Botanical Garden Parking Lot Moving Forward

The space on the corner of Webster Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard is soon going to (finally) be transformed into what the NYBG is calling its "Intermodal Transportation Facility."

Here are some highlights from an informative email from a Garden staffer:

[...]The New York Botanical Garden’s Intermodal Transportation Facility
(ITF), [is] an open-air pre-cast concrete structure with one basement and
seven floors of parking that will accommodate up to 825 cars.

This new parking facility was designed to accommodate the Garden’s
growing audience, but it will also benefit the community in a number
of direct and indirect ways. By taking advantage of new Garden
membership packages, community residents will be able to park their
cars overnight and commuters may use the garage to “park and ride.”

[...]

Over the last few years, the Garden made substantial progress by
acquiring and clearing the site. We are very pleased to report that
during the last year, we were able to complete the financing, with
assistance from the City, State and private sector partners, and we
are now ready to begin construction. The construction phase will
immediately create 426 jobs. Upon project completion, in approximately
two years, 10-12 permanent Garden operations/maintenance, security,
horticultural, and visitor services jobs will be created to manage and
care for the ITF. As always, NYBG employment opportunities will be
posted on our website, as they become available, at
http://www.nybg.org/employment/.

As part of our ongoing efforts to keep the community informed, this is
what you can expect during the construction phase:

1. Elements of the project also include improvements of the
street and sidewalks on Webster Ave., Bedford Park Blvd., and
Botanical Square area.

2. There may be temporary traffic interruptions on Webster Ave.
and near Botanical Square for brief periods of time at different
points during the construction phase. We will make every effort to
avoid peak traffic times.

3. Working hours at the construction site are Monday – Friday,
7:00am - 3:30pm. Overtime may occasionally be utilized but only as
necessary.

4. Site mobilization will begin the week of August 23rd.

5. First activities will be delivery of construction equipment
and staging.

6. Excavation for foundations will be the first major
construction activity.

7. Once excavation is complete, sheeting and shoring and
preparation for foundations will follow.

8. Foundations will be formed and poured this winter

9. The construction is scheduled to be complete in spring 2012.

~ErLu

Do Your Part to Save Our Gardens, Zoos, and Aquaria from Severe New York State Budget Cuts

BoogieDowner received an email from the New York Botanical Garden today urging tax payers to protest the proposed severe budget cuts to "living museums."

They've made it super easy for you to have your voice heard. Simply click here and fill out the already prepared petition being sent to state legislators.

~ErLu

Put Your Green Thumb to Work

Daily News' Sondra Wolfer reports that the New York Botanical Garden will be hosting free information sessions this week detailing the many career opportunities that are available in the world of horticulture, as well as the continuing education courses you can take at the Garden to gain more expertise in the field.

It's basically a good old-fashioned "Career Day," minus the doctors and lawyers.

So if you've ever wondered while tinkering in your garden if there's any way you could actually make some money using your green thumb, check out the information sessions. They will be held this Tuesday and Wednesday, 11/18 and 11/19, from 6 to 8pm.

Click here for more info.

*Money field photo courtesy of www.gardeningblog.net*

~ErLu

NYBG Blog Gives BoogieDowner a Shout Out

New York Botanical Garden's blog (quite appropriately named 'Plant Talk') has just posted a piece detailing buzz in the blogosphere about the Garden.

Guess who gets a mention? That's right, BoogieDowner.

We're so vain posting about ourselves, huh?

Click here to read 'Plant Talk.'

*Photo courtesy of www.nybg.org*

~ErLu

Bronx Foliage Gets Some Attention

The Bowery Boys, a blog all about NYC history, covered the BoogieDown's "fall foliage freakout" at the New York Botanical Garden and Wave Hill.

Click here to read more about it and view some pretty photos.

~ErLu

Foliage & Reality TV: NYBG

In addition to the uber-exciting kick-off of the Kiku exhibit this weekend at New York Botanical Garden, there are two other things we'd like to alert you to:

1) Since the show's somewhat predictable finale, BoogieDowner is already going through Project Runway withdrawal... which is why we were happy to stumble upon one NYBG employee's insider review of the Project Runway visit to the Garden. Click here to read the blog entry. According to Event Coordinator Sarah Richardson, diva Tim Gunn was a grade-A asshole cutting fresh flowers for himself and requesting a steady supply of chilled Cristal. (Psych!! He was actually sweet as pie - gotcha!)

Sidebar: Ummmm, I know this sounds crazy, but did anyone else think that Kenley actually had the best collection at the Bryant Park finale? I mean, I'm happy she didn't win because of her annoying voice and the fact that she lives in Brooklyn, but I found Leanne's collection to be a bit... predictable? And I was really hoping Leanne would get a nice shower and shampoo session in for the big runway show.

2) For all you foliage fanatics, NYBG's website has a cool new feature: a Fall Tracker. It's basically an interactive map of the Garden which allows you to click on a certain spot to take a sneak peak to determine where the best fall colors are.

~ErLu

Anyone Can Be an Artist in the Bronx

Daily News' Dorian Block reports today that the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is offering even the least creative of us the opportunity to become an artist.

In preparation for their upcoming show, Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Chrysanthemum, NYBG is seeking volunteers to work with artist Tetsunori Kawana as he contructs a 20-foot-tall bamboo structure in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory courtyard.

Anyone interested in participating must be able to commit at least two hours per day to the project, which is taking place seven days a week from 9am to 5pm. To participate contact Jackie Martinez, director of volunteer services, at (718) 817-8564 or email volunteer@nybg.org.

*Photo courtesy of www.nydailynews.com*

~ErLu

Event Reminder

Tonight's final concert of the New York Botanical Garden's summer series will be held on the breathtaking Enid A. Haupt Conservatory lawn. We've been to both other concerts in this series (classical guitarist Mattias Jacobsson with violinist Kristin Lee, followed by choral group Quarternity), and this jazz concert with the David Grossman Ensemble (featuring legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb and rising star Dan Nimmer) promises to be the best of the bunch. You can't beat sipping some vino and listening to jazz surrounded by the world renowned flora and fauna of the New York Botanical Garden. An added bonus is that most exhibits, including the Henry Moore sculptures, have extended viewing times until 8 p.m.

Admission details are as follows:

Adults: $20

Seniors/Students: $18

Children (2–12 years): $7

Children under 2: Free

Members: Free, including other Members Days benefits: 20% off all purchases in Shop in the Garden and 10% discount in both Cafes. Members can also purchase up to four Friend Tickets at 50% off the regular price when reserving free Member tickets online or upon arrival.

Getting There: Take the B, D, or 4 train to Bedford Park Blvd Station. From the station exit walk eight blocks down the hill on Bedford Park Blvd to the end. Turn left onto Kazimiroff Blvd and walk one block to Mosholu Gate entrance. Or, for a more direct approach, take the Metro-North Harlem local line to Botanical Garden Station. Walk across Kazimiroff Boulevard to the Garden's Mosholu Gate entrance.

Bass Photo by Henry Grossman.

~ErLu

Listing of the Day: Pelham Parkway 2 Bedroom

$230K for this two bedroom, which also has 2 Bathrooms. Cross streets of Boston Post Rd. and Williamsbridge Rd. allow for easy access to beautiful Pelham Parkway and lots of greenery. If that's not enough green, take a walk to the New York Botanical Garden or hang with the animals at the Bronx Zoo (if you're conformist friends still think the Bronx is stuck in 1986 and won't come North of 125th Street).

Sunken living rooms are pretty cool, as are built in shelves with original detail. At $230K this two bedroom co-op is about right for the area.
There is lots of shopping on Williamsbridge Rd. and the 5 and 2 trains are close by. The only negative aspect is that the maintenance is a little high at $910/month. No doorman, and I don't think any common space, so I am not sure what this $910 goes to , but really, who has two bathrooms?

As an added bonus you could always wow your friends with your nabe's serious yuletide pride. This annual spectacle on the corner of Westervelt and Pelham Parkway is not to be missed, but often overlooked.

Link to Full Listing

~ErLu

2nd Week of Outdoor Concerts at NYBG a Downgrade

This week's NY Botanical Garden Outdoor Concert Program featuring choral music by vocal ensemble Quarternity was a bit of a letdown due mostly to the unfortunate weather. Some foreboding storm clouds and stray rain drops forced the concert to move indoors to the Ross Lecture Hall. The concert series loses much of its appeal if you are not able to soak in the peaceful environs of the gardens at dusk. The stuffy indoors location also meant no sipping vino - the horror! Additionally, the performance by Quarternity was a bit too quirky for our liking. They sang beautifully, but hearing only vocalists with no musical accompaniment can get pretty boring after a song or two. These concerts are usually perfect for children when they are held outside, but the lecture hall location didn't suit little ones who want to move around or make a bit of noise. The no-nonsense crowd definitely didn't seem like they'd appreciate any babies trying to outdo the rousing melodies of Quarternity! The show did seem to be a hit with most other attendees though - the hall was full to capacity and had standing room only. Although for us tonight's concert did not compare to last week's (classical guitarist Mattias Jacobsson and violinist Kristin Leet on the lawn by the Mosholu entrance), it was wonderful as always to be able to just spend a dreary Thursday night strolling around the gardens after normal closing time. We have high hopes for next week's final summer concert - jazz with the David Grossman Ensemble. Did anyone else attend this concert? Your thoughts?
~ErLu

Outdoor Concert in One of New York's Great Green Spaces

Tonight there will be a choral concert held on the Conservatory Lawn in the NY Botanical Garden. The Garden is extending its hours beyond 6pm to allow the public more time to enjoy the beautiful Henry Moore sculpture adorning the verdant grounds until November, and of course to take in the concert, which begins at 7pm.

Normal entrance fees apply, but I must say that the Garden is absolutely breathtaking at dusk. Take the extra time at the Garden to marvel at the lotus and waterlilies in the Conservatory or take a stroll in the Rock Garden.

The Garden does serve wine, beer and food for purchase, but the best bet is to take a small bottle in with you and be discreet and inconspicuous about it.

A similar concert will be held next Thursday as well, but unfortunately this concert on the 21st of August is the last of the summer. Hope to see you there! A review will follow tomorrow.

Getting There:
Metro North to Botanical Garden stop, or B/D to Bedford Park Blvd- follow Bedford Park Blvd east toward Garden, or 4 to Lehman College/Bedford Park Blvd-follow Bedford Park Blvd east toward the Garden.

~ErLu