The 92nd Street Y and the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District will celebrate the arrival of spring with an upcoming “Spring Down Madison” nine-day event.
Sixty-three businesses along Madison Avenue from 57th to 86th streets and on adjacent side streets, will participate with the Y in “Spring Down Madison,” which kicks off April 16 and runs through April 24.
The event centers on offering VIP passes, which cost $150 and provide for a range of shopping incentives and special experiences, from gifts with purchases and spa consultations to styling sessions, or a free glass of Champagne at participating stores, restaurants and spas. All of the proceeds from the sale of the passes will go to the Y. The VIP pass also provides a $50 gift certificate to a program or class at the Y, and a one-month trial membership at the Y’s gym.
The 92nd Street Y, a nonprofit organization also known as 92NY, is celebrating its 150th birthday.
The Y, which is located on Lexington Avenue, will be further animated on Madison Avenue with performances, talks, classes and appearances by several of its artists, musicians and educators. Fred Leighton will highlight the opening of its new townhouse flagship by hosting a cocktail reception with jazz musicians from the Y and a music-themed conversation. Bespoke bridal and eveningwear designer Nardos will present the “Art of Making” experience in collaboration with an artist/educator from the Y. Nardos will demonstrate how she drapes a couture gown in minutes — as she often does at her New York Fashion Week runway shows.
All the offers and events for the public are listed on the websites of both organizations.
Matthew Bauer, president of the Madison Avenue BID, said that although the Y is not within the geographic reach of the BID, the two organizations share the same Upper East Side neighborhood, as well as many of the same clientele, and both have citywide and global impact. “Partnering with the 92nd Street Y is part of a tradition at the BID of collaborating with premier cultural institutions,” Bauer said, citing previous events spotlighting the New York Botanical Gardens, the Metropolitan Opera and other institutions.
The 92nd Street Y is a world-class center for the arts, innovation, ideas and creativity, offering a wide range of classes, concerts, movies, and talks, both live and online. According to the Y, its programming is built on “a foundation of Jewish values, including the capacity of civil dialogue to change minds; the potential of education and the arts to change lives; and a commitment to welcoming and serving people of all ages, races, religions and ethnicities.”
The Madison Avenue BID was founded in 1996 through a partnership of property owners, merchants, residents and elected officials. The BID is a not-for-profit organization focusing on supporting businesses and enhancing the area’s quality of life, including public safety and sanitation. The BID extends from East 57th to East 86th Street on Madison Avenue and also encompasses the commercial areas of adjacent side streets.








