Go Green With Kermit on the Elevated Acre Thursday Night

Have you heard?

The Muppets are once again taking Manhattan—and the Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street!

Thursday night marks the conclusion of the 2010 season of the Downtown Alliance’s popular Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre with a free screening of Frank Oz’s classic ode to Broadway, The Muppets Take Manhattan. Featuring Jim Henson’s timeless magical creatures, this much-loved 1984 film follows the Muppets as they travel to New York intent on finding a producer for their musical, Manhattan Melodies. This evening’s movie is preceded by cinematographer Jay Hufford’s short film, Henry the Otter, who, when discovered on the beach at Coney Island, becomes the toast of the town in this homage to ragtime era New York City.

Since its inception in 2006 as a part of the River To River Festival, Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre has attracted thousands of Downtown residents, workers and visitors from around the city and beyond who gather weekly during August to enjoy classic New York films paired with independent shorts at the uniquely beautiful location known as the Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street. Ideally situated next to the East River and under the stars—and at times some pesky rain drops (!) (such as at last week’s screening of the Grace Kelly/William Holden/Bing Crosby classic The Country Girl), this spectacular site is the perfect spot to spread out a blanket on the lawn for a pre-show picnic while listening to the relaxing sounds of jazz guitarist Darren Wallis and his trio before the movies. Fortunately, Thursday night’s weather forecast looks perfect for a picnic and a flick.

When we launched this summer’s series last month with Woody Allen’s Broadway Danny Rose, I stopped by Zigolini’s on my way to work the check-in table at the Elevated Acre to pick up my own picnic fare. I ordered their Mediterranean salad with grilled chicken, which I can honestly say was one of the best salads I’ve ever had: fresh, crisp and delicious. Over the following weeks, I tried the Wall Street Burger Shoppe’s amazing char-grilled porterhouse burger and the Swedish espresso bar Fika‘s exotic sounding Överkalix—mouth-watering ’’gravlax’’ salmon marinated with juniper berries, honey mustard sauce, arugula and cucumber rolled up in a soft flatbread.

I haven’t decided what I’ll get to eat Thursday, but with so many choices throughout the neighborhood I’m certain to find whatever I might crave as I head over to the Elevated Acre from my office in the Equitable Building a few blocks away. One thing is certain though: everything tastes better sitting in the open air on the river watching a great film while the hum of the city fades gently away in the distance.

FREE TICKETS ARE REQUIRED and will be distributed two per person at the street-level Water Street entrance to the Elevated Acre on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 6pm on the day of each screening. The Elevated Acre is located at 55 Water Street, between Broad and William Streets.

The River To River Festival also depends, in part, on donations. If you’ve enjoyed a free River To River Festival concert or movie night over the years at one of our distinctive Lower Manhattan venues, please consider donating. With your help, the Festival will grow and flourish for another nine years and beyond. Click here to donate.