Saturday in the Park 2001 Name Badge was an ode to Chrysler's VIP Badge handed out at the Fair.

Do your friends and family give you a weary look when you tell them you still have a "thing" for the 1964 World's Fair? Take heart! You're not alone.

On June 2, 2001, some sixty people gathered at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and at the near-by Eden Park Hotel to celebrate and remember the Fair.

They came from as far away as California, Arizona, Georgia and Illinois and as near as Flushing and Astoria. Although most had never met, many had became acquainted through the PeaceThroughUnderstanding Forum/Bulletin Board where they'd shared their interest in the Fair on-line. It was a day of fun, friendship ... and rain! But the weather never dampened the enthusiasm and camaraderie.

After a wonderful surprise breakfast of Belgian Waffles served up by Gary Holmes and a morning Park Walk and tour lead by Fair historian Pierre Montiel, the group gathered for lunch and an afternoon of presentations at the Eden Park Hotel.

There they previewed excerpts from the incredible documentary film on the Fair being created by Curtis Cates and Terri Marlowe of BBQ Productions, listened to Fair reminiscences, including one from World's Fair Collector's Society founder and former Deputy Director of States Exhibits for the Fair, Mike Pender, and saw plans unveiled to renovate the New York State Pavilion into an Air & Space Museum courtesy of Dr. Charles Aybar and Frankie Campione. The afternoon was filled with additional Fair related presentations by attendees that had everyone sharing a nostalgic laugh and a tear.

"Nano" -- as in "billionth" -- meaning small or tiny is how the second annual gathering in the Park was billed. Although the attendance figures were smaller the enthusiasm was just as big on June 1, 2002 when people gathered again at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to explore the grounds as a group. Fair Guidebooks and Maps in hand, they remembered pavilions and exhibits and happy family times from decades ago. This lucky group even managed to get themselves invited up to the rooftop of the old Heliport Building to have a fine view of the Fairgrounds (oops! Park).

If you are interested in touring the Park with a group, watch the PeaceThroughUnderstanding Forum/Bulletin Board for notice of when the next walk will take place. Walking tours with a group of like-minded Fair Fans are organized and advertised through the Forum under the "Come to the Fair" category (you do not have to register at the Forum to view posts or to join a walk). The walk has been held the first Saturday in June for the last two years since it coincides with the annual World's Fair Collectibles Show and Sale in Bayside, Queens the following day.

If you join a Park walk you'll be promised a fun-filled day exploration and new friendships as you rediscover the Fair.

nano-SIP began with a gathering at the site of the Astral Fountain's Court of the Stars.

Webmaster's note ... Many thanks to those who contributed photographs and materials for this Feature. I often get offers of pictures of the Park today from visitors to this website, but space does not permit me to print them all for you. As wonderful as photos are, to get a real feel for the Park today, I invite you to make a visit or to join one of the Park walks! It is justified in being called one of New York's Flagship Parks.

Bill Young - June, 2002