1570 – Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth I, absolving her subjects from allegiance 1751 – First performing monkey exhibited in America in New York City, admission was 1 cent 1804 – Jefferson nominated for president at Democratic-Republican caucus 1836 – Samuel Colt patents first revolving barrel multishot firearm 1859 – First use of “insanity plea” to […]
Archives for February 2019
Child Custody Battle
The sculptor who created the “Fearless Girl” statue is being sued by the investment firm that commissioned the piece, in a legal battle that hinges on the question of what it means to own a work of art. “Fearless Girl” was unveiled in Lower Manhattan in March, 2017, as a form of corporate agitprop, by […]
Today in History February 22
705 – Empress Wu Zetian abdicates the throne, restoring the Tang dynasty. 1371 – Robert II becomes King of Scotland, beginning the Stuart dynasty. 1632 – Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems is published. 1651 – St. Peter’s Flood: A storm surge floods the Frisian coast, drowning 15,000 people. 1856 – The Republican […]
Cyber Stipend
The Downtown Alliance is offering two “Downtown Digital Innovation Grants” that will award a pair of local storefront business in Lower Manhattan up to $10,000 in services to improve their online presence and digital tool kit. This grant is intended to give businesses the capacity to invest in everything from digital advertising and social media […]
Statuary in Motion
Double Check, the bronze statue of a busy executive that has resided since 1982 in Zuccotti Park, has moved across the street, and is now perched at the northwest corner of Broadway and Liberty Street. This is just one among many mobile pieces in Lower Manhattan’s inventory of public art. Fearless Girl, the bronze by […]
Today in History February 21
1245 – Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland, is granted resignation after having confessed to torture and forgery. 1431 – England begins trial against Joan of Arc 1804 – First locomotive, Richard Trevithick’s, runs for first time, in Wales 1862 – Confederate Constitution and presidency are declared permanent 1878 – First telephone book issued, […]
Today in History February 20
1673 – First recorded wine auction held in London 1725 – 10 sleeping Indians scalped by whites in New Hampshire for £100 a scalp bounty 1811 – Austria declares bankruptcy 1839 – Congress prohibits dueling in District of Columbia 1872 – Hydraulic electric elevator patented by Cyrus Baldwin 1872 – Metropolitan Museum of Art opens […]
Never Again
A major new exhibit about the historic crime and tragedy that was the Auschwitz concentration camp is coming to the Museum of Jewish Heritage this spring. Titled, “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away,” the presentation will include artifacts such a freight rail car that was used to transport victims to the industrialized killing center […]
Pont Punt
The much-delayed West Thames pedestrian bridge project appears to be keeping to its most recent schedule, first announced last September, and is likely on track to open during the late summer or early autumn of this year. This was the takeaway from a presentation at the February 6 meeting of the Battery Park City Committee […]
Eyes To The Sky February 18 – March 4, 2019
It was nearly 7 a.m. and 14 degrees under a pale blue sky dappled with speeding, silvery-outlined golden clouds just overhead. I was north of town, in the countryside, walking swiftly to an opening in the forest for a view to the southeast where planet Venus might still be visible. Once there, I scanned above […]