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DOWNTOWN
POST NYC
News and Events
in Lower Manhattan
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Volume 3, No. 13 March 18, 2016
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Of all the living creatures upon land and sea, it is ships alone that cannot be taken in by barren pretences, that will not put up with bad art from their masters."
- A quotation from Joseph Conrad's "The Mirror of the Sea," inscribed on a beam in the lobby of the South Street Seaport Museum's 12 Fulton St. galleries
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.
VOTER REGISTRATION: The primary in New York State takes place on Tuesday, April 19. To vote in the primary, voters must be registered by Friday, March 25. If you have a valid ID from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, you can register to vote online. In addition, voters can register at a Board of Elections office or by mail. For information on how and where to register, click here.
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All ads in Downtown Post NYC have clickable links. Click on an ad for more information. MASTHEAD PHOTO: A life preserver from the South Street Seaport Museum's 1885 sailing ship Wavertree. It is part of an exhibit at the museum called "Street of Ships: The Port and its People" that opened on March 17, 2016. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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 A FIRST SINCE SUPERSTORM SANDY: SOUTH ST. SEAPORT MUSEUM OPENS 'STREET OF SHIPS' EXHIBIT AT ITS 12 FULTON ST. GALLERY
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| As Jonathan Boulware, executive director of the South Street Seaport Museum watched, Jeff Smith of WABC-TV New York rang the bell that once was aboard the lightship Ambrose and is now on display in the lobby of the South Street Seaport Museum at 12 Fulton St. (Photos: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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The large bronze bell that once hung on the lightship Relief (LV-78/WAL-505) now hangs in the lobby of the South Street Seaport Museum at 12 Fulton St. Jeanne Marie Ward gave the bell to the museum with one stipulation - that people be allowed to touch it. On March 16, a day before the museum's new exhibition, "Street of Ships: The Port and Its People" opened to the public, Jeff Smith of WABC-TV knelt beside the bell and swung the clapper. A piercing sound resonated through the museum's lobby, where the exhibition had been installed.
The lightship on which that bell had hung was stationed in the Ambrose Channel, the main channel into the Port of New York, to warn ships away from dangerous rocks and shoals. It was equipped with that bell to provide an audible signal that would carry for long distances. But because of the work it was doing, the lightship itself was in danger. On June 24, 1960, the outbound general cargo ship, Green Bay, rammed the lightship in heavy fog. The crew abandoned ship but the vessel itself and its bell sank to the bottom of the channel.
Jeanne Marie Ward's uncle, Michael Lacey, a scuba diver, helped to retrieve the bell, which his niece gave to the museum in his memory and in memory of her sister. A mirror beneath the bell shows that it is still full of barnacles.
The "Street of Ships" exhibit is small but personal. Most of the objects on display come with
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Penelope, a figurehead that woodcarver Sal Polisi was working on at the time of his death in 2015.
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stories about the people who interacted with them, and in some cases, made them. On one side of the gallery, an unfinished wooden figurehead leans against the wall. Sal Polisi, who carved her, called her Penelope. He intended her as a figurehead for the museum's 1885 sailing ship Wavertree, now in shipyard for a $10.5 million restoration. Polisi was working on Penelope at the time of his death in 2015.
Those who knew and loved Polisi will probably not look at Penelope without a tear.
In a case in the exhibit are some other handmade objects - bricks that are more than 200 years
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Handmade bricks from Schermerhorn Row.
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old. They were used to build Schermerhorn Row, where the museum is located. They are irregular in shape because someone literally packed them into a mold to make them - someone unknown and long dead but whose work survives.
On the walls of the exhibit are photographs and stories about the men who sailed the Seaport's ships and the merchants and other business people who worked in the Seaport, seeing the ships off and awaiting their return from all parts of the world, laden with cargo.
One photograph shows Albert "Bert" Brew, a fine-looking man with a large, handlebar
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Capt. Albert "Bert" Brew.
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mustache. At the age of 25, he was appointed captain of the Wavertree when the ship's owner, Leyland, ordered her previous Master to another ship. Brew was to take the ship from San Francisco to Australia. That was a huge responsibility for a young man. In the month after his appointment, Brew had to study for and earn a temporary Master's certificate, which he did. Under Brew's leadership, the Wavertree arrived in Australia in January 1905.
While there, preparing for Wavertree's next voyage, to Mollendo, Peru, Brew earned his official Master's certificate. But before the ship set sail, another ship, the Chipperkyle, also bound for Mollendo, challenged Wavertree to a race.
Wavertree left Australia on April 6, 1905. According to the account on the exhibition wall next to Brew's photo, "Several days passed with fine weather but soon the barometer fell, indicating a dramatic change in the weather. For Wavertree, much of her life was 'dirty weather and damage,' but this time, she would come through it fine. Captain Brew ordered a reduction in sail before strong winds and waves pummeled the ship. The next morning, Wavertree sailed through a field of wreckage. Wavertree under Brew's command arrived safely in Mollendo on June 10, 1905, but Chipperkyle was lost with all hands."
The exhibit in the South Street Seaport Museum lobby has many artifacts from the Wavertree and stories related to her career as a tramp ship, touching at ports all over the world. The exhibition will provide a fine introduction to Wavertree when she comes back from Caddell shipyard this summer. What that ship and her men have been through should inspire awe.
Among the most personal things in the exhibition are some quotations from Joseph Conrad, inscribed on the gallery's beams. Jonathan Boulware, executive director of the museum, selected them.
Boulware grew up sailing traditional small craft in the Mystic and Connecticut Rivers and has been master or mate on more than a dozen tall ships. He has sailed on both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard license for sailing vessels to 500 tons upon seas.
The quotations are from Conrad's "The Mirror of the Sea."
"But in a gale, the silent machinery of a sailing ship would catch not only the power, but the wild and exulting voice of the world's soul," one of them says.
The other one reads, "Of all the living creatures upon land and sea, it is ships alone that cannot be taken in by barren pretences, that will not put up with bad art from their masters."
As Boulware fights to grow the South Street Seaport Museum and to protect its many treasures on water and land, that second quotation must be particularly meaningful to him.
The sea is powerful, beautiful, ferocious and without subterfuge. There is a simplicity to its calculations. Unlike many activities on land, there are no agendas. The sea is simple. It rewards the skilled, the knowledgeable and the brave.
- Terese Loeb Kreuzer
The "Street of Ships" exhibition "is a great step forward for us," Boulware said. This is the first exhibition in the museum's 12 Fulton St. gallery since it was flooded by Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012. It 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.
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Jonathan Boulware, executive director of the South Street Seaport Museum, standing in the lobby of the 12 Fulton St. building where an exhibition called "Street of Ships: The Port and Its People" has just been installed.
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HOWARD HUGHES CORP. BRINGS TIN BUILDING PLANS TO LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION ON 3/22; 80 SOUTH ST. SALE
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| Surrounded by construction on all sides, the landmarked Tin Building is barely visible at the east end of Beekman Street in the South Street Seaport.
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
The long-fought battle in the South Street Seaport over the fate of the landmarked Tin Building is finally coming in front of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. On Tuesday, March 22, LPC will hear The Howard Hughes Corporation's proposal to dismantle, relocate, reconstruct and alter the building, which was designed by the Berlin Construction Company, built in 1907, and rebuilt by Wank Adams Slavin Associates in 1995.
The hearing will begin at approximately 3:45 p.m. at 1 Centre St., 9th floor. The public can testify.
Community Board 1 passed a resolution at its full board meeting on Jan. 26, 2016 that approved some aspects of The Howard Hughes Corporation plan but opposed the crux of it. The resolution noted that a mixed-use project previously discussed by HHC included the Tin and New Market Buildings, Schermerhorn Row, the Museum Block and a portion of the East River and esplanade, but now, said the resolution, "this has been segmented by EDC [the New York City Economic Development Corporation] to allow the applicant to move forward with the Tin Building project without a master plan for the whole Mixed Use project, which the Committee feels is inappropriate segmenting which cannot be supported."
The resolution asked that the Seaport Working Group be reconvened "to consider EDC's new approach to further segmenting this important site."
The Seaport Working Group had consisted of elected officials, community stakeholders, and representatives of EDC and Howard Hughes.
Community Board 1 went on to say in its resolution that it would not support a proposal that does not meet all the guidelines prepared by the Seaport Working Group. (Information about the Seaport Working Group and about its guidelines and principles can be viewed by clicking here.)
Part of the difficulty in the South Street Seaport is that the City's boundaries for the South Street Seaport Historic District are less inclusive than the Federal and State boundaries. This has enabled The Howard Hughes Corporation, which holds long-term leases on parts of the Seaport, to propose high-rise towers just outside the landmarked district.
Community Board 1 has repeatedly asked the Landmarks Preservation Commission to extend the New York City South Street Seaport Historic District so as to provide protection from just that kind of development and, as the resolution says, "to help ensure the sense of place remains within the Historic District and to preserve the vitally important link between the Historic District and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge Individual New York City and Federal Landmark."
Although The Howard Hughes Corporation seems to have backed down from its initial plan to demolish the New Market building and erect a 495-foot-tall tower on that South Street site, it still seems to want to erect a hotel where the New Market building now stands.
Meanwhile, just beyond the southern boundary of the Historic District, The Howard Hughes Corporation has finalized a $390 million deal to sell a site at 80 South St. to a Chinese investment group. The air rights that HHC sold to the Chinese will enable them to erect an apartment tower more than 1,000 feet tall. Commercial Observer reported that the sale finally went through on March 16, 2016 and was "one of the largest land deals so far this year." ("$390M Deal to Sell Seaport Development Site to Chinese Investor," Commercial Observer, 3/16/16. For that article, click here.
- Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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Bits & Bytes
DOORMAN SUES RECTOR PLACE BUILDING; REAL ESTATE BOOM MAY BE OVER; 30 PARK PLACE PENTHOUSE ON THE MARKET; LIFE ON A BOAT
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| | Liberty House in Battery Park City. A former doorman is suing the Liberty House management. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
"Doorman told to work 16-hour shift after dealing with 2 tenant deaths: suit," New York Post, 3/11/16. "A doorman is suing his former bosses at a Battery Park City apartment complex, saying they subjected him to a week from hell - sending him to deal with a tenant who had keeled over on the toilet from a heart �attack and another who had committed suicide," says the New York Post. "Julius Booker also alleges in his suit that when he asked his bosses at Liberty House [at 377 Rector Place] for a couple of days off to recover, they demanded he work a 16-hour shift." For the complete article, click here. "30 Park Place's Most Expensive Penthouse (For Now) Finally Hits the Market," Curbed.com, 3/11/16. "Sales for some of the apartments at Silverstein's 30 Park Place launched nearly two years ago, but the opulent penthouses have been coming to market rather slowly," says Curbed.com. "A few are already in contract, but the largest and most expensive of the bunch-a sprawling 6,127-square-foot pad on the 78th floor-just hit the market, for its previously reported $32.5 million asking price." Curbed says that "the duplex apartment has some rather spectacular features, including a double-height loggia that faces north, overlooking Park Place and the rest of Manhattan. It has five bedrooms (one of which could become a media room, if you so choose), six bathrooms, a powder room, a library, eat-in kitchen, and more." For the complete article, click here. "Cracks in the market: Is New York's real estate boom over?" Crain's New York Business, 3/13/16. "New York City's real estate market is showing telltale signs of slowing after an extraordinary three-year run that saw average office rents in Manhattan jump by 20%-from just under $60 per square foot to more than $70 - and the median home price in the borough climb to a record-high $1.15 million from $800,000," says Crain's New York Business. "The pessimism centers on residential development sites amid concerns the city is overstuffed with high-end apartments. Among the recent string of sobering reports is news that a 10-story building in Brooklyn Heights - one of three large properties being sold by the Jehovah's Witnesses there and in Dumbo - will fetch a price 25% below the $300 million or more for which it was initially projected to sell. The parcels are considered prime places for both residential and commercial development. Brokers said the decrease mirrors a precipitous drop in the value of land sites in the city by 20% to 25% so far in 2016." For the complete article, click here. "Why One Couple Gave Up Their NYC Apartment For Life on a Boat," Curbed.com, 3/14/16. "One thing that's true of New Yorkers is that they'll find ingenious ways to stay in the (very expensive) city they love. For one couple, that meant switching up their living situation to something more unorthodox," says Curbed.com. "Mel Magazine profiles a young couple who gave up their nearly $5,000/month Nolita apartment...to live on a boat" where, says Curbed, they are paying $360 a month. For the complete article with a videotape showing life on the boat in the winter, click here. (Downtown Post NYC Editor's note: The Curbed article says that the boat is docked on the East River, however it is clear from the video that it is at Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, with lovely views of Lower Manhattan.) "Bjarke Ingels Talks 2 WTC Design and 'Extreme' Architecture," Curbed.com, 3/14/16. "Danish wunderkind Bjarke Ingels is working on some of the most prominent projects in New York City right now, architecturally speaking-from the stalled 2 World Trade Center to a Hudson Yards skyscraper to the triangular tetrahedron on Manhattan's west side-and in a new 60 Minutes interview, he talked about those projects, along with his path to becoming one of the world's current starchitects." For the complete article with a video, click here. "What's Going on in Lower Manhattan?," New Construction Manhattan, 3/8/16. "South Street Seaport's Luxury Condos On the Market This Fall," announces New Construction Manhattan. "For quite some time now, the South Street Seaport area has been tower-less. Now, Fortis Property Group, which purchased a site on the seaport for a whopping $46M, has been approved for a 646-foot tall-glass condo tower. The building has a projected sellout of $272 million, which means average asking price for a condo will be $3.4 million, according to Curbed." For the complete article, click here.
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Downtown bulletin board
LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION TRAINING; MTA SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON SUBWAY CHANGES; BPCA SCHEDULES PUBLIC MEETING FOR APRIL 13
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| The ice skating rink at Brookfield Place in Battery Park City will remain open until the end of March, weather permitting. For more information, click here.
(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.
American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Training: A 40-hour course given at the Stuyvesant High School Community Center meets New York State Health Department regulations for life guards and includes CPR/AED and first-aid skills. Participants must be at least 15 years old by April 25, 2016. Place: Stuyvesant High School, 345 Chambers St. Dates: April 25-April 29, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost: $425; $400 (Community Center members); $375 (students). Register before April 1 and receive a 10 percent discount on the course. For information and to register, call (212) 267-9700 or click here.
School crossing guards needed: Part-time school crossing guard jobs are available now. 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. Pay: $11.79/hour to start; $13.83/hour after three years of service. Health benefits and health insurance are included for those working 20 or more hours per week. There are no formal education or experience requirements for the job but all candidates must be able to understand and be understood in English. Applications are available at the First Precinct, 16 Ericsson Place. Phone: (212) 334-0611.
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.
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.
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 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 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. 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. 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. |
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A scale model of the cargo ship Wavertree at sea. It was made by William Hitchcock and is in the collection of the South Street Seaport Museum. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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COMMUNITY BOARD MEETING: Week of March 22
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| | Fulton Street in the South Street Seaport as it looked three months after Superstorm Sandy flooded the area on Oct. 29, 2012. On March 14, Community Board 1's Planning Committee got an update from the Mayors Office on resiliency planning for Lower Manhattan. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
Community Board 1's Monthly Meeting will be held on March 22 at Manhattan Youth Recreation and Resources, 120 Warren St. (at West Street) starting at 6 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
I. Public Session
* Comments by members of the public (6 p.m. to 7 p.m.) (1-2 minutes per speaker)
Welcome
* Bob Townley, executive director Manhattan Youth Recreation and Resources, Inc.
* Musical performances by two of Manhattan Youth's after-school programs from IS 276 and from The Lower Manhattan Middle School. Introduced by Bob Townley.
Guest Speaker
* Loree Sutton, Mayor's Office of Veterans' Affairs
II. Business Session
A. Adoption of February 2016 minutes
B. Chairperson's Report - C. McVay Hughes
C. District Manager's Report - N. Pfefferblit.
III. Election of Nominating Committee
A. Distribution of ballots and voting (ballot box to remain open until 7:15 p.m. sharp)
IV. Committee Reports
A. Personnel Committee - R. Byrom
* Report
B. Seaport/Civic Center Committee - M. Pasanella
Community Board 1 Resiliency & Task Force- Resolution
* 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
* Request for Proposals for John Street Service Building at John St. and South St. - Report
C. Planning Committee - P. Kennell
* Water Street Upgrades Text Amendment N 160166 ZRM - Resolution
* Lower Manhattan Resiliency - Report
D. Tribeca Committee - E. Lewinsohn
* Street permit application by Taste of Tribeca on Saturday, May 21, 2016 Duane Street between Greenwich and Hudson Streets and Greenwich between Reade and Jay Streets - Resolution
* 399 Greenwich St., application for new sidewalk cafe for Greenwich Street Tavern - Resolution
* 370 Canal St., application for hotel liquor license for Tribeca TRS LLC dba Sheraton Tribeca NY Hotel - Resolution
* Worth Street coordination by Mayor's Task Force - Resolution
* Worth Street testing by Con Edison - Resolution
* Street permit application for Love Compost on Saturday, May 7, 2016 Duane Street between Greenwich and Hudson Streets - Resolution
* 52 Walker Street, application for reconsideration of liquor license application by KNH Enterprises LLC d/b/a M1-5 - Resolution
* 404 Broadway, application for liquor license for Chipotle Mexican Grill - Report
* 60 Hudson St. - Report
* Zoning for Morton Street School - Report
* Temporary public art project in Finn Square - Report
E. Financial District Committee - R. Sheffe
* First Police Precinct Explorers Block Party - street activity permit application for Liberty St between Broadway and Trinity Pl, Sunday, August 14, 2016 noon to 6 p.m. - Resolution
* First Police Precinct Block Party - street activity permit application for Maiden Ln between South St and Water St, Friday, November 18, 2016 noon to 6 p.m. - Resolution
* Sons of Italy Freedom Block Party - street activity permit application for Liberty St between Broadway and Trinity Pl, Sunday, October 9, 2016 noon to 6 pm. - Resolution
* Bowling Green Association - street activity permit application for Whitehall St between Stone St and Water St, Broadway between Morris St and Stone St and Broadway between Liberty St and Battery Pl, Monday, October 10, 2016 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. - Resolution
* Veteran's Day Festival - street activity permit application for Broadway between Liberty St and Battery Pl, Friday, November 11, 2016 noon to 6 p.m.- Resolution
* Oysterfest - street activity permit application for Stone Street between Hanover Sq and Broad St, Mill Lane between S William St and Stone St, and Hanover Sq between Pearl St and S William St, Saturday, September 24, 2016 11 a.m.-10 p.m. - Resolution
* Stone Street Pedestrian Mall - street activity permit application for Stone St between Broad St and Hanover Sq, Mill Ln between S William St and Stone St, Friday, March 11, 2016 to Friday, November 18, 2016 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. - Resolution
* "Daredevil" trespassing and building scaling - Report
* 1 Wall Street - Report
* Broadway Reconstruction - Report
F. Combined Financial District and P. Kennell
Seaport /Civic Center Committees M. Pasanella
* Deepavali Festival 2016 - street activity permit application for Water Street between Fulton Street and Fletcher Street, John Street between Front Street and Water Street, Front Street between John Street and Maiden Lane, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, noon to 7 pm. - Resolution
* CB1 - Fulton Street Follies - street activity permit application for Fulton Street between Gold Street and Broadway, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Resolution
* Seaport Community Coalition - Summer Seaport Festival - street activity permit application for Water Street between Fulton Street and Broad Street, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Resolution
* CB1 - Great July 4th Fair - street activity permit application for Fulton Street between Water Street and Gold Street, Monday, July 4, 2016, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Resolution
G. Combined Financial District and R. Sheffe
Youth and Education Committees T. Joyce/P. Hovitz
* 42 Trinity School - Resolution
H. Landmarks Committee R. Byrom
* 22 Barclay St., application for ADA ramp and emergency generator - Resolution
* 175 Franklin St., application for elevator bulkhead - Resolution
* 346 Broadway application to relocate historic staircase into banking hall - Resolution
* Peck Slip Design Concepts - Resolution
I. Youth & Education Committee P. Hovitz
* Gehry Building Garage - Report
* Update on breakfast in the classroom issue at Peck Slip School - Report
* Update on crossing guard safety issues at downtown schools - Report
* Report on elected officials meeting concerning BPCA security force - Report
J. Battery Park City Committee A. Notaro
* The future of St. Joseph's Chapel in Battery Park City - Resolution
* 225 Liberty Street, Store 245A, application for upgrade from wine and beer to liquor license for Tartinery Liberty LLC at 225 Liberty Street - Resolution
* 225 Liberty St., Store 245A, application for a wine and beer permit for a seasonal popup bar for Tartinery Liberty LLC at 225 Liberty Street - Resolution
* Asphalt Green Renovation and Programming Changes - Resolution
* Poet's House - Report
* BPCA permit request American Heart Association/Eventage, May 19, 2016 - Report
K. Quality of Life Committee P. Moore
* Request for support for application by NYU Medical Center to expand their service area for emergency service - Resolution
* Request for support for application to extend World Trade Center Registry, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Resolution
* Council Intro 17 Regarding After Hours Construction Variances and request to create a City-wide Construction Coordinator - Resolution
* Age-friendly Neighborhood Action Plan - Report
* Construction Forum - Report
* New York Civilian Complaint Review Board Updates and General Agency Overview - Report
V. Old Business
VI. New Business
VII. Adjournment
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CALENDAR: Weeks of March 14 and March 22
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| On March 18, Grammy-nominated cellist Christine Kim will be the soloist with the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra in the "Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra" by Michael Bacon at Pace University's Schimmel Center for the Arts. Also on the program, Gary S. Fagin's new musical drama, "Supreme Justice: The Battle for Gay Rights."
For tickets, click here. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
Ongoing: "Street of Ships: The Port and Its People" in the South Street Seaport Museum's 12 Fulton St. lobby. The exhibition showcases 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 on display 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. On view through 2016. Place: 12 Fulton St. Time: Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets: $12; $8 (seniors 65+, Merchant Mariners, Active Duty Military and students (with valid ID); $6 (kids, ages 6-17); free (children ages 5 and under). For more information or to reserve 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 19: At the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Monk in Motion: The Next Face of Jazz presents vocalist Vuyo (Vuyolwethu) Sotashe, the 2nd Runner-Up of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. Sotashe, born in South Africa, moved to New York City in 2013 after being awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue a Master of Music at William Paterson University. Since then, he has won first prize at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Vocal Competition in 2014 and performed on the festivals's main stage in February 2015. More recently, he won the Audience prize award and placed second over-all at the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition in 2015, held at the annual Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Place: Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.
March 20: Downtown Voices, Lower Manhattan's semiprofessional chorus, will perform two contemplative works, "Seven Last Words from the Cross" by James MacMillan and Paul
Mealor's "Stabat Mater," which was performed at the 2011 Royal Wedding. Both blend solemnity with inspiration. Stephen Sands is the conductor. Place: St. Paul's Chapel (Broadway at Fulton Street). Time: 3 p.m. Free. For more information, click here. March 22: In a program called "Not in God's Name: Confronting Religious Violence," Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the UK and Commonwealth, will explore the complex connection between religion and violence, and the potential for faith to promote peace. This program at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum will be followed by a book sale and signing of Sacks' bestseller, "Not in God's Name: Confronting Religious Violence." Place: National September 11 Museum. Time: 7 p.m. Reservations required. Free. To register, click here.
Ongoing: "Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains" at the National Museum of the American Indian traces the evolution of the narrative art form from historic hides, muslins and ledger books to a selection of contemporary works by Native artists, the majority commissioned for this exhibition. Warrior-artists from the Native nations of North America's plains have long used pictures to depict visionary experiences and successes in battle and horse raiding. When the U.S. government enacted policies from 1870 to 1920 that forced Plains people to give up their traditions, drawings became a crucial means of addressing cultural upheaval. Since the 1960s, narrative artists have blended traditional and modern materials to depict everything from ceremonies and family histories to humor and contemporary life. Through Dec. 4, 2016. Place: 1 Bowling Green. The museum is open daily. 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: "Off the Wall" at the World Trade Gallery celebrates street art. Place: 120 Broadway (entrance on Cedar Street). The exhibition continues through April 12. The gallery is open daily. 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 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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Downtown Post NYC is emailed to subscribers twice a week.
Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer
All articles and photographs in Downtown Post NYC are copyrighted and
may not be reprinted or republished without written permission.
� 2016
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