8th Annual Kingsland Wildflowers Festival | Recap

Broadway Stages is proud to say that the 8th annual Kingsland Wildflowers Festival was a grand success! On July 27, nearly a thousand people came together at the one-of-a-kind setting of wildflower meadows stretching over 30,000 square feet across the rooftops of Broadway Stages' film and television studios. 

The free, family-friendly festival celebrates Broadway Stages’ Kingsland Wildflowers Green Roof and Community Engagement Center and its mission of community benefit through environmental sustainability and the arts. Thanks to partners Alive Structures and the Newtown Creek Alliance, attendees could explore the green rooftops and area along Newtown Creek and learn about native wildlife and ecology. While another partner, NOoSPHERE Arts, brought art installations, performances, and live music to the day. Several local community organizations were also on hand to share helpful information, and food and drink were available from several local vendors.

The art installation "Peace Party with Peace Gorilla” with Noa Bornstein and Shana Fruchter proved popular with festival goers, young and old, as it welcomed all with an arm extended for a high five. Daniela Serna, Andrea Chavarro, Katherine Ocampo, and Lina Fernanda Silva of LaManga filled the air with sounds from Colombia's Caribbean coast, such as Bullerengue, Cumbia, and Tambora. Their rhythm-driven sounds were a celebration of life through storytelling and dance music.

Hivewild, a dance company directed by Katherine Maxwell, used movement across the rooftop to affirm human value and emotion. Their contemporary approach to dance was both entertaining and contemplative. Meanwhile, Dancer/Creator/Aerialist John Trunfio captivated attendees with his choreography.

Broadway Stages is proud to host the annual Kingsland Wildflowers Festival in cooperation with our green and arts partners.  We take pride in being a responsible neighbor and actively supporting economic, social, and environmental initiatives that benefit our community.

“At Broadway Stages, we strive to connect people to the environment and the arts. We are excited to welcome the community to our green rooftop to learn more about sustainability, the creative industry, and how we can flourish together.”

— Gina Argento, President and CEO, Broadway Stages

If you want to learn more or lend a helping hand, consider joining the staff at Kingsland Wildflowers for their Summer Open Hours or the Greenhouse Gang. For more information, click here. Regardless of whether or not you were able to attend this year’s Festival, please enjoy a few photos of the event. Looking forward to next year!

Spotlight | Smorgasburg

Welcome to Broadway Stages' Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. With summer in full swing, Broadway Stages is featuring and celebrating exceptional people, businesses, and organizations that make New York City a great place to spend the warm weather and sunny sky season. This week, we visit the famous Smorgasburg!

Since 2011, people have been exploring the world, one dish, and one drink at a time, at Smorgasburg, the largest weekly open-air food market in America. Smorgasburg (a mash-up of "smorgasbord" and "Williamsburg") is the brainchild of Brooklyn Flea creators Jonathan Butler and Eric Demby. 

The pair had opened the Brooklyn Flea in 2008, but by 2011, space was becoming limited. So, they decided to create a food-centered version of the original market in Brooklyn, open on Saturdays in the summer. As word spread, their new creation stretched at the seams. So they decided to expand to downtown Manhattan on Fridays and Breeze Hill in Prospect Park on Sundays. These locations operate every weekend, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., from April through October.

This summer, there is also a location at The Shed in Hudson Yards on Wednesdays and Thursdays every week through August 21-22. Its popularity has even spawned locations in Los Angeles, Jersey City, Sao Paulo, and most recently Miami and Toronto.

Some of the vendors operate at all of the sites, and some only at one. This year, more than 70 vendors are small businesses. Six of the new vendors are first-generation immigrant-owned businesses, and 11 are husband-and-wife-run or family-run. From this platform, many vendors have found multi-year success. Some have also made the leap to brick-and-mortar shops, restaurants, and packaged goods brands. 

If you are in the mood for something savory this year, you can visit Perro Slang Food for a loaded Colombian-style hot dog or get crispy Korean fried chicken at Twig'm. Want something really spicy? Try chef Ferehiwot Sheffield's sega wet. This is a fiery berbere beef stew served with tangy greens atop injera, spongy, fermented Ethiopian flatbread. Yumm!

Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy an ice cream sandwich from The Good Batch or a cup of vegan-friendly frozen shaved fruit from Frubae. And newcomer, Jatee Kearsley at the Je T'Aime Pâtisserie stand is ready to serve you croissants filled with strawberry shortcake cream and topped with strawberry and vanilla streusel and a churro-inspired creation stuffed with spicy chocolate.  Is your mouth watering yet? 

If you are a bagel fan but want to be adventurous, Bagel Joint is the place to go. This husband-and-wife-owned business is in Greenpoint at the McGolrick Park Farmers' Market. They offer bagel flavors that I am sure you have never had, such as duck egg, miso, and gochujang, as well as rosewater and wasabi cream cheese. 

Other new vendors this summer include  88 Coffee Company, Bom Bae, Double(s) or Nothin', Fat Choy, Gotcha Focaccia, Kalihi, Kravings Kafe, Lisbonata, Ole & Steen, Poutine Dauphine, Tosh's Patties, Twig'm, Virginia Smashburginia, and Wings by Chef Picky. Past favorite vendors Mao's Bao, Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria, Bona Bona Ice Cream, and Red Hook Lobster Pound will also be on hand. Follow Smorgasburg on Instagram for specials, upcoming events, or just to build an appetite.

The people of New York City are constantly finding new ways to share culture and build opportunities with each other. What started as an idea to give local small businesses an outlet has grown into a world phenomenon. Best of all, you don't need to leave the city to take advantage of it. Visit one of Smorgasburg's locations this week and have a taste. And when you get there, be sure to tell them Broadway Stages sent you!

13th Annual Greenpoint Film Festival | August 7 - 11

Broadway Stages is proud to be a sponsor of the 13th annual Greenpoint Film Festival (GFF). The GFF expects over 1K filmmakers to attend from Wednesday, August 7, to Sunday, August 11. Screenings will take place at The Boiler at ELM on North 14th Street and at Film Noir Cinema on Meserole Avenue.

Founded in 2011, the GFF is a Brooklyn-based non-profit arts organization designed to create art/community projects. It is inspired by the regenerative environment and the expanding film industry in North Brooklyn, particularly in Greenpoint. Much like Broadway Stages, the Festival supports philosophical and social movements towards a more sustainable use of our resources, future-minded urban planning, and growing partnerships across the disciplines.

The GFF has tripled its output this year, with 118 films selected for screening. This includes 73 Short Films, 11 Feature Narratives, 17 Documentary Shorts, 9 Documentary Features, 5 Short Animations, and 3 Extended Reality (XR) art exhibits. Greenpoint XR is a unique venue that conveys to its guests the intrinsic value of merging storytelling with virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality, collectively known as Extended Reality ("XR").

Moreover, the Festival will host 6 panels with renowned speakers and the U.S. premiers of "ANNA," a feature narrative by Marco Amenta that won the FEDIC Award at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, "RECEDING," a short narrative directed by Justin Lai and written by Truman Hanks, and "WHEN WE WERE OLD," a short narrative written and directed by Elizabeth Giamatti.

Special Greenpoint Film Festival awards will be given to a single winner for Best Doc Short, Best Doc Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Narrative Feature, Best Animation Award, and Grand Jury Award.

Tickets for the events can be purchased here. For more information and updates, follow the Festival on Instagram and Facebook.

The Greenpoint Film Festival hopes to continue to amplify the themes of renewal and reclamation, showcase great art and film, and provide a platform for new thinking. Broadway Stages is confident that the Festival will be a leader in this cause. Please join us in celebrating the arts at the Greenpoint Film Festival. Get your tickets today!

National Night Out 2024 | August 6

Mark Tuesday, August 6, on your calendars! That’s the date for this year’s National Night Out Against Crime (NNO). First held in 1984, NNO is an annual community-building campaign that enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement to help make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. Today, millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories, and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August.

In New York City, you can meet and get to know members of the NYPD and city officials at more than 70 locations citywide. If you are not sure which precinct you live or work in, you can find out more by clicking here. Broadway Stages is proud to sponsor the celebration in both the 94th and 104th precincts!

Enjoy barbeque and bounce houses, face painting, food, and fun. This special night only comes once a year, so mark your calendar and plan to show your community support. It’s a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together with the common goal of partnership and safety.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

With over 100,000 square feet of greenspace on our rooftops in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Broadway Stages clearly values the natural environment of New York City. And nowhere honors this environment better than the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Located between the boroughs of Brooklyn to the west and Queens to the east, the Refuge includes over 12,600 acres of water, saltmarshes, freshwater and brackish water ponds, upland fields and woods, and open bay and islands.

In 1938, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Robert Moses began working on an idea that would eventually become the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. After twelve years of intense efforts, he finally broke ground on the Refuge in 1950. In all, he marshaled the efforts of about 84,000 for the park's development.

In 1972, the site became part of the National Park Service when the Gateway National Recreation Area was established. As such, it is part of more than 26,000 acres of unique natural, cultural, and recreational resources in both New York and New Jersey.

One of Moses's ideas was to create nonindigenous freshwater ponds on each side of the refuge. Along with two man-made brackish ponds (the 117-acre East Pond and 45-acre West Pond), these bodies of water attract extensive varieties of wildlife to the bay's saltwater marshland.

Today, it is one of the most significant bird habitats in the northeastern United States. Birders prize it as a great place to observe seasonal bird migration and approximately 70 resident species, making it one of the most significant bird sanctuaries in the northeastern United States.

The NYC Bird Alliance notes that 332 bird species, nearly half the species in the Northeast, have been sighted at the refuge over the last 25 years, including several New York State records. And it is more than just a great place to go birding in the summer months. People have spotted wintering waterfowl such as Snow Goose (at least 700 at one time), Brant, and various species of ducks in the colder months. Raptors, like Cooper's Hawks and Peregrine Falcons, have also been seen.

Before you visit, check out the online calendar for ranger-led programs. Or stop by the visitor's center, where rangers can point you in the right direction and give you tips on the birds. You can also get a free checklist, Birds of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, borrow binoculars, and consult the log of recent sightings.

The center has interesting exhibits highlighting Jamaica Bay's remarkable plant and animal life and ecological history. The visitor center is open Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. And the Refuge trails and parking lot are open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Warren Buffet said, "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." People in the New York City region have a great natural resource in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge because of Robert Moses. Broadway Stages is grateful for his forethought and great efforts. We know you will be, too, after just one visit.

Spotlight | Brooklyn Flea Market

Welcome to Broadway Stages' Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. With summer in full swing, Broadway Stages is featuring and celebrating exceptional people, businesses, and organizations that make New York City a great place to spend the warm weather and sunny sky season. This week, we take in the Brooklyn Flea Market!

The Brooklyn Flea Market is so much more than a shopping trip. As the New York Times says, it is "One of the great urban experiences in New York."

Located in DUMBO on the cobblestone streets beneath the DUMBO Archway, this must-see attraction was the brainchild of Eric Demby (the former communications director for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz) and Jonathan Butler, the creator of Brownstoner Magazine.

Since its creation in April 2008, Brooklyn Flea has grown into one of New York City's top attractions. The success of the Brooklyn Flea spawned the famous food festival Smorgasburg. This giant all-food market launched in May 2011 and happens on Saturdays in Williamsburg and Sundays at Prospect Park's Breeze Hill. You can read more about Smorgasburg in next week's Spotlight blog. And in 2020, they resurrected the Chelsea Flea Market which had recently been shuttered after 40 years.

Visiting the Brooklyn Flea is a journey into a sea of vendors. Vintage clothing, collectibles, antiques, and even furniture will appeal to connoisseurs of nostalgia. While others may be drawn to the tightly curated selection of jewelry, art, and crafts by local artisans and designers.

Past vendors have included Van der Most Modern's mid century Dutch furniture, Dan's Parents' House with tchotchkes and oddities, yesteryear ceramics, and Joan Van Hees' selection of throwback apparel.

As one patron said on Yelp, "Fun accessories, cool decor, and junk food stands are some of the things you'll find here. I've passed through a few times and don't always pick something up, but the shops are always interesting, and I enjoy chatting up the shopkeepers as well. It's fun to talk to the artist or creator of the piece you're looking at, and they're pretty much always looking to give you a deal that makes it impossible to walk away-pretty win-win! The area is great, and the location is obviously super cool right next to/under the bridge."

Another on Google Reviews said, "Wonderful flea market in Brooklyn. Great and unique selections. They have so many interesting booths and sellers. The building in front of the bridge has some great booths, too. It's worth a visit. We wandered through clothes sellers, record vendors, comics sellers, and some things that are beyond easy description. Recommended!"

Brooklyn Flea is open every weekend from April through December, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Pets are welcome! Vendors accept cash, and many accept debit or credit cards. But if you need, there are ATMs on site. Before you go, you may want to check their Instagram or Facebook pages. They often post about cool events, such as concerts and apparel customization, that you won't want to miss.

Broadway Stages loves that we live and work in one of the world's best cities. We know that New York City not only offers quantity but also quality in its attractions. Travel + Leisure, Country Living, Budget Travel, and Fodor's have all ranked Brooklyn Flea as one of the best markets in the U.S. and the world. And Time Out NY named the Flea one of New York's Essential Pick-Up Spots. So, don't hesitate. Check out the Brooklyn Flea this weekend. And when you do, tell them Broadway Stages sent you!

Actor Spotlight | Christine Baranski

Broadway Stages is excited to host the production of the HBO hit series “The Gilded Age.” And one of the actors that is contributing to the success of the show is Christine Baranski, who plays the character Agnes van Rhijn. In this post we take a look at Baranski’s career, which includes a presence on our stages for more than 15 years.

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Quick Facts:

Birthday: May 2, 1952 in Buffalo, New York
Major Awards: 1 Primetime Emmy Award, 2 Tony Awards, 2 Drama Desk Awards
Broadway Stages Productions: "The Good Wife," "The Good Fight," "The Gilded Age"

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Baranski has acting in her DNA, as her grandparents performed in the Polish theater before emigrating to New York. She told the Wall Street Journal that her grandmother, who she shared a room with as a child, inspired her to become an actress.

As a teenager, Baranski excelled in ballet and participated in school plays, though initially not on stage. A shy teenager, she worked backstage until a drama teacher encouraged her to audition for a play. She landed a part and continued to pursue her acting studies after graduation, earning a spot at Julliard in 1970 and graduating with a BFA in 1974.

Three years later she made her professional acting debut on an episode of the short-lived CBS sitcom "Busting Loose." Baranski continued to earn small parts on TV and in films throughout the '80s, but she found greater success on the stage. She appeared in multiple Broadway plays, including Tom Stoppard's 1984 drama "The Real Thing," which earned her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She starred alongside Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close, both of whom she would later work with again in 1990's Oscar-winning "Reversal of Fortune." A teenager who portrayed her daughter in the play would also go on to have a very successful acting career. The two actresses would reunite nearly four decades later on the HBO series "The Gilded Age," this time playing sisters, not mother and daughter.

Five years after winning her first Tony Award, Baranski won a second Tony in the same category for her performance in Neil Simon's "Rumors." After conquering Broadway, she shifted her focus to film and television, landing her big break in the mid-'90s with a main role on the CBS sitcom "Cybill." Her performance as Maryanne Thorpe, the title character's best friend, earned Baranski her first Primetime Emmy nomination (and only win to date), in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She would go on to garner 15 more nominations over the next three decades for "Cybill," "Frasier," "The Big Bang Theory," and "The Good Wife," the series that introduced her to the Broadway Stages family.

Baranski portrayed attorney Diane Lockhart on seven seasons of "The Good Wife" and six seasons of its spin-off "The Good Fight" from 2009 to 2022, both of which films at Broadway Stages. After the series ended, Baranski did not stay away from our studios for long. In fact, she never really left. In 2022 she began to portray the uptight Agnes van Rhijn on HBO's "The Gilded Age," starring alongside Cynthia Nixon, who nearly four decades earlier at the age of 17 had played her daughter in "The Real Thing" on Broadway.

Baranski has also had success on the big screen, with a breakthrough supporting role in 1996's hit comedy "The Birdcage" and as part of the ensemble cast of the 2008 hit musical "Mamma Mia!" and its sequel, 2018's "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!"

We are thrilled that Baranski continues to support New York's film and television industry and thankful for the decade and a half of presence on our soundstages.

Industry Jobs | Production Accountant

As one of the premier studio production companies in New York, Broadway Stages works to meet the growing needs of the film and TV industry while also focusing on the needs of our community. We provide the industry with a soundstage or location where they shoot their scenes. Still, they also need a skilled and experienced workforce. In this series, we look at the various jobs that make a production come to life. We hope it provides insight and encourages you to consider a career in the film and TV industry. This week, we look at the role of a Production Accountant.

What Is a Production Accountant?

When most people think of a Film or TV production, their thoughts typically go to the cast and crew on a set or a sound studio. However, there is a support team that keeps the production running smoothly, and one of the critical members of that team is the Production Accountant.

The Production Accountant works closely with the producer and the production office from the beginning to the end of production. Depending on the size of the production, the size of the accounting team will vary. In addition to the key accountant, there may be a first assistant accountant, second assistant accountant, a payroll assistant, clerks, and one or more payroll accountants, who also work with the payroll coordinator at the payroll company responsible for processing the paychecks.

What Does a Production Accountant Do?

The job of a Production Accountant is demanding. Often, a Production Accountant works freelance and on multiple productions simultaneously. So communication, multitasking, and time management are crucial to success in this role.

Their work starts before filming begins, with calculating finances, determining the cost of a production, and coordinating details with the completion guarantor (an insurance policy to ensure the film is delivered on time and on budget). As production gets underway, they stay busy approving requests, checking receipts, and meeting regularly with producers to keep them updated on how spending is tracked.

They will finalize all financial records relating to the production and may also have to arrange an independent audit. Sometimes, Production Accountants collaborate with financial controllers, who are often permanently employed by production companies, and with other studio finance executives.

For a deeper dive into the role of a Production Accountant, check out this interview with Nigel Wood, Film Production Accountant at the ScreenSkills 101 Film series. Also, the article “5 Things to Know Before Becoming a Film and TV Production Accountant,” from Greenslate, has some excellent information as well.

How Do I Become a Production Accountant?

One popular misconception in the industry is that to be a production accountant you have to come from the accounting industry. A background or education in finance and accounting can be helpful, but it isn’t necessary. In addition to the skills mentioned earlier, such as communication, multitasking, and time management, you need to be inclined toward business and finance. Many times, these roles are filled by those fresh out of high school or college who have a love for the entertainment industry.

In this LA Times article about the Production Accountant role, Mark Goldstein, president and CEO of the film production services company Entertainment Partners, said, “The CPAs of the world are dealing with generally accepted accounting principles. The production accountant on the set is really just managing the budget that’s related to it and the expenditures that are being spent against it.”

While some projects are non-union, most large films and series will only hire union workers. So, you may want to join a union (the two big ones are IATSE 161 and 871).

Typically, your first six months will involve shadowing and learning the ropes as a clerk, also known as a third assistant accountant. From there, it’s all about doing solid work, building rapport with producers, and making sure they think of you for their next project.

As you pay your dues as a third, second, and first accountant, you will have the opportunity to work as the key production accountant, and that’s where you start managing the budget, maintaining financial records, and ensuring the entire production is going to come in on time and on budget.

If you are interested in learning more as you pursue this role, the California Film Commission’s Pilot Skills Training program offers an Entry Level Production Accounting Course that you may want to consider.

Learn about film and TV industry jobs, training, and more in the Broadway Stages’ Industry Resource Guide. Our guide provides:

●     Information about industry-focused job posting sites

●     Links to general recruiting sites

●     Education and training programs

●     State, city, and borough industry information

We also include a link to our blogs about many of the jobs that make a production come to life.

Four Programs Affiliated With Broadway Stages Earn Primetime Emmy Nominations

Broadway Stages has been providing facilities to New York City film and television productions for more than four decades, and we are so proud to support the state's ever-expanding creative industry. This year we are thrilled that several productions that utilized our facilities are up for the television industry's highest honor – the Primetime Emmy Award.

Netflix's "Ripley," which used our stages for reshoots, is up for 13 awards including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Andrew Scott and Dakota Fanning will respectively compete in the categories Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. The limited series is also up for multiple technical awards recognizing its remarkable production design, cinematography, costumes, picture and sound editing, and more. Creator, director, and writer Steven Zaillian earned individual nominations for his directing and writing.

Netflix leads all platforms with 107 nominations this year. In addition to the 13 nods earned by "Ripley," "The Crown" is up for 18, and the limited series "Baby Reindeer" will compete in 11 categories.

Another Broadway Stages program that earned multiple nominations is HBO's "The Gilded Age," which garnered six nods for its second season. The series will compete for the highly coveted Outstanding Drama Series award. Carrie Coon, who plays the nouveau riche social climber Bertha Russell, earned her second ever Primetime Emmy nomination, and her first in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. Christine Baranski, who plays the aristocratic Agnes van Rhijn, earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, her 16th overall Primetime Emmy nomination. She has won just once, in her first ever nomination back in 1995 for her supporting role in the comedy series "Cybill." She previously competed for supporting actress in a drama series six years in a row (2010-2015) for "The Good Wife," which was also filmed at Broadway Stages facilities. In addition, "The Gilded Age" earned nominations for its immaculate production design, costumes, and hairstyling.

We are so excited that "Girls5eva" is up for two Primetime Emmys, as Broadway Stages provided facilities for its third season. All episodes of the comedy series are streaming on Netflix, which rescued the show following its cancellation by Peacock. "Girls5eva" will compete in the categories Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the episode "Orlando" and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the song "The Medium Time," written by series star Sara Bareilles and performed by the girls in the episode "New York."

We are also proud to report that "FBI: Most Wanted" earned its third ever nomination for its thrilling stunt work. The CBS series will compete again for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for Drama Programming, a category it lost last year to Prime Video's "The Boys."

This year three popular series earned 20+ nominations. Leading the race is FX's historical drama "Shōgun" with 25 for its first season, followed closely by the FX original comedy "The Bear" with 23 for its second season. Hulu comedy "Only Murders in the Building" earned 21 nods for its third season.

Congrats to all nominees! Tune in to ABC on September 15 to find out who wins.

Spotlight | NYC Night Markets

Welcome to Broadway Stages' Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. With summer in full swing, Broadway Stages is featuring and celebrating exceptional people, businesses, and organizations that make New York City a great place to spend the warm weather and sunny sky season. This week, we explore the night markets of the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn!

There is so much to do in NYC under the summer sun, but the night markets also offer plenty of food, fun, and activity! Join us in exploring the open-air evening cuisine and festivities in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn.

On the first Saturday of every month through October, the Bronx Night Market transforms Fordham Plaza into a center of community, culture, and commerce. Patrons can choose from over 20 countries' cuisines and 50+ vendors, serving creations like mac & cheese fried burritos, enormous slices of carrot cake, fried chicken cones, and watermelon pizza!

Shoppers can also find the Fordham Farmers Market, a new general store offering fresh, locally sourced products, a vegan bazaar, and the occasional cooking demonstration. While you peruse your food options, you can find a pop-up bookstore curated by Bronx is Reading and Bronx Native's beloved Tiny Desk concert series. Best of all, 70% of the vendors classify themselves as micro-, small-, POC-, immigrant-, LGBTQIA+-, and female-owned businesses.

From the Bronx, we make our way to the Queens Night Market at the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Saturday nights through the end of October, this night market remains the city's most affordable market, with all items capped at $5 and $6. Reflecting the diversity of Queens, the Market offers dishes such as Afghan kabuli pulao, Indian BBQ, Colombian arepas, Tibetan momos, Sichuan ice jelly, Venezuelan Cachapas, Japanese ramen, Ukrainian blintzes, and much more.

The displays of diversity don't end there. While you eat, you can take in a diverse line-up of live performances, including African dance troupes, Chinese lion dances, break-dancers, Bollywood bands, and more. Or you can browse through vendors of vintage apparel, handmade jewelry, ceramic products, locally produced art pieces, crochet toys, stationery, and more. Above being a great night out, the Queens Night Market has acted as an engine of growth. It has helped launch 350 new businesses in New York and represented more than 90 countries through its vendors and their food.

Finally, on the last Monday of the month (through the end of October), we find ourselves at the Brooklyn Night Market at Industry City in Sunset Park. With over 65 vendors representing cultures from around the world, the Market "stands as a testament to the borough's culinary prowess, creating a space where residents and visitors alike can savor the essence of Brooklyn's dynamic and ever-evolving gastronomic scene," event organizers say.

The Brooklyn Night Market has been described as the pinnacle of NYC's culinary scene, establishing itself as a must-have experience for food enthusiasts. While there, you can enjoy delicious food and tasty treats from the likes of BamuBamu Fire Club, Matcha n' More, Twisted Potato, Perros Locos' fancy hot dogs, HangryDog's late-night munchies, and Jasmine Roti Factory's Caribbean flavors, just to name a few! As you consider your next snack, you can indulge in a rotating line-up of performers and entertainers and shop for eclectic handmade items and creative, independent vendors.

Broadway Stages knows that New York City's diversity is one of its greatest strengths and a source of inspiration. These night markets are a great way to experience a culinary journey worldwide without leaving the city. Moreover, they support our neighbors' up-and-coming small businesses. So treat yourself and journey to one of these night markets this summer! And don’t forget to tell them that Broadway Stages sent you!

Summer Fun at Shipwrecked NYC

Red Hook, Brooklyn, has been home to Shipwrecked NYC since 2016. This theatrical indoor entertainment experience offers mini escape rooms, arcade games, an incomparable 18-hole miniature golf, not to mention food and drinks for kids and adults alike.

The Shipwrecked Escape Deck promises to challenge you in three differently-themed, immersive mini-escape rooms. The rooms can hold teams of up to 5 guests for up to 15 minutes. If your team successfully completes the challenge, they will win tickets that can be redeemed in the Arcade Redemption Bar.

The Arcade Redemption Bar is stocked with the hottest current games and some old favorites. One customer noted, "My kids like going to the mini golf, but they LOVE the arcade. The games are all the popular ones we know—basketball, skeeball, air hockey, and all the video games, too!" Another said, "We played at the arcade for like an hour and had sooo much fun highly recommend it. 10/10!”

But the star of the show is the indoor golf course. The course has four themed areas to complete. Each area has immersive theatrical lighting and special effects surrounding you as you play. You can also get a bag of our gold tokens to bring the story to life through animatronics, video, and special effects as you go through the course.

The effects don't always repeat one after another, making multiple visits (or go-arounds) a must. The gold coins can even activate holograms, which are showcased effectively in the pirate ship lair at the beginning of the course.

One golfer said, "We did the Mini golf course and were pretty amazed at how well the special effects were planned out. They really made the experience so much more fun and special. The entire facility and all the equipment were very clean, the courses were engaging and interactive, and most of all, the entire staff was super friendly and helpful! I definitely recommend coming here."

Shipwrecked NYC can be more than just a fun evening or afternoon out. They offer rental space to celebrate any occasion. Their trained staff will help make your next event a success.

A parent raved, "We had a birthday party for our 6-year-old, and it was a great time. The staff was incredibly friendly, the kids had a great time, and the setup was very well done. We would definitely go there again!" And another patron said, "What a great spot. Came for a mini golf birthday party. It was a big group, and we had a private room for a pizza party, and we all mini-golfed. Super fun. The staff is fantastic. They're really upbeat, and you can tell they enjoy working there.”

Follow Shipwrecked on Instagram and Facebook for special deals and upcoming events. They are open on Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Broadway Stages has fond memories of summertime fun playing arcade games and putt-putt. We love that great places like Shipwrecked NYC still provide fun for everyone. It is a great place to take the kids, for a date night, or for a gathering of friends. Do yourself a favor and make some new summertime memories at Shipwrecked NYC now. And when you go, tell them Broadway Stages sent you!

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