Battery Park City Annual Pet Parade (Credit: BPC Dogs)
If cupcakes alone were not enough to convince you to join the block party, perhaps a pet parade might have you lapping it up?
According to the BPC Dogs Group in our area, residents are invited to join the annual BPC Block Party PET PARADE!!
From their email:
Once again, BPC Dogs will co-host theannual BPC Pet Parade with Bobby of Le Pet Spa.
There will also be many other pet-related activities at the Block Party, including information tables for the CERT Animal Search and Rescue team, a sign-up sheet to become members of the BPC Dog Association, and information about a proposal for official off-leash hours in Historic Battery Park.
The fun starts with the Pet Parade in front of the main Block Party stage on the Esplanade Plaza (aka the volleyball court).
Please line up with your pet at 12:10 pm, for a parade starting at 12:20 pm. ALL pet owners (of dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, rats, lizards, etc.) should be near the stage by 12:10 pm at the latest.
The pet parade is a fun way to introduce yourself and your pet to the community. Â And if your pet does a special trick, show us. Our Pets are special members of our community so let’s meet them. (Note that, although the Block Party flyer describes the parade as a “Dog Parade”, all pets are welcome.)
“Jewelry IS fashion and we’re excited about participating!” says Gandia, “The number of stores participating this year is amazing — way more than last year. There is an event for everyone.”
Participation in an event such as Fashion’s Night Out is important to local businesses. As the global recession has taken its toll on every industry, Lower Manhattan businesses have endured a distinctly tougher economic climate.
The loss of pedestrian traffic from the original World Trade Center site compounded by infrastructural changes and the construction restrictions around the area have forced many businesses to close.
“We feel very disconnected from the rest of the West Side,” says Jennifer Gandia of Greenwich Jewelers on Trinity Place, which is only a few blocks south of the World Trade Center site, “We are ready for the [World Trade Center] site to be completed.”
As most businesses in our area still rely on the Monday through Friday patronage of nearly 300,000 daily workers that commute to our area, Gandia notes that there is a responsibility of business owners to connect with the growing residential population.
“There are many reasons small businesses in this neighborhood have closed. It’s important for the residents to patronize their local shops but its a two way street, the businesses in the area must serve the locals,” says Jennifer Gandia of Greenwich Jewelers, “That means being open when the people who live here are home. We had to change our hours and open on weekends to serve the residents of the neighborhood. In turn they come to use when they need something and know we are here.”
As businesses such as Gandia’s see this as just a bump in the road to recovery, leaders in our area acknowledge that these challenges to small businesses may last for another 5 years.
So much so, that  State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblyman Sheldon Silver along with the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation had announced The Small Firm Assistance Program earlier this week. The program seeks to offer aid to small businesses in Lower Manhattan affected by these infrastructural challenges all the way through sunset of December 31, 2015.
Handicaps aside, that doesn’t mean there aren’t signs of hope. According to a recent Downtown Alliance report, economic recovery is on an upswing as nearly 300 new businesses have relocated to Lower Manhattan since 2008.
According to Gandia, “We choose not to focus on the past and instead to remain present minded and plan for our future and the next 30-plus years of serving the downtown community.”
Compete in the Battery Park City Cupcake Contest!!!
It will only take one sweet hour to judge this year’s Battery Park City Block Party Cupcake Contest!
BatteryParkCity.com reader Fern Parness, will be running the competition and calling for all BPC bakers to submit their best cupcake foot forward and compete in one of the three categories:
1. Best chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting.
2. Best vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting.
3. Best wildcard flavor
For those who are interested in competing, drop off the frosted batches between 12pm-2pm at the Bake-Off Table on Esplanade Plaza (Volleyball Court)
Inatesso Cafe will judge the winning cupcakes in each category. Prizes will be given to the winners courtesy of both Inatesso Cafe and Battery Park City pharmacy.
Battery Park City’s Annual Block Party will be this Sunday, September 12th in Esplanade Plaza.
For more information contact Fern Parness directly at [email protected]
September marks the change in seasons and we usually welcome the autumn colors — except when it’s red tide.
The Coast Guard is warning swimmers and boaters to stay clear of the red waters that have infiltrated New York Harbor.
Also known as “red tide,” it signals the growth of potentially toxic algae which can cause irritation to the eyes, skin and breathing problems. The red tide is spanning from the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum all the way down to the waters in our neighborhood.
Although reports say that it was first seen at 7am this morning, we believe the red tide was first spotted yesterday by reader Jay Fine, who had posted images of the tide on our Facebook.
The algae’s proper name is phytoplankton, which are known to steal oxygen supplies away from both fish and shellfish.
Although most people don’t usually swim in the Hudson River down by our parts — sailors and people visiting the North Cover Harbor should not touch the waters if close enough to the red tide.
Still grieving the loss of the DSW? Well, a Fashion’s Night Out might be just what you’re looking for. As retailers around our area offer up a dose of late night retail therapy.
Fashion’s Night Out is a joint venture between Conde Nast’s Vogue Magazine, The Council of Fashion Designers of America and NYC and Company in an effort to celebrate the fashion industry.
Stores everywhere across the world will be open between 7-11PM on September 10th and will be offering cocktails, special items and even red carpet worthy events.
On September 7th, the consortium will be holding the largest public fashion show in history at Lincoln Center. Tickets will be available while supplies last through the Lincoln Center box office at LincolnCenter.org.
For a complete list of retailers in our area participating in the worldwide event, check out the list below:
1. A Uno
123 West Broadway NYC NY 10013
212-227-6233
FNO Collection Available In-Store
Event details pending, however we will be serving wine, snacks and we will feature informal modeling. As the date approaches we will let you know.
2. Banana Republic
3 World Financial Center 200 Vesey Street New York NY 10285
212-962-1461
Join us for a celebration of style. Shop the newest arrivals and receive shopping incentives full-priced merchandise all night long. Enjoy complimentary refreshments, while supplies last. One night only – only at select Banana Republic NYC stores.
3. Clarins
Century 21 – 22 Cortlandt Street New NY 10007
212-227-9092
Clarins invites you to a special Beauty Party to celebrate French glamour as only Clarins can! Each attendee will receive a complimentary complete makeover while enjoying refreshments and sweets at the Clarins Counter. Put your beauty in our hands at Fashion’s Night Out!
4. CRUMBS Bake Shop
87 Beaver St New York NY 10005
212 480 7500
CRUMBS Bake Shop will feature a special edition “Fashion’s Night Out” cupcake. The cupcake will debut on September 10th in all NYC stores and will be available through Fashion Week. A portion of sales from the cupcake will benefit the NYC AIDS Fund.
5. Edun
86 Franklin st 5th Floor New York NY 10013 
646-644-2964
FNO Collection Available In-Store
EDUN is partnering with Scoop in their Meatpacking District “swing” store, creating an EDUN Pop Up Shop for the night. Jaleel from TV on the Radio will be DJing, with a special performance by the BLK JKS from South Africa. Enjoy a scoop of ice cream from an ice cream truck on site. Special guest DJs will be riding their bikes and participants will be encouraged to ride their bikes as well. Limited edition accessories from Kenya exclusive for Scoop will be on sale as well as the EDUN Fall Collection. Gift with purchase. 7 to 11 pm.
6. Gary Graham
176 Franklin Street New York NY 10013 
(212) 274-8940
Music, Cocktails, Exclusive Merchandise
7. Greenwich Jewelers
64 Trinity Place New York NY 10006
 212-964-7592
From 6-9pm meet stylist, blogger & jeweloholic Beth Bernstein of B-Jeweled. She’ll be sharing tips on the hottest trends in jewelry and how to incorporate them into your personal style. Also, bid on exclusive silent auction items from designers including Anne Sportun, Jamie Joseph, Melissa Joy Manning and Shaesby, all proceeds to benefit breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen For the Cure. Special guests will include jewelry designers EXCLUSIVE: Score a studded leather Gorjana bracelet, ours exclusively, with any purchase of $250 or more. Food & refreshments will be served.
8. Herchcovitch;Alexandre
52 Walker Street 5th Fl NEW YORK NY 10013
 646-747-3029
FNO Collection Available In-Store
“Events details pending”
10. La Lumia
27 Park Place Suite 200 New York NY 10007 
212-966-3923
La Lumia’s “Fashion’s Night Out” event will be hosted by owner, Jackie Sencion, from 4pm to 9pm. We will have wine and cheese for our guests. Shoppers will be entered in a raffle for any purchase of $150 or more. The prize is a beautiful LaLu Leathers co-op hand-crafted cognac colored genuine leather handbag valued at $595. This event is open to the public.
11. LOFT
2 Broadway New York NY 10004
 (212) 809-1435
FNO Collection Available In-Store
FNO Collection Available Online
6 – 10 p.m. Get styled on September 10th! Step into our Style Studio at one of our 6 select Manhattan locations and a renowned fashion stylist will help you turn our fabulous new essentials into countless looks for fall. Once you’ve found your new favorite outfit, enjoy a mini photo shoot at our popup photo booth! Plus, you can shop straight from our new fall magazine (see it before anyone else!), nosh on yummy treats and enjoy our live DJ, who will be spinning all night. To learn more, visit LOFTonline.com
12. Nili Lotan
188 Duane Street New York NY 10013 
212-219-8974
pending.
13. OTTE
37 N Moore St New York NY 10013
 212-431-8501
OTTE Will be hosting a one-year anniversary party at their newest location in TriBeCa. Light refreshments will be served as well as a store-wide sale on all merchandise, and all attendees will be eligible to win a $500 gift card! Be sure to visit participating businesses in the area for other exclusive deals and special events.
14. Sabina Les
37 Wall St Suite 25i New York NY 10005
 917-748-8444
Please stop by and meet our designer Sabina Les and see new Fall/Holiday line of our original textile scarves at Bloomingdales on 59th Street, NYC. Designer Sabina Les is looking forward to give you her styling tips on how to wear scarves in many ways. Our scarves make perfect gifts for the upcoming holidays and special events.
15. Stephen Seo
20 Pine Street NYC NY 10005
 646-338-2927
Stephen Seo Collection cat walk on Madison Ave with 8 models for brand awareness. Models will be handing out look books. The Designer will be in his luxury exotic car near by models.
16. Steven Alan
103 Franklin Street New York NY 10013
 212-343-0692
Appearances by Steven Alan and other designers. Discounts on exclusive items available for Fashion’s Night Out only. Additional event details to follow.
Illustration of the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site. (Credit: Renewnyc.com)
New life has been planted giving way to the birth of the 9/11 Memorial Center at the Ground Zero site over the weekend.
A welcomed change and a stark contrast to the hulking metallic structures we have grown accustomed to in our area.
The first trees have been planted after being transported from a New Jersey nursery. At least a dozen oak trees had been slated to be planted before the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.
Nearly 400 trees will be planted when the entire Memorial Plaza is completed. The trees are expected to be fully grown at 80 feet and will tower over a planned rooftop garden. The trees will be planted around the perimeters of the original footprints of the Twin Towers.
NJ Nursery where the memorial trees were cultivated (Credit: Renewnyc.com)
As we at BatteryParkCity.com are quite partial to our pizza and Italian food, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that our favorite community gardens are both P.S. 276’s Pizza Garden and The Mercy Corps Lasagna Garden.
From the opening of the brand new community garden plots around Memorial Day, we’ve been excited to see the growth of both plots as we approach Labor Day weekend.
Truth be told, we were initially confused by Mercy Corps’ lasagna technique, as the plot looked looked abandoned, covered in cardboard. Happily, Mercy Corps knew what they were doing, and their plot is growing taller than several others.
Governor's Island marks record summer attendance for the 2010 season
Governor’s Island marked record attendance for its summer events this year.
275,000 people visited the former Coast Guard facility this year so far. The season has 8-weeks left and has surpassed 2009’s attendance so far, according to the New York Daily News.
Governor Bloomberg made a statement over the weekend promising the city’s commitment to extended free resources on the island, “We’re committed to building on the momentum we’ve generated on the island by continuing to expand the programming and creating one of the world’s great waterfront parks.”
The island which only 800 yards off The Battery, has seen its popularity increase with a series of summer concerts and free events on the island. Free ferry service is available from the South Street Seaport and Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Some other free events still available for the next eight weeks are free bike rides, kayaking, public art and concerts.
Tom Jones paddles into Battery Park City (Credit: New York Daily News)
Tom Jones wanted to do something to raise ocean awareness.
(No, not sing “She’s a Lady,” that’s a whole other Tom Jones)
Tom Jones of Huntington, California wanted to take a 1,500 mile trip along the Atlantic Ocean from Key West, Florida to Battery Park City, New York to raise ocean pollution awareness.
“Going out in the ocean and doing this campaign was a way for me to see how bad the situation was out there, Every day I was in the ocean I would see plastic bottles, food wrappers, all type of trash. It’s incredible given the volume of the ocean,” said Jones to the New York Daily News.
During his journey, Jones encountered sharks, horse flies and an unfortunate circumstance with an alligator after hitting the animal’s leg with his paddleboard.
A crew drove along the coast with Jones, and another colleague floated along with him to pass him food and water.
Jones traveled in 15 miles stretches a day and finally landed in Battery Park City after 90 days of paddleboard travel.
According to his approach to the narrow waterways of New York City, “Coming into New York City, where the waterways are tighter, the plastic is so dense,” he said. “There’s plastic forks, 5-gallon plastic buckets, bags, cups, all of that.”
Park 51 is the new name for the Cordoba House Mosque
We had a few questions for Park51 today, so we reached out as any modern person does. Through Twitter.
UPDATE: Park51 had just tweeted to BatteryParkCity.com that they are seeking funding from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.
To read the entire transcript go to our Twitter Feed (http://www.twitter.com/batterypark)
A partial transcript from the conversation reads below:
