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DOWNTOWN
POST NYC
News and Events
in Lower Manhattan
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Volume 3, No. 44 Sept. 13, 2016
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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
""This is the first time that any of us have ever seen him where he's not here whether by subway, car or bicycle. Often on a Saturday he takes his bicycle and goes all over the five boroughs. I've never seen anything like it."
- Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer commenting on U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer's absence from a ceremony in Battery Park City where he was to have received a Lifetime Achievement award. He couldn't make it because he had pneumonia.
WEATHER INFORMATION: For current weather information, click here.
PRIMARY ELECTION: Sept. 13 is primary election day. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. To find your polling place, 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.
IF YOU LIKE DOWNTOWN POST NYC - Downtown Post NYC is emailed free to subscribers, but if you like DPNYC and want to support it, you can do that in three ways. 1) Support Downtown Post's advertisers by clicking on their ads, and if you use their services, tell them that you read about them in DPNYC. 2) Consider advertising in DPNYC if you have a business, service or event that you want to promote. 3) Tell people about DPNYC and suggest that they subscribe. They can sign up at www.DowntownPostNYC.com.
All ads in Downtown Post NYC have clickable links. Click on an ad for more information. MASTHEAD PHOTO: Tribute in Light as seen from Battery Park City. Sept. 11, 2016
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
 SEPTEMBER 13 PRIMARY ELECTION: SIX CANDIDATES VIE FOR THE NOMINATION IN THE 65TH NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
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| The candidates for the Democratic nomination for New York State Assembly District 65 at a forum on Sept. 1 organized by The New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. From left to right, Alice Cancel, Don Lee, Gigi Li, Paul Newell,
Yuh-Line Niou and Jenifer Rajkumar. (Photos: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
Six people are eagerly vying for the right to represent the 65th Assembly District in the New York State legislature - the seat vacated by Sheldon Silver's conviction on corruption charges. Today (Sept. 13) is primary election day. The polls are open until 9 p.m.
A seat in the State Assembly pays $79,500 a year plus per diems of $174 a night if an overnight stay is required in the course of the work, and $59 a day if no overnight stay is required - so the chances are that none of these candidates is hoping to be elected because of the money. If Silver thought the pay was too low and tried to find other forms of remuneration, he was certainly not alone in that legislature in thinking about how to make ends meet. However, all of the current candidates in the 65th AD are vocal in their opposition to corruption and in their insistence that there must be transparency.
On Sept. 1, the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund invited all six candidates to share the stage in the community room at Southbridge Towers to answer questions about resiliency, climate change, parks and open space, sustainable transportation and access to fresh and local food. The questions asked were weighty and not especially conducive to meaningful answers condensed into a space of one or two minutes. Nevertheless, the evening was instructive in terms of how the candidates presented their credentials.
Alice Cancel, the incumbent, elected in a special election held in April 2016 to temporarily fill Silver's seat until the current primary campaign could be held followed by a general election
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Alice Cancel and Don Lee
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on Nov. 8, was the first to introduce herself. Cancel emphasized her incumbency. "I'm your Assemblywoman, Alice Cancel," she said for an opener. She also emphasized her longevity in the community, where she has lived for 40 years, 26 of those years as district leader. She referred repeatedly to "my community." Several of the candidates emphasized their immigrant origins. Don Lee, who now lives in Battery Park City with his family, said that he was raised in Chinatown by a single mother. Gigi Li, former chairperson of Community Board
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Don Lee, Gigi Li and Paul Newell
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3, proudly said that she was the third generation of her family to live in Chinatown. Jenifer Rajkumar, who also lives in Battery Park City, referenced her South Asian origins and said that her parents came to New York City with a suitcase and $300. Paul Newell introduced himself to the audience by saying that on his mother's side, he was the fourth generation to live in Lower Manhattan and that his father had emigrated from a Europe "destroyed by the war." Yuh-Line Niou, who moved to New York State in 2010 and to the Financial District in 2014,
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Paul Newell, Yuh-Line Niou and Jenifer Rajkumar
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didn't cite her immigrant origins nor could she, of course, cite her longevity in the community, so she said that "We have incredibly high resiliency and restoration needs. These are things we're all fighting for. One of the things [for which] I stand apart [is] that I have a lot of background in environmental justice." The 65th Assembly District looks like a jagged piece from a jigsaw puzzle. Incomprehensibly, it bisects Battery Park City at Vesey Street. Those south of Vesey are in the 65th AD. The northern part of Battery Park City is in the 66th AD, represented by Deborah Glick. The 65th AD darts part way across Fulton Street, then takes in a block of Ann Street and part
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Paul Newell said that his mother's family had lived on the Lower East Side for four generations and that his father was an immigrant who fled the war in Europe.
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of Beekman. It meanders north toward part of Tribeca, Chinatown and the Lower East Side. It includes the South Street Seaport and Governors Island. The total population is around 132,500 people of whom the majority (43.18 percent of the total) are Asian. People who identify as "white" are the next largest number (33.62 percent) with a smattering of Hispanics, Blacks, Amerindians and "other." Given these demographics, it's no wonder that four of the six candidates for the Democratic nomination are of Asian origin and that they like to talk about their immigrant heritage. Increasingly elections in this Assembly District are won by whether the voters in Chinatown turn out (they usually do) and what they think.
- Terese Loeb Kreuzer
To find your polling site, click here.
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VIKING SHIP DRAKEN HARALD HARFAGRE WILL ARRIVE IN
BATTERY PARK CITY'S NORTH COVE MARINA ON SEPT. 17
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| The Viking ship, Draken Harald H�rfagre, crossing the North Atlantic near Greenland.
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The world's largest Viking ship, Draken Harald H�rfagre, is in North America after crossing the North Atlantic ocean on a journey from its homeport in Haugesund, Norway.
Setting out to follow the route Leif Ericson would have taken around 1,000 years ago when he and a crew sailed from Norway to Greenland and then very probably on to what is now L'Anse aux Meadows in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Draken Harald H�rfagre set sail from Norway with 32 crew members in late April. It stopped in the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, and then went on to Greenland and Newfoundland before making its way through the Saint Lawrence Seaway to Toronto for the Tall Ships Challenge Great Lakes 2016 festival.
Then the Viking ship headed to Chicago, Green Bay and Duluth, before lowering its mast to fit through the New York canals that are taking it to New York City and finally to Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Conn. in October.
Draken Harald H�rfagre is not a replica. It's a real Viking ship built according to ancient Norwegian boat-building techniques as described in history books and as unearthed in archaeological findings. Construction was completed in 2014 and it is now heralded as the world's largest Viking ship ever built in modern times. The Vikings were the first known European settlers in North America. They established a
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Viking sod houses reconstructed at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, where the Vikings settled around A.D. 1000. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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colony at L'Anse aux Meadows around 1,000 A.D. and lived there for 10 years before abandoning the site. In 1960, the Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad and his wife, archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad, were led by a resident of the fishing village to a grassy meadow with a group of mounds that the Norwegians recognized as the remains of sod houses. It's probable that the Vikings arrived on this wild promontory in a ship very like the Draken Harald H�rfagre.
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L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland.
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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Draken Harald H�rfagre is due to arrive in North Cove Marina at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 17. There will be an arrival ceremony with interviews and Nordic music, sea shanty songs and festivities. An exhibition about how the ship was built and the history of Viking ships will be in the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place.
Deck tours will be available from Sept. 18 to Sept. 22 and on Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Deck tour tickets cost $18 (adults) and $5 (children 6 to 17). The ship will leave North Cove Marina on Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. headed for its last stop in the United States - Mystic Seaport in Connecticut.
For more information about the Draken Harald H�rfagre, click here. - Terese Loeb Kreuzer
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Inside a re-created sod house at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, an interpreter talks to visitors about how the Vikings lived during their 10 years on the site.
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer)
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Bits & Bytes
BARBRA STREISAND TO CHAIR WTC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER; SCHUMER'S BOUT WITH PNEUMONIA; PORT WANTS TO SELL 1WTC
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| | The Gateway Plaza Tenants Association (GPTA) planned to present U.S. Senator Charles Schumer with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Sept. 9, but Schumer couldn't make it. He had pneumonia. New York State Senator Daniel Squadron accepted the award on Schumer's behalf. With him on the stage were Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, City Councilmember Margaret Chin, Public Advocate Letitia James and Glenn Plaskin, president of the GPTA. Brewer said of Schumer, "This is the first time that any of us have ever seen him where he's not here whether by subway, car or bicycle. Often on a Saturday he takes his bicycle and goes all over the five boroughs. I've never seen anything like it." (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
"Perelman enlists Streisand as chair of new WTC arts complex," New York Post, 9/8/16. "Billionaire Ron Perelman is adding star power to the board of the performing arts center at the World Trade Center," says the New York Post. "Barbra Streisand is the new chair of the planned Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center. Perelman previously co-founded the Women's Heart Alliance with Streisand. The singer did not attend a media event Thursday with Perelman and others that detailed the design and programs for the $243 million project. Sources said she wanted the press to focus on the project." For the complete article, click here.
"Design Unveiled For Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center At The World Trade Center," New York YIMBY, 9/8/16. "The rebuilding of the World Trade Center took a big step forward Thursday morning," says New York YIMBY. "Officials unveiled the design for the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center. ... Designed by Joshua Prince-Ramus of the Brooklyn-based firm REX, it will feature three theaters, seating 499, 250, and 99 people respectively, that can be combined in 11 ways, with endless possibilities. They will be contained within what is essentially a cube. Those entering will ascend a staircase up 21 feet because the center will sit atop the vehicular access port for the World Trade Center." For the complete article with renderings and a video, click here.
"Cuomo Announces State Will Build 9/11 First Responders Monument In NYC,"
gothamist.com, 9/11/16. "Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that New York State will be building a monument to 9/11 first responders in New York City," says Gothamist. "The monument 'will rightly serve as an eternal reminder of the courage, sacrifice and bravery demonstrated by our first responders and survivors in the aftermath of 9/11, and ensure that their legacy will never be forgotten,' Governor Cuomo said in a press release. The announcement comes after Representatives Jerry Nadler, Carolyn Maloney and Peter King sent a letter asking for support for the memorial from Governors Cuomo and Christie, and in the wake of a report explaining the health issues first responders are still dealing with today." For the complete article, click here.
"DSA to buy 15-story FiDi dorm from Pace for $51M," therealdeal.com, 9/8/13. "Arik Lifshitz's DSA Property Group is in contract to buy a 15-story dormitory building in the Financial District from Pace University for $51 million," according to The Real Deal.
"The private university hired Newmark Grubb Knight Frank TRData LogoTINY in March to market the 75,000-square-foot property at 106 Fulton Street, between Dutch and William streets. The building, which Pace converted into dorms in 1999, also has a Burger King on the ground floor. It was not immediately clear what DSA plans for the building, though NGKF's Kenneth Zakin was marketing it as a possible condominium conversion with as many as 50 apartments." For the complete article, click here. "Selling 1 World Trade Center," Crain's New York Business, 9/4/16. "One World Trade Center sits at the heart of America's most hallowed ground, a 1,776-foot-tall icon that concretely testifies to the city's rebirth after Sept. 11, 2001," says Crain's New York Business. "But as an investment for its owner, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, it has been a bust. Fifteen years after the terrorist attacks, the roughly 3-million-square-foot, $3.8 billion tower is still one-third empty. According to the Citizens Budget Commission, the tower netted the authority $13 million in revenue last year, a figure that equates to a meager 0.35% return on its investment - a rate that doesn't even keep pace with inflation. The Port Authority now has a plan to transform One World Trade Center from albatross to blue chip. Under pressure to return to its traditional focus on transportation, yet strapped for cash, the agency plans to sell what was originally called the Freedom Tower to the highest bidder-foreign or domestic-for a price executives believe could be as much as $5 billion. That would be the highest price ever paid for an office building in the U.S." For the complete article, click here. "Sen. Chuck Schumer reveals he, like Clinton, was also diagnosed with pneumonia," Daily News, 9/12/16. "Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), revealed Monday that he, like Hillary Clinton, had also been diagnosed with pneumonia recently," says the Daily News. "Schumer, who is expected to take over the No. 1 leadership spot among Senate Democrats if they win back the majority in November, said he had been diagnosed with the illness several weeks ago. His disclosure came just a day after Clinton's campaign revealed that the Democratic nominee had been diagnosed on Friday with the ailment." For the complete article, click here.
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Downtown bulletin board
WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS; FORUM ON DOWNTOWN CONSTRUCTION; NEW YORK HARBOR FOUNDATION REGATTA
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| | Sailors competed in the J105 and J24/Colgate 26 classes at the New York Harbor Foundation Regatta in September 2014. This year's regatta will take place on Sept. 16. Tickets are now on sale. (Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
Downtown Boathouse offers kayaking by moonlight: An evening of kayaking by moonlight will conclude this year's weekday kayaking sessions at the Downtown Boathouse on Pier 26 (in Hudson River Park near North Moore Street). " Thursday, Sept. 15, is the final day of the Downtown Boathouse's weekday evening of free public kayaking program for 2016," said Graeme Birchall, president of the Downtown Boathouse. "Because it is also one day before a full moon, we have decided to run the kayaking from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. so the public can experience kayaking in moonlight. We will only do this if we have clear skies and calm water, but if the weather permits, it will be a great way to experience kayaking at nighttime." The free public kayak program on weekends and holidays runs until Oct. 10. Weekends and holidays, the Downtown Boathouse is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 10. It will be open on Tuesday, Sept. 13 and Wednesday, Sept. 14 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, on Saturdays the Downtown Boathouse runs a free public kayaking program on Governors Island where the pier officially opened on Aug. 31. For more information about the Downtown Boathouse, click here.
New York Harbor Regatta at Governors Island: On Sept. 16, New York Harbor Foundation will host the 6th annual New York Harbor Regatta. Hundreds of sailors and supporters from New York City's media, finance, education, maritime and business communities will convene for a day on the water. While the sailors compete in the J105 and J24/Colgate 26 classes, fans can take in the action from the spectator boat and enjoy an afternoon of cocktails, light bites and networking. After the racing, sailors, spectators and supporters can head to Governors Island Beach Club for Dark 'n Stormies, an oyster bar, live reggae and specialties from top New York City restaurants at the Regatta Bash on the beach. Proceeds directly fund New York Harbor Foundation's mission: to create and support a diverse network of environmentally literate students, schools and communities working together to restore New York Harbor. Tickets are only on sale until Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m. (No tickets will be sold at the door.) Time: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The spectator boat will board at Pier 15 in the South Street Seaport at 2 p.m. and return at 5 p.m. or shortly thereafter. Tickets start at $125. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.
Forum on downtown construction projects: The construction in Lower Manhattan that began in the aftermath of 9/11 continues unabated. "The density of residents, commercial space and tourism that we have in Lower Manhattan does not exist anywhere else in the city," according to New York State Sen. Daniel Squadron, who represents this area. With scores of public and private construction projects happening in Lower Manhattan, residents have a right to know more about the disruptions caused - and the benefits to come - from this development work. On Sept. 22, join Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and her staff, Community Board 1, and all downtown elected officials to discuss these challenges. Submit questions in advance by clicking here. Place: Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers St. Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. RSVP by clicking here.
Symposium on driverless cars: An enormous amount of research is going into the development of driverless cars, known as "Autonomous Vehicles" in the industry. It's not a matter of "if" anymore, it's a matter of when. On Sept. 27, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer's office is sponsoring a forum on driverless cars in New York City with representatives from the city's Taxi & Limousine Commission, Dept. of Transportation, NYU's Rudin Center, and one of the manufacturers of AV's, Audi. Place: 1 Centre St., 19th floor South. Time: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register to attend by clicking here. Wavertree welcome and benefit: The 1885 sailing ship Wavertree will return to the South Street Seaport on Sept. 24 after a year-long, city-funded $13 million restoration. On Sept.29, come aboard for drinks, hors d'oeuvres and period music from the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra. Tickets start at $250. Reply by Sept. 20 to ensure recognition in the event program. Place: Pier 16 in the South Street Seaport. Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information and to buy tickets, click here. Tickets for World Chess Championship now on sale: The World Chess Championship pitting Magnus Carlsen from Norway (the current champion) against Sergey Karjakin of Russia is coming to the South Street Seaport between Nov. 11 and Nov. 30. The contenders will play 12 games in the Fulton Market building at 11 Fulton St. To win, a player must achieve a score of 6.5 points. If, after 12 rounds, the score is even, there will be tiebreak games. Millions of people from all over the world will be watching these games, which will be telecast for viewing on smartphones, tablets and computers. This will be the first world championship to be broadcast in virtual reality via stereoscopic live video using Google Cardboard or any other VR device. Live conversations with other spectators about a game and expert comments on what's happening behind a board will be enabled. Tickets for the World Chess Championship are now on sale, starting at $15. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.
Stories and Songs for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers: Battery Park City Parks presents a program of lively musical performances each Wednesday from Sept. 14 to Dec. 14 with a roster of professional musicians who introduce music to young children through participatory music and stories. Stories & Songs is for children ages six months to 3.5 years (accompanied by an adult). It develops active listening, socializing, and cultural literacy in a joyous, warm environment. Place: 6 River Terrace. Three sessions: Wednesdays, 9:40 a.m.-10:20 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.-11:10 a.m.; 11:20 a.m.-12 p.m. Cost: $335. To register, call (212) 267-9700 ext. 9363 or email registration@bpcparks.org. For more information, click here.
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council 2017 grants: The deadline to apply for the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Creative Engagement and Creative Learning grants has been extended to Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. Artists or arts organizations that have not already received City or State funding are encouraged to apply. First-time Creative Engagement applicants are required to attend an information session as well as all applicants to Creative Learning. There will be an information session on Sept. 19. Place: 150 Broadway Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. To RSVP click here. For more information about the grant program, click here. Sen. Squadron's new multilingual resource guide for parents and families: State Senator Daniel Squadron and his office visited 22 schools throughout his district in Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront at drop-off and dismissal for the first and second days of school to distribute the senator's multilingual 2016-17 Parent Resource Guide. The guide is a compilation of afterschool activities, museums, parks, community health clinics, and other local resources available to families throughout the community. Squadron offers updated and expanded editions of the guide every year. Squadron's resource guide is available on his website. To request a mailed copy, constituents can contact his office at (212) 298-5565 or at squadron@nysenate.gov.
Birthday Beach Party for Manhattan Youth: On Sept. 24 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Manhattan Youth will celebrate 30 years of serving Manhattan families. There will be games, refreshments and music at Hudson River Park's Pier 25 beach volleyball courts. Tickets: $10 (by Sept. 23); $15 (at the door). Family tickets (for two adults and up to three kids), $30 (by Sept. 23); $40 (at the door.) Premium tickets are also available for $100 each. They include one reserved blue lounge chair, five free mini-golf coupons to play anytime in 2016, refreshments for two adults and up to three kids, one adult beer ticket (value $10 each), and a thank you gift. For more information, click here. If tickets are sold out, email Camille@manhattanyouth.org
Liberty Ship John W. Brown visiting New York: For the first time since 1994, the Liberty ship John W. Brown is in New York City. Although thousands of Liberty
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Liberty ship, John W. Brown
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ships were built in the United States during World War II to replace cargo ships torpedoed by German U-boats, the John W. Brown is one of only two Liberty Ships that survive. She is docked at Pier 36 on the Lower East Side (299 South St.) and is open for tours and other events ending with a six-hour living history cruise on Sept. 18. She departs for her homeport of Baltimore on Sept. 19. Between 1941 and 1945, Liberty Ships were constructed in 18 U.S. shipyards. The John W. Brown was built in Baltimore. She was named for a well-known labor leader and launched on Labor Day, 1942. Her maiden voyage was to New York City where she picked up Jeeps, trucks and ammunition to aid Russia under the Lend-Lease Act and took them to the Persian Gulf. She transported troops and cargo in support of the WWII effort until 1945. When she retired in 1946, she became a floating vocational high school, training students in maritime fields for the NYC Board of Education until 1982. After several years with the Reserve Fleet, she was towed to Baltimore in 1988 and the all-volunteer Project Liberty Ship began restoration. She has been fully operational on steam since 1991. For more information about the ship, click here. Tours, Sept. 10 to Sept. 17: Guided and self-guided tours. Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For group tours, email john.w.brown@usa.net. On both Saturdays the engines will be working at the pier as part of the tour. Living history cruise, Sept. 18: The living history cruise includes lunch, a military flyover and more. Time: 8 a.m. (all aboard by 9:15 a.m., departure 10 a.m.) to 4 p.m. Tickets: $195. To reserve, click here.
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.
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 upcoming Free Friday (Sept. 30 and Oct. 28) will be centered around a different theme. 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.
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.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.
Battery Park City Parks Fall Events Calendar: For a complete list of events and classes taking place this fall 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. 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." An exhibition 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 Sept. 20 and 27 and on Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25. 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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COMMUNITY BOARD 1 MEETINGS: Week of Sept. 12
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| | Duane Street in Tribeca. (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. Members of the public can attend and comment. A photo ID is needed to enter the building.
Sept. 13: Youth & Education Committee
* Taste of the Seaport - Announcement
* The Quad Preparatory School 5K Fun Run - Presentation by Kimberly Busi, Founder/ Director
* Peck Slip Play Street - Update
* School Crossing Guards - Update
* School Overcrowding Task Force - Report
* Fall School Registration Numbers - Reports from Principals
Sept. 14: Tribeca Committee
* 158 Duane St., application for Board of Standards and Appeals Special Permit for a Physical Culture Establishment, YogaSpark - Resolution
* 225 West Broadway, application for liquor license for 225 West Broadway Corp - Resolution
* 5 White St., application for change in method of operations for North of Houston LLC - Resolution
* Two Hands sidewalk cafe - Update
* 349-351 Greenwich St., application for liquor license for SAAR NYC, Inc. - Resolution (TENTATIVE)
The following notices have been received for renewal, upgrade, or transfer of wine and beer or liquor licenses or sidewalk cafe permits:
* 110 Chambers St., application for renewal of tavern liquor license for Liberty Rest, LLC d/b/a The Patriot Saloon
* 200 Church St., application for renewal of wine and beer license for Tribeca's Kitchen
* 311 Church St., application for renewal of liquor license for Macao Trading Co.
* 275 Greenwich St., application for renewal of restaurant liquor license for Chipotle Mexican Grill of Colorado, LLC
* 319 Greenwich St., application for renewal of restaurant liquor license for Salaam Bombay Restaurant Inc.
* 45 Murray St., application for renewal of restaurant liquor license for Tribeca Restaurant LLC d/b/a Benares
* 57 Murray St., renewal of liquor license for Cricketers Arms
* 130 West Broadway, application for renewal of restaurant liquor license for WB Duane Japanese Partners, Inc. d/b/a Sushi of Gari Tribeca
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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 Sept. 12
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| "Eyes," a sculpture by Louise Bourgeois, is in Battery Park City's Wagner Park.
(Photo: Terese Loeb Kreuzer) |
Sept. 17: "Vistas and Dreams," a symposium at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian celebrates the centennial anniversary of the founding of its predecessor institution, the Museum of the American Indian. A distinguished panel of scholars will explore how and why the museum's collection was assembled and the effect of collecting on Native Americans. A reception follows the symposium. Place: 1 Bowling Green. Time: 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. RSVP by calling (212) 514-3750 or emailing NYRSVP@si.edu. For more information, click here.
September weekends: The 9th annual Governors Island Art Fair brings 100 rooms of painting, photography, sculpture, installation art, video and sound art to the island. Governors Island Art Fair takes place at Colonel's Row and in Fort Jay and Castle Williams. It was produced by 4Heads, a New York City nonprofit organization created by artists. Dates: Sept. 17, 18, 24 and 25. Times: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. Catalogue: $20. For more information, click here. Sept. 17: A reading at Poets House features poets Billy Collins, Ron Koertge, and Brynn Saito. Dubbed "the most popular poet in America" by Bruce Weber in the New York Times, Billy Collins served two terms as the U.S. Poet Laureate, from 2001-2003, and was New York State Poet Laureate from 2004-2006. Ron Koertge is the author of many books of poetry, prose, novels-in-verse, and fiction for teenagers. His most recent book, "Vampire Planet," was released in spring 2016 by Red Hen Press. His books have been honored by the American Library Association and two have received PEN awards, among other accolades. Brynn Saito is the author of "Power Made Us Swoon" and "The Palace of Contemplating Departure," winner of the Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award and finalist for the Northern California Book Award, both from Red Hen Press. Place: Poets House at 10 River Terrace. Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $10; $7 (students and seniors); $5 (Poets House members). For more information, click here. Sept. 18: Master storyteller Peninnah Schram tells Jewish stories filled with wit and wisdom in "Jewish Stories One Generation Tells Another" presented by the Battery Park City Authority in collaboration with the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Place: Wagner Park. Time: 11 a.m. Free. For more information, click here. Sept. 18: Dr. Yaniv Erlich will give a talk at the Museum of Jewish Heritage about DNA.Land, a new, not-for-profit, online platform developed by scientists at the New York Genome Center and Columbia University to offer cutting-edge tools to analyze genomic information for non-experts. Anyone who has tested at 23andMe, Family Tree DNA or AncestryDNA, for example, can freely upload their existing genomic information or ask to be tested. The tools include automatic algorithms that fill in the missing pieces in the genome using sophisticated mathematical modeling, reveal deep ancestries using comprehensive panels, and generate a relative finder report. In addition, users can decide whether to contribute their information for scientific research, while preserving their privacy choices. Erlich will describe his previous studies with massive genetic genealogy datasets and how DNA.Land has had an impact on users and on biomedical research. Place: 36 Battery Place. Time: 2 p.m. Free. For more information, click here. Sept. 19: Revolutionary Spies Tours inaugurate "Spy Week" at the Fraunces Tavern Museum. Special programming will be offered all week including the Nathan Hale Day Commemoration on Sept. 20, daily espionage themed tours, and a guest lecturer. on Sept. 23 The tours, from Sept. 19 through Sept. 23, showcase the Museum's artifacts and paintings relating to Revolutionary spies such as Nathan Hale, Benjamin Tallmadge and Lydia Darrah. Learn about the tools of the trade as a spymaster, the creation of America's very first spy ring, and see the last known letter from Revolutionary War spy Nathan Hale to his brother Enoch Hale from Aug. 20, 1776, which hasn't been on display in over decade. For advance reservations call (212) 425-1778 x213 or email 2education@frauncestavernmuseum.org. Place: 54 Pearl St. Tour times: 2 p.m. daily. Free with museum admission ($7, adults; $4 seniors; $4 students with ID; $4 children 6 to 18; free, children under 5 and active military with ID). 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" 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 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. 18, 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, "Picturing Prestige: New York Portraits 1700-1860" is at the Museum of the City of New York (definitely uptown - the museum is on Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street - but many of the people in this portrait exhibition lived and worked in what is now Lower Manhattan). Beginning in the 18th century, New York City's well-to-do citizens commissioned paintings of themselves and their loved ones to display in their homes as indicators of prestige. Drawn from the permanent collection of the Museum of the City of New York, this exhibition features works by some of the leading American painters of their day. Through Sept. 18, 2016. 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.
Reserve now: Oct. 4, Oct. 5 and Oct. 6: For its 25th Anniversary, the African Burial Ground is offering a series of workshops. RSVP by Oct. 1. There are capacity restrictions for each workshop. Call (212) 637-2019. Oct. 4: Historical workshop led by Dr. Patricia Leonard (Safijah) Capacity: 40. Time: 2 p.m.
Oct. 5: Our Hair Story and Tribal Face Adornments. Capacity: 30. Time: 2 p.m.
Oct. 6: "From Ghetto to Goddess." Education on the history and meaning of African ritual beauty, adornments, and ceremonies led by Sister Iminah. Time: 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Place: 290 Broadway. For more information about the African Burial Ground, click here. For more information about the 25th anniversary programming, click here.
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Downtown Post NYC is emailed to subscribers twice a week.
Editor: Terese Loeb Kreuzer
All articles and photographs in Downtown Post NYC are copyrighted and
may not be reprinted or republished without written permission.
� 2016
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