On Wednesday, May 25 over 200 property owners, businesses, residents and other members of the community gathered to celebrate our 14th Annual Meeting at Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium. Guests were welcomed by Reynold Levy, President of Lincoln Center, and Andrew Pucher, the BID's Chairman, and were treated to a continental breakfast by 'wichcraft. This year's guest speakers included the Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr., Council Member Gale Brewer, the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Executive Director Rose Kuo, and WNET President and CEO Neal Shapiro. In addition to offering interesting remarks, the two latter speakers took advantage of the Atrium's vibrant video wall to offer the audience a visual tour of their programs.

The BID's Treasurer and Nominations Chair Georgette Bennett handled the election of Directors and welcomed new Board members David McManus of The Empire Hotel, Suzie Mills of Trump International Hotel & Tower, Jessica Newshel a residential tenant, and Donna Rodriguez of Atlantic Grill. Gary Jacob, the BID's Vice Chair of Finance, reviewed and presented the FY '12 budget. The assembled audience was also treated to a riveting performance by student jazz violinist Jonathan Russell of the Professional Children's School.

Chairman Andrew Pucher presented a Community Partnership Award to Police Officer Farrell Conroy for excellent police work, including the arrest of two shoplifters in Lincoln Square, and a Dedicated Service Award was presented to BID Public Safety Officer Leon Persaud for his outstanding job performance, which led to the arrest of the aforementioned shoplifters. Awards were also given out to four members of our Clean Team who have been with the BID for over 10 years. Monica Blum, the BID's President, concluded the meeting by thanking all of the property owners, businesses and individuals that help ensure the success of the BID throughout the year.

Special thanks to Reynold Levy and Tom Dunn of Lincoln Center for making it possible for the BID to use this great public space, to Jeffrey Zurofsky of 'wichcraft for some delectable food and to the American Bible Society for its additional support. To see some great photos of this year's Annual meeting, check out our flickr page.

On Thursday, June 16 at 8:00pm Jazz at Lincoln Center will host its final performance of the season - Texas Blues Summit: Jimmie Vaughan & Friends at the Rose Theater. In this second annual Blues Summit, Jazz at Lincoln Center highlights this distinct style of blues with legendary guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, who will be making his Jazz at Lincoln Center debut. Vaughan will be joined by W.C. Clark (who is often hailed as the "Godfather of Austin blues"), Austin blues queen Lou Ann Barton, plus Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Billy F. Gibbons.

There may be no regional genre of music more prone to celebrating its own prowess than Texas blues, and with good reason. Blues royalty such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Freddie King, T-Bone Walker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Lightnin' Hopkins all hail from the Lone Star state. The House of Swing will be rockin' blues that night! For tickets call CenterCharge at 212.721.6500 or visit www.jalc.org.

Image: Jimmy Vaughn by El Ojo Photography

On Friday, June 17, the Film Society of Lincoln Center's new Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center will officially open with its inaugural title screening of Andrew Rossi's Page One: Inside the New York Times. This documentary has been a crowd and critical favorite at this year's Sundance and SXSW Film Festivals and deftly gains unprecedented access to the New York Times newsroom and the inner workings of the Media Desk.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center's new landmark state-of-the-art Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center is a multi-screen theater and cultural venue and is named after FSLC board member, and award-winning filmmaker and designer Elinor Bunin Munroe. The Film Center has been designed by David Rockwell and Rockwell Group who also collaborated with Diller Scofidio + Renfro on the exterior. The 17,500 square foot venue houses two theaters, an amphitheater and a caf�. The 150-seat Francesca Beale Theater will show specialty film releases, and the intimate 90-seat Howard Gilman Theater will screen a combination of new film releases and special programs. The amphitheater, with a 152" Panasonic Plasma screen (the largest of its kind on public display in the country) will house lectures, panels and educational programs.

Visit www.filmlinc.com for more information and to purchase tickets for upcoming screenings, including Page One: Inside the New York Times.

Thirty seven planters and 19 flower beds in Lincoln Square's Broadway Malls from 60th - 70th Streets are ablaze with colorful flowers planted by the BID's new landscape firm, Frank Bulfamante and Sons. The flowers, which were planted less than a month ago, have brightened up Broadway. This year, for the first time, our program has become worry-free thanks to our selection of this firm which in addition to providing frequent, attentive maintenance, also provides water, and in the heat of the past weeks, were we ever grateful for this additional service. Thanks to the generous support of long-time beautification sponsors, including property owners, businesses, foundations, residential buildings and many individuals, we are able to ensure that Lincoln Square's malls and parks are in full bloom.

If you are interested in supporting our efforts, click here to donate online. Every dollar helps us plant beautiful flowers and shrubs throughout the year. And to learn more about our beautification efforts, go to www.lincolnsquarebid.org/beautification.

Starting Saturday, June 18 and running through Saturday, July 2, thousands, if not millions, of people will be given free access to the arts with Sing for Hope's Pop-Up Pianos. Over 80 pianos will be placed in public spaces throughout New York, including Lincoln Square, for those who can play a little and those who can really play. Each piano has been painted by a Sing for Hope Volunteer Artist who shares the mission of bringing the arts to all.

Whether your style is in the manner of Beethoven or Elton John, enjoy impromptu performances on the pianos by members of Sing for Hope's Volunteer Artist roster - maybe a Broadway star, a local songwriter, or a ballerina. These individuals share one thing: a desire to give back through their art, and to unite artists with their local communities. And don't forget the fun is in visiting your local piano, playing a tune, and spreading the word.

Piano locations in and around Lincoln Square include Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium, Hearst Plaza, Alice Tully Hall and the Central Park Visitor's Center at 66th Street and Central Park West.

Image: Songbirds at Lincoln Center by FreeVerse Photography

Father's Day is on Sunday, June 19 and Lincoln Square is the perfect place to get Dad that special gift. For the trendy Dad, Lincoln Square has over a dozen boutiques featuring Men's apparel. On Broadway you'll find Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Gap, and Zara; Burberry Brit and UGG Australia are on Columbus Avenue; and the Shops at Columbus Circle at Time Warner Center have BOSS Hugo Boss, Cole Haan, Esprit, J. Crew, Thomas Pink, and Tumi to name a few.

If apparel is not your Dad's thing, be sure to visit Gracious Home for some great tools in their hardware department, Best Buy for that new 3D TV, or Apple for the iPad2! And that's just a taste of all the great stores in Lincoln Square, so let our website, www.lincolnsquarebid.org/explore, be your guide to the neighborhood and show Dad how much you care with presents from Lincoln Square!

Make Music New York is back for a fifth year of free, outdoor concerts all around New York City and in Lincoln Square! It all takes place on Tuesday, June 21, from 11:00am - 9:00pm, when dozens of musicians will take to the streets and sidewalks, performing for friends, neighbors, and passers-by.

This year's "Make Music" lineup in Lincoln Square includes blues, rock, folk, tubas and more at Dante Park at Broadway and West 63rd Street; at Richard Tucker Park at Broadway and West 66th Street; and at Merchants' Gate at Columbus Circle.

On the same day from 4:00pm - 7:00pm, stop by Kaufman Center's Lucy Moses School on West 67th Street just west of Broadway for its annual Discovery Day, a FREE community event where kids can try out lots of different instruments, take a sample Dalcroze class, and hear other young students perform, including Kaufman Center's new teen music ensemble "Face the Music" who will perform works by Steve Reich and Gregor Huebner outside in the street at 6:30pm.

Make Music New York is just a taste of what's to come in Lincoln Square as the neighborhood heats up this summer with an unlimited amount of free performances, including our very own FREE summer concert series at Richard Tucker Park, every Wednesday in July and August from noon until 2:00pm at Broadway and 66th Street.

Last month we unveiled our two Neighborhood Information Kiosks - one at Dante Park and the other at Richard Tucker Park. These new kiosks feature three panels; one with the history of the respective park and historic images; one with a map of Lincoln Square and information on places of interest; and one with a subway and bus map.

A special thanks to the Parks Department, the Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and the family of Richard Tucker for their support with the design and manufacturing of these kiosks. We hope residents and visitors to the area will enjoy these beautiful additions and will find them helpful.

The 23rd season of Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing will kick off on Monday, June 27 with a special FREE ticketed event and will continue every night Tuesday through Saturday from June 28 - July 16 at the bandshell in Damrosch Park, on West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. Each night begins with a dance lesson at 6:30pm for all levels with some of New York's foremost instructors and the live music and dancing begins at 7:30pm and lasts until 10:00pm. Lessons are included in the price of admission.

Midsummer Night Swing offers an array of dance music styles including salsa, swing, disco, tango, gypsy jazz and Irish folk dance. A tribute to the dance history-making TV show Soul Train on the occasion of its 40th Anniversary will happen on June 28, when saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and trombonist Fred Wesley - famous for their work with James Brown - perform along with special guests Martha High and Fred Ross. Original Soul Train dancer Tyrone Proctor will be the dance instructor, and the legendary Biz Markie will deejay a set guaranteed to get the crowd bumpin'. The evening will also showcase video clips from the show that changed forever the way America dances.

New this year will be a Street Food BBQ program for Damrosch Park created by Restaurant Associates and celebrity chef, Ed Brown (Ed's Chowder House, "Iron Chef"). In addition, food and cocktail specials inspired by the country or region of the performers will be offered nightly.

Tickets and passes are on sale now at The Swing box office located in the lobby of Avery Fisher Hall at Broadway and 65th Street or they can be purchased by calling 212.721.6500 or by logging on to www.MidsummerNightSwing.org.

Image: Dancers enjoy Midsummer Night Swing; photo by Kevin Yatarola

It is not too early to mark your calendars and save the date for Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square! New York's largest holiday festival will celebrate its 12th year on Monday, November 28, 2011 and once again it promises to be better than ever. This year we hope that every shop, restaurant and non profit will join us as we usher in the holiday season. Call our office at 212.581.3774 or email us at info@lincolnsquarebid.org for more information on sponsorship opportunities and how to get involved in this year's festival.