Pop Up Park Returns to Nolita

By Kristina Diggins-Reisinger

The pop-up park is back and bringing summer to New York City all winter long at OpenHouse Gallery's Park Here in Nolita (201 Mulberry St., betw. Spring and Kenmore Sts.). The exhibition of sorts boasts a "Central Park in spring" feel, "with a fountain, park benches, bistro tables, hammocks and a slew of imaginative lounge furniture."

And while the "Pop Up Park" appeals to people from all walks of life, with there assortment of events, the morning I went was during a toddler singing class dubbed "Mommy Mornings." In an adjoining room was a Junior's Fresh stand where women were passionately asserting the need for "ultra-fresh, homemade" baby food and the importance of a natural and oober-healthy diet. Michelle Hoffmann, CEO of Junior's Fresh, said "Mommy Mornings are the perfect NYC winter oasis for families with young children. Junior's Fresh is happy we're able to add farm fresh food for babies to the Park Here landscape." With a menu as savory sounding as maple roasted pear barley and fresh sweet potato, the women were really speaking my language, as a young mom, and heck at $3 per 4 oz jar-sign me up!

The park itself is surrounded with beautifully, pink flowering, artificial trees and the three tier fountain at the center of the park was pleasant sounding. With the fake birds perched on the pipes of the ceiling, however, I was still aware that I was in a building rather than amidst a lush park on a warm spring day, but it's a fair price to pay for comfortable weather during the dead of winter.

The park will be open from December 9-February 15 and is definitely worth checking out, but be sure to take a look at the events calendar to see what time slot best suits the vibe your looking for. The Park Here Pop-up-park in Nolita offers a little something for everyone, wrapped up in a warm temped, synthetic, wonderland.

Visit parkhere.info for event listings at the park through the end of the year.