October 16 23, 2014

CONCEPT OVERVIEW & EVENT INFORMATION

As Seen in the NY Daily News, AM new York, and the Atlantic
INTRODUCTION
The annual Marco Polo Festival sponsored by Two
Bridges Neighborhood Council symbolically
celebrates the special relationship between the
Chinese & Italian-American communities of
Manhattans Chinatown & Little Italy. The festival
invokes the story of the Silk Road, where the
ancient markets of Europe and Asia met, marking a
new beginning of world commerce and cultural
exchange.
In 2009, Two Bridges sponsored the designation of
the Chinatown & Little Italy Historic District, New
York Citys only National Register Historic District
that recognizes two unique cultural communities.
This single district, encompassing the historic cores
of both Little Italy and Chinatown, acknowledges
the long and ongoing relationship of these two
vibrant and dynamic immigrant neighborhoods.
Now its sixth year, the multi-day Marco Polo
Festival serves as the preeminent New York City
occasion to celebrate the rich heritage of Asian
& Italian history and culture.
Lion Dancers & the Red Mike Festival Band
at the Hester Street Stage.
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014 | PG 1
The audience at the Hester Street Stage
THE CHINATOWN & LITTLE
ITALY HISTORIC DISTRICT
The Chinese and Italian communities have co-
existed and overlapped for nearly a century and a
half within the historic boundaries of Mott and
Mulberry Streets, and the intersecting cross streets.
To illuminate the common heritage and shared
future of two of New York Citys most iconic
immigrant communities, Two Bridges
Neighborhood Council spearheaded the successful
nomination of the Chinatown & Little Italy
Historic District to the National Register of
Historic Places in 2009.
In recognition of its contributions to the
understanding of local history, Two Bridges
received the New York State Historic Preservation
Award for Outstanding National Register
Nomination, and the Historic District Council of
New York Citys Grassroots Preservation Award in
2010.
Marco Polo Day 2010
Mulberry Street ca. 1900
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MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014| PG 2
2014 FESTIVITIES
Each year, the Marco Polo Festival interprets the
story of the encounter between the famed Venetian
merchant-traveler, Marco Polo (1254-1324), and
the innovative Mongolian ruler Kublai Khan (1215-
1294), as a parallel of the historic encounter and
lived experiences of the Chinese & Italian
immigrants on Mott and Mulberry Streets during
Americas most important period of immigrant
history.
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 2014
Thursday, October 16
th
Silk Road Ambassador Awards
Gala Dinner
Saturday, October 18
th
Marco Polo Festival Pageant
& Hester Street Stage
Cultural Performances
Thursday, October 23
rd
Marco Polo Festival
History Colloquium
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014| PG 3
The Red Mike Festival Band takes a bow on the Hester Street Stage.
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014 | PG 4
THE SILK ROAD
AMBASSADOR AWARDS
GALA DINNER
OCTOBER 16, 2014
6:30PM 9:00PM
Golden Unicorn
18 East Broadway
New York, NY 10002
Tickets Required.
On Thursday, October 16, 2014, Two Bridges will host
the annual SILK ROAD AMBASSADOR AWARDS
GALA DINNER. Each year, nearly 200 guests enjoy an
evening of cultural performances, food, displays and
entertainment.
Gala Dinner
2009 - 2013
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014 | PG 5
THE SILK ROAD
AMBASSADOR AWARDS
GALA DINNER
cont.
Gala Attendees with 2010 Marco Polo Ambassador
Award Recipients Justin Yu and Annette Criscitelli.
The evenings festivities also include the bestowing of the
MARCO POLO AMBASSADOR AWARDS, where
exceptional local leaders are honored in recognition of
their outstanding contributions towards and promotion of
harmony, goodwill, and cooperation to the two
communities of Chinatown and Little Italy.
Past honorees include Justin Yu, Chinese Consolidated
Benevolent Association; Annette Criscitelli, Da Nico
Restaurant; Peter Lau; Mannings Pharmacy Corporation;
Nicholas Caiazzo Wilson, Elsner, Moskowitz, Edelman &
Dicker, LLP; Lou Di Palo, Di Palos Fine Foods; and the
New York Chinese Opera Society.
Marco Polo committee members honor 2012 Marco Polo Ambassadors:
Rosa Casiello, Principal, PS 42; and Jack Eng, Special Advisor, CCBA
2014 CHINATOWN & LITTLE ITALY
SILK ROAD AMBASSADORS
Ho Kew Lee
President
Chinese Chamber of Commerce
of New York
Rev. Raymond Nobiletti, M.M.
Pastor
Transfiguration Church
Rosa Riccio Pietanza
Master Teacher of
Teaching and Learning
NYU Steinhardt
John Kuo Wei Tchen
A/P/A Institute NYU
New York University
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL
HISTORY COLLOQUIUM
October 23, 2014
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Museum of Chinese in America
215 Centre Street New York, NY
Open to the Public. RSVP required.
2014 History Colloquium Panelists:
Ernset Lepore, Owner
Ferrara Bakery & Cafe
Christina Seid, Owner
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014 | PG 6
Last years second annual MARCO POLO FESTIVAL
HISTORY COLLOQUIUM, co-sponsored by the
Museum of Chinese in America, ended the festival
celebrations. Over 150 guests came out to hear a dialogue
between Lou Di Palo of Di Palos Fine Foods and Jason
Wang of Xian Famous Foods. Moderator Erika Lesser
(former Executive Director of Slow Food USA) led both
speakers in an in depth discussion about the lessons
learned from running a family business in the historic
district.
MARCO POLO
FESTIVAL PAGEANT
& HESTER STREET STAGE
CULTURAL
PERFORMANCES
OCTOBER 18, 2014
11:00AM 3:00PM
Procession begins at
62 Mott Street, New York, NY
Performances take place on the
Hester Street Stage between
Mott & Mulberry Streets
Free & Open to the Public.
Marco Polo Day Pageant, October 2013
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014 | PG 7
PART I:
THE MARCO POLO
FESTIVAL PAGEANT
The Marco Polo street festivities begin with
a breathtaking pageant through the streets
of Chinatown & Little Italy.
In 2010, Two Bridges commissioned the
official puppeteers of the NYC Village
Halloween Parade, Processional Arts
Workshop (PAW), to create the visual
elements that now serve as the centerpiece
of the Marco Polo Festival Pageant.
Large-scale marionettes of Marco Polo
and Kublai Khan, and a monumental
hand-painted 50 long, silk banner
depicting the Silk Road, are paraded
through the streets by local youth,
accompanied by cultural musicians and
others.
In the summer of 2012, PAW worked with
children from our Lower East Side
neighborhood to design and fabricate new
visual elements for the 2012 parade.
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014| PG 8
PART II:
HESTER STREET STAGE
CULTURAL
PERFORMANCES
Upon the arrival of the pageant
procession at the Hester Street Stage, a
unique mixture of music and cultural
performances commences.
Programming includes traditional
Chinese & Italian Opera, folk dances,
contemporary Chinese & Italian
instrumental performances, acrobatics
and more!
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014 | PG 9
ALFIO
Joy S. Chen New York Chinese Cultural Center
PAST PERFORMERS INCLUDE:
Allison Scola (Tarantella)
ALFIO (Italian-American: Pop & Opera)
Joy S. Chen (Sword Display/Martial Arts)
Chinese Freemasons (Lion Dance)
Corin Lee (Violin)
New York Chinese Cultural Center (Dance)
New York Chinese Opera Society (Chinese
Opera)
Red Mike Festival Band (Italian Folk /
Processional)
Tre Bella (Italian-American: Pop)
Ming Ming Wang (Chinese Classical
Guitar)
PART II:
HESTER STREET STAGE
CULTURAL
PERFORMANCES
cont.
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014 | PG 10
Onlookers enjoy the entertainment and festivities on Hester Street.
PROJECT TEAM
Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, Inc., a
501(c)3 nonprofit, has been dedicated to serving the
many neighborhoods of Manhattan's Lower East
Side since 1955. We create equitable housing,
celebrate cultural diversity through neighborhood-
based programs, and work together with local
residents, businesses, entrepreneurs, and leaders to
stimulate and maintain economic vitality.
Two Bridges spearheaded the successful
nomination of the Chinatown & Little Italy
Historic District to the National Register of
Historic Places in 2010, and has produced the
annual Marco Polo Festivities since 2009.
The Marco Polo Committee represents a broad
spectrum of local leadership with a demonstrated
commitment to the social and economic
development of Chinatown & Little Italy.
2014 MARCO POLO FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
Chairs
Rosa Casiello & Justin Yu
Members
Emelise Aleandri
Nicholas Caiazzo
Wellington Chen
Chi Chu
Annette Criscitelli
Lou DiPalo
Jack Eng
Sherman Eng
Alyssa Giorgio
John Fratta
Robert Ianniello
Peter Lau
David Louie
Helen Ng
Paul Ng
Victor Papa
James Wong
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014 | PG11
SPONSORSHIP &
EXPOSURE VALUE
This years Marco Polo Festival is
estimated to attract hundreds of residents,
visitors, and leaders to the Chinatown &
Little Italy Historic District. Below are
some of the ways major donors will
receive credit and thanks for their support:
Tickets and prime seating at all Marco
Polo Festival Events
Premiere branding on event collateral,
including website, posters, and banners
Acknowledgment of partnership and
support in print and social media releases
and ads
Exclusive volunteer opportunities for
corporate employees & their families
The project team is currently in
discussions with several major city and
national print publications regarding
coverage of the event to increase general
exposure.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities,
please contact:
Elisa Espiritu
Director of Development
Two Bridges Neighborhood Council
elisa@twobridges.org
(212) 566-2729
Two Bridges Neighborhood Council is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
MARCO POLO FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2014 | PG 12