Our Next Free Presentation, Tuesday September 24 at the Hostel
Tin Pan Alley Uptown and Down: The composers, lyricists and song publishers who lived in the Bloomingdale neighborhood and worked in Tin Pan Alley
Many of the composers, lyricists, and publishers of the hit songs of the 20th century commuted from the Bloomingdale neighborhood on the Upper West Side to Tin Pan Alley, just north of Madison Square. To honor these talented former residents of our neighborhood, the Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group has organized a program that combines a multimedia presentation, a history talk, and an update on efforts to landmark the Tin Pan Alley area accompanied by a live performance of music that originated from that storied slice of Manhattan. 

​The multimedia presentation will be by Lesley Doyel, former president of Save Chelsea along with media specialist Nick Fritsch; the talk will be by local historian Jim Mackin; and an update of the landmarking efforts will be given by George Calderaro, head of the Save the Tin Pan Alley Initiative Project of the 29th Street Neighborhood Association.

As a special treat, some of the best music from Tin Pan Alley will be performed by well-known bass Peter Becker, pianist Peter Homans, and the musical group The Accord-O-Leles. (The musical  portion of the program is being organized by What a Neighborhood, a not for profit that promotes the work of local performers and composers.) 

On the same evening, the history group’s second annual Jim Torain Award will be presented to Cal Jones, Manhattan Borough Historian Emeritus, for his work in furthering the public’s knowledge of, and interest in, the history of the city. Michael Miscione, who served until this summer as Manhattan Borough Historian, will make the presentation.

The award honors the memory of Jim Torain and his tireless work on behalf of the Old Community. Torain grew up in what is now referred to as the Old Community, a primarily African-American neighborhood that flourished on West 98th and 99th Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue before its destruction in the name of urban renewal in 1955. The first Torain Award was given to Peter Salwen, author of the book Upper West Side Story, a comprehensive retelling of the neighborhood’s history.

Special walking tour 
At the completion of the program, audience members can  sign up for a special tour of Tin Pan Alley conducted by Laurence Frommer, President of Save Chelsea. The tour will take place on Saturday, October 26 from 2-4pm and begin from the Hotel Chelsea, 222 West 23rd Street.   
This tour is co-sponsored by the 29th Street Neighborhood Association and the New York-Metro Chapter of the Victorian Society in America
​

Tuesday, September 24 at 6:30p.m.
Hostelling International-NY
891 Amsterdam Avenue (at 103rd Street)
All are welcome to this free presentation.
Upcoming Free Walking Tour ​​
WALK THE HISTORIC CROTON AQUEDUCT ROUTE THROUGH THE UPPER WEST SIDE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 at 1030am
Meet in front of the Highbridge Recreation Center
2301 Amsterdam Ave at 173rd St.
This walk will be led by Teresa Elwert, Bloomingdale resident and member of the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct.   You'll  learn about the Manhattan street grid and  see traces of the 1842 aqueduct in our own neighborhood along and near Amsterdam Ave.   This is a 6.5 mile walk but you’re welcome to do as much or as little of the walk as you like: there are lots of drop-in and drop-out points; see approximate timings below. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring water and snacks. 

Approximate timings 
10:30 -- Meet in front of the Highbridge Recreation Center,  2301 Amsterdam Ave at 173rd St. (Teresa will leave for the Rec Center at 9:30 on the #1 train at 103rd St., then switch at 157th St. to the M101 on Amsterdam.)
11:15 -- Southwest corner of St. Nicholas Ave. and 155th St.
12:00 -- Southeast corner of Amsterdam Ave. and 135th St.
12:40 -- Southeast corner of Amsterdam Ave. and 119th St.
12:50 -- Southeast corner of Amsterdam Ave. and 110th St.
1:10 -- In front of 145 West 105th St.
1:30 -- Southeast corner of 96th St. and Central Park West
2:00 -- Finish at southwest end of the Great Lawn

Read Pam Tice's blog on the Clendening Bridge, a portion of the Croton Aqueduct, at Our Bloomingdale Wall
Save the Date for a Free Presentation:  October 16, 2019 at the Hostel
How a Community Blooms: An Oral History of the BAiP
​Bloomingdale Aging in Place, known fondly as BAiP, is a thriving local community of neighbors who share information, social activities, and help each other in imaginative ways as they age. Its genesis 10 years ago is preserved in a recent oral history project with some of the founders, taken by other BAiP members.

•  Hear in the words of several of BAiP’s founders how the organization came into
    being, how it grew, and how it functions today as an example of the
    wave of the future.

•  Meet some of the neighbors who played a role in founding BAiP.

•  Find out how Oral History differs from, and adds to, other historical research.

This event is part of “BAiP@10,” a series of activities commemorating the anniversary. BAiP invites you to discover more at bloominplace.org.
Wednesday, October 16 at 6:30p.m.
Hostelling International-NY
891 Amsterdam Avenue (at 103rd Street)
All are welcome to this free presentation.
Picture
Free Walking Tours of Historic Bloomingdale
Explore the History of the Upper West Side 
between W. 96th and W. 110th Streets            
Led by Renowned Local Historian  Jim Mackin
October 2, 2019 (Wed) at 6pm
November 17, 2019 (Sun) at 1pm
December 22, 2019 (Sun) at 1pm
​Meet at Hostelling International-NY
891 Amsterdam Avenue at 103rd Street
More info 212-666-9774
or info@columbusamsterdambid.org

​sponsored by the Columbus/Amsterdam BID 
and Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group