to the New York City Tourism Foundation to complement our company rebranding to New York City Tourism + Conventions this past March. Our Foundation is a 501(c)3, established in 1999 to support the vibrant arts and cultural community across all five boroughs. One of the main programs of our Foundation is the Borough Grant Program. Since 1999, we have given more than $4.5M to nearly 300 small arts and culturals organizations across the city for cultural tourism development, audience education and outreach projects. In addition, the Foundation provides scholarships to support the education and development of the next generation of nonprofit cultural professionals.
The annual Gala in December which began in 2001, is THE primary source of funding for the Foundation. During the recent pandemic, we were not able to hold a Gala in 2020 or 2021, however, we continued to give out grants as the culturals needed help more than ever. Last year, we raised more than $800,000 at the event which helped rebuild our resources to be able to continue the Borough Grant Program. Sample Borough Grant recipients include: Museum at Eldridge Street, Leslie Lohman Museum, Hudson Warehouse, Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, Make Music New York, Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival, Harlem School of the Arts, Manhattan School of Music, Festival of Cinema, Alice Austin House and the St. George Theatre. These are just a few of the organizations who have received grants throughout the years. More information on the Foundation can be found here.
THE ANNUAL NEW YORK TIMES DEALBOOK SUMMIT
By Ronnie Davis, Managing Director, Great Performances
There is something incredibly special about working in the “Greatest City in the World” to quote the smash Broadway Play Hamilton. It is unlike doing events anywhere else. Last week’s annual New York Times Dealbook Summit proved this once again. We at Great Performances have been privileged to work on this event for many years now and bear witness to some amazing and newsworthy insights from some of the most interesting minds to grace a stage. It is moments like this that make working in New York so unique. Set in what I consider the most beautiful room in the New York Event world, the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, we heard business trends from cooperate giants like Bob Igor of Disney and Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase. United States Vice President Kamala Harris and Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel offered insights to current events. TV producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes shared thoughts on some of the hit shows she has been a part of, and of course there was the controversial interview with Elon Musk that is still grabbing press attention.
In support of this great conference, we served breakfast using recipes from the New York Times “Cooking” in a successful attempt to capture the essence of New York City in our culinary offerings. Among the breakfast selections:
Vegan Pancakes Vegan Pancakes Recipe – NYT Cooking (nytimes.com) and Chia Pudding with Berries and Popped Amaranth Chia Pudding With Berries and Popped Amaranth Recipe – NYT Cooking (nytimes.com)
For lunch Great Performances Chef Andrew Smith created a beautiful salad of Tuscan Kale, Red Endive, Watercress & Watermelon Radishes with Roasted Pears, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Quinoa, and a Seasonal Cider Vinaigrette. We then offered guests a choice of proteins also curated from the NY Times “Cooking.”
Grilled Chicken Breast Grilled Chicken Breasts Recipe – NYT Cooking (nytimes.com)
Seared Plank Salmon Cedar Plank Salmon Recipe – NYT Cooking (nytimes.com)
Grilled Tofu Grilled Tofu Recipe – NYT Cooking (nytimes.com)
At the conclusion of the Summit there was a Reception offering a selection of Hors D’ Oeuvres, Champagne and Cocktails from our current Fall menus held in the Ertegun Atrium with views of Columbus Circle and Central Park as attendees listened of course, to a Jazz Trio playing in the background. A remarkable finish to a unique New York experience thanks to the New York Times.
The privilege of being “In The Room Where It Happens” in the Greatest City in the World is why we do what we do. This amazing City keeps giving us remarkable events like the Dealbook Summit.
I love New York.
DECEMBER FOOD FESTIVAL: APPLE ROLLUPS
When we think of fall, we think of apples. And although many of us will have gone through our stockpiles of apples in November to make pies, we may still have a couple of baskets lying around. Use any baking or cooking apple that you like. You can combine them or make separate batches featuring specific varieties. You will need a dehydrator for this recipe, a tool that comes in handy to create a variety of preserved foods including October’s Herbed Salt recipe!
Apple Rollups
by Liz Neumark, CEO and Founder
INGREDIENTS
- 12-15 apples
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
PROCEDURE
- Peel, core, and roughly chop the apples. Add the chopped apples to a pot with the water and lemon juice. Cover and steam until mushy, being careful not to burn the bottom.
- Run the mixture through a food processor to make apple sauce.
- Spread a thin yet solid layer of the apple sauce on dehydrator
trays. Set dehydrator to fruit setting and place the tray. Check the mixture after several hours. When ready, it should peel right off the tray. - Cut the fruit sheet into strips using a pizza roller. Roll the pieces with wax paper for easy eating. Store in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 2 weeks.
More Food Festival Recipes
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND NEW YORK: DECEMBER 2023
By Great Performances
Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!
DOUBLE DUTCH HOLIDAY CLASSIC
Sunday, December 3rd at 1:00pm
Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater
Tickets: start at $30.50
The National Double Dutch League returns to the legendary Apollo stage for the annual Double Dutch Holiday Classic. Don’t miss this family-friendly event which features world-class championship Double Dutch teams of all ages, from the United States and the world, as they compete for team positions at the national and international events.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL DOUBLE DUTCH LEAGUE (NDDL):
In 1973, David A. Walker, then a New York City Police Community Affairs Detective, developed the street game of Double Dutch into the World Class Sport that it is today. Since that initial tournament, competitive Double Dutch has expanded with citywide and national championships.
The NDDL 32nd Annual, David A. Walker Memorial, Double Dutch Holiday Classic makes possible speed and music fusion events for the best Double Dutch teams in the world. Each year, since 1991, the Double Dutch Holiday Classic has sold out to parent-supported, standing room only audiences.
Double Dutch Holiday Classic is part of The Apollo’s Fall/Winter 2023 season.
KWANZAA:
A REGENERATION CELEBRATION
Saturday, December 30th at 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater
Tickets: start at $25
FEATURING ABDEL R. SALAAM’S FORCES OF NATURE DANCE THEATRE AND FRIENDS
An Apollo tradition, our annual Kwanzaa Celebration returns for an uplifting performance featuring Forces of Nature Dance Theatre under the leadership of critically acclaimed choreographer Abdel Salaam.
Join us for a joyous celebration of Kwanzaa through dance from across the African Diaspora, music and spoken word, honoring the principles of Kwanzaa, family, community and culture.
TELLING THE STORIES OF TIBETANS IN EXILE: FAR FROM THE ROOFTOP OF THE WORLD
Monday, December 4th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Tickets: $15 Nonmembers; $8 Members
Join us for a conversation with journalist Amy Yee, author of Far From the Rooftop of the World, as she shares her experience documenting the stories of Tibetans in exile. Her storytelling journey began with a hug and request from the Dalai Lama in March 2008 when she was a Financial Times reporter in India. At the time, China was cracking down on Tibetan protesters after demonstrations in Tibet turned violent. That encounter with the Dalai Lama was the start of 14 years of work across four continents spotlighting those exiled from their homeland.
While there are many books written about the Dalai Lama and Tibet, few focus on how ordinary Tibetans abroad are living and handling the extraordinary challenges of sustaining their identity and preserving culture even in exile and amid forced migration.
Amy Yee will be joined in conversation with Tsewang Rigzin, former deputy director of The Tibet Fund in Dharamsala, India and author of Exile Tibetan Community: Problems and Prospects.
Far From the Rooftop of the World will be available for purchase for this event.
NO RULE IS OUR RULE: SCREENING AND DISCUSSION WITH EIKO OTAKE AND WEN HUI
Saturday, December 9th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Tickets: $8 Members, $15 Non-Members. Students/Seniors: Contact Box Office for Discount!
Join us for a screening and discussion of No Rule is Our Rule, a documentary film about the friendship between two fiercely independent, interdisciplinary female dance artists Eiko Otake and Wen Hui. Eiko grew up in postwar Japan and has lived in New York since the 1970s. 8 years younger, Beijing-based Wen Hui grew up during the Cultural Revolution in China and shows her work internationally. They spent a month together in China in January 2020, when the surge of COVID-19 became first known to the general public. Postponing their physical collaboration, Eiko and Wen Hui continued to converse candidly over Zoom and co-edited the footage they filmed in China. The process has deepened their mutual understanding of their past works created and presented in different historical and social contexts.
This event is co-sponsored by the Asian Film & Media Initiative at the Martin Scorsese Department of Cinema Studies, NYU. It marks Wen Hui’s first return to New York since 2018, when she presented her work Red at Asia Society. The 76-minute film screening will be followed by a discussion with the artists themselves. Yiru Chen, who joined Eiko and Wen Hui in editing, will also participate in the conversation, which is moderated by Zhen Zhang, Professor in the Department of Cinema Studies at NYU Tisch and founding Director of the Asian Film and Media Initiative.
No Rule is Our Rule was recently selected for the Munich New Wave Film Festival and won Best Feature Documentary at the Japan International Film Festival this year.
ADAKU, PART 1: THE ROAD OPENS
Tuesday, November 28th through Saturday, December 2nd
Location: BAM Fisher, Fishman Space
Tickets: start at $35
Part of Next Wave 2023
With her resonant voice and formidable intensity, Okwui Okpokwasili creates dance theater that stirs the senses and vibrates the soul, rooted as much in the power and precision of speech as in movement. In collaboration with her longtime partner, the director Peter Born, Okpokwasili has bucked convention by embracing the impromptu, running fearlessly towards the unknown and establishing herself as “an expectation-confounding blend of authority and vulnerability” (The New York Times).
adaku, part 1: the road opens finds Okpokwasili and Born stepping into a new stage of their shared practice, crafting a thrumming, richly textured sonic and visual landscape. In this inaugural chapter of a larger speculative mythology, a precolonial African village stands at the cusp of a major upheaval as its community wrestles with a conflict that could alter the futures of all of its members. Okpokwasili and the ensemble enact a collective reckoning that explores the role of ritual and the fraught relationship between ancestors and future generations, facilitating an intimate exchange between the performers and the audience.
HOW TO LIVE (AFTER YOU DIE)
Thursday, December 7th through Saturday, December 9th
Location: Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Tickets: start at $35
Part of Next Wave 2023
Lynette Wallworth spent her early adulthood like any average person—acting as a Bible-interpreting prophetess in a radical Pentecostal community in Sydney. In her BAM debut, the Emmy Award-winning Australian artist deftly shifts her work from film to stage to share an incisive and deeply engrossing morality tale for our times—one in which she just happens to be the protagonist. Using her medium-traversing works as touchstones, Wallworth sheds light on the seduction of cultish extremism by recounting her own descent into an exclusionary, mind-warping belief system and her eventual escape through art. Giving voice to experiences she never intended to share, Wallworth confronts and responds with bold, bracing candor to the troubling rise of implausible conspiracy theories and the toxic alliance that sometimes emerges between the extreme edges of organized religion and fascist forces. HOW TO LIVE (after you die) finds a master storyteller at the peak of her powers, pointing to the ways in which fanaticism can hold the imagination captive, unless we find the courage to reclaim the creation of our own life and story.
SHARE THE TOY: FOURTH ANNUAL TOY GIVEAWAY
Sunday, December 17th from 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor
Tickets: free and open to the public
’Tis the season! To help spread holiday cheer, we’re hosting our fourth annual toy drive. From November 14 through December 14, stop by the Admissions Desk to drop off new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0–14 in the designated bins. On December 17, 12–3 pm, pick up gifts for your little loved ones while supplies last. After the giveaway, any remaining toys will be donated to local family shelters.
This program is free and open to the public in partnership with the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President and Grandma’s Hands.
Support local businesses! After donating a toy, receive a code for a discount at the Museum Shop. Plus, shop at Little Things Toy Store in Park Slope or online with discount code BKLYN MUSEUM to receive 10% off.
BROOKLYN POETRY SLAM
Wednesday, December 20th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor
Tickets: Register in advance and pay as you wish (suggested admission: $10).
Celebrate Brooklyn Poetry Slam’s tenth year! Amplify the voices of Brooklyn at a series of pay-what-you-can slams, presented by poets and cofounders Mahogany L. Browne and DJ Jive Poetic. Come to listen to poets, or arrive early to sign up if you’d like to join the slam (limited availability).
ALLISON RUSSELL
A Benefit Concert
Saturday, December 2nd at 8:00pm
Tickets: Start at $125
Overview
Prepare to be captivated by the raw emotion and artistry of Montreal-native Allison Russell as she shares her remarkable journey through music. Her songs — from her thrice Grammy-nominated album Outside Child, recently named the #2 Best Album of the Year by The New York Times, and her newest album The Returner (released September 2023) — will touch your soul, leaving a lasting impact long after the last note fades away. Since this special benefit concert will help support Caramoor’s programming throughout the year, your presence will also make an impact.
HOLIDAY ROSEN HOUSE TOURS
December 9, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21
Pricing:
General Public: $20 per person
Holiday Tea Attendees: Enjoy a special rate of $15
Members and Children 18 and Under: Admission is free!
Overview
You are invited to step into a holiday wonderland! Join us for a special tour of the art-filled Rosen House, decked out with enchanting decorations inspired by the cherished Rosen family archive. This limited-time holiday tour offers a glimpse of the family life that inspired celebrations in this historic house.
Our knowledgeable guides will take you on a captivating journey that’s perfect for friends and families alike. Create lasting holiday memories and immerse yourself in the rich history of the Rosen House with an unforgettable holiday tour!
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes of festive delight.
ULYSSES OWENS, JR. BIG BAND
Wednesday, December 6th through Sunday, December 10th
Tickets: start at $25
ABOUT THE SHOW
Award-winning drummer and band leader Ulysses Owens, Jr. brings his high-octane big band back to Dizzy’s Club for a five-night engagement. A musical thrill ride, his dynamic sets are known to feature original compositions and fresh arrangements of tunes from such colossal artists as Terence Blanchard, John Coltrane, and Mulgrew Miller. Owens’ repertoire creates foundational vessels for improvised solos, lush arrangements, and energetic performances in the spirit of great big band drummers who have inspired him to continue their legacy of joy, skilled passion, and high-level musicianship.
CHRISTIAN SANDS QUARTET:
CHRISTMAS STORIES
Thursday, December 21st through Sunday, December 24th
Tickets: start at $25
ABOUT THE SHOW
Pianist, composer, and NAACP Image Award nominee Christian Sands draws in listeners with his dynamic sensitivity, imagination, and an invitational element in every note. A multi-Grammy nominee, the Steinway Artist leads one of the most captivating small ensembles on the global scene, loved for their conversational and receptive approach to the evolving language of jazz. For this four-night event, his quartet perform compelling new material and enduring holiday favorites from his acclaimed Mack Avenue release Christmas Stories (Selections). Don’t miss this seasonal favorite at Dizzy’s Club!
DIZZY’S NEW YEARS EVE, WITH CARLOS HENRIQUEZ NONET
Sunday, December 31st at 7:30pm
Tickets: start at $425
ABOUT THE SHOW
Ring in the New Year at Dizzy’s Club! We’re thrilled to announce the return of Grammy-nominated bassist and bandleader Carlos Henriquez leading his star-studded nonet. Treat yourself to a delicious holiday menu, unbeatable views of Columbus Circle, and a spirited set featuring tracks from Carlos’ 2023 release A Nuyorican Tale. Experience an unforgettable night of new music and New Year magic!
BIG BAND HOLIDAYS
Wednesday, December 13th through Sunday, December 17th
Location: Rose Theater
Tickets: start at $50.50
ABOUT THE CONCERT
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s annual Big Band Holidays performance has become a true fan favorite. This December, Ashley Pezzotti’s expressive and commanding presence rings in the most wonderful time of the year.
Together with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, she interprets classic holiday favorites like “Winter Wonderland,” “The Christmas Song,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel.” Don’t miss this year’s hardest-swinging holiday event, music-directed by Marcus Printup and featuring vibrant new arrangements from members of the JLCO.
FIRST FRIDAY
Friday, December 1st from 10:00am to 9:00pm
Tickets: Free all Day!
Join Poster House on the First Friday of every month for free admission and extended hours! Explore the museum’s latest exhibitions and get in on the fun by attending a tour, workshop, performance, or activity throughout the day. Every First Friday is different, offering unique opportunities to engage with rotating exhibitions and the permanent collection.
4pm We Tried to Warn You Curatorial Tour
5pm Alt Text as Poetry Workshop
6:30pm Non-traditional Collage Workshop $15
FUSED PLASTIC COLLAGE WORKSHOP
Saturday, December 9th from 1:30pm to 3:00pm
Tickets: $15 General / $10 Members
Have you ever wondered what you can create with discarded plastics? Presented in conjunction with the exhibition We Tried to Warn You! Environmental Crisis Posters, 1920-2020, this hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the technique of fusing or layering plastics using an iron. Participants will explore the material affordances of various types of biodegradable, recyclable, and single-use plastics in order to create fused plastic collages inspired by posters on environmental activism. Join us in this imaginative intervention into the life cycle of plastics!
We encourage attendees to bring a piece of plastic to this workshop (flexible ones such as bags, mailers, or food packaging work best; they can be biodegradable, recyclable, or single-use). All materials and tools provided; no previous experience necessary.
JAZZ, MIXOLOGY & MISTLETOE
Friday, December 15th from 5:00pm to 8:30pm
Location: Wave Hill House, Armor Hall
Tickets: $55, including admission to the grounds. Wave Hill Members save 10%.
Cocktails, flowers and festive vibes! Elevate your spirits with a night out with friends! Join us for live music and enjoy a specialty cocktail flight to inspire your own festivities. Make memories with a photo op and craft your own floral arrangement with seasonal stems to take the holiday magic home with you. End the night on a sweet note with a delicious treat! Winter Haven event.
This Friday evening, enjoy an evening stroll along lighted pathways with self-guided activities. The Café, Conservatory and Shop are open until 8:30PM. The grounds close at 9:00PM.
HOLIDAY TEA AT WAVE HILL
Tuesday, December 26th through Friday, December 29th
Seating Times: 11AM or 2PM
Location: Wave Hill House
Tickets: $58 Adults, $35 children, including admission to the grounds. Wave Hill Members save 10%.
Wave Hill exclusive caterer Great Performances is delighted to present the Holiday Edition of its Afternoon Tea at Wave Hill. A custom menu designed specifically for Wave Hill, our Holiday Tea uses local and seasonal ingredients and inspiration from Great Performances’ own organic farm, Katchkie Farm.
Combine the flavors of the winter season with the beauty of the historic Wave Hill House. Join us for our holiday edition of Tea and Cocoa, served in the stylish Mark Twain Room which has been festively decorated for the holidays. Perfect for an intimate afternoon or for the entire family.
You’ll enjoy the comforting decadence of a traditional tea service, including:
- Tea Sandwiches: Smoked Salmon & Dill; Fig, Goat Cheese, & Honey; Sliced Green Apples & Cheddar; Filet Mignon & Horseradish Cream
- Scones and Shortbreads: Clotted Cream, Raspberry Jam
- Desserts: Raspberry Tartlets; Chocolate Truffles; Assorted Macarons
- A selection of Teas by Palais des Thés and Housemade Hot Cocoa
ICE SEASON RETURNS!
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!
Tickets on sale now!
RINK SIDE IGLOOS
now through March 15th, 2024
Elevate your skating experience at Wollman Rink inside our cozy, private, heated Rink Side igloos, under the Midtown Manhattan skyline in Central Park. Both of our transparent igloos feature an electric fireplace, soft lighting, and comfy seating for eight, as well as delicious food and beverage options.
NORDSTROM PRESENTS
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
November through December
A stylish, heated rink side retreat, outfitted by Nordstrom, is part of the Wollman Rink Premier Pass experience. The Premier Pass, available as an upgrade to rink admission purchases online or in-person, includes expedited rink entry, skate rental concierge service, 2 hours of tent access, cozy “fireside” seating, complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, tea and refreshments, as well as a dedicated tent attendant and locker. Premier Passes are released one week in advance of public skating dates. Admission and skate rentals are separate, available on select dates during the ticket purchase process. Sessions start at the top of every hour, 2 hours before close. See Premier Pass page for available dates and times.
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: DECEMBER 2023
By Great Performances
Explore exciting community events around the Bronx this month.
THE BRONX VEGAN BAZAAR
Every Wednesday from 4:00pm to 9:00pm
August 23rd through December 27th
Wellness leaders and local vegans come together again to host at the Andrew Freedman Home in The Bronx.
The vegan food expo will feature more than 20 vegan vendors serving food, natural juices, delicious pastries, and just spreading wellness.
Our founding members consisted of a vegan chef, a seasoned food vendor, an award-winning event planner, a native Bronx DJ, community residents, and a common goal to spread wellness, food, and love to the Bronx.
With each experience our members grow along with the community.
FAMILY DAY: WINTER WONDERLAND
Saturday, December 9th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Celebrate the holiday season with The Bronx Museum! Join us on Saturday, December 9th from 1-4pm for an afternoon filled with festive wintry art making activities for the whole family.
TREE PLANTING AT MUSKRAT COVE
Thursday, December 7th from 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Woodlawn Metro-North Station – nearest address 4225 Webster Ave, Bronx
Help preserve vital habitat along the Bronx river by planting native trees in Muskrat Cove along the Bronx River!
Find our team near the Parking Lot for the Woodlawn Metro-North (entrance to Muskrat Cove Park) on Thursday December 7th from 9am-12pm.
Please wear protective clothing that can get dirty (long pants and closed toed shoes), and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.
All planting materials and equipment will be provided.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS
November 17th, 2023 through January 7th, 2024
Join us for a family holiday festival at the Bronx Zoo.
During the evenings, the park comes to life with holiday cheer as immersive light displays, custom-designed animal lanterns and animated light shows sparkle across the zoo. This year, you’ll experience NEW lantern displays showcasing the wildlife of New York’s ocean waters and wetlands, plus a new interactive experience celebrating bioluminescent creatures.
Activities include:
- Holiday Train
- Ice Carving Demonstrations
- Illuminated Performers
- Wildlife Theater
- Seasonal Treats
HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW®
November 17th, 2023 through January 15th, 2024
Location: at the Garden
New York City’s Most Beloved Holiday Tradition Is Back!
The Holiday Train Show returns bigger than ever with more trains and an all-new, outdoor train display. Start on the lawn to capture your perfect holiday photos at our outdoor mountainscapes and then watch trains zip past nearly 200 iconic New York landmarks under the warmth of the Conservatory. After dark, join us for NYBG GLOW and discover the beauty of our landscape and historic buildings, illuminated across the grounds. And don’t miss the return of our fan-favorite Bar Car Nights, 21-and-over evenings featuring the Holiday Train Show and curated cocktails. These special evenings feature music, experiences, food, and more—making for the ultimate night out this season.
BAR CAR NIGHTS
December 7th & 14th; January 5th
Location: at the Garden
Tickets: Non-Members $54; Garden Members $34
(Adults 21 and over)
All Aboard for Adults-Only Nights at the Holiday Train Show
On special evenings exclusively for adults 21 and over, fan-favorite Bar Car Nights make a comeback with nighttime viewings of the Holiday Train Show® and NYBG GLOW—complete with light bites and curated cocktails available for purchase. Grab a drink and step into the Haupt Conservatory to discover New York City’s most beloved holiday tradition under the warm and twinkling lights, then head outdoors for an illuminated experience across Garden grounds that’s unlike anything else in the five boroughs!
PELHAM BAY PARK FOREST RESTORATION
Saturday, December 9th from 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Pelham Bay Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park
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. Come dressed in sturdy boots or shoes, long sleeves, long pants, and clothing that can get dirty. Face masks may be worn at your discretion. Space is limited and registration is required. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone. This event has been funded in part by NYC Service.
SEAL EXPLORATION
Saturday, December 9th from 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park
New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. Winter is an amazing time of year to observe seals in the Long Island Sound. You may be surprised by what looks like a rock in the distance, is actually a healthy seal.
SNEAKER REVAMP
Tuesday, December 5th & 12th from 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: Poe Park Visitor Center in Poe Park
This program is for children who would like to know the fundamentals and basics of learning to refurbish their clothes such as shoes and clothing. This program is for those who want to learn more about self-designing and recycling clothes.
Instructor: Kelize St. Brenard
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!
VAN CORTLANDT SUPER HIKE
Sunday, December 3rd from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center in Van Cortlandt Park
Urban Park Ranger hiking guides will introduce you to the hidden gems of New York City. Urban Park Rangers will lead hikers through some of the hidden gems of Van Cortlandt Park on a lengthy journey through the park’s diverse forests and ecosystems.
ASTRONOMY: THE DECEMBER SKY
Saturday, December 9th from 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center in Van Cortlandt Park
December is a prime month for stargazing. The cold air clears the night sky of clouds and creates ideal conditions for seeing the stars, planets, and other celestial highlights.
HOLIDAY WREATH MAKING
Thursday, December 7th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center
3225 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx
Learn how to create your own natural holiday wreath for indoors or outdoors. All supplies will be provided along with natural pine cones and ribbon to decorate your own handmade, festive wreath. Bring your favorite decorations to add as well!
This event is hosted by NYC Parks GreenThumb. We are proud to be the nation’s largest urban community gardening program, sustaining over 550 gardens throughout New York City. With GreenThumb’s support, community gardens are centers of environmental justice, ensuring that our city is fairer, safer, and greener for all. GreenThumb’s events are free and open to the public.
IT’S A WINTER WONDERLAND
Friday, December 8th from 4:30pm to 7:00pm
Location: Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center
3225 Reservoir Oval East, Bronx
It’s a Winter Wonderland at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center. Families and children are invited to join us for some winter fun as we bring in the season with icicles and snowflakes. Activities will include arts and crafts, winter games, and a special visit from
Santa himself. Instructor: Ana Torres
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.
The Embrace of 2024
The 2024 Great Performances Calendar
Embrace Wellness
We prepared this calendar in the final days of 2023, another chapter in a most tumultuous decade. As we plotted the monthly food themes that tie into our broader vision of the year, we tried to peek around the corner and imagine what will await us in 2024.
For 2024, our focus is on the embrace. It embodies our ideas and dreams while leaning into the reality of this moment in time.
The embrace is a physical and emotional act; to accept gladly and readily. At Great Performances, we manifest this act with the embrace of the seasonaility of ingredients; the embrace of health and wellness practices through food; and of course, the embrace of the deliciousness of a meal and the unfolding of a memorable experience.
Embrace Wellness is our commitment to create delicious meals that feed our bodies while nurturing our spirits. It embodies mindfulness, dialogue, educational moments, and openness.
We rejoice in the impact our team creates and the journey our food takes from seed to field and from kitchen to you. It is a celebration of communities, stewardship of the land, and the power of gathering.
At Great Performances, we unleash joy through genuine hospitality with you and for you. We invite you on a yearlong journey to celebrate food stories, recipes, experiences, and the embrace of life happening around the table.
These are the seeds of optimism and hope; that what we do together in the new year brings goodness and the warmth of an embrace to each of us.
Mae Mae Mural Magic
By Liz Neumark
We recently decorated the outside of our building – and the facade of Mae Mae Cafe + Plant Store – with an incredible mural by @creativefirecracker, designed by @scratch_nyc and painted by @scratch_nyc, @kingbeeuw, #kerz #elvz
We couldn’t be happier with the results – check it out and let us know your favorite feature!
A few weeks ago, a client visiting our commissary for the first time, suggested we put a sign outside of our building that says Great Performances.
You could say we did that, Boogie Down Bronx style!
We also wanted to call more attention to our Mae Mae Café and Plant Shop adjacent to the front door at 2417 Third Avenue. We had tried a 6’ long banner, a neon sign in the café window, planters, A-frames, but nothing worked. We needed something big and beautiful and visible from afar.
Graffiti walls are a signature of the South Bronx. The artwork is under highways, on the side of bridge walls, adorns a giant wall at The Dream School and generally dot the Mott Haven landscape. We have a 60’ long mural by Crash that greets visitors to our 3rd floor office.
We connected with Jenny “Scratch” in September to imagine what the exterior of our building might look like, reflecting the café, our love of fresh produce, and the plants we sell. Then we submitted the sketch to our landlord and hoped for a yes. We got it!
The process took 7 days, one boom, a few artists, good weather and lots of spray paint. We love the joy it brings to our block along with new patrons at the café who “never knew you were there!”
And rest assured, you will know you have arrived at the Great Performances headquarters when you get here!
NOVEMBER FOOD FESTIVAL: CRANBERRY SAUCE
Our 2023 calendar theme, Preservation, is an ode to the art of preserving the harvest as well as a salute to the self-preservation of body and spirit. These have been challenging years! It’s fair to say we have been pickled and fermented, but that life goes on. It is the celebratory moments and the opportunities to come together that we relish.
This month, and just in time for Thanksgiving, we’re celebrating with Cranberry Sauce recipe that’s the perfect addition to any holiday meal (and post-holiday meal!)
Cranberry Sauce
by Albert Bello, Pastry Chef
INGREDIENTS
- 454 grams cranberries, defrosted preferred
- 312 grams light brown sugar
- 340 grams red wine or water
- 4 Tablespoons lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice (optional)
PROCEDURE
- In a large bowl, pop the berries by hand (don’t worry if you don’t get them all). Add the sugar and let rest overnight to extract the juices.
- The next day, put a plate in the fridge – this will be used to test the doneness of your sauce.
- To a saucepan add berry mixture, red wine, lime juice, spices, and heat on high for a few minutes, being careful not to burn the mix. Lower to medium and cook until you see small bubbles popping on the surface.
- Continue cooking till thick, stirring carefully with a spatula to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan and burn, about 15 minutes.
- Place a dollop on your chilled plate to test the thickness. When you’re satisfied, remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
More Food Festival Recipes
