NEW ROCHELLE, NY (August 29, 2025) — I could write a detailed account of the disastrous Jazz Under the Stars event yesterday but I am going to ask my readers to do that in the comments.
As a reminder, on August 13, I published The New Rochelle Thimblerig — Part XXXVI:
The initial no-bid contract last year was for 5 shows at $20,200 or $101,000; a sixth no-bid contract for one additional show was added later bringing the total $123,200… The total cost for 5 shows was reduced to $45,300 from $101,000. Amazing what a little sunlight can do.
So, a single show costs $9,060.
The RFP called for a Hamburg Steinway Model B-211 Piano or comparable and an Electric Piano but once again there is no grand piano at all just an electric piano.
I gathered up reader-submitted photos and City of New Rochelle photos
Here are images (so far) of what $9,000 buys at Anderson Plaza – 4 musicians playing for about 20 people or about $450 each.
Here are a few prompts.
- How many people do you see at last night’s Jazz Under the Stars
- How many of the people are the band? City officials? Police? Workers and support staff?
- Where’s Waldo? Who is notably absent?
- Add your own 🤣
