Month: March 2016

Today in History – March 30th

1867 – The United States buys Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000, or 2 cents an acre 1909 – Queensborough Bridge, a double-decked cantilever bridge, opens linking Manhattan and Queens 1950 – Phototransistor invention announced in Murray Hill, New Jersey. 1961 – The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is signed in New York. The treaty updates the Paris Convention, signed on July...
1909 - Men at Work on the Queensboro Bridge

Global Reach

Community Board 1 (CB1) has agreed to support modifications to a historic building requested by the developer who is converting it into condominiums, but in exchange wants two legacy features of the structure restored. The 1898 Renaissance Revival building, located at 346 Broadway (also known as 108 Leonard Street), was designed by the acclaimed architectural...
CB1's Landmarks Committee chair Roger Byrom, "We'll give you your staircase, but we want the clock tower working and we want the globe reinstalled."

IN MEMORIAM

A woman with an exceptional sense of style and a passion for the arts, Judith Hendricks died unexpectedly in Battery Park City on November 18, at age 78. She is survived by her husband, jazz legend Jon Hendricks, 94, and their daughter Aria Hendricks. Judith and Jon Hendricks Married for more than 56 years, Judith...

EYES TO THE SKY

The Northeast Astronomy Forum The Horsehead, Flame and IC434 Nebulae by Terry Hancock, Downunder Observatory Most often as a solitary observer I look up to Earth’s blue atmosphere, radiant with sunlight or, at dawn and dusk, to the brightest stars and planets; after twilight deepens read more …
The Horsehead, Flame and IC434 Nebulae by Terry Hancock, Downunder Observatory

Today in History

1795 Beethoven debuts as pianist in Vienna at age 24. Thirty-two years later he is buried in Vienna, 20,000 people attended his funeral. 1798 Republic of Switzerland forms 1867 Congress approves building of Lincoln Memorial 1941 First performance of Benjamin Britten’s “Requiem Symphony” 1961 After a 4½ year trial, Nelson Mandela is acquitted on treason charge 1974 Mariner 10’s, first fly-by of Mercury, returns photos 1976 Eight Ohio National Guardsmen indicted...
1848 Niagara Falls stops flowing for 30 hours due to an ice jam

A Very Lucrative Landmark

The City’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has leased the historic Battery Maritime Building to a ski resort operator, Stoneleigh Capital for up to 99 years at an annual rent that amounts to significantly less than one percent of comparable, prevailing rates. The publicly owned structure, located at 10 South Street, next to the Staten Island...
A rendering of the refurbished Battery Maritime Building, with the glass enclosed hotel and restaurant complex newly constructed on its roof.