Dana DiPrima wears many hats; she is a mother, a wife and the commissioner of the West Side Soccer League since 2005.

As the commissioner, she oversees the league, which has over 4,000 neighborhood youths ranging from 5 to 18 years old. There are nearly 400 teams, with 800 coaches and 500 referees. In addition to learning how to play soccer, the league offers numerous programs to benefit the children’s experience.

“We get to practice and use the fields in Riverside Park, Central Park, Randall’s Island and other fields,” DiPrima said.

Some programs include training from professional coaches and the opportunity to see the New York Red Bulls.

With the belief that everyone deserves a chance to learn soccer, the league offers assistance to families that have financial difficulties. “Around 25 percent of the members have scholarships, paying $10,” said DiPrima.

She explained that “to learn soccer, you have to play soccer,” so the league tries to make sure that everyone participates to the same extent.

Any time there is an issue, such as unfair game time, she explained that people come to her to have the problem solved. It shows how the league and parents want everyone to have the same advantages, and that the WSSL is serious about educating the youths.

The league also gives back to the community. “We leave the nets and goals in the park for the public to use, when we are not using them,” she said.

Soccer has always been one of DiPrima’s favorite sports. She started playing as a child and continued through college. “It normally brings the best of people,” she explained.

DiPrima, 45, said she enjoys the great people she has met—from CEOs to the unemployed, they all share a common thing, their love for soccer.

Not only is the WSSL a great opportunity for children, but it also gives adults who are passionate about soccer a chance to volunteer as referees and coach teams. DiPrima explained that many of the parents remain active in the league even after their children leave.

Her daughter, 11, is still a part of the West Side Soccer League, and has just returned from the WSSL Red Bulls Travel Team. Children on the travel team compete with other travel teams in the area and are coached by New York Red Bulls trainers.

It may seem a little intimidating juggling all the duties of a mom (she also has a son, 14), wife and the commissioner of the WSSL, but DiPrima explained that her family is very understanding, and if there is issue that needs her attention, her husband or children will let her know.

“I love New York. I love the Upper West Side and I love West Side Soccer. I am very honored and this award recognizes everyone else that is involved, working together towards the same goal,” stated a grateful DiPrima.

UPPER WEST SIDER, STAFFS THE FAMOUS TENNIS TOURNAMENT

By Angela Barbuti

James Della Pace is serving at the U.S. Open, but he is not a tennis player. President of Amerivents Event Staffing, his company staffs the USTA with over 1,000 employees at the tournament’s concessions and suites.

This can seem like a daunting task. However, to Della Pace, an Upper West Side resident, whose company also staffs such events as the Kentucky Derby and the Food and Wine Festival, it’s not only a job, but a part of his life.

“We are thoroughly involved in the whole process and really get to know the people, the guests, and how the event operates from all angles,” he said.

Over a month before the event, interviews were set up with over 2,000 candidates. “It’s 90 percent about attitude,” he explained. “They are working 12 hours days and have to keep smiling,” he says. Although many résumés flood Amerivents’ inbox, most hires come from referrals. Being a Queens native himself, Della Pace staffs the Open, which is held in Flushing Meadows, in collaboration with Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. “There is a great sense of pride that comes with providing locals in the community work for these few weeks. By recruiting from the surrounding neighborhoods, we are helping the community by giving people the opportunity to be involved in one of the biggest sporting events in our country,” he stated.

Before a career in the service industry, Della Pace was a stockbroker who wanted a change. Having been a bartender, he answered an ad for Spirit Cruises he saw in the New York Times. “I stayed in hospitality ever since,” he said.

Recently Amerivents took on another venture in the form of organic catering. When Stonyfield Yogurt became a sponsor of the U.S. Open two years ago, Della Pace met their Chairman Gary Hirshberg. In April, the two teamed up to create Chelsea’s Table Catering By Amerivents.

“Our mission is to get the word out on healthy foods in a fast-food environment,” Della Pace said. The new partnership is dedicated to educating people about organic, yet tasty options at catering events. Most tend to associate catered events with frozen, processed, and overall unhealthy food choices. However, because of the recent strides made in the availability of organic food, Della Pace noticed a change in the minds of eaters.

Upper West Side Chef David Seigal of the Tangled Vine, who was also involved with the Open, helped collaborate on the company’s catering menu. “We chose dishes that were not only healthy and natural, but ones that the catering world are used to,” Della Pace said.

Their first client was none other than Michelle Obama. “That was exciting,” Della Pace said, of her presidential fundraiser which was held at Chelsea Piers in late March. But Della Pace stresses the fact that there are events that can be planned to fit a smaller budget as well. He is seeing a decrease in the cost of organic options because of the recent high demand for these products. “The farms are getting supported and the pricing is coming more in line with our regular food,” Della Pace stated.

This summer, Amerivents also had a political event on their plate and served at the CNN Grill during the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay. Union Square Hospitality handled the food aspect of the convention, and they staffed it. Della Pace said, “Amerivents staffed the DNC four years ago, therefore staffing the RNC this year was a natural for us. It is exciting for Amerivents to be a part of both political events over the last few years to show our support not only for one political party or another, but rather for these large conventions where people are encouraged to speak their political views and support their party.”

The Tribeca Film Festival "Drive In" Movie Experience (Photo: Tribeca Film Festival)

In what has become an annual rite of passage for aspiring indie filmmakers, the Tribeca Film Festival – founded by Robert Di Nero, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in an effort to re-vitalize a Tribeca community that had been shaken by the events and aftermath of September 11, 2001 returns for its 11th incarnation. Playing host to Hollywood A-Listers and philanthropists and celebrities from across the globe, this year’s festival will feature 90 feature film selections (documentaries and narrative) as well as 60 shorts from 45 countries. Additionally, the festival will play host to a plethora of public programs aimed at engaging the New York and International community in a celebration of art and culture.

With so much to do and see, it’s worth considering how the festival is seen by the average Downtown New Yorker. There will be plenty of fodder for the pretentious crowd, but for the “average” New Yorker, there’s still plenty to do and see that’ll keep you both interested and involved in the festival’s happenings without things seeming foreign.

Thurs. 4/19 – FREE Tribeca Drive-In Outdoor Screening: JAWS

Tribeca Drive-In, World Financial Center, 200 Vesey St. #11 (off North End Ave.), tribecafilm.com; 8 p.m.

One of the best parts of the Tribeca Film Festival has to be the “drive in” shows. They’re a throwback to a time when movies and people weren’t so stuck on special effects and HD. More then that, though, they’re a reminder that people used to actually like being entertained together. Jaws is a classic by any standard, and the perfect ice-breaker for a date or spot to unwind with your friends on a cool April night.

Fri. 4/20 – FREE Tribeca Drive-In Outdoor Screening: The Goonies

World Financial Center Upper & Lower Plaza, 200 Vesey St. #11 (off North End Ave.), 6 p.m.

“Heyyyy you guys!” come and celebrate one of the most beloved 80’s movies of all time under the stars. The Goonies chronicles the child-gang of Data, Chunk, Mikey and Mouth seek to reclaim their home, “The Goon Docks” from Real Estate tycoons by following an ancient map to “One Eyed Willie” and his treasure. With early performances by afro-jazz pioneers NOMO, and a “truffle shuffle” contest, you won’t want to be left behind!

Sat. 4/21 – ESPN Films: Beyond the Playing Field 

SVA Theatre 2 Beatrice, 333 W. 23rd St (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), tribecafilm.com; 2:30 p.m.,  $16.

ESPN has been an industry leader in sports television, and has helped to re-define the genre of sports film. It should be no surprise, therefore, that on the heels of their highly successful 30 for 30 series, ESPN continues to venture “outside the lines” bringing into focus the trials and triumphs of some of the world’s greatest female athletes.

FREE “KICK IT”: 2nd Annual NYFest Soccer Day

Pier 40, Hudson River Park, 353 West St. (off Houston St.), tribecafilm.com; 9 a.m.)

It doesn’t matter what your age is. Whether you call it futbal, soccer, or ‘the most popular sport on Earth’ – all that matters is that you love the game. This day long event, sponsored by NYFEST and the Tribeca Film Festival, will feature celebrities, film and media professionals, and pro. athletes as they celebrate soccer with skills clinics, games and competitions, and street team soccer demonstrations.

Sun. 4/22 FREE Pen to Paper

Barnes & Noble, 33 E. 17th St. (betw. Broadway & Park Ave. S.), tribecafilms.com; 1 p.m.

This discussion carries an enormous amount of relevance today: with the tremendous success of book-to-film adaptations like Harry Potter and Hunger Games, this expert panel will discuss the art of turning a successful book into a blockbuster film. You’ll learn what translates successfully, what won’t carry over, and where the industry as a whole is headed in the future.

Mon. 4/23 Jackpot

We’ve all wondered what would happen if we won it big. But what about winning it just big enough? In this film, it’s a wakeup call as Oscar Svendsen comes to over a dead body and a room full of corpses in what used to be a respectable strip club. Naturally, he’s taken in, and when questioned, reveals how a winning soccer lottery prize that was supposed to be shared wound up destroying everything.

Tues. 4/24 Deadfall

Clearview Cinemas Chelsea 5, 260 W. 23rd St. (at 8th Ave.), tribecafilm.com; 6:30 p.m., $16.

What happens when casino-robbing siblings on the run forCanadacross paths with a troubled boxer just released from prison? It’s a classic tale of morality and redemption, and Deadfall promises to provide all of the action and suspense without any of theHollywoodclichés we’re all so used to.

Wed. 4/25 FREE Short Films, Big Ideas

Tribeca Cinemas Theatre 2, 54 Varick St. (at Laight St.), tribecafilms.com; 3 p.m.

Three short films might change your perspective on the capabilities of people. It may not seem miraculous to discover a facility that harvests garbage for energy. But what about a man who lives without a beating hart, or a paraplegic who sailed the English Channel alone? Leave your pessimism at the door and let these films inspire you.

Thurs. 4/26 FREE Tribeca Talks Industry: Does the Cloud have a Silver (Screen) Lining?

Listen in on the panel discussion as experts weigh in on the impact and evolution of “the Cloud” – the almost imaginary space that was created as a response to consumer demand and usage pattern shifts. Coupled with the emergence of the tablet as a serious “screen”, filmmakers and distributors are hoping to take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect with audiences in new ways.

Fri. 4/27 2 Days in New York

Apple Store, 401 W. 14th St. (at 9th Ave.), tribecafilm.com; 7 p.m., $16.

2 Days in New York, the sequal to the critically-acclaimed 2 Days inParis, to the screen. The film’s writer, director, and lead actress, Julie Delpy will discuss the film, and the inspiration behind the movie’s plot: cultural differences between her new American boyfriend (Chris Rock) and her family as she attempts to deal with the stresses of her career.

Sat. 4/28 FREE Tribeca/ESPN Sports Day

N. Moore Street (from Greenwich St to West St), tribecafilm.com; 10 a.m.

It’s a hands-on afternoon when some of the most iconic mascots and athletes in the city turn up for an afternoon of sports. You can learn how to throw a perfect pitch, pick up a sword and take your first fencing lesson, shoot hoops with some of the borough’s best ballers, or just come for the outdoor atmosphere in a celebration of the spring!

Sun. 4/29 Death of a Superhero

AMC Loews Village VII-2,66 Third Ave. (betw. E. 11th & 12th Sts.), tribecafilm.com; 1 p.m., $16.

While the rest of the avant-garde New Yorkpopulous gear up for “Awards Day” – you might better spend the final day of the Tribeca film festival catching one last foreign film. After all, you won’t see one for the next twelve months. Death of a Superhero, which is a German film, follows Donald, a typical teenager with an exceptional talent with art and imagination. But he’s put to the test when he’s diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and must learn to live in reality if he’s going to have a chance at living.

It seems many fans have soured over what hasn’t been an amazing year for the Mets, forcing to the team to have what looks to be the first Opening Day without a packed house since 1997. The Mets will need brisk sales and a steady stream of walk-ins if it hopes to sell out today’s game. Less than an hour before the game, there are still plenty of tickets available online.

Last year the Mets had their public image tarnished over the public battle with Bernie Madoff victims, followed up with a drastic payroll clash where the budget dropped from $140 million to $90 million, the biggest in MLB history, and caused the Amazin’s to lose star player Jose Reyes to Miami.

With little preseason hype, the Mets have lost players and raised prices. According to seatgeek.com, where fans can compares ticket prices from 60 different sites, opening day seats averaged $133. Last year, when the Mets faced the Marlins, opening day tickets cost fans an average of $93.

Today’s attendance could set the bar for the rest of the year where fan turnout traditionally slumps in end of season games. It will be a tough sell when the Mets have what is arguably one of their worst ever rosters on paper. While expectations are at an all time low, the silver lining of today will be the return of Johan Santana, arguably one of the best pitchers in baseball from 2004-2008, as he finally recoups from shoulder surgery last year.

In an effort to combat what will be a tough sales season for the struggling franchise,  the team’s owners have released several incentives to fans. In an email yesterday, they promoted a buy-one-get-one-free ticket to fans who had already purchased tickets. Those had bought tickets for opening day can see them on Saturday or Sunday as they continue to face off against the Atlanta Braves.

If the Mets can’t pull it together this year, this tweet by Mets GM Sandy Alderson might become a reality.

Some downtowners are out there right now, jogging, cycling, playing in softball leagues—but that may be a little too pedestrian for hardcore holdouts who need a bit more to get them off the couch or away from their laptops. Fortunately, Downtown is rife with exciting, offbeat social sports that many of us never heard of. Once you know of them, you will have to try them—at least once. So for those of you waiting for an invitation, this is it! Take this chance to check out some of Downtown’s most offbeat sports and the people who are currently rocking them.

Dirt Track Racing

This year marks Sixth Street Specials’ 25th anniversary, though most New Yorkers have never heard of it or its friendly, informal racing team. The shop was recently featured in the Lee Klancher book Motorcycle Dream Garages and was the focus of a recent episode of Discovery HD’s Café Racer TV show. Despite the press coverage, people aren’t flocking to join the Sixth Street racers. Flat tracking is dirty and dangerous, and the fellows who are drawn to this sport wouldn’t want it any other way.

They race vintage motorcycles—mostly British iron—at three local race tracks. The circuits themselves are mostly simple circles or ovals of dirt or chewed-up blacktop. On the weekends, racers lean vintage bikes into turns while they skid their left feet along the track at 80 mph. Most of the week is spent “wrenching,” working on the old bikes, fixing crash damage or tuning up the motor for the next race. Sixth Street Racing is currently gearing up for the Oakland Valley Speedway on Long Island, site of the upcoming AMA Vintage Dirt National Sept. 18.

One team member with grease up to his elbows is Fumi Matsueda, a 32-year-old Japanese ex-pat currently ranked No. 2 on the national circuit. He’s been winding out a vintage Triumph in the 500cc brakeless division all season.

“This is my third year racing and the first time I followed this national circuit. I think it’s a once in a lifetime thing—it’s so much time and money. Last year I beat Nickboy [Nick Weimer] and won the vintage class at Oakland, but he was younger then. He’s 16 now and getting faster—my whole American racing career has been trying to beat him,” Fumi said.

Mini Golf Tourneys

There is a new mini golf course at the end of Pier 25 run by Manhattan Youth, who, along with the New York City Social Sports Club, is bringing a new twist to hitting the little links. New York City residents now have access to mini golf tournaments in Downtown Manhattan.

“Puttin’ on the Ritz,” the best dressed team in New York City Social Sports Club’s inaugural mini golf league at Pier 25. All photos by Kevin Sheehan

There are 21 teams in the inaugural league, four members to a team. The league’s best dressed team is “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” who, undeterred by a recent patch of bad weather, paired off for one of the rainiest rounds of mini golf ever.

The team’s captain, 28-year-old Vanessa Brown, works in Union Square as a packaging production artist. She was inspired to start the team after watching a news report on another offbeat sport covered by the television channel NY1.

“They were covering water polo a long time ago, and when I looked up the organization behind it I found that they were planning a mini golf league. I said, ‘That is ridiculous! I need to do this! And I need three friends to come with me,’” Brown recalled, to laughter from her teammates. “It’s a perfect activity because it’s competitive enough that you want to win, but not so much that you get pissed when you lose—we’re not very good. Hitting the bar after is also a big part. It’s important to get off the computer and meet people in 3-D.”

Rowing

At first, I was going to do a story on kayaking. Don’t get me wrong, kayaking is cool, and the program at Pier 40 has been successfully getting people out on the water for a while now, but it’s limited. Kayakers have to stay in what they call the “embayment,” the square of water between two piers that is also where the river’s debris tends to collect. But at the same Downtown Boathouse, just one door down, another group is offering a chance to get out on the water and row, row, row yourself to the Statue of Liberty, to Jersey or around the island of Manhattan!

“This is one of the greatest harbors in the world,” said Rob Buchanan, a rower who volunteers at the Village Commuity Boathouse near Pier 40.

The boats offered by Village Community Boathouse, free of charge, are 25-foot Whitehall gigs based on the traditional New York Harbor boats. The gigs are built by students during the winter and made available to the public from April to November, Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sundays at noon.

I caught one of the organization’s volunteers, Rob Buchanan, a 53-year-old professor at the New School, rowing up in a small dingy and asked him why he spends his free time rowing in the harbor:

“I grew up around boats—when I came from the San Francisco Bay area, I was amazed at how few boats were in the harbor here. So I started volunteering with a guy who was starting a project called ‘Floating the Apple,’ which did almost the same thing we’re now doing with the Community Boathouse,” he explained. “This is one of the great harbors of the world—so protected, with so many exit points, temperate climate, sandy beaches and enough room for everybody. More people should have access.”

Last year they booked more than 3,000 “community rowers,” though Buchanan pointed out that there were only 1,200 waivers signed, so more than half of them were return rowers. Two nifty things about rowing these beautiful wooden boats are that there only needs to be one volunteer from the boathouse onboard, a coxswain, so the whole boat can be filled with you and your friends, and that if and when you get tired, you can just raise the mast and sail back home.

Trapeze

At the very top of Pier 40—even higher, really—Marcie Beigel, a 32-year-old doctor, soars through the air and calls her favorite pastime “flying.” Her instructors told us that half the people attending the Trapeze School are one-timers, just wanting to cross it off their bucket list, but there is a hardy crew of regulars and Beigel is one of the best.

Marcie Beigel, a doctor, reconnects with her theatrical roots —her parents are both clowns— at the Trapeze School of New York at Pier 40.

“I’ve been flying since 2004 at TSNY [Trapeze School of New York] and it’s the most fun workout there is. I have a lot more strength now—trapeze strengthens muscles you didn’t even know you had!” she said. “My parents are both clowns, so this makes perfect sense for me. My sister’s a balloon twister, and I guess this is my circus trait. My parents aren’t circus clowns, they do hospital clowning, parties, parades…They’re so psyched that I do this, they come to the shows and brag to their friends that I fly on the trapeze.

“I used to fly once a week, spend two hours on the outdoor rig with great people and feel like I got an amazing workout. Now it’s more like once a month. ”

Bicycle Polo

A few blocks from the Williamsburg Bridge, diehard fans gather on Thursdays and Sundays around a sunken court in Roosevelt Park, on the corner of Chrystie and Broome streets in the Lower East Side, to witness the urban appropriation of the traditional sport of kings. If you have above average bicycling skills, phenomenal hand-eye coordination and aren’t afraid of a full contact sport with little to no padding, feel free to make yourself a mallet and join in the fun—there are no snobs in this bunch.

Thomas Callahan, a 31-year-old Brooklynite, has been coming across the bridge to play hard court bike polo for the last six months. He recently took a break from building bicycle frames at his shop, Horse Cycles, to explain the finer points of the game and why he’s so passionate about this sport:

“It’s a three-on-three format played with a street hockey ball and homemade mallets—usually ski poles with 3-inch diameter plastic tubing attached at one end—and the matches range from absurd to very competitive.

Thomas Callahan, a polo whiz with two wheels and a mallet at his Brooklyn based bike shop.

“The way a match works is there will be five to seven games, 10 minutes apiece, and you sit and watch. When a game ends, everyone throws their sticks in the center and we pull six for the next match.

“The last time I played, last Sunday, about 25 people showed and I knew all of them—even the visiting player from France. Everybody is getting ready for the World Championships in Seattle, Washington, next week, so there’s a bit of a fever pitch right now.

“The guys are mostly 19 to 40 years old, some bike messengers, a guy from the Blue Man group, computer programmers—too diverse to label them. Just a really solid, good bunch of dudes. I used to go to the gym, but since I’m getting older and I need to cope with more stress from my job and my life, I needed functional activities that are more fun and easier to keep going with, like bike polo. And the social aspect—whether it’s drinks afterwards, traveling for tournaments—it’s become a big part of my life.”

Top photo by Caitlyn Bierman.
Fumi Matsueda, right, the No. 2 dirt track racer in the country with his mentor Hugh Machie.

Compiled by Hannah O’Grady and Shilpa Agrawal

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20

Senior Citizen Jin Shin Jyutsu—Open to senior citizens, this is a peaceful way to start your afternoon. Join Judith Janus, practitioner of Jin Shin Jyutsu, to harmonize your mind, body and spirit with various exercises. DOROT, 171 W. 85th St., 212-769-2850; 10:30 a.m., $5 (suggested donation).

Summer Salsa—Dance Manhattan hosts this month’s Salsa Social, part of an eight-year-old program open to new and experienced dancers alike. 39 W. 19th St., 5th Fl., 212-807-0802; 9:30 p.m., $5-$10.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21

Striped Sensation—New York International Fringe Festival presents Sarah Hayward’s one-woman show, Stripes: The Mystery Circus, which follows the story of Pollyhymnia, a girl who dreams of being in the circus. The semi-autobiographical musical reflects Hayward’s own rise from library worker in Vancouver to writer of and actress in her own show in New York. Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce St., 604-689-0017; 2 p.m., $15 (with advanced purchase).

Mostly Mozart—Lincoln Center is closing its annual celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with a final performance featuring Mozart’s rarely performed Davidde penitente. This performance will be conducted by Louis Langrée and feature pianist Stephen Hough. Avery Fisher Hall, 20 W. 63rd St., 917-441-6109; 8 p.m, $35-85.

Goodbar by Bambï and Waterwell—NYC Rock band Bambï is teaming up with theater company Waterwell to put on an adaptation of the ’70s novel and movie, Looking For Mr. Goodbar. The production explores the themes of sexuality, independence and persona. City Parks Foundation, East River Park, 212-360-2777; 8 p.m., Free.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22

Check Mate—Marshall Chess Club hosts a chess tournament for kids ages 6-12. Trophies will be awarded to the top three competitors, and all participants will receive medals. Bryant Park Chess Area, 212-365-4745; 11 a.m. (10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. advanced registration), $25.

Argentine Mass—The Summer Festival of Sacred Music at St. Bartholomew’s continues its festivities with an Argentine Mass, Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramírez. St. Bartholomew’s Church, East 51st Street and Park Avenue, 212-378-0222; 11 a.m., Free.

Broadway Blast From the Past—Lost & Found, a production by Sunday Series at Abingdon with Actors Underground, is a compilation of songs from post-1970 Broadway musicals. Proceeds will support the non-profit Abingdon Theatre. 312 W. 36th St., 1st Fl., 212-868-4444; 7 p.m., $15.

MONDAY, AUGUST 23

Starving for Scripts—The Castillo Theatre performs Judith Marie Wallace’s Another Kind of Hunger—directed by Eric Vitale—one of four winning scripts from the 2010 Mario Fratti-Fred Newman Political Playwriting Contest. This play follows the protagonist in his attempts to build a high-class resort in his Southwestern reservation and his efforts to better his impoverished friends as others grow involved. Castillo Theatre, 543 W. 42nd St., 212-941-1234; 7:30 p.m., $5-$10.

Five Days in March—City Parks Foundation continues its Summer Stage with the play Five Days in March by Toshiki Okada. Set in 2003 as the U.S. is about to wage war on Iraq, this comedic and devastating show about relationships captures the irony and essence of the Generation Y in Japan. City Parks Foundation, East River Park, 212-360-2777; 8 p.m., Free.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24

Oliver Lake Organ Quartet—The Jazz Standard hosts a quartet led by saxophonist Oliver Lake, alongside Jared Gold on organ, Freddie Hendrix on trumpet and Chris Beck on drums. Food from Blue Smoke, along with wine, beer and cocktails, will be provided at additional cost. 116 E. 27th St., 212-576-2232; 7:30 & 9:30 p.m., $20.

My Night At Maud’s—The Film Society of Lincoln Center continues paying tribute to director Eric Rohmer by screening My Night At Maud’s along with many of his other films. This Oscar-nominated piece brings philosophy and existential talk to the story about a young Catholic engineer (Jean-Louis Trintignant) who is forced to spend the night with a seductive divorcee (Françoise Fabian) because of a snowstorm. To see film timings for other Rohmer films, visit www.filmlinc.com. Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St., 212-875-5600; 4 p.m., $5-$9.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25

Tales of Terror—The “Word for Word Author” outdoor reading series presents author and musician Rick Moody, who discusses and answers questions regarding his novel, The Four Fingers of Death. The event is hosted by Wesley Stace, author of Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer, followed by a musical performance by the authors. Bryant Park Reading Room, E. 42nd St., 212-768-4242; 12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m., Free.

Summer Sings—Conductor Patrick Gardner will lead audience members to sing through Orff’s Carmina Burana and Brahms’ Nänie as part of The New York Choral Society’s 50th annual Summer Sings Program. Scores are provided by the New York Choral Society. Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th St.), 212-864-5400; 7:30 p.m., $15.

Enduring the Hurricane—Meet six Katrina survivors in the play 23 Feet in 12 Minutes: The Death and Rebirth of New Orleans as part of the FringeNYC arts festival, and see how one of the largest storms to hit America changed these peoples’ lives. Players Loft, 115 MacDougal St. (W. 3rd & Bleecker Sts.), 212-475-1449; 5:15 p.m., $15.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26

Star-Struck—The Hayden Planetarium space show, Journey to the Stars, lets visitors experience the life of our solar system. The show documents the Milky Way’s birth 13 billion years ago and hypothesizes about the destruction of our sun five billion years from now. American Museum of Natural History, W. 79th St. and Central Park West, 212-769-5200; 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (every 30 minutes), $18-$28.

Compiled by Alice Robb and Reid Spagna

Friday, August 13

Mostly Mozart—The 2010 Mostly Mozart Festival continues with Osmo Vanska, called “a conductor of genius” by The New Yorker, leading the Festival Orchestra in a performance of Mozart’s D-Minor Piano Concerto and Symphony No. 40. Avery Fisher Hall, West 65th Street & Columbus Avenue, 212-875-5316; 8 p.m., $35-$90.

Theater on The Move—One of Shakespeare’s most well-known works comes to Central Park, but this time, there’s no way to fall asleep in your seats. The cast of Much Ado About Nothing performs at various locations throughout Central Park, where the end of each scene is accompanied by a complementary change of scenery; audiences must run through the park to watch the plot progress. Shakespeare on the Run, West 103rd Street & Central Park West, 212-252-4531; 7 p.m., Free.

Saturday, August 14

Big Apple Block Party—This year, the city is bringing back its Summer Streets event for the third year. On the first three Saturdays of August, almost 7 miles of streets will be cleared of traffic for the citizens’ enjoyment. Free offerings include bike and skate rentals, swimming in Dumpster Pools, Crunch workout classes, kids’ theater workshops and more. Summer Streets, Park Avenue (from Foley Square to East 72nd Street), www.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets; 7 a.m.
-1 p.m., Free.

Scenic Concert—Riverside Clay Tennis Association continues its series of sunset concerts. Steve Tarshish and his Instrumental Trio bring jazz, folk, blues and rock to the tennis lawn overlooking the Hudson River. The Tennis Lawn, West 97th Street (inside Riverside Park), 212-978-0277; 7 p.m., Free.

More Movies—Symphony Space continues its string of film screenings with its Summer Blockbusters event. This week’s feature is The Karate Kid, in which Mr. Miyagi teaches an embattled teen martial arts. Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, 212-864-5400; 5 p.m., $5.

Sunday, August 15

Stomp the Yard—Street dancing makes a splash at Lincoln Center with Centrifugal Force: Hip-Hop Generations. Featuring 75 first and second generation dancers, the show mixes hip-hop and urban dance as it moves through the Lincoln Center complex. The event ends at the steps of Alice Tully Hall, where audience members will be encouraged to participate in a freestyle dance-off. Josie Robertson Plaza, Lincoln Center, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, 212-875-5456;
5 p.m., Free.

New Plays—Summer Shorts 4, the fourth annual festival of new American one-act plays, continues with works by Christopher Stetson Boal, Wendy Kesselman, Alan Zweibel and Neil Koenigsberg. 59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St., 212-279-4200; 3:15 p.m., $18.

Monday, August 16

Celluloid Superheroes—RCN Movie Nights’ screenings of superhero-themed movies continues with Spy Kids. The children of secret-agent parents must save them from danger. Free popcorn is served. Seating is limited, but lawn chairs are welcome. The Waterside Plaza, between East 25th & 29th streets along the East River, 212-340-4208; at dusk (8:30 p.m.), Free.

Yiddish Theater—The Dybbuk, written and directed by Julia Pascal, is presented as part of Theater for the New City’s first Dream Up Festival of new plays. Judith, a British atheist Jew, is haunted by thoughts of her family lost in the Holocaust. This leads her to a dream world haunted by ghosts, or dybbuks. Johnson Theater, Theater for the New City, 155 1st Ave., 212-254-1109; 7 p.m., $12-$15.

Afro-Cuban Tunes—Acclaimed band Los Soneros de Oriente, which specializes in Afro-Cuban music, gives a free concert on Pier 1 overlooking the Hudson. Pier 1, Riverside Park and West 70th Street, 866-560-7669; 7 p.m., Free.

Golf Lessons—Make the Big Apple’s public parks your fairway with CityParks Golf, presented by René Lacoste Foundation. The partnership is offering free golf lessons for the city’s youth, looking to both build their skills and confidence. East River Park, E. 6th St. (on the FDR Drive), 718-760-6999, www.cityparksfoundation.org; Free.

Tuesday, August 17

Exhibiting a Museum—New York City’s historic Frick Collection pays homage to its origins in its featured exhibition. From Mansion to Museum: The Frick Collection Celebrates Seventy-Five Years describes how art connoisseur Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919) opted to turn his home into a museum for his art collection after his wife’s death. The exhibit feature the elevation drawings of John Russell Pope, the architect tasked with expanding the house into a museum. The Frick Collection, 1 E. 70th St., 212-288-0700; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., $18.

Wednesday, August 18

Book Reading—Mona Simpson will be reading and discussing her latest novel. My Hollywood takes the untrodden route to describing our nation’s entertainment capital; instead of focusing on the fame and riches, Simpson tells a story of the domestic workers who keep households intact behind the scenes. Bryant Park Reading Room, 212-768-4242; 12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m., Free.

Rafael Ferrer—Born in Puerto Rico, Ferrer has become a successful artist with many mediums, including painting, drawing and sculpture. As part of El Museo’s FOCOS series (displaying the work of mature yet under-the-radar artists), the exhibit presents the best of Ferrer’s working during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. El Museo del Barrio, 1230 5th Avenue, 212-831-7272; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., $4-$6 (suggested admission).

Thursday, August 19

Garden of Music—This summer, the West Side Community Garden invites you to cool down with some soothing jazz in its attractive park. The latest edition of the 2010 Season of Music in the Garden features Geoff Burke, a “bebop alto sax master” who is sure to impress. West Side Community Garden, West 89th Street (between Columbus & Amsterdam avenues), www.westsidecommunitygarden.org; 4 p.m., Free.

A Very Hot Jazz Night—The Samurai Jazz Piano Trio will be performing some of history’s most famous jazz tunes at St. Peter’s Church. The Trio will perform pieces by The Beatles, Coltrane, Gershwin, Stevie Wonder and others. St. Peter’s Church in Chelsea, 346 W. 20th St. (between 8th & 9th avenues), 212-929-2390; 8 p.m., $10 (suggested donation).

By Ben Krull

The league bosses have excluded me from the ballot and ESPN refuses to cover my candidacy. But if you join my write-in campaign to play in the 2010 Baseball All-Star Game, we can send a message to the establishment.

The national pastime does not belong to the owners, the commissioner or the players’ union. It belongs to everyday fans like you and me, and it is time we took our game back!

I am the child of Brooklyn Dodger fans, who immigrated to Manhattan. As a first-generation Upper East Sider, I understand the stress of watching the value of your baseball card collection go down, and the disappointment of striking out with the bases loaded while playing Wii.

The powers that be feel threatened by our cause. A high-ranking official in the commissioner’s office offered me upper deck seats to a minor league game if I agreed to quit my campaign. But no amount of riches can tempt me to forgo this crusade.

They want me out of the race because I am an outsider. I have never been to Wrigley Field, Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium. I don’t even know the words to “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”

I am not an American League fan or a National League fan—I am just a baseball fan. I root for the Yankees and the Mets, and will bring bipartisanship to the locker room.

My opponents are so desperate that they are spreading false rumors. They say that I don’t stretch during the seventh inning, or doff my cap when listening to the national anthem.

But I refuse to be drawn into negative campaigning. I will not point out that several of my competitors have been suspended for using steroids, or that a certain outfielder on the ballot switched from the Red Sox to the Yankees, just for the money.

I will run the most transparent campaign in All-Star Game history. I will reveal the names of all the players on my fantasy league team, and will give the media unfettered access to my Little League statistics.

I know this is an uphill fight. But even though the polls have me running behind the San Diego Padres’ batboy, I embrace the challenge of running against candidates funded by big market teams.

This election is not about me. It is about Billy, a 10-year-old in Cincinnati, who waited an hour outside of AT&T Park in San Francisco, only to have his favorite player turn down his autograph request. It is about Thelma, a grandmother on a fixed income from Detroit, who can no longer afford to see her beloved Tigers play because player salaries have driven up ticket prices.

With your help, I will take on the fat cats in the luxury boxes and the batters who shred the rulebook by swinging at pitches outside the strike zone. Together we will build a centerfield fence to stop Dominican and Japanese players from taking over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

If you are fed up with elite athletes who see baseball as a career rather than a game, if you are tired of hitters who care more about their batting average than they do about average fans, then throw the game a change-up by writing Ben Krull on your All-Star ballot.

If I make the team, I will always remember who put me on the roster. I will fight to return baseball to its roots, and will once again make the national pastime a game by, for and of the bleacher bums. 

—
Ben Krull is a lawyer and essayist who lives on the Upper East Side.

Steph Lechich started playing basketball with a small, rubber ball when she was 5. She was too small to use a real basket, so her father would mimic a hoop by holding his arms in a circle and allowing her to shoot through it. She’s been draining buckets ever since. Jan. 25, she hit a 3-pointer to pass the 1,000-point mark.

“Watching her play in middle school, she was always a great scorer and great shooter,” said Dalton head coach Doug Feinberg. “She came right into a spot that was left by Mia Gliedman, so it was from one great player to another at that off-guard spot.”

Friends and teammates Steph Lechich (left), who is heading to Swarthmore next year, and Bonnie Cecil, who will play at Dickinson, may face off against each other in college at the Centennial Conference. Photo by Andrew Schwartz

Bonnie Cecil transferred to Dalton from Marymount in 9th grade and proved as a newcomer that she was just as tough and talented as the veterans. Like Lechich, she has been a starter from the very beginning. Feb. 19, she scored Dalton’s first 13 points in a win over Riverdale, including a layup in the second quarter that put her over 1,000 points for her career.

“I’m even more impressed that Bonnie has scored over a 1,000 points because she’s a point guard,” Feinberg said. “As such, she’s also had at least 500 or 600 assists, accounting in total for over 2,000 points in her career. That’s unbelievable. She’s the third all-time leading scorer, the leader in minutes, the leader in assists, the leader of a wonderful team.”

Thanks to Lechich and Cecil, Dalton (18-6 at press time) has its strongest team in years, one that is a definite contender for the New York State Association of Independent School (NYSAIS) tournament, which begins Mar. 4. How well they do will depend on many things, but any progress they make will almost definitely be based on whether Lechich and Cecil do what they do best: shoot and pass, respectively.

The duo has a comfortable rhythm on the court, with Cecil handling the ball, organizing the offense and then distributing. Lechich is a classic spot-up shooter, draining mid- or long-range jumpers repeatedly.

“Having Steph and Bonnie together for four years helped them because they were able to feed off each other,” Feinberg said. “Steph was a point guard in middle school, and having Bonnie taking care of the ball took a lot of pressure off her. I think Bonnie is one of the top five point guards in the city right now, private, public or Catholic. She has the best court vision I’ve ever seen at this school, boy or girl.”

Cecil credits her success to the time she puts in working on her game outside of normal team practice. Despite passing 1,000 points, she clearly doesn’t see herself as a scorer.

“I didn’t really think about 1,000 points until this year,” she said. “I don’t like thinking about it now, so it feels good not to worry about it anymore. I just tried to keep it out of my mind
during the games.”

For Lechich, who passed Gliedman March 1 to become the all-time leading scorer in team history, motivation comes from her older brother, Nick, who was captain of Dalton’s boys’ team four years ago. He’s been her fan and mentor since they played together as kids at the courts in Riverside Park.

“I’ve played some one-on-one with him during the summer,” she said. “He still beats me, but it’s pretty close.”

As with Cecil, passing 1,000 provided a sense of relief.

“I had been thinking a lot about it, but I didn’t tell anyone besides my mom because I didn’t want to put a personal goal above the team’s goal,” Lechich said. “When it finally happened, it was such a weight off my shoulders.”

Naturally, Cecil was feeling pretty good for her teammate.

“Steph’s one of my best friends outside of basketball, so it’s pretty easy working with her,” she said. “We know each other so well that we know where the other is on the court. We’ve grown together as basketball players.”

Both seniors are heading into the NYSAIS tournament confidently, but no matter what happens, their intertwined basketball odysseys are not ending anytime soon. After four years of teamwork, they will soon have to get used to being rivals. Lechich is heading to Swarthmore next year, while Cecil, whom Feinberg said could be a Division 1 player if she were several inches taller, will play at Dickinson. The two colleges play against each other in the Centennial Conference.

“I am just so excited that I am going to be able to play with her in some form,” Lechich said. “Just playing ball with her in any way, whether against her or with her, has been so important to me.”

The bulls came to the Garden the weekend of January 8, but they had nothing to do with basketball. And instead of seven-footers, the half-filled arenas got to see 1,600-pounders. The athletes weren’t the Chicago Bulls but rather the bucking bulls of Professional Bull Riding’s fifth annual New York Invitational.

A rider’s hand gets entangled in rope as he is thrown from a bull. Photo by Andrew Schwartz

The only knowledge of bull riding I brought to the event came from the old Steve McQueen/Sam Peckinpah movie Junior Bonner, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. But what proved evident from the get-go was that this was no old-time rodeo. For one thing, there was no calf roping, bulldogging or any other typical rodeo sport that could distract from the main event. Also, between the explosions, fireworks and loud music, there were enough bells and whistles for a pro wrestling event.

The comparison holds true in the presentation, but certainly not in the actual competition. Unlike pro wrestling, there is nothing fake about the violence and danger of bull riding. The simple goal of every competitor is to hold on for eight seconds with only one hand to an ornery, horned animal that weighs anywhere between 1,200 pounds and a solid ton. In other words, the instinct of self-preservation is a required sacrifice for bull riders, some of whom prove the point more than is necessary by eschewing a helmet in favor of a cowboy hat.

I asked Shane Proctor, who won the Invitational’s first round Jan. 8, why he does it.

“Because somebody once told me I couldn’t,” was his only reply.

Proctor’s score of 91.25 topped the field of 40 riders, only 14 of whom managed to stay on for the full eight seconds. Points are awarded by judges, who assign scores out of 50 to both the rider and the bull. Anyone who is bucked off before the eight-second horn sounds receives no score at all. So it pays to have an active bull, but not one so energetic that staying seated is impossible.

The bulls are not actually wild; in fact, they’re all very well trained. They know that once the gate opens, they are supposed to buck as hard as possible until the rider dismounts (or is tossed off) and then quietly leave the arena. A few got lost amid all the noise and commotion and took a few turns around the floor, sending rodeo clowns scurrying away, before a helpful horseback rider armed with a lasso escorted the bull to the exit chute. Injuries usually only occur by accident, either when a rider is caught by a kicking hoof or during an ungraceful dismount. Moreover, the riders tend to be tougher than most of us could dream of, when faced with very large and angry land mammals. One competitor was tossed 12 feet in the air while another landed on his neck. Both jumped up and walked away as if nothing had happened.

For those who know the Garden only in its basketball or hockey alignments, the show proved a bit unfamiliar. The arenas floor was split in two, with half containing seats and the other half fenced off by seven-foot metal barricades. Seven hundred pounds of dirt was trucked in to cover the riding floor.

I asked Proctor what he thought of the Garden as a bull riding site.

“The history at Madison Square Garden is phenomenal. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, there were month-long rodeos here. It’s great riding here. This is my third time riding in this arena. Last year I finished third in the event, so it’s always been good to me and the crowd is exceptional.”

The Garden was even better for Proctor by the end of the weekend, as he won the Jan. 10 championship round and, with it, the entire invitational.

For Friday’s introduction, a fog machine covered the ground in a mist while a giant screen featured a montage of riders walking around Manhattan to the sound of Ace Frehley’s “New York Groove.” After that, fireworks suddenly blazed, igniting flames on the dirt that flickered in the shape of the letters PBR. A light show accompanied the riders’ introductions, while the screen zipped up to reveal giant posters of the biggest stars, both human and bovine. The bull nomenclature was half the fun; the crowd was treated to performances by such luminaries as Major Payne, Neon Ghost, Aerial Assault, White Lightning, Necessary Evil, Snot Rocket and Smack Down.

The showmanship didn’t stop there. A rodeo clown served as master of ceremonies, peppering the audience with jokes and performing silly dances. A mascot dressed as a giant sheep did flips across the floor at one point. And for intermission, in what must qualify as one of the most questionable practices in youth athletics, a bunch of small children got the chance to copy the pros by trying to stay atop galloping sheep, holding onto their wool for as long as possible. One tot followed a great run by tackling the mascot. Another fell off early and was escorted away quickly, crying and clutching a hurt arm.

Either way, the applause was wild.