The South Street Seaport Museum is hosting two “Family Ecology Sail” events on Aug. 21 and Sept. 25 aboard the historic 1885 schooner Pioneer.
BY JANEL BLADOW
Phew! It’s been hot around the ’hood — and I’m not just talking about the weather.
The FDNY was called out to Peck Slip twice Saturday evening by tenants above the Acqua eatery whose carbon monoxide alarm kept going off, but firefighters didn’t find a problem.
WHERE’S THE FIRE?… That’s what neighbors were asking last week when New York’s Bravest responded to calls mid-week and twice on Saturday. New tenants on Peck Slip, above Acqua Restaurant and Wine Bar at Water St., called in a beeping carbon monoxide alarm. On Saturday night the first call was around 5 p.m. and the second a couple of hours later. Basically the calls closed the café for dinner on a busy Saturday night. But Acqua staff served their drinking customers with smiles while firefighters did their best to sort out the troubles. One firefighter from the 10 Truck stationed on Liberty St. said that our South Street FDNY guys responded first. He said the tenants reported that the detector went off and they felt woozy. After a thorough search on both calls and putting huge fans in the apartment to blow out the stale air, firefighters told the guys to go take a walk and get some fresh air. Nothing was found and the bistro was back in operation Sunday. A word to all neighbors: check the batteries on both your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.
SEAPORT STREETS ATTACKED: PART II… As noted last month, the Peck Slip School wants to close off Peck Slip during the school day and make it a playground. Bummer for businesses, pedestrians, bicyclers and drivers. But now comes a second assault on one of the three east-west streets and four north-south roadways that serve the Seaport. Howard Hughes Corp. wanted to file a modification of its Pier 17 plan to the City Planning Commission last month. The “minor modification” shows a new access driveway entering on Fulton St. and exiting at Beekman St. It also showed the historic Tin Building drastically smaller. Members of the Community Board 1 Seaport Committee protested the changes, which would flood the neighborhood with delivery trucks (rather than contain them on South Street). Our Councilmember Margaret Chin got the move tabled — for now. The full community board is on hiatus in August and the Planning Commission needs to have a careful look at the proposal. Look for the idea to resurface in September. Save our Seaport has called on the commission to “require the Howard Hughes Corp. to restore the Tin Building to its original size and to require the applicant to offer a workable truck traffic plan.”
WANNA GET AWAY?… Nothing like a drive to the Catskill Mountains or a train ride up the Hudson River to make you feel like you’ve left your crazy, hazy city life behind. Seaport Sunday shoppers will have the opportunity to learn about lots of fun stuff to do on a day trip out of the city. EscapeMaker.com Pop Up Shop sets up this weekend, Aug.14 from 11 a.m.–5 p.m., with a guide to local getaways and farm escapes around the metro area. Farmers, producers, and winemakers (oh my!) within a few hours of the city will share info on how to visit farms, farm stores, breweries, wineries and more — by car, bus or train. Look for these experts at the Water St. farm stands, between Fulton and Beekman Sts.
GROW SEA LEGS… But hey, we live in the Seaport, so why not take to the water? The South Street Seaport Museum has two fun days planned, with “Family Ecology Sail” events on Aug.21 and Sept. 25 from noon–3 p.m. Parents, children, relatives and friends can all sail on the Pioneer and discover what lives underwater. As the historic 1885 schooner passes Governors Island for the fishing grounds of Bay Ridge, it’s all-hands-on-deck. Help the crew set a trawl net, haul it in, and discover the bounty below — a crab? A puffer fish? A surprise or two? Who knows? Then help hoist the sails as you round the Statue of Liberty with the wind. Marine life experts will explain what was caught and describe how it lives under the sea. Examine plankton through a view-scope, help test the waters, and learn about the marine ecosystem around us. Tickets are $45 for adults and $40 for children 12 and under. They don’t recommend it for little ones 5 and younger, though. Book tickets at: goo.gl/WvosA3.
CHECKMATE!… Agon, the company that organizes the World Chess Championship, just announced that this year’s title match will be held at the Seaport in the historic Fulton Market building. The reigning champion, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, 25, and his Russian challenger, Sergey Karjakin, 26, will be the youngest players to compete for the world title in the history of championship chess when they face off Nov. 11–30 in the newly renovated Seaport fixture.
There will be space for up to 300 spectators and tickets will cost up to $50, according to Agon. Plans include a swanky VIP lounge where aficionados will be able to play chess on sets supplied at the site and follow the games on video screens.
This rendering shows the swanky VIP lounge planned for the World Chess Championships to be held Nov. 11–30 at the newly renovated, historic Fulton Market Building.
