Tag: Phillip St. Pierre

iPic now open in the South Street Seaport

Post author By Eva Troester
Post date October 13, 2016

Last weekend marked the official opening of the brand new iPic theater at the South Street Seaport on Oct. 7. Located at 11 Fulton Street in the remodeled Fulton Market building, this is iPic’s first NYC location, and we have no doubt that this will be the new go-to for Lower Manhattan’s moviegoers — and draw crowds from all over the city.

“The experience, the architecture, the art that you saw when you walked in here, we don’t replicate that from location to location. So each location is unique onto itself,” said Michelle Soundry, founder and CEO of Gab Group who handles iPic’s PR.

“I’m really excited to share this experience with you and for you to meet all of the incredible spear headers behind the iPic brand experience,” Soundry said as she welcomed the guests at the press preview on Oct 6.

The Seaport’s new iPic theater features eight auditoriums with plenty of seats — even debuting their new options: iPic’s patented Pod and Chaise Lounge seating, bringing the experience to the ultimate comfort level. Each seat also comes with a blanket and pillow and equipped with buttons to make sure, your seat is exactly to your comfort.

“We looked at every aspect of movie-going, looked at all of the negatives and turned the negatives into positives. The four biggest complaint we heard from people were they have sticky floors, noisy, kids are running in and out of the theater. It’s not comfortable, so we addressed every single one of them,” explained Hamid Hashemi, President & CEO of iPic Entertainment.

“Looking at the comfort and convenience that you have in your home, what do we do? We lie on a couch, really comfortable, great sound system, pillow and a blanket and you sip on your drink. Now you can do it right inside of an auditorium and have an assured experience,” he continued.

More than that — and probably our favorite part — the menu! There is the “Dining in the Dark” experience, in which food will be brought to your seat all at the mere push of a button.

Masterfully created by chef Sherry Yard and master bartender and sommelier Adam Seger, no one will be left hungry or thirsty. Just wanting more. And luckily there is plenty to choose from. The menu reads dishes such as Reuben Croquettes and Chinois Chicken Salad Wrap, while the drink menu shakes up specialty cocktails like Empire State of Mind Manhattan and Big Apple Margarita.

“I think it’s all important for you to know that we make everything we can from scratch, and if it isn’t made from scratch, it’s made by friends of mine and they make it to my speck,” said Sherry Yard about the quality of the menu. It features many dishes made in collaboration by Yard and her friends.

“To understand the food just a little bit, it’s always my favorite food that I love to eat, I call it crave-able American cuisine, food that I love to eat every day,” Yard explained.

The cocktails deserve a few words of their own. An extensive list of specialty cocktails mixed with tried-and-true classics, seasonal brews and coffee “dessertails” for a little sweet pick-me-up.

“What’s really behind it is the passion and the love — and that’s what iPic is all about. The passion that everyone has about the movies, we try and bring that in the glass for you. And it doesn’t just stop at the cocktails, if you’re a beer drinker, we’re working with some of the top micro-brewers here in the city,” said Adam Seger.

“I absolutely love making drinks and I hire people who love making drinks. And that’s really at the essence of at the deference of what we’re all about,” he added.

Guests can enjoy both the food and the drinks without the movie experience. On the third floor of the multiplex, they will find the Tuck Room, a destination drinking and dining den inspired by the city that brought cocktail culture to vibrant life.

The iPic theater has found itself in great company at the South Street Seaport with neighbors such as Guess and Hornblower Cruise and events as well as the future home of Momofuku and a Jean Georges restaurant. The iPic theater will be yet another attraction at the Seaport only cementing the Seaport District as one of the hottest destinations of Lower Manhattan.

“First of all, we’re thrilled to have iPic opening their first cinema in New York in the South Street Seaport. It’s exactly what we’ve been telegraphing to the market where we want to go,” explained Phillip St. Pierre, General Manager for the South Street Seaport.

“iPic has a wonderful experience that they’re delivering to the customer and – that’s kind of a thread that you’re going see running throughout everything that we do over the next few years. It’s all going to be about experiences and bringing something to Manhattan that isn’t really easy to place in any particular project,” he added.

Downtown was in attendance for iPic’s press opening on Oct 6. and was delighted to try out the full experience with comfortable seating, cocktail concoctions, bites of the crave-able food and an exclusive preview of the psychological drama, Girl on the Train.

“Welcome! We have waited a long time for iPic to arrive in Lower Manhattan. I’m thrilled to have attended the press opening. You can be sure that find me at iPic enjoying their first-class seating, Adam’s delicious and creative cocktails along with Chef Sherry’s 5 star bites,” said Grace A. Capobianco, CEO and Publisher of Downtown after the event.

The Seaport District’s new iPic theater held its grand-opening on Friday Oct. 7, and is now open every day for guests to enjoy the luxury dine-in movie experience, that iPic Theaters have become known and loved for. Read more about the theater, showing schedule and its memberships on their website.

Business Events Fashion Living News

Fashion Institute Of Technology Announces Partnership With The Seaport Culture District

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date September 9, 2016

Earlier this week, The Howard Hughes Corporation announced a partnership with the Fashion Institute of Technology as part of the Seaport Culture District.

Now open at 117 Beekman Street and running through Sept. 30, FIT will showcase the work of the Urban Studio, an artist collective of students and alumni of the Fine Arts Department. The exhibition title “#wip” is a popular Instagram hashtag used by artists meaning “work in progress.” As social media influences culture, sharing on these platforms becomes an integral part of the creative process. As artists invest time experimenting with materials and content, one idea leads to the next. The documentation of these various stages of work permits an intimate view of moments that were traditionally solitary. The artwork on display ranges from drawing, printmaking, sculpture and painting to video and fiber art. The Instagram account, @fineartsfit, will demonstrate that the show is indeed a work in-progress.

“We are honored to partner with a reputable organization like FIT to continue growing the Culture District program and make the Seaport an anchor for art, design, fashion and culture in Lower Manhattan,” said Phillip St. Pierre, Senior General Manager of the Seaport District for The Howard Hughes Corporation.

As redevelopment of the neighborhood progresses, The Howard Hughes Corporation will curate a number of installations and activations as a glimpse into the future transformation of the district. These include fashion pop-up Seaport Studios and the only Smorgasburg outpost in Lower Manhattan, open seven days a week. The reinvigorated Seaport will include the ultimate cinematic experience with iPic Theaters opening a movie and dinner theater in the Fulton Market Building, a new restaurant concept from the Momofuku Group at Pier 17, a 2,500-square-foot restaurant by fast-casual, vegan hotspot by CHLOE., and a partnership with acclaimed chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten in a 40,000 square foot food market in the restored Tin Building, and a seafood concept in Pier 17. Popular independent New York bookseller McNally Jackson Books and Amsterdam fashion retailer Scotch & Soda will also open on the cobblestoned streets of Schermerhorn Row.

The Design Market, an innovative retail installation occupying the ground level of the Seaport Studios at 19 Fulton Street, will also remain open through the end of the year. The market offers a carefully curated selection of design objects including furniture, lighting, accessories, artwork and other merchandise. The Market features a selection of original home accessories, decorative gifts, stationary and jewelry curated by WantedDesign.

For additional information and program updates on the Seaport Culture District, visit www.southstreetseaport.com.

Culture Living

National Night Out comes downtown on Aug. 2; Q&A with Phillip St. Pierre & Marybeth Carragher

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date August 1, 2016

New York City may be known as “the city that never sleeps,” yet it is full of communities that work together to keep it great. National Night Out, an annual event which started over 30 years ago, takes place this year on Aug. 2 in recognition of this concept. The event, as organized by the National Association Of Town Watches, brings anti-crime rallies all over the United States with the participation of local business and civic organizations.

A new collaboration between two great organizations, the First Precinct Community Council is organizing a National Night Out event at the Seaport District in collaboration with The Howard Hughes Corporation. Beyond being a great cause unto itself, this year’s outing also offers food from Smorgasburg, carnival games and a live DJ. Downtown caught up with Phillip St. Pierre, Senior General Manager of the Seaport District, and Marybeth Carragher, Secretary of the First Precinct Community Council, for some Q&A.

For more info on what will be happening on Aug. 2, check out NYC.GOV, the website of the FPCC, and/or call 646-610-5323.

How would you describe National Night Out to someone who’s only heard the name?

Phillip St. Pierre: National Night Out is a nationwide neighborhood event designed to bring police departments together with the communities they serve. On Aug. 2, over 16,000 villages, towns and cities across the country will come together for a night of games, food and fun. This is the first year National Night Out will be held at the Seaport District, and The Howard Hughes Corporation is proud to sponsor this event celebrating the outstanding men and women of the NYPD’s First Precinct.

Marybeth Carragher: National Night Out has been in existence for 30 years. Its intent is to promote communities to work together to fight crime. Each year, NNO occurs throughout the U.S. on the first Tuesday of August.

What’s your favorite part of the event?

PSP: With food from Smorgasburg, carnival games and a live DJ, this year’s National Night Out at the Seaport District will be one to remember. I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to meet the police officers who keep our community safe every day.

MC: The event is a wonderful venue for neighbors to meet local law enforcement. Although we live in New York City, the event has a true neighborhood sense to it. This year we will have carnival games and mini-golf, a DJ, and the Master of Ceremonies will be Steve Weatherford, who has played for the New York Giants and the New York Jets.

Is this the first event you’ve worked on with the First Precinct Community Council?

PSP: This is the first year that The Howard Hughes Corporation is sponsoring National Night Out. The First Precinct Community Council does an incredible job of strengthening ties between the NYPD and Lower Manhattan residents, as well as organizing this annual event. We are excited to work with them on this important community initiative.

Marybeth, how did you start working with the Howard Hughes Corporation?

MC: After having the event in Battery Park City for a number of years, we decided to find a new location to be more inclusive of each area within the First Precinct’s boundaries. We approached Howard Hughes because the Seaport is going through such an exciting revitalization. Howard Hughes has been extremely supportive as the hosts and we believe it will be a great event.

For those unable to attend, is there a way to support National Night Out?

MC: By working together as a community, we all can strive to make our neighborhoods safer. That and we invite anyone that is interested in the First Precinct Community Council to attend one of our monthly meetings at the NYPD First Precinct at 16 Ericsson. These meetings occur the last Thursday of each month, with the exception of August.

PSP: The First Precinct Community Council’s meetings are open to all residents, businesses and people interested in community-police relations in Lower Manhattan.

What else is coming up for The Howard Hughes Corporation?

PSP: The Taste Of The Seaport, the area’s beloved annual food festival, will be held on Oct. 15. This event features local Seaport District restaurants and highlights the incredible culinary diversity in our neighborhood. All proceeds from the event support arts and enrichment programs at two of our local elementary schools, P.S. 343 and P.S. 397. We look forward to seeing our Lower Manhattan community there!

And what else is coming up for the First Precinct Community Council?

MC: The FPCC website is online at www.1stprecinctcc.org, and we are also on Facebook.

Tags First Precinct Community Council, Howard Hughes Corporation, Marybeth Carragher, National Night Out, nypd, Phillip St. Pierre, Smorgasburg

Culture Dining Events Featured Living Music

South Street Seaport GM Phillip St. Pierre on Jul. 3 & 4’s Festival Of Independence, 4Knots on Jul. 9, VICE, and more

Post author By Downtown Magazine
Post date June 29, 2016

Photo by Jane Kratochvil/Seaport District

Still looking for something to do for Monday, Jul. 4? One of your options to consider ought to be what’s being offered at South Street Seaport. As organized by the Howard Hughes Corporation, the Seaport District will be presenting its Festival Of Independence. The two-day celebration — which launches one day earlier on Jul. 3 — is presented in partnership with Noisey, the music and culture channel of VICE. Beyond performances by Porches, D.R.A.M. and Phony PPL, there will also be a second stage with incredible family-friendly performances from Clifford The Big Red Dog & Friends and the Marcus Monroe Juggling Show.

Phillip St. Pierre, Senior General Manager of South Street Seaport, spoke to Downtown about the Festival Of Independence and plenty more. Less than a week later, the same site will be hosting the 4Knots Music Festival, as presented by The Village Voice on Jul. 9, as featuring headliner Guided By Voices. IMPACT! and the recurring Fulton Stall Market are also on the docket for the Howard Hughes Corporation.

For more info on the Seaport, click on over to www.southstreetseaport.com. The legendary downtown destination can also be followed on Twitter via @TheSeaport.

How would you describe this event to someone thinking of attending?

Phillip St. Pierre: The Fourth of July is all about family, friends, and community. The Festival Of Independence is all about celebrating that sense of community and independent spirit.

This two-day concert series on the historic streets of the Seaport District includes a lineup of independent artists hand-selected by Noisey, VICE’s music and culture channel — the performances won’t be Noisey, they’ll be melodious! Artists including Wild Nothing, Porches, D.R.A.M and a Jonathan Toubin DJ set will perform on a dedicated stage on Fulton Street.

There will also be top-tier children’s performers all afternoon on July 4th. Acts include the Marcus Monroe Juggling Show and Tim and the Space Cadets, a Brooklyn entertainer and host of the only live morning show for preschoolers, Sunny Side Up.

All of this excitement and activity culminates with the Macy’s 2016 Fireworks Show over the East River. There is no better vantage point than up on the FDR at Pier 17 — that’s right, the city is closing down the FDR so you can walk right on up and see the show unobstructed — to watch this amazing display!

Is there a particular activity or part of the festival that you’re looking forward to most?

PSP: The Seaport District is a vibrant community, and The Howard Hughes Corporation is particularly excited about activities geared towards some of the neighborhood’s youngest residents. Lower Manhattan’s population under 18 is booming, and we are constantly looking for new ways to engage kids and their families through interactive programming and events. We know that Clifford The Big Red Dog live on The Peck Slip Stage is going to be a huge hit.

How did the opportunity to collaborate with VICE on this festival come about?

PSP: VICE’s Noisey is an expert at curating lineups of top-performers across a range of genres. We were very excited about their work, and we recognized that they could be a tremendous asset to the festival. They were also thrilled to be a part of the revitalization of the Seaport District, and play a role in making the neighborhood a place where all New Yorkers could congregate and listen to amazing acts.

South Street Seaport took a long time to rebuild from Hurricane Sandy. For someone that hasn’t been gone there in a while, what has changed recently?

PSP: There have been tremendous changes to the Seaport District since Hurricane Sandy. The neighborhood feels incredibly vibrant with the worst days of recovery far behind us. The Howard Hughes Corporation is committed to revitalizing the neighborhood into one of the top entertainment and cultural destinations in New York City.

In recent months, we’ve announced plans for new restaurants from legendary chefs David Chang and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, as well as the upcoming opening of iPic Theaters. This summer, Smorgasburg, everyone’s favorite food festival, has returned to the Seaport. We welcome all New Yorkers to come and experience the Seaport’s dynamic attractions first-hand this summer.

After this festival has wrapped, are there any future events at the Seaport happening that you can talk about?
Right now we are hosting the annual Seaport Culture District, the acclaimed arts initiative that brings cultural partners to the Seaport. As part of the Culture District, we’ve brought an ongoing design exhibit called IMPACT! which showcases projects from students at Parsons School of Design and explores the ways in which designers, artists, scholars and technologists come together to push the limits of creativity IMPACT! will be open for extended hours during the Festival Of Independence.

And on July 9th, music lovers should check out The 4Knots Musical Festival, sponsored by The Howard Hughes Corporation and The Village Voice. Like The Festival Of Independence, this event includes an incredible music line-up with bands like Girlpool, Guided By Voices and Car Seat Headrest. It’s going to be a memorable event.

What about events being produced by the Howard Hughes Corporation?

PSP: Every Sunday afternoon, The Howard Hughes Corporation hosts the weekly Fulton Stall Market, a farmer’s market that brings local food producers down to the Seaport to share their goods with the Lower Manhattan community. It’s a great way for people to connect with the farmers and food producers that are at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement.

When not busy with work, how do you like to spend your free time?

PSP: I love to ride. You will find me most weekends out in rural New York amongst our Fulton Stall Market friends riding my Harley. It’s where I can unwind and recharge. I am actually making the big trip later this summer, riding from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Golden Gate — 17 states in 16 days. I am really looking forward to it.

Finally, Phillip, any last words for the kids?

PSP: The Seaport District is great to visit all year-round, but it’s especially wonderful in the summer. We encourage everyone, and especially kids and families, to come to the neighborhood and experience firsthand what all the buzz is about.

Tags 4Knots, Festival Of Independence, fourth of july, Guided By Voices, Howard Hughes Corporation, July 4th, Phillip St. Pierre, Seaport District, south street seaport, VICE