Battery Park City Life

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Stories and Songs at the Verdesian
Multi-week program of participatory music and stories for young children and accompanying adults. Rhythm instruments and other age-appropriate interactive materials are provided. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Every Monday through December 15. $210 for 14 sessions. The Verdesian.  Go to www.bpcparks.org for more information.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Capri's Camera on Dance at the World Financial Center
Celebrity and fashion photographer Frank Capri turns his camera on ballet and modern dancers from the world's leading companies. This stunning collection of work features images of Mikhail Baryshnikov, Julie Kent and Jennifer Ringer taken at several of NYC's iconic locations including the Empire State Building, Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge. Tuesdays through Saturdays, through November 15. Free. 12 p.m.-4 p.m. World Financial Center.  Go to worldfinancialcenter.com
for more information.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Annual Commemoration
Official city ceremony at the World Trade Center site and Zuccotti Park. Victims' family members will be able to descend to the lower level of the site. First bell tolls at 8:46 a.m.

Remembrance and Reflection at Trinity Church
Trinity Church's commemoration of the attack on September 11 begins with the ringing of the Bell of Hope at 8:46 a.m., the time that the first plane struck the World Trade Center. Quiet musical meditation time will continue throughout the day. Free. 8:46am. Trinity Church, Broadway at Wall Street. 212-602-0800. Go to www.trinitywallstreet.org

National September 11 Memorial & Museum Open House
Victims' family members and survivors are invited to visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum offices to meet staff and learn about progress of project. 8am-5pm. One Liberty Plaza, 20th floor, 212-312- 8822.

British Memorial Garden Concert
The British Memorial Garden Trust, Inc. will present a free community concert and ceremony to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  The concert will feature Welsh soprano Rebecca Jenkins, the New York Scottish Pipes and Drums Band and the Comrades Male Voice Choir from Wales, among others. There will also be an honor guard of British Police Officers. Free. 12:30 p.m. Hanover Square. 212 682-7945. Go to www.britishmemorialgarden.org

A British Salute to 9/11: Hands Across the Water
Exhibition of works by renowned British police photographer Neil Kitson showcasing the 9/11 New York City ceremonies honoring the victims of the World Trade Center tragedy. The exhibition illustrates the admiration, kinship and empathy shared by the Metropolitan Police of London and the NYPD. Through Jan. 3, 2009. Free with admission ($7, $5). NYC Police Museum, 100 Old Slip. 212-480-3100. Go to www.nycpolicemuseum.org

The September Concert
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." Inspired by these words of Aldous Huxley, The September Concert was born in 2002 on the first anniversary of 9/11. In 2007 more than 200 concerts were scheduled around the world. In Lower Manhattan, concerts will be held at 24 State St., 17 State, 40 Worth, 80 Pine, Pier 17 and other locations still to be announced. Free. Go to www.septemberconcert.org

81ST ANNUAL SAN GENNARO FESTIVAL
Little Italy, NYC
The 81st Annual Feast of San Gennaro, New York City’s oldest, biggest and most famous religious street festival, will be celebrated in 2008 starting Thursday, September 11 and continuing for 11 days through Sunday, September 21.Presented annually since 1996 by Figli di San Gennaro, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, this year’s Feast will again attract more than 1-million people to the streets of historic Little Italy in the annual salute to the Patron Saint of Naples – San Gennaro. The street festivities – including religious processions with the statue of San Gennaro, parades. free entertainment, food stands and a cannoli and a cannoli eating contest – are capped on Friday, September 19 – the Official Feast Day -- with a celebratory Mass honoring San Gennaro, followed by a candlelit procession as the Statue of San Gennaro is carried from its permanent home in Most Precious Blood Church on Mulberry Street through the streets of Little Italy. “Each year the beloved Feast of San Gennaro brings the world to Little Italy, and Little Italy to the world,” said Joseph Mattone, President of Figli di San Gennaro, Inc. “The Feast is a time for remembrance and reconciliation, and a time for celebration. The excellent food, the free musical entertainment and the excitement will all be there again this year, bigger and better than ever. On behalf of Figli di San Gennaro, I invite people of all backgrounds and ethnicities to join us in September in New York City’s Little Italy to help celebrate Italian culture and heritage.”  Goto sangennaro.org for more information.

ONGOING EXHIBITS
The Photographs of Barbara Mensch 
The South Street Seaport Museum is proud to present an exhibition of photographs by contemporary photographer Barbara Mensch.  The exhibition is curated by Thomas Mellins, special projects curator for the Museum of The City of New York. These photographs are Barbara Mensch’s tribute to the lost world of Lower Manhattan’s Fulton Fish Market. For more than a century, a tightly knit community of workingmen, many of them immigrants or children of immigrants, thrived in their nocturnal jobs as fishmongers under the base of the Brooklyn Bridge.  Many of the images were taken in 1979-1983, a time of profound change in the political and economic landscape of Lower Manhattan. The waterfront below the Brooklyn Bridge was targeted for economic revival, spurred by the demolition of important locales in the fish market, existing piers, working storefronts, saloons and hotels to make room for new commercial spaces, including a shopping mall. By showcasing this lost community, the exhibition poses critical questions about our changing urban landscape.   South Street Seaport Museum.April -October: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm: All Galleries and Ships are open.Closed Mondays.Admission fee.Children under 5 and Museum Members are free. Go to southstreetseaportmuseum.org for more information.

 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Family Music Festival: Harmony on the Hudson
7th annual family music festival at Battery Park City; harmonious sounds and fun for the family. Activities will include double dutch jump roping, relay and potatoe sack racing and tug of war. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The music line-up includes Tom Chapin & Friends, Lisa Loeb, Brady Rymer, Ebony Hilbillies. Event held in Wagner Park 1-6 PM. FREE.
Go to bpcparks.org for more information

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
World Financial Center - New York Motor Expo
Over 100 vehicles including Aston Martin, Maybach, Lincoln, Porsche and Maserati will be on view at this expo. 10AM - 6 PM, Thursday with extended hours:
till 8PM. FREE.
Go to worldfinancialcenter.com for more information

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
SALUD! CHILEAN WINE FEST
Host: Wines of Chile
Wines of Chile will be treating New Yorkers to a celebration of Chile's premium wines beginning September 18th, to mark Chile's Independence Day. During the third annual Salud! Chilean Wine Fest, New York's best restaurants and wine retailers will showcase top Chilean wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, and Sauvignon Blanc, among others. New Yorkers are invited to visit any of the 30 restaurants for a selection of Chilean wines and participate in tastings at 10 wine stores. Store tastings are complimentary: Chelsea wine vault $30. call 1-866-461-WINE for more information

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Waterfalls Happy Hour Cruise
Join Outdoor Bound and members of NY Social Network aboard "The Zephyr" party ship! We set sail for a 2 hour cruise past the Olafur Eliasson's "Waterfalls" on the East River. It is a fun and casual ship with a live DJ, 2 bars, 2 enclosed decks and a huge open top deck to check out all the sites including the Statue of Liberty up close at sunset. $25 includes the cruise, one free drink and a special gathering at a nearby restaurant with 2 for 1 drink specials following the cruise! The group will meet at Skippers Pierside Cafe located on Pier 16 at South St. Seaport. The crowd will include outdoor enthusiasts, singles, hikers, city folk. To reserve, please call 212-579-4568. 6:00-8:30 PM. Price: $25.00

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
High Line Open Studios 2008
If you love art and artistic creations, you'll love this three day exclusive access to private artist studios along the High Line in the west Chelsea gallery district. Maps for self guided tour will be available in the lobby of 508 West 26th St. between 10th and 11th Avenues. Friday 9/19 12:00 PM -Sunday 9/21 6:00 PM. Free and open to the public!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Chelsea Art Gallery Hop
Hosted by the Lunch Club, they will take you on a 2 hr tour of 8 galleries, with 8 great exhibits, giving you time to check out the exhibits in each gallery along the way. New exhibits of all kinds, by all sorts of artists (known and unknown), the art ranges from classical painting, to modern, funky, strange, bizarre sculptures, installation art, photography and more. From 3:00 - 6:00 pm, meet at Westside Tavern - 360 W 23rd St, between 8th & 9th aves - closer to 9th ave. $10 in advance, $15 at the event. email jared@thelunchclub.com for more information.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Battery Park City Block Party
This annual block party presented by the BPC Neighbor's Association will be held on Vesey Street from 12 - 4 pm. Its a Free event and we here there's a cupcake bake- off!!! Bring the entire family!!!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
4th Annual Taste for Hope
A Food, Wine & Spirit Tasting Event. Enjoy food and drinks from great NYC restaurants and fabulous wineries and spirit makers including Beppe, Hard Rock Café, Hawaiian Tropic Zone, Kumquat Cupcakery, Ditch Plains, Tommy Bahama Rum, Zipang Sparkling Sake, Penn Pilsner, Function Drinks and more. Taste for Hope has sold out the last two years and the NYC Chapter of the National MS Society plans to do it again, so buy your tickets today! 7-10 PM.Westside Loft
336 W. 37th Street. $100 until 5PM September 24 and $125 at the door based upon availability. For more information please call 212- 453-3235.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
World Financial Center Plaza - Tropfest NY 2008
Tropfest – the world’s largest short film festival – returns to the World Financial Center with an exciting day of movies and music. The outdoor entertainment includes musical sets throughout the afternoon, followed by the Top 16 films at nightfall. The winner, selected by a stellar cast of international celebrity judges, will be awarded the grand $50,000 prize. As always, films must be no longer than seven minutes and must include the 2008 Tropfest Signature Item (TSI), being “sunflower.” Go to www.Tropfest.com/NY for more information

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
"To the Limit" - Speed Climbing Documentary
Oscar-winning director Pepe Danquart introduces the "Huber Buam", Alexander and Thomas Huber, two free- climbing brothers from Bavaria. Danquart filmed as the duo went for the speed-climbing world record at "The Nose" in Yosemite National Park. Endulge in the astonishing cinematography and heart-stopping action before quizzing Danquart, who will personally introduce his movie and stay for a Q&A. Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street. 8:00 - 11:00 PM. Price: $10. For more information, please email info@steubenparade.com