Governors Island Alliance

Coming Events

2008-08-04T21:32:36Z

CUNY Lecture: Curbing Catastrophic Waste in your Home, Sat., Aug. 2 at 12:30. Click here for more information.
Folks on the Island Concert featuring Ronnie Cox, Sat., Aug. 2.
Civil War Reenactment Weekend, Aug. 8-10. Sponsored by the National Park Service. Click here for more information.
CUNY Lecture: PlaNYC: Toward a Greener, Greater New York, Sat., Aug. 9 at 12:30.
African Film Festival, Sat., Aug. 9. Click here for more information.
Battery Dance Company performances, Aug. 16-17. Click here for more information.
CUNY Lecture: Water Efficiency in New York, Sat., Aug. 16 at 12:30.
SAW Doctors ticketed concert, Sat. Aug. 23. Click here for more information.
CUNY Lecture: The Queensbridge Wind Power project, Sat., Aug. 23 at 12:30.
Battle of Brooklyn Reenactment, Aug. 23-24. Sponsored by the National Park Service. Click here for more information.
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night performed by Pulse Theatre, August 29-31. Click here for more information.
CUNY Lecture: Sustainable Cities Town Hall: An open forum for New Yorkers, Sat., Aug. 30 at 12:30.
Jazz Age Festival: Michael Aranella and the Dreamland Orchestra, September 13-14. Click here for more information.

See the Island on Video

2008-08-04T21:29:39Z

The Alliance has posted three short videos about Island activity on the Streetfilms website. You can also catch FIGMENT's mini-golf course on Channel 13's "SundayArts" August 3 at noon.

A Four-Star View of the Waterfalls

2008-08-04T21:10:28Z

You can't beat the upper deck of the Governors Island ferry for viewing Olafur Elliasson's Waterfalls, and you certainly can't beat the price. (It's free.) You can see all four installations, coming and going--Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Piers, Pier 35 Manhattan and, of course, Governors Island--and pack in an outing on the Island as well.
Note, too, that the New York Times art critic Roberta Smith wrote in her review, "The falls on Governors Island are especially beautiful. Rising above the relatively low lying profile like a tropical vision, they seem to be waiting for the jungle to grow up around them."

City of Water a Big Splash

2008-08-04T21:02:39Z

City of Water Day brought dozens of kayaks and sailboats from across the harbor on a sunny Saturday in late July to take advantage of the Island's unique location. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and supported by the Governors Island Alliance among others, on-shore events included bird watching tours, fishing from the promenade and kayak lessons. Offshore in Buttermilk Channel there was a parade of boats with pedicabs disguised as sharks. It was a great start to what should become an annual Island tradition.

Getting on Top of Castle Williams

2008-08-04T20:46:20Z

Rendering by Peter Roper

Public access to Castle Williams and its rooftop views has inched closer to reality with the inclusion of $1.35 million in the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee's draft for fiscal 2009. It's a first step toward a $5.8 million project to remove hazardous asbestos and lead paint from the Castle's interior and to open the historic prison cells and dramatic roof for the general public. Currently the public is limited to visiting the courtyard.
]]> While the $1.35 million is key, it won't let the public inside the building, much less up to the roof for the spectacular panorama. The National Park Service must add the project to its priority list to establish official commitment for future installments.
The Castle was designed by Colonel Jonathan Williams, first chief of the Army Corps of Engineers, and completed in 1811. As the new country's first fort, its commanding position on the harbor demonstrates why colonial forces were posted on the Island prior to the British invasion in 1776.

Soil and Rubble (and Green)

2008-08-04T17:14:49Z

One by one the old Coast Guard buildings are coming down. The Super 8 Motel - guest accommodations for Coast Guard relatives and friends - was first to go, ripped apart by a large claw in less than three hours on June 27 to clear space for a stage. Rain canceled the stage's inauguration by the New York Philharmonic. Next in line are the Bachelor Officer Quarters and the school just south of Division Road, adjacent to the ballfields. The ten apartment buildings that fill the southwest corner of the Island, known as Liberty Village, will also be gone before the weather closes in. By next summer the cleared soil will be a grassy new picnic area.

]]> The Nacirema Group - that's "American" spelled backwards - based in Bayonne, New Jersey, is doing the demolition. Its past work includes the World Trade Center cleanup, where their crews worked double 12-hour shifts 24/7 for a year.
Refuse from the demolition is divided in three directions - for keeping, recycling and dumping. "Clean fill" such as masonry and concrete blocks will be held on the Island for use in reshaping the landscape. Metal is separated out for recycling, using huge magnets,
then tossed into bar-coded dumpsters, which go to salvagers who confirm receipt by scanning the bar code. "Dirty" materials, such as asbestos, go straight to off-island landfills.
The work will eat up most of the $20 million tranche of city and state funds committed for demolition and site improvements in fiscal 2008. The rest will cover "hazardous material abatement" - removal of asbestos, lead and other undesirables - in buildings to be torn down later.

Online-Offshore Library

2008-07-28T15:43:07Z

Keep up on all latest news and events about Governors Island. You can have On-Line-Off-Shore sent to you directly by joining the Alliance.

08.04.08: Volume 3: Number 7 (PDF, 1.5mb)
07.15.08: Volume 3: Number 6 (PDF,1.85mb)
06.14.08: Volume 3: Number 5 (PDF, 883K)
05.21.08: Volume 3: Number 4 (PDF, 3.4mb)
03.28.08: Volume 3: Number 3 (PDF, 2.5mb)
02.22.08: Volume 3, Number 2 (PDF, 1.72mb)
01.16.08: Volume 3, Number 1 (PDF, 1.5mb)

12.20.07: Volume 2, Number 8 (PDF, 1.42mb)
10.05.07: Volume 2, Number 7 (PDF, 1.71mb)
08.06.07: Volume 2, Number 6 (PDF, 1.11mb)
07.13.07: Volume 2, Number 5 (PDF, 1.13mb)
06.12.07: Volume 2, Number 4 (PDF, 280K)
05.24.07: Volume 2, Number 3 (PDF, 300K)
05.08.07: Volume 2, Number 2 (PDF, 420K)
03.20.07: Volume 2, Number 1 (PDF, 305K)

05.15.05: Volume 1, Number 5 (PDF, 100K)

04.15.05: Volume 1, Number 4 (PDF, 100K)

06.23.04: Volume 1, Number 1 (PDF, 100K)

What's New on the Island?

2008-07-18T15:06:42Z

Visitors left Governors Island last summer wanting more. Their survey comments asked that the Island be open more often and for longer hours. They wanted more benches and bathrooms, too. And food. They got them all.

    One of the most common requests was for more places to sit. There are new picnic tables, mostly in Nolan Park and Colonel's Row, and more benches. Long bathroom lines stretching out the door of "Louie's Deli"--the waiting room with vending machines at the top of the ferry ramp--have been reduced by opening the facilities in Building 140 across the way.
    The Island is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - versus just two days last year--and stays open later in the day. The season also runs a month longer, into early October.
]]>     And more people are enjoying it. The blue shirts at the head of the ramp have counted 28,558 visitors so far, compared to 15,359 at this time last year.
    The most nutritious improvement is the arrival of five food stations with menus ranging from hot dogs to knishes, tyropita and gourmet sandwiches--and coffee! George's Burgers is nearest the ferry, on the road to the right from the landing. Spiros and Get Fruity are in the vicinity of Colonel's Row. Veronica's Kitchen is on the northeastern side of the historic district. And the New York Restaurant Café is next to the pier on Buttermilk Channel. Here's what you will find:
    George's Burgers, owned by Frank Apergis, offers burgers, hot dogs and chicken parmesan along with traditional Mediterranean favorites such as gyros and chicken over rice, reflecting his Greek heritage. Ethnic offerings include crisp grilled hand-stuffed knishes. Cold drinks, sodas and ice cream are also available.

    Spiros is another source for authentic Greek, such as slices of traditional spanakopita stuffed with spinach or tyropita stuffed with feta cheese, wrapped in phyllo and baked. Kebabs and hot dogs are also available, along with cold drinks.
    Get Fruity, managed by Fred Fox, is much like the mainland store in Teaneck, New Jersey. It offers fruit smoothies, juices, water, fresh fruit salads and hand dipped ice cream cones and cups.
    Veronica's Kitchen is run by three Trinidadians - Veronica Julien, her sister Ursula and nephew Ouslem. They prepare traditional, home cooked West Indian. Finalists for the 2007 Vendy Award, which matches street vendors, they serve small and large portions of meat or fish with two sides.
    The New York Restaurant Café is the place for coffee--a special blend of beans from Sumatra, Brazil and Guatemala roasted in Brooklyn. Choices include hot and cold cappuccino, espresso and flavored coffees, as well as fresh fruit salad, green salads and gourmet sandwiches--such as sliced Granny Smith apples and brie on cinnamon raisin bread. Drinks include tea and four smoothie flavors.

Another Step to a Great Park

2008-07-18T14:38:02Z

The contract for design of the Island's park space was approved by GIPEC's board of directors at their June meeting. The landscape architects at West 8--and the many subcontractors--have agreed to produce a master plan by next spring--but look for new trees sooner than that.
The board approved $22.55 million for the master plan and design work, and another $3.9 million for contingencies. Chairman Avi Schick, invoking a little advance discipline, insisted that these be "true contingencies." The contract is with West 8 New York Inc., an American subsidiary created by the Rotterdam firm for this project. Before voting, the board went over a number of questions ranging from West 8's assets to the "green" features of the work to be done and the protection of waterfowl.]]> More insight into tree plantings came on guided tours that were part of the Alliance benefit on June 17. The guides were the two lead designers--Adriaan Gueze (pronounced AH-dree-un HOY-zuh) of West 8 and Rob Rogers of the New York firm Rogers Marvel. Geuze said, "Look at the trees. I wish we had them everywhere." He indicated that planting would start before the design is finished. "We will prune them high," he said, "like a cathedral."
Surveying the space that is framed by Building 400 and its two arms, he pointed out that it is the size of Bryant Park behind the New York Public Library in Manhattan, and that its season is two months longer than that of the Promenade around the rim of the Island--that is, considerably more hospitable to flowers. He predicted that the park "backbone" will be in place in four-to-five years and pegged the construction time at 15 years.

Folks on the Island! Round Two

2008-07-18T14:33:38Z

Two-time Grammy Hall of Famer Janis Ian kicked off the 2008 Folks on the Island! concert series on July 5 with a program of her gutsy, introspective ballads. Slaid Cleaves, another talented singer-songwriter followed on July 12 with his Texas troubadour style.
    The series, now in its second year, is co-sponsored by the Alliance and Trinity Wall Street. It features five folk stars on five consecutive Saturdays, all free and all starting at 1:30 in the afternoon.
]]>     Ronny Cox brings the series to a close on August 2. Cox came to national attention playing Dueling Banjos in the film Deliverance. Conjuring yet another side of folk music, his versatile lyric-driven numbers reflect the influence of jazz, blues and western music.
    For more information, see www.folksontheisland.com.

Other Coming Events

2008-07-18T14:31:35Z

~    Folks on the Island! Saturdays at 1:30 (see article below)
~    CUNY lecture: Water and NYC Infrastructure, Saturday, July 19 at
      12:30. See www.cunysustainablecities.org.
~    City of Water Festival, Saturday, July 26. Co-sponsored by the
    Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, Governors Island Alliance and
      others. See www.waterwire.net.
~    CUNY lecture: Fuel from Algae, Saturday, July 26 at 12:30
~    CUNY lecture: Curbing Waste at Home, Saturday, August 2 at 12:30
~    Civil War Reenactment Weekend, August 8-10. Sponsored by the
      National Park Service. See www.nps.gov/gois.
~    African Film Festival, Saturday, August 9. See www.africanfilmny.org.

Free Helmets

2008-07-18T14:30:44Z

There will be free helmets for bikers on Saturday, August 2, as long as supplies last. New York City Department of Transportation staffers will distribute helmets from the DOT tent at the bike rental station.
Come between noon and 4 for safety instructions and a helmet--and to sign a waiver. The helmets are for keeps. For more information call 212-839-2200.

GIPEC Looks to the Arts

2008-07-18T14:08:44Z

Continuing its efforts to make Governors Island a haven for the arts, GIPEC has issued two separate Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for temporary arts and entertainment venues on the island.
    One RFP describes an entertainment and dining space in the parking lot just west of the ferry slip. The temporary venue will have seated and staged areas under cover. The performance space will have 500-800 seats. With its unmatched views of the harbor and Lower Manhattan, this venue will operate for five years, after which GIPEC can choose whether to renew the permit.
    The second RFP seeks to transform nearby Building 110 into a base for artists' studios and exhibition space. GIPEC hopes to attract arts organizations that wish to develop a lasting year-round presence on the island. GIPEC noted that the program will not permit residence on the Island nor overnight use of the studios.
    These RFPs mark an important step in expanding the Island's early use, said GIPEC Chair Avi Schick. GIPEC anticipates that the arts program will begin next year.
    Responses to both RFP's are due by 3 p.m. August 28. To download either one, click here.

Cruise Harbor, Visit Offshore Island

2008-07-18T14:07:51Z

The ferry line to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island now offers a separate Liberty Harbor Cruise stopping at Governors Island. While it doesn't connect with the other islands--a link that could be established in the future--it is nonetheless welcome new exposure.
The new cruise loops around Lower Manhattan and the other two islands and makes just one stop--at Governors Island. It departs Gangway 3 in Battery Park on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 and 12:30, and stops at the island 45 minutes later. Passengers may return to Manhattan anytime on the free ferry.
Cruise tickets at Castle Clinton and dockside or online at www.statuecruises.com.

A New Haven On Buttermilk Channel

2008-07-18T14:06:23Z

Skippers of boats large and small know there's a premium on space to dock in New York Harbor. Thanks to a $500,000 grant from Borough President Scott Stringer, Governors Island will soon offer a new safe berth.
The BP's funding will pay will pay for installing fenders on part of Yankee Pier on Buttermilk Channel. This protective covering will allow large boats to tie up safely without damaging themselves or the pier. Fulfilling a regional need, Governors Island will be able to handle historic sailing ships, research vessels and naval craft from the rest of the harbor and around the world. ]]> celebrations.
Julie Nadel, Chair of the North River Historic Ship Society and a Governors Island Alliance Board Member, notes the importance of this investment. "Many historic ships must bypass New York as they sail along the coast. Governors Island is the perfect spot for them to lay over."