“From coastal resiliency and sustainable green practices to the preservation of affordable housing, world-class public art, and vibrant, year-round programming in award-winning public spaces, Battery Park City leads the way in many of the measures that makes cities livable."

Raju Mann

President & CEO
  • 12/23
  • Art & Culture
  • BPC People
  • Community
  • Environment

BATTERY PARK CITY AUTHORITY’S WINTER 2020 PROGRAM & EVENT GUIDE

New Content and Expanded Favorites Include Art, Film, Workshops, and Celebrations of Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Earth Day, and More

The Battery Park City Authority Winter 2020 Program & Event Guide, details some 900 public programs and events across Battery Park City from January to April. The full calendar of mostly-free, indoor and outdoor programs includes art, music, film, dance, nature, fitness, and much more. The Guide is available on BPCA’s website, with sustainably-printed (100% recycled chlorine-free paper with soy and vegetable ink) hardcopies to all mailing list subscribers arriving in mailboxes soon. Interested individuals can subscribe to the mailing list by visiting bpca.ny.gov/events, by phone at (212) 267-9700, or at any BPCA program or event.

“After another great year here in Battery Park City, we invite all of our residents, partners, and friends to join us for a 2020 that’s chock full of fun,” said BPCA President and CEO B.J. Jones. “From our thought-provoking Tuesday Talks series and special cultural celebrations, to Friday night art house film classics and special Earth Day celebrations, we look forward to spending the upcoming programming season with you here.”

“I am thrilled to join the Battery Park City Authority to ring in yet another holiday season with cheer – featuring even more dynamic programs, workshops and events for Battery Park City residents and families across the City to enjoy,” said Council Member Margaret Chin. “BPCA’s seasonal calendar has always highlighted the best culture and history that Lower Manhattan has to offer. Congratulations to B.J. Jones and staff on their work to bring the magic of the holidays to our Battery Park City community.”

“As the seasons change, the BPCA adapts and enhances their programming which has become so beloved in Lower Manhattan, said Manhattan Community Board Chairman Anthony Notaro. “We laud BPCA and their whole team for bringing warmth to another winter.”

The Winter 2020 Program & Event Guide features nearly 20 pages of illustrated program offerings organized by month as well as by those for seniors, adults, school-aged kids, and young children.

The Guide also includes membership information and class schedules for the Community Center at Stuyvesant High School, permitting info for public spaces at 6 River Terrace and the BPC Ball Fields, details about BPCA’s tree recycling program through January 27, and a map of key neighborhood locations, restrooms, art installations, and composting drop-off sites.

Highlights of the Winter Program & Event Guide include—

Friday Night Film Series: Art House Classics | Select Fridays, 6PM @ 6 River Terrace. The best art house cinema is characterized by independent filmmakers with uncompromising vision. This series features courageous films inspired by the civil rights movement. Free popcorn will be served, and a discussion will follow the screenings. Mature audiences only.

o Friday, January 10 // Putney Swope – This 1969 comedy about a black advertising executive satirizes the advertising world, the portrayal of race in Hollywood films, the white power structure, and the nature of corporate corruption. Free popcorn will be served, and a discussion will follow the screenings.

o Friday, February 7 // Shadows – This 1958 American independent dramatic film, directed by John Cassavetes, explores race relations during the Beat Generation years in New York City.

o Friday, March 13 // The Harder They Come – This 1972 Jamaican film features Jimmy Cliff as an aspiring young singer from the countryside who travels to Kingston to pursue musical stardom. After being victimized by an unscrupulous record producer, the local drug trade, and corrupt police, he fights back and becomes an inadvertent folk hero.

Community Room Celebrations | Select Weekdays, 2-4PM @ 200 Rector Place. The BPC Community Room at 200 Rector Place, consisting of a 650-square foot community room, kitchen, and restrooms, is home to several BPCA-coordinated events for local seniors, including weekly drop-in and board game sessions. This winter it also plays host to the following community celebrations:

o Monday, January 13 // Karaoke Jam Session – Calling all wanna-be rockers, Broadway stars, and crooners! Sing away the winter blues with a fun afternoon of friends and tunes at our very own karaoke “bar” complete with tea and treats.

o Friday, February 14 // Valentine’s Day Sweet Swap – Bring in a few dozen of one kind of sweet to trade with friends and BPCA staff at this quaint celebration of the sweetest day of the year!

o Tuesday, March 17 // St. Patrick’s Day Soiree – Everybody’s Irish on St. Paddy’s Day! Lads and lassies are invited to wear green and join friends and BPCA staff for tea and sweets on this cheery holiday.

Tuesday Talks: Select Tuesdays @ 6 River Terrace. BPCA’s popular lunchtime lecture series continues this season with a quartet of timely sessions:

o January 14, 7PM // Conversation with Paul Rieckhoff – Paul Rieckhoff, host of the Angry Americans podcast, is a BPC resident, veteran of the Iraq War, writer, activist and an advocate for veteran’s rights. Rieckhoff will host an informal and engaging conversation focused on local issues that may end up in the national spotlight in the upcoming Democratic presidential debates and 2020 Presidential election. The discussion will include questions from the audience.

“Battery Park City is one of the most dynamic and vital communities in America, said Paul Rieckhoff. “I’m honored to be a part of this incredible winter program – especially at such an important time in the history of our neighborhood, our city, and our country.”

o February 4, 1PM // Exploring the African American Burial Ground Memorial – In celebration of Black History Month, guest speaker T. Rasul Murray, a historical interpreter and griot at the African Burial Ground National Monument, will present an overview of this sacred site in Lower Manhattan, which honors African Americans and informs on the hardships they endured in early America. Discovered in 1991, the burial ground is considered to be one of the most significant archeological finds in the U.S. over the past century.

o March 24, 7PM // Women’s Werk – Building upon the success of last year’s discussion on the gig economy, this Women’s Month we focus on ‘next step’ practices to help propel your project forward. Topics covered in this informal talk and meet-and-greet with experts Kelly Ridgway, Alexis Henry, and DJ Bembona include sharing resources, financial literacy, and developing your own personal support system. Wear your brand tee, swap swag, and network with like-minded women ‘werkin’ it’ just like you.

o April 21, 1PM // Nature in Poetry with Bob Holman – Celebrate Earth Day with poet Bob Holman, founder of the Bowery Poetry Club and central figure in the spoken word, slam, and digital poetry movements of the last several decades. His recent award-winning work in language revitalization will be showcased with a screening of Khonsay: Poem of Many Tongues, which contains lines from 50 different endangered languages. Readings and discussions of original poems – as well as works of other poets inspired by nature – will highlight our connection with endangered species as we reflect on Earth Day.

Saturday Family Workshops: Select Saturdays, 11AM-12:30PM @ 6 River Terrace.

o January 25 // Masquerade: Bulgarian Surva – Surva is a Balkan festival where thousands of people join in a grand parade of costumes and folkloric games to scare away evil spirits, and wish a prosperous year to all. Make your own Surva-inspired mask and take part in a parade led by Young Bulgarian Voices of New York.

– 11AM: Art project (designed for ages 4 and up)

– 11:45AM: Family concert

o February 22 // Masquerade: Venetian Carnival – The Carnival of Venice is world renowned for elaborate and colorful masks and for the ancient theatrics of the Commedia dell’Arte. In this workshop, participants will make their own character masks and watch a performance by the Kairos Italy Theater in English and Italian.

– 11AM: Art project (ages 4+)

– 11:45AM: Family concert

o March 7 // S.T.E.A.M. Dream – Kids are invited to pick up S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) at this special event featuring quirky projects from BK Robot Foundry, an interactive discovery zone, and live performance by Soul Science Lab featuring Code SCTY.

– 11AM: S.T.E.A.M. projects (ages 4+)

– 11:45AM: Family concert

o March 21 // Masquerade: Japanese Matsuri – Traditional Japanese masks are archetypes borrowed from myth, ancient dances or Noh theater, which represent an array of people, creatures and animals. Make your own Japanese-inspired mask and enjoy a dynamic drumming performance by Taiko Masala.

– 11AM: Art project (ages 4+)

– 11:45AM: Family Concert

2020 Annual BPC Art Exhibition: Starts Sunday, January 26, 1PM @ 75 Battery Place with Opening Reception. All are welcome to enjoy the inspired artwork created by participants of all ages at BPCA’s art programs! Meet many of the participating artists, the artist/educators who lead the programs, and learn about upcoming BPCA art programs and events. Art on view weekdays through March 27 (no viewing on February 17).

Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra: Songs of our Sphere – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! | Sunday, April 5, 4PM @ 6 River Terrace. Inspired by ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras, who believed that the movements of celestial bodies are a form of music, and that, through this connection, humanity is at one with the universe. KCO musicians will present works that celebrate nature, such as Vivaldi’s Spring from “The Four Seasons,” Kurt Weill’s “Lost In The Stars,” and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning” – music that compels us to reflect on our continued existence on this earth.

“Battery Park City’s connections to nature – beautiful parks, breezy waterfront spaces – as well as its active role in addressing our vulnerability to rising seas, makes the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra’s musical celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day next April especially poignant,” said Gary S. Fagin, founder and music director of the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra. “With inspiring music, the KCO seeks to motivate people to confront the urgency of the climate crisis, and act. We are grateful to the Battery Park City Authority for their support, their resilience work, and their belief in the power of music to drive change.”

BPCA also continues its valued community partnership with the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust (36 Battery Place in Battery Park City) this winter with the following events:

Monday, January 13, 7PM // Write Me: Film Screening and Artist & Activist Talkback. Write Me (2019) is a short film that follows a Holocaust survivor and a survivor of human trafficking regaining power over their bodies by removing physical evidence of tattoos and “branding.” Adapted from the poem, “After Auschwitz,” by Deborah Kahan Kolb, and premiering at the 2020 New York Jewish Film Festival, this preview screening will be followed by a discussion with director Pearl Gluck, poet Deborah Kahan Kolb, composer Lisa Gutkin, Auschwitz survivor Shirley Gottesman, trafficking survivor Barbara Freeman, and tattoo artist Virginia Elwood. The free evening is part of a series to engage audiences in conversations on art, social justice, and history.

Thursday, March 26, 6:30PM // Write Me: Film Screening and Educators & Activist Panel. In honor of Women’s History month, Pearl Gluck will introduce her short film, Write Me, followed by a panel discussion on branding and marking of women’s bodies in the context of trafficking and power. With Rochelle G. Saidel, founder and executive director of the Remember the Women Institute and co-editor of Sexual Violence against Jewish Women during the Holocaust; and Carol E. Henderson, Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Emory University and an author of Imagining the Black Female Body, and others.

“It’s wonderful to join the resources of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and Battery Park City Authority to present programming for our community. The Write Me series is a unique opportunity to explore historical and contemporary issues raised by the Museum’s acclaimed exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. We look forward to welcoming our neighbors,” said Jack Kliger, Museum President & CEO.

For more info visit: bpca.ny.gov.

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