By Leah
New York City’s hottest food event offered a recession-friendly opportunity to sample cuisine from area restaurants.
“Harvest in the Square,” one of the city’s largest culinary events, returned to Union Square Park for the 14th year to the delight of foodies across the city. This year, more than 50 participants the largest turnout in the events history presented a mouth-watering array of foodstuffs with some sharing new creations featured exclusively at this treasured annual celebration of community and cuisine. Presented by the Union Square Partnership, “Harvest in the Square” benefits neighborhood programs and the beautification of Union Square Park, including the current north end renovation project.
Long considered a foodies paradise, Union Square offers a vast assortment of gourmet fare that would take hundreds of dollars and lots of time to sample. Harvest in the Square provides an opportunity to savor it all in one delicious evening.
Harvest in the Square has become one of the citys most anticipated annual events and this year is no different, said Danny Meyer, Co-Chair of the Union Square Partnership. We are thrilled that so many in our community care about the Park and continue to support us as we work to ensure it remains one of New York Citys most beloved public spaces.
“Harvest in the Square is a treasured annual event that raises vital funds to support the Union Square Partnerships beautification work and year-round programming in Union Square Park,” said Jennifer Falk, Executive Director of the organization. “We are fortunate to have more than 50 of Union Squares best restaurants and eateries, and over 1,200 guests, who have come out to support our efforts in this celebration of our community and its cuisine.
“The Union Square neighborhood is a food-lover’s paradise, home to some of the city’s best eateries and the renowned Union Square Greenmarket,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “We are extremely grateful to the Union Square Partnership and all the restaurants that participated in the 14th annual Harvest in the Square, benefiting the improvement of Union Square Park. With the renovation now 83 percent complete, New Yorkers can soon look forward to a new plaza, more trees, restored pavilion, and expanded playground in the park’s north end.”
Union Square stands out as home to many of the Citys top-rated restaurants and popular eateries, and the area is rich with world-renowned chefs who prepare some of the choicest dishes the Big Apple has to offer. Several of this years inspired culinary creations pay homage to the Union Square Greenmarket, the largest and most famous Greenmarket in New York.
Joining this years glittering cast of participating restaurants were newcomers Almond, Back Forty, BLT Fish, ilili, L.A. Burdick Chocolate, Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon & Cibar Lounge at the Inn at Irving Place, Sidebar, Tarallucci e Vino, and Vintage Irving and wichcraft.
Returning favorites included: Aleo, Angelo & Maxie’s Steakhouse, Bar Stuzzichini, Barbounia, Beppe, Big Daddy’s Diner, Blue Smoke, Blue Water Grill, Caf Spice, Casa Mono & Bar Jamon, Chat ‘n Chew, Ciao Bella, City Crab & Seafood Company, Dvi, Dos Caminos Park, Dukes, Galaxy Global Eatery, Gramercy Tavern, Greenmarket Farmers Market, Havana Central, Heartland Brewery, Hill Country, Irving Farm Coffee Co., Jack Bistro, Knickerbocker Bar & Grill, L’Express, Maxie’s Grill, National Arts Club, Pipa, Primehouse New York, Pure Food and Wine, Republic, Rosa Mexicano, Stand, Steak Frites, Strip House NYC, SushiSamba Park, Tamarind, The City Bakery, The Coffee Shop, Tocqueville, Todd Englishs OLiVES NY, Union Square Ballroom, Union Square Caf, Whole Foods Market Union Square, ‘wichcraft, and Wildwood BBQ.
Wineries showcased this year included Bedell Cellars, Brotherhood America’s Oldest Winery, Channing Daughters Winery, Corey Creek Vineyards, Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars, Lieb Cellars, Long Island Meadery, Macari Vineyards, Martha Clara Vineyards, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Mionetto Prosecco, NY Wine & Grape Foundation, Paumanok Vineyards, Peconic Bay Winery, Ravines Wine Cellars, Shinn Estate Vineyards, Southern Wine & Spirits of NY, Standing Stone Vineyards, The Lenz Winery, Union Square Wines & Spirits, Vina Casa Patronales, Warwick Valley Winery, and Wolffer Estate Vineyards.
Since 1976, the Union Square Partnership has voluntarily funded the beautification of the Park. The Partnership makes significant investments annually to plant new bulbs, clean flower beds, prune shrubs, aerate the soil, treat the lawn and provide general maintenance of the grounds. In total, hundreds of new plantings are placed throughout the park including annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, vines, and potted plants.
In recent years, the Partnership has made targeted investments including a new irrigation system, reseeding the center, eastern and southern lawns, creating a new area for seating at the north end of the center lawn, and installing new internal wrought iron fences to highlight the Parks landscape. Additionally, the Partnership installed a fountain at the dog run through a donation from the ASPCA. During the spring and summer months when daily activity in the district is at its peak, the Partnership responds by increasing the presence of sanitation and security services.
This fall the renovation of Union Square Parks north end will be complete. Currently 83 percent finished, the project creates a spectacular new northern gateway to the Union Square district and improves the streetscape and quality of life around the area. Highlights of the projects include an expanded 15,000-square-foot playground nearly triple the size of the old bifurcated lots, a resurfaced plaza and restoration of the Pavilion. The project is the third phase of the parks overall renovation, which began in 1986.
About the Union Square Partnership
The Union Square Partnership (USP) is a private, not-for-profit community-based organization responsible for the revitalization of the 14th Street-Union Square neighborhood. USP mission is to improve the quality-of-life for the districts residents, businesses and visitors, by providing public safety, sanitation, economic development and marketing services, and investing in the beautification of Union Square Park. For more information, visit unionsquarenyc.org.
(source: Union Square Partnership)
