Friday, July 16, 2010

Apollo Theatre Amateur Night Winners

I've just checked the Apollo Thearter's YouTube channel and I am now able to embed the winning performances from Wednesday, July 14, 2010 right here on my blog. So beginning with the Child Star of Tomorrow winner, Veronica Oreliana, you can now see for yourself 90 second clips of each performance.
Ladies and Gentleman, please put your hands together for Veronica Oreliana, Child Star of Tomorrow...
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The overall winner of the main heat was the eleven member dance group, Dance Dimensions...
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Jocelyn Jenkins was second with her passionate performance...
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And last - but not least - was 21 year old Cat Stratakis...
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By the way, both these two female singers conform to my theory (see previous entry) that songs about "You", rather than "Me" songs, are real audience winners.

Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre

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Harlem’s Apollo Theater has been running Amateur Night events for over 75 years. In fact, Wednesday nights at the Apollo have become a New York institution, and have seen some of contemporary music’s greatest performers compete and win the event.


The Amateur Night at the Apollo winners circle reads like a Who’s Who of the best African-American talent you could hope for. It includes Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ben E. King, Jackie Wilson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Ink Spots and many others. Ella Fitzgerald, one of the first Amateur Night winners was just 15 when she stepped onto the Apollo Theater stage.


As I entered the great gilded theater, a pre-show “jam fest” with DJ Jess was in full swing. Apollo audiences come ready to party, and as the audience slowly filled the theater, no-one worked harder than DJ Jess to get the party started! The comedian Capone is Master of Ceremonies and host of the evening. He explained the ‘rules’ of the evening and spelt out what was expected of the audience, while keeping the mood light, upbeat, and things running smoothly.


The excellent house band was headed by the evening’s musical director, Ray Chew along with three fellow musicians, called his Crew – hence their stage name, Ray Chew and his Crew. While some of the contestants performed to prerecorded backing tracks, Ray and his Crew were kept busy throughout the night playing live for most of the acts.


The last member of the on-stage team was C.P. Lacey, who, as the Apollo's Executioner, had the task of clearing the ‘bad’ talent off the stage. CP bills himself as a comedian and celebrity impersonator, and opened up the second half of the evening with a very good impression of James Brown. Apparently he also does an impersonation of Tina Turner. Now that would be something to see!


Having watched a few Amateur Night contestants via YouTube, I must say I was a little apprehensive about attending this event. Let me explain why. As a singer-songwriter and occasional performer myself, I know just how hard it is to walk onto a stage and perform before an audience. A whole multitude of doubts and insecurities must be overcome before you can brave the stage lights and sing and play competently for anything up to a couple of hours. And remember, I’m talking about performing before an audience who – for the most part – are on your side even before they walk in the door. As a rule, these audiences do not come primed to boo you off the stage if you are not quite up to scratch, or fall short of their expectations!


The night kicks of with the “Child Star of Tomorrow” segment. Reserved for children between the ages 5 and 15, our host, Capone was quite clear about the rules governing this section of the event. No booing was allowed, but as much cheering and support as the audience was willing to give was encouraged.


Of the three acts who took part in the ‘Child Star’ segment on the night I attended (July 14, 2010), the clear winner was 12 year old Veronica Oreliana. Following a note perfect performance filled with passion and emotion belying her young age, the audience exploded into a thunder of well deserved applause and roaring cheers. Actually, Veronica had us eating out of her hand from the very beginning, and throughout her song we cheered and clapped with raucous abandon. It was a testament to Veronica’s performance that she wasn’t distracted by the audience and was able to complete her song without faltering.


Short clips of the winning performances are can be seen on this blog via my next entry...

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And just because I can embed it here, take a look at Veronica singing an unaccompanied version of the song, Beautiful...





I’m sure Veronica has the potential to turn into a great entertainer if that is what she chooses to pursue as she gets older and continues to mature.


Every week, during the break between the Child Star of Tomorrow segment, and the main event, audiences are treated to a big screen tribute to a former star of the Apollo. On this night the homage was for the Hispanic percussionist, Tito Puente.


Tito Puente was a Latin Jazz and Mambo musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey" (the King) of the timbales and "The King of Latin Music". He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz compositions that helped keep his career going for 50 years. He and his music appear in many films such as The Mambo Kings and Fernando Trueba's Calle 54. He guest starred on several television shows including The Cosby Show and The Simpsons. [Source: Wikipedia]


And now to the main event. At the completion of the 2010 Amateur Night season, the overall winner takes home a cash prize of $10,000 – the first time the Theater has offered such a substantial cash reward. So a lot is at stake for each of the performers appearing throughout the year in the lead up to the finals.


Just for the record, here is a list of all the contestants who appeared on July 14: Haron Miller, Donnic Shade, Briana Jackson, Jocelyn Jenkins, Dance Dimensions, Junious Sampson, Kid Dot, Avery Segers, Cat Stratakis, Full Effect, Jaime Sommers and Veronica Oreliana.


I’m not going to give a blow by blow account of every act that appeared during the night, but I will offer my overall impressions and observations.


Firstly, Amateur Night audiences can be brutal, and contestants literally have seconds to get the audience onside. Hit a bum note, or come across as a poser or ‘pretender’, and the crowd will put you in your place immediately. Some performers were able to persist through the booing to win back some audience approval at least long enough to complete their song.


Secondly, choosing songs with ‘me’ lyrics go down much worse than songs with ‘you’ lyrics, and any song which includes the line “I love you” tends to get a very good response, if only because it allows the performer to point to the audience as they sing those lines. It makes it much harder for an audience to boo you if you are telling them how much you love them!


Thirdly, given a competent performance, overwhelming numbers will win over solo performers every time. This was demonstrated clearly when the eleven member dance group, Dance Demensions won the July 14 Amateur Night contest. Assuming each member of the group was represented in the audience by 20 people (immediate family, extended family and friends, etc), then it is clear they already had a sizeable section of the audience on their side before they even took to the stage.


I’m not suggesting they did not deserve to win. Their routine was energetic throughout, and every dancer gave 110 per cent. I’m just pointing out the math involved. Effectively, the two runners up, Cat Stratakis and Jocelyn Jenkins were each outnumbered 11-1, and winning against those sorts of odds is always going to be very difficult. Come to think of it, since the two women were competing against each other as well, that then makes the odds of winning, 12-1.

WINNING BY POPULAR ACCLAIM

Winners are chosen by the audience by popular acclaim. That is, at the end of the night (and at the end of the Child Star of Tomorrow segment), all performers are brought back onto the stage and the audience chooses the winner by making as much noise as possible for their preferred act. Again, the no booing rule applies during this process, although not everyone abides by it. Like I said, it's a brutal process, but then the music industry can be even more brutal on its stars and wannabes, so they might as well get used to it.



THE TREE OF HOPE
I can’t leave this review without mentioning The Tree of Hope. The legend and tradition of this tree stump apparently began outside the famous Harlem Lafayette Theatre which used to be located between 131st and 132nd Streets on Seventh Avenue.

The Lafayette was then Harlem's top show biz venue featuring African-American talent. The Lafayette soon became the scene for aspiring actors, dancers and performers to mix, gather and exchange information and gossip. The Tree of Hope stood between the Lafayette Theatre and Connie's Inn and black performers believed the tree to be the purveyor of good luck to those who stood beneath its branches. The tree came to symbolize the promise that Harlem held for millions of aspiring African-Americans. [Source: Apollo Theater website]


The tree was eventually cut down when Seventh Avenue was widened to accommodate the growing transport needs of New York City. However, a large section of the trunk was saved, and this now stands on the Apollo stage, and sure enough every performer made sure they touched the ‘tree’ before beginning their song or dance routine, in the hope they might share in the good fortune of so many past performers.


To conclude, Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre was great fun and a real blast. Getting the chance to see some real ‘stars of tomorrow’ just added to the occasion. Although Amateur Night has become a tourist attraction in its own right, for the performers and their families, the competition – with its $10,000 cash prize – is no game. Their participation in the event is a very serious affair.


The Apollo has three levels of seating: Orchestra ($27.00); Mezzanine ($22.00); and Balcony ($17.00). You can book in person at the Apollo Theater Box Office on 125th Street, or by calling Ticketmaster 1-800-745-3000.


You can see a comprehensive list of performers and previous Amateur Night winners here

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Brooklyn Hidden Harbor Tour


Image: A view of Manhattan from out in New York Harbor

I’ve had a fascination for ships and the sea for as long as I can remember. It eventually reached its zenith in 1971 when I completed a five year apprenticeship as a shipwright with Adelaide Ship Construction. Unfortunately, as a career choice it was a case of too little too late. Towards the end of the 1960s and throughout the 1970s, Japan became the premier constructor of world shipping, and one by one the few shipyards around Australia began shutting down (and my budding career shut down with them).

However, to this day my interest in ships, boating, and a life on the ocean waves has never completely gone away, hence my nine hour outing up the Hudson River to Bear Mountain, and my participation on the Brooklyn Hidden Harbor tour organized by the New York based Working Harbor Committee.

Billed as a tour examining “Brooklyn’s Maritime Past, Present & Future”, this very popular two hour cruise took us under the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges as far as Newtown Creek before returning back down the East River for an absorbing journey among Brooklyn’s many hidden inlets, disused wharves, bays and shipping terminals.

Ongoing commentary was provided by Captain John Doswell (Working Harbor Committee), Venetia Lannon (Sr, Vice President, Maritime, of the New York City Economic Development Corporation), and several other people who had an extensive working knowledge of the waterways surrounding Manhattan.

Venetia Lannon in particular, spoke often about the competing interests fighting over the development of vast swathes of Brooklyn waterfront, on what is clearly prime real estate. As you can imagine, developers are keen to get a slice of the action – and the waterfront – and would love to fill the area with expensive high rise apartments, office blocks, and projects that take full advantage of the stunning views across the East River towards Manhattan.

Image: The tall ship Peking at the South Street Seaport Museum


Our journey began at Pier 16 at the South Street Seaport Museum. This historic district was once a major shipping centre for sailing vessels to and from Europe and other parts of the world, and is well worth a visit in its own right. The museum owns a fleet of historic vessels including the tall ships Peking and Wavertree, the lightship Ambrose, as well as tug boats, schooners and exhibits in Schermerhorn Row and other buildings.

After boarding the Zephyr, we headed out into New York harbour passing under the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. We were informed that beginning sometime in September, the Brooklyn Bridge will be undergoing major restoration work that is scheduled to take up to a year to complete! Pity then, the millions of tourists and visitors who will travel to see and photograph the bridge, only to find it obscured by scaffolding and canvas.


Passing under the Manhattan Bridge we cruised past Wallabout Bay were the Brooklyn Navy Yard is located. It was here at the Navy Yard that the nation's first ironclad ship, Monitor, was built and fitted with its revolutionary iron cladding at the Continental Iron Works in nearby Greenpoint, and in 1890, the ill-fated Maine was launched from the Yard's slipways.

Image: The start of something big – high rise apartments on the Brooklyn waterfront


In short order, here are just some of the tour highlights: Brooklyn Port Authority Piers (soon to become part of the new Brooklyn Bridge Park); the Fulton Ferry Landing, where Robert Fulton began the first ferry service in 1642; American Stevedoring (Brooklyn's only container port); Atlantic Basin (along with Howland Hook in Staten Island), one of only two cargo-handling docks left in the New York City; PortSide NewYork (a waterfront hub in Atlantic Basin with visiting historic vessels, charter and excursion boats, and a rest area for workboats); Erie Basin, so named as it was the southern terminus of the barge trade traffic that extended up the Hudson River through the Erie canal and west to the Great Lakes.


I think it was Venetia Lannon who pointed out that it was still possible to take a small craft up the Hudson River and along the Erie Canal to the Great Lakes, and from there enter the Mississippi River near Chicago, travel down the Mississippi exiting in Louisiana, before finally travelling up the east coast back to New York City. I’m not sure if anyone has attempted this trip but it would make a fascinating journey – and documentary.

On we cruised to Gowanus Bay, passing more prime real estate with great views of lower Manhattan and Governor’s Island. Out we went into the New York harbor anchorage and main channel where ships from all over the world as well as local barges can be seen anchored. This is the main shipping channel that begins in the Atlantic, passes under the Verrazano Bridge and continues north up the Hudson River as well as Brooklyn on the east and Staten Island on the west.


Image: Ships and barges at anchorage in New York harbor’s main shipping channel

We passed Robbins Reef Lighthouse, whose most famous Keeper was widow Kate Walker. From 1886 to 1919, she kept the light burning and raised two children, rowing them to school on Staten Island every day. Finally, we paused briefly just off the Statue of Liberty before return once again to Pier 16 and the South Street Seaport Museum, thus completing a fantastic look at parts of the Brooklyn waterfront rarely examined up close by visitors or locals.


I’ve already booked for the Working Harbor of New York and New Jersey tour, featuring the giant container ports in Newark Bay. This tour takes place on 17 August at 6:15 pm.

A repeat of the Brooklyn’s Maritime Past, Present & Future tour is scheduled for 14 September at 6:00 pm. Tickets for both tours are on sale now, as are tickets for other tours organized by the Working Harbor Committee.


A couple of notes about these boat tours:

  • The tour vessel is the Zephyr, a large, luxurious excursion vessel
  • The Zephyr is wheelchair accessible on the first deck, including heads (bathrooms)
  • Tour price ($29.00, concessions available) includes 1 free domestic beer, wine or soft drink
  • Hot dogs, pretzels, chips and nachos available for purchase
  • Parking lots and metered parking is available at the Seaport
  • Narration is generally by Capt. John Doswell and guests from the maritime industry

Since the Zephyr has at least two decks that are entirely enclosed and safe from the elements, it is my understanding that tours take place, rain, hail or shine!

Image: American Stevedoring (Brooklyn's only container port)

LINKS:

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Strolling Central Park

Image: Shakespeare watches over Tango dancers in Central Park

Caught a bus into the city and got off near Hunter College to attend Roller Derby in New York City! Yes, on Saturday night the Brooklyn Bombshells were meeting the Queens of Pain and I wanted to be there to see the clash. Unfortunately, so did hundreds of other roller derby fans, and since I had not bought a ticket for the event I missed out because it was completely sold out.


Gratuitous advice to visitors: If you want to see it – make sure you book it, or don’t be surprised if the event you want to see is sold out. It is New York after all, and the middle of summer at that. At least I will get another chance to see the teams clash again in August, and you can make sure I will book ahead for that one.


So what to do? Wanting to salvage something from a potentially wasted Saturday night, I headed off to Central Park where I was sure something would be happening, and it wasn’t long before I encountered a large group of people dancing in the park. Not just any old dance, though. They were dancing the Tango. I didn’t get the full details, but throughout the summer, free Tango lessons were taking place on Saturday evenings around the base of Shakespeare’s statue, and I had stumbled on the class. Of course, if you already knew how to Tango you were more than welcome to join in.

Image: Bethesda Fountain in Central Park


After watching the dancers for a little while I walked down towards Bethesda Fountain. Before reaching the fountain I saw another group of dancers. These were gyrating around a trio of percussionists who pounded out a steady rhythm of primal beats that kept the mood lively and the dancers sweaty.


At Bethesda Fountain, numerous visitors and locals where being entertained by a couple of buskers who were creating giant soap bubbles, and eliciting excited ooh’s and ah’s from an appreciative audience, especially when some of the bubbles where reaching lengths of two or three metres.


Image: Giant soap bubbles in Central Park


Later, as I retraced my steps back past the dancers to Fifth Avenue and caught a bus into Penn Station for a meal, I was happy to have made something out of a potentially wasted evening.


Thursday, July 8, 2010

Livingstone's New York Postcard #1

Intergalactic time traveler, Livingstone Cook is living the high life in New York City, and has taken time out from partying to send some happy snaps back to Shummy-Shum (as he affectionately refers to his mother).

Livingstone is already well travelled, having come from beyond the Pavo constellation. Unfortunately, he did get caught up in some recent sun spot activity which has caused major malfunctions to his internal guidance systems.


The other side effect of this incident is that it has left him with a body mass that has become extremely soft and pliable, giving him the appearance of a soft toy made from heavy ply wool with black beads for eyes. However, this transformation from an inter-galactic, state of the art, robotic alien has its benefits since it means he is now incredibly light and can fit into almost any space, which makes it east to tote him around with me wherever I go.


Written by Livingstone himself, here in his own words is a report of his first exciting taste of international travel.


Hello, mommy Shummy_Shum. It too hot in Noo York City, especial if you come from ice-berg planet like me do. Me be getting out and over with Uncle JimJim – when he can bother to take me with he.


Image: Livingstone waiting at Adelaide Airport for flight to Los Angeles


Me waiting in pack back for intergalactic to Los Anglees. Uncle JimJim make big ha_ha. He say intergalactic take 20 hours or more! BigJoke Uncle JimJim. In 20 hours Me fly to Moon Station 0030. You no fool Me, SillyBilly.


Image: Livingstone claiming the double bed in the Super 8 Hotel, Los Angeles for himself


Uncle JimJim no make BigJoke! Travel on sky plane take 20 hours and more! Earth people dummy_dums. Why they have no teleport stations? Travel well faster than sky plane with teleport stations. Now he say big bed for he only. Me say big bed for Me too. Me want no more sleep_asleep in pack back!

Uncle JimJim say Me a big woosh. He say Me be a SillyBilly. Me no big woosh! Uncle JimJim be a big woosh becos he be jet blagged. He should be travelled 13 light years - then he be jet blagged for real!

Image: The Bob Hope Hollywood USO at LAX. No, Livingstone, you can’t catch it home!

Me see intergalactic USO Sky Ship Bob Hope, waiting to launch at Los Anglees, LAX. Me want to catch sky ship home. Uncle JimJim say Bob Hope is no sky ship but people house. He say we stay in Los Anglees. He still grumpy_grump from jet blagging. Big woosh!

Image: Livingstone have a quiet word with Steven Spielberg on Hollywood Boulevard

Me be meet with Steven Speelberg! He be Me big and bigger hero. In Pavo Constellation Mr. Speelberg top earth director for all space comedies. Always. Me favorite comedy be E.T. and Close Encounter. Me laugh fit to get busted! Good jokes, Mr. Speelberg.


Pleese, scuse Me poor inglish. Livingstone inglish is get better but not best yet.


Luv U, Shummy_Shum. By-bye.

Livingstone


Yes, I know. Riveting stuff, isn’t it? Still I promised Livingstone that he can contribute one blog post each week detailing his adventures and unique insights (yes, that’s a joke). With a bit of luck it may at least stop him from nagging me constantly about ‘going home’. It seems to be working. Right now he is working on his next entry which includes New York City.

I bet you can’t wait.


Yeah, right!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Up A Lazy River to Bear Mountain

Image: Bear Mountain State Park, New York, NY


In 1962 or thereabouts, a very young Bob Dylan wrote a song called, Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues. The song begins:

I saw it advertised one day

Bear Mountain picnic was comin’ my way

“Come along ’n’ take a trip

We’ll bring you up there on a ship

Bring the wife and kids

Bring the whole family”

Yippee!*


Through another eight verses Dylan describes a picnic cruise that goes from bad, to worse, to disastrous.


I’m pleased to say the cruise I took to Bear Mountain with the Classic Harbor Line on their beautifully appointed teak-decked yacht, Manhattan was anything but a disaster. This nine hour, full day, round-trip cruise up the Hudson River to Bear Mountain began at 9.00am with an open breakfast buffet, a complimentary drink from the bar, and a three hour cruise that wound its way north through the Palisades and the lower Hudson River Valley.

The open breakfast buffet included fresh bagels and pastries, fruit, a waffle maker, fresh quiche and sausage, and coffee, juice and tea. Quite frankly, it was more than enough food for the passengers on board, and there was no need to ‘top up’ with other food purchases at the concession stands or café within the park when we got there. In fact, we were encouraged to take breakfast ‘leftovers’ like fruit and pastries ashore with us.


Image: Mucking around in boats on the Hudson River


It was a perfect day for mucking around in boats, and I had to feel sorry for the folks back in New York City who were about to experience a sweltering day in among the concrete and glass canyons of Manhattan. Meanwhile the lucky 30 or so passengers on the cruise were blessed with a cool breeze and smooth running, all the way to our destination.

After docking at Bear Mountain, we were free to enjoy around two and a half hours exploring, hiking, or just relaxing. I never bothered with the Trailside Museums, the jam-packed swimming pool, rowing boat hire, or the small on-site Zoo, but I did amble my way around Hessian Lake and breathe in the fresh mountain air – laced with the smell of BBQ wafting across the lake from the dozens of family picnics taking place in the park.

Image: I love the smell of BBQ in the morning!


Our cruise coincided with the post-Independence Day public holiday, and it is clear that Bear Mountain has been a favourite picnic spot for New Yorkers, even long before Dylan wrote about it. Omar, a Honduran (see Special Thanks below) told me that apparently, on July 4th itself, the picnic site was full by 9.00am, and park staff had to turn every other visitor away – which gives you an idea of just how popular the location is.

At 3:00pm the Manhattan departed for the three hour cruise back to New York City. Again, we were treated to a complimentary beverage from the bar and barbecue picnic buffet! As if that wasn’t enough, an hour or so before disembarking we were also offered dessert and fruit platters just to make sure we didn’t leave hungry.

Image: The Manhattan at anchor near Chelsea Piers

The Manhattan is a newly built (2006) 1920’s style “commuter” yacht, which aims to reproduce the Gilded Era of Yachting (the company description, not mine). The boat features an enclosed, cushioned observatory surrounded by large windows and skylights which makes it very easy to take in the stunning views on both sides of the river. Of course, passengers could also sit on deck if they chose to.

Caveats
1. The company website and brochures advertise a three hour break at Bear Mountain. However, if it takes longer to reach the park, that delay is subtracted from the nominal three hours to ensure the Manhattan still leaves at 3.00pm for the return cruise to New York City. A practical example: Although our trip left on time at 9.00am, it was 15-20 minutes late reaching Bear Mountain due to prevailing weather conditions. Therefore, our time at Bear Mountain was reduced to around two and a half hours.

2. Even assuming a full three hours at Bear Mountain, we were advised that passengers inclined to walk to the top of the mountain would not be able to complete the round trip within that time. Therefore, if you are a keen hiker, and want to climb Bear Mountain, you will need to find your own way there, or travel with another company that allows more time to complete the climb.

3. Boat cruising isn’t for everyone. If you bore easily, sitting on a boat for six hours – no matter how luxurious the vessel – can seem interminably long. From time to time on our cruise, some folks read books and newspapers, dozed off, or distracted themselves from the cruise in different ways.

Others, myself included, were interested in watching the changing landscape and looking out for the unexpected – like birds of prey soaring high over cliffs and escarpments; or trying to work out which of the numerous fortress-like buildings we passed was the notorious Sing Sing, maximum security prison. That sort of thing.


Image: High cliffs and escarpments; a small section of the Palisades

The Palisades, also called the New Jersey Palisades or the Hudson Palisades are a line of steep cliffs along the west side of the lower Hudson River in northeastern New Jersey and southern New York ... The cliffs stretch north from Jersey City (where their emergence is called Bergen Hill) approximately 20 mi (32 km) to near Nyack, New York. They rise nearly vertically from near the edge of the river and are among the most dramatic geologic features in the vicinity of New York City... [Source: Wikipedia]


As we cruised past the Palisades, described above, I couldn’t help thinking that it probably hadn’t changed much since Henry Hudson and his crew sailed up the river for the first time 400 years ago. It was sobering to imagine the Native Americans who must have been watching from the safety of the dense undergrowth or cliff tops, trying to work out who or what these people and their strange vessel represented.


What Is Not Included?

Apart from the complimentary drinks at the start of the cruise and on the return trip, any additional mixed drinks could be purchased from the open bar. Gratuities (tips) are also not included in the overall cruise price, but are greatly appreciated by crew members.


Special Thanks

A special shout-out to Omar from Honduras, who was generous enough to offer a complete stranger (me), a soda and something to eat. I accepted the soda, but not the food since we would be eating on the trip back to New York City. Gracias, mi amigo.


And an extra special shout-out to fellow passenger, Marlyn, who also took the time to say ‘hello’ to a complete stranger on the long trip to and from Bear Mountain. It was lovely having someone to share the ride with, and it certainly made the day more memorable for me, and hopefully for her as well.


Finally

The next cruise to Bear Mountain is scheduled for Monday, September 6, 2010, which just happens to be the annual North American Labor Day holiday. I highly recommend the outing for locals and visitors alike – especially if you are interested in doing something different on your vacation. Classic Harbor Lines offers a wide range of cruising via their website so take a look and take the time to get out on the water.


* Copyright © 1962, 1965 by Duchess Music Corporation; renewed 1990, 1993 by MCA


LINKS:

Talkin’ Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues…
Bear Mountain State Park
Classic Harbor Line…

The Palisades

Sunday, July 4, 2010

New York Promenade

Image: The Cloisters commanding the best views, high over the Hudson River

~ Went out in the early evening for a walk up Cabrini Boulevard towards the Cloisters, which is only ten minutes from the apartment I’m staying at. The Cloisters is the branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to the art and architecture of the European Middle Ages, and is located in Fort Tryon Park near the northern tip of Manhattan.

By the time I reached the park the building itself was closed, but the park was alive with activity. I quickly realised I was walking into a typical New York summer night. While it may seem like a movie cliché, to me it was everything I expected to see on a hot summer evening. Given that the vast majority of residents on Manhattan live in apartments, very few have access to anything resembling a garden or private yard. This means that in the evenings they spill out onto the streets and into neighbourhood parks (of which there are more than you might expect).


Tryon Park had its fair share of picnicking families, strolling couples and joggers, dog walkers and book readers, and bird watchers and sunbathers. Several paths afforded great views of the Hudson River, which were spoilt only by the fact that you had to squint into the lowering sun to see anything.


A large children’s playground is located at the corner of Riverside Drive and Broadway, and this was packed with families: adults, teenagers, children and grandparents. Streams of water were spraying high into the air in one central play area and young kids squealed with delight as they ran through the mist and showers of cooling water. Ice cream vendors with small three wheeled carts walked around the area plying their wares, and Latin music boomed from passing cars.


I sat for a while enjoying a $1 cup of ice cream, before deciding to walk to the end of Manhattan. Not the bottom end of the island, you understand, but the top – or northern – end, which was less than a mile away.


That iconic thoroughfare, Broadway, runs from the southern end of Manhattan up through its centre and continues on way beyond the end of the island. It is my wish to walk the entire length of the Manhattan section of Broadway, but now that I am here experiencing for myself that much talked about New York summer humidity, I will have to adjust my goals and complete the task in stages rather than one long walk. I have nothing to prove (apart from my stupidity) by walking 22 kilometres in 95 degree heat and 80 percent humidity – and the last time I looked, I wasn’t that stupid!

Image: Evening view of the Bronx over the Harlem River
...


Anyway, since it was close, I set off to walk to the end of Manhattan, and I was happy I did. Along the way I passed Dyckman Farmhouse, a Dutch Colonial style farmhouse built by William Dyckman in 1784 (or thereabouts). The Farmhouse is an extraordinary reminder of earlier Manhattan and an important part of its Inwood neighbourhood. It was of course, also closed, but I will certainly return for a good look before I leave New York.


At the corner of Isham Street and Broadway stands the Church of The Good Shephard. In the garden on the Isham Street is a steel cross similar to the better known 20 foot high (6.1 m) cross salvaged from the rubble of the World Trade Center. Though much small in size, this blackened cross and the memorial garden it watches over is a poignant reminder of that terrible day. Wherever you go in New York City you will find memorials, large and small, to the thousands of victims of that terrible event, which – as you might expect – continues to have a huge impact on the lives of all New Yorkers.


Continuing along Broadway, I soon came to that narrow body of water which separates Manhattan from the Bronx. The Harlem River is spanned by the Broadway Bridge, which may be unique in that if it needs to be raised for small ships or other craft to pass beneath, it rises parallel to the water, as one long platform. Having walked across the bridge to the Bronx – and mainland America – I began my return walk back to the apartment.



Image: Iconic New York street scene, still encountered today
...

Somewhere up a side street in Inwood, I encountered another image I associate with New York: someone had turned on a fire hydrant just enough to send a curtain of water cascading across the road so that local children could play in the shower of ‘rain’ it created.

It would have made a lovely picture. Just the same, it was a great way to end my evening promenade through the top end of Manhattan.

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