The Broadway Mall Association is gearing up for its annual Winter Lighting Ceremony, “Light Up the Great Green Way,” a celebration of the holiday season and the ongoing native plant restoration of the Broadway Malls.
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The success of the 2024 test malls unlocked additional NY State and City funding to match a generous private foundation that ensures many Great Green Way restorations over the next three years. The event will take place at Verdi Square (73rd Street and Broadway) on Tuesday, December 3 at 5:00 p.m.
This year’s light show stretches over five miles from the Upper West Side to Washington Heights and is being sponsored by Zabar’s in honor of its 90th anniversary, marked with special orange and white lights on the malls between 78th and 82nd streets.
The evening will also feature performances by the Reaching for the Arts Choir and Fordham Lincoln Center’s a cappella group, The F Sharps.
“Zabar’s has been proudly serving New York City for 90 years and we are honored to support this special event in this community and celebrate the holiday season with locals and visitors alike,” said Zabar’s Senior Executive Annie Zabar. “The Broadway Mall Association’s dedication to creating vibrant public spaces is inspiring, and we are proud to recognize their incredible efforts.”
Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said: “Thank you to the Broadway Mall Association and this year’s sponsor, Zabar’s, for helping to Light Up the Great Green Way! These festive decorations will help highlight the work being done across this 5 mile stretch on the Upper West Side to use native plants to help beautify the neighborhood, fight climate change, and give New Yorkers yet another way to appreciate the history of our great city. I couldn’t think of a better sponsor for this year’s light show than Zabar’s, one of the most iconic institutions in the Upper West Side. I’m looking forward to seeing their special orange and white lights and grabbing a black and white cookie while I’m at it.”
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“Winter Lighting on the Broadway Malls is different this year,” said Andrew Genn, Executive Director the Broadway Mall Association. “This year we celebrate a year of milestones for the Association with the successful restoration of two malls with native plants, the first step in The Great Green Way, a complete reimagining of the malls to make these unique parklets more biodiverse and resilient. The success of the plantings at 164th Street, 150th Street and 83rd Street has led to further investment by our private donor and, thanks to the efforts of our local elected officials. This year is also special because we are recognizing that Broadway icon, Zabar’s, whose presence has fed generations of West Siders. Thank you to the generous support of the Zabar family who have made 2024’s lighting extra colorful and joyous.”
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