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DOWNTOWN
POST NYC 
 
News and Events
in Lower Manhattan
 
 
Volume 3, No. 22  May 6, 2016 
IN THIS ISSUE

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"These nickels will add up, especially for seniors, those on fixed incomes and middle-class New Yorkers just trying to make ends meet."
     - Bob Capano, spokesman for Gristedes supermarkets, on legislation just passed by City Council that will require grocery stores and non-food retail stores to charge at least five cents for every plastic or paper bag dispensed to a customer 

 
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.

HELICOPTER FLYOVERS: To provide aerial TV coverage of the America's Cup sailing event, helicopter flyovers will be conducted through May 8 over the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan. For more information, click here.   

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MASTHEAD PHOTO: Bonbons from a chocolate shop called "Stick With Me" at 202 Mott St. The chef, Susanna Yoon, was recently honored by Dessert Professional magazine as one of the Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America 2015. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) 



bagsCITY COUNCIL PASSES BILL TO CHARGE CONSUMERS AT GROCERY STORES AND NON-FOOD STORES FOR PLASTIC AND PAPER BAGS
   
A rally on the steps of City Hall on April 13, 2016 supported the passage of a bill to charge consumers for every plastic or paper bag they obtain in grocery stores and non-food retailers. (Photo courtesy of City Councilmember Margaret Chin)

On the surface, Intro 209, a bill that passed City Council by a vote of 28 to 20 on May 5 seemed like a great idea. It stipulates that shoppers will be charged at least a nickel a bag if they take their groceries or non-food retail items home in the plastic or paper bags that stores now dispense at no charge. The fee is set to begin in October. Stores will have to charge a minimum of five cents a bag and can charge more if they wish. They will get to keep the money they collect.

To avoid the fee, shoppers will have to bring their own bags with them.

The legislation was "the result of months of discussions with my Council colleagues about our shared goal of reducing the thousands of tons of single-use bags discarded every year," said City Councilmember Margaret Chin, one of the sponsors of the bill.

Chin represents Lower Manhattan in City Council. Co-sponsors of the bill were Brad Lander, who represents parts of Brooklyn, and Antonio Reynoso, whose district includes parts of Bushwick, Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

The New York City Sanitation Department has said that it collects around 10 billion single-use plastic bags a year at a cost of over $12.5 million.

Intro 209 has the worthy goals of reducing waste and saving the City money. "The bags, which are made of petroleum and take millions of years to decompose, get stuck in trees, litter streets and beaches, clog storm drains and recycling equipment, and become part of giant islands of plastic sludge in our oceans," said a press release issued by the bill's co-sponsors in advance of the City Council vote.

Nevertheless, the bill was hotly opposed. It was debated for two years and a similar bill proposed in 2008 by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg bit the dust.

Opponents pointed out that a fee of five cents or more a bag would be a hardship for poor and some middle-class shoppers. To address this concern, Intro 209 says that shoppers who are on food stamps (SNAP and WIC) will not be charged a bag fee.

However, there are many New Yorkers who are not on food stamps but who nevertheless have a limited income. Seniors, for instance, are not exempted from the bag charge.

"I use plastic grocery bags for my garbage," said one senior who asked not to be named. "If I can't get them free at the grocery store, I'll have to buy them."

"This will cut into the money that I have for food," said another senior. "I'm already struggling to get by."

Bob Capano, a spokesman for Gristedes supermarkets, called the legislation "ridiculous."

"The nickel and diming of New Yorkers has to end," he said. "The City Council can't continue to pass legislation isolated in their bubble at City Hall without understanding its impact out in the real world."

Capano said that cashiers at retail stores will "literally have to count each and every bag used for customers to know how much to add on to their bill." He said this would lead to delays at the check-out counter and longer lines.

He also said, "These nickels will add up, especially for seniors, those on fixed incomes and middle-class New Yorkers just trying to make ends meet."

As part of Intro 209, City Council has mandated a study on the impact of the legislation on litter, solid waste and bag use reduction and on the public's reaction to the law across demographic groups.

That study would not begin until the law had been in place for a year. 

In the meantime, on April 15, Simcha Felder, a New York State Senator who represents parts of Brooklyn, introduced legislation in Albany that would prohibit taxes or fees on the use of plastic bags. Assemblymen Mark Cusick of Staten Island and David Weprin of Queens introduced identical legislation to create "a prohibition on the imposition of any tax, fee or local charge on carry out merchandise bags."

"New York families do not need another regressive tax," Felder said on his blog. "Going back to my days on the NY City Council, I've been disheartened every time I've heard the absurd plastic bag tax legislation introduced. Nickel and diming people - asking them to pay for paper and plastic bags at retail and grocery stores - places an undue financial burden on countless New Yorkers who are already struggling."

He said that these fees "punish low-income families, senior citizens, and other vulnerable New Yorkers. The last thing we want is to make New York even less affordable."

At least the New Yorkers mentioned by Felder will not have to pay for bags used by pharmacies when they dispense medication. Restaurants, wine and liquor stores and cleaners will also be exempt. And after October, stores will still be able to distribute free bags for produce, meat and bulk food items.

- Terese Loeb Kreuzer




Downtown Post Food
chocolateTHE LURE OF CHOCOLATE AND DESSERT PROFESSIONAL'S TOP TEN 
Susanna Yoon, chef/owner of Stick With Me at 202 Mott St., with some of her handpainted bonbons. She was recently honored by Dessert Professional Magazine as one of the top 10 chocolatiers in North America. (Photos: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Many people don't need an excuse to eat chocolate. Matthew K. Stevens, co-editor of Dessert Professional magazine, certainly doesn't. "I eat chocolate every day," he said without a trace of apology. He said it has health benefits and besides, as most people would agree, it tastes good.

Dark chocolate is supposed to be high in magnesium and to enhance serotonin - that neurotransmitter in the brain that creates feelings of well being. Both men and women are known to crave chocolate, but women even more than men. Valentine's Day has come and gone but Mother's Day is on Sunday. Maybe mom would like some chocolate?

For those who want the very best, Dessert Professional points them in the right direction with its annual list of the Ten Top Chocolatiers in North America. This year, for the first time, the list was
Michael Antonorsi of Chuao Chocolatier in Carlsbad, Calif. was honored by Dessert Professional magazine at its show of the Top Ten Chocolatiers in America 2015.  
accompanied by a live event held on the premises of the Institute of Culinary Education in Battery Park City where the Top Ten laid out their wares. It was a child's fantasy - chocolate everywhere and no one to say 'no'.

The winning chocolatiers came from far-flung parts of the United States: California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C. and Georgia. One of the winners came from Mexico. One came from Rhinebeck, N.Y., one from Brooklyn and two from Manhattan.

Christophe Toury has a shop called Voil� Chocolat at 221 W. 79th St. where customers can buy chocolates that he has made or learn how to make their own.

Susanna Yoon, the other award winner from Manhattan, creates a different kind of chocolate
Susanna Yoon's chocolates at Dessert Professional magazine's awards ceremony for the Top Ten Chocolatiers in America. 
experience with her meticulously crafted bonbons and other sweets. Her small shop on Mott Street in what once would have been called Little Italy has a kitchen in the back where Yoon and her team sometimes turn out more than a thousand bonbons a day.

They are beautiful, each one with a crisp, shiny shell of chocolate filled with layers of subtle flavors. Each bonbon is hand painted with colored cocoa butter and can take two or three days to make by the time the chocolate is tempered, the ingredients are assembled and the bonbon is painted.

"Susanna Yoon has a pastry chef's mentality," said Matthew Stevens of the layering of flavors and Yoon's use of what he called "old world techniques."

Before becoming a chef, Yoon worked in music, advertising and marketing, but she found that chocolate was her passion. She worked with pastry in Thomas Keller's Per Se for two years,  eventually mastering the art of hand-shell chocolates and becoming head chocolatier.

Yoon opened her own shop, called "Stick with Me," in December 2014.

At any one time, there are 24 flavors of bonbons for sale. The flavors change depending on the season and on Yoon's creativity.

"We're always thinking of new flavors," said Yoon's partner, Nina Lee.

However, one bonbon called "New York New York" is always available. "It's the best seller," said Lee, "with a crunchy pretzel stick in the center and caramel on top and peanut butter praline. Pretzels and nut stands! That's what inspired the flavor."

Another favorite is called Kalamansi Meringue Pie. It has meringue on top and kalamansi, a delicate citrus from Southeast Asia, in the center.

The bonbons can become addictive. One customer, Kit Werner, said that she had been given some of Yoon's bonbons as a gift and now comes to the shop every week for more.

"Susanna is an outstanding chocolatier," said Stevens. "She's a gift to New York City when it comes to chocolate at retail."

- Terese Loeb Kreuzer

Stick with Me at 202 Mott St. is open Sundays to Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, click here.

Dessert Professional magazine is available online and in print. For the article about the Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America 2015, click here.    
 



Bits & Bytes
SilverSILVER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON; GRISTEDES' 'GRAND RE-OPENING;' ACKMAN'S VALEANT INVESTMENT TAKES A NOSE DIVE
America's Cup on the Hudson, May 5. (Photo: Jay Fine)
 
"Extreme Sailing to Meet Extreme Urban Conditions on Hudson," New York Times, 5/5/16. "Iain Murray gunned a speedy motorboat through the choppy waters of the Hudson River and spoke about the impressive catamarans set to race this weekend in an elite international competition," says The New York Times. "They are wing-sailed, carbon-fiber beasts that appear to fly above the water and can reach speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour." Mr. Murray, the director of this weekend's regatta, said that the boats "like flatter water, but this won't bother them." The Times notes that, "Holding a world-class sailing race, part of the America's Cup series, off Battery Park City may make for spectacular shoreline viewing, but it is not easy for organizers or racers, who may prefer a location farther offshore with easier winds to navigate and little interference from other boat traffic." For the complete article, click here.

"Stark Underground Space at World Trade Center Will Host a Riot of Ads,"
New York Times, 5/4/16. "Inch by inch, the new World Trade Center is being stripped of its connection to the World Trade Center that was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001," says The New York Times. "Not without reason. Who would want to work or shop where 2,753 people were killed? The trident-shape columns so emblematic of the wreckage are housed in a glass pavilion that makes them hard to see from outside. The battered 'Sphere' sculpture from the trade center plaza was moved to the Battery (though it may come back). Panels on a nearby pedestrian bridge that were damaged are being replaced. The latest erasure is occurring along the main wall of an east-west underground gallery that links Santiago Calatrava's transportation hub to Battery Park City. Much of the wall follows the footprint of the original 1 World Trade Center, the first building to be hit by a hijacked jetliner during the attack. The footprint also defines the edge of the National September 11 Memorial's north pool, which is about 25 feet behind the gallery wall. Until mid-March, the wall was a vast expanse of unadorned white marble. Pedestrians might not have understood its implicit symbolism. Yet its spartan solemnity seemed to acknowledge the power of what stood behind it. Now, a gigantic electronic billboard is taking over the wall." For the complete article, click here.

"Sheldon Silver, Ex-New York Assembly Speaker, Gets 12-Year Prison Sentence,"
New York Times, 5/3/16. "Sheldon Silver, who rose from the Lower East Side of Manhattan to
N.Y.S. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver addressing a meeting of the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association at the New York County Lawyers' Association on Sept. 8, 2011. 
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

become one of the state's most powerful and feared politicians as speaker of the New York Assembly, was sentenced on Tuesday to 12 years in prison in a case that came to symbolize Albany's culture of graft," says The New York Times. "The conviction of Mr. Silver, 72, served as a capstone to a campaign against public corruption by Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, which has led to more than a dozen state lawmakers' being convicted or pleading guilty. But none had the power, cachet or longevity that Mr. Silver, a Democrat, had enjoyed, and prosecutors sought to make an example of him. They asked that he receive a sentence greater than the terms that had been 'imposed on other New York State legislators convicted of public corruption offenses.'" For the complete article, click here.

"As Valeant Tumbles, So Does Bill Ackman's Hedge Fund Herd,"
New York Times, 4/27/16. "The billionaire investor William A. Ackman has become the unofficial leader of a thundering herd that has lost billions of dollars betting on Valeant Pharmaceuticals over the past year," says The New York Times. "The 49-year-old founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, the $12.5 billion hedge fund, found himself going to bat again for Valeant on Wednesday when he testified before Congress about Valeant's controversial drug pricing policies, which have included inflating the prices of vital heart medicines right before learning that generic equivalents were coming to the market. Mr. Ackman's firm has lost billions of dollars on Valeant. Shares of the Canadian drug maker have plummeted 85 percent since he first pitched the company as one of his best investment ideas at a hedge fund charity event last year." (Editor's note: In addition to being the founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, Ackman is the chairman of The Howard Hughes Corporation, which has long-term leases on large parts of the South Street Seaport.) For the complete article, click here.

"Touring 3 World Trade Center, a Supertall On the Rise in Lower Manhattan," Curbed.com, 4/28/16. "Construction work at 3 World Trade Center is currently in full swing: the building stands just over 900 feet tall at present, and when construction wraps up in 2018, the structure will stand 1,079 feet tall, making it one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city," says Curbed.com. "But it took a while to get to here: When the financial crisis hit in 2008, the future of several projects at the World Trade Center were thrown in turmoil-including this tower and its neighbor 2 World Trade Center. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wanted to significantly decrease the heights of all the buildings, and 3WTC might well have ended up being a four-story structure. But Silverstein Properties, led by its head Larry Silverstein, was determined to see the projects as they were originally imagined. During an exclusive tour of the site, Curbed got a peek at the still under-construction skyscraper-including the current pinnacle of the tower, the yet-to-be-finished 74th floor." For the complete article, click here.

"Plan Proceeds to Convert Arcades in Lower Manhattan to Retail Space," New York Times, 4/29/16. "The de Blasio administration will give the owners of 17 enormous office towers in Lower Manhattan a chance to fill in the public arcades along their buildings' ground floors and turn a shadowy, windswept realm into moneymaking retail space," says The New York Times. "The arcades were constructed from the 1960s through the 1980s under an abandoned and discredited zoning theory that imagined Water Street, near the southern tip of Manhattan Island, benefiting from covered pedestrian walkways like those on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. In exchange for providing open-air arcades around their buildings, developers were permitted to construct more office area than zoning rules would have ordinarily allowed. That added to their revenue in perpetuity. The public was supposed to benefit in perpetuity, too. But it did not. A few arcades create inviting vistas or make it easier to navigate downtown's erratic street grid. Some have cafes. They are handy for escaping a downpour or blazing summer sun. But many are used as outdoor smoking lounges. Pedestrians prefer sidewalks to the gloomy, moribund spaces." For the complete article, click here.

"9/11 monuments across America are defaced and neglected," New York Post, 5/1/16. "'Never Forget' has been forgotten," says the New York Post. "A startling number of 9/11 monuments around the country have been vandalized or fallen into disrepair, including a $2 million Nassau County memorial that bears the names of heroes and residents killed that day. Visitors to Eisenhower Park in East Meadow last week found the base of a fountain that displays two 30-foot-tall aluminum towers marred by paint peeling in an eerie, ghost-like shape. Black marble tiles surrounding the structure are missing and boarded up. Others are coming loose, and some are streaked with oozing white adhesive. Graffiti was scrawled across a section facing the wall of 10 plaques honoring all 344 county residents murdered in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. The empty fountain had condom wrappers." For the complete article, click here.

Grand Re-opening! Gristedes at 315 South End Ave.: The Gristedes supermarket at 315 South End Ave., overhauled with new products, new shelving and new floors, had a "grand re-opening" on April 29.  The deli counter is now stocked with Boars Head merchandise. The
The revamped Gristedes at 315 South End Ave.  
(Photos: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
produce department now has a section devoted to organic fruits and vegetables. Farmland milk (hormone and antibiotic free) has been added to the dairy case, and the meat department is featuring (among other things) Brooklyn Cured sausages, manufactured by Scott Bridi who got his start at the late, and greatly lamented, New Amsterdam Market on South Street. They are made without added hormones, nitrates or nitrites or animal by-products. There are cheeses from New Zealand from grass-fed cows at the "new" Gristedes, hormone-free pat�s and Angus beef.

In the seafood case are smoked and fresh salmon and fresh shrimp. Bob Capano, spokesman for Gristedes, said, "Our goal was to have the largest pre-packaged seafood collection in the area, and I think we do have it now."

"I want to come back here and shop again!" said Battery Park City resident Terry Paladini-Baumgarten as she looked around the store on grand re-opening day. "It's been years since I've purchased anything here." She said that she liked the "new" Gristedes because it is "clean and fresh." - Terese Loeb Kreuzer

Nelson Rivera, the dairy manager at the Gristedes, 315 South End Ave.





Downtown bulletin board
poetryBROOKLYN BRIDGE POETRY WALK; MANHATTAN YOUTH VOLLEYBALL;
JAZZ FUNERAL AND PARADE IN TRIBECA; GRACIE MANSION TOURS
 
Tickets are now on sale for Poets House's annual Brooklyn Bridge fundraising walk. The walk across the bridge is interspersed with poetry readings and followed by a festive dinner. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)

Offshore Sailing School season: The Offshore Sailing School has launched its sailing programs in North Cove Marina. They include a two-day, accelerated "learn to sail" course, a two-day "race ready" course, a three-hour course entitled "Freedom Friday Sailing Adventures" and a five-day family "learn to sail" course, among others. Program pricing starts at $150. KidsSail for ages 7 to 17 starts on Monday, June 20 and runs through Aug. 12 with half- or full-day weekly sailing lessons. For more information about Offshore Sailing's New York harbor sailing activities, visit its office/classroom on the first floor of One North End Ave. (also known as 300 Vesey St. at Brookfield Place), call (212) 786-4888 or click here.

Tribeca Trust staging Jazz Funeral and Parade in Tribeca South:
Eight buildings in Tribeca South will soon be demolished by Cape Advisors (a developer) whose lobbyist is the same
Mangez Avec Moi, a popular Vietnamese restaurant on West Broadway, was forced to close on Dec. 30, 2015 after 27 years in business because the building was among those sold to a developer who plans to build a condominium on the site. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
firm representing Mayor de Blasio in the current inquiries into campaign financing. Tribeca Trust, organizers of a Jazz Funeral and Parade on May 6, want to know if Cape Advisors had undue influence that kept this part of Tribeca from being made part of the Tribeca South Historic District. Marchers will gather on May 6 at Murray and Greenwich Streets at 5 p.m. and will walk down Murray to Church Street and back down Warren, stopping at each building that will be demolished. They will end in front of the old Mariachi's Restaurant (63 West Broadway) where candy and eulogies will be dispensed and pleas made to Preet Bharara to investigate pay-to-play land use deals. Swing Street Ensemble will provide the jazz. The event ends at 6:30 p.m., with all welcome to join the marchers at the Racoon Lodge to savor its last days before demolition. It's traditional to bring an umbrella to a jazz funeral. For more information, click here, email [email protected] or call (212) 732-1025.

Bogardus Garden and Plaza celebration:
Bogardus Garden and Plaza on Hudson Street between Chambers and Reade Streets celebrates spring on Saturday, May 7 with music from the TriBattery Pops, jazz, a karate demonstration by Modern Martial Arts, cookie decorating, face painting, children's tumbling, snacks and sweets and more. Time: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, click here.

Manhattan Youth seeks volunteers to help plan 30th birthday celebration:
Starting on Sept. 24, 2016, Manhattan Youth plans a year-long celebration for its 30th birthday. Volunteers are needed. Some of the jobs include finding sponsors, preparing invitations, planning food and drink, organizing games and activities, decorating, and more. Come to the next volunteer meeting on Monday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. or email Wendy Chapman to get involved. The current vision includes a beach party at Pier 25 with mini-golf and an open house at the Downtown Community Center on Warren Street.

Firehouse Open House:
Learn about the lifesaving work of the FDNY at firehouses and EMS stations citywide at the annual FDNY Open House on Saturday May 14. Take a tour, pick up fire safety education literature, and meet local firefighters, paramedics and EMTs. You can also learn about careers in the FDNY. In Lower Manhattan, the firehouses at 42 South St. and 100 Duane St. will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the firehouses at 124 Liberty St. and 49 Beekman St. will be open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Annual Brooklyn Bridge Poetry Walk:
On June 13, Poets House will be staging its annual walk across the Brooklyn Bridge as a fundraiser for its many events and public programs. The walk across the bridge is interspersed with poetry readings and ends with a festive dinner in DUMBO where more poetry is read between courses. Time: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets: $250; $225 (Poets House members). For more information, call (212) 431-7920 or click here.

Open House New York 2016 Spring Benefit:
Open House New York will hold its spring benefit at The Four Seasons on May 10. Kathy Goldman, founder, Food Bank for New York City and Scott Stringer, New York City Comptroller, will be the guests of honor. Place: 99 E. 52nd St. Time: 7 pm. (cocktails); 8 p.m. (dinner). Tickets: $750 and up. For more information and to buy tickets, click here

Downtown Boathouse Season:
Free kayaking at the Downtown Boathouse on Pier 26 will begin on May 21. Weekends and holidays, the Downtown Boathouse will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 10. It will also be open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings between June 15 and Sept. 15 from 5 p.m to 7:30 p.m. with the last boat going out a half hour before closing time. 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 more information about the Downtown Boathouse, click here.

National Museum of the American Indian gala:
A gala on May 11 will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of George Gustav Heye's collection as the National Museum of the American Indian. Louise Erdrich (Turtle Mountain Chippewa/Ojibwe), novelist and National Book Award Winner, will be honored for her achievements. Tickets start at $1,000. For more information and tickets, click here or call (212) 514-3750.

Stockings With Care benefit concert:
Stockings With Care, a charity founded by Battery Park City resident Rosalie Joseph to provide December holiday gifts for homeless and other at-risk children, will be the beneficiary of Bankrupt Talent's 8th Annual Rock 'n Roll Charity Concert on May 11. Place: Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleeker St. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $35 (in advance); $45 (at the door). For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

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.

Manhattan Youth volleyball: On Friday nights, Manhattan Youth offers beach volleyball instruction and games on Pier 25 in Hudson River Park for kids from grades 5 to 12. The Volleyball League runs from May 13 to July 25. Fifth to eighth graders play from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. while ninth through 12th graders play from 7:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. The program is free for Downtown Community Center members. The fee for non-members is $35. For more information, email Marshal Coleman at [email protected]. To register, click here.

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].

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 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.

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.

Contributions for earthquake victims in Ecuador and Japan: The Financial District Lions Club is helping to collect money for earthquake victims in Ecuador and Japan. Send contributions to the Lions Clubs International Foundation. For more information, click here.

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.

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: Through May 26
, 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 26, 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 May 10, 17 and 24 and June 7, 14, 21 and 28. 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 May 9


At its May 3 meeting, Community Board 1's Battery Park City Committee got an update on the Museum of Jewish Heritage. (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.
 

May 9: Planning Committee
* MTA subway connections at the World Trade Center - Presentation
* Community District 1 Streetscape Survey - Presentation by Cammie Flippen, CB1 Urban Fellow
* MIH/ZQA - Update by Roxanne Earley, Office of Council Member Margaret Chin
* WeLive at 110 Wall Street - Presentation & discussion
* Street Activity Permit Application 2015-2016 data - Discussion
 
May 10: Youth & Education Committee
* Public Advocate's Plan for Improving New York City's Commitment to Child Care Services - Presentation by Ed Sullivan, representative of Public Advocate Letitia James
* Safety in Battery Park City - Discussion with Nicholas Sbordone, Battery Park City Authority

May 11: Tribeca Committee
* 113 Reade St., application for liquor license for Serafina Tribeca Restaurant LLC - Resolution
* 111 Worth St., application for wine and beer license for Smit and Smith Worth Street LLC - Resolution
* 95 West Broadway, application for liquor license for Tribeca Hotel LLC d/b/a Cosmopolitan Hotel - Resolution
* 20 Warren St., application for restaurant liquor license by 20 Lodge Associates LLC - Resolution
* Worth Street Reconstruction Project - Update by Department of Design and Construction
* 409 Greenwich Street, renewal application for restaurant liquor license for Wolf at Tribeca Inc. d/b/a Wolfgang's Steakhouse - Resolution

The following notices have been received for renewal, upgrade, or transfer of wine and beer or liquor licenses or sidewalk cafe permits:
* 273 Church Street, renewal application for a tavern liquor license for 273 Church Walker Inc. d/b/a Souths Restaurant
* 361 Greenwich Street, application for renewal of sidewalk cafe license for Tablao

May 12: Landmarks Committee
* 11 Hubert St., application for additions to existing building - Resolution
* Liberty Street Pedestrian Bridge - Discussion
 

cupAMERICA'S CUP COMING TO NEW YORK HARBOR ON MAY 7 AND MAY 8 
The America's Cup trophy. (Photo: Rob Tringali)

In a riveting display of speed, skill and courage, the America's Cup World Series will take place in Lower Manhattan on Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8. As they race up and down the Hudson River, the world's best sailors racing the fastest boats will compete for points that count toward the final competition for the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda in 2017.
 
On both days, the epicenter of the race festivities will be Battery Park City and the Brookfield Place North Cove Marina. All races will finish just off the plaza, which will be home to one central event village.

But there will be other places and ways to see the action.

Classic Harbor Line's yacht, Northern Lights, will be on the river for race-viewing on both days of the competition, leaving from Chelsea Piers (near 22nd Street) at 1:15 p.m. The three-hour cruise includes complimentary beer, wine, champagne, soda and water. Guests are encouraged to bring a small picnic with them. Tickets: $300. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Clipper City, a tall ship owned by Manhattan by Sail, is offering race viewing along with cocktails and a barbecue. On both Saturday and Sunday, Clipper City will push off from the dock at 11:30 a.m. and make its way to the lower harbor where all of the sailing action will be taking place. Tickets: $300. (Sail only price, without food and drink, $275). For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

The Competition Six teams, each sailing on behalf of a home country (defending champion Oracle Team USA, Emirates Team New Zealand, Land Rover BAR for Great Britain, Artemis Racing for Sweden, SoftBank Team Japan, and Groupama Team France) will compete in the New York race.

All six teams will race against one another at the same time, in a fleet racing format. Racing will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  Weather will determine the exact race course as well as the total number of races per day (up to a maximum of three). A New York champion will be crowned on Sunday, May 8, after the final race.

The event village at the Brookfield Place Waterfront Plaza will be open on both days of the race from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with entertainment, food vendors, sponsor activity and hospitality, all free to the public.

The main stage will host music and performances, including the "Dock Out" show, during which fans can hear from each team's skipper before they head out to race, and the awards ceremony on Sunday. Spectators watching from the event village will also be able to see a broadcast of the race on big screens in the plaza with an announcer calling the race live over a speaker system.

The race and event village are free and open to the public with no tickets required.

For those who can't make it to the race in person, Saturday's races will air live on NBC Sports Live Extra, and Sunday's races will air on NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra at 2 p.m. ET.

 

calendarCALENDAR: Weeks of May 2 and May 9

The Clinton Room at the Fraunces Tavern Museum is a recreation of a federalist-style dining room. The room is named for George Clinton, New York State's first American governor, who hosted a dinner party for General George Washington at Fraunces Tavern to celebrate the British evacuation of British troops from New York on November 25, 1783. The Fraunces Tavern Museum at 54 Pearl St. is open daily.
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)


May 7: Federal Hall National Memorial is hosting Portal, an art fair for emerging artists. Approximately 30 artists' works, curated by 4heads, Inc., are featured on three floors of the National Park Service site at 26 Wall St. The work in a variety of media includes sculpture, photography, painting, sound and video, plus two-dimensional and three-dimensional mixed media works. Art works were selected based on submitted proposals that engaged with the architecture of the former Customs House, which was built in 1842 and is itself one of the architectural gems of lower Manhattan. For a list of artists and a selection of works, click here. Federal Hall will be open every day through May 10, including Saturday and Sunday, when the park is usually closed. Place: 26 Wall St. (at Broad Street). Open daily: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.

May 7: "The Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam - Tracing the Castello Plan" is part of "Jane's Walk NYC," an annual weekend-long celebration hosted by the Municipal Art Society of New York. Jane's Walk NYC features more than 250 free "walking conversations" throughout the five boroughs, led by urban enthusiasts and local experts. Justin Rivers, an author, playwright and Untapped Cities guide, will use the 17th-century Castello Map of Manhattan as a source for a walk through Lower Manhattan where he will show the location of Manhattan's first City Hall along with the city's original coast line, the original Dutch fort and wind mill and the original battery. The walk starts at the National Museum of the American Indian (1 Bowling Green) and ends at Trinity Church. Time: 11 a.m. Free. Jane's Walk Weekend takes place from May 6 through May 8. For information about all Jane's Walk events, click here.

May 9: The official opening night of the Downtown Design Festival (May 5 to May 17) in the South Street Seaport will feature music and live entertainment as well as food and liquor available for purchase. Place: Fulton and Front Streets. Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, click here.

May 10: Pen Parentis presents "Heavy Hitters," with readings by authors Marika Alzadon, Anjali Mitter Duva and Rick Moody followed by a discussion moderated by M. M. De Voe and Christina Chiu centering around writing as an art, and the balance of family demands and creative career. Wine and a sampling of menu appetizers, compliments of Andaz Wall Street. Must be 21+ - RSVP strongly suggested. Place: 75 Wall St. (private room, upper level, stairs through lobby). Time: 7 p.m. Free. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

May 12: 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, May 19 and May 26. Registration is required. Place: Meet at the South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St. Time: 12:15 p.m. (Starting May 12, the tour will also be available at 6 p.m.) Tickets: $20; $15 (seniors and museum members); $10 (children). For tickets, click here.

May 13: 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 May 20 and May 27. Time: 12:15 p.m. (Starting May 13, the tour will also be available at 6 p.m.) Tickets: $20; $15 (seniors and museum members); $10 (children). For tickets, click here.

May 14: Celebrate Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month at the National Museum of the American Indian with storybook reading and hands-on activities for kids. Place: 1 Bowling Green in the Education Classroom on the 2nd floor. Time: 1 p.m. Free. For more information about the museum, click here.

Ongoing: "Stitching History from the Holocaust," an exhibition at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, re-creates the dress designs of Hedy Strnad. In 1939, she and her husband, Paul, wrote to his American cousin seeking help to escape Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. Nearly 60 years later, the Strnad family discovered the letter in their basement, along with a packet of Hedy's dress designs. While Hedy and Paul did not survive, their story is brought to life through the contemporary creation of Hedy's designs and the piecing together of this couple's history. Through Aug. 14, 2016. Place: 36 Battery Place. The museum is open Sunday to Friday. Tickets: $12; $10 (seniors, 65 and up); $7 (students); free (children, 12 and under and museum members). For hours and more information, 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: "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: "Keeping the Revolution Alive: The John Ward Dunsmore Collection" at Fraunces Tavern Museum. John Ward Dunsmore (1856-1945) was best known for his realistic and accurate genre paintings of the events surrounding the American Revolution and Early Republic. His careful research and attention to detail lead to the creation of vivid paintings that became a part of the nation's historical imagery. Dunsmore's works have been reproduced on items ranging from school children's textbooks to the Library of Congress's website. This exhibition displays a chronology of the Revolutionary War as depicted by Dunsmore. All of the paintings have been restored in the past 10 years. On May 31, the paintings will be moved to another gallery at Fraunces Tavern Museum for a larger exhibition, "Dunsmore: Illustrating the American Revolutionary War" that opens on June 17. 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.

Nearby attractions: 
May 21: Irish singer songwriter Larry Kirwan, the leader of the band Black 47, will return to the Noble Maritime Collection at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center for a solo concert. An accomplished playwright and composer, Kirwan has written 13 plays and musicals. He hosts and produces SiriusXM's Celtic Crush and writes a weekly column for the Irish Echo. Kirwan will be presenting songs from his musicals, "Hard Times" and "Transport," Black 47 favorites, and "Floating," an ode to his great-grandfather inspired by the museum's study of the Sailors' Snug Harbor retirement home. The Noble Maritime Collection is a museum and study center on the campus of Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island. Time: 7 p.m. Tickets: $25. For more information or to buy tickets, call (718) 447-6490 or click here
 

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Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer

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