CITY PARKS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES FREE SPRING SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR 1,400 NYC YOUTH AND SENIORS

Instructional Programs Include Golf, Track & Field, Tennis, Senior Yoga and Senior

Fitness Walking in NYC Parks

City Parks Foundation (CPF) is kicking off its 2019 Spring sports programs for young people and seniors this April. From April through June, City Parks Foundation will host over 800 youth and 600 seniors in over 20 neighborhood parks and recreation centers for participation in FREE sports programs. Youth programs include golf, track & field, tennis, and senior programs include tennis, yoga, and fitness walking. Registration for all programs are now open online with limited walk-up registration offered at each site.

CityParks Golf presented with The First Tee NYC offers youth, ages six to 17, the opportunity to play golf at the CityParks Junior Golf Center in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The program will be held in two seven-week sessions, running from March 9 through April 28 in addition to May 6 through June 28. The program offers golf instruction for all skill levels at our facility and use of equipment. The Center features a 6-hole par 3 course, putting and chipping greens, a driving range, clubhouse and classroom.

CityParks Track & Field, presented in partnership with New York Road Runners and supported by the Randall’s Island Park Alliance, gives New York City kids, ages eight to 14, the chance to learn the basics of the sport. From hurdles and relay races, to long jump, shot put and javelin throw, this program runs from April 20 through June 8 in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens, with sessions once per week. The Jesse Owens Track and Field program introduces novice runners to cross country distance running through runs from East Harlem to Randall's Island Park. This program runs from April 7 - June 23 in Manhattan, and is held once per week.

CityParks Seniors Fitness, presented in partnership with New York Road Runners, is held in 17 neighborhood parks across the city. Seniors Fitness, offered from April 22 - June 14, gives New Yorkers 60+ the chance to participate in free tennis lessons, yoga and fitness walking. All equipment is provided. The program has served over 10,000 participants since it began in 2006 and encourages older New Yorkers to maximize their health benefits by staying active.

Online registration is now open for all spring programs at CityParksFoundation.org/play.

Participants are encouraged to register online in advance, though walk-up participants may

register on-site if space permits. For more information and a full list of City Parks Foundation’s 2019 sports programs, please visit www.CityParksFoundation.org

Generous public support for CityParks Junior Golf Center is provided by the NYC Council under the leadership of Speaker Corey Johnson. Presenting sponsor Foundation Lacoste (logo) In partnership with NYC Parks (logo) Generous public support for CityParks Track and Field is provided the NYC Council under the leadership of Speaker Corey Johnson, including Council Member Ruben Diaz, Sr., and Council Member Mark Treyger. In partnership with Randall's Island Park Alliance and NYC Parks.

Generous private support for CityParks Seniors Fitness is provided by David B. Pinter and Zwicker Electric Co., Inc., Northfield Bank Foundation, and the Eastern Adult Tennis Foundation. Generous public support is provided by the NYC Council under the leadership of Speaker Corey Johnson, including Council Member Diana Ayala, Council Member Margaret Chin, Council Member Costa Constantinides, Council Member Ruben Diaz, Sr., Council Member Mark Gjonaj, Council Member Debi Rose, Council Member Helen Rosenthal and Council Member Mark Treyger. In partnership with NYC Parks.

About City Parks Foundation

At City Parks Foundation, we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building and education programs for all New Yorkers. Celebrating our 30th anniversary this year, we program in more than 400 parks, recreation centers and public schools across New York City and reach 300,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: thriving parks mean thriving communities.

City Parks Foundation’s Spring 2019 Sports Schedule

CityParks Track & Field presented by New York Road Runners

April 20 - June 9, 2019

BROOKLYN

Kaiser Park

Neptune Ave. & Bayview Ave.

April 21 - June 10

Saturdays, 10:00am - 12:00pm

BRONX

Soundview Park

Lafayette Ave. & Morrison Ave.

April 21 - June 10

Sundays, 10:00am - 12:00pm

QUEENS

Forest Park

Myrtle Ave. & Woodhaven Blvd.

April 21 - June 10

Sundays, 10:00am - 12:00pm

CityParks Jesse Owens Track & Field presented in partnership with Randall’s

Island Park Alliance

MANHATTAN

Thomas Jefferson Park

E. 112th St. & 1st Ave.

April 7 - June 23

Saturdays, 10:00am - 12:00pm

CityParks Golf presented by The First Tee

BROOKLYN

Junior Golf Center

8850 14th Ave.

Session One: March 9 - April 28

Session Two: May 6 - June 28

CityParks Seniors Fitness presented by New York Road Runners

April 22 - June 14, 2019

BRONX

Pelham Bay Park

Watt Ave. & Middletown Rd.

Yoga - Tuesday / Thursday, 9:00am - 10:00am

Tennis - Monday / Wednesday, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Soundview Park

Lafayette Ave. btw Boynton & Colgate Aves.

Fitness Walking - Monday / Wednesday, 9:00am - 10:00am

Yoga - Monday / Wednesday, 10:00am - 11:00am

Van Cortlandt Park

Broadway & Mosholu Aves.

Fitness Walking - Tuesday / Thursday, 10:00am - 11:00am

Williamsbridge Oval

3225 Reservoir Oval E.

Yoga - Monday / Wednesday, 9:00am - 10:00am

BROOKLYN

Kaiser Park

Neptune & Bayview Aves.

Tennis - Tuesday / Thursday, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Marine Park Nature Center

Ave. U & E. 32nd St.

Yoga - Monday / Wednesday, 9:00am - 10:00am

South Oxford Park

S. Oxford St. & Atlantic Ave.

Yoga - Wednesday / Friday, 11:00am - 12:00pm

MANHATTAN

Carl Schurz Park

E. 86th St. & East End Ave.

Fitness Walking - Monday / Friday, 9:00am - 10:00am

Yoga - Tuesday / Thursday, 9:00am - 10:00am

Central Park Tennis Courts

93rd St. near West Dr.

Tennis - Friday, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Inwood Hill Tennis Courts

207th St. & Seaman Ave.

Yoga - Monday / Wednesday, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Tennis - Tuesday / Thursday, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Sara D. Roosevelt Park

Chrystie & Forsyth Sts.

Yoga - Tuesday / Thursday, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Fitness Walking - Monday / Friday, 10:00am - 11:00am

QUEENS

Astoria Park Tennis Courts

21st. St. & Hoyt Ave. S

Tennis - Monday / Wednesday, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Cunningham Park

Union Turnpike & 193rd. St.

Tennis - Tuesday / Thursday, 9:00am - 11:00am

Yoga - Tuesday / Thursday, 10:00am - 11:00am

Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Tennis Courts Meridian Rd.

Tennis - Monday / Wednesday, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Roy Wilkins Park

Baisley Blvd. & 177th St.

Tennis - Tuesday / Thursday, 11:30am - 1:00pm

Yoga - Tuesday / Thursday, 10:00am - 11:00am

STATEN ISLAND

Faber Park

Richmond Terrace & Faber St.

Yoga - Tuesday / Thursday, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Greenbelt Park

Brielle Ave. btw Rockland & Wolcott Aves.

Tennis - Monday / Friday, 12:00pm - 2:00pm

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Open Mic in Brooklyn - THE OUTER LOOP THEATER EXPERIENCE

Last Tuesday, I was invited by a friend to attend an open mic at 6pm in Williamsburg at Over the Eight. I had never been to an open mic before and thought it would be nice to hear different artists from the New York scene.

First off, the space is really nice. The bar is very laid back, with a great atmosphere. Another room at the back is where the open mic took place. It is separated from the main bar and has a stage, cozy seats and plasma TVs to allow filmmakers to broadcast their work. The bar makes great Mexican food and we were provided with free samples of empanadas. As I said, the atmosphere is really relaxed and I loved that ! We were told not to hesitate to move during the performances, either to get a drink, take a bathroom break or just get another empanada.

The different artists were very different from one another and presented all excellent work. I was seriously shocked by the quality of each artist’s work. In an hour and a half, came on stage a singer/songwriter, a poet, a stand up perfomer,  a writer, a filmmaker and actors to play a scene from a playwright. All of these people were extremely talented, which I was not expecting ( I though maybe one or two will be really good but no- all of them !).

After the open mic, everyone could meet at the bar and mingle, chat, talk about different opportunities, or even get into deeper conversation about the state of the arts in the US today.

I decided to interview Michael Herman, who is behind the organization of these events and here is what he had to say :

Nina Moritz: Could you tell me a bit more about the project? 

Michael Herman: So the non-profit company I founded 6 years ago, The Outer Loop Theater Experience, presents a super cool event called Talk Hard, which is a monthly open mic/showcase format opportunity for playwrights, actors, directors, poets, musicians, singers, djs, painters, writers, dancers, spoken word and hip hop artists, to get a peek at any new piece they're working on.... in front of a supportive, but critical audience. If they want some feedback? Great. And if they just want to hear it out loud in front of other humans? Great.

Nina Moritz: How often do you organize events? 

Michael Herman: Talk Hard happens twice every month: The final Monday of each month, in Harlem, at Solace. And the 2nd Tuesday of each month in Brooklyn, at Over the Eight. And we’re looking at adding a 3rd one in midtown very soon.

Nina Moritz: What is the idea behind it? 

Michael Herman: The Outer Loop is fundamentally a playground where we all come together to better our community and support the work of all playful human beings. So Talk Hard is one of these playgrounds for artists of all disciplines to come and play. I also like to think of it as a safe place to fail. We, as artists, need that.

Nina Moritz: Can any  kind of artist attend (designers, producers etc..)? 

Michael Herman: Absolutely. Any artist at all. And for that matter, any human. We welcome anyone who wants to share their experience(s) with others.

Nina Moritz: Tell me a bit more about you and what you do. 

Michael Herman: I am a director, playwright and teacher. I founded The Outer Loop in 2009 to help playwrights and other artists develop their work and get it up in front of audiences. Nothing brings me greater joy, than to watch a new play come to life, and a young artist have that first audience experience. It’s why we do what we do. For the moment.

I had an amazing time attending, I felt like being part of something, seeing talent emerge before my eyes and I’m pretty sure a lot of the people I saw will blow up in the coming years. Everyone was welcoming and supportive of each other, clapping loudly, encouraging each other. It was so easy to talk to everyone. If

you have some work you are unsure about and would like feedback, this is the place! If you are looking for a great time and a great show, this is the place!

Seriously, please go and check it out, you will not regret it!

Here's some additional information from their website: http://www.outerlooptheater.org/

New Years’ Eve Suggestion #4

Hey, it’s free and it’s family friendly and it’s free!

Free with live music and beverages inside Grand Army Plaza. 

The best vantage points for the 15-minute display at midnight are at Grand Army Plaza, inside the park on West Drive, and along Prospect Park West between Grand Army Plaza and 9th Street. Enter at Flatbush Ave and Prospect Park West, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

Fine Details Are Below:

Prospect Park

Address: Prospect Park West to Flatbush Ave

Prospect Park

Brooklyn

Cross Street: Between Prospect Park Southwest and Ocean Ave

Venue phone: 718-965-8951

Venue website: prospectpark.org

Transport: Subway: B, Q, Franklin Ave S to Prospect Park; F, G to 15th St–Prospect Park; 2, 3 to Grand Army Plaza

Event phone: 718-965-8951

Event website: prospectpark.org