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DOWNTOWN
POST NYC
News and Events
in Lower Manhattan
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Volume 3, No. 12 March 11, 2016
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"We are in a Department of Education building where there are four schools that have no library."
- Janet Miller, an educator at the Columbia Secondary School, speaking at a meeting organized by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer on school overcrowding and under funding.
WEATHER INFORMATION: For current weather information, click here.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS IN BATTERY PARK CITY: To reach AlliedBarton "safety ambassadors," call (212) 945-SAFE (7233). The Battery Park City Command Center is now located at the Verdesian at 211 North End Ave. In case of emergencies, call 911.
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All ads in Downtown Post NYC have clickable links. Click on an ad for more information. MASTHEAD PHOTO: An exhibition called "Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains" opens at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York City on March 12. Among Native Americans of the Plains, winter-count calendars spanned years from winter to winter and depicted an important event from that year. This calendar by Martin E. Red Bear (Oglala/Sicangu Lakota) goes from 1980 to 2004. It includes depictions of President Bill Clinton's visit to the Pine Ridge Reservation and the first time that Red Bear and his family saw a lunar eclipse. March 10, 2016. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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 MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT BREWER HOLDS HEARING ON SCHOOL OVERCROWDING AND FACILITIES NEEDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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| After school at PS 276 on Battery Place. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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New York City's public school system is the largest in the country, serving 1.1 million students in over 1,800 schools. Many of these schools are seriously overcrowded, leading to conditions that are difficult if not impossible for students and their teachers.
On March 8, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer held a public hearing at PS 125 in West Harlem on school overcrowding and facilities needs in Manhattan's public schools. Brewer organized the hearing with the help of the Alliance for Quality Education, a coalition that mobilizes communities across New York State to ensure high quality public education for all students regardless of where they live.
Parents, students, educators and community leaders came to the hearing to testify.
"Overcrowding and underfunding have put New York City's public school students at a disadvantage," Brewer said. She added that there are "major resource gaps where the governor and legislature must step up and give New York City's children what they're owed."
Under this year's proposed state budget, New York City could receive hundreds of millions in increased school aid. In addition, New York City is still owed billions under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court case settlement of 2006. (For the background on that, click here.)
The testimony at the Tuesday hearing was distressing in what it revealed about the urgency of the needs in many of the city's public schools.
Janet Miller of the Columbia Secondary School leadership team said of PS 125, the site of the hearing, "We are in a Department of Education building where there are four schools that have no library."
Aixa Rodriguez, a teacher at FLAGS High School in the Bronx said that, "Defining a school as half a hallway has got to stop." She observed that, "College is much, much more difficult for kids who never had a library or labs."
Joseph Rogers, of The Campaign for Educational Equity, a nonprofit research and policy center at Teachers College, Columbia University, stated that, "We found that students were receiving mandated services [e.g. physical therapy, counseling] in hallways." He also said that, "Libraries are being chopped up into classrooms" and "schools are having to fight for access to gym space" because of forced co-locations.
Brittany D'sa, a student at Columbia Secondary School, told the hearing participants that, "There is a constant struggle for gym time and cafeteria time...and there is no library, which is a direct violation of state law."
Tricia Joyce, chair of Community Board 1's Youth and Education Committee, stated what she has been saying over and over for years. "Development in Lower Manhattan brought the city billions in tax dollars, but the city didn't plan or invest" for the population growth.
She sounded another familiar note when she said that there was little or no public or educator input in planning new Lower Manhattan schools. She summarized what's been going on by saying, "Here's your school, principal. I hope you like it. But if you don't, it's too late - it's built."
She also said that "There are only three regulation gyms" in all of Lower Manhattan's schools.
On Jan. 14, 2016, the School Construction Authority (SCA) announced that it would be building a new 476-seat elementary school on Trinity Place, south of Rector Street. The school will take several years to design and build. The way things are going, it is likely to be filled to capacity and then some on the day it opens.
According to a report released by Community Board 1 in February 2016, the population of Lower Manhattan is expected to exceed 73,818 people by 2017 based on the expected number of residential units in the district. By comparison, in 2010, there were 60,978 people living in Lower Manhattan.
In a statement that they issued on March 3, 2016, New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, City Councilmember Margaret Chin and Manhattan Borough President Brewer said, "We want to note the ongoing need for additional elementary school seats south of Canal Street in District 2. At the last [School Overcrowding] Task Force meeting, Community Board 1 presented its population study, which indicated there will be over 4,000 new residential units under construction in Lower Manhattan by 2017. Even using the most conservative estimates, new residential construction leads to a need for 521 new elementary school seats. We urge the SCA to continue to work with the Task Force and the community to revise its current capital plan to ensure that Lower Manhattan seats are built before the school overcrowding crisis becomes severe again."
- Terese Loeb Kreuzer
To see a video of the Brewer hearing, click here.
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Downtown Post Periscope
MET BREUER, DEVOTED TO MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
AND ITS ANTECEDENTS, OPENS TO THE PUBLIC ON MARCH 18
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| The Met Breuer is devoted to modern and contemporary art and its antecedents.
(Photos: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
Thomas P. Campbell, the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was beaming on March 1 at the press opening of the Met Breuer in the building at 75th Street and Madison Avenue that once housed the Whitney Museum of American Art. He said that the five-story exhibition space would give the Met an opportunity to expand its modern and contemporary art program. So it was startling when the elevator doors opened on the third floor - the first of two floors of the museum devoted to an opening exhibition entitled "Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible" - to be confronted with a huge canvas by Titian called "The Flaying of Marsyas." Titian made this painting in the 1570's toward the end of his life (he died in 1576) - and it did, indeed, have what would have passed at that time for unfinished passages lacking the fine brushwork and high sheen that would have been usual and expected. This was not a painting that could be bypassed quickly. It raised too many questions, the first of which was what was it doing in a museum devoted to modern and contemporary art? Gradually, after around 15 minutes of contemplation, some answers emerged. Marsyas was a satyr who challenged the god Apollo to a musical duel. The god won, of course, and Marsyas' punishment was to have his skin ripped off. |
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A detail from "The Flaying of Marsyas" by Titian.
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On the right side of the painting, pensively leaning on his hand, is an old man with a beautifully painted crown on his head. "That must be Titian," I thought. (It turned out subsequently that others have had the same idea.) He knew that he didn't have much longer to live. He had been revered as one of the greatest artists of his time or of any time. And yet, what was he compared with the gods? A psychological subtext to this painting, a depiction of horror, a mournful meditation on the human condition - what could be more modern? And, in fact, all of the paintings in the "Unfinished" exhibition - regardless of their age - show ways in which modern artists are standing on the shoulders of the masters who preceded them. The concerns of contemporary artists are nothing new. They are just differently expressed. The opening exhibitions at the Met Breuer draw extensively on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's own collections augmented by dozens of loans from leading museums all over the world. It would take several visits to see all of this wealth with the attention it deserves. - Terese Loeb Kreuzer
The Met Breuer will open to the public on Friday, March 18 with a three-day celebration. The  museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on March 18 and March 19. Sunday, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The inaugural weekend begins at 10 a.m. on March 18 with an interactive performance by David Dorfman Dance that will continue throughout the day.
Highlights of the weekend include a series of Nine-Minute Talks presented by over 30 artists, writers, performers, designers, curators, Met staff, and other creative voices from across New York City. A special Family Day will take place on Sunday, March 20, with programs and events for visitors of all ages from noon to 4 p.m.
All events are free with Museum admission. The Met has a "pay what you wish" policy. The suggested admission is $25; $17 (seniors); $12 (students); free (museum members and children under 12 accompanied by an adult).
Related programs will also take place at The Met's other two locations - The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Tickets include same-day admission to all locations.
For more information, click here. |
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A painting by Alice Neel is part of the Met Breuer's opening exhibition, "Unfinished Thoughts Left Visible."
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Bits & Bytes
NEW YORK WATER TAXI THREATENS TO CLOSE; PACE UNIVERSITY'S FULTON STREET DORMITORY ON THE MARKET; NYC TOURISM SOARS
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| | Chinese tourists on Pier 15, about to board Hornblower Serenity for a tour of New York harbor with commentary in Mandarin. Around 920,000 Chinese are expected to visit New York City this year. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
"Anticipating a de Blasio snub, ferry company threatens to close," Politico New York, 3/10/16. "Shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon, one of the companies vying to run Mayor Bill de Blasio's citywide ferry service sent an email to its staff warning them that if the city chooses another company, their jobs will cease to exist," says Politico New York. Company co-presidents Helena Durst and David Neil said in a letter addressed to the New York City Economic Development Corporation that, "After 15 years of providing waterborne transportation in New York City, we have come to the conclusion that we have no choice, unless New York City's Economic Development Corporation changes its present course, but to close New York Water Taxi and cease all operations by the end of 2016." Politico New York says that "New York Water Taxi, a ferry company based in Red Hook, employs 200 people, from deckhands and line catchers, to captains and marketing directors." For the complete article, click here.
"You've never seen NYC like this before," The Real Deal, 3/5/16. "From the Empire State building, you can see into windows in Lower Manhattan by zooming in on this incredible 20 gigapixel image of Manhattan," says The Real Deal. "Photographer Jeffrey Martin spent two days on top of the Empire State Building taking the individual images to create this stunning image, according to the Daily Mail. The final image has a resolution of 203,200 x 101,600 - making it the biggest picture of New York ever taken." For the complete article, click here. "Crumbling Hudson River Park pier repairs can begin next year, if city approves crucial sale," Crain's New York Business, 3/8/16. Crain's New York Business reports that, "The organization that operates Manhattan's Hudson River Park hopes to begin repairs to the 15-acre sports facility at Pier 40 in the spring of 2017, according to an announcement Tuesday. But the project is contingent on getting approval to sell about $100 million worth of unused development rights to a real estate partnership. The Hudson River Park Trust said that the repairs are needed to keep the facility, which is the park's biggest revenue generator, structurally sound over the long term. More than half of the 3,500 steel piles that hold up Pier 40 are seriously deteriorating, according to a 2015 report, which pegged the cost of refurbishing all the piles over a 10-year period at $104 million. To that end, the trust issued a request for proposals Tuesday seeking a company to design the overhaul." For the complete article, click here. "Pace University hopes to capitalize on Fulton Street's transformation," New York Post, 3/7/16. "Anyone who knew Fulton Street pre-9/11 - or during the next few years when a snail's-pace water main project turned it into a trench - might be astounded at what's happening there today," says the New York Post. "The narrow byway from the East River almost to the World Trade Center is fast losing its historically disheveled look. Chic new projects are replacing aged eyesores. Luxury apartment buildings and a hotel are set to rise, replacing shabby walk-ups and schlocky retail. Hoping to capitalize on the transformation, Pace University is putting its 15-story dormitory building at 106-108 Fulton St. on the market via a Newmark Grubb Knight Frank team led by Kenneth Zakin. The building's 75,000 square feet above the retail ground floor are being marketed with an eye toward 'mid-market luxury housing' - probably for condo use. The property could fetch around $60 million for Pace, which has other dorm facilities nearby but will empty 106 Fulton St. in June." For the complete article, click here. "Jared Kushner sells Two Rector St. for $225M," New York Post, 3/7/16. "Jared Kushner and CIM Group are in contract to sell the downtown office building at Two Rector St. for roughly $225 million to Kevin Hoo of Cove Property Group and the pension fund investment manager Bentall Kennedy," says the New York Post. Hoo and Bentall Kennedy are expected to target boutique office users for the 465,000-square-foot tower that sits between Greenwich Street and Trinity Place, sources told The Post." For the complete article, click here. "Record Number of Tourists Visited New York City in 2015, and More Are Expected This Year," New York Times, 3/8/16. "It has been a decade since former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg decided to ramp up New York City's efforts to attract more tourists, and city officials say there is no end to the influx on the horizon," The New York Times comments. "In Berlin on Wednesday, Fred Dixon, the chief executive of New York's tourism-marketing agency, NYC & Company, plans to announce a forecast of 59.7 million visitors this year. That would exceed last year's record of 58.3 million visitors by 2.4 percent and keep the city on pace for a goal of drawing 67 million annual visitors by 2021, Mr. Dixon said in an interview. The tourists have kept flowing into New York from around the country and the rest of the world despite turmoil in many places, a slowing economy in China and a strengthening American dollar that weakens the buying power of foreigners, Mr. Dixon said. Despite the slowdown in China, the country is expected to be a growing source of visitors to the city in 2016, which has been declared 'U.S.-China tourism year,' he said." For the complete article, click here. National September 11 Memorial & Museum visitor stats: More than five million people have visited the National September 11 Memorial Museum since it opened in May 2014. They have come from all 50 states and more than 150 countries. In addition to the United States, the nations represented in the greatest numbers have been the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany and France. In the Museum's first full year of operation, it welcomed nearly 2.7 million visitors. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is the nonprofit organization that oversees operations for the 9/11 Memorial and 9/11 Memorial Museum. Located on eight of the 16 acres of the World Trade Center site, the Memorial and Museum honor the 2,983 people who were killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. The Museum displays more than 10,000 personal and monumental objects linked to the events of 9/11, while presenting intimate stories of loss, compassion, reckoning and recovery that are central to telling the story of the attacks and aftermath. The Museum regularly hosts public programs covering a wide array of topics, from examining America's fight against the growing ISIS threat to a photographer's documentation of grassroots memorials that were created after the 2001 attacks. Through its youth and family programs, the Museum has offered age-appropriate lessons about 9/11 to more than 7,500 children since 2014. And more than 12,000 students have participated in student workshops in the Museum's education center. For more information or to reserve a ticket to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, click here.
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Downtown bulletin board MTA SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON PROPOSED SUBWAY CHANGES; ADVICE FOR AGING BRAINS; BPCA SCHEDULES PUBLIC MEETING FOR APRIL 13
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| | SeaGlass Carousel in The Battery is once again open daily, weather permitting. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
New York City Transit Invites Public Input on Proposed Restoration of W Line, Changes to NQ Service: In preparation for the opening of Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is proposing the restoration of W subway service and changes to NQ subway service. The restored W Line will replace the existing Q subway service in Astoria, then operate local service in Manhattan, where it will terminate at Whitehall Street. N subway service would operate express in Manhattan between Canal Street and 34th Street-Herald Square. A hearing will be held on April 7 to solicit public input. Registration is required for members of the public as space may be limited. RSVP online by clicking here or call (646) 252-6777. It will also be possible to sign in on the day of the hearing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the hearing location. Members of the public who cannot attend this hearing can submit feedback online by clicking here. Place: 2 Broadway, 20th floor. Time: 5 p.m.
Battery Park City Authority Town Meeting: On April 13, the Battery Park City Authority will host its next Community Meeting to provide updates on Battery Park City initiatives and to solicit feedback from the public. All are encouraged to attend. Future meetings are currently scheduled for July 20 and Nov. 16, 2016. Place: 6 River Terrace. Time: 6 p.m.
Manhattan Youth seeks volunteers: This fall, Manhattan Youth turns 30 years old. To celebrate, volunteers working with Manhattan Youth staff will plan a birthday party and other initiatives. The kick-off meetings take place on Monday, March 21 at 9 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. To get involved, email Manhattan Youth board member, Wendy Chapman, at chapman67@me.com, telling her which session you plan to attend or expressing your interest in helping if you are not able to be there for the kick-off. Place: Downtown Community Center, 120 Warren St.
Sailors Ball tickets on sale: The annual Sailors Ball is a black-tie party that celebrates the start of a new sailing season and raises funds for the Manhattan Yacht Club's junior sailing programs. This year, the ball will take place at the Down Town Association, 60 Pine St., on April 29. Regular ball tickets (with an open bar, finger food, dancing and casino games) cost $95 before April 26 and $120 afterward. VIP ball tickets cost $250 and include the 12 Meter Dinner from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and admission to the Ball. In addition there are raffle tickets whose proceeds support junior sailing. The raffle prizes include a place on board the historic America II during the America's Cup World Series in New York Harbor, Saturday May 7. (America II competed in the 1987 America's Cup, so this is a rare circumstance where a historic America's Cup boat will be in the same waters as the modern ones. Prize value $800) and two VIP tickets aboard the Arabella during the America's Cup World Series, Saturday May 7. The Arabella is the flagship of Manhattan Yacht Club and will be hosting its Club and special guests to watch this unique event with the most spectacular backdrop! Prize value $800.) Raffle tickets cost $20 (one ticket); $50 (three tickets); $100 (seven tickets). To buy tickets for the ball and the raffle, click here.
Free admission to the Museum of American Finance: In celebration of Women's History Month, the Financial Women's Association (FWA) is underwriting admission to the Museum of American Finance on March 12, when all visitors will be admitted free. Place: 48 Wall St. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, click here.
Middle School open house: Most schools in District 2 now have a free Manhattan Youth after-school program. On March 24, come to the Downtown Community Center, 120 Warren St., to find out how they work and what activities are available. Executive director Bob Townley and Director of Programs, Theseus Roche, will make a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer period and an opportunity to meet the program directors from each of the participating schools. For 5th grade parents only. Time: 7 p.m. RSVP by clicking here. Space is limited.
Free tax preparation: If you earned $62,000 or less in 2015, you may qualify for free tax preparation services, either via online filing or in person with a certified preparer. There are two ways to file your taxes safely and without charge: In person at your local free tax preparation site: For most sites, this service is offered to people with an annual income of $54,000 or less (with children) or $30,000 or less (no children). IRS certified preparers will help you claim credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and NYC Child Care Tax Credit (NYC CCTC) to get the full refund you deserve. Some sites let you drop off your tax documents and pick up the completed return later. There are more than 200 NYC Free Tax Prep sites in the city. In Lower Manhattan, this service is available through Beta Alpha Psi at Pace University, One Pace Plaza, 4th floor (call 212-618-6598 for more information) and at the New Amsterdam Library, 9 Murray St. (call 212-732-8186 for more information). For other free tax preparation sites, click here or call 311. Online filing is for people with an annual income of $62,000 or less. The online service is quick, easy and secure. Step-by-step instructions make it easy to claim credits like the EITC and NYC CCTC. Experts are available by phone to help with questions. For more information, go to nyc.gov/taxprep or call 311 and ask for tax preparation assistance. Advice for aging brains: Did you know that there's a "Brain Awareness Week?" Yes, there is. It's from March 14 to March 20. It ends on March 20 with "Aging brain health event for older adults," which will include a panel discussing "Successful Aging and Your Brain" followed by activities to stimulate mind and body, including Zumba, yoga, technology lessons, and memory exercises. The event is being co-sponsored by the Office of Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer along with the Dana Foundation and the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives. Brewer is hosting the 90-minute panel, with some of the world's leading scientists to discuss advances in the science and what individuals can specifically do to maintain brain health. Place: CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave. (at 34th Street). Time: Doors open at 12:30 p.m.; the panel begins at 1:30 p.m.; the exhibits will be open at 3 p.m. Free, but RSVP by March 15 by clicking here or calling (212) 669-4564. Winter 'specials' at Malaysian Kitchen: From Monday to Friday, Malaysian Kitchen at 21 South End Ave. in Battery Park City is offering discounts on food and beverages. Every day except Wednesday, there's a 20 percent discount on special menu items such as Peking duck with dumplings (on Mondays), sushi (on Fridays) or Malaysian specialties such as beef rendang (Tuesdays) or Melaka Hainanese chicken rice (Thursdays). Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. are karaoke nights with Russell Targove. On Wednesdays, women, get their first drink of wine or beer on the house with any entr�e. Dine-in only. For more information, call (212) 786-1888 or click here.
5K Run/Walk and Community Day: Sign up now to participate in the National September 11 Memorial and Museum's 5K run/walk that will take place on Sunday, April 24, rain or shine. This is a "fun Run/Walk" for people connected with the memorial or who want to support it. The event will not be timed. It starts at Pier 26 in Hudson River Park, goes through Battery Park City along the Hudson River esplanade and ends at the 9/11 memorial with a free "Community Day." From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be activities for all ages, a kid zone, live music and opportunities to learn more about the memorial. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. People with a 9/11 Memorial Run/Walk bib will get a 25 percent discount at the Memorial Museum ticket window if they want to visit the museum that day. The early bird registration fees ( through April 1) are $40 (adults); $28 (students and youth); $20 (FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and for the U.S. Military); free (children). To register and for more information, click here.
Luminaries: Luminaries, the light show that David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group devised for Brookfield Place's Winter Garden in Battery Park City, went on display in December and was supposed to come down on Jan. 10. But it proved so popular that it remained up until Feb. 29. For photographs of Luminaries, click here.
GrowNYC offers discounted farm-fresh produce: From now through May, residents and community members of all income levels can sign up for a bag of farm-fresh produce for $12 a bag. Cash, credit cards, debit cards, and SNAP (food stamps) can be used in payment. To participate, customers pre-order bags one week in advance of the designated distribution day. The next week, they can pick up their Fresh Food Box containing seven to nine seasonal fruits, vegetables, and grains, along with healthy recipes and tips on how to store and prepare the produce. All of the produce comes from family farms selling through GrowNYC's wholesale food hub and distribution arm, Greenmarket, Co. In Lower Manhattan, this service is available at 1 Centre St., 9th floor, South Building, Thursdays, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. through May 2016. For more information, click here.
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 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 March 15, 22 and 29; April 5 and 12. To register for a tour, click here. SeaGlass Carousel: Following 10 years of design and fundraising and a setback named "Sandy," the SeaGlass Carousel in The Battery opened on Aug. 19, 2015 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. After a truncated winter schedule, SeaGlass Carousel is once again open daily, weather permitting. For updates on changes to operating hours, follow The Battery Conservancy on Facebook. Admission to SeaGlass Carousel is $5 per ride. Access to The Battery is free and open to the public. 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. Downtown Post NYC photos for sale: If would like to buy prints of a photograph that has appeared in Downtown Post NYC, email editor@downtownpostnyc.com with your request for more information about sizes and prices.
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COMMUNITY BOARD MEETINGS: Week of March 14
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| An empty lot (on the left in this photo) sits at the corner of South and John Streets. On March 15, Community Board 1's Seaport/Civic Center Committee will hear a presentation on a request for proposals for a service building at this location.
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
All meetings of Community Board 1 take place in the conference room at 1 Centre St., Room 2202-A North, starting at 6 p.m. unless otherwise indicated. A photo ID is needed to enter the building.
March 14: Planning Committee
* Water Street Upgrades Text Amendment N 160166 ZRM - Presentation by Richard Suarez, Department of City Planning & resolution
* Lower Manhattan Resiliency - Update by Daniel Zarrilli, Director of the Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency for the City of New York (invited)
* Lower Manhattan bike lane proposal - Presentation by Luis Sanchez, Lower Manhattan Commissioner, Department of Transportation (postponed)
March 15: Seaport/Civic Center Committee
* Request for Proposals for John Street Service Building at John Street and South Street - Presentation by Liz Sanchez, Project Development Coordinator, Revenue Division & Alexander Han, Deputy Director of Concessions, NYC Parks
* 111 Fulton St., application for a liquor license upgrade for FiDi District LLC d/b/a Bareburger - Resolution
* 11 Fulton Street, Suite 1705, application for seasonal tavern liquor license with outdoor seating for Flea Productions LLC - Resolution
The following notices have been received for renewal, upgrade, or transfer of wine and beer or liquor licenses or sidewalk cafe permits:
* 15-17 Beekman St., application for renewal of a liquor license for Conjer Restaurant Corp. d/b/a The Beekman
* 1 Pace Plaza, application for renewal of a liquor license for Compass LCS, LLC
* 255 Front St., application for renewal of a liquor license for Dona Gallo Inc. d/b/a Barbalu
March 17: Quality of Life Committee
* NYC Department of Transportation construction update (TENTATIVE)
* Age-friendly Neighborhood Action Plan - Resolution
* Council Intro 17 Regarding After Hours Construction Varies and New Proposal for Legislation to create a City-wide Construction Coordinator - Resolution
* New York Civilian Complaint Review Board Updates and General Agency Overview by Community Outreach Coordinator Brian McCullough
* Request for letter of support by NYU Medical Center to expand their service area to all of Manhattan - Presentation by Ashley Morrissey
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NEW SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM EXHIBIT OPENS MARCH 17
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| Fulton Fish Market 1933 (Photographic print)
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When an exhibition called "Street of Ships: The Port and Its People" opens in the South Street Seaport Museum's 12 Fulton St. lobby on March 17, it won't be just another exhibit. Since Superstorm Sandy swept through the Seaport on Oct. 29, 2012, the museum's 12 Fulton St. galleries have been crippled.
In the aftermath of Sandy, which wiped out the museum's electrical system, jury-rigged heating was installed in the Fulton Street building but it wasn't possible to regulate the temperature and humidity sufficiently to protect the museum's artifacts. In addition, the elevator and escalator were out of service. So, for the most part, the 12 Fulton St. galleries were shuttered.
The new exhibition will showcase works of art and artifacts from the museum's permanent collections related to the 19th century history of the Port of New York. The objects to be put on display will illuminate the Seaport's decisive role in securing New York City's place as America's largest city and the world's busiest port by the start of the 20th century.
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Wavertree Under Sail by Oswald Brett 1967
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Much of the exhibition will revolve around the museum's 1885 sailing ship, Wavertree. She is a full-rigged sailing ship like those whose prows once extended over South Street in such numbers that it was called the "Street of Ships." Carrying cargo, Wavertree circled the globe four times during her career. In 1910, she was demasted in a gale off Cape Horn, ending her usefulness as a cargo vessel. She was salvaged and served as a storage barge in South America before being acquired by the South Street Seaport Museum in 1968.
Since May 2015, she has been at Caddell Dry Dock and Shipyard on Staten Island for a 15-month, $13 million restoration funded by the city.
Capt. Jonathan Boulware, executive director of the South Street Seaport Museum, said of the Wavertree restoration, "It's unlike any undertaken in a generation." He also said that he was "thrilled to finally be bringing artifacts from the collection forward to the public for the first time since Sandy."
The exhibition was funded by Theodore W. Scull and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with additional support provided by Susan Kayser & Duane Morris LLP in memory of Salvatore Polisi, the museum's cherished woodcarver who loved to welcome visitors to his shop and talk to them about the museum and the Seaport.
The exhibition will be on view through 2016. It will be open from Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Museum's main lobby, 12 Fulton St. Admission is free for South Street Seaport Museum members. Tickets are $12 for adults; $8 for seniors (65+), Merchant Mariners, Active Duty Military and students (with valid ID); $6 for kids (ages 6-17) and free for children ages 5 and under. For more information or to reserve tickets, click here. Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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CALENDAR: Weeks of March 7 and March 14
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| A photograph of Molly Picon in "The Circus Girl," a Yiddish musical that played for 16 weeks in 1928 at the Second Avenue Theater. The photo is part of an exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York called "New York's Yiddish Theater: From the Bowery to Broadway" that opened on March 9 and will run through July 2016.
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March 11: The Lomax Project brings two-time Juno-winning banjoist, composer and instigator Jayme Stone to the Tribeca Performing Arts Center with music inspired by folk, jazz and chamber music. The Lomax Project focuses on songs collected by folklorist and field recording pioneer Alan Lomax as played by some of North America's most distinctive and creative roots musicians. The repertoire includes Bahamian sea chanties, African-American a cappella singing from the Georgia Sea Islands, ancient Appalachian ballads, fiddle tunes and work songs collected from both well-known musicians and everyday folk: sea captains, cowhands, fishermen, prisoners and homemakers. Place: Borough of Manhattan Community College, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St. Time: 7 p.m. Tickets: $15. To buy tickets, call (212) 220-1460 or click here.
March 11: "Art & Craft with Robin Coste Lewis" at Poets House illuminates the journey behind "The Voyage of the Sable Venus," winner of the 2015 National Book Award Winner for Poetry. A triptych of poems, "The Voyage of the Sable Venus" investigates historical portrayals of the black female body along with lived experience and the lyric. Learn firsthand what choices and inspirations went into the creation of this remarkable debut. Place: Poets House, 10 River Terrace. Time: 7 p.m. Tickets: $10; $7 (students and seniors); free (Poets House members). For more information, click here. March 12: As part of an exhibition, "Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains" at the National Museum of the American Indian, Native women who have created "ledger art" depicting significant events in their communal and personal lives will be at the museum to tell their own stories. Once a traditional art form only created by men, women are now known as some of the finest ledger artists. Place: 1 Bowling Green. Time: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free. For more information, click here.
March 12: Apollo's Fire performs St. John Passion at St. Paul's Chapel. From its roiling opening chorus to its compelling conclusion, J.S. Bach's St. John Passion, BWV 245, chronicles the final days of Jesus. Apollo's Fire under conductor Jeannette Sorrell present the dramatic events of Jesus' final days with compelling storytelling in this acclaimed interpretation. An international cast of singer-actors brings the characters to life. Place: St. Paul's Chapel (Broadway at Fulton Street). Time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $25. To buy tickets, call (212) 866-0468 or click here.March 13: "Charlie Chaplin: Restored Comedy Shorts" showcases four restored Chaplin films, made in 1916 and 1917 when Chaplin was 27 years old. These films were in and out of release for decades, recut, retitled, and duplicated again and again. Because of a monumental restoration effort over the last few years, these comedies can now be seen looking as close to what they did initially as possible. Hilarious and inventive, the four classics on this program find Chaplin working in a department store and in a pawnshop, as a traveling violinist, and going to a spa for his health. Running time, 100 minutes. Live musical accompaniment. Place: Schimmel Center at Pace University, 3 Spruce St. Time: 2 p.m. Tickets: $12; $8 (students). For more information and to buy tickets, click here. Through March 13: 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 March 13, 2016. 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. March 15: Tour Pier A with Gwen Dawson, senior vice president of asset management for the Battery Park City Authority. Dawson, who managed the restoration of the last surviving 19th century pier on the Hudson River in Manhattan, will share the story of how Pier A, which was built for the New York City Department of Docks and Harbor Police, was restored and reopened for use as a restaurant and visitors' center. Place: Pier A, 22 Battery Place. Time: 1 p.m. Free. Call (212) 267-9700 for more information, or click here. Ongoing: An exhibition, "Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains," at the National Museum of the American Indian showcases historic winter-count calendars and other forms of narrative art telling the story of significant events in the communal and personal lives of Native peoples of the Great Plains. The exhibition includes the work of nearly 50 contemporary Native artists commissioned for this exhibition, who are working in this tradition. Place: 1 Bowling Green. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. For more information, click here. Ongoing: The exhibition, "New York's Yiddish Theater: From the Bowery to Broadway," is playing at the Museum of the City of New York (definitely uptown - the museum is at 1220 Fifth Ave., at 103rd Street - but the subject matter recalls the downtown heyday of the Yiddish theater in New York City). New York's first Yiddish production was staged in 1882. In the ensuing decades, so many Yiddish theaters opened on Second Avenue between Houston Street and East 14th Street that the area was known as the "Yiddish Rialto." The exhibition features more than 250 artifacts, including photographs, costumes, playbills, sets, drawings, sculptures and film clips. Some of them came from the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park City, now affiliated with Folksbiene, the National Yiddish Theatre - one of the co-presenters of the exhibition along with the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and the National Yiddish Book Center. Place: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Chalsty's Caf� in the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets: Suggested admission, $14; $10 (seniors and students with ID); free (under age 20 and members). For more information, click here.
Ongoing: In Atlanta, in 1915, Leo Frank became the only Jew ever lynched in the United States. He was accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl who worked at the pencil factory that he managed. His trial, murder and the aftermath are the subject of an exhibition, "Seeking Justice: The Leo Frank Case Revisited." Through Aug. 28, 2016. Place: Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place. Open Sunday to Friday (closed Saturdays). For more information, click here.
Ongoing: An exhibition entitled "Metamorphosis: The Collaboration of Poet Barbara Guest & Artist Fay Lansner" runs at Poets House through April 23, 2016. Beginning in the 1960s and continuing through the 1990s, this exhibition charts the creative collaboration and friendship between the New York School Poet Barbara Guest (1920- 2006) and painter Fay Lansner (1921-2010). Included in the exhibit are drawings, paintings, collages and portraits of Guest that depict the progressive transformation of the creative process. This is the first time that these works have been brought together in an exhibition. Place: 10 River Terrace. The exhibition is open during Poets House's regular hours. Free. 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 December 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. For a video related to the exhibition, click here.
Ongoing: The annual Battery Park City Parks art show displays artwork created by participants of all ages in the Battery Park City Parks art programs. Place: Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, 75 Battery Place. The exhibition will be on view weekdays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., through March 31. Free.
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: 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: "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: 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.
Buy tickets now:
March 16: An Evening with Toby and Itzhak Perlman and The Perlman Music Program at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Founded in 1994 by Toby Perlman, The Perlman Music Program (PMP) offers unparalleled musical training to young string players of rare and special talent. Under the guidance of a world-class faculty led by Israeli-born virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman, PMP students and alumni perform a selection of classical masterworks, followed by a conversation with Toby and Itzhak Perlman. Place: Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place; Time: 7 p.m. Tickets: $15; $10 (members and students with valid ID). Also, $65 reserved seating and special 6 p.m. reception. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.
March 18: The Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra presents KCO Music Director Gary S. Fagin's new musical drama, "Supreme Justice: The Battle for Gay Rights." The work is the story of the landmark Supreme Court decision to expand the definition of equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation, and a tribute to the friendship of Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. Also on the program, Grammy-nominated cellist Christine Kim will be the soloist in the "Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra" by Michael Bacon. Place: Pace University's Schimmel Center for the Arts, 3 Spruce St. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $55; $39; $29. For more information and to buy tickets, click here. March 23: The National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene invites everyone to put on a wild costume, make some noise, nosh and cut loose this Purim with an electrifying Golem concert and the only Yiddish Megile reading in New York City. The evening starts with a reading of the Megiles Ester as translated by the poet Yehoash, in Yiddish with English supertitles. Following the reading the punk infused rock-klezmer band Golem will perform. Free hamantashen provided by Ben's Delicatessen. Place: Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20. For more information, click here. To buy tickets, call Itzy Firestone at (212) 213-2120 x204 or click here.
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Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer
All articles and photographs in Downtown Post NYC are copyrighted and
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� 2016
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