58 / 96
Dining Out
PAGE 58
www.theconnectionsnj.com Hours: Tues 7:30am-6:00pm • Wed-Sat 7:30am-9:00pm Sun 7:30am-1:30pm • Closed Mondays WE CAN MAKE ANY OCCASION A SPECIAL OCCASION! Graduations, Father’s Day, Birthdays, Summer Barbecues BYOB 239 Main Avenue • Stirling, NJ 07980 908-350-8064 www.biagiosbakery.com Italian Gourmet Specialties Bakery and Deli Online Ordering Now Available $ 5 00 OFF $ 50 or more Dinner Bill DINE IN OR TAKE OUT FRESH BREAD DAILY Off Premise Catering Available Sandwiches • Salads • Italian Pastries Cookies • Cakes & Pies • Special Occasion Cakes Espresso & Cappuccino NOW MAKING GLUTEN FREE CAKES, COOKIES & BREAD DINNERS TO GO EVERYDAY Dine In Available Wednesday-Saturday Open Until 9pm The New York Botanical Garden & Chihuly By: Linda Seigelman I have written about the wonderful New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) in a prior issue of The Connections Magazine, but this season offers a very compelling reason to visit the Garden again, or for the first time if you have never been there before. Artworks by world- renowned artist Dale Chihuly are now on view at NYBG in his first major garden exhibition in New York in over ten years. More than 20 installations are set among the beautiful landscapes and buildings, and his drawings and early works are also featured. Dale Chihuly is an American artist from Washington State who is renowned for his incredible site-specific installations in public spaces, as well as exhibitions presented in museums and gardens worldwide. It is said that he has “mas- tered the translucent and transparent qualities of ice, water, glass, and neon, to create works of art that transform the everyday experience.” His work is truly awe-inspiring. In this exhibition which runs through the end of October, the New York Botanical Garden’s buildings and grounds become living canvases for works created specifically for NYBG. They are a perfect backdrop for Chihuly’s signature shapes and brilliant colors. Among the notable pieces is a rework of his famous 1975 Artpark installation. Three new works are highlighted in the water features of the Native Plant Garden and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Courtyard’s Tropical Pool. The interplay of color and light is what his work is all about, and it will be amazing to see the different effects throughout the seasons from spring through fall. Weekend celebrations, films, poetry, and fun-filled art programs for kids offer colorful and imaginative tributes to nature and round out the exhibition. There are also special Chihuly Nights dur- ing which the artworks will be illuminat- ed around the grounds and in the Conservatory. The schedule of events is available online at www.nybg.org. NYBG is easy to reach via the George Washington Bridge and the Henry Hudson Parkway North. It is located directly across the street from the Fordham University campus. Parking is easy and plentiful, either right outside the Botanical Garden on Southern Boulevard (check alternate side parking signs) or in the onsite lot. NYBG is open Tuesday- Sunday and some holiday Mondays. The New York Botanical Garden is a beautiful green oasis less than an hour and a half away. At 250 acres, with over one million living plants, it is a wonderful place to visit any time. With the addition of Dale Chihuly’s spectacular artworks, it is a must-see. WHERE TO EAT The NYBG offers a number of on-site dining options, from casual snacks and sandwiches to a lovely farm-to-table restaurant. All are conveniently located and in beautiful natural settings to enhance your experience of the Garden. Stop by the Pine Tree Café in the Leon Levy Visitor Center amid the collec- tion of rare pines – some 100 feet tall - for artisanal panini, wraps, pizza, salads, sweets and other specialty snacks. The Hudson Garden Grill in the Ross Conifer Arboretum across from the Conservatory offers a leisurely dining experience with locally-sourced ingredi- ents and seasonal menu items such as soft shell crabs and spring pea soup, burgers and beautiful salads too, late afternoon bar service, coffee and snacks as well. Also at The Leon Levy Visitor Center is La Cantina, an outdoor bistro featuring beer, margaritas, hot dogs, pretzels, snacks, and more. For a quick pick-me-up, the Burger Truck located near Mosholu Gate has burgers, fries, brownies and assorted drinks. In front of the Conservatory is the Conservatory Plaza Bar, a convenient stop for hot dogs pretzels, beer, wine and other treats.