Come join us at the new Little Island Park, opened to the public on May 21, 2021! At a cost over $260 million, the beautiful park sits atop 132 concrete “tulips” structures while the original Pier 54 piles remain to provide a habitat for aquatic life.

It is a marvel per the NYPost: "It’s the biggest, and most creative, park opening since the High Line. The Big Apple has never seen anything like it. ... dizzying array of eye-pleasers also includes grassy knolls, gentle green slopes and zigzag wooden staircases, white-rose trellises, three overlook platforms for skyline and river viewing."

Kron4 News: "The park’s landscaping was designed ... to evoke a leaf floating on water. It features 35 species of trees, 65 species of shrubs and 290 types of grasses, vines and perennials. ... Little Island’s human-made hills provide views of the Hudson on one side and city on the other, but the park’s carefully constructed topography makes it feel like its own little world."

Hudson View Park describes the park: "Components of the pier, nestled among more than 350 species of flowers, trees and shrubs, include a 687-seat amphitheater and an intimate stage and lawn space, along with dazzling views of other portions of Hudson River Park, New York City and the Hudson River. Little Island was designed by Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio, with landscape design by Signe Nielsen of MNLA. The landscape provides a visually surprising and inspiring experience as visitors walk across the park. The plantings are varied to provide an environment that changes with the seasons, with flowing trees and shrubs, fall foliage and evergreens. More than 66,000 bulbs and 114 trees have been planted, some of which will grow to 60 feet tall."

**We are an extremely friendly and welcoming group.** To our new members: Come to the meetup and make new friends! We are delighted to meet you, and to welcome you to the group.

Little Island has an extensive and wonderful **live music schedule**. While some performances are paid, most are free. **This evening (at no cost) we will be going to see the brilliant jazz singer Samara Joy, right at the beginning of the meetup, at 6:30pm. In fact, the meetup group will be meeting in the performance space (The Glade) where she will be performing at 6:30pm.**

**Samara Joy on YouTube:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYKodZNfB28

**Samara Joy's website:** https://samarajoy.com

**Where to meet: We will be meeting INSIDE Little Island Park at 6:30pm, in the performance space called "The Glade". To get there, after entering the park through the front entrance, walk immediately to your LEFT, and walk all the way to the edge of the park. The Glade is on the edge of the park, by the water.**

Arriving early and arriving late are both good, but you might want to try arriving right on time. That way you'll be able to see the performance from the beginning. Arriving early (before 6:30pm) will allow you to get the best possible seat (seats are on the grass, on a sloped hill facing the stage). Also it will be easiest to meetup and sit with other meetup members. Arriving late will still allow you in to the free show, so don't worry if you must arrive late.

**My plan is to arrive at 6:25pm, quickly say hello to other meetup members, and then watch the show for an hour. I'll be heading over to the area by the food trucks at 7:30pm, and the group will reconvene by the food trucks at 7:30pm.** If you want to stay and listen to the rest of the jazz set, please do so. The music is scheduled to go until 8:00pm.

**At 8:30pm the group will reconvene by the food trucks to say goodbye.** The meetup will end at 8:30pm. Some members will very likely go out on their own after the meetup.

David and Eddie