A long time ago we wrote a little story about a big landscape architect named Michael Van Valkenburgh. This Friday, he's giving a talk about the new masterplan for the eighty-five acre Brooklyn Bridge Park. While this probably sounds as exciting as something you totally wouldn't want to do on a Friday, we have the rare privilege of being able to vouch for his being, at the very least, articulately interesting. No skin off your nose.

Urban center, 457 Madison at 51st, reservations at 212 980 3767 or info@archleague.org.