The Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District today unveiled its fifth annual “23 Days of Flatiron Cheer” season, complete with a neighborhood-wide photo scavenger hunt, performances, contests, hot beverage giveaways, and much more. The centerpiece of the festivities is the dynamic, interactive installation, Flatiron Sky-Line, on the North Public Plaza in the shadow of the famed Flatiron Building.

“23 Days of Flatiron Cheer,” which runs from Thursday, December 1^st to Friday, December 23^rd, features free, holiday-themed events showcasing the intersection of shopping, dining, and culture in the neighborhood. A launch event – held on Monday, November 21^st – featured a performance from The Jazz Gallery, small bites from ilili Box, hot chocolate from Shake Shack, and a chance for attendees to spin the popular Flatiron prize wheel to win gifts from local businesses.

“You can brighten your holidays with a visit to Flatiron this season,” said Jennifer Brown, Executive Director of the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership. “We’re excited to showcase all this amazing neighborhood has to offer with fun-filled activities for our office workers, residents, and visitors. This holiday season, Flatiron is the place to be!”

“23 Days of Flatiron Cheer”

Now in its fifth year, “23 Days of Flatiron Cheer” is made possible with generous support from Presenting Sponsor Meringoff Properties and Contributing Sponsors Grey Group and Macmillan.

This year’s programming features free, holiday-themed events showcasing the intersection of shopping, dining, and culture in the neighborhood. More information about the program can be found online at www.FlatironDistrict.nyc/holiday2016.

On tap this season:

• A neighborhood scavenger hunt in which participants are encouraged to take photos of Flatiron hotspots for a chance to win prizes.
• Family-friendly activities on the North Public Plaza every Friday and Saturday (from 12/2 to 12/17) from Noon to 4:00 PM, including free hot beverage giveaways and a prizewheel in which contestants can win prizes offered by local Flatiron businesses.
• Fun performances on the North Public Plaza by The Peoples Improv Theater (12/3 and 12/10), and The Jazz Gallery (12/17). Performances begin at 2:00PM on Saturdays.
• Free, holiday-themed walking tours led by professional guides. The 90-minute journeys start at 11:00 AM every Sunday (12/4, 12/11, 12/18, and 12/25) at the southwest corner of Madison Square Park at 23^rd Street and Broadway.
• A Winter Solstice celebration in partnership with National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) on Wednesday, December 21^st, the shortest day of the year, on the North Public Plaza.
• A food drive to support the Food Bank For New York City. A number of neighborhood businesses have signed up as partners and will be hosting food drives in their spaces including: Brooklyn Roasting Company, Carnegie Fabrics, Community Healthcare Network, Estee Lauder, Function X, General Assembly, qLabs, Regus, Rise NYC, Select Office Suites, Sony, ThoughtMatter, WeWork, The Yard, and Yext. Donations also can be made at the Flatiron Partnership’s holiday webpage.

Additionally, Contributing Sponsor Macmillan has donated $5,000 worth of books to First Book, a nonprofit organization connecting book publishers and community organizations to provide access to new books for children in need. The books from Macmillan’s donation will be distributed to children within the five boroughs.

Visitors to the installation and participants in “23 Days” programming are encouraged to share their photos on social media using the hashtag #FlatironSkyLine. Throughout the month of December, photos using the hashtag will be entered to win prizes from local businesses.

Flatiron Sky-Line

Anchoring “23 Days” this year is Flatiron Sky-Line, which was selected through the annual Flatiron Plaza Holiday Design Competition in partnership with Van Alen Institute and NYC DOT Art, in which a curated list of designers and architects proposed concepts for the holiday season. The installation is open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, daily, weather permitting.

Situated at the intersection of 23^rd Street, Broadway and Fifth Avenue, Flatiron Sky-Line is a series of ten large contiguous arches constructed of white powder-coated steel tubes with LED lights. Hammocks suspended from the arches allow visitors to relax and gaze upon the district’s architectural sights. LOT, an architectural and design firm based in New York City and Greece and directed by principals Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis, has developed an array of projects across the world, ranging from objects and installations to interior spaces and buildings, including showrooms, lofts, and sculptural displays. Flatiron Sky-Line is the firm’s first large-scale public installation in New York City.

“Flatiron Sky-Line creates a dynamic new social space underneath its illuminated arches. The structure invites visitors to walk within and around it, gaze through it toward the skyline, and experience the Flatiron District’s surroundings through a unique lens,” said Leonidas Trampoukis. “The simplicity of the design draws in passersby and inspires them to savor this iconic intersection.”

“This installation is the culmination of three rewarding years of collaboration between Van Alen Institute and the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership on the Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Design Competition,” said David van der Leer, Executive Director of Van Alen Institute. “The initiative has become a valuable platform for launching new practices, and a visible celebration of inventive, temporary designs in public space as a way to bring people together, even during colder months.”

“DOT Art is committed to supporting interactive public art installations that temporarily change the City’s public spaces in both safe and surprising ways,” said DOT Assistant Commissioner of Design + Art + Wayfinding Wendy Feuer. “We are excited to be partnering with the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership for the third year and value the organization’s dedication to commissioning interesting and sometimes playful installations during the busy holiday season.”

About the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership
The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District, formed in 2006, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance the area’s reputation as one of New York’s most vital and exciting neighborhoods. This is accomplished by maintaining a clean and safe environment for the district’s businesses, residents and visitors; by spearheading area improvement projects; and by marketing the diverse business and retail options in this vibrant and historic neighborhood.