Suzanne Vega, Cast of AVENUE Q and More Set for Lincoln Square BID's WINTER'S EVE Tonight

Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID) hosts the 13th annual Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square, New York City's largest outdoor holiday festival tonight, November 26th from 5:00PM - 9:00PM.

This year's highly-anticipated event is expected to attract tens of thousands of people to the Lincoln Square area of the Upper West Side. There will be more than 20 live performance areas, more than 30 restaurants offering tastings and many great performers including: world-renowned, singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega, the cast of Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q, Texas based, Grammy Award-winning, eclectic rock/polka/dance band Brave Combo, high-energy, kids rock group Dirty Sock Funtime Band, clowns from the Big Apple Circus, rhythm performing arts group COBU, and the talented LaGuardia High School Show Choir, to name a handful.The Parks Department will run a free trolley up and down Broadway during the event. Winter's Eve will take place rain, snow or shine. For details visit www.winterseve.org.

"Winter's Eve has become an annual tradition as it provides something for everyone from the musicians, dancers, artists and restaurants that fill the Lincoln Square area with joy and excitement," said Lincoln Square BID President, Monica Blum. "The 13th Annual Winter's Eve promises to light up the Upper West Side with holiday cheer for our neighbors and visitors, families and grandparents, students and professionals, arts lovers, foodies and shoppers."

The festivities will kick-off with performances by Suzanne Vega, Avenue Q and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus in Dante Park (Broadway and 63rd Street) at 5:00PM with a traditional lighting of the Upper West Side neighborhood's holiday tree. Old fashioNed Glass, silver glitter ornaments for this year's holiday tree are being provided by Wendy Addison and Tinsel Trading in conjunction with the American Folk Art Museum.

Immediately following—Broadway, from Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle to 68th Street—will transform into a winter wonderland featuring free musical entertainment, outdoor food tastings along the sidewalks from area restaurants (at nominal cost) and fun activities for people of all ages. Outdoor food tastings will be held in special tents on Broadway while marching bands and other New York City based musicians will delight holiday revelers.

New York Cares' Coat Drive is the charitable beneficiary and is a special part of Winter's Eve bringing so much joy to families during the holiday season. Event attendees are encouraged to donate gently used or new coats of all sizes at Dante Park at 63rd Street.

Major entertainment venues include: the Mainstage at Dante Park with Suzanne Vega and others; the Winter's Eve Dance Tent at Broadway and 62nd Street showcasing Brave Combo; Time Warner Center featuring Jazz at Lincoln Center , clowns from the Big Apple Circus, children's entertainment and activities, and student performances, including LaGuardia High School Show Choir; Kids' Central at American Bible Society with Dirty Sock Funtime Band; David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center with !Retumba!; Richard Tucker Park with The Hot Sardines; the American Folk Art Museum; Century 21 Department Store; the Upper West Side Apple Store; TD Bank; and many more. Dozens of other local stores and neighborhood institutions will host activities and holiday cheer throughout the evening.

FOR FOODIES - A delectable sampling of signature dishes (for a nominal cost) from over 30 of Lincoln Square's finest and most popular restaurants are expected to join in an outdoor neighborhood food tasting festival from 6:00PM to 8:30PM. The tastings will be held under tents at Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, along Broadway between 62nd and 64th Streets and at Richard Tucker Park between 65th and 66th Streets. The Winter's Eve walk-around tasting will feature fare from the likes of Atlantic Grill, Boulud Sud, A Voce, Asiate, Landmarc, Rosa Mexicano, Bouchon Bakery, Café Fiorello, Gabriel's Bar & Restaurant, Bar Masa, PJ Clarke's, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola and Great Performances, Sapphire Indian Cuisine, Soutine Bakery, Porter House New York, and many other delectable Upper West Side eateries.

For more information about the Lincoln Square BID's Winter's Eve, visit:
www.WintersEve.org or call (212) 581-7762.

Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square is hosted and produced by the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID), a not-for-profit tax-exempt organization that was formed in 1996 by property owners, businesses and others with a stake in this Upper West Side community. The mission of the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District is to make Lincoln Square cleaner, safer, and more beautiful, and to undertake various improvement projects by focusing efforts on supplemental sanitation and security services; the beautification of public spaces, malls, and parks; and the promotion and marketing of the area's diverse business and cultural offerings. Members of the Lincoln Square BID include businesses, hotels, restaurants, leading retail establishments both large and small, cultural institutions, public officials, and residents. For more information, visit www.lincolnsquarebid.org.