As we gear up for our exciting roof party at The Delancey on Tuesday, let us take this opportunity to study an important figure in New York history, and namesake of the venue, James Delancey.
- —James Delancey, Sr. was a chief justice and later Lieutenant Governor of colonial New York, and a staunch British loyalist. The Delancey is a gorgeous downtown lounge, spread over three floors, including a rooftop garden.
- —James Delancey presideded over the trial of journalist Peter Zenger, who was tried for libel against New York’s infamously corrupt governor William Cosby. ICE will preside over the hottest party of the summer at The Delancey on Tuesday, June 28.
- —Zenger’s lawyer, Alexander Hamilton, made a passionate argument that it was the jury’s duty to oppose New York’s harsh and oppressive libel law at the time; Hamilton won a not guilty verdict, over Delancey’s objections. You won’t have to fight hard to get libations at our party, because there’ll be four open bars. We’ll also have empanadas.
- —The case set important precedents in U.S. law for the freedom of the press we enjoy today. ICE’s roof party will help support the ICElab program, which premiered this spring with three free concerts.
Thus ends your history lesson for today. Come celebrate freedom of the press (and ICElab, of course) at The Delancey with drinks, empanadas, a set from DJ Phil Moffa, a silent auction, and more on Tuesday, June 28. Tickets are going fast, so get yours now.
Take a listen to this episode of the ICEcast below for a preview of the music (and the empanadas) we’ll share on Tuesday. See you there!




ICEcast: Jason Eckardt, “Undersong”
In this episode, the ICEcast interviews Eckardt about poet Laura Mullen’s influence on Undersong, how one sets a poem without a strict structure to music, and why he continues to make music in trying times.