The past few weeks, Lincoln Square, like the rest of New York City, found itself under a blanket of white snow, thanks to a series of powerful late winter storms, which came just a week apart. For those of you who braved the wind and the snowdrifts to trudge into work or the grocery store, you might have found that your journey was a bit easier and safer thanks to the efforts of the Lincoln Square BID Clean Team.

Our Clean Team is best known for keeping the district's sidewalks free of litter and our street furniture graffiti, bill and sticker-free. When Mother Nature turns fierce, unleashing a string of blizzards like those our City experienced last week, the Clean Team kicks into action for another key role: keeping the neighborhood's crosswalks, catch basins, bus stops and fire hydrants clear of snow. While the rest of us huddled in front of our computer screens at work (or the Olympics at home) with a warm cup of cocoa in hand, our Clean Team donned heavy parkas and braved the elements to make sure that Lincoln Square's shoppers, residents and employees could get where they needed to go.

Shoveling snow--especially wet, heavy snow--is never an easy job, and so we tip our hats to our dedicated Clean Team and Goddard crew to say Thank you!

On March 7, NYC & Company and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will roll out the red carpet at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall for Oscar Night® and the City - New York's first-ever official Oscar-viewing gala.

The event begins at 7pm with hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and music from Oscar-winning films performed live by the Juilliard Jazz Ensemble. At 8:30pm, when the 82nd Academy Awards broadcast goes live, guests can settle into their theater seats and watch on the big screen; linger in the majestic foyer with a drink in hand (an open bar runs throughout the evening); or enjoy both spaces over the course of the party with like-minded film buffs, industry insiders and glitterati. Guests can also watch the show on screens in the lobby and will have the chance to get up close and personal with the wax figures of some Hollywood icons from Madame Tussauds NY. Each guest will receive the official Oscar program that will be provided at this year's Academy Awards.

A limited number of premium Starring Role tickets (which include access to the VIP lounge and the best seats in the house) are $225 each; Supporting Role tickets are $150 each. Click here for more information.

And, don't forget to visit the 2nd floor of Time Warner Center for a rare opportunity to get acquainted with a famous golden trophy. You can have your photo taken while holding a real Oscar, see the award that Judy Garland won for her performance in The Wizard of Oz and learn about Oscar's intricate design process by examining several statues that are in various stages of completion.

Savor the rustic flavors and classic tradition of the Fête de Campagne, a French country feast that has long been a favorite of Chef Marc Murphy. Join Marc at LANDMARC on Friday, March 12, 2010 at midnight (actually, Saturday morning!) as he hosts his very own take on this convivial celebration.

Marc will transport guests to rural France through a midnight sampling of assorted house made sausages and charcuterie, goose fat fries with aioli, a variety of French cheeses, mussels in white wine, smoky bacon tarte flambé, a selection of sweet crêpes, French desserts and much more. Be ready to toast to the fête with ample amounts of wine and beer and make sure to sample the French Pearl, a special cocktail honoring this lively and festive occasion.

For details and tickets, click here.

On Wednesday, March 17, stop by O'Neals' at 49 West 64th Street and 50 West 65th Street (just east of Broadway) and celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

From 8:00pm - 9:30pm, proprietor Michael O'Neal, will have an "intimate" celebration in the REDBAR. The evening will consist of Great Songs & Fare with various artists performing Irish-American and Traditional Irish Music. Special Guest and MC, Frances O'Flynn, will recount and narrate the history of many of the songs you will hear. And, don't forget to toast Mike and his wife, Chris, as they kick up their heels on their 43rd wedding anniversary!

This spring, Merkin Concert Hall is the place to hear the strongest and most original voices in 21st century music. Visit Merkin for a dazzling lineup of New York's favorite artists as the Contemporary Contexts series and the New Sounds Live series hosted by WNYC's John Schaefer continue!

You'll hear performers ranging from New York's favorite alt-classical quartet ETHEL to the SIGNAL ensemble and Lark Chamber Artists to pianists Jeremy Denk and Ed Pastorini to the playful pop-inflected trio Elizabeth & the Catapult. Hear brand new work by composers you've been hearing about: Nico Muhly, Paul Moravec, Sir Harrison Birtwistle and the notorious JacobTV. For the full concert schedule click here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Friends of the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District receive discounted $20 tickets for any concerts in the New Sounds Live and Contemporary Contexts series. Use the promo code LINCOLNBID.

Today, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, in coordination with the New York City Department of Transportation, launched the first of several anticipated Group Taxicab Ride stands. This one-year pilot program, will jet passengers from Midtown, and the Upper East and West Sides to Grand Central in yellow taxicabs for a reduced fare. The purpose of the stands is to help passengers traveling to common destinations save money and help the environment, while increasing the income of participating drivers.

Group Riders will share a taxicab with at least one other person, and can be dropped off anywhere along the Park Avenue portion of the ride, or continue on to the final destination near Grand Central Station.

The three Group Ride stands, which will be in service Monday through Friday from 6:00am to 10:00am, are located at:

* W. 57th Street and 8th Avenue - Fare: $3
* W. 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue - Fare: $4
* E. 72nd Street and 3rd Avenue - Fare: $4

New York City Opera will celebrate the opening of its 2010 Spring Season on Thursday, March 18, with a gala performance of Emmanuel Chabrier's opéra bouffe L'Étoile! The opera is followed by a grand evening on the Promenade of the David H. Koch Theater with dancing to waltzes played by the New York City Opera Orchestra.

L'Étoile, which was first seen at New York City Opera in 2002, is directed by Mark Lamos with associate director Alain Gauthier and was a favorite of Stravinsky, Debussy, and Ravel. Lamos creates a witty and stylish production of a rare operatic gem, befitting this zany caper about a madcap king, an astrologer, and a hapless peddler. Performed in French with English supertitles.

Regular performances of L'Étoile will continue through April 1. On Saturday, April 3, at 1:30pm, City Opera will present a 60-minute abridged version of L'Étoile, sung in French with English dialogue, as a special Family Matinee with pricing ranging from $6 - $65.

Get your tickets now!