It’s true that Bryant Park was notoriously graffitied and urine-soaked before he and his organization made it into the beautiful public space it is today, but by ousting Fashion Week Biederman may underestimate the value the event has added to Bryant Park’s brand. The average visiting tourist probably doesn’t know that the park contains the lovely central building of the New York City Public Library, but everyone and their mother knows about Fashion Week. Either Biederman doesn’t care that Fashion Week has increased public awareness of the park, or he feels it has done its job well enough already.
Will Lincoln Center ever be able to capture the broader zeitgeist like Bryant Park has for the last 6 years? The chances look about as slim as a photoshopped Ralph Lauren model. Project Runway was once the reality show that TV snobs were still allowed to like, but since its move to Lifetime the program has lost its cachet, not to mention most of its viewers. So farewell Bryant Park, you will be missed.
