New York City has certainly seen its fair share of inclement weather recently, testing the mettle of everyone from residents, to pedestrians, to motorists, to building and City employees alike. We would like to take a moment to thank our very own Clean Team, whose extraordinary dedication to keeping Lincoln Square "open for business" really shone through during the last couple of snowfalls.

Most frequently seen sweeping and bagging trash, cleaning street furniture and power washing corners, our Clean Team also braves the elements to clear corners, bus stops, fire hydrants and catch basins of snow and ice. And what a fine job they do! After December's nor'easter paralyzed New York City for days, we were pleased to receive voicemails from our neighboring residents complimenting the BID on its extensive snow removal efforts. Thanks to the work of our brave shovel-wielding Clean Team, one caller was able to get to the supermarket to restock on essentials instead of remaining homebound.

We are also happy to announce the introduction of a snow blower to our snow removal "tool kit". The addition of the snow blower, which was provided by our sanitation company Atlantic Maintenance and is being stored for us by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, was a great help to us this week and will allow us to clear the sidewalks with even more efficiency during future snowstorms.

Are you interested in becoming a member of one of Manhattan's twelve Community Boards? If so, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer is now accepting applications until Friday, January 14.

Manhattan's community boards are local organizations composed of 50 volunteer members serving staggered two-year terms. Community boards have a budget, a district manager and staff, and are tasked with being the independent and representative voices of their communities. Each community board has three distinct responsibilities: monitoring the delivery of city services such as sanitation and street maintenance; planning and reviewing land use applications including zoning changes; and making recommendations for each year's city budget. The boards are pivotal in shaping their communities and work to enhance and preserve the character of the city's many unique neighborhoods.

Click here to apply and for more information.

Image: Community Board 7 in action. Photo by Sam Levin for the New York Observer

On Monday, January 17 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) Kaufman Center will kick off the Ecstatic Music Festival at Merkin Concert Hall with a FREE 7-hour marathon running from 2:00pm - 9:00pm. The marathon will feature sets by some of the artists appearing later in the festival along with additional performers and headliners Buke and Gass with Victoire.

Program highlights include a rare performance of Julius Eastman's Stay On It with Ne(x)tworks; the U.S. premiere of John Matthias, Adrian Corker and Andrew Prior's new work for violin, voice, electric guitar, piano and NeuroSampler, what happens; the second-ever New York performance of Corey Dargel's complete Other People's Love Songs with NOW Ensemble; and the Chiara String Quartet performing Jefferson Friedman's String Quartet No. 3.

A panel discussion with Ecstatic Music Festival artists will take place at 7:00pm on Sunday, January 16 at the Apple Store on Broadway at 67th Street. Moderated by Nadia Sirota, the panel will include Dan Deacon, Nico Muhly, Valgeir Sigurðsson, Missy Mazzoli and Tristan Perich.

The marathon is free, and no tickets or reservations are required. A variety of snacks and drinks, including beer and wine, will be available at the concessions stand throughout the day.

Image: Victoire - a new chamber-rock ensemble founded by composer/keyboardist Missy Mazzoli, featuring Olivia De Prato (violin), Eileen Mack (clarinet), Lorna Krier (keyboards) and Eleonore Oppenheim (double bass).

The multi-year renovation of the Columbus Circle Subway station has brought many new improvements which are expected to aid the flow of the thousands of commuters who come through this station daily.

The latest update is that the entrance and exit on the pedestrian island across from Time Warner Center is now open! At this location, commuters will find a staffed booth, several Metrocard vending machines and plenty of natural light, thanks to the installation of attractive glass tiles above.

New York City Restaurant Week is back! From Monday, January 24 through Sunday, February 6, foodies will have a chance to eat at some of the city's and Lincoln Square's top restaurants for a fraction of the usual cost. Three-course, prix-fixe meals for $24.07 and $35 respectively... what more can you ask for?

How about a $15 credit? American Express cardholders can get a $15 statement credit when they register and use any American Express Card to dine out three or more times at any of the over 300 participating restaurants.

A Voce, Asiate at Mandarin Oriental, New York, Atlantic Grill, Bar Boulud, Cafe Fiorello, Ed's Chowder House at the Empire Hotel, Gabriel's, Nougatine at Trump International Hotel and Tower, Picholine, Porter House New York, Rosa Mexicano and Telepan are all participating this time around.

And, stay tuned for Lincoln Square's "Fashion Plate" Prix Fixe, which is a special promotion that will take place from Thursday, February 10 - Thursday, February 17 during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and will feature price fixed menus from 17 of Lincoln Square's finest eateries, including many of those listed above. Note that this promotion is available to everyone!

It's not too late to sign up for the BID's "Fashion Plate"; if you're a restaurant interested in this promotional opportunity give us a call at 212.581.3774 or email us at info@lincolnsquarebid.org for more information.

In 2009, the New York City Council introduced and Mayor Bloomberg signed Local Law 84, which mandates large buildings (over 50,000 square feet) to annually benchmark their energy and water use. Qualifying buildings must submit their first report no later than May 1, 2011, and no later than every May 1 thereafter.

The Mayor also signed Intro 257 into law on January 4, 2011. This new legislation increases the fines for illegal ATM machines on sidewalks. Property owners will now face fines of up to $5000 for ATM machines illegally placed on sidewalks.

For more information on legislation and City news, visit www.nyc.gov.

At 8:30pm on Thursday, January 27 stop in the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center for Target Free Thursdays and celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Harlem's world-famous Apollo Theater. This historic landmark is a source of pride and a symbol of the brilliance of American artistic accomplishment.

Known as the "soul of American culture," this Harlem institution celebrates its incredible anniversary with a return visit to Lincoln Center, kicking off a nationwide museum tour honoring the Apollo's legendary history. From performers such as Duke Ellington and Luther Vandross to Mo'Nique and Dave Chappelle, the Apollo has seen a variety of acclaimed artists. Honoring the artists of Apollo's storied past and previewing the Apollo's future, current Apollo favorites will take the stage in a performance inspiring laughter, good times, and great memories of this historic landmark.

This winter, get out of the cold and go indoors at some of Manhattan's greatest theaters: AMC Loews Lincoln Square, Lincoln Plaza Cinema and the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater... all right here in Lincoln Square.

From Disney's Tangled to Tron, you can find the latest blockbusters at AMC Loews Lincoln Square at Broadway and 68th Street.

The most celebrated independent films can be seen at Lincoln Plaza Cinema on Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets; be sure to see Black Swan for a filmmaker's take on what it's like for a prima ballerina in Swan Lake, which coincidentally, of course, will be performed by the New York City Ballet in February.

At the Walter Reade Theater on 65th Street, the Film Society of Lincoln Center and The Jewish Museum are presenting the 20th Annual New York Jewish Film Festival with an unrivaled selection of riveting dramatic features and fascinating documentaries, including My So-Called Enemy - a feature-length documentary film by Lisa Gossels about Palestinian and Israeli teenage girls who traveled to the U.S. to participate in a women's leadership program called Building Bridges for Peace.

Image: Vincent Cassel and Natalie Portman in Black Swan. Photo by Niko Tavernise