Things to Do
Free outdoor yoga classes to return
to Bryant Park this month
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
For the fi rst time in two years, Bryant
Park’s free yoga classes are returning to
the park this month.
The classes will kick off on Wednesday, June
16, at 6 p.m. Sponsored by Happify Health,
Rothman Orthopaedics, and Lifeway Foods,
Inc., the classes will take place every Wednesday
at 6 p.m. for 10 weeks through Aug. 18.
Each class will be led by a New York City
yoga instructor. In-person classes will allow for
proper social distancing and masks are recommended
for all participants. Unlike in previous
years, participants will be required to bring
their own mats as none will be available onsite.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the
renowned yoga classes were taken out of the
park and brought online. Due to the popularity
of the virtual classes, this summer’s classes
will also be livestreamed on the Bryant Park
Instagram page @bryantparknyc.
While the classes are free, registration is required.
Each class will be limited to nearly 500
participants on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis.
Yoga enthusiasts can register at bryantpark.
org/programs/yoga. PHOTO: JANE KRATOCHVIL
‘In the Heights’-inspired tourism campaign for Wash. Hts.
BY ARIEL PACHECO
Mayor Bill de Blasio, amongst a
slew of announcements, said on
June 8 that Washington Heights
is getting a new tourism campaign as part
of the city’s recovery plan.
With Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In The
Heights” premiering this week in theaters,
New York City is partnering with Warner
Bros. to give tourists a real-life experience
of Washington Heights.
The tourist campaign will visit sites in
Washington Heights like J.Hood Wright
Park and the 191st Street subway stop.
“There’s going to be opportunities
through this campaign to get people to
know one of the great neighborhoods of
this city,” said de Blasio.
This campaign is part of a larger one,
called the Latino Experience in New
York City. It is an ongoing fi ve-borough
campaign to spotlight Latino heritage and
communities throughout the city. Washington
Heights is known for its populous
Anthony Ramos as Usnavi, Gregory Diaz IV as Sonny and Leslie Grace as Nina
Rosario in Warner Bros. Pictures’ “In the Heights.”
Latino community.
De Blasio also announced a new initiative,
New York City Artist Corps. The
WARNER BROS.
initiative will provide grants to artists who
apply in an effort to help struggling artists
get back on their feet.
“We know that artists in the City went
through so much,” said de Blasio. ‘We want
to help them, give them work, give them
employment and opportunity but also bring
their incredible talents to bear all over the
city.”
De Blasio also stated that Bruce Springsteen
is coming back to Broadway on June
26, earlier than initially anticipated. There
will be additional performances through
Sept. 4. Broadway has been closed since
March 12, 2020.
“Broadway is back,” said de Blasio.
The city’s recovery plan hopes to bring
back tourism back in a major way, as tourism
numbers cratered due to the pandemic.
The mayor has frequently referred to this
coming season as the “summer of New
York City,” an opportunity for the fi ve
boroughs to be reborn during the recovery
from the COVID-19 pandemic.
De Blasio also predicted a Brooklyn Nets
championship parade, another possible
event that could help with the “reopening”
of the City.
Schneps Media June 10, 2021 35