Small Scale: An evening of Japanese tapas, sake, and the art of bonsai

Friday, February 11 | 6:30–11 p.m. | BBG Palm House

Release Date: January 25, 2010

Brooklyn, NY—To celebrate the opening of Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s (BBG) spring bonsai exhibition—Graceful Perseverance—the Garden presents Small Scale, an evening dedicated to the high arts of Japanese gastronomy and horticulture.

Guests will be welcomed into BBG’s elegant Palm House for starters and fine sake offered by premium importer Kuramoto US, followed by a meal of vegetarian small plates by Phillip Gilmour’s Momo Sushi Shack, dubbed “the most exciting restaurant to open in New York City in recent months” by London’s Financial Times. Each of the four plates will be paired expertly by Hiromi Iuchi, vice president of Kuramoto US, and will include Chiyomusubi, Kaori, and Suijin sakes.

During the meal, Julian Velasco, curator of BBG’s C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum, will give a short talk on the art of bonsai, and celebrated choreographer Momo Suzuki will present a mini program with the Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York. Guests will dance the rest of the night away to DJ Saiko Mikan spinning ’60s-era Japanese pop and Shibuya-kei. An open sake bar and more nibbles from Momo Sushi Shack will be available to all.

Tickets are required upon entry and are on sale for $75 at bbg.org/smallscale.

Founded in 1910, Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is an independent nonprofit institution committed to education, research, and the display of horticulture. Situated on 52 acres in the heart of Brooklyn, the Garden is home to over 12,000 kinds of plants and hosts more than 725,000 visitors annually. Learn more at bbg.org. Brooklyn Botanic Garden is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Garden is closed on Mondays except public holidays. The Garden is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for senior citizens (65 and older) and students with ID. Children under 12, all school groups, and Garden members are admitted free at all times. From November 9 to March 11, the Garden is free to the public on weekdays and until noon on Saturdays. For directions, please visit bbg.org/visit/directions. Learn what’s happening at Brooklyn Botanic Garden at bbg.org/visit/calendar, read the Garden’s blog at bbg.org/news, and see photos of current highlights at bbg.org/bloom.