In Bryant Park: For me, Lincoln Center is associated with music and the Met. Old people. But this place is young. It’s the pinnacle of the fashion world.
Ronaldo Drayton settled into his usual spot and pointed to the white, flapping tents of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
“They used to call this Needles Park. Thirty years ago, when I first came to the city. There were drug dealers, prostitutes. Now, we have models!” he said, amazed.
Drayton, 54, has been lunching in Bryant Park for fifteen years. Since the park started hosting New York’s Fashion Week in 1993, he’s noticed a significant improvement in the neighborhood. But the most recent change—the relocation of Fashion Week—unnerved him.
“Fashion Week put this park on the map. They might as well take away the ice rink and the Christmas tree,” he said.
On February 3rd, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that next year’s event is moving to Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center. The new location has roughly 25% more space, according to a press release from the Mayor’s office. The move allows Bryant Park, “one of the few green spaces in midtown”, to “better meet the increasing demand for public programming.”
But residents like Drayton insist the bi-annual event helped form the park’s character.
Conrad Ming Tsai, a 40-year-old blogger, said Fashion Week connects residents to New York’s rich past. Relocation would be disloyal and unsuccessful.
“New York used to be the center of fashion. Sixth Avenue is called Fashion Avenue of America. It all started here, in the garment district.”
Younger residents, like 21-year-old stylist Jeremy Barlowe, said the energy around Bryant Park area is markedly different from the atmosphere uptown.
“For me, Lincoln Center is associated with music and the Met. Old people. But this place is young. It’s the pinnacle of the fashion world.”
Seichi Niitsuma, a 27-year-old photographer, agrees.
“Lincoln Center is posh, it’s all about business up there. It has a harsh, repressive feel. Here, we’re closer to downtown.”
Fashion Week also attracts consumers to the area. Dinesh Patel’s family owned The Smoke Shop for sixteen years. Now, the 30-year-old worries about the future.
“It’s definitely make a difference,” Patel admits. “Small business owners would feel the loss. Don’t know what will happen next year.”
But he’s not waiting to find out. The Patels are closing down and moving to India.
Ming Tsai and Barlowe are leaving, too. They say Damrosch is too far.
Drayton said, “Fashion Week is short. And Lincoln Center already has enough. Why take away what’s made this park so great?”
In Bryant Park: For me, Lincoln Center is associated with music and the Met. Old people. But this place is young. It’s the pinnacle of the fashion world.
Ronaldo Drayton settled into his usual spot and pointed to the white, flapping tents of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
“They used to call this Needles Park. Thirty years ago, when I first came to the city. There were drug dealers, prostitutes. Now, we have models!” he said, amazed.
Drayton, 54, has been lunching in Bryant Park for fifteen years. Since the park started hosting New York’s Fashion Week in 1993, he’s noticed a significant improvement in the neighborhood. But the most recent change—the relocation of Fashion Week—unnerved him.
“Fashion Week put this park on the map. They might as well take away the ice rink and the Christmas tree,” he said.
On February 3rd, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that next year’s event is moving to Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center. The new location has roughly 25% more space, according to a press release from the Mayor’s office. The move allows Bryant Park, “one of the few green spaces in midtown”, to “better meet the increasing demand for public programming.”
But residents like Drayton insist the bi-annual event helped form the park’s character.
Conrad Ming Tsai, a 40-year-old blogger, said Fashion Week connects residents to New York’s rich past. Relocation would be disloyal and unsuccessful.
“New York used to be the center of fashion. Sixth Avenue is called Fashion Avenue of America. It all started here, in the garment district.”
Younger residents, like 21-year-old stylist Jeremy Barlowe, said the energy around Bryant Park area is markedly different from the atmosphere uptown.
“For me, Lincoln Center is associated with music and the Met. Old people. But this place is young. It’s the pinnacle of the fashion world.”
Seichi Niitsuma, a 27-year-old photographer, agrees.
“Lincoln Center is posh, it’s all about business up there. It has a harsh, repressive feel. Here, we’re closer to downtown.”
Fashion Week also attracts consumers to the area. Dinesh Patel’s family owned The Smoke Shop for sixteen years. Now, the 30-year-old worries about the future.
“It’s definitely make a difference,” Patel admits. “Small business owners would feel the loss. Don’t know what will happen next year.”
But he’s not waiting to find out. The Patels are closing down and moving to India.
Ming Tsai and Barlowe are leaving, too. They say Damrosch is too far.
Drayton said, “Fashion Week is short. And Lincoln Center already has enough. Why take away what’s made this park so great?”
Posted 1 year ago Notes
