Van Cortlandt Park Alliance to host friend-raiser Sept. 15 at PT Knitwear with Christian Cooper and Lily Taylor

The Van Cortlandt Park Alliance will hold a friend-raiser at PT Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street in Manhattan, on Tuesday, Sept. 15; doors open at 6:45 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m., Executive Director Stephanie Ehrlich said on Open.

"We have the best park, I think, in the whole city, Van Cortlandt Park, which is located in the Bronx," Ehrlich said, explaining the Alliance brought the event into Manhattan "to catch some of our friends, closer to where they live" and encourage them to visit the park. Tickets are $10, with proceeds to help cover event costs.

The reading-format event will feature Christian Cooper and actress Lily Taylor discussing their books and birding. Ehrlich said organizers hope the presence of established authors and public figures will draw followers and new interest in park programs. The Alliance also described the PT Knitwear space as a combined bookstore, podcast studio and coffee shop aimed at providing an intimate setting for the conversation.

Ehrlich invited listeners to visit vancortland.org for more information about the event and broader Alliance programming. The host, Dr. Bob Lee, noted the event falls near the African American Day Parade and suggested it could attract parade attendees.

No year was specified on air for the dates mentioned in the interview.