LIFE IN GENERAL – The week began with a wonderful cool day, including a breeze over the water that felt perfect. That was Tuesday. The rest of the week warmed back to the upper 80s and higher humidity. Ugh! I’m kind of tired of the heat and so so ready for fall. This week rain is projected as I start my week and expected to continue through Wednesday evening. That’s going to be fun on my walking commute!
LIBERTY ISLAND – Things are slowing down some, but visitors are still coming in by the thousands. We had a couple slower moments during the days this week, but they were minimal. I’m anxious to see if it trails off more by mid-September.
ELLIS ISLAND – I continue to spend Thursdays on Ellis Island and getting to know the staff there. One day a week is more like a normal volunteer, and I see why it takes a few months to feel connected. It’s different when you are there multiple days in a row.
CHURCH: I attended Trinity Episcopal Wall Street this week and it was delightful. The service was wonderful, the music glorious, and the homily better than ever. It wasn’t St. Thomas in San Antonio (my all-time favorite) but it is now my 2nd most loved experience. There were several things unique in this service that I had not seen before and found refreshing and inspiring.
For my fellow Episcopalians, take a look at these changes: At the beginning of the service, they included a Gathering Prayer directly following the Acclamation. It reads below:
Dear God,
Thank you so much
for bringing us to this time and place.
Please be with us
as we listen, pray, sing, and learn.
And help us remember that
you will always love us.
Amen.
The Confession and Absolution reads as follows:
Loving God, Sometimes we do things we shouldn’t do. Sometimes we don’t do the things we should do. We are sorry. Forgive us for our mistakes. Help us make good choices. And remind us that you love us.
During the Fraction and Invitation for communion, it was as follows:. Celebrant: The Gifts of God for the People of God. Behold what you are. People: May we become what we receive.
Closing Prayer and Dismissal: God be in my head, God be in my heart, God be in my left hand, God be in my right hand, God be in my whole life.
The Museum of Mathematics (MOMATH) – Last weekend I ventured out to visit the Museum of Mathematics. What a great (albeit small) museum for some hands on experiences with math. Young and old alike will enjoy their time here. A great stop and a great find!
St. Paul’s Chapel – Skip and Ginny and I visited St. Paul’s Chapel while they were here. A beautiful church which stood so close to the twin towers on 9-11 and yet not a window was broken. Protected by God for sure.
South Seaport – My friends Skip and Ginny Thomas from New Jersey came up to visit with me and we were able to visit the South Seaport (thanks to Ginny’s navigation skills!). How South Street Seaport Began: Some NYC History (copied from an internet website) – For almost 400 years, the seaport has served the city as a hub of commerce and entertainment. When New York was first discovered by Henry Hudson in the 17th century, the neighborhood acted as an outpost for the Dutch West India Company. The trade that started here helped New York’s economy grow to be one of the most successful in the world. As time went on, the South Street Seaport continued to transform as a gateway for international shipping, the wholesale fish trade, and the printing press business. A new urban renewal plan was even pioneered for the neighborhood to preserve historic buildings while modern construction could continue alongside it. Things took a turn for the worse after Hurricane Sandy hit New York in October of 2012. South Street Seaport was left heavily damaged and flooded in seven feet of water. Many businesses closed and Pier 17, the hub of the entire neighborhood, was torn down. But, as New York has done time and time again, the city was able to rebuild and bring the neighborhood back to its former glory. South Street Seaport was the city’s first 24-hour neighborhood, and today it still fits right in with “the city that never sleeps.” From the former Fulton Fish Market to the modern mall filled with shops and food, the South Street Seaport has so much to offer.
Historical Walk through the West End and Greenwich Village– My friend, Eric Byron, took me on an architectural dream walk through the west end of lower Manhattan and Greenwich Village. Some of the most famous homes and historical sites are around here and it was really interested. I was so fortunate to have my own private tour and am so grateful to Eric for making it happen.
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, on Saturday, March 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city, and one of the deadliest in U.S. history. 146 women died in this tragic event.
Stonewall Forever: In the summer of 1969, brave individuals from the LGBTQ community marked a monumental change. The gay bar, The Stonewall Inn, was raided on June 28, 1969. The confrontations continued for several days in nearby Christopher Park on adjacent streets. This uprising catalyzed the LGBTQ civil rights movement.
Historic wood framed homes are a rarity: Amongst the rise of big tall buildings you will occasionally find a small wood framed home that was built in the 1800’s still standing. Here are a couple.
New York’s ‘narrowest’ home – 75½ Bedford Street is a house located in the West Village neighborhood of New York City that is only 9 feet 6 inches (2.9 meters) wide. Built in 1873, it is often described as the narrowest house in New York. It’s also known as the Millay House, as famous poet Edna St. Vincent Millay lived here with her husband in the early 1920s.
Cherry Lane Theatre – Located in Greenwich Village, Cherry Lane Theatre is New York City’s oldest continuously running off-Broadway theatre. The Cherry Lane officially opened to the public in March 1924, but the building was originally constructed as a farm silo in 1817. Kim Hunter, acclaimed actress who created the role of “Stella” in “A Streetcar named Desire” lived above this theatre with her playwright husband, Robert Emmett, from 1954 until her death in 2002.
Northern Dispensary, West Village – This landmark was built as a clinic for the poor in 1831 with a third floor added in 1854. It’s one of those Village paradoxes – a triangular building, and the only one in New York with two streets on one side (Grove and Christopher where they join), and two sides on one street (Waverly Place, where it forks to go off in two directions).
Washington Park and the Washington Monument – In 1797 the City’s Common Council acquired the land for use as a “Potter’s Field” and for public executions, giving rise to the legend of the “Hangman’s Elm” in the park’s northwest corner. The tree still stands today.
The site became a public park in 1827. Following this designation, prominent families, wanting to escape the disease and congestion of downtown Manhattan, moved into the area and built the distinguished Greek Revival mansions that still line the square’s north side.
Have a wonderful week. Forgive any typos or grammatical errors please.
Hugs to all, Mara