Central Park

The Daily Plant : Friday, October 1, 2004

SIX MASTER FALCONERS, TWO CHESS GRANDMASTERS AND ONE BOCCE TOURNAMENT, ALL IN NEW YORK CITY’S PARKS

Brooklyn

Learn how to look for birds, discover the source of the Lullwater, and explore the secrets of nature on this expert-guided walk through Prospect Park’s most scenic landscapes. Enter the park at Lincoln Road and Ocean Avenue or Parkside and Ocean Avenues and follow the directional arrows. The fun begins at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 2. Take advantage of this free opportunity to learn and be inspired in beautiful Prospect Park.

For the seventh year running, Parks & Recreation brings the Falconry Extravaganza to Central Park. The program will include a dozen falcons, hawks, owls, as well as a South American condor with a 10-foot wingspan. The birds will be in the care of six master falconers, who will "free fly" their raptors, using ancient techniques employed in the art of falconry for over four thousand years. You’ll have the chance to see these birds and their impressive wingspans close up—eye to eye and beak to nose. The event will be held this Saturday, October 2, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Central Park’s East Meadow (enter at 99^th Street and Fifth Avenue).

Join two of the chess worlds most accomplished Grandmasters at the 4th Annual Chess-in-the-Parks Rapid Open. The tournament will be held on Saturday, October 2 at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, and rounds will begin at 10:00 a.m. Be there at 12:30 p.m. to see the four-time Women’s World Champion, Grandmaster Susan Polgar and the three-time United States Champion, Grandmaster Lev Alburt, compete in a human chess game, where children will play the part of the game pieces. Chess sets, trophies, medals and other prizes will be awarded following the last round. Grandmaster Lev Alburt will also donate his chess books as awards to tournament winners.

Join the Urban Park Rangers for a nature walk through the forests of Alley Pond Park on Saturday, October 2. You will see New York City’s largest tree as well as the countless animals and plants that call Alley Pond Park home. Meet the Rangers at 12:00 p.m. at the Urban Park Ranger Adventure Center. Enter the park at Winchester Boulevard, under the Grand Central Parkway. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a free, fun, and educational tour.

On Saturday, October 2, and Sunday, October 3, Parks & Recreation will host the DiLusso Deli Company Citywide Bocce Championship. Compete against the city’s best bocce players in this free tournament. Winners of Saturday’s Borough Preliminaries will advance to Sunday’s Citywide Championships, competing for cash prizes. Saturday’s competition begins at 10:00 a.m., but participants must arrive at 9:00 a.m. for registration. The event will run until 5:00 p.m. All competitors will receive a complimentary lunch sponsored by DiLusso Deli Company. Nutella® is a supporting sponsor for this event. Tournament locations are in Pelham Bay Park, the Bronx; Marine Park, Brooklyn; Juniper Valley Park, Queens; and Saturn Park in South Beach, Staten Island.

Quotation for the Day

"Extraordinary claims require
extraordinary evidence."

Carl Sagan
(1934-1996)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center