E-Bulletin: Exclusive Tours, Scavenger Hunt and Discussing Good Government

E-BULLETIN OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL

September 2013, Volume 10, Number 7

Monday Morning Coffee Talk:

Monday, October 7th

8:30 – 10:00 AM

Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 East 11th Street

New York, NY 10003

October 7: The role of community activism and advocacy in affecting “good” government

The Citizens Union of the City of New York is a New York City good government organization founded in 1897 in response to the corruptive influence that Tammany Hall had on New York City government and elections.  Citizens Union is a watchdog on city and state government and an advocate for the public interest.  Executive Director Richard Dadey will speak about the work of the Citizens Union and the changes that the 2013 elections will bring to the City.

These events are FREE, but reservations are required.  For more information on this series or to RSVP, please contact Barbara Zay at [email protected] or 212-614-9107.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

The 2013 Tours Continue! 

Lower East Side

WALKING TOUR (Lower East Side)

Sunday, October 6th, 11:00 AM

The Lower East Side is a beautifully diverse neighborhood that displays its history proudly. Once the home of waves of immigrants cramped into tenements, the neighborhood has gone though waves of changes but has remained an architectural gem in the city. Join tour guideEric Ferrara, Executive Director of the Lower East Side History Project, as he explores the recently designated historic district, as well as what is still greatly under threat. 

Image courtesy of the Lower East Side Preservation History Project

————————————————— 

New Tribeca Tour!!

Wednesday, October 9th, 6:00 PM

$5: Friends of HDC, seniors, students, $10: general public

Led by Matthew Postal, Architectural Historian

By popular demand, Matthew Postal will be leading a second tour of Tribeca!  One of New York City’s most notable neighborhoods, Tribeca’s spectacular collection of mercantile architecture found new life as a vibrant residential and commercial area thanks to preservation efforts in the 1980s.  This tour will explore the history of Tribeca from its residential origins in the last decades of the 18th century to the fashionable present day, viewing memorable examples of mercantile architecture and adaptive reuse.  We will examine the impact of urban renewal and how recent additions to the neighborhood are shaping the historic cityscape. 

Space is limited, reservations required

Meeting location upon registration, for more information or to register click here  

If you any questions please contact [email protected] or call 212-614-9107

Six to Celebrate is generously supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and New York City Councilmembers Margaret Chin, Inez Dickens, Daniel Garodnick, Vincent Gentile, Sara Gonzalez, Stephen Levin and Rosie Mendez.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Secret Lives Tours in October!

HDC’s Secret Lives Tours highlight some of the most original and rarely-seen spaces in New York. The series takes attendees inside unique and spectacular spaces in the city, both big and small, to learn about their purpose, history and preservation.

The New Governors Island

Wednesday, October 9th, 2:45 PM

Governors Island is closed to the public until next Spring.

Fear not because HDC will take you on an exclusive tour of the ongoing construction for the $250 million project on Governors Island. The ‘new Governors Island’ which is now in phase 1 of the multi-phase project will create 30 acres of parkland and new visitor amenities. The tour will cross through the existing historic district offering a view of the old as well as the new!

 A post-tour history of the island will also be presented.

Note: You must take the Governors Island ferry, to view the schedule click here

To view the full construction plan click here 

Exact meeting location for tour is available upon registration. Space is limited. To register click here

——————————————————————

United Palace Theater

Tuesday, October 22nd, 6:00 PM

Join HDC for a tour of the famed United Palace, led by Mike Fitelson, who oversees the Palace’s arts and cultural center.

Originally known as Loew’s 175^th Street Theater, the building was the last of the “Wonder Theatres” to be constructed in New York City and New Jersey in 1930. Here at the 175^th Street location, the decoration incorporates elements of Indian, Cambodian, Moorish, Byzantine and Art Deco architecture. Today the theater is wonderfully intactincluding the includes the original seven-story organ. Today the building is home to three separate operations: the United Palace Cathedral, United Palace Theatre, and United Palace of Cultural Arts.

$50 for Friends of HDC, $75 for general public

To register click here

If you any questions please contact [email protected] or 212.614.9107

Exact meeting location for tour is available upon registration. Space is limited.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

These tours are part of HDC’s 2014 conference “New Design + Old Places”. Through the conference we will showcase projects that broaden traditional perceptions of the field of historic preservation and incorporate contemporary design with historic resources.

Registration required – Meeting location will be provided prior to the tour

Public Theater

A Walking Tour of Historic Libraries in the Village—and One New One!

Led by John Bacon, HDC board member and Director of Planned Giving at The New York Public Library

Friday, October 4th, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Take a walk through history and see how old buildings can be positively utilized for the future. The tour will include both historic and new libraries in the East Village demonstrating how both old and new can function well together in New York City.

Click here for more information and tickets

———————————————————————

Creative Approaches to Adaptive Reuse

Sunday, October 27th,  1:00 PM  – 3:00 PM

A Walking Tour of the West Village with Françoise Bollack, HDC Board President and author of  “Old Buildings – New Forms: New Directions in Architectural Transformations”.

A walk on Greenwich and Washington Streets shows the evolution of creative adaptive reuse in the West Village: from early, massive projects like the Federal Archives building and Westbeth, to more recent, formally inventive interventions in the Meatpacking/Gansevoort Market District, and many surprises in between.

Click here for more information and tickets

These tours are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and New York City Councilmembers Margaret Chin, Inez Dickens, Daniel Garodnick, Vincent Gentile, Sara Gonzalez, Stephen Levin and Rosie Mendez.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Battle of Brooklyn Scavenger Hunt

“Retreat Is Not Defeat”

Saturday, October 26^th, 12 Noon

One of the first battles of the American Revolution, the Battle of Brooklyn (a.k.a. the Battle of Long Island) took place on August 27, 1776 in what is now Western Brooklyn around Prospect Park and Greenwood Cemetery.

The scavenger hunt will include 7 places around Brooklyn. You will explore the route that George Washington and his troops took during the fateful battle to locate each point. There will be special prizes for winning teams plus rewards for all participants!

Meeting location upon registration. Pre-registered tickets will get an easier route!

Route can also be up on the day of the hunt at Brooklyn Public House 247 Dekalb Avenue

Tickets are $15 per team of four – honor system applies.

To register today click here

Co-Sponsored and inspired by Chrysalis Archaeology