2007 Series Showcases Downtown's Oldest and Newest Architectural Marvels

The Alliance for Downtown New York today announced the schedule for its third annual Downtown Third Thursdays lecture series. The series celebrates Lower Manhattan's architectural treasures and history by presenting discussions with best-selling authors and world-renowned experts in thematically-connected settings.

For example, the series will kick off on January 18th with architect Rafael Vinoly, author of "Think New York: A Ground Zero Diary," and a finalist in the World Trade Center design competition. Mr. Vinoly's lecture will be held at 7 World Trade Center, the first tower rebuilt at the site.

"Downtown Third Thursdays invites prominent authors, architects and historians to help impart a greater understanding of Lower Manhattan's architectural and historical significance," said Valerie Lewis, Vice President of marketing at the Downtown Alliance. "This year, in addition to an exciting line-up of guests and subjects, we offer the public a rare opportunity to discover some of Downtown's oldest and newest masterpieces."

Downtown Third Thursdays' topics will range from a behind-the scenes look at one of the most intense and emotional international architectural competitions ever held to the founding of Manhattan by the Dutch to the history and significance of the New York City oyster trade to the restoration of Lower Manhattan's landmark buildings and sites to a conversation about legendary architect Cass Gilbert's design influences and styles.

The lectures, sponsored by the National Architectural Trust, will take place at: 7 World Trade Center, whose state-of-the-art security, energy and sanitation systems make it one of the most technologically advanced buildings in the world; The Marine Room at newly renovated India House, which was built in 1852 and modeled after Italian Renaissance palaces; The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian's Diker Pavillion, New York's newest art, education and performance space that is located inside the historic,Cass Gilbert-designed Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House; Federal Hall National Memorial, which just re-opened after a 16-month, $16 million restoration project; and the Cass Gilbert-designed New York County Lawyers' Association Building.

All lectures are free and begin at 7:00 PM. (Doors open at 6:00 PM)

The full schedule is as follows:

January 18, 2007
Speaker: Rafael Vinoly, Architect
Topic: Think New York: A Ground Zero Diary
Location: 7 World Trade Center, 52nd Floor

February 15, 2007 Speaker: Mark Kurlansky, Author; food historian
Topic: The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell
Location: India House, Marine Room

March 15, 2007
Speaker: Russell Shorto, Author; contributing writer, The New York Times Magazine
Topic: Greetings from New Amsterdam: How Manhattan Became the Island at the Center of the World
Location: The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Diker Pavillion

April 19, 2007
Speaker: Mary Dierickx, Architectural preservationist, author
Topic: Forgotten Splendor: Restoring Downtown's Historic Architecture
Location: Federal Hall National Memorial

May 17, 2007
Speaker: Barbara Christen, Architectural historian; Cass Gilbert scholar
Topic: Cass Gilbert and History: The Past as Present
Location: New York County Lawyers' Association

Space is limited and registration is required in advance for each lecture. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or reservations, please visit www.downtownny.com/thirdthursdays beginning January 2, 2007.