Skating along
MICHAEL LAMPARIELLO • Domino Park
WORK • Tuesday Routine
MICHAEL LAMPARIELLO • director • Domino Park
Neighborhood you work & live in: South Williamsburg
It’s Tuesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I was hired by Two Trees to be the steward of Domino Park in early 2018, six months before it opened to the public. For the first few years of the park’s existence, two colleagues and I worked out of a bare bones construction trailer adjacent to the park. Every day, we’d come to the park and brainstorm ways to make it one of the best places in New York City. Domino Park’s Social Distancing Circles during COVID were an example of that, and replicated around the world.
Now, as the park has expanded and the project is more advanced, our purview has grown. We work out of an office in the basement of The Refinery. (We jokingly refer to it as our bunker.) We have all the facilities we need to manage the public realm at Domino (or survive a natural disaster) — an office, staff break room, locker rooms, warehouse, and green room for events. You can walk underground across two city blocks. The public doesn’t realize it exists!
Our team at Domino Park has grown, too. Including the park and ice rink staff, I manage a team of about 35 who are all well-versed in the emerging profession of “public space management” — public programs and placemaking, park operations, and horticulture.
What’s on the agenda for today?
A typical weekday starts at 830a with a coffee at Birdee or Jane Motorcycles, a walk around the park, and a hello to all the field staff. I like that our work is all IRL — no work from home here— our job is to make Domino Park the best it can possibly be for the public.
Currently, I have a couple important items on the agenda:
We recently opened our ice rink in Domino Square for the second season. We operate it ourselves, including building the rink, hiring the staff, making the ice, and running the Zamboni. We’re still tweaking the details — it’s a fun challenge.
We’re starting to brainstorm public programs and events for next year. We had some incredible events at the Park in 2025 — Sugar, Sugar! (our performing arts series), a pop-up Ed Sheeran concert, movie nights, and our Salsa series. Plus, I’m working on a fun late-winter project with Robert Hammond, my former boss at the High Line.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’ve been working to bring Danny Meyer’s approach to hospitality to Domino Park. As a result, we’ve been eating through his restaurants. The bar at Gramercy Tavern is our favorite.
Also, Williamsburg is the pizza nexus of the universe, and I’m a fan of Fini, L’Industrie, Stretch, Roberta’s, and Best Pizza. Our “chill” Friday night spot is Fornino in Greenpoint for pizza and a beer.
How about a little leisure or culture this week?
My wife Dana is an entertainment editor at a magazine, and I’m fortunate that she gets invited to great cultural events. We recently went to the premiere of Jay Kelly at The New York Film Festival and I’m hoping to see Tom Hanks at the Shed. Our favorite night in New York is going to the dress rehearsal of SNL.
What was your last great vacation?
We recently went on a great trip to Blackberry Farm in Tennessee and we’re plotting a 40th birthday trip back to the Fasano Rio de Janeiro and UXUA in Brazil.
What NYC store or service do you love to recommend?
Dandy Wines, our local wine store, has great wine and an even better team. We show up at the tasting every Friday night. Pop’s Popular Clothing is a store that I hope will exist for another 50 years.
Where are you donating your time or money?
The North Brooklyn Parks Alliance does amazing work to improve the quality of the public realm in North Brooklyn. We always support them when we can. Each year, we host a charity bocce tournament for St. Nicks Alliance and the Swinging Sixties Senior Center. Local businesses come together to support the center and play bocce. It’s one of my favorite days in the park.