Central Park

The Daily Plant : Friday, June 15, 2001

THE 22ND ANNUAL MISSISSIPPI PICNIC:WHERE CATFISH MEETS KNISH

For 22 years the Mississippi Picnic has brought southern tradition to a northern locale-Central Park. On Saturday, June 9 New York and Mississippi natives gathered for the annual event in the East Meadow.

Visitors enjoyed traditional southern cuisine-catfish, cole slaw, french fried potatoes, and watermelons full of seeds for a spitting contest-and live entertainment including music by the Mississippi Groups and blues singer Jesse Robinson. A bake off at the end of the day appealed to the sweet tooths in the crowd and games all afternoon kept the children occupied. Approximately 500 guests attended.

Also on hand were Rachel (Magnolia) Jackson who has organized the picnic every year since its inception and Terry (Calla Lily) Jackson, Director of Special Events, who coordinated Parks' involvement. The Governor of Mississippi, Ronnie (Mississippi) Musgrove, and his family were present, as were representatives from eight Mississippi universities.

Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern warmly invited New York and Mississippi natives to enjoy the park's cultural programs including Central Park SummerStage and Shakespeare in the Park. Congratulations to everyone with a hand in staging the Mississippi picnic, a wonderful way to share Mississippi and New York City culture.

By Brenna (Tuscany) Sevano

THE DAILY PLANT KEEPS SCORE

This week Parks kicked off its 2001 softball season with three exciting games on Randall's Island. Monday, in one of two intra-boro battles this week, Manhattan faced Central Park. Pitching proved to be key, and Central Park's Sam Vargas gave up only one run, leading his team to a 5-1 victory over Manhattan.

On Tuesday the Zoo Garage and Arsenal duked it out. In a high scoring, extra inning game, the Zoo Garage finally came out on top with a 10-9 victory.

The final game of the week was played on Wednesday between Queens and Arsenal West. The contest remained close through six innings, but in the seventh Queens broke it open and walked away with a decisive 21-13 win.

There is plenty more softball to look forward to, and next week's match-ups pit Bronx against Arsenal West on Monday while Central Park and the Arsenal, and Queens and the Zoo Garage, go head-to-head on Tuesday. For more information, please contact Sarah (Cria) Coleman at (212) 360-8235.

By Sarah (Cria) Coleman

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Friday, June 17,2001)

MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY LAUDS ZOO DESIGN, HONORS FRITZ

The Municipal Art Society, a private organization founded in 1892 to preserve the city's public art presented a Certificate of Merit to Parks, the New York Zoological Society and the Architecture firm of Kevin Roche John Kinkeloo and Associates for the "inspired reincarnation" of the Central Park Zoo at its 96th annual dinner last night.

The Society cited the new zoo's "humane open air habitats [which] replaced the rigid bars and cages of old, and new paths that lead through terrains in harmony with the landscape around the wildlife within."

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

On jazz: "As it enters the ear, does it come in like broken glass
or does it come in like honey?"

Eddie Condon

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center