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DOWNTOWN
POST NYC 
 
News and Events
in Lower Manhattan
 
 
Volume 3, No. 19 April 19, 2016
IN THIS ISSUE

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"People get so enamored of them that they give them hugs and kisses."
     - Australian artist Amanda Parer describing the reaction to her giant rabbits, now on exhibit at Brookfield Place  

 
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.

NEW YORK STATE PRIMARY ELECTION: The primary election in New York State is being held on Tuesday, April 19. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters in Lower Manhattan are selecting their choice for the Democratic and Republican nominee for U.S. president and for someone to take the seat of former New York State Assemblymember Sheldon Silver. For more information, click here        

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MASTHEAD PHOTO: Tulips blooming in Battery Park City's community garden.
April 16, 2016 (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) 

primaryNEW YORK STATE PRIMARY ON APRIL 19
Mayor Bill de Blasio at a rally on April 6 at the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in support of Hillary Clinton's candidacy for the U.S. presidency. He was joined by Clinton's campaign manager, Robby Mook, along with Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, City Councilman Mathieu Eugene, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Assemblywoman Joanne Simon, and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Most voters in Lower Manhattan will be getting two ballots when they go to the polls on April 19. One will permit them to vote in the presidential primary if they are registered as Democrats or Republicans. (Voters registered as Independents cannot vote in this primary, nor can a voter registered for one party cross over to vote in the other one.) They will also be getting a ballot that will enable them to vote in a special election to select someone to fill the New York State Assembly seat vacated by Sheldon Silver, who was forced to resign when he was convicted of corruption. Any registered voter can vote in this election.

Both elections have generated passion and vitriol. Hillary Clinton has some solid support among New York City's elected officials, Bernie Sanders, less so.

"I believe that Hillary has the experience, temperament, and know-how to deliver results for the millions of Americans who need the federal government to work for them," said Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. "I'm thrilled that our next president will be a woman, but even more so, I'm thrilled that Hillary is the most qualified president we'll have elected in decades."

Mayor Bill de Blasio is supporting her. So are Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who represents Lower Manhattan, is in her camp as is Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who represents the East Side of Manhattan but who worked so long and hard to get the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act passed. City Councilmember Margaret Chin, whose district encompasses most of Lower Manhattan, has endorsed Hillary Clinton.

The race to fill Silver's Assembly seat is less clear cut. There are three candidates who have a chance of winning this race, and all have received significant endorsements. Alice Cancel, the candidate on the Democratic party line, was nominated in February when 180 members of the Manhattan Democratic Party in the 65th Assembly District selected her over four competitors.

One of them, Yuh-Line Niou, who has been chief of staff to Ron Kim, a Queens assemblyman, so rejected that process that she decided to run on the Working Families ballot line. Her campaign seems to have been well financed, with numerous fliers that touted her desire to "clean up Albany and deliver for our schools, our seniors and our families" and other fliers that showed unflattering pictures of Cancel and said that she is "Shelly Silver's hand-picked choice to be our next assemblymember. We can't let that happen."

Although Niou has only lived in the Financial District for two years, The New York Times endorsed her, as did New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, former Comptroller John Liu and State Senators Daniel Squadron and Brad Hoylman.

City Councilmembers Margaret Chin and Rosie Mendez (City Council District 2), endorsed Cancel. Chin said that "she is the only candidate in this special election that shares our values and knows the district she seeks to represent. Alice knows the parks, the schools, and the small businesses across this diverse district. In particular, she understands the historic challenges facing our public housing, and has a proven track record of working with tenant leaders to fight for more money for apartment repairs, working elevators, and enhanced services for our seniors. For years, I have worked with Alice on issues of importance to our community, and I am confident she will be a champion for the people in Albany. Alice Cancel has my endorsement because she's earned it. Her knowledge of the issues and the people in our district make her the best choice in the April 19th special election."

Mendez an early endorser of Cancel stated, "There's one candidate in the Special Election who has lived here, knows the community and has done the work and that person is Alice Cancel.  Alice has been a district leader for 25 years who has represented her community, who has fought against inequities and resolved thousands of complaints for her neighbors. Based on her commitment to her community and her ability to get things done, I am proud to support Alice Cancel."

A third candidate, Lester Chang, is running on the Republican, Reform and Independence party lines. He has served in the Navy and is active in Chinatown politics. He has been endorsed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association,  the Lin Sing Association of Chinatown and the New York Post.

Dennis Levey is running on the Green Party line but is not expected to garner many votes.

Whoever wins this special election will have to run again for a full term in November.

- Terese Loeb Kreuzer

The polls in New York State are open on April 19 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For the location of polling sites, click here.





ObitTRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL: 'OBIT' FOLLOWS THE LIVES OF THE NEW YORK TIMES' OBITUARY WRITERS, WHO PRACTICE A DYING ART
   
The last remaining archivist at The New York Times, Jeff Roth searches the New York Times morgue. (Photos: Ben Wolf)

If you're going to die and think that you might have led a life worthy of an obituary in The New York Times, do the staff a favor and die early in the morning and not on a weekend. Like death and taxes, Times deadlines are implacable. The obituary staff really appreciates having a full day to pull the facts together, create an interesting story and get it on its way to press by 6 p.m. And if you die on a weekend, of course that means that someone has to scrap his or her weekend plans and think about you instead.

That's one of the messages of the engaging documentary, "Obit," which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Sunday, April 17. Few newspapers these days devote a whole department to writing obituaries. The Times has a five-person staff whose job, as Margalit Fox, one of the writers, describes it, is to capture the life of a person at the very moment that he or she is becoming history.

In addition, The Times has a morgue of newspaper clippings and photographs kept in battered, green metal filing cabinets presided over by the one remaining full-time archivist, Jeff Roth, who candidly admits that he doesn't know everything that's there. How could he? Some of the files are more than a century old and were arranged by people who themselves have long since departed, taking their filing system with them.

Fox says that the obituary writers are often criticized for their numerous stories about dead, white males and relatively few stories about women and minorities. That's because, she says, obituaries are retrospective and until recently white males were the primary movers and shakers. Now that other kinds of people are getting a place at the table, more stories about them are on the obituary pages of The Times.

Editors meet each morning to consider what deaths to cover.
The obituary writers have a staff meeting every morning to decide the assignments for the day, though of course there can be an unanticipated death that will upend everything. Ultimately, the relative importance of a person's life is measured in column inches. Some people get 500 words. Others get a full page or more, with front page placement.

And it isn't enough, says one of the obit writers, to have had a lifetime subscription to The New York Times to get a mention for the deceased. "We get 15 calls like that a day!" he remarks.

No. To merit a Times obituary, the person must have made an impact on the world or be very unusual. Take William P. Wilson, for instance, whose obituary was written as "Obit" was being filmed. Do you remember him? Maybe not. But you might remember the nationally televised debate on Sept. 26, 1960 between Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts and U.S. Vice President Richard M. Nixon, both of whom were running for president.

Wilson was a television consultant - one of the first in what was then a fledgling industry. Employed by Kennedy, he arranged for the candidates to stand behind a single-pole lectern that showed off Kennedy's athletic physique and his dark, well-fitting suit. Wilson persuaded Kennedy to use some light makeup. Meanwhile, Nixon without this kind of helpful advice, was sweating profusely and had a five-o'clock shadow. His gray suit hung on him.

Around 70 million people watched that debate, which was widely credited with propelling Kennedy into the presidency.

William P. Wilson died on Dec. 11, 2014 at the age of 86. He got a 1,080 word obituary in The Times.

- Terese Loeb Kreuzer


"Obit" was directed by Vanessa Gould and produced by Gould and Caitlin Mae Burke. Ben Wolf was the cinematographer, Kristin Bye, the editor.

"Obit" is playing at the Tribeca Film Festival at the Regal Battery Park Stadium 11 theater, 102 North End Ave., on Thursday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. and at the Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea, 260 W. 23rd St. on Friday, April 22 at 8:30 p.m.

For tickets, click here.

 



rabbitsGIANT RABBITS COME TO BROOKFIELD PLACE IN BATTERY PARK CITY   
Using inflatable nylon, Australian artist Amanda Parer has created giant sculptures of rabbits. They are now on display at Brookfield Place overlooking North Cove Marina and inside the Winter Garden. (Photos: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
 
Sightings of giant rabbits at Brookfield Place in Battery Park City are not due to excessive drink or a fevered mind. There really are giant rabbits at Brookfield Place.

They were installed on April 17 with supervision from their creator, Australian artist Amanda Parer, who has been taking them on tour since they made their debut in Sydney, Australia in 2014. Before arriving in New York City, they had been to Istanbul, Slovakia, Canada, England, France, Belgium, Sweden and several other places.

The rabbits are constructed of nylon and have lights inside, which make them especially dramatic at night.

Amanda Parer
Parer had been traveling with five rabbits, but created two more for Arts Brookfield, sponsor of the New York show. The two new bunnies are extra large. One that reclines on the plaza overlooking North Cove Marina is almost 51 feet long. In the Winter Garden is a 30-foot-tall rabbit along with several smaller brethern.

Parer said that she thought of making rabbits as an environmental statement. "In Australia, the rabbit is an invasive species," she said, "and so the size represents a dominating aspect of them and the environment. I also use the rabbit as a humorous metaphor for us and our effect on the environment."

Parer has been responsible for some rabbit proliferation herself. The demand for her rabbits has been so great that she now has four sets of them traveling around the world. "I'm just amazed that this work has taken off as it has," she said.

Parer said that people react to the rabbits in similar ways, wherever in the world they have been displayed. "People get so enamored of them that they give them hugs and kisses," she said. She appreciates the exuberant intent but noted that lipstick marks are difficult to remove.

In addition to excessive affection, wind is a hazard. Essentially the rabbits are large balloons. "They have to be weighted and tethered correctly so that don't get damaged or damage property or onlookers," said Parer. Arts Brookfield alerted her to the windiness of the North Cove location and made sure that the rabbits wouldn't take off unexpectedly.

After the rabbits leave New York City on April 30, they will go to other Brookfield premises in Houston, Denver and Los Angeles - and then it's on to Memphis, Tenn. and to other places around the States.

- Terese Loeb Kreuzer




  

Bits & Bytes
obstaclesOBSTACLES FOR WOMEN ARCHITECTS; PERMIT FILED FOR PARK ROW TOWER;  LANDMARKS APPROVES 1 WALL STREET SIGNAGE 
Claire Weisz of WXY, the architecture and urban design firm that designed the building that houses the SeaGlass Carousel in Battery Park. Weisz was among the female architects interviewed recently by The New York Times about their experiences as women in a male-dominated profession. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
 
"I Am Not the Decorator: Female Architects Speak Out," New York Times, 4/13/16. Architect Zaha Hadid, who died on March 31 at the age of 65, said as quoted by The New York Times, "For a woman to go out alone in architecture is still very, very hard. It's still a man's world." The Times also cited "a study on diversity in the profession released this year by the American Institute of Architects that found that 'women strongly believe that there is not gender equity in the industry'; that women and minorities say they are less likely to be promoted to more senior positions; and that gender and race are obstacles to equal pay for comparable positions." After Hadid's death, The Times asked female architects among its readers to talk candidly about their experiences in the profession: the progress they've made and the obstacles they still face on construction sites and in client meetings. Among those they interviewed was Claire Weisz, founding partner of WXY architects and the principal-in-charge of the Lower Manhattan firm. "I have heard discussions where Zaha Hadid's name came up as a suggestion to do a high-rise tower, and the men around the table declared her too risky," Weisz said. "This is emblematic of the obstacles inherent in the field of high-profile projects. There needs to be more awareness among women in a position to be clients to consider hiring architectural firms that have women in design leadership roles." For the complete article, click here.

"L+M plans 54-story Park Row resi-and-retail tower,"
www.therealdeal.com, 4/15/16. L+M's Ron Moelis, the developer of a 59-story, 266,000 square-foot tower at 23 Park Row in the Financial District, has filed a permit application for the project, says The Real Deal. "Plans call for 108 apartments in 213,000 square feet of residential space, as well as 52,600 square feet of retail between the cellar level and the lower four floors. There will be five apartments each on the sixth through 11th floors, four on the 12th through 14th floors, three on the 15th through 21st floors, two on the 24th through 43rd floors, and full-floor penthouse units on the 44th through 48th floors of the building, the filing shows." For the complete article, click here.

"Landmarks Approves Signage For Conversion Of 1 Wall Street, Financial District," New York YIMBY, 4/15/16. "It was back in January that the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved exterior modifications that will allow 1 Wall Street, the 1931, 50-story-tall, Ralph Walker-designed office building at the corner of Broadway in the Financial District, to be converted to residential use," says New York YIMBY. "Well, almost all of the modifications. One sticking point was signage, and on Tuesday, the LPC approved that. The building initially served as the headquarters for the Irving Trust Company, later Bank of New York and BNY Mellon. They moved over to Brookfield Place and their now former home will be 524 apartments, plus two retail spaces (one in the magnificent Red Room), developed by Macklowe Properties and designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and SLCE Architects." For the complete article, click here.

"Related secures $150M refi of Tribeca Tower,"
www.therealdeal.com, 4/15/16. "Stephen Ross' Related Companies sealed a $150 million refinancing of its 52-story rental building Tribeca Tower," says The Real Deal. "Last month, Wells Fargo provided a new $52.5 million gap mortgage on the property at 105 Duane Street, according to city property records filed Friday. That loan is being consolidated with $97.5 million in existing debt on the building, according to mortgage documents, including a $55 million loan from the city's Housing Development Corporation and a $42.5 million mortgage from lender American Property Financing (now part of Wells Fargo)." For the complete article, click here.




Downtown bulletin board
campSCHOOL HOLIDAY CAMP; SAILING SEASON BEGINS; MANHATTAN YOUTH DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY AWARDS; AMERICA'S CUP RACES
Michael Fortenbaugh, Commodore of the Manhattan Yacht Club, with guests aboard the Honorable William Wall, the yacht club's clubhouse, anchored near Ellis Island. The Honorable William Wall will be open on May 7 and May 8 during the America's Cup races in New York Harbor and will open for the season on May 10.
 (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Seaport Real Estate Trivia Night: On April 20, Bridget Schuy and the BOND New York Seaport team of real estate professionals are staging Seaport Real Estate Trivia Night with prizes and refreshments. The Grand Prize is a sail for two on Schooner Pioneer plus a family membership in the South Street Seaport Museum. Second Prize is a private mixology class for four people at Hideaway Seaport. The Third Prize is a Cowgirl Seahorse gift certificate. Daniel Gershburg, Esq., Seaport resident and real estate attorney, will be on hand to answer questions. Lauren Pastore from Contour Mortgage will also be there to explain what you need to know about mortgages. Place: Melville Gallery, 213 Water St.; Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. RSVP to [email protected]. Space is limited - reserve your spot today!

School Holiday Camp at Manhattan Youth: From April 25 to April 29, Manhattan Youth is running a full-day camp (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) at the Downtown Community Center, 120 Warren St., and at PS 89 for K-5 graders. Facilities include a full gym, theater, cafeteria, schoolyard, art room, dance studio, library and classrooms. Students are grouped by grade and spend the day playing sports in the gym and games in the yard, swimming in the pool, cooking in the kitchen, experimenting in the science room, improvising and singing in the dance room, and working in the art and ceramics rooms. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided. Tuition for one to three days is $100 per day. For four or more days, it's $85 per day, with a discount of 10 percent for Downtown Community Center members. For more information and to register, click here or call (212) 766-1104, ext. 259.

Free sailing: Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., May through October, Offshore Sailing is offering a free one-hour sail for New York City residents with a valid New York City ID. The boats leave from North Cove Marina at Brookfield Place in Battery Park City. There is a limit of one free sail per person per season. All who participate must be be 18+ years old or 7-17 years of age with a parent/guardian. Spots are limited - only 10 are available each day, so advance reservations are necessary. To reserve, click here. For information about the Offshore Sailing School's sailing programs for adults, families and kids, email [email protected].

America's Cup Races: Competitors for the America's Cup will be sailing in New York Harbor on May 7 and 8. Tickets are available to watch from the Honorable William Wall, the Manhattan Yacht Club's floating clubhouse, which is anchored north of Ellis Island. Each day of the race, there will be three launches to the clubhouse from the Battery Park City ferry terminal and from Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City - at 12:45 p.m., 1:15 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person and include food and all drinks. For more information, click here.

Sailing lessons: The Manhattan Sailing School's basic sailing courses start April 23 and 24. Lessons will take place at Pier 25 in Tribeca as well as at the Manhattan Sailing School's main facility in Jersey City. For information about schedules and courses, click here. The cost is $490 from the Jersey City location and $590 from the Manhattan location. Through April 30, there is a $100 discount for any Basic Sailing course. Use the promo code "Sail2016." American Sailing Association Standard for Basic Sailing certification is available for an additional fee of $50 with advance registration or $60 on the day of the course.

Manhattan Youth's 2016 Downtown Community Awards: Manhattan Youth will honor Catherine McVay Hughes on May 12 for her leadership as chair of Community Board 1 and for her dedication to issues such as community resilience, land use and overall services. Twenty students who have participated in Manhattan Youth's Community Service Program
will also be honored. They have contributed to community endeavors during Manhattan Youth's After-School programs, environmental cleanup and overall advocacy. Place: Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center, 120 Warren St. Time: 7 p.m. Tickets (to cover the cost of refreshments), $12. To buy tickets, click here.

Downtown Boathouse kayaking season: The Downtown Boathouse season of free kayaking will open at Pier 26 (on the Hudson River at North Moore Street) on Saturday, May 21. On weekends and holidays through Oct. 10, the hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the last boat going out a half hour before closing time. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from June 15 to Sept.15, the boathouse will be open from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition to Pier 26, the Downtown Boathouse runs a free public kayaking program on Governors Island, with details about the plans for this season yet to be announced. For information about how to become a volunteer for the Downtown Boathouse, click here.

Reduced fees at Stuyvesant High School Community Center: All-access memberships in the Community Center at Stuyvesant High School (CCSHS) at 345 Chambers St. will now cost $199 for adults (ages 18-61), down from $525. For Battery Park City residents, the price
Playing basketball at the Stuyvesant High School Community Center. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
will be $179. For seniors, youth (17 and under) and for members of the military, all-access annual membership is now $79, down from $150 for seniors and $100 for youth. Military membership pricing is being offered for the first time. Battery Park City residents in these categories will pay $59 annually for an all-access membership. Day passes will continue to cost $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and youth, with a first-time $10 day pass option now available for military members. Beginning May 1, annual membership and day pass purchases will include free access to many classes and programs at the community center. Upcoming classes and programs include group swim lessons for children and adults, tennis clinics, yoga, badminton, total body boxing, the BPC Running Club, and more. The Community Center at Stuyvesant High School is operated by the Parks Programming department of the Battery Park City Authority. The community center is open seven days a week when classes at the high school are not in session. For full membership options or to join CCSHS email  [email protected] or call (212) 267-9700. For more information, click here.

Free business counseling:
The Small Business Development Center at Pace University's Lubin School of Business (Pace SBDC) offers free business counseling to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Services include helping to access financing, develop business plans and financial projections, identify government procurement opportunities and come up with strategies for increasing sales (particularly for minority and women-owned businesses). Pace SBDC advisors can also guide entrepreneurs through the process of forming their legal structure as well as provide demographic, economic and other key market research. The service is both for new and for ongoing businesses. To set up a free appointment with a small business advisor, call (212) 618-6655 or click here.

Fireboat John J. Harvey gala:
The fireboat John J Harvey is 85 years old this year. At 130 feet and 268 gross tons, she is among the most powerful fireboats ever in service, capable of pumping up to 18,000 gallons of water a minute. Harvey assisted during such notable fires as the Cunard Line pier fire in 1932, the burning of the Normandie in 1942, and the ammunition ship El Estero during World War II. She served the FDNY until her retirement in 1994. On September 11, 2001, John J. Harvey was reactivated as FDNY Marine 2. Alongside FDNY fireboats Firefighter and John D. McKean, she pumped water for 80 hours, until water mains were restored. On May 3, celebrate Harvey's 85th birthday with an evening of music, cocktails and a buffet dinner with a selection of Firehouse Chilis, plus an exploration of the history of the New York Fire Department. Place: New York City Fire Museum, 278 Spring St. (between Varick and Hudson Streets). Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $125. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Community Convention: State Senator Daniel Squadron will be holding his 8th Annual Community Convention on Sunday, May 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at PS 124, The Yung Wing School, 40 Division St. (between Bowery and Market). The convention will be an opportunity to raise issues important to residents of the 26th Senate District, which Squadron represents. Subway: F to East Broadway, 6/J/N/Q/R/Z to Canal, or B/D to Grand Street. To register, click here.

Youth Open Mic Night:
Open Mic Night at Manhattan Youth on April 22 will give teens, ages 12 to 16, an opportunity to perform their own work or work they love accompanied by professional musicians. Place: Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center, 120 Warren St. Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free. RSVP is required along with parental permission. For more information about the Friday night programming at Manhattan Youth, click here.  To make a reservation for Open Mic Night, email [email protected] or call (212) 766-1104, ext. 299.

Contributions in memory of Peter Stanford:
Peter Stanford, founder and first president of the South Street Seaport Museum and the second president of the National Maritime Historical Society, died on March 24 at the age of 89. The Stanford family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to the National Maritime Historical Society and the South Street Seaport Museum. The National Maritime Historical Society is also requesting remembrances and photos for a feature on Peter Stanford for the next issue of Sea History. They can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to 5 John Walsh Boulevard, PO Box 68, Peekskill New York 10567.

Unclaimed funds in New York:
The New York State Comptroller's Office reports that it is holding nearly $14 billion in unclaimed money for New York residents who may have been charged superfluous fees or overpaid a bill, among other reasons for the money to end up in that office. Manhattan has the largest number of unclaimed funds in the New York area with just over 1.5 million potential cases. To search the comptroller's database and verify if you have unclaimed funds, click here or call (800) 221-9311 for more information.

Disposing of electronic waste: New York State and City laws require the safe disposal of electronic waste (such as cellphones, computers and television sets) so that it doesn't end up in landfill. Most electronics can't be discarded through regular curb-side pick ups. The Lower East Side Ecology Center has a warehouse in Gowanus where electronic waste can be dropped off. In addition, the Lower East Side Ecology Center  has rotating monthly  recycling events in various city neighborhoods. For a calendar of its April recycling events, click here. The New York City Department of Sanitation offers a free recycling service for apartment buildings with more than 10 units. For information on how to enroll, call (212) 437-4647. Finally, many manufacturers offer drop off or mail-back options. For a list of manufacturers registered in New York State, go to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation  website by clicking here. If a manufacturer on the list refuses to accept your electronics, notify the Department of Environmental Conservation by calling (800) 847-7332.

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). For information and to register, call (212) 267-9700 or click here.

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.

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. 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.

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 April 26; and May 3, 10, 17 and 24. 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 hereSeaGlass Carousel is 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 [email protected] with your request for more information about sizes and prices.




communityCOMMUNITY BOARD 1 MEETINGS: Week of April 18    
Pier 16 as it looked in January 2015, showing the South Street Seaport Museum's lightship Ambrose, a rendering of the new shopping mall that The Howard Hughes Corporation is building on Pier 17, the remnants of the old shopping mall and the Brooklyn Bridge. On April 19, Marco Pasanella, chairperson of Community Board 1's Seaport/Civic Center Committee, will give a report on development in the Seaport area. (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.

April 19: Seaport/Civic Center Committee
* Development in the Seaport area - Report by Marco Pasanella, Committee Chair
* Future of Brooklyn Banks - Discussion and resolution
* Street Activity Permit Office application for 4th of July Pig Roast, Friday, Aug. 5, 2016, Maiden Lane between South Street and Water Street - Resolution
* 212 Front St., application for change in method of operation for a restaurant liquor license - Resolution
* Lower Manhattan Resiliency - Update by Michael Shaikh, Deputy Director for External Affairs, Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency for the City of New York & possible resolution (POSTPONED)
* Citywide Ferry Service - Update by Economic Development Corporation and Captain Jonathan Boulware, South Street Seaport Museum (POSTPONED)

The following notices have been received for renewal, upgrade, or transfer of wine and beer or liquor licenses or sidewalk cafe permits:
* 111 Fulton St., application for renewal of a restaurant wine, beer & cider license for MS 111 Fulton, LLC d/b/a Melt Shop
* 2 Rector St., application for renewal of a wine, beer & cider license for S&I Variety Market, LLC d/b/a Variety Market

April 21: Joint Quality of Life and Financial District Committees
* Proposed City Council legislation to license ticket vendors - Resolution

Quality of Life Committee
* Light pollution - Update by Paul Borri
* Discussion with Brian Nelson, Crime Prevention Unit and Lieutenant Greg Engel, Special Operations Lieutenant, First Precinct (TENTATIVE)
* Request to create a construction liaison position to coordinate between the agencies responsible for permitting and regulating after hours variances - Discussion and possible resolution
* Construction Forum - Discussion

April 25: Nominating Committee
* Selection of Committee Chair
* Discussion of Candidates for Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer
* Set date of next meeting

April 25: Personnel Committee - 6:30 p.m.
* Agenda to be determined

April 26: CB 1 Monthly Meeting - 6 p.m.
        Location:  Governors Island Ferry Terminal
                        10 South St.
                        Waiting Room at the Terminal (street level/ground floor)   


calendarCALENDAR: Week of April 17

 William Roka, historian and operations associate at the South Street Seaport Museum, leading a walking tour of what was known in the 19th century as the city's "wickedest ward." The tour takes place on April 22 and will be repeated on April 29, May 13, May 20 and May 27. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

April 20: The Museum of Jewish Heritage is showing "The Cohens and Kellys," a silent film with live music that tells the comedic story of Jewish and Irish families in New York City. Directed by Harry A. Pollard, it stars Charles Murray, George Sidney, Kate Price, and Jason Robards, Sr. Place: 36 Battery Place. Time: 7 p.m. Tickets: $15; $12 (members and students with valid ID). For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

April 21: Learn about "The Secret Life of the Brooklyn Bridge" on a walking tour with a guide from the South Street Seaport Museum. Beneath its elegant and restrained exterior, the Brooklyn Bridge holds many secrets. Hear the stories of the bridge's remarkable builders and the quirky life of this enigmatic structure. (Note: this walking tour does not go across the Brooklyn Bridge.) Also, April 28, May 12, May 19 and May 26. Registration is required. Place: Meet at the South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St. Time: 12:15 p.m. Tickets: $20; $15 (seniors and museum members); $10 (children). For tickets, click here.

April 22: The South Street Seaport and the area immediately north of it are decorous now compared with what they used to be. Take a walking tour of the "wicked 4th Ward" with a guide from the South Street Seaport Museum. Home to eccentric and dangerous characters, the Fourth Ward was the city's district of vice and crime. Tours meet at the Museum's main entrance (12 Fulton St.) and will last approximately 75 minutes. E-mail [email protected] for more information. Also, April 29, May 13, May 20 and May 27. Time: 12:15 p.m. Tickets: $20; $15 (seniors and museum members); $10 (children). For tickets, click here.

Through April 30: Australian artist Amanda Parer's North American tour of Intrude, a public art installation, features monumental rabbits - five two-story rabbits and two four-story "XL" rabbits, commissioned by Arts Brookfield. Each rabbit is sewn in nylon and internally lit. The rabbits have been installed on Brookfield Plaza (at North Cove Marina), in the Winter Garden and in the shopping mall.

Through April 27: The National Museum of Immigration at Ellis Island is displaying 13 art quilts created to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service. The quilts were created by Fiber Works, a group of textile artists from the Lincoln-Omaha, Nebraska area.  The artists were inspired by their favorite national park site. The quilts are on a year-long tour of the 13 chosen parks. For more information about the exhibition, click here.

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.

Ongoing: "Rethinking Cities for the Age of Global Warming" is the title of the newest exhibition at the Skyscraper Museum. Of the world's 20 largest megacities - metropolitan areas with a population of 10 million or more - seven are located in the tropical countries and islands of Southeast Asia. WOHA - the practice begun in 1994 by architects Wong Mun Summ and Richard Hassell - has built extensively in the tiny city-state of Singapore, as well as in Bangkok, Mumbai, and other megacities in the region. WOHA proposes - and has built - tropical skyscrapers enveloped by nature and vertical villages with sky gardens, breezeways, and elevated parks. At a time when global warming threatens the future, the enlightened work of WOHA rethinks the urban environment, offering prototypes that use vertical density to create highly social, sustainable, and garden-filled cities. Through Sept. 4, 2016. Place: Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place. Museum open, Wednesday-Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Admission: $5; $2.50 (students and seniors). For more information, 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
: 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: "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.

No ticket needed: On Monday May 9, a Transit of Mercury will be visible from Lower Manhattan (and everywhere else on the East Coast). Mercury will begin to cross in front of the Sun at 7:12 a.m. EDT. The midpoint is at 10:58 a.m. The transit ends at 2:42 p.m.

To see the planet in front of the sun, a telescope with a solar filter would be needed. For more information about this rare celestial event, click here.


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Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer

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