JOYFULLY LIVING WITH PLANTS
By Liz Neumark
In 2020, we completed the construction of our new office at 2417 Third Avenue. It features a block long wall of windows which face south – clearly a sun drenched paradise with a great view of the Third Avenue Bridge and the Mott Haven cityscape.
Although the kitchen downstairs was busy producing food, the office was still a ghost town. There were 3 of us there most days – Shawn, overseeing the construction; Brandon, our Director of Transformation and Technology; and me). The plants that survived our interim office space were thrilled to move upstairs. But there was so much space, and so much light…..something was missing and we figured it out.
Instead of people coming to the office, we started bringing in our ‘green babies’. Every week, I would bring a few plants to liven up the office – and so did Brandon. Before we knew, there was a plant population explosion! It was marvelous and the office, though devoid of humans, was full of life.
There are some plants that I adore: staghorn ferns, hoyas, succulents, pileas, string of pears/turtles/hearts, and jade. There are several of each of those. One day we went to Wave Hill and came back with a load of plants from the gift shop – they continue to thrive.
Over time, as people came back to the office (and we are back in the office), we discovered the other green thumb people among us. They too have little plant families clustered around their desks. Our plant population has grown so large that we now have a talented plant lady (Jai) who comes on Sundays to water, do bug checks, repotting and other necessary oversight of our beloved jungle.
There is something very special about being surrounded by our plants. It is a wonderful connection to nature and to life. No matter how busy the day is, or how many zooms I have to endure, I look around and smile. It brings me peace and joy.
Alexandra Velasquez
Human Resources Administrator
She is the first plant I have ever owned and, to be quite honest, I’m so happy she’s still alive and blossoming beautifully. I have no idea what I am doing but I’m thankful to my coworkers who come to my desk and instruct me on how to take care of my sassy girl – yes, she’s sassy like her owner. 😊
Reba Marken
Venue Amenities Manager
My desk has become a rescue/sanctuary for some of our office plants. Many have been brought to me in a sad state or propagated from clippings and I’ve managed to nurture them back to life! It has definitely grown into my own little oasis (one of many in our office!).
Carina Hayek
Director of Marketing
Historically, I haven’t been very good at keeping plants alive (hence the collection of Lego plants at my desk.) However, as Liz went through greening the office, she dropped off Fluffy at my desk. I felt a natural affinity for him – a prickly exterior guarding a soft interior. He’s the strong, silent type, and I keep him on a pedestal – literally. We get along well, and he sits by me at the window, counting the cars that go by.
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND NEW YORK: OCTOBER 2022
By Great Performances
Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!
PALMER AND BIGUINI BAGHAKA
US TOUR
Friday, October 14th at 8:00pm
Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater
Tickets: start at $120
Tonton Pal and Biguini Bakhaga are Malian singer-songwriters. Their style of music are Mandingo (DJELIYA) sound and live band who will truly have you entertained.
OUMOU SANGARÉ
Saturday, October 29th at 8:00pm
Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater
Tickets: start at $33.50
PRESENTED BY WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE APOLLO
World Music Institute in association with The Apollo present Malian musician and GRAMMY Award winner Oumou Sangaré for an incredible one-night-only performance. One of West Africa’s most celebrated vocalists, Sangaré infuses her music with traditional African percussion, distinctive vocals, and progressive social criticism, creating a unique sound that has propelled her onto the international stage.
In her Apollo debut, Sangaré, “The Songbird of Wassoulou,” will perform music that spans traditional Wassoulou music to contemporary sounds coming out of Africa as well as songs from her recent critically acclaimed album, Timbuktu.
As an activist, businesswoman and global icon, Oumou Sangaré is considered an ambassador of Wassoulou; her music has been inspired by the music and traditional dances of the region. She writes and composes her songs, which often include social criticism, especially concerning women’s low status in society.
Drawing comparisons to legendary performers such as Grace Jones, Nina Simone, and Aretha Franklin, Sangaré has been praised by stars including Beyoncé and Alicia Keys for her powerful voice and unwavering commitment to the betterment of women.
This concert is presented as part of Apollo’s Fall 2022 Season as well as WMI’s WOMEN’S VOICES series celebrating the role that female artists play in the preservation and promotion of their respective cultures and traditions.
CROWD
Thursday, October 13th through Saturday, October 15th
Location: Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Tickets: start at $34.50
Gisèle Vienne stops time in this hypnotic work that’s captivated audiences from Tokyo to Sao Paulo. The acclaimed French choreographer transports us to a rave, conjuring up a cinematic fever dream, a sacred ritual, and a night spent losing oneself in the crowd. The air throbs with pulsing beats from the radical EDM artists of 90s Detroit. Time ebbs and flows, capturing a moment of explosive synchronicity or slowing down to illuminate the tiniest movements, as 15 individual stories emerge and are subsumed by the group.
Showcasing Vienne at the height of her artistic power, CROWD makes its US premiere at BAM in a rush of collective euphoria and creative transformation.
A LITTLE LIFE
Thursday, October 20th through Saturday, October 29th
Location: Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Tickets: start at $45
No book has captivated and moved millions of readers during the past few years like A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.
In this epic, worldwide bestselling novel, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Award in 2015, the complex relationships between four ambitious friends—a lawyer, an actor, an architect, and an artist—unfold over more than three decades. Adapted for the stage by celebrated director Ivo van Hove, this harrowing story follows them from college into the pressures of middle age in New York City. Jude, the troubled protagonist, is an introverted lawyer. Intense friendships are everything to him. Fearing intimacy as much as he hungers for it, his physical and mental well-being are at stake. The book and the play, both requiring total surrender, test the profound limits and potential of love.
HAMLET
Thursday, October 27th through Saturday, November 5th
Location: BAM Strong, Harvey Theater
Tickets: start at $35
From its mud-splattered, rain-soaked opening, Thomas Ostermeier’s Hamlet delivers on its reputation as one of the great interpretations of Shakespeare. Pop music, drag shows, and courtly duels coexist in riotous harmony in the German auteur’s legendary production, which finally comes to New York after traveling the globe to international acclaim. Cult Shakespearean star Lars Eidinger (Richard III) gives an unforgettable, no-holds-barred performance as the Dane, gliding between Hamlet’s famous soliloquies and raucous improvisations as he swears, schemes, and videotapes.
With the uncompromising vision that earned him the Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion in honor of his body of work, Ostermeier returns to BAM to bring new meaning to mad genius.
JAZZ IN THE GARDEN: AXEL TOSCA TRIO FEATURING XIOMARA LAUGART
Sunday, October 16th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor
Tickets: 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 October, Cuban jazz pianist Axel Tosca leads a trio that blends progressive jazz, Cuban timba, and R&B, with a dash of hip-hop. For this event they are joined by Tosca’s mother, famed Cuban trova singer Xiomara Laugart. A founding member of the renowned Latin fusion band Yerba Buena, Laugart also played the lead role in the 2007 off-Broadway musical Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz.
POP-UP MARKET
every Sunday from 10:30am – 5:30pm
Location: Brooklyn Museum Plaza
Stop by our market to shop one-of-a-kind, handmade items from local artisans. This weekly event features more than twenty vendors offering artwork, jewelry, fashion, home and apothecary goods, and more.
KAT WRIGHT
Presented in collaboration with City Winery
Friday, October 14th at 8:00pm
Tickets: start at $40
Kat Wright — with a voice both sultry and dynamic; delicate, yet powerful; gritty, but highly emotive and nuanced — has been described as “a young Bonnie Raitt meets Amy Winehouse.” Following her appearance at Caramoor’s American Roots Music Festival in 2021, the Burlington, VT, artist returns with her band for an evening of original music and soulful covers.
EVNIN RISING STARS I
Saturday, October 29th at 8:00pm
Tickets: start at $30
Overview
Young artists from Caramoor’s Evnin Rising Stars program perform in a pair of concerts for which the program’s guest Artistic Director, cellist Marcy Rosen, is joined by distinguished artists Joseph Lin, violin, and Steven Tenenbom, viola. In their first concert, the young instrumentalists perform Haydn’s String Quartet in B-flat Major; Brahms’ String Quintet in F Major; and Dvořák’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major. One of three mentoring programs at Caramoor, Evnin Rising Stars serves as an incubator for the next generation of classical musicians.
EVNIN RISING STARS I
Sunday, October 30th at 3:00pm
Tickets: start at $30
Overview
Young artists from Caramoor’s Evnin Rising Stars program perform in a pair of concerts for which the program’s guest Artistic Director, cellist Marcy Rosen, is joined by distinguished artists Joseph Lin, violin, and Steven Tenenbom, viola. In their second performance, the young musicians tackle Mozart’s String Quintet in D Major; Janáček’s emotionally-charged String Quartet No. 2; and Dohnányi’s melancholic Second Piano Quintet.
DIZZY’S 105TH BIRTHDAY: “GILLESPIANA” WITH JON FADDIS BIG BAND+
Friday, October 21st and Saturday, October 22nd
Tickets: start at $25
ABOUT THE SHOW
“He’s the best ever. Including me!” – Dizzy Gillespie, on Jon Faddis
Who better to honor Dizzy Gillespie on his birthday than his protégé, Jon Faddis, Dizzy’s life long hero, collaborator, bandmate and friend. For this occasion, Faddis has selected to tackle “Gillespiana” – the wide-ranging musical tour-de-fource that showcased Dizzy’s range and soul. The five song suite, composed by Argentine pianist, composer, arranger and conductor Lalo Schifrin specifically for Dizzy in an orchestral/big band setting, certainly is jazz, but also informed by classical and Latin music. It also does not have a sax section, but does have such instruments as tuba, french horn, congas, bongos and more. Prepare for an exhilarating ride, led by one so intimately familiar with this masterpiece.
PERFORMANCE LINEUP
Jon Faddis, bandleader/trumpet
Photo by John Abbott
RUFUS REID & EXPEDITION
Friday, October 28th through Sunday, October 30th
Tickets: start at $25
ABOUT THE SHOW
“I am excited with this new ensemble. The diversity of the members and the diversity of the compositions, as well, make this new ensemble have a sound deeply seated in the tradition with a fresh contemporary flare!” – Rufus Reid
Rufus Reid has long been one of the world’s top bassists. He’s toured and recorded with Stan Getz, Kenny Burrell, Nancy Wilson, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Dexter Gordon, Benny Golson, and countless others. Reid is increasingly stepping into the spotlight as a bandleader, and this new band is truly remarkable–a quintet made up of world-class soloists that will blow you away at each set.
PERFORMANCE LINEUP
Rufus Reid, bass
Roxy Coss, saxophones
Freddie Hendrix, trumpet
Roberta Piket, piano
Kenneth Salters, drums
MEMBERS ONLY TOUR: MASKED VIGILANTES ON SILENT MOTORBIKES
Thursday, October 20th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Tickets: free for members!
Poster House Members are invited with a guest to a private tour of Masked Vigilantes on Silent Motorbikes led by curator RJ Rushmore. This exhibition showcases fine and street art that incorporate advertising posters, repurposing and blurring their intended mass communication. See how renegade artists take the powerful visual language of posters, twisting and reimagining them into critical social commentary.
PH x TEENS DROP-IN: HORROR HOUSE
Thursday, October 27th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Tickets: free for teens!
Spooky Season is in full effect, and, for one night only, Poster House is turning into Horror House! Inspired by the exhibition Masked Vigilantes on Silent Motorbikes where artists take elements from posters and reinterpret them into new works, this program will have you draw from classic horror movie posters to create your own Halloween-themed lanterns. Shed some light on your own creation and join us for this fun, interactive activity!
PH x Teens: Horror House 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.
MY BROKEN LANGUAGE
Tuesday, October 18th through Sunday, November 27th
Tickets: start at $49
WORLD PREMIERE
The season kicks off with Pulitzer Prize-winner Quiara Alegría Hudes’s return to Signature for the second play in her Premiere Residency (following the 2016 world premiere of Daphne’s Dive), the stage adaptation of her memoir My Broken Language. The world premiere production, directed by Hudes and colliding monologue, literary reading, music, and movement in its depiction of an author growing up in a Puerto Rican family in Philadelphia, continues a momentous moment for the playwright: in 2021, she released the acclaimed book on which the play is based, and her Tony-nominated stage musical collaboration with Lin Manuel-Miranda, In the Heights, reached audiences around the world as a beloved major motion picture. (Hudes penned the book in the Broadway production and the film’s screenplay).
CONCERT: THE WESTERLIES
Sunday, October 16th from 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Armor Hall
Tickets: $30 Adult/$14 Child (8-18), including admission to the grounds. Advance tickets $2 off. Wave Hill Members save 10%
This performance features:
Andy Clausen – trombone
Willem de Koch – trombone
Riley Mulherkar – trumpet
Chloe Rowlands – trumpet
“An arty quartet … mixing ideas from jazz, new classical, and Appalachian folk” (The New York Times), The Westerlies is composed of childhood friends Riley Mulherkar, Chloe Rowlands, Andy Clausen and Willem de Koch. Their Wave Hill program titled Wherein Lies the Good is a bold and ferociously unique vision of brass, as works originally written for string quartet, solo piano and the human voice are reinvented through their kaleidoscopic lens.
In this special program for Wave Hill audiences, The Westerlies present a bold and ferociously unique vision of brass, as works originally written for string quartet, solo piano, and the human voice are reinvented through their kaleidoscopic lens. Original compositions and works from their latest, critically-acclaimed quartet album Wherein Lies the Good are presented alongside a reimagining of Caroline Shaw’s landmark string quartet Entr’acte. Imbued with the spirit of improvisation and a folk-like approachability, Wherein Lies the Good presents The Westerlies at their best, cutting new trails across the vast expanse of the American musical landscape. Selections to be announced from the stage.
ICE SKATING IN CENTRAL PARK
October 24th through March 15th
Tickets: start at $10
Time to get your tickets for the wonderful season ahead!
As stewards of the historic gathering space that is Wollman Rink, we pledge to spark bliss that exhilarates the community’s sense of connection, positivity and possibility. We can’t wait to get this season started!
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: OCTOBER 2022
By Great Performances
Explore exciting community events around the Bronx during October of 2022.
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS
Wednesday, October 19th from 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: 2700 East Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY 10461
The Bronx Council on the Arts is turning 60 and we want you to be part of this milestone! Celebrate with us as we honor Bronx Legends Bill Aguado, Marisol Diaz, and Jimmy Vacca. These three trailblazers have passionately contributed their resources, talents, and grit to BCA’s growth and The Bronx arts community.
WILD EDIBLE BANQUET SERIES
Location: Bronx River House
Follow along with Journei Bimwala of Bronx River Alliance and Candace Thompson of Solar One at Stuy Cove Park as they share easy ways to make wild foods into delectable drinks and tasty snacks fit for a Wild Food Banquet. LIVE streamed to viewers through the Bronx River Alliance YouTube Channel (Youtube.com/BronxRiverAlliance), participants will build a new relationship with the wild plants growing all around them. You’ll never see the weeds in your tree pit the same ever again.
October 8 / 3:30pm : Quick Pickling and Lacto-Fermentation
Understand how to “quick pickle” and lacto ferment plants for immediate enjoyment taking home sauerkraut you can enjoy well into the depths of winter.
October 15 / 2pm: Wild Seasonings
Go beyond basil and learn about the amazing flavors growing right along the Bronx River. Walk away with your own northeastern wild spice blend to enjoy at home.
October 22 / 2pm: Wild Nuts and Grains
Find out how wild seeds are more than food for the birds, using simple methods to process them into flours for crackers, pancakes and more.
CM FARIAS’S FALL FESTIVAL EVENT AT SOUNDVIEW PARK
Saturday, October 22nd from 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Lafayette Ave and Morrison Ave
Join the office of Council Member Farías for a Fall Festival at Soundview Park.
Free and open to the public. Family games, sports, crafts, and more will be provided!
FALL-O-WEEN
Tickets: Adults: $30, Students: $28, Children (2-12): $15, Children under 2: Free
The tricks and treats of fall come to life this year with plentiful pumpkins, gourds and ghouls, and fun-filled activities to celebrate this season of frights and foliage. There is something for everyone during the day or at night. Join us for special weekends of pumpkin parades and pumpkin carving face-offs, as well as the return of our beer sampling weekend—newly reimagined for 2022! Evening events give kids (and adults!) the chance to show off their Halloween costumes, artisan demos share the flavors of the season with food and drink talks, and so much more as the leaves transition to brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds.
FIRE CIDER WORKSHOP
Saturday, October 22nd from 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Taqwa Community Farm (90 W 164th Street, Bronx, NY 10452)
Fire cider—an herbal tonic—is a traditional remedy that stimulates digestion and supports respiratory wellness. As an immunity booster, it’s also helpful for warding off colds and flu during colder months. Fire cider is the perfect fall tonic that connects us to traditional practices originally developed by BIPOC communities. On Saturday, October 22, NYBG’s Humanities Institute partners with Taqwa Community Farm in the Bronx to offer a free community workshop. We will be using accessible household ingredients such as garlic, ginger, onion, pepper, turmeric root, horseradish root, lemon, honey, apple cider vinegar, and herbs provided by Taqwa Community Farm to make this warming remedy to prepare us for the months ahead.
Participants will have the opportunity to make their own fire cider.
UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Sunday, October 23rd from 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Pelham Bay Nature Center (Bruckner Boulevard and Wilkinson Avenue)
Learn about the different factors that determine our local daily weather and long term climate. Learn about cloud formation, the water cycle, and the urban heat island effect and their impact on nature and wildlife.
THE HAUNTED ISLANDS OF ORCHARD BEACH
Sunday, October 23rd from 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park
The islands that surround Orchard Beach are shrouded in myth and legend. Join the Urban Park Rangers to find out what’s true and what’s myth when it comes to these historic places.
SOUL FESTIVAL 2022
Saturday, October 15th from 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Saturday, October 22nd from 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Rev Lena Irons Unity Park (E 168th St and Washington Ave, Bronx, NY)
Get up with the award-winning Morrisania Band Project for a soul music fest at Unity Park.
Joined by singer/songwriter, Anita Webb.
FREE, all are welcome.
Sponsored by Bronx Council on the Arts, GREEN / ARTS LIVE NYC, and Citizens Committee for New York City.
HIKE-TOBERFEST
Saturday, October 15th from 1:30pm – 6:30pm
Location: Van Cortlandt House Museum (Broadway at West 246th Street)
Tickets: start at $25
Support the park! Hike-then-sip at Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s Annual Hike-toberfest!
Hike in the park followed by a classic Oktoberfest celebration, complete with local beer, German food, live music, lawn games, and more.
FALL FOLIAGE BIKE TOUR
Saturday, October 29th from 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center
Experience Van Cortlandt Park’s fall beauty on a bike tour with the Urban Park Rangers! We will meet at Van Cortlandt Nature Center and complete a route on designated bike paths to explore this diverse park. Please bring your own bike and helmet.
HALLOWEEN DOG SHOW
Friday, October 14th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center (3225 Reservoir Oval, Bronx, NY)
Tickets: FREE
Families along with their furry loved ones are invited to join Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center for a Pet Fashion Show to celebrate Halloween. Bring your leashed pet dressed to impress in their Halloween costumes to walk the runway, participate in obstacle courses, and take fun, Memorable photos.
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: SEPTEMBER 2022
By Great Performances
Explore exciting community events around the Bronx during September of 2022.
MONARCH CELEBRATION: A DAY DEDICATED TO THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY!
Saturday, September 3rd from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Location: Concrete Plant Park
Come celebrate Monarch butterflies with us September 3rd at Concrete Plant Park! Join us for a day all about the Monarch butterfly. Plant giveaways, butterfly observation station, art N crafts, butterfly tagging, “nectar” hydration station, cooking demos, raffle, and more! Sounds provided by Uptown Vinyl Supreme.
Come early and help us plant pollinator plants in the Bronx River Foodway, an edible food forest for humans and pollinators alike!
FOODWAY VOLUNTEER DAY
Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Concrete Plant Park
Lend a hand at the Bronx River Foodway Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10-12pm. Help us weed the gardens, lay mulch/woodchips, and care for the plants at the Foodway. Learn about the medicinal and edible plants growing. Bring home some foraged fruit, herbs, and nuts!
BRONX PARK EAST FARMERS MARKET
Sundays, June 5th through October 30th
Following 2021’s successful first season, we are expanding into Bronx Park East Farmers Market. Bronx Park East Farmers Market & Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program as a way to promote wellness initiatives, raise awareness about health issues, and generally show the community we care about their well being in Pelham Parkway, The Bronx. Benefits accepted.
DINOSAUR SAFARI
through October 30th
Tickets: included with Bronx Zoo Admission
It’s just like Jurassic Park—only without all the danger and drama. Dinosaur Safari returns to the Bronx Zoo, featuring prehistoric-themed events where kids can learn about the extinct species through tours, hands-on explorations and special events like a quarter mile walk through exhibit.
FRIENDS OF DEVOE PARK
End of Summer Peace Rally and Back to School Giveaway
Saturday, September 10th from 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Join us as we promote the agenda of peace, prosperity & progress for our community & city. As we continue to promote Education as the answer to a stable community, FODP along with neighborhood sponsors, will be distributing book bags and school supplies.
FALL-O-WEEN
Beginning September 17th
The tricks and treats of fall come to the Garden this year with plentiful pumpkins, hordes of gourds, and a wealth of opportunities to celebrate this season of frights and foliage. Join us for special weekends of pumpkin parades and carving face-offs, as well as the return of our beer sampling weekend for adults—newly reimagined for 2022! Evening events give kids the chance to show off their Halloween costumes, artisan demos share the flavors of the season with food and drink talks, and so much more as the leaves transition to oranges, yellows, and reds.
BALES & ALES
Saturday, September 24th from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Tickets: Non-Members $48, Members $20
Celebrate fall with live music, beer, and outdoor fun. Raise a toast to the flavors of fall with a bevy of local breweries on NYBG’s Daffodil Hill. Purchase a souvenir sampling cup to explore what’s on offer, with unlimited samples of craft beers, ciders, and seltzers available, then join in on lawn games, relax to live music, and grab a bite to eat. While you’re here, don’t miss harvesting and fermentation demos with our visiting brewers—making for the perfect autumn afternoon out!
NYC PARKS PRESENTS: BOCCE
NYC Parks Bronx Bocce Tournament
Saturday, September 24th from 8:30am to 4:00pm
Join NYC Parks for our annual bocce tournament in the Bronx! Players will compete in this borough-wide tournament for a chance to advance to the citywide championships. Players are welcome to register the same day as a team of four players, or individually.
WHAT WE'RE EATING THIS SUMMER
By Great Performances
SEO description. Try to make this 50-100 words so the rest of the recipes make up the rest
Morgan Golumbuk
Event Director
To say that I simply “enjoy” planning last-minute jaunts to Canada is somewhat of an understatement; my listed hobbies on my dating app of choice include “running,” “live music,” & “weekend trips to Montreal.” On my latest trip in early April, I was greeted by light, continuous rain, apple brandy, & an earnest recommendation to cancel my existing Saturday night dinner reservation and go to Thai restaurant Pichai instead.
I sat at the bar & asked the bartender to choose for me (something that I do on most solo trips, not just the ones featuring menus predominantly in French). I used my fingers for the first course, flattening little balls of sticky rice to pair with fermented sausage, cucumber, cabbage, herbs, peppers, & peanuts. Then came the pièce de résistance: a dish of grilled swordfish in red curry sauce that made my tastebuds sing. The fish was inspiring; rich and flavorful with a unique, soulful taste that was completely brand new to me. I rounded out the meal with Thai tea tiramisu and amara and went on to dance with new friends in Old Montréal until the wee hours. A perfect Saturday night.
Kay Bae
Finance Manager
No wines ordered, but we had these amazing steaks at Taste of Texas at Houston, one of the most popular steak houses in Texas. When we arrived, they took us to the butcher fridge and we picked out the meats. The metal disk in the pictures is the identification number.
- Porter House Steak
- Tomahawk Ribeye
- Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Jam
- Baked Potato
- Creme Brulee
Unfortunately, I forgot to take picture of all you can eat salad bar 🙁
Linda Abbey
Executive Vice President
We recently travelled to Costa Rica and had some wonderful meals.
Dinner at La Jungla @ Cariblue
- Pisco Sour
- And the best Cheeseburger I have ever had with Bacon and Avocado (I know…not local/ethnic but still divine)
- A mirror mosaic in the shape of a wave
Then we had local Chef David Salamanca come to our “compound” to cook on two of our nights there.
Night 2:
- Crabs
- Red Snapper (fresh fresh fresh)
- Clams/Squid
- Cachones (Plantains)
- Beet Salad
- Roasted Corn
- Pork Ribs
- Local Chocolate cake with caramel and dulce de leche
WHAT OUR PETS EAT
By Great Peformances
Many of us at Great Performances are also pet owners (or parents) and adore the little furballs that are part of our families. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite furry friends and the foods and special treats they eat!
Chris Harkness and pet, Duncan
Vice President of Food and Beverage
Duncan loves to eat his food, but he also likes lettuce and especially cheese or anything dairy, that I might or might not let him have.
Trevor Buchanan and pet, Taro
Chief Financial Officer
Taro is hyper-attentive and follows instructions to get his fried sardine treat!
Liz Neumark and pet, Kimchi
CEO and Founder
Kimchi is a bottomless pit. She relishes endless affection and is always hungry. Lately, she is enjoying summer watermelon, peaches and tomatoes – a diet that never really works out well for anyone! We adopted Kimchi in November of 2020 at 7 weeks old – you could say she was our Covid Kitten! She loves to chase bugs, sleeps in a 4 quart fruit box and enjoys making an appearance on zoom calls whenever possible.
Wen-Shuan Yang and pet, Kiki
Event Producer
Name: Kiki
Age: 3.5 human years
Whatever we eat, he needs to sniff and approve. As a mostly vegetarian household, he often gets disappointed. But still need to check anyway 🙂
Alison Panigall and pets, Boo and Fatty
Venue Director
Here are my boys, Boo and Fatty. Almost 12 years old they are brothers and best buds. I rescued them in Florida.
They beg for treats all day long and love the tuna flavor from Friskies.
I tried to switch to greenies for a healthier treat, they were not having it!
Most days I find them curled up napping together.
Reba Marken and pet, Luna
Venue Amenities Manager
I bake Luna a little tuna cupcake for her birthday each year. She’s obsessed with tuna and loves chowing down on her birthday, April 1st. 🙂
WHAT WE'RE READING THIS SUMMER
By Great Performances
Just as we feed and nurture our bodies with delicious food from our kitchens to our commissary; from restaurants in New York and beyond; and from delicious produce from Katchkie Farm, we also work on nourishing our souls and brains with the written word.
Most of us at GP have at least one book we’re reading, and dozens more on deck, and we enjoy a wide arrange of literature from delicious beach reads and contemplative self-help books to insightful industry works and heart-wrenching novels. And we devour these books through a variety of media with our eyes and our ears.
Check out some of our current reading lists and let us know what you’re reading! We’re always looking for our next piece of brain candy!
Ronnie Davis
RDP
I am currently reading two books on my iPad. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva
In hardcover I am reading Work Mate Marry Love by Debora Spar, former President of Barnard College.
Gary Bedigan
Senior Event Director
- Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (play adapted by Matthew Spangler) as a good ol’ fashion paperback
- BAM… And Then It Hit Me by Karen Brooks Hopkins (the audio version is FAB, read by KBH). This is a MUST read for any theater lover, fundraiser, or leader
- Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown. This (and all her books) are best read with a highlighter and pen close in hand for those “YESS” moments
- Next up is Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
Karla Jovel
Catering Operations Coordinator, Special Events
I just finished reading Where the Crawdads Sing. It was a good read… it’s sad and beautiful and not what I thought would happen. I decided to read it after I saw the trailer for the movie.
Lauren Tregor
Senior Event Director
I just finished Elin Hilderbrands’ Hotel Nantucket. It was a fun beach read but spoke to me because of the references to food, beverages and hospitality. (This was an ebook from the library!)
Jill Cole
Senior Event Director
Although this book was released back in January, I’ve waiting until summer to savor reading these pages.
Written by dear friend and client of Great Performances, Xochitl Gonzalez went from wedding planner extraordinaire to New York Times bestselling author with her debut novel Olga Dies Dreaming. Not to mention, Hulu has already picked up the rights for the TV series before the book was even published!
Cherish Knudsen
Event Producer
Every Monday night for the past several weeks, my family and I have done a nightly Zoom discussing a book we are all reading. My sister-in-law, a doctor who studies brain research (her mother has Alzheimer’s), really wanted our family to be a part of her family’s book discussion!!!! So we blended her family with ours and started to read Keep Your Wits About You: The Science of Brain Maintenance as You Age by Vonetta M. Dotson, PhD. It’s all about doing the best we can all do to stay healthy – mind / body / spirit. It’s a book for ALL ages (not just the elderly 😉
Liz Neumark
CEO and Founder
It is a good summer for reading! My list reflects a wide range of interests and topics – so here it is:
I have enjoyed Colm Toibin’s The Magician (a biographical fiction of the life of Thomas Mann), The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (a wonderful friend and a perfect beach read) and The Foundling by Ann Leary (had me in tears at the end).
I just started An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor at the recommendation of the wonderful book folks at the Chatham Book Store.
The pleasure of reading is enhanced by the experience of book discovery. Whether it is a friends recommendation or a trusted independent book shop, finding the right book to spend time with, can be hard.
The joy of reading, of losing myself in another time/place/life is one of the greatest pleasures I experience.
Carina Hayek
Director of Marketing
Kindle:
- The Last Bookshop in London: A Novel of World War II by Madeline Martin – I just started this
- Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz – I just finished this last week. I love a good mystery and this one ticked the boxes on top of being a mise en abyme and of poking fun at the genre. I just found out it’s going to be a series on PBS which in the context is absolutely perfect
Audible:
- Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica and read by Brittany Pressley, Jennifer Jill Aray, Gary Tiedemann, Jesse Vilinsky – just started it and it’s sucking me in!
- Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters and read by Barbara Rosenblat – just finished this; I’m trying to read some of the classic mystery writers
Print Books:
- A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris – a recommendation by a friend that I’ve read before and was so powerful that I want to experience it again
- Welcome to the Universe (in 3D) by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, J. Richard Gott, and Robert J. Vanderbei – because SCIENCE
- Vegan Boards by Kate Kasbee
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: AUGUST 2022
By Great Performances
Explore exciting community events around the Bronx during August of 2022.
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS: THE BAD GUYS
Friday, August 12th from 8:30pm-10:30pm
Location: Concrete Plant Park
Grab a blanket and join Concrete Friends and the Bronx River Alliance for a FREE movie night! We’ll be watching “The Bad Guys” at 8:30pm at Concrete Plant Park! No registration required.
Come early at 6pm for a free art workshop we’ll be hosting before the movie: “The River Ran Silver”
BRONX RIVER INDUSTRIAL FOOD HISTORIES TOUR
Sunday, August 21st at 2:00pm
Location: Reflecting Pool at the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Hear from Steve Devillo of the Bronx River Alliance how the Bronx River was used as a resource for commerce and food production.
MAKE INK: A FORAGER’S GUIDE
Saturday, August 13th and Saturday, August 20th from 11:0am to 1:00pm
Tickets: Members $85, Non-Members $95
Gather plants and urban detritus (like rust!) from the surrounding landscape to make beautiful dyes-bright magenta pokeweed, dark black walnut, and rich purple wild grape. In the first session, artist and founder of the Toronto Ink Company Jason Logan will teach you which organic and non-organic materials work best and where to look for them. In the second session, you’ll mix, test, and transform what you’ve foraged into rich, vibrant inks using simple household ingredients.
TOOLS FOR THE TABLE: ARTISAN DEMONSTRATIONS
Saturdays & Sundays Through September 11
The products we see in this exhibition undergo a major transformation to become the foods we love—whether soaked in a pan or ground in a pot, the tools we use to prepare them are an important part of the process, from farm to table.
Watch as expert local artisans share the tools and techniques necessary for preparing these foods, and how we might give scraps or leftovers a second life.
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.
FAMILY CAMPING IN PELHAM BAY PARK
Sunday, August 21st from 6:00pm to 7:30am
Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park
We camp to create lasting memories, connect with the natural world, and bond with our families. The Urban Park Rangers celebrate the tradition of camping and we look forward to welcoming your family. Families are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday August 10.
STARLIGHT CINEMA: NATURE’S REVENGE
The Birds (1963)
Thursday, August 4th at 7:30pm
Location: Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground
Pack a picnic and bring your own blanket! Movies begin at last light of day (8:30-9:00pm). Arrive early! From 7:30pm:
- Dance Party: Boogie to the hits of 1954, 1963, 1986, 1993
- Movie Themed Crafts
- Nature Nerds with VCPA: Meet the plants & more!
NATURE PUPPET SHOW
Sunday, August 7th from 1:00-2:00pm
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center
The Urban Park Rangers welcome you for some nature themed puppet shows! Learn more about animals that can be found in our local parks.
STARLIGHT CINEMA: NATURE’S REVENGE
Jurassic Park (1993)
Thursday, August 11th at 7:30pm
Location: Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground
Pack a picnic and bring your own blanket! Movies begin at last light of day (8:30-9:00pm). Arrive early! From 7:30pm:
- Dance Party: Boogie to the hits of 1954, 1963, 1986, 1993
- Movie Themed Crafts
- Nature Nerds with VCPA: Meet the plants & 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.
EXCITING EVENTS AROUND NEW YORK: AUGUST 2022
By Great Performances
Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!
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.
TEEN TAKEOVER 2022 THE CODE
Friday, August 12th at 6:00pm
Location: Soundstage at the Apollo
APOLLO EDUCATION PRESENTS
Teen Takeover returns to the Apollo’s soundstage for an exclusive one-night-only teen event. On this magical night, guests are transported through an immersive experience of music, dance, and visual arts. The Code is an intimate underground artist showcase and the place to be for Gen Z this summer.
FEATURING
TKaiia
Yeily
Legacy Dance Company
Urban Word NYC Slam Team & 2022 Youth Poet Laureate
Henry Baltz
Maria Paula Campos
Sarah Lua
Ivan Nunez
Nature Musiq
DJ LR3
Host – Ryan Barnes
Early access tickets are available through our featured artists. Follow them to unlock the special code for entry. General admission tickets will become available on July 29th.
DRINK AND DRAW
Thursday, August 18th from 7:00pm-9:30pm
Location: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor
Ticket Information: $35 and include after-hours admission to Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech,” 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 August, sketch from live models and enjoy after-hours access to our special exhibition Virgil Abloh: “Figures of Speech.” Experiment with materials in this casual class led by teaching artist Mellasenah Nicole Edwards. Plus, groove to tunes by Roze Royze.
POP-UP PERFORMANCE: BROOKLYN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Sunday, August 21st from 3:15pm-4:30pm
Location: Beaux-Arts Court, 3rd Floor
Drop by to hear music for string instruments performed by members of the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra.
This event is free. Masks are strongly encouraged.
CONCERT ON THE LAWN: UPSTATE
Presented in collaboration with City Winery
Wednesday, August 17th at 7:00pm
Ticket Information: Adults $35, Children $15
Following a rousing performance at our 2021 American Roots Music Festival, Upstate returns to take you on a textured musical journey as they weave traces of Americana, jazz, gospel, and R&B with their eyes towards music that tells the truth above all. With a clear ambition to write honest songs, play rich music, and “leave it all” on the stage, they’ve earned their reputation for eclectic instrumentation, musicianship, and powerfully dense harmony.
CONCERT ON THE LAWN: MATTHEW WHITAKER QUINTET
Presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center
Friday, August 19th at 7:00pm
Ticket Information: Adults $35, Children $15
Overview
Young piano and organ phenomenon Matthew Whitaker is one of the most exciting talents to emerge in recent years. A child prodigy, he has since shared the stage with some of the biggest and brightest stars in jazz. Whitaker also shines as an award-winning composer and an acclaimed bandleader whose unrelenting energy uplifts his bands and audiences alike.
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! This concert takes place rain or shine. If it rains, we will move into the Venetian Theater.
Artists
Matthew Whitaker, piano
Marcos Robinson, guitar
Karim “Kace” Hutton, bass
Johnny Steele, drums
Ivan Llanes, percussion
SHEILA JORDAN WITH RONI BEN-HUR AND HARVIE S
Saturday, August 13th and Sunday, August 14th
Ticket Information: Start at $45
ABOUT THE SHOW
Vocalist and NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan, called “the singer with the million dollar ears” by her friend and teacher Charlie Parker, has long been celebrated for her incredible career in jazz. Tonight, she is joined by guitarist Roni Ben-Hur and her longtime bassist Harvie S on Saturday night, tenor saxophonist and Monk Award winner Melissa Aldana will appear as a special guest. And on Sunday, the venerable 87-year old tenor saxophonist Houston Person will lend his sweet sound to the evening. Reserve your seats for a true lesson from the masters!
PERFORMANCE LINEUP
Sheila Jordan, vocals
Roni Ben-Hur, guitar
Harvie S, bass
Melissa Aldana, tenor saxophone (8/13)
Houston Person, tenor saxophone (8/14)
WILLIE JONES III SEXTET: JACKIE’S BAG
Thursday, August 18th through Sunday, August 21st
Ticket Information: Start at $35
ABOUT THE SHOW
Willie Jones III –dynamic bandleader, in-demand sideman, determined producer and record label owner–convenes a cadre of musicians spanning generations to imbue Dizzy’s with the spirit of legendary saxophonist Jackie McClean. Among the evening’s musical selections will be tunes from McClean’s seminal album Let Freedom Ring, recorded in 1962. “There was a lot happening in jazz [that year], and McClean was right in the thick of it,” reported NPR. “He was working with the then-new ideas of John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman, having graduated from the ‘University of Hard Bop,’ Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. And on Let Freedom Ring, he used all of it to forge his own sound.” For what has become his annual appearance at Dizzy’s, Jones will demonstrate his signature sense of swing and soul while exploring the sounds of some of the most creative figures in jazz.
PERFORMANCE LINEUP
Willie Jones III, leader and drums
Justin Robinson, alto saxophone
Steve Davis, trombone
Giveton Gelin, trumpet
Isaiah J. Thompson, piano
Endea Owens, bass
POSTER HOUSE BLOCK PARTY
Saturday, August 6th from 12:00-5:00pm
We at Poster House are hosting our first-ever block party, and we couldn’t be more excited! Join us on Saturday August 6 from 12–5pm in the Flatiron Plaza for a fun-filled day of activities, free museum tours, performances, giveaways, and more! Attendees also get free admission to Poster House all day. With a full slate of activations and performances, there’s something for everyone! Stay tuned for the full performance lineup, and be sure to register to be the first to receive exciting updates.
NOSTROVIA! VODKA DISTILLERY TOUR & TASTING
Wednesday, August 17th from 6:00-8:00pm
Ticket Information: $60
“Na Zdorovie,” commonly mispronounced in English as “Nostrovia”, is a common Russian and Polish toast. Join Poster House at Our New York Vodka, the first distillery in Manhattan since the Prohibition era, for a private tour and tasting in honor of the hit exhibition The Utopian Avant Garde. Get a behind the scenes look at the production methods used to create the former Soviet Union’s signature beverage and enjoy specialty cocktail samplings of this uniquely New York take on the spirit. Afterward, learn about the history of vodka from Don Spiro, Poster House’s resident mixologist and founder of the Green Fairy Society. Tickets include a two hour open bar with light appetizers. Members receive 20% off on all tickets by entering their email address at checkout.
DANCE PARTY NYC
Saturday, August 6th from 3:00-4:30pm
Location: Great Lawn
Ticket Information: FREE
As part of the Festival of New York, Wave Hill is thrilled to participate in Dance Party NYC. On the same day, at dozens of locations across all five boroughs, simultaneous dance parties will bring thousands of New Yorkers out for an afternoon of unfettered, mass joy. Wave Hill’s outdoor dance party on the Great Lawn will feature a live set by DJ Stormin’ Norman that will keep your feet moving, welcoming friends and neighbors of all ages to join! Originally hailing from East London, UK, and now based in Harlem, DJ Stormin’ Norman currently DJs and produces Sundae Sermon, an outdoor summer dance event that brings together thousands of attendees in Harlem parks. DJ Stormin’s diverse style allows him to play in different musical scenes, including disco classics, funk, soul, classic hip hop, R&B and deep house.
EVENING IN THE GARDEN: ISAAC POOL – HORIZON LIES
Thursday, August 11th from 7:00-8:00pm
Location: Aquatic Garden
Ticket Information: $12. Wave Hill Members save 10%.
For Horizon Lies, interdisciplinary artist Isaac Pool takes cues from Untitled Mood Lighting, an earlier performance filmed indoors at Wave Hill in October 2021, which explored notions of isolation, longing and the sustaining promise of fantasy. Featuring dancers, musicians, lights and fog, Pool will transform the Aquatic Garden and surrounding areas to highlight themes of strangeness and beauty, performing and living. In this work, Pool asks the audience to consider larger questions that many might be contemplating during the pandemic: Is getting dressed in the morning a simple task or a chance to reposition one’s place in society? How might our singular pursuits for joy create opportunities for collective freedom? How do our behaviors change between private and public spaces? Responding to the garden, including its landscaping, architecture and wayfinding, this new iteration sees performers grapple with the outside world where exposure to the elements and a live audience begins to break down the barriers between privacy and visibility. Rain date: Aug 18. Evening in the Gardens event.
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.
NEW YORK CITY OPERA
Tuesday, August 2nd and Monday, August 15th
Ticket Information: $15 – general admission to the performances. This is a non-skating event,
Extraordinary artists from the New York City Opera will perform Opera’s Greatest Moments, adding to our summer of live performances at Wollman Rink in Central Park! Throughout the evening you will hear a range of opera favorites.
FROM FARM TO KITCHEN
Farmer Jon and Chef Andrew Collaborate to Grow Produce for GP's Kitchen
By Great Performances
Katchkie Farm has served as a source of inspiration and ingredients for our chefs for decades. Our chefs have visited the farm, getting the opportunity to get their hands in the dirt to connect with the land, taste the vegetables ripening on the stem and vine, and then receive truck loads of produce that they incorporated into their menus. Long time customers and clients are well familiar with our farm fare, which ran the gamut from beet chips and beet ketchup to tomato soup and tomato ketchup — and so much more!
This year, however, is an incredibly special year. Not only because we’ve expanded our CSA (if you haven’t signed up, this is your last chance, visit the link here: https://www.katchkiefarm.com/csa), but because Farmer Jon and Chef Andrew have sown the seeds for an even stronger connection between the farm and the kitchen. Pun intended.
Over the winter months, Chef Andrew and Farmer Jon poured over seed catalogs and discussed various vegetables and herbs and found the intersection between what would grow well on the farm, what we could use in our menus, and what are the items that are more unusual and difficult to find in stores.
What a boon to all of us! At the CSA we’ve been enjoying an even wider variety of produce. And once the crops really begin coming in, we’ll see a host of exciting new flavors and featured vegetables. Read on to learn more from Farmer Jon and Chef Andrew and get a sneak peek of the crops being raised.
From the Kitchen
Chef Andrew recently spoke to us about his passion for vegetables and all things we could grow on the farm. This year, he’s especially enthusiastic about collaborating with Farmer Jon to select some of the crops that will be grown that will directly support his creative direction for Great Performances! And example he shared was growing basil (we’re growing four varieties – Siracusa, Thai Lemon, Holy, and Sweet Thai) for use both fresh and dried. Chef Andrew is planning on drying and preserving some of the basil to use in one of his dishes for the fall, which will use Katchkie Farm winter squash along with the dried basil to create a delicious dish for our guests.
He’s also looking forward to getting some produce that’s harder to find through traditional channels and that will put a distinctive note to dishes on our menus.
From the Farm
From Farmer Jon:
The first time I met Chef Andrew was at the Farm Dinner last July. A conversation ensued on that hot summer day about all things related to food. Chef Andrew began describing the flavor attributes of the different mints, basils, and the beauty that can be brought to the plate with the plethora of heirloom vegetables. A love for growing these more eclectic crops was sown many years ago. Now there was an opportunity to further engage with all of the subtlety and variations expressed in the delicate flavors and rich hues of these plants.
Little by little we worked our way through to choose over 100 varieties to grow for GP this growing season. There are purple and white striped snap beans, flowering amaranth, golden beets, an orchestra of tomatoes and just about everything in between. Many of which will also be found in CSA bags this year!
As a grower, consistency is usually paramount, but this is rare opportunity in which flavor, color and beauty take precedent. This is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity! I hope you all enjoy!
So far this summer, we’ve seen the outcome of this most directly in our CSA bags which have contained Purple Scallions, Bel Fiore Radicchio, and Purple Sprouting Broccoli among many other treats.
Check out our CSA – it’s not too late to join us! – by visiting our website here: www.katchkiefarm.com/csa