Just call Hizzoner “The Piano Man.”
Mayor Bloomberg took his one-man show on the road in DUMBO where he serenaded Monday morning commuters by rolling up his sleeves and playing “Chopsticks” on a crocheted baby grand in the Archway plaza under the Manhattan Bridge.
The astonishing performance — an elbow-tickling one at that — had Gotham’s main man teasing up a storm on the ivories to promote Sing for Hope’s Pop-Up Piano art project. The creative campaign will dot public places with pianos for free through July 2, and that’s music to the ears of area merchants who hope it will drum up business.
A symphony of vibrantly crocheted fibers, the blanketed 88 is the wow-work of Polish-American visual artist Olek, who loves needling the public’s curiosity — last Christmas she prettied up the Wall Street bull in a pink crocheted coat.
Bloomberg’s din was received with cheers and even a few claps — though the tip jar remained empty, we’re told.
“The mayor took piano lessons when he was a kid, but he’s no Mozart — just an eager participant,” quipped Bloomberg aide Andrew Brent.
Musicians are urged to document and share their time at the piano using the free DUMBO WiFi. Send a photo or video by email to [email protected], or a link to Facebook (www.facebook.com/dumbo.bid) or Twitter, (www.twitter.com/dumbobid) using the #DUMBOPiano to enter a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to an area business.
Olek’s piano will remain in the Archway under the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO (between Anchorage Place and Adams Street), through July 2, pianos.singforhope.org/pianos/brooklyn/dumbo-archway.
