Central Park’s Belvedere Castle officially reopened yesterday, and you can join the 3Ts for a private tour on July 18th! Pride week ends tomorrow with the biggest celebration in the world. Love the blues? Catch Evangeline Johns at Don’t Tell Mama. And the biggest outdoor dance party is back at Lincoln Center. There’s also a very important kidney donor awareness event. Valerie Smaldone shares her week of food and theatre events. And there’s a great exhibit at the NY Historical Society, Six Pioneering Women Photographers, who all worked at Life Magazine. And a Happy early Four of July to all of you.

July 18. 3T Private Tour of Belvedere Castle

Central Park’s Belvedere Castle just reopened after a 15-month restoration project. We have arranged for a private tour for our Three Tomatoes Insider Club Members for $15.  Non-club members can join us if space is available for $20.00.  The tour starts at 10:30 am and we will also reserve a table at Tavern on the Green for anyone who would like to stay for lunch. Join the club and save $5 on this event and learn more about other insider club events. Get your Belvedere Tour tickets here.

And for those who like, we can have lunch at Tavern on the Green.

About Belvedere Castle

Named for the Italian meaning “beautiful view,” Central Park’s Belvedere Castle offers park goers exactly what its name implies. With its two balconies, it supplies wonderful panoramic views that include some of Central Park’s most beautiful and famous landmarks: the Delacorte Theater, the Great Lawn, the Turtle Pond and the Ramble.

Originally designed in 1865 by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, Belvedere Castle was intended to be a Victorian Folly, a fantasy structure that provides a great backdrop and views, but without a real intended purpose. With its strong stone façade, grand turret and flag, the castle was merely a stunning attraction in Central Park.

This all changed in 1919 when the National Weather Service began taking measurements from the castle’s tower with scientific instruments that determine wind speed and direction. Additionally, just south of the castle, other data such as the rainfall was recorded and sent to the weather service’s forecast office at Brookhaven National Library on Long Island. Belvedere Castle is still used for this purpose today. 

July 14 & 27. Torching the Blues

One of our awesome talent show finalists this year was blues singer Evangeline Johns who wowed the audience. She is doing two shows at Don’t Tell Mama and you will adore her!!!  Get tickets now before they sell out. Donttellmamanyc.com

Now – July. Midsummer Night Swing

Head to Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park for the biggest dance party of the summer. During this three-week festival you can dance under the stars to music provided by some incredible live bands and artists. Although the term swing is included in the title of the main event, each one of the bashes covers a different genre of dance, including disco, ballroom, salsa and more. You can also attend a late-night Silent Disco on select nights! Get the details.

June 30. Celebrating Pride

The world’s largest Pride celebration takes place tomorrow in NYC and also recognizes the 50^th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. The first March was held in 1970 and has since become an annual civil rights demonstration. Over the years, its purpose has broadened to include recognition of the fight against AIDS and to remember those we have lost to illness, violence and neglect. The parade starts at noon at 26^th and Fifth.  Get the details.

July 10. Kidney Donor Awareness Event

The husband of our Tomato pal Diane DiResta desperately needs a kidney. Please join them at a free Health and Wellness event to learn how people are saving lives through organ donation. You’ll hear the facts and the myths and what you can do if your loved one ever needs a kidney or organ. And how easy it is to save a life. RSVP.

Location:  Primary, 26 Broadway 8th floor, NYC

6:00-6:30 Networking. Food and beverages will be served.

7:00-8:00 Program. Josh Sturm from Renewal.org will give a presentation about the successes of kidney donation from Renewal, the non-profit that is responsible for 600 kidney transplants.