By Janel Bladow
Believe it or not…
Still enjoying this fabulous weather…hard to believe the Christmas Tree went up on Fulton St. and in Monday’s glorious sunshine it was being be-decked with bows! Official lighting celebrations are on Friday, Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. and kickoff of the Chorus Tree with caroling by the Big Apple Chorus. Performances on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 27. Info: www.southstreetseaport.com.
Cha-cha-cha-changes…
More new businesses blooming despite the Great Recession. Is this just the economy imitating Mother Nature and giving us some natural pruning? Along Fulton St., despite the never-ending construction of the new transit hub and park that will reroute traffic, storefronts are filling with merchandise. The old Strand Bookstore site is now a massive – and we must note, much cleaner – Lot-Less store. Across the street, Texas Rotisserie has expanded from a delivery-only service that has catered to the neighborhood nearly 15 years to a bona-fide sit-down eatery, complete with a man in a giant blow-up plastic yellow chicken suit! Inside tables greet customers who line up in back to place their orders. On the walls are sepia-tone photos of New York City skyline and rodeo cowboys – great country America! Further east a Rainbow clothes store has taken over the old Duane Reade location.
Also new to the hood…
Well, not really new…was on Pier 17, moved to Peck Slip Cigar Landing, more than 100 different cigars…dedicated to smokin’ stogies… Owner Jeff Lim is also opening an Asian Fusion restaurant next door in mid-December. The bar is recycled barn wood and shaped like a boat and the chef is Larry Wong from Tao. And, the wine bar next to the Best Western Seaport Inn is set up and ready… but opening date is anyone’s guess.
Movie mayhem…
Have the cast — Matt Damon — and crew of “The Adjustment Bureau” moved in? On Monday they had all of Peck Slip secured and more than two weeks earlier, some parents say, they nearly ruined Trick Or Treating for our little ‘hood hooligans. Monday, Matt filmed a scene sitting in Acqua on Peck Slip. Seconds later, he gets a phone call and bolts… catches a taxi. His character, that is. Matt himself sat in his Escalade waiting for directions. You guys want to pay rent?
Goblins galore…
Speaking of tricks and treats, neighborhood maestro and dad Gary Fagin, who has helped organize the local spooky night festivities, sent us this report: “There were over 100 happy kids plus lots of smiling parents for what was the Seaport’s biggest and most successful Halloween ever! The festivities kicked-off at a spookily-decorated FishBridge Park; neighborhood businesses and many residents gave out treats; painter Naima Raum displayed a Boo Family; Made Fresh Daily ladled out hot apple cider for the kids; Pasanella and Son offered wine tasting for the adults, and Firehouse No. 6 brought over it’s fire truck to watch over everyone’s safety, much to the delight of the trick-or-treaters. Even the rain cooperated, holding off till the little ones were back home dreaming of candy and friendly ghosts!” Thanks for the boo-tiful bulletin Gary!
Neighborly news…
She’s all grown up (except that she still loves to dress up for Halloween and go trick or treating!), and we can’t believe that Tian Carling celebrated her 15th birthday on Nov. 12! Seems like just days ago mom Tina or dad Tom were escorting her across town to school. Now she’s wearing backpack and iPod on her way solo to high school! Happy Birthday, Tian!
We also want to send good thoughts to the whole Carling family whose beloved dog Zoey is very ill. Zoey is such a feisty little rapscallion that we’re sure she has the fight to pull through! Go Zoey!
Meanwhile, Don and Sofia Durante of South St. report from their winter headquarters in the Caribbean that they are busy as a swam of honeybees. “Our next project is one that is fairly constant… similar to painting the Brooklyn Bridge… finish and start over… that is. Trimming and cutting back the never-ending, constant growth of the plants in the garden. We have a flowering vine that I believe is trying to gain entry into the bedroom and choke us in our sleep.” Oh, that we had such problems here in the concrete jungle! The couple also reports that they plan to join friends on two boats for a sail to the nearby British Virgin Islands to snorkel, swim and have a turkey deep fry on one of the beaches. Sigh!
Gobble, gobble… And while we’re talking turkey, this Sunday (Nov. 22) is the New Amsterdam Thanksgiving Market on South St. between Beekman St. and Peck Slip, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some 70 vendors will be on hand with the ingredients for an all-regional Thanksgiving feast. Buy oysters or sausage for stuffing, pick up the fixings for a seafood first course and select all the freshest produce for your tastiest sides. Pies and coffee too! Visit www.newamsterdammarket.org.
Choo-choo…
Seaport Report enjoyed the beautiful weather last week by taking time up in the Northern Catskills. We are dog sitting a rambunctious Australian Shepard named Mr. Pip who is loving life in the mountains and open meadows. One easy, enjoyable hike was along the Catskill Scenic Rail Trail. Running along the former Delaware & Ulster rail bed, it’s 19 miles of flat, effortless trail that goes from Roxbury to Bloomville, through Grand Gorge and Stamford, and along the west branch of the Delaware River. The trek winds through some of the most beautiful, rural countryside in the state and will be a great place to cross country ski come winter. Visit www.catskillscenictrail.org.
