The Big Apple Welcomes New York City Apple Day, Apples on Orchard Festival – September 26, 2010
New York, New York – September 10, 2010 – The Lower East Side Business Improvement District (LES BID) is proud to announce the 2010 NYC Apple Day, Apples on Orchard festival. Now in its third year, the free festival has become a city tradition, celebrating the history of a neighborhood where an apple orchard once grew. The orchard became Orchard Street on NYC’s thriving Lower East Side, and the festival brings to life everything apple. It’s a special place where New Yorkers, and visitors alike, can become “urban farmers” for an entire day on Sunday, September 26, 2010.
Specifically, the New York City Apple Day festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2010 and will take place on Orchard Street between Broome and Grand Streets. Dozens of local businesses, as well as upstate apple growers, will be participating. The festival is free and open to the public.
Founded in 2008 by LES BID President, Mark Miller, the Apples on Orchard festival was created to pay tribute to the neighborhood’s rich historical connection to apples. In the 1700s, the Lower East Side was home to an apple orchard owned by a farmer named James De Lancey, Sr. Today, both the farmer and the orchard are remembered in our street names on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
“We are delighted to be celebrating ‘all things apple’ in the Big Apple and providing a place for the public to pick apples right here in the city,” explained Bob Zuckerman, Executive Director of the Lower East Side Business Improvement District. “We expect this year to be the biggest apple celebration on record in New York City where dozens of local restaurants, businesses, and upstate farmers will be participating and offering apple themed sensations.”
There will be activities and culinary delights for all ages, including upstate New York apple producers Red Jacket Orchards proudly presenting countless varieties of apples. Further, a wide-array of local restaurants will be offering apple-related dishes including Georgia’s Eastside BBQ presenting Applewood Smoked BBQ Sandwiches, German inspired creations by Café Katja, South African cuisine by Bunny Chow, among many other delicious participants. To be sure that no member of the family is left out, The Mark Miller Gallery will have an interactive (free) art table for kids and Make-Up Mania will bring a fantastic face painting booth just for kids. For a full list of festival participants, please click here.
On the entertainment front, NYC Apple Day will feature free performances by some of New York City’s up and coming artists, performing live on Orchard Street. Kicking the day off will be the hilarious rapping and comedy of Fantasy Grandma. Featured performers presented by L.E.S. Resident, Lisa-Thi Beskar will include Australian Sensation Tyrone Noonan Band, New York based singer-songwriters/ rising stars Stella Winkelman (of Bell Book and Scandal) and Jamie Bendell, and local blues-rockers Cows Like Shrimp with Sefton Stallard.
NYC Apple Day Performer Profiles:
Tyrone Noonan Band originally hails from Australia, and is now based in New York City. Noonan is a Former member of the Australian band George, who’s first album Polyserena, entered the Australian charts at No 1, and later went platinum. Self described as Lenny Kravitz meets Coldplay, Noonan weaves pop, rock, and soul together seamlessly with effortless, soaring vocals and infectious hooks.
Fantasy Grandma is comprised of Myrtle J and Jane B. These golden girls truly put the kool back in “old skool.” Hailing from the Silent View Home for the Elderly, in Tucson Arizona, these beat-making, rhyme-spitting old timers bring their unique brand of old-school hip-hop to the stage, complete with a definite hint of humor. Myrtle J and Jane B are the onstage monikers for New York City based artists Erica Livingston and Cara Francis, respectively.
Stella Winkelman is one half of the New York City based duo Bell Book and Scandal. Her haunting voice and accompanying acoustic guitar make for an almost trance-like, folk/blues/rock inspired musical and emotional experience. Ms. Winkelman’s songs strike directly at the heart of the listener, invoking beauty and darkness all at once.
Jamie Bendell, after graduating from Emory University with a degree in Business, packed a car and drove 24 hours to New York City to follow her lifelong passion, music. Jamie’s pure voice pairs perfectly with her personal approach to writing lyrics to create true pop music gems that will sweep listeners off their feet and carry them to a better place.
Cows Like Shrimp with front man Sefton Stallard, bring the Blues, big time. Based in New York City, Cows Like Shrimp serve straight-up blues-rock to anyone who will listen. These blues revivalists bring screaming guitars, a soaring harmonica and broad, bold vocals that take their sound back to the golden ages of blues.
How to get to NYC Apple Day:
Getting to the festival is easy, as many of NYC’s subways drop you off just a few blocks from Orchard Street. You can take the J/M or F to Delancey/Essex, the F to Houston/2nd Avenue and walk a few blocks south on Orchard, the D/B to Grand Street, or the F to Canal Street.
For photos of NYC Apple day, more information about the festival or to set up an interview please contact Christina Daigneault at 917-207-4686.
ABOUT THE LOWER EAST SIDE BID (LES BID)
Established in 1992, the Lower East Side Business Improvement District (LES BID, www.LowerEastSideNY.com) is a non-profit economic development organization created to revitalize the Orchard Street Shopping District while preserving its unique and diverse character. Today, the LES BID is a community of over 500 merchants and property owners managed by a Board of Directors and consisting of local merchants, property owners, residents and elected officials. The LES BID promotes the local businesses, develops events, and provides community beautification services. LES is More. Explore.
