Wednesday, July 24, 2024. First of all, with what everyday begins with: The Weather. The weather this week in New York has been … not bad. Not too hot or humid, lots of sunshine but also lots of clouds and temps in the mid-80s. A perfect way to start the day.
The city is definitely quieter than usual but then it’s almost August and only a few weeks left to get out and get off on it. I haven’t been witness but I’m told the beach towns all along the coast going east and north are filled up with visitors and seasonal neighbors.
Meanwhile here in the Big Town and a hot neighborhood, over at Butterfield Market on Lexington and 78th Street, Senator Liz Kruger stopped by yesterday morning to meet the Obsatz family — the sister and brother proprietors Joelle and Evan Obsatz along with their father Alan Obsatz and wife Ann — and to present them with a certificate memorializing them into the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. To put into perspective, only five other businesses on the Upper East Side have been awarded this distinction.
And what do you care? This is the thing about New York that makes it the draw that it’s been for more than a couple centuries now: It’s a great big small town that goes on and on and upper and over and ends up being At the Market.
I’ve known the Butterfield Market since I first came to New York out of college when it was owned by Joelle and Evan’s father, Alan. He’s still very much in town but retired and living next door so he can still watch the activity of his shop (he knows it’s in good hand).
The thing about it is it’s like a small town market in terms of feel and atmosphere and staff. And yet, it’s also a sophisticated first class Upper East Side food emporium, but friendly like a small town market (after all, they are 4th generation grocers). Because of that it’s not only a market but a memory of a landmark that was created to serve the residents of Park Avenue – which a century ago had become the neighborhood for the upper-income classes.
As their customers can tell you, Butterfield’s commitment to serving delicious food made with the highest quality ingredients (and excellent customer service to match) has allowed this family-run business to flourish since first opening its doors in 1915.
The summertime story in New York is the neighborhoods. Variety of all kinds is a given. Another neighborhood gem, The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH), is in the midst of celebrating its 25th anniversary and 100 years of the Harlem Renaissance.
To kick off the celebration, CTH opened its curtains on July 6th at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem for its production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Directed by Carl Cofield, this outdoor production has already captivated audiences of all ages. (psst: And it’s FREE thanks to the generous support of Wendell Pierce!)
Comedian Russell Peters portrays Nick Bottom, who has sold out arenas around the world, including MSG and Barclays Center.
Joining Peters in his Shakespearean debut, the cast features a talented ensemble of performers who are bringing Shakespeare’s magical world to life including Ra’mya Aikens as Hermia, Hiram Delgado as Lysander, Noah Michal as Helena, Brandon Carter as Demetrius, Victor Williams as Theseus / Oberon, Jesmille Darbouze as Hippolyta / Titania, Allen Gilmore as Peter Quince / Egeus, Mykal Kilgore* as Philostrate / Puck, León Tak as Francis Flute / Cobweb, Carson Elrod as Tom Snout / Peaseblossom / First Fairy, Olivia London as Snug, Second Fairy, Moth (u/s Puck), Deidre Staples as Starveling, Mustardseed, Taylor Collier, Latrea Rembert, Tracy Dunbar, Taylor Daniels, Stemarciae Bain, Taylor Mackenzie Smith, Victor Lewis Jr., and Nisani Lopez as Dance Ensemble.
CTH is also experiencing its own renaissance in 2024. Ticket sales are at groundbreaking levels, the company’s premier production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is receiving amazing reviews, the company has brought on Broadway luminaries to its Board, and all the while, CTH continues to center arts and classics as a means of uplifting the entire Harlem community.
The 2024-25 season will also continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance with the world premiere of Memnon by Will Power, directed by Carl Cofield at the Getty Villa in California in September. CTH is dedicating their entire 25th Anniversary Season to longtime trustee Andre Braugher.
For more information about the show, which runs through July 28th (there’s still time to get tickets!), visit http://cthnyc.org/msnd
Since its founding in 1999, the Classical Theatre of Harlem has presented works ranging from traditional classical playwrights (Anton Chekhov, Euripides and William Shakespeare) to established 20th-century playwrights (August Wilson, Langston Hughes and Jean Genet) to new plays by emerging playwrights. CTH also proudly provides theater-based training and live theater experiences to Harlem youth and their families through its arts education program, Project Classics.
The organization incorporates other theater-related programming including Future Classics, Playwrights’ Playground, and Revisited Classics to engage new audiences, invest in artistic development and give exposure to emerging creators.The company serves over 20,000 live audience members per year.
Its online offerings have drawn over 500,000 viewers. To learn more, visit https://www.cthnyc.org/
Meanwhile, Earlier this week, on the 80th floor of Three World Trade Center, Philippe Petit announced to a room of friends, “We are here, in the best place in the world, to introduce my upcoming shows. If you’re not afraid of heights, and you look out the window, you will see the footprint of the two towers exactly where they were.
“Behind me out this window is One World Trade Center, the majestic Freedom Tower. When you look up where the stories stop, and the crown and antenna starts, that is at the height that I was walking, 110 stories above the ground.”
Omigod! 50 years ago this August, this fearless man walked from one tower to the other of The World Trade Centers on a wire; no harness, no net to catch him, no protection.
To celebrate the anniversary, Philippe Petit will reenact the iconic walk and share secrets from that day at two Gala performances. His friend, Sting, will sing, including a world premiere written about Philippe.
“The show is called Towering!! with two exclamation marks, for me to walk across,” said Philippe. It takes place August 7th and 8th, 8 p.m., at the Upper West Side’s Church of St. John the Divine.
“It is my dearest place on earth, the largest classic cathedral in the world. My home away from home. I have been an artist in residence for 42 years.”
Dara McQuallin (Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of Silverstein Properties) shared: “Philippe Petit has a special place in New Yorkers hearts, and as somebody who loves New York City and the history of New York City, Philippe did something that no architect, no urban planner, no politician, no government agency could do. He humanized this place. He humanized these buildings at a time when, quite frankly, they weren’t the most popular buildings in town. He brought art and culture and entertainment and love to this place 50 years ago. And after everything we’ve gone through here at the World Trade Center, since that time, I’m glad to say that art and culture and, and entertainment and love is a very big part of this place once again.”
Judith Roze (Deputy Cultural Counselor, French Embassy in the U.S.) posited that “50 years ago, Philippe’s Highwire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center was not mere a stunt. It was a poetic dance in the sky that challenged our perceptions of fear, boundaries, and the limits of human potential. His journey meticulously planned and executed with unwavering determination serves as an enduring symbol of what can be achieved when we dare to dream. The French Ambassador, Laurent Bili, is honored to grant his patronage to this upcoming event.”
Guests included Philippe’s longtime partner Judith Friedlaender and friend Barbara Tober, as well as April Gow, LaVon Kellner and Tom Roush, Thomas Knapp, Michael Musto, Nadja Sayej, and Martha Teichner.
Tickets are available at stjohndivine.org/philippe-petit-towering
