Central Park’s 150th!

Just The Way You Are, Jerome Kern

I imagine most New Yorkers are up on the news, but this was first I’d heard of the big birthday celebration for Greensward.

Before heading south of the border, I did a quick Google for Sewer Tours in NYC, thinking that there might be a quasi-legit way to head underground and maybe check out some mysterious, hidden acoustics under Manhatten - ‘Lower’ Manhatten, I guess you might call this! - however my exploration of Underground Spaces will have to await a return visit!

To my surprise, my web-browsing found me unexpectedly popping up right in the middle of Central Park, at least in a manner of speaking! What I stumbled upon was a site describing how this living, breathing green ‘heart’ of the teeming metropolis is celebrating 150 years, having been founded on April 28th, 1858…and the date of my little discovery: April 28th, 2008 as chance would have it!

I didn’t have enough time to coordinate attending any of the Special Events* marking the occasion, however I did manage to follow through with my original idea of recording in one of the numerous and distinctive tunnels that lace the wonderful park.

The voice that can be heard here emerged from the dark depths of the tunnel from a guy camped out near the other end, kindly warning me that musicians are often busted by security. This filled me with confidence, as you can imagine, however he and I had a pleasant chat after I’d finished playing. As the music is ending, the amiable conversation of two joggers passing through the tunnel overlay with the sound of  ‘Just the way You Are’, composed by the Granddaddy of American Musical Theater, Jerome Kern…as always, headphones are recommended for full stereo effect!

* If there is one link you check out, this’d be the one, courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy…and for another aspect of urban preservation, you might want to explore Ars Subterranea.