Toast to Fort Tryon Park wine and food event

Fort Tryon Park is one of NYC’s great parks, with sweeping views of the Hudson River, George Washington Bridge, and home to The Cloisters. Celebrate this great space at a special wine and food event on Thursday, July 26th.  Sample two dozen wines from Cabrini Wines paired with delicious food from restaurants in Washington Heights and Inwood. The event is sponsored by the Washington Heights Business Improvement District, and all proceeds support Fort Tryon Park, including restoration, free programs, volunteer programs and special events. A Toast to Fort Tryon Park and A Taste of Washington Heights and Inwood is 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Linden Terrace, so you’ll also get to enjoy a spectacular sunset.  And there’s a tent, just in case.  Tickets are $50 in advance from the Fort Tryon Park Trust — click here to purchase — or $60 at the door.

You’ll rarely find news about $50 fund-raisers on these pages, but I have a soft spot for Fort Tryon Park. I grew up in Inwood, and this was my front yard, back yard and playground, and The Cloisters felt like my own private museum. A few steps from Fort Tryon Park’s Linden Terrace is the New Leaf Cafe, founded by award-winning actress, singer and environmental activist Bette Midler, who also founded the New York Restoration Project, whose mission is to provide trees to all NYC parks, large and small. BTW — Linden Terrace was the site of an important battle in the Revolutionary War.  Look for the plaque honoring the patriots who fought off the British.