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DOWNTOWN
POST NYC
News and Events
in Lower Manhattan
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Volume 3, No. 40 Aug. 26, 2016
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"It's good for Peking; she'll have the resources and the attention she deserves."
- Capt. Jonathan Boulware, executive director of the South Street Seaport Museum, commenting on the repatriation of the barque, Peking, to Hamburg, Germany, where she was built in 1911.
WEATHER INFORMATION: For current weather information, click here.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS IN BATTERY PARK CITY:
To reach AlliedBarton "safety ambassadors," call (212) 945-SAFE (7233). The Battery Park City Command Center is now located at the Verdesian at 211 North End Ave. In case of emergencies, call 911.
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All ads in Downtown Post NYC have clickable links. Click on an ad for more information. MASTHEAD PHOTO: The Pier A clock tower. Aug. 18, 2016
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
 THE SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM'S PEKING WILL SOON DEPART
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| | The four-masted barque, Peking, will leave the South Street Seaport on Sept. 6, bound for dry dock on Staten Island, where her masts will be removed preparatory to her being transported across the Atlantic Ocean to her new home in Hamburg, Germany. She has been in the South Street Seaport for 42 years. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
Say goodbye to the Peking.
The South Street Seaport Museum has announced that on Sept. 6 at 8 a.m. (pending weather conditions), the four-masted barque will depart from the South Street Seaport for the first leg of her journey toward her new home at the Stiftung Hamburg Maritim, the maritime museum of Hamburg, Germany. Peking was built in Hamburg in 1911- one of the famous "Flying P Liners" of F. Laeisz Lines.
After 42 years in the South Street Seaport, Peking will officially close to the public on Aug. 28 (last tour 4:15 p.m.). When she leaves the Seaport, she will be towed to Caddell Drydock in Staten Island where she will spend several months getting prepared for the dockship journey to Europe in the spring of 2017.
In her last hours of public access at the Seaport, special programming will include participatory sail-raising aboard the ship, printing demonstrations at Bowne Printers with free Peking-themed take-aways, and a screening of "Around Cape Horn" at Bowne Printers, with thanks to Mystic Seaport Museum. The dramatic film by Irving Johnson documented her 1929 passage around the southern tip of South America in hurricane conditions.
As the film depicts, during her working years, Peking was employed in the nitrate trade. She made voyages from Europe to the west coast of South America with general cargo and returned filled with guano for use in the making of fertilizer and explosives.
Peking's departure is bound to be viewed with some sadness, but for a long time, executives of the South Street Seaport Museum have said that it was necessary to find a new home for her.
"The gift of Peking to Hamburg, where they've got 30 million euros to restore her, is good for our Museum," said Captain Jonathan Boulware, Executive Director of the South Street Seaport Museum. "It will allow us to focus our growing resources on a leaner fleet, the centerpiece of which will be the mighty three-masted ship Wavertree, which will shortly return from a massive restoration project. It's also good for Hamburg; they'll have a restored ship they can be proud of. She was built in Hamburg and sailed from there. She belongs on the Hamburg waterfront. And it's good for Peking; she'll have the resources and the attention she deserves."
South Street Seaport Museum is home to a fleet of five historic ships, including the lightship Ambrose, a "floating lighthouse" that guided ships safely from the Atlantic Ocean into the broad mouth of lower New York Bay; the 1885 ship Wavertree, one of the last large sailing ships built of wrought iron; the 1930 W.O. Decker, the last surviving New York-built steam tug; the 1893 Lettie G. Howard, the last of the Fredonia-model fishing schooners and a certificated Sailing School Vessel; and the 1885 schooner Pioneer, an authentic 19th century schooner, with public sails daily from May through October.
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Bits & Bytes
SILVER GETS A REPRIEVE FROM PRISON; BATTERY MARITIME HOTEL FALTERS; NEW TENANTS FOR 4 WTC; SMALL BUSINESS LOAN ACCESS
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| Governors Island with the remnants of an 18th century fort, an old chapel and the island of Manhattan behind it, 800 yards away. Mayor Bill de Blasio has just named Michael Samuelian, a vice president at Related Cos., as the new president of the Trust for Governors Island, replacing Leslie Koch, who recently retired.
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
"De Blasio selects new president and CEO for Governors Island Trust," Crain's New York Business, 8/26/16. "Mayor Bill de Blasio has nominated a new president and CEO to take the reins at Governors Island after the architect who led its revitalization stepped down in May," says Crain's New York Business. "The mayor announced the nomination of Michael Samuelian, a vice president at Related Cos. focused on public-private development projects, on Friday. Samuelian will be stepping into a role vacated earlier this year by Leslie Koch, who led the reshaping of the park during the 10 years she spent as head of the Trust for Governors Island. His appointment will be voted on by the trust's board of directors next month." According to Crain's, "The mayor plans to expand use of the island - which was originally a Revolutionary War defensive post and then housed Army and Coast Guard detachments - and turn it into a year-round destination. In 2013, the City Council approved the rezoning of the island to allow for commercial development. A day spa with pools and an on-site restaurant is set to open on the island's northern edge in 2017, with hotels, retail and even educational campus space as possible additions to other areas of the island." For the complete article, click here. "Sheldon Silver wins one-year get-out-of-jail card," therealdeal.com, 8/25/16. "Sheldon Silver won't have to go to jail for at least another year after a judge granted him bail pending appeal," says The Real Deal. "The former speaker of the State Assembly had been sentenced to 12 years in prison for corruption in May, and initially faced a surrender date of Aug. 31. Silver will still have to start paying $7 million in fines and forfeitures in monthly payments of $5,846 starting Sept. 1. Silver is appealing his conviction over fraud, extortion and money laundering charges based on a recent Supreme Court ruling that defined corruption more narrowly than before." For the complete article, click here.
"Lenders reach out to big-time developer for Battery Maritime hotel funding," New York Post, 8/18/16. "Lenders have reached out to powerhouse developer Steve Witkoff to throw a life raft to Lower Manhattan's stalled Battery Maritime hotel project after talks with an earlier rescuer broke down," says the New York Post. "The repeatedly delayed waterfront project was set adrift after talks with Norwalk, Conn.'s Stoneleigh Capital about ponying up the rest of the dough to finish the job failed, sources told The Post. Meanwhile, the Economic Development Corp. is scrambling to 'evaluate the city's options' to revive the long-awaited hotel and restaurant plan, which would add a crown jewel to the foot of rejuvenated South Street." For the complete article, click here.
"Westfield World Trade Center Mall Now Open With New Dining Options," eater.com, 8/17/16. "The Westfield World Trade Center Mall is now open featuring 365,000 square feet of dining and shopping," says eater.com. "After years of delays, the sprawling transit destination made its debut on Tuesday inside the World Trade Center Transportation Hub Oculus. Newly opened food purveyors inside the hub include Lady M pastry cafe, juice shop mini-chain Joe and the Juice, Sugarfina, and Choza Taqueria, according to Flo Fab [Florence Fabricant]. The Times also notes that plans are under way for openings of the Lobster Press, Nunu Chocolates, Little Hunter, Shake Shack, and Market Lane later this year." For the complete article, click here.
"Unruly Kanye West fans cause chaos outside of pop-up shop," New York Post, 8/19/16. "Hundreds of Yeezy fans showed up to the opening of Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo' pop-up store in Tribeca on Friday morning - causing a massive commotion that nearly led cops to close up shop," says the New York Post. "Many waited for hours outside the makeshift Supermarket space at 393 Broadway near Walker Street before pushing and shoving their way past police once the doors opened at 10:15 a.m., just so they could get their paws on some completely overpriced Pablo gear." For the complete article, click here.
"Demolition Imminent for Temporary World Trade Center PATH Station," New York YIMBY, 8/22/16. "The pieces of the new World Trade Center are finally falling into place," says New York YIMBY. "In March, the main concourse of the Santiago Calatrava-designed World Trade Center Transportation Hub, also known as the Oculus, opened. In June, Liberty Park opened and 3 World Trade Center topped out. Last week, the Westfield-operated mall at the Oculus, complete with an Apple Store, opened to the public. And now, it appears demolition is about to begin on the temporary PATH station, paving the way for the new Performing Arts Center to begin construction." New York YIMBY says that, "The site is situated east of One World Trade Center, south of 7 World Trade Center, and west of the site of 2 World Trade Center. The old station closed on June 26th, since commuters can now use Calatrava's Hub." For the complete article, click here.
"Two more insurers take combined 70K sf at 4 WTC," therealdeal.com, 8/22/16. "A pair of insurance firms inked deals for nearly 70,000 square feet at Silverstein Properties' 4 World Trade Center, bringing the 2.3 million-square-foot office tower to 80 percent occupancy," says The Real Deal. "Global Atlantic Financial Group, currently headquartered nearby at Silverstein's 7 World Trade Center, will relocate to building No. 4, where it's signed a 15-year lease for 44,000 square feet on the 15th floor, the Commercial Observer reported.
In another deal, Bermuda-based insurance firm Validus signed a 16-year lease for 24,489 square feet, or a big more than half of the 47th floor of the 72-story tower. Validus is currently headquartered at 48 Wall Street, where it occupies roughly 10,300 square feet." For the complete article, click here. Support for small business loans: New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill sponsored by State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Assemblymember Ron Kim to expand small business access to small loans/seed funding. The Squadron/Kim legislation (S579C/A6621A) directs the state to prioritize access for "micro-businesses" (under five employees) and "micro-loans" (under $25,000) when awarding Small Business Revolving Loan Fund (SBRLF) loans.
"Small businesses provide a path to prosperity for neighborhood entrepreneurs and are the fuel that powers economic growth in so many of our communities," said Squadron. The Squadron/Kim bill directs the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) to show preference in awarding SBRLF funds to lending organizations who serve "micro-businesses" and provide "micro-loans." Additionally, application fees for "micro-loans" under $5,000 would be waived. Created in 2010, the state's Small Business Revolving Loan Fund utilizes $25 million in state funding with a $25 million private match to create an ESDC-administered fund for small businesses to access credit. For more information about the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, click here.
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Downtown bulletin board
PUBLIC KAYAKING ON GOVERNORS ISLAND; REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 9/11 MEMORIAL MUSEUM FALL PROGRAMS; CHORAL AUDITIONS
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| Next to signs identifying New York harbor rowing clubs, dozens of kayaks covered a lawn on Governors Island during City of Water Day in July 2012. People paddled to the island for the event from as far away as Yonkers. On Aug. 31 at 11:30 a.m., Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer will formally open the Downtown Boathouse's new kayak dock and free public kayaking program on Governors Island.
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
Tunnel to Towers Run: In recognition of the special role that Battery Park City, the Financial District, the South Street Seaport and Tribeca have played in the remarkable success of the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has issued an invitation to the area's residents to join the five-kilometer walk on Sunday, Sept. 25 as a group called "the Neighbors." The Tunnel to Towers Run/Walk commemorates the heroism of firefighter Stephen Siller who, on Sept. 11, 2001, strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, already closed to traffic, to the Twin Towers, where died while saving others. The Neighbors team is invited to participate in the run/walk and in the after-party. Registration is necessary and children are free. Click here to register.
Battery Dance Company fundraising for refugee dancers: In memory of Adel Euro, a 23-year-old Iraqi dancer who was killed by an ISIS suicide bomber on July 3, Battery Dance is raising money to help other dancers from the region seeking refuge. A campaign has been launched on Generosity by Indiegogo. The immediate goal is to raise $30,000 toward the expenses of providing safe harbor and membership in a new ensemble for one at-risk dancer. Ultimately, the hope is to extend this protection to many other dancers "who exhibit extraordinary talent but are limited in their opportunities and are at risk due to societal constraints and conflict in their countries."
Ultimately, Battery Dance plans to create an ensemble of six dancers from conflict zones who will receive advanced training in New York City. Support is needed to bring them safely to the United States, to provide room and board until they can earn a living, to enroll them in classes and to develop choreography with them.
Battery Dance believes that with the initial funding in hand, it can successfully approach foundations to seek funding for five more at-risk dancers and for other program costs. Battery Dance was founded in 1976 as a not-for-profit company, with the intent of connecting the world through dance. For the past decade, Battery Dance has toured the world, using dance as a tool for diplomacy in more than 50 countries. To learn more about this funding campaign and to contribute to it, click here.
Free Fridays at the South Street Seaport Museum: On the last Friday of every month through October the South Street Seaport Museum will offer free admission to its exhibition "Street of Ships: The Port and its People," as well as thematic educational and programmatic activities including special tours, artisan demonstrations, talks and lectures, and hands-on activities for the whole family. Each Free Friday ( Aug. 26, Sept. 30, and Oct. 28) will be centered around a different theme. The theme for the program on Aug. 26 is "Peking" in honor of the famed tall ship currently berthed at Pier 16. This Free Friday kicks off the final weekend of public access to Peking as the South Street Seaport Museum prepares for her eventual departure to Hamburg, Germany. Special programming includes participatory sail raising aboard the ship, printing demonstrations at Bowne Printers with free Peking themed takeaways, and a screening of "Around Cape Horn" at the Melville Gallery, thanks to Mystic Seaport Museum. Reservations are required for the film screening. (To make a reservation, click here.) Place: 12 Fulton St. Time: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, click here.
Trinity Youth Chorus Auditions: The Trinity Youth Chorus brings together New York City youth ages 5 to 18 for group and individual training in vocal technique, music theory, sight-reading, and performance skills. The choristers have sung with a variety of notable performers, from Josh Groban to The Rolling Stones. Auditions for the 2016-2017 season will take place in August and September. For questions or to schedule an audition, contact Melissa Attebury at mattebury@trinitywallstreet.org or (212) 602-0798.
Downtown Voices audition: Trinity's semiprofessional choir, praised by The New York Times for their "incisive, agile strength," is holding auditions for the 2016-17 season! Sing with members of the Grammy-nominated Choir of Trinity Wall Street in works by Morten Lauridsen, Handel and Stravinsky. For more information and to apply to audition, click here.
Registration for 9/11 Memorial Museum fall programs: The fall lecture programs at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum begin on Sept. 21 with "Joe Torre: Baseball After 9/11." Hall of Famer and Major League Baseball's chief baseball officer, Torre will talk about getting the Yankees back into playing ball after 9/11 and the importance of baseball in helping Americans heal. According to the museum's website, this event is fully booked however members can add their names to a waiting list by contacting the museum's membership department at (212) 857-0157 or by emailing membership@911memorial.org. To join the museum, contact the membership department. The ASL Slam on Sept. 23 includes poetry, songs, literature and performances in American Sign Language, all related to 9/11. There is no voice interpretation; the program is offered in American Sign Language only. The program begins at 7 p.m. but from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., attendees are invited to view "Rendering the Unthinkable: Artists Respond to 9/11." "CIA Director John Brennan: From Ground Zero to Abbottabad and Beyond," presented on Sept. 26, will be a reflection on the CIA's arrival in Afghanistan and the challenges that will be faced in the future. RSVP required for all programs. All programs take place at 180 Greenwich St. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: Free. For more information, click here.
SAFE disposal at Union Square: Unwanted automotive products, electronics, household products and medical items can be dropped off on Sunday, Sept. 25 at the New York City Department of Sanitation's SAFE disposal event at Union Square. Only New York City residential waste will be accepted (no commercial vehicles allowed). Residents must provide proof of New York City residency (a driver's license, utility bill, etc.) No appliances, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators or tires will be accepted. Do bring such things as batteries, motor oil, TVs, computers, cellphones, paint, compact fluorescent bulbs, medications, syringes and lancets (in tightly sealed, clearly labeled and puncture-resistant containers). Place: Union Square, North Plaza. Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain or shine. For more information, click here.
Gateway Plaza Tenants Association to honor Schumer: The Gateway Plaza Tenants Association (GPTA) has announced that it will give U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) a Lifetime Achievement Award on Sept. 9. The presentation will take place on Esplanade Plaza, just south of North Cove Marina, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. with national, State and City officials in attendance. As a Gateway Plaza Tenants Association function, only residents of the complex are officially invited, but anyone who is interested will be able to see and hear the proceedings from a distance.
Schumer ran for the U.S. Congress in 1980 after having served in the New York State Senate. He became a U.S. Senator in 1998. Should the Democrats regain control of the Senate in the November election, Schumer would probably become the Senate Majority Leader.
GPTA's presentation of an award to Schumer will be two days away from the 15th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. In the aftermath of that attack, along with Hillary Clinton, who was then a U.S. Senator from New York State, Schumer obtained more than $20 billion in funding to help rebuild Lower Manhattan. He also worked for the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act both in 2010 when it was first authorized and in 2015 when it came up for renewal. In addition, for years, he has successfully advocated for federal funds to build an esplanade along the East River and to fortify Lower Manhattan with berms that would protect against sea level rise and catastrophic storms.
For Gateway Plaza residents, there will be complimentary wine, beer, and hors d'oeuvres at the award ceremony, courtesy of SouthWestNY, Le Pain Quotidien, Duane Park Patisserie and Sprinkles. Gateway Plaza residents can RSVP by emailing GatewayPlazaTA@gmail.com.
Grand opening of Saks Downtown: Saks Downtown at 225 Liberty St. in Brookfield Place will open on Sept. 9 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Saks promises "light refreshments as well as many in-store surprises and delights throughout the day."
Free swimming and yoga for seniors: Beginning Sept. 8, the Downtown Community Center is offering free swimming and yoga for seniors on the following schedule: , Monday to Thursday: 12:30 p.m.-2p.m.; Senior Water Exercise, Monday and Thursday: 12:45 p.m.; Senior Swim Clinic, Tuesday, 1:15 p.m.; Senior Yoga, Friday: 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. To register, click here, come to the Downtown Community Center at 120 Warren St. or call (212) 766 1104. You can also email swim@manhattanyouth.org.Offshore sailing adventures aboard Lettie G. Howard: The South Street Seaport Museum's beautiful and historic (1893) schooner Lettie G. Howard will be sailing from New York City to her home waters of Gloucester, Mass. from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, where she will take part in the Gloucester Schooner Race and Festival on Sept. 4. Afterward she will sail to the New London Maritime Heritage Festival in New London, Conn. (Sept. 5 through Sept. 9) and then back to New York City (Sept. 11 through Sept. 13). Join her for any part of this sail (or all of it!) as crew in training (no experience necessary). You will stand watch, raise and handle the sail, take the helm, help to chart a course and learn some of the skills of a traditional mariner. Prices for various parts of the journey range from $160 (for the schooner race) to $800 for the longer stretches of sailing. For more information, click here. To make a reservation, click here. Harbor and Hudson River trips aboard fireboat John J. Harvey: The historic fireboat John J. Harvey, built in 1931 and among the most powerful fireboats ever in service, officially retired in 1994 but she continues to ply the waters of New York harbor and even goes up the Hudson River to Kingston, N.Y. from time to time. All trips aboard the John J. Harvey are free, although donations are gratefully accepted. In September, she will participate in the North River Tugboat Races on Sept. 4, go to Newtown Creek on Sept. 7 and then travel to Kingston, N.Y. from Sept. 9 through Sept. 12. For more information about the John J. Harvey and for details on her schedule, including how to make reservations, click here. Lox at the Museum of Jewish Heritage: The Museum of Jewish Heritage has opened a new caf� called Lox with a menu that features in-house cured salmon served in a variety of ways. A tasting dish of lox served in five different ways costs $36. Sandwiches are $13 to $18. Also on the menu are homemade babka ($12), cheese blintzes with sour cream ($13), borscht ($5 for a cup, $8 for a bowl), Russian coffee cake, ruggelach, and more. Museum members receive a 10 percent discount. Place: 36 Battery Place. Open during museum hours. For more information, call (646) 437-4231 or click here. Battery Park City Block Party: The 15th annual Battery Park City Block Party will be held on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Esplanade Plaza next to North Cove Marina. Once again, the BPC Chamber will be hosting. If you would like a table at the block party for your business, contact Rosalie ( rosaliebpc@gmail.com) as soon as possible. Volunteers are needed for the day of the event to help set up and break down, check in vendors and other tasks. Email info@bpcchamber.com if you can help.
Battery Park City Lost and Found: Plenty of things are lost in Battery Park City, according to Patrick Murphy, AlliedBarton's BPC manager for operations. AlliedBarton is responsible for patrolling 92-acre Battery Park City and dealing with safety and quality-of-life issues. Murphy told Community Board 1's Battery Park City Committee that he could "open a shop" with the number and variety of skateboards that had been left behind by their owners. But many other things turn up as well. To contact AlliedBarton's lost and found, call (212) 945-7233 or email bpcallied@bpca.ny.gov.
Museum of American Finance Launches audio tour: The Museum of American Finance at 48 Wall St. has launched a 12-stop audio tour of its permanent exhibits. The tour was developed in partnership with Antenna - a leading innovative multi-media story-telling company - and is narrated by a variety of experts including the Museum's president and curators, as well as CNN founding financial editor Myron Kandel and architectural historian Damien Cregeau. The tour features the backstories of several of the Museum's most popular collections and exhibitions, including objects from the Crash of '29; a stock certificate issued to Ponzi scheme artist Bernie Madoff; rare high-denomination currency; and the solid gold and jewel encrusted Monopoly Set by artist Sidney Mobell, on loan from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The most in-depth stop on the audio tour is the 1880 plaster study of the Alexander Hamilton statue by Carl Conrads, which was commissioned by Hamilton's son as a gift to the city of New York. The study stands just outside the Alexander Hamilton Room - the Museum's permanent tribute to the nation's first Secretary of the Treasury. Also on July 12, in honor of the 212th anniversary of Hamilton's death, the Museum has unveiled several new additions to this exhibit, such as an original copy of Hamilton's obituary and a rare 1804 collection of documents pertaining to his death in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. This includes correspondence leading up to the duel, Hamilton's last will and testament, the eulogies of his friends and colleagues and detailed information on his funeral ceremony. The audio guides are available to visitors on a first come, first served basis for $2 per person. MoAF members and visitors with visual or other impairments will be granted free usage of the guides. For more information about the museum, click here.
Get Low 2016: The Alliance for Downtown New York's popular summer program, Get Low, is back for the third year with restaurant discounts on Tuesdays through Aug. 30. The program brings special deals to Downtown diners with discounts at 34 restaurants every Tuesday night after 4 p.m. Photograph your meal and post the picture to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #DownIsWhatsUp for a chance to win one of the weekly prizes for the most interesting posts. All participants who tag @ICECulinary will be entered to win the grand prize - a cooking course for two at the Institute for Culinary Education's new Brookfield Place location. The Institute will also offer all participants a 20 percent discount on their Tuesday night classes. For more information on the program, click here.
Battery Park City Parks Summer Events Calendar: For a complete list of events and classes taking place this summer in Battery Park City under the auspices of Battery Park City Parks, click here.
Minority and women-owned businesses get boost from New York City: Mayor Bill de Blasio has committed to awarding Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) $16 billion in contracts over the next 10 years. During FY 2015, the City awarded M/WBEs $1.6 billion and is on track to reach the $16 billion goal. There are now 4,454 M/WBEs in the City, a 21 percent increase since the start of De Blasio's administration. Free services are available to help strengthen certified M/WBE's including access to technical assistance, bonding, financing, teaming and mentorship. Firms interested in starting the M/WBE certification process or participating in M/WBE programming can learn more by calling 311, meeting with a client manager at one of the City's seven NYC Business Solution Centers (the Lower Manhattan center is at 79 John St., second floor) or by clicking here.
Downtown Boathouse season: This year's season of free kayaking at the Downtown Boathouse on Pier 26 (in Hudson River Park near North Moore Street) is in full swing. Weekends and holidays, the Downtown Boathouse is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 10. It is also 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. Kayaking classes take place every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting. 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. 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. Annual membership and day pass purchases 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 ccshs@bpcparks.org or call (212) 267-9700. For more information, click here.
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.
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 Aug. 30 and on Sept. 13, 20 and 27. To register for a tour, click here. SeaGlass Carousel: Following 10 years of design and fundraising and a setback named "Sandy," the SeaGlass Carousel in The Battery opened on Aug. 19, 2015 to universal critical acclaim and rapturous crowds. Downtown Post NYC was there for the opening. Read about the carousel and see photos by clicking here. SeaGlass 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 editor@downtownpostnyc.com with your request for more information about sizes and prices.
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Letter to the editorNEW LOWER MANHATTAN MALLS LACK CHARACTER AND CHARM|
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The shopping atrium at Brookfield Place. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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To the editor:
A recent walk-through of the new impersonal, overblown malls near the WTC site (Westfield and Brookfield) left me cold. The character and charm that attract shoppers and visitors to a neighborhood were nowhere to be found. The more 'organic' successful neighborhoods like MePa, NoLiTa, and LES always have new and charming discoveries to offer.
Much as the Oculus has caused a stir in the architectural community, to me it's a white dinosaur. The whole complex of huge, glassy buildings left me feeling like a rat in a maze.
I hope that the bean-counters at Howard Hughes Corporation will bolster their bottom line by doing as much as possible to preserve the unique and irreplaceable historic treasures of the South Street Seaport, its incomparable museum, and the Street of Ships. This is what will engage New Yorkers and attract visitors, not some jazzed -up mall that could be found in any affluent suburb.
Of all the opportunities we have to keep the Seaport District semi-intact, we cannot blow this one. Thank you, Gale Brewer and Margaret Chin, for keeping a close watch on the so-called "minor modifications" that would eviscerate the Tin Building and create a non-stop parade of trucks and other service vehicles where pedestrians should be.
Thank you to all who have worked tirelessly to see that the essence of the historic South Street Seaport is preserved.
Diane Harris Brown
From the editor:
We welcome letters to the editor. Email them to editor@downtownpostnyc.com. We reserve the right to edit them for clarity and length.
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From the South Street Seaport Museum Collection
STAFFORDSHIRE TRANSFERWARE PLATTER HONORS GEN. LAFAYETTE
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| | Staffordshire, England had been a pottery-making center since the 16th century. In the second half of the 18th century, Staffordshire potteries started making transferware, so-called because the patterns were first engraved on a copper plate, then transferred to paper and then to pottery. (Courtesy of the South Street Seaport Museum) |
(Note from the editor: The South Street Seaport Museum has an extensive collection of artifacts and memorabilia, much of it not currently on display. This is the fifth in what will be a regular feature in Downtown Post NYC highlighting artifacts from the collection.)General Lafayette's visit to the United States in 1824 was a cause for a huge celebration, sparking the manufacture of many kinds of commemorative souvenirs. This Staffordshire blue transferware platter conveys the strong patriotic sentiment of post-Revolutionary War America in the early 19th century.
The process of making transferware in which patterns engraved on a copper plate were transferred to pottery enabled the mass production of good-quality tableware for a growing middle class. Thousands of patterns were produced on tens of millions of pieces.
Ironically, even though this dish and many other pieces like it depicted patriotic American images, it was actually made in England specifically for the American market. This James and Ralph Clews (British, 1817-1835) porcelain dinnerware is part of the permanent collection of the South Street Seaport Museum.
[Image: Collection of the South Street Seaport Museum)
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Before the construction of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and the World Trade Center, Manhattan's Lower West Side was home to one of the largest and earliest communities of Arab Americans in the United States. Little Syria, NY: An Immigrant Community's Life and Legacy tells the story of this neighborhood from its beginnings in the late 1800s to its legacy in Brooklyn and beyond.
May 25 to Sept. 16: The NYC Department of Records and Information Services, 31 Chambers St. Visitors Center. This exhibition was created by the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Mich. For more information, click here. |
CALENDAR: Week of Aug. 22
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| | An important exhibition called "Seeking Justice: The Leo Frank Case Revisited" at the Museum of Jewish Heritage examines what happens when bigotry and mob rule prevail over law. 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 the exhibition, which shows that even the most prominent citizens of Atlanta joined the crowd that wanted to see Frank convicted, punished and lynched. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
Aug. 28: This is the final day for "The Golden Bride," a Yiddish operetta that premiered in February 1923 and ran for 18 weeks in a 2,000-seat theater on the Lower East Side. In July, it returned to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in an enthralling production staged by the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. It is sung in Yiddish with supertitles in English and Russian that make the words accessible for everyone. The charming and touching story revolves around love and money, the seduction of American dreams for residents of an impoverished Russian shtetl and the pangs and triumphs of immigrants trying to find their footing in a new land. A brilliant production, not to be missed. Place: 36 Battery Place. Tickets: $50 (premium seats); $40 (regular seats); $30 (Museum of Jewish Heritage and National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene members). For tickets and for more information, call (866) 811-4111 or 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" that runs through the winter of 2017. Place: Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place. For more information about the museum and this exhibition, click here.
Ongoing: "Portrait of a Landscape" is the title of the exhibition at the Shirley Fiterman Art Center, part of the Borough of Manhattan Community College. Artists from New York and Buenos Aires, Argentina are represented in the exhibition. Through Sept. 10. Place: 81 Barclay St. Time: Tuesdays to Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. For more information, click here.
Ongoing: An exhibition at the World Trade Gallery called "Breezy" is about summer fun and features the colorful work of seven artists. Through Aug. 31. Place: 120 Broadway (at Cedar Street). Phone: (212) 619-2030. For more information including gallery hours, click here.
Ongoing: An exhibition called "Dunsmore: Illustrating the American Revolutionary War" opened on June 17 at the Fraunces Tavern Museum. John Ward Dunsmore (1856-1945) was a realistic and accurate genre painter who focused on the American Revolution and Early Republic. Through a chronological display of the Revolutionary War, this exhibition returns 47 recently conserved paintings to their rightful place in the iconography of American culture. Place: 54 Pearl St. Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Admission: $7; $4 (seniors, students and children 6 to 18); free (children under 5 and active military). For more information, click here.
Ongoing: Aboard the historic lighthouse tender Lilac, an exhibition of maritime art in mixed media by Adam Payne reflects the artist's love of history and his appreciation of everyday materials. Using old rain slickers and life jackets, he creates memorials to failed explorers and spells out messages on vintage maps, using signal flags. The exhibition continues through the end of September. Place: Pier 25 in Hudson River Park. Time: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Thursdays) and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays). Free. For 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: "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: 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.
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Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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