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DOWNTOWN
POST NYC 
 
News and Events
in Lower Manhattan
 
 
Volume 2, No. 76  Nov. 25, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE

Quote of the day: 
"I am so stressed out right now that I can't even write normally. I don't feel like I can be myself right now! I need to leave!"
     - A juror at Sheldon Silver's corruption trial asking to be excused from the case after two hours of deliberations. The judge declined.

NEW: Each article in Downtown Post NYC now has a link. Clicking on a link will take you directly to that article without having to scroll through the whole document.
        
* Downtown Alliance report describes Lower Manhattan as a mighty financial powerhouse
* Downtown Post Food News: Thanksgiving dinner in Battery Park City  
* Calendar: Weeks of Nov. 23 and Nov. 30
 
WEATHER INFORMATION: For current weather information, click here.

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MASTHEAD PHOTO: Zelda, the beloved wild turkey who lived in Battery Park for many years. She died in September 2014 after being hit by a car. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) 





NewNEW DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE REPORT DESCRIBES LOWER MANHATTAN
AS A MIGHTY FINANCIAL POWERHOUSE, ON AN UPWARD SWING 
The Alliance for Downtown New York reports a dramatic surge in growth for Lower Manhattan, with more of the same ahead. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Attention! Gov. Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio and anyone else in government who has something to say about where sea level rise and climate protection dollars should be spent. You should be very, very nice to Lower Manhattan. That's the obvious conclusion to be drawn from a report entitled "Surging Ahead: Lower Manhattan's Economic Revival and What It Means for New York," just released by the Alliance for Downtown New York.

According to the report, by the end of 2014, there were more than 227,000 people employed in the private sector in Lower Manhattan - the most since the 4th quarter of 2001. And while Lower Manhattan's one square mile is just 0.3 percent of the city's land area, Lower Manhattan generated 9.2 percent of the city's GDP, 6.4 percent of its private-sector jobs and 2.4 percent of city tax revenues in 2014.

Although impressive, according to the report, this is just the beginning.

"Looking forward over the next five years, we're going to surge even further ahead," said Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin. "As our economy grows, it will benefit the entire city, each and every borough, each and every neighborhood, people from all walks of life and all educational backgrounds."

The Alliance predicts that an estimated 40,000 new private-sector jobs will be created between 2015 and 2019 in Lower Manhattan, with two thirds of those jobs being net new to New York City. Although jobs in the financial sector are diminishing, they are growing in professional services, health care, education, information, technology and media.

At 2.4 percent, Lower Manhattan's overall annual growth will far outpace the city's rate of 1.3 percent, says the Alliance. This growth will also mean a significant increase in city and state tax revenues. Based on estimates, Lower Manhattan's contribution to city tax revenues will increase by nearly $858 million, a 35 percent increase. Its contribution to state tax revenues will increase by $810 million, a 34 percent increase.

Because of Lower Manhattan's robust public transportation system, enhanced by the opening of the Fulton Transit Center, Lower Manhattan is readily accessible. This is fortunate because many of the people who work in Lower Manhattan would not be able to afford to live south of Chambers Street. According to another recent Downtown Alliance report - "Lower Manhattan Real Estate Year in Review for 2014" - Lower Manhattan's median residential rent is $3,669 and the median apartment sale price is $1.14 million. "Affordable" housing is almost non-existent.
 
A breakdown in the "Surging Ahead" report of the estimated jobs to be added in the next five years paired with the NYC median annual wage for each shows that the job categories with the most added jobs - with more than a thousand people in each category - are general and operations managers earning a median wage of $163,418 annually; accountants and auditors earning $91,610; customer service representatives making $41,247 a year; waiters and waitresses earning $25,071; retail sales persons earning $24,359; and cashiers making $20,559 a year.

The largest paychecks will go to sales managers ($202,663 annually); financial managers ($198,646); marketing managers ($186,716) and lawyers ($175,522).

The Alliance states that the job growth will benefit New Yorkers with varying education and skill levels. More than 60 percent of jobs added in Lower Manhattan will be in occupations that do not require a four-year degree. Furthermore, says the Alliance, with a host of education, job training and small business resources, Lower Manhattan has extended opportunities and networks for workforce development.

The Alliance's report was compiled with research and data provided by Appleseed Inc., a New York City-based economic consulting firm that provides economic impact analysis studies, economic development planning, social research and analysis, and strategic planning and program development services to government, non-profit and corporate clients.

The full report can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here.

- Terese Loeb Kreuzer

 



Downtown Post Food News
FoodTHANKSGIVING DINNER IN BATTERY PARK CITY

Turkey at Malaysian Kitchen. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Beaubourg, the French restaurant in Le District, is serving a four-course Thanksgiving menu that starts with celery chestnut soup or an endive, watercress, apple salad. The next course is sweet potato gnocci, followed by roasted wild turkey breast or saddle of venison. For dessert, Beaubourg is offering pumpkin pie or profiteroles. Cost: $60 per person or $85 with wine pairing. Address: 225 Liberty St. Hours: Noon to 8 p.m. Phone: (212) 981-8588. For more information, click here.

L'Appart, the Chef's Table at Le District, will be serving a five-course tasting menu by Chef Nicolas Abello. It starts with canapes followed by an amuse bouche of smoked salmon and fingerling potatoes. Then comes the fish course of halibut with leeks, the meat course of roasted stuffed turkey and wild mushrooms, a pre-dessert course of apples, honey and Calvados and a dessert of pumpkin, pecans and cinnamon. Cost: $125 per person (includes coffee). $200 with wine pairings. Reservations only. Phone: (212) 981-8588.

Turkey to go: Le District's Chef Jason Hice will do the cooking. He will prepare spiced roasted Hubbard squash soup, a choice of terrines and salads, turkey with cranberry sauce and sage stuffing, and a choice of pumpkin pie or apple pie for dessert - enough for six to eight people. Cost: $360. Pre-order by emailing [email protected]. Pick up on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26 at Le District.

SouthwestNY: A three-course Thanksgiving menu starts with corn bisque followed by turkey with chestnut and cranberry sage stuffing, mashed potatoes and green beans and pecan pie with cinnamon ice cream for dessert. Cost: $30; $15 (children) plus tax and gratuities. Address: 301 South End Ave. Phone: (212) 945-0528. For more information, click here.

Merchants River House: Start your Thanksgiving dinner with roasted butternut squash soup or grilled jumbo shrimp. The main course is either turkey or seafood pumpkin risotto, with pumpkin pie � la mode for dessert. Address: 375 South End Ave. (on the esplanade). Phone: (212) 432-1451. Call for prices and hours or to make a reservation.

Pier A: In Pier A's upstairs dining room, celebrate Thanksgiving by starting with a choice of appetizers (roasted beets, wild mushroom velout�, oysters or duck confit) followed by pumpkin-ricotta gnocchi. A choice of entr�es includes turkey, grilled salmon, braised beef short rib or roasted venison. Finish the meal at the dessert buffet. Cost: $68; $34 (children 12 and younger). Address: 22 Battery Place. Hours: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Phone: (212) 785-0153. For more information, click here.
  



Bits & Bytes
EhrmannEHRMANN SCORES BIG CONDO SALE; ZUCCOTTI DIES; LEFRAK TURNS 70 WITH CELEBRITY-STUDDED BASH IN THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT 
Richard LeFrak at the opening of the Westin Hotel in Newport, N.J. in February 2009. LeFrak just celebrated his 70th birthday with a celebrity-studded party in the Financial District. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

"Top residential agents of the week," The Real Deal, 11/20/15. The Real Deal noted that Bruce Ehrmann, who is vice chairman of Community Board 1's Landmarks Committee, was one of three listing brokers to make the largest condo sale of the week - an apartment at 401 Washington St. in Tribeca, which sold for $20,365,000. For photos, click here.

"John E. Zuccotti, Urbanist and Financier, Dies at 78," New York Times, 11/20/15. "John E. Zuccotti, a street-smart urbanist who was an unsung hero of New York City's fiscal crisis in the 1970s, died on Thursday in Brooklyn. He was 78," The New York Times reports. "The cause was complications from a heart attack, his wife, Susan, said. Mr. Zuccotti was perhaps best known in recent years for the half-acre park in Lower Manhattan that was named after him, where Occupy Wall Street protesters encamped in 2011. His colleagues at Brookfield Asset Management, a $200 billion real estate investment firm, where he was chairman of global operations, had dedicated the park in his name five years earlier. As a public servant - chairman of the City Planning Commission and first deputy mayor - Mr. Zuccotti played a firm if self-effacing role in the emergency efforts to spare the city from bankruptcy and preserve the democratic process that had elected his vulnerable boss, Abraham D. Beame, as mayor." For the complete article, click here.

"Richard LeFrak celebrates 70th birthday with 'Miami Vice' theme," New York Post, 11/22/15. "Billionaire Richard LeFrak had a surprise 70th birthday dinner for 400 friends and family at 23 Broad St., near the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday night," says the New York Post. And hundreds more arrived to an after-party following the mammoth seated dinner. The party had a 'Miami Vice' theme, and guests included Woody Allen, Robert Kraft, Richard and Lisa Perry, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Averell and Gigi Mortimer, and Topper Mortimer and Tabitha Simmons. Pitbull and Flo Rida performed, and we hear that the birthday boy and his wife, Karen, jumped onstage." LeFrak is chairman and CEO of LeFrak, a privately held, family-run company based in New York that owns, develops, and manages real estate including Gateway Plaza, the largest residential complex in Battery Park City. For the complete article, click here.



Bits & Bytes
SheldonCLOSING ARGUEMENTS CONCLUDED, SHELDON SILVER'S TRIAL
GOES TO THE JURY IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT   
 Steven Molo, one of the lawyers defending Sheldon Silver, gives a closing statement describing the prosecutor's case as " A theory in search of a case."
(� Elizabeth Williams)

"Two Hours Into Deliberations, a Juror in the Sheldon Silver Trial Wants Out," New York Times, 11/24/15. "Not long after jurors convened on Tuesday to decide whether Assemblyman Sheldon Silver, once one of the most powerful politicians in New York State, was guilty of fraud, there were already unmistakable signs that their deliberations had taken a contentious turn," The New York Times reports. Less than two hours after deliberations had started, one of the jurors sent the judge, Valerie E. Caproni, a note that said, "I am wondering if there is anyway I can be excused from this case, because I have a different opinion/view so far in this case and it is making me feel very, very uncomfortable." The note went on to say, "I'm feeling pressured, stressed out ... told that I'm not using my common sense, my heart is pounding and my head feels weird. I am so stressed out right now that I can't even write normally. I don't feel like I can be myself right now! I need to leave!" The judge's response, according to The Times was that it seemed "too early for a juror to throw in the towel." For the complete article, click here.

"Everything you need to know about the Shelly Silver case,"
The Real Deal, 11/23/15. "Prosecutors made their closing arguments Monday in the public corruption case against Sheldon Silver, the former state Assembly speaker with extremely close ties to the real estate industry," says The Real Deal. "U.S. District Attorney Preet Bharara's office claims the veteran lawmaker sold out to real estate interests in exchange for kickbacks from a real estate tax law firm. Silver's defense team, while never denying the payments, argued they amounted to nothing more than referral fees, which members of the part-time Legislature are legally allowed to accept. The prosecution called several key witnesses, among them developer Steve Witkoff and executives from Leonard Litwin's Glenwood Management. Glenwood's Richard Runes testified that - for a time - the payments to Silver were kept secret from them, and when they were discovered the company feared retribution should executives cut ties with the lawmaker." For the complete article, click here.

"Silver Defense Says US Failed to Prove Bribery, Kickbacks," New York Law Journal, 11/24/15. "The lawyer for Sheldon Silver tore into the government's case Monday, saying prosecutors were criminalizing politics while trying to win the former Assembly speaker's conviction for using his office to win millions in legal fees on cases he referred to two law firms," says the New York Law Journal. Steven Molo told the jury in Southern District Judge Valerie Caproni's courtroom that the evidence over the last three weeks, including the testimony of key witnesses, failed to show any kind of scheme involving bribery, kickbacks, or extortion. It's looking through 'dirty windows,' he said of the government's view of Silver's work in Albany. 'It's a particular point of view, a theory in search of a case.'" For the complete article, click here.

"The Many Faces of Sheldon Silver," Observer.com, 11/19/15. "From the minute Sheldon Silver walked into Manhattan federal court, where he is being tried for alleged corruption, he appeared nervous, out of place," said courtroom artist Liz Williams - a Lower Manhattan resident who has been documenting Silver's trial. "He fidgeted and moved constantly. As a courtroom artist, this proved a challenge. Fortunately, he calmed a bit as the trial went on, but his face and expressions still changed frequently." For the article with Williams' drawings of Silver, click here.



HomelessHOMELESS IN NEW YORK CITY

The IRT subway station at Chambers Street. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

It is allegedly difficult to get an exact count of the number of homeless people in New York City. The city says there are 59,000 homeless people in New York right now, but the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) came up with a different number when it conducted a count during the last 10 days of January.

According to HUD, New York with a population of around eight million people, has a homeless population of 75,323 - around 14 percent of all the homeless people in the United States.

New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton recently told a CBS News reporter, "One of the quickest ways to get rid of them is not to give to them...My best advice to the citizens of New York City: if this is so upsetting to you, don't give.'

In response, Dr. Craig Mayes, CEO of the New York City Rescue Mission at 90 Lafayette St. in Lower Manhattan - the oldest and longest standing shelter in the United States - wondered "if Mr. Bratton has ever had a single conversation with one of our citizens who is homeless? Has he ever learned a name, and listened to his or her story? Has he ever embraced the truth that no one grows up hoping and wishing that someday they will live in poverty and homelessness?"

Homelessness has many causes, among them skyrocketing rents, stagnant wages, evictions and a lack of affordable housing. Mental illness and addictions also play a role. But some of New York's homeless are simply innocent accessories to adult problems. Almost half of the people in New York City's shelters are children.

Mayes advises people who are upset by these statistics to get involved in the solution. "Donate money to shelters," he says. "Volunteer your time." He says that there are local resources and shelters to help the homeless.

But however much is available, it is clearly not enough. Even without government head counts, many New Yorkers have observed that there are more homeless people on the city's streets than they can remember seeing before. Bratton has said that the numbers have "exploded" in recent years.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has proposed spending $2.6 billion to create 15,000 new affordable-living housing units with resource programs such as job placement and mental health services for people who are currently homeless. But such a program would take a long time to implement.

And meanwhile winter is coming.

- Terese Loeb Kreuzer




Downtown bulletin board
AuditionsAUDITIONS FOR DOWNTOWN VOICES; FREE ICE SKATING AT BROOKFIELD PLACE; AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN COMMUNITY DISTRICT 1
 A 19th-century painting on display at Gracie Mansion shows New York harbor with Castle Clinton and ships under sail. Tours of Gracie Mansion are available in December and January. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Stockings With Care:  Stockings with Care (SWC) was created 24 years ago by casting director (and Battery Park City resident) Rosalie Joseph and producer Tom Fontana to grant the gift wishes of children at the holiday time while preserving the dignity of parents and caregivers. The children make their wish lists, and social workers provide SWC with the name, gender and age of each child along with their wishes. Individual donors (aka "Santas"), corporations and an army of volunteers come together to purchase and wrap the gifts. They are then delivered anonymously to the parents before the holidays, ensuring dignity and creating holiday magic. Last year over 1,000 children woke up to a miracle on Christmas morning. Since its inception in 1992, over 40,000 children have benefited from Stockings with Care.

This year's Holiday Drive will take place the weekend of Dec. 10 to Dec. 13.

For more information about Stockings with Care or to sign up to be a "Santa," go to  www.stockingswithcare.org, Be A Santa or Donate. For additional information, email [email protected] or call (917) 991-5975.

Downtown Basketball League: Now is the time to become a sponsor for this year's Downtown Basketball League. Help support Manhattan Youth's league and clinics and join its growing list of community and basketball sponsors. See your business's name on the players' T-shirts and in ads, and make a lot of children happy. For more information about the Downtown Basketball League, click here. For more information about sponsorship, click here.

Open auditions for Downtown Voices: Are you interested in singing alongside members of the Grammy�-nominated Choir of Trinity Wall Street? Trinity is looking for experienced volunteer singers to join Downtown Voices, a newly formed choir bringing together the finest professional and non-professional singers in the New York metro area. The choir rehearses once a week and is directed by Stephen Sands. Spring performances include works by Beethoven, Alberto Ginastera, and James MacMillan. Audition date: Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016. Place: Trinity Church choir room (Broadway at Wall Street). Time: Slots open starting at 11 a.m. For more information including audition requirements, click here.

Battery Park City open community meeting: The Battery Park City Authority is hosting a community meeting on Dec. 16 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 6 River Terrace. Future meetings will take place on April 13, 2016; July 20 and Nov. 16.

Community Board applications open: The Manhattan Borough President's office is currently accepting applications for Community Board membership. Community Boards represent their neighborhoods on crucial issues including real estate development and land use, historic preservation and even liquor licenses. There are 12 Community Boards in Manhattan and 59 citywide.

"Right now Manhattan's Community Boards are in the center of a debate over the most ambitious rezoning proposals in a generation," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. "Community Boards may be New York City's most grassroots level of government, but they are deeply involved in some of our city's biggest policy questions. If you want to make a difference on anything from investment in our parks and public spaces, to determining the future of our city's skyline and streetscape, Community Boards are the place to start."

Community Board members are appointed to staggered two-year terms by the Manhattan Borough President, with half selected solely by the Borough President and half nominated by the City Council members representing each Community Board district. Since taking office, Brewer has enhanced the selection process by introducing online applications and a robust review process that includes group interviews with discussion and problem-solving components.

Community Board selections for 2016 will be announced in late March.

Although each Community Board has a small, paid administrative staff, Community Board members are volunteers.

If you would like to join your Community Board, fill out the online application by Jan. 29, 2016 at 5 p.m. After submission, you will be contacted regarding the next steps in the screening and interview process. For more information about Manhattan's 12 Community Boards, go to Manhattan Borough President Brewer's website or email Paola Liriano.

For the online application, click here.
For Manhattan Borough President Brewer's website, click here

SeaGlass Carousel reopens: SeaGlass Carousel in The Battery reopened on Nov. 21 after having been closed for repairs. The carousel is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. "Crowds are still coming, but wait time is typically minimal," according to a spokesperson for the Battery Conservancy. "The line is rarely longer than 15 minutes." For more information, click here.

School crossing guards needed: School Crossing Guards help children safely cross busy intersections on their way to and from school. They control traffic flow around schools in the morning, at lunch time and at the end of the school day. The New York City Police Department is accepting applications for these positions. There are no formal education or experience requirements for this job, but all candidates must be able to understand and be understood in English. Prospective candidates must pass a qualifying medical examination, which includes drug screening and a character/background investigation, prior to appointment. They must also complete six (6) days of training at the Police Academy once appointed. The pay is $11.50 an hour to start, and $13.49 an hour after three years. Compensation includes health insurance. For more information, click here.

Light Up The Night Hanukkah Gala: Young Friends of the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park City are holding their annual Hanukkah gala on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. Held in the Museum's Events Hall at 36 Battery Place, the evening will include dancing, a premium open bar, a dinner buffet featuring sushi and latkes, and a high-end silent auction. Auction items include hotel stays, boutique fitness classes, fine dining, and more. Advance tickets are $108 for members and $126 for non-members. As a special holiday offer, Young Friends Membership and a Hanukkah event ticket may be purchased together for $146 (a 33% savings). Additional sponsorship levels are available. All proceeds benefit the Museum. The mission of the Young Friends is to promote awareness of the Museum throughout the Metropolitan area young professional community (ages 21-39) through social, educational, and philanthropic programming; celebrate Jewish heritage; preserve Holocaust memory; and shape the next generation of Museum leadership.
 
For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, and to buy tickets, call (646) 437-4252, email [email protected], or click here.                                                    

Emerging Poets Fellowship at Poets House:
The Emerging Poets Fellowship is an annual opportunity for poets to receive guidance and instruction from a distinguished and diverse faculty and enter the next stage of their professional and artistic practice. Funded by a grant from the Jerome Foundation, this fellowship immerses poets in a 12-week program consisting of workshops and meetings that are reinforced by the inspiring environment here at Poets House, including our poetry library and unique archives as well as a diverse offering of readings and conversations by leading poets and scholars. The program includes weekly writing workshops, mentoring sessions, meetings with guest speakers, free access to Poets House's events and archival resources and culminates in a final group reading. Each participant will receive a $500 honorarium for their participation and a stipend of $100 to cover travel expenses. There may also be some funding to help participants pay childcare expenses. The application process is competitive; tuition is free to those accepted into the program. For more information about the program and required application materials, click here. The application deadline is Dec. 11, 2015.

The rink at Brookfield Place:
The ice skating rink at Brookfield Place is offering free weekday skating to Battery Park City residents through Dec. 22. This is available with proof of address in the following zip codes: 10282, 10280, 10004 and 10281. Not available on holidays. In addition, there will be free skating classes on Nov. 28, Dec. 5 and Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. Register for a one-time free class at www.gpice.com.

Public skating hours are weekdays, 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and weekends from 10:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The rates are $15 (single session of 90 minutes); $5, skate rental; $200, individual season pass; $500, family of three season pass. Group rates, classes, private rentals and private lessons available. For more information, email [email protected], call (917) 391-8982 or click here

BPC Chamber meeting:
The BPC Chamber is an organization of people who own businesses in Battery Park City. The next BPC Chamber meeting will take place on Dec. 8 starting at 6:30 p.m. at Malaysian Kitchen, 21 South End Ave. The agenda will include a discussion and vote on a dues structure for BPC Chamber membership, an update and authorization to pursue a neighborhood map project, seeking grant funding for the costs; and a discussion of the possibility of New York City taking over the Battery Park City Authority and how that might impact the Battery Park City business community. (This will be an exploratory discussion, with no vote or position taken.) The meeting is open to anyone with a business in Battery Park City.

Affordable housing opportunity: The Related Management Company has announced that a building that it is currently constructing at 456 Washington St. in Tribeca will have 22 apartments for low-income residents. Half of these apartments will go to residents of Community Board 1. There will be five studio apartments for one person, six one-bedrooms for one or two people, and 11 two-bedrooms for two to four people. Rents range from $800 a month to $1,041. Annual household income requirements range from $28,800 a year to $51,780. To apply and for more information about this building, known as Bridge Land West, click here. Applications are due by Dec. 14, 2015.
 
Downtown Post Portfolio: Downtown Post Portfolio is a feature in Downtown Post NYC, showcasing artists and photographers who live and/or work south of Canal Street or who create images (paintings, drawings, photographs) of Lower Manhattan.

To have your work considered for publication in Downtown Post Portfolio, send up to seven high-resolution jpeg files attached to an email to [email protected]. (One of the photos should be a picture of you.) Several of these photos will be published in Downtown Post NYC, along with a short artist bio and a statement about the work submitted, including whether or not it is for sale and how to purchase it.

Not all entries can be published. Copyright remains with the artist. Before publication, each contributor will be asked to sign a release stating that Downtown Post NYC has the right to publish the work in the emailed newsletter and in the Downtown Post archives, and that there is no payment.

South Street Seaport Museum on Schermerhorn Row: To see photographs of some of the artifacts inside the South Street Seaport Museum's premises on Schermerhorn Row and photos of past exhibitions, click here.

Downtown Post Portfolio: Jay Fine: Jay Fine is a New York City fine-art photographer and photojournalist, based in Lower Manhattan whose work was featured in Downtown Post Portfolio (DPNYC, 5/6/15). To see some more of Fine's work on the Downtown Post NYC website, click here.

Gracie Mansion: Artifacts and Tours: Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City's mayors at 88th Street and East End Avenue, was built in 1799 as a country retreat for financier Archibald Gracie and his family. At the time, the gracious, Federal-style house was five miles outside the city limits - and at that time, the city limits would have meant what we now call "Lower Manhattan." A recently installed exhibit of paintings, sculptures and documents called "Windows on the City: Looking Out at Gracie's New York" sheds light on what our neighborhood was like at the turn
The city's streets were noisy with the raucous calls of vendors.
of the 19th century. Slavery was still legal, and there was a slave market at the foot of Wall Street. Clipper ships plied the harbor, taking cargo in some cases to and from Asia - a recently opened market. The streets were noisy with the raucous calls of vendors selling oysters, ice, charcoal, milk and many other goods and services. Immigrants began to arrive in greater numbers, many of them living in crowded tenements and working at monotonous, low-paying jobs. The city, already diverse from the time of the Dutch settlers in the early 17th century, became even more so. For more about Gracie Mansion and to see photographs, click here. Free tours are available on Dec. 8 and 15 and on Jan. 5, 12 and 19. To register for a tour, click here.

SeaGlass Carousel: After 10 years of design and fundraising and a setback named "Sandy," the SeaGlass Carousel in The Battery opened on Aug. 19 to universal critical acclaim and rapturous crowds. Downtown Post NYC was there for the opening. Read about the carousel and see photos by clicking here. SeaGlass Carousel will remain open through Dec. 31, 2015 but will close during January and February, with a reopening in the spring.

Wavertree video: The South Street Seaport Museum's 1885 sailing ship, Wavertree, is currently at Caddell Drydock on Staten Island, where the ship is undergoing a $10.6 million refurbishment. The museum has created a video to show the progress of the overhaul. To see the video, click here.



CommunityCOMMUNITY BOARD 1 MEETINGS: Weeks of Nov. 23 and Nov. 30    

The Battery Park City Authority plans to resurface West Thames lawn in Battery Park City but the project has been repeatedly delayed. CB1's Battery Park City Committee will get an update on Dec. 1. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) 

All Community Board 1 meetings are held in the Municipal Building, 1 Centre St., in CB1's Conference Room, Room 2202A-North, starting at 6 p.m. unless otherwise indicated. The public is welcome to attend and to comment. Bring photo ID to enter the building.  
 
Nov. 26: Office closed for Thanksgiving

Dec. 1: Battery Park City Committee    
* Tunnel to Towers Foundation street activity permit application for Vesey Street between West Street and North End Ave., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, 8 a.m. to Sept. 25, 5 p.m. - Resolution
* Pier A - Update by HPH NYC
* West Thames Lawn - Update by Robin Forst, Vice President, External Relations, Battery Park City Authority
* Liberty Street Bridge work - Update by Brookfield Properties
* 225 Liberty St., Store 245A, application for upgrade from wine and beer to liquor license for Tartinery Liberty LLC at 225 Liberty St. - Resolution
* Street activity permit process - Discussion
* MTA decision to not restore M22 bus stop at North End Avenue and Murray Street - Report
* Free weekday skating at Rink at Brookfield Place - Announcement 
* Spring Season Application Process for BPC Ballfields - Announcement

Dec. 2: Financial District Committee   
* Statue of Liberty New Museum Construction - Presentation by Robert Parrish, Chief of Professional Services and John Piltzecker, Superintendent, National Park Service - Resolution 
* Battery Maritime Building Fan Plants - Presentation by Zachary Campbell, Assistant Director MTA NYC Transit
* 150 Broadway, 20th floor, liquor license application for Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc., d/b/a LMHQ - Resolution
* 85 Broad St., liquor license application for LPQ 85 Broad Inc. d/b/a Le Pain Quotidien
* 30 Park Place, hotel liquor license application for 30 Park Place Hotel LLC d/b/a Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown - Resolution
* 99 Church St., liquor license application for FSNY Restaurant Associates, LLC; 30 Park Place Hotel LLC d/b/a Cut by Wolfgang Puck - Resolution
* 1 Carder Road/Governors Island, liquor license application for Governors Garden Management, LLC d/b/a Governors Club - Resolution

The following notices have been received for renewal, upgrade, or transfer of wine and beer or liquor licenses or sidewalk cafe permits:
* 130 Cedar Street, application for corporate change of a liquor license for Cedar & Washington Associates, LLC d/b/a Club Quarters (World Trade Center Hotel)
* Pier 11 South Street, application for renewal of a liquor license for Three Brothers Baking at Pier 11 Inc. d/b/a Ferry House Caf�
* 53 Stone Street, application for renewal of a liquor license for Smorgas Chef LLC
* 15 John Street, application for renewal of a liquor license for 15 John Corp d/b/a Les Halles
 
Dec. 3: Landmarks Committee 
* Peck Slip design concepts - Presentation by Jason Friedman



CalendarCALENDAR: Weeks of Nov. 23 and Nov. 30

The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, designed by Frank Gehry. His work will be the topic of a discussion and book signing with architectural critic Paul Goldberger on
Nov. 30 at LMHQ, 150 Broadway. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
  
Nov. 28: The Municipal Art Society of New York's tour, "What's New in Lower Manhattan," takes in the immediate neighborhood of One World Trade Center, now ruled the "tallest" building in the United States. Tour leader Matt Postal will discuss new residential towers, Nicholas Grimshaw's Fulton Transit Hub and the recently-opened concourse linking Santiago Calatrava's $5 billion PATH Station to a new entry pavilion at Brookfield Place (formerly the World Financial Center). Place: Meeting place is sent with ticket purchase. Time: 11 a.m. Tickets: $30; $20 (Municipal Art Society members). For more information and to buy tickets, click here.   
    
Nov. 30: Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic Paul Goldberger will discuss his new book, "Building Art" (Knopf, 2015), an exploration of the life and work of architect Frank Gehry. A reading by the author will be followed by a conversation between Paul Goldberger and Marc Kushner, AIA, Co-Founder of Architizer and Partner at the progressive New York architecture firm HWKN, about Gehry's innovative work. Place: LMHQ, 150 Broadway, 20th floor. Time: 6:30 p.m. Free. To reserve, click here.

Dec. 1: John Zuccotti, Brookfield's U.S. chairman for whom Zuccotti Park at Broadway and Liberty Street was named, was supposed to open the annual holiday tree lighting celebration in his namesake park, but he died on Nov. 19. The celebration will go on anyway. Resident New Yorkers and visitors are invited to join in the free Lower Manhattan festivities that include live music, sweet treats, and the launch of this stunning annual display. Time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free. For more information, click here.

Dec. 1: The 32nd Annual Seaport Tree Lighting in the South Street Seaport kicks off the holiday season with a 60-foot tree and live music performances by a cappella group the Mistletones, gospel youth group Livre', singer-songwriter Connell Cruise, the Mariners' Temple Baptist Church choir and American Idol winner Nick Fradiani. There will also be a special appearance by Santa. Place: Fulton Street in the Seaport. Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free. For more information, click here.
   
Dec. 1: To celebrate #GivingTuesday and the holiday season, the South Street Seaport Museum is presenting a one-day installation of mid-19th to early-20th century toys, ship models, graphic art and ephemera from its permanent collection. The display will include a selection of cast iron, tin, and carved wooden toys and banks; ship models of the ferries, barges, and tugboats of New York Harbor and examples of clipper cards and postcards. Place: Museum visitor center at 12 Fulton St. Time: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free admission but support for the museum through membership and donations, much appreciated.

Ongoing: "City Lives," an exhibit of painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, film, video and ceramics, runs at the Borough of Manhattan Community College's Shirley Fiterman Art Center through Jan. 16. 2016. The art is available for sale with proceeds benefiting the BMCC Foundation Scholarship Fund. Place: 81 Barclay St. Open Tues.-Sat., noon to 6 p.m. For more information, click here.

Ongoing: The World Trade Gallery's show, "Emerging Artists from the Streets of Brooklyn,"  continues through Dec. 1. The gallery is open daily.  Place: 120 Broadway (entrance on Cedar Street). For more information about the World Trade Gallery, click here.

Ongoing: Work by Trevor Winkfield showcases his visionary contributions to the overall aesthetic of poetry publishing. Place: Poets House, 10 River Terrace in Battery Park City.  Exhibition will be on view through Jan. 10, 2016 during regular hours for Poets House. Free. For more information, click here.

Ongoing: "America in Circulation: A History of US Currency Featuring the Collection of Mark R. Shenkman," an exhibition at the Museum of American Finance, showcases around 250 rare examples of American paper money accompanied by large, interactive touch screen displays. From Colonial times, American money has told a fascinating story of the country's struggles and successes. Often local and national currencies competed and coexisted with each other, while economic depression, war and counterfeiting drove constant advances in design. The exhibition spans the period from the Colonial era to the present day. Highlights include rare examples of currency bearing the signatures of signers of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence; a complete set of notes from the Educational Series of 1896, renowned for being the most beautiful paper money in American history; and rare examples of high denomination notes including $5,000 and $10,000 bills. Through March 2018. To see an online version of the exhibition, click here. Place: 48 Wall St. Museum is open Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $8; $5 (students and seniors); free (museum members and kids 6 and under). For more information, click here.

Ongoing
: "Cer�mica de los Ancestros: Central America's Past Revealed" displays 155 ancient objects from the National Museum of the American Indian's rarely seen collections of Central American ceramics. The exhibition examines seven regions representing distinct Central American cultural areas that are today part of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, where Central America's first inhabitants lived. Dating back to 1000 B.C., the ceramics help tell the story of the innumerable achievements of these ancient civilizations, each with unique, sophisticated ways of life, value systems and arts. Through January 2017. Place: 1 Bowling Green. The National Museum of the American Indian is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Thursdays, until 8 p.m. Free. For more information, click here.  

Ongoing: The Museum of Jewish Heritage presents "Designing Home: Jews and Midcentury Modernism," an exhibition that explores the cultural context in which many Jewish �migr� architects and designers created a distinctly modern American design that still has wide appeal today.  Through Jan. 17, 2016. Place: 36 Battery Place. For more information, click here.

Ongoing: The Skyscraper Museum's exhibition, "Ten Tops," surveys all buildings in the world today, completed or under construction, that are 100 stories and taller. Of these 24 towers, the exhibition focuses on 10 (plus a few more), zooming in on their uppermost floors to see how they were designed and constructed. Through November 2015. Place: 39 Battery Place. Hours: Noon to 6 p.m., Wednesdays to Sundays. Admission: $5; $2.50 (students and seniors). For more information, click here.

Ongoing: The Woolworth Building was designed by Cass Gilbert to house the offices of the F. W. Woolworth Company and was the tallest building in the world from 1913 until 1930. With its ornamental gothic-style exterior, it dominated the New York City skyline and served as an icon of American ingenuity with state of the art steel construction, fireproofing and high-speed elevators and it was dubbed "the Cathedral of Commerce." The building is still privately owned and operated, and has long been closed to the public. Tours of its magnificent landmarked lobby featuring marble, mosaics, and murals have only recently been made available and can be taken for 30-minutes, 60-minutes or 90-minutes. Custom and Private tours for groups of 10 - 35 can also be arranged. Place: 233 Broadway. Various times. Tickets: $20, $30 and $45, depending on the length of the tour. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Ongoing: "Glittering World: Navajo Jewelry of the Yazzie Family" opened on Nov. 14 and continues through Jan. 10, 2016. The exhibit includes more than 300 examples of beautifully crafted jewelery, most of it made by the Yazzie family, with some from the National Museum of the American Indian's collection. Through a video, photographs and a handsome catalog, the exhibit shows how the jewelry expresses Navajo cultural values and way of life inspired by a majestic landscape of buttes, mesas and desert. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and on Thursdays until 8 p.m.; closed December 25. Admission is free. 
   
Ongoing: "A Town Known as Auschwitz" is an exhibit of photographs at the Museum of Jewish Heritage tracing the history of a town called "Oswiecim" in what is now Poland, where Jews and non-Jews lived side by side for centuries. When German forces occupied the town in September 1939, they renamed it "Auschwitz" and established a concentration and death camp there. More than 1 million people died at Auschwitz, including 90 percent of the town's Jews. The museum is at 36 Battery Place. For information the exhibit, click here. For information on the museum's hours and admission fees, click here.

Ongoing: "Defining Lines: Maps from the 1700s and early 1800s" at the Fraunces Tavern
Museum. Twenty-seven maps provide a perspective on the evolving nation's place in history. A map from 1804, never before exhibited, shows the U.S. postal routes. Place: 54 Pearl St. Time: Noon to 5 p.m., daily. Admission fees: $7; $4 (seniors, students with ID, children, 6 to 8 years old. Children, 5 and under, free. Active military with ID, free. For more information, click here.

Ongoing: Fraunces Tavern Museum's exhibition, "Lafayette," opened in May to complement the docking of the Marquis de Lafayette's replica ship, L'Hermione at the South Street Seaport over the July 4th weekend. It includes 20 items from the museum's collection such as Lafayette's calling card and the his sash, splashed with his blood from a wound sustained at the Battle of Brandywine. Through December 2016. Place: 54 Pearl St. Time: Noon to 5 p.m., daily. Admission fees: $7; $4 (seniors, students with ID, children, 6 to 8 years old. Children, 5 and under, free. Active military with ID, free. For more information, click here

Ongoing: The National Museum of the American Indian is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission. It offers free films, docent-led tours of its exhibitions and tours of its premises, the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, designed by Cass Gilbert. The building, which was completed in 1907, is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One Bowling Green. Phone: (212) 514-3700. For the museum's calendar, click here.

Ongoing: The lobby of the South Street Seaport Museum at 12 Fulton St. on Schermerhorn Row is open three days a week with interpretive displays and activities. Access to the museum's upstairs galleries is by appointment or for education programs only. Lobby access: Fridays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For private tours of Schermerhorn Row and its old hotels, email [email protected].
 
Buy tickets now: The National Museum of the American Indian's annual Native Art Market brings craftsmen and artists from North, South and Central America to Lower Manhattan to display and sell their wares. The annual event features handmade jewelry, beadwork, pottery, baskets, prints, paintings and sculptures. Artists are selected through a competitive process. Prices for the work range from $50 to $5,000. Admission to the art market on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 is free, but a ticketed party on Dec. 4 provides an opportunity to preview the work, attend a panel discussion on "Tradition and Authenticity in Native Art & Design" and talk with the artists. Place: 1 Bowling Green, Diker Pavilion. Time: (for the preview party on Dec. 4) 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Time (on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the preview party: $45; $35 (museum members). To reserve and purchase tickets, click here. For a complete list of participating artists, click here.

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Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer

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