Happenings at Lincoln Center

If you’re planning a trip to New York City this summer or fall, there’s never been a better time to visit the cultural mecca that is Lincoln Center. Home to 12 different arts organizations—including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, New York Philharmonic, Film Society at Lincoln Center and the Juilliard School—the center has a killer summer lineup of events, including Midsummer Night Swing dancing and the Mostly Mozart music festival. Plus, as the major redevelopment project that started in 2006 nears completion, the center boasts a new look, and several cool new additions.

A view of Lincoln Center at night, circa 2006

A fancy new Italian restaurant is scheduled to open in September under former Per Se chef de cuisine Jonathan Benno. Until just recently, the $20 million eatery went without a name (NYTimes readers had some fun suggesting some) but now it’s been announced that it will be called—wait for it—Lincoln. Simple and appropriate, it seems…

The famous Lincoln Center fountain, circa 2010

Sitting on the roof of the newly named, soon-to-be-opened restaurant is a sloping green expanse of lawn—7,203 square feet, to be exact—where visitors can sit and look out over the lovely Paul Milstein Pool and Terrace, adorned with Henry Moore’s sculpture, Reclining Figure. According to the redevelopment plans, the lawn—which opened in May—was designed to serve as a “tranquil, verdant oasis for students, artists, and visitors.” For some cool pictures of the “greening” of Lincoln Center, check out this New York Times slideshow.

Come fall–September 9-16, to be exact—Lincoln Center will play a new role on the New York City culture scene, hosting Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for the first time. The center is taking over from the event’s longtime venue, Bryant Park, and will offer more space for the 70-plus fashion shows and the glamorous hordes that attend them.

(Images courtesy of robzand and aaron_editorial.)