HUDSON RIVER PARK GALA AT THE BATTERY
You know this is my cause, but it is also a neighborhood staple that we could now never live without (hello, Pier 25!) so I’m reminding everyone here that the Hudson River Park Friends will host its annual gala on Thursday, Oct. 17, starting with cocktails at the brand new Cipriani South Street on the second floor of the Battery Maritime Building. (That’s the fabulous historic building that the Governors Island ferry leaves from.) I’m not the only one around here that supports the park – Mike and Sukey Novogratz, Mia Jung and Scott Lawin are all on the host committee, and Jon Halpern is also on the Trust board. Tickets are pricey, there’s no doubt about it, but hey, big park, big price tag, and traditionally a big fun event. This year honoring Michael Bloomberg and David Chang (stay tuned for a post on his new bar at Pier 17 – Bar Wayo.) RSVP here.

BLUEGRASS ON THE LAWN IN WMP
A reminder that this Saturday is the rescheduled summer concert in Washington Market Park – Sept. 26 at 5p. Note the earlier time due to the earlier sunset. Astrograss is the band – one of my all-time faves. For a treat, watch the vid above of them walking around the neighborhood singing “This Land is Your Land” and making friends wherever they go.

RUN 4 KNOWLEDGE IN BPC
The 20th Annual Run 4 Knowledge – a one-mile fun run to benefit Battery Park City schools — will be held Friday, Oct. 4, starting at 5:15p on the esplanade at Wagner Park and ending at the gazebo in Rockefeller Park. Faculty and staff from the schools (PS and IS 89, and PS/IS 276) will be at the finish line with medals in hand to congratulate students. Following the race, there will be a family festival till 7:30 in the 89 school yard, and all are welcome whether you ran or not. To participate in the run, contact R4K@bpcschool.org.

TUNNEL TO TOWERS THIS SUNDAY
The 17th Tunnel to Towers 5k is this Sunday, Sept. 29, at 9:30a. The annual run honors firefighter Stephen Siller’s final footsteps, from the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers, and pays homage to the 343 FDNY firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers and thousands of civilians who lost their lives on 9/11. Registration is still open and you can sign up here. (And beware the gridlock!)