NYC Life: Secrets in Central Park, Hell’s Kitchen Delights, Harlem Eats, Big Bling
Don’t you love secrets? Well Central Park’s secret hidden sanctuary is a secret no more. And over at Madison Square Park, Big Bling is on its way. Food lovers rejoice! Head to Hell’s Kitchen this weekend for the Ninth Avenue Food Festival. Later in the week head uptown to the Harlem Eat Up! Festival and see and taste all that Harlem has to offer. Just a few of the reasons why we love NYC.
May 14-15. The Ninth Avenue Food Festival Street Party
Head to Hell’s Kitchen this weekend to the oldest, and largest continuing food festival in New York City. This is a rain or shine event, so grab the umbrella and treat your empty stomach to an amazing array of cuisines from the Amish Market, Bar Bacon, Poseidon Bakery and more. Plus, there’s entertainment, arts and crafts, and other Hell’s Kitchen fun. 42nd Street to 57th Street, Ninth Ave. Get more details.
May 19-22. Harlem Eat Up!Festival
Listen up tomatoes. The Harlem EatUp! Festival is not to be missed! This four-day festival invites you to see and taste all Harlem has to offer from the artists of the kitchen, the canvas, the stage and the streets. Dine In Harlem! for a one-night-only multi-room dinner party for the ages, hit The Stroll, where Harlem’s food, art and culture will converge or observe culinary masters at the EatUp! Main Stage. And proceeds from ticket sales will go to Harlem Park to Park and Citymeals-on-Wheels. With all of this and more, you need to be there! Get the details.
May 16. Big Bling Arrives!
Big Bling arrives at Madison Square Park on May 16 and will remain there for the remainder of the year. And what is Big Bling you may be asking? It’s a forty-foot high art sculpture by American sculptor Martin Puryear and its part of “Mad. Sq. Art”, from the Madison Square Park Conversancy to bring world class art to the public for free. So next time you’re in the area, make sure to stroll through the park. Don’t you just love NYC? Get more details
Central Park’s Secret Sanctuary Re-Opens
Yep tomatoes, in 1934 a section of Central Park known as Hallet Nature was closed in 1934 by then NYC Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, who wanted to make it a bird refuge. It was forgotten until the Central Park conservancy started renovations in 2001. And it is now open to the public! Surrounded by the Pond at the southeast corner of Central Park is the four-acre Hallett Nature Sanctuary, a peaceful haven just feet away from some of Central Park’s busiest paths. Bird lovers will be in ecstasy. Get more details.
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
