This Week in History

August 29, 708 – Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time August 29, 1756 – Frederick the Great attacks Saxony, beginning the Seven Years’ War. August 29, 1831 – Michael Faraday discovers electromagnetic induction. August 30, 1800 – Gabriel Prosser postpones a planned slave rebellion in Richmond, Virginia, but is arrested before...
Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page

Full Steam Ahead

For the first time since 1994, the JOHN W. BROWN will visit New York. She’ll dock at Pier 36 on the Lower East Side (299 South St at foot of Montgomery St.) and be open for tours, starting with a fundraising reception the evening of September 9 and ending with a 6-hour living history cruise...
The JOHN W. BROWN will pay a visit on September 9

Velocipede Velocity To Be Vivified by Valets

Valet service is common at many Lower Manhattan parking garages, but now cyclists will be able to avail themselves of the same luxury as motorists: Starting today, two local Citi Bike stations will be staffed by personnel who will speed check-in for those surrendering bikes, and make sure there are enough two-wheelers for those about...

This Week in History

Aug 22, 565 – Columba, an Irish abbot (father) and missionary is today known for reports of seeing a monster in Loch Ness, Scotland. Aug 26, 1498 – Michelangelo is commissioned to carve the Pietà. Aug 23, 1541 – French explorer Jacques Cartier lands near Quebec City in his third voyage to Canada. Aug 25,...
An early rendering of Frederick Law Olmsted's vision for Central Park

ROWING THE ATLANTIC

FROM DR. STEIN HOFF AFTER HIS RESCUE AT SEA: “Tonight, Wednesday 10th August, it is four days since I was rescued and felt reborn, hauled up from my tossing “Fox II”. Many times I thought that cabin was to become my coffin as the boat was knocked-down and rolled over numerous times. The longest knock-downs...

LETTERS

To the editor: I have been following with interest the series of letters regarding our ongoing South End Avenue / West Thames Street Study, and encourage readers to keep the input coming. The Battery Park City community is never wanting for ideas about how to make the neighborhood even better, and this has been no...